Chapter 37

Feeling the boat gently rock beneath my weight, as I stepped off the dock onto the deck, was comforting. I was finally home; to the only home I had left. The weeks spent recovering from my wounds, coupled with the months spent in hiding while the government tracked down, arrested, and indicted all those responsible for my troubles, had left me relatively healthy, somewhat physically stronger, and terribly lonely. Coming back to the houseboat where Beth Ann and I were so happy was the one thing I had to look forward to, once Rebecca and Colleen went back to their lives, without me.

It was inevitable that they would realize we were not perfect for each other. I knew our relationship was built more on circumstances than on love. Once the crisis passed, and we settled into a daily routine, there was less to hold us together. Thrown together under such unusual conditions caused Colleen, especially, to magnify what was a simple attraction, into a major affair. Rebecca remained clear eyed, even as she threw herself into our lovemaking.

Over the course of weeks, I overheard them whispering. They were as anxious to return to their lives, as I was to be released from the protective bubble we'd lived in. Colleen was having a difficult time imagining life with a teenage boyfriend. Her concern made sense. My hope was that we could remain very close friends, and leave it at that. It would hurt for her to become one of those women that have to hate their ex to justify breaking it off. I knew that only time would tell.

Rebecca fell head over heels in love with Dr. Hinson. Their attraction was immediate, and intense. By the time I was out of the hospital, she was spending hours on the phone with him, each night. There was also the problem with how I survived that night at the hangar. Rebecca couldn't come to grips with the idea that I shot people who were shooting at us. Once her mama bear instincts wore off, she found herself horrified at the violence. That too was perfectly understandable.

When I was finally out of the hospital, and back in a wonderful condo the DOJ found for us, I instantly knew that we would not be picking up where we left off. Rebecca ran to her room to call Dr. Hinson and chat, while Colleen avoided making eye contact, until she could slink off to her room, alone. Though I knew we weren't in love, it pained me to see them uncomfortable in my presence, so I made a show out of not acting hurt.

A few days went by, as they tiptoed around me, until the night Rebecca knocked on my bedroom door, walked in, and sat down at the foot of the bed.

She had 'the look.' I'd seen it since I was released from the hospital, and knew that 'the talk, ' was coming. "Hey," she said softly. "We need to talk..." Rebecca needed to talk but suddenly couldn't find the right words. It was up to me to provide, I supposed.

"I know. I can see it in your eyes. You're smitten with your friend, and need me out of the way. I know. I'm not naive.

"I do DEMAND one thing in return for not being a pain about this," I said rather more sternly than I meant.

Rebecca backed away, just a bit, and then asked nervously, "Ok. What?"

"I DEMAND that you be happy, for a long, long time. I love you too much to think of you being anything but happy. You deserve every bit of happiness in the world, and I hope you find it." I hated being noble. It sucks like a Hoover.

She kissed me on the side of my mouth, with a tear in her eye, and walked out of my life. "However," I said as she started to close the door behind her. "If you two don't make it, I retain the right to try and win your heart, again. Be happy. I love you, Rebecca. You certainly earned happiness. Don't ever forget that I love you."

Just like that, my lover was transformed into my friend.

Colleen was more difficult. Later that night, after Rebecca and I had 'the talk, ' Colleen snuck into my bed for going away sex. She came to me naked, with no pretenses. It was her intention to get really and truly laid. And she did. Our sex was energetic, but too close to meaningless, which surprised me, given my fondness for her.

Breaking up is hard on both parties, but after good sex, not great – but good, we parted as genuinely fond, former lovers, who'd moved on due to circumstances, and not dissolution. We were leaving for home the next morning. Getting our personal relationships settled made things easier.

Mr. Bell, Colleen, Rebecca and I had spent the next two days in meetings with FBI, DOJ, and DHS officials, and attending a hearing at the Federal Courthouse, in Springfield, where we met with Judge Jones, and several government lawyers. The meetings wrapped up what had to be one of their weirdest cases ever.

"Mr. Bell. Your client was instrumental in what has turned out to be the single largest take down of high-level members of organized crime in modern history. Because his involvement was so ... direct, and because the results have been so spectacular, we've studied the statutes, and reasonably certain he is entitled to the full amount of rewards offered for their arrest.

"We are not splitting any hairs here. Mr. Morse was the thread, that when pulled, unraveled an astounding assortment of cases, which we have been successful in bringing, that will have, and already have had, a very damaging effect on organized crime.

"The reward totals twenty-seven point five million dollars, which was offered for the arrest of five of the worst of that bunch. Brian, as you insisted, the reward is to be split into five even portions, one each for you, Mr. Bell, Mrs. Bell, Dr. Rebecca Temple, and Colleen Bell. My assistant has prepared five checks, drawn on the US Treasury, each in the amount of five million five-hundred thousand dollars. Remember, please, that these rewards are non-taxable, as they represent damages, as well as arrest rewards. Please take these with our sincere thanks."