The Encounter
By
Steph
Chapter Ten
*
Mary was overjoyed at Isabelle's lighthearted mood as the day wore on. Indeed there
was a man involved but her dear friend would not divulge the details. But whoever this
mystery man might be, he must be something for Mary had never seen her friend in such
a state of complete contentment.
"Isy, I have a little something I would like to tell you ! " Mary could barely contain hersel
f as this tasty morsel of information had to be released.
"Mary, give over.....what is it ?" Isabelle flashed a beautiful smile for she was completely
uninhibited. The name Pik Van Cleaf kept repeating itself within her head. She was
intoxicated on it.
"Well ok.." Mary gave in rather quickly and set aside a pile of old newspaper clippings and
made herself more comfortable.
"It seems I am having a dinner date with a certain Detective who was in here a few weeks ago
!" Mary was running rampant with excitement.
"Oh yes, Detective Bailey wasn't it ?" Isabelle cringed slightly at the name. Somehow she
knew who and what he was looking for.
"Yes, that's him..and he let me choose the place..and you know how much I love Martina's
Italian Restaurant ."
Isabelle couldn't help but laugh. The flashing memory of her dinner
there with that terrible Rob caught her off guard.
"Well then, you had better make sure you are not late !" Isabelle grinned at her friend.
"Oh no problem there...he is picking me up here...in just a few hours ! " Mary clearly
let her enthusiasm take over.
"Thats wonderful !" Isabelle replied, but not actually looking forward to seeing Detective
Jase Bailey again.
"Erica will be working tonight so do not stay too late !" Isabelle nodded and watched as
her friend pratically walked on air across the library floor.
A few hours past and the sun had set. "He's here!" Mary cried out as she watched him
enter thru the glass doors. Isabelle could not but share in her friends happiness.
"Ah, Miss. Grant.....how are you this fine evening ?" Isabelle smiled her hello.
"I am fine and you Detective?" Jase smiled at the secretive young woman and then his eyes
scanned the room to settle on Mary.
"I am quite well, now..." He made his way to the eager Mary. "Shall we go ?" Jase
questioned.. Mary slid on her sweater and smiled. "Oh yes." Jase allowed her to walk
in front of him and he lay his hand on the small of her back and led her to the door.
"They make a nice couple don't they ?" Erica commented as she emerged from behind
a book case. "Yes, I would have to agree with you. Now I need to get back to work "
Isabelle whisked herself away to the deserted part of the library where she remained for
several hours until she was interrupted.
"This is Isabelle." Erica's strange tone filled the silent room. Isabelle turned to see
a very
pale Erica standing beside a man she had never seen before. He was well dressed and very
distinguished looking.
Fouchon stood silent for a moment. Yes, indeed she was lovely. So this is what Van Cleaf
was coveting. Isabelle did not like this man's leering gaze. "Is there something
wrong ?" She asked as the strange man roughly shoved Erica slightly in front of him then
with a single blow to the back of her head Erica's limp body crumpled to the floor.
Isabelled stood in disbelief .
"Your coming with me !" He replied in a deep hoarse voice.
Isabelle just stood there unmoving until he raised his hand and in his grasp was a gun.
"Let's go.." He commanded and she had no choice but to follow. Fouchon led her out
of the libabry and outside. He kept the gun pointed into her back and concealed it with
a jacket.
Isabelle allowed him to seat her in the car and he did not put away the weapon until he
had handcuffed one of her hands to the handle on the glove compartment.
"Shall we ?" He smiled as he started the car and drove off taking her captive.
Isabelle was afraid yet she sensed something familiar about this man. There was certainly
no way she had ever seen him before, she would have remembered a dangerous man such as this.
He spoke not a word as he drove out of the city and taking her to an unknown destination.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary could hardly contain herself. The dinner had been fantastic and now she was sharing
a fine wine with a man she was very attracted to. He had been a perfect gentleman, opening doors for her and seeing to her every whim. "So Detective Bailey, why police work ?" Jase smiled as he took a swig of sweet wine and gazed across the table past the flickering flames of the candles and into the angelic features of Mary.
"My Father was a cop, his Father was a cop...and so on...didn't leave me much of a choice
...and you Mary? Why a librarian ?" Jase took another taste of the wine and
he was feeling extremely relaxed while in her presence.
"Oh,well my Mother was a Librarian.....and her Mother......." Mary began to laugh and it
was contagious for Jase did the same.
Jase knew he had to be careful. He did not want to pressure Mary for any information
because he had found himself liking her a great deal. Yes, this was going to be complicated indeed.