Page 28

“So what are you going to do with yourself once the trial is over,” Andy asked.

They were finally back at the bungalow after the debacle earlier in the day, and a prolonged afternoon in Director Baskin’s office. They were companionably enjoying a piccata that Cobble had cooked and dished up.

Had they eaten earlier? Cobble didn’t remember, but his stomach said they hadn’t.

Andy’s question, which he’d been expecting, was one Cobble had been pondering off and on all day.

First and foremost, once they finished eating, he was going to call his parents. On a regular phone. And talk for as long as he wanted. His parents would love that.

Afterward…

“Well, we’ll have Fleischerman’s trial, too, eventually.”

“True,” Andy responded, taking a bite of her meal. “But it only means no travel out of the immediate area. You’ve been given the green light to start your life again, as soon as you feel comfortable about it. Then, of course, we’ll have to see if Baskins can fast-track things with Fleischerman so you can get on a plane again and all that kind of stuff. I can’t say I’m unhappy we don’t have Georgio to worry about, though.”

That turn of events had been…interesting.

Agent Georgio had sustained three flesh wounds when the SOS team had fired on him. They’d been aiming to disable the man, not kill him. But the agent, after being shot, had quickly succumbed to a heart attack, and had died on the way to the hospital.

Cobble didn’t feel bad about that, at all.

Agent Fleischerman, however, was still very much alive. His shoulder was a mangled mess, and his right hand had been broken from Cobble’s rock-throw, but other than that he’d be okay to stand trial. He was currently in the hospital after getting his hand set and having emergency reconstruction on his shoulder.

The traitor would remain there, under guard until he was well enough to be taken into custody.

The day had gone—if not exactly according to plan—at least as well as any of them could have hoped.

“Mmm. This is so freakin’ good,” Andy praised over the meal, licking her lips and rolling her eyes behind her enormous glasses before pinning him with a stare. “But speaking of Fleischerman, are you going to tell me how the hell you could pick up a rock and throw it at him; not only hitting his wrist, but breaking it?”

Cobble chuckled. “Well, amongst all the other things I did, a few years ago I signed up for an adult baseball camp that ran for an entire summer of weekends. I, uh, learned how to pitch.”

Andy threw back her head and laughed. “Of course you did. Why am I not surprised? I’ll just add that to the never-ending list of classes, seminars, and retreats you’ve told me you aced while you were a non-person.”

“Yup,” Cobble agreed. “They were a lot of fun, but I’m not going to lie. The no-name stuff sucked because for all the things I learned, I don’t have a single degree in my real name. Which means none of it can translate into a decent job.”

Andy’s brows drew together. “Yeah. I know. But at least you have all that knowledge. And remember? My boss, Del, did say he’ll hire you to be part of SOS.”

“Of course I remember.” Cobble had thought about it alot. “It’s really nice of him, but…”

How would Andy take this?

“I’ve decided I’d like to get out of the ‘risky business’ game. No offense, but I’ve had enough subterfuge to last me a lifetime. I’d like a nice, normal job, a suburban home, a couple of dogs like I’ve talked about, a wife and…the two point five kids everyone brags about.”

That stopped the fork on its way to Andy’s mouth. “Are you talking about having all that with…me?” she queried, looking both sure of herself and doubtful at the same time.

“Hell, yes,” Cobble told her.

There was no reason to beat around the bush. Neither of them had been hiding their feelings. But this wasn’t exactly how he wanted to do it.

“I’m not asking officially yet,” he warned her. “I have to be let off my federal-leash so I can shop for a ring, but Andy, once that’s done, I’m not wasting time. As soon as this whole trial business is over, we will be getting married, ASAP.”

“You make a girl’s heart flutter,” she giggled. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Andy grinned and went back to attacking her food again. “So,” she asked after she’d taken a few more bites and practically orgasmed over the flavor, “except for us getting hitched, you haven’t totally answered my previous question. What’s on your bucket list when the trial wraps up?”

“First, I’m going to visit my parents.” He smiled. “I only got to see them twice in the entire fourteen years I was in hiding, so I plan to spend a lot of time with them.”

“I love that, for you and for them,” Andy commiserated.

“Then, I want to visit your parents’ compound. Everyone there took such good care of me for the years I was in residence, I feel like they’re family already.”

“They’ll all be thrilled,” Andy told him with certainty. “What else?”

“I want to contact all those people who knew me by my aliases along the way; my old bosses, workmates, school buddies, neighbors. I want them to know who I really am and why I had to leave them so abruptly.”

“That’s going to take a lot of time,” Andy nodded.

“I know, but it will be worth it. Wait until you meet some of those awesome folks. You’re going to love them, and they’re going to love you.”

“Sweet,” Andy replied. “So, catching up with family and old friends, finding a job, a house, and some dogs, then…marrying me?”

Cobble broke out into a huge smile. He couldn’t believe his years of isolation were finally about to be over. “Exactly,” he told her. “I’ll also look forward to finally meeting Rory and the rest of your SOS team. Then, eventually, I’ll find a few more classes to take.”

Andy snorted. “Of that, I have no doubt.”

“Now, about our living arrangements…” Cobble began.

“Don’t worry. If you want, you can stay with me and Rory until we figure something else out. I told her all about you, and she thinks our covert relationship has been very dreamy ; like a dark, romantic movie—tragic but hopeful—where two lovers are kept apart until their stars finally align and they live happily ever after.”

“I like the sound of the happily ever after,” Cobble chuckled. “However, I could have done without the tragedy part. And as much as I like the thought of sharing your apartment with you, I’m not a city person, Andy. It might be good, short term, but I like the discussion we had about getting your friend Tucker to build us an end-unit townhouse right here.”

“So…you don’t like this bungalow?” she asked with a cheeky look on her face.

“Of course I do, but it’s slated for demolition.”

“What would you say if I told you I’d talked to Tuck, and because this house is on the far end of his planned development, he’s…open to working with us. If we allow him to update the outside of this place to meet his aesthetic requirements, he’d leave a nice sized lot carved out, let us buy it, and stay.”

“He…? You did that for us?” Cobble could barely get words out.

“Uh, huh,” she returned smugly.

Damn . He loved this house; the seaside location, the historic details, the cozy—

Shit. Too cozy. There were two small bedrooms and one bath. Barely adequate for him, Andy, and Rory in the short term, but not very private for a newly married couple and a teenage girl. And what about future children? Dogs? Cobble didn’t want to naysay the offer, but he was torn.

“It’s too small,” he told her with some regret in his voice.

Andy grinned again. Or had she never stopped? “Did I mention that the lot size he’s proposing would allow for expansion? Tuck says he wouldn’t be averse to putting on a primary suite wing.”

“I could draw up plans, and help with the build,” Cobble speculated, getting excited; feeling like he was in some kind of dream.

“Yeah.” Andy’s voice grew more and more animated. “We could also update things like the kitchen and baths ourselves, and if you want, we could even put on a second story.”

“Holy shit, Andy. I never expected this. Does that really mean we can stay? Like, forever, and starting…now?”

“Uh, huh,” she nodded, her smile growing bigger.

Cobble’s mind started going a million miles an hour.

“We can get rid of the crap furniture—not my bed or my TV’s of course—but everything else. Next weekend we can move the stuff from your apartment, here. Or at least as much as will fit right now. We can put the rest in storage until the additions are done, and Rory… Wait. How will Rory feel about all this?”

Andy laughed. Maybe that was their new norm, to be constantly giddy.

“I’ve shown her pictures, and Rory’s ready to move here immediately. As much as she loves Prez, Maygan, and their girls, she says she’s a little tired of being shuffled around, and she can’t wait to live someplace again that’s full-time. If it’s okay with you, I’ll pick her up tomorrow after school, and with a little help from friends with trucks, we’ll pack up my and her essentials and bring them back here. Most everything else can wait until the weekend.”

Cobble felt a warmth swell in his chest. He didn’t know Rory, but from all he’d heard via Andy, he already loved her. “I can’t wait,” he responded. “But…What if she doesn’t like me?” he blurted out.

Andy scoffed. “Are you kidding? Tall, blond, and handsome? Rory’s going to be immediately in awe of you; probably crush on you for a few months. Then once she’s comfortable, she’ll start treating you like the stupid adult you really are and ignore the hell out of you. So, embrace the over-the-top adoration while you can.”

That all sounded awesome to Cobble.

They finished their food in contented, companionable silence, then cleared the table together. When Cobble began running water in the sink to wash the dishes, Andy came over and hip-checked him aside.

“I’ve got this,” she said. “Go call your parents.”

Cobble didn’t think he could get any happier than he already was, but picturing himself delivering the good news to his mom and dad, had him over the moon.

He didn’t argue with Andy, but headed right for the saggy sofa in the living room.

His hands were shaking as he dialed the decades old number he’d long ago committed to memory.

“Hello?”

It was his mother’s voice, and of course she sounded hesitant. Clearly this phone wasn’t yet set up with caller ID. Baskins had thrust the brand-new device into his hands at the office, where the entire team had been debriefed. The phone, along with a driver’s license that had his real name on it, an actual credit card that also said Sawyer Blue, and a bank account statement—sizable and in his name as well, thanks to Chuck—had instantly restored his identity and autonomy to him.

In the next few days, Cobble would take the rest of the cash he’d amassed over the past few years—that he’d kept hidden in several old pieces of luggage in his safehouses—to the bank, adding it to his first legit account as an actual freaking adult.

Cobble could only imagine the teller’s face when he came in with stacks and stacks of bills.

“It’s me, Mom,” Cobble stated gently, hoping she recognized his voice. He’d choked up immediately when she’d answered.

“Sawyer?” she squealed. “You’re calling me directly? This isn’t being routed through Chuck or Ms. Andriopolos?”

“Call her Andy,” Cobble instructed with a hitch to his words. His parents didn’t know about their relationship yet, but it wouldn’t be long before he filled them in.

“Okay,” his mother readily agreed. “But what’s happening?”

He hadn’t thought he’d get so emotional. “It’s over, Ma. Over.”

“Over?” she repeated dumbly. “You mean…? What is it you mean?” she asked in a tone that held so much hope.

“The case,” he clarified. “El-Umar is in custody, one person from the DOJ and two from the FBI have been…taken care of.” Now was not the time to say that a pair of them were dead. “I’m almost free and clear. As soon as I testify, which could be in as little as a couple of weeks, I’m free to go wherever I want, and my first order of business will be visiting you.”

Just saying the words made Cobble feel lighter.

“Are you still in hiding until then, or can we… Can we come and see you? Wait. Wait Your father just came through the door… Sheldon! It’s Sawyer. They’ve got the people who were trying to find him, and he’s…” A sob wrenched up from his mother’s throat, and he could picture his dad coming over to comfort her.

It only took a minute before his father came on the line.

“Sawyer?” His father’s normally strong voice sounded more than a little emotional. “Is this true? You’re finally free?”

“Almost, Dad,” Cobble told him. “As I let Mom know, there’s still the matter of a couple trials to get through, but what I didn’t tell her is that I’m no longer on lockdown. I’m currently staying in a place just south of Boston, and as long as I remain in the area, I don’t need an escort to go anywhere, and…I can use my real name again.”

“That’s…so wonderful, Son,” his dad choked out, then laughed. “Hold on. Your mother is chirping in my ear.” There was a moment of whispers before he got back to Cobble. “Uh, apparently, we’re coming to see you. Tomorrow,” his dad said, still sounding a little incredulous. “I’m putting you on speaker.”

Cobble didn’t hesitate. “That’s awesome. I can’t wait to see you two.” He rattled off the address, then said, “But just to let you know, we’re kind of pinched for space right now where we’re staying, so I’ll find the nearest hotel and book you a room. Come to my address first, then we’ll check you in, together.”

“We?” his mother said, tearily. She sniffed. “Do you still have someone there watching out for you? Chuck? Or Ms. Andriopolos? Uh, I mean Andy?” she said somewhat confusedly.

Cobble preferred to tell them face to face how his relationship with Andy had grown over the past five years, so for now he simply grinned to himself and answered with a partial truth. “Yeah. I do. And it’s Andy.”

There was silence until his mother gave a choked laugh. “Am I right in thinking there are a few things we don’t know yet?” she asked.

His mother was too smart.

“There certainly are,” he admitted. “But Mom, you’re going to love her.”