Visiting Grandma Wu

The older man sighed thinking about the past. "My hands were tied there were people obviously higher up pulling the strings and blocking the investigation. If you can crack this case maybe the little girl will have some closure."

 "I will do my best. It is a complicated situation but, that is why I am here to offer my assistance." Karl isn't free to discuss the involvement of powerful politicians and the Underworld. The Mayor is only one part of the equation.

 Karl picked up the reports, "I will touch base this afternoon. As you know my grandmother is hospitalized so I am going to visit her." 

Merri and Claire were in Grandma Wu's hospital room when Karl opened the door. He was surprised to see them because he waited for Merri a couple days ago but she didn't show up in the morning as planned. 

 Grandma Wu had a big grin on her round face and her eyes crinkled into a pleasant smile "Karl, look who came to visit! Do you remember Meredith?"

 Karl walked over towards the bed, "Of course I do." How could I ever forget my first love. Although I never confessed she has always been in my heart.

 Merri was peeling an apple for the elderly woman, "I'm glad you are here. Something came up and I couldn't come the other day. I also didn't get a chance to give you my phone number when I saw you on the bus."

 Grandma Wu raised her eyebrow, "Karl, honey, why would you take a bus? You should have taken one of the cars from the house."

 "I just got into town and it was more convenient at the time."

 "..."

 Merri ordered him, "Give me your phone and I will put my number in."

 Karl obediently took out his phone. His eyes were lowered so she couldn't see the way they were shining. Still the same bossy little girl. He easily found her unlisted number after he saw her on the bus and was going to call then changed his mind.

 Claire was a straightforward person and commented, "I didn't recognize you at first in Ren's office. You must have lost a hundred pounds."

 He chuckled and his smile was dazzling, "Well..haha not that much. I grew a few inches after high school and lost weight when I joined the military."

 Claire continued, "I never would have imagined under your doughy exterior you were so handsome! Do you have a girlfriend? "

 His grandmother chuckled, "My Karl was always handsome!

 Merri joined in, "I agree. I always thought his eyelashes were longer than a girl's and his eyes were beautiful."

 The tips of Karl's ears turned red and he coughed, "Enough. What are you two doing for dinner. I would like to catch up with what has been happening since I left. We could get Ren and Cole to join us."

 Merri was releived when she stared at Claire's expression and her friend appeared unfazed.

 Claire picked up a grape then nonchalantly replied "I guess you don't know Cole married Karin. As a matter of fact they welcomed a baby not long ago."

 Karl saw the fleeting sadness in Claire's eyes and knew he would open up a wound if he continued. "Then the four of us...what do you say?"

 Claire agreed immediately, "Sounds good to me." She thought Karl was attractive and might be just what she needed to forget about Cole Henry.

 Nervously clenching his hand in his pocket,. Karl waited anxiously for Merri's reply. He didn't need to wait long, Merri happily agreed. "I don't have any plans."

 "Good. I will call Ren. Do you want to go to Serendipity?"

 Claire patted his shoulder, "You are out of touch. They tore Serendipity down two years ago and built a high rise apartment complex there."

 Merri puffed her cheeks out, "I was so mad when they tore it down! I thought they wouldn't because it was historic building but somehow the company worked around it."

 "Well...you choose then since I am not familiar."

 Claire quickly said, "Let's go to Riverside Mansion."

 Merri raised an eyebrow, "Ummm... that restaurant is too expensive."

 Karl quickly replied, "My treat. I haven't seen you in so long we need to celebrate our reunion."

 Merri handed a piece of sliced apple to Grandma Wu. "No. I can't let you pay."

 Grandma Wu really liked Merri and chimed in, "Let him pay! The brat can afford it!"

 Merri blushed, "Haha..well okay. Then I will make dinner for you one night. Do you remember how you loved the spicy chicken stir fry our cook would make? I learned the recipe from her."

 "Remember. I could smell the aroma while I was tutoring you and my mouth would water." Karl had a soft gleam in his eyes. If any of his subordinates saw the tenderness in his eyes they would be dumbfounded. He was strict and unsmiling, his face never revealing any emotion.

 Claire ate another grape then reminisced, "Your cook was the best in the neighborhood!" She had a mischievous grin on her cute face, "I never told you but I went behind your back and offered her twice the pay to come work for us but she refused. She said no amount of money was worth leaving your family."

 Merri had a sweet smile, "Yeah, it was sad after my Dad died she said she would stay without pay. I couldn't let her do that so I convinced her to go to her son in Riverside County. My brother and I would visit a couple times a year. I enjoyed tasting her cooking again. She passed away in the Spring and her son sent me a collection of her recipes."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned somber and Merri wiped a tear from her eye. "Jeez..sorry.."

 Grandma Wu took Merri's hand, "It is good to share memories and remember those who have left us."

 Claire patted Karl on the shoulder to lighten the mood, teasing " Since it is on you Young Master Wu I plan on bringing my appetite!"

 They all laughed and Claire looked at her watch, "We need to go, or the line will be too long. Grandma Wu we will come again to visit."

 "What line?"

 "We are going to a book signing."

 "What is the name of the author?"

 "You probably don't know him he wrote the 'Briar Hill Murders' series of books."

 "I am familiar. The third book in the series was my favorite."

 Claire's face lit up, "Mine too! I was shocked Lilac was the killer! She was so fragile and pitiful."

 "Didn't you notice in the fourth chapter she was lurking behind the greenhouse?"

 "Of course I did! But I ruled the woman out because she had no clear motive. The victim was her first love."

 "I think that is one of Bradshaw's strengths he keeps the reader guessing. I found though if you pay attention to minute details he gives subtle clues throughout the book."

 Claire laughed, "What are you a freakin detective! I never would have seen that clue!"

 He scratched his head and didn't answer, "You should go, his fans can be fanatical. I will call your brother and tell him about dinner, is eight o'clock good."

 Both Merri and Claire answer at the same time, "Sure."

 "Okay see you then."

 Merri and Claire said their goodbyes to Mrs. Wu then left. When they were in the hallway Claire grabbed Merri's arm, "Karl is so handsome! I am going to chase him!"

 Merri held her arm, "Girl, think twice. Karl is only going to be in town for a short time then he needs to return to the Special Forces."

 "So. In the meantime I wouldn't mind sleeping with him. His face is flawless and his muscular body is perfect!"

 "You are talking big but I think if he really wanted to take you to bed you would be afraid. Haha...I know even though to get back at Cole you have let rumors fly about you... but you have never taken the final step."

 Claire twisted up her face into a scowl. "Don't mention that man!"

 Merri pressed the button for the elevator. "I think Karl is a very good person. I would be happy if you slowly developed with him if it weren't for the fact his occupation is extremely dangerous. So don't do anything foolish okay?"

 As the two girls left the hospital Nikolai was sitting in his car looking at his phone. He placed a GPS locater in Merri's phone so he could track her movements for Alexi. He was worried when he noticed she had returned to the hospital. He immediately ended a meeting with several contractors to investigate if she had a relapse. 

 When he saw Merri walk out arm in arm with another young woman he was relieved. They were laughing and Merri appeared to be in good health. He waited until they got into a red Bugatti Veyron then he pulled out of the parking lot.