Chapter 4

"Do you really think that's such a good idea, Lex? The doctor said you should just lie down and take it easy for the rest of the day." Amanda sat up straighter, straining to see over the tall steering wheel. They had dropped off the Mustang at the detail shop and picked up Lex's truck before going to the doctor's office, and the young blonde felt somewhat dwarfed by the large customized Dodge pickup.

Lex turned her head to look at Amanda, who was sitting with one leg tucked under her so that she could see over the steering wheel. "The bank is on the same street as the pharmacy, it won't take me but a minute to go in."

Stopped at a light, Amanda looked over at her passenger. Lex was unusually pale, and her eyes had a slightly glazed look to them. "Why don't you let me take you home, and then I'll go pick up your prescription?"

"I really need to pick up that paperwork at the bank - I called Mr. Collins yesterday, and said I would be in today to meet with him." She closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness washed over her.

Amanda grasped the arm nearest her. "I'm sure he'd understand…"

"Maybe…but I won't be able to get any rest until I can look at those papers." She maneuvered her arm until she was holding Amanda's hand. "Please, Amanda…I promise to make it quick." Seeing the younger woman begin to waver, she added, "You can come in with me to make sure, okay?"

Amanda didn't say anything, but she pulled the large truck up to the bank and turned it off. "Five minutes, Lex…then we're going to pick up your prescriptions, and I'm taking you home and putting you to bed." Seeing the smirk on the older woman's face, she groaned, "You know what I mean."

Lex laughed, then slowly got out of the truck. "What? I didn't say a word." She held the door open for her companion.

A short heavyset man in an expensive suit met them just inside the door. "Ms. Walters! What a pleasure to see you again." He grabbed her hand and began to shake it wildly. "Please, come into my office." Pausing, he looked at the young woman standing next to the tall rancher. "Oh, excuse me, miss…?"

Lex turned slightly towards the smaller woman. "Sorry…Mr. Collins, this is a very good friend of mine, Amanda Cauble." She gestured towards the banker. "Amanda, this is Mr. Collins, the president of this fine institution." She smiled as the banker blushed.

"That is too kind of you to say, Ms. Walters." He led them to a glassed-in office in the corner of the building, and gestured them inside. "Please, have a seat." After Lex and Amanda sat down, the slightly balding man closed the door and then sat down behind an ornate oak desk. "I received your email, Ms. Walters, and personally gathered up the information you had requested. And…" He pulled out a small attaché case from under the desk, "not only was I discreet in my research, but I put everything in this case for you." His pudgy hands shook slightly. "You don't believe that anyone here at the bank would be involved in any illegal activities, do you?"

Lex waved a hand in the air to cut him off. "No, of course not, Mr. Collins…I just felt that the fewer people who knew about this, the better off we would all be."

The bank president visibly relaxed. "Ah, that's fine…just fine. We will do anything to keep one of our best customers happy."

Amanda cleared her throat discreetly, then casually looked over at the dark-haired woman sitting beside her.

Lex smirked then slowly stood up, extending her hand across the desk. "Mr. Collins, it's been a pleasure doing business with you, but I'm afraid I have another appointment to get to."

"No problem, Ms. Walters…you have my home number if you need anything else, right?" he pumped her hand enthusiastically.

Lex winced, then disentangled her hand from the beaming banker, and picked up the attaché case. "You'll be the first one I call, Mr. Collins." The tall woman turned and ushered Amanda out of the room.