Caleb and Jessica arrive at Caleb's house after their date and Caleb has spotted something amiss. We also get some more clues into who Caleb is, as he and Jessica are visited by the ghosts of his mother and sister.
Caleb's sharp eyes focused on Jessica, "Do you have your service pistol on you?"
"No. What's wrong?"
"See that tiny red light on my garage door near the roof," he pointed.
Jessica's eyes searched the darkness, finding nothing, then finally followed his pointed finger to the tiniest pinhole of red light. "Oh, yes."
"How do you see that so easy?"
"I see pretty well at night. That red light means someone has been in my house, it also means they bypassed the alarm."
Jessica took her phone from her purse.
"No, don't call anyone," he said putting the truck in park.
Caleb reached behind the front seat, his fore and index finger finding the scanner under the edge of the back seat. There was an electronic beeping, a click then he flipped up the back seats.
Jessica looked back at what he was doing, "Holy shit Caleb!"
He removed a Glock 19X, from the custom compartment underneath the seat. Jessica could see another pistol, a shotgun, a rifle, extra magazines and what appeared to be a short sword or an extra-large knife.
"Stay here."
"Bullshit!" Jessica said grabbing the other Glock 19X from the compartment.
"There is one in the chamber no need to rack the slide, you have twenty rounds. Keep the light off too. Please Jess stay on my six."
"Ok."
"Have you ever had to fire your weapon at someone?"
"No."
"This is different than a range Jess," Caleb said his eyes searching her for fear. "It happens extremely quick, identify your target first. Finger off the trigger till it is identified. Fire till it stops moving, do not stop till it does. Jessica nodded.
"Till it stops Jess, he repeated." Again she nodded.
"Slow steady controlled shots."
He looked at her again, she could see his eyes from the dash light. His eyes were no longer warm and welcome, they were the eyes of a predator, almost animalistic, his smile a thin line of determination. She barely noted at the time, but would remember later, that his eyes almost appeared to have slight a blue glow in the whites. A shiver ran across her causing goose flesh, she would chalk it up then as the glow of the dash lights then.
"Ok," she said.
He lowered the seat bottom then flipped the back of the seats down, here put this on, he said handing her body armor.
"Fuck Caleb, you are prepared for a small war in here."
"Jess, sometimes war comes looking for you, and when you least expect it."
Jessica undone the straps and put on the armor. Caleb killed the truck.
"Close your eyes, gently don't squeeze them, for a minute and let your brain get used to the dark. Do not consciously try to override your sense let them happen Jess. Allow your primal instincts to work."
"Primal?"
"Yes, same as when people exhibit super strength like when a mother lifts a car off her child. We are wired to work primally. We have been conditioned to not notice it or override without thought. Let it work tonight."
"Ok baby," she said.
He smiled.
"Ready?"
"Yeah," she whispered.
Caleb reached up flipping the overhead light switch to make sure it would not come on when the door opened. Slowly he made his way around the house to the back door, Jess right behind him, checking each window as they went. Around back he inserted his key, placing a finger to his lips looking at Jessica.
She nodded. He made entry slowly checking the kitchen he as he entered. Noticing the alarm was set he disabled it.
Almost painstakingly Jessica thought he cleared the entire house room by room, how he could have saw anyone in the dark was beyond her. She had just kept her hand on his back hoping he could see well enough. In their search they found no one. She was about to speak when he held his finger back to his lips.
"It's safe, but I need you to stay here and not talk for a minute or two," he whispered directly into her ear. "I have to get something; I will be back."
She nodded.
He kissed her lips, "It's safe Jess," and smiled.
Her heart started calming down and she nodded.
In the garage he went and into the secret room making sure it closed behind him as he headed back to her.
She followed along quietly as he walked room to room with a large handheld device that looked like some weird cell phone as they went. Twice she saw it blink red, once in the living room and once in the bedroom. He led her back out the way they came in and into the back yard.
"What is it Caleb," she whispered?
"Two bugs in the house, one living room, one bedroom. Your partner I'd bet." Caleb pulled out his cell phone dialing. Jessica's heart sank, Richard as about to be fired.
"Yes this is Caleb Sparks my address is 107 Laurel Oak Drive, pass code is Xray, Seven, Four, Four, Tango, Alpha, Niner," Caleb waited a few seconds seeming to listen. "Yes, why was my alarm disabled? At what time and for how long," Caleb again listening? "Thank you. No that will be all."
Again Caleb dialing, "Hey Kass, sorry to call you so late. Huh?" He laughed, "yeah, we went to a county fair. Oh by the way cotton candy is great," he laughed. Jessica wanted to laugh but her fear for Richard was gnawing at her.
"Can you make sure my alarm company knows that nobody but myself, you or Jessica is to ever disable my alarm. No I will take care of that. Kass I got this one. Thank you. You too. I don't know our date is still going on," he smiled then laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter."
"Don't worry Jess," he said after he hung up the phone, he gets a free pass here, but he does it again..."
"He won't baby," she said.
"I could get used to you calling me baby," he said kissing her firmly.
"You keep kissing me like that I will be calling you Papi," she smiled feeling the relief Richard may survive this one.
Caleb now had a big smile, "Papi huh?"
"Papi," she said kissing him, her tongue meeting his for the first time.
"My... Mr. Sparks, I may need to frisk you."
"Oh?"
"I think you may be hiding another weapon," she pushed her pelvis to him.
"Oh, it's harmless just a little .22 derringer."
She ran her hand along the length of it causing him to gasp.
"Seems to me it's a large caliber with an extended barrel."
He laughed as she kissed him causing her to laugh.
"Ok, so do you want your partner to hear the rest of the date," then blushed? "Sorry I..."
She smiled; "Caleb I do love you blushing," she could see it in the lights from the street. "The dating thing is new to you huh?"
"Well I'm just really out of practice."
"Serve his ass right to let him hear," she laughed, "but no I don't want him to hear me moaning your name later."
