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“ He said he expected this to happen. I left a note when I came home to grab a few things.”“ Call me if you two boys get bored,” she laughed, having already found his scribbled note.“ I will. Love you,” he said.“ Love you too.” The cleaning crew piled into the van. Eddie sent a text to Rodney.“ Crashing @ your place. Masons out @ 9. Call me,” while the young man behind the wheel finished the paperwork.“ Can you give me a minute or two? I don’ t want to have to do this twice or get it covered with dirt. By the way, I’ m Barry.”“ I’ ll go check out the place, Barry,” Eddie said, heading for the entrance. The building looked brand new and he snapped a few pictures.
“ Picture perfect!” The voice came from behind him. He turned. Samantha Evans in designer jeans, stiletto heeled red boots and red silk blouse came strolling in. She struck a pose.“ I photograph beautifully in the nude,” she said.“ I bet,” Eddie said, turned and snapped a few more pictures of the empty space.“ What is it about you I find so intriguing?” she said, as he walked quickly past her toward the entrance. Barry entered with the receipt. Eddie saw the look on the young man’ s face as Sam tried to keep pace. Her hurried steps put a great deal of movement in the tight jeans and loose blouse.“ Do I need to sign something?” Eddie caught the young man’ s attention.“ Uh, yeah. This right here.” he said, handing Eddie a metal clipboard. Handing back the signed document, Eddie waited while Barry tore the copies apart. One of the sheets fluttered to the floor at Sam’ s feet. She bent to pick up the page and everyone could see why the shirt seemed so lively. Unrestrained, her breasts had a mind of their own and they were stating the temperature had dropped with the last breeze that billowed the silky garment.“ You guys did a great job. Thanks.” Eddie said, ignoring Sam as she walked past with the paper in hand.“ Drop something?” she asked, walking toward his truck.“ Yours?”“ Work vehicle,” Eddie said.“ Mine is all pleasure.” Sam pointed at a red Porsche Boxster, as she walked around to the passenger side of his truck and took a seat inside. The van drove past close enough for Eddie to see Barry give him the“ thumbs up” as Eddie climbed behind the wheel. She handed him the receipt and he put it in his briefcase.“ Is there something I can help you with?” he asked curtly.“ When I pulled into the parking lot, I knew this was your ride. It makes sense to have a vehicle like this to take on such an impossible mission. If I had pulled in and seen a car like mine I would have turned around and left. Actually, if Frank knew I was here he’ d have a fit. You know he made this place off limits to everyone, said he wanted it to be a surprise. I hope you won’ t tell on me?” she said. Eddie shook his head.“ He may find out on his own, but I trust it won’ t be from you.” she continued while Eddie said nothing.
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Sam read his“ No comment” as a“ go ahead.” She spoke while he listened.“ Maybe I’ m being too pushy, but there is something I like about you. You already said you have a wife and I found out you have two kids. I’ m not trying to take you away from them. I just think they need to learn how to share.”“ It would change my relationship with them,” he said.“ Show me a picture. If you are such a wonderful father you should have a picture in your wallet.” Eddie wondered how many wallets her father had the privilege of keeping track. Or maybe he kept no pictures at all, and that was the reason for the statement.“ Will you go if I show you a picture?” he asked. Sam nodded and held out her hand. He pulled out his wallet and removed the most recent picture. The family portrait must have been a couple of years old. Justin still had that boyish face. At thirteen he had grown suddenly and lost some of that youthful look, giving way to the handsome young man he was becoming. He handed over the picture. Sam studied the photo.“ What’ s your wife’ s name?”“ Tanya.”“ She is very pretty. Maybe she would share if she weren’ t left out. I’ ve never done it with another woman, but I have entertained the thought.”