Vigilance

By Beck

Sara hung up the phone in disgust. That was the third time today. Someone had been calling her at work and when she answered they said nothing. It was beginning to annoy her.

"Another one?" Jake looked up at Sara.

"Yeah. I wish whoever it is would just stop." She dropped another folder on Jake's desk. "There's the last one."

"Well aren't we little Miss Productive today?" Jake grinned.

"Oh bite me, McCartey." Sara shot Jake a look and then laughed. "Want to grab some lunch?"

Jake stood up quickly, "Thought you'd never ask." He smiled.

Sara put on her jacket and they left the office. Once out on the sidewalk they began walking at a leisurely pace towards Sara's favorite deli.

Jake held the door for Sara as they arrived at the eatery, casting a backward glance before he entered. Sara caught the look.

"What's wrong?"

"Just the oddest feeling that someone was watching us."

"Yeah, yeah. Some little hottie just couldn't take her eyes off you." Sara rolled her eyes and Jake laughed.

After lunch Jake and Sara made their way back to the precinct, taking their time as they walked enjoying the warm weather and sunshine of the early summer. Walking through the squad room, Joe Siri caught up with them.

"Sara! Glad I caught up to you. I've got a new case for you and Jake. Look it over and let me know if you have any questions." Joe handed Sara a folder.

"Thanks Joe, just finished up the paperwork on that gunshot vic in the subway this morning." Sara turned and waved to Vicki Po who had walked by as Joe was speaking. Vicki smiled and went down the hallway, giving a little wave in return.

"Great work on that you two. " Joe nodded. "Oh Sara, the wife and I were wondering if you and that husband of yours were still coming by tonight for dinner?"

"We'll be there Joe. Ian has been looking forward to meeting you." She smiled.

"Good, good. See you around seven then." Joe waved and walked off.

"Ooooh, dinner with the bossman." Jake teased Sara.

Sara rolled her eyes. "Let's see what this one's about." She opened the folder Joe had given her. "Hmmm. Reopening a case from last year. Dead socialite." Sara read a little more. "New details about the estate. Will is out of probate."

"First impression?"

Sara frowned. "Her brother got the majority of the goods. Sounds like he's our prime suspect." She handed the folder to Jake. "You read through it too. I'm heading back up to the office."

Jake looked up from the folder, "Huh? Yeah, me too. Wait up."

Ian sat on the front steps, a glass of lemonade in hand. It was warm out and he was enjoying the sunshine, watching a squirrel scamper along the little strip of grass he and Sara jokingly referred to as the front lawn. They had used some of the profits they'd made on Vorschlag stock to buy this house four months ago, when he had made the choice to leave Irons to be with Sara. It wasn't terribly large, but it was comfortable, with room enough that they didn't feel cramped. They even had a pool in the back. The neighborhood was a nice one, middle-class families mostly. Ian smiled. Had anyone told him a year ago that his life would have taken this turn he would have thought they were insane. Barking from inside the house made him turn around.

"What is it Helmut, you hungry?" He gave the Doberman a pat on the head. "Let's go get you . . . " before he could finish the sentence he heard the phone ringing. "So that's what you were trying to tell me." He petted the dog again and then went to the phone.

Silence. No dial tone. Someone was still on the line, just not saying anything. Ian hung up in frustration. Fourth time today. He sighed and returned his attention to the dog. "Now let's see about that food."

The bushes in the back yard came back together as the hand that had been there withdrew. The sliding glass doors leading out to the pool had provided a perfect view of the kitchen. Only the man was home.

Helmut stood by the front door wagging his entire body. Ian couldn't help but laugh at the normally fierce- looking dog's puppyish behavior.

"She coming home?"

Helmut danced around in circles in reply. Ian grinned at the dog and went to the door. Moments later Sara pulled up on the Buell. Ian smiled as he opened the door for her.

"God am I glad to be home!" Sara gave Ian a quick kiss as she came through the door, putting down her helmet and removing her jacket. "Yes, I'm glad to see you too!" Sara leaned down and nuzzled the dog and then looked up to Ian, "You did remember we're having dinner at Joe's tonight, right?"

"Of course. I went ahead and put some clothes out on the bed for you."

"You are wonderful, have I told you that lately?" Sara wrapped her arms around Ian and kissed him.

Sara went into the bedroom and showered and dressed. She brushed her hair as she dried it with the blow dryer. Normally she preferred to let it dry naturally, but she didn't want to be late. She took one last look in the mirror. All set.

Ian smiled appreciatively as Sara came to stand beside him at the door. "You look great. Are you sure we have to go?"

Sara laughed, knowing what he was hinting at. "Yes, we have to go. Besides I'm starving." She grinned.

Ian commanded Helmut to guard the house and turned on the alarm as the walked out the door. Slipping the keys into his pocket as they neared the car, he opened the door for Sara and waited until she was safely buckled in before closing her door and going around to get into the drivers seat. "You'll have to tell me how to get there."

Sara nodded and began telling him where her boss lived.

He watched the grey sedan pull out of the driveway, the couple inside it. He made his way back through the shrubbery. The time wasn't right. Not yet.

Joe Siri put down his drink and answered the door. "Sara! And this must be Ian, is it?" He greeted Sara with a big bear hug.

Sara hugged Joe in return "Hey Joe, yes, this is Ian Nottingham, my husband." The word husband still sounded foreign on her lips even though they had been married for just over four months.

"Come in, come in." Joe stood back and motioned for them to enter. "Good to meet you, Ian. Something to drink?" Joe shook Ian's hand, wondering about the gloves that the taller man wore, but not commenting on them. Odd though, seeing as it was warm weather.

"Sure Joe, that would be great. Ian doesn't drink, but I'll take a beer if you have one."

Joe smiled, "Sure thing." He walked into the kitchen to get the requested drink.

Sara turned to Ian, "Joe has been like a father to me since my own was . . ." She broke off her sentence as Joe returned to the room with a beer for her.

"Thanks." Sara accepted the beer from Joe.

Joe looked to Ian, "So Sara tells me you're a bodyguard?"

Ian nodded. "I was a bodyguard for the head of Vorschlag Industries. I left about four months ago though, to be with Sara."

"Long hours make relationships difficult," Joe sympathized.

"That's no joke," Joe's wife, Mary, entered the room. "Hello Sara. Ian, it's nice to finally meet you." She smiled warmly.

Ian smiled and said, "The pleasure is all mine. Sara has told me much about you and Joe." He lifted Mary's hand and kissed it politely.

"Such a charmer. No wonder you fell for him, Sara." Mary smiled. "I hope you are hungry. I've fixed enough to feed a small army."

"Ian is a small army," Sara joked as they went into the dining room. Under her breath she added, "In more ways that one."

"What was that dear?" Mary asked.

"I said, What a lovely room," Sara smiled.

Over salads, Joe asked, "So are you looking for a new job, Ian?"

Ian nodded. "We've done very well with investments, but I have to admit sitting home all day does get to me at times." He smiled. "Especially now that we have the house the way we want it. I spent a lot of time at first working on that."

"You're over on Riverside, right?" Joe inquired.

"Yes Sir."

"Son, you don't have to call me Sir. Sara is like family to us. Just call me Joe."

Ian smiled at Joe. "I'm sorry, Joe. It is a habit with me."

Mary nudged Sara and whispered, "better keep this one honey, he's charming with manners to boot."

The women shared a quiet laugh. Ian and Joe looked at them a moment before returning to their conversation.

"I might have something for you if you're interested. We have a lot of requests to provide security for high profile visitors to the city."

Ian considered for a moment. "I'm not sure that my former employer would be so kind as to refer me well."

"I didn't ask for references, son. I don't know what terms you left Vorschlag on, but they don't concern me. Sara said you had a military career. Between clean discharge papers and what Sara has told me of you, I'd be willing to take a risk." Joe smiled.

"That is very kind of you, Sir. . . I mean, Joe."

"I'll give you a call about it later in the week. Right now though, I want to see what Mary has in that pot on the stove. She wouldn't let me go near it."

Mary teased, "Because after your taste testing, there wouldn't have been any left."

As everyone laughed, Mary excused herself and went to bring out the main course.

To a chorus of oohs and ahhs, Mary served the veal parmesan she had prepared. The foursome laughed and joked as they ate, enjoying the company of each other.

Later, as Sara and Ian were preparing to leave, Joe handed Sara a small wooden box.

"What's this Joe?"

"It is something I promised your father that I would keep for you until the time was right to give it to you."

Sara's eyebrows went up. "What's in it?"

"Information about your biological parents."

Sara frowned, "Joe, James Pezzini was my father."

"I know, Sara. I promised him I'd give that to you though and I make good on my promises."

Sara sighed. "All right Joe." She hugged Joe and Mary.

Ian spoke up, "Thank you for a lovely dinner. You are an excellent cook, Mary." He hugged Mary as well and then shook Joe's hand. "I'm eager to hear from you this week, Joe." He smiled.

Sara and Ian finished saying their goodbyes and left. Joe looked to Mary, "Nice kid, that Ian. Wonder why he wears those gloves all the time?"

"Joe! I hope you don't plan on asking him. You might embarrass him."

"Well, I was just curious, that's all."

"Probably burns or something. You behave, Joe Siri." Mary nudged Joe in the ribs.

Joe hugged his wife and they retired to the living room.

Sara smiled at Ian as he drove them home. "I think they approve of you."

Ian returned a quick smile, "I hope so."

"And you said your social skills were lacking." Sara rolled her eyes.

Ian laughed. "I practiced on Helmut before you got home."

It was Sara's turn to laugh. "Poor Hell mutt!" She affectionately called the dog by her nickname for him. He had chewed up a pair of her boots the day they brought him home, thereby earning the moniker from her.

Helmut growled low in his throat. His keen ears picked up movement just outside the house. Sounds that he didn't associate with either his people. His hackles rising, he paced the kitchen floor, his yellow eyes scanning the backyard for movement.