I now lived on my own in a quite spacious top floor studio, but with only one bedroom, he had to sleep on the lounge in the front room. Coincidentally... my lease was coming up for renewal, so we had a long talk and decided it would be good for us both to move into a 2 beddy and split the bills. In another 12 months, we could see how we stood, and then move forward as required.Sounds like a plan, yes? Except for my son’s dumb-ass prank.My agent arranged an ‘open-house viewing’ of my place. On the exterior, he was cool and calm when he pushed the door open and stepped quietly inside. Annie was resting, napping from the exhaustion of being poked and prodded by a gang of medical staff. James stood at her bedside and slipped her hand between his own. Her eyes fluttered open. "Hi," she said weakly."Hi yourself!" James replied smiling down at her. "How are you feeling?" Tired. But, other than that, fine," she replied. "Where's Dad?" she asked, suddenly aware that Patrick was not. Theywere aware that The Army of Allah signed up many recruits from students inthis program. The army offered to reinstate me as a captain, if I wouldagree to spy for them. I could keep an eye on my students, and hopefullyrecognize where their loyalties were. I accepted only because I believedwe were all still in danger. I was certainly right about that. One of themen we killed tonight, and three of the men the army captured, werestudents of mine." Martin paused and glanced at the two. I hesitated for a moment. Cathy's note had said she'd be back before dinner, but that didn't mean she wouldn't turn up early. It would be damned embarrassing if my wife walking in and found my fingering my new equipment. But even while I was thinking this, the warmth between my legs was growing and my finger made another pass. In seconds, my left hand was gripping hard on the edge of the counter while my right hand occupied itself between my legs. Without meaning to, I started swaying forward.