Chapter 11 #2
Past that was a wide staircase. Three people could easily go up the stairs shoulder to shoulder.
They walked down the hall, past the stairs and a formal dining room on left, and on down to a magnificent kitchen.
If she was a cook, she’d be ecstatic. All the appliances were black with a double oven, stove top, refrigerator, and dishwasher.
The island was shaped like the body of a guitar and covered with shining black granite with gold flecks and veins running through it.
The same granite covered the counters. On the other side of the island was a nook with an eating area with a round oak table that seated eight.
The chairs were all armless, with padded seats and backs.
Off the nook were sliding glass doors that led to a huge in-ground pool with a diving board.
Beyond the nook was an archway leading to a family room and a short hall.
The same style sectional sofa with two recliners on either end, tables in between, and a coffee table in front of the couch.
A giant TV was on the wall opposite the sofa and in the left corner of the room was a fireplace. A small bar was in the right corner.
They turned left at the archway and proceeded down the hall to a door which opened into the good-sized office.
A massive mahogany desk was in the center of the room with brown leather Queen Anne chairs in front of it and a matching sofa on the wall opposite the desk.
Behind the desk were floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the sunlight illuminating the entire room.
He walked behind the desk. “I brought you here so you can see a map of my property. Perhaps you’ll see a place that you think would be best for the takedown.” Cole pulled a rolled-up map from a shelf behind him.
“That’s a good idea.” She walked around the desk and joined him.
He pointed out all the outbuildings surrounding the main house. One building was a cabin, far enough away from the house that shots probably wouldn’t be heard.
She pointed at it. “That’s where we should do the takedown, assuming we can get him there in the first place.”
“Why there?”
She leaned forward and tapped the cabin on the map. “It’s away from the main house so that no one else is in danger.” She straightened. “And because it is far away, Sykes will likely feel more at ease.”
Cole nodded and looked at the map again. “That makes sense. I’ll make sure I’m in the cabin tomorrow. I don’t think it will take him long to come here. He’s got to be nervous since the police arrested him. If it were me, I’d be here as soon as possible so I didn’t miss my opportunity.”
“I agree. I’d like to look at the cabin, up close and personal.”
He rolled up the map. “Okay, I’ll show you the rest of the house and we’ll take your bag to your room.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I would rather?—”
Cole placed two fingers on her lips. “The cabin will still be there when we’re done. Come on.” He led the way out the door.
They went on down the hall away from the kitchen, toward a door at the end.
He opened the door, and they found themselves back in the living room. He turned left and headed toward the wide staircase.
At the stop of the stairs was a landing about a third the width of the house. Hallways off of the landing went in opposite directions of each other. He turned right and walked down the long hall. Six doors lined the hall. He went to the last one on the left and opened the door.
“This is your room. I hope you’ll be comfortable.”
The room was as big as her entire apartment. On a platform with two steps up to it was a queen-sized canopy bed, with her bag on it.
Toward the middle of the room was a sitting area with a sofa, two overstuffed chairs, and all the tables to go with them. Each of the end tables had a large lamp with a stained glass shade, like a Tiffany lamp, but much bigger. A river rock fireplace was on the wall by the sitting area.
Beyond this was the bathroom, open to the rest of the bedroom.
A huge oval tub on a raised platform was on the side with magnificent picture windows.
A skylight was above the tub. She could picture herself there in a bubble bath, at night and with a glass of wine, just staring at the stars and getting all wrinkly from being in the tub too long.
She walked toward the bath, her feet sinking into thick carpet the color of sea foam.
Along the back were dual sinks made from giant seashells.
The faucets were long-necked and gleaming chrome.
She was glad to see they weren’t gold, as that would be all kinds of tacky.
The counter was polished pink marble that sparkled in the sunlight.
A small door was behind her, along the same wall as the tub.
Upon opening it, she found the commode and a small sink.
She turned toward Cole.
He leaned against the door jamb with his ankles crossed and his arms folded over his chest. He smiled.
“This is amazing. I won’t ever want to leave.”
“So don’t.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What? What did you say?”
“Don’t leave.” He walked over and took her hands in his. “Stay as my permanent bodyguard.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to…no…needed to hear. “I…I don’t know, Cole. You probably won’t need me after Sykes is stopped and put in jail.”
“But I will. I need you, Regan.”
She pulled back her hands. “I’ll think about it.”
He shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I guess that’s all I can ask.” Head down, he turned. “I’ll leave you to unpack.” Cole walked out and didn’t look back.
“Maybe he’ll realize he needs me and wants me for more than his bodyguard. Maybe he’ll realize he loves me and wants me for his wife.” She spoke softly to herself, glad no one was there to hear her. What was she going to do?