"I guess it's possible she's his girlfriend." Kris answered. "What?" She asked when she saw the incredulous stares that were directed at her. "Anything's possible." She weakly defended herself.

Raven snorted. "If she's his date, I'm straight." She pulled Kris into her lap and kissed her cheek. "And if anybody here believes that, I've got some nice mountain property in Florida for sale."

"Eew." Kris exclaimed as she wrinkled her nose and pointed at the monitor. They all shuddered when they saw a gleaming white a.s.s filling the screen. Raven reached over and this time turned it off without any protest.

"This really burns me up." Lisa leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "He's one of the biggest supporters in the campaign to rid the downtown area of prost.i.tution." She explained. "The hypocrite."

The group got comfortable in the front of the van and talked for a while, killing time, until John was voted to check on the status of the occupants of the condo. "You waited until I had to take a bathroom break to vote. It's not fair." He mumbled as he threaded his body through the seats.

"They're done." He announced. "This answers that question." He motioned the others back with his head. Sure enough, they watched as money changed hands.

"Huh, I wonder what that little fantasy set him back?" Lisa asked.

Oh, probably a couple of thousand." John answered. "She wasn't 'off the rack', she came from a 'specialty shop'." He looked at the 'and just how would you know' expressions he was getting.

"Something we need to tell Sharon?" Kris smirked.

"I was a cop, remember." He reminded everyone and stuck his tongue out at her.

"Oh yeah, that's adult." Kris ribbed him.

"All right folks, let's get this show on the road." Raven stated, coming to the aid of her Lieutenant.

Granny put on the headset, adjusted the microphone, sat down and got comfortable. John sat down in front of the board that controlled all of the electronic surprises that he and his Captain had rigged and locked Philip's bedroom door by remote. They didn't want their audience to escape before the performance was over. Lisa and Kris sat back and waited for the show to start. Raven fidgeted as she sat beside Granny.

"Philip." The older woman did a good job of imitating a young boy.

Philip was propped up in bed channel surfing when he heard his name called. "Who's there?" He sat up on the edge and looked around nervously.

"It's me, Philip. Your brother." Granny waited for his reaction.

"My brother's dead. Wh...who are you?" He stood and spun around trying to discern where the voice was coming from. "This is a sick joke and I'm calling the cops." He warned.

John electronically disconnected the phone and gave a 'thumbs up' sign to Granny. "The phone doesn't work, Philly." Raven had revealed earlier the childhood name that Derek had called his big brother.

As the nickname registered, Philip collapsed back onto the edge of the bed. "B...but your dead." He started to shake and turned very pale.

"Yes I am. And why is that, Philip?" Granny's voice gained fury with every word spoken.

"Oh G.o.d." Philip stood and inched toward the bedroom door. "I know why you're here." He shook his finger at the empty room. "You've come back to get me. Haven't you?" He yelled. "I've got to get out of here." When he tried to open the door and couldn't, he started looking around wildly.

"He's panicking." John whispered. "What do you want me to do?" None of them had expected Philip to react without reason, scared yes, totally irrational, no.

Raven hesitated before she issued instructions. "Unlock the bedroom door. We don't want the a.s.s to jump out the window and kill himself."

Philip was still tugging frantically on the door when John disengaged the electronic lock. They watched as the suddenly released door opened inwardly and met solidly with Philip's head. His eyes rolled back and he bonelessly collapsed to the floor.

"Well s.h.i.t." Granny stated in her normal voice, interrupting the bewildered silence that had descended. "I didn't get to kid him about his Tarzan outfit."

"Should we check on him?" Lisa leaned closer to the monitor to see if the idiot was still breathing.

"Leave him there." Raven stated. "He'll wake up before long with one Hades of a headache."

"What's the next move?" Kris rubbed her hand up and down Raven's back, soothing the tenseness she found there. "Do we continue tomorrow at his office?"

"No, we'll wait and come back here tomorrow night. We don't want to do this at his office unless we absolutely have to. We don't want to chance witnesses." She explained.

"Good. I don't want to miss anything." Lisa smiled. "You were very good by the way." She congratulated the impersonator and patted her on the shoulder.

"Thank you, dear." Granny turned in her seat and faced her coconspirators. "If we're done here, I suggest that we head back. I for one need to get my beauty rest."

The sun shining through the windows awoke Philip. "Ow, my head." He brought his hands up to block out the offending light. "What am I doing on the floor?" He wondered out loud as he slowly sat up and looked around. 'I must have really tied one on last night.' He thought as he got to his feet. His legs gave out and he sat down on the end of the bed when he suddenly remembered the goings on of the night before. He sat perfectly still, waiting for the voice to start again. "See it didn't happen, couldn't happen." He swallowed hard, as if his denial would summon the long dead. "It must have been a dream, just a nightmare. I mean I haven't been eating right. That'll cause stuff like that, right? Right." He asked and answered himself. He stood up and headed towards the shower, more confident in the light of day. Unaware that his misery was just beginning.

"Did last night go like you thought it would?" Kris asked as she forked the last bit of scrambled egg into her mouth. She hadn't asked Raven last night, she'd known that her partner was tired, sore and a little troubled. Probably from seeing her brother again and bringing up a lot of bad memories and painful feelings.

Raven smirked. "No, I didn't expect him to be such a sniveling coward." She downed the rest of her juice.

"But that just follows along with what he did back then. Why would he change?" Kris had hoped he would be so scared that he would fall on his knees and beg forgiveness.

"He's an adult now. I expected him to...grow up I guess." She shrugged. "Mother always did spoil him though." She finished and sighed.

"Morning, Granny." Kris and Raven both said together as the older woman entered.

"It's cold out there this morning." She rubbed her hands together to generate some heat. "We're gonna get some snow for sure." She poured a cup of coffee for herself and refilled the two empties sitting in front of the women before she sat down to join them. "Do you think we pushed him too far?" She asked, having picked up the thread of the conversation.

Raven thought for a minute then answered. "I have no idea. But we're gonna keep pushing until he either confesses or has a nervous breakdown." She stated confidently. Having decided that seemed to lift a weight off her shoulders. "Come on, let's do something fun today." She slapped her palm down on the table and grinned at her startled companions.

That night found them back in the van, all but John who had been summoned by his mother. Raven had laughed at his condemned man act when he related his mother's threats of pink tuxedos since he didn't seem to care about his own wedding. The others laughed all the way to their parking spot behind Philip's building at Raven's fairly good impersonation of the tall man. They waited and watched. About half an hour later they saw a familiar looking form head into the building.

"More of the same?" Granny asked as she settled herself and picked up the headset.

"Yes." Raven stationed herself in front of the 3-D projectors. "But I think we'll add a few visuals tonight." Kris and Lisa had been coached earlier on the control panel that John had manned the night before and the two young women took up their positions.

Tonight didn't get much accomplished in the way of a confession. Philip fainted at the sight of his brother's image. "This is going to take forever at this rate." Lisa sighed dejectedly and Kris agreed with a nod of her head.

The third night, John was again with them but Philip wasn't. They tracked him down, with the aid of the cameras. He was trying to hide in his office. "You knew he would try to hide." Kris stated.

"I wondered why you and John went to the trouble of installing all that equipment in his office if we weren't going to use it." Lisa chuckled.

"Now we know." Granny added.

"Oh G.o.d, not again." Philip hung his head when he saw the ghostly image of his brother seemingly materialize out of thin air.

"You can't hide from me, Philip." The image shimmered as if in anger. "And I really think G.o.d has better things to do than listen to a liar like you."

"What do you mean? I'm not...I." Philip took a deep breath. 'No use lying to him, he knows what happened.' Again he hung his head, this time in defeat. "What do you want from me? I can't change what happened to you. I can't bring you back."

"No you can't. But you can change what happened after." Granny muted the mike as instructions were pa.s.sed her way. Given the events of the two previous nights they weren't totally prepared for the quick surrender. "I want you to admit your sins." Granny instructed the defeated man. She was reading from Lisa's quickly scribbled demands.

"I'll go to confession first thing in the morning." Philip promised.

"Oh no, it's not going to be that easy. You have to admit to mother what you did." Lisa gave up writing and started whispering in Granny's ear.

Philip jumped up from the chair he was slouched in. "No, please...I can't...I'll do anything but that." He fell to his knees and begged.

"And," Granny growled into the mike to shut him up. "You will beg forgiveness from both your sisters. If you don't, I will haunt you for the rest of your days and believe me, there is NOwhere you can hide." She was really getting into this.

"But." He started to try to worm his way out but was interrupted.

"No buts, Philip, be a man for once in your miserable life. And do it quickly or..." The threat was left hanging.

"Okay I promise. But I don't know where Frances is."

Granny looked at Lisa and Raven for clarification, she had never been told Raven's middle name. Raven tapped her chest and mouthed the words, 'he means me'. "Don't worry about that, Philip. I'll make sure she knows that you want to see her." Granny repeated Raven's instructions as they were whispered to her.

'Well at least she'll get the c.r.a.p scared out of her too.' Philip thought, which made him feel a little better.

As the image slowly started to fade, Philip heard the threatening voice one more time. "Remember my warning, Philip, and move quickly."

They watched for a few more minutes, as the figure on the screen continued to kneel on the carpet in front of his desk. "How long do we give him to tell mother?" Lisa broke the silence.

"And what's the plan if he doesn't confess?" John added as he turned onto Pike and headed for the interstate.

Raven thought about their options. "We could of course continue to hound him night after night, but we can't follow him everywhere...and if he hasn't confessed in the next day or two, I don't think he ever will."

Raven leaned her shoulder against the doorframe while Kris headed towards the blinking light on the answering machine.

'Hey, Kris, it's me. Looks like the talks are starting to wind down, according to father. So call me at home tomorrow, I'd like to get a date set for a visit. Hopefully Raven will feel up to having us under foot. Talk to you tomorrow, Sis. Bye.'

Raven moved behind her lover. "You looking forward to seeing them?"

Kris leaned back into a warm body when two strong arms circled her waist. "Uh huh." The young woman responded and tilted her head to allow Raven's lips easier access to her neck.

Teeth nipped soft flesh. "Do you think your mother or brother will come?" She asked then wanted to kick herself when she felt Kris tense.

"Gee, Taz, you sure know how to kill a mood."

"Sorry, love." Raven hugged the smaller body tighter.

"It's okay." Kris patted the arms holding her and turned her body around to face Raven. "I don't think they'll come. And I must admit that I hope they don't. It would be too strained, even if she were trying to accept us. Besides I'm looking forward to a relaxing visit with father and Viv." Kris laid her head on her partner's chest and sighed in contentment. The gently rocking motion that Raven had started while holding her, made Kris very aware of her partner's warmth and scent and her body responded by making it's desire known. She lowered her arms that had been around Raven's waist and her hands grasped the firm behind and began a sensual ma.s.sage.

Raven moaned. "I see I didn't completely kill the mood." Her hands mirrored Kris' as she pulled her lover's body into hers.

Kris stopped her errant hands. "Oh no you don't. It's still too soon for bed aerobics, young lady. You are still healing."

"Doc said that I should increase my physical activity." Raven started backing Kris towards the stairs. "And I bet s.e.xual frustration really, really puts a strain on a sore, tense still healing body, that really would be healing a lot quicker if it was in a state of total relaxation.

"You do, do you?" Kris slowly unb.u.t.toned Raven's shirt, ran her hands lightly up the now uncovered bare skin and pushed it off her shoulders.

"Oh yeah." The tall woman's breath quickened. "I sure do." She leaned over and kissed Kris. Raven's hands disappeared behind her back while she desperately tried to pull the still b.u.t.toned cuffs over her hands in order to dispense with the garment altogether.

"Well then, I guess I better do something to relax you." Kris stated when their lips disengaged. "Do you think that getting hot," Kris paused to nip an ear. "And wet," a nip on the other ear. "Would eventually sooth your tense body?" She slowly drew her tongue around her own lips.

Raven was definitely hot and she was getting wetter by the second. The b.u.t.tons on her cuffs went flying as she gave up delicately trying to rid herself of her shirt. "Uh huh." She whimpered.

"Well then." Kris slowly backed up the stairs ahead of her partner. "I guess I'd better go turn the Jacuzzi on." She turned and took off up the stairs, laughing at the expression on Raven's face.

Raven's bewilderment lasted only a minute then she was headed after her tormentor. "You little tease. Wait until I get my hands on you." She yelled.

Raven woke up as the early morning sent rays of sunlight spilling through the miniscule openings in the drapes. She was spooned against her companion's smaller body. When she had gotten her hands on her tormentor last night, she had intended to arouse her lover's body until Kris couldn't do anything but give in to the desire burning between them. But instead of the wild frenzy that both thought their lovemaking would be, their touches were gentle and coaxing, easing each other over the edge. Raven smiled and lightly kissed the bare shoulder that had been revealed when she adjusted their position to block the invading sunlight.

"Morning." Kris turned her head slightly. "Why are you awake so early?" She groaned when she saw the time.

"Don't know." Raven grinned. "Because I'm happy. I'm enjoying the view. I'm hungry for you." She lightly bit Kris' neck. "Take your pick."

Kris turned on her back and held her arms out in invitation. "All of the above."

Raven growled as she moved her body over her partners and pulled the covers up over their heads. "I love you, Sagira." Stated from lips that hovered just above Kris' then descended before a reply could be made.

Chapter Twenty-Four:.

Several hours later, hunger of another kind drove the pair to venture from their warm, cozy, and somewhat rumpled nest. A large breakfast was consumed as they playfully fed each other waffles and sausage. Which meant they ended up in the shower since waffles covered in b.u.t.ter and syrup didn't work particularly well as a finger food.

Raven cleaned the kitchen while Kris called her sister. They agreed on the last weekend of the month for the visit and Viv said their mother had not mentioned joining them but that Martin asked to come along. 'I think he's being sent as a spy.' Viv had said before they ended the call.

"You can tell him he can't come if it bothers you." Raven suggested.

Kris shrugged her shoulders. "Let him come. I don't care if he reports back to mother or not." She stated. "I am however, worried about what, if anything, Philip's up to."

"Mom?" Philip walked into the kitchen and draped his coat over one of the chairs that were pushed under the Formica top table. "Where are you?" After debating with himself most of the night, he decided that he'd rather take his chances with his mother being upset than have to deal with the ghost of his brother for the rest of his life.