Stella lay awake all night while Karla snored beside her. The wildest thing she’d learned about this lover of hers sleeping next to her was that nothing could keep her from hunger or sleep. She could be in a jail cell with the darkest of souls and still find her way to dreamland.

She checked her phone and it was three a.m. She got out of the bed and went outside.

******

Inspector Kpodo was understandably irritated when a vibration woke him up. He’d not had enough sleep before the explosion, and now his sleep was being interrupted. It took him another couple of seconds to find the source of said vibration; it was the phone that the officer had handed him. He looked at it and let it ring a little while before he picked up.

The voice on the other end did not waste any time. “The bombings, not us. Not a single bombing came from us.”

Kpodo looked at the phone, but there was no caller ID. “Who is this?”

“You know who. I’m frankly disappointed that you had Seth Goosman and this case wasn’t solved. That was your smoking gun. He did the actual dirt.”

“Yeah, and he confessed, and we put him away shortly after. But your crown jewel was more like a plastic show ring. How do I know you didn’t plant him there to sway my case the same way you’re trying to influence my thinking on the bombings?”

“You don’t, Inspector, but you’re a smart man. Why would I choose to blow you up when I’m the same one who is not even in your continent as we speak? Why risk my freedom for all that bull crap?”

“Some people simply love punishment.”

“Well, we don’t. Neither Karla nor I.”

“Fair enough, but sooner or later, you’re still going to have to come in for questioning.”

“And why’s that?”

“Well, for one thing, Kane Glazer is alive.”

“Officer, come on. Marcus Glazer is dead. I ID’d the body myself. What do you mean he’s alive?”

“Listen lady, I believed you, and it all checked out right until the man himself walked into my office yesterday and gave me something to think about.”

Stella almost threw her phone on the ground, but she restrained herself. “You’re really saying that Marcus Malcolm Glazer is alive and well?”

“I saw him with my own two eyes.”

Stella muted the call and screamed into the wind. “Fuuuuuuuuck!” She stomped in frustration, and then went back to the call. “Inspector, I need you to know that I had no part in any of this. I would not want you dead.”

“Be that as it may, whoever you ID’d was not Glazer, which makes you a potential suspect in his attempted murder case. I’d get a great lawyer if I were you. Better yet, I’d come back home and clear my name as soon as possible if I were in your position.”

Stella hung up and flung the phone in anger. “Motherfucker just won’t die! Goddammit! After all the hell we’ve been through, we still can’t breathe. What the hell punishment is this! All we wanted was to be free to love each other and spend our days with each other. Goddammit!”

*****

Katherine had just closed from church and was on her way home when she received a call.

“Talk to me.”

The voice on the other end responded. “No casualties, just like we planned it. There was an injury scare but we found out it was a minor one. No more than a night’s worth of medical observation will be needed.”

“Perfect. Winifred is one heaven of an engineer. Tell her I said that.”

“Noted, ma’am.”

“Hopefully the good policeman bites on the bait we’ve hung over his nose. Meanwhile, there’s an update from the divine. Meetup the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good work, Jen.”

“Thank you, ma’am. In His Service.”

Katherine continued her drive as she hummed the tune to the old hymn, ‘Once To Every Man and Nation.’

*****

Caris and Carol were cuddled in each other’s arms, watching the stars through the clear pane in the ceiling. It was the dead of night, and neither of them could sleep. They’d had some of the best days of their lives being able to live on the beach, away from reality.

Carol looked up at Caris. “I think I like this little life, Caris.”

Caris kissed her on the forehead. “No lie, Carol. No lie.”

“Between the beach and the free food and all the other luxuries, this has been one hell of a follow-up to the near-death experiences we’ve both had.”

“Yeah, those were some dark days. I’m still slightly worried that the bill for all this is going to come due sooner or later. We don’t know who it was that got both of us free or why they did it.”

“True, but we can continue to enjoy it until they show their face, can’t we?”

Caris brushed his lips against hers, and she responded and kissed him. They rubbed their foreheads together. “Absolutely yes, babe. For now.”

No sooner had he said that than the TV suddenly turned itself on. They looked at each other and before they could get up, there was a message displayed on the screen. “Honeymoon’s over.”

That message was immediately erased and replaced with, “Karma’s hovering. Be prepared.”

A countdown clock showed up below that message, and it started with one day, twenty-three hours and fifty-nine minutes.

Carol looked at Caris and shook her head. “You just had to say it, didn’t you?”

Caris shrugged. Carol stood up and looked at the TV as the countdown continued. “I really hope we don’t end up dead.”

“Don’t even go there, babe. I already lost you once, and I sure as hell am not doing it again.”

“I know, babe. I can’t face losing you either.”

She turned to him as he lay back on the floor. “We don’t really need two days to prepare, do we?”

He saw the look in her eye and returned it with a knowing smile. “Well, we did show up here with nothing, so there’s no reason not to leave in like manner.”

She backed up slowly and stood at the edge of their bed. “Yes, it would be most undignified to take from this generous person after all their kindness.”

Caris kept his gaze on her as he tracked her moves. “Most undignified indeed.”

Carol pulled her shirt up and stopped just above her stomach. “In that case, how about you be a gentleman and come take your lady on one last ride before reality returns?”

Caris looked at her like a predator surveying his prey, and then he stood up. “With pleasure.”

He started towards her with increasing speed as she slowly lowered herself unto the bed, and her giggles were quickly muffled once he got to her and swarmed her.

This couple just can’t keep their hunger in check, can they? Even with possible death looming. Crazy duo for real.

But, hold on… is Bishop Katherine actually the one behind the bombing? Are we missing something?