Sophie

 

After leaving Tina and Jeffrey’s house, this whole investigation felt different. It took on a new depth. These were real people to Sophie. Before they had just been names on Zeke’s list, but now she was beginning to see what he saw. She could sense his deep aching, and she longed to take it away for him. If they could solve this, catch the bomber and move on, maybe she could help Zeke go some way towards healing. He deserved happiness; she could see that. He had a good soul.

 

“Are you sure you can face another visit in one day?” Zeke said as he started up the pickup.

 

“Of course,” she responded. “The quicker we get something tangible we can work with the better. We need some leads on who did this.”

 

“True,” he said, staring wistfully out of the windshield. “Thanks for being my wing woman. If I was on my own, I think I’d be giving up and going home. It’s so hard facing the parents of the men I lost.”

 

“You’ve got to remember, it wasn’t your fault,” Sophie said, turning to face him better. “You didn’t set up that explosive, did you?”

 

“No.”

 

They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer than Sophie expected. Her stomach flipped, and she broke their eye contact. “Let’s go and find out more.”

 

The pickup moved off, and they wove through the suburban streets. Sophie smiled at children drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Zeke had to slow for some middle-aged women out jogging in the sunshine; their bright pink and purple Lycra suits forming a blurred mass of color as they bobbed up and down. These streets were so full of life that it felt refreshing and clean. Sophie took it all in while Zeke drove. She’d never lived anywhere like this. This was a place where families were formed. They passed a young couple with a stroller, and moments later whizzed past a family out walking their two Dalmatians. The youngest child, a girl, was giggling loudly as the dad bent to tickle her. It made Sophie smile. Lucky girl, she thought.

 

There was no music, and no conversation, for this part of the journey, but her and Zeke were both comfortable with the silence, occasionally exchanging small smiles. She kept thinking of Tina – a woman who’d been through so much, but still had a lot of kindness to give. Life was all about people and connections. Sophie pondered this as they sped past the lives in this suburban community, intertwining and enhancing each other with connections, sidewalk chit chats, kids playing, retired couples out strolling together...

 

Eventually, the pickup joined the freeway back to town, slotting into the speeding lines of cars all heading the same way. The scenery was dull, and Sophie’s mind wandered to her future. She’d often imagined what it could involve – spraying and customizing vehicles – but never before had she imagined who could be in it. She looked at Zeke thoughtfully. Would it involve him? Her thoughts were cut short as they pulled into a city street and Zeke announced this must be where Stone lived. The tall buildings blocked out the sun, casting blue and gray shadows on the concrete. They got out and looked up at the block, which was dark and uninviting. Some kids ran past, barging into Sophie as they went. Zeke caught her as she lunged forward from the force. Her face met his chest, and as she caught her breath, she could smell his cologne. She didn’t want to pull back. She wanted to bury her face in his shirt and stay there, blocking out the world for as long as possible. His solid frame made her feel small. His hand was still on her back from when he caught her, protectively. He leaned his head down, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. She closed her eyes as her heart quickened. His hand rubbed up and down her back softly.

 

Just then, a couple walked past, arguing. “What the fuck you talkin’ about?” the woman yelled to her partner. They tossed accusations back and forth, and Sophie pulled away from Zeke, realizing that the moment – and it was definitely a moment – was gone.

 

He looked disappointed as he pulled away, but quickly composed himself. “OK. Let’s get this over with,” he said, looking up at the building.

 

They entered the main door, which was being held open by a small pile of orange bricks and climbed the concrete stairs to the second-floor apartment they were looking for and rang the bell. They waited in silence for a few moments until an audible shuffling noise sounded from inside. Eventually, several locks clicked, and the door opened to reveal a smartly dressed man with a thick beard and slicked-back gray hair.

 

“Come in, come in. Always good to see a former man of military,” he said.

 

Zeke shook his hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, Admiral.”

 

“Just call me Stone. Much easier. My first name’s Kurt, but no one ever uses that.”

 

“OK. Thanks for agreeing to see us at such short notice,” Zeke said.

 

“Oh, it’s not like I’ve got other plans. I’ve retired now and since... well since Lexi died, I don’t go out much.”

 

“Was Lexi your wife?” Sophie asked gingerly.

 

“Yeah. Best wife a man could wish for,” Stone said, a smile spreading across his thin lips. “But it’s been a tough few years. She couldn’t handle the heartbreak.”

 

Silence fell. Sophie swallowed. “Would you like to talk about it?” she asked.

 

He turned to her with a smile. “You know, it’s been a long time since anyone’s asked me that. I think I would. Let me just make some coffee.”

 

Stone left Zeke and Sophie in the small, dark living room to go and start up the coffee maker in the tiny kitchen. They looked around. There were photos in frames all over the walls. Sophie spotted several of Stone and what must have been Lexi at their old home – a beautiful, large, wood-clad two-story home with a porch and trees. In the pictures, it looked like you couldn’t get a happier pairing than them. There was one in particular that almost moved Sophie to tears. A young woman, presumably Lexi again, sat on a picnic blanket on a lawn holding two babies in white sleep suits. Her smile was so radiant it could have been the dictionary definition of happiness. The babies gazed up at their mother contentedly. It was family at its best. And clearly, it was now only a memory. Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off of the woman’s sparkling eyes.

 

Stone appeared in the doorway with a tray of coffee cups. “That’s my favorite picture of her,” he said. “Lexi and the boys. What a team. I’ll tell you this now... never take the good times for granted. I did. And I would give anything to have them back. I’d give my right arm, literally, to hear the kids fighting on the rug while Lexi scolded them from next door in the kitchen while she fussed at the stove. It seemed so normal at the time, frustrating even, families are so noisy... but now....” he looked around at his meager surroundings.... “the silence is my frustration. I built my life around them... and I couldn’t hold onto them. Life is cruel. She had a heart attack last year. Just dropped dead on the lawn outside our house. That was just after...”

 

Sophie hung on his every word.

 

He suddenly stood up straighter as if composing himself and shook his head. “Listen to me going on and on,” he said. He placed the tray down, and Sophie and Zeke sat on the sofa while Stone lowered himself into an armchair that was angled toward the window. “I like to watch the kids from up here,” he said. “But sometimes it’s just disappointing. Once they hit a certain age, it’s all graffiti and bravado. I like to watch the younger ones, while they’re still so full of joy and hope.” He smiled and leaned forward to pick up his coffee. “Anyway, what can I do for you?”

 

Zeke swallowed. “Well... we’re here to ask for your help. Or advice. I’ve been targeted by a bomb recently. It wasn’t successful, obviously, but we believe it has something to do with 4LBX...”

 

“The unit.” Stone nodded in thought. “Gary’s unit. And yours,” he added, turning to Zeke.

 

“Yes. That’s right.”

 

“I’ve gone over every note, every piece of evidence, every little thing about that case. Those guys were wiped out. Barely recognizable after the blast, but identified all the same.”

 

Zeke lowered his gaze to the ground.

 

Sophie interjected, sensing Zeke’s struggle. “So... Mr. Stone, have you seen anyone connected to the incident lately? Has anyone else spoken to you about it?”

 

Stone shook his head. “No. But then, people have been avoiding me – an old lonely, tragic soul.”

 

Sophie couldn’t think how to answer. She sipped her coffee and stared at the table.

 

“If you ever want to talk about anything, you can always reach me,” Zeke offered.

 

Stone smiled. “Good to know there are still kind souls out there.”

 

A few minutes later, after they’d half-finished their drinks, Sophie sat forward. “We won’t keep you, Mr. Stone,” she said, catching Zeke’s eye for approval. “We’ve got a lot of visits to make.”

 

Zeke subtly nodded in agreement. They rose from the sofa and made their way back down the hallway until Zeke stopped suddenly before a large framed photograph on the wall.

 

“Who’s that with Gary? I didn’t know he had a brother,” he said.

 

Stone sniffed and rubbed his brow. “Twin. That’s Gary’s twin brother, Troy. Was, I should say.”

 

Sophie and Zeke both looked at Stone, their eyes wide with expectation.

 

“Took his own life after the accident,” Stone explained. “We think he jumped off a cliff on Mount Jag. His body was never found, but his backpack and shoes were found on the ledge. He must have taken them off before he jumped.”

 

“I’m so sorry,” Sophie said, covering her mouth with one hand as she examined the picture.

 

“You weren’t to know,” Stone said, smiling through a twisted frown. His pain was obvious.

 

Zeke pulled out a piece of card from his pocket. “Here’s my number. Keep in touch.”

 

“Thanks,” Stone said, holding it in his grip. “I appreciate that.”

 

Outside, Sophie and Zeke stood on the pavement, frowning. It was so hard to get their heads around one man’s huge portion of grief.

 

“Something’s not right,” Zeke eventually said. “It just feels like... Well, why would Troy just disappear?”

 

Sophie bit her lip and considered the thought. “I guess it’s hard to search deep canyons for bodies,” she suggested.

 

“Bodies are usually found, eventually,” Zeke said, looking deep into her eyes.

 

“What are you saying?” she said in a whisper. They were standing so close she could feel his breath on the exposed part of her chest, above her shirt collar.

 

“What if he’s still out there? What if that was his little plan to hide?”

 

Sophie sucked in a breath through gritted teeth. “It’s possible. But we need to be really careful. We don’t want to go making claims and hurting people. This is really shaky ground.”

 

“Of course,” Zeke said, taking her arms in his hands. “I wouldn’t dream of saying anything unless we find a reason to.”

 

“It is possible,” Sophie agreed. “Maybe he’s in hiding.”

 

“Waiting to get revenge for his brother’s death,” Zeke said, his eyes shining in the soft evening light at street lamps came on. “Anyway, let’s get you home.”

 

“I have to go to Stephan’s shop tonight,” Sophie said. “I said I’d watch his kids for a few hours. They live next to the shop.”

 

When they pulled up, Zeke hopped out and ran around to open her door. She bounced out and stumbled to stop her torso crashing into his. She laughed and looked up to meet his eyes. There was something intense lingering in his gaze. He bent his head down and whispered, “Thanks for coming today. I couldn’t have done that without you.”

 

She smiled, lost for words. But words weren’t needed.

 

He bowed his head lower until his lips were level with hers. The stayed like this for a few moments, Sophie’s heart racing in anticipation as she longed for him to take the plunge, but was dizzy with nerves at the same time. Finally, he leaned in further, planting his warm, soft lips on hers. Her lips curled into a smile as he kissed them softly again and again. He tasted sweet. His breath was hot on her skin. A surge of heat ran through her, causing her to delve into his warmth with her tongue, and she could hear his breath shortening. He met her tongue with his as they flicked and rolled them playfully together between sealed lips.

 

She opened her eyes just as he did, which shot a rush of energy through her chest. God, he was hot. This wasn’t supposed to happen today, but she wasn’t going to fight it. Every part of her wanted this.

 

She moved her hand onto his firm torso and stroked upwards, rippling the fabric of his T-shirt until she reached his neck, wrapping her fingers around it gently and curling her fingertips into the thick hair at the nape of his neck. He smelled divine.

 

His hand pressed on the back of her waist, pulling her in closer, which forced the breath out of her chest quickly. Just as he moved one hand upwards to cup her breast over her shirt, there was a clicking sound as Stephan’s front door, located just around the corner from the shop, opened. Sophie jumped backward, making a space of half a meter between their bodies. She touched her lips and smiled, avoiding eye contact with Zeke.

 

“Call me tomorrow. We can cross more, ah, things off your list,” she said. “The investigation list,” she added, in case he had other ideas of things to cross off. It would be stupid to get distracted when so much was at stake.

 

“OK,” he said, leaning back on his truck, arms folded, smiling. “Have a nice evening. You sure you don’t want a co-babysitter? I can keep you company.”

 

She laughed and shook her head, saying “not a good idea” as she walked around the corner with a small wave in his direction. She didn’t dare to turn and look at him again. She couldn’t bear it. She would only want him more.