This is the third Grayson story and direct sequel to The Rescue. It's suggested to read that before this one. Thanks for reading and your patience in getting this follow-up story written.
*****
Ken snapped awake at the intrusive vibrations of a phone on the nightstand.
"Is that yours or mine?" Michelle Ripley groggily raised her head and asked.
"If it's mine, you have my permission to throw it out the window," Ken murmured without opening his eyes.
She read the time off her bedside clock. "May take you up on that. Who calls someone at midnight?"
"Someone who shouldn't expect an answer," he responded.
She sighed and leaned over him to check. He took the opportunity to pull her closer as she reached for them. He kissed her exposed neck making her moan.
"Mmm, are you thinking of using an overhead toss or gonna side-arm it?" he grinned.
"I was thinking that I wore you out earlier," she rubbed her thinly covered breasts against his bare chest in retaliation. "I see I was mistaken. As for your phone, I haven't decided yet."
Her hand groped for the offending phone and snagged it on her second attempt. She took a second to read off the caller and a worried look crossed her features.
"It's yours," she handed it to him.
"Thought you were gonna toss it out the..." his thought was derailed when he read the name of the caller.
"Jen?" he paused. "Or is this a Det. Young call?"
"Either you're very good at sounding like I just woke you up or you weren't just at a shootout."
"...sounding less and less like this is a social call."
"It's a work call," she confirmed.
"Yours or mine, Det. Young?"
"You should know by now that if it's yours, it inevitable ends up as mine as well," she pointed out.
Ken sighed. "You're going to make me put pants on, aren't you?"
Michelle gave his chest a light slap at that question.
"Not an image I needed in my head, Grayson," Det. Jennifer Young said.
"Yeah, well you're welcome for calling me at his ungodly hour," he shook his head.
"Are you always so cheery at this time of night?" she asked.
"I've been told that it's part of my charm."
"Someone lied to your face just like that huh?"
"Whoa, now who's the cheery one?" He chuckled.
"It's been a long day stretching into what's looking like a long night," she answered. "Isn't this considered your normal business hours though? You know, when you're out playing private eye."
"Okay, it's private investigator and I haven't been out
playing
since I got back from my... let's call it a sabbatical."
"You sure that you haven't started back working cases yet? Say one that would bring you here to Myrtle?" She asked.
"I am in Myrtle, well South Myrtle at least, but I promise you that I'm not back on any cases. I've been told that lying to blondes is bad for my health," he answered.
Michelle smiled and shook her head while Det. Young chuckled.
"Smart man," she chided him.
"So what makes you think that I'm back working cases?"
"Found one of your cards at a crime scene. Could be something, but could be nothing as well. We're still working it," she said.
"Got any names for me? Maybe whoever it is was, was an old client that held onto a card," he speculated.
She sighed. "No names, no bodies just bullet holes, casings, some blood and a boatload of questions."
"And one of my cards," he added.
"Yep, one of your cards, but there's also candy wrappers, popcorn boxes and other kinds of trash," she paused. "No offense."
"Only slightly offended, Jen," he chuckled. "But then I did hand out those things like they were candy at Halloween when I first got started so a few were bound to end up as trash. Want me to drive up and have a look around? Maybe an extra set of eyes could help."
"I appreciate the offer, Ken, I really do, but it doesn't look like I can do much here myself. Between Lang and me and the evidence techs we've got more than enough eyes. I wouldn't want to waste your time on something that's probably going to end up being nothing," Det. Young said.
"If you need anything or if I can help out..."
"I've got your number. Thanks for taking my call and tell Michelle, I'm sorry for disturbing y'all," she said.
"Gimme," Michelle gestured for the phone.
He handed it to her then kissed her bare shoulder. She sighed then gave him a slight push away from her as she took the phone.
"Hey, Jen. It's not a problem though Kenny is trying to be at the moment," she said.
"I tried telling you that he wasn't trainable," Det. Young laughed.
"You did, but what can I say? I like a challenge," she smiled.
"Say goodbye to Jen and I'll show you how much of a challenge I can be," Ken chuckled.
"Uh-oh, I may be in trouble here," Michelle said.
"I'd offer you the use of my handcuffs, but I have a feeling that Grayson might be into it," she smiled.
"Been cuffed too many times in non-erotic situations for me to find it hot," he said.
"My loss," Michelle sighed.
"I'd probably find scarves hot if you wanted to experiment with those," Ken smiled.
Thoughts swirled through Michelle's head. "Mmm, I do have some nice, silky ones that we..."
"Okay, you two, I should let you two go so you can continue that discussion or whatever else is about to happen," Jen broke in. "Sorry for the late call, Michelle. If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, let me know."
"There's no need for you to make up for anything, but if you want, you can stop by the aquarium for lunch soon. How's that sound?"
"Lunch with Lenny and Squiggy?" She asked.
"You can't come by and not have lunch with your favorite pair of octopi. They'd be very upset if you did," Michelle smiled.
"I can't be upsetting my boys. I'll text you soon to set that up. Try to keep Grayson outta trouble for me," she laughed.
"You know that I'll do my best. Night, Jen," she said then hung up.
She placed Ken's phone back onto the nightstand but stayed lying across his chest. Her fingers drummed playfully against his skin.
"Now that we're up... whatever shall we do, Mr. Grayson?"
"Let me think, well, our usual go-to would be watching some classic movies or we can go for a midnight stroll out on the beach or...,"
She cut him off with a quick kiss.
"What did you do that for?" He asked in his best Bogart impersonation.
"I've been wondering if I'd like it," she replied in her best Bacall.
"What's the decision?"
"I don't know yet."
He pulled her in and kissed her again.
"Mmm, it's even better when you help," she finished the movie quote.
