Chapter 23

"No, I don't know where the throwing stars came from. No, we don't use guard dogs on the premises. No, I've never seen a wolf inside the security fence before. No, I didn't know that the wire garrote whip was a ninja weapon. No, Ms. Castello doesn't have any Ninjas in her employ."

He'd had to repeat the answers over and over again to an endless procession of investigators. His voice was actually growing hoarse before the day was over. "Finally!" Emilio thought as the last group of police left the estate. The questions had been endless and Emilio was tired from the excitement of the night before as well as the continuous grilling by the detectives.

Now he could concentrate on more important issues like where Maria was and how she was doing. Emilio knew the past two weeks had been quite rough on her. After he had eaten a bite for dinner and was sitting alone in the privacy of his office, he remembered the crystal the wizard had given him.

"Now let's see," Emilio said to himself, "how did he say this should work again? Oh yeah, think of either Enrique or the Wizard and then what you'd want to say to them. Here goes."

"Enrique, can you hear me?" Emilio asked.

Enrique was swimming in the hotel pool with Patricia and was so startled he almost jumped out of his skin. Then he remembered why the crystal the wizard had given to him was around his neck.

"Emilio?" he replied with a sense of wonder. "Is that you?"

"Yes Enrique. I thought it was time we touch base and compare notes," Emilio told him.

The seriousness of the situation Emilio had been in all morning, answering questions for inquisitive detectives while trying to avoid revealing too much information, caused him to stay focused on the conversation he needed to have with Enrique instead of the highly unusual way they were having it. After Emilio finished updating Enrique on the situation with the police, Enrique assured him that Maria was okay and being well cared for.

"When I first contacted you," Emilio said "I thought to ask where Maria is; but now that I've had more time to think it through I think it would be better not to know right now as long as you're sure she is safe."

"I'm sure amigo," Enrique replied.

"Alright then. When you see the wizard again, let him know I'd like to speak with him when he has the time," Enrique said, closing their conversation.

"So Jason," Pamela teased her brother, "what did you think of the thong I wore today?"

"I thought it was wonderful sis! A very creative combination of dental cloth and a strategically placed set of bandaids," Jason replied with a grin.

"I thought that the younger of the two deck hands was going to have a heart attack when he first laid eyes on you ladies!" Rob laughed.

The group that had been on the boat had thoroughly enjoyed their little excursion and were already talking about when they might be able to go again.

Eunice and Maria had arrived back at the penthouse just before Enrique and Patricia had gone down to the pool. Eunice introduced Maria to everyone. The two women were quite interested in hearing all about the day's fun and were attentive listeners to the colorful descriptions of the underwater marine life and the antics of the boat crew.

After they had finished telling the tale of their short voyage, Louisa took a good long look at Maria. Finally she just had to ask, "Maria, have you had a taste of our 'Stallion'?"

Maria blushed in response and almost whispered her response of "Yes!" She expected the women in the group to be jealous or upset at having to share the wizard with yet another woman; but instead they each hugged her and welcomed her to the family. Rob and Jason both gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and welcomed her as well. Maria was so touched by the way they included her as one of them and so relieved to not feel totally alone anymore, that the tears began to flow.

When Maria began to cry, Jason was the one closest to her. He folded her in his arms and hugged her saying "He told us you'd had a tough time. You just cry it all out. We're here for you Maria."

Rob looked upon his son with pride while thinking "I've wondered how this unusual lifestyle we've adopted might affect him and now I know; he's becoming a true man."

Pamela had already begun to see her 'baby' brother in a new light when she observed how he treated Lizzy and the other women. This just cemented her growing conviction that she had the best brother a girl could have.

Georgette thought "He's a lot like his father!" and smiled.

Maria did have a good cry; but this time her tears were tears of relief. For the first time in a very long time she felt safe, wanted, and a part of a family again. After she finished crying she whispered so only Jason could hear, "You probably think I'm just a silly emotional woman now; but thank you for holding me."

"It was my pleasure Maria, and you've nothing to apologize for. When I told you we're here for you I really meant it," Jason told her with a tone of sincerity in his voice that assured her it was true.

"Thanks again Jason! Is there anything I could do for you?" Maria asked.

"Well yes; but not if you think it's too personal," the teenage boy told her. Maria was afraid to think of what kind of 'personal' thing a teenage boy growing up around nude women might ask her to do; but she asked anyway "What is it Jason?"

"The newspaper headlines claim that there were Ninja Warriors and Werewolves on your estate last night. A while ago if I had read a story like that I would just assume it to be someone's crazy imagination; but ever since we've been with the wizard I've come to accept some pretty wild things that I used to just think were fairy tales. I was just wondering if you could tell us what you know about last nights events?" Jason asked much to Maria's relief.

When Lizzy heard Jason's request she thought that it might be a bit too soon for Maria to talk about it so she said, "We're all just a bit curious Maria; but we'll understand if it's a bit too soon to talk about - we'll understand." Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement with what Lizzy had said including Jason.

"No, I don't think it's too early to talk about last night. There are some other things I might have a hard time talking about just now, though I think it might be easier with my new family than it would be without you," the beautiful woman said with a smile. "Most of what happened last night seems a bit surreal. It might not be any more believable than the newspaper Jason; but if you're interested, here goes..."