ASCENSION by S. W. Frank

Author:S. W. Frank [S. W. Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance - Suspense
Amazon: B0072AR856
Published: 2012-01-26T08:00:00+00:00

* * *

CHAPTER TWENTY

Nico sat with a leg thrown casually over the arm of the sofa watching a soccer match between Italy and Brazil. He sat forward when the front door opened and Ariana entered wearing a fitted wool coat and shiny leather boots.

She saw him and dropped her briefcase, “Nico?”

He got up to greet his wife, “Hi honey.”

Ariana shrieked with joy. Her husband’s hair was blonde and his skin darkened by the sun but it was her Nico. She stepped into his arms, “Oh I missed you, goddamn where have you been?”

“This is just the welcome I needed.”

They hugged and kissed. Finally he released her and she removed her coat to hang it in the closet. She talked as she removed her boots then returned to watch the conclusion of the soccer match beside her husband. “How long are you staying?”

“Not sure, depends on if I can convince you to give up your job in the D.A’s office.”

She pat his leg then stood, “Fat chance.” She was in the small Manhattan kitchen now, “You’ll have to give yours up first and we know that isn’t happening.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Oh, I know you sweetheart. You’re an addict.”

“So are you. Workaholic.”

“It’s one of the reasons you love me.”

“Absolutely!” He turned his head to peer over the sofa at her, “Where are the boys?”

“With my parent’s for the weekend,” she said amidst the clang of pots and pans.

“I thought you were off on the weekend.”

“I usually am but I’m assigned to a really important case. I had to get some work done at the office and unfortunately it carried over into the weekend.”

“Aren’t you tired of bringing work home with you?”

She turned on the water and filled the kettle, “Yes. Want tea?”

“Thanks.”

She joined him on the sofa as she waited for the water to boil, “What happened to your neck?”

“Got burned, it’s nothing.”

She didn’t question him. When he was ready he’d tell her otherwise she didn’t pry.

He clasped her hand, “I need a favor.”

Ariana’s dark brown eyes narrowed, “What is it?”

He reached under the sofa and removed a duffle bag. He unzipped it and produced a specimen bag which held a white sheet of paper with several smudges.

Without examination she knew what he wanted, “Another one?”

“How soon can you get me a positive I.D?”

Ariana shrugged, “I’ll take it over to one of the techs on Monday.”

Today was Saturday. He guessed a few days wasn’t so bad. He reached down again and brought forth the cashier’s check. He placed it in her hand and her expression changed from curiosity to contemplative, “What is this?”

“Thirty million dollars.”

“I can read, you know what I’m asking.”

The tea kettle whistled.

“My pension disbursed in one lump sum.”

Ariana’s eyes returned to the check to peruse its authenticity. The funds were drawn from an international bank in Switzerland. In the past Nico entrusted her with large amounts of money she deposited in a dummy account in the Bahamas. Careful planning and execution went in to making certain his identity remained anonymous.

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