An Intangible Pattern - Fate Bound.

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"What about Arthur's grandfather then...Byron, like the poet. Mad, bad and dangerous to know." suggested Robert.

"Hmmm, sounds a little intimidating these days doesn't it?" Mused Cat, "Anyway, who says it's a boy?"

Rob grinned "Shall we place bets?"

"Stakes?" asked Jess.

"Steaks?" Suggested Rob.

"Fine, loser buys dinner."

"Team boy?"

Rob and Jess raised their hands.

"I guess we're team girl then," said Alex looking at her sister who was rolling her eyes.

"Honestly, I don't care either way, as long as they're healthy."

Rob raised his beer, "I'll drink to that." They all raised their bottles and toasted to Cat's health and the health of her baby. They retired to the living room and sat on the sofa while they caught up. The mood was easy and, with the exception of Cat, they all were beginning to get a little tipsy. Jess was curled up on a cushion by Alex's feet, while Alex gently combed out her tightly coiled locks.

"So you still don't have a car?" Jess asked, opening a packet of crisps.

Alex shrugged and braided the section of Jess's hair she had just brushed.

"No... but then I haven't really needed one over the last month."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

"Just something reliable, it doesn't have to be fancy."

"Arthur said he would replace your car." yawned Cat.

"I already told him no."

"Why? He feels bloody terrible you got into an accident on our account, and he owes you a massive favor for the work you're doing."

Alex shook her head, "It's bad enough that we're related. We don't want to give the police too many reasons to question our investigation. The only reason they're leaving it with us is because they're stretched too thin and so far we've been updating them as we go. If I start driving around in a fancy car all of a sudden, it will look like a bribe and they might take everything. I can afford a second hand car, it's fine."

"That's ridiculous."

"Honestly, it's not. It's a family owned business so some nepotism is unavoidable, but when extravagant gifts start changing hands they take notice."

Rob laughed, "Wow, you sound like you're in some kind of crime show."

Alex shrugged as she teased out a particularly tangled knot, "I see it all the time when I do financial analysis for clients. There's always someone who's too enthusiastic with the company credit card."

"But Arthur would be paying from his own money, not the company credit card." argued Cat.

"It doesn't matter, it would still be a red flag. Trust me, it's better to keep things as uncomplicated as possible."

"Do you get to see what they've been spending the money on?" asked Rob, grinning mischievously.

"It would be hugely unprofessional of me to answer that question," teased Alex.

"Ahh come on!"

She shot him a conspiratorial look, "Since it's you. Mostly it's just restaurants and coffees. But I did have one who was writing off huge amounts on expensive hotels and gentlemen's clubs. There were some gambling establishments there as well. He claimed he was just showing a new client a good time, but when we checked the dates, sometimes there weren't any clients booked in."