A Dagger through Dimensions Chapter 38

Setting Up a Fall

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The next morning, I got out of bed long before sunrise. Fortunately, Adele is a heavy sleeper, so it wasn’t hard for me to get dressed and out the apartment door without waking her. Making my way down the backstairs of the building, I worked my way to the side of the building where I saw the gray car following me the day before. The driver appeared asleep inside the vehicle, so I hurried to my car, which was parked several rows over on the other side of the lot.

After starting the car, I drove out of the lot with my headlights off, using the moonlight of a waning halfmoon to guide me to the street. Turning on the car’s lights, I headed to the Potter building where I had work to accomplish.

After arriving at the building, I used the unlocked door to enter the building while carrying a flashlight and a length of coiled rope from the car. I dropped the coil out through the partially opened window to the dock, then went back to the dock. After moving around some barrels and hooking one end of the rope to the building across the alley, I strung the rope along the ground to the dock and into the building. Then, I searched the building for the few items I needed to arrange everything for later that day. 

When I got back to the apartment, I pulled back into the parking spot that I left earlier. The morning sun cast a red pall over the area as I took a long route around the building. When I entered, I took the same back stairs after looking out the front lobby windows at the gray car still in its place. When I entered the apartment, Adele was making coffee.

“Where have you been?”

“Oh, I couldn’t sleep, so I took a walk around the neighborhood,” I replied, as I slipped behind Adele.

My light kiss on her neck raised goosebumps on her skin and I smiled.

“How about some fun before breakfast?” I suggested.

Adele smiled and turned around.

“You read my mind,” she replied.

~~~

As we talked during our morning meal, Adele suggested setting a time to meet with Sally over the paperwork she sent with me. Obviously curious, I asked the reason.

“I wonder if we’re getting enough ownership of the company, given the amount that we gave her. I looked over her financial information and I think we should have more,” she said.

My surprised expression caused her to frown.

“I’m sorry if you think I’m out of line.”

“No, not at all,” I assured her. “It’s not like I’m a financial guru. I told her when I lent her the money that she could make the call. I guess I shouldn’t have done that without you.”

Adele’s expression remained thoughtful as I explained, then she took a sip of her coffee. After a moment, she replied.

“Yes, you should have told me. But that’s water under the bridge now. Do you think I’m wrong to push on this?”

The question struck me as strange at first, at least until I remembered how Lane Dagger took financial control away from her.

“No, we should discuss it with her. You should get the settlement you think is fair,” I told her. “I might be good at getting into trouble, but I don’t know much more than that.”

 “You can say that again,” she teased me. “I’ll call her office and make some time for us.”

I remained quiet as I watched her carry her plate into the kitchen. My hope was the conversation would not take another turn.