Audrey Turner sat on the edge of the bed and watched Nick get dressed. The doctor had been in, checked his wound and other vitals, and given him the okay to leave.

"That's a lovely addition to your collection," she smiled, chin indicating his fresh scar.

"Turn on is it?" He chuckled, slipping on his jacket, and tucking his tie in the pocket. "Let's get outta here, I need a decent meal and a drink."

"I'll take you to my place and make you some Adobo and a Mestiza to die for."

"Why your place?"

"I wouldn't eat in yours, Nick." She laughed, picking up his little bag of personal items, taking his arm and leading him out of the room.

Checkout was swift and painless, and Nick relaxed in the passenger seat while Audrey duelled with the rush hour traffic.

"Are you still with the Pancrest project or is that all done since the shooting?"

"I'm still under contract, but I'm on extended medical leave - unpaid."

"What is- extended?"

"Whenever they say."

"So you are unemployed."

"I'll keep busy, Aud, don't worry."

"Precisely why I do worry." She turned off onto a pleasantly treed street and found a spot several houses down from hers.

Inside, Audrey took charge, directing Nick to the shower while she made dinner.

"There are towels in the cupboard under the sink, and don't complain about the perfumed soap."

"Do I ever?" He stripped down in the bathroom and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water rinse away the three days of hospital odour. The soap smelled strong, and he laughed to himself, using an ample amount all over. Rinsed again and smelling pink and pretty, he dried off, tied the towel around his waist and went back into the kitchen.

"Better?" She asked, busily stirring her food concoction, and tasting little bits.

"Much." He moved behind her and kissed her neck.

"Oh, my, don't you smell delicious."

"The better to seduce you, my dear."

"Your drink is on the table and your phone buzzed - it's a text message."

"What does it say?"

"I don't look at your private stuff, Nick."

He sipped the drink, and picked up the phone. "You mean I wore this towel for nothing?"

"That old thing isn't private any more." She turned when he didn't crack back, and saw the strange look on his face. "Nick? Something wrong?"

He held up the phone so she could read the message.

'I know what you did!'

"What does that mean? Who sent it?" She came to stand beside him.

"It doesn't say . . . only three people have this number, and I know for sure it's none of them . . . but I might have an idea. Christ!"

"What is it, Nick?"

"If I'm right it's an episode from my past that someone has decided to drag out again."

"What? What did you do?"

"I can't tell you, Audrey. It happened over twenty years ago, but it's complicated. Trust me, I'd tell you if I could."

"It's when you were in the military." She stated flatly.

"Too clever by half. Leave it, Aud. I can't say anything."

"What are you going to do?"

"No idea - yet."

She pulled a face and went back to the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."

******

Dinner had been a delicious but quiet affair, and the ride home as well. Nick knew she wasn't mad, she knew him far too well for that, but she was sad. He had tried to ease her mind, and they shared a comfortable, warm kiss good night, but he knew she would go home and worry.

Now he sat staring at the message, a stiff shot of bourbon resting on his stomach. He was pretty sure he knew what it meant . . . that wild and dangerous event from so long ago.

The military CID had been tasked with escorting a small team of civilian observers aboard a surveillance submarine in the South Pacific. There were four CID officers charged with monitoring the team. He had been one of those chosen officers.

Everything was supposed to be routine until it suddenly wasn't.

Nick sipped his drink as he recalled the circumstances that had led to his discharge and all the hours of debriefing and eventual incarceration. Now, he believed those circumstances had prompted the text message. Someone who knew the real story was digging it all up again.

To be continued next chapter