Chapter 13
It was ten degrees hotter and twice as humid in Washington, compared with the relatively cooler Northern summer of Berlin. But in the air-conditioned two room suite in the Park-Shelton occupied by Sergeant and Mrs. Joseph E. Guthrie, things couldn't have been nicer.
"Twenty-two bucks a day ... wow!" Joe whistled as he looked at the room rate posted by the door.
"You don't expect U.S. Government to put its big witnesses against DeLoach's in a little pension," Erika winked, looking over at the three big suitcases and trying to decide which to unpack first.
It was a week later now, and after six days in the hospital, day and night sessions of grueling interrogations along with Erika and Martha, and a whirlwind marriage ceremony the morning they left Berlin, Joe was alone with his wife for the first time. The treason trial against the DeLoach's would begin next week, but until then, their time was their own.
"Sit down on the bed ... here, I take your crutches, darling," Erika offered, observing Joe swing his leg up on the bed deftly and set the big cast down, "And you decide ... do we hang first the things from your Valpac, or...."
"Why don't you get those hot clothes off," Joe suggested logically, hiding a smile as he eased down on the plush bed, "I'll bet it's a hundred degrees out there."
"Oh? Maybe so," Erika shrugged, undoing the top button of her tight sheath, "But so nice in here. Ohhh! Just feel that air condition run down my front."
"Uh ... huh," Joe drawled out easily, lowering his brows as he leaned back against the pillow.
"Well ... I can throw these away now," Erika busied herself with probing in the overstuffed purse Joe had bought her the day before.
"Oh?" Joe questioned with a sudden frown when he saw the little box of red capsules, "What ... what are they for, baby?"
"These?" she asked indifferently, hunching her pretty shoulders and setting the shimmering pageboy of blondeness into play, "Just something Doctor Steinhardt gives for when I was so nervous...."
"What are they for?" Joe demanded.
"Well ... gosh, you think I commit a crime or something," she stiffened, "It's not like I was taking dope."
"What are they for?" Joe raised up to his elbows this time.
"They are Tranquizine capsule ... for when I am so nervous and want to get from East Berlin," she readily admitted, flashing her big blue eyes at him curiously, then tossing the capsules in the wastebasket, "I used to be so nervous ... so I get pills for how you say ... tranquilizing."
"Tranquizine ... for nervousness?" Joe questioned.
"Sure ... your pretty little nurse can tell you what they are for," Erika sloughed it off, undoing the next button of her dress, "They are same as doctors give all times for travel sickness, anxious feeling, morning sickness when a wife is pregnant, for ... Joe! You didn't think..., T
"Forgive me, baby ... I'm an idiot," Joe berated himself, then joined Erika in a laugh, "I'll forgive Martha for her cute little tricks ... and you forgive me ... okay, baby?"
"For everything," she vowed resolutely, slipping into his outstretched arms as her dress slipped to the floor, "Joe! Joe! You can't! Your leg! The cast might...."
"I'll take the chance, baby," he cut her off, pulling the nylon slip up and grasping her naked thighs, then holding her out to view the luscious sight, "God, what a body! Oh, baby ... it's been so long...."
"Like you used to in Berlin, Joe ... when you come into wake me up after work ... ?" she asked, pleadingly, tugging at the trousers to pull them over the cumbersome cast.
"Like forever, baby ... forever...."