They rounded a hill and he said proudly, ‘There’s home.’ ‘Omigod you deceived me. It’s that Mediterranean home we saw a couple of minutes ag....’ ‘Yeah, it’s a Tuscan design and built seven years ago.’ ‘Oh and it will look so much in place with the grape vines in full leaf. Oh, it has the deep-set windows with shutters to add rustic charm and grand raised entry. Ohmigod I can see a big patch of barrel roof tiles off-center… it has an internal courtyard. Was it designed by an international. "After that, I'm taking you to these people to stay awhile. You should be safe there since your not related to them and it's the best place I can think of for you to stay. I want you to promise me, though, that you won't tell them what you saw here or about me." Your really going to take me with you?" she asked. "Your not going to turn me over to CPS?" Yes," I said. "I'm really going to take you with me to Everett. "I won't turn you over to CPS and I promise that when this is over you will. He was last known to have been seen publicly fourteen months ago at a small branch office of a nation-wide bank in north suburban Chicago, at which time he produced a sizeable amount of money, all in cash, and purchased four certified checks. One of these checks he sent to a family member in Ohio; the others were mailed to pay off a credit card balance, satisfy a personal loan obligation, and retire the remaining debt owed on his automobile purchase. His vehicle, a late model Honda Civic, was. Damn, I can see you’re already excited. I don’t think I’d even be able to see it if it was soft. How about a scotch on the rocks, John? Did you get that Blue I told Julie I liked?”“No,” I lied. “They didn’t have it so I got Ardbeg. I hope that’s okay.”Mike scowled just as Julie walked in wearing the sexy black teddy I’d given her for Valentine’s Day. “What’s the matter, lover?”“Your asshole husband got me some mystery shit for scotch. I wanted the Blue.”“If you wanted the Blue so badly.