Audrey looked sharply at Brady and saw a twinkle in his eyes and a little twitch at the corners of his mouth and realized he was teasing. She laughed out loud, the sound reminded Brady of silver bells and sent shivers up his spine.
They talked on into the night. Brady learned that Audrey was and artist who was hoping to become successful. Audrey learned that Brady had just moved to town and was working for a security agency. Audrey looked at her watch and saw that all too soon it was two in the morning.
"Brady, it was very nice to meet you and I've really enjoyed the conversation but it's late and I have to go."
Brady looked at his watch. "Wow, I can't believe it's already this late. Can I walk you out to your car."
"Sure, if you like."
Brady saw Dave sitting on the couch as they went through the house and he held up one finger to let him know he would be right back. Once at her car, Brady held her door open as she slid in behind the wheel.
"Audrey, I know we just met but I was wondering if you would have dinner with me?"
"That's very kind of you to ask but I'm really trying to concentrate on my career right now." Audrey watch the look of hope in Brady's face turn to one of dejection.
"Okay, sure. I understand. Good night Audrey," Brady said nodding sadly. He gently closed her door and turned to head back into the house. Audrey watched him walking away and came to a quick decision and rolled down her window.
"Brady," she called out. "I'll meet you at the Olive Garden Friday night at seven thirty."
Brady's face lit up with a big grin. "Sounds great. I'll be there."
That was their first date. Brady's charm and easy going nature touched Audrey in ways no man had ever done. When she spoke, he listened intently to everything she had to say. He preferred to talk about her and the things she was interested instead of about himself like most men she knew. Going against her rule of not dating, she accepted his invitation to go to the state fair the next weekend, too.
They both had a great time at the fair. They went on many of the rides, she held tight to his arm on the roller coaster. Brady won her a big stuffed panda at one of the shooting arcades. This date led to more dates and Audrey finally had to admit to herself, she had fallen for this man. As for Brady, he knew he wanted a relationship with her at the end of their second date. Brady had learned patience in the Marine Corp, know your objective but don't rush in taking it. He never pressured Audrey, instead he let nature take it's course. They had been dating for almost five months before they made love for the first time. That was the night they openly professed their love for each other.
Brady's first big faux pas came on Valentines Day. He had never really told Audrey exactly what he did, just that he was a security consultant. While the agency he ran did do security audits and make recommendations, they also provided security personnel to high profile clients who needed body guards for special events. As a result he often had to travel. Audrey didn't really mind, as this gave her time to concentrate on her paintings. As it happened, on Valentines Day he was wrapped up in making sure the security teams he had been asked to provide for a big party were all in place. He didn't realize until he had picked up Audrey for dinner and she gave him a card that he had forgotten. Brady was totally embarrassed and Audrey was a little hurt. He made up for it by sending her a dozen red roses the next day.
A month later a similar situation came up and this time he forgot to get her a present for her birthday. To make up for that he sent her two dozen roses and bought her a nice tennis bracelet. And in the last month he had been several hours late picking her up for a date. That wasn't so much the problem, it was that he hadn't called to let her know he was going to be late. By now she had gone to being not only hurt at his thoughtlessness, but she got a little angry too.
Then Audrey was getting the big break she had been waiting for. She was getting a showing of her paintings at the most prominent gallery in the city. She was excited almost beyond words. She told Brady how important this was for her and he promised he would be there.
The evening of the opening Brady was headed home to change. He was going to meet Audrey at the gallery. Besides her opening this was going to be the first time he met her parents. They had flown in for their daughter's big day. He was just about to pull into his drive when his cell phone rang. He looked at the number and saw it was from the head of the security detail his agency had provided for a party at the mansion of a local millionaire.
"Brady here," he said answering the call.
"Boss, things have gone to shit. We've been breached and several armed men have taken hostages in one of the wings of the house."
"Fuck. Okay, I'm on my way. Seal off all exits and hold until SWAT has arrived."
Brady was pissed off and worried. His whole agencies reputation could be at stake. He also couldn't understand how gunmen could have gotten past his men. They were all ex-special forces and highly trained. Brady pulled up minutes before the SWAT team arrived. He was just getting the run down on what had gone wrong when the police captain in charge came up and wanted to know what had happened.
My guy who had been in charge told us that somehow the catering crew had been over powered en route and replaced with the bad guys holed up in one wing of the house. Most of the guests were safe and had been moved beyond the property walls. There was still some people unaccounted for. This included the owner of the house and his wife. They were presumed to be alive and held as hostages. No demands had been made yet, so their motives were not known. He then gave a rundown on where all our agents were positioned. The captain then had his men set up and we began to withdraw to clear the scene for them.
While all this was going on, Brady had been thinking that these guys might have an escape plan of some kind. Escaping back through the front gate wasn't going to be an option. The only logical place would be through the back. Brady went to his car and put on his bullet proof vest and put on his jacket that had AGENT in big letters on the back. He hoped that the SWAT team wouldn't mistake him for a bad guy. He checked his 9mm and put it in his shoulder holster. Making his way around the perimeter he got to the back of the house on the far side from where the hostages were.
Suddenly all hell broke lose inside the house. Shots were fired at the SWAT team and smoke began to billow out from the center of the mansion. Brady pulled his gun and waited. He had seen the SWAT team members on this side rush towards the sound of the shots. Sure enough, just as he had suspected, two men came running out the side doors heading almost directly towards where he had hidden in some bushes. One of the men had a little girl in one arm with his other hand over her mouth to keep her from crying out. The other man was armed with an assault rifle. Brady pulled out his gun and waited. He waited until they had just passed him. He stood up and yelled for them to halt. The bad guy with the rifle spun and started to raise his weapon. Brady fired one shot hitting him right in the forehead. From this range he couldn't miss. He turned to the man holding the little girl.
"Put her down gently and and raise your hands and you'll live."
The bad guy looked at Brady who had his gun aimed right between his eyes and the down at his dead partner.
"Okay, just take it easy with that gun, pal." The bad guy set the little girl down on her feet and slowly turned around.
"Come over here, sweetheart. Your safe now. I'll take you to your daddy." The little girl ran to Brady and hugged his leg tightly.
"Now you, very slowly lay down and put your hands behind your back." Brady kept his gun trained on him the whole time. "You stand right here, honey."
