Samantha was astounded at the number of vehicles parked outside Platinum, as she alighted her SUV. She looked over her shoulder casually, saw Trent removing his helmet. A furtive glance from him enquired if she was okay, she nodded almost imperceptibly. Strangely she was looking forward to the evening. Was it because she was going to be with Blake? She looked stunning tonight, dressed in a black classic cocktail skirt, a bulky designer evening top, emphasized her hour glass shape, whilst it camouflaged her weapon at her side, and just to complement the skirt, she adorned a trendy "bling" sequenced jacket. With the sexy six inch stilettos she was ready to party, not that she did much of that these days. She waited for Trent to join her. 'There's no cameras tonight, so why you all dolled up?' she teased.

'Maybe Cinderella would like me to escort her home,' he quipped.

'Good luck,' she murmured as they entered the decked out boardroom turned into ballroom at precisely seven on the dot. She scanned the room and immediately located Blake in conversation with her Director.  How she was able to pick him out in a room full of almost fifty people, she did not know.

Why the hell were so many people here?  She did not like crowds.

'Let's go say "hi" to our host,' Samantha murmured to Trent.

'I'm sure he'd prefer more than just a casual "hi",' Trent tossed.

Samantha narrowed her eyes and glared at Trent, but then Trent was not blind. Had he not personally observed how many times Blake had visited her home, and on most occasions only left some three hours later.

'Samantha, good evening. You're on time,' their eyes locked momentarily, a private exchange took place.

'I'm surprised to find her here. She avoids these kind of events,' her Director responded.

Samantha would have avoided tonight, had it not been for the precarious position, Blake had held her naked body, extracting a confirmation from her. She avoided his eyes.

'Good evening gentleman,' she greeted both men.

Trent shook hands with Blake and their Director.

'What can I get you to drink?' Blake enquired, placing his arm casually at her lower back.

It was a polite gesture, but it sent her blood sprinting through her veins. Her automatic reaction was to lean into him, but she had to exercise restraint. He also knew she would prefer a fruit drink and nothing alcoholic, but he asked anyway.

'A sweet red wine,' she smiled mischievously.

The eyebrow arched for a split second but instantly went back into position.

'St Claire you don't like alcohol!' her Director reminded her.

'I was informed we're having a party,' she tossed, not looking at Blake.

'I have just the drink for you,' he rose to the occasion and served her the exact same red wine, as his induction at her home.

'Thank you,' she smiled politely. Their eyes met as she raised the glass to her lips, and she knew Blake was awaiting her comment on the wine.

'It's like nectar, I could get used to it.'

Blake threw his head back and laughed, her Director looked surprised, Trent did not respond or react.

'Let's sample the buffet,' Blake extended his arm to her.

She accepted his arm, but when they were out of earshot, she hissed,' I told you to behave yourself.'

'I'm just being a courteous host,' he rejoined.

The buffet was exquisitely sumptuous but informal. It was not a sit down dinner. People mingled and carried their plates as they chatted with each other.

'I didn't know the entire Gauteng province was invited,' Samantha quipped.

Blake looked around the room. I thought I'd use the opportunity to restore my clients and investors' confidence,' he looked into the distance then dragged his eyes back to her.

Guests approached Blake and greeted him. He merely introduced her by name only and did not indicate her profession.

'I should mingle,' Samantha whispered, when they were alone after a lengthy time.

'No! ' He placed his arm at her back, it looked casual, but it was firm and possessive.

'Blake__' she pleaded.

'I did all this just to be with you, Samantha.'

'Just give me ten minutes to circle the room,' she urged.

'The dance is just about to start,' he informed her.

'I'd also like it, if you danced with others first,' she stated.

'I don't want to be with anyone else,' he replied irritatedly.

'Don't be unreasonable. Come and get me in ten minutes,' she walked away.

Samantha saw Mrs. Gage and went to chat to her.  She looked at Samantha nervously.

Samantha placed her arm on her shoulder gently, 'lovely party,' Samantha smiled encouragingly.

Immediately, Mrs. Gage's shoulders relaxed.

Mrs. Gage led Samantha away from the colleagues she was chatting with, 'thank you for not enforcing the law,' she whispered.

'It was Blake Tresscott's call. He's made peace about it,' Samantha replied.

'I am truly ashamed of what I've done to such a generous and compassionate man,' she confessed remorsefully.

'I think the lesson's been learnt. Just forgive yourself Mrs. Gage.'

'You are a remarkable young lady, Ms. St. Claire.'

'If you say that too loudly not many will agree with you,' Samantha smiled, then excused herself and walked up to chat to Boyd and Riley.   And Boyd had to be true to form and make a pass, which she ignored.  She then moved around and made polite conversations with those who were not dancing, until Blake came to claim her, and either his timing was perfect or he orchestrated the waltz that just began playing as he led her to the dance floor. She looked into his eyes. She wanted him to confirm her suspicion but all his eyes
displayed was a blank canvass.

'Is that a smile that's threatening to reveal itself, Ms. St. Claire?'

She laughed softly. 'You're crazy,' she whispered, as he pulled her closer against him.

'I'm crazy about you Samantha,' he whispered in a husky tone.

'Blake behave yourself,' she remonstrated, as his lips softly brushed against her throat.

'Samantha spend the night__'

Suddenly the lights went out, but almost immediately the backup generator kicked in.

Samantha swung around looking for Trent, and simultaneously scanned the room for suspicious looking guests or visitors. Trent caught her eye, signaled he was going outside, and pointed upstairs.

'What's upstairs?' Samantha asked Blake.

'The Control room. It houses all the CCTV monitors.

'Let's go,' she did not wait to see if Blake followed her.

As she scaled the stairs, she opened her clutch bag removed her communicative device and plugged it into her ear. The second she was out of sight of the guests, she whipped out her firearm.

'All stations check in,' Samantha instructed.

'Boyd checking in.'

'Runner checking in.'

And then there was silence.

They were outside the Control Room. Blake was about to reach for the handle when Samantha stopped him.

'I'm going in first,' she whispered, 'I want you to very quickly get away from the door the second we are inside.'

Blake nodded. Samantha waited for only a second then whipped the door open and sprinted away from the door.

Blake followed her instruction and wisely went in the opposite direction she chose.

Impressive! Well done Blake!

There were two guards stationed at the monitors. They looked up in horror as Samantha and Blake barged in. Both stood up with their hands in the air, seeing her firearm pointed at them.  Samantha put her firearm away.

'Show me the car park and the entrance to the factory,' she instructed.

The men looked at Blake.

'Do as she instructs, and hurry!'

'All stations check in,' Samantha requested.

'Boyd checking in,'

'Runner checking in,'

And silence again.

Samantha took a deep breath then asked the question she did not want to. 'Any visuals on Trent?'

'Negative,' she heard from Boyd.

'Negative,' replied Runner.

Samantha picked up the control and traced from the entrance of the front door going away towards the car park.  It was empty, there was nobody outside, and no Trent anywhere. She scanned the entrance to the factory, it was all quiet. If Trent had been apprehended, he would not be able to respond, but she made the call to contact him. He could cough or sneeze or something to alert her.

'Trent check in.'

Silence.

She turned around and saw Blake looking down out the window.

'Stay away from the window,' she whispered, brushing her arm across his chest and moving him away from harm's way.

'Boyd, comb the premises from the South going East.'

'Roger, Sierra.'

'Runner, scan the area from North to West.'

'Roger Sierra.'

'Blake, can I access the car park from a different entry point?' she enquired.

'My office has direct access to the factory, with an exit to the car park.'

She addressed the security, 'Call Mr. Tresscott the second you see any movement in the car park or at the entrance to the premises.'

'Yes ma'am,' they agreed in unison.

Her mobile rang and she hurriedly swiped it out of her bag, and saw it was Trent calling.

'Trent are you okay?' she demanded.

'Yes. Lost my bug. Come out to Tresscott's car,' he instructed.

I do not like the sound of this.

'Where is your car parked?' Samantha questioned.

'Where are we going?' he asked.

'Nowhere. Just point me to where your car is parked.'

Blake heard the urgency in her voice and hastened to the car park. When Samantha found Trent, he was casually leaning against Blake's car. Trent did not have to say anything and he didn't. Her own astutely observant eye saw the left tyre deflated.

No!   No! No! How could they know something was going on between Blake and I?

'Where's your device?' she questioned Trent.

'Must have dropped it somewhere,' he murmured.

The only way he could have dropped it, is if he had been wrestling with somebody, and then she saw the feint dirt stain on his white shirt and a single button missing.

'All stations rendezvous north west of the car park.'

She walked to her car. All the tyres were fine. She walked to Trent's bike that was fine. Another calling card Tobias?

'Runner, Boyd, Mr. Tresscott will show you to the Control Room.  I want you to study every angle from every corner and if you find anything I want visuals.  Trent and I are taking a drive.'

'Samantha where are you going?' Blake demanded to know.

She looked at him, then looked away.

'Boys,' Trent perceptively motioned to Boyd and Riley and drew them into conversation, away from Samantha so she could talk to Blake privately.

'I'm just going to drive around the block and see if there is anybody lurking around,' she lied.

She wanted to hurry to her home, to see if Tobias was awaiting her entry back into her apartment.

'I'm going with you,' he demanded again.

'No!'  That came out too sharply. It would definitely alert Blake that something was amiss.

'You have guests, don't worry about anything.  I'll call you,' she murmured.

'Promise.'

'I promise,' she whispered.

Blake took a step towards her.

'No Blake__'

'If I don't hear from you in thirty minutes, I'm coming to find you,' he warned.

She nodded, and walked away.

'Boyd, hand your earpiece to Trent,' she instructed.

Trent clipped the earpiece on and casually walked to Blake. 'Looks like you have a puncture. Want me to sort it out?'

Blake's head swung towards Samantha, but she'd already quickly turned away. He marched up to her and spun her around. 'You knew about the tyre.  You also know that that was sabotage, because the cap is lying on the floor where somebody deliberately let out the air. I want answers Samantha!'

She was glad Riley and Boyd were gone.

'Samantha?' He raised his voice when she remained silent.

'It's Tobias,' she murmured.  She didn't have the evidence to support her theory, but she did not need to.

'So if you know it's him, why don't you arrest him?'

'Blake, I can't discuss this with you.'

'Why not?' He raised his voice, 'this happened on my property, to my vehicle!'

'The only reason Tobias has done this to you is because you and I __'

And only then did it dawn on Blake, he was being targeted because of his association with her. It was also a revelation, as to why she refused to be seen with him in public.

'Blake perhaps we should not see each other --- for a while.'

Trent was listening to every word between them, but somehow, she was now comfortable with him hearing.

'Samantha I'm not going to run or hide, damn it!'

'Blake I need to leave.'

Frustratedly, he exhaled heavily, knowing he could not hold her back. You call me in thirty minutes, or I'm coming to find you,' he instructed and then boldly lowered his head and brushed his lips to hers. She saw Trent grin widely.

'What--- you never saw a man kiss a woman before?' she sneered.

'I've never seen you being kissed,' Trent needled.

Samantha looked at her watch and noted the time.  She made a mental note to call Blake.  She needed to keep him at a distance for a while, but would he listen?

'He's a good man. It's time you started living again,' Trent interrupted her thoughts.

'I'm not going through that again,' she shot back. 'There's the evidence why,' she pointed to Blake's tyre, and it won't end there,' she said with finality.

'Why the hell did you point out the puncture to Blake?'

'I didn't want him to mess up his tuxedo,' Trent grinned.

'He would have discovered it after driving ten meters. Next time know when to shut up Trent!'

When he remained silent she asked, 'what did you discover earlier?' as she climbed into her vehicle.

'Two Asian men were leaning over Tresscott's tyre.  I've never seen them before. I managed to land a fist on the one closest to me, then the second punk dropped me to the floor.  I got up and gave chase, but lost them as they scaled the fence like lightning.  I've never seen them previously. They're quick and they work with precision.'

Samantha stared at Trent. He did not often speak with respect when describing criminals. Her brain immediately went to overdrive.  Trent waited for her to precede him, as he got in line behind her SUV.  Samantha was preoccupied as she drove. Her thoughts as usual consumed by Tobias, and she liked it that way, it kept her focused, but strangely and unusually, they were now invaded by images of Blake and thoughts of Blake.

She recalled as they were dancing, and boy did it feel good dancing in his arms, she recalled him pleading for her to spend the night with him.  Thank heavens for the interruption outside. She didn't know if she would have been able to say no to his invitation.  She almost missed the turn off to her Melrose Arch apartment, swung the wheel to the left as she stepped on the brake. Okay she must have been going very fast, for the car was not reducing speed, even as she continued to press on the brakes. Samantha braced herself and put her foot flat on the brakes and still nothing.

'Trent, I don't have brakes,' she spoke calmly but hurriedly into her communicative device.

Immediately Trent swung his bike to the right and was riding parallel next to her. He looked at the sharply winding road ahead of him then indicated for her to wind her window down. They were approaching the residential area, she needed to get out of the vehicle very soon before they entered the suburb.

'Sam, get out of the vehicle,' Trent instructed.

'I'm not abandoning my vehicle,' she retorted, of all her vehicles she loved her SUV.

'You can buy another bloody vehicle, but not your life!'  He yelled.

Knowing it was a vain attempt, she again pressed anyway on the brake pedal. Obviously with the cable neatly snapped, it was not going to work. Samantha signaled for him to be ready. It was elementary stuff for her to climb from her vehicle onto the back of Trent's bike. She lowered the vehicle to number one gear. Indicated to Trent that she was going to angle the vehicle to land into the field to her left. He nodded indicating that he was ready, and within ten seconds she was on the seat behind Trent. He reached one hand behind him, to steady her as he slowly brought the bike to a halt.

Samantha hopped out to watch her SUV roll and land nose down, before the engine stilled.

'Damn it!' she whispered, slapping Trent over the head.

'Ouch Sam, I did not tamper with your brakes!'

'No but if you had a car, we could have brought my vehicle to a standstill without any harm to it,' she seethed.

Trent grinned at her, 'I wish you cared that much for us humans.'

She stormed back to his bike and got on the back seat.  She probably looked undignified in her skirt, but what the hell, she had not planned on riding on a bike in her cocktail number. Trent removed his helmet and slid it over her head, before he set the bike in motion again.

When they got to her apartment, Samantha flung the helmet onto the grass, and dropped herself next to it, hugging her arms around her legs. Trent removed his firearm, raised it up, as he stealthily opened her front door. He cautiously made his way through every room inspecting one room after the other.

Samantha hauled out her mobile and called Blake while Trent was inspecting inside her home. It was not yet thirty minutes but she called him now, because she needed to get going just now, and she needed to be focused and have her wits about her.

'All clear.' Trent slid down next to her. 'Nobody's there and nobody entered the place in your absence,' he murmured.

'Obviously nobody's waiting for me you dummy,' she slapped his head again, 'Tobias would not be waiting for me in my apartment, after he tampered with my brakes!'

'Is there a charge one can lay against a superior officer, for physical abuse?' Trent asked, pretending to nurse his head.

Samantha grinned, lowered her back, and rested her head on her arms, crossing one ankle over the other, 'you should check out my bike and the other vehicle,' she requested.

Trent studied Samantha. She looked calm and together, but he knew a silent rage was consuming her on the inside. The way she flung his helmet was a dead giveaway. Also when she was silent for too long, it was when she was at her most dangerous.

'Sam, why don't you pack it in and call it a night?' he cautiously suggested.

She was about to respond when the sound of a motor bike distracted them and the bike itself became stationery a mere few feet away from them. Samantha rolled with supersonic speed to her left. Trent simultaneously scurried to his right. Both had their weapons trained on the rider. He could take out one of them, but the other would end his life.

'Are you always this welcoming?' Blake grinned removing his helmet.

Does he never learn?

Samantha put her firearm away.  She had told him never to try and surprise her, but does he listen?  No! And she had called him like he instructed. So why was he here, when she had distinctly told him they should keep a low profile? He'd changed into denims, T shirt and a black leather jacket, like Trent's regulation outfit.  And what about his guests at his party?

'What are you doing here?' Samantha demanded coldly.

'Something in your tone of voice on the phone had me concerned,' he stated perceptively.

Samantha cast a cursory glance at Trent, warning him to shut up about her SUV. He got the signal loud and clear.

'Well it was a wasted trip, I'm actually on my way out,' she picked up Trent's helmet, she knew the keys were still in the ignition.

She dare not go inside to change, she knew what would happen when Blake followed her in, and he definitely would follow her in. She hopped on the bike and sped off without a backward glance.

'Aren't you going to follow her? Blake questioned Trent.

'I know where's she heading, I will meet up with her in twenty minutes.'

Blake nodded, but his mind wondered what this lady who was driving him crazy was up to?

'You can ride with me if you're not busy,' Trent offered, and silently hoped Samantha won't blow a gasket.

'Why doesn't she arrest Tobias?  I know she has no fear of him?' Blake inquired.

Trent smiled, 'Tobias is small fish.  It's not him she's after. At any given time she knows exactly where Tobias is and who he's with?'

'When is all this going to end?' Blake asked in frustration.

Trent sighed, understanding Blake's frustration. 'Perhaps when she stops breathing. If it's not Tobias, there's always some other criminal that she's onto.  It's been that way for the last six years that I've worked with her. Nobody can force her hand. She's professional, extremely patient and she's a strategist. But she's closing in on this case. She's penetrated the inner circle.'

'What the hell does that mean?' Blake questioned, a million concerns flying through his head.

Trent wondered just how much trouble he was in, for revealing as much as he had, but he still dug himself in deeper. 'Give me five minutes. I just need to check something. Then we will be on our way, if you're game?' Trent unwisely invited.

'Okay, I'm game,' Blake accepted.

Trent rushed to Samantha's garage. He lifted the bonnet of her car, scanned it expertly, and closed the lid.  He hopped into the driver's seat, said a silent prayer and switched it on.  He was still alive. He reversed the car, pressed on the accelerator, then slammed on the brakes.  It stopped instantly on cue. He checked all the wiring, all seemed untouched. Hastily he walked around the vehicle, checked the fuel tank, looked around the garage, there seemed to be no entry in, forced or otherwise. Removing her bike keys from the secret compartment, he slid her helmet on, and coasted it outside.  Blake was on his bike and awaiting Trent, who signaled to the direction they were taking and sped off.

Blake raised his eyebrows in distaste, as they entered the sleazy night club. Trent just grinned, signaled his hand to a waitress and ordered two beers. Blake eye's combed the entire club twice in vain looking to spot Samantha anywhere. He glanced at his wristwatch and questioned, 'so what time is Samantha going to get here?'

Trent threw his head back and laughed, to which Blake batted an eyebrow questioningly.

'You don't see her?' Trent inquired unbelievably.

Blake's eye scanned the room again and this time with more scrutiny, but he turned to Trent and shook his head fruitlessly.

Trent swallowed from his beer, ran his wrist across his mouth and murmured, 'don't look for her, look for somebody about her height.'

Blake inhaled irritatedly, gave the room a once over and then he saw her. She was the right height, and she had Samantha's confident brisk sway, only this lady was a redhead, dressed in a uniform.

'She's a waitress! And where did she get the "get up" from?' he asked in astonishment, studying her as she smiled politely, took orders, made deliveries like a seasoned waitress.

'She rents a flat nearby, and keeps a wardrobe there, ___ if anybody had to investigate where she lived.'

'So she does not know yet, that we're here?'

'Oh you won't get an acknowledgement, but she will tell exactly to the minute when you walked through that door.'

Blake half rose from his seat when he saw Gavin Rice walk in, swagger up to Samantha and give her a too long peck on her cheek. Trent reached across and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

'It's just role play, calm down lover boy.'

'What do you mean?' Blake growled, 'I don't want that swine's paws on Samantha.'

'Sam had to fit in.  If she was single, men would hit on her, or our targets would be suspicious about a single woman at work here. Hence,' Trent nodded towards Gavin, 'the love interest. We thought Gavin's size and bulky muscles would be intimidating enough to frighten men of.  Only some men don't scare easily!' Trent quipped.

Blake shifted in his seat, and then he turned green with envy when he saw Samantha wrap her arms around Gavin's neck and murmur in his ear, to which Gavin threw his head back and laughed.

'Get back to work Sam!  You still have one hour to go.' It seemed like the manager who raised his voice at Samantha.

'Remember, it's all role play,' Trent warned Blake, when he saw Blake clench his fists.

And then a curtain opened, and the vilest man that Blake had ever seen yelled for Samantha's attention. His hair looked like he dropped a bottle of oil on it. His unsmiling eyes cold, like that of a dead man.  His face dark and hardened like he spent too much time in the sun.  She nodded and made her way through the curtains.

'What's going on in there?' Blake demanded.

That's where it's all going down. Sam will switch on her bug any second now, and I'll pick up the discussion,' Trent switched on his own device.

Blake knocked his fingers impatiently on the table.

'It's just the middle men, paying their dues, buying more stock for the street.  Oh, she's offline again,' Trent switched his device off, 'Sam is also buying her stock for the nearby high school she supplies.

'Does she?'

'No but we had to make it look legitimate.  We planted a cocky rookie cop inside the school who she hands the stock to and who seemingly discreetly slips her money, just in case Sam is being watched by anybody. The cop does not know who she is, and he is under instruction only to keep making the purchases and not to engage with her in any way.'

'So does Rice pick her up every night?'

'Like a typical boyfriend, only on a Wednesday night and the weekends, on other nights she calls up for a metered taxi, and Yours Truly collects her in a branded cab,' Trent supplied.

'I could do this surveillance stuff,' Blake ventured, thinking his one night crash course would suffice.

Trent laughed.

'What's so funny?'

'Sam is a born natural, who was exposed to the finer art by her father who was a Major General in the army, but it took her about twenty four months to perfect the craft.  It took me more than double that time. You think after two hours in my company you are qualified!' Trent raised an eyebrow.

Blake moodily studied his untouched beer.

'Have you ever tried to chase Sam when she's on her bike?' Trent challenged.

'Can't say the opportunity presented itself,' Blake offered, thinking about the occasion when he saw her bike being tossed into the sea.

'About three years ago, when she'd had enough of the snide remarks and suggestive comments about her ability on a bike, she jokingly challenged the entire Department to upstage her of her bike. The prize was her entire salary for six months. Trent laughed, shaking his head, 'to this day she's taken every month's salary home.'

'You're pretty mean on your bike. You did not try?'

'A wise man knows when not to attempt a foolish challenge. Perhaps that's why we have a healthy respect for each other.   Now perhaps we can high tail out of here seeing you don't appreciate my beer!'

'What about Samantha?'

'She left five minutes ago. I thought you can do this surveillance stuff? You can't even keep track of your lady!'

Blake was so engrossed in the conversation, he did not notice Samantha leave on the arm of Gavin. But then he was not focusing on a red head. He had a penchant for blondes remember?

'So Rice is escorting her home?' Blake tried unsuccessfully to keep the envy from his voice.

'Only to the rented flat,' Trent grinned,  'he will go in with her, but she will use the back entrance, back track to her bike two streets away and head back to her own apartment.'

Blake placed his palms on his hips irritatedly, threw his head back and inhaled deeply.

'So you want to take Sam on?' Trent challenged.

'Yes,' he unwisely accepted, 'I'm agitated enough to take the risk!'

Trent looked at his wrist watch, 'she'll be checking in any minute now, when she's on her bike.' He clipped on his ear piece.

And then he heard the crackle in his ear, as Samantha switched on.

'Trent I'm good to go, and you have a lot of explaining to do!'

Trent raised his eyebrows feeling admonished.

'My companion thinks, it's a piece of cake to get you of your bike!'

Blake lowered his head, feeling sheepish.

'Is that a fact?' she laughed, then there was momentary silence.

'Oak and Fourteenth Avenue, I'll be waiting for him.'

'You're on. She's waiting for you, follow me,' Trent offered sympathetically.

And two minutes later, Trent and Blake rode onto Oak Avenue, to see a lone rider. She was leaning against her bike, her arms folded. Actually it was Trent's bike, but it was the same model with the same engine capacity as hers, so she could wipe the floor with anybody.

Samantha slipped on her helmet, "Say when!" she spoke and slipped the visor on.

Trent circled them, stood just in front of the two bikes, raised his arm and waived his handkerchief for them to hit the road.

           -end Chapter Eleven-