Page 75 of Good Enough

“I want to move everyone back to the house. We need to fill them in on the break-in. I will give them enough information to put up their defenses, but not so much that I scare them. I just want people to be extra aware of anyone hanging around.”

“Got it. And better to address it once rather than multiple times and field any questions so everyone hears the answers.”

Waters turned her to face him so he could put his hands on her biceps and look her in the eye. “Midas is already working on trying to identify the thieves, but I have to admit, it’s going to be tough.” He kissed her capped forehead and held her close. “I promise we’ll get them, Kubrick. We’ll find your brother and take care of all of this. Trust me to protect you.”

Good grief. This man.

Looking up at him, she smiled sadly. “No need to ask for that trust, Waters. It’s been yours for some time now.” She exhaled with a tinge of irritation. “I can’t avoid reporting the break-in to Big Bird since my computer’s gone.”

“Agreed.”

“He’s going to go full-on nuclear-molt.”

“Atomic.”

“He’s going to come down here.”

“Anticipated.”

“He absolutely hates you.”

“Mutual.”

Groaning at the havoc the man was going to cause in her life, not to mention her cast’s lives, she lamented, “Where are we going to put him? He’ll refuse to stay in Coxen Hole.”

“The perverse part of me says we pitch him a tent in the jungle. But I know we can’t actually do that. He can have my room.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “And where will you be? Not in that same tent you were proposing.”

He brushed some errant strands of hair behind her ear and up under her cap. “There’s this sexy blonde across the hall I’ve been wanting to shack up with. Think she might not be immune to me staying with her for a bit.”

“Mmm. Presumptuous.”

“Not presumptuous if it’s true.”

She grinned. “I warn you. I don’t sleep neat.”

He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “No, you don’t. But if I wrap you up tight next to me, you probably can’t do too much damage. Besides that, I’m not sure there’ll be a whole lot of sleeping.”

She snuggled back up to his chest, and they stood in silence on the dock.

When Vixen and Enigma surfaced, Kai told them to gather their gear and meet back at the house. Waters made it very clear not to separate from each other for a moment. They would explain more after they collected the rest of the group from the rappelling station.

Everyone showered, changed, and met around the kitchen table. While they ate, Kai laid out the break-in, explained that while there didn’t appear to be any danger expected, she wanted no one to go anywhere on their own as a precaution in case it was the work of a fan who had crossed the line. A potential “crazy fan” wasn’t all that out of the realm of possibility to them, so there were no uncomfortable questions.

After lunch, the actors headed to the shooting range that had been set up, and Kai went to make her phone call to Big Bird before meeting them there. Waters sat on the edge of the desk while she called him.

Slightly different seating arrangements than my last call to the assclown.

She felt her face heating up as she picked up her phone and dialed. Looking up as it began ringing, she caught Waters’ smirk. He knew exactly what was causing the flushed skin. He winked at her but otherwise stayed put leaning on the desk.

As expected, Big Bird went atomic. She simply sat there, rubbing her forehead, waiting for him, like a tantrum-laden toddler, to eventually burn out of energy, and then she could address the issue rationally.

Kai was paying so little attention to what he was screeching that she didn’t notice Waters’ tolerance level for bullshit was at an end. Suddenly the phone was out of her hand, and he was speaking.

“Stapleton, this is Waters. I’m hanging up this phone. When you’ve finished your bout of hysteria and can speak rationally, call back.” Then he clicked off, turned the power off, and threw the phone gently on the desk.

“I was just letting him burn to the end of his wick. I wasn’t even listening to anything he was saying.”

---