"Okay," comes from the upper floor. Mike sees the light appear on his phone and hears her voice in the distance. He draws out today's fax from Trudy and looks over what is happening. It looks like Jack and Lily are working in Langley. Chuck has the day off and Trudy herself is doing some skip tracing by phone. Mike checks back in some files and he scribbles a note on a pad. He makes a note to himself to check with Trudy on how much business they are getting from the Langley area. Since Chuck lives there and the duo of Jack and Lily live in New Westminster just beyond there it might warrant a closer look at expanding into that market.
In his mind he assesses the attributes of his staff. Chuck has a background in private security but is devoted and does a fine job. He is an old friend. Jack White comes from the RCMP on a disability pension but also is very reliable and has had experience in the fields where Mike's work lies. The other member of the team is Lily, a Chinese emigrant to Canada and formerly employed as an undercover drug laws enforcement officer in Singapore. She and Jack live together and are a terrific team.
If he had to pick one for an office manager he is not sure which it would be. He dwells on it and finally thinks he would choose Lily. The other two could work with her and not feel they had been overlooked for promotion. Marlene calls down to him.
"Mom is delighted. Mike, I think both girls and Rick is too much to ask of her. I am going to see if Richard will help Trudy. Okay?"
Mike is coming up the stairs now, "Okay, I said that might be a good idea."
He hears her giggle, "Not going to let me grab the credit for that idea, eh?" They laugh together as he hugs her.
Mike says, "I think this holiday is just what we need. By the way, where are the kids this morning?"
"Rick and Julie are over to the arena skating, her mother picked him up." She gets an edge to her voice, "And don't you go getting any ideas." Julie's mother, Sadie, is a stripper in a local nightclub. Mike calls her Shady Sadie and he has had many late night meetings with her in the past.
"And Shelly and Jan?"
"The girls are at mom's for the day. She's taking them to the circus in Langley. She wanted me to join them but I have a washing in and shopping to do this afternoon. How about you? I thought you were going down to Trudy's?"
"I thought I might go down to Sunny Meadows and close up the trailer for the season. Do you think we are likely to use it again this year?"
Marlene thinks this over, "Seems a shame to call it a season so early. Don't you think we might get away again before it gets too cold?"
"Okay, let's leave it for now." They have a trailer at a local nudist park and find that is a great way to relax when they can get away. "Want me to come along shopping with you?"
"No! Good heavens, no. You know you hate shopping." Marlene looks a bit upset at the idea.
"I may go over and wash the truck. Guess my car could use a bath, too."
Mike drives a '69 candy apple red mustang convertible. "Maybe I will drop by the police station on my way out and catch up on the latest." He watches Marlene's reactions to this and sees she is agitated.
"The Matsqui Police?"
Mike let's her stew a few minutes as he reads a brochure, "No, the RCMP station was what I had in mind. I've seen enough of Ken the last few months." Ken is the local police chief of the Matsqui Police, a force operated by the towns of Abbotsford, Clearbrook and Matsqui. The RCMP operates in the area as highway patrol on the freeway and cover federal offences within the towns. Marlene went to school with the chief and Trudy has told Mike that she thinks Marlene may be seeing him on the side. Mike has yet to catch her at it but he is becoming convinced she might be. Mike finishes his coffee and goes to his office for his cell phone and briefcase.
He comes back up and in the kitchen silently steals up behind Marlene to tug her apron string and undo it. She laughs and slaps at his hand as she reaches back to refasten it. Mike slips an arm around her and kisses her. "See you at suppertime then. I will grab some lunch in Poco or Mission since I will be stopping there at Carson Wagonlit to see Mary Ann first."
Marlene waves at him as he passes the side window on his way to his car. Mike pulls out onto Marshal Road in Abbotsford and swings left at the stoplight. He passes the Abbotsford hospital and heads across town. He glances at his watch and pulls in at Tim Horton's Restaurant. He sees one RCMP cruiser in the lot but sits in his car waiting. He dials his cell phone.
"Good morning, Carson Wagonlit Travel, can I help you?"
"Is Mary Ann there, please?"
"Hold on a minute." The female voice is familiar but he can't put a face with it. She comes back again, "Mary Ann is with a customer. Can I tell her who is calling?"
"Tell her it's Mike Claymore and I will take her up on her offer."
"I'll tell her. Will you hold for an answer?"
"Yes." Mike looks around and sees the RCMP officer leaving the restaurant. He looks familiar so he nods and moves his hand in a greeting gesture. The officer must know his car because he smiles and waves back as he gets into his cruiser.
"Are you there?"
"Yes," intones Mike into the phone.
"Mary Ann wants to know if you will be in today?"
"Yes, within the hour and with the funds."
"Excellent. She says see you then."
"Thank you," Mike clicks on end and clips the phone to his belt. He goes into the restaurant. He orders coffee and consults his watch again. He gets a seat in a quiet corner and waits. Two cruisers approach each other in the street and slow down. They exchange words and the one puts on her signal light to come into Tim Horton's. Mike smiles as he sees the other cruiser go on down the street. He waits for Janine to join him.
She comes in and heads right to his table nodding at the attendant as she goes by. "I saw your car out front," she seats herself across from him. "Jimmy might be back. He's just dropping off some reports at the office."
The attendant brings coffee and doughnuts, "Anyone else joining you? I brought a few."
Janine smiles, "Thanks buddy." She turns to Mike, "Want one?"
Mike rubs his stomach, "Better not, I sure don't need it,"
Janine laughs and says, "Me either but they're habit forming." She whispers, "Good thing you help me wear them off," and stirs her coffee. "What's up? I didn't expect to see you here on a Saturday morning."
"Just on my way over to Mission and Poco. I thought I might catch you here. Something's come up and I'll be out of town a couple of weeks."
"Going back east?"
Mike chuckles, "You and Trudy, you think alike. No, Marlene and I are taking an Alaskan cruise. We are leaving next Saturday. Should be back the 11
th
."
Janine looks a bit puzzled, "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"It came up sudden like. A friend gave me an offer I couldn't refuse yesterday. Do you know Mary Ann at Carson Wagonlit in Mission?"
"No, never heard of her."
"Well she has this deal on a last voyage of one of the cruise ships that is over half full of trade unionists on a convention. She has a bunch of first class staterooms on this cruise at rock bottom prices. She only told me yesterday."
"Wow, that's neat! I should take some holidays and join you guys."
"Uh, do you think that's wise? A ship is pretty close quarters for us to hide our relationship."
"I doubt I could get leave that fast." Janine looks thoughtful. "Marlene has never met me though," she sniggers, "I could get a good look at that wife of yours at last."
Mike hisses, "Janine, not wise at all!"
She rests her hand on his, "Fear not, lover. Will we get a chance to get together again before you go?"
"What you doing tonight?"
"Oh, not tonight. How about Tuesday night?"
Mike pauses, "That might work. What you got in mind?"
"A cosy tête-à-tête at home. My roommate will be out of town."
Mike ponders, "I'll see what I can do. Sounds good." Just then another officer arrives and heads for their table. Mike pulls his hand back and says, "Jimmy, won't you join us?"
The two uniformed officers exchange conversation and Mike begs off saying he has to get over to Mission. He waves to them as he leaves. He heads right out the Abby-Mission highway to Mission and pulls into the credit union mall within half an hour.
Mary Ann is delighted to see him and she hands him the final figures for the voyage. Mike goes over it with her adding some stops ashore and other amenities then goes next door to the credit union to get the funds. Within an hour he is finished and they are booked for the trip. Mike enjoys the friendly personal service he gets at the Mission branch of the Fraser Valley Credit Union and has maintained an account here for a few years. He has gotten them an oceanview stateroom with balcony on the third deck up from the main deck with easy access to the pool and sports deck above. They will have about 200 square feet of living space, twin beds that can be attached to make a double and a sitting room area with sliding glass door to the balcony. That coupled with a small bathroom will comprise their space on the voyage. Mike is pleased. He calls home when he has everything settled but there is no answer.
