"Something is up with you, Marcus. You are not yourself," she replied, "You seem a little tense."
As he walked through the office door and the empty general office, he reached out for her hand and instinctively she held his palm and their fingers intertwined.
"So, let me ask the question, Stephanie, when you are dressed like that, where do you carry your weapon?"
"Marcus, after all this time you just became curious about that and besides, if I showed you I would have to kill you. Somehow I know before long Delano and Nautilus would hear about it and I would become the laughing stock of the crew,"
"I am so ashamed, Steph; what happens between us stays between us, you know that."
"Yeah, I know."
"However, the trash talk is that there is something happening between the two of us and worse if I am seen in public with you dressed like this, I am sure the rumours will become concrete."
As they approached the main lobby, without thought he released her hand and they fell out of stride and walked a respectful distance apart across the marble tiled sterile elevator lobby with the large fake, ugly potted plants. The lobby almost felt like the operating theatre - cold, lifeless and desperately needed life injected in it. The elevator opened with the usual ding followed by the creek of old metal rubbing against each other.
"Hey, Marcus, what was that sound, your knees or your back?" Stephanie laughed at her own joke.
Marcus was ashen faced as he looked down at Stephanie
"Hey, why are you so glum in the morning boss, it's not every day you have a hot girl beside you in a mini dress and she can laugh at you."
"Hah hah," he responded in a sarcastic tone.
"As a matter of fact, just give me 10 minutes alone with you and then I would show you the part of me that would enjoy applying the necessary lubrication," he said with an evil smirk.
"Marcus Dean, get that evil look off your face, you are looking at me like a hungry carrion seeing a dead or dying cow in the desert. Let's hope your wish does not come to be true in this old elevator."
Marcus broke out into a wide grin and crossed his fingers.
Stephanie smiled and slapped him on his shoulder as hard as she could.
"Ouch!" he cried, "that really hurt, Stephanie, I was only joking and why would I not look; after all you went out of your way to be distracting even to me, your boss and friend."
"Marcus, are you insinuating that if one day I offered you would not partake?"
"Stephanie, you know I have a weakness for your bambi eyes, but while I would be tempted, I am committed to another, and worse of all you know her quite well too. Molly would have my head and then yours, because somehow I know I would not be able to contain my excitement. Molly would find out, plus I know you would like it too much."
"Well said, Marcus, well said, but I can feel your eyes on me at times."
"Hey, Stephanie, I said I was committed, not blind."
"What is so pressing, Marcus, that we needed to speak off the air about?"
Marcus took her hand and sighed and then took a deep breath and looked in her eyes and said,
"Stephanie, I really never realised how pretty your eyes are; there is a ring of hazel around your corneas. Oh, wow, they are truly beautiful."
"Thanks, Marcus, but stop trying to change the subject, I know you are hiding something."
Their playful banter and gestures had given way to seriousness and their bodies stiffened in anticipation of each others reactions. Marcus felt the tension grow behind his neck and spread across his shoulders.
"Stop dancing like that, Stephanie, you look as if you want to pee."
"Yes, I do." she responded
"Compounded by this blasted elevator that is taking so long and worse you are making me scared."
"Are you sick, Marcus? Are the children or Molly okay? Am I going to be fired?"
"No, Stephanie, none of that stuff," and he held her two hands while he looked at her, "the job that I sent you on got a report that a contract has been placed on your head by the Syndicate and a sizeable one at that. Word on the street has it at three million dollars."
He watched her face as she digested his words and blinked.
"Darn, only that, I was hoping that it would be about five million."
"That is why I am putting you on a plane out of the country for a few weeks until I can get to the bottom of this crap or the heat dies down."
"Marcus, you are so dramatic and you know I can take care of myself; many have tried before, Marcus and I am a hard cookie to crack. It's not the first time I have been threatened or even shot at remember? When I signed up for the Force I was fully aware of the risks that came with the job."
"Hey, but this time it is not some thug on the road or a small time criminal, this is the Syndicate and I've not told you everything. Antonio may be involved."
Stephanie released his hands and looked at Marcus.
"You are a lying son of a bitch, I knew you never liked him from a while back, but for you to implicate him in a conspiracy to have me killed. No, Marcus, I never expected that of you."
The elevator doors opened and Marcus watched as she stormed out his eyes which were drawn to the rhythm of her hips and the sway of her gluteus maximus.
"Damn," he said, "that girl looks good. Corporal, wait."
He shouted and watched as her pace slowed to a crawl and then a full stop followed by a slow swivel turn.
"Superintendent, I can't believe what you just said. Why in heavens name would Antonio be mixed up in something like this, Marcus, why?"
"Stephanie, its intelligence that provided the report, it was not generated from within the Unit.
"So, Boss, can I see the report?" she asked.
"Its confidential, Corporal; it contains sensitive information. You just have to understand, Stephanie."
"Is it hard or electronic?" she asked.
"Hard, and no, Stephanie. I know how your mind works. No means no."
"I don't feel hungry anymore, can I go home, Boss?"
"That is not going to work, Corporal Lisa, you are going to get some food and a few items of clothing and head straight for the airport and that is not a request, it is an order."
They both looked around to see if they were in earshot of anyone and only the security guard with the head phones buried in his ears was within a reasonable distance of them. The lobby on the ground floor was brightly lit and gave the impression that you could have been interrogated at any minute based on the intensity of the lighting. "Let's get out of here, Marcus, I need some comfort food right now and I have a lot of questions to ask you and I hope to God you can answer them."
"So, how come you haven't asked where am I sending you?"
"I thought that was a secret and we can't discuss that inside this building, besides, I am starving. I hope you have money in your wallet or the credit card."
"Hey, Stephanie, I was planning to go to that café place in Liguanea, the one that has the colour for a name, but somehow I believe that your mind is set on stew chicken with yam and dumplings instead of grilled cheese sandwiches with avocado spread and a cup of coffee."
"Hell, yes, I want real food. I am not in the mood for a snack."
"So, how will you hold in the dress after eating real food, Steph, isn't it a little tight already?"
"Hello, the dress can be removed; a smart girl always travels with a spare outfit in her car just in case there are emergencies. Today is shaping up to be one of those days and what am I going to tell Antonio about my little trip?"
"Nothing; he can manage on his own after all, he is not home a lot these days anyway.
Marcus wasn't sure whether it was the glare from the morning sun that caused Stephanie's face to become crumpled or it was what she just heard him say, but he decided not to press the matter any further or else she would naturally want to know how he knew that Antonio was not at home these days.
"Marcus, you are driving and you need to tell me how come you know that Antonio is not at home regularly and you don't know where we live?"
"Stephanie, I wouldn't be the man that you respect and call 'Boss' if I didn't know the things that were important to me. I will drive my SUV since your car probably does not have any gas.
Stephanie laughed as they walked towards Marcus's parking spot almost near the front of the building,
"Marcus, have you noticed that they have pruned the previously green lush lignum vitae trees down to stumps and installed red and white mini bougainvillea in the planter boxes. It really compliments the zoysia grass in between the paving tiles.
"Stephanie, I only noticed that the place looked brighter, but as it relates to what was actually done and what type of plants have been installed, nope; if you had not mentioned the details, I would not have noticed a thing. Are you sure that you are in the right line of work? You sound as if landscaping and facilities management would have been right up your alley. I noticed you've changed the subject."
"Marcus, you are a man. I would not have expected you to notice the difference and please remember where I started out in my career, in the hospitality industry and therefore, it has not been a stretch of my imagination to look at the physical plant and how it interrelates with the occupants of the space.
"Show off, that response sounds very academic and girlie, but I will accept your explanation and the good thing is that the breakfast place is near the office and we could actually walk, but I would not need extra eyes watching you in that outfit, so I will drive."
"Back to our original line of argument - yes, Stephanie. As a matter a fact you are going to the Airport right now, even though it's short notice, new intelligence has come to light that a hit has been ordered on you based on our recent clamp down on counterfeit merchandise. Here is the ticket, and you are not even allowed to call home."
"I will call your Mummy and tell her that you are off for a couple of days and oh, I have some shopping money for you too."
As she opened the ticket and looked at the destination, Stephanie's brown eyes popped open even wider, the bleached top pixie cut hair blew in the air conditioning in the car as her plump, heart-shaped mouth spread into a wide smile to reveal her perfect white teeth.
"I would kiss you if the circumstances of this trip were better, Boss; to go to Paris was always my dream. How did you get the big man to authorise this amount of expenditure on a lowly corporal?"
"Stephanie, there are some things that are classified just like the other government consultants who can run up a nine million dollar travel bill, I had to pull a few strings and showed that you brought real value to the system. Remember, your job had objectives that are evaluated quarterly and the results of your cases are public knowledge upon conviction."
"Boss, I am nervous," she responded, "I do not know anybody in Paris and normally I would have company with me to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city".
"Stop fretting, I am sure you will make friends quite easily and enjoy yourself; just be safe and I will find a way to tell you when it is all clear to return home," Marcus replied.
They were going against the traffic along the dual carriage with pristine white kerb walls with blue metal benches and variegated crotons that broke the monotony of the grey pavement and white trim.
"Marcus have you ever noticed that milestones are unusually black and white with the white always on top and similarly, kerb walls in most areas have the white only on the edges?"
"Yes, but I don't think it has anything to do with the fact that the country is mostly made up of blacks with only a thin white upper crust. I just believe that white is easier to see at nights. What has gotten into you, Stephanie? You seem so abstract today."
"It's not that, it's just that based on my time in the wholesales, I realise that there are really two different Jamaicas - 'the haves' and 'the have nots.' Those with money try to get the poor to spend what they do not have or can afford to spend always, consuming and not saving. Those groups in the society with money clique together and the others tear down each other. Some things in the society make it hard for the blacks to break through the glass ceiling and become a part of the ruling class."
"Stephanie, oil and water can��t mix and if it does mix, people like us are employed to ensure that the oil always stays on top. Hey, look how quick we reach; it's seems like only five minutes from our office to Liguanea, as Marcus pulled into the parking lot of the popular breakfast eatery."
Stephanie alighted from the car to the sounds of wolf whistles followed by hushed murmurs as she wrapped her arm around Marcus's arm and looked up at him and said loudly,
"What do you want for breakfast, honey? Sorry I didn't have the time to cook something for you before we left home." "Stephanie, behave yourself and let me go before you create a scene."
"So, what you think they are whispering about, its me in this dress coming out of your big black shiny SUV with those chrome rims. You are trying to get back your youth with Viagra and I've found me a sugar daddy."
"Shut up, Steph. I am hungry and have no time for your conspiracy theories and I don't need Viagra. Why don't you just try and prove it one day and find out and we would really give people something to talk about."
"That's how I know you are hungry, Boss and full of gas; it has gone to your head and fart is coming through your mouth. I am not a crazy person to try and break up a happy marriage and become a side chick forever."
"Get with the times, Stephanie; you would be called a co-wife.
They both laughed all the way to the cashier.
"Hi, Mr. Dean and Ms. Lisa," said the cashier as she greeted them, "What can I get you two fine officers this morning?"
"Hi, Martha," Marcus replied, "the usual for me and give her anything she wants."
"Boss, how do you know? I am starving, Martha and since he is paying for it, I want two serving of ackee and saltfish with fry dumplings and a serving of hominy porridge," she said as she scanned the menu board.
"Stephanie, if you order any more you are going to burst that dress as the seams."
"Alright, are you calling me fat or greedy, Boss?" she asked.
"Both. Hurry and come find your seat, Martha can always bring the bill later."
"Martha, he is paying, so put two more stew chicken with everything on his bill and give it to any school children that come for breakfast. That is his price for calling me fat and greedy," she whispered.
"Alright, Ms. Stephanie, but is me you want him to go lock up so early in the morning?" If only he was going to keep her with him all to himself, thought Martha as she licked her lips, then she might indeed not mind being locked up with him. She looked at Marcus sitting in the corner with a clear view of the front door.
"He looks like a nice piece of chocolate cake; I would love to bite him, Ms. Stephanie."
"Martha, I am going to tell him that you've been lusting after him for months."
"You crazy, Stephanie, I know he is married and would never give a girl like me a chance to say howdy."
"Yes, he is married and yes, he looks nice, but do you think is him would not give you the chance to talk to him? Is me. Next minute you four baby fathers come look for him and kill off my boss. Tell you what, charge him for one extra breakfast and I will pay for the other."
Both women laughed.
"Serve him right to call you fat don't?"
"So, Ms. Stephanie, how come your are so spiffy and sexy this morning?"
"Martha, if I told you I would have to arrest you and lock you up with Marcus overnight."
"Lock me up, Stephanie please," Martha pleaded, "I'd love to be locked up with him overnight; he is tall, dark and handsome and he looks like he is packing," she said as she smiled with a hint of lust in her eyes.
"I wouldn't know if he is packing, Martha."
"Really, Stephanie? Based on how I see you guys relate, I would have thought that you two have a special connection."
"You wish, hurry and send out the food; we have a job to do and we are going to be late," replied Stephanie as she turned with confidence in her body language and walked towards the table. Marcus was sitting at and juggling the salt and pepper holders. She felt the eyes of men on her body and she slowed the walk in the red heels and ensured that each cheek made a perfect rotation beneath the red dress.
"Stephanie, stop that," shouted Marcus, "Stop teasing people and you know you are not on the market."
"So, what are they watching me like that for? What, I'm the first young woman that they have seen spending time with her daddy and eating breakfast?"
"Come and sit down and behave yourself and please do not block my view of the door."
"Marcus Dean, are you ever off the job? You are too paranoid, nobody will come into this type of facility and rob it so early in the morning; it would be better later on in the day before the security company comes to collect the sales."
"True, but who says it's a robbery, Stephanie? It could also be a hit, remember the Mayflower Hotel and the white taxi or even the casino recently."
"Ok, Boss you may be right, a hit can be carried out at any time especially if people are able to study your routine and then plan. That is why you never take the same route home all the time or leave office at the same time every day or leave through the same entrance that you came in through, if you can help it."
"Stephanie, everyone has to die at some time and especially when you have a gun strapped to your side and the job that we do, it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we make it home. So, why make it easy for some little punk that wants to get himself a stripe?"
"Yes, Boss, the only way they are getting my gun from me is from my cold dead fingers and certainly not with a full clip in it either."
"Sure, but we have to be vigilant in order to see them coming first or else with some experienced people we won't even have a chance to clear leather."
"Speak for yourself, Boss, do you see any leather on me?"
Their conversation was interrupted by Martha who personally brought their breakfast and repeated the order as she dispensed from the tray.
"Two ackee and saltfish with fry dumplins and a cup of porridge for the lady and two slices of toast and a cup of coffee for the gentleman".
Stephanie smiled at the sight of the plates with the aroma titillating her nostrils with saliva irrigating her mouth in anticipation of biting into the national dish, but greed seized her and without much resistance she reached for the porridge before it came to a rest on the table.
"So, you thought I was about to take the porridge away?" Marcus asked.
"No, I needed something warm in my stomach first."
She sipped the porridge before saying, "Hmm nice." She licked her lips of the cornmeal and hominy corn porridge. "Martha, tell the chef say it just perfect and Marcus, you are going to have to hold one of these plates in front of you , I do not want to look greedy. Did you bring the separate bills, Martha?'
"Yes, I will tell the Chef what you said and yes I brought two separate bills"
"Ok, I like it when people follow instructions," she replied as the first fork full of ackee was being inserted into her mouth. "Oh, by the way give them to Marcus, he will settle it.'
"There is only one reason why I am going to pay for the food, Martha and it's because it would look bad if you have to call the police and when they came they would find one of their own scantily clad and handcuffed to the chair."
"Mr. Dean, I am sure you would not handcuff her to the chair," Martha remarked.
"True, thinking about it after consuming two plates of breakfast plus porridge and I know she will need a glass or two of water or juice, she will not be able to move anywhere," Marcus replied.
"Hey, will you all just leave me alone while I enjoy my first meal of the day and I will have you know that I have money in my purse, so I really don't need back up. It's just that the purse is still at the office," Stephanie responded.
"Miss Stephanie, the Chef won't mind you washing up some dishes to settle the bills."
"Hah! hah!" she laughed and almost choked on the fry dumpling. "Crap, these dumplings are so soft and moist, I can't stop eating them, they are so nice. Suddenly, she started to cough, "Ack, Ack," she sputtered like an old Market truck as a piece of the dough attempted to go down the wrong passage in her throat.
"Serves you right, Stephanie you are giving too much trouble; hurry up, we need to be at the airport soon."
"I am going to miss this kind of interaction, Marcus, for the time I am away. I really do not want to go away and leave my family and friends," Stephanie replied.
"It is for your own good and I don't want you to say anything to Delano or Nautilus until after you return. I am sure you know that it's standard operating procedures to give the investigators a free hand by moving those that are involved out of the way."
"Why, but they were not involved in the Syndicate investigations so why should I not tell them that I am being placed on ice until the snow melts? Marcus is there something that you are not telling me?"
"Do not draw my tongue, Stephanie Lisa. There are some things above your pay scale and as a manager there are some decisions that are just that managerial."
"Alright, Marcus, I will be quiet and take time and eat my breakfast, then you carry me straight to the airport."
They were both in contemplative moods as they finished eating and settled the bill and left the customary $500.00 tip for Martha.
"Marcus, I don't know why you always tip that girl so heavily irrespective of whatever you buy and eat."
"Stephanie, she has four children and worthless baby father and I know she likes me and not to mention the fact that she takes personal charge of my meals from the pot to the table and nobody else gets a chance to touch it.
"Oh, it's benevolence, compensation for loyalty for providing security services for your food."
"Ah, you are finally learning little one and remember that hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. There is hope for you then, she will not betray me easily. Worse I was the one who found the house where she and the children live and I ensure that they have lunch money and books for school."
Stephanie's eyes opened wide almost like a deer trapped in the headlights on an oncoming truck.
"What is the matter, Steph? You look like you are about to give birth."
"No, its nothing, I was just putting together a question Martha asked earlier and what you just said awhile ago." "She asked you if we were involved?"
"No, Marcus not in so many words, but I learn so much everyday about you and the things you do.
"Anyway, Stephanie, let's go. I will take you to the Airport now and we will drive the other route," and she took out the purse from the glove compartment. "Hey, I thought you said you had left your purse at the office."
"Oh, yes. I used a woman's prerogative and selectively advised what I wanted you guys to hear."
"Deceptive," Marcus replied.
"I never said I was a saint and I learned from the best wink wink."
"Yes, Antonio Sharpe," Marcus responded.
"That was below the belt, Marcus."
"So, it's ok if you can throw your word, but I can't Stephanie?"
"It's a good thing we are good friends or else I know you would be malicing me for about 3 weeks or so and not even a call, text or message on social media."
"Oh, who is being deceptive now, Marcus? To get me to have an argument with you, so that while I am away I would be upset and not want to communicate with you."
"Stephanie, to be honest the only person that knows that you are off the Island is me and nobody else knows where you are going. The Syndicate is quite serious and will kill you, if they find you. So, it's almost like informal witness protection."
Marcus saw a tear run down Stephanie's cheek as she went quiet. His left hand touched her thigh as he tried to reassure her that everything would be ok,
"Look how many places you could have touched, Mr Dean. and you chose to rest your hand on my exposed thigh."
"Oh hell, Lisa, I meant nothing and when since have I become Mr. Dean? It's just that in all the time of working with you I never ever saw you cry or shed a tear, so it must be an emotional moment to make you cry."
"It is just a lot going on all at once in my life, Marcus and crying seemed like the only way of releasing the stress. My relationship with my significant other is not the best, my family and I don't seem to see eye to eye on anything and the only people I feel relatively comfortable with at work are now throwing me away to a strange place by myself".
"Wow, I never knew there was a woman below that shell, Stephanie. I always just saw you as being professional and there was never a mingling of personal and work. However, that is why I am your friend and not only your boss; feel free to get rid of the stress and I am sure Molly left wipes in the glove compartment for you to blow your nose before we reach the airport. I would cry in front of you too, if the need arose".
"Right, Marcus, knowing how your mind works your tears would fall only on the inside." "Anyway, young lady, based on the pace at which I drive, we will arrive at the airport in 15 minutes and your flight is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. It's now 9:30 a.m., so make sure you are buckled in tightly." Marcus began to laugh as he looked at the shock that invaded Stephanie's face.
"Superintendent, I have a lot to live for and even though I will miss the office, I really want to see Paris."
"Hah, I thought just a while ago you were feeling unwell about your life being a mess."
"Yes, but I don't want to die in a mangled ball of metal. I want to die old in my sleep."
"Really? And you let me convince you to leave the hospitality industry and join the police force to be shot at by men or women, high speed motor vehicle chases and you expect to die old in your bed? Well, based on your looks and brains, you may soon be promoted out of the unit and end up behind some nice cushy desk."
"Are you being prophetic Marcus? Or you know something that is being worked on behind the scenes?"
"Do you remember our conversation about me having to be managerial at times? This is one of those instances."
Marcus Dean, sliced through the traffic with the use of the siren atop the luxury seven seater SUV, that he imported directly from Japan with his duty free concession. Red lights on the traffic lights meant nothing to him despite the blaring horns or the flailing hands of other motorists.
"Hey, Stephanie, anyhow Molly finds out this is how I drive on the road she will have my head. You must see what happens when the children are late for an exam."
"Don't tell me that you, Marcus Dean are one of those civil servants who abuse the little power that is bestowed on you."
"Nope, I don't. I only abuse it when it's life or death and especially if Molly is going to take my life because I forgot about a meeting or was occupied on the job."
The minutes and the miles slipped by and the terminal building of the airport was in sight.
"Stephanie, why are you suddenly so nervous in your seat? I know you are diminutive and the bucket seats cannot contain your energy."
"Marcus, butterflies are in my stomach."
He reached into his pocket and gave her two pills.
"Take these as soon as you are sitting on the plane; and the best part about it is that your flight is nonstop."