The investigation by two police departments proceeded on its own pace. The Lawrence Street Detective Club, being private citizens and not members of any official constabulary, had to be content to wait.

DNA testing was backlogged in most police departments, and the VPD was no exception. Months after Detectives Parsons and Reynolds arrived with a warrant to take samples from everyone who was a guest that fateful night, causing much indignation among Lauren's coworkers and many scowls at Lauren herself (although not from Ralph, she was surprised to notice), results still hadn't come in, and neither detective had felt the need to tell Lauren why they were taking everyone's DNA: to determine whose wineglass was whose, the most logical answer, or because they'd found something on the sheets that suggested someone else had been in the room with Lauren and Al, a much more disturbing notion.

The stolen vehicle investigations, by the VPD and the RCMP, were quicker to conclude, mainly because they were simpler. Parsons informed them that they'd found a partial on the steering wheel of the Elantra that matched a person already in their database for a previous petty crime, so they were hopeful they could track the person down and lean on them to give up their co-conspirators. He wouldn't tell them who the person was, of course, because he didn't want them going after them themselves. Sunny, Al and Rachel passed on what they found about Carrie MacDougall and the van spotted in her garage, but the RCMP couldn't get a warrant to search the property because they couldn't make the disparate facts come together to satisfy a judge.

Lauren had phoned Joanie early on in the investigation to inquire whether they'd made any headway, hoping to leverage their new partnership, of a sort, to get a more favourable outcome.

"I'm afraid there's not much we can do," Joanie had said apologetically. "What we need is for that van to leave the garage, and we need to follow it for a while and take photos of the person behind the wheel. Then we need to get a photo of the VIN wherever they park it. Then we can connect the facts that the van is yours, you don't have possession of it, and someone else is driving it without your knowledge or permission. That's the only way we can get a warrant to search this person's house."

"Why didn't you say so?" Lauren had said. "I can follow that van if they take it out. It's the bulk of what I do."

"If you can do that, Lauren, that would be a big help; we just don't have the manpower to put surveillance on this house twenty-four-seven."

"I'll do it when I can."

She spent every bit of free time she could watching that house. She never did see the van in the garage because all the doors were closed now; maybe someone had spotted her friends, The Three Stooges, in Sunny's Prius the first time and decided maybe they shouldn't be so cocky and start hiding evidence of a stolen vehicle behind a door. There was also the possibility the van was gone, now, taken to a chop shop or burned somewhere to remove all evidence. If that was true, then she was wasting her time here, and she could only hope those fingerprints on the Elantra's steering wheel led here by the back door.

She used different cars for her surveillance, because the area was so exposed and the same car all the time would draw attention. She used her little Versa, as well as the new Toyota Highlander she and Joe leased with the insurance payout from the theft to handle their family, its large patriarch, and the cargo they carried; this wasn't a van recovery mission anymore, although they would take it back if they could. This was personal now. If this was the same woman, and if she was responsible for what had happened to Joe and Rachel, probably through thugs she knew in the area, then Lauren was going to make her pay.

She also used the wide variety of cars that Modo kept in its fleet. Rachel and Al offered to go out with her from time to time, and they used different cars parked around downtown Vancouver; Modo had forgiven them the theft of the Elantra once the circumstances had been established, so they were still able to book cars. They didn't use the Elantra again, though, not to go out there; Rachel was afraid it would be recognized, and she didn't want to run into those men again.

Lauren couldn't ignore the fact that Rachel either came on her own for these missions, or Rachel and Al came together. Al never accompanied Lauren alone. It became painfully obvious that Rachel didn't trust them alone together, and how could she blame her? She still hadn't gotten Al off her mind, and the longer they went without repeating that wonderful night, the more she desired him, and she knew Al felt the same way from the glances they shared in the rear view mirror whenever Rachel wasn't looking. It was starting to affect her affair with Rachel because, on the few occasions they found themselves alone together, she found herself resenting Rachel wanting her only for herself, and her ardour for her cooling because of it. Not so much that she ever refused her, but she wasn't as enthusiastic about it anymore.

On a Sunday she found herself alone again in her surveillance, in the Versa this time, she called Joanie and asked for any updates on the case. When Joanie let her know regretfully that there was nothing to report, Lauren asked what she really called to ask her. "How are you feeling about tonight?"

Joanie took a shaky breath and said, "Nervous, excited, guilty, take your pick."

Since Joe had come home from the hospital, he'd visited with Joanie twice. His recovery was the main reason for the small number, but there was also Johnny to think about; if Joe cancelled their brothers' man-cave time too often, Johnny would start to wonder what was up. Joe had still been in his cast for those visits, and his ribs had still been on the mend, although his knee sprain and his face had healed, so their time together had been necessarily chaste; coffee, or dinner, and lots and lots of talking about Lauren's proposition to make everybody happy, and whether it was something they could be comfortable with.

It turned out they could. Joe's cast was off, his ribs were better, and this evening was the first time they would put the proposition to the test. Lauren had made sure Joe bought condoms, and she'd received a scan of Joanie's prescription for birth control pills to reassure herself Joanie wasn't planning anything sneaky.

She knew this was a very unorthodox arrangement, that very few people tried it outside of porn videos, swinger communities or new age communes. She knew it could either save her marriage or end it, but what other alternatives could she have pursued? She wanted to have her cake and eat it, so how could she prevent her husband from doing so?

She did plan on one thing tonight that made her realize this was hurting her a little more than she'd expected: she wasn't going to be home when Joe walked out the door to see her. He was going to take the kids to her mom and dad's for a short visit, and then she would pick them up on the way home from her surveillance of the MacDougall property. She just couldn't watch his face when he said goodbye, fully intending to come home that same night as they'd planned, but knowing he would be committing adultery. She had her pride, it seemed, and watching him go would kill her a little inside, and it might kill him a little inside, too, and that wasn't what she wanted. Maybe the next time he went out it would be different, but not the first time.

"I still can't believe I'm discussing it with you," Joanie went on.

"I know. I feel like I'm pimping him out, but I know the two of you share more than attraction."

"We do. He's such a good guy."

"You don't have to tell me."

"Lauren?"

"Yes?"

"It's been a while since I've been with a guy, and I'm afraid I might be a little... tight down there, you know?"

"And you're worried about his size."

"Um... yeah."

"Just take it really, really slow. Make him see to your needs a long time before you get down to business."

"Jesus," she breathed.

"And don't worry, he'll be gentle with you. He's painfully aware of how large he is, and he'll take great care not to hurt you."

"My gentle giant," she said dreamily.

Lauren cleared her throat and said, "Yours for the evening. Mine for the rest of the time."

"Right. Of course."

"Okay. I better go before I think too much about this. Thanks for the update, even if it wasn't an update."

"Thank you, Lauren. For everything."

She hung up just as she became aware of activity on the property. She wasn't sure how she knew. Maybe a motion sensor light had activated, and her eye had registered the change in light. She looked through her telephoto lens and saw that one of the garage doors was opening.

It wasn't her stolen van leaving, just another luxury car. She thought it might be a BMW. As the door closed behind it, she watched as it approached the property gate. She saw through the lens that the driver was female, and that she was indeed the middle-aged woman who'd hired Lauren all those years ago. Well, well, well. She took a couple of shots of her face, then slid down in her seat as the car came her way. She waited until it was far ahead of her before looking back through the lens at the house. No other garage doors were open. The motion sensor light went out.

She thought about it for a millisecond before she decided to follow Carrie MacDougall. She might miss the van, but she couldn't pass up an opportunity to see what the woman was up to.

She started the Versa and sped up to cut the distance between her and the BMW, then stayed as far back as she could while keeping it in her sight. She didn't want the woman to know she was behind her.

The problem with this road was that there were hardly any intersections, so not many opportunities for other cars to place themselves between her and her quarry. If Carrie MacDougall paid attention to her rear view mirror, she might notice the same car following her for longer than was normal.

Eventually they reached the turnoff for the Trans Canada Highway at Mt. Lehman Road, but the woman didn't go to the highway. She drove into the parking lot for the same Denny's Restaurant she, Sunny and Al had walked into the night they'd dug up poor Charlie.

Intrigued, Lauren parked at the other end of the lot from her and eyed her in her mirrors. She was walking into the Denny's. Either she had really, really come down in the world, or she was walking into the Denny's precisely because she knew no one she knew would be there. She was up to something.

She exited her car and strode over to the restaurant, curious as to what she was doing. She couldn't imagine the woman finding the cuisine desirable. She stood against the wall and tried peeking in through the windows.

Carrie MacDougall was sitting in a booth, having coffee with someone. She could only tell that because there were two cups of coffee on the table, but the angle from the window didn't show who her partner was.

She couldn't risk walking into the restaurant to get a better angle. Carrie might recognize her, and she might be suspicious of why Lauren was there. She hung back and found a spot out of sight of the front door, where she could spot Carrie walking out without being spotted herself. She could also keep an eye on her car from here too, so she wouldn't miss her leaving.

She thought she needed to be doing something while she was standing there, just so she didn't attract suspicion. Nobody was less suspicious than a person on a cell phone. She dialled Rachel, still her first choice even after all the tension of the past few months.

The phone rang a few times before Rachel picked up. The police had given her phone back once they'd determined there were no other items of interest than her text exchange with Al. The unknown text exchange Lauren and Al had theorized over really was an arrangement to adopt a new dog to replace Charlie. Unfortunately, the rescue organization hadn't heard from them soon enough and found another family to adopt the dog. Lauren couldn't believe Rachel had been about to try to pull another fast one with a dog, and was still a little annoyed that Rachel thought she could fool her with it.

"Lauren?" Rachel asked. "What's up?"

"I'm sorry, did I call at bad time?" she asked when she heard the tone of Rachel's voice.

"Well, I'm visiting with Allison and Apple."

"Oh, sorry."

"Is everything okay?"

"Well, I just wanted to let you know I finally tagged Carrie MacDougall leaving the house."

"Oh! Fantastic! So, she really is the same one."

"Yup."

"Any sign of the van?"

"No, unfortunately. I bet it's scrapped now. But here's an interesting thing. She's at a Denny's here in Abbotsford right now, meeting someone."

"Really? Who?"

"I couldn't see from the window, and I didn't want to go in and check in case I got made."

"Shoot, I wish I was with you to go in and see. She wouldn't know who I was."

"Yeah. Shit. Wait, is Al with you?"

"Uh, no, I'm having some girl time with Allison. Al's at his mom's for dinner. Why, do you actually want him to go out there?"

Lauren thought about how to answer the question. If he went out here on his own, they'd be alone together, and that was the thing Rachel wanted not to happen.

"You know what?" Lauren said. "I wouldn't want to pull him away from his mom. It wouldn't work anyway. By the time he actually got here, I'm sure she'll have left the restaurant. It is over an hour away."

"Right," she said slowly. "Well, you can call him and ask, if you want. He'd take any excuse to get out of there."

"That doesn't seem very nice."

"Well, seeing the time, he might be finished dinner anyway. They eat early."

"Ah, nah, I shouldn't interrupt him. I shouldn't have even interrupted you, if you're with your friend."

"You're my friend too, Lauren. Remember, I fucking love you."

To Lauren's surprise, tears sprang to her eyes. "Thanks, Rachel. I fucking love you too."

"Good. Keep an eye on that woman, and call me if you find out who she's with."

"Will do. Thanks, babe."

Rachel hung up, and Lauren looked at her phone for a minute, wondering if she should do it. This was a line she hadn't crossed for good reason.

She realized she could also call Sunny. That would be the safer option, although if he was with his family at the dinner table he might not be inclined to come either.

She kept an eye on the front door of the restaurant as she dialled. The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

"Lauren?" Al asked. "Are you okay?"

"Guess where I am," she said, smiling at the sound of his voice.

"Are you out at the house again?"

"Actually no, I'm at that Denny's we went to in Abbotsford."

"Oh yeah? Are you having a Grand Slam?"

She chuckled, pleased that he remembered what she'd had that night. "No, although that does sound good right now. I'm actually not inside the restaurant. Guess who is, though."

"Who?"

"Carrie MacDougall."

"Wow! Jackpot!" he exclaimed.

"I know!"

"Damn it, the one time Rachel and I aren't with you, you clock her."

"Yeah, I know, I called Rachel already, she's with Allison."

"Yeah, having toddler time with Apple."

"Is she... I don't know... warming to the idea of motherhood herself?"

"I don't know. I think she likes the whole arm's length thing, especially with babies and toddlers; play with them for a while, then give them back to their parents. Older kids she's fine with. You know, I've heard Naomi wishing she could hang out with her more often, so if you were cool with her sleeping over, we'd be happy to entertain her for a night, although I don't think she likes me very much."

"Holy shit, Al, I bet she'd love that! But, wait, why don't you think Naomi likes you?"

"Are you kidding? That night I spent at your place, she was giving me the stink eye the whole time she was around me. I think she thought I had aspirations of being her new Daddy."

"Fuck," she breathed. "I was afraid of that. I don't think she relayed her suspicions to Joe, though, or I'm sure you'd be a smear on the pavement by now."

"Well, that's reassuring."

"Still thinking about fostering?"

"Yeah, actually, or at least I am. I have to discuss getting a bigger place with her, though, so we can start the fostering process."

"Well, I'm glad you're still thinking about being some kind of parents. Either way, a lucky kid is going to have you caring for them."

Al was silent for a moment, then, to her surprise, he spoke in a voice swollen with emotion. "Thanks, Lauren, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

"I mean it. You're a great guy, and you and Rachel would make wonderful parents."

He cleared his throat and said, "Yes. Rachel and I would."

She didn't need him to remind her that there was a firewall between them. She felt like a giant hole was opening in her stomach. "Al..." She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes to stop herself from crying. "I know we're supposed to be keeping our distance for everyone's sake, but I'm... um... feeling a little alone right now."

"I'm sorry," he said. He was quiet for a second, then said, "Would you like me to come over there?"

The change in her mood was so rapid it was like she was riding a rocket sled. He'd been the one to offer, and she could barely contain her pleasure. "Oh..." She felt her breath quickening. "Al, there's one reason why it would be a great idea if you did."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"It would be great if you could go into the restaurant and see who Carrie MacDougall is talking to, since she has no idea who you are and wouldn't be suspicious." She paused, knowing she had to be a good person and say the next part. "There's also a reason why it would be a terrible idea for you to come out here."

"You mean, what if it's Ralph she's talking to, since he does know who I am?"

She gasped as she realized that thought hadn't occurred to her. She could have blown her cover with Al or Rachel. If it was Ralph, all of her suspicions would be confirmed, but if he saw any of them, there wouldn't be any chance of avoiding confrontation. Luckily he hadn't said anything more after that awkward time he'd caught her in his office, but after the police had come to take DNA, he had to be feeling the pinch.

"Actually that's another reason. But the main reason is... you'd be here with me, and I'm feeling a little raw knowing Joe is about to be with Joanie for the first time tonight."

"Ah. Shoot. I'm sorry." He paused before saying, "So, look, I'm coming."

Her heart swelled at his declaration, but she had to make the proper protests. "Al, aren't you at your mother's? Rachel told me."

"We're pretty much done here. She'll understand if I tell her I'm helping you. She likes you."

"She wouldn't if she knew what I was thinking about you right now."

He was silent for a moment, but she could hear his breath grow heavy. "Oh boy." She knew he was refraining from using more adult words because he was at his mother's house.

"If you're coming, come quick; I don't know how long she'll be in there."

"Will do." He hung up.

She thought she should move, because if she waited for Al the whole time in one spot, people might notice her and wonder what she was doing, regardless of her having a phone at her ear. Keeping her eye on the front door of the restaurant, she made her slow, careful way back to her car. She spent her wait looking through her telephoto lens at the door, just in case Carrie left before Al arrived, and just in case her coffee partner emerged with her.

She did, and he did, and it was much earlier than Lauren thought it would be. She was so surprised that her finger hit the shutter button out of reflex, but the shots she looked at later turned out to be pretty good regardless. His face was clear enough to identify and compare with mugshots in a photo lineup.

It wasn't Ralph, to her relief, but now she wondered who this man was. As they separated, and Carrie went to her car and he to his Dodge Ram, she needed to decide quickly which one she was going to follow.

Her instinct was that Carrie had done all the conspiring she was going to do tonight, and that it might be more enlightening to follow the man for a while and see where he ended up. The pickup truck reminded her of the ones that had trapped Joe and Rachel, and she wondered if this was one of the men who were responsible for the beating and car theft.

Before she could even start her car, the truck peeled out of the parking lot, and Lauren was forced to catch up yet again. Luckily, the truck was big and loud, and she found it quickly enough and stayed back as she dialled Al back with her phone in its hands-free device.

He picked up and said, "Hey, I'm on my way."

"Change of plans," she said. "They already left the restaurant, and I'm on the move."

"What? Where are you?"

"Still in Abbotsford, but it looks like my quarry is heading back to Aldergrove."

"You mean Carrie MacDougall?"

"No, the man she was meeting. I think he might be one of the men who put the beat down on Joe and Rachel."

"Jesus, Lauren, if that's true, he might be violent. Be careful!"

"Always am, I'm hanging back and just seeing where he goes."

"Lauren, I'll be frank, I'm worried about this. I still want to come out there in case you get into trouble."

"I do this shit all the time, Al. I won't get into trouble. I still want you to come out here, though."

"Oh, yeah?"

"You know, just in case."

"You can admit you're a little worried."

"Okay. I am."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Would you mind if I called Rachel and told her what I was doing? I think she should know."

"Not at all, I should have called her already with the update about the guy. Can you tell her?"

"Of course. Then I'll call you right back."

She smiled and said, "I'll be counting the minutes until you do."

Finally, progress! Lauren had better be careful, though. To see how Al's drive to Aldergrove is going, click on "Continue reading." If you liked what you just read, hit "Vote" and leave a comment.