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A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 01

By: shandal



This is a five chapter romantic crime thriller with twists and turns, hot romantic sex, a little male on male violence telling the story about Michael and Libby, and I hope you like this tale of their adventure as they fall in love.

*

Standing in the shadows of the trees he watched the back of the building calculating his chances of being seen when he would skim up to the first floor window of the corner room in the large private home that held the safe. He was a tall tough wiry man all in black. Black jeans, black tee shirt, black leather jacket. Glancing at the watch on his right wrist he noted that the time was now two thirty on a dark moonless night.

Time to get on and do the job.

Pulling on the leather gloves he started to move forward, one last sweep with his dark brown eyes to check out the grounds he noticed a movement near the rhododendrons close to the edge of the property. Moving back he crouched into the shadow of the trees, his hand automatically reaching around to the small of his back and closing over the gun that nestled there in its holster.

Squinting with a frown he watched as a lithe figure, also dressed in dark clothing slipped silently to the side of the house and he watched as the person worked on the glass of a small side window, the pantry window according to the plans he had studied, and then cut and remove the pane using suckers, so that no noise woke the sleeping occupant of the red brick Victorian house.

He watched as the figure climbed in through the empty window, noting the narrow fit and the slightness of the figure until it disappeared from his sight.

Replacing the gun in its holder he ran quietly to the window and standing next to it carefully peered in. There was no sign of the other person who had just broken into the very house that he was being paid to break into and steal the file he was told could be found in the safe up in the first floor corner room. 

Looking around behind him for one last check, he then hoisted himself up and squeezed through the narrow opening, before stepping down into the pantry, he then walked the few steps to the half open door and peered out, making sure he was alone.

Making his way across the large airy kitchen he looked out of the door into the hallway, getting a last glance of the silently moving figure at the top of the stairs before it moved from his view. Giving it a few seconds he assessed the lower ground floor from his position, before creeping up the stairs, following whoever looked to have pre-empted him and his assignment.

He stood in the doorway of the office, watching as the now obviously female figure crouched in front of the very safe he was intending to break into, her ear to the old fashioned safe door, her black gloved hand working the dial, her very pert, and now he noticed, sexy bottom pointing towards him, enclosed in tight black Lycra.

Stepping quietly forward he stood behind the woman, his arms folded over his chest and waited silently whilst she worked the safe.

Her concentration on the clicks inside the safe door stopped her from noticing she had company, and every so often he could hear her soft curse of "damn" under her breath, or the occasional softly whispered "yes".

Michael noticed the tendrils of blond hair that were escaping her black watch cap, and the gentle slope of her cheek, the small lobe of her ear sporting the tiny silver stud as he stood behind her, and felt a sudden tingle of sexual awareness tighten his belly as the first stirrings of blood started to harden his prick.

Just as she gave a small triumphant whispered "yessss" and sat back on her heels opening the safe, Michael uncrossed his arms, leant forward, placing his hand on her shoulder and said in his deep quiet voice, "Thanks Blondie........I'll take over now."

The scared and shocked squeal that omitted from the woman as she turned and looked up into his face happened just moments before a loud gunshot rung out from somewhere in the house, followed by the pounding sounds of feet running down stairs, doors slamming and then silence.

Michael ran to the office door, gun in hand, and peeked out, his heart racing in his chest.

Silence greeted him.

Behind him he heard the woman move, and turning his head hissed at her to stay still and wait where she was.

Slipping out of the room he crept down the hall hugging the wall until he came to the open door of another room, the main bedroom, at the opposite end. Easing the door further back with his arm he gingerly peered into the darkened space, letting his eyes adjust until he could make out a body laying sprawled on the bed, face up, legs dangling over the edge, a dark red stain spreading over the pyjama top of the body's chest.

The metallic smell of blood hit his nose.

The sound of movement made him run out the room in time to see the woman run down the stairs, and he followed her, taking two stairs at a time on the way down. He ran fast, catching up as she entered the pantry and made her way towards the window, grabbing her around the waist as she started to boost herself up to climb through he pulled her back towards him.

"Oh no you don't......." he growled, "Not until you give me whatever you took out of the damn safe."

The struggling body he held tight to him rubbed against him, the woollen cap falling off her head, and her long blond hair escaping and whipping across his face, the smell of lemon shampoo tickling his nose.

"Let go of me you bastard......" and her foot came down hard on his foot in a deep stamp down.

"Shit...." his arms eased from around her as the pain in his foot caught him, and then as she started to escape, he reached out and grabbed a handful of flying hair and growled, "Stand still....." and he stood on one foot as the pain eased in the other.

Just then he heard the sound of police sirens rent the air.

"FUCK.... FUCK....FUCK.........!"

His hands left her hair and moved to her tiny waist giving her a boost to the window. "Get through, quickly......I don't know how the police were alerted so quickly.....but we've got to get out of here."

Following her through the window and dropping to the ground outside he ran with a limp after her as she ran through the trees to the wall where a knotted rope hung down. Climbing up after her, Michael heard the sounds at the front of the house of the police, and threw himself over the top of the brick wall and down to the uneven grassy ground on the other side, just in time to see the woman climb onto a motorbike a few feet away.

He rushed up and climbed on behind her just as she kicked the bike to life and the two of them took off into the woods behind the house, weaving through trees and over the bumps and dips in the dark until they emerged out onto the back road where he had parked his own car earlier that night, and then she guided the bike with speed in the opposite direction to where he had left it.

Michael nestled closer to the woman, her hair streaming in the wind into his face, tendrils of it catching on the dark stubble on his chin, tickling his mouth and in his eyes. The feel of her body tight against the front of his, her bottom nestled against his groin, and the feel of the machine between his legs felt wonderfully erotic, and the adrenaline that was still pounding through his body repeated the performance that had started when he saw her in front of the safe, and his hard-on grew inside his tight black jeans.

*

Libby's body was very aware of the man huddled up close to her on the bike; she could feel his body from head to foot as it hugged her, his thighs against hers, his arms tight around her waist, his hot breath on the nape of her neck.

Who was he? She had nearly had a heart attack when she had felt the hand on her shoulder back at the house. Glancing up at his face all she could make out in the gloom of the room had been slightly shaggy dark hair, gleaming eyes and a tough hard looking face. And then all hell had seemed to break loose. Shots....running feet of someone else....someone apart from her and the man behind her, and then she had looked into the safe as he had disappeared out of the room and found................nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nada.........nothing. Not the file......not even a single sheet of paper. Nothing.

Damn, damn, damn. She thought it was in there. Was positive it should have been in there. Her father had told her it would be there.

But it wasn't. So where was it?

Did the man behind her have it?

Speeding the bike up she wondered what to do with the man, how she could get rid of him. Maybe he had the file. As she sped along the winding road, further and further away from the house, the police and whatever had gone down there, she now planned on how she would get the file from the man and how to get away from him.

*

As he sat behind her, Michael was also planning and thinking. His car was back on the road behind the house and if not already, pretty soon the cops would find it, do a trace through the number plate and work out it was his. Going back to his rented room at the hotel was out. Going back to his flat in London was also out for now. The man who had contracted him to break in and retrieve the file was as far as he knew the only person who knew he was going to break into the house, so was he the one who had tipped off the police so that they had turned up so quickly. And who was the shooter and why had they killed the houses owner.

The only thing he knew for sure was that he and the lovely woman who sat on the bike in front of him hadn't tipped off the police or murdered the man on the bed.

Suddenly the bike pulled into a small dirt lane and into a rough car park area nestled in the woods. The woman killed the bikes engine and lights and kicked down the rest before climbing off the bike, keys in her hand. "OK this is as far as we go......hand over the file....."

Michael sat astride the machine, missing the feel of her body from his, and crossing his arms he sat appraising her and the situation. After a long pause during which he stared at her, a small grin appeared on his face, "Supposing I have the file, and I'm not admitting I have, what are you willing to trade for it."

Libby stood hands on hips, "What!.....give me the fucking file......I'm not trading anything for it you bastard. Hand the bloody thing over."

Swinging a leg across the seat of the bike he sat facing her, "Do I look a fool........what are you willing to pay me for it? If not money I'm willing to trade something else......say a little roll on the ground here and now for it......"

Spluttering with fury she spat out, "A little roll on the ground....."

"Or we can go somewhere else......you have a bed where you live....we could go there.....mess up the sheets, get a little sweaty, make something worth me handing over the file for."

"In your dreams......." 

Standing up he stepped towards her, she took a step back, up against a tree where she stood staring up at the man in front of her, danger and hardness emanating from him. "Stay away from me...." she shakily whispered. His hand reached up and cupped the back of her neck pulling her towards him. Breathlessly, Libby's hands pushed at his chest and continued, "No....stop." Just as his lips settled over hers and kissed her in a gentle kiss, his mouth soft and warm. Pulling slightly back he asked her, "How much do you want that file? How important is it to you?" Then leaning his body into hers, pushing her tight against the tree trunk behind her he took her mouth in a deeper kiss, his tongue searching out the inside of her mouth.

The sounds of a police car could be heard coming up the road towards them, and breaking the kiss Michael pulled Libby behind the tree and using his body sheltered her from sight as the flashing car sped past the dark car park nestled in the woods and then away up the road northwards.

"We need to get out of here before the cops find us and work out that we were in that house when the man was killed."

Gasping Libby tried to turn around but her body was pushed hard against the tree by the man behind her, the very obvious sign of his sexual arousal pressing into the base of her back. "Killed....Frederick McMasters has been killed?"

"If that's the name of the man who was laying face upwards on the bed back there, a very large hole in his chest leaking a lot of red gunk.......then yes, killed. Killed by person or persons unknown....but before too long the police are going to think it was me.......or you...."

"Why would they think it was me or you.....?" She wriggled until he let her turn around and she gave a hard push on his chest making him give her a little more room. "I was with you when we heard the shot.....I know it wasn't you, and why would they think you did it, or me."

Looking down at her he spoke patiently as if to a child, "On the first hand, when you sped off on the bike with me on the back you took me in the opposite direction of my car which is parked near the house ready for me to get away, the police will trace it back to me."

"You climbed onto the back of my bike.....I didn't ask you to......."

Interrupting whatever she was going to say, "Secondly your woollen watch cap is back at the house where it fell, with possible hair samples from your head attached to it..........the police can get DNA from the hair......if they match it to you through any copy on data to you they'll scoop you up as fast as they'll scoop me up."

"My DNA is not on file.....why should it be."

Ignoring her he continued, "Thirdly It may have crossed your mind, but in case it hasn't, Lady we were both in that house illegally, we broke in, both for the same thing......the file. That is illegal. We'll both be done for breaking and entering even if we give each other an alibi against the murder. And fourth who the hell is Frederick McMasters?"

Tears started to form in her eyes as she looked down, "It's a long story."

"Then let's get back on the bike and go somewhere where you can tell it to me and we can work out what to do next."

"And you can give me the file."

"I don't have it."

"You said you would trade for it."

"I lied......" and grabbing her arm he pulled her over to the bike, climbed on and waited for her to do the same. "Get on the bike sugar let's get going.....as soon as you tell me your side of the story, I'll tell you mine."

*

Edward Derosa looked down at the file and the throwaway Pay as you Talk mobile phone on the passenger seat of his car and smiled. It had all gone off to plan. The man he had hired to steal the file would end up charged with murder when caught in the house by the police. The gun he had used to shoot that old fool McMasters was lying on the floor of the bedroom where he had dropped it deliberately after killing the double crossing twat. No prints or link could be connected to him from the gun. The safe would be found open if Michael Stewart had done his job as well as he said he could, nothing in it. The police would deduce that Stewart had broken in, opened the safe, found nothing, gone in to the bedroom to terrorise McMasters into telling him where anything worth stealing was hidden, shot him and then got caught on site.

Done deal. 

Phoning the tip-off from the unregistered throw away phone minutes before he had shot McMasters to the police meant they would catch Stewart and give him enough time to get away.

The perfect fall guy Michael Stewart. Ex army, now a man for hire, known to the police.....no known family, just perfect to take the blame.

Edward Derosa drove the car at a steady speed under the limit so as not to draw attention to himself until he arrived at his own home. He pulled into the driveway, grabbed the file and the phone and taking the key opened his front door and climbed up the stairs and then went into the bedroom to look down at his sleeping wife.

She had never noticed he wasn't there next to her, the sleeping pills she took each night giving her a deep and undisturbed sleep.

Walking back out of the bedroom he went into his son's bedroom and after standing next to the sleeping child sprawled in the bed checking on him, turned around and quietly placed the file and the phone in the top cupboard behind the deflated Lillo and large beach ball kept stored there.

*

Michael entered the small cottage behind Libby, his gun in his hand, and carefully checked out the downstairs, noting the flimsy backdoor in the kitchen that led out to a stamp size garden before going upstairs to check out the upper part of the house. Looking up at the hall ceiling he sized up the entrance to the cottages attic and called down to Libby where she stood, arms wrapped around herself at the bottom of the stairs chewing on her bottom lip with worry. "How do you get up to the attic? Do some steps come down if I open the flap up there for climbing?"

"No. I don't have any steps to get up there. I borrowed my dad's when I moved in to place some stuff up there and haven't been up there since."

"This place have a cellar?"

"No. No cellar."

Coming downstairs and placing the gun back into the holster at the back of his jeans Michael told Libby, "It will have to do for now. Go into the kitchen at the back. Don't turn on any lights. We need to talk."

Shaking inside Libby walked to the kitchen and without thinking filled up the kettle and set it on the hob. Michael went into the front room, and carefully pulling the lace curtain slightly aside checked outside to see if there was any sign of the police. All he could see was a mangy fox ripping into a black plastic bag of rubbish in the garden of the house opposite.

He heard Libby call out, "Tea or coffee?"

"Coffee, black. No sugar." And he walked into the tiny kitchen, leaned back against the counter, and watched as she poured out two cups of coffee, adding some milk to one of them before handing the other to him.

"We need to talk. Best place is upstairs. Back room." He told her.

"Best place is down here. And then you need to go."

"Scared of me sugar."

Looking him straight in the face she said, "Yes." Then walked out of the kitchen, into the lounge and to the old sofa where she sat sipping her coffee and trying to still the shaking inside of her. 

Michael followed her into the lounge and looking once again out of the window then sat down on the chair opposite her and leaning forward, elbows on spread thighs said, "OK tell me what you were doing breaking into that safe and what, and why do you want the file?"

Taking a deep breath Libby said, "What's your name? I don't even know your name."

Michael smiled, and Libby's heart gave a small lurch. It transformed his face from hard and tough looking to almost handsome and approachable. "You tell me yours first, I can't keep calling you sugar, sugar."

"Libby. Libby Higham. And you are?"

"Michael Stewart. Nice to meet you Libby." And the smile on his face went up a notch. "Very nice! Even under the circumstances. Now spill the story and don't leave anything out."

"It's my dad.....he worked for.....or at least he used to work for this Financial Investment Company. So did Frederick McMaster. Two weeks ago the police came and arrested my dad, charging him with fraud of client's funds." Looking fierce Libby told Michael, "He's innocent.....he's been set up.....the file will prove it......if you know where it is give it to me and I'll send it to the police to prove it."

"I told you I don't have it." Michael sat back, hooked his long leg up so that his foot rested on his knee and took a sip of the coffee, "So how did you end up breaking into the safe.......are you some kind of safe breaker?"

"My dad told me he thought the file was being held by McMasters, he guessed that McMasters knew who the real thief was, or was it himself. When asked to turn over the file he said he didn't have the file, but my dad said he knew he had it."


A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 01



"So you decided to steal it!"

"The safe was an old one that had stood in the offices of the firm for years; before it was moved a couple of years ago to McMasters home. He kind of liked it as it was so old, kind of stylish in a kind of nineteen thirty's type of way. Dad knew the safes code and told me it and I knew where it was kept as I've been many times in McMasters home when accompanying my dad to cocktail parties and things like that there."

"So your dad put you up to breaking and entering. Putting you in danger."

Defensively she said, "It was the only way to get him proved innocent."

"He couldn't do it himself?"

Suddenly standing up and bristling with anger, "He's my father.....he's innocent....he couldn't do it because the police...."

"So you did it.....put yourself in danger..."

"Wouldn't you do the same thing if your father was wrongfully charged and you could help to prove him innocent?"

Michael's eyes narrowed dangerously before he slowly said, "I don't have a father. I was brought up by the state....whoever my parents were they obviously didn't stick around long enough to let me form any strong attachment or even memory of them. Especially one that would make me put my life on the line for them."

Sitting back down deflated Libby whispered, "I'm sorry." And she realised she really meant it. Although Michael looked tough and hard he had been almost protective with her. And the two kisses in the car park had been heart stopping and gentle. "But the file wasn't there....and now there is no way to prove my dad is innocent."

"Well someone has it....the person who killed McMasters and tried to set me up is my guess."

Hopefully Libby asked him, "And who was that then.....why were you there to steal the file....who sent you?"

"A couple of days ago I had a phone call offering me ten grand to break in and steal the file. Two grand up front, the rest on delivery. I met the man who called himself Smith....obviously not his real name yesterday morning....he gave me the instructions and information....told me that the owner of the house would not be there that night and the code for the safe. He gave me the two grand and I was going to meet him to hand over the file at the cafe where we had the original meeting at ten o'clock later this morning."

"Why did he hire you?"

"It's my job....I'm a man for hire...."

"Breaking and entering? Stealing for money."

"All sorts of things.....I'm ex army, now a mercenary....between wars."

Shocked Libby gasped, "My God."

Ignoring her Michael continued, "My guess is I was set up to take the fall. Smith or whatever his real name is took the file before we got there, waited till we broke in, shot McMasters, called the police and fled leaving me to get caught red-handed in the house with a dead man."

"But he didn't know I would be there as well to give you an alibi....you couldn't have shot McMasters....I was with you when we heard the shot."

"No but we can hardly go to the police with this story."

"And that still doesn't help my dad to prove his innocence."

"No Libby but whoever did kill McMasters and took the file is probably the person who set up your dad. All we need to do is work out who set me and your dad up and discreetly direct the police towards him."

Giving a big yawn Libby rested her head back, "So what did this Smith look like?"

Standing up Michael held out his hand, "You're beat, I'm tired. Let's go to bed and get some sleep and when we wake up refreshed we can work it out."

"What do you mean 'go to bed'?"

Pulling her up to standing, "Bed as in lay down on a horizontal oblong of stuffed material, pull more material over us and close our eyes."

"Together?"

"If you like."

"I don't like...."

"I was afraid you were going to say that.....I'll take the spare bed then, you have your own bed."

"I don't have a spare bed."

"You don't....well in that case beggars can't be choosers.....sharing your bed will have to do."

"You can take the couch."

Michael eyed the couch in front of him, "Sugar I'm six feet two that couch is what, five feet at most......you take the couch."

"It's my home."

Sighing Michael gave Libby what he considered his killer smile, "No chance you'd change your mind and share your bed with a tired co-conspirator?"

"No."

"Got any spare blankets?"

Turning around and going upstairs she gathered a blanket and pillow from the airing cupboard and came back down to put on the couch. When she turned around Michael stood close to her, leather jacket removed, his black tee shirt showing off his tightly muscled arms and the delineation of his body under the soft snug cotton material. Looking up from his chest to his eyes she went to take a step back but came up against the couch when his warm hand wrapped itself around the back of her neck pulling her forward as he lowered his head down to kiss her in a gentle soft deep wet kiss.

Closing her eyes she fell into the kiss, her hands moving up to rest against his shoulders, the feel of hard muscle under her squeezing palms and fingers.

The kiss lasted a while and then Michael raised his head and whispered to her, his mouth only inches from hers, his brown eyes staring into her soft green ones, "Night sugar, don't let the bed bugs bite." And he kissed the tip of her nose before letting her go and running out the room, up the stairs and into her bedroom where he laughed, quickly stripped off his clothes and climbed into the queen sized bed.

Shocked Libby stood stunned and then storming up the stairs, furious, she followed him going into her bedroom in time to see Michael, wearing only a pair of boxer shorts jump into her bed. "You big bastard, get out. I told you that you're sleeping on the couch."

Laying back, hands behind his head Michael grinned at her, "You take the couch......or join me in here." And he patted the side next to him, "Plenty of room."

Turning around in a huff Libby told him as she left the room, "You're no fucking gentleman." before slamming the door behind her.

Michael just grinned into the dark, turned on his side and before settling down to get some sleep murmured to himself, "You're damn right sugar....no gentleman.....and next time we're in this room together you and I will be in this bed together and we won't be sleeping. And that's a promise."



A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 02



This is a five chapter romantic crime thriller, where Michael and Libby fall in love whilst solving the problem of who set Michael up and where is the file that can prove her fathers innocence. There is romantic one on one sex and some sexy flirtations in this story.

*

Libby's eyes fluttered open as she awoke slowly, every muscle in her body aching from sleeping curled up on the old couch. Twitching, her nose could smell coffee and as she turned her head to the left she saw Michael sitting in the big chair, leaning back looking rested, long legs spread out into the centre of the room, feet hooked over each other at the ankles. He was sipping coffee from her favourite mug, his dark eyes watching her quietly.

Rising up on one arm, her hair falling over her face, she swept it back with the other and croaked, "What time is it?"

"Nine thirty.....there's a mug of coffee down by you on the floor."

Looking down Libby found the coffee and carefully sitting up, holding the blanket up over her chest for modesty she reached down and took the cup. After taking a deep drink she looked back at Michael who smiled at her. "Sleep well sugar?"

"What do you think? It took me ages to get comfortable and fall asleep last night."

"More of a reason to share the bed upstairs tonight."

"Tonight!!!!!"

"Mmm.....but before tonight we have things to do....... cover story to work out for the police ......we need to make sure we both tell them the same thing.......cover each other's backs......we need to work out who Smith is......go get the file from him......"

"Get my dad released and prove him innocent."

"That too."

"Well if you get out of the room I can get up and we can make a start."

Putting the mug down on a small side table Michael folded his hands over his belly and settled down, "No-one stopping you from getting up sugar, be my guest."

"I can't until you leave the room."

"Why not?"

"Because....."

"Because what?"

Blowing out a huff she told him, "Because I'm only wearing my panties."

"Don't be modest on my count."

"Get out."

"No."

"Are you always like this?"

"Pretty much......"

"You drive me crazy."

"Just give me the chance......upstairs......in bed......and I promise to really drive you crazy."

"You really do have an enormous ego."

"Want to find out what else I have that is enormous sugar."

And Libby burst out laughing, "Michael.....do those corny lines usually work on women for you."

Smiling he told her, "No....but I live in hope." And he stood up, bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Get up, get ready, then come back down and we can start to plan."

*

Half an hour later the two of them sat in the lounge eating toast and working out their story.

"Remember, I had been drinking. We met while drinking in the hotel bar. I decided to leave my car where it was and go on to here with you on your bike......that's close enough to the truth for us to make it seem real to the cops.....we spent the night here together.....getting down and dirty.....neither of us left the house, or the bedroom......the watch cap is easy to explain if they ask you about it.....you've been there at McMasters before with your dad through his work.....must have dropped the cap on a previous visit....."

"You think they will buy it?"

"Why not.....I'm here, you're here....we slept here last night.....I was staying in the hotel...it has a busy bar.....I did come here on the back of your bike.....no reason not to believe us if we stick to the story."

"You think that they will pick you up?"

Standing up Michael stretched, the hem of his black tee shirt rising up to give Libby a view of his flat belly, the thin trail of hair arrowing down to and past the waistband of his jeans, making her own belly flutter with a zing of sexual awareness. 

"Yeah they'll pick me up....but I'm going to pre-empt them and go visit them......the best way is to get the alibi set and presented to the cops as soon as possible so we can get on with finding that file and the man who really killed McMaster."

*

Libby and Michael drove past where he had left his car and it was now missing. Stopping further up the road and getting off the bike Michael looked up and down the road before saying, "Good, the cops took the car.....let's go onto the Police Station and do it all just as we agreed."

"You're sure they'll buy our story?"

Michael watched as Libby bit and worried her bottom lip and stepped forward, running his thumb gently over it, "You keep doing that and I won't have anything to kiss tonight."

"There isn't going to be a tonight....."

"So you keep saying......but I have to remind you I'm a man for hire and as far as I can see I've lost my last employer who was going to pay me for retrieving the file, now I'm working for you......the price is eight grand.....you got that money to give me?"

"What do you mean eight grand.....we're working together......I'm doing as much as you."

"OK four grand......one grand up front.....you got that to give me?"

"No I don't have that kind of money to hand...."

"Then I'll accept it in kind....tonight.....tonight you and me in bed, getting hot and dirty in exchange for one grand....the rest after we've got the file or three other nights."

"You're mad."

"Take it or leave it."

"You're asking me for sex instead of money."

"Consider it part of the barter system."

"What if I say no?"

"After we go to the police and set our joint alibi I'll go off on my own, find the file and destroy it. You want me to hand it over, you pay up."

Tears sprung into her eyes, "You don't mean it Michael."

Hardening himself to her tears he told her, "How much do you love your father. What are you willing to do to clear his name? Apart from breaking and entering that is." He waited watching the different emotions play over her heart shaped face, her green eyes large and swimming with tears and he almost changed his mind and was about to tell her that he was only joking and would help her anyway when she said, "OK......four nights.....tonight down payment.....then three more once I have the file in my hands.......but that's all......"

The big grin broke out on Michaels face, "It's a deal." And he put his hand out to shake on it.

Ignoring his hand Libby wearily said, "Just get on the bike Michael and let's get this trip to the police station out of the way."

*

Michael lent on the counter, Libby next to him as he told the cop behind the clear glass panel, "Left the car last night on the Old Watling Road, Libby and I," and Michael pointed to Libby, "met up there and we went on to her place by bike, went back this morning and found it gone. I need to report it stolen and then contact my insurance company."

The Policeman, looking bored picked up a pen and started to fill in the form, "Name Sir?"

"Michael Stewart....the cars a real classic Merc, bought it a year ago. Four point two litre roadster convertible........made in nineteen eighty six in Astral Silver.......black soft top. Not many made that colour so probably stolen to order......personal number plate.....M 1 C K Y."

By the time Michael had finished speaking the policeman was staring at him as if he had two heads.

"My pride and joy that car.....cost me thirty-six grand......just had it serviced too."

"Could you take a seat over there." The cop pointed to a bench opposite, "I'll get someone to have a chat with you. "And he picked up the phone.

As they sat down Michael whispered "Made me." Placed his arm around Libby's shoulder and told her, "Make it look like we're lovers, cosy up and act at least like we're intimate." and he kissed her ear.

Placing her hand on his thigh and smiling through gritted teeth she squeezed hard, digging her nails in, "You bastard, you're enjoying this."

"Yes I am.....probably am a bastard as far as I know, and also am enjoying myself. They say anticipation is a large part of the thrill....and if you think you're hurting me sugar forget it, I've been hurt by experts since I was a kid in care, through the army, and onward." And he looked down at her hand that was on his thigh until it loosened and just rested there.

"Good girl....now look over there, we're about to meet the big boys. Play it cool and stick to the story."

A greying haired detective stood and had a word with the original policemen who pointed over towards Michael, and then he walked over to come through the door that divided the waiting area from the main Police offices. Walking over to stand in front of them he introduced himself, "Mr Stewart, I'm Detective Morgan, I believe you're reporting your car stolen."

Michael stood up and introduced Libby before nodding, "Yeah, I was telling the Sergeant there that I parked it on the Old Watling Road late last night, Miss Higham and I went on to her place by motorbike, we went back this morning to pick up the car and it was gone. It's a beauty of a car and I guess I shouldn't have just left it parked there, but you know how things are........Libby and I decided to go on together and come back to get the car this morning......and it's gone. Damn nice car. Feel gutted......you think you can find the bastards who stole it?"

"If you can just come with me and have a chat I'll take down all the details. Miss Higham, why don't you stay here until Mr Stewart and I are finished."

Michael bent his head down and kissed Libby on the nose, "Won't be long sugar.....soon as they've taken the details we'll go on into town and pick up the rest of my stuff from the Hotel."

And he followed the detective through the door leaving a scared and nervous Libby to sit down and wait.

*

Detective Morgan sat opposite Michael in the interview room looking at the possible suspect for the murder of Frederick McMaster. The police had found the car when they swept the area, and traced it to Michael Stewart and after they had done a check on him and found out that he was a known person of interest down in London. Known to be hired out for protection, as muscle, to fight in private squabbles abroad and other stuff that they had been unable to pin on him.

"Mr Stewart you're not from around here? London isn't it."

"Yeah.....but I bought the car from the last owner a year ago in Plymouth. She's a beauty, real classic car."

"So what are you doing up here, it's a long way from London."

"Came up for some business, but it fell through.....my contact didn't turn up for the meeting planned.....tried to contact him but no joy.....met Miss Higham and decided to stay around a bit longer. I need to have a police report reference number to give to my insurance company and to arrange temporary transport. All my insurance details are back in London."

"Look Mr Stewart let's cut to the chase, I know your background, you know I know your background and what you do for a living, and we have your car. We picked it up last night from where it was left, behind a house where a member of our community was found killed. Why don't you and I start at the beginning and you tell me why you came up here from London, who employed you and why you parked your car in the spot very close to where we found an escape rope on the wall of the house where there was a murder."

Michael feigned shock, "You can't think I killed someone just because my car was parked close by. You have to be joking."

"I'm not joking Mr Stewart."

"I told you, Miss Higham and I were together last night, she can confirm it......you can't try and pin this on me just because I had something to drink and decided to leave my car where it was. How was I to know there would be a murder close by......you're just trying to pin something on me because I'm convenient.....try finding the real murderer."

"You're known to hire out as a mercenary since you left the army.....we've done our checks."

"Yeah and if you've done your checks you know I don't hire out to kill, I work in protection with various private military companies in protection and security. I'm registered and clean, my last stint was working at the beginning of the year on a six month contract as protection and security for an oil company contract in Nigeria, I came back two months ago. Everything is above board and legit."

"Who is this person who you were supposed to meet?"

"A Mr Smith.....he phoned me a couple of days ago, we arranged to meet at the Hotel where I'm staying.....he never turned up.....I've tried phoning the number without any success to get in contact with him. I met Miss Higham at the Hotel bar, we hit it off, decided to go back to her place, I had been drinking so I left the car where you found it and went back to her place on the bike and we spent the night together."

"You expect me to believe that."

"Ask Miss Higham."

"I will," and standing up the Detective told Michael "I'll need that phone number." Then told him to wait where he was, calling in a uniformed copper who stood by the door and then he left Michael sitting waiting.

*

As they walked out of the police station, Michael draped his arm around Libby's shoulders, "So how was it for you....you ok?"

"I think he believed me.....he must have as he's letting you go."

"Not necessarily. Just can't break through the alibi and he has no proof, but I think he thinks I did it."

"He kept asking me how much I knew about you."

"What did you tell him?"

Smiling up at him she answered, "That you were good in bed."

Laughing Michael squeezed her to his side, "Well sugar that puts me under pressure to prove it tonight and live up to your claim."

"About tonight......."

"Relax I'm not going to just pounce on you dry."

"Michael...."

"Libby......let's just pick up my car from the pound, go to the Hotel, pick up my stuff and check out. We need to sort out a game plan."

*

Hoisting the bag into the sleek silver sports car Michael told Libby "You go and I'll follow you back to your place. We need to speak to your father and give him the description of the man I met who paid me for the job. Maybe he could tell us who he could be."

"Dads on remand in prison, I need to arrange a visit which might take a few days."

Slamming shut the boot of the car Michael said, "How often does he phone you from jail?"

"Every few days. Next one is tomorrow night."

"OK we run the description by him then. Until then I'll think of something else to do that might find us the elusive Mr Smith."

*

Once they were back at her house Michael told her, "I need to clean up, you got any food here or do we order take away?"

"I've got food." And she called after his retreating back as he went up the stairs, "Clean towels in the airing cupboard."

Going into the kitchen she rummaged around looking to see what she had that she could rustle up for two people, and when Michael appeared fifteen minutes later, hair damp and mussy, wearing blue jeans and a white tee shirt, bare feet and smelling of her lemon soap she was busy grating cheese.

"Mmm that smells good." He bent over the bubbling pan of tomato sauce, the aroma of garlic, herbs and onions drifting up, a saucepan of water heating next to it, dried pasta on the counter ready to be cooked. "You a good cook?"

"Tolerable."

"Me I live on takeaways." And he leant his hip against the counter next to her and watch as she worked. The closeness of him and the size of him in her small kitchen made her jittery and very conscious about what would happen tonight. As she bent her head down concentrating on what she was doing she felt his hand gently lift her hair and stroke it back behind her ear. "So what's a lovely girl like you doing without a boyfriend?"

"What makes you think I don't have a boyfriend?"

Twirling a lock of her silky hair around his finger he gave it a small tug, "No male toiletries in the bathroom cabinet, no stray men's clothes in your closet, no male magazines hanging around or dirty boxer shorts in the laundry basket."

"Doesn't mean I don't have a boyfriend."

"If you were mine I wouldn't have let you put yourself in such a dangerous position as breaking into the house last night. I would have done it for you."

"You were breaking into the house last night!"

Bending over he kissed the nape of her neck, a soft warm touch that made her eyes close at the feeling. "Turn the cooker off sugar......the time has come."

Eyes closed, she stood there, body hot and tingling.

Reaching over Michael turned off the cooker, moved to stand behind Libby and reached around her to remove the cheese and grater from her hand whilst nibbling on the back of her neck. Libby's head fell forward giving him more access, then she felt him open his mouth against her sensitive skin there and gently bite. Hands now holding onto the edge of the counter she stood quietly as his hands slipped up and under her own top, easing their way up over her skin to cup her breasts where he gently held them, his thumbs rubbing back and forth across her swelling nipples under the lace of her bra. He rubbed his now hard groin against her back, "Come upstairs sugar, let me make love to you."

Without another word she turned around and Michaels hands fell away from her breasts and to her waist, "This is sex pure and simple.....not love." She told him.

Michael looked into her eyes, a deep sparkling green, eyes he could drown in, "Come upstairs and let me make love to you......." and taking her hands in his he walked out of the kitchen slowly, guiding her upstairs to the bedroom and stood beside the bed still holding her hands.

He bent his lips to hers and kissed her, his hands sliding around her back, then one of them lifting up to tunnel up into her hair as he deepened the kiss. On and on it went, deep and dark and wet and warm. Tongue slid against tongue, breaths intermingled, bodies became taut, and breaking the kiss he trailed his lips down from her mouth to the side of her neck just under her ear and kissed a trail of small kisses down until he reached the collar of her tee shirt.

Lifting up the hem of her top he peeled it off her so that she stood in jeans and bra, and then he continued to nibble and kiss his way over her shoulder, down the gentle swell of her breasts above the lace, all the while his hands stroked the skin of her back until at last he undid the back of her bra and eased the straps over her shoulders and down her arms until her breasts were free.

Libby watched him as he looked down at her small pert breasts, his eyes darkening, almost black, the look on his face full of passion, and then she watched as he lowered his head and took one dark hard nipple into his mouth and suckled, the tip of his tongue laving the sensitive bud. Libby senses focused on the wonderful feeling as his hot wet mouth pulled her turgid nipple deeper and deeper into the cavern of his mouth, the matching throbbing flush of blood filling her sex made her body ache with need, and when his teeth closed over the hard point she melted and she felt her knees go weak.

Lowering her to the bed Michael lay half on top of her, half off, admiring the firm twin globes of her breasts, dark rose coloured areolas surrounded the darker erect nipples, one of them shining wet with his saliva. "Beautiful." He murmured, "Just perfect......" and he lowered his head and took the other nipple into his mouth and nipped.

Libby's back arched up, offering him more access to her breasts, almost begging for him to pay more attention to them, and as he suckled and nibbled on one teat, the fingers of his hand reached up and pinched the other nipple causing Libby to throw back her head and gasp.

She felt her nipples harden even more and swell as the wonderful feelings rolled through her, and then even harder as the colder air hit the wet nipple as his mouth left it and met her mouth again in a drugging, deep kiss. His tongue swirled inside her mouth, over her teeth, along her own tongue and then he was sucking and nibbling on her bottom lip and her hands were tangled deep in his shaggy hair, pulling him down for another kiss. Her restless legs rubbed against his as she grew hot and wet and restless between her thighs and the sounds of their deep breaths echoed in her brain.




A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 02



Michael was lost in a maelstrom of feelings. The smell of her scent, the silky feel of her skin, the taste of her mouth, the softness of her lips, the firmness of her breasts, the pebble hardness of her nipples in his mouth, her restless hands clawing at his back and in his hair. His hands caressed her body, easing down to undo her jeans and removing them, the smell of her needy sex wafting up towards him.

When she was totally naked he sat back on his knees and just looked at her as she lay with abandon on the bed. Her lips swollen, wet from his kisses, nipples pointing up at him begging for attention, her skin silky white, the small indent of her navel in a flat stomach above a small triangle of blond hair guarding the entrance to heaven for him, he took it all in and damn well nearly came in his jeans at the sight.

Ripping off his tee shirt he undid his jeans and shucked out of them and his boxers, letting his swollen cock spring forth, hard and engorged it held heavy and ready, the small hole at the tip glistening with pre cum.

Libby looked up at the hard tight wiry body above her; small silver scars marred the dark smooth skin here and there, his small male nipples on his own chest pebbled and hard, a sprinkling of dark hair trailing down from his pectoral muscles, down his belly to surround his cock where it erupted from the tight pubic hair.

Beautiful. That's all she could think. He was beautiful. All male. Hard, and masculine, and beautiful.

Reaching up she pulled him down towards her and they kissed again, as skin rubbed against skin, hands stroked, hers running over tight bunched muscles, his over soft inviting skin and then he found the wet warm entrance to her sex and slowly slid a finger in testing her readiness.

Her hips rose up inviting, her mouth fell open panting as she moved her hips begging for more.

Placing another finger in he rubbed the tight walls back and forth, his thumb finding the hard nub of her clit, flicking it back and forth as her body undulated with pleasure.

Her mind was full of pulsing heat and colours that built as the tight coil of orgasm started to grow, until she thought she would die with pleasure. When it peaked her body arched back, neck exposed, mouth open as the hot lava that seemed to have built up inside her exploded and her juices flowed down to coat his moving fingers.

A deep primal moan ripped out from deep in her throat, and Michael moved over her, settling his hips between her thighs and pushed his cock slowly into her moist, tight still contracting pussy.

Tight and warm it pulled him in until he was seated deep, and then he started to move, slow and deep. Raised up on strong arms, hands planted each side of her head he thrust his hips, quickening the pace from the long slow deep strokes until he was pumping hard and deep into her, his balls slapping against the plump orbs of her bottom as she met him thrust for thrust.

On and on he plunged deeper and harder, his own head thrust back, his teeth gritted, pure pleasure pulling deep in his belly and balls as he moved in the slick heaven that held him tight until he felt her body stiffen and come, and he joined her as each pulse of semen as it came from him seemed to be ripped deep from inside of him.

Libby came to awareness, the feel of his body pressing down upon her, she felt like liquid silk as the inner calm settled over her. She could feel him move after a while and he slid his body down next to her and gathered her close, his legs wrapping around hers, his arms holding her into the curve of his body. "Has anyone told you just how sexy you are sugar?"

Smiling against his chest where her head rested she just shook her head and lay content and complete. Slowly she felt his muscles relax as he drifted down into sleep and she lay there on the tangled sheets relaxed for the first time in over a week since her father had been arrested.

Feeling safe, in the arms of her man for hire.



A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 03



This is a five chapter romantic crime thriller about Michael and Libby and how they find out who set Michael up to take the rap for a murder he didn't do and get the information to prove Libby's dad innocent of theft.

*

Michael forked up a swirl of the pasta and ate it whilst sitting opposite Libby at the small table in the lounge. "This is great; you really made this pasta sauce from scratch? You're perfect, a woman that can cook and is great in the bedroom, I think I've died and gone to heaven."

"Another of your corny lines Michael." But inside Libby was basking in pleasure. She sat opposite him eating her own meal, watching him as he ate, taking in the man she had earlier had wonderful sex with. He seemed so relaxed and laid back, giving her the occasional grin as he consumed the pasta,

After he had scooped up the last forkful he sat back, glass of red wine in his hand and said, "The man that called himself Smith that I met up with was about late thirties, five eleven, dark sandy coloured hair styled short around a narrow face. He had a slight northern accent, maybe Yorkshire, wore a suit, carried a laptop case, ring any bells?"

"Not to me. Maybe my dad will recognise the description."

"Maybe......but I've been thinking. Whoever tried to set me up and has set your dad up would probably be doing it because he is the one who really has done the fraud, possibly in conjunction with McMasters, therefore he would have access to the same stuff as your dad and work with him, or in the same office."

"That's obvious."

"Just stating the facts. So tomorrow we go sit outside the building where your dad worked, watch people arriving and leaving and see if I recognise him and then follow him to see where he goes."

Libby nodded, "OK, and then what?"

"Then you come home whilst I do what I'm good at." Michael's face took on that hard look, a little frightening to see, and his eyes went flat as he said, "What I've been trained to do. I'll get him to give me the file and then bring it back to you. You can do whatever you want to do with the file to help clear your dad, and let the cops know where I've left the bastard."

Libby's hand shot across the table to grab Michaels, "You won't kill him."

"Of course not......what do you take me for?"

"Sorry.......And then what?"

"What do you mean?"

"What will you do then? Will you go back to London?"

Michael picked up the fork he had been using to eat his pasta and twirled it in his fingers in a nervous manner and avoided looking at Libby as he shrugged, "I was only doing this job because I was between assignments. When I get back I'll contact the agency and see if there's any job I can hook up with. Some contract or other."

"Fighting for money."

Defensively he replied "Yeah fighting for money.......protection and security. Whatever."

Standing up Libby started to clear up the plates and cutlery. Michael gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her around and down onto his lap, "But until then we have tonight and three more nights once I've retrieved the file for you." Pulling her head down to his he kissed her, his hands holding her still on his lap.

After the long slow drugging kiss he told her, "Let's go back up, screw around and mess the bed up some more."

"That's a very romantic offer Michael." She told him sarcastically, "you certainly know how to woo a girl."

"If you want romance Libby you're sitting on the wrong mans lap." She started to wriggle off of him, but his hands held her still, "I'm not offering happy ever afters sugar, but I'm here for you, I'll help you get things sorted out so your dad is freed. I don't take shit from anyone, and I'll protect you and make sure your safe while I'm here. I may be rough around the edges, but I'm solid, and honest in my own way. No I'm not romantic, but I know I can make your body sing with pleasure, and I won't hurt you. I promise."

Libby looked at him, into his deep brown eyes and lowered her head to take his mouth in a kiss. "OK, good enough for me......so my big bad warrior lets go screw and mess up the sheets some more."

*

Later that night Michael drifted awake, his body curled protectively around Libby's, their legs tangled, his arms holding her, his face buried into the sweet smelling silk of her hair. He lay there quietly feeling her breath as it stroked across the skin of his shoulder where her head lay, and he absorbed the marvel of the last twenty four hours. 

Lying on her soft bed, the quietness of the deep of the night, the wonder of the woman in his arms he felt at peace, real deep peace for the first time in his life. Almost spiritual. 

Softly stroking the palm of his hand up her back so as not to waken her he thought about what he had said earlier about romance. He had never had anyone in his life to show him how to be romantic, never had a normal home life. In care he was one of many that underpaid social workers with too many children to look after left to get on with it. Violence from the older boys towards the younger ones made him toughen up, and he learnt to fight his corner from a very early age.

The army had continued to increase his toughness and feeling of aloneness. He learnt to be part of a team and look after other men's backs, but always felt a little apart from them, especially when they went on leave to visit families and he just went on leave to get drunk, find a cheap woman and let loose. Leaving the army four years ago and getting his own place didn't make him feel as if he belonged somewhere, his small flat was just somewhere he slept when not on assignment.

But here, with Libby in his arms, in her small cottage with the stuffed cushions, plants in pots, lace curtains he felt somehow more settled, more peaceful, more attached to someone then he had ever felt. And it scared him.

Kissing the top of her head as she slept he knew he was totally wrong for someone like her. She had called him her warrior, but he wasn't a warrior, more of a mongrel that just knew one thing, how to fight. She was a fiercely loyal daughter, willing to do anything for someone she loved. He was a taker, she a giver.

He wished he was different. He wished he could offer her romance, but all he could offer her was getting the file to help her and then disappear from her life.

All he could offer himself was loneliness, even though what he craved was love.

*

At eight o'clock in the morning, the sky starting to cloud over, Michael and Libby sat by the window of a coffee bar sipping at some frothy concoction that cost the earth and watched the revolving doors of the office block opposite. A sprinkle of men and women came into the coffee bar, bought their morning coffee to take with them into the modern building of steel and glass and up to their little boxes of offices to earn their daily crust.

Each man that entered Michael sussed out, each man that walked on up the road past the window he checked, every man that walked through the door into the big building opposite he gave his attention to. Libby watched him as he sat there alert and looking out of place, wearing jeans and the leather jacket with every other man in a suit or smart casual clothes. But to her he looked the most handsome, the sexiest and the toughest man there was. His hair, always slightly messy and his dark stubble gave him an almost piratical air, his big hands held the small white cup, almost swallowing it, and her mind went back to last night and what those wonderful big hands did to her and how they made her feel.

Squirming in her chair as she became aroused at the thoughts running through her head she asked him, "What if he doesn't appear this morning?"

"Then we wait all day until he does, and if not today, again tomorrow."

"But what if he doesn't work here..........."

Michael put down his cup, "Shhh......there he is."

"Where?"

"The one with the briefcase walking over there." And Michael pointed to across the road, "Walking up to the entrance right now."

Libby watched as the man in the raincoat disappeared through the big revolving door of the office block. "What do we do next Michael?" she asked him, excited to have found Mr Smith so quickly.

"We come back later and wait to see when he leaves and follow him to wherever he goes, without him seeing us." And getting up Michael strode out of the coffee bar, Libby trotting out behind him.

*

Michael stood pushing the supermarket trolley following Libby as she spent time perusing the shelves for what she wanted. Bored he marvelled at the length of time she took over choosing each vegetable before she put it in the trolley. "Just put it in Libby, let's get going."

"Shut up Michael, just have a little patience."

"We've been here for over ten minutes and all we've got to show for it is a bag of carrots and a damn lettuce."

"I want to buy a decent aubergine."

"They're all the same."

"No they're not......stop complaining, you'll like my Moussaka once you eat it."

"It has aubergine in it? Aubergine is a vegetable right?"

"Of course it has aubergine in it."

"I don't like vegetables'."

Turning around and giving him a scowl she told him, "You'll like these." And she threw three large aubergines into the trolley and moved further up the aisle to look at the onions.

Michael continued to follow her around the supermarket, bored, and then he noticed other men pushing trolleys, following women around. One of the men looked up and exchanged a roll of eyes with Michael along with a shrug as if to say, what the hell are we doing here? Michael nodded back and stood quietly as Libby held up two packs of lamb mince, both looking identical to him, but obviously different to her as she compared them.

The man that he had exchanged looks with pushed his trolley alongside Michaels and said. "Women shopping.....they're all the same.....whether its shoes or food........I see your wife has got you well trained!"

Michael was just about to tell the man that Libby wasn't his wife, when she looked over at him and held up one of the packs of meat. Looking back at the man Michael said, "She makes a mean Moussaka......she cooks, I eat.....and it all makes her happy."

Agreeing the man said, "Know what you mean....." and he wandered off after his wife as Libby came and placed the pack of meat with the rest of the shopping."

*

Michael stood in the kitchen chopping onions. They were working together companionably and Libby had insisted that they eat the meal before leaving to sit and wait outside the office as she pointed out that he didn't know when he would have time to eat later on and she didn't want him to be hungry later.

Michael felt himself glow with happiness that she seemed to show concern about whether he would eat or not. He didn't like to tell her he was used to going hungry for long periods when working, existing on just small basic rations grabbed whenever he could. This was sure turning into a new experience for him.

Libby worked preparing the Moussaka and sneaked a peek at Michael as he stood chopping onions, eyes watering from them, laughing she picked up a tea towel and dabbed at his eyes, and then kissed his nose telling him, "Big strong man.....brought to tears by an onion. The kiss should make it better."

Michael stood shocked, the throwaway kiss on the end of his nose, and her laughter undid another layer of protection around his heart, and he gruffly told her, "It would have been quicker to just order a pizza."

"Live a little Michael. Expand your repertoire.......and experiment."

"You want me to experiment? Wait for later tonight. I'll show you experiment."

*

Sitting on the back of the bike behind Libby, Michael sat intently watching the revolving doors, his belly full of the lovely Moussaka. He even admitted to Libby that he had enjoyed the aubergines in the dish, much to his surprise.

The plan was for them to follow Smith when he left the office, and if he got in a car they would follow on the bike, Libby dropping him off and going home when he got to where ever he stopped. Or if he got a bus, Michael would follow on foot and Libby go on home.

She had argued over the meal about leaving him with Smith, but Michael had insisted telling her he did not want her anywhere near in case there were problems either with the police or some other bad outcome.

Libby fretted and worried. She knew Michael could take care of himself, but what if Smith did call the police. What if there were other hard men there and Michael got hurt. What if he got shot? After all Smith probably killed McMasters, he might still have the gun.

All Michael would say is he could handle it and to go back to the cottage and wait once she had dropped him off.

After a while the man streamed out of the office along with crowds of other people and walked down the road towards a bus stop where he stood along with others queuing. Michael slipped off the back of the bike further up the road, and never taking his eyes of the man told Libby to go on home and wait for him. Biting her lip with worry she sat there a minute before Michael growled at her, "Scat....." and he walked over to lean against the wall of the building, head looking down and away from Smith. Libby rode off, her mind full of worry for the man she knew she was falling in love with and shouldn't be.

*

The drizzle started a few minutes later and everyone in the queue seemed to huddle and hunch over, glancing up the road looking for the bus. This worked in Michaels favour as Smith did the same, and meant that he was unlikely to look around to where Michael stood, and possibly notice and recognise him. Five minutes later the bus appeared coming up the road and Michael moved to the back of the queue, keeping his head down, and finally when it stopped followed Smith on, then moved to the back, well away from where Smith sat, looking out the window.

The bus moved slowly through the heavy evening traffic, picking up more people at each stop until it was packed. Michael relaxed a bit as this meant that he was well hidden from view from were Smith sat, and as the bus made its way out of town, through suburban streets, at each stop Michael checked to make sure Smith wasn't getting off.

When Smith stood up getting ready to alight at the next stop, Michael bent over as if to tie up his shoe so he wouldn't see him, and when the bus stopped and the doors opened he got up and pushed past the other commuters, getting off just as the doors were about to close, and at a distance followed Smith as he walked up the road.

After a few minutes the heavens opened up and the rain started to come down in heavy sheets, and Smith quickened his pace, trotting up the road and turning left into another road. Michael turned up the collar of his jacket and felt the water run down the back of his neck. His hair became plastered to his head and his jeans were damp and clingy on his skin, but he never stopped his stalking of his prey. At the end of the road Smith turned right into a road with larger detached properties, trees and hedges, larger front gardens with more privacy. Perfect for what Michael had in mind.

Smith turned into a driveway, Michael ran to catch up and was at the edge of the hedge that framed the entrance to the driveway when he saw the door open and Smith walk in. Framed inside past the open door was a woman, short brown hair holding in her arms a child of about four who leaned forward and hugged the wet Smith, laughing at the sight of his obviously very wet father.

Michael stood where he was, the rain coming down on his unprotected head and face. He hadn't figured into the equation a woman and child. He had planned to break in, tie up Smith, do a little hard arm techniques to make him reveal where the file was, and the whole story about the fraud, take the file back to Libby, make an anonymous phone call to the police on where to find the true culprit, and then spend the next three days with Libby, hardly getting out of bed, except to eat.

Damn, damn, damn....this changed his plans.

Turning around, dripping wet he made his way back to the main road, a bus back to the centre of the city, and then a cab back to Libby's.

*

Libby rushed to open the door at the first knock and stepped back to let a very damp, very grumpy Michael enter. "That was fast.....where's the file......did you get it.....is he alright.....are you alright?"

Storming past her Michael went straight into the kitchen, opened the fridge, pulled out a can of beer they had bought at the supermarket that morning, pulled off the tab and took a very long deep drink before scowling and growling at her, "Fucking bastard has a family. Fucking wife and kid. Witnesses. I don't terrorize women and children."

"You don't have the file?"

Shouting at her, "NO I DON'T HAVE THE FUCKING FILE......"

Libby sank back a step at his anger.

".....WHAT I HAVE IS SOAKING WET CLOTHES AND NO FUCKING FILE......"

"But you know where he lives?"

Running his hand through his wet hair making it spike up, "Yeah I know where he lives....and I have another plan......as soon as I get changed and dry we need to talk and set it up." And still drinking the beer he walked past her, ran upstairs to the bathroom, leaving Libby standing there having witnessed another side of Michael.

His temper when he was frustrated, his code of honour about women and children.

Michael pulled off the soaking wet clothes, dropped them on the floor, stepped into the shower and stood under the scorching hot water. He was pissed off, both at himself for failing on his mission, and for losing it in front of Libby.

He didn't mean to shout at her, it just happened, and now he was angry with himself all over again. Turning off the water he stepped out the shower, grabbed a towel and dried himself off, wrapped it around his hips, before scooping up his wet clothes and going into the bedroom where he found Libby standing waiting for him.

"What?.....I need to get dressed.......why don't you go down and wait for me there."

"I've seen you naked remember.....it's not going to be a shock to me to watch you get dressed."

Nonchalantly he removed the gun from the holster on the belt of his wet jeans, placed it in the bedside drawer and threw the jeans down on the floor where he had dropped the other wet clothes in a challenging manner.

Libby looked down at the wet clothes and the puddle of water starting to form around it on her polished oak floor. "Pick them up Michael......" "Pick them up yourself...." and he folded his arms across his bare chest.

Sighing Libby sat down on the edge of the bed, "I know you're frustrated, and it's going to mean planning another idea, but don't take it out on me. I'm just as upset.....probably more as it means we still don't have the file to prove my dad's innocence. But I'm not taking it out on you......so don't take it out on me.......pick up the fucking clothes Michael before they ruin my floor.....and grow up." And Libby got up and started to walk out of the room.

Michael moved quickly, grabbing her arm before she got to the door and turning her around to face him said, "I'm sorry.....forgive me."

Her hands went up to his chest and lightly rested on his damp warm skin there, "I forgive you." And then her hands slipped up around his neck and she kissed him, a soft forgiving kiss that calmed him down. His hands snaked around her waist and pulled her up hard against him as he deepened the kiss, slanting his mouth to fit better against hers.

Breaking the kiss slowly, mouth inches from his, her green eyes looking into his deep brown eyes she whispered, "Pick up your clothes Michael, hang them up over the shower rail and come on down and I'll make you a hot cup of coffee." and her hands fell slowly from around his neck, down over the skin of his chest as she stepped back and left the room leaving him tasting her taste still in his mouth and his head a complete mushy mess.




A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 03



*

Sitting in the big soft chair in the lounge hot mug of coffee in his hand Michael looked across at Libby and told her, "We need to make him think that I've got a couple of my colleagues following his wife and kid, and that one word from me they'll be picked up and he'll never see them again."

Gasping she replied, "You can't mean that...."

"Libby all he has to do is believe that......we don't actually have to do it."

"Oh.....ok......I knew you wouldn't really do that."

"Damn right......there's a line everyman puts for himself not to cross......terrorising women and children is one of mine.....I've done things in my life many people wouldn't do, but hurting innocent women and children isn't one of them and I don't intend to start now. No, all we have to do is make him believe I would.....or that I have some of my ex army colleagues with them who will."

"So how do we do this?"

"We hire a car....you park in their street and when she leaves the house you follow her, give me a call on my mobile to let me know she's out and about. I'll be at his office, go on in and find him whilst you, as far away from the house as you can then bump the hire car into her car. Not enough to hurt yourself or her and the kid, but enough to keep her there for a while. Keep her talking about insurance, whatever, I'll get him into my car.....get him home and do the rest."

"You want me to crash into her?"

"You can do it.....better if you do it at a supermarket when she's loaded up or parked somewhere difficult for her to reverse out if your car is blocking her."

"Could I just block her and walk away instead of crashing into her."

Laughing Michael told her, "Coward."

"Damn right...."

"Just remember how we met....you breaking and entering....that took some courage to do that....."

"It's not the same..."

"No its not.....and yeah if you want to just block her in and leave the car......fine.....just keep me up to date on what you've done on the mobile."

"OK."

Just then the phone rang and Libby jumped, "That will be my dad....he's going to be disappointed."

Getting up Michael told her, "Don't tell him our plan just in case the phone at the prison is being monitored."

Michael watched as Libby picked up the phone and listened to her ask her father if he was alright. There seemed to be a lot of her father asking her questions and Libby quietly saying either yes or no, and then she told him, "I should have it in a couple of days dad.....I promise you....yes I will, love you, bye."

Turning towards him, tears streaking down her cheeks she told Michael, "He told me to get it as soon as possible as he can't stand being in prison much longer, he's frightened and he told me the file was the only way to prove his innocence. He wants' me to get it and get it fast so he can get out."

Gathering her up in his arms and rocking her, his cheek rubbing against the top of her head he soothed her, "Don't worry I'll get it, I promise....and as soon as I can......I won't let you down."



A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 04



This is a five chapter romantic crime thriller, where Michael and Libby meet, and work together to find the person who has set Michael up to take the rap for a murder, and to get the file that will clear her dad of theft.

*

Sitting astride him, Libby looked down at the naked body of Michael as he lay on the bed beneath her. His hard cock was inside her, filling her up, deliciously filling her up. Her hands stroked his skin, fingers trailing over his torso, tracing the occasional silver scar marring the warm skin stretched over tight muscles.

Slowly she rocked as his hands gripped her hips, and she contracted her inner muscles that surrounded his rock hard penis making him gasp.

She stared into his brown eyes that seemed fathomless as they looked up at her, deep with passion, glittering up at her, his mouth slightly open, a faint flush of red across his high cheekbones.

"Where did you get this one?" she asked quietly, keeping up the slow steady rocking, feeling his hip bone rub gloriously against her lower pelvis.

"Knife wound....bar room fight.....South Africa." His quiet deep voice replied a little breathlessly.

"and this one?" and her finger traced the puckered scar on his shoulder.

"Fighting in two thousand and eight in Venezuela.....I didn't move fast enough."

"and the one on your leg.....?"

"Fell off a tree when I was nine.....trying to see into the girl's dormitory at the children's home I was living in."

Smiling Libby lent forward and kissed him, increasing the rocking motion so that his cock rubbed deeper inside of her. Taking his hands from where they held and guided her hips she joined her hands with his and raised them up to hold them each side of his head.

Increasing the pace she watched as his head went back, his hands tightening in hers. Small panting breaths escaped him, and as she rolled her hips around slightly he groaned deep in his chest, closing his eyes and absorbing the wonderful feeling of giving up the control to the woman riding him.

Every muscle in his body seemed to coil up tight as his cock started to pulse, his hips rising up to match her rhythm as the pace increased. He felt her long hair that had fallen forward tickle his flesh; moments before he felt her teeth close over one of his nipples and nip it. His body arched up, and he felt her bite the other one.

His belly tightened as the coil inside of him tightened even further, his hands squeezed hers holding on tight, and he could hear himself moaning as his cock engorged even more, swelling getting ready to explode, his balls tightening up, waiting to eject his sperm.

Bouncing up and down now, slick with her juice coating his rod, Libby's thighs tightened each side of his hips her own moans mingled with his, and then his shout of release exploded as he came, deep and hard into her, so that every part of his body seemed tight and hard and pulsing.

One great big tingling nerve blown apart by his orgasm.

When he came to his senses her body lay still joined to his, sprawled the length of him, hot sweaty flesh to hot sweaty flesh. Letting go of one of her hands which still held his he ran his fingers through her hair before running it gently down her back to squeeze the round globe of her bottom.

Quietly they lay upon the soft bed without speaking, just absorbing the wonderful feelings that ebbed and flowed through them from the wonderful sex.

After a while Libby lifted her head and smiled at him, "You're such a contradiction Michael, tough and very masculine most of the time, seeming to be always in control but inside you're just a real soft marshmallow."

"Only with you sugar......only with you."

Laying back down, her head on his chest she listened to the solid beat of his heart and closed her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.

*

Later the next morning Michael sat in the waiting room of the Financial Investment Business that Libby's dad had worked for and sat watching as various people walked by. None of them were Smith. He had told the receptionist that he wanted to make an appointment to see someone about investing his savings and she had told him to wait and someone would come in to get him.

He held his mobile in his hand waiting for the text from Libby who was following Smiths wife at that moment in the hire car they had hired earlier that morning, a Ford S Max. Large enough to block and do a little damage if Libby bumped into Smiths wife's small Corsa.

The text came through just saying, "Done....get going." And he got up and walking over to the receptionist with her red hair done up in a coil, perfect make up and smart black suit said, "You mind if I use the men's?"

Pointing down the corridor she told him, "Down there......second door on the right."

"Cheers." And he walked up the hall and into the men's, the receptionist watching and admiring his sexy arse and long legs encased in the jeans as he walked away.

Michael waited a couple of minutes then sneaked out of the men's and on up the corridor looking into the glass fronted offices to find his prey. Around a bend in the corridor and five doors down he hit pay dirt. Sitting at his desk working on a computer was Smith. Slipping into the office and closing the door behind him, Michael looked at the shocked face looking back up at him.

"How......what........what are you doing here?" Smith spluttered getting up and his hand reached for the phone on his desk.

Michael moved forward, placing his hand over Smiths and squeezed hard, hurting Smith enough for him to gasp and wince. "I wouldn't if I was you pal.....not if you love your wife and kid."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said.....behave yourself and no harm is going to come to your wife and kid.....do something stupid and one call to my colleagues and you can say goodbye to a happy home life."

Sitting down as if his legs had turned to lead, his hands shaking Smith looked up at Michael. "You're bluffing."

"Want to find out......remember it's at the expense of your wife and kid."

"What do you want?"

"The file."

"I don't have the file. You were supposed to get it for me and didn't."

Holding up his mobile Michael pressed some keys and put it to his ear. Smith got up agitated and pleaded, "Stop....don't make that call......we can work this out...."

"Where's the file Smith?.....I expect Smith isn't your real name....." and Michael reached over on the desk and lifted up the name plate and read it out loud, "Edward Derosa. Couldn't think of something more original then Smith Mr Derosa?"

"Look we can negotiate here.....I'll give you the money....five grand wasn't it.....I can give you the money....no-one looses.....I can get you the money tomorrow."

"Eight grand actually....you owe me eight grand....but thanks for the offer but I'd rather have the file."

"I destroyed it."

Michael started to dial the number on the mobile again and pretended to speak to the nonexistent person on the other end. "He's jerking my chain....we'll have to give him a little push.....rape the bitch before you break her arm."

"STOP....WAIT...DON'T HURT HER....I'LL TAKE YOU TO THE FILE....DON'T TOUCH HER. IT'S BACK AT MY HOUSE, I PROMISE." Derosa begged.

"Put that on hold for now......." and Michael pressed end on the phone. "We'll take my car Derosa, and remember if my men don't hear from me to the positive they'll take turns with her before they use her for a punching bag. So don't try to do anything stupid."

*

Libby stood next to the hire car putting on an act, pretending to be in shock that she had backed into Smiths wife's car where it was parked, blocking it in its parking space in the multi storey car park of the shopping mall. "Oh God my husband is going to kill me.....just kill me.....he's such a bastard......what am I going to do." 

Smith's wife put her arms around Libby's shoulders trying to calm her down. "If you just give me your insurance details, I'm sure it will be alright. It's not too bad......just your back bumper and my back bumper. The insurance company will sort it out."

Putting her hands up to her face and pretending to cry Libby said, "You don't understand he hits me....he'll kill me for this." And she sunk down to the ground. "Oh God what am I going to do...."

Embarrassed the other woman looked around for help but couldn't see any. "I'm sure he won't hit you for what is really an accident, and a small one at that."

"He hits me for anything....this will just set him off....I'm scared to go home. Please can we go somewhere so I can calm down and exchange details there. I need a hot drink of coffee. I need to calm down and think." And grabbing the woman's arm Libby looked up from where she sat on the hard ground and pleaded, "Please....I'm sorry but I just need to calm down so I can think and remember the insurance details."

Torn but needing the information she nodded, "OK....but only a quick one...there's a coffee shop just outside the entrance to the mall. Park the car over there and we'll go sort this out."

Libby got up, gave the woman a hug, murmuring her thanks, got into the hire car and fumbled dragging out as long as she could moving the car and parking it.

*

Michael pulled his car up into Derosa's driveway, cut the engine and told the man sitting next to him in shock, "Remember no stupid stuff or your woman gets to pay for anything you do."

Getting out he followed Derosa into the house and as Derosa walked into the front hall and turned around to talk to him, Michael punched him in the jaw knocking him down. "That's for fucking me around and setting me up to take a murder rap you bastard."

Derosa scuttled backwards on the floor, his lip bleeding, only to be hauled up by Michael who twisted the man's arm behind his back making him scream with agony. "This way you bastard.....you and I are going to have a nice chat and then you're going to get that file for me."

Once they were in the main sitting room Michael ordered Derosa to take off his tie and hand it to him.

"What are you going to do?" the scared man asked.

"I told you to take off the fucking tie and give it to me....do it now or else."

Removing his tie he handed it to Michael, cringing as he did so. Michael turned the man around, grabbed his arms and tied his hands behind his back with the tie, making sure it was tight. Then he turned him around and pushed Derosa into a chair so that the man was sitting.

"Please don't hurt my wife and child....."Derosa sobbed, "Please don't hurt me."

Michael grabbed a chair from the dining room and put it back facing towards Derosa right in front of him, sat down legs spread each side of the chair back so that he could lean on the top and looked down at the tearful Derosa. "You really are a stupid bugger Derosa.....you really think I would take the fall for the murder.....you think a man like me wouldn't come for you.....you set me up....screwed me for eight grand.....left me hanging in the wind. Remember I do intimidation and hurt people for a living and I intend to hurt you unless you answer my questions. Do you understand?"

Nodding Derosa sat there hands behind his back, shaking, face wet with tears of fear.

"Why'd you kill McMasters?"

"I didn't....."

Michael got up, pushed the chair he was sitting on aside in one violent swipe and punched Derosa in the belly making the man gasp and cough.

Picking up the chair and setting it back so he could sit down again; Michael waited whilst Derosa stopped gasping and asked again. "Why'd you kill McMasters?"

"He had the file.....he knew how we did the fraud....he knew everything....he was going to blackmail us. The file has all the details and proof of the scam."

"Us?"

"Me and Alec Higham...."

Michael felt his body go cold with shock and sat watching Derosa with hard eyes. "Higham?"

"Yeah this colleague who trained me, we've done a small shaving of funds for years.....he's in his fifties, knew the firm was going to cut back due to the economic climate, decided to take a bonus for himself before they could.....then he got caught....McMasters has the file and threatened to let the police know I was in on it unless I paid him."

"So you killed him.....set me up to take the fall....the perfect patsy.....man for hire....the police would think there's no knowing what I would do if caught breaking into a house by the owner....you called the cops didn't you....timed it so they would catch me with an open safe, dead body......"

Derosa's face was a chalky white, the drips of blood on his chin standing out bright red. In a quiet voice Michael asked him, "where's the fucking file?"

"Upstairs, in my son's room. Back of the closet behind some stuff stored there."

Getting up Michael hauled the cringing man to his feet and pushed him towards the stairs. "Come on you pile of shit, we're going to get the file."

*

Sitting sipping her coffee in the cafe Libby spun the woman some intricate story about being an abused wife, scared to run away from her husband, gave her a false name and address, false insurance details, contact number and number plate, praying that the woman hadn't noted the real one down.

Smith's wife listened occasionally telling her she should leave her husband and not put up with the beatings.

Libby droned on, kept her talking as long as she could until the woman looked at the watch on her wrist and said, "Look I have to go and get my shopping done, promise me you'll leave your husband and not let him hurt you anymore."

"I promise....."

Patting Libby's hand the woman got up and walked off. Libby ran from the cafe.....up to the hire car and got out of the car park as fast as she could, then parked up the road and sent the text to Michael's phone.

*

Michael was reaching up into the closet when the text came through. Reading it he then took down the file, flicked through it finding about ten CD discs in plastic covers and pages of accounts which he didn't understand.

Derosa stood in the centre of the room, hands tied behind his back, dishevelled and scared.

Michael looked at Derosa with derision. "Lay down on the floor Derosa, face down."

"What are you going to do?"

Michael took the cord from the Childs dressing gown hanging in the closet and barked out, "Lay the fuck down as I told you."

Shaking Derosa knelt down and then eased himself on to his belly to lay face down. "Don't hurt me...please I beg you don't hurt me."

Kneeling down Michael tied Derosa's feet together with the cord, grabbed a fist full of the man's hair lifting his head back, and hissed into his ear. "Just remember, me and my colleagues know where you live, where your family live. You go to the police and report anything on me, even assault and I'll make sure your family have a very short but painful life." And then Michael, with the file, left the house.

*

Michael sat in his car up the road from Libby's cottage torn about how to go about telling her what he knew. He knew he would break her heart and breaking her heart was going to break his.

He hated that he was going to kill her dreams and her belief in her father. But there was no other way but to tell her outright.

Getting out of his car he walked down the road to the cottage, and lifted his hand up to knock when the door flew open and Libby threw herself at him. "Michael are you alright....how did it go.....did you get the file?" Looking down at where he held the file in his hand she squealed, "You did it.....you did it." And planted a big noisy kiss on his lips before grabbing the file and running into the lounge to sit down on the sofa and flick through the folder.

Michael sat down in the chair opposite watching her, a serious look on his face.

"I was so worried about you, but you did it. You're a genius.....so clever...your plan worked....I was so frightened when I hit her car. The bump was only a small bump.....not much damage....but I thought my heart was going to explode out of my body.....it was the same when I broke into the house the other night....my adrenaline was rushing and I felt lightheaded, but so excited....is it the same when you do what you do....I can understand why you do it....." she suddenly noticed how quiet and serious Michael was and frowned at him, "What's wrong.....is he alright....Smith... you didn't......"

Shaking his head Michael said, "His real name's Derosa, I left him tied up....he's fine.....it's the file."

"What about the file? Isn't it all here? Is some missing?"

"Libby, the file, it won't prove your father is innocent."

"What do you mean, of course it will. My father said so."

"Libby......."

"The file will prove that Smith and McMasters did the fraud and my father will be cleared."

"Libby....."

"Did you phone the police....are they going to pick up Smith or whatever his name is for the murder?"

Shaking his head Michael said, "No. I didn't phone the police. I left him tied up. His wife will find him."

"But I don't understand? We decided we were going to turn the file over to the police and tell them anonymously where to find the murderer."

Michael's heart was breaking for her.

"Libby, Derosa told me that he was doing the fraud in conjunction with your dad....he said your dad has been doing the fraud on the company for years...."

"You're lying......Smith is lying.....he's a murdering lying bastard. My dad is innocent.....the file will prove it."

Shaking his head Michael told her. "McMasters was blackmailing Derosa with what was in the file. If you give it to the police it will prove your dad is guilty. If we hand over Derosa to the police he will implicate your father. We have to let this go."

Jumping to her feet she shouted, "He's lying....my dad is innocent."

Getting to his feet Michael went to wrap his arms around her. Libby's hand shot up and slapped him hard across his face. "Sod off!" There was a stunned silence as Michael stood there, the red mark spreading on his cheek where her hand had hit him, Libby stood staring at him then she turned around and fled upstairs, file in hand and Michael heard the bedroom door slam shut.

*

Hours later Michael was still sitting in the armchair in the dark, head back, eyes closed. He had heard Libby sobbing upstairs for the first hour and then he had heard her go into the second bedroom that had been converted into an office where her computer was. He waited patiently for her to come downstairs, giving her space.

They had to deal with the hire car people and take the damaged car back, but that could wait until tomorrow. He also expected a visit from the police at sometime. He was probably still the main suspect in a murder.

And he had in the past couple of hours come to the realisation that he had fallen in love with Libby.

All he could do was to be there for her. Be there when she realised her father was a thief, be there for her to lean on. Protect her from as much pain as he could. It's what he was good at, protection, and the least he could do was protect the woman he loved.

*

She stared at the computer's monitor screen in shock. It couldn't be true. Someone had set her dad up. The figures seemed to point to it, but figures could be manipulated to prove anything. McMasters and Smith, or whatever his real name was had set her dad up. Tomorrow he was due to phone again and then she would tell him what was in the file. They would work out what to do next.

She couldn't rely on Michael; he didn't believe her father innocent. But he was. She knew it. Deep in her heart she knew her father was innocent.

Wearily she rose up, turned off the computer and made her way downstairs. It was so quiet down there she wondered if Michael had left. She hadn't heard him leave, but she was so intent on studying the files she could have missed him leaving. A little pang hit her heart when she thought about him not being there. Remembering hitting him she bit her lip. He must have left, and she didn't even know where he lived. The only thing she had was his mobile number and maybe after that slap he wouldn't want to speak to her. Tears ran down her face as she made her way to the kitchen and put on the kettle, taking out the coffee and her mug.




A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 04



"You making one for me?"

She jumped at the sound of his deep voice. "You still here? I thought you'd gone."

Moving into the kitchen Michael reached up and got down another mug before saying, "Why would you think I would go."

"I just thought....." and she shrugged.

Lifting a lock of hair and sweeping it back behind her ear he whispered in it, "You still owe me three nights."

Libby looked up at him shocked, "You're joking..."

"Nope."

"But...."

"A deals a deal....."

"You bastard."

"Yup. You've got me for three more days at least." Reaching across her he lifted the boiling kettle and poured the two mugs of coffee before taking her favourite one and taking a sip and strolling back into the lounge.

She followed him, her face full of fury, and Michael was pleased she had got back her fighting spirit. 

"You complete and utter bastard. You were only helping me so you could get your rocks off. You didn't care if the file proved anything one way or another."

Michael just smiled at her as he sat in the chair, mug in hand.

"If you think I'm going to do anything but just lay there as if I was dead while you fuck me you're going to be mightily disappointed."

Michael took a sip of his coffee and shrugged.

"I hate you....."

Although her words sliced through him, straight to the heart he gave her no reaction. Just let her shout and insult him. Let her get all the worry and hurt about her father out onto him.

*

That night Michael looked down at Libby as she lay on her back in bed. She lay there rigid under the duvet, staring up at the ceiling, pure anger bristling from her. Sighing he undressed, climbed in next to her, turned towards her and scooped up her rigid body to his where she lay unmoving. Using his hand to cup the back of her head he eased it onto his shoulder, kissed the top of her head and said in a quiet voice, "Sleep sugar....tomorrow we take the car back, and wait for your dad to phone. I'm not going anywhere.... I'll be here if you need me Libby." And he lay there softly stroking her back until she relaxed and he could tell she was asleep, and then he just lay there absorbing the feel of her in his arms until he also drifted off.



A Romantic Crime Thriller Ch. 05



The last chapter of this romantic crime thriller and the love story of Michael and Libby - will it have a happy ending?

*

Michael stood next to a sulky Libby in the car hire office, "We're very sorry about the bump, Miss Higham here didn't notice the bollard where it stuck up as she reversed." And handing over his credit card told the receptionist, "There's a small dent in the back bumper, but no-one else got damaged, and Miss Higham is not hurt."

The receptionist took the swipe out of his credit card for the five hundred excess and phoned an engineer to do a check of the damage, asking Michael and Libby to sit in the waiting room.

After a while the receptionist called Michael and Libby over and after signing a pile of paperwork they left.

Taking her hand in his even though she tried to tug it free Michael walked her up the road to where he had parked his car. Opening the door he told her to get in and then walked around to sit in the driver's seat.

"We can do one of a couple of things. We can go back to the cottage, sit around all day waiting until later when your dad is due to call. Or we can go out into the countryside, find a nice pub, have lunch, go for a walk, get some fresh air then go back. Or we can do something else. Whatever you want."

Libby just sat there sulky and quiet. She had been like that ever since she woke up that morning. Michael had made some toast for them, which she didn't eat, but she had barely acknowledged him at all.

Looking at her as she sat staring out the front windscreen Michael started the car, "Pub lunch and walk it is then." And he drove out of town and into the hills surrounding the city.

Libby watched the scenery go by without seeing it. Her head felt as if it was going to explode with worry, and she felt numb. Last night she had expected Michael to try to have sex with her, but he had only held her to him gently until she had fallen asleep, and in the morning when she had woken up he was already up and dressed and sitting in her kitchen, the radio tuned to a local news station.

Michael pulled the car into a large countryside pub car park, turned off the ignition and sat there looking out at the rolling hills in the distance. After a while he said, "I didn't alter the files, I didn't kill McMasters, I'm not the one who is accusing your father of theft, I just told you what Derosa said. I hope to God he's lying, that your dad is innocent and has been set up, and that he can prove it. In the last four days we've been together I haven't once hurt you, forced myself on you or deliberately lied to you. If you really want me to leave you alone I will. Tonight after you've spoken to your dad if you want me to go, I'll go." And he climbed out of the car without seeing if she was following him and went into the pub.

Libby sat there tears running down her face. He had been right. He had never hurt her, not once. He had helped her get the files; put himself on the line for her. Treated her like she was special, made her body sing. And he was right. He gave her the files, and he had nothing to do with what was in them. 

She was just taking out her anger and worry on him. And like the warrior he was, he let her. Climbing out the car she followed him into the pub.

*

Michael watched as she walked towards him and sat down at the table facing him.

"I'm sorry....."

"No need to be sugar....I understand."

"You're a good man Michael.....I shouldn't have hit you last night."

"Didn't hurt too much, only to my pride."

"Still I shouldn't have hit you...."

"Forget it....lets order lunch and try to put all the worry aside for now. You can tell me all about yourself whilst we eat. I don't even know what you do for a living."

"I'm a freelance journalist."

Laughing Michael told her as he passed her the menu from the next table, "Well if ever you decide to hang up your pen you could probably earn a good living breaking and entering. "

Giving him the first smile since he got back to the cottage last night she told him, "Or as a con man. I played Smiths wife yesterday like a pro."

"That you did."

*

When they got back to the cottage Libby took Michaels hand in hers and pulling him up the stairs said, "Make love to me Michael. This one won't count out of the three I owe you. This one is for me."

"Willingly."

In the bedroom Libby took off her clothes, Michael sat on the bed and watched as she shucked her jeans, took off her sweater, unhooked her bra and then stepped forward to stand between his splayed out thighs, her hands resting on his shoulders. His hands swept up from the side of her hips, up over the gentle flare of her waist, past her rib cage and up to the side of her breasts and then gently down again. Smiling at him she pushed the leather jacket off his shoulders and he shrugged out of it, throwing it down to join her clothes on the floor. Kneeling down in front of him she pulled up and off his tee shirt, and then never taking her eyes from his undid the button on his jeans and pulled down the zip. Michael lifted his hips and she pulled down his jeans and pulled them off along with his shoes and socks.

Leaning forward she took his hardening penis in her mouth and ran her tongue around it. Michael's hands burrowed into her hair, his head dropping forward, the erotic sight of her head nestled in his groin, and the warm wet feeling of her mouth as she kissed the end of his growing cock took his breath away.

Libby held his turgid rod and licked the length of it, swirling her tongue over and around, feeling the raised vein, the velvet skin, the salty taste of the pre cum. Taking the end she drew it in past her lips and slid her mouth down, taking it deep into her mouth. Michaels head went back and his eyes closed in ecstasy. His cock grew more and more rigid, his balls drawing up tight, as she sucked and bobbed her head as she worked on him.  His fingers tightened in her hair, his hips rose slightly off the bed, pushing himself deeper into the glorious hot damp cavern of her mouth. He felt her tongue flick back and forth across the sensitive tip and then her hands holding and manipulating his balls, and a deep primal groan escaped his throat as she slowly slid her lips down the rod once again.

Speeding up the movement Libby milked him until he exploded into her mouth and she swallowed the thick white cum, licking his penis clean, and giving it one last kiss before she then sat back on her heels looking up at her lover, a beautific smile on her face.

*

Sitting back in the lounge on the sofa, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting against him they waited in silence for the phone to ring. The minutes seemed like hours as time dragged by, and as the light in the room dulled they sat there, not turning on the light but preferring to sit in the gloom which matched their mood.

Finally the phone rung making Libby jump. Slowly with dread she got up and walked across the room to answer it. On the other end was her father calling from the prison phone using the phone card she had sent in to him. After greeting him she asked if he was alright. Brushing aside her query he asked her, "Did you get it?"

"Yes...."

"Any problems...."

"No...."

"You have all of it.....everything?"

"Yes.....dad..."

But he interrupted her, "Destroy it.....all of it."

A lump formed in her throat making her unable to speak.

"Did you hear me, get rid of it.....I can't talk now....come and visit me soon....just do as I say. I love you." And then he was gone.

Libby stood there with the silent phone to her ear....absorbing the reality of what her father had asked her to do and what it meant.

Michael came up behind her, slipped his arms around her and balancing his chin on the top of her head asked her what she wanted to do.

Putting the phone back in its holder she then turned around, slipped her arms around his waist and burst into tears as the truth about her father and what he had done, and what he had made her do for him shuddered through her. Michael held her and let her cry. He felt her body shudder with each breath, and each shudder and sound hurt him deep in his soul. If he could have taken the pain away from her and placed it on himself he would have, but all he could do was hold her and let her cry it out.

Eventually she quietened down and there was just the occasional sniffle. Then in a shaky voice she said, "He wants me to destroy it. He told me to get rid of it.....you were right, it's proof of his guilt."

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

"No rush."

"What if the police find it?"

"Why should they?"

"I don't know....what if they search the cottage and find it."

"Why should they search the cottage? You're not a suspect."

Looking up at him with her tear stained face she said, "But you are. For the murder."

"Mmm...."

Hugging him tight she told him, "Oh Michael I'm so sorry you got pulled into this mess...you don't deserve it...being a suspect in a murder you didn't commit and the one thing that can connect you to McMasters is sitting upstairs in my office."

"I'll survive....been in worse fixes in my life believe me."

"We have to destroy it...but how...what do I do with it?"

"Burn the hard copy stuff....the discs are going to be a little more difficult....do you know where there is a very deep body of water around here?"

"Why?"

"We break them into bits...put them in a box weighted down and drop them into deep water....police haven't got anything on me being at the scene of the murder because of you backing up my alibi...no prints...no connection between McMasters and myself...just the fact my car was parked nearby....we get rid of the file and what's there to tie me to him or to give them more ammunition to prosecute your dad."

"Let's do it....now...as soon as possible."

"That's my girl."

So they went and got the file, and Libby found an old wooden box in which they placed the now snapped into bits discs. Michael took the box and file, and he and Libby went out to his car. Driving at her directions and only stopping off to buy a box of matches they went up into the hills until they arrived at an old abandoned quarry. Getting out the car they walked hand in hand to stand next to the large body of water that had formed a lake at the bottom of the large depression of land.

Building a small bonfire Michael fed the paper files and the folder to burn, and Libby and he watched as that part of the proof went up in flames. Then gathering stones to weight down the box with the broken discs in they tied it securely with string they had brought for the purpose, and Michael stripped of all his clothes, kissed Libby on her nose and waded into the water. 

Libby watched him as he walked deeper into the lake carrying the box in his hands and then as he started to swim towards the centre of the large expanse of water, her heart beating with worry as the dark of the night swallowed up any sight of him.

In the centre of the lake Michael let go of the box and watched it disappear, bubbles rising up to the surface as it went away from sight. Turning back to shore he swam until his feet could touch the bottom and then he waded out, took the towel Libby offered him and smiling asked her, "Ever made love out in the open air?"

"Nope. And if we are going to, it won't be here."

Shrugging he got dressed, "So does that mean you're not adverse to the idea of sex in the outside."

"Not adverse.....maybe on the way back...."

Kicking the last of the embers and ash from the small fire with his shoe Michael looked at Libby. "You know what this means don't you. Derosa is now in the clear for the fraud unless your dad implicates him, which he's not liable to do as it would be an admission on his part. It also means the bastard gets away with murder. You ok with that?"

"If you are."

"I can live with it....what I can't live without is you Libby."

Libby's heart melted and she threw her arms around him, "I love you Michael."

"I love you too sugar.....I guess were stuck with each other. Can you live with someone who makes a living like I do? I'm likely to be away for three to six month periods at a time on assignments. I'm not your best bet as a family type man....I've never even been part of a family before....but I'll give it a try."

"Is this a proposal Michael?"

"I guess it is."

"The answers yes....yes I can live with someone who makes a living like you do....I can be there waiting for you, worrying about you and making you a place to come home to at the end of each assignment. I can give you family. You and me."

"In that case I'll cancel the three other nights payment for retrieving the files, and pledge the rest of my life to loving you."

"Well then let's go find somewhere a little more convivial to make love on the way back home."

Home.

That to Michael sounded perfect. At last he had found a place to really call his home and someone to share it with.

*