"Your secret is safe with me." Honestly who would believe me? "Besides I don't think I am in any shape to deal with your mother just now."

"G.o.d no, she would kill us both."

"Who all knows what happened last night?" Concerned at how others would react to me being injured wasn't always at the top of my priority list but with the current situation I needed to save face in public. People were depending on me to keep the city safe. "This is just a really bad time for me to be hurt."

"Don't worry no one except our two men who brought you in, Nicholas, Justine, and mom really know how bad things got last night." She grabbed a tissue and wiped away her tears, gaining control of her emotions. "Everyone outside the office thinks it was a gas explosion in the boiler room above your office, which is convenient if you think about it."

"So are you ready to tell me about the move to the new office building?"

Kira chewed her lip as she stood nervously pacing the room. "Remember last year when I had you sign off on some land purchases?"

"Sure, you bought a place on the North..." It dawned on me that I had bought her new house. I really should pay more attention when she puts stuff in front me me to sign. "At least I know where you live."

Kira blushed as she tried not to laugh. "I was going to tell you... eventually."

"And there was that failed condo venture you bought dirt cheap on St. Charles."

"That's the one!" She beamed with pride suddenly losing all embarra.s.sment of tricking me into buying her new home. "It's been under construction since the day we took it over and it's only six months from completion." She busied herself, going around the room and putting things away as she quickly spoke. "The fifteenth floor had already been converted into very nice apartments before we acquired the property so they were left untouched. The other fourteen floors were retrofitted to house Warden Industries well into the twenty first century instead of the nineteenth like this one."

Though feeling slightly offended I still had to admit she had a point but it still hurt, even if it was just a little. "I can't wait to see the place."

She smiled as she beamed at me. "That will be later today but for now I need to go upstairs and make some calls and wake mother. She's been worried to death about you." Opening the door Kira called for Justine who appeared almost instantly. "Justine will see to your needs for now so play nice, both of you!"

Justine smiled sweetly as she entered the room stopping long enough to check my chart before moving over to one of the shelves where she started filling one of the trays with very specific items.

"You might want to wait for the nurse or Kira to return if you need something." She acted like she knew where everything was and what she was doing as she continued to take bandages, surgical scissors and clamps from the shelf placing them neatly on the waiting tray. "What the h.e.l.l are you doing?"

Justine smirked as she shook her head. "You never read my resume, did you?"

"You were one of Kira's new hires, so she took care of all that." She was making me tense as she checked the items on the tray only to pull a few more bandages from the shelf.

Pushing the tray toward the bed she grumbled. "She is such a b.i.t.c.h!"

"Who?"

"Your daughter! She told me you were the one who recruited me." She was obviously irritated with the situation and she was coming my way with several sharp objects. "If you had recruited me or even read my resume you would know I was a surgical nurse at Charity Hospital before the storm and I was very good at my job!"

Talk about overqualified to be a receptionist! "How the h.e.l.l did she convince you to join us?"

"Well that's a funny story." She pulled the sheet back as she looked at my bandages. "Please hold still. I need to remove your IV and dress some of your wounds so we can transport you."

True to her word she quickly removed the IV placing a cotton ball in its place and wrapping it with a stretch bandage. She leaned me forward as she a.s.sessed the dressings on my back. The burns on my forearms were nearly indecipherable. It looked like I had a bad case of rug burn, which was something I didn't want to have to explain to anyone anytime soon. She cut away several of the bandages to find my wounds healed and the st.i.tches looking completely out of place. She quickly removed them causing me only minor discomfort. There were only four wounds on my chest which still needed the silk st.i.tching, which I was sure corresponded to the wounds on my back where I had been impaled by the larger shards of gla.s.s from my desk. Content with her work she pulled a white mesh shirt down over my head and around my body to hold the bandages in place while also applying pressure to keep me from tearing the st.i.tches out as I moved around.

Grunting a little through the discomfort I was able to swing my legs off the bed as she helped me into a pair of jeans. "You promised me a funny story." All things considered I wasn't exactly embarra.s.sed to have her helping me get dressed but I was a little uncomfortable with the situation. "Does this feel a little awkward to you?"

"It wasn't exactly how I imagined I would get you out of your clothes, but things never go as planned." She pushed me back onto the bed to keep me from falling over at her comment. "You really are slow aren't you?"

"I'm sorry?" It had been a while since anyone had been that forward with me and it took me by surprise. "You what?"

She knelt down to help me with my socks, smiling all the while. "I guess we should get to that funny story."

"I don't think that will help..."

As she continued helping me dress she told me we had actually met during Hurricane Katrina when I brought in one of the surviving victims of the Kappa. She was working at the makeshift hospital the Army National guard setup near the Superdome where she had helped the young woman who had nearly bled out due to her wounds. It had taken twelve hours for me to get there through the aftermath. She had been impressed with the lengths that I had gone to to help save this woman's life and she wanted to be a part of something that mattered in the end. She had heard rumors over the years about Warden Industries but that day was her first actual encounter with anyone a.s.sociated with the company. It wasn't until she was halfway through boot camp that she found out who I was. Justine was a little embarra.s.sed to admit the fact that she had always had what amounted to a crush on me since then.

"I find going out and facing G.o.d knows what and saving lives in the process is s.e.xy as h.e.l.l!" As soon as she said this she blushed so hard I thought she might pa.s.s out from lack of blood. "But that's a story for another time.?"

"I suspect it is." As the drugs continued affecting me my mind swam through the information. "Does Kira know?"

"I would have to guess she does." Justine helped me to my feet as I leaned heavily on her to stay upright. "I told her the story before I knew who either of you were."

"Great, my daughter is playing matchmaker."

"You could do worse."

"Oh honey there isn't anything wrong with you. h.e.l.l you're d.a.m.n near perfect. It's me that's the problem." We hobbled through the door as we made our way slowly toward the stairs. "The thing is I'm not exactly normal."

"You don't say!"

Chapter 25.

The new headquarters of Warden Industries was located just off Hwy 90 on the corner of Clio and St. Charles. It was an L shaped fifteen story building that was several times larger than my old building. The facade of the place was definitely lacking in the style department with all primer gray paint covering the masonry. A we arrived we were ushered through the manned security gate to a private lot for VIP's and visitors. Beyond that lay a multilevel parking structure at the properties extreme northern edge. The security presence was impressive as armed guards patrolled the perimeter which encompa.s.sed the entire block from St. Charles Ave to Carondelet St. and from Clio to Erato.

Making our way through the rear entrance from the garage I finally understood the scope of the undertaking Kira had started here. The place reminded me of a cross between an upscale hotel lobby, nature retreat and a law office reception area. The wide expanse was covered in gray black slate flooring with brushed nickel fixtures. The centerpiece of the room was a large fountain and throughout the sprawling lobby were these amazing green gardens giving the place a very zen-like feeling. A freshness hung in the air as I felt at peace for the first time in more years than I would have cared to think about.

Stopping for just a moment at the front desk the solid marble circular reception area, Justine handed me a keycard and temporary pin. Kira guided me through the first floor she pointed out things like the new cafeteria and armory along the way before reaching the stairwell. Scanning the card and entering the pin number the door popped open allowing me access. Everything above the main floor required special access cards.

My office was on the third floor overlooking St. Charles Ave. She'd taken the time to ensure that my office had the best view by installing floor to ceiling windows. The office itself was several times larger than my previous one with all the amenities of home such as a kitchenette on the far side of the room and a well rounded library on the western wall. The oversized bar was centrically located nearest the full living room set. h.e.l.l I could live here without having to miss any of the comforts of home. I hated to admit it but the more modern sleek looking furniture was actually... I can't believe I'm even thinking this... appealing.

It was all very impressive except my new desk chair was beyond which was incredibly uncomfortable. "I see you have been busy." The old mahogany desk seemed to barely work with the rest of the decor. I guess she was trying to break me in slowly.

Kira eyed me closely before she smiled slightly. "You like it don't you!"

d.a.m.n, I was never going to hear the end of this but she'd worked so hard so lying was out of the question. "I'll deny it if you tell anyone!"

She giggled before plopping down in one of the chairs in front of my desk. "If you slide your hand across the top of the desk you will find the surface intriguing."

Shaking my head I did as I was told. The entire surface lit up. The far left corner contained continuous security feeds from throughout the building. The text nearest me kept me updated on ongoing projects and well h.e.l.l there was just so much going on that I could hardly believe it. Everything could be moved around with a simple touch of my hand. "Wow..." That was about all I was able to say about the whole thing.

"So from your expression I take I've done well?"

Done well? Holy s.h.i.t this was beyond anything I'd ever dreamt of. Don't get me wrong I knew the technology was there but I'd never thought to apply it like this. "That's an understatement if I've ever heard one."

Kira glowed with pride as she took it all in. "So it'll be our little secret that you like this sort of thing!"

Like I said I'll never hear the end of this. "G.o.d forbid I actually develop some taste!"

"Absolutely!" Kira agreed.

It was good to see her so very happy. This project had been a tough one for her. She'd taken a gutted building and turned it into the modern headquarters we so desperately needed, which I hadn't realized just how much until it was forced upon me. The fact that we were now able to use the more advanced research and development teams on the premises and have a small manufacturing plant on the far side of the building was not only convenient but ingenious. I'm sure every father feels this way but I was sure that I had the most wonderful daughter ever.

"I have to ask. When are you going to have that talk with your mother?" I must have I hit my head harder than I thought because that's the second time in less than twelve hours I'd said the exact wrong thing.

Her face went blank and she slumped in her seat. "d.a.m.n, and things were going so well!" Leaning back in her seat she smiled weakly. "I dunno... Soon I suppose but G.o.d can't we just keep her in the dark? She's such a b.i.t.c.h sometimes! How in the h.e.l.l did you ever get hooked up with her in the first place."

She knew just how to push my b.u.t.tons. "Well the one good thing about being with your mother was you, so the rest of it was a trade off."

Kira laughed. "That's right, deflect while complimenting me. Seriously though I got a feeling there's more to it than that."

Now we were entering dangerous territory about who her mother really is, and I had no intentions of filling her in. That was Katherine's job "Why don't we let that dog sleep till this whole thing is over. That way she can tell you her side of things." Now that I thought about it I knew a way she could fess up and not feel like the bad guy. "Why don't you wait to break the news about your alternative lifestyle until we have that discussion."

Kira nearly fell out of her chair laughing. "OMG, you're the only person I know that would call having good taste, a steady girlfriend and a nice car an *alternative' lifestyle!"

She pulled herself together and came over to give me a quick peck on the cheek. "Get settled in here and I'll be just down the hall. Call me if you need anything alright?"

"Sure thing. Hey is there anything else in here I need to know about... You know like the desk?"

She giggled. "Boys and their toys!" Giving me a wink to let me know she hadn't told me everything before she walked out the door leaving me alone to explore the place.

My stomach had been rumbling since breakfast which consisted of a chewy bagel and orange juice. YUM! It was nearly noon and I needed something decent to eat. I pulled my new cell I'd received from Justine when I picked up my keycard and other pertinent items out of my pocket. Opening the screen with a swipe of my finger and hit the quick dial for Gregory's number. "I'm glad you called." He sounded tired.

"Yeah? You got something new?" I asked.

"Nothing substantial yet but I would like to meet you for lunch." He hesitated for a moment. "I heard you moved into your new office today. Everything alright?"

I stood up and slowly walked the length of the room trying to take in all the details as I went along. The shelves were lined with ancient leather tomes which I couldn't have fit into my old office. The bar was stocked with every high end whiskey currently being produced meaning Kira had really taken the time to think of the smallest details. Don't get me wrong there were a few other types of alcohol on the shelves but mostly for show or maybe guests.

"Yeah it would seem my old building had a gas leak." I hated lying to him but if he knew the truth there would be too many questions to answer. "We were planning on moving in a few months anyway." Trying to dismiss the situation. "This just helped us make the decision to move a little earlier than antic.i.p.ated."

Pulling the phone away from my ear I checked to make sure that I was still connected as the utter silence was more than a little disturbing. "I see... You were out of the office when it happened?" d.a.m.n he was way too smart for his own good. He clearly suspected something else was going on. "I heard that the explosion was centered somewhere near your office."

"If I weren't I doubt seriously we'd be talking right now." I forced a laugh as I tried to downplay the whole situation. "Besides what does it matter anyway?" I said trying to get to the heart of the matter. "The only thing that got hurt was my wallet."

He made one of those noises that meant he clearly didn't believe a word I was saying. "There was a witness that spotted a man who was badly wounded falling out of your office window." He cleared his throat and excused himself. "I'd hate to think that someone was trying to kill you right in the middle of our investigation. That'd be bad for business."

Stopping at the refridgerator I opened it to find it fully stocked with everything I didn't want. "So you're concerned about me. How sweet!"

"Bite me! I need you around to help me put this thing to bed once and for all! I am out of my depth here and so is everyone else." He hesitated. "I found some files at Smith's I think may be important and I'd like you to review them before they get tied up in the chain of custody."

It occurred to me suddenly that I was just a few blocks away from several of the cities more interesting restaurants. "I see. How about meeting me at Miyako's for lunch?"

"I don't know the place." Gregory noted. "But I can find it. When do you want to meet?"

"It's easy enough to find, about a block away from my new building and right across the street from the Irish House in the same parking lot as that ugly Office Depot." I explained. "I can walk down there shortly... let's say thirty minutes?"

"Sounds good, meet you there." Gregory hung up the phone.

I stuck my head out the office door and saw Kira at her desk. "Is it alright if I go out and play?" I smirked as she glared at me. "You have had me under constant supervision since yesterday so I was wondering if it was alright if I went out to get some lunch?"

"Where are you going?" She asked with annoyance creeping up in her voice.

"Miyako's! Do you want to join me and Gregory?" I asked. Miyako's was one of her favorite places to eat and I already knew the answer would be yes.

She looked at me straight faced. "I think you will need to remain under a doctor's supervision for at least another couple of hours." She stood up grabbing her purse out of one of the lower desk drawers. "What time is lunch?" She stepped forward and looked at me curiously. "Yeah, you're not looking so good. As your doctor I will have to go with you."

"I see, its a good thing that you're a qualified medical doctor, as well as my daughter." I waved my hand at her as if demonstrating her magnanimousness. "I am so fortunate to have a daughter willing to sacrifice her time to eat lunch with her father and his friend."

"I am glad you are finally understanding how much I do for you!" She gave me a smile before pulling out a compact to put on some lip gloss. "You should consider showing your grat.i.tude in a more substantial way." She put her hand on her hip as she gave it some considerable thought. "Perhaps a shopping spree?"

"If I said yes to that we would both know I was still suffering a head injury." I laughed. "Try and be happy with your new house, amazing car and lunch."

"d.a.m.n, I was hoping you were still a little groggy from the anesthesia." She turned crimson while shifting uncomfortably. "Maybe next time I will just use your credit cards while you're unconscious."

"Maybe next time they won't be burned to a crisp." I snickered. "Otherwise I am sure you would've already tried."

"I was a little preoccupied taking care of you to worry about checking your pockets!" She said indignantly. "Besides they were a bit of a mess, melted like they were and lets not mention all the blood."

Wow, I couldn't tell if she was kidding or not! "I suppose those two things would put a damper on things."

Reaching inside the desk drawer she produced one of the companies plumb American Express credit cards and handed it to me. "You're going to need this."

Pocketing the card quickly I smiled. "Thanks."

Taking the stairs down was a little tougher than they were coming up as each step coupled with gravity gave me a reminder that my wounds were still fresh.

"When were you going to tell me." I casually nodded at Justine as we pa.s.sed her smiling face. Opening the door for Kira to pa.s.s through first may have been a mistake. I felt the st.i.tches in my chest pull tight. "It is a little embarra.s.sing to have mini Kylie Minogue there eying me like I was candy."

"Oh that..." Kira nearly laughed herself to tears before we made it to the gate. "That's something I have been meaning to tell you about for a while now." Her laughter was attracting attention from pa.s.sersby. They probably thought she'd already had a few c.o.c.ktails in her.

"She's the only one who is willing to put up with your s.h.i.t for more than a month without demanding combat pay!" She tried to explain between giggling fits. "She is so your type! So I hired her for the job. Considering she had the highest scores in her tests for the last several years it was hard to believe she had a crush on you of all people!"

"First of all, what the s.h.i.t Kira?" Yeah I watch too much Archer but seriously he has a point when he said things like that. "Secondly is it that hard for you to believe someone would find me attractive?" I was almost as embarra.s.sed as I was offended by the whole conversation. "Besides I don't need my daughter of all people meddling in my love life!"

"So you're going to go with *love life' and not *s.e.x life'!" She said indignantly.

"Oh for christ's sake!" I was feeling a little light headed at this point as the blood rushed to my face.

"Fine! When's the last time you were on a date?" She growled as she stabbed her high heeled shoe into the concrete as she turned on me. "That wasn't with mother?"

"That's none of your business!" I said trying to defend myself. "I go out!" My indignant att.i.tude was quickly fading away as words were failing me. "Well, I could go out if I wanted!"