Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

briefcases. He also put a hard drive into each one, and one of them got a copy of Tintin . Daren put the twist tie around the handle of the other one. "The one with the twisty tie is yours."
    "I will remember that." Sebastian started spreading some real butter across his toast. "So, aside from invoking memories of New Jersey, did all this thinking you did last night lead anywhere?"
    "You should call Rachael."
    Sebastian froze mid-spread. "Seriously?"
    "I'm fucking tired of waiting around. I got into this mess because I tried to do something instead of waiting for someone else to do something. I could grow old going over all the 'maybes' and 'could bes' and… I know I'm putting myself on the firing line again and I'm risking you as well, and if you don't want—"
    Sebastian gave a sharp wave. "We've had that discussion already. If you don't want to dawdle, that's fine. I can take Rachael to lunch today. I won't give her too many details, just the gist of the problem, and we can work from there. No time like the present, right?"
    Daren nodded. Sebastian would have preferred sometime in the future, when Daren could at least walk, or better yet run for his life. Not that an ability to run had saved him the first time around. It had only been dumb luck and Sebastian's training that got Daren through those initial few hours. And as angry as he was over what the Delawares had done, the more time he spent with Daren, the less he wanted to ever see him in harm's way.
    He finished doing up breakfast before sending Rachael a text.
    Can I take you to lunch?
    It took less than thirty seconds to get a reply.
    What's wrong?
    Who said anything was wrong? Can't I take you to lunch?
    :-\ 12:30
    See you then
    "That's Rachael. I'll take her to lunch. Have a chat."
    "Good. I also spent some time this morning thinking about Agent Kim. I worked with him for a bit, I think I've got a good idea of what he's going to want to see to talk him into the meeting."
    "Care to clue me in?"
    "Proof of life. Proof I have what I say I have. Proof I'm not fucking around. Anyway, while you're out, we need some more phones. I'm thinking at least four. They should be able to record and send video messages. And a good-sized USB drive. Say thirty-two gig?"
    And here is the rich-kid disconnect from reality kicking in, Sebastian thought. He said, "You know you can't just walk into a shop and say, 'I'd like four phones please?' and then pay in cash. That kind of stuff gets you put on watch lists these days. You have to show ID and credit cards for contracts."
    "I have full faith you'll figure it out."
    Sebastian just waved at Daren's toast. "Eat your breakfast. I've got a long day ahead, it seems."
    ****
    Sebastian fiddled with the straw in his soda while Rachael stared at him. He'd planned to just come out with it all, but the words wouldn't form correctly. Weeks of secrecy and seclusion had taken a toll. Instead, he tried making small talk about the weather and the general state of the world, but she hadn't joined in. She'd only stared at him or looked suspiciously at the small bag Sebastian was carrying, one that held two new phones. He'd made a show out of buying them. Looking for one for his technophobic mother and another for his girlfriend who had spilled a drink all over her own just the night before.
    "It's about the boyfriend, isn't it?" Rachael said after the waiter had poured her coffee and walked off.
    "Yeah."
    "Need me to hurt someone?"
    Sebastian looked up from his soda. Somewhere in his head he laughed, but the sound never reached his lips. "Daren's family are not good people," he started slowly. "And I'm not talking bigot-redneck, I'm talking lots and lots of money, an empire, obtained through questionable legality and complete amorality."
    "Oh, God, Sebastian. What have you gotten yourself into?"
    "Good question. Daren managed to collect a considerable amount of information on his family's misdeeds and he was working towards having some justice done. Someone found out and either threatened or bribed the two members of law enforcement who were supposed to be protecting him. They looked away at the right moment while Daren was chased down, beaten to a pulp, and left to die."
    Rachael reached across the table and placed her hand over his. It seemed an oddly tender gesture until he realized he'd been bending the spoon in his hand. He dropped the spoon and placed his hand flat against the table so he wouldn't drive his nails into his own palm.