the macaw at a nearby facility. There are one or two minor arrangements still to complete with my team, but essentially I am in a position to move on your instruction. If required, I can guarantee the macaw will be in our hands by the end of the week.â
The men looked at each other around the table, then nodded in unison.
Miller smiled. âThank you, gentlemen, it looks like Iâm heading west. Time to break out the wellies and grease up the sheep.â
CHAPTER FIVE
âYou must tell the police! Iâll not have another man touching my husbandâs private parts.â
Celeste was adamant. James stood before her with his trousers and leather pants down around his ankles. She was shocked at the marbled bruising on his space hoppers. They were definitely the wrong colour. Plummy. Literally! His spuds had actually darkened like a pair of Victorias fit to fall in autumn. Add into the mix the PMâs pen tattoo and Jamesâs lower half was beginning to look exceedingly artistic. A sort of Jackson Pollock-inspired post-expressionist study in blue.
Bertie bobbed on his perch, watching them both with great interest. This looked like it was shaping up as a typical evening for his mum and dad. No doubt Dad would start kneeling soon â he did look good kneeling, especially in leather â and when that happened a jolly good time would be had by all.
âIs that wise, darling? I feel Iâm already taking a risk telling you. These people need to be taken seriously.â
âI think itâs safe to assume we passed way beyond risk when you dropped off their cash with the old lady.â
âIâm not taking any bribe,â said James flatly. âI needed to get rid of that bag as soon as possible. Besides, she looked like she could do with a bit of help.â
âDarling, I think what you did was absolutely wonderful. Thatâs why I love you so much.â She peered at his injured undercarriage again. âI think Iâm going to run you a nice hot bath with extra bubbles, then weâll get some soothing lotion rubbed into those. How does that sound?â
âWill I be tied up?â
âOf course.â
âGagged?â
âNaturally.â
âThen that sounds absolutely splendid. Itâs a radical treatment regime from the cutting edge of medicine, but I think itâll really help with the bruising.â He paused, suddenly unsure, then sighed unhappily. âFrankly, Iâm still in two minds as to whether I should have even mentioned what happened.â
âLike you can possibly imagine Iâd not notice something was wrong,â she observed with impressive sarcasm. âHonestly, James, we are talking about my favourite parts of you. Well, apart from your red hot bot, of course.â
âI donât want to put you in any danger. Iâd never forgive myself if any harm came to you. Or Bertie.â
âIt wonât. My baby will protect me, wonât you, sweetheart.â
âOh, yes,â said Bertie, âI will. What am I saying?â he added conversationally.
âIâm sure he will, but theyâll know if we go to the police. These sort of people always know, and thereâs no way Iâm risking getting you involved. Or Bertie.â James stepped out of his trousers and pants, his lower nakedness wafted by dangling shirt tails. He winced at the tenderness in his marital department. âGod, Iâm getting flashbacks to those burglars in London. You donât think itâs anything to do with them, do you? Theyâre out of prison now.â
âI donât know. Maybe.â They stared at each other for a few moments. Bertie sensed they were both at a loss. It didnât happen often, especially with Celeste. She was a woman who knew her mind, who took control. Especially over her mate. It didnât look like he was going to see her in her finest plumage after all. He guessed