Ralph opened the door and made a pained face. Orly looked like a train wreck. His face was several shade s of purple, noticeable even over his dark skin, and his clothes were a rumpled and dirty mess. He pulled him inside quickly and closed the door, hurrying to the blinds to peer out and watch for any tails.

"Nobody followed me." Orly flopped on the bed and put his feet up with a gasping sigh of relief.

Ralph stood and looked down at his longtime friend and companion with compassion. To the world, Ralph was the tough, hard driving boss and Orly was his gopher. Away from the world, Orly was his one true love, money aside.

"How's the nose?"

"Bloody sore."

Ralph sat and took his hand. "The head looks better."

"I need to sleep for a bit, Ralph. I bin walkin' and hidin' all night."

"What's that? Talkin' and ridin'? Where?"

"WALKING! Jesus, gimme a break." He pulled his hand free turned on his side. "Jus gimme an hour."

Ralph patted his back and pulled the top cover over him then checked the window and took a seat in the only chair; his thoughts torn between his friend and their dicey future.

********

Jessica remained professional and calm through the parade of brass that took turns debriefing her and satisfying themselves that she had nothing to do with Art Estherhouse's felonious actions. She was required to fill out mission reports, event reports, status reports and even a short description of her association with Jeff Bowen.

She knew they would question him again after reading it and she was sorry that she'd tricked him into taking part. Several other documents required her signature for the various departments that may or may not become involved and then she was sent off to the officer in charge of the officer shooting board for another round of debriefing and forms signing.

By the time she was released it was late in the afternoon and her call to Jeff filled her with guilt and pleasure at the sound of his anxious voice. Her suitcase had been confiscated along with everything else from the airport that was connected to the arrests and it took another signature to get it back after it had been examined and itemized.

Her clothes were all scrunched up and stuffed back along with her toiletries, which meant she'd have to take a trip back to her house. Jeff greeted her like a lost friend and she was secretly thrilled by his attention. They wound up having a quiet dinner at the same restaurant they'd struck their bargain in only this time it was more relaxed and pleasant. Jeff was attentive, considerate and not a little awed by her reactions, which surprised even her.

After dinner she told him about her clothes and her roommates and was glad he didn't object to taking her there to get some things; it meant she would be coming back with him and he was already fidgeting on his seat.

Jean answered the door and her mouth dropped. She held out her hands in question and peered at Jeff as if he was somehow the explainer.

"Jean, before you speak let me give you the book jacket version, I'll expand another time if that's okay. I need to get my stuff 'cause I'm uh- I'm not staying . . . like the note said only for a different reason."

Jean looked at Jeff and raised her shoulders. "You know what she's talking about?"

He coughed. "I have an idea, but it's her story."

"First of all, this is Jean, one of my roommates. Jean, this is Jeff." The two shook hands. "Where's Wendy?"

"I closed the door to her room. She's inside sleeping off an all night dogfight."

Jeff looked to Jessica. "Wendy's a stewardess, forget the politically correct title, in the largest, all encompassing sense of the word. She's on all the long haul flights and when she gets home it's bombs away until the next shift." Jessica turned to Jean. "Anyone with her?"

"A pilot I think. I also think he's dead." She waved them inside and closed the front door.

"Dead?" Jeff looked alarmed.

"Figuratively. Wendy plays very rough when Wendy plays. You can warn these guys 'till your blue in the face but they all think it's just exaggeration. We've carried more wounded into taxis than they did on MASH, right Jess?"

"Wendy is one of a kind." Jessica signaled that she'd just be a minute and went down to her bedroom.

Jean stood hipshot, examining Jeff. "So you're what, a new boyfriend?"

"Uh no- well, not really--"

"You mean, not yet?" Her smile was deliciously evil.

"He means what he said, nosy." Jessica came down the hall with a filled green garbage bag. "That's it. You got my note about the rent. I'm sorry about the notice but you should be able to find someone in the next seven months."

"Where will you be?"

Jessica blushed and covered it by grappling with the bag. "Oh I'll be around. I'll call. Say bye to Wendy and take care." The two women hugged, and kissed cheeks, said their goodbyes as Jeff and Jessica left.

In the car on the way back to Jeff's he casually asked if the bag was filled with more domestic chores for him or was she going to be around to do them herself. Jessica more than answered when he felt the full exposure of her fond stare, the eyes wrapping him like Saran.

********

Donald Carver raged about his lawyer's office like some demented lunatic. He was free on bail after some extremely adept footwork by the man witnessing his behaviour at the moment and was already suggesting actions that would not only violate his release but also have him back for several life sentences.

"It had to be that freakin' bastard, Ralph! Nobody else knew about the emeralds!"

"Donald, please don't mention these things in front of me. Let's keep this legitimate, okay?"

"Legitimate? Jesus, Marty since when where you legitimate?"

"No need to be insulting, Donald. Just don't make rash statements in front of me in this office."

"Fine." He crashed back down in the supple leather chair facing Marty's desk. "The bastard!"

"Are you positive the police didn't toss your place and find them?"

"No way. They grilled me for hours over the stones and the money. If they had them why bother? Why let me out?"

"What about the woman and her friend, weren't they planning on leaving from the airport with the money?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Maybe they decided to go for the stones since Ralph disappeared with the cash."

Donald pulled at his chin. "Possible I suppose. But she was a cop."

"So was that Estherhouse, didn't stop him from trying."

"Maybe I'll drop by her place and see."

"Just don't do anything silly, Donald. Bail is not freedom."

"I'll be in touch." Donald Carver left with a hostile intent boiling inside.

********

Orly's condition improved dramatically when he saw the box of gems and the bag of money. He even managed a smile from his busted face, noticing that Ralph's was healing much faster; an observation that quashed the smile.

"How come your face looks so much better than mine?"

"Pardon? Is that rhetorical, Orly?"

"No, goddamn it, it ain't. Carver beat you pretty good but all you got now is that pussy bandage and some bruises."

"Orly, need I point out that not only did you get a broken nose and a gash in your head from Jessica, but Carver re-broke it as did the irate father at the airport. Little wonder it's slow healing."

"With my share of this I'm getting a new one along with some lip work."

"I happen to like your lips the way they are."

"Okay, something else then. I just need something to give me a lift." He blinked at the expression on Ralph's face and then smiled as he watched him draw the room blinds.

Morning arrived with the sound of garbage trucks slamming dumpsters around in the parking lot and Ralph hoisted his shorts and staggered to the window. "Buggers. No goddamn respect for the guests." He wandered back past the bed, tweaking Orly's toe on the way by. "Rise and shine, partner."

Orly sat up stiffly, his whole body one huge ache. "I'm gonna die, Ralph."

"You nearly did last night," Ralph called from the bathroom, "We managed to bump your nose more than just a few times."

Orly crawled to the end of the bed and looked in the dresser mirror, wincing at the sight. "Jesus, my cast is all covered in blood!"

"So are all the face cloths. Your nose spouted like Old Smokey. We'll grab a cab over to the clinic and get it fixed up."

Orly touched it and cringed at the jolt of pain then fell back on the bed in helpless defeat. "It'll never be better." He groaned.

Ralph came back into the room and dropped a sheaf of bills on the bed. "This should make a real good start, Orly."

"Oh! Oh yeah, yeah. I think you're right." He hopped of the bed and went into the bathroom. "Gimme a few minutes, okay?"

"No prob, I'll go straighten out the bill."

Two hours later, Orly's cast was replaced, he'd gulped a load of painkillers, they'd rented a car for cash and they were driving around trying to form a plan; Ralph had to get the stones to Steinman but not directly.