Β© 2021, All rights reserved -- mimaster
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It was a horrible way to wake up. It wasn't that the sound was all that irritating, or that it came so early in the morning, which it did. It was the implication of what it meant.
"What is that?" Ann asked; her voice groggy as she struggled to remember where she even was.
"It's my phone," Neil replied as he fumbled for his mobile device, his hand brushing over the toy gun that was lying next to it on the side table near the bed.
Sitting straight up in bed, she went into a panic. "Oh my God... something's wrong!"
"We don't know that. We don't even know who it is yet. Relax." He began lovingly stroking the soft skin of her lower back, hoping to settle her fears as he flipped the phone open. "Hello?"
The calmness in his voice had a soothing effect on her, as did the tender way he was rubbing her body. He was so at ease, still lying on his pillow as he talked. If something was really wrong, she never would have known the way he was acting. Of course, he wasn't saying much, his words short.
"Really?" he said, followed by, "Wow," and "I see."
He smiled at Ann early, nodding that everything was okay, her heart still pounding wildly from being awakened in such a way. Her eyes had barely adjusted to the dark of the room, but she could see him mouth "Owen is fine," which was what she needed to know more than anything. But that still left many questions. If her son was fine, that obviously meant the person that called was either Brenda or Eddie, as they were the couple watching him during their weekend getaway. And if they called that early on a Sunday morning, there had to be another compelling reason to do it.
"Okay... thanks for the heads up. We'll be careful." There was a gap in the conversation as he listened. "Yeah, we'll see you later," he nodded. Then he laughed. "Trust me, I will. Thanks again."
Hanging up, he set the phone on the table, picking up the hotel phone and putting it to his ear. "What's going on? Is everything okay? Hell, what time
IS
it?"
"It's a little after six. Owen is fine, babe. He's still sleeping, and he's been having a great time," he said as he hung up the other phone.
He quickly got out of bed and slipped on his boxers, walking toward the bathroom. "Well why did they call?" she asked. She heard him close the door, not wanting to flood the room with light. Then again, he always closed the door when he went. But this time he never bothered to turn the light on, which was odd. All of his behavior was odd. He wasn't telling her what was going on, and he was being very cryptic in his words and his mannerisms, like he was suddenly on guard.
"Neil, will you please tell me what's going on?"
"It's nothing. Go back to sleep Pamela," he said, his way of letting her know their weekend of pretending to be James Bond and his latest Bond girl wasn't quite over just yet.
He had grabbed a robe the inn provided from the back of the bathroom door, slipping it on as he came back toward the bed. She watched him pick up the gun and his phone, slipping them into the pockets, not bothering to close the front. His sexy chest was showing, as well as his black silk boxers as he padded across the hardwood floor in his bare feet toward the door. He grabbed the room key off a table next to it, opening the latch.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to check on something. Stay here. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Why won't you tell me what's going on?"
"I don't have time to explain. I have to get downstairs before it's too late."
"Neil, I --"
"The name's Bond. James Bond."
She actually snorted. Whatever was going on, it wasn't so serious that she should be freaking out. He was obviously being playful. If it was something that was important, she was certain he would have continued to break character like he had when he first answered his phone and just told her. Instead, he quickly returned to being Bond. Still, he obviously had something in mind. Perhaps it was a sudden surprise on his end. Not wanting to spoil it, she took a deep breath and called on her patience.
"Okay, James. But where's my Beretta, just in case?"
"It's where I left it," he grinned, happy that she was giving up the line of questioning. Happier still that she'd decided to continue to follow his lead in the play they were acting out. "Now stay put. I won't be long."
It turned out longer than she expected. She wasn't sure
how
long it had been, but she couldn't go back to sleep. Her mind raced, wondering what it all meant. As the minutes accumulated, she was gradually attacked by her inquisitive nature. She wanted to just call Brenda and ask her what was up. She even went so far as to reach for her own mobile phone before she remembered she'd foolishly allowed the battery to run down. Even worse, she neglected to bring the charger.
"So much for being prepared," she griped at herself.
Restless, she tossed off the covers, thinking she'd look up the number in the little book in her purse. Turning the knob of the lamp on the nightstand, the room remained dark.