Storiesonline.net ------- Deputy Porter by carniegirl Copyright© 2012 by carniegirl ------- Description: A young female Air Force veteran accepts a position with a rural country Sheriff's office. It about her struggles to fit in. Codes: MF cons het myst inc fath swing oral anal mastrb voy slow nud Mil ------- ------- Chapter 1 "Sylvia Porter?" the older man in the deputy uniform asked. "Yes sir, I'm Sylvia Porter," I answer rising to my feet. "Come on it," he said leading me into his basement office. Sheriff substations often end up in the basement of court houses, or so I'm told. For sure in counties with such a small population base, it has to help with the costs. The land mass of Warren county is huge but the population is small. When I got the request for an interview, I did a lot of research. "Silvia, I'm Jim Webster. I am the chief deputy. For all intents and purposes I run the department. The Sheriff is not much of a hands on guy." he informed me. "He is more a planner and politician." "I see, I'll try to keep that in mind, if you hire me," I said. "Well you finished third in your class at Salem academy, that is a real plus. You also have four years of Military Police experience. Of that two tours were in Afghanistan," he said. "It was the Air Force, so the experience was mostly sentry duty. Gate and airplane guarding was about all I did. Not much combat there, but a lot of walking back and forth. I did some CID work between deployments." I informed him. "Well that's a lot more than most of our applicant have done. Frankly Sylvia I'm surprised you are even considering us," he said. "Chief Deputy Webster, the economy is in shambles and you are one of the only places that agreed to interview me frankly. I think most want men, even though they can't say that," I said. "Our problem is similar, but opposite. We have been sited in a report by a women's rights group. They say we don't have any female deputies. So we are under pressure to hire women. You would be our first, but not our last I assure you. We have ten deputy slots in the department and two of them need to be female." "I see, so a more qualified male might be passed over to hire me?" I asked. "Actually that is true in theory, but you are at least as qualified as any males who applied. However, I do worry about your ability to take care of yourself out there. We work alone and if you have a problem, it is a long time before help can reach you." Webster smiled at me as if hoping I would back down. "I will certainly keep that in mind, when I speak with persons of interest," I suggested. "Fortunately I'm not all that prissy. I do not mind getting down and dirty, I have done that a few times," I admitted. "If we should hire you, when could you start," he asked. "The day after I found a place to live. I am staying with my mom till I find a place to work. She lives in Avery about fifty miles east of here. Commuting isn't really an option." "Yeah, I can see that. I'll tell you what Sylvia, if you want the job it's yours." Webster said. Since he was going to be my boss, I took a better look at Webster. He was at least six feet tall but certainly not much more. He might have been twenty or so pounds over weight. His hair was gray and thin. Except for the uniform he was just a typical middle aged man. Webster was close to or maybe even past sixty but not to far from it in either direction. "Yes, I definitely want the job. I'll start looking for a place to live immediately," I said. "There is an old motel on main street. It is just outside the downtown. I know the woman who operates it. I'll give her a call, if you like. You two can work out a deal while you look for a place," Webster suggested. Ten minutes later I was standing in front of a woman I guessed to be 40 to 50 years old. "Hi there I'm Sylvia Porter. Deputy Webster suggested I come by," I said ... I was absolutely sure that Webster had called her. "Yes, he just got off the phone," the woman said. Then she added. "I am Jennifer Wilson. I own this place. So how long will you be staying?" "To be honest I don't know. I have to find a place to live." I said. "I will make you a deal, so that you don't have to rush. In exchange for a discount you walk through the lounge in the parking lot. Just so that the lounge customers know that a Sheriff's deputy is keeping an eye on the place.' Miss Wilson said. "What kind of discount?" I asked. "A hundred bucks a week. That includes everything," she informed me. "That sounds reasonable. You have a deal," I said. Since I had a few hundred dollars left in my savings account, I paid her for the first month. After I left the fifty year old motel, I drove my ten year old Toyota back to my mother's house. "Well mom I got the job in Warren County," I said. "You knew when you left, that if you didn't do anything stupid, you had the job," mom said. "Yeah I know, but now it's official. I have to start as soon as possible. I rented a place to live up there, so I will be moving tomorrow," I explained. After talking to my mother I loaded half a dozen small boxes with clothes. I also had a pile of clothes on hangers. Most of the clothes I owned at that time had been purchased since I was discharged from the Air Force. Not quiet everything was new, but most of it was reasonably new. I said goodbye to my mother early the next morning. I was on the road over an hour before I arrived at the motel. After I hung up all that I could, and filled the drawers with all they would hold, I still had two boxes left. I stacked them in the corner. I knew that the room was too small, but it would do for a while. After I was all moved in I drove to the courthouse. I entered the sheriff's office. "Hi," I said to the clerk behind the counter. "I'm Sylvia Porter." She didn't seem to recognize the name so I added. I need to see Chief Deputy Webster," "Oh yes, you are the new deputy. Welcome," she said. Her greeting was pleasant but not very warm. She was obviously being reserved. "Have a seat and I'll let him know you are here." I nodded then sat in a metal chair while I waited. It took over fifteen minutes for Webster to make it out of his office. "Well Miss Porter are you ready to start?" he asked. "Yes sir I am ready to get started," I replied. "Good then we need to get you sworn in. Come with me.," he demanded. I followed him down the hall to the clerk of court's office. The clerk administered the oath, then wished me luck. "Thank you," I said as I turned my attention to Webster." "Come with me and we will get you a uniform," Webster said. I followed Webster to the supply room where he asked my sizes, then he discovered that since the sheriff's department didn't have any women's uniform, I had to try on the men's shirts. Since I'm not shy I stripped down to my bra and tried on the top. I found that I wore a men's size medium shirt. I knew that my waist size was thirty inches so that wasn't a problem. I was going to need to have th length adjusted. The pistol he issued me was a .40 shield Smith and Wesson. I was more than a little surprised to find so small a sheriff's department with such a modern weapon, but I was glad to see it. "Seems, I have everything. So where do I get the pants shortened?" I asked. "I have no idea. Have a seat and I'll have Gail make some calls," Webster said. It took the receptionist Gail three calls, but she spoke to me over her desk, "Deputy Porter, take the uniforms to the shopping center out at the highway. There is a dry cleaners in the parking lot and they will do the alterations for you." I said thank you, then I loaded the car with the uniforms. I put the pistol in with the pile of shirts and locked them into the trunk. The receptionist informed the woman at the dry cleaners that the uniform trousers were needed immediately. It was just noon when I dropped them off. I was told, by the black lady, to come back at five and they would be ready. I called Gail when I left the dry cleaners. She checked with Webster, then told me to come in at 7AM if I had a uniform. If not call Webster to let him know. "I understand and I'll handle it," I said. When I got back to the motel, I found the message light on the phone blinking. "Hello," I said after I picked it up. "Sylvia it's me Jennifer. Could you come to the office please," she said. "Sure," I said. I walked the short distance to the office. "So what can I do for you?" I asked. "This is Sarah. Sarah runs the small lounge in the middle of the parking lot," Jennifer explained. "Nice to meet you Sarah. So what's the problem?" I asked. "There is a man who comes in and tries to bully everyone. I'm afraid someone is going to be hurt," Sarah said. "Well here is your problem, I can run him out, but he will just come back. I can't arrest him, if I could you would call the Sheriff and would have done it before now. So what do you want me to do?" I asked. "Come down when he is there and convince him to behave. If you come in a dozen times when he is there. he will get the idea and move on somewhere else, I think," Sara said. "It might work that way," I replied. "Then again it might not. I will sure as hell give it a try for you." When I stopped for the uniform pants, I went to have dinner at the diner. I could have stopped at the fast food place in the shopping center, but I chose to eat a real meal instead. I was back in the motel and watching TV on line when the phone rang. "Hello," I said. "It's me Sarah. My problem customer is here," She said. "Okay, I'll be right over," I agreed. Before I left the room, I put the pistol in the waist band of my jeans, then pulled the cut off sweatshirt over it. When I walked into the lounge, I was ready for anything, I thought. "So I assume the big guy is your problem customer?" I asked. She informed me that he was indeed. "Okay, let's just watch him. Do not do anything different from what you normally do." I demanded. I did not want to hear him whine about entrapment. She nodded and I sat at the bar having a coke. I did not want his lawyer question me about how much I had to drink. If I did this I wanted it to be a clean arrest. It took about an hour before he started getting loud. I didn't go after him at first. I did not want it to seem as if I was laying in wait for him, even though I was. The man approached a woman who was dressed very sexy. He began trying to convince her to let him buy her a drink. She was very polite when she said, "No thanks." ------- Chapter 2 "Why can't you be sociable," the belligerent drunk asked. "Just go away and leave me alone," the young woman replied. He put his hands on her, which was the step over the line as far as I was concerned. I walked up and showed him my badge. "You need to go on home. You can either leave here now and come back, or you can wait for the manager to ask you to leave in which case you won't be welcome again." I tried to be calm and reasonable. "Bullshit, I ain't going nowhere," he said "Sure you are, it's a matter of where and how. You can walk out and go where you choose or you can wait for the manager to tell you to leave. Then it is trespass and that is illegal. So for that I take you to jail. "You ain't big or bad enough to take me anywhere," he said. "Sweetie, I been fighting rag heads for the last four years off and on, I won't even think twice would putting your ass in the hospital," I did say it with a smile. "Then you got it to do." He reached to put me in a bear hug I suppose. I chopped him once in the pit of the stomach and once in the throat. He went down like a tree. I had been a Deputy Sheriff less than a day. I did not want to arrest anyone so soon. I rolled him over and helped him breath. He was more or less breathing when I said to him, "Now get up and walk out and we will both forget this, or stay and go to jail, your choice." The man struggled to his feet and then he staggered out the front door. I watched him leave to be sure he didn't change his mind, then I went to Sarah. "Well it appears you trouble maker has called it a night. He might be back, but lets hope not." It was a strange bed, as well as a new life opening for me, so I slept poorly. I made it to the courthouse on time even though I stopped for breakfast. There was only one cafe in town open at 6AM. I got plenty of looks as I had breakfast. A few of them even spoke to me. After that breakfast I was absolutely sure of one thing. If I lasted a month, I would be buying uniforms that fit. I looked like a fucking orphan. I pulled into the downtown to begin my search for a parking space. "If worse comes to worse, you can part at the 1st Baptist Church and walk three blocks to work." Chief Deputy Webster had suggested. It wasn't my plan, but it was a possibility. There was no time limit on the curb side parking, so I worked the Toyota into one of those instead. Once inside the basement of the courthouse I heard, "Hey Porter come here," I headed toward a deputy with sergeant strips. When I reached him, he added, "I'm Sergeant Michaels I am assigning you to ride with Deputy Letter. Nothing much happens around here, so just take it easy and assimilate." "Sounds reasonable," I said. "Here is deputy Letter now," the sergeant said. So much for a perfect job, I thought. Eddie Letter was about forty or so. He was also very, very close to being bald. Not only all that but he was the owner of belly the size of a steamer trunk. Yes that is an exaggeration, but he was at least forty pounds over weight. "Come on Porter Let's roll," he said in a strong commander's voice. I had a strong suspicion that most of it was an act for me. He didn't seem like a command kind of guy. "Stop by the armory and pick up a shotgun," he demanded. I'll wait for you at the car." The shotgun was a really old Winchester Pump. It looked as though it might have been surplus from a federal prison. I have no idea why I thought that, I just did. I also drew a bandoleer of shotgun shells. "Put it in the trunk and lets go," Letter said. I sat quietly answering the questions which Letter asked, but not really volunteering anything. We had to take an incident report about a burglary as our first official action of the day. I expected it was the kind of thing that would occupy me most days. We also took a report on a stolen bicycle later in the day. Other than those two we rode around all day just keeping an eye on the county. There was a large land mass but most of it was undeveloped. Land sitting empty was hardly ever of concern to a cop of any kind. It took people to create crime. Letter and I stopped for lunch at the shopping center near the highway. There was more than one small restaurant out there. Letter wanted Chinese so we had Chinese. I can eat almost anything. I found that I don't care for lamb and goat, but almost anything else I can manage. Before I knew it the day was over. I left the station and headed back to the motel. I was back in the room before 4PM, so I took a nap. When I woke up I dressed in my own clothes, then headed to dinner. I found that the downtown cafe was closed, so I drove the mile or so out to the highway junction. People from all over the county came to the mall, so they had restaurants open until midnight. Well one of them was open till midnight anyway. I had a chili dish at a Mexican fast food restaurant. I was actually surprised by the number of Latino people wandering around the sidewalks. It wasn't wall to wall, but there were a great many of them. When I got back from dinner, I watched TV till 9PM then I walked through the lounge. The lounge was quiet which was nice in comparison to the night before. My first full day as a deputy sheriff ended at 11pm with nothing significant having occurred. Day two was pretty much just as boring. I did managed to have a real conversation with a young woman who appeared to be an addict. "So what do you do for a living Shauna?" I asked. "I'm unemployed," she said. "Tough time to be out of work. So where are you living?" I asked. "I'm living with my mom and dad," she said. "Well stay out of trouble. I don't think you will like the county lock up," I suggested. "You just can't get anything for the pain in jail," Letter said. "Yeah," Shauna said. "She has a beautiful name," Letter said. "Especially to be so scruffy looking." "One thing I learned early on, you can't reason with a junkie," I informed him. "That is so true," Letter said. Letter was only a little pretentious and that mostly came with the trainer's job. Nobody wanted to teach rookies bad habits. So everyone tried to be on their best behavior and do the best possible job when dealing with us new guys. I knew that and accepted that rules would be bent later but not at that moment. The four wheel drive vehicles we drove were Chevy, but they had no markings. "They made by Chevy and came with some model name, the Sheriff had it stripped. off." Letter explained, "He said we paid for them. He would be damned if he would advertise for them as well." It was petty but it was none of my business. That day came to an end, hell the whole month came to an end. Letter tried to play nice and so did I. At the end of the month he gave Webster a green light on me. I was thrilled but had expected no less. "I had already proved that I would fight. It was the number one question with rookies. It happened when we went into a chicken house on a small farm. The neighbor reported strange smells and lots of cars coming and going. Letter and I got the call, so we rode up to the chicken house expecting anything at all. When we pulled up people took off running in every direction. I took off after one of the slightly larger than average men. I got close enough to push him. He lost his balance of course and went down hard. I went down hard on him and put the cuffs on before he recovered. We had them on the tailgate of the SUV surrounded by several cops of different branches. Letter and I took a look at the meth lab buried in the floor of the chicken house. "Now that was a good day's work," Letter said to me. "Yeah, we were at least lucky. Maybe those two will give up something," I suggested. "Maybe who knows," he said. "Nice work you two," Webster said. "This is going to look good in the stats." "Well that should do some good, maybe I can get a uniform that fits now," I suggested to Letter. "Hey Chief Deputy do you think we could get Sylvia here a uniform that doesn't make her look like a refuge. She showed us what she has?" "Tell you what Letter, I will provide two uniforms that fit, and others she will have to buy. Did you get that Deputy Porter?" he asked. "I got it and thanks," I said. The very next day I dropped of two new shirts at the tailor shop. They were the uniform shirt size medium. I took off my top in his dressing room and he pinned it up. Then I put on the pants and listened to him huff and puff. He didn't think too much of the amount of work required to alter them. On my first four day break, I drove to the uniform shop with my uniform in tow. The girl in the fitting room found me four shirts and two pairs of pants that were actually my size. When I left, I had lots of uniforms to wear, so I felt very good about that part of my job at last. I couldn't wait to get away from Letter. Of course I knew that he was no worse than any other trainer. I just wanted to be on my own. I had been working over a month for Warren county, when it came to a head. A drunk was home and most likely beating his wife and kids. Letter and I went to stop him if possible. "Hey come on out with need to talk," I suggested. "Got nothing to say to the cops, get off my property," the man inside shouted out through the door. "If you come out no one has to get hurt, if not there is no telling what is liable to happen." I suggested. "Why don't you just leave," he asked "You know I can't do that. I have to resolve this before I go. So come on out and we can work it out together." I suggested. "Nothing to work out, I'm in my house on my own property and you can't come in," he shouted out to me. "Sure I can come in watch," I said as I climbed onto the deck of the mobile home. I didn't even knock on the door I just pushed it open. "You get back, I don't want to hurt her but I will," the dirty drunk said. "And what do you think I'm going to do to you. So far you have had men arrest you for assaulting your wife. Well sweetie I'm not a man. You injure her and you are going to state prison. The one where men get to feel what it's like to be raped. ------- Chapter 3 Our wife beater decided that he would rather do a few weeks on the county farm than a few years in the state pen. I personally thought that it was a good choice. He came quietly once he made the decision to come along. He was cuffed and leaning against the car before my backup arrived. Webster had not been kidding when he said back up was a long way off. Most of my time was spent just riding down country roads looking for things that were out of place. With all that land mass, the bad guys could have hidden a small town, let alone a trailer selling Oxycodone. Still we had to look, either that or take up a hobby. I had been on the job about a month and was breaking in pretty well, when I found the kid shoplifting. I had gone into a convenience store in one of the smaller communities to get a cup of bad coffee when I saw him blatantly pick up a bottle of bleach and just walk out the door with it. Of course I put the coffee down and retrieved him and the bleach. "Okay kid what's your name?" I asked. "Tommy Simmons," he said, but he did not elaborate. "So Tommy Simmons what were you doing stealing bleach. It hardly seems like something you would steel." I suggested. "My mom sent me down to get it," he said. "Did she give you money, or tell you to steel it?" I asked. "She gave me the money. I planned to keep the money," he said. "Oh course you did," I said in agreement. "So what did you want the money for?" "Just for sodas, that kind of thing," he said. "Kid you commit a crime to get money, then want to tell me it's for soft drinks, I know I am a blond, but I ain't buying that one. Kid you are going to the station and your mom is going to have to come for you. That is not going to be good thing. "What can I do?" he asked. "Man up kid, tell me why you need money," I demanded. "I take Oxy. Most of my time is spent scrambling for money." he said. "Where do you buy it?" I asked. "There a camper on a back road. The man who owns the campers sells it." The kid went on to give me detailed directions to the camper. "Kid, if you warn these mooches, you are going back into the system with no way out. So go home and forget about this. Also clean yourself up, you just had maybe your only wake up call." I drove to the parking lot outside courthouse where I requested a meeting with Sergeant Michaels. "Sarge I caught a teenager shoplifting. He told me he was shoplifting for money to buy Oxy. Then he told me where the camper, who was selling it, is parked. I think we need to go down there and buy some oxy." I said with a grin. "I don't know," Michaels said. "You stand out like the only woman in a room full of men." He was at least smiling. "Duh," I said. "Well you tell me what we are going to do?" "Send in your informant he is known to them." Michaels suggested. "The kid is about fifteen. He would be too scared I think." Truth is I didn't want to risk his life. I would bet my ass the guys in the camper were armed and likely had no problem using their weapons. The were most likely from Detroit or somewhere like it. "Alright put on your housewife clothes and we will buy some Oxy. We will need to get you wired." Michaels said. I dressed just a little on the slutty side for my big acting debut. I also wore a microphone which would keep me from saying too much I didn't want in court. Then me, Michaels and two other deputies went to the camper. If there was a real emergency, dispatch had been told to call the highway patrol. In the meantime I drove the Toyota to the camper. It looked deserted except for the fact that the front door was open. "Hello in the camper," I shouted from the yard. "Anybody home in there?" "Yeah what you want lady," one of the two men asked. "Friend tells me you got Oxy," I said slurring my words a little. "How much you want?" the older one asked. "I got a hundred bucks what can I get?" I asked. "Ten 15Mg tabs is the best I can do," he said. "Okay, it is what it is," I said that handing over the marked money. His younger friend went inside and brought me an envelop with the pills. When I had the pills in my hand I said, "Nice doing business with you." It was the signal for the calvary and they came running. When the two drug dealers noticed what was happening they tried to react, but I had my S&W under my sweat shirt. That arrest was a big deal in the area. Every rural county was having a problem with drugs and drug dealers invading their areas. Even though our operation was blind luck, it became text book. I was thrilled even if they didn't mention my name. The joy lasted about two weeks until the druggies lawyer got around to me. The DA let him interview me in advance. He brought out some things I would just have soon be left alone. He had not done a lot of research, but he knew the most common problems of returning vets. In his pretrial interview he asked how I slept. If I had a boyfriend. If I woke in the night with cold sweats and shaking. He was pushing for a PTSD diagnosis. I felt like I dodged most of his questions. He might have scored with one or two but he would have a hard time building a defense on that I felt sure. I was scheduled to be off the day the Alcoholic Beverage Control board investigator came to lecture us. He came every year but it was my first one. The lecture took all morning, but I learned a lot about moonshining. "In a county the size of this one you can bet your ass there are stills. The only question is how many and how big." the instructor said. Since no one had ever mentioned stills to me in my three months on the job, I had to wonder if we were even concerned with them. I would not have been surprised to find that we ignored stills. They were part of the tradition of the county where we were working. If I was told to bust them I would. If I was told to look the other way, I would do that as well. It was an interesting thought, but most of what I did was settle arguments between neighbors. Now and then there were blows passed, but usually it was who could talk the toughest. I tried to avoid getting involved in settling the dispute. I tried to concentrate on stopping it before it got out of hand. I very quickly learned that they sprang right back up again, sometimes before I was out of sight. I joined the Warren Sheriff's office at the end of summer. It was Christmas before I got in a shoot out. I was told by the shrink afterward that it was much too soon. Most people go years without firing their gun in a combat shoot. I stopped into a convenience store on the side of a mountain a week before Christmas. I needed coffee to prevent a traffic accident. So I stopped the car on the side of the building, then walked inside. The convenience store made terrible coffee, but it would keep me awake, I knew that for sure. I walked directly to the self serve coffee bar. I was about to pour a cup, when I noticed that the clerk was crawling out of her skin. There was no question something was amiss, just what I wasn't sure. I knew that whatever it was couldn't be good for the clerk or me. There were two men in the store, so I figured they were together. I had no earthly idea what to do. Odds were good that I would get a least one of us killed, but I wasn't going to let them walk out of that store. "Are you in line?" I asked as I approached the register. "No, I'm waiting on my friend he is still shopping," The man said staring at the clerk. "Sweetie, could you go outside and pump me two gallons of gas in that gas can beside my car." I expected the reaction it got, so I yelled, "Get down now." Then I threw the coffee on the closest one to me. I heard the shot from the second one as I tried to free my own pistol. It seemed to take forever. The heavy nylon tanker coat didn't help any either. I managed to get the pistol out just as the two of them headed for the door. I really wanted to shoot them in the back, but I resisted. Instead I got a full description of their car and headed after them. Yes I left the clerk alone in the store, but she wasn't injured. The one shot went wild. We were headed down a mountain road and moving toward the interstate highway. I did not want them to get out of my jurisdiction. Okay, it didn't belong to me, but I wanted them occupying our jail, so that we would be the onces to find out anything they had to say. The highway patrol cornered them heading onto the highway. We, meaning the Sheriff's department, arrested them in full view of everyone. I never lost contact with them so they were mine. "We were just trying to get the money to give our families a good Christmas," the younger of them said. "You never know, since you will be gone for Christmas, they might have a great time with other family." I said it smiling sweetly. "So what are you doing for Christmas Sylvia," one of the jailers asked. "I'm going to eat turkey with my mom, then drive ten miles and go hunt rabbits with my daddy," I said. "Do you have Christmas off?" the jailer asked. "I might as well I have the midnight tour," I replied. "And who is the lucky devil with you?" The jailer just kept pushing. "Reynolds, is the poor wag stuck working Christmas," I said "Reynolds and I got the tour because I am low man on the totem pole and Reynolds is retired and works part time." "That kind of figures," the jailer said. "Yeah, I'm not bitching. It could be worse. I could have the afternoon tour. At least with midnight nothing will disturb my rest." I laughed when I said it. "You gonna talk to your prisoners?" the jailer asked. "No," they called Simpson in. He should be here any minute. While he talks to the them I'm headed back out to patrol. I'm not doing any good in here." "You want to stay and watch?" the tall thin Simpson asked. "No thanks, I have seen how interrogations go. Too bad you can't just fast forward when you walk in the room." I said. "That is true, but there is a lot of technique to get them to that final point where they give it up," Simpson said. "No matter what you think they never give it all up. What they hold back might mean nothing or it might mean a great deal. You just never know for sure because they are holding it back and you have no idea what it is." the jailer said. "Sounds frustrating and I have to go back to work. Good luck with our bad boys." I said. "I can always tie them to something else." Simpson said with a smile. ------- Chapter 4 Life fell into a boring routine quickly. It had been a bore since the first month and it stayed that way for eight months. It was out of the blue. when something really exciting happened. It was sad, but that didn't change the fact that it brought excitement to the Sheriff's department. Some hikers found a child's body wrapped in a tarp. Since she was wrapped in a tarp everyone jumped right to murder as a cause of death. It took the Medical Examiner three hours to rule that it was indeed the cause of death. Once that happened, we began to work trying even harder to identify her. Since the cause of death was blunt force trauma, we had a violent offender on our hands. When my shift ended we still didn't know who she was. The tarp wasn't any help it was one of those cheap blue painter type drop cloths. She was about seven years old, so she was too young to be a Jane Doe and too old to be Baby Doe, so we called her schoolgirl Doe for the press. "If you want help, you have to be media friendly," the Sheriff said. He should know, he was the biggest media whore I knew. He was always campaigning. "So who is that little girl you found?" Ada asked. Ada was the sixty year old night manager of the motel. That made her my landlady. "We don't have a clue just yet. They always identify them, especially these days," I explained. "It just might take a few days." "There are some families here who have more kids than they can afford. I hope it wasn't one of those kinds of things," she said. "Ada, what do you hope it was honey. I can't for the life of me think of anything good that could have happened to that little girl." I said. "I guess you are right. Still a parent killing their child for no good reason is the worst thing I can imagine," she said. "It's right up there, I grant you," I said in agreement. "It's been a long shift, I'm going to bed. If anyone comes send them up. I'm also going to turn my cell phone off, but if the office calls ring the room please." That last message was why I went into the office in the first place. Ada usually didn't ring my room while I slept. I had a white bag with a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit in it. Ada had let me have a coffee maker, so I made a fresh pot of coffee before I ate the biscuit. Ada had somehow managed one of those dorm refrigerators, a tiny microwave, and the coffee maker for me, so I had a half ass kitchen. While the coffee cooked, I sat at the small low table and even though I didn't want to, I remembered what the little girl had looking like in the blue plastic tarp. It made me queasy but I worked through it. After breakfast I was exhausted enough to sleep. I stripped to my panties and the men's tee shirt I wore to help insulate my body from the cold night air, then I fell into bed. The very next thing I knew it was five in the afternoon. I didn't feel very rested, but I managed to drag my ass out of bed. I speed dialed the station's duty number. "Warren Country Sheriff's office," the voice said. I thought I recognized every voice in the department but I didn't know that chick's voice. "This is Deputy Porter could you put me through to whoever is coordinating the Schoolgirl Doe investigation?" I said into the phone. "No need, I have your assignment for tonight. The Chief Deputy wants you on the midnight tour. You will be working with Deputy Letter. He is pulling the other patrol car to aid in the investigation of the body, so you two will have to cover the calls for the whole county." she said. We often covered the country with two cars, so it wasn't a big deal, except that we all wanted to work on the Schoolgirl Doe case. "Fair enough, I'll be in at eleven tell the Deputy Chief." I demanded. There was just too much distance to cover with too few people to do it for me to be a anything but a regular deputy. I half thought I would end up dealing exclusively with the women of the country, but that was just impossible. There was just too much distance and crime for me to be anything but a run of the mill deputy. As I passed the front desk at 10PM Ada's niece said, "It is terrible about that little girl. I don't guess you can talk about it." "I might could, if I knew anything. I just don't know a thing yet." I said it as I passed through the lobby of the old style motel. I almost took a moment to walk through the lounge, but decided I might get tied up explaining that I knew nothing. That being the case I drove the Toyota to the Sheriff's Department instead. The place was empty except for the county's 911 operator. "Lois, I see you are hard ad it," I said to the 300 lb woman. She was probably ideal as a 911 operator. Jobs would be hard for her to find, so she would be dependable and grateful for the job. "Yes I am, have you heard anything?" she asked. "No, I haven't talked to anyone all day. They pretty much ignore the new girl," I said smiling. "Yeah, they pretty much ignore me as well. All I know for sure is there are no kids reported missing, so they are widening the search area, The State Bureau or Investigation has joined in," she said. "Good they have the best lab. I know they can pull more from the body than we can." I said it hoping our lab guy wouldn't hear me talking smack about him. I left Lois looking at her recipe book. It was how she spent her down time. I could only hope that kind of thing wasn't in store for me. I struggled with my weight, but I did keep up the fight. I watched what I ate, and I ran every other day. I realized that it was my day to run so I would have to find time to do it before I collapsed into bed after my shift. "Sylvia, we meet again," Letter said to me. "Yes we do, it seems to happen no matter how we feel about it," I said. "True, but that's okay. You are a fine young officer. I expect in a couple of years you will be a first rate cop." Letter said. "I guess we will just have to wait and see," I replied. "So how do you want to divide the county up?" I asked. Everything north of 268 I'll take, everything south of it you take," he suggested. 268 was a the county road that ran east and west cutting the county almost in half, It was a fair division of the territory to cover. "That sounds perfectly reasonable," I suggested. Of course it meant that all the open diners were in Letter's area, but it was the cost of being a rookie. There was a truck stop with cold sandwiches and a microwave south of 268, so I wouldn't starve. I rode around all night trying to stay awake and reasonably alert. No one expected the midnight shift deputies to do more than answer calls and try to keep the peace. That is petty much why I surprised myself by checking out a truck parked at the boat ramp located on a county road. The truck was in the parking lot of the boat ramp, but there was no empty trailer. The SUV's owner might have transported a small boat on the roof. Even so I checked the registration of the SUV. I found that the Truck belonged to Edward James Allen who lived several miles away. I rode by his house and it appeared deserted, but at 2AM I was not surprised. Still I made a note to the detectives. Anything out of the ordinary might mean something. It was the wrong time of year for anyone to be on the river. It was as cold as a witches tit or a stepmother's kiss. It hardly seemed the weather for a midnight boat ride. My final act of the evening was to warn a party girl to go home. She didn't appear to be drunk, but she appeared to be stupid. It was 4AM and she was moving from one party to another. "Why do I never get invited to that kind of party?" I asked myself as she pulled away from the traffic stop. That's when I realized that it was a Friday night. Even if I hadn't been working, I would have been alone most likely. Letter and I sat alone in the break room, meant for the whole courthouse. We were writing our reports. Mine covered the SUV and the party girl, but nothing else had really happened. Both Letter and I noted things that would never have made it into the report any other time. The girl and the SUV were really not worth noting any other time. After I left the office I drove the Toyota home. I stayed there long enough to change into my running clothes. Running in the mountains was a challenge because it was so cold. I wore a light wight thermal suit and a hood. I could have stopped along the way to stick up a service station, I suppose. That morning I ran down to the courthouse. I stopped in long enough to find that nothing had changed with the investigation. I asked Simpson, "Hey Detective did you get a chance to see what the deal was with Edward James Allen." He looked lost. "The guy whose SUV is parked at the boat ramp, but has no trailers." "No but hold on I'll see what I come up with. The fact that his SUV was at the ramp overnight this time of year without a trailer is a reason to look into it. It's a shot in the dark but it is a shot," he added at the end. "According to the school records Allen has a daughter seven. I think now that the suns up I'll have a deputy stop by to check his house out. Go home and get some sleep Sylvia," he said to me. I finished my run and did exactly what Simpson said. I fell hard into bed and harder into the land of nod. Seven hours later I just work up. Sleeping with the sun shinning in the window is not the easiest thing I do, but I can manage it usually. Seven hours is enough sleep so the day was a success. It was 6PM, so I walked to the diner. Lucy served meatloaf every Friday night, so I tried to get to the diner for that. She made great meatloaf. My mother made meatloaf that fell apart and had to be served with a spoon. Lucy's could be cut into slices which made it great for sandwiches come Friday night at midnight. One of the deputies who worked Friday nights would stop buy for meatloaf sandwiches for all the deputies, any supervisors, who happened to stay, and of course the dispatch lady. It was tradition I had been told. I supposed that would be my chores later in the evening. Even so it was so good, I didn't mind having it twice in the same day. Lucy was a very nice black lady who worked her ass off to make a living. I was pretty sure that she made a good living since hers was the most popular cafe of the two inside the city limits. Most everything in Miss Lucy's Cafe was cooked right there. There wasn't but one real mean choice but it was always cooked fresh that day. Lucy did cook all the usual cafe items as well as one real meal at night. When I got to the courthouse at 10PM, there were way too many people around. ------- Chapter 5 "What's going on?" I asked Deputy Letter. "They raided Edward James Allen's house. There was no one there but it appears there had been a struggle. The SBI lab guys took lots of samples. They are going to be checking for DNA matches." Letter said. "So what are they thinking," I asked. I almost hated to hear it. "From the neighbors they heard that the husband and wife fight all the time. They have been expecting something violent anytime now," Letter informed me. "What I don't understand is why the SUV was left at the boat ramp?" I asked. "They are thinking 'family annihilator'," he said. "That's not believable," I suggested. "I know, but everyone is struggling to make sense of it. Anyway you and I need to get ready to go out and patrol the roads," he informed me. "Right, lets go out and do our part, even if it isn't part of the main investigation," I said. "Porter," Simpson said from his office when he looked up and saw me. I went to the door. "Good work on the SUV. It might end up being the break in the case. We will know for sure when the lab get finished with the DN A testing." "Good, I look forward to hearing," I said. Deputy Letter and I went out on patrol. I was a little unhappy about being pushed aside, but it was to be expected. It's how men did things, not that a woman wouldn't have done the same or worse. The truth is people just didn't like to share their toys, We could all remember those feelings from our childhoods. I checked the boat ramp while I was out. I found that all the evidence tape had by strung and then picked up. It was as if the car hadn't been there at all. I didn't really care all that much. It was a job, I loved it but it was still a job. "Hello," I said into the cell phone. "Hello Sylvia, how about you meet me for breakfast. I can't sleep so I thought we might get together," the much older Simpson asked. "Ordinarily I would say sure, but I think it would be a bad idea since we work in the same place. I would prefer ours be a strictly professional relationship." I said. "Oh alright," was his reply to me. "Have it your way." "Don't worry, I will," I said that as I hung up on him. Simpson was more than twice my age. If he had been Sherlock Holmes maybe, but he was just your typical less than inspired detective. I stopped at the truck stop convenience store for a cup of coffee at 2AM. I stood in the parking lot with the Styrofoam because I didn't want to spill it on a clean uniform. Lots of people smiled at me as they passed me heading into the store. "Sheriff, my name is Boyle, I operate a delivery service. I just wanted to say hello. I thought it might be nice, so that when you see me running around these hills you might stop and say hello," the man in his late twenties and very clean cut said to me. "Well fine, hello then?" I said. "What is it you deliver." "Legal papers, things that need proof of delivery. I also pick up cars now and then and other valuable. I more or less serve court papers." "Well Mr. Boyle I'm surprised there is that much work," I said honestly. "Yeah, I do have to scramble to make it sometimes," he said. "So okay Mr. Boyle what can I do for you? You do want more than to just say hello," I said. "Okay, I'm going to take possession of a very fancy truck in about two minutes. I just thought I would give you some advanced notice in case the present occupant thinks it's not the right thing to do. Give it up to me that is," he said. He gave me a really good look at the document. I nodded to him. "Okay, if he kills you, I promise to arrest him," I said. "What more could a man ask," Boyle said. "It's James by the way." "Then if he kills you James, I promise to arrest him," I said. I sat in my SUV and waited to see what would happen. James walked to a very fancy looking pickup truck with a rear cab and dual rear wheels. It had to be a very expensive pick up truck. It looked as though it had everything available sandwiched onto it. "You Martin Thomas," James Boyle asked in a voice loud enough for me to hear. "Who wants to know," the man in the truck asked. "I'm going to take that as a yes. You need to get out of the truck," Boyle said. "Oh why is that?" Thomas asked. "Because the truck is being repossessed," Boyle said it then handed him a copy of the pick up order, "You ain't taking my truck," Thomas said, "Actually I am," Boyle said. "So get out of the truck and hand me the keys." "You are out of your fucking mind," Thomas said. Boyle reached over and opened the driver's door. Thomas was not belted in, He could have driven off and there was nothing Boyle could have done, but he had to play whose are biggest. When he climbed down from the truck and moved toward Boyle, Boyle pressed a stun gun against him. Thomas went down like a tree, Boyle got in the truck and drove it away. Someone else drove a really beat up old Honda civic away following close behind. Since I didn't really want to get involved, I sat in the parking lot to finish my coffee. Martin Thomas came around very quickly. He was on his cell phone making a call and screaming at someone. Pretty soon someone drove up and allowed Martin Thomas into the car. The woman drove Martin away and I left shortly thereafter. I had seen a very well done repossession. If Martin had approached my SUV, I might have had to investigate it, but he took it like a man once it was over. Once I was sure he wasn't going to do anything really stupid, I drove off into the night. I drove through some of the small communities to just see what the buildings looked like. It is what we did on the Air Force Bases. When we had nothing to do, we would shine a light on the window glass. It was just a way to use up a little of the time left on our shifts. Nobody needed me all night, so I got a lot of checks made of places that didn't really have a big need for them. Most of the small communities had nothing of any real value, so things seldom got broken into. Now and then they did, but that was more vandals than thieves. It was 630AM when I headed into the station. There was just nothing to keep me out in the field. I stopped in town to observe the people who worked downtown come in to work early. There wasn't any real crime or even traffic at that time of the morning, but I needed to be back in town to check out at the office anyway. Nothing came up to prevent me from checking out at 7AM. With my time up for the day I rode the Toyota to the Motel. I was glad to find an excuse to stop by the office, I liked to keep in contact with Jennifer, the day manager, and owner. She kept me informed, if anything important was going on in the business community. Ada and Sarah were just employees and not privy to all the local gossip like Jennifer. "There isn't any gossip in town at the moment. We are all in shock about the little girl they found in the woods. Have you got any idea who she is yet?" Jennifer asked. "If they have any idea, then haven't told me yet. I have a feeling the town will know before I do," I said it with a laugh. I had a pretty good idea that it was connected to Edward James Allen, but I dared not say that to anyone. I dared not say it, especially not to Jennifer Wilson. In the short time I lived at the motel I had learned that it was a hot bed of gossip. I liked that about it, even though I probably shouldn't have. I fell into bed after having learning nothing, but also not having spread any gossip. I wasn't proud but I was neutral for the day. I slept from 10AM until about 5PM which was pretty good for sleeping during the day as far as I was concerned. When I woke up something was nagging at me. Was it really very likely that Edward James Allen had help in wiping out his family. It certainly didn't fit any profile I had ever read. If not, how did he get away from the place where he left his car. I called the station to ask Simpson if he knew, but Simpson was busy playing his part for the press. The news whores wanted updates a lot more often than the cops wanted to provide them. Which led to the constant irritation of both. I found out from one of the other deputies that Allen did not have anything but the car. It was possible that he drowned his wife right there, then walked away. It made just as much, and as little, sense as anything else. Actually his wife had a car as well which was missing, so there was an alert out for it at that moment as well. The department had pinned most of their hope to that car. I was skeptical, but only because I was always skeptical. I had to admit the odds seemed to be in favor of it. "By the way Sylvia." the deputy said. "There is a message here for you. You want me to save it till tonight or do you want it now?" he asked. "Oh hell give it to me now. Nobody wants to talk to a cop at 10PM," I said. "Good point," with that he read me a phone number. "Give this guy a call. He said he had some information for you." "Thanks, I will see what he has to give up," I said. "Right, it sounded more like monkey business," the deputy said. "Well good, my life is way to serious," I replied with a laugh. I hadn't had a date since I moved to the little town. Hell I really hadn't have a date since I broke up with my boyfriend in the military. Breaking up was his idea, so I was pretty upset about it. Even though it was approaching a year men were not high on my list of hobbies. I knew I had to start going out soon, or I was going to get a reputation. I expected that it would be that I was a stone lesbian. I wasn't of course. I had never been with a woman sexually, not that there was anything wrong with it, I always said. Being around women who were into that kind of thing was an occupational hazard in the Military, as much as it would be in jail, I imagined. I waited until after I had dinner to call the number. "This is deputy Porter in Warren country. What did you want to discuss with me?" I asked of the man who answered. "This is James Boyle, you do remember me?" he asked. "Yes, I remember you. What can I do for you?" I asked. "You can have dinner with me next time you have a night off," he said confidently. ------- Chapter 6 "Why on earth would I do that?" I asked. "Because, they tell me I'm good company for one thing. For another you have to eat anyway, and I would pay," he said. "Of course you would pay, that goes without saying, but I think I will pass. You can try again some other time. Right now I have too much on my mind." I said. "Come on, I did some checking. You don't have a boy friend and you live in a motel. You can surely make time for one dinner with a new friend," he demanded. "Maybe later," I suggested. "I will tell you what though. I am coming off midnight shift this week. If you want to meet me in Dobson, I will split a pizza with you." "You must mean Dean's Dungeon?" he guessed. "Is that what the locals call Deans Pizza and Italian Deli?" I asked. "Yes, have you ever been there?" he asked. "No, Sarah in the lounge told me it was a good safe place to go on a date," I admitted. "It is. Especially if we go in separate cars," Boyle observed. "That is the plan. If you want to do that, I'm willing to give it a chance," I agreed. "So do you work tonight?" he asked. "Yes, but this ends it for a day or two?" I admitted. "Tell you what I' ll meet you there tomorrow at eight for dinner, but dinner is all there is going to be." I explained carefully. "If that is all there is, then that's all there is," Boyle said. "All right then it's a done deal, unless I hear different from you," I said. "Do you want my number, so you can cancel," he asked. "No thanks, I won't cancel. If something really happens to keep me from keeping a date, I think I would be dead, or in the hospital. So nothing I would call to explain anyway." I replied. "Fair enough, if I have business interfere I'll leave word at your front desk." he said as he hung up. I wasn't all that excited about having dinner with a repo man, but what the hell, like he said I had to eat anyway. I went into work that night and found that the third car was back on duty, so Letter and I weren't spread so thin. It didn't really matter all that much except we followed fire and ambulance calls, just to be sure they were safe in their journeys. By morning I was really wondering about the wife of Mr Allen. Everybody suspected that she went into the river. What didn't make sense to me was why Allen didn't do them both at the same time and leave her with her daughter. I had this nagging feeling that the mother might have been the killer. That was just based on her body not turning up. Of course neither had the father's body surfaced, if he was indeed dead. It was 5AM and I was thinking about writing my report and drinking coffee for the last couple of hours when the call came in. "210 see the man... 3233 Smith Lodge Road ... unknown trouble." The radio blared at me. "10-4," I answered. The truth is all the trouble was unknown. People never reported it correctly or 911 operators seldom relayed the message correctly. I flipped on the GPS and then just followed the directions into the middle of nowhere. It took me about ten minutes to realize that the man who had called was not a year round resident. He had obviously showed up at his cabin at 5AM and found something disturbed. "Beautiful place," I said as I walked up to the log cabin. "Yes Deputy, it is when people haven't been partying in it. I found the door kicked in and things disturbed. I didn't mess up the place too much, I just left and called you guys." "Sounds like you knew just what to do," I commented. "Yeah, unfortunately this ain't my first dance with these clowns," he said. "I see, did we get them last time?" I asked. "Yes, but the judge didn't do anything since my insurance company paid. Liberal judges make a joke of the law," he said. "That seems to be the case at times I agree," I said that as I began to walk through the house with Mr. Jarrell following behind me. Mr. Jarrell we need to get our crime scene team in to take a good look at this place. You are pretty close to a pretty bad crime scene. Your place could have been used by someone trying to lie low until the pressure was off a little. "I checked the stove and found that I couldn't tell when it was last used. But definitely since I left. I cleaned it out and now there are ashes. They are cold but fresh." Jarrell said. As I searched I found wet towels in the bathroom, but I had no idea when they were used. There were still water drops in the bathtub, so it likely hadn't been too long. I felt there was at least a possibility that one of the Allen parents had been staying in the cabin. They probably took off when Mr. Jarrell pulled into the yard. That being the case, I took the chance and called to wake up the patrol supervisor. He listened carefully then said, "Yeah you probably did the right thing. I'll call Simpson and get the dog out there as well. You just standby. I'm going to have Letter come over to help you maintain the crime scene. We want to be real careful just in case this does tie back into the Allen family. I didn't think there was any question. I was almost sure that it was going to be the reason neither of them had turned up. They just laid low at Jarrell's place. If he hadn't come back one of them might still be here. Maybe crime scene investigators could tell me which one of them had been hiding out in the cabin. Letter and I set up a crime scene logbook. I kept a list of people who came and went. There were more of us than would normally respond to a break in at a recreational cabin for sure. The K9 officer was more than half asleep when he arrived. He at least was faster than most of the others. I wanted to take the tall slightly over weight officer, and his lean rin tin tin looking dog and start running through the woods. I would have too if Letter hadn't stopped me. I figured he wanted to go as well. Even if he did say we were tasked with keeping the logs and that was our job until someone gave us a different one. I carefully looked around the cabin, but I could find nothing that gave me a clue as to who had been staying in the place. There were no clothes, so either the person took time to pack which was unlikely, or the person had not been changing to clean clothes when they showered. They did shower because the tub was definitely wet on the bottom. I had a feeling that it was a woman. I couldn't see a man bothering to shower, just to replace the same dirty clothes. He would most likely say why bother, I thought. Before I knew it 7AM had arrived and I was relieved. I tried to stay and help but was told to get the hell away from the crime scene. If I stayed, some defense attorney would challenge me by saying I was too personally involved to be objective. "Staying on your own time will just prove it in the eyes of conspiracy theory nuts," Letter said. He was right of course, they would be grabbing at straws, if this had gone down as I expected it had. I picked up a biscuit from the diner before I went to the motel. I managed to fall sound asleep instantly, even though I was excited. I don't remember anything from 8:30 AM until 5PM. It took me a long time to get my head out of my ass that day. I wanted to take a shower an go back to the office just to hang around, but they didn't want me there and I had a date anyway. Great, I thought. I took the shower an contemplated what it would be like to be the person who had been on the run. So I'm sleeping in a warm dry bed. I know the cops are looking for me and I'm pretty sure there has been lots of publicity. I must have expected them to find the body or maybe both bodies. Maybe I just got lucky that they hadn't found the other one yet. I had just about convinced myself that it was the mother. The shower was a tipoff for me. I could sit around in towels till my clothes dried, if I washed them at the same time as I took the shower. So I killed my husband after my daughter, I tossed him in the river, then I walked here. I had known about this place for some reason. I was really hot and sweaty when I arrived and probably had a little blood on me. So I took a shower washed my clothes and waited till everything dried. That all made a kind of sick logic. What if I knew this place was here. I could have used a bicycle to make the trip from the boat ramp to this place. I didn't bother to call and give my little story to the other deputies. They either had their own scenarios, or they would think I was foolish. So best to just let them do their own things. I spent a lot of time trying to get myself in the mood for my first date in over a year. To be honest I had been asked out by men who were more handsome than James Boyle. I expect that all of them had more to offer materialistically than James. He didn't really strike me as especially romantic even. What did strike me was his willingness to take a chance. He asked me out, then stayed at it when I said no. Even so he didn't come back at me from a position of weakness. He came back at me as an equal, hell he exuded strength even when he was being rejected. I found that appealing. Men should always act like men even during times of adversity, It was a lesson I learned by watching my father, A man is always a man, no matter what else he has to be. I had lots of old sayings from my dad. Of course at first I thought he was full of crap, but over the years I had changed my opinions. Far too many men think I want to see their softer side. Sure I want to know they have one, then they can file it away. Knowing it is there is more than enough, I don't need to see it more than once for a minute tops. I made the 23 miles drive to Dobson to meet James Boyle for Dinner and I expected it to be a bust. I entered to find James standing by the door. "Hello there Sylvia. you look great." he said. "That's you actually look better than I expected. I didn't know what to expect, I never dated a repo man before." I explained. "Ah well, I never dated a cop," he smiled but didn't go on. Instead he told me how he almost missed the date while serving a woman a summons on a civil case. The woman was the lover of a married man whose wife found out about her. Her lawyer had filed the paper and James drew the job. "They are all rich as ten foot up a bulls butt," James said. "So it paid well but it wasn't easy to get it in her hands," "Did you get it served?" I asked. Rather than answer he showed me a digital picture on his cell phone. "You got to love progress." was my comment. "So you ever been with two men sexually?" he asked. "That ain't what I meant by progress," I said surprised that I wasn't pissed. ------- Chapter 7 The man had a roguish charm I had to admit. He had absolutely no problem asking the most embarrassing questions. He even made it seem as though they were harmless. He honestly expected me to answer them, which was a completely different take from asking them just to embarrass me. He was maybe three years older than me, then again maybe not. He told stories about college, so if he had finished, he started business at twenty-two just like me. Unlike me, he seemed to have been building his business for at least three years. While he was working to get his business off the ground, I had been in the two year tech school. So we might be about the same age. It had gotten on toward the end of dinner when he mentioned that he had been married, but was no longer. According to his follow up remarks. She hadn't been quite ready to give up her roguish ways. Even so, he had considered it a positive experience. "I really did like being married. You know always having my wife around was a good experience. I am extremely sexual, " he informed me. "All men think they are extremely sensual, but to be honest, it only counts after five minutes otherwise you just run of the mill," I informed him. He did smile at the remark. "Well, I have never heard that complaint. Usually I do hear stop it hurts after a half hour or so," he suggested. "Ah takes half an hour, then I guess I won't have to worry about too much of a good thing then." I laughed again. "I think the best description there is more than adequate, any more could be a problem for some people, I'm told." I have to admit he kept it light and humorous but he never backed down an inch. I liked that about him as well. James was proving to be damn good company. I was waiting for the other shoe to fall of course. He was bound to do something to ruin it all. Men were just programed like that. I was surprised to just realize that they were closing the place on us. We had been sitting and telling each other stories for hours. James and I shared a few things. In addition to college he had been to the big sandbox. We had both heard the sounds of gunfire, not on a target range Also like me he had never had to say a final goodbye to a close friend in the field. "Frankly I had list of people to push out in front of me if things got really rank," I explained. "I had an old Russian pistol, I liberated, just in case some of the assholes in my squad ever got me really pissed off before a firefight," James said. "I had a box opener like the ones in the 911 planes. Just in case someone really really needed to be transformed in a hurry." I smiled even though I knew I had never planned to use that box opener on anyone I knew. I did have one just in case. "Do you have it with you?" Jim asked. I recovered my purse from the floor. Inside the purse I carried a plastic handle with a long snap blade box opening tool inside. I had searched all over for it after I got home. I had to leave mine in the land of sand castles. They had gotten hard to find, since even craft stores were afraid to be politically incorrect. "All this isn't nearly as interesting as your sex life I bet," he said returning to his favorite subject. "Oh really and what is it about sex that you find so entertaining?" I asked. "Other than it just plain feels good?" he asked. "Yes other than that?" I agreed. "There is something about sex that levels the playing field. If you are both enjoying the sex, then money and position in the community isn't very important," he said. "That is only true while you are having the sex. Once you get away from it for a while you realize that there are other things in life." I explained. "True that's when marriages break up. It's when they become about shit that just don't matter," he said. "I don't know. There are other things that do matter, at least to me," I said. "Women, I think are more into the home and security things," he replied. "Hold on your wife ran around on you, but you think she was more into the home and security things," I said with a laugh. "Oh it wasn't about home and security sweetie," he said. "It was about sharing. I don't loan my car, or let other guys sleep in my bed either." "Well when you put it that way, I guess it makes sense on the selfish bastard level," I replied. "See, I knew you would understand," he suggested. "So how old were you when you had sex for the first time?" I considered refusing to answer but it seemed to be a harmless question. "I was sixteen before I went all the way with a boy," I said. "You mean before you had intercourse?" he asked. "Yes that," I replied. "But before that had you made boys cum for you?" he asked again pinning me down. "Sure, everyone experiments," I said. "So how old the first time?" he asked. "Thirteen," I replied simply. "So you managed to avoid having full blown sex for three years. That's pretty impressive. My first real sex was with a friend of my mom's. She was going through a bad divorce and felt very insecure. I said a few nice things to her, and generally showed an interest in her. That was all it took. That and not being bothered by her rejections at first. I recognized it as part of the dance. She taught me a lot of significant things." he informed me. "I bet," I agreed. "No, I meant I learned a lot from the experience. Sex with her was very ordinary. I like ordinary, the more adventurous is fun, but I like ordinary as well." "I am impressed. You don't come off as the usual loud mouth male egotist," I said. "It's because I am anything but usual. I am not really into the world exactly like other people. I really am still experiencing new things. I am also about showing women like you new things as well. Are you adventuresome?" James asked me. "I am a cop and I take that serious, so not so much as I once was," I replied. "I see, well I will try to keep things to small experiences then," he said with a smile. "Oh what do you have in mind?" I asked. "First I have to get you to waive the no sex on the first date rule," James suggested with a smile. "Ah well I think I will say this to you and from now forward, let your conscience be your guide. If anyone asks me to make an emotional decision in a cold way, then I always decide against them. It is like your divorcée as a teen, try it to find out. If you ask, the answer is always no." "You just stated a fact that most women would never admit. It's why before you leave the parking lot, I will invite myself to your place. If you say no then you say no. If not then we can have some fun, I think." I intentionally did not comment, because I had not decided what I planned to do when he invited himself home with me. I had known from the start that he would most likely do something like that. Boyle was just that kind of guy. Obviously I didn't mind that he was. "So how about it, would you like to wake up tomorrow in a bed occupied by someone in addition to you?" he asked. "I was thinking maybe I could make an exception to the the no first date sleepovers. But Boyle, I better never hear of this from anyone else in this state let alone this county. It will also not be at my motel room, so think of something else," I demanded. "You do realize you are telling me that I have to be cold and logical, when you just finished telling me that you would not be cold and logical about sex," James demanded. "Yes, I suppose I did that but you are the one so hot to get laid. I can take it or leave it." I replied. "Fair enough, I live in a small but clean little townhouse with my brother, but you don't have to do it with him, just because he is there." James said. "As long as your brother understands this is not a multiple partner dance," I said smiling. I wondered how the hell this whole thing would end. The reason I was going along was that James knew I was a cop and I could walk if things turned rank. He had a good incentive to keep it ordinary." It was a word he had used but it fitted the situation perfectly. "I can make sure he knows to leave you alone. Now and then we have shared a lover, but not one who didn't want it. So don't worry, you are all mine." "That sounds like a good plan, but he also has to know to keep it quiet. Who I screw is not anyone else's business," I stated emphatically. "Not a problem, we don't gossip," Boyle informed me. "Good," I said. Since we had the last half hour of our conversation in the parking lot of Dino's, I followed behind Boyle as he drove to Leland. Leland was another of those rural town with half a dozen employers. Leland's biggest employer was a mill that made dry dog food and a processing plant that made canned dog fog. It provided a great deal of the boutique dog foods sold in pet stores. They were the only ones who could afford to buy made in America Dog food, I had been told. I had not known we were headed for Leland when we left Dobson. If I had known, I would have made some comment for sure. Leland was the joke of the state, but when the rest of the state lost a butt load of jobs, Leland's Dog Food businesses didn't lose even one. So I guess they got the last laugh on the rest of us. Every town even Leland had other small businesses such was Boyle Brothers recovery and delivery service. They lived in a townhouse condominium that was also the office for their company, I had no idea who owned the building. nor did I want to know. What I knew was the it was after midnight and James's brother Simon was still watching TV. "Simon this is Deputy Sylvia Porter, She has come to visit me and only me. If you have any other illusions forget them, she did two deployments to the sandbox, so don't even thing of bullying her." James smile at me after he said it. "Hy Sylvia, James makes me sound a whole lot worse than I am. Usually he is the one acting inappropriately. I'm glad that tonight he isn't doing that. Welcome to our home." Simon said. "Would you like a drink, maybe a glass of wine?" "No thanks Simon but I appreciate the offer." I took a look at the TV. "What are you watching?" "There is nothing on, so I'm watching a show nobody watching as a first choice. I'm watching storage wars." "I have seen that and you are right, It's what I watch when I can't even find Ice Road Truckers." "I know another of those shows is hard core pawn. We deal with people like that all the time. It's cool to know we aren't the only ones." "I caught that once and if the son wasn't such a wimp and the daughter wasn't such a dog, I would watch it again. I like their interactions. I just don't like them as people." ------- Chapter 8 "Yeah, the cable is full of almost good shows. So many things have to be right to make a good show, but only one has to be wrong to make a bad one." Simon said. "Why not sit and let's explore the cable together," he suggested. "I think your brother wants to screw me," I said with a giant laugh. "Hell, so do I," Simon said with a beautiful smile. I had to admit I was captivated by their rakish good humor. "Not many men would see you this time of night and not want to screw you. I think that is just the nature of real men." "So, real man is defined by who he wants to screw at midnight?" I asked. "Pretty much yeah," James said as he re-entered the room. "Don't get me wrong, he isn't always the man who knows how to go about it, but real men pretty much are horny all the time." He looked to Simon for some sign of agreement. "Oh yeah, it's just how we are programed. Just like chicks are programed to say no at least once. If a chick was just as hot for me as I was for her, I would wonder if I had a cross dresser." Simon said it with a laugh. I'm afraid I laughed as well. "So have you two been talking sex all night?" Simon asked. "It sure seems like it," I admitted. "So is your heart beating a little faster than normal," Simon asked. "If you two are gaming me, you are damn good at it," I observed. I saw them look at each other trying to decide whether I had indeed busted them. "Does this usually work?" I asked. "Something usually works," James said. "Since you are here, I will have to suggest that something did work." "I will admit that something did work. I find you both quite charming in a gritty kind of way. I'm not exactly a hot house flower." I admitted. "Then you won't mind, if we turn out some of these lights," Simon suggested. "No, it is a little bright for this kind of conversation," I admitted. "That was my opinion exactly," James said. Once the lights were down he filled Simon in on what he had learned from me at dinner. I was surprised that he did it, and that I allowed it. "Did you really jack off a guy at thirteen?" he asked. "Yes but he was sixteen. I was trying to be more mature. That did not extend to giving him a blowjob," I said. "Now you didn't tell me that part, how old were you when you swallowed your first cock?" James asked. "If that is metaphorically speaking, then I was seventeen. Yes, it was even after I gave it up to a guy. I know they say girls suck, then fuck, but not in my case." I said honestly. "It isn't very romantic, when you put it that way is it?" "No. but it is honest, and I like honest," Simon said. "I have to admit that I had a middle age neighbor go down on me before I turned sixteen." "Sounds like a family tradition, or lying about it is," I said with a laugh. "Could be either, but in this case the neighbor who did me, did Simon the next summer," James explained. "She wasn't beautiful, but she loved to suck cock," he said. "You know men say that, but I don't think I ever met a woman who told me she loved to suck cock. Lots of them said, that they don't mind and it's how you make an impression but enjoying it, just for the sake of doing it, no I don't think anyone ever did." "I expect that the same women who tell you they just do it to get second dates, tell the guys they just love sucking cock. It sounds a lot sexier, than I do it just so you will call me again," Simon said in agreement. "So what size bra do you wear?" James asked out of the blue. "Are you planning to start buying mu clothes?" I asked. "I might, but I mostly want to know, if I guessed right," he replied. "What is your guess?" I asked. "36d," he said. "How about you Simon?" I asked. "36c," was his only answer. The award goes to Simon, sort of. I wear a 36c if I want to put a form in the cup. A 36b if I want the cups tight. So the answer is I have both sizes, but I do not have a D cup bra at all. I know you were trying to be politically correct, and I thank you." I laughed again. "Do you ever sit around topless," Simon asked. "Simon, are you trying to get me to take my clothes off?" I asked. "Actually yes," he admitted. "Well I thought so. To be honest I do not sit around watching TV topless, but I am not a prude either. If I have a reason to be topless, I can manage to do it without fainting." I admitted. "Have you ever been to a nude beach?" Simon asked. "No, I never have," I admitted. Something in my tone seemed to encourage them or maybe they were just well rehearsed. Either way they kept at me. "Have you ever been curious to see how it feels," James asked. "Okay what are you getting at. I wonder if you would like to try being a nudist for an evening. Simon and I don't sit around nude with just each other, but we do have a few friends who join us in nude evenings," James suggested. "So you want to call me the next time you have one of these things to have me join in?" I asked. "Of course," Simon admitted. "Don't you think I should try it first before I get naked in front a dozen or so people?" I asked. If they didn't recognize that I was putting them on, I would have beens surprised. "Now that you mention it. It does seem like a good idea," James said. "Has that ever worked?" I asked with a smile. "No, but there has to be first time," Simon said. "Actually we do have nude nights here now and then. Some people like being home nudist," James suggested. "Usually it is with couples who are home nudist anyway." "I see. Well I'm going to give you a chance to say that it does work now and then. But if I ever hear you have told anyone, I will bust you for every piece of shit, I can find. Do we understand each other?" I asked. "Oh yes, we totally understand. Neither of us has ever named names, period." Simon said. "Alright," I stood up and stepped in front of the TV set. I removed the already unbuttoned white shirt that covered my tee shirt. I stood in my white tee and sorta low rider jeans. My ass was wider in the jeans than my chest. It was small for the size of my broad ass. If I had those c or d cups, I would have been better, not perfect, but better. When the tee came up then off, I was still in the plain white industrial style bra. and the rest. The bra was a front hook model so I got to tease a little before I removed it. With the bra laying across the chair with the rest of my clothes, I was naked to the waist. I have to admit that I was enjoying it, even though I was also terrified to be stripping in front of two men. I thought I might have to defend myself, if I said no to any of their further offers. There was something exciting about that as well. It was all scary, but also a huge boost to the excitement level. Of course my nipples were hard and pointed. They were also naked in the cool air of the apartment. My breathing was loud in my own ears. I stopped at naked to the waist while I waited for the two of them to catch up to me. Simon stood and removed his tee shirt. He did not wear an over shirt so that one item and he and I were on a level playing field. It took James two items to get down to me. I found that both of their nipples were also hard though not as pronounced as mine. It was fun watching them to be honest. I found my thighs to be slippery immediately. It was all part of the excitement. I made quick work of the jeans and bikini panties. In doing so I revealed that I was natural in my choice of pubic styles. The black pubic hair was not coarse or long, so I never bothered to remove it. James was the next to get naked. He looked at my pubic area and as I looked at his shaved pubic zone. He said, "I prefer my women to be clean shaved. I find that extremely sexy." "Yours is not pronounced or bushy so I wouldn't have a problem eating you," Simon said. "I have no idea what James's problem is." "Would you mind, if I shaved you?" James asked. "I'll have to think about that," I admitted. Even Simon was shaved, so I definitely stood out in the crowd I was with at that moment at least. "Most of our nudist friends are shaved. It is just the way it is these days." James admitted. "Well who knows, maybe I will change my mind one day," I said. I sat down and crossed my legs being as ladylike as possible. I wasn't surprised to see that both of them had erections. Since they were related they were similar in size. I think Simon might have been a little larger but not vastly so. I was turned on of course. There was no rush to move forward, we all knew what was going to happen. They were more familiar with how the scenario went than me. I was more or less letting them lead me. I always liked to be led into personal relationships, regardless of who wore the gun. I sat on the sofa trying not to stare at their penises. It was difficult, since I hadn't dated in a while. I didn't think that I had missed anything until that night. At that point I thought that maybe I should be just going with the flow. I could have at least gotten a lot of free meals, if I had. Not to mention I likely would have slept better all those long nights. "So Sylvia, how do you feel about letting Simon watch?" James asked. "You guys are really something. I come here and before I know you have me out of my clothes and now you want to have sex with me in front of an audience," I said. "You have to know that it was coming all along. Not to mention you really are enjoying the attention. Your body gives you away. I can see the shinny thighs and that's a dead giveaway," James said. "To be honest James I haven't really decided how far I'm going to let you go. I have been known to change my mind. So if you won't be embarrassed should I stop you, then sure he can observe and maybe testify if it comes to that." I said. James walked over and kissed me. "I don't think you will be saying no to things. You seem to be into it all now," he said. "I guess we will see what happens," I whispered to them both. "Now I'm not answering any more questions, period." "Yes, it is what it is," Simon said with a smile. ------- Chapter 9 Finding myself in bed with one of them on each side of me took another twenty minutes or so, but it did happen. Unlike a pornographic movie, there was a lot of stopping and starting. Also a lot laughing, when things didn't seem to fit just right on the first try. As advertised for the first several minutes Simon just watched and made wickedly amusing comments. I swear if we had filmed it, the thing could have won an academy award for comedy. Within the first half hour we were all laughing and critiquing each other painfully. With James making love to me and Simon critiquing us as a film critic would I went from orgasm, to uncontrollable laughter without a moments rest. I could not believe the combination. At first I found it disconcerting beyond belief to trying to experience the feelings and listen to the hilarious comments at the same time. I was laughing while James had me on my hands and knees and pumped me from the rear. I was about to orgasm again, when I felt Simon's penis brush my lips. I might have been going to complain or maybe not. No matter, when I opened my mouth to comment, his penis entered. I began to nurse on it, even though it was not my favorite thing to do. I was repaying them for the evening so far, at that moment. I considered it as an entertainment tax. When I felt James stiffen and freeze for a moment, I came so hard my muscles cramped. I was actually in pain from the muscle cramps, when Simon emptied his sperm into my mouth and down my throat. It was warm and gritty. It also coated my teeth as well as my tongue and roof of my mouth. It was a most unpleasant feeling, but nonetheless it added to the depth of my orgasm. When the three of us lay exhausted, I was shocked to see we had worn ourselves out in only thirty minutes, Of course it was thirty minutes of nonstop laughter and sex. I am convinced the laughter was just as powerful as the sex had been. I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I wanted more of it. I found it hard to believe that there wasn't a line of women outside their door. "You know that you are our first cop," Simon said. "You are dynamite. We will have to start recruiting cops." "I'm not sure they are all like me," I said. "Yeah, I guess generalizing can be dangerous," James agreed. "I wasn't a bit concerned about you though. I knew from the moment I met you that you were one hot chick." "What was the tip?' I asked. "You looked me right in the eye when you answered my questions. You weren't all that bold or anything just fearless. Women don't have to be slutty, but they do have to be adventurous," James explained. "I see. So you knew you could get my clothes off within ten minutes of entering your house?" I asked. "No, but I knew you wouldn't run from the room screaming either. I knew you would say no very ladylike, if that's what you did." "James you remind me of my Dad hon. My dad told me, when I was sixteen and before I gave it up, he said, 'Every woman has the right to say no, but she also has the right to be asked. Men are not allowed to decide what a woman will or will not do. That is up to her alone.'" I smiled at him before I went on. "Yeah it's what made me decide to give it up." "So your dad took your virginity?" he asked. "Hell no, what my dad did was to tell me that it was alright to give it up. He also explained that I had to be responsible in my decisions. No thugs and no guys who might get me pregnant." "Sounds like he was a pretty smart guy," Simon suggested. "Either that or he liked to drink, and then to give advice to anybody who would listen," I suggested. "Look guys it's been real, but I need to get home." "So how about it? Do you want to come to our next nude night?" Simon asked. I had a feeling Simon was more impressed with me than James. James had a lot more dealings with cops than Simon. I expect to Simon I was a novelty. "I don't know email me after I have had time to think it over. Simon tell me, what do you do?" I asked "I'm part of James' company of course." he said. "Is that all, you two seem to have a lot of things going on all the time," I suggested. "A lot of irons in the fire," he said. "Usually that is nice speak for rustler," I said smiling. "Well I would never tell a cop that I was doing anything even shady, let alone dirty," Simon said. "Don't worry I won't investigate you, but I also won't look the other way, so be careful," I advised him. "Now I'm going to drive into the big city and see my mom." "So you gonna give me your email address so I can invite you?" Simon asked. "Countygreen@yahoo.com," I said as I finished dressing. I was out the door before they had time to stop me. "So Sylvia did you have fun last night?" the detective on the School girl doe case asked. Of course he probably knows her name that now, I thought. "Sure it was fun, so tell me why are you all smiles?" I asked. "The vic is Jennifer Allen," Simpson said. "Looks like one of the parents is in the wind and one is in the river. Would you care to make a guess?" "I think she killed them both and is running now," I suggested. "And why is that?" Simpson asked. "I mean rather than her in the river and him in the wind." "Water in the bathtub," I said. "You are going to have to explain that one," he said. "She washed her clothes and waited for them to dry. It's just a guess really," I explained. "You saw the state lab report didn't you?" he asked. "No, what did it say?" I asked. "Amanda Allen's DNA was in the Jerrell cabin. The guess is that she had been gone a few hours, because there was water in the tub from her shower," Simpson informed me. "So are you closing in on her?" I asked. "Probably not, but we are closing in on her husband's body. We have current tables for the river. He should be washing up at the dam tonight or tomorrow." "I can't imagine too many people would help her, if she is on the run for this. Where do you guys think she went?" I asked. "We don't have a clue. Her family all swear they know nothing. The Jarrell burglary pretty much supports that." Simpson said to me. "Yeah, I have to go along with that. Well I just stopped by to see if you had her in custody before I headed out to visit my mom for a couple of days," I suggested. "Nothing much is happening, so go enjoy your mom. You won't miss anything and you won't be missed," Simpson said. "Gee that really makes me feel special," I said with a laugh. He shrugged as if to inform me that the conversation was closed and I could think anything I liked. I walked to the parking lot with the reason I stopped by the station in the first place in hand. It was payday for the county employees. I wasn't going to get rich from the county, but I still needed the money. I could stop by and pay my rent, but it would also wait till tomorrow, I thought. I drove four hours to get to my mom's house by dinner time. Since mom knew I was coming I expected something good for supper. My idea of good and the rest of the world was probably different. I would have settled happily for meatloaf or hamburger potpie. "So mom, I have been dreaming of dinner all the way home, what are we having?" I asked. "Your dad called. He wants to take us to dinner," she informed me. "Is it just the three of us or is his new wife going to be allowed to stay up late enough for dinner out?" I asked. "Sylvia, I'm the one who is supposed to be bitter," she said. "You know, we could both be bitter. I'm pretty sure there is no rule against it." I suggested. "Why she is a perfectly charming girl," Mom said. I broke into laughter. "I wish you could have heard yourself say that," I suggested. "Pretty silly I know. Actually her mother is a friend of Joan's," Mom said. "Who is Joan?" I asked. "A friend I made after you went into the Air Force, Joan and I went to church together for a while. I think she did it just to check me out, because after the divorce, she and I stopped going places together," Mom said. "Maybe Dad's new mother in law told her to choose. It could be rather embarrassing almost like incest," I suggested. "It is nothing like incest," Mom said. "Sure it is, we are all kind of sharing daddy. I know you and daddy still do it now and then," I said. I was just guessing, but it was a good guess. When I was a kid I saw them doing the dirty several times. "Well we don't really plan it, those things just happen now and then, and I would prefer you not tell anyone," she said. She paused a moment the went on. You said we. You didn't mean you had sex with your dad, did you?" "We have never had sex, but we have talked about sex when I have been drinking with him," I explained. "Sylvia family relationships are complicated. I'm not proud of my relationship with your dad, but it is something we can all live with," Mom said. "And does his new wife know?" I asked. "I have no idea. I certainly have not told her," Mom said. "Would you?" I asked. "If she asked me I would yes, and your father knows that," Mom said. "Because you don't want to cook, I am going to have to call a girl who graduated high school the year before me, mom. That hardly seems fair." "I believe we can have a conversation without it getting all sarcastic," Mom said. "Okay Mom, set it up, but I will not go out drinking with them. Dinner then we are home watching TV with a cup of hot chocolate." I insisted. "I will make that part of the deal," she agreed. "Also we meet them at the restaurant. I want to be able to make a clean get away," I demanded. I took another shower and changed yet again. I had clothes in the closet at mom's so dressing in wool pants and a sweater was easy to arrange. I looked presentable enough for a real restaurant, even though I hoped dad would not insist on a fancy one. The restaurant was an upscale chain type thing. I could manage to eat the food even though it was more plastic than I liked. What I had problems with was Mom and Dad. Since his new wife stayed home, they were acting like it was a date. I had no idea what that made my part of it, but I could look the other way for them just so long. "Tell you what mom, why don't I take your car and head on home? I'm awfully tired. That way you two can stay and catch up." I suggested. ------- Chapter 10 "No way," my dad said. "Your mom and I can catch up anytime. You moved out of town again. You were gone four years in the Air Force. then two years in that community college thing down east and now you are living in the mountains. So tell us all about the place where you live." "I live in a fifty year old motel, how exciting can that be?" I asked. "So have you met anyone interesting?" mom asked. "If you mean have I met any men, I had a date last night. The first date I have had in a year." I said. "Eleven months, but whose counting," my mom said. "So now you are keeping track of my love life? What the fuck is up with that?" I snapped. "Watch your mouth," my dad said. "Daddy, where the hell do you think I first heard that word. If you remember I was ten and asked you what it meant," I said. "Just because I'm an idiot doesn't mean you get to be," he said. "And you are an idiot," I said. "So how is my step mother anyway?" "You don't really want to know. You just want to be sure I know that you don't approve," Dad said. "Daddy, we were both in diapers at the same time. Of course I disapprove." I burst into laughter. I did that because it hit me just how absurd it all was. I climbed out of bed this morning after having my brains screwed out by two brothers and made fun of my dad's younger wife. I knew I had no right to say a word, but I didn't care. He asked for it. "Well your mother and I are not going to have sex even though someone in this family should," dad said. "Is that aimed at me. If it is I'm not anywhere near the frigid bitch you think I am. I'll have you know that I was the center of a threesome last night." I said it smugly. Then I laughed out loud. I was struck by a thought. What other twenty six year old woman would have proudly told her parents she had been screwing two guys at the same time. I had to be from the most dysfunctional family in the world. "So have you learned to enjoy the taste of semen?" my dad asked. "No, but I haven't thrown up from it in years," I suggested. Then I waited to see what mom would say in response. She never said a word, or showed any reaction at all. She just wanted to change the subject quickly. "So Sylvia, are you enjoying the work?" she asked. "It's better than standing guard duty on airport gates in the middle of no where. Now I get to ride around in a car in the middle of nowhere." I replied. "So you are getting by, which is pretty much what we all do," mom said. "Yeah mom, life is neither terrible nor great, in other words things are just okay. If life gets too good I worry, too bad and I worry, so right now I'm just flowing with it," I explained. "You screwing any guys my age?" Dad asked. "No daddy, I'm only screwing the two guys from last night and they are my age. But I promise you I will keep an open mind about guys your age." I stared hard at him. I was waiting to see if he was going to do any explaining all about that line of conversation to mom. He obviously didn't want to open that particular can of worms. "Well if you need any help your mother is pretty good at picking men to sleep with," he suggested. "Oh what does that mean?" I asked. "Yeah what does that mean?" mom asked. "It means you have had some pretty important lovers since the divorce. I remarried and you just screwed around," dad said. Things were about to turn nasty so I said, "Well thanks for dinner, but I can't say much for the conversation. Mom I'm taking your car and going back to my own. You can come with me or have dad drop you off at home later," I said sarcastically. "I'll drive and Harry, thanks for dinner, but I think I will go home alone. Your new wife deserves better than this," mom said. I was proud of her. It might have been the first time I ever heard her say no to daddy. She definitely was being hit on by the dirty old man. We were about half way home when she asked, "Sylvia, I need to know. I need to know the truth. How far did you and your father go." "Mom, nothing ever happened when we were a family. He is an asshole, but he isn't a pedophile. At least not that I know of," I said. "When did it start?" she asked. "Mom, you really don't want to know all this," I said. "No, I don't want to know, but I need to know. When did it start?" she asked. I thought about it and decided to come clean, It might make it easier for her to turn her back completely on that episode in her life. "You two were divorced and I was home on leave after my first deployment to the Sandpit. He took me to dinner like we used to do when I was a senior in high school. The difference was that he let me drink beer that time. I wasn't quite old enough, but since I was in uniform the waiter didn't ask. After a pitcher of beer we got to talking about sex. It was mostly about him and my step mother," I was just as sarcastic as ever. "I began to tell him about my sexual adventures. He asked how old I was the first time. I explained that it was when I was sixteen. It was the same year he and the prom queen started fucking." "Please don't talk like that," mom said. "Mom, that is the least of my bad habits. Anyway after that the gloves came off. I told him what I thought of him divorcing you for the teeny bopper and he told me what he thought me screwing at sixteen. According to him he knew it all the time. Women act different when they are screwing, or so he said. After that admission we moved from the restaurant to his apartment. Step mommy was at the beach with her family, so it was our time together. How much detail do you want. I am willing to edit this any way you like." I said it hoping she wouldn't want to know any details. "Did he kiss you with tongue?" she asked. I looked at her and shook my head. I didn't want to tell her, but I knew I was going to tell the truth. "Yes, but to be honest we were both a little drunk. I suppose I was as much to blame as him." "Yes you were," mom said. She wasn't going to let me off the hook easily. "Did you see his penis? He was always proud of it." "Yes, but it was after he kissed me. He asked what the largest one I ever had was and I said average. He asked if I had ever seen one nine inches long. I said no. He didn't ask if I wanted to. He just stood up and unzipped his pants. He removed it from his shorts and I saw it hanging there." I could not believe that I was saying such things to my mom, but I swear I hoped it would help her move on to a new life. I wasn't doing it to hurt her. "In all honesty we had a lot to drink. It didn't seem like such a big thing. I mean I had seen it before, when I saw the two of you doing it." "Did you touch it?" she asked. I could have lied but I doubted that it would have been believed anyway. "Yes I touched it," I said. I didn't want to expound, so I got quiet. "Did he ask you to touch it?" Mom asked. It was maybe a chance for me to do some damage control, but I chose the truth instead. "He didn't ask, but he held it up to me. He stood there waiting to see what I would do," I explained. "You already told me that you touched it," Mom said. "Yes, I took it in my hand. Before you ask I rubbed it, but very slowly just enough to cause it to become erect. I did not do it fast enough for him to ejaculate." I explained. I can't believe he let you walk away leaving him like that," mom said. She did know him for sure. "Didn't he ask you to finish it?" "I have thought about it over the last couple of years. I think he wanted it to be my idea. What he asked me was what I thought of his cock. He asked if I loved it." "What did you tell him?" mom asked. "I told him that I did, but not sexually. He said he understood. Then he said he had always wondered what my body looked like." "You know I did show you mine," he said to me. "I guess I was drunk enough so that it only seemed right. I took off my clothes." I said to mom. "You have small boobs, not nearly as big as your mom's, but I always knew that," he said. "Did you take off your panties as well?" she asked. "Yes I did. He also commented that they were wet, and that my thighs were shinny as well." "So you were naked and hot for him," she said pretty cruelly. "Mom, you would have been, if it were you. Please don't play holier than thou with me. You are screwing him knowing he is married to someone else." "Sylvia he isn't my father," she said in a loud firm voice. She got quiet for a while then finally she went back to picking at the injury. "I know how much he loves oral sex. Did you suck his dick?" "Mom, you are talking like me now," I said. "Shut up Sylvia and answer the question," she demanded. "No mother, I did not give him a blowjob," I said angrily. "What did you do?" she asked. "I know he didn't let you walk away after you make his dick hard." "I let him slip his hand between my legs. Before you asked I let him finger me just as I have let other men do. The only thing wrong is that he is my father. To him, at least, it is just an accident of birth. I think it means nothing." "Did you cum for him?" mom asked. "Yes I did," I admitted. "And what did you do for him Sylvia," she asked. "I let him watch me masturbate, while he did as well. He came on me just so you know, but I did not taste it." "I suspected all of that. I know he likes to come over when you are here and he was never the daddy type, so now at least I know why. What does he do to you these days?" "We are seldom alone together so mostly it is just a quick grope now and then," I admitted. I paused and waited but neither of us went on. After a very long pause I asked, "Should I go on back to the mountain?" "I think so, but call me. I just need time to digest this. I am not angry just disappointed," she said. "Fair enough, give me a call if you work it out before you hear from me," I said. "Your dad really is a prick isn't he?" she asked. "Yes but we all know it," I said in agreement on my way out the door. ------- Chapter 11 I arrived back at the motel, two hundred miles from my home town at four in the morning. I was exhausted, but more concerned with my mom's feeling than anything else. It wasn't the first time in my life that I was awake at 4AM. Since there was nothing I could do to help mom at 4AM, I fell into bed and at least tried to sleep. The ringing of the room phone woke me. My cell phone couldn't ring because it was turned off. I had even taken the battery out, so that I wouldn't be disturbed at home. Of course I was no longer at home, so the room phone rang until I answered it. "Hello," I said probably sounding like a zombie. "How quick can you get down here?" Chief Deputy Webster asked. "If I come in dressed for work about an hour, if I come in dressed like a hag from the underworld ten minutes," I replied. "Uniform, no fixing up, but clean and not smelling like a bar," he said. "It's important." He did not give me a chance to complain, he just hung up on me. I jumped out of bed and into a shower hot to scrub my nasty ass then cold to clear the cobwebs. After that I put on a clean uniform. I brushed my hair as I walked to the car. Since I didn't go by a drive in restaurant, I went to the courthouse hungry. I made it through the front door, then was told by the receptionist on duty to get my ass into the detective's offices. "Porter, I need you to talk to the Allen woman's sister. We finally found her, Every time I say hello to her, she starts to bawl." Simpson said. "What in the world would cause anyone to bawl around a sensitive guy like you?" I asked trying to keep a straight face. "Listen up Porter, this is your chance to prove you can be of some use around here," he said. "Simpson, you don't get it. I don't have to prove I'm good enough to be here. You assholes have to prove, you have reason to let me go. You are already being investigated for discrimination. So now you can either get your head out of your ass, or I'm going back to bed." "Porter, get in there and find out all you can from that woman and Simpson try to keep your fucking mouth shut. It's men like you who have the labor relations people on my ass," Webster said it from across the room. Deloris Harold was a small woman and old looking even though she was probably no older than me. She most likely had a much harder life, even than me. She was seated at the metal library type table, which was in every TV cop show's interrogation room. "Before we get started, do people call you Deloris or Dee?" I asked "Most people call me Dee," she said trying to smile. "Then do you mind if I call you Dee as well?" I asked. "No not at all. You are a lot more polite than that guy who was in before you," she added. "I don't expect that he set that bar very high," I said "Men seem to think they have all the answers and all they have to do is say it and everyone accepts it immediately." "Yeah," she said hoping for a break from the interrogation. "I have to talk to you but all I want to do is help you and your sister. You know all I ever heard her called was Mrs. Allen or Jennifer's mother. What did ya'll call her growing up?" I asked "Gypsy, we called her Gypsy when we were kids. She was just plain wild but in a good way. She was the one who would jump out the barn loft onto the hay pile. You know just adventurous." Dee said. "She sounds cool. Judging from her pictures it looks like she got married young." I said it just to add words to the conversation. "Yes, pregnant at 16, so she got married," Dee said sadly. "There, but for the grace of god, go I," I said it and I meant it. "Me too," Dee said. "So Dee, if you have heard from her since the night Jenny went missing you need to tell me now. The guy who was in here before me, wants to charge you with hindering the investigation. If I were you, I would help me help Gypsy, or I would call a lawyer. I probably shouldn't have told you that." I waited to see what she would do. First one who speaks in a situation like that loses. "She called me the night it happened. I have been sick wanting to tell someone what happened. Ya'll have it all wrong. Gypsy didn't kill Jenny," she said. "Then tell me what happened," I asked gently. "Her no good husband Harold killed Jenny and beat Gypsy while he was at it. He might not have meant to kill her, but he did. When he saw what he did, he wrapped her in a plastic sheet and took he out to hide. Gypsy was crazy by the time he got back. She had his shotgun and when he walked through the door she shot him. "So after he was dead she loaded him in the truck and took him to the boar ramp?' I asked. "She said she backed the truck into the boat ramp opened the rear door and pulled him out into the water," she said. "I wonder why they didn't find any blood in the truck?" I asked. "Harold was a painter. He had lots of that blue painters plastic tarp stuff." Dee said. "Dee everything you said sounds perfectly reasonable what did she do after she dumped the body?" I asked. "She had her bike on back of the truck. She rode the bike to the Jarrell cabin and took a shower. When her clothes were dry, she dressed again and rode the bike ten miles to the truck stop on the interstate highway. She got a ride with a trucker and has been in Florida ever since. "Dee, do you know how to reach her. A cell number or something?" I asked. She just looked down, so I took it as a yes. "Dee, you need to call Gypsy and convince her to turn herself in. Tell her you will get her a lawyer and we will see that her side of the story is told. To be honest, I'm not sure we can make it go away, but I never thought that girl in Florida would walk either. You never know about juries. If she turns herself in, it is going to look better than if some cop finds her hiding somewhere." I was trying to sound as honest as I was being. "Yeah, that is pretty much what my friend's husband, who is a lawyer, said. It's why I called the Sheriff's office. I just never expected to be treated like that jerk treated me. I mean I came in on my own." Dee said. "Men, what can I tell you," I replied. "Yeah, will you stay with me, while I call her?" she asked. "If they let me," I explained. "Let me get you a phone." I stood and walked from the room. I could tell Simpson was pissed and that pleased me. He might try to make trouble for me, but you can't fight success. "So we use one of our phones and have a trace on it before the sister answers," Simpson said. "Simpson buy me a diet coke," I demanded. He opened his mouth to make some nasty comment no doubt, when Webster said, "Simpson do it and consider it a bargain for her having saved your ass." "It't not for me, it's for Dee," I said smiling at Webster. "Here you go Dee, a phone as promised and a diet coke from Detective Simpson. Men always buy things rather just apologizing," I said it shaking my head. "Yeah, my boyfriend was like that," Dee said. It took Dee three tries over twenty minutes before Gypsy answered. She just said she had been busy. I expect that she was turning tricks or some other less than admirable thing to earn money. Being on the run was expensive. Dee prepared her for me, and then I talked to her. They were busy tracing the call as I spoke. "Gypsy, Dee told me what happened. I can only say this, it will sit a lot better with a jury if you turn yourself in, than if we have to find you. If I were you, I would get myself a lawyer and then I would turn myself into the nearest FBI office." "Oh you would?" Gypsy said. "Sweetie, you have been on the run for a few days now. The things you have to do to live are only going to get worse. Believe me there are a lot of bad things that can happen to you when you are on the run." I said. "Yeah, I have seen a lot already. I guess if I come back there, I can get my family to help me take care of this." Gypsy said. "Honey, I know Dee wants to help you. That gives you a step up. You can start forgiving yourself, once you are off the run." I advised her. "Yeah, I do need to do that," she said. "Webster came to the door and nodded, Gypsy I am going to send some Florida cops to you, so that you don't have to do anything. We are going to call his your surrender. I will testify to that for you, so just stay there and give up when they show." "Alright," she said. "So Gypsy what's the weather like where you are?" I asked. "It's warm but humid," she said. "Ah, you seen any alligators?" I asked. "It's only on TV that the alligators are in people's back yards. It's kind of like timber rattlers in the mountains where you are." she said. "I wish you hadn't said that, I hate fucking snakes," I said. "Me to," she said. Then she added, "Can I speak to Dee till they get here?" "Sure, just don't make any big escape plans. I would be in so much trouble if you did." I laughed after I said it. I sat for fifteen minutes listening to Dee's end of the conversation. Then suddenly she said, "The cops are at the door. She said she had to go, but the officer there came on the phone and wants to talk to you." She handed me the phone. "You the cop who talked her into surrendering?" he asked. "Yeah, wasn't anything to it. She wanted to come home." I said. "Whatever it saved us some shit no doubt. thanks," he said. "Just glad we are all going home tonight, her included." I said. "Yeah," he said then broke the connection. "Thank you," Dee said then hugged me. She was crying and I was beginning to tear up as well. "You did okay, Porter. Don't get all wound up. You still have to put your time in," Simpson said. "Oh I don't mind. Maybe by the time I get my time in, they will have figured out what a loser you are. If not, I have worked with guys worse than you and survived." "There are guys worse than Simpson?" one of the patrol deputies asked. "Think, Afghan Chieftain drug runner," I commented. "I will say this for you," Webster Commented. "You can hold your own. I wouldn't worry about Simpson." "I wasn't really worried about anyone. I am just trying to get by long enough to collect that big pension." "Good to hear," Webster said. ------- Chapter 12 "So go home and get some sleep. You look like hell," Webster staid. "Gee thanks, I needed to hear that. However after five hours sleep, it isn't unexpected," I said. "Then don't stand here searching for compliments, go home and sleep. You have tonight off anyway, so when I see you tomorrow at noon for your 7AM shift, I expect you to look your normal gorgeous self," Webster added. "I'm only gorgeous because you are comparing me to the likes of Simpson," I said with a smile. "I am gone." Back in the motel I had to admit that I was pretty proud of myself. It was three in the afternoon, and a hell of a lot had happened in those five hours I had been at the station. We had pretty much solved the Jenny Austin murder and the father's as well. I wasn't ready to say he was Jenny's doer, but it was pretty sure one of the parents was. Since one was in the river and one was on the way back, it looked as if the the case was well in hand. I felt good about that regardless. Since I had stopped on the way home for pizza, I ate the combination lunch and dinner pizza alone. I drank a glass of very bad instant ice tea drink. I had been experimenting with combinations of mixes. I was trying to get something that was drinkable. Some had way the hell too much lemon, some had that disgusting sugar substitute taste. So far the best combination I found was the ice tea mix with lemon and fake sugar from Walmart then mixed with pure ice tea mix with nothing added. It's purpose was to strengthen the tea from Walmart and kill some of the fake lemon. The concoction was as good as about half of the restaurant's tea where I ate. Which said very little for those restaurants. After that pretty good pizza and the awful ice tea, I fell into bed. I was exhausted but I couldn't fall asleep until I masturbated. That was because I was so excited to have been really involved in the Austin girl's murder investigation. In order to get into the mood, I relived the night with James and Simon. I almost called them, but it was early afternoon, they would most likely be out lifting a car or serving a divorce summons. Whenever I felt my job was crap, I thought of James and Simon. I would hate to do what they did for a living on their best day ever. It was hard to concentrate on the sexual experience we had enjoyed, when there were so many entertaining things about them. Neither of them was drop dead gorgeous, but they were classically handsome in some ways, and thug greasy in others. All in all they were hard to define. Unless it was to say they were just plain interesting and fun. I remember the feel of Simon's semen in my mouth and the spasms of my muscles as I orgasmed around James' cock in me at the same time. Just as I had the night before I came uncontrollably when it happened. It was a feeling that just drained all the energy from me. Because of it, I slipped almost instantly into sleep. "Hello," I said into the ringing phone. It was 10PM according to the alarm clock on the night table. "Hey there girl," Simon's voice said. "I know it's late, but I got you on my mind and now I can't sleep." "Simon you are an ass. I was sound asleep, now I won't be able to get back to sleep," I lamented. "That's a good thing. Let's go to the movie in Dobson. They have a midnight show over there. It's one of some horror movie which no one ever no one ever heard of. I love cheesy old horror movies." "I don't, I'm going to go have a drink, then go back to bed." I said that only because I was wide awake all of a sudden. "Where are you going then, maybe I'll join you?" he asked. "I didn't invite you and I don't know any quiet clubs up here yet," I said. "Unless you like Willie Nelson there are none," Simon said. "Hold on how are you fixed for balls?" "What the hell do you mean?" I asked. "There is a biker bar out on the road by the county sports complex. They only sell beer and dope, but they say it is lively. I am pretty sure they won't like a cop as a customer." he said. "Simon, why don't you come pick me up and we won't tell them what I do?" I figure I would see how he was fixed for balls. I really didn't care, if he was brave or not to be honest. I didn't need a hero, I needed a kinky lover and he was that. "I'm gonna pass on the biker bar, and honestly you should as well. I am told they deal meth there and if they do, you could get your ass killed," he said. "Now you are making me want to go see, if that is true. I might hold off till another night though. That big ass motel out on the interstate has a lounge I bet. Probably has some travelers with money as well." "Now I might go there with you," Simon said. "Simon no offense hon, but I think you would cramp my style either place. I'm saving you and James for raw sex. I might go to your nudist meetings, but I'm not so sure about that yet. I am a Deputy Sheriff you know?" I asked. "Yeah I know, but I bet there is a way we can work it out. Regardless sorry I woke you," he said hanging up the phone. I went into the bathroom stripped off my top and panties then climbed into the shower. As I washed my ass, I thought I was sure making up for all those showers I missed while deployed. It seemed that every time I got out of a bed, I got into a shower. It wouldn't have been so bad, but I was in and out of a lot of beds since I got home. After the shower I dressed in clean panties, a tee shirt, jeans, and a white men's dress shirt to cover my tee. Once I was dressed, I debated blow drying my hair, but decided to risk going out with it just toweled dry and save the time. The worst that could happen was a runny nose. Those I got fairly often. Nothing sexier than a small chested, big ass woman with a runny nose. At that thought I broke into laughter. The military parka I slipping into was the medium weather type. There was one I could wear to the north pole in the closet at mom's house, and one with no lining I could wear in the rain as well. The one I wore was canvas with a medium weight thermal lining inside. That and the other layers I wore would more than keep me warm. I was not especially horny, since I had masturbated that afternoon. However I was looking for company. Company did not always mean sex, sometimes it mean let's talk and see if we really want to spend any real time together. Such was my plan for the trip to the High Pass Inn. It was a motel from a chain, but with a little different feeling. Kind of a chrome and glass corporate hotel meets a bed and breakfast. I had been told, by Sarah again, that it had the classiest lounge in the area. So I figure I should go see it at least once. The drive from my motel to theirs lasted about fifteen minutes but I didn't get started until 10:30. That made it 11PM before I got settled into a table overlooking the almost empty dance floor. "What can I get you?" the young woman asked. "Is there any chance I can get some food most anything will do?" I asked. "Well, if you go into the hall and check the vending machines, you might find some stale potato chips," she said. "I guess I will just take a draft beer and leave after one," I said. "Might work out that way, then again who knows. There is just no accounting for taste," She did smile as she walked away. I assume she pegged me as a lousy tipper, so she decided to say what she really thought. When she returned five minutes later, she said, "That will be two bucks. Sorry we don't run tabs this late at night." "It's okay I don't expect any special treatment even though I am the Deputy Sheriff assigned to patrol this part of the county." Then I handed her the two dollars, but no tip. If she had ask for a tip, I would have told her to never piss off a bitch with a gun. I sat alone for about ten minutes before a man even younger than me showed up. "Say would you like to dance?" he asked. "You mean to tell me people try to dance to that shit?" I asked. "Well these days it's rap or country. It isn't easy to dance to either." he said. "I wasn't looking to Charleston, but I was hoping I wouldn't have to do those tribal things." I was pretty sure his response was going to be interesting, since he was black. "Oh you got a race problem going on?" he asked. "Not at all the last time I met a thug in a night club, he turned out to be a dentist in the daytime. I just take nothing at face value these days." I said it with a smile. "So you ever have a brother?" he asked. "No, I was an only child. But if you are asking if I ever did it with a black dude, the answer is yeah a daytime dentist. He was only slightly better hung than my boyfriend at the time. He also felt like since he was pretty well endowed, he didn't have to do anything to please me. In other words, I was terribly disappointed." "Okay, then I'll leave you alone," he said. "Good plan, since obviously all you have to offer is the fact that you are black. You really should work on becoming a special human being, not just an accident of birth," I said it with a smile. "You know that is so fucking racist," he said. "You need to work on what the definition of racist is. You will find that you are the one who is a racist here." I said. "So I guess you don't want to fuck?" he asked. "I didn't say that, I didn't even say that I didn't want to fuck you. I just said I don't want to do tribal dances with you," I explained again. "Okay then lets go to your place and get it on," he suggested. "Oh hell, you aren't a guest here?" I asked. "No, are you?" he asked. "No hon, I'm just here hoping to meet someone interesting. Oh well you need to keep trying someone here will take you home with her or maybe with him. Either way it won't be me, sorry," I said. He could blame at least some of his bad luck on the waitress. I was just out of the mood by the time he came along. I finished the beer by midnight, so I headed to the parking lot. "You were pretty mean to me," the young black man suggested. "Yeah there is some truth to that. I just guess I'm not in the mood. Let it go and maybe some other day I will be in the mood. If you press this, I assure you that it will not be a happy ending, ever." I showed him the badge as I spoke. He just faded into the night. There are those women's movement people, who will say I should have let him continue then busted him. I try to just react, not make things happen. I guess that's what happens when you have all the excitement you need, without looking to look for it. Then again after two tours in the Afghan back country, I don't need much. ------- Chapter 13 When I awoke the next morning, after a night spent alone, I thought about Gypsy on her way back to town and to the Warren County Jail. The chief deputy gave me till noon as comp time for calling me in to talk to Dee on my day off. I had a feeling that he expected me to be on hand, when Gypsy arrived. I would have been perfectly happy to be back out on the road, when she pulled into town. I was wrong in what I thought. "Your buddy Gypsy won't be back for a couple of more days. They are having some paper work glitches, so we are all on hold. They did find her husband though. I should say they found what the catfish left of him," Simpson said. He caught me in the hallway of the Sheriff's station." "Well that's fine, but I'm pretty sure I'm all finished with all the Allens," I said with a smile. At least I am, if you have your way, I thought. "You never know these days, but you did get lucky this time," Simpson said. I should not have said it, but I couldn't help it. "You don't think Dee walking in to give her sister up was a piece of good luck for you as well?" I asked. It was obvious from my tone, that I was making fun of Simpson again. "Oh we were on her trail that's why she came in. When someone give up like that there is some pressure somewhere on them. I mean more pressure than just doing the right thing," Simpson thought he was schooling me with the tips. "I'll keep that in mind." I said. "Porter," the voice rang out down the hallway. The voice belonged to chief deputy Webster. "Yes Sir, chief deputy." I said. "I decided that I'm going to send you and Simpson down to pick up the Allen woman. Make damn sure that he does not violate her rights." "But Chief Deputy I'm very new here one of the other deputies would do better I'm sure," I replied. "Oh, which one of them do you think should go to the bathroom with her?" he asked. "Surely the U.S. Marshall Service would be happy to transport her?" I suggested. "Simpson you two are going period. Take that big black Caddy SUV we confiscated last month from the meth dealer. Do not lose her." Webster cautioned us. "Chief Deputy, I really think that Simpson would be happier with one of the boys," I suggested. "Are you implying that Simpson is gay?" Webster asked, with an almost straight face. "I did not say that sir. Please do not put words into my mouth," I said. "It's okay, I have had my tetanus shots." Webster replied. "Not what I meant," I replied getting more than a little miffed. "Listen you two, I am sending you together, because I don't think I have to worry about any extracurricular activities. Do I need to be concerned?" he asked. "God no," I said. "Only if there is a disaster and she is the only female, and I'm the only male left on earth," Simpson said. "Only then, if no vibrators survive," I said it angrily. Just so I could have the last word. "So go home and pack. You need to leave in time to get there before morning. Ten hours should give you plenty of time to drive it," Webster said. "I think I'll go home and get some sleep. I can pick you up at your motel after dinner and we can leave right away," Simpson said. "Why don't I pick you up, and we can leave from your place?" I asked. I knew no man wanted a woman to drive him around. I had done it just to prick his bubble of authority. I planned to do that early and often. "Because that will be impossible, since I'm driving," he went on. "I am the senior officer and I'm driving, end of discussion." "You get this one buy, but if you want to be in charge, you better be sure it is stated clearly by the bosses otherwise we are partners." I said. I turned and walked away ending any further discussion. I figured he could make sure that Webster got word to me, if I was going to be the official rookie doormat on the trip. If that didn't happen, we were going to be partners, whether he liked it or not. "Don't worry, I am going to have a talk with Webster. I know you are our only female deputy, but you are still a rookie." Simpson said. "Simpson I have been a cop longer than most of the male patrol deputies. It just wasn't here," I said. "Yeah Afghanistan, that just ain't the same thing." he said. "Simpson, I grant you it was different, but I will not grant you that it was any easier. So go do your thing with Webster because, if he doesn't make it clear that you are in charge, then you aren't in charge." I tried not to sound too argumentative, but I knew I came off that way. I left the station and went back to my motel room. I took a nap and watched a little TV while I waited for the call from the office. "Porter, this is Sergeant Michaels. Simpson had a fit up here this afternoon and as usual Webster buckled, rather than stand up to any of the men himself. So I have the not so enjoyable task of telling you Webster placed Simpson in charge officially." "Actually Sergeant that is a good thing as well as a distasteful one. If something goes wrong Simpson is going to have to stand up to it. He might try to lay it on me, but I'm going to remind Webster who was in change," I said with a laugh. "My, my you did learn a lot while serving the country," Michaels said. "Yes, I learned that almost all knives cut both ways," I said with a smile in my voice. Sure I was pissed, but there was no advantage in showing it. The phone rang again at 8PM. "I'm in the parking lot you ready to go?" Simpson asked. "Yeah I am, give me a minute to turn off the appliances and pick up my bag and I'll be down." I wore my uniform and a lightweight uniform issued coat. I wore it since we had a long ride in what I presumed was a warm car to deal with. The main reason I wore a coat rather than a thermal tee and sweater was to hide the holster and pistol. I wasn't sure how Simpson would be dressed and I didn't care. When I entered the Black Escalade I found Simpson all dressed up like a cowboy pimp. I found it amusing, but I said nothing. Simpson was a clown I decided at that moment. He was no more than ten years older than me. I swear he could have been ten year younger at times. I think it was only women who would have recognized it. If it hadn't been dead of winter, I am sure he would have been in a powder puff double knit jacket of some kind. As it was he was in a fake leather jacket that just screamed, 'I have no taste'. He wore a plain white shirt with a cowboy stitched collar. Simpson was a joke even for a man who was a joke. I said nothing. "You do know that everywhere we stop you are going to be tagged as a cop?" he asked. "And you are going to be tagged as a redneck asshole," I said with a laugh. "Okay can we at least call a truce. I am in change Sergeant Michaels said he called you." Simpson couldn't wait to tell me. "He told me, so get used to this, I am going to do what you say and only what you say. If anything goes sideways, you will be the one who screwed the pouch. You are not going to be able to blame it on me." "That's fine nothing is going to get screwed up," he said. "Well for sure there is no reason for anything to get screwed up," I said smiling. "With you Simpson, there is always a way, I'm sure." "Why do you say that?" he asked. "You just seem to be the type," I laughed. "Okay just sit there quietly while I drive us to Florida," he demanded. "Fine, just tell me this oh master. Are we going to head back tomorrow or wait a day?" I asked. "That depends on the Florida District Attorney," he explained. "Well if you drive ten hours down there, I would prefer not to ride ten hours back with you at the wheel. But of course that is up to you Massa." I said it as sarcastically as I could. We had only been on the road an hour and I was showing my ass. Yes, I knew that I was being a bitch, but I didn't care. "Well we will just have to wait till we get there to find out what we are going to do. If we decide to do a flip flop back tomorrow, you can drive some of the way. I'm not such a macho pig, that I want to die to prove a point." "Well that's a good thing at least," I said. "I prefer not to die to have you try to prove a stupid point. Let's just try to get this done with a minimum of drama." "I can vote for that as well. We don't have to like each other to show some respect and restraint," he said. "I certainly hope we can manage that. It is a good goal to strive toward," I said smiling. We rode another hour before he spoke again. "Tell me Sylvia do you have a boyfriend?" "Actually Simpson, I think I have two brothers," I said with a quiet laugh. "Holy shit, well call me Eddie, at least while we are in the car," he suggested. "Okay you can call me anything you want, as long as you would allow your mother to hear it." I said laughing again. "Fair enough Sylvia. I am going to stop for gas and coffee in a hour or so. Is that okay, or do you need to stop sooner?" he asked. "I have pretty good bladder control, so I'll let you know at least half hour before I need to go urgently. If you stop first fine, it not you can stop and get your gas at the same time," I suggested. "You aren't the least bit girlie are you," Simpson demanded. "Eddie, I am not a lesbian, so if that is where this is headed forget it. I have just had to pee behind a bush more than once in my life. It wasn't always when I was a child either. So don't expect me to be embarrassed by discussions of when and where to pee." "Okay, I got it. So you are candid and open about your body, does that hold for every part of it?" he asked. "As far as I know I am not embarrassed to discuss anything you can mention. What you can't do is ask me some veiled questions and expect ah honest open discussion. You have to be willing to put yourself out there." That's how I came to discus sex with Eddie Simpson. He showed me the size of his balls, metaphorically, when he asked, "You ever fuck a man who was a lot younger?" "Youngest guy I ever screwed was sixteen. The youngest I ever masturbated was thirteen. By the way I was a minor at the time of both." I said. "Of course, so I guess I have to confess," Eddie said. "Yes you do," I replied. "Fingered a girl who was under twelve. I'm not sure how much under. The youngest I ever put it in was fourteen. By the way I will deny it if you pass that on. I would expect you to do the same." "Oh yes," I replied. ------- Chapter 14 We left the county seat at 8PM on our drive south. Our first stop for gas and a bathroom break came in South Carolina. I had dinner before we left and it was the middle of the night, so I opted for just coffee and an old fashioned cinnamon role. One of those that wasn't too sweet nor with too much cinnamon on it. In other words a slightly flavored dinner roll. Simpson on the other hand visited their burrito bar. I am sure you can imagine what a burrito bar in a convenience store on the interstate highway is like. Words could never describe it. Let me just say, I planned to ride with the windows open. "You sure you don't want me to drive?" I asked as we headed to the car. "I have had more sleep, more recently, than you." "No thanks," he said. "I'll just take it easy." "If you take it any easier we won't get to Florida till tomorrow night," I suggested. "I am driving the speed limit. I have the caddy on cruise control." Simpson said. I didn't reply. I just shook my head. Not even cops set their cars on cruise control at the speed limit on the open road. Never mind, I said to myself and just got back into the car. It was still a long ride to Florida. Simpson looked dopey within an hour. "You sure you are feeling okay?" I asked. "I'm fine just talk to me." There was a further lull in the conversation then he ask. "Did you ever kill anyone?" "You ever been in the military?" I asked him in return. "Not in combat," he replied. "Then the easy answer is I don't really know. At the time I wanted to kill someone badly, now I kind of hope I didn't," I said. "How do you not know?" he asked. "Say there are are four trucks in a convoy. Each truck has an armed guard to keep the villagers from stealing everything, before it gets to the outpost. Then there is a Humvee with a machine gunner. As you pass by a mud hut a little back from the road, you take fire. Everybody with so much as a slingshot returns fire. You do that while you are getting the hell out of there. After you have been at the outpost for a few hours, a patrol comes in to tell you they found two bodies in the hut. So you know that somebody killed somebody. You also know that you were throwing rounds downrange, but did you kill anyone? That is hard to say. If you want to be a hero, then sure you killed them all by yourself. If you want to sleep nights, then no you didn't shoot anyone." "Oh I get it," Simpson said. "How many times did that happen?" "One is way too many Simpson," I explained. "Now it's your turn." "Middle of the night guy coming out of a grocery store after a burglary silent alarm. He pulled a piece of shit South American pistol on me. I shot him." Simpson paused a few minutes the asked. "Did you ever see what a 12guage with buck shot does to a human being?" "No, but I can imagine that it isn't pretty," I said. "You are right it isn't. I went home and just shut down. I found myself in the hospital, when I woke up. My neighbor found me passed out with the door open," he explained. "That happens more than you think, Like you, it is after the noise stops and you are all alone with it, I'm told." I replied. "I think I will let you drive at the next rest stop," he said. It took almost another hour but at 1:45AM, more or less, I took over the wheel. I let the big heavy caddy get used to me before I added some speed to it. I set the cruise control at 80MPH and rolled on into Florida. It was mid morning when we pulled into Fort Meyers Florida. The town isn't all that big, but it is much bigger than the county seat of Warren county. I drove the Caddy to the police station, where Simpson presented our paperwork to the desk sergeant. "We have been expecting you two. Your Sheriff called the DA and said you were on the way. The DA said fine but she wasn't going to rush the paperwork and screw it up." the desk sergeant said. "That doesn't sound good," Simpson replied. "No it doesn't and our DA is a flaming liberal on top of it all. She looks for excuses to put them back out on the street." the local cop said. "Wonderful," I said under my breath. "Why don't you two let me make a call to her office, just to see where we are. I'll let her know you are coming." he said. "That would be great," Simpson said. Then to me he added, "Damn it Porter play nice. Didn't you ever hear you can catch more flies with honey than sarcasm" "Really, I use flying insect spray, because I don't want to catch them and be a fly rancher. I want to kill them. Same is sometimes true for Lawyers," I said. "Oh does fly spray work for that?" he asked just as sarcastic as me. "Have you two had breakfast yet?" the desk sergeant asked. "Not yet, we kind of thought we would eat before we picked up Gypsy Allen," Simpson said. "You may be eating more than one meal. Go on to breakfast and check with the DA in an hour or so," He suggested. "Anywhere you recommend?" I asked. "To eat that is." "Try Edison's Lunch box on Widman Way," he suggested. "Good, I'll tell them you sent us over," Simpson suggested. The sergeant just nodded his head as we turned to leave. "You got to love GPS," I said as I entered the address into the gizmo, It directed us right to the parking lot. It just didn't tell me what to order. Simpson and I were both exhausted and in my case at least that translated into ravenous as well. I had their jumbo breakfast special. The description was simply 'a lot of everything on a platter'. "This is damn good," I said once I started to eat the breakfast orgy. "Yes it is. Did you know you eat like a weight lifter," he said. "Where did that come from?" I asked. "Oh I saw a special about female weight lifters on TV. They have these huge meals to add body mass. You don't seem to need the body mass though," he said with a real edge to his voice. "Simpson, you aren't exactly a male model you know. Not only do you have a belly and too much ass, your nose is way too big." I giggled. The giggle proved that I was tired, even more than the lack of a filter on my words did. "So now that we are not trapped in the car the truce is gone?" he asked. "If that is what you want, we can do that," I suggested. "Or you can stop with the insults and treat me like you would one of your real partners." "But you aren't one. You are a rookie patrol deputy," Simpson said. "Simpson, I am not a rookie anything, and you fucking know it. You on the other hand are a new detective trying to prove you belong. I personally don't give a shit whether you do or not. I just want to get along, so trust me I'm not after your job and I won't be for years. That is unless you continue to make my life uncomfortable. If you do that, then I will try to make my life better. It is just the nature of people to do that." "So, are you are threatening me?" he asked. "Of course I am, Surely you aren't so stupid that you misunderstood that," I said. "Not at all, I just wanted to be sure I had a good reason to continue rattling your cage," he said. "Rattle all you like, I am not a very good choice for a bully's attention though," I said with a smile. "So you think I'm a bully?" he asked. "You sure as hell try to be, but that's okay I only have the time or the inclination to take care of myself. And trust me Simpson, I will take care of myself." "At least we understand each other. Now let's see if we can make the local DA understand us as well." Simpson suggested. "Sounds like a reasonable plan." I agreed. I also researched for the DA's office address. It turned out to be in a county building across from the courthouse. So that's where we went. It is also where we cooled our heels for two hours. "We are going to close for lunch now. I don't suppose you would like to come back at one?' The receptionist asked. "No we would like to see someone before they all check out for lunch," I replied. "I'm sorry that won't be possible," the receptionist said. "I see, well then I guess we will just wait here. Were you planning to call the police to evict us from the reception room," Simpson asked in his nicest voice. "Actually that's up to you," she said. "Okay, so Simpson would rather have sushi or barbecue for lunch?" I asked. "Barbecue gives me gas, lets have that," he answered turning his smile on the receptionist. Just about that time a man walked from one of the offices. "Mr Wilson," the receptionist said. "Could you explain to these deputies from out of state that the paper work for their prisoner needs to be reviewed before she can be released to them." "Instead of that, you could just do the two minute review which you have had two days to do already," I said. "You know you aren't making any friends here," he said to Simpson as well as me. "I know, but you see her attorney's is a cousin of the local US district judge up there. You are holding up her speedy trial hearing and it's just a matter of who we piss off. We can go through all the proper channels and we both know what the outcome will be, or you can do the review before lunch." Simpson said. "If you do that I promise we will be gone by the end of day and I will make his life miserable all the way home," I said. "I have an appointment for lunch and it takes about twenty minutes to read those pages of custody change orders," he said. "So why not just sign them. How often do you really have to make changes in them anyway?" Simpson asked. "You are really going to have to wait at least till I get back from lunch," he said. "Tell you what Wilson, since we are new here and have no idea where to eat, why don't we just tag along with you." I suggested. I bet your friends will just love us." "Sure we can keep them amused with cop stories. We know hundreds between us. In some them all the lawyers don't look like complete assholes," Simpson said. Wilson lifted his cell phone, then began to speak. Odds were fifty-fifty that he was calling the police. "Honey, I am going to be about ten minutes late. Yeah something came up but I promise I will not be more than ten minutes late." I smiled at him. After he went back into his office with a promise to be back in five minutes, I said to Simpson, "Is Gypsy's lawyer really a cousin of the US district Judge?" "Hell probably everyone up there is related. More incest than in a family of West Virginia moonshiners". ------- Chapter 15 From the DA's office we went to the local Rainbow Steakhouse. Simpson convinced me to carry a couple of burgers and fries to the jail. We delivered the approved paperwork, which we hand carried through the building to the office of the head jailer. While the staff made their checks and balances, I ate a McDouble and fries. That and a canned coke from the machine in the hallway was lunch for both of us. It wasn't my favorite meal, but I also didn't feel that I had been punished. I sat quietly in the small jail house waiting room while they rounded up Gypsy Allen. When the jailer brought her in to us, he also brought a stack of paper for Simpson to sign. He signed for her since he was in charge. I smiled as I watched. While he signed I gave Gypsy a close look. She was trying her best to look innocent, but I wasn't convinced. She seemed to be on guard and thinking every second. She should be of course, since everything she said and did could find it's way into court. I tried to relax and convince myself that she was harmless. I tried, but it was a long way back to Warren County. I was reasonably happy not to have signed for her. It wasn't just that she might run, or that she might force us to injure her, it was also that she just might piss someone off and get us all in deep shit along the way. She had very little to lose by creating a scene everywhere we stopped. I could only hope that Simpson planned to keep the stops to a minimum. "Gypsy, I'm Deputy Sylvia Porter, I spoke to you on the phone. This is Detective Simpson, he is handling your case for the Sheriff's office." I made the introductions myself, since I had no faith in Simpson at all. I didn't want him to screw it up, but then again it was his problem not mine. "I can't say it's nice to meet you, but it kinda is. I am ready to get back home to see my sister and my lawyer. I want to get this over with," Gypsy said. "We will try to get you back as quickly as possible," Simpson said with a huge smile. Why wouldn't he have one she was drop dead gorgeous compared to me. She had those soft mommy boobs and had managed to keep her tummy flat. Her ass and thighs seemed to be almost perfect for those boobs. "Did you get lunch?" I asked to get Eddie's eyes off the top of her sweat shirt. they had obviously allowed her to change before they brought her to us. "I wasn't hungry too excited I guess," she replied. "Did you use the bathroom? We won't be stopping for a while," I explained. "I'm fine. I just want to get on the road home," she said. I turned my attention to the guard. "Has she been through a metal detector?" I asked. "No, but I can run a wand over her, if you want?" he suggested. "We do want," Simpson said. We had to wait about five minutes while they found, then ran a metal detector wand over Gypsy. She was clean, but if she managed to kill me, I wanted it to be for my fuck up, not some Florida jailer's mistake. In the parking lot I cuffed her hands in front of her, but also around her seat belt. She could get the seat belt open but it would only allow her a limited amount of movement. I was trying to be as careful and yet as cooperative as possible. I was hoping Gypsy would do the same. She wasn't the first prisoner I had ever transported, so I knew not to take anything at face value. "You ladies about ready to go," Simpson asked. "Simpson, I would be willing to bet that somewhere between here and the Warren county jail, we have to wait for you. It's just the way life happens." I did not say asshole, but yes I was thinking it. At 3PM we pulled onto the interstate highway for a minimum of 9 hours on the road. It was possible for us to be home by midnight but not likely. "We are going to need gas soon," Simpson commented shortly before 6PM. "I am going to need a bathroom break soon," I agreed. "How about you Gypsy?" "Yeah sometime soon," she said. She seemed to have been deep inside her own thoughts. Since we had been warned not to question her without her lawyer present, I had avoided making conversation with her. I did answer anything she asked as pleasantly as possible. "Is everyone up there upset with me?" she asked. "Honey, I can't discuss this with you, but it's going to depend on what happened," I replied. "Well I can tell you this, I didn't kill Jen," she said. I interrupted her. "Sweetie, I'm sure you have been told you don't have to talk to us, since you have a lawyer. You probably shouldn't." I could see Simpson cringe. He would have taken her statement and tried to justify it later. I could tell that Gypsy wanted to talk, so lawyer or no lawyer she was going to tell her story when she got back. How much truth there was in her story was another issue all together. "If you give me a cigarette, I will wave my right to a lawyer and tell you everything," Gypsy said to me. "I can't make that kind of deal," I said. "She can't make the deal because neither of us smoke, but when we stop for gas I will buy you a pack of cigarettes no strings attached," Simpson said. At least maybe we could get away without being accused of bribing her. Simpson pulled in at the next turn off. He also pulled into the first gas station we came to. "The sign said there was a Waffle House down the road. Do you want to go now or wait till we get there," Simpson asked me. "I can wait ten minutes, how about you Gypsy?" I asked. "Oh I can hold it that long, but not a lot longer," she agreed. "Tell you what, I'll pump the gas while you go to the men's room Simpson. Then when we get to the restaurant you can sit with Gypsy at the table, while I go," I suggested. Once in the restaurant I went with gypsy into the lady's room. She didn't take long which surprised me a little. I would have thought that, if she wanted to give us a test, that it would have been at that point. "Here she is Simpson, watch over her while I go back and pee," I said. "Oh yeah order me a burger and fries." When I got back to the table Simpson and Gypsy were gone. "What the hell?" I asked the waitress. "Right after you left your friend screamed and ran out the door. Your other friend took off after her, but some trucker stepped between them. Your friend showed him a badge and ran out the door." she informed me. "Shit," I said as I ran for the parking lot. When I found them Simpson had his hand on her arm but there were two guys between me and them. "Don't tell me you are convinced that our prisoner is being attacked," I said to the two men. "Now guys I'm sure Simpson told you he is a Detective escorting a prisoner, but you have your doubts. So did you call 911 to let the cops sort this out or were you planning to be her knight in shining armor." I saw them look at each other. "Well guys before one of us shoot you both you might want to know her last knight in shining armor was found floating in the river." I looked at Simpson to see what he planned to do. I couldn't get a read from him so I said, "Guys walk away before someone dies here tonight. Odds are real good that it will be one of the good guys." I was a little pissed. They never even acknowledged that I saved their ass. "Damn Simpson, aren't you glad you are in charge now. This is going to be really amusing in my report." I couldn't help it, rattling his cage felt good. Then I turned my attention to Gypsy. "Now young lady let me tell you this. If you run on me there won't be any truckers getting between us since the number of lesbian rapes is small. As far as outrunning me goes, forget it. I was third alternate for the U.S. Olympic 200 meter dash team. The way to stop a fleeing prisoner is to turn up behind them and push them between the shoulders. You can probably run at seven miles an hour. A fall face first at even that slow a speed will fuck you up bad, and I promise I will make damn sure of it. Now are you ready to go back and eat your dinner?" "Yes Ma'am," she answered. "How bad is this going to look for me?" she asked Simpson. "In order for it to make it to trial, it has to go into the official report of the incident. Sylvia and I would both have to agree to leave it out of the report," he explained. "I could do something for you both," she suggested with a rather evil smile. "Oh really, you do know that if you try to bribe us, that can make it to the report as well," I suggested. "Oh hell it is guaranteed to make it to the report. That being the case I'm sure you weren't trying to do that, were you?" Simpson asked. "I can't imagine that after she tried to get your ass beat by those truckers, or worse, that she thinks you can be bribed with sex. Surely she had something else in mind." I suggested. "Never mind," Gypsy said losing her good humored optimism for the first time. The burger was large but not especially flavorful. There was a time, when just being from home was enough, but I had gotten more discriminating by that time. Simpson allowed me to drive after dinner. I pushed the Caddy hard to make up for Simpson's lackadaisical driving. Even so it was after midnight when we delivered Gypsy to the local jail. "Watch her Michael," Simpson warned. "Gypsy here is tricky." We were in the parking lot when he said, "I'm not sure whether I want her to face up to trying to get my ass beat, or hide the fact that I fell for it." "That isn't totally up to you Eddie," I said as I turned to walk to my Toyota. I was enjoying the feeling of having something, even something so small, to hold over Simpson. I had no plan to blackmail him, but of course he didn't know that. "Where the hell have you been?" the voice of James Boyle asked over my phone once I turned it on again. "I had to go to Florida to pick up a prisoner and now I am exhausted and headed to bed ... alone." "I could come and just cuddle with you while you sleep," he suggested. "Have any women ever believed that shit?" I asked "I'm not sure. I know one pretended to believe it once," he suggested. "Did you get her back to the hospital on time," I asked. "Very funny, so when do you think you will be up to going out again?" he asked. "Give me a couple of days at least and I don't care how tempting the offer is nothing before that is possible." I said then clicked an end to the conversation no matter what he wanted. ------- Chapter 16 By the time I got to my room it was 5AM. Some of the state highway workers, who stayed at the Motel, had already begun to stir. If I had gotten into my room an hour earlier, I would have likely just fallen into bed and passed out. Since people were moving around, I knew that if I didn't run, I would lay awake filled with guilt. I refused to clean up though. That being the case, I dressed in my tight fleece running pants, and my tight long sleeve fleece knit shirt. After that I wrapped my lightweight holster and belt around my waist just before I pulled the thick sweatshirt over my head. I wore heavy socks and cheap running shoes. I wasn't even close to being a speed runner. Yes I had lied to Gypsy. I was also not a long distance runner. I was what the pros called a half hearted runner. I ran one half hour, which was once around the downtown and to the cafe in the square for breakfast. I tried to do that any morning, when I had time. Fortunately for me that wasn't very often. I could usually delude myself into thinking I burned enough calories in my daily life. After two days of riding in a car, I didn't even try to avoid the run. If I did, I would be calling myself names for days. I gritted my teeth and headed off into the 15 degree morning. I was thankful for the ski mask I wore when I ran. I carried my badge since approaching anyone dressed as I was could easily get me shot. I ran through the back streets and around the parking lots as I kept track of the time not the distance I ran. I always expected to find a broken door, hear a burglar alarm, stumble on a robbery, or maybe a murder victim, but alas so far I found a stray cat or dog now and then. If they were small enough I carried them with me to the cafe. The waitress there either found them a home or called animal control for me. If they were not easily portable I made a note of their location which I gave the waitress so that she could call. I just couldn't do it. I just wasn't the snitch type. Even though I was totally exhausted and stumbling a bit, I stopped for breakfast. Without the food, I would be waking hungry every couple of hours. I had the cafe's full breakfast special even the grits. Ordinarily I wouldn't be caught dead eating grits, but it was okay to eat grits in the Cafe on the Square. After a half hour run and a half hour breakfast, I ran back to my room. Something about sleeping after so long without a shower made me feel like a real redneck, but I just didn't care. I fell into the bed and pulled the heavy covers up over me. It was easy to drift off to sleep under the weight of those covers. It was 7AM when I fell asleep and it was 5PM when I woke up to pee. I should have stayed up, but I was groggy enough to just slip right back into the land of nod. When I woke up hungry at 9PM, I knew I had to get out of bed right that moment or risk never getting out. I showered and dressed in my off duty uniform. Jeans and a long sleeve knit tee shirt over an elastic strap they jokingly called a sports bra, so the could charge twenty bucks for it. They couldn't charge me that but they could some folks. I slipped the pistol rig onto my belt then pulled the medium weight field parka on over it all. I was hungry but my first stop was a walk through the lounge in the parking lot. I hadn't seen Sarah in a couple of days and wanted to fulfill my part of the rent discount deal. "Hey Sarah, how have you been without me?" I asked jokingly. "I have managed to get by without seeing you," she said smiling. "But it was hard." I had a feeling Sarah had a little girl crush on me. I thought it was cute and I was flattered, even though I had no interest in her at all. "I'm crushed," I said. "Anything been happening?" "Nothing at all, You know someone is always having words in a bar. As long as there is a minimum amount of name calling, and no blood shed, I tend to let it slide." "That's probably the best thing for business," I said. "I heard you brought that Gypsy Allen woman back this morning?" Sarah asked. "How did you know that?" I asked. "Her lawyer gave an interview with the local cable news people. They sure have a lot of nice things to say about you. Now detective Simpson, not so many," Sarah suggested. "Well, I had nothing to do with any of that," I replied. "He ended with you should please be careful of the good ole boy system, since Gypsy needs you." With that Sarah began to giggle. "Well the only damage to him would be from the press coverage. Since the local new is only seen by about ten people including Sarah and my momma, I think Simpson is safe." I finished my coffee, then I left the lounge. I drove the Toyota to the small shopping area out by the interstate highway's exchange. My guess was that since all the buildings looked about the same age, it had either just all sprang up about the same time or it was a shopping area owned by one man and the stores leased out. Either was it didn't matter to me my only concern was the Waffle House restaurant with the Sheriffs patrol car parked outside. "Deputy Porter," the deputy sitting in the window booth said. "Damn Letter, don't they ever give you a day off?" I asked. "Oh hell Sylvia, I am not the chief deputy's favorite new lackey," Letter said. "Letter, you are just jealous because I got to work with Simpson yesterday. I know you two are big buddies. I won't tell you how the other deputies describe your relationship." "Now, now Sylvia that is evil," he said with a laugh. "Beside you are just covering your own ass. I heard the rumors about you and the Boyle brothers." "Did you now, well I probably am guilty of poor taste sometimes, but nothing worse than that." I said. "Keep them close Sylvia, they can be useful. They know how to find people we can't find. They also know where things are, that we are looking to find. So don't let anyone tell you that you should stop seeing them." Letter said. "Now that is a good thing to know," I said. "I have no idea what else you are up to with them and I don't want to know," he said finishing his coffee. "I need to get a move on, we are running one deputy short at the moment." "You just got off didn't you?" I asked. wanting to know where my trainer was in the rotation. "Yeah off at 11PM. Stopped to eat on the way home. That's what people like me and you do honey. Nobody to cook for us, so we eat in places like this. Pretty damn sad," he said. "Listen Letter, we need a wife," I suggested. "What the fuck you talking about. I don't even like you Sylvia," he said with a smile. "That's why we would be perfect to share a wife. Give it some thought," I said only half kidding." "So would you like the breakfast menu," the waitress asked after Letter left without answering me. "Damn I have had nothing but breakfast food for two days, I want meat," I said. "Well, I can get you a steak, and fries with a salad," she suggested. "Okay it's a done deal," I agreed. "I want the steak done though. Nothing bleeding for me, thank you very much." I smiled at a couple of people who smiled at me. None of them knew me, so it had to be men on the make. I could do a reality TV show with that. 'Men, with no taste, on the make, ' I thought with a inward laugh. The steak wasn't bad and the potatoes were excellent. The salad was okay. I ate all of it which I don't usually do. I mostly eat salad only from a fifty item salad bar kind of place. Still I needed the green I knew. I managed to make it back in time to be in bed by 1:30AM. That gave me enough time to catch up on my sleep by 7AM. My morning run ended after forty minutes with me in the Cafe on the Square. I explain to Lucille that there was a very pregnant pit bull roaming around main street. Someone would be looking for her, so if the animal control lady didn't find her, most likely the owner had. Which might or might not be a good thing. After breakfast I ran back to the Motel. Once I finished my morning run all funky, I had my morning shower, then I finally felt clean again. It was after nine when I showed up at the courthouse, I went to Sergeant Michaels office but he was on the evening tour with Letter. So I moved on down to the Chief Deputy's office. "So Chief Deputy Webster, do I report back to my old unit now? They are on the evening tour." "You can do that if you like, or you can work with Simpson till he nails this Allen thing down tight," he suggested. "I think Simpson would be happier with someone else, but thanks anyway," I replied. "Yeah he said that too, but I kind of told him that it was up to you not him. Now if you want to piss him off say yes, and go to work for him. If you really want to piss him off say no. Then write me a real report about your trip home, not a fairly tale. Gypsy's lawyer told me, as well as the press, a very interesting story." "I have nothing to add to my report, which I haven't written yet. Maybe I will find out what Gypsy's lawyer said before I do." I admitted. "Good plan," Webster said. "Okay come in at 3PM and see Michaels" "Thanks Chief Deputy," I replied. "We still might have to send you home, if the hours get out of line. You have worked a lot of strange hours and we don't pay overtime or allow you to work off the clock. Anyway get home and get a uniform on. I will tell the press when you are due in. I will also tell Simpson, if he wants to tell his side he needs to do it at three." "You are the boss," I said happy to have it settled for me. Once back in my room, I checked all my email and phone messages. I returned a call to my mom to let her know that I had been out of town with no phone service. I had to explain that I had been escorting a prisoner back from out of state. "Oh, was it fun?" she asked. "Mom it's a job, just like before. The hours are just a little better, and no one has been shooting at me yet, so it has it's advantages." I said. "Yes it does. So have you met any candidates for son in law," she asked. "Not a one, but I have made love with a few guys. They just failed the son in law test, sorry," I said. After that call I dressed then drove the Toyota to the courthouse parking lot. I almost made it to the rear door before Simpson tried to tackle me. "Have you heard what that bitch is saying about us?" he asked. ------- Chapter 17 "I looked, but I couldn't find the interview with her lawyer anywhere," I admitted. "She says we offered to forget her attempted escape, if she had sex with us." Simpson said. "It's not believable that we conspired to have sex with her," I said. "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm going to tell the truth which should remove any suspicion of criminal activity. I hadn't planned to mention the escape attempt at all, but appears I'm going to have to do it." "Yeah, I agree. Just try to put it in the best light you can," Simpson said. "Simpson, there is no way to spin this that makes it sound like anything, but her running and you running her down. She obviously had it planned, so you did the best you could, not to lose her." I smiled at him to let him know that I was going to stand in the line like any other cop. I didn't have to like him, to do the right thing. "Sergeant Michaels, what do you want me to do?" I asked it as a generic question once I made it to his desk. "So you are back?' he asked. "Yes Sir," was my only reply. "Our Deputy Chief is going to conduct an official inquiry into the incident on the road back. I sure as hell am glad we had a female officer with her. Of course how she ran is a mystery," he said. "Even I have to pee now and then," I said. "Ah okay," he said shaking his head. "Don't say any more until Chief Deputy Webster calls for you. Do write your report and have it ready but do not turn it in until after the interview." It sounded like they might want a rewrite, but if they did there was going to be a problem. "Go on down to the garage and draw a car for tonight," he suggested. The rule in the Warren County Sheriff's office was first in, first out if possible. I was waiting for the first car to come in from patrol. My pay started when I checked in on the radio. I could not do any work until then. One of the early people from the morning tour came in and I took his car and checked on duty. I pulled the car into the park and removed my metal briefcase from the trunk. I used a picnic table to write my report on the prisoner escort detail. It was a simple account of the facts as we experienced them. I downplayed the DA coercion and the conversation we had with Gypsy except to repeat that it was her who offered sex to forget about the incident. It was before 4PM when I checked 10-8 and began to ride around looking over the roads in the south part of Warren County. We might not have been the highway patrol, but we did write tickets now and then. It was however the bane of my existence which got me moving first. "302 I have a Domestic Dispute at 5510 Claymore Dairy Road," the dispatcher advised me. "10-4," I replied and entered the address into the GPS system. GPS gave me the turn by turn directions to the address but couldn't give me the history of Claymore Dairy Road. Since I had no idea what it was, I guessed there either was or had once been a dairy farm there. Before I could decide which I arrived at the double wide trailer. I heard the man and women shouting when I pulled up. "Dispatch, you might want to head backup this way, it's pretty loud." "10-4," the radio said. Then dispatch sent Letter my way. He obviously had been headed my way already, since he advised his ETA was three minutes. "Hello in the house Warren County Sheriff's deputy here. Come on out and lets talk about this." Even as a rookie I had known not to go into the house alone. It was a standard law enforcement policy I think. Anyway it sure as hell made sense. "If I come in, someone is going to jail," I added. The man who came out had to be 6'4" and about fifty pounds over weight. He was a fucking mountain of a man. I put my hand on the stun stick just in case we went 'hands on' before Letter arrived. "What's the problem Deputy?" he asked in a loud almost commanding voice. "First of all, what's your name?" I asked. "Ed. My name is Ed Claymore," he said. "Oh, you one of the Claymore's this road is named for?" I asked. I was stalling waiting for Letter. "My great granddaddy I'm told had a dairy farm here once," he replied. "Cool, the only thing named for me was the man who carried people's bags in the fancy hotels," I said with a laugh. During that conversation Letter drove up in his SUV. Our patrol SUV were small Fords not the big Caddy I had driven to Florida. Once letter was outside the car, he was my bitch. First officer on the scene had the responsibility, but I could always surrender it to Letter should it get too complicated. Since I was still a rookie he could take over for me. If he did that, he better have a damn good reason. I planned to fight anyone who tried make me appear less than competent. "There was a lot of noise when I got here, but nothing else yet. I had him come out, so I didn't get trapped inside between the two of them," I explained. "Excellent thinking," Letter said. "Do you want to go inside and talk to the wife?" he asked. It was my decision but he had just made his preference known. "Sounds fair," I said and it did. "Watch daddy here, he was a little aggressive when I showed up." "Can do," Letter said. He didn't give me any of the instructions I had heard a hundred times. He simply added, "Be careful, we might be taking her rice bowl to jail. Some of these women tend to not take kindly to that." "I know," I said. I had seen it in family housing calls just like this one. "Ed what's your wife's name?" "Lois," he said without any elaboration. That concerned me a little. I nodded then shouted through the door. "Lois, I need to come in and talk to you a bit. Is that okay?" I waited a couple of minutes then called through the door I held open by that time. "Lois, I'm Deputy Porter, I would like to come in and talk a few minutes." "Come on in, but I got nothing to say," she informed me. She spoke to me from her seat on the sofa facing the Television. It was a nice flat screen TV but hot huge or anything. "Lois it's kind of dark in here, would you mind turning on a lamp?" I asked. When she turned on the lamp, she looked as I expected. Her lips were read and one was split over her front teeth. I saw some swelling around her eye. "Lois did Ed do that to you," I said pointing to her injuries. "No I fell," she said. "Lois, I can make him stop. You can make him stop and I can enforce it." I tried to explain. "So I go to the courthouse and get a magistrate to issue a warrant and you arrest Ed. Then Ed loses his job and I can't pay the bills on my job alone. You gonna come out and pay my bills Deputy?" "No, I can't do that, but would you consider this. What good is a house, if you are dead or a vegetable. Those things might happen next time," I explained. "Well maybe one day someone worse than him will settle it for me," Lois said. "Lois, I didn't hear that and don't ever say that kind of thing again. If something like that did happen we would be forced to pass the information along. If we had heard it that is," I said. I walked from the double wide mobile home, then said to Letter, "Lois said she is clumsy." "Lot of that going around these days," he informed me. I nodded my head. "Ed are you clumsy as well?" I asked. "I don't think so," he said. "That's good. Lot of clumsy people get really hurt in this harsh world we live in." I said it without any threat implied or otherwise. I turned and walked to my car. As I sat in my car I worked on my report while I waited for Letter to clear the scene. I planned to follow him somewhere. "Ed, if I was you, I would make this the last time we have to come here for this kind of thing. That new deputy holds a grudge." He stopped at my car on the way this. "Meet me at that gas station on North 66 about a mile out of town." he said. "Can do boss," I replied. "I ain't your boss, just your better." he informed me with a smile. "You ain't either," Get me a cup of coffee please. I'm going to finish this report while I remember his bullshit story." "Why bother, it will be the same next payday," Letter said. "Letter, you have no faith in your fellow man," I said laughing. "Oh I have faith. It is just that my faith is that they will do all the wrong things possible," Letter said. "You want your coffee black?" "Yeah, I'll be right along," I wrote the report very quickly on the car's laptop then sent it forward. During the stimulus period Warren County got lots of technology money. I was literally covered up with computers." I pulled into the parking lot of the convenience store ten minutes later. Letter was sitting in his car facing toward the exit. I pulled in beside him which meant that my SUV faced into the parking lot. It was fine because Letter would be watching my back, and I would be watching his. That's how those meetings worked. "So what do you think about Ed?" I asked. "If our job was really to serve and protect, we would slip back there tonight and just beat the shit out of him. Too bad that our job really to cover our ass, and if we have any time left to keep things under control." Letter said. "Yeah I agree, why is it assholes like that never attack cops. Not even light in the ass female cops?" I asked. "Let me tell you be careful what you wish for. One of these nights some asshole is going to try you. Remember this Sylvia everybody gets there ass whooped now and then. It's how you react to it that makes you who you are." Letter suggested. "How did you react to it?" I asked. "I caught the guy after he got off the county farm and I beat him just as long and hard as I could. Of course I was off duty and that was before DNA and all that shit," he said. "When it is me, I hope I can handle it like we did in Afghanistan," I said. "How was that?" Letter asked. "With grace, dignity, and restraint, when we were told he had disappeared," I said. "Tell the truth have you ever been beat down?" he asked. "Once at a Mississippi AFB. It was some kind of training base and I was out on a noise complaint. Some drunken airmen decided that they didn't want to cooperate and just knew they could whip my ass. Of course I swear it took all three of them, but I think only one did the actual beat down." I said. "So what did you do about it?" Letter asked. "They transfered me, so that I would have no contact with him. I came back to testify and that was all I could do," I said. "But, you would be surprised, what you can get done in Leavenworth for a couple of cartons of cigarettes. I am not above paying for my fun." "I'm going to remember that," Letter said seriously. "Not a bad idea," I agreed. ------- Chapter 18 The night ended finally after several hours of pure boredom. I hated nights like that. I would rather walk through a dark empty building, than do nothing but wait for the shift to change. On the way home from the motor pool, I stopped for a cup of bad coffee and a two day old roll. "You are not going to charge me for this roll are you?" I asked after one bite. I threw the remainder into the trash as I said it. If he insisted of course I would pay, but I just knew that it wasn't right. He saw my uniform and knew that it was a bad idea. "No charge," he said. "Get this straight. It is not because I'm a cop. It's because that roll is not fit for human consumption and the coffee is only barely drinkable. I will pay for the coffee and never come here again but that roll is toxic." I said it quite seriously. "No, no charge for coffee for police," he said quickly. I put the coffee cup down on the counter and walked away. When I arrived home, I reheated a cup of day old coffee in my microwave. It was still better than the convenience store coffee I had been drinking all night. I sat the coffee down and crawled under the covers. I never even went back to the coffee. The next thing I knew it was 9AM. I looked out at the gray looking parking lot and wanted to go back to sleep. It was one of those cold misty rains that Warren County had now and then. I had never seen anything like it. Mist hung in the air for a couple of days at a time. It was spooky at night. Of course I was on night shift, so I had that staring me in the face. With two more nights before the rotation, I would most likely be either wet or almost wet and definitely cold till the rotation ended. It was the perfect excuse to skip the day's run and God knows I loved any excuse to skip the run. I just couldn't bring myself to do it that morning. I had eaten too much crap, since I left on the trip to Florida, So like it or not I put on my dirty fleece running pants. I would have worn the clean ones, but since the weather was shit, why bother. They were at least dry, I thought. Yes I even wore the stinky tee and sweat shirt from the day before. I was tempted to put on my bright yellow poncho, but it made running almost impossible, so it was run wet and miserable. I had heard that they were going to build an indoor track at the community college over in Dobson, but it was just a rumor as far as I could tell. I took off in the rain and knew for sure I would be running harder, faster, andfor a shorter amount of time that particular morning. I got to the downtown and almost to the courthouse before a sheriff's car pulled me over. "Hey there chick, you know running alone is dangerous," Simpson asked. "What are you doing in a marked car?' I asked. "They took my caddy away. My regular car is in the shop getting it's physical," he said trying to be cute. "So what can I do for you. In case you didn't notice it's raining out here." I said. "Technically this is just a mist. I did know that it was falling though. Webster has an investigator from the SBI here today to talk to us about Gypsy's charges. Just thought I would give you a heads up. I am sure when you come in for the evening tour, the woman from the SBI will be waiting for you." "Thanks Eddie, but I'm just going to tell the truth. We did nothing wrong out there, so let her chew on that. If we try to sound all heroic and super cop, we are just going to sound guilty of trying to cover up something." I gave him the same advice I had been given during more than one military hearing for one thing or another. The advice was simple, 'Never try to spin a story'. "Well good luck, now get moving you are too smart to stand out in the rain," he said rolling up his window then driving away. "Asshole," I mumbled under my breath. Then I took off for the last ten minutes of my run. Back in my room I had time to check my email and phone messages before I showered. Since my morning run didn't end at the cafe on the square, I began to think about food. For lunch I decided to treat myself to a salad from the 50 item salad bar at one of the family steak houses in Dobson. Dobson isn't a huge town, but it does sit in a crossroads kind of thing. Lots of trucking and that kind of thing going on there. Of course there is also the dog food businesses. I mention this only to explain why they have more people and more shopping and restaurants. Technically Dobson isn't in Warren County, which explains why we never eat there on duty. The closest we can get is the highway plaza which is just inside Warren county but mostly has business from Dobson which cater to those who stop in from the highway. I expect they have more local radio and billboard ads than any other entity in the area. I'm not sure how much good it does most of the customers who don't wander in are from the rural areas around the county seat where I live. Anyway on the drive back from Dobson I had time to think about the SBI investigation. It shouldn't be hard to defuse it, if Simpson just told the truth rather than try to be all macho. Gypsy outsmarted him. It was that simple. It could have gotten nasty, but we got lucky. Some vague thought kept wandering around inside my brain but it wouldn't surface. I knew that it had nothing to do with my story, so I forgot about it. Sure enough when I got to the courthouse offices there was a strange middle-aged woman with Chief Deputy Webster. She had bad blond hair and no shape at all. I didn't even wait for the summons, I went to his office. "Chief Deputy do you want to see me?" I asked. "Come on in we might as well do it now," he said. "This is agent Mission. Agent Mission, this is Deputy Sylvia Porter." I shook her hand. "Deputy Porter no sense beating around the bush, you know why I'm here?" she asked. "Best I can tell Gypsy Allen filed a complaint against me," I said. "Actually not so much that as a complain against Deputy Simpson. You were more or less a witness in her complaint." Mission said. "Well, she isn't going to like what I have to say. It is all here in my report. You can read it, or I will be happy to summarize it for you. It doesn't matter it, because it isn't going to change." "Well then just hit the highlights for me," she demanded. I went through the story just as it happened. When I finished, I sat quiet and respectful waiting for the questions. Her sitting there organizing her papers and checking back in the file were simple interview techniques. There were designed to make me nervous. They worked to some degree, but not as much as she would have hoped. I just wanted it over so I could go to work. "So to your knowledge there was no deal struck between Deputy Simpson and Gypsy Allen," Agent Mission asked. "Not to my knowledge and I'm pretty sure I would have had some idea. They spoke very little," I said. The idea of sex for your silence whose idea was that?" she asked. "Nobody mentioned that as far as I can remember. I remember saying to her that trying to run would not look good to a jury. I think that is when she asked if there was something she could do to have us ignore her escape attempt. Frankly I just ignored it. I would have forgotten it, if she hadn't brought this action." "I will get back to you, if I have further questions," Agent Mission said formally. "Am I free to go to work now Chief Deputy?" I asked. "Yes check with Sergeant Michael before you leave the station for your assignment," he said it even though we both knew that I knew the procedures. "Yes Sir, Chief Deputy," I said as I left the room. Since I was the last deputy to check on, I got the last car to return to the motor pool. It was a five year old gas Guzzling full size Ford SUV. It also had a power wench on the front to pull other deputies out of the ditch ect. Everyone hated driving that monster under the best of conditions, but that night was just designed for me to run around pulling people out of the mud all night long. "315 this is 110 requesting a meeting in the field." The number 315 was my assignment since it was also the unit number. I did not recognize the number 110 but I did recognize the voice. "I just pulled out of the motor pool, so you name it 110," I replied. "Under the flag at Williams," he said cryptically. I had been in the field long enough to know that Williams was Williams high school. Under the flag referred to the front parking lot where the flagpole was located. "10-4 in five," I replied. Meaning okay I'll be there in five minutes. "Look Simpson, we have to stop meeting like this. It looks as though we have something to hide," I was on the verge of being pissed. "Yeah, I can see that. Thought you might want to know that her statement is making her sound like mother Teressa," Simpson said. "Since when is that surprising. Did she admit to the shotgun shooting of her husband?" I asked. "Yeah, but she is going for self defense," Simpson said. "Maybe it was. If it wasn't then prove it," I suggested. "After all you are the big shot detective." "Well maybe she is the victim here," he said quietly. "Don't give her a buy just because it would be inconvenient to work the case. If she thinks she can spook you, she will walk all over you. I know her type. Every squad has one soldier like her. Always looking for the angles," I admitted. "Is everything with you about the military?" Simpson asked. "It's what I know. Next year it will be about being a deputy in the mountains," I suggested. "Yeah, I guess that is true. Okay go out there and make us proud," he said grinning. "Did you ever ask yourself why offering to screw us for a favor came so easily to her. She didn't agonize at all, she just offered as though she were offering to do our laundry. Doesn't it make you curious how often she has done it before." I suggested, "And what she has gotten in return, I think I need to take a better look at Miss Gypsy's last few months," Simpson said. "That's up to you. I just thought it was strange since not even I would think of that as the first thing to do." I said. "Yeah and everyone knows you are deputy slut," Simpson said with a laugh. "I'm just kidding please don't report me." "I still want you to know how pissed I am. Not so much that you talk like that about me, but that you look better in women's clothes than I do." With that I rolled up my window and drove away. ------- Chapter 19 My last night on swing shift was a bust. Even so I slept till noon the next day. When I awoke I took a shower, then dressed in my jeans and one of my forest green tee shirt. I wore one of the several men's white dress shirts over it. I also clipped the off duty holster onto my belt before I slipped on the medium weight parka type field jacket. Being a military police person would have allowed me to steal all the uniforms I wanted, but I bought mine from the surplus store just outside the back gate of my last base. The uniforms were things with which I was familiar. That being the case I had no problem parting with the few dollars it cost to pick up lots of fatigues pieces. I got green tee tops and the heavy and light weight parkas for a tiny fraction of their real worth. I had already been told by the rednecks I met off duty, that there was nothing sexier to them than a woman in camo. I couldn't do camo pants they made my ass look huge, but most anything else I could do just fine. I just like the look of white dress shirts and blue jeans. I drove from the motel to the best barbecue joint in the area. It just happened to be across the square from the courthouse. I knew there should be a deputy or lawyer having lunch there around 1PM, when I arrived. That day was no exception. "Hey Porter I hear you are into threesomes. I would like to volunteer." the deputy I hardly knew suggested. "Whats your name again, Jones?" I asked sarcastically. "Melvin James," he said. Fortunately he was alone. "Well Deputy James that is pretty much sexual harassment, just sayin'." I replied innocently. "Oh, I'm sorry I was just kidding. Word is going around about that Gypsy Austin chick saying you and Simpson propositioned her. I really didn't mean any harm." he said. "Don't tell me you believed her?" I asked. "Of course not," he said trying to crawl out from under the load, I insinuated, I might drop on his ass. "Good, it would really piss me off, if anyone thought that I would ever have sex of any kind with Simpson," I smiled as I said it. It was the way he looked after that which gave me the idea. It wasn't like it was anything new to me. There was a really nasty variety of sand flea going around on my last deployment. I had to have it done before I could board a plane home. So after I ate my really wonderful chopped barbecue sandwich alone, I drove to the men's barber shop one block off the square. I parked in the very small and narrow parking lot between his building and the old style general store beside him. Once inside the front door the single black barber asked, "What can I do for you ma'am?" "Well to be honest, the weather is shit and I'm tired of having wet hair every time I sit down to watch TV. How much would you charge to give me an electric clipper cut? I want it pretty much shaved, but with no razors." I asked. "Ma'am I couldn't do that," he said shaking his head. "Fair enough, just thought I would ask," I explained. I found it hard to believe that he would turn down the business. Then I realized how much shit he could be stepping into, if I was a typical woman and changed my mind a day later. Boyfriends and husbands sitting on his door step screaming, "How could you?" I went to the Walmart store on the edge of Dobson. From them I bought a set of Wahl electric clippers for under twenty bucks. I decided that with a couple of mirrors I could do the job just fine. I checked out through a cutesy little white girl's register. "I have a set just like this I use to clip my poodle. I just love them," she said smiling. "Yeah well I don't have a dog. I just have thin limp ratty hair that is about to become history," I said with a smile. I was even more amused by how horrified she looked. I talked big but it took me over an hour to work up the courage to make that first cut. I wasn't a bit worried by the amount of bourbon it took to work up the nerve. How much skill was going to be required to shave my head? Fortunately even though my hair hung down it was limp and dry enough to be easy for the humming sheers to move through. It took a dozen passes, at least, but in the end my scalp was visible with just a brown stubble over it. I needed to go shopping again, I thought. I needed one of those chemotherapy head rags, without a doubt. I had just enough bourbon in me to make that a stupid idea. The drive to shop was the stupid idea, I decided. I fell into bed and napped two more hours. When I awoke from the nap, I wasn't sorry that I had made the moves I had. I did wish that I had some head covers ready before I gave myself the haircut. The ringing phone woke me from my nap. It was a call from Simon Boyle. "What?" I asked irritated. "Sylvia you do know that it's Friday. Historically people go out on Friday night," he said. "Sure to dinner and a movie kind of thing, is that what you are inviting me to do?" I asked. "Not exactly, I kind of had an orgy in mind," he said. "Of course you did the only problem is I'm a cop honey. Even though it sounds great, I would lose my job most likely," I said. "What if it were on a boat filled with tourists who were just passing through." he asked. "Simon there is no place around her for a boat like that," I said logically. "I know that, but would that be an acceptable risk?" he asked. "Sure I guess so," I said. "Do you know what the Winter Festival is in Mountain Home?" he asked. "Some kind of ski thing, isn't it?" I asked "Hell no, it's a week of Atlanta businessmen drinking and screwing each other's wives. I think they ski a little now and then. I just happen to have an invitation to one of the private after the race parties. We won't know a soul," he said. "More important not a soul will know us." "Do I want to know how you got an invitation?" I asked. "I'm a vendor that's all you need to know," he said. "I am not supplying hard drugs, That might also help you decide." "And when would we be leaving?" I asked. "We would be leaving in about an hour. It's a two hour drive to the Mountain Home resort," he informed me. "You think a woman can be ready for a party with a one hour notice?" I asked. "I think you can," he said. "Dress comfortable, but sexy." "Alright, be here in an hour." I said. I didn't like dressing so quickly, since I really hadn't brought sexy clothes with me. I needed to shop for something like a private party, but I would just have to make do. I did have a shiny gold top which I could wear with no bra. It was cut low all over the place. Wide neck wide arm holes the whole thing was on big hole. I could wear it with a pair of hip riding tight black jeans. It was my slutty bar outfit. The one for when I just had to get laid, no excuses accepted. I took a first look at myself in a sexy outfit with no hair. I somehow looked exotic not just homosexual, as I had been afraid I might look. Simon was at my door exactly one hour after the call. He came in and tool one look at me then he kissed me. Not only did he kiss me he ran his hands under my top and held my breasts as he continued to kiss me. I found it erotic. "Damn woman, I love that hair cut. With that haircut and that top, you look like that chick from alien or whatever. I want to skip the party and just stay here and fuck your brains out." "Then let's do that," I suggested. "I need to go to the party to make the delivery," he informed me. "It's a reputation thing. "You expect me to ride in a car filled with something illegal?" I asked. "You know better. The product is going to meet me there. I am just the expediter. I never really have it in my possession." Simon said. "If you get me busted and I lose my job, I will kill your ass and your bother as well," I said seriously. "I would expect no less," Simon agreed. We arrived at the gated community of Mountain Home two hours later. It had been two hours with Simon's hand on my thigh and higher, or on my boobs, under the gold top. Yes I kept him entertained as well. It did help the time pass, I have to admit. "Why are we waiting?" I asked. "The product is on the way. The text I got said he is five minutes away waiting for us to arrive. Stop Worrying Sylvia, I do this all the time." "No you don't do this with me in the fucking car," I said raising my voice. I have to admit that it made my heart beat faster. "Well that part is true. It seemed like only ten second passed before I saw the headlight of the approaching care blink. Simon left his very cool sports Oldsmobile, if there is such a thing, to walk back. When he returned he put something inside the trunk, then walked to the driver's door, I really began to worry. "See no sweat," he said. "We are in more danger now than ever idiot. We in possession of something illegal. I'm sure it is felonious whatever it is." I said. "Yeah, but it does pay well," he said. What proved to be the first of two deliveries was to the main clubhouse. He and the man who came out to take the large black sports duffel bag appeared to be old friends. Thee man walked away after having given Simon a large brown envelope. "So are we rich?" I asked when he got back in the car. "No but we are more than even now. The next delivery is all profit," he informed me. "It is also where the party is." "Right, or it is where the trap is waiting to be sprung on the unsuspecting mice," I said. Simon drove off laughing at me. I sure as hell hoped that I didn't have the last laugh. The next and last stop was a condo's front door. I had no idea how large or how the condo was configured. I just knew there were evergreen trees blocking the view of the building from the street, and more blocking the view from the parking lot as well. I was standing with Simon when the man came to the door. "Simon I have been expecting you. God it's good to see you." They shook hands and made an exchange of the smaller bag. "So is this the lovely friend you spoke about?" I looked at Simon as he said. "Yes Theo, this is Sylvia." "So Theo, what exactly did Simon say about me?" I asked "He said you were bold and adventurous, but also required convincing to try new things," he said with a smile. I looked him in the eye when I said, "Convincing is not the same as force my friend." "Yes Sylvia Porter, but the border is very thin," he said with a laugh. I returned his smile just because he seemed to be quite gracious about it all. But I was happy about the flat plastic handle with the snap blade craft knife inside. ------- Chapter 20 "Exactly what the fuck have you told these people?' I snapped at Simon. "Just that you were a fun date. I'm just trying to make friends up here. It's a good place to do business," he said. "Your business better not include pimping me out," I said angrily. "Sylvia, I would never do that," he said trying to appear trustworthy and failing... "Correction asshole, you would only do that once," I said angrily. Even as we spoke I felt someone approach me from behind. My hand went inside the pocket of my jeans to wrap around the flat plastic handle with the very sharp box opener type blade. Then I felt two smooth hand slide up my side under my gold top and cover my breasts. I felt lips on my neck and heard the soft voice say, "God you are so butch, I just love that." Now from the soft hands and the soft voice and choice of words I would have expected it to be a woman, but it was a very feminine man. "I'm glad to have the approval of a sissy," I said sarcastically. I might as well play the part, I thought. "I might be a sissy bitch, but I can still get it up for a girl like you," he said simply. "Oh really?" I asked. "What kind of girl is that?" "Get on your knees bitch and I'll show you," he said gently. I knew that I didn't have to do it, but to be honest I had never tried it with a really flaming gay guy before. I was in the mood for something new for some reason. I thought what the hell, like Simon said, no one knew me. I dropped to my knees and worked his soft penis from his two hundred dollar designer jeans. I managed to get it out and stretch it out with my hand. "I'll bet you drive the boys wild with this thing when it is hard," I suggested. "It will work just as well on you sweetie," he demanded. "I am going to fuck you like one of my man whores." I have no idea why but a wave of excitement ran through me. I looked up into his eyes, then covered his penis with my mouth. I sucked it in, since it was too soft for him to fuck even my mouth. I rolled his slightly harder penis around in my mouth using my tongue until it was hard enough for him to stroke me with it. "You really are a man whore aren't you?" I shivered but continued to suck on his penis. "Answer me cocksucker. Aren't you are a man whore?" I removed his cock from my mouth long enough to moan, "Yes, God yes." "You want me to fuck that man whore ass don't you bitch," he said. "Yes anything, just fuck me." I begged. "Simon, did you know your girlfriend was a man whore?" he asked. "No, I had no idea," Simon said simply. "Well she wants to be a man, and to be fucked like a man, don't you?" he asked turning to me. "Yes, I want to be fucked," I said. "Do you want my sissy dick up your ass?" he asked. I knew my lines. "Yes please, I need your sissy cock up my ass," and at the moment I did. "Do you want to suck another cock while I ass fuck you?" he asked. "Yes, I need cock," I said meaning it at that moment. "So how about my bad ass boyfriend. You want his cock in your mouth while I ass fuck you?" he asked. "Yes cock, any cock," I begged. He lifted me from the floor then pushed me up the stairs and into a bedroom. We were joined by a very burly gay man. "Well she looks like a man that's for sure. With her shaved head and small tits, she could be a man." the rough looking one said. "Well, we sure as hell are going to treat her like a man for a while," the gentle one said. He turned me then coated my hole with something slippery. His cock worked it's way inside with a minimum amount of pain. When he stroked my ass it felt strange but not without an erotic element. As he continued the erotic feelings overtook the strange ones and then it was just pure animal lust. I knew that if I touched my clit I would cum. "Don't do it fag," the rough one said. "Do not touch yourself. We will take care of what you need. We know what you need. Now suck my dick and do it right." I sucked his cock as deep into my mouth as I could. I felt him trying to force it deeper. I choked and gagged but he didn't seem to notice. He neither backed off nor tried harder, He simply kept applying pressure with every stroke to force his cock deeper. I couldn't concentrate on how uncomfortable it felt because I was too turned on by his lover's cock up my ass. I was truly lost. I had no idea who or what I was. I simpled fought for more of whatever they were doing to me. "I'm going to cum in your fag cunt," the gentler one said not at all gentle. With that he began to drive into my ass wildly. It didn't hurt it just burned as he fought for his orgasm. Then I felt him stiffen and throb in my rectal canal, as he came over and over. I came in his fag cunt Bobby," he finally said. "Now you choke him to death with your cock. Bobby began to stroke harder and deeper until his cock was filling my throat. I did not have all if it down my throat but it was enough to cut off all oxygen to my lungs. I could do nothing but hang on his cock and gasp whenever I got the chance. Then Bobby came hard and it choked me and I think some of it got into my lungs I passed out but I never did know exactly why. When I came around they were gone. I was alone in the room and it was cold. I had no idea where my clothes were, so I got out of bed to go look for them. From the hall outside the bedroom door, I could look down onto the very large party area. I noticed first of all that most of the men were middle-aged and less than perfect. All the women were around my age or ever younger. I probably should have asked a couple of them for their ID, but after what they had seen me do, it might not be a good idea to play cop. I staggered down the stairs in search of clothing. When I reached the bottom I heard someone say to me, "You are the most beautiful cocksucker. Your bald head hanging on the end of a cock is just gorgeous. I wonder if you can eat pussy as well?" It was a middle aged man who asked. "To be honest I have no idea. I have never tried." I said it still looking around. "What are you looking for?" he asked. "My clothes to be honest but right now anyone's clothes might do," I said. "Surely you don't regret what you did earlier. It was beautiful and you were beautiful," he explained. "Thanks but I really am not like that," I said. "Sure you are," Simon said from behind me. I have seen you do that more than just once. So you can't go with the 'boy did I get drunk last night' excuse again. You love this shit just like the rest of us." "I never said I didn't love it, but for me it's an aberration for you it is the norm." I said. "That is just a matter of how often you want to be real," Simon said. "You know I have special problems Simon," I said. "Yes and I have and always will respect that, but it does not mean you can't do what Phil is about to ask you to do." he said. "Oh and what is that?" I asked looking at Phil. "My lady friend fell asleep, I think we should go wake her you and I." Phil said. "Phil I have never done what you are asking, I wouldn't even know where to start." I said. "You just do to his wife the things that feel good to you," Simon said. "If I do this Simon, but if anyone ever finds out, I will kill you." I said simply. "I know," he replied. "I will find your clothes while you are gone. When you finished with Phil's friend we can leave." Simon said. "You don't want to hang around and keep me here till I have a nervous breakdown?" I asked. "No, I have things to do tomorrow. Actually it is things to do today." he said. "These guys would love to have you stay I'm sure, If you want to get one of them to drive you home." "I would be happy to drive you home, if you live around here," Phil said. "No thanks Phil," I said. "Okay, find my clothes." That was directed to Simon. I made a gesture for Phil to lead the way to his bedroom. When I entered the room I found a younger woman in the large bed breathing softly. Unlike the bed I had found myself in, hers had a very nice thermal covering. She would not be waking up cold unless I removed it from her. Instead I slipped under it behind her. I managed to work her body into my arms without waking her. I held one of her breasts in my hand as I kissed her neck. When she began to stir I worked my free hand between us until I managed to get it low enough to slip a finger insider her warm moist anus. I had no idea what had been going on in that bed, but she seemed to stir erotically for me. Phil slipped in front of her and began to kiss her awake. While he did that I kissed her neck and moved my finger gently inside her. I also massaged her nipple with the hand which rested between Phil and his lady friend. Phil made the adjustments that encouraged his lady friend to lay on her back with her legs spread. I slipped between her legs and thought of Simon's words. Just do the same things that feel good to you. So that's what I did. All that time living in close quarters with women, who one would expect to be at least bi sexual, and my first experience is in a two million dollar condo on the top of a mountain. Even with all the logical thinking I realized the smell of her her ripe body was heady stuff. She started off dry but as I licked her vulva a few times she became very slippery. I had no idea if my saliva was reactivating old lubricant or stimulating new. Either way it was erotic to feel my tongue glide over her body. She had a well hidden Clitoris so I had to open the hood with my fingers to get my tongue onto it. When I did her hips went wild. Then suddenly her movement changed. She went from forcing her hips against me to just rocking her hips. I looked up and saw that her head was twisted violently to the right. She had Phil's penis in her mouth. Not all of it, by any means, just the head. Even so she was working what she could get very hard. I was more than a little surprised to find my hand on my own clit as I licked her clit and felt her explode in one orgasm after another. It wasn't exactly a homosexual experience, but it was my first girl on girl contact of that intimate a nature. ------- Chapter 21 We were about fifteen minutes into the two hour drive home when I said to Simon, "Now we need to talk seriously." "Is this pimp to hooker, friend to friend, or cop to perp?" he asked. "There is no pimp to hooker, but it is friend to friend right now. If I have to dig this out myself, then it will be cop to perp," I said. "Okay then ask," he demanded. "What was in the bags?" I asked. "Let me ask you something first, what is the Sheriff's position on white liquor?" Simon asked. "You know officially there is a zero tolerance on all criminal activities. The truth is we only investigate complaints. Those usually are from someone who walks up on a still and cares enough to report it, or a pissed off partner. So you are making white liquor?" I asked. "Not hardly, I was supplying a little product for some friends. That's all I was doing," he said. "No it wasn't Simon. At that first stop you said, 'I just covered my cost plus some. You bought that shit and resold it. That makes you a trafficker. Now let me tell you this. I don't for a minute believe that was white liquor. The volume was too low for that size envelope." I was waiting for him to come clean. "So what was in the bag?" "What is the policy about pot," Simon asked. "Pretty much the same as white liquor. We leave that shit to somebody else. So you are dealing pot?" I asked. It was getting a little worse, but that really wasn't much weight he had delivered. It was felony weight I was sure but still not wholesaler weight. "This is strictly between us, not to be used to investigate or to bust anyone?' he asked. "You have my word, but you have to understand, if someone else complains we will investigate and I will not warn you, nor will I save you. If you roll on me for knowing and try to take me down, you will disappear before you go to jail. If you do make it to prison for a carton of Marlboro cigarettes, I can get you so fucked up," I explained to him. "I understand and you have nothing to do with this ever," he explained to me. If they catch you in the car, when I have product, then you never knew anything and can't testify against me, so there is no advantage to either of us to roll on the other." "Right, so what are you distributing. If it is hard shit all deals are off," I said. He shook his head in agreement. "James and I repopped a pickup last month. We realized, when he came out all pissed, that we had gone to school with the guy. He gave us this song and dance about how bad he needed his truck. 'Just catch up your payments, ' James told him. 'The finance company don't want your truck.' 'James, I'm gonna be up front with you man. I cook some evil shit back in the woods, but I got all messed up with the guys who sold me some ingredients and they took all my cash. I got some product left over from the run, but I got no way to move it. If you could see your way clear, we could maybe help each other out.' 'What you mean?' James asked him. 'I could give you the product I got left and you could make the payments for me. Just tell the finance company I gave you the cash.' the mooch said. 'This shit is worth a hell of a lot more than I owe on the truck.' 'It don't work exactly like that, but I could catch the payments up for you and leave the truck, but it would have to be worth my while since I will be losing the repo fee in addition to fronting the payments, So what you got and how much is it really worth.' "You ever heard of Green Dragon?" the mooch asked. I told him that I had. So he explained that what he made was better than that shit by a mile. What he made was for a high class pot club of some kind in California. What he did wasn't legal but he didn't get looked at too hard as long as he didn't get caught while cooking, he figured he would be good. He made the shit for the club and kept what was extra. He just didn't know how to get rid of it without getting caught and that scared him. I talked James into taking five gallons to catch up the grand of back payments." Simon explained. "We took the stuff around to a few private club owners we know and it was sold out in a day. We just gave an ounce away and sold the rest of the gallon in the milk jug. Just so you know we have no desire to sell any more more than a few gallons now and then. We have no desire to be in the drug business it is way the fuck to dangerous. We just take orders on the phone and when our mooch finishes his run he calls to direct us to a drop site were we pick up the Dragon and leave the money." "So how does he make the stuff? This is just curiosity taking now," I said. "He grinds up all the stalks from the plants. He buys the left over trimmings from a grower or two he went to school with. Then he adds that to his corn mash and lets it ferment. When it's finished fermenting he cooks it down to liquor. But man that stuff is different. It creates a hypnotic mellow high not much like being drunk really." "No sense me telling you that you will get caught if you do this shit long enough," I said. "Probably, but we only sell it in large volume to people we know. I figure that will help us postpone the inevitable. We are really just the pizza delivery boy. We take the orders from people we know who do not deal drugs, and when we get a call from the mooch, we pick up what he has on hand. We make the deliveries about once a month." "Do not keep any of that shit in your car, or in your house, or anywhere else you have sole control over." I said. "If we have more than we can sell, we seal it in sterile water bottles and store it in an unlocked shed. We keep the shed for odds and end from the repo and process service business. Anyone can gain entry to it, just in case we need to deny that we know anything." "Sounds like you have at least thought it out," I said. "Yeah, and we also have a lawyer on retainer for the business, so we can invoke in a second if the cops get us with product." Invoke meant stating they wanted to invoke their right to council and not answer any more questions. In theory they knew enough to do that immediately from their process serving business so it was a legitimate thing for even an innocent person to do in their case... "Good luck to you then," I said. "You have my word this conversation never took place, and I'll swear to it." "So let's talk about sex and you," he said with a grin. "Are you getting addicted to the kinky shit?" "Simon, I love you and James for showing me new and kinky shit, but I could never make a habit of it. I usually take antibiotics and mild pain killers for a week after one night with you. Invite me if anyone will have me, but don't invite me to just anything, and also not too often," I did smile when I said it. "Oh honey they will have you. If I really was pimping you, I could keep your ass busy. You may not be beautiful like those trophy wives and girlfriends back there, but you got something they don't." "What is that?" I asked curious. "You are still enthusiastic. Most of those people are way past that. Not just the women the guys as well. Those two fags have probably never cum that good." "Especially not with someone who has no cock," I said. "No honey, not with anyone period. It was kinky for them and that's something that I am sure is hard for them to find. Plus you don't look too bad, even though you did shave your head. What possessed you to do that?" he asked. "Sand fleas," I said with a grin. "The look kind of suits you. When it grows out just a little, you will probably look like a really bad ass bitch. Of course you will have to learn to be a dominatrix." He was in open laughter by that point. "I'll give it some thought. In the meantime do not call me for at least three days. I am going to need that long to sleep and recover in general from this weekend." "Fair enough, when James calls to ask you about the weekend, don't mention the delivery, unless he does. I don't think he will, but with James you never know." "Listen to me Simon. I am going to say this one more time. I have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. So why would he ask me anything." I said it sternly. "Good for you," Simon said calmly. After a quick Antiseptic douche, I fell into bed and slept ten hours. I doubt that I even rolled over. Finally the urge to urinate forced me from my warm bed. I convinced myself that I had plenty of exercise the night before, so I skipped my morning run. It would have been done as the sunset anyway, which was just ludicrous for a morning run, I decided. I also made the decision that I needed to economize some. That being the case, I drove to the the grocery store to purchase the makings of my dinner. I found a couple of low cal spaghetti dinners. I figured I could eat one immediately and one later in the evening, if the portions proved to be too small. I hadn't tried the low cal ones lately. It had seemed to be my memory that cutting the size of the portion to way below starvation level was their idea of low cal. Even two dinners and a large jug of diet coke, was about half what a meal in a restaurant cost me. It seemed the frozen dinners might be a viable alternative for a few meals a week. I had the Low Cal dinner on the small table and a very old movie on TV by 7PM. The movie was billed as a classic even though I had never heard of it. I also could not remember ever having seen the star in any other movies. Either it was all hype or I really had missed a lot of shit growing up. Since I was born in 1985 and the movie star died five years earlier I felt better about the gap in my knowledge. That I learned from the host of the Million Dollar Movies. The move was called Bullet. It was dated, so I planned to watch the first half hour, then catch a newer TV cop drama. The problem with that was it took me fifteen minutes to fall madly in love with Lt Bullet. Early in the movie he went Grocery shopping. In the store he picked up a half dozen TV dinner's and walked out. He had me right there, the rest was just icing in the cake. Then the host told me that McQueen did his own stunt driving and I was double hooked after the car chase. When the movie ended I almost cried. Not because of the sad ending, it had that as well, I was sad and pissed because the movie was over and Steve McQueen was dead. God was I pissed. "What a fucking waste," I said out loud. I put on my old Air Force field jacket and walked to the lounge for my one beer. I would bet my ass there would not be anyone as cool as Bullet there, or anywhere else in my world. ------- Chapter 22 I was right, there was no one as cool as Lieutenant Bullet in the Motel lounge that Saturday night. I really might not have been in any shape for a new man anyway. I sat gingerly and tried not to squirm in my seat. In other words my rectum was a wreck. I went to bed after my lounge walk through, even though I had only been awake a few hours. Again I slept like I had been drugged. Hell who knows with that crowd, I might have been drugged. Sunday morning when I woke up it was all better. My head was clear and my rectum had a stinging sensation but no outright pain, so I considered myself more or less okay. I found that after a shower I could walk without pain, so even though I had a good excuse, I decided to run a half hour anyway. I could always stop anytime I felt like it. I ran through the back streets and alleys as usual. I ran across a domestic cat who seemed to have gone ferel. I made sure she wasn't injured, but I didn't feel her, How did I know it was a her, she smiled at me. All us unattached women have a connection. I stopped at the cafe on the square and told my waitress friend to report the cat, but not to be any any hurry. "She might just wander out of town again," I suggested. All day Sunday I searched for Steve McQueen movies to download. It was as good a way to spend a 'recovery' Sunday as any. By evening I had found and watched two movies and eaten a frozen dinner for lunch. I drove the Toyota out to the plaza at the interstate for dinner. Even at the plaza the choices were few. There was a Chinese buffet, so I gave it a shot. In the end it was mostly fried rice and an egg roll for me. Getting hard looks all the time took a bit of getting used to, but I managed. Cutting my hair as short as I did was probably a huge mistake. I personally didn't care, but it sure make other people uncomfortable. When I got back after dinner, I made a quick walk through the lounge, then headed back to my room to get more sleep. I still had a day off left, so I needed to decide how to spend it. I ran several things through my mind, but nothing hit me as exciting. I stripped to my panties and tee, then slipped into bed. I almost fell asleep before the phone rang. I had turned off my cell phone, so I knew it had to be the room phone. "Hello, I said when I finally found it. "Sylvia, this is Deputy Simpson," the voice on the phone said. "What can I do for you detective?" I asked. "I know you have tomorrow off, I checked with your sergeant," He said. "Yes Simpson thanks for calling to tell me, but I already knew that." I was enjoying that he was uncomfortable. "Right, well I have some follow up planned for Gypsy. Since you are part of the threatened lawsuit, I wondered if you would like to ride along on the interviews. We can call it voluntary training and then the department wouldn't have to do time swaps. You would lose a couple of hour of your life, but if you are like me, you have more than enough to spare a couple of hours." "What time are you planning this excursion?" I asked. "Nothing too early, we want to give the locals time to wake up and start moving. Why don't I pick you up around eleven in the morning." "Sure, like you said, I can spare a couple of hours." After Simpson hung up I wasn't tired any longer, so I walked to the lounge to check on something. "Sarah, tell me, did that Gypsy Austin and her husband ever come in here?" I asked when Sarah had a minute to talk. "Not the husband but Gypsy was in a time or two. Before you ask, I don't remember her coming or leaving with anyone. I was busy and at the time she was just another chick on the make," Sarah said. "How do you know she was on the make?" I asked. "She let men pay for her drinks that and just being here alone is enough to convince me. Then again, I have been hanging around here too long." Sarah said. "I would expect your instincts to be better than mine. So tell me anyone in particular I should talk to about her?" I asked. The few times she came in I'm pretty sure she left alone, who she met is a different matter. Lots of married folks leave here alone, but don't go home, if you know what I mean?" Sarah asked. "Yeah, I know what you mean," I said. So she played around on her husband, Maybe she needed that split lip. Well I wouldn't think so, but maybe her husband did for sure. I wondered if Gypsy was capable of killing them both. It wasn't my case, so I planned to let Simpson find all the facts. I was satisfied to just be along for the ride. After all, Gypsy had tried to play me as well as Simpson. I would not mind seeing her go down for all of it. "See that guy with the flag bandanna on his head?" Sarah asked. "You mean the one with the doo rag?" I asked in return. "Yeah him, I seen him buy her more than one drink, more than one time. He might know something." Sarah said. "Well, I won't ask him here, if you can tell me where I can find him with the sun is shinning?" I suggested. "He fixes cars, I'm not sure what his specialty is but his shop is on the road to Dobson. He rides a Harley chopper. I am sure it will be parked out front, it's kind of a sign I think. He told me once, if I needed anything to head toward Dobson and look for the Harley chopper outside his shop," Sarah said. "Damn it's way too cold for a motorcycle," I suggested. "Not if you are a real man sweetie," he said. He must have noticed us glancing at him and decided to walk over. If he overheard that, I wondered how much he had heard. "I seen you before in here. They tell me you are a deputy." I nodded. "So why did you shave your head?" he asked seriously. "Sand Fleas," I said smiling. "Ain't been no sand fleas here for months," he informed me. "Now you tell me," I said. He removed his doo rag then said, "I like your style." I saw his shaved head as he grinned really big for me. "Well it is nice to chat, but I need sleep. Maybe we will meet again," I said. "Oh, I'm sure of it," he replied with that grin again. "So, I'm sure there is something other than cue-ball you would like for me to call you," I suggested. He laughed out loud. "Well most of my friends call me Monk," he suggested. "So do both of them call you that?" I asked. "Yes they do Deputy Porter," he answered. I knew that I hadn't told him my name. "Well, if I'm going to call you Monk, I guess you should call me Sylvia," I said not sure what I was starting. If he called me Sylvia in front of Simpson, I might have a problem. Especially if he was guilty of something. "Well good night Monk," I said. "Sleep well Sylvia Porter," Monk said quietly. "If you need anything just ask." "I'll do that," I said. As usual when my mind was occupied I found it easier to sleep. Most people say the opposite is true. If I lay down with no real problem for my mind to work on, I lay there trying to find something to think about. It is maddening at times. Thankfully it wasn't a problem that night. I drifted right into the land of sweet dreams without any effort at all. Monday morning even though I sleep a couple of hours longer than usual, I still had time for a run, damn it. I didn't spot any crimes in progress, no signs of a crime from the night before, and no stray animals. I did pass a homeless guy who walked the streets winter and summer, I had been told. I had so far missed summer in the county seat. I also skipped the cafe that morning. I had decided to half ass fast for a while. I was going to skip breakfast and lunch. It was the easiest way for me to diet. My ass was getting even wider riding in that damn patrol car. I didn't even stop for coffee, since my coffee from the night before was better tasting than that crappy restaurant blend. I was dressed and searching the web for a place to download the move, 'The Blob.' It was a different kind of cult classic. So low budget that it was hard to find more than a reference to it here and there. Nobody seemed to have it for download. I was pretty sure that if I kept looking it would show up. Instead of the blob, I got Detective Simpson. I saw him pull into the parking lot. I could have gone out to meet him, but I decided to let him climb the stairs to my studio apt style one room. Simpson might have worked out, since some cops do. He was just a little over weight. Desk jobs tend to do that to people. Both male and female cops tend to do better in the field, but not all of us. Simpson wasn't really tall more like an inch below average. He was probably weight proportional for that slightly taller average guy. His hair was just a little dull and headed toward gray. It wouldn't be unusual, he was at least ten years older than me, I though. "You ready," he asked when I opened the door. "Just as soon as the microwave beeps we can go," I said. "I have a very large cup of very good coffee in there," "Oh designer coffee?" Simpson asked. "A blend of three grocery store brands make one day and left in the refrigerator over night then reheated all the next day," I said. "Shit day old coffee, that was one taste I never acquired while I was in crotch," he said. "Where were you?" I asked. "Somewhere in Europe. Since then the names have been changed to protect the guilty," he said. "Yeah, a lot of that going around again," I said. The beep came, so I opened the micro wave and put a sippy cup lid on the thick plastic delta style cup. "Now we can go," I was dressed in conservative jeans, a green tee shirt and my field jacket. I looked a lot like a biker chick especially with the bald head. "You know I'm good at not showing my surprise, but someone should have warned me about that shaved head," Simpson said. "You do know that the Sheriff isn't going to like it." "The dress code said hair no longer than collar length. It never said anything about shaved heads," I replied. "Silvia, who would have ever expected a sane woman to do that. Never mind it doesn't bother me now. The first few minutes are really confusing, but now it's fine. You just really do look like a dike," he said. "Careful you have enough harassment complaints already," I said it with a laugh. "So where we going first?" "I'm thinking daughter's teacher and the neighbors," he said. I really thought about giving him a heads up on the lounge. I wanted to suggest we talk to the sister again. Someone had to babysit for her daughter. But I decided to keep my mouth shut till he either figured it out or ran out of viable options. ------- Chapter 23 There were three consolidated schools in Warren County. Jennifer Austin had attended elementary school at Southeastern Warren. The principal greeted us with, "It is just awful about Jennifer. Do you have whoever did it in custody?" "To be honest, we are still investigating. That's why we would like to speak with Jennifer's teacher. I did call yesterday to set up the appointment," Simpson said. The tone of his voice was almost friendly, at least for him it was. There was just a hint of 'do it or else' at the very end. "Yes I am making Ms Smothers available. One of our staff will escort you to an empty room, where she will meet you in a few moments. Is there anything else?" Simpson was about to let her walk, when I butted into the conversation. "Ma'am did you ever have any dealing with the family that you can remember?" I asked. "There was some question about the child's eligibility for the free breakfast program here. The majority of our kids are eligible for it. I think it was cleared up. Just a second I'll look." She turned to her computer and I glanced at Simpson who seemed to be angry. Fuck him you can never have too much information. "Yes, Jennifer was added after the school year started. That usually means a change in the family's income after the original enrollment period." The principal said all happy with herself that she could help. "Why the hell did you go into all that," Simpson asked as we waited in the small room. Mrs Smothers was a little late it seemed. "Simpson, I was taught that no fact is immaterial in an investigation. Did you know something had changed the month before this happened. Something serious enough for the county to change the child's benefits?" I asked. "No, but it probably means nothing. We will find out though just for you," he answered. "That's a good plan," I said that about thirty seconds before the not quite gorgeous Mrs Smothers entered the room. She was awfully well dress and made up to be an elementary school teacher. I wondered what she was up to when she wasn't babysitting children who were mostly on public assistance. Life was getting so screwed up. "So Mrs. Smother," Simpson began after he introduced himself and then me. "Could you tell us about Jennifer Austin and her family?" Mrs. Smothers had a warm voice. It should have been friendly but it seemed to be warm but reserved somehow. Oh yeah she was definitely up to something. "I really know very little about Jennifer except her school life. She was a good student and well behaved," Smothers said. "Did she ever appear with bruises, scratchers, or burns, anything like that?" Simpson asked. "Nothing more than what could have been a play injury, which is what she said they were. She never complained of being clumsy," Smothers said. Clumsy was abused kid speak for being pushed down the stairs. Sometimes it was being jerked around by an arm. "In other words she did not seem to be physically abused." "Were there any rumors among the kids about her," Simpson asked. "If thee were, I never heard them," she said. "You got any questions?" he asked me. Probably because I had forced my way into the interview with the principal. "Just a couple, Ms Smothers did Jennifer appear to be well taken care of?" I asked. "I'm not sure I know what you mean," she replied. "Sure you do. I'm not going to cause you any problems for sharing information. This isn't a custody hearing. Jennifer is past that now. So were her parents taking at least average care of her." I said. "There might have been some neglect issues. I noticed Jenny in the same outfit more than one day. Often she seemed to have been on her own the night before. That does happen in these mountain families. It's is almost tradition to let kids grow up almost wild." She looked out the window as she spoke. "So Jenny was likely the product of neglect," Simpson said. "You saw the signs but you did nothing, doesn't that bother you?" "Of course it bothers me. I am stretched between my job, and what I think is right. If I put the school system in jeopardy of a being sued, I'm out of a job." She spoke to Simpson, so I got to watch her demeanor. She really was concerned about the job thing. She obviously didn't need the money from teaching, so maybe she was a dedicated teacher. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. "Yeah politics, its all about the politics." "And the money," Simpson said. "School administrators will walk a hundred miles to avoid putting that federal money at risk. That was pretty much the end of the interviews at Jenny's school. Simpson wanted to have lunch then move on to the neighbors. I had no real objections, except I was trying to fast until dinner. I considered a small salad at a fast food place and water to drink as fasting. So I watched the son of a bitch eat a Big Mac, while I ate grass clippings. My mood had not improved as the day wore on. From the plaza by the interstate's McDonald's we drove to the crime scene. "If you want to talk to neighbors, you have to go where the neighbors are," Simpson said it as if it were a revelation from God. We found an older couple sitting on their porch two houses north of the crime scene. "Hello there, I'm Deputy Simpson, and this is Deputy Porter. Do you folks have a minute?" Simpson asked. "Son we are retired we have all the time in the world. Neither my wife nor I have anyplace we need to be at any certain time. In other words ask your questions." the white haired man replied. "Well then let's just cut right to it. What do you know about the Austin family?" Simpson asked. "They are loud," the old woman said. "That's what I know." "Do they fight a lot?" Simpson said trying to press for more. "Not since she shot him," the old man said. "That does tend to put an end to the fighting," Simpson agreed. "So were they bad to fight before she shot him?" "They was loud," the old woman said almost angrily. "Yeah, but were there fighting?" Simpson asked. "Mostly it was loud music and cars coming and going all the time. They had way more company than friends and family, if you know what I mean." the old man said. "Were they selling drugs," Simpson asked. "I don't know what they was doing. There were just lots of people coming and going," the old man repeated. We were sitting at a picnic table with two large coffees from the closest convenience store when Simpson said, "After that 911 call and the investigation that house was searched. I am sure it was searched thoroughly." "She had time to load the drugs and take them with her. It would explain her putting it in the wind so quickly. This is getting too complicated for me." I said. "You are the big time detective, so take me home and call me when you figure it out," I suggested. "We definitely have enough to cast doubt on her veracity. Still I want to know who really killed who out there, and why?" he said. Then he looked at me and asked, "Don't you?" "Curious yes, but it ain't my job mon," I said it in my best street gang dialect. "Well, I'll keep you informed. If you hear anything let me know," he said quietly. I gave it a little thought then said, "Gypsy was running around on her husband near the end. I have no idea what she was doing but something. You might want to talk to a biker with some kind of repair shop out on the Dobson road. His name is Monk," I said. I know I had said I wouldn't volunteer anything but he seemed to be seriously looking for help at that point. "How do you know all that?" Simpson asked. "I asked a few questions in a club I know. That's what I heard. It might mean nothing, or it might be something." Stick around just a few more minutes let me see where we are." I nodded my agreement. "So Gypsy the 'good mom' according to her sister is out running around or doing something else to cause her to neglect her kid. Lots of people coming and going at her house and loud music. That is to cover some other noise maybe." "Or it was just loud party music. Maybe they were throwing parties but why would she be in the lounge trying to pick up men, if she was running a party house?" I asked myself out loud. "What if he is doing something and she takes off to stay away from it. She goes to the lounge to spend the time till hubby tells her she can come home. The kid is on her own at home. Hopefully locked away from anything nasty," I suggested. "She is just trying to get away from the evil bastard husband." "Only a complete idiot would buy that," Simpson said. "Or one member of the jury of her peers," I said. "So how do we find out what was really going on. "We searched that house completely, but we didn't do a real search of the electronics in the house. They are still in the evidence locker." "You know I bet if you sent them to Agent Mission of the SBI, she could do something. They have more than enough people with electronics experience to take them apart back to the x and o-s," I suggested. "Well it's a shot. So is just beating the truth out of her," he said. "Be careful where you say that. You are up to your ass in law suits." I suggested. "Don't tell me the thought has never crossed your mind," he said seriously. "The idea has never crossed my mind, and chocolate ice cream has never crossed my lips," I said then refused to discuss it again. "You want to go with me to talk to Monk?" he asked. "No it's 3PM and I have given you enough of my time. I need to go back and rest before I go to bed. I have the day watch tomorrow." "Alright, but you were some help today. I want to thank you for that. If you hear anything let me know. We have to take this bitch down, so that she doesn't take us down." "Bullshit Simpson we did nothing wrong. She might be able to fool a jury into giving her a break with that bullshit story, but no serious investigator is going to believe it." I said it and hoped that it was true. Back in my room I found about twenty five spam emails. All of them offering me bootleg copies of Steve McQueen movies. I didn't respond to any of them but I might one day if I couldn't find a movie I wanted to see online. Since I hadn't eaten any real food that day, I began thinking about dinner. Yes it was only 4PM but I still had dinner on my mind. I was flipping through the TV channels when I came across the reruns of an old artist reality contest show. One of the women looked a lot like me at that moment. She was dressed in clothes from an army navy store. Best of all she was bald. She did have bigger and heavier looking breasts, which make her a lot more feminine looking. As someone said I had a rather butch, dyke look. When the woman turned to the camera I noticed something on her bald scalp. She had a very brightly multi colored butterfly tattoo. I liked it a lot, but knew that till I found an acceptable way to hide my shaved head, I did not dare to have a tattoo. ------- Chapter 24 I drove the Toyota to the grocery store just a few blocks away. I might have walked but I wanted to buy a few things. With the microwave oven and a little planning I could cook almost a full meal. Of course that was not my plan. I found that I could store about three frozen meals in my apartment sized freezer unit. Since the motel had an ice machine just outside my door, I could use all the freezer space for frozen dinners. That ice machine as well as the lounge walk through was why I got the good rent deal. A room by the Ice machine was probably a hard rent. Some nights the damn thing rattled all night long. So at the store I bought three frozen low calorie dinners, a bag of dinner rolls, and a roast beef submarine sandwich. Of course I loaded up on diet soda, and coffee as well. My bill was almost thirty dollars, which was about three meals in a restaurant, tip not included. When I got home I cooked a dinner watched a bootleg copy of 'The Blob' then went to bed. I slept light. I always did the night before I started a morning tour. The fear of over sleeping was alway in the back of my mind. I left a call at the office for 5:30AM but I also set my clock for 5AM. I awoke with the clock's buzzing sound in my ear. It was probably a good thing I didn't sleep with my weapon under the pillow. Instead of heading to the shower, I put on the fleece running suit, the light weight parka and my ski mask and headed off to run for a half hour. I didn't bother to explain to the night manager that I was running. She already knew that if I didn't answer after five rings to give up then call back a half hour later. I ran with only my box opener and a flashlight. The light made with nine LEDs and ran on three AAA batteries. It was one powerful little mutha, I thought as I lit up a little piece of the dark business area before I started to run in the empty streets. As I ran I also flashed the light, if I hear or saw anything. It was a typical morning run with nothing at all out of the ordinary. I waved as I passed the cafe on the square. Back in my room I called the desk to tell Ada's niece that I was alive and headed to the shower. "I tried to call your room but you must have already gone out for your run. God I wish I had that kind of discipline," she said to me. "Not sure that running alone in the dark isn't more about stupidity, than anything else," I said with a smile she probably could hear. "Well I got to go take it easy hon." I hadn't stripped for my shower, but of course I did raise the sky mask making it a knit cap kind of thing. I kind of liked the androgynous look of it to be honest. That seemed to be the look I was moving toward. Let the shits guess what my sex was, while I hit them with a stick or a stun gun. I decided that I would stop in the Dollar Store in the Plaza by the interstate. I was almost positive they would have one of those caps. I got assigned to the north part of the country no where near the Plaza. I would have to run by after work, I decided. I spent my morning taking burglary reports. At that time of the day it was business owners, who found their stores broken into when they arrived for work. There was usually a couple of those every morning. Around noon I rode to the Northern Warren consolidated school. I didn't plan to stop, just to ride through the parking lot. At lunch time the upper grade students often went out to lunch. I figured I would keep an eye on them to check for reckless driving. I sure as hell didn't expect what happened. Part of why inside the parking lot, I rolled up on the fight. The new cop cars were so cheap that they didn't look much like a cop car at all. My lights were inside the windshield at the top and I wore the radio. The idea was to make the SUV more valuable when it had finished it's service. My guess was that the participants in the fight were too busy to notice me. It also seemed that the audience had its attention on the action at hand. I stopped the car in the traffic lane and walked over to the fight. When I arrived, it was more wrestling than boxing. The two girls were locked in a bear hug. I had always wanted to find a couple like that and just hit one of them with the stun gun and see what happened, but I knew I better warn them. "Break it up ladies," I said in a loud voice. "If you don't you are both going to the Sheriff's station, while I wait for your mothers." That and a little physical handling of them ended the fight. "So what in the world has got you two playing wide world of wrestling?" I asked. "Nothing," they both said almost in unison. "Okay let's get some professionals out here to help me decide what to do with you." I radioed the dispatcher to call the principal. He needed to either come out or send a counselor. I didn't want to transport the girls, but I would if it came to that. "Deputy," the voice came from across the parking lot. "What in the world happened here?" the woman in her thirties asked. She was not nearly as well dressed, or made up as Smothers had been. "I stumbled on to a teenage girl's version of fight club it seems. They have invoked rule one," I said trying to be witty. She looked dumbfounded. "Rule one of fight club, is never talk about fight club. It's from the movie." "Oh," she said. "I think we can take it from here." "I need their names for my report and your name as well," I took my pencil and pad out. "Very old school," I said. "Give him your names," the woman said. I smiled as I thought how embarrassed she would be if I corrected her. She really should have known by my voice. I got the names of everyone for the report. Then I said to the woman, Just so you know who to call about this incident, should you have any questions, "It's deputy Sylvia Porter." I smiled at her with my best professional smile. "Oh my god I'm so sorry," she said. "With the hair cut and those uniforms being so unflattering, I just assumed ... I am so sorry." "Don't worry, it was kind of fun to see your reaction. You are the first person I have dealt with like this since the haircut." I informed her. "I am so sorry, but I need to get these two inside," she said very docilely. "I should get back on patrol. Good luck with Thelma and Louise there," I said. "Thanks," she said simply and left with the two girls in tow. I had two more hours to go on shift, but some of that was going to be taken up writing reports on the laptop assigned to the car. So I found a quiet spot along a country road and wrote the two reports I had in the open file on the computer. I wrote the narrative to match the facts. After that chore I returned to patrol. I just drove around in circles until 2:30 PM. At that time I headed slowly back toward the county seat and the station. On the way in I had to pass what appeared to be an abandoned service station. It actually was being used as a private clubhouse. Usually those places only came to life after dark, but there wase a car and a motorcycle parked outside. I didn't really have time to check it out, without going to overtime, but I figured I would do it anyway. First I called dispatch to advise them I would be out of the car at that location. Just in case I don't come home mom, I thought. I knocked on the door since it said private no admittance. "What you want Deputy?" the roughly forty year old man in the camo outfit asked. "Well to be honest the place doesn't look just right so I thought I would make sure you guys are okay," I said. "As you can see I'm fine," he said. "Yeah, I can see you are but there are two cars outside, so there has to be more than just you inside. Would you mind terribly if I come in to look around?" I asked. "Actually I would mind, but my guess is that if I do you will be on my ass from now on," he suggested, "Looking for any excuse for a warrant," I agreed. "Come on in," he said. "You look pretty cool for a cop. If I have to be harassed, I guess a bald female cop is better than some soft fat ass male deputy." "I'm not sure that is a compliment but I will accept it," I said. Once I was inside what had been the office I found that it was full of green cardboard boxes. I read the labels and found boxes of MREs as well as medical first aid gear. "So where is the driver of the other car?" I asked. "Melissa come in here please," he shouted into the bay area. "So what you got stored out there?" I asked. "Stuff we are going to need when the collapse of this illegal government comes," he said. "You got any weapons out there. I ask it for two reasons. One is of course for my own safety. I would prefer I didn't have to shoot Melissa, and two so that I know to keep a special eye on this place. Weapons would make it a prime target for the bad guys," I explained. "Melissa come in with your hands in sight and empty," the man said. To me he said, "I have a .22 varmint rifle out there nothing more." Melissa was about eighteen if that. "So Melissa you okay?" I asked. "Of course," she replied. Okay well let me just take a quick look in the bay area and I'll be gone. The man nodded his agreement. As advertised it looked like a clubhouse. There were a few soft chairs but mostly it was storage. "So this is a survivors shopping club. Like QVC?" I asked. "I guess, we band together to buy things for the coming collapse," he said. "Fair enough, I promise I won't bother you again, but I will keep an eye on the place for burglars and the like." I shook my hand and then I left. Take all kinds. I thought. When I got to the station I had another report to write but I did it willingly. I had worked twenty minutes over, so I could take twenty minutes off sometime the next day and not have to go through the nightmare of filling papers for the time. Once I signed off with dispatch, I headed for the plaza. The dollar store wasn't busy and I helped to empty it. The kind of customers who shopped there were a mixture of very fine people and a few who had a bit of a cop problem. Those left when they saw me walking into the store. I went right to the aisle with the winter clothes. I found the knit caps easily. The dollar store caps were much thinner than those at say Walmart, but that was okay. I wanted it to hide my bald head as well as to keep it warm. I had a department issued baseball cap which was one of their economy measures. The Warren County Sheriff's office should be a model for every other department trying to save money in these hard times, I thought. ------- Chapter 25 I wore the cap from the parking lot of the plaza. I would have worn it out of the store, but that would have looked a little odd. Like walking across the parking lot in a deputy's uniform with a thug's knit cap. I couldn't fit my current baseball cap I had over the knit cap. Since I couldn't wear both, I carried the knit cap in my hand. My first stop was to head back to the station for a larger baseball type hat. I figured with the shaved head and all, the Chief Deputy would be thrilled for me to cover it, eve if it meant a larger hat." "Tell me Sylvia, what possessed you to shave your head? Please do not say sand fleas," he suggested. "Chief Deputy my hair is so thin that when it gets wet it looks like a wet mop. I am not joking it looks like shit. It was wet for three days straight and I just lost patience with it. I have decided to let it grow back, but only to about an inch in length. That's why I need the knit cap and the larger ball hat," I said. "Someone said you were thinking about a tat for your scalp?" he asked. "I thought about it, but I want my hair about an inch and that would hide the tat," I explained. "I can concur with the short hair, the knit cap, and even the flat chested look, but the tat I would have had a problem with," he said. "Well, it won't be an issue. By the way I'm not trying for a flat chested look. I am simply wearing a full support bra just in case I have to run," I said. "Between that and the Kevlar, flat is what you get." "Whatever, if you want to look like a guy you better be prepared to fight like a guy," he said. "I hope I can fight better than the guy I'm fighting," I said honestly. "Good point," Webster said. From the Sheriff's supply room I went home to my motel room to change. I removed the uniform, and replaced it with worn jeans and a white tee shirt. I had also removed the elastic contraption called a full support or sports bra. I didn't replace it with anything. I wanted the guys to know I was a girl. They would be better able to tell, when I finally got more hair. My scalp was covered with what on a guy's face would be a two day growth. In other words just a shadow of color. Once I was comfortble I pulled up a TV show from the night before on the computer. It was a silly comedy, but it was also what I was in the mood to see. I started the next day's coffee while I watched the show off and on. I reheated a large cup of the brew from the day before while counting the minutes until I could break my fast. I planned on the roast beef sandwich as my meal for the day. Since it was from the store's deli, I expected it to be pretty good. They had made it for me with no lettuce or tomato, so it should microwave well. I had lots of little take out packs of condiments, should I really need the taste of tomato. More likely it would be barbecue sauce or maybe even taco sauce, the hot one of course. I hung out on the computer until 8PM then I went for a walk through the lounge. "Hey Sarah, is everything quiet?" I asked. "Yeah but it's a little early," she said. "Well I have to get up at 5AM, so I'm headed to bed early. If you need anything call the Sheriff." I said. "Okay, I can do that," she informed me. "Sleep well. By the way since you shaved your head have you had any offers to share your bed?" "Why? are you thinking about doing it to?" I asked. "Lord no, my hair is my one good feature. I was just curious," she said. "I have had no fewer offers. Let's put it that way. The guys who wanted to screw me before still do, but no new ones," I informed her. "Now I'm going to bed to let my hair grow." "Sweet dreams," Sarah said. "Thanks," and with that I was out the door. It took me more than a few minutes to fall asleep. I spent the time wondering what had caused the big change in finances for the Allen family. I wanted to know what Allen did for a living. The loud behavior described by the neighbors seemed to have started about the same time 7 year old Jennifer went on the school's free breakfast program. It also looked as though Gypsy started hanging out at the clubs around the same time. Was something going on at home she needed to get away from, or was she just pissed because her husband was up to no good at home. I was sure Simpson was trying to run all that down. To be honest, I wasn't sure that he was but I sure hoped that he was. I would bet my wide ass that Monk knew something. A woman in a club will talk to the man who is buying her drinks. Most of the time she will tell him a lot more than she realizes. I should talk to Monk myself, but Simpson would be justifiably pissed. Not only would it call his ability into question, but it would put us back at each other's throat. I would have to give it some serious thought before I stepped into that pile of steaming camel dung. However if I bumped into Monk at the lounge, I could certainly have a conversation with him. A really wide ranging conversation I would expect. I almost picked up the phone and tried to find Monks number. I didn't, because I needed to sleep and I needed to give that plan a lot more thought. The next memorable thought I had was the clock buzzing in my ear. I didn't jump out of bed, but I did make it out of the room before the front desk called. I was well into my run, when I heard the sound of a car crash. I ran toward the noise and got to the scene before the occupants of the cars got out to assess the damage. I was also on the cell phone calling for a deputy to come investigate. My plan was to not even admit that I was a deputy. The plan got scrapped when the driver of the almost new pickup truck opened the door then stepped into the middle of the road. "You stupid son of a bitch, didn't you see me?" he asked the guy in the small Korean car. He didn't even ask it the man was hurt. "Deputy Sheriff Porter step back please," I said to the pick up driver. "Are you okay," I asked the driver in the Korean death trap. Since the car had crumpled around him, I guessed that what they said about them was true. 'Korean cars are a real bargain, if you don't factor in the hospital bills'. "I think so, I do smell gasoline though," he said. "Turn off your ignition. Hang in there help is on the way," I said. The pickup driver was moving away from the car. "If I were you, I wouldn't leave, I do have your tag number." Actually I didn't have it, but he didn't know that. "It was his fault and the air stinks of gasoline," Pickup driver said. "You can give me your driver's license, then move back away from the car," I said quietly. "Bet your ass I'm going to move back," he said. "Look friend there is no need to upset the guy who is trapped in that car. Just stay calm and things will work out." I said to the pickup driver as he handed me his driver's license. It was at that moment that the first patrol car pulled onto the block. "He is trapped and the car is leaking gas. He got the ignition turned off, but I don't know. Do we have the rescue guys on the way?" I asked. "Yes they are five minutes out and rolling hard. Looks like he is going to have to be cut out of there," the night shift deputy said. I nodded just as the pickup driver said, "Listen there is nothing I can do here. I called my wife. She is coming to take me to work. She can handle all this other BS after." "You are not leaving the scene until we get this sorted out," the uniformed deputy said. "Bullshit, he was speeding and hit me when I pulled away from the stop sign. That's all there is to it." the driver insisted. "It's fine that you called your wife, but now you need to call you boss or whoever and tell them you are going to be late," the deputy said. "I haven't done anything and you can't hold me here," the driver said. "Listen you jerk," I said. "That guy over there may not get out of this alive and you are showing your ass over a few minutes wait. Just shut the fuck up or I'm going to go all Geronimo on your ass." I said it very quiet so I wasn't sure even the deputy heard it. Of course he was grinning so obviously he heard. I went back to stand beside the Korean tin can. "So what's you name?" "Name is Edward. I don't think I can reach my driver's license," he said. "That's okay, I'll get it when you step out of the car. So Edward, surely a good looking dude like you is married?" "Yep and got two kids. I sure hope I see them again," he said. "You will, if it gets too dangerous, me and the deputy will just reach in and pull your good looking ass out." I said. "So why don't you do it now?" he said. "It's that socialized medicine hon. If I make things worse, the government will have my ass. I can't afford to lose my pension." "So you are going to wait till you see something really bad, before you pull me out?" he asked. "So far there is no reason to risk making it worse. By the way what happened out here?" I asked more to take his mind off than anything. "He pulled out of that stop sign in front of me. I wasn't speeding, but I couldn't get the car to stop in time." "Since you are better looking, I'm going to believe your version. Of course, it is that deputy over there who has to write the report. Not to worry, I'm sure I can convince him." The siren wailed as the rescue truck and ambulance pulled onto the block. I hung out and helped them as much as I could. We got Edward out. Even though he was pretty beat up, it looked like he would be okay. The ambulance pulled away before the pickup driver approached me. "You got to know it wasn't my fault. He was speeding, I swear he was." he said. "You know you are one lucky man. It looks like you won't be charged with vehicular homicide. That carries a ten year sentence in state prison. So consider yourself lucky and use your right to remain silent." I took the good advice and called in that I would be late. Sergeant Michaels told me not to worry. I had been on the clock since my 911 call. Then he said the most unusual thing. "You know Porter some people are always stepping into shit. I'm afraid you are one of them. I would not want to be your partner. ------- Chapter 26 The room was warm and it really felt good. I had been standing out in the cold wearing just my running suit and the light parka for well over two hours. I made short work of stripping off the running suit and hanging it on racks to dry. After that little domestic chore, it was on to the hot shower. I also washed my new peach fuzz of course. I was dressed in a clean uniform and in the office well before nine. I didn't think that was too bad, since I had been waylaid for quite some time. "So Sarge where you putting me today?" I asked when I entered his office. "Before you do anything else, we have a meeting with the Chief Deputy," Michaels said. "Am I in trouble?' I asked I remembered his words on the phone earlier. "We are giving you your thirty day evaluation and some good advice," the sergeant said. "Then I am in trouble," I said. "Let's say you still have a job and go from there," he said. "Well that's a good beginning," I admitted. "Why don't you go have a talk with Simpson, while we wait for the Chief Deputy," Michaels said. "Sure," I replied. I really did want to get some information from Simpson. I called dispatch and had them call Simpson for me. Fortunately he was nearby so we arranged to meet at the station. Since I was in the station, I just went to the detective's office to wait. "Deputy Porter, what can I do for you?" Simpson asked. "Sergeant made it sound like you wanted to talk to me," I said. "Not really, but I guess we could discuss the Gypsy Allen thing." he suggested. "So do you know what happened?" I asked. "It's a given that Gypsy killed her husband for sure. The question is under what circumstances. She says he killed Jenny and was coming for her. Also according to her she shot him on sight." Simpson said. "Yeah, I know all that, so what really happened?" I asked. "Truth is I'm still working on that. Gypsy's husband lost his job three months before the shooting. They went from struggling to make it one day, to almost total poverty the next. They were still on public assistance of one kind or another when all this happened, but they weren't really in poverty after that first month." "Something to do with the loud lifestyle?" I asked. "Gypsy ain't talking, but we found someone who wanted to volunteer information for consideration in a different open investigation." Simpson said dragging it out. "So what was it? I'm dying to know," I said. "You are going to love this, nude pot parties," Simpson said. My heart sank. "One of Edward Allen's friends needed a place to have a party and Edward needed the money. After the first one, he just pushed out the guy who brought the idea to him in the first place. Edward bought a big screen TV and a subscription to 'porn is us' on the net. He sold pot and rented out rooms in his house to people from the first party and friends of theirs." "So Gypsy wasn't interested and went to hang out at the bars?" I asked. "She isn't talking and her lawyer isn't either, so we don't know. We also don't know where Jenny was during the nude parties." Simpson said. "If Jenny was staying with the aunt, and no one had died, it would have been a no harm no foul kind of party. Bust a few people for simple possession and let them all go home after an hour." I suggested. "Yeah, well that's where we are right now," Simpson said. "You got any ideas?" "I still remember how quick she was to suggest sex for our silence. I have a feeling she was out soliciting, while those parties were going on. I would expect that selling it at home those nights would be easy. Why would she bother to go out?" I asked aloud. I had a pretty good idea. It was because the men wanted her to be the entertainment. Perform live for them. "We don't know that she was selling it," Simpson said. "True," I said. A message came over the radio ordering me to report to the Chief Deputy's office. "Deputy Porter, I see you have been involved in more high profile crap," Webster said. "I'm sorry what high profile case are we talking about?" I asked. Anything can be high profile and anything can be nothing. It is all about circumstances nothing more. "Do you have cable in the motel where you live," Sergeant Michaels asked. "Sure, but I don't watch a lot of TV," I suggested. "Have you ever heard of news99?" Webster asked. "Isn't that the local cable operated news station?" I asked. "You are almost right. It's statewide cable news association. They have branch offices all over. They have a reporter out of Asheville, he covers the mountains and he drives a company owned compact car. Would you care to guess where he was at 5AM this morning." "Headed for the Cafe on the Square to interview the Judge in the Gypsy Allen case over breakfast," Sergeant Michaels answered for me. "He was also going to do a human interest piece about the Cafe, since it is a landmark around here." "Oh so the reporter was in the crushed compact car?" I asked. My heart sank as I tried to remember all the silly things I said to him. "You guessed it. News99 did a live segment with him at the hospital, since his camera man was already here. Would you like to guess what he said about you?" Webster asked. "No sir," I said racking my brain to see just how badly I had fucked up. "I'm sure someone will send you a tape. Maybe only a few people will see it, but he absolutely fawned when he talked about you. How you stayed even with the smell of gasoline in the air. How you spoke to him calmly and kept him calm." Michaels said. Up to that point it didn't sound too bad. "All in all it was good publicity for the department and god knows we can always use it. So you get a pat on the back and three atta girls," Webster said. "Thank you boss. To be honest I was expecting to be in trouble," I said. "I seem to be stumbling on more odd crap than anyone else out there." "Don't take what I said too seriously. You are still curious and that is good. Some of us have just burnt out on new things. A lot of deputies just want to see the end of their shift and payday, everything else is just an inconvenience. You aren't like that and I'm glad." His speech was supposed to put my mind at ease but it didn't. Even though he had somehow made sergeant, Michaels was one of those guys who was just marking time. He had been serious when he said he would not want me for a partner. To be honest so far I had not worked with anyone I would want for a partner. "So make yourself available if the news people what to talk to you after he is released from the hospital." From the pat on the back meeting I went straight out on patrol and did nothing. All the over night burglary reports had been completed by other people before I made it out of the garage. The day ended at 1:30pm for me, since I started at 5:30AM. I was glad to see it end early. I had lots to think about while I lay down for a nap. The number one thing I needed to do was to find out if the Boyle brothers had been involved with the Allen family. If so to what extent. I wasn't going to be much of a hero, if they found out I had gone to a similar party. Especially if it was noted that I had provided the entertainment that Gypsy slut had refused to provide. I didn't call the Boyle brothers because there was a good chance that there phone might be bugged soon, if not already. I did need to get in touch with them before they called me on the phone and said something stupid. I did the next three tours on days trying not to get involved with anything new. It was what I complained about other deputies doing. I did ride by the Boyle Brothers Recovery office at least twice a day. By the end of the third day, I had a good feel for what should and should not be in the neighborhood. After my day watch tour ended on a Wednesday, I went home and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. I bought the shirt from a thrift shop and never wore it. It had a hood, which at the time I purchased it, I thought might come in handy for running. The light field jacket with the thermal lining proved to be so much better, I never bothered with the sweat shirt. I pulled onto the block with Boyle recovery, and then pulled my car into the neighborhood grocery store where I parked it far from the door of the store. I left the car and took off running. I ran with the hood covering my knit cap. It was just a hundred or so yards to the front door of the Boyle Brothers office. When I went inside, I found only Simon in the reception room. I put my finger to my lips then motioned him outside. I led him to a corner of his parking lot. "Simon this is very important and you need to tell me the absolute truth, no matter how bad it is. Do you understand me?" I asked just as cold as I could. "Sure what is the problem. Is it the Dragon piss?" he asked. "I don't know anything about that and don't want to know. But you tell me, did you know Edward James Allen?" I asked. "I know he got himself killed, but I don't know anything else," Simon said. Simon, I know Edward was hosting nude pot parties with sexual entertainment, does that sound familiar?" I asked. "Sylvia, you have to believe me, I had nothing to do with his death," Simon said. "Neither did James." he said. "Your name has not came up ye, t but it will. So get yourself a good lawyer and get your alibi ready. Make sure it is a good one and that it is the truth. There is nothing worse than to get caught with a fake alibi. It is worse than no alibi at all. If you tie me to the later parties you had, I will sell you out for everything I know, or can guess. Do we understand each other?" I asked. "Why would I try to deal you. You didn't break any law." he said. "True and I am not going to help you save my, not so pure, reputation. Do not call me again, neither you nor your brother. I would get a couple of burn phones, if I were you. The sheriff my never look at you, or they might look at anyone who can help with filling in the blanks. Be prepared to deal but do NOT deal me. When you and James discuss this, do it away from your home and office." "I understand." Simon said. "You better understand and go back to your real business for a while. Just in case they run an operation on you, so they have some leverage." I suggested. Then without even a goodbye, I turned and ran away from my car. I ran a few hundred yards then turned right and ran back to my car. I stopped to throw the sweat shirt in a drive up dumpster. The dumpsite had video cams, so I threw it away with my household trash as everyone in the county did. I drove home very nervous and checking my rear view mirror every few seconds. ------- Chapter 27 The state cable news network called me at the motel but on my cell phone. It wasn't the man from the crash, it was a chick who claimed to be his producer. It looked to me as though they were trying to be a real news agency. "Hi there, you are Deputy Sylvia Porter?" she asked. "I am. Who might you be?" I asked. That's when I found out about the producer thing, "So what can I do for you Miss Producer." I didn't even bother to file her name into my short term memory. I didn't expect her to be there that long." "Robert would like to say thank you and do a human interest piece on you," she suggested. That left me between a rock and a hard place. The Sheriff wanted the publicity for the department and his own re-election plans. I wanted nothing to do with it. The more video exposure I got the more likely the chances of me being recognized from the party in Mountain Home. I had already done a rational assessment of the danger and it went like this. At the time Simon explained that I didn't have to be worry about being recognized because Mountain Home resort was over a hundred miles from the county seat. Also that it was a party for the festival goers, who were mostly from way out of the area. They would have no access to the local news network, I reasoned. Since the car hadn't blown and there was no video of it anyway, it would never make a national story. So odds of it being seen by the party goers was remote. I did plan to do as much as possible to keep even that remote chance from being a disaster. "There is no human interest story here. As far as meeting on camera for a reunion with your reporter, that's fine," I agreed. "I do have some special request. I would like to be in uniform with a patrol car in the background, when we meet. The department can always use the publicity." Which will also help distract the eyes of the viewer, I thought. I didn't think I could get the Chief Deputy to refuse me permission to do the interview, since the Sheriff was a publicity whore, so I went immediately to the station to have a talk with him. I wanted to at least lessen the impact of the interview. "Chief Deputy, I know you want me to do the interview, but how will it effect my safety later. I mean not too many people know me as the only female deputy in Warren county, but if I do this interview a lot more will know me. If Sergeant Michaels sends me in to buy drugs or guns, I might be recognized. It could put me in danger," I suggested. "You do have a point, but refusing the interview is not an option. So what do you suggest?" he asked. "If we do the interview outside, I can wear my knit cap over my ears and the official cap over that. If I also wear dark glasses and explain to the reporter it should make it almost impossible to recognize me from the interview." I hoped that he bought it. Even though the odds of being recognized by anyone from my past was nil, I didn't want to take any chances. "I think that sounds prudent. If you explain it to that reporter guy, he should understand." That's the way we left it. It was a good thing since I had already agreed to the interview. It was set for the next morning at 10AM, in the motor pool parking lot. That gave me a chance to work the car in. The Sheriff would love it and it was a way for me to work in the knit cap. The cap would seem to be keeping my ears warm while in fact it was there to hide the fact that I was bald. "So Robert you look a lot better than the last time I saw you?" I said. "Thank you Deputy Porter, I feel a lot better pain wise, and outlook as well. So I understand you had some special requests?" he asked. "Not many just that we do it here with the patrol car in the back ground. I also want to keep my sunglasses on. I might have to make an undercover drug or gun buy someday soon. I would prefer not being recognized by a thug," It obviously sounded as reasonable to Robert as it had to Chief Deputy Webster. "That sounds prudent," he said. "I'm not the TV guy," I said to him, but why not have the camera man film you walking up to the car with your cane. It will kind of put the whole story in context." I suggested. It would also shift the viewers attention to Robert. Hopefully I would just be a sideline. I expected him to agree since TV reporters are all attention whores. "That actually sounds pretty good," the camera man agreed. And thats how it happened. Robert talked a little and I talked a lot about my life with the Warren Sheriff's office. I knew it is what everyone wanted. The filming took about twenty minutes, so I figured two minutes might make it to air which was two minutes more than I wanted." The rest of that day I spend either in bed or on the computer. I bought groceries, if you can call two frozen dinners and a deli sandwich groceries. I had decided that if I did breakfast at all, it would be at the cafe on the square at the least. I might drive to the waffle house in the plaza area, but that wasn't likely to happen with my morning run factored into the equation. The second of my days off, I went for my run at 7AM. The sun was pretty much still behind the mountains, but making an effort to show itself. I turned the corner onto the one block off main back street. It was the headed toward home part of my run. When I saw the car, I didn't recognize it. Since I was coming up from behind it, I didn't recognize the driver either. I slipped my hand into the field jacket and came out with the box opener. As I got close he opened the door and stepped out, if he let me pass, everything was going to be cool, but if the driver had a gun, I was likely dead. If he tried to grab me, he was more than likely dead. He did neither, "Sylvia we need to talk a second." "James, what the hell are you doing. I told Simon I did not want to ever talk to either of you again," I said. "I know, but I don't want you to do anything foolish while worrying about the party with Allen thing. Nobody is going to question us about it. If they do, and we need to throw a name at them, we have a much bigger one than yours so forget it. You are going to skate on this and I will leave you alone. Take this in case you need to talk," He handed me a card with a phone number. "Alright now I need to show up on time at the cafe," I said that as I ran off. What I needed to do was get the hell away from James. I could try to figure out what he meant later. I put the card with the number into the pocket of my field jacket. I stopped in at the cafe for a glass of iced tea and to tell my waitress friend that there was a dog one street over. I placed the stray exactly where I had met James Boyle. Later that afternoon, I almost loaded the car for a long drive to mom's house to do my laundry. To be honest I preferred a laundromat to spending the day hearing about her new life. Her old life was the only life I knew until I joined the Air Force. Discussing her new life just tended to remind how bad it was to grow up with a perv for a father. He hadn't hurt me, I just didn't realize until I was a teenager that what we were doing was wrong. It didn't feel wrong on a purely physical level. Nonetheless, I didn't want to spend an afternoon being reminded that I was damaged goods. I drove the Toyota, which was so small the back seat was filled with just one plastic laundry basket. I had well over a dozen pair of white cotton bikini panties and a half dozen elastic contraptions suited for a dark-ages dungeon. I wore those when I ran, or when I might have to run. Even my smallish 36b, boobs hurt when bounced up and down for a few miles. Not to mention that kind of thing just added to the hastening the sag, or so I had been told. The basket also contained a dozen green tee shirts. They came from the army 2nd hand store on Fort Dix New Jersey. Fort Dix was across the street from the Air Force Base where I was discharged. Wearing the same colors everyday made dressing so much easier. Of course there were a couple of black tee shirts I wore when I went out. There were also three men's dress shirts, white in color. Those I wore over the black tee shirts. I owned two push up bras which were not in the laundry, since I had no reason to wear them over the last two weeks. The towels and sheets were furnished by the motel, so my laundry for two weeks was not more than one of the high capacity washers would hold. I could do the wash for less than five dollars easily. It was a much better deal than listening to mom. It was two hours of pure boredom though. It did give me time to wonder who James was talking about. He made a special effort to find and talk to me in a fairly secure place, so he felt it was important at least that I know there was someone. He obviously thought the information he could give up would be a pass on being interrogated, or at least a get out of jail free card. He went to a lot of trouble to be sure I knew about it. It was just too vague at that time for me to guess. Maybe the details would get filled in later. As long as it worked out like he thought I was good with anything. I expect that he hunted me down to reassure me so that I wouldn't continue trying to insulate myself and accidentally expose them. With the 'why he had contacted me' more than likely explained, I decided just to go back to my original plan of letting the whole thing ferment. I still hoped that James and Simon would not become part of the investigation. I especially hoped my involvement with them would not become common knowledge. I returned home to computer TV reruns, and the deli sandwich which wasn't bad at all. Time passed more or less quickly until 8PM when I went to the lounge. I took a seat at the bar to talk with Sarah. "So you been keeping it quiet in here?" I asked. "I sure have. Your buddy Simpson came by to ask about Gypsy. I did not tell him that I had already given you all that information," Sarah said. "You did right Sarah. I told him but you never know, I don't always play nice with others. I failed sharing in preschool," I admitted. "Deputy Sylvia Porter," the slightly rough looking man said. "Monk, if you scrubbed a little harder, you might be an okay looking dude," I said. "I'll keep that in mind. So you ready for that drink I promised to buy you?" he asked. "Only if you will talk to me about Gypsy Allen," I replied. ------- Chapter 28 "I'll be your snitch if you be my bitch," Monk said once he got me to a table away from everyone else. "You have to be out of your mind," I said. "First of all I don't know you, and second it's against every rule and standard of conduct. So no way." "Well at least think about it and I'll give you something as a show of good faith. You want to know if Gypsy was selling her ass, well she wasn't." Monk said. "I still think she was. You might not have known it, but I am pretty sure she was," I said. "What makes you think so?" he asked. "When Simpson and I informed her that if we reported what happened on the road, it would look bad. Her response was to offer us sex in exchange for our silence. A little house wife mommy doesn't have that as her first thought." I informed him. "Okay, as I understand it selling it requires that you negotiate a price up front. At least in all the cop movies they get it settled before they go to the room. That was never the case with Gypsy. To the best of my knowledge she had sex with a few friends. Then explained how badly she needed money. In my case she never even asked me. I just left her the price of a trip to the grocery store. Whatever I could spare at the moment really," he explained. "So she wasn't selling it on the street, but if she met someone in a lounge that she knew, she would screw them and then beg them for money after," I said. Monk nodded. "What if they said no?" "I guess she didn't do it with them again," he said. "I think that is still prostitution, morally if not legally," I said. "Probably," he replied. I finished my beer and stood to leave. "Thanks," I said. "For a blow job I'll give you a meth lab. You don't have to worry, I sure as hell would never tell anyone I was a snitch. I wouldn't have to worry about you giving me up as your snitch either. That's why it's the coin of the realm. Mutual destruction. Think about it." I went back to my room and then to the computer. I looked up lots of things on it just to avoid thinking about The Monk. I was pretty sure he didn't get that nickname because he was celibate. Then again he had paid Gypsy. He was also trying to make a deal with me. Maybe the Monk was celibate in his own way. Maybe he had attachment problems. I knew I had them, but I wasn't sure I was ready for birds of a feather and all that. I crawled under the blankets and imagined sex with Monk as I gently rubbed my clit until I came in shallow waves. Orgasms alone were nothing like those I experienced when I was wallowing in sick, disgusting sexual perversion. I woke at 7AM even though I didn't have to work that day. It was just a matter of habit. I had to force myself to run any day, so the only way I could do that was to make it a life long habit. Wake before eight and finish my forced activities by nine. Forced activities were running and the shower and dressing for the day. If it weren't for the self discipline I learned in the Military, I would just stay in bed all day. Trust me I am not exaggerating at all. I ran inside the Cafe on the Square at 7:45. I looked bad and probably smelled bad as well. I ordered a bacon egg and cheese biscuit since I was breaking my fast for next two days then returning to it. I got it to go since I made better coffee and I was trying to economize a little. Besides there was no one in the place I really knew after 6AM. All my buddies were gone by the time the sun came up. The cafe opened at 5AM and the first breakfast shift was gone by 6AM. People came and went from then till 5PM when the cafe closed. "You ain't been reporting any strays lately," the black waitress suggested as she handed me my white bag. "I know people must be keeping their dogs inside due to the cold," I suggested. "I sho' do hope so, It be mighty cold for them poor things out there all alone," she said. "I feed a couple of stray cats out the back door here. Boss claims he don't like it, but I think he feeds them when I'm off." "Good for you both, I got to run see you tomorrow," I said. "Good Lord willin'" she said, ending the conversation. After breakfast I decided that it was time for me to do more than just watch TV on my day off. I wanted something I could do just in case the deputy thing went south. I wasn't expecting it to do so, but one never knows, I thought. My "Thing," couldn't be a job since I never knew what my schedule was going to be. It wasn't just me all rookie cops got called when something needed doing and nobody else wanted to do it. If it wasn't going to be a job, then it probably meant buying and selling things. Since I knew nothing about that at all, I decided maybe it wasn't the thing to do either. I was on the computer or the phone talking to people all day it seemed. I had no more idea what I wanted to do at the end of the day, than I did after my run. I finally gave up for the day around 7PM. Since I had skipped lunch, I went for the meatloaf frozen dinner. It really wasn't as bad as I had expected. I put the meat, whatever it really was, onto a fancy roll I picked up in the day old bread section of the grocery store, It really wasn't bad with a little hot sauce and topped with mash potatoes and gravy. I know mashed potatoes on a sandwich sounds pretty gross, but it is good. I sat a couple of more hours staring at the computer trying to get some ideas. Most of the subcontract work would require me to be available at a moments notice, which was impossible. I knew there was something, I just had to give it some time. I did my walk through the lounge. I sat at the bar with Sarah and had a cup of her terrible coffee. I looked over at Monk with what looked like a biker buddy. I ignored him since I was pretty sure everyone in the place knew I was a deputy. Monk could get away with the one talk, but anymore and he would look like a snitch. Not a good thing for a guy playing with bikers. After I finished the coffee I headed back to my room. I spent a little more time doing research before the room phone rang. "It's me Monk. How about we have a beer?" "You sure as hell don't want your friends to think you are talking to me. I don't want mine to think I'm socializing with a biker dude," I said. "All that is true, but you didn't say no," he said with a laugh. "I guess I didn't, but it's just coffee, not a beer," I said. "Okay, I can't come to your place and we don't want to be seen together, so how about the plaza. We can meet at the road runner truck stop by accident." "Okay, but this only going to work for this one meeting, you do know that," I said. "If we get along, we will find something else next time," Monk replied. "Not likely to be a next time but okay," I suggested. "Just bring your ass down to the road runner and try to look like a dude, just in case anyone sees you and me together." he said. "That is the strangest thing I ever heard. I have been told I look so much like a man, I must be a bull dyke, Here you are telling me to look more like a man. You are just plain weird," I said. Instead of jeans I wore some camo pants that were pretty baggy on me. I also wore a gray sweatshirt with a hood instead of my field jacket. I put the knit cap on, then flipped the gray hood up over my head and decided that, since I didn't have a fake beard, what he saw was what he got. I parked across the lot from his Harley Chopper. It was truly a bike worthy of being a sign for his shop. It was just beautiful. When I walked through the door he was seated by the window with two coffee cups in front of him. "Gunfighter seat," I said. "Yeah, I want to know if one of the boys rides up. We don't come here much, but it would be my luck some asshole biker would pull in," he suggested. "Yeah or some fucking deputy," I said with a laugh. I wasn't really surprised by his laugh. "Yeah that to," he said it with a wicked smile. "Shit this coffee is terrible," I said. "Fuck Syl, the truckers love it. One cup of that shit and you can't sleep for at least five hours," he said. "You ever been here?" "I bought gas but never been inside the place before. It isn't too much of a dump. Not exactly a place the locals would come for dinner though," I suggested. "Specially on a date," he said. "Yeah," I agreed. "How about we go to my place and I hide your car inside. I can give you that meth lab," he said. "But I'm not ready to give you the blowjob," I said. "Since you are here you are coming around. I can wait," he suggested. "They tell me I'm worth waiting for," I said. We made a lot of small talk. I told him how I had spent my day. "Think specialty manufacturing," he said. "Something you can make one or two at a time and sell when you can. Having a full time job will allow you time to build a reputation and clientèle. Hell you can sell on Ebay or Amazon and never have to do anything else to set up retail outlets." "Now I'm shocked how the fuck do you know so much about manufacturing," I asked. "What did you think I did in my shop. I make one custom after market part for automobiles, I sell it directly to the customers and cut out the parts store," he said. "The shop itself is just cover. Now and then I work on a car for a friend." "That doesn't explain how you know so much," I demanded. "My ex wife was something of a web addict. When I got the prototype made, I wasn't sure what to do with it. She researched it all and then set it up for me. She taught me enough to keep it going without her once she moved on. I think it was her way of avoiding alimony," he said with a laugh. "Okay what do you make?" I asked. "I make a low energy lighting kit for under the hood and inside the trunk of cars. Night or day when you open your trunk it is as bright as daylight. Under the hood is the same way. Best of all you can install it yourself in fifteen minutes. "Shit you should be a millionaire," I suggested. "Not hardly, but I did pay cash for my Harley," he said. "Do your biker buddies know you have big money?" I asked. "Hell no and don't you tell them. I like the outlaw lifestyle, I always have." he said "Okay, I promise." ------- Chapter 29 I wondered all the way home, if that had been what one would consider my first date since becoming a Deputy Sheriff. The thought of that made me laugh, I got home and checked to see if anything had happened on my computer. Nothing had, so I slipped into bed, I slept till 7AM the next morning. Though technically it was a work day, I saw it as the last of my break, since I started the midnight shift rotation. I hated midnight shifts and so did ever one else. I was working the patrol division with Deputy Letter so it wasn't so bad. He was okay but I had more interest in the job, than Letter had. His interest was hit or miss. He proved to be interested in the job when it suited him. He liked to pull his badge on young women as a way to impress them. It was a harmless kind of 'me Tarzan you Jane' behavior. I ignored him for the most part and we had forged a working relationship based on that. I ignore him when I wasn't laughing at his chubby body in the Dirty Harry mode, Michaels was in the assembly room, I noted that Letter wasn't in at the moment. "What's up Sarge," I asked. "I'm going to be working Letter's shifts for a while," he said. "Is that okay with you." "Sure, but who is going to be working back up," I asked. Part of Michaels job was to back up the single officer on all calls that might be trouble. How he was suppose to know was hard for me to tell. "The state patrol boys are going to be monitoring our frequency, so be careful what you say on the radio." he suggested. "Why sergeant, I am always careful," I said. "Right. Simpson is trying to get hold of you, If he doesn't call tonight, try him before you go home in the morning," he suggested with a smile. "We had a strong arm robbery attempt tonight at the First Southern ATM, so keep an eye on it. He might come back. The description was just a black male." "Right," I said as I started for the door. After picking up my car, I started to drive to the northern part of the county. That part of the county was all country road and views over that side of the mountains. On those roads it was best not to fall asleep. The up side was I could drive till sunup and not see a car. The ideal place if you had thinking to do. I had some random ideas I needed to put to rest. It was close to midnight when my cell phone rang. I knew it was Simpson so I answer it with a question, "Locked up any bad guys?" "Not today, but the day is young, since it is after midnight," he said laughing. "Yeah, me neither," I agreed. "So what do you want with me?" "You heard anything on the Gypsy Allen thing," he asked. "I heard she was getting out of the house, when hubby was having parties. She had sex with some of her friends and they gave her money. She was trading sex for favors really. It was the barter system. I know it's a fine line, but we would me hard pressed to make a case of prostitution stick." "I'll look into it. By the way I brought Gypsy's sister back in. The little girl stayed with her and most of the nights. Toward the end nobody asked her to sit with the kid," he informed me. "I can guess why," I said flashing back to my own childhood. I hadn't ever had that kind of thing happen to me, but I had my share of trauma to deal with. "Then she might have seen something or even been part of something." "I can't find anyone who will admit being there yet. It looks as though there were from ten to twelve people who attended." He said. "Can you tell if they were the same ones each time?" I asked. "No idea, but I'm assuming so till I learn different. If not there are a lot of perverts in this little community." "That could be the case as well." I replied. "Well I thought I would check in with you. If you hear anything else, or if that crazy bitch's lawyer get in touch with you, let me know." he said "Okay," I said turning off the phone. The balance of the night pass with out me doing anything at all. I didn't have a single report to write. It was a good night, but it could also look like I was crawling in a hole somewhere and sleeping, if it happened too often. "305 Dispatch I'm 10-7 code 2 coming in," I said into the radio. "10-4 305 copy 10-7 code 2 off shift, good night," the dispatcher said. I parked the car, turned in my log to Michaels, who had supposedly been running 304 as well as his own job. Fortunately it was late night shift in a quiet county. When I got home, I changed for my run in spite of the cold and my exhaustion. I knew I had to run in the cold. It would not wake me and I didn't want it too, but it would give me a chance to think. I sometimes talked to myself, when I was extremely tired. It helps me to focus my thoughts. I saw the silver colored Ford SUV pulled up at the rear door of a retail store. Which one I wasn't quite sure. I hadn't lived in town long enough to know them from the rear. I had never seen any cars parked there before, so I called the dispatcher on the non emergency line. "Hey Lois, I hate to start your day off like this, but there is a suspicious car behind a building. It's probably nothing." I said. "Which one of the building are you running behind this morning?" she asked with a sigh of disgust. I wasn't sure if it was the call or the fact that I was running. "I'm behind the three hundred block of South Main. I don't know which store, but it's a silver Ford SUV. Haven't seen anyone yet." I said. "I wouldn't call but it is Sunday." "Well wait right there. I got Butch headed your way." she said. "Okay, I'll wait," I said. I stood in the parking lot across the street from the building. I wasn't armed and I was dressed all wrong to walked over and ask, "What the hell are you doing?" So I would just freeze my ass off doing as any good citizen should. I stood in the parking lot in the twelve degree weather freezing my butt off. I ran in place as I watched two male subjects come out of the door. They were loading some things that looked like clothing bags in the Ford. It began to look harmless suddenly. I couldn't imagine two men stealing clothing bags. Just as they were about to drive away, Butch showed up in his patrol car. I could imagine how that would go, especially when they showed their IDs. It was going to be. "Sorry to bother you but it's better to be safe, when it comes to people coming and going at strange times." I was about ready to run over to say how sorry I was for shouting wolf, when the scuffle broke out. I ran across the street without a thought about being unarmed. By the time I got there Butch was trying to get his Smith and Wesson into the argument. One of the bad guys was struggling with him trying to take from him. I grabbed the bad guy from behind my arms wrapped around his neck. Even though he was much taller, I had him in a classic choke hold. I was about to apply pressure to the arteries that supplied oxygen to brain, thereby rendering him unconscious. It was a hold we were taught in the military and a variation of it in rookie school. The military version was supposed to be more deadly, but they both would kill, if done incorrectly or correctly depending on the outcome one desire. The man in front of me no longer struggled for Butch's weapon, In fact he just sat down on me. If wasn't pretty, but it accomplished what I wanted, he was ready for handcuffs. During the struggle the second man had turned and ran away. I wasn't worried, we would get him when his friend rolled over on him, Nobody wanted to take the weight alone. I was required to go to the station for a statement. I would rather have gone to breakfast but I was too worn out to resist. I walked into the office of the detectives and sat there waiting for the duty sergeant. He told me to write down what happened. So I did leaving out the part about Butch's pistol. I might make one friend by not sounding like a hero wannabe. When I got home, I took a shower and realize how badly I had smelled. That was what really choked out the man, I thought. After that shower I fell into bed and immediately asleep. Simpson waited for hours before he called. It was well after noon thank God," "This better be good," I said. "You need to come down and rewrite your report. Both the perps told the same story. Some crazy chick in a running suit grabbed one of them from behind and choked him into submission. Not come on here and made your statement the truth," "Can it wait while I sleep a little move," I asked. "Yeah I'm holding your statement in me drawer so get the new one and put it in the desk." he said. "Fair enough," I said as I hung up. I went back to sleep. When I woke up I took my second shower of the day, It was just another aggravating thing about being a cop. I just had to keep in mind, that at least no on was trying to kill me. As long as I could remember that, I would be alright. When I finally walked through the station I saw Simpson standing by the second man I had seen that morning. "I see you found the second clothing thief," "Oh yes," Simpson said, "These guys must have been cross dressers cause they took only women's thing. This town is suddenly filled with perverts since you came," I shook my head then said, "I need to get home and back to sleep, so let me finish the revision my statement. What did Butch's say by the way." "Now he says you came running up and jumped on the guy back. That you put him in a choke hold. He was in control of the situation and didn't need any help." "Yeah, that is more or less what happened. Butch didn't do anything wrong. The guy just tried to take his weapon." I said. If Butch though he was putting me in the jackpot without a struggle he was crazy. "So Butch tried to pull his weapon," Simpson asked. "I have no idea they were struggling for it is all I know. That it why I took the man down," I said. "Okay," Simpson said. "Nobody got hurt, so I'm willing to go with that." Simpson also did the Internal Affairs investigations. "Tell me something. Is his name really Butch. Cause it if is his mother must really have hated him."I said. "No his name is Michael Thorn. He got the nick name after the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. You know it was so long ago I don't ever remember why. I wasn't part of the crowd who named him." Simpson said. "Okay, can I go now," I said wanting to get back to my warn bed. "Well you need to have a meeting with the woman who runs the shop tomorrow sometime," Simpson said. "The woman wants to say thank you, it won't take long. The 'crime scene man' will take a quick shot and you are through." "How close is the election anyway," I asked. I knew it was a publicity thing. "He never stops campaigning," Simpson said. "All right but I'm not good with this. I have to go to her shop full of fancy clothes dressed like this." I said with a wave of my hand indicating my cloths. "Oh no in uniform," Simpson said. ------- Chapter 30 Night shift was a pain in the ass. There was nothing to do and the time hung heavy on my hands. In the back of my mind I had the Gypsy Allen thing and my little sideline business venture to think about. Those two were all I had the energy to think about with that midnight shift draining me. I definitely did not have the energy required for posing for pictures. No I wasn't doing anything but sleeping and researching things in the net. But I considered both more important then having my picture made. To add insult to injury the manager of the store wanted to do them in the morning before the store got any customer. I explained that I was working night and that it was my sleep time, but she didn't budge. "It won't take long." she said. She acted like she was the one running for something, It was two more days before the manager of the store could find time for the event. That is the way she phrased it. I was a little uneasy about it all. It turned out that I was uneasy for good reason. It was one of those empower women meetings. I didn't care for the meeting and as a matter of fact I didn't care for the organization. They were a bunch of woman looking for any excuse to claim discrimination. I found the world had a lot less discrimination in it, when people didn't go looking for it. After that little meeting one of the ladies found out I was looking for a sideline business. "So you are looking to become and entrepreneur?" she asked. "Well yes I'm interested in a lot of possibilities," I said. "I'm just looking into things right now." "Well when you decide let me know. I can help you with some low interest loans." "I'll keep that in mind," I said to her. What I didn't say was if you are getting the kind of commission you must get for your lifestyle there has to be a catch. She just looked like money. My midnight shift ended and none too soon. I made a couple of arrests for trespass during the entire shift. I know that thing happen our of the blue. I just hated those night when trying to stay awake was the hardest thing I did all night. The next tour was days and I dreaded it. Sergeant Michaels had spent the whole tour working Letter's tour. The two of us had handled the midnight tour with no real problems. Either one of the other shifts was going to amount to a problem for me. Hell even Michaels had no back up out there and that was just plain dangerous. You never knew when it would all go to hell on a traffic stop or some other minor call. Well it was my first of three days off, so I planned to make a day of it. I had a complete weekend off and I was looking forward to the time. I was almost sorry that I had told the Boyle brother to never darken my door again. One of their parties sounded like fun to me at that time. I went to the lounge the first night I had off. I guess I was looking for Monk and some entertainment. I could have called him, but I wanter to see if he was all I remembered, Unfortunately he did not show up at the lounge. I had the one beer I usually had and returned to the room. I hated when I had the next day off and did nothing but masturbate and sleep. What a waste, I told myself. I went to sleep after swearing that the next night I would find something to do, even if I had to go to Dobson for it. Saturday morning I took off on the run. I had things on my mind and looking out for bad guy wasn't one of them. I ran by the store that female supremacist ran, and I waved when I saw her dress a window. I kept on going till I got to the Cafe On The Square. I ran right past it since I was fasting. Oh I planned to break the fast after 5PM. There was nothing special about 5PM, I just picked it for no reason at all. Besides the price of their coffee was such that it make me glad I had acquired a taste for day old coffee. I ran back to the motel from the cafe, to have day old coffee in front of the computer monitor, There was no new email. I had been writing to gather information, Oh it was slow going but I usually got an answer to my inquiry. They just didn't help me much. I was still working at the computer when lunch time arrived. For lunch I had a glass of water and a pack of peanut butter crackers. Those I bought at the Walmart at the plaza, not the grocery. I had my own rules for fasting as you might guess. Life was so boring at that moment, I was really missing the Boyle brothers. It was still too dangerous to be seen with them but I did miss them. By 3PM I was climbing the walls. I hate the term horny, but it described me perfectly. I went on to one of the many adult web sites. It was one with amateur photographs. There good ones were far from amateur. The bad ones were just plain bad. My biggest complaint was that most of the men though all women cared about was the size of their cock. It was far from the most important thing for me. It was part of the package but only part. Okay, it was the bow it was topped off with, but it wasn't much more than that. Girl on girl amateur porn was awful. There was only a couple of spreads that had any class at all. Those were pretty much all there was in the pornography worth watching. I knew I couldn't do any better, and I didn't intend to try. Naked pictures of me had never been taken to my knowledge. I planed to keep it that way. A thought struck me then. That party didn't stop it just moved. Those guys might stop for while, but it wasn't over for sure. I would mention it to Simpson let him take a look around for it. I needed some action of my own right then. There was a knock on my door just as I was getting ready to go out. I looked out the door with the S&W by my side. I looked out the spy glass and saw the slightly over weight brunette. I recognized her as the manager of the downtown clothing store. I opened the door to speak to her but it was to cold to stand outside. She had on a ski jacket I had nothing. "Hi there I hope I not bothering you?"she asked. "Well that depends on what you need," I said. "Come on in." "Well frankly I'm bored living in this town. I got the feeling that you were as well." she said. "You got that from the photo shoot?" I asked. "Well, you weren't wearing any jewelry and a woman in a relationship usually does. There is nothing for single woman to do in this town. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry." she said. "You aren't wrong," I said. "But don't let the bald heard fool you, I'm not bisexual or anything." "To be honest I never thought you were. I came bye hoping we could go out one night. I tried to call, but they wouldn't give me your cell phone." she said. "Yeah It's department policy. It keeps us from getting crank call," I said. "Aren't you in a relationship?" "Yes, but she knows how to share. Look we can go out to a club I know over in Dobson. Nobody there will know who you are or what you do. The won't ask you any questions." She said. "What kind of club," I asked I had to admit it would be nice to go with another girl. "Call it a dance club," she said. "I go there when I want a little stud time. Just some sex with no string. It I have you wrong we can do to a regular club an talk." she said. "No, the stud club sounds like fun," I said. "For the record you read me right." "Honey don't take offense, but I can spot a woman needing attention better then any man. It is the subtle way you move you hips. I love watching you walk." she said. "I'm a terrible hostess I don't have anything to offer you except some day old coffee," I said. "It's alright really, I didn't come for the coffee. So you want to go tonight?" she asked. "I was planning to go out alone, but I would rather go with someone," I said. "And here I hoped you would rather go with me, than just anyone," she said "I don't know you well enough to make a statement like that," I said. "Well, we will have to work on it." the manager of the dress shop said. "It's too early to leave now, I'll be back about ten." she said. "That's kind of late. We wont even get to Dobson before 11PM, if we leave at ten," I said. "Don't worry you wont miss anything," she said. "I'm going to go change. Why don't you do that same." "I hadn't even thought about clothes, I have nothing to wear," I admitted. "I can loan you a dress. What are you as size 10-12," she asked. "Yes," I said simply. "See you at ten," and with that she was off. I had sworn that I would never have sex with anyone from town again. I could go to the club and she could see me have sex, as long as I didn't get too crazy. I had told her up front I would have sex with her. I was sure she though she could change my mind. As long as she didn't, I could be her friend. When she arrived at 10PM, she had a dress on a hanger. "Strip." she demanded. I wasn't especially shy around her, so I was down to my bra and panties in a couple of deft moves. I was standing there thinking that her look was getting serious, but nothing happened. "You didn't have that bra on when I saw you for the picture," she said. "I know. I seldom wear anything but a sports bra these days." I explained. "And with the vest it's hard for me to be very girlie." "Well take off the bra," she said. "It's going to be cold out there," I said. "My car has a heater. Take it off and the panties too," she said. I almost refused since I have never left the house for a night out without panties. I've come home without them more than a few times. Anyway I removed my panties and stood there naked before her. Just then I realized I didn't even know her name. I hadn't cared enough to remember it during the pictures session. "Now, put this on," she said it almost as a demand. The dress was jersey, tight, and colorful. I found it clinging, while showing off my lack of a chest and slightly larger ass "What do you think?" I asked "Turn around," she said and I did. "Come over here." I did that to, She reached over and pinched both my nipples at watched them rise. "Now that is better." she said with a laugh. Let's go we have miles to before we sleep." she said. I hadn't made the drive to Dobson all that often, so I was a little turned around. The club was inside a converted service station, so it was close inside. The other thing I noticed is the club as well over 95 percent black. At first I was worried. I knew that I could take care of myself but I wondered if the manager had brought me to the club for some other reason. If I hadn't been so horny, I never would have agreed. ------- Chapter 31 The club was small for sure. We found enough space along a wall to sit. We weren't the only white girls in place, but there weren't many like us either. Those that were in the place fit my description trailer trash. But then so did I and I didn't really care. I assumed they didn't either. The music was all rap with a lot cop killing as the theme. I had to laugh it was so ironic, "I can't go on without know your name," I shouted to be heard above the music. I thought she would wet her pants she laughed so hard. "You came here with me, and didn't even know my name?" she asked. "I didn't need to know it. I still don't, if you are willing to answer to 'hay you' all night." I said. "Well that's an interesting way to look at it. My name is Mary Ellen Hopkins. You can call me either of them," she said. "Alright Mary Ellen, I shall try to make you proud of me." I said. "Good, then go dance with one of those tall African gentlemen," she said. "The closest thing to the African experience they have is having once seen a Tarzan movie on TV. But I will go dance with them just for you." I stood up by my chair and made a couple of bad dance moves. My bald head covered by the colorful scarf didn't bother them at all. "Damn bitch you need some dance lessons," the tall black man in the purple shirt said. "A man in a fagot shirt is going to teach me to dance." I laughed. "I can teach you lots of things, and this ain't no fag shirt." he said. "What do you thing Mary Ellen? Is that a fag shirt or not?" I asked. "If he was white, it would scream fagot. On him I can't be sure," she said. "Well we got one fagot, one not fagot and one I'm not sure. Looks like you work to do to make up for that shirt," I said. "Fuck you bitch, I ain't got time for no white lesbo bitches," he said as he walked back to this table. "You reckon it was something I said," I wondered aloud. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was," she said. "Oh I'll do better," I promised. "You better, I drove a long way to get you laid," she said. "And I appreciate it. I really do." I said honestly. "Hey bitch," the black man in a head scarf said. "Gee my reputation proceeds me," I said. "Yeah come on lets dance," he said taking my hand. I let him lead me onto the dance floor. The music was too loud and too grating to do more than bounce to it. I moved some of the ways white girl typically do. I was about half in time with the music but I could quite get a hold on it. He moved around behind me and put his hands on my hips. I didn't know what he had in mind, but I had hoped it wouldn't be what he did. As he moved to the music he inched my dress higher, It was short enough so that parts of me that never showed before were open to the view of the dancers. Fortunately not all of them saw anything. Naturally I lubricated and it was shiny. I felt slutty as hell and I loved it. He guided me into a corner of the dance floor. Once we were there he began to fell me up. I was couldn't help it, I had an orgasm just from his hands on me. Even that was better than masturbating alone. He wasn't through with me yet. He turned me toward him and said quite loud to be heard over the music. "Take it out," I shook my head no. "Take it out bitch." he said very emphatic. He was trying to scare me, so I decided to act scared. It didn't take a lot of acting. "You white girls are all the same, want to come down here to play us niggers, Now take it out white girl." I unzipped his pants and worked his slightly larger than average penis out. I began to stroke him. I could tell he like it, I know I did. I was sure he had more planned for me than just stroking his cock till he came. "So bitch you like my cock?" he asked. "Yes," I answered gasping for air. "Wouldn't you like to kiss it. It would be the friendly thing to do wouldn't it?" he asked. "But all these people would see," I said. "I know they would honey. That the idea, all the men would want to be me and all the women would want to be you. Including your uptight girlfriend." he said. "I can't do it with people watching," I said, I could do it of course, I just didn't want him to know. "Yes you can not get down on your knees and open that pretty mouth of your. You gonna suck my dick till I cum. If you real nice I will let you eat it, rather than wear it." he said. I knelt on the filthy floor and I waited for him to put it in my mouth. "Look who come to help out." I raised my eyes and saw Mary Ellen standing beside him. She was holding his cock and kissing him. She held his cock up for me to suck. It was more than I could stand. I came again without doing much of anything to myself, Mary Ellen was watching me adjust to the size of his cock. I'm sure she saw his cock work it's way inside my mouth and to the edge of my throat. I gagged often as he did. Then without any warned he forced it down my throat while ignoring the pitiful sounds I made, I'm not sure but I think Mary Ellen had told him to go for it. His muscles froze with his cock down my throat. He came and I forced him back so that I could breath. When I did he shoot cum over my face not much just the very end of his spurts. "Now fuck her," Mary Ellen said loud enough for me to hear. He lifted me and turned me around with my back to him. He bent me over a table. There were people at the table but they didn't seem to mind. He forced his way inside me while the people at the table looked on. Others may have been watching but those were for sure. It had been easy for him since I had on no panties. Easy except for the need to stretch me some. He even talked to me. "You a tight little ho, You white girls always are the first time. No matter how much white cock you had you still till like it was your first time. You do want my dick in you, pig?" he asked. "Yes, God yes," I said. "I want you to fuck me." I felt him spread me wider than I had been spread anytime lately. He was big but I knew the that he was going to be from the sore mouth and throat but I didn't care. Not at all. I felt him drive in me. He was deep inside me when I came. Even though it was my third orgasm, it was still huge. I felt as if time was standing still. Just at the moment he stiffened and he came again. I could feel his cum run down my legs aided by my moisture trail. I was almost glad it was over. But then I felt him move away, but another cock filled me. I was about to object but it felt so good to be filled. I just wanted to keep the feeling of cock inside me forever. I was truly lost in that feeling. I was in a different place. Then there was a cock in front of me and I was too lost to even consider what I was doing. I didn't even known how many times they changed. I begged them not to do my ass but they did anyway. I wouldn't be able to sit for a week. Their cocks were larger than any I ever had in my ass. I was sure they left me bleeding. "Come on Silvia we have to go. So one is calling the cops." With that Mary Ellen helped me into her luxury sports car. It was expensive I thought again just as I had at first. "What time is it," I asked. "2AM, I think that's why he called the police. He wanted to close and without the cops the place likely would have turned on him." Mary Ellen said. "You said you had been here before. Does this happen all the time?" I asked. "No, this the first time I have ever seen a gang bang. Christ girl, you are the hottest fuck I have ever seen," she said. "Well, we are not going to repeat this ever again. I had no idea what happen," I said. "I'll tell you what happened, you had an itch and you got it scratched. Things just got a little out of hand that's all," she said. "A little out of hand, is that what you call it. I just pulled a train for god sake," I said. Some of the indignation was put on I had screwed multiple partners before. And there had been witnesses before, I was going to have to do some fancy foot work to keep this under control. "Well there are worse things, and besides you looked great doing it. Even with no hair you looked great with those black cocks going in and out of you. Here look at the video." She gave me her cell phone. The video was remarkably good. "My god how do I erase this thing," I said very forcefully. "Here give it to me," she said. "Is that better." I couldn't tell she had deleted it, but I had to take her word for it. I nodded. "You don't think I was the only one there with a cell phone do you. I saw a couple of women filming it. You can't do anything without it being on the net." "Oh crap there goes my job," I said. "My life it ruined just to get laid. Why the hell did I listen to you," "No you don't little miss deputy. You do not get to blame me for this. You knew what you were doing when you took his cock. All down the line you went and never resisted. I was there to make sure if you did, it would have ended. But you were a big girl and I let you do what you wanted." "God I have to figure out how to undo what I did," I said. "Why?" Mary Ellen asked. "What you did wasn't illegal. At least it shouldn't be. Just let it go and see what happens," "There isn't much else I can do," I admitted. After Mary Ellen dropped me of she came in just long enough to get her dress. I rinsed my mouth and I used an antiseptic douche. I didn't know how much good they did but I had never caught anything from on of the lovers who used me before. I laid in bed and tried to rationalize the threat to my life. Okay so Mary Ellen said there were two others who use the cell phone, Since it was Dobson, it was a small town, so they probably sent the video to friends. People who don't know me and who I will never come into contact with. I'm definitely going to grow my hair out now, I thought. My worst nightmare would be it goes on the Internet. They won't take in on utube so it goes on one of the amateur sites. Still hard to imagine anyone in Warren County seeing it. If they stumbled across it they likely would not recognize me. If Mary Ellen kept her mouth shut, I should be alright. If she talked it was pretty much her word against mine. Bull shit she had that video and it would be back to haunt me. So I needed to relax and see what she was going to want for it. Also to find some way to get over this need to have sex with multiple partners, ------- Chapter 32 It was late Sunday evening and I had used the time that day to get over my various pains. It had been an interesting experience and now I that I had rested, I was a little less terrified. I was however still very concerned. I knew that I would have just to wait to see. The waiting would be hard but at least it wouldn't be forever. The shelf life of an amateur sex video was very short. They would likely post it only on one site if at all. It just wasn't likely to be seen by anyone who mattered. At least I reasoned that when my thinking became clearer. "I planned to go back to my life as usual, once my various pains went away. The pain, from the men trying to force their way down my throat, was still very much present. My ass hurt and I had false urges to use the bathroom all day. I knew they would go away eventual but if I kept stretching it, I was going to have problems. At least that was the old wives tale. I stayed by the phone waiting to get the call that said Chief Deputy Webster wanted me. It did come during my break, so I felt some better. When I went back to work on Tuesday morning, I had heard nothing about the video at all. I had also heard nothing from Mary Ellen either. I still had issues with her for taking me to that place but I also knew that I was a consenting adult. I could have and should have said no. Yeah she was right, I wanted my itch scratched. My problem was once I got started, I couldn't say no to anything. I wondered if Mary Ellen had guessed, or it had been a surprise to her. Well I would ask her, if I ever talked to her again. In the meantime I had the Gypsy Allen thing hanging over me. All though it really wasn't mine to be concerned about. Well only the law suit thing and I wasn't worried about it after the sex trade came out in court. "305 report to the detective division asap," the dispatcher said. "10-4 dispatch," I said. I wondered what Simpson had on his mind. I guessed I would find out soon. I had only been in the car about ten minutes. "Whats up," I asked Simpson when I finally got into the detectives lair. "We got a break in the Allen case," he said, "Oh yeah, what kind of break," I asked. "Someone who attended the parties came forward," Simpson said. "He just walked in and said I want to tell you about the sex, and drug parties, I've been attending?" I asked it skeptically. "It could happen," Simpson said. "We were asking people who were known to deal pot. Word got out that we were working our snitches. This one knew we were getting close so they came in." I expected it to be one of the Boyle brothers. I was getting ready to deny, deny, deny, when he led me into the room with a woman, who I recognized instantly. "That is Melissa from the survivalist club," I said. "Correction, that is Melissa the pot grower. Who also happens to be a hanging out at the clubhouse when you were there. It's how they finance the operation." "So was she a guest at the party, or just there to sell pot to Allen," I asked. "She went to the parties and sold pot to the guest. She gave Allen a cut. I don't think the survivalist knew about her side line business." Simpson said. "I can't believe Allen made much money with just a cut of the drugs sold." I said. "I'm still interrogating her, you want to sit in?" he asked. "Oh yeah, but we are short a man and I really need to be on patrol," I said. "Haven't you heard you are not short a man. The have reassigned Butch to work with you. You and Butch have the county all to yourselves. Except for Michaels bossing you around." "What happened to Letter?" I asked. "God a better job. That's how he tells it anyway." He said. "Well I better get back out there. Let me know what happens," I said. "Sure," he said. In the hallway I met Michaels. "Hey, were you ever gonna tell me or were you gonna leave me to find out, when he rolled up on me." "Take it easy, I know you are upset, but it can't be helped. Butch is a good deputy and we need a deputy." Michaels said. "What about the hole he leaves who's going to fell that?" I asked. "We have Reynold coming in full time for a while. He will fill in till we hire someone. You won't have to work with him so don't worry," he said. "I wasn't worried. So they didn't wait you stuck with a rookie and Reynolds. I would say that was a good command decision," I said as I walked away. "305 10-8 code 1 and patrol." I said into the radio. "10-4 copy 10-8 code 1," was the reply. Immediately after the dispatcher's acceptance of my in service call I got another one. "305 could you meet 306 for a quick word," Butch said "10-4 name it. I'm just leaving the station," I said "The Piggly Wiggly parking lot in five," he said. "10-4," I said, With that settled I drove to the Piggly Wiggly grocery store parking lot. I waited for butch to pull his car in beside mine. He parked facing the opposite direction. "So what you want," I asked. "I know you are the rookie so I'm taking that in consideration when I say this. I didn't want this change and I didn't want to work with you. You could have made that call behind the store a lot less embarrassing for me." "Yeah well the original report I wrote I didn't mention your weapon at all. Then I read your report, so I rewrote mine to tell the truth. If you like I'll have Simpson ask the mooch whose version is the real one." "I knew a woman wouldn't understand," he said. "This woman understands when she is being thrown under the bus and gets out of the way. So now, if this is going to effect our working relationship, ask for a transfer." I said. "I won't leave you hanging and I assume you won't leave me." he said. "I didn't last time," I suggested. He nodded and we left the parking lot. I headed for my patrol post only to get a call to take a burglary report. I check in on the scene and took the report. In that kind of thing the standard procedure was for your back up to stay available till you cleared the site, I assumed that Butch did that. I had my doubts, he might easily have gone for coffee. The next thing that happened was butch had a traffic stop and I headed that way. I was about three minutes away when he check back in service. So I moved off to look at the survivalist club house. I thought about Malissa. She had been in the clubhouse, so maybe there were pot in the those boxes marked MRE. I called in that I was going into the building and would like some backup. I knew he had some weapons in the building. If he had drugs that made for a combination he was likely to defend. "305 be advised that 306 is 10-7 code 2. 301 will be in route also 210." dispatch advised me. What she told me was butch had checked out for lunch, but the duty sergeant and Detective Simpson were coming along, "305 be advised do not enter the premises until they arrive." "10-4 dispatch," So I stood down. Michaels arrived first. "What the hell are you doing." he asked. "I'm going to see, if he will let me in." I said. "He did last time. I called for backup because I know he has guns." Simpson had arrived on scene. "I got the warrant to search. Malissa rolled on him. She is cultivating for him. He is selling some of it and the members are smoking the rest of it." "You do know that going in there could have gotten you killed," Simpson said. "I called for back just like the protocol says." I said. "That won't do you much good, if you get killed." Just then Butch checked in. We decided the one more body might be a good thing, if it became a stand off. So we waited for Butch to make it to the dance before we started. "So did she roll on the party," I asked while we waited. "She tried, but she isn't from here. She was a recent horticultural graduate from a community college down east." he said. "No wonder I thought she was eighteen that would make her twenty. She probably couldn't get a job anywhere else," I said. "I'm sure that is the case. The guy in there is a survivalist for real. He just used pot to pay for his plans to equipment a shelter for a hundred people. It is supposed to be the new beginning after the end," he said. "Did anyone ask him what he though the world would be like after the end? I wouldn't what to live there would he really?" I asked. "Well he might just let you, since you qualify for his brave new world." Simpson said. "Here is Butch lets go in and look around." It was decided that I would go to the door, since he knew me. The others would be across the parking lot to rush in to help if there was trouble. So I pulled into the concrete area in front of the place where an overhead door had hung. The door had been filled in with concrete blocks. It wasn't a very nice looking renovation. I knocked on the door and waited. "Who is there," the voice came from inside. "It's Deputy Porter remember me?" I asked him. "Sure, I remember you. What you want now?" he asked. "I got some surplus law enforcement gear for sale. I thought you might be interested, since you sell that kind of thing." I said. "What kind of gear," he asked me. "I got two Kevlar vests," I said. "They are surplus and some things that aren't surplus." "I don't know," he said cracking the door. What most guys find most surprising about a a door flying back in their face is the amount of force a 140 lb woman can put behind that door. It's all it how you hit the damn thing. First of all you have to be expecting the caution crack of the door, then you loose all your energy at one time on the door. If you can, you need to follow up by breaching the door immediately. Something I learned while rounding up deserters. The Air Force had no problem using a woman to breach doors, when it was discovered I had learned the method in Afghanistan where sex mean nothing and everything. I followed my door breach by putting a pistol on the owner of the station. "Oh I'm sorry. You are under arrest." "What for," he said. "You were the one with the stolen goods." "The manufacture and distribution of pot. It's a felony. I bet you are selling tainted MREs as well." I got all that out before the gang showed up. "Are you craze," Simpson asked. "You were told to get him to the door not break in." "Details, we are in. That is the important thing. Show him the warrant, so that we can look around." The search took half and hour plus the evident collection which took another hour. When I got back on patrol the shift was almost over. Butch even said, "Nice work Porter." Which meant absolutely nothing coming from him. Nonetheless he might be trying to bond. I wasn't in a mood to bond with him or any other man. I was in a 'men, who needs them' mood. ------- Chapter 33 I finished the shift and realize I hadn't stopped for lunch. Since I was in the fast mode, I probably would have had a cracker and diet coke anyway. Nothing I would have missed especially. My blood sugar might miss it, but I didn't. When I got back to the motel, I found a package waiting for me at the front desk. I carried it back to my room to open it. Since it had no return address I was afraid of what was inside of it. I hadn't ordered anything, so the package could contain anything at all. I didn't think it would have something dangerous but you just never knew, When I finally got inside I found a black dress. It was about the same length as the one I had worn to the club. I found a card inside which read, 'For next time. I really am going to have to start charging you. This one you keep.' It was signed Mary Ellen. Once I had shower and washed my peach fuss, I tried the dress on. It was tight and I was going to have to buy black panties in order to wear it. It was that short, I picked up the phone and called her shop. "Ms Hopkins please," I said. "One moment please," The clerk said. "This is Ms Hopkins," she said. "You certainly are," I said playfully. "The dress is gorgeous but I can't keep it.". "Don't worry, I didn't pay retail for it," Mary Ellen said. "I really can't you take it back. You are going to have to keep it. There is no option. So, when are we going to do that again?" she asked. "Not for a long while," I said. "That was too much, even for me." "Well then how about a nice quiet dinner, just us girls?" she asked. "You do remember that I'm not a girl's, girl?" I asked. "I remember that you said that yes. So how about it. Just you, me, and my friend," she said. "I can't do it till my next break. Which isn't for a few days. It also want come on a weekend." I wanted her to know where we stood exactly. If she was planning some kind of power game on me, I wanted to know as soon as possible. I told myself that was why I was accepting the invitation. It wasn't because I was looking forward to it on a purely sexual basis. Well, I told myself that but my body was showing signs of reacting. "Yes I already found out you are off Monday, and Tuesday next week," she said. "Keeping a record?" I asked. "Something like that, Just keep Sunday night open. You get off at three pm that day," she said. "I'll do that, but remember no funny stuff," I said. "Believe me you wont be laughing. Crystal and I might be smiling some. I'll talk to you again before then. That is, if you give me your phone number." I had forgotten she didn't have it. I gave it to her then hung up. I walked through the lounge again that evening. It was after my dinner of a frozen beef pot pie and a salad from the McDonald's at the plaza. I didn't see Monk in the lounge so I was ready for bed by 9PM. I slept like the dead, probably because I was still recovering for my night out with Mary Ellen. I found that I alway required a lot of rest when recovering. I didn't even think about work at all, I just fell instantly asleep. I was awake at 5AM and out the door for my run at 5:20AM. It was cold as it always was in the winter at 5AM. It would be cold even in the eastern part of the state. Yeah it was cold down there, but not like it was up here, I thought. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary and I didn't see any stray animal wandering around. I waved as I pass the Cafe. I seldom went in these days. Now that I was fasting most days. I went home to put some coffee in the microwave to reheat, while I showered for work. My hair had already covered my scalp in only a week. It was maybe an 1/8 of an inch long. I couldn't tell how much it had gown since a buzz leaves a little behind. I decided that the buzz was one of my worst idea. It was done so I donned my knit cap, while I drank my coffee. It was just a little after 6 when I went to check in. I could get the first car in that morning. The sun had just started to lighten the sky when Butch came in. He checked in with Michaels and I could see them talking. I chose not to listen. I walked to the parking lot as the first car came into the lot. He came in a 6:45AM. I nodded to the man on the rotation before me. I always relieve him it seemed. He liked to check in early to. I checked on with dispatch and went to work. I had nothing to do but gas up the car, so I drove to the county's service station. It was a self serve pump in and old convenience store. The county used it as office space for the various crews that used motor vehicles in their work. It pumped gas to those of us who used them but were had our office space in the court house. It took seven gallons of gas to fell the tank, The man I replaced had spent a lot of the shift behind building and not checking them for burglars, I though. As soon as I left the tanks, I had to go take a report of vandalism at the northern consolidated school. "Kids with spray paint and too much time on their hands," the principal said. "Maybe, but I have to act like it's a real crime. I get paid by the case you know. So tell me anybody mad at you guys?" I asked. "I expect most of the kids who are failing, or who have been disciplined lately." he said. "Anybody come to mind?" I asked. "To be honest no. It isn't a big thing we will just hit it with some cleaner and it's gone. Like it never happened," he said. "Well the school board likes to keep these things on file in case some kid brings a real serious grievance to school with them. That's the only reason I called." "I understand, well I'll send this paperwork forward. Have a good day." I said as I went back to the car. For three hours I did nothing. Then Butch and I served a warrant at 11AM. Whenever possible we both went on warrant services. Sometime the mooch wanted to refuse to come along peacefully, especially when a woman served it on them. It also made the men feel more comfortable to have me with them when it was a woman on the receiving end of the warrant, Two of us made it much easier all the way around. The warrant was for failure to appear on a traffic charge. It was a ride to the courthouse in a police car and sign out on a much higher bond. Nothing about it led me to believe I would get my second run of the day. When I knocked on the door, he blew right past me going full speed. It took me a couple of second to recover from my surprised and take off after him. I ran him down but it took me four blocks. "Okay Jocko, what's the problem here?" I asked. "What are you here for," he asked. "No Jocko, I'm asking the questions. Why did you run?" I asked. Butch joined us before he could answer. "Answer that question Mr. Thorndike," Burch said. "I want my lawyer," he said. "What happened exactly," Simpson asked when I got him to the courthouse. "When I identified myself, he just blew by me through the door. He thought I was there for something else. Something more serious evidently." "I got a hunch, I'm going to put him in a photo lineup. See if our little pot grower can ID him. Word is out that we have her, and the survivalist in custody. People are starting to get worried maybe he is one of them." Simpson said. "Well I have to go back out. Butch and I have some more failure to appear warrants to serve." I said. "Yeah the court is about to end the current term. They want to take care of all the old business, so that they can close out the books," Simpson said. "Well I'm going to try to help them, if I can. Most of these are minor things. All they have to do is come up and post a high bond. Then they can go home and wait till the next term," I suggested. "You learned quick how it all works," Simpson said. "Yeah, well I'm going back out to do the Lords work," I said. "So the Sheriff really is god. I always just assumed that he was the only one who though he was," Simpson said. The last two came fairly easily. They beat me home for sure, so why not. It was 3PM when I check out with dispatch. I went to the detective bureau just in time to see Simpson before he went into the interrogation room. "I got a positive ID on your man Thorndike as a party animal. He owns an electric installation company. They do thing like run lines out to new subdivision then to the houses in them. Big ticket jobs." Simpson said. "He hardly sounds like the kind of guy to be involved in something like that." I said. "We don't know what that is yet," Simpson said. "True give him the benefit of the doubt. Presumed innocent and all that," I said. "Oh no, he is guilty of something, just what I'm not sure," Simpson said. "So I'm going to go in there and find out. I'll let you know what his big crime is." "Right," I said. "Well see you later." I went home and did my usual things. I did research on the Internet, ate a frozen dinner, walked the lounge and looked for Monk. Monk still wasn't there. Then I went home and got into bed. My cell phone rang. I was expecting Simpson. It was Mary Ellen instead. "Hello I'm in bed I'm sorry," I said. "Don't be sorry, just move over I'll come join you, ' she said all light hearted. "I'm afraid not Mary Ellen, I need sleep. I have a hard day tomorrow and my day starts early," I said. "Is your day so hard that you can't pinch your nipples for me. Remember how it felt when I did that before you left for the club. I could feel your body as it turned on," she said. "Why don't you pinch them now and remember how it felt." "I can't do this," I said breathlessly into the phone. "Sure you can baby, it's easy just put your hand under your top and pinch your nipple. I bet it is already hard isn't it?" she asked. There was something compelling about her voice. "Is is hard." "Yes," I said. "Good then just pinch it for me," she said. I did as she said and I gasped. "You love it don't you?" she asked. "Yes," I said with a moan. "Good girl now slide your hand inside your panties. Yes I know you wear your panties to bed. You are just that kind of girl. Now do it and rub your clit till you cum." I did as she said and I came better than I did when alone but not as good as when I was with a man, I thought. "Good night baby," she said then hung up. ------- Chapter 34 The time seemed to be going by faster than before. I still hated the time I ran, every damn second of the thirty minutes. All I could hope for was that it passed quickly and it did. I looked for something to occupy my mind and it come lately in the form of the party at Gypsy Allen's house. The question was also in my mind was what in the world did they do there. What had gotten the 7year old killed was of course the big question. Of course there was alway the who dun it. By the time I made it into the shower, I had reviewed all the fact and tried out all the theories to no avail. I still had no idea. I did know that I was going to find out something later that day. The hippie pot grower was going to ID the big shot electrician. The electrician could make a deal to save his ass or not. It was up to him. As for me it was time to see which petty little thing I would spend my morning making a report on. A report was necessary for the insurance companies to pay off. So everyone had to have one, even though they knew their shit was forever gone. Still it gave me something to do between the fun things. One of those fun things happened with a Ford Explorer blowing through a stop sign right in front of me. I pulled in behind him to write him a ticket, but when I lite him up, he decided that he would have none of it. He took off on the run, He hit fifty miles an hour in a school zone and that worried me. Kids were likely to be getting out of parked cars. We were fortunate nobody was on the street by 9AM. I was close enough to read the license plate. The dispatcher gave me his record while I chased him, I really didn't care at the moment, I just wanted to get him stopped. I came close to losing control of the Bronco more than once, Butch tried to get ahead of him and set up a roadblock, but he kept changing his route. The highway patrol joined in the chase. I was glad to see it. I didn't care who got the credit, I just wanted to find out why he ran. I had a feeling it had something to do with what was in the back of that explorer. Why else would you run in a pick up. There were other reasons, like you stole it but I just had a feeling about it. In the end he ran into the spike strips of a Highway Patrol road block. I pulled over in a hurry to avoid them. My bronco almost went into a ditch, but that was preferable to telling Chief Deputy Webster I hit the Highway Patrol spike stick. Since the Highway Patrol pulled them out of the road immediately after the runner hit them, for me to hit the stick I had to be going to fast and I had to be too close to the runner. It would have meant that I had not followed protocol. I was in hot pursuit and never lost contact, so I was allowed to take charge of the prisoner and the truck. The truck proved to be filled with gallon plastic jugs, the kind used for milk, and moonshine. Obviously he wasn't carrying milk. The SBI crime scene team came over and picked up the pickup truck. It was going to be a all day report writing event. When I got to the court house, after dropping the runner, one Robert Blossom, aka Bosco, off at county lock up, I ran into Simpson. I was tried and in no mood for levity but he tried it anyway. "What are you doing Deputy Porter? Are you trying single handedly to cause jail over crowding in Warren County. He said it then laughed. He stopped laughing when I looked at him with the stare that has made grown men cringe. I'm not unique in that. All women have one, I think. "So tell me what we learned from the electric man?" I demanded. "He folded up like a deck chair, when I told him I was going to call his wife's attorney. He doesn't want to hear about it in the divorce hearing. Anyway the parties just started move around now that Allen got himself killed. Mostly nothing they do is illegal. It's immoral and they are all going to hell no doubt, but nothing but the pot is illegal. The get a little high take off their clothes and swap husband and wives. His wife wasn't into it, so she never went either. "So, it is just because they want to keep their reputation clean, is why they don't just say 'Yeah I was there so what.' Take the little pot hit and clean up their act." I said knowing I wasn't rushing to tell what I knew either. "That and the last two time it was at Allen house it got weird," Simpson said. "Even worse than usual. They had been having live sex shows all along. Seems most of them were willing to have sex with others while being watched." "Please don't tell me they were abusing that little girl," I said. "Okay I won't tell you, but it seemed like mild stuff," Simpson said. Oh course I could tell him there is no mild stuff when you are seven. It all is the same. Showing daddy you panties is no better or worse that showing him your pee pee. "Well that something I guess, but what happened to cause someone to kill Jenny?" I asked. "No idea, but it wasn't at the party that night. At least that is what our horny electrician says." Simpson informed me. "Well I guess that puts you back to square one," I said. "Not quite, we are going to the party," he said with a smile. "What do you mean we pale face," I asked. "Okay, we are going to crash it. I assume you would volunteer to come see who the kinkos are," he said. "Not unless you are paying time and a half." I said. "I have been busting my ass I need a break." It wasn't the I needed a break, I was afraid the Boyle brother were back in the party scene. I had told them I would not warn them, so I would just have to see how this one played out. I was a nervous wreck even though the party wasn't for two more days. I knew better than to warn the Boyle brothers. I had given them my only warning and they knew it. The were strictly on their own, I still had my job to do so I went home to spend a sleepless night. I ran the next morning as usual. The trick for me was to maintain my present schedule, Nothing could change, if worse came to worse my lawyer could say would a guilty woman do this. I hoped it never came to that. When I got to work the next day I was as cool as always. I helped Butch direct traffic around a school bus accident. No one was hurt so it was an okay assignment. That after noon I saw cars at the bunker as I had come to think of the service station where the survivalist stayed. I stop and the man I had arrested informed me he was out on bail, and I couldn't talk to him according to his lawyer. I agreed and left. after that the day was over. Mary Ellen called and tried to turn me on again, I told her not that night I had a lot on my mind. I figured she would understand. She did. She let me hang up without trying to make me feel guilty. I lay in bed and just tried to sleep but nothing happened I could not shut down my mind. I ran what if scenarios all night long. I was still awake at 5AM. It was important that I maintain my pretense to everyone the things were normal. So I ran and I waved to the diners at the Cafe on the Square. I was back showering right when I was supposed to be. Everything looked normal, I was the only one who knew I was about to lose my mind. I went into the court house and picked up my Bronco before Butch got in. I did not want to have a conversation with him or anyone else. Since the party was that same night at someone's house, Simpson and I agreed that it had become a floating party. It was part of the reason the pot salesman went to the parties now there was no one in charge. The whole thing had gotten less structured not more. But it also got to be loose enough for the cops to break the ring of silence. I wanted to go to that party so badly, to find out what was what. I knew I had to stay away so that the Boyle brothers would not comment on me being there by accident. It they were there at all. It wasn't for sure their party, but how many parties like that could there be. Warren county wasn't L.A. It was going to be bad outcome tonight. "305 See the man in Archers convenience store. Reference the ATM machine." "10-4" I answered. It was 1:35PM with a little luck this would last till 2:30. If it did I could end the day with something to do. I drove right over, since I needed something to take my mind off the party invitation, "Who called?" I asked the clerk. Rather than answer he pointed to a man standing beside the ATM machine at the end of the counter. I walked down to him. "I'm Deputy Porter what seems to be the problem." "I'm pretty sure it's a credit card theft scam," the man said. "I see. What makes you thing that?" I asked. "Could I also see some ID please." He handed me his drivers license. His address was out of town. That ATM kept my card. That's why," he said. "Did it give you a message to explain it," I asked. "Yes, it said my account had been closed," he said. "That ridiculous." "Did you try calling the operator of this machine?" I asked. "Yes they gave me some song and dance about the account was closed by my bank." he said. "And did you call your bank?" I asked. "Yes of course I called them. They haven't closed the account and don't know anything about it." He said. I turned to the clerk. "Have you had any trouble with this machine before." "No," he replied in a heave middle eastern accent. "I think this man is mistaken, or he is the one running the scam." "Did your bank close the account?" I asked the customer. "Yes, they immediately closed the account, when I said the machine said someone closed it. They are going to issue me a new card," "Good, I am going to file a police report in case you need it. Also the bank's fraud department will look into it I'm sure. Are you staying here?" I asked. "No, I'm just passing through," He said. "Is that all you are going to do?" "Yes, I'm afraid there is nothing more I can do. It my be a machine malfunction or it my indeed be a scam, I will warn the other deputies about it," I made sure the clerk heard that. It took me a long time to follow up back in the station. I called the bank to verify what I could of his story, Which turned out to be none without a warrant. I'm glad I hadn't tried that earlier, I would have looked foolish, As I left the building I turned down one last invitation to join that raid. I told him again I needed my sleep. I went home and worried. I wondered, if I would still have a job at the end of shift the next day. ------- Chapter 35 I went home and worried. I had no way to tell who knew what, so all I could do was act like everything was normal. If I were a Los Vegas Odds maker, I would make it about 3 to 1 in my favor. I wasn't trying to be optimistic there were just so many thing that had to go wrong to get me busted. I had the Boyle brother's phone number and I could call, but I swore I would never contact them again. So I would have to wait till tomorrow at work, when I could pin those in the raid down. My chance of being in the jackpot were directly tied to who they pick up in the raid. So I walked through the lounge looking for Monk. I was beginning to worry he had been missing for over a week. I hadn't seen mine gone that long before. So I decided to take a look in his shop. It beat sitting at home worrying myself sick. The Toyota warmed up about the same time I reached his shop. Since the repair shop was just a cover for the real business I didn't expect too much. I wasn't disappointed either. A glance through the door showed a nice neat shop area. Monk was a lot neater than I was, I had to admit. His place looked empty. That fancy Harley Chopper was gone too. It wasn't my jurisdiction so there was nothing for me to do, but I was concerned. If weren't so late I would call the neighboring county's Sheriffs office and report Monk missing. What the hell I drove home, it was too cold to stand around giving a report to the Sheriffs deputy who wouldn't give a crap anyway. I drove back to the motel in a huff. I hadn't slept much the night before so I tried to get some sleep early. I faired better that night, than the one before. Probably exhaustion is the cure for worry. I fell sound asleep, when I hit the bed. Being tired didn't stop the worry from coming back with the buzz of the alarm clock. I dressed with the damned party on my mind and I ran around the down town of Country Seat with it worrying the hall out of me. I ran by the Cafe on the Square and waved at the waitress. It was a day I really did not want to talk to any of the regulars. I dressed in a clean uniform and made sure everything was right for what might be my last day. Then I went down to the station. Next I began to worry that asking question might alert someone to check me out. I decided to wait for Simpson to tell me what happened. I figured he would since we shared an interest in the case. If he didn't share, then maybe I had something to worry about. I came in to check turn in a report I took for the principal of northern consolidated school. It was another spray pain incident. Most people complained that we weren't doing enough. The principal seemed to want up to do less. It was a little strange, but who was I to tell him his job. I didn't have time to do a stake out to catch someone spray painting a school. So as I walked down the hall I looked in and say Simpson. I walked into the detectives office. I could stand not know any longer. I had to ask even if it blew my cover." "So Simpson, what happened at the party?" I asked simply. "Sorry Sylvia I've been told not to talk about it," he said. "Then told you not to talk to me about it why?" I asked. "This is not about you. It's about the party last night that's all I'm saying," he said. "Probably said too much already." Me too, I thought but I said nothing. "Well I got to go back out and keep the county safe for perverts. Later Detective," I said as I walk out the door. When I got back in the car, I began to wonder what that had been all about. I would bet my ass the Boyle brothers were there last night. They might have been holding some pot or that drink they sold. That would have been the only thing illegal, the swinging wasn't illegal. So if he brought them in why was he not talking about the party. His back up had to be the evening deputies. I could ask them when I saw them after shift. Of all things I ran down a purse snatcher. It was a teenager who grabbed a womans purse while I was driving by. I saw him take the purse and run for the parking lot. I followed behind with the light on. I even hit the siren a couple of chirps. He kept on running. I was right on his ass when he took to the city park. I left the car on the street and started a foot pursuit. It wasn't pretty at all but I caught him by running up behind him and pushing him on the back. He lost his balance and went down face first. On the gravel of the park trail. That had to hurt, I thought. "You okay," I asked when I had him cuffed. "Do I need to call you an ambulance." "I be just fine bitch," he said. "Good that you like pain call me that again and you will feel more pain than you knew existed." I said with a smile. "You gonna hit a brotha in cuffs," he said. "I'm gonna Tazer a brotha in cuff who called me a bitch. If he does it again," I said quietly and of course I smiled at him. I walked him back to my car just as Butch pulled up. "Got another small fish to fry?" He asked. "The count in the tournament," I said, Butch laughed as he drove away without getting out of the car, If I didn't know better I would think god was testing me somehow. That is if I believed in god. Some days I did and some days I didn't this was one of the days when I wasn't sure. After I finished the report I had time to swing by the towing yard the belonged to the Boyle Brothers. I could only justify it since the recovery yard was on a main road. It was the road that led out to the plaza. I went down the road often enough. I went by a little slow so I could look hard at the yard. The Boyle Brothers had a tricked out tow truck. It was sitting by the door. It didn't appear to be anything out of the usual. There were two cars parked by the door as usual. So they weren't in jail. That was a good sign anyway. I rolled he window down just to get a breath of air as I passed. I felt better for no reason, because it certainly wasn't over but every little bit helped. With the conclusion that the Boyle brothers weren't in jail, I relaxed a little and began to wonder why Simpson had been told not to talk. If it wasn't because I was being investigated why was it. Were they protecting the identities of the party goers. Surely not since one of them might be involved in a murder. I managed to stay our of trouble for the rest of the shift. I also managed to convince myself that I was 4 to 1 Vegas odds on not being brought up in the investigation. I would take those odd and get a good night sleep. One more day shift to go, then a long break before evening shift again. I liked that one the best of all. I did remember I had kept open tomorrow evening for a girls night with two girlie, girls. I had no idea who the third girl was. Mary Ellen never told me anything about her significant other. Even though it was less important now, I still wanted to know what happened at that party house. Had they made any arrests at all, or simply encountered someone who could tell them to back off and they did. There weren't that many people with that kind of rank or political pull to convince the Sheriff at 9PM to stand down. I would just bide my time and one of them would tell me what happened. That is if the officers who were there wouldn't. I was ready to check off anyway. When I got back to the station I got Reynolds alone. "Reynold you have to know that the Gypsy Allen woman is suing me and Simpson," I said to him, "Yeah, I heard. I'm sorry for that," he said. "Thanks Reynolds I need to know who was at that party last night. My lawyer wasn't to stay up to speed with all those people." I said. "Sylvia, I can't talk about last night," he said. "Tell me this did you bring anyone in at all. That's not to much to ask. I won't as who, if you did," I promised. "No, we left them all go. Didn't even issue any summons on the pot charges," he said. "Thanks I promise not to ask anything else. You have been a real pal. I owe you one for sure. When I beat her in court I will remember who made it possible if this helps." I said. "Maybe we can have dinner one night," he asked. "Sure, give me a chance to settle all this nonsense than call me," I said. By the time I got home I was feeling a lot better. I ate a frozen dinner of fish sticks and garlic bread with mac and cheese. One of my favorite meals. Frozen it was pretty bad, but I managed to get it down. Then I went through the lounge. I saw a couple of Monks friends, so I went to them. "Hey guys I've see you sitting with The Monk and I was wondering where he is hanging out these days?" I asked. "Why you got something for him?" the older one asked. "Could be he promised to fix my car and I need to get something done. I might pay him in ass," I said it expecting the laugh I got. "We was getting a little worried, so we went over looking for him, His bike is gone so he has probably gone to see his kids. He has kids okay then I guess he was a wife to go along with them?" I asked. If you was planning on marrying The Monk, I think you ought to forget it. He ain't the marryin' kind no matter what he might have said." the younger one said. "No he never said nothing, I just hoped I guess." Yeah it was a lie but it kept me and the Monk out of trouble with his outlaw friends. When I got back to the room I played on line for about ten minutes when the phone rang. "Hello Mary Ellen," I recognize her. "Hi baby don't forget tomorrow night and don't forget the dress and no underwear." she said. "I never agreed to no underwear, Where are you taking me," I asked, "It's a surprise now sleep well sweetie," she hung up and was gone. I almost called her back to cancel but all this stress had me really wound tight. I figure it couldn't be too bad. Well that was the plan anyway, but the panty instructions worried me. ------- Chapter 36 I slept pretty good all in all. I attributed it to exhaustion as much as anything. 5AM came early on the last day of my day shift. I still had to force myself to run, even thought it was just a few degrees warmer, which make me feel a little better. Spring was on the way, thank god. It could not get here soon enough for me. It had been a dismal winter. I didn't stop in the cafe again that morning. It was time to give some though to breakfast again. I had already started to lose the weight I wanted to lose. There was no sense over doing it. It was all about planning what to eat and eating only the things that were in the plan, Hey it beat MRE's even with Texas Pete they were bland. After a quick shower I was off for my last day shift. It was to be my last day of fasting as well. I had alway planned to modify the fasting at the end of my shifts. When I got to the station the midnight tour was ending and they were glad to turn their cars over to us. I took the Bronco down to the county pit stop for gas. With a full tank I headed north, since I was doing the northern end of the county. The first unit to check on generally got to chose which end of the county they wanted to work. I chose the north, because the business were generally down in southern end. Yeah I had the dog food plant but they operated round the clock, so they seldom had break ins. It gave me a chance to tool around the local back roads. Those roads had hairpin curves that were not banked. Aside from being an adrenaline rush they were getting me ready for the day when I went to live in Florida or Louisianan. To next go somewhere with cool roads and warm weather was the plan. I knew I wasn't going to be with the Warren County Sheriff's office for long. Not so much because I was concern my personal life would get in the way, but more because I would get a better offer one day. It wouldn.t take much to be a better offer, I was pretty badly under paid in Warren County. I mode about sixr hundred dollars a month less than I could have made in any other jurisdiction. They didn't under pay me because I was a woman, everyone was underpaid, The county just didn't have the money for a first rate police presence, so they had us and the State Bureau of investigation for the technical stuff. There were often SBI geeks to be found wandering around town. I tried to avoid then whenever I could. I left them in company of Simpson, which was their normal contact person. It was 11AM, when I got my first call of the day. I just about decided to stop for peanut butter crackers when the call came in. "305 See the man at the downtown park." Dispatch said to me over the radio... "10-4," I said. When I got to the downtown park there was a well dressed man about 25 standing across from the children's playground area. The sun had gotten high enough in the sky for mothers to bring their children out to play.or just to escape to the fresh air of the park. "Sir did you wish to speak to a Deputy?" I asked. "Yes I did. I think you need to arrest that woman for endangering that child. It is far too cold for that child to be out here." he informed me. "Let me guess, You are the ex-husband and currently non custodial parent?" I asked. "Yes but you don't have t make me sound crazy," he said. "Those little things predict how she treats our son over all." I gave it some thought and then came up with a plan. "Sir, I will approach your ex wife and check that the baby is well protected from the elements. If the child is happy and safe there is nothing I can do," I explained. "Very well, but please be sure the baby is taken care off. She is a terrible person. I would not be surprised by anything," he said. "You wait here," I said. "And I mean that." "Alright," he said. I was not planning to do more than look at the baby and walk away form it all, that's why I did not get the husband's name," "Hi there Miss," I said. "Would you mind, if I took a look at the baby," "Oh why is that, : she said. "Actually it's a little cold," I said. "I just want to make sure he is well and safe. No big thing just a quick look at him will do fine." "Did my ex-husband send you?" she said. "As a matter of fact he did," I admitted. "He is such a jerk. He wasn't always so obsessive. At first he helped me, now he just wants to take Chris away from me," she said. "Okay let me see some identification a drivers license will do." I said. "Now the baby looks fine, you might ought to get back inside now." I took a look at her Drivers license and entered the name and number in the little computer that they gave me to make notes... Then I went back across the creek and demanded an ID card form the trouble maker husband and father. "You know Mr Sedgegrove, there is no reason to be upset. The child was warn and dressed really appropriately. I think you can work it out, so no one has to know about your misgivings." "I want them to know," he said. "Well, I'm going to have to testify that there was nothing to it. I am also going to say, I think you were filing a malicious police report. It could hurt your chances for an amicable visitation plan later. I think you should try to work this out with your ex wife." I said it even though I had absolutely no faith that he would do it. When I left the park just before noon, I expected that I wouldn't have to come back the next hour, or the next day. People who wanted the police to referee their arguments just never seemed to got enough. I grabbed a pack of peanut butter crackers and a diet coke for lunch. I actually got completely finished with them both before I got another call. This one also came from dispatch. She was telling me a bystander reported that two people were arguing and he felt sure there was going to be blood shed at any moment. I went along, even though I knew There was not going to be blood shed. The husband just wanted to scream and yell. Still if anyone wanted to press charges, someone was going to find themselves in front of a judge, so I drove back to the park. When I got there the Sedgegroves were standing in the middle of the bike path shouting at each other. "That's enough," I said when I got close enough. "Now you listen to me. I will take you both in and let the judge settle this. Just for the hell of it the court may appoint an adult guardian for your child. Since you have proved that neither of you is an adult." "I'm sorry but it is just terrible to be screamed at all the time," the wife said. "Then walk away. Do not fight back just walk away, leave him to shout at himself. As for you, stop looking for reasons to call her a bad mother. If she were in fact a bad mother you would not have to look for examples they would be everywhere. Now you lady get in your car and go home now." I said. "Don't you say a word or move a muscle," I said to the husband. I held him in place for fifteen minutes to give her a chance to get home. Then I warned him again and sent him on his way. Because he had caused me to go back, I wrote a detailed report. That took me to 2PM and I was just as glad. I didn't really want to do anything. Simpson caught me on my back out on patrol for the few minutes I had left. "Hey Sylvia could we talk?" Simpson asked. "I don't see why not, What's happening?" I asked. "I think I might be going to lose my job," he said after closing the door to his office. "Why," I asked truly surprised. "Well there are some liability issues in the Gypsy Allen thing. I know they are bogus, but there are still there. And there is that raid thing last night, If I had told the right people what we were doing, they would have stopped me. That would have been preferable to what happened." He said. "Maybe you better stop right there, You aren't supposed to tell me." I said. "It's not just you, it's anyone. They don't want it to get out who was there," he said. "I know you can't tell me who they are but try to keep in mind that if they are cops covering up a crime, it would pus you in the jackpot. You could be charges as a co-conspirator." I explained. "I know but if I tell it, who do I tell it too." he asked. "I would go with the SBI chick, Mission," I said. "I will give it some thought. If I decide to do it, you will stand with me?" He asked. "Just as much as I can. When this thing starts coming apart, you want to be far out in front of it. Trust me you don't want to be behind the eight ball." I said. "Yeah." was all he said. By the time we finished it was close enough to sign out for me to hang around the office. I couldn't wait to get my ass home, I knew now that most likely I wasn't going to come up in the investigation. I hoped I would have given a friend the same advice, if I had been the one they were going to turn into the ethics investigators. Nonetheless I could go party with a clear mind. It was hard to understand the change from deep dark depression to exhilaration and anticipation. Hell maybe I am bipolar, I thought. It made no difference, I was walking on air by the time I got home. I knew Mary Ellen's MO, so I had plenty of time for dinner and a shower. Hell I even had time to work on my computer email explaining to me how to make money on line. Since it sound like a scam, I knew it was a scam. The writer of the email had tried his best to sound straight. If he sounded sleazy, he must have really been sleazy, With that settled, I went in for my shower. It was hot water for sure. I decided I would need the hot water more after my date. Oh well, I could take more showers. After all I didn't pay for the water, or the energy to heat it. I stood looking at myself in the mirror for a long time. If there was a cancer survivor fetish crowd, I had it captured hand down. I began to assess myself honestly. I had some boobs, but not a lot. I was a natural 35b cup. Since there was no 35b bra make it was a 34 slight tight or a 36 slight loose. I was a little small, but under the Kevlar vest I wouldn't have looked big, if they had been dd's. Well maybe dd's but not c for sure. Mary Ellen convinced me that my small boobs were more than acceptable... Since I took up running my tummy was almost not existent. I couldn't do much about my hips. They were the least attractive part of my body. It was not a big ass that I had, it was a wide load. My butt was just plain wide. I pinched my nipple and rubbed over the outside of my vulva. Then I slipped into the little black dress and waited. I sat on the one comfortable chair waiting for Mary Ellen and her friend to arrive. They were right on time. I got a phone call telling me she was in the parking lot. She also reminded me nothing but the black dress. My heart raced but I forced myself to show no sign of the excitement, as I walked to Mary Ellen's car. ------- Chapter 37 I opened the passenger side door. "So where is your girl friend?" I asked. "She is waiting for us at the party," Mary Ellen said. "Hold on now, I never agreed to any party," I said. "It's suppose to be girls night out." "And it is. We are just going to a party for our night out. You are the guest of honor." Mary Ellen said. Mary Ellen had already pulled out of my parking lot. If I planned to get out of the car, I knew I had better do it soon. I wasn't dressed for any long walks in the cold. I decided to go along for the ride. If worse came to worse, there were cabs in every town. "If we are going to party, you know it has to be outside my jurisdiction," I said. "Don't worry it's all taken care of," Mary Ellen said. "And no cameras," I added. "You worry too much. I told you it was all taken care of," Mary Ellen said. She reached over and put her hand in my lap. I didn't move it at first. I let her get her feel in, then I lifted it and returned it to the wheel. "It wouldn't do to have accident with me all slutty like this," I said. "Well you could always asked for some professional courtesy," Mary Ellen said. That statement immediately set off bells in my head. "Mary Ellen get this straight, I have never ask for a favor for myself on anyone I know. I'm not going to start now," I said very clearly. "Take it easy there dirty Harriet, I didn't mean anything by it," she said. "Fair enough, I'll forget it just make sure you understand, you can't expect me to do any favors for you." I said. "You made that very clear. Lets forget that I made the remark and go party." Mary Ellen said. "Sounds like a first class idea. I still wasn't committed to the whole girl, girl thing, But I was willing to keep an open mind. That is all I promised Mary Ellen. We pulled into a double wide mobile home an hours drive from the motel. That put it well outside my jurisdiction, I was glad that Marry Ellen seemed to honor my wishes. "Well we are here," she said. "Not many cars for a party." I said. She knew that it was a question. There were only three other cars. "Well it only takes three of us to make a party and we have some extras," Mary Ellen said. I was a little concerned, but then again I had trusted her this far. I followed her into the double wide. Inside it was very well decorated. I would never have known where I was, if I just went by the inside. The great room, as they liked to call the larger open living room and dining room combination, was decorated as one very large tastefully done room. I wasn't quite sure in a family environment what the purpose of such a room might be. "Sylvia Porter, I would like to Angel Everett. Angel is my good friend." she said. "Hello Angel, it's nice to meet you," I said. "Oh I have heard so much about you," Angel said. "It isn't as bad as it sounds," I suggested. "Oh I'm counting on it being as bad as it sounds," she said with the most beautiful smile. I ignored that statement. "So do I get to meet the rest of these people," I asked. "It doesn't matter about them. They are just the hired help. Angel and I are the important ones." Marry Ellen said. "I told you, I'm not into this girl, girl thing," I said. "I know, so we brought some help along," she said. The bedroom door opened and the black man from the club was standing there. "Hey bitch," he said "Remember this?" He unzipped his trousers; his penis was large and angry looking. He stroked it a couple of times and it grew in his hand. "Marry Ellen, what is this?" I asked. "Why sweetie, I'm going to make you a movie star," she said. "I don't think so," I said. "Hey bitch how can you refuse this," The man with his cock hanging out asked. The two white men had moved to one of the bedrooms to get some very fancy movie cameras. There started setting up lights facing the large sofa. "Mary Ellen how could you think I would do this?" I asked. "Because you want to keep your job. If you say no, I take a copy of the video I shot at the club and put it on line. Then I send the link to the Sheriff. I'm sure there is a morals clause in your employment contract. You were kind enough to explain how it all works while you were rationalizing it." "I think I'll take my chances with the Sheriff," I said. "You want to do this. I know you do," She said/ "Oh how do you know," I said. "Look at your thigh," she said "You are pouring baby. Just kiss Lamar's cock and tell me no. If you can do that, I won't tell the Sheriff anything." "Thats all I have to do?" I asked. "That all," she said. She nodded so I walked slowly over to Lamar. I was ready to kneel instantly and just do it. Instead he caught me and kissed me. I could feel his hands on my breasts. My nipples were hard and very sensitive. I could feel the connection with my vagina. It was slightly maddening. He broke the kiss and said, "You still love to kiss and to be man handled. Open you legs nice and wide and let me touch that pussy. Do that before you get on you knees and worship my dick." I spread my legs while I stood in my dress so short it barely covered my pubic hair. His big fingers found my clit and he pinched it hard. I gasped. I sensed the men around me moving, but I didn't care. I came in a gut squeezing movement of my body. I thought I was going to break apart. It just kept coming and I kept moving. "Now get on your knees and worship your daddy's dick, pig," he said. I dropped to my knees and suddenly his big black cock was being pushed into my mouth. I didn't kiss it I tried to swallow it, even though I knew I couldn't even come close to getting it down. I gasped every time he stroked my mouth with his cock. Finally he came in my mouth. "With the first spurt he said, "Swallow, you want us all to see how you swallow my cum do it baby keep swallowing." I swallowed it all. "That's right don'tlet a single drop get away." Even after he came in my mouth, he continued to stroke it. "I want you too remember how good my big black dick feels in your mouth. I want you to beg for it next time not have to be talked into it. I want to own your ass." I didn't answer I couldn't my mouth was filled with his cock and each time he stroked me the sensations drove me up a little more. Finally I came again and everyone knew it. I whimpered like and animal. "Now no more talk about saying no to us. Take off your dress and go bend over the sofa. Kneel on the floor." Mary Ellen said. I did as she said. I knelt down in front of the sofa and leaned forward so that my breasts were in the seat of the sofa and my ass was in the air. Lamar come over and used his hand to spread my vulva from behind. Then he worked his cock into me. I felt him drive all the way into me. In several shorter strokes. "You like the way I fuck you don't you bitch?" he asjed. "Yes, I love the way you do me," I said. "No baby, say I love the way you fuck me daddy," Lamar said. He slapped me hard on the ass. Say it now," he demanded "I love the way you fuck me daddy," I said. "Do you want me to stop fucking you," he asked. "No don't stop fucking me. please don't stop." I begged. He increased the speed of his strokes. They also seemed to be deeper suddenly. Then I felt him pull out and felt something warm on my back. He had shot his cum on my back. "Don't stop please don't stop," I begged pitifully. "Who owns your sorry white ass, pig?" he asked. "You do daddy. You own my sorry white ass,?" I said hoping he would finish me. I felt the sofa move as someone sat down beside me. I looked up and saw Angel sitting there naked. she smiled down at me. "I have only done this once," I said "It's okay, I have done it more than once," she said as she took my face in her hands. She guided me between her legs. I used my fingers to pull the hood around her clit open exposing it to the night air. I kissed it gently, then licked it quickly. "Yes you niggers cunt do that, Do it just like that you nigger whore," she said. "Don't you dare stop till I cum all over your face." I worked her clit till she came as she promised all over my face. When I move away she kissed me. "God I love the taste of pussy, don't you?" she asked. When I didn't answer she grabbed my breast and mashed it hard. "I said don't you love the taste of my pussy?" she asked. "Yes, please don't hurt me," I begged. "Why would we hurt you, You are doing everything we want. Do you know the one thing you haven't done yet," she asked. "No, what is it?" I asked. "You haven't taken it up your ass, to be a complete whore you have to take it up your ass. Now assume the position you just were in. That's the proper ass fucking position," she said. "Please not Lamar, he would stretch me too much,." I said. "Then it will have to be a camera man, Do you want a camera man to fuck you in the ass," she asked. "Yes, anyone but Lamar," I said. It was a much smaller cock I felt go into my ass. It didn't hurt very much at all since I had begun to be stretched by Lamar's friends. It hurt some but not like Lamar would have. I had my head down on the sofa and make grunting noises. I felt the movement beside me and then hand roughly lifted me. I was then impaled on a big cock. I had Lamar's larger cock in my mouth and some smaller cock up my ass. The sensation was unbelievable. I began to cum within minutes of them both stroking me. I just couldn't get enough cock, When it was over, the man in my ass pulled out. I knew he came as much from his rhythm change as any feeling of cum in my backside. Lamar didn't cum it was all for the camera in his case. I lay on the floor worn out from all the sex. "Well I guess we settled the issue of whether you are going to do as you are told?" Marry Ellen said. I didn't answer. "Answer me bitch," she said. "Mary Ellen," I said in a weak voice. "No matter what the cost, you get treated like everyone else in the jurisdiction. I will bust you and put my resignation on the Sheriff's desk at the same time." "Fine but that doesn't answer my question," she said. "I will do as I'm told, if it's about this," I said. "But I will not be anybody's girlfriend." "Fair enough," she tossed five one hundred dollar bills on the floor. "You found that part time job you wanted. Now put on your clothes. I'm taking you home. You might have tomorrow off, but I still have to open the store." ------- Chapter 38 I did indeed have the next day off and I spent it trying to figure out what to do. Once the sexual fog cleared, I knew that I really didn't mind the games I played the night before. Yes I knew my personal life could be crap sometimes, but it always had been far from ordinary. It was my reality. So it was time to find a way I could live with where I was at that moment. The first thing to do was to find out all I could about Mary Ellen's operation. She definitely was more than she pretendd to be. She wasn't doing all that well with the Porno business or she would not be running a dress shop on the side. Although in that dress shop she came into contract with some small town women with fresh faces just like me. If she was as good as she claimed at spotting us, she could come up with some pretty good talent. Warren county was a place with a small law enforcement presence was the only thing I could see that would be appealing about the place. I was curious to know if she owned the equipment, or if the camera men owned it and sub contracting the filming. I had heard that the county's technical college had one of the better film schools in the state. Maybe that was the draw. Maybe she could get a local film crew from the school to just subcontract the shooing of the video. Maybe they would even do it for free. Just for the experience and the things they got to see and do. They were obviously horny young men after all. I could guess forever and not know a thing at the end of the day. So first thing to do was to track down the guys with the cameras. I went to work on the video for hire idea. I found a group of guy in Dobson, who specialized in wedding and parties. Nothing to big or small for them, so said their advertisement. That was the kind of business that had the equipment she would need. They were local boys who had gone to the technical school. That was information from their web advertisement. Best of all they had pictures of themselves on their website. There was the one, who had buried his cock in my butt, right there in living color. So I called them of course. "Hello is this Jeff?" I asked. "No it's Phil. Jeff is taking the day off today," he said. "Can I help you." "I hope so, I getting married in May. It seems I waited too late to do all the things I need to do. Are you available May 18th?" I asked. "That's a Friday?" Phil asked. "Yes, we are getting married at 8PM." I explained. "That's great we can do that just fine. Would you like to come in this afternoon to talk about it." he asked. "Sure that would be great, How about 5PM?" I suggested. "Perfect," he said. "Will your partner be there too? I'd like to meet you both," "Sure, I'll bring Randal with me." I agreed. 5PM found me in the small shopping center in Dobson. I opened the door to there little store front office and walked in. I found the camera man who had not put it in my ass on the telephone. I smiled at him as I showed him my badge. "Hi, there. You are finished with that call," I said. He hung up the phone and took a good look at me, Once he got past the badge he recognized me. "Oh shit, he said. "Yeah, ain't life a bitch," I said. "She assured me that nothing we did was illegal. She said it was protected under the first amendment," he said. "Yes that was true up to a point, but when you saw her blackmail me it all changed. I'll bet I wasn't the first either..." I said it with a smile. "I lot of married women have been blackmailed by her." It was a guess but it was a good one. "You can cooperate and I forget what I know, or make me bring your ass to court and I will bury you. Do we understand each other." I asked "Yes, we understand each other," he said only half understanding. "Okay where is your partner?" I asked. "I couldn't get hold of him. I wish I could. He was the one who dealt with Marry Ellen." he said. "Well either get hold of him, or remember something about Mary Ellen, or I'm going to put you in the jack pot as an accessory to blackmail." "Alright what did you want to know?" Phil asked me. "Whose house is that," I asked. "I don't really know for sure," he said. "Okay come on with me," I stood up and brought out the cuffs. "I don't know, I just have an address nothing more," he said. "Okay give it to me." I pushed the pen and the note pad I had been using for effect over to him. "Write it." "Where can I find Lamar," I asked. "Come on Lamar is dangerous. If I give him up, he will kill me." he said. "He might, if he knows it was you, but do you know what happens to soft guys in prison. They are for sure going to get you, if you don't cooperate completely." He sighed then said,"She told us that she found him in a night club here in Dobson. That's all I know." "How many little housewives has she had up there," I asked. "We have made a half dozen of those videos. None of the females seemed to be willing participants. Then men seemed to be into it all. Like they had read a script but the women didn't." "So who were the men?" I asked. "I don't have any idea. I swear I don't know them any more than the women. I heard her call them by name but then I forget them. For us it's all about the video." "So what's she doing with the video," I asked. "I upload them to a website for her. You will have to go there to understand it. It's a for sale video, but also a teaser we make for her." he said. "Give me the web address," I said. He wrote it in my little pad, then I left him with the promise that he would not have me bothering him, if he had told me everything. I also warned him not to mention my visit to her. I had no idea he would keep that promise. I couldn't wait to get home and look up her website. I thought about Lamar during that drive home. So that really was his really him in the studio he wasn't acting at all. Well I didn't really know for sure if he had been acting or not, but he wasn't a professional. I wasn't his first conquest, since Mary Ellen had arranged the meeting in the club... I filed him away in the back of my mind for another day, since I could confront him at anytime. What Mary Ellen had counted on, hell who any blackmailer counter on, was that the victim had too much to lose to talk. In my case I didn't have nearly as much to lose as Mary Ellen thought. So why didn't I just turn all this over to the State Bureau of Investigation myself, you ask. To be honest I had enjoyed the night before. I also enjoyed the thought that I might get caught. It was all exciting for me and added to the excitement. I know it shouldn't have been a thrill but it was on some subconscious level. It was putting my finger in the 'man's eye' kind of thing. I even enjoyed finding a way to get away with it. When It came time to pay the piper, I would not gladly perhaps but I was willing. The trick was the cost be no more than my job. I had no intention of it being criminal activity that I was involved in. So far it was the just the moral clause in my employment contract that I had violated. It had never been tested, so to be honest I might keep my job. Especially if my part time job did not become common knowledge. So first thing to do was to find out who was going to have access to those tapes. Since the sun, moon, and stars had to align to make this work out, I was not counting too heavily on it, but since the alternative was to start packing, I decided to give it a try. It didn't look to me as if Mary Ellen moved here to set this up, so it was an after thought. Some how that didn't seem right either. I had plenty of time to figure it out, since I decided they really couldn't touch me for being in adult films. I just wasn't illegal. Defending myself from being fired on a morals violation would be the tricky thing. I would have to wait for the next day to make the call for the information on the house. Finding out whose name was on the deed, wouldn't be difficult. Finding out who the person was might be, since nobody was living there obviously. It was being maintained though. I could go find Lamar anytime I wanted, so he was a very low priority item I pulled up the web site belonging to "Married Sluts From Around The World". It was billed as the site where you could see married women force to screw men other than their husbands. Woman who had the most to lose, but have to most to give as well. The first woman on the site was a middle eastern looking woman. There was a still shot first, followed by a link to a thirty second video teaser. The page was covered by advertising so there was some income generated from that even the teasers. The thirty second teaser had the woman giving a blow jab in a head scarf. It was obvious that we were to think she was a Muslim forced to give the man head. Then there was a pitch for the full video which sold for $9,99. It was to see how she was driven to convert the infidel using sex. It was a pretty sophisticated pitch even though it sounds hokey. I went back to the still at the front of the advertisement. There was something about her still that caught my eye. She looked terrified in that shot. It could be an act, then again it could be for real, if Mary Ellen recruited her as she had me. Well only time would tell I supposed. Woman number two was billed as a young wife attracted to older men. Her husband doesn't know she is sleeping with his father. I turned to that thirty second demo and she is on top of him. He was much older alright. She was either enjoying it or she was one hell of an actress, The thirty seconds ended and I personally wanted to see more of her. The women all had one thing in common, they looked like they could be the woman in your office. Maybe the one in church who sat next to you. Then when you click on the tease there was something to convinced you that each was forced to be a sexual pervert. I couldn't put my finger on it but there was something there. I had no idea how much she made selling the video by mail order, but she made it very simple to order them. It was an automated process. I saw one girl I thought I recognized. Her story was that she was married to a man who was very conservative. She had been convinced to try wild sex, now she couldn't get enough. The tease showed her taking it up the ass and her screaming yes, yes. It was obviously not her first time. There was a woman about forty and her thing was she wanted her son, but knew that was wrong. So she went out and screwed younger men. She met them at college bars and places like that. Her tease showed her with one man while another looked on. It really was erotic somehow. I wasn't sure how Mary Ellen did at this. I could believe she did well, and I could also believe she didn't sell any at all, it was a toss up. I needed to know more that was the bottom line. ------- Chapter 39 Since I needed to know more, I kept my options open. I went out for pizza which I brought back for my dinner. I ate alone in my room, and refrigerated the half of the pizza that was left. With dinner completed, I went to the lounge for my walk through. I also stopped for my one beer. I sat looking around while I drank it... Since I didn't see Monk, I asked Sarah, "Do you know where Monk is." "No honey, I have no idea," she said. "Someone said he had kids," I said. "Yeah, somewhere down east, I think," she said. Well he is a big boy, I thought. He was just going to have to take care of himself. I went home to watch tv and check out the computer. I decided to buy the videos from the website. I didn't think it would make a difference, even if Mary Ellen found out. I was pretty sure that Paul the camera man had called her anyway. The phone rang an hour after I began to research her site. I recognized it as her number. "Hello Mary Ellen, what can I do for you tonight?" I asked. "You can tell me, who the hell you think you are? How dare you investigating me." she said. "Sounds like you already know what I'm doing," I said calmly, There was nothing to be gained by going all copper on her. "Well you better stop it or I am going to call the Sheriff," she said. "And what do you think I'm going to do. No don't guess let me tell you. I am going to tell him that you are making porno movies, and that we can get a big gold star if we call the SBI and I testify against you. There you are blackmailing these poor women into doing them. And finally I'm going to introduce him to my equal rights attorney. Since nobody ever tested the morals clause on a strictly morals grounds they are looking for a case like mine. Since I was hired under a mandate of the equal rights commission. Then to there is my stellar record here, Hell I might get a promotion," "So you do your damnedest or you cooperate. In which case maybe we can come to an arrangement. After all sin is good business." I said. "This is my business, you don't need to know anything else," she said. "Wrong in order to assess the risk to myself, I have to know the potential weaknesses." I explained. "What are you talking about," she asked. "I need to know who the others acting your films are," I said. "Why," she asked. "Why do you think? If they decide to roll over, I need to know they aren't taking me with them. I need to know there is nothing being done that is blatantly illegal. Being out of a job is one things, being in a prison cell is something else entirely. "And what did you learn," she asked. "So far I know that your actresses were shoppers of your dress shop. My guess is you set them up with a date, like you set me up. You found out a little about them, then used it to pick the right men. Then you arranged the meetings. Once you had your hooks into them it was easy to convince them to play along." I said it then I got quiet. "That's what I know now," I finally went on. "But that's now all I will know tomorrow. I think you are not the one in charge of this. I think you are recruiting and procuring actresses. So I will be looking for the boss man." I said. "Trust me on t his," Mary Ellen began. "You need to drop this for both our sakes." "Then you answer my questions and I may not have any need to dig deeper. As you can tell I enjoyed the evening and I wouldn't object to doing it again. Like I said before, I just want to assess the risk to me." "What is it you want to know?" she asked. "Who is running this thing?" I asked, "I can't answer that, so ask something else," she demanded. "Where are the guys coming from?" I asked. I figured I'd come back to the real boss later. "Once I decide what I want, I just go out and prowl for the guys. Finding men to be in porn is easy. Finding the right men takes a little doing. Actually I could use you for that." she said. "I'll bet you could," I said. I didn't want to lose my leverage by getting too involved too soon. She might tie me to the illegal actions somehow." "I really could. But to be more specific. I usually take Angel to one clubs. She picks out a likely candidate and talks to him. Then she offers him a hundred bucks to be in the movie. He usually does just fine. Sometimes she has to have sex with her to prove that it is a legitimate offer or to see if he can do it." "I get the picture. There is no need to be more specific," I said. "Who set up the website?" I asked. "Angel did that. She is pretty good at that kind of thing. The boys make all the images for us. It really isn't hard to do." "Now for the big one, who bank rolled you?" I asked. "There wasn't all that much bankrolling to it. We just needed a studio all the rest I could afford myself," she said. "You are shooting in a double wide mobile home that isn't much either. You might not need much money, but you need some muscle. Just in case it goes bad, so who is it." I asked. "You don't need to know that, It isn't the mafia or anything. We are just making a few porno movies nothing else." she said. "Then give me his name," I said. "There is no reason not to give it up." "You have to give me your word you will never tell," she said. "You have it," I said. "It's James Boyle who helped me set this up. He is also the one who gave you up. He told me you were one hot number. He usually steers me to the men we use in the films. The women I make friends with in the dress shop." she said. I got quiet white I gave it all some thought. It did make perfect sense though. James and Simon knew everything about everyone. They were also small time players without the imagination to be major players. I suddenly had a lot less worries than I did before I knew. Dealing in muscle wasn't hard to imagine either. They could put together some leg breakers easily enough, I still needed to do a threat assessment, but it looked like the threat would be minimal. I decided to keep away from the Boyle brothers as I had before. "Okay listen up Mary Ellen for now you go on with your plans. I'll shut off any further inquires until I know more." I said. "You don't want James to know I assume," she said. "It's like you tried to say to me, he doesn't need to know you ratted him out." I figured if I found the right way to phrase it, she would stop the questions. \ "Yeah, there is no reason to bother him, So tell me are you up for making more movies," she asked. "Most likely, but first I have to finish my threat assessment," I said. "All right, I'll give you a couple of day then we will see," she said. "Fair enough," I hung up the phone. When she finished the call and hung up, I went to bed. I was exhausted, but I knew it was the sex not from being tried in any of the regular ways, I slept very well that night. I wouldn't have slept nearly as well, if I had to worry about any all of it. As is was I knew it all, so I could shut down my mind and sleep. The alarm didn't go off and the desk didn't call, because I had told them I had the day off. So I awoke at 7AM and I slipped out of bed and into my running suit. I ran out of the motel into the chilled morning air. My took took a blast of the cold air before my mind cleared itself of the cobwebs. I got that in the first block. I was temped to stop for coffee but I thought better of it. I felt much better since my mind was free of the worry I had been experiencing, I mean not only did I not have to worry about the Sheriff's office firing me anytime soon, but I had a good part time job. I also justified it by thinking that I could put the blackmail scheme out of the equation. That is, if I stayed involved. And I planned to stay involved at that moment. So I ran with a good attitude about the cold. I waved at the waitress as I passed the Cafe. It was a good morning when I could do all that and still come into my room smiling. I smiled because I didn't have to work. and nothing hurt on me. My body was in good shape and my mind was clear. Not only did I have a part time job that paid well, it looked as though I was going to have all the sex I wanted. Better still, when I didn't want to be bothered, I wouldn't be. It was part of the unspoken agreement between Mary Ellen and me. I kind of liked the arrangement. Since the Boyle Brothers knew about it, and since they already knew there were no special favors to be had, it seemed to be a good understanding. Especially since they probably wouldn't find out that I knew they owned the video company. I wondered why they used Mary Ellen to procure for them. Damn I hated that I couldn't just take it on faith they had a good reason. I was sure they had a reason but by then I had to know what it was. I had a problem in that I didn't want them to know that I knew, so I couldn't ask them. There had to be another way. I put it on hold for a while, if I happened across them accidentally, I would ask them a few pointed questions. I walked to the office around lunch time. I thought I might check to see if the mail came. It hadn't. "Well not today for sure but in the next couple of days I'm expecting a package," I said to the owner of the motel and my landlady. She wasn't around to much these days, but she was that morning. "I'll let you know when it comes. Is everything alright?" she asked. "Sure," I answered. "Why?" "That motorcycle rider, who hangs around the lounge, was here looking for you early this morning. I told him I thought you were out running but he checked anyway." "Thanks, I'll try to find him," I said. I went back and got the Toyota and drove it out to Monks place. When I drove up the fancy chopper was parking in the parking lot. I went to the front door and rang the bell. "Hey girl, I see the motel manager gave you the message," he said. "No message, she just said you came by looking for me," I said. "I did yes, I wanted to know if you wanted to bust the Meth Lab," he said. "You know we all do, but what do you want in return," I asked seriously. "This is my get acquainted offer. You can have this one free," he said. "Well since I don't trust free information, how about you ride with me to a spot near there, so I can discover it myself." I suggested. "Sure, come on let's go before you change your mind. I'll have to hide when we come up on the place." he said. "I can't be seen with you." ------- Chapter 40 The trip was up and down a couple of county roads That was after we left the state road that ran north south through Warren county. "You see that driveway with the big beware the dog sign," Monk asked. "Yeah, is that it?" I asked. "About a quarter mile down that road is a operating meth lab," Monk said. "Now get me the fuck out of here." He had slumped down in the seat of the small Toyota. "Just a second," I rolled the windows down on the Toyota. It wasn't a strong smell, but it was there. The smell of ammonia was in the air. It was not a smell that was overwhelming, just one that was out of place in the country setting. "Monk to get a search warrant I will need something more than my smelling ammonia there," I said it hoping he could come up with something. "You working tomorrow night?" he asked. "Yeah, 3 to 11PM," I said. "The guys who cook this said it would be ready tomorrow night. You come out here and I'll call your cell phone. You should be able to stop the car with Meth in it." "Well I can't trump up some bull shit traffic charge, but I'll bet if I throw the lights and siren on them for a broken tail light they will run." I said. "I have been practicing my mountain roads driving." I smiled at him after I said it. "Well if you come down here and back up in the drive way across the street, you should see them around 9PM," Monk said. "So how you know so much, are you his drug competitor?" I asked. "No, but the son of bitch owes me money for a cycle I trick out of him, I been waiting to pay him back for not paying me," Monk said. "That's not all," I said. "There is a woman involved as well," Monk said. "Now that I believe," I said. "Okay, I'll take care of it." I turned the car around and took Monk home. But first I got the cooker's names from Monk. I wanted to run them before I went up against them, but it would hurt my position, should I have to go to court with them. It had to look like a chance encounter to be believable. I planned to stop him, if he would stop. If he ran, I planned to run him down. Either way I planned to catch him with a car full of meth. Once home I switch gears, during that afternoon and into the evening I spent time on the computer trying to verify Mary Ellen's story. It all made sense and it all sort of checked out. She came to town a year before to open the dress shop. She claimed she saw an opportunity when the women stated to talk about there private lives, Thats when the idea for the business came to her. She needed a partner with some knowledge of the area, so she looked for the king of slime. Hell everyone knew that was the Boyle brothers. As for them, for a minimum investment they got an operation with the potential to grow into a large profit business. My own concern was the blackmail aspect of the operation. It wasn't really blackmail unless certain criteria were met. It could and would be argued that the levels had not been met for a blackmail charge to stick. "My level was different from Mary Ellen. I believed that any threat was a problem. I thought we could use the same recruitment technique, just tell the women how safe it was to continue and then just pay them. I thought enough of them would be thrilled to have their fantasy played out, and be paid for it as well, to keep us operating. But that was a problem for later. I wanted no management responsibilities for a while. Later who knew I might try to clean it up. I was satisfied that I had a believable tale to tell. For now I was more than content to be one of the actresses. So I decided to put Mary Ellen's thing out of my mind for the time being. I did wonder, how many of the other women had come to the conclusion. That if offered the chance, they would still take part in the movies. I certainly wouldn't call it acting. When I went to bed that night, I was exhausted from scheming. I masturbated to relax and then fell sound asleep. It always worked. Sometimes the orgasm, self induced, was the only way to shut down my racing mind. Since I was working the 3 to 11PM shift, I slept till 7AM. It was still cold at 7AM, but I went for my morning run regardless. I finally did stop in for that bacon egg and cheese biscuit. I didn't stay for a visit, but that was okay they all said good morning to me anyway. Nothing happened except that I checked on the Internet for some new running shoes. There was nothing in town, or even Dobson that sold good running shoes. I was trying to decide between to different shoes. Ones that I felt as though I could afford. I certainly could not afford five hundred dollar shoes. Of course that was something I could do with the extra money from the photo shoot. I decided to be more practical. I wouldn't pay five hundred dollars even though I had it, The only splurge I did make that morning was the take our breakfast from the Cafe. Even so little a think had consequences, People saw me break my habit, but I though the consequences might be small, So long as Mary Ellen didn't make a fuss over me, if she met me, which didn't happen anyway. I did my shopping on Ebay then I showered for work. It was my first day on 3 to 11PM and I felt great. I liked the swing shift,. since it was an easy way to spend my 8 hours of work time. The paper work was a minimum and there were more bad guy activity to make the time pass. The time passed slowly, because I wanted to set up on the meth lab, but knew I couldn't. The best I could do, without bring Monk into it, was to catch the delivery man on the road. Finally it was 8:30 PM and Monk called. He told me that it was still on for about nine.: So I drove to the drive across from the lab. I shut down everything even the bronco's heater, while I waited for the car to emerge from the meth lab drive. It was cold in the Sheriff's Bronco, but I knew the sound of a running car at night was easy to hear. I wanted this arrest too badly to mess it up. So I could suffer a little I thought. While I waited I remembered something Monk had said was we rode toward the meth lab. "Do you know why there is so much drug activity in this county. It isn't because there are that many customers here. It's because we have the most hospitable law enforcement." "I don't believe for a minute there are dirty cops here," I said. Even though there was probably a lot of free coffee passed out. "I don't think any of them are for sale here, Sylvia. But I do think there are a lot of lazy cops here. Guys who are just putting in time." He said. "Well that is possible for sure. A lot of them don't want to do anything, if they are going to have to write a report, or go to court. Unless there is a complainant they tend to let it slide. That's pretty much my idea of dogging it, not being friendly to crime." I said. Thinking back on it Monk could have been warning me not to expect any backup tonight. I would have to treat it like a routine traffic stop. After I found reason to search the car, I could change the call to drug bust. That should get me back up in a hurry. To bad I couldn't let anyone else in on my plan. It was 9:20 when the older muscle car came out of the drive way, I gave him a head start, Since I had been on the road yesterday, I knew how far the road ran and where the turnoffs were along it. After two minutes I started the Ford and gave chase. When I caught up to the car I lite him up. His response to the blue light was to speed up. My answer to that was to turn the siren on and call it in as a chase. Now since car chases are cool to men, and all the other deputies were men, I expected some help. "305 in pursuit of a older dodge charger." I manage to get the license number out before the other officers checked back with dispatch, "306 headed that way," Butch said. "300 headed that was as well." Michaels added. I gave my location and pretty much told them where he would come into the main highway, if one of us didn't get killed. It was a definite possibility since it was a bad, flat road. I had practiced and he was in front so I had some advanced warning, when he went into a curve. I followed the old rule slow into a curve and then come out hard and fast. Brake enough to slow without losing the grip with the road, the kick the hell out of the engine. The Bronco didn't have the muscle for a head to head run on a flat, but she did just fine with catching up in the curves. There were lots of curves. I wondered what his plan was when the rest of the deputies set up the road blocks. He might try to go sailing right through, but he wouldn't make it. He was already boxed in, since we just passed the last turn off before the intersection with the road black. Then he did the most remarkable thing. He pull into a large parking lot of a closed business. It was one of those parking lots that ran across the front of the store, when ti had been operations, It was the customer parking area. There was twe entrances from the road. I called it in when he went in, then I followed close behind him, She skidded trying to make the turn out the lot. I knew exactly what I was going to do. I rammed that son of a bitch broadside. "Officer involved in a 1050" I said into the radio. I took a deep breath and went out into the cold night air. I quickly went to the door of the car and it was jammed. I went to the passenger side and opened the door. He was still shaking his head to clear the cobwebs. I pulled him from the car only because I smell gasoline again. Once I got him outside and his head cleared, He suddenly got mouthy. "Why you chase me dammit?" He asked. "Why, because you ran asshole, now get against the car and put you hand on your head." I said. "That's bullshit, I didn't do nothing wrong." he said. "You had a broken tail light that's why," I said as I put his hand in the zip tie. He was wrapped up pretty securely when I went back to the rear of his car. I needed to be sure one of his tail light was broken. I figured I would have to explain that his light didn't work, when I started the chase. I used the folding baton to break the lens and the bulb. It might be a bit difficult to make a case for it hadn't worked fifteen minutes ago, but worked fine now. So I made sure it didn't work fine now. Michaels and Butch pulled in about five minutes after I put the guy in the zip cuffs. Together we searched the car and fount the trunk had a large box of zipper bags filled with crystal meth, even though we had to call it a suspicious white powder. ------- Chapter 41 By the time that the SBI lab boys got through with the scene, it was past midnight. I was on overtime, but I didn't mind. I was enjoying the prospect of hitting the meth lab. "So do you want to volunteer to stay over and go on the strike team. We need to get in there before the word get out that we are on the way." Michaels said. "You know I want to see it through to the end. I want to see what a working meth lab looks like. I only seen them on TV." I said. "It doesn't look like this one was too large, judging from the amount in of meth in this guys car," Michaels said. "It will still be the biggest one I have ever seen, Kind of like the first penis I saw. It was the biggest one I had ever seen," I said with a laugh. "I got a feeling, you aren't through with drug operations," Michaels said. I almost ask Michaels why he said that, but I didn't want anything to bring down the good feeling I had. I had been involved in a wild car chase and I got to bring a bad guy down. Of course, if I went on the drug raid, I was going to have to ride with someone else. The Bronco suffered some pretty significant metal damage. "So if I stay, what do I do for wheels?" I asked. "You ride with Reynolds, he is using the back up car tonight. You kind of made sure he would not be using the Bronco. By the way it was an accident you didn't intend to ram to suspect, did you?. It wouldn't look good to put lives in danger over a broken tail light." He said. "It wasn't about the broken tail light, it was about the chase." I said. Of course it didn't feel a think like the movies. It felt better,. "You know the drill. You don't risk your own life or the suspect's life unless you have no other choice. At least that's how you tell it, when his lawyer asks why you ran him down over a traffic stop," Michaels said. "Sergeant, it's like this. He ran so he might have had a hostage in the car, and he might have been going to kill him or her. I had an obligation to stop him, to be sure it was just a broken tail light that I was dealing with," I said. It sounded like bull shit even to me. "Yeah, you know the words alright," he said. "It's the truth," I said barely able to keep a straight face. I waited until the suspect's car was towed away, before I caught a ride back to the station with Michaels. When I went into the station, I met Sergeant Wilson. Wilson was a legend in his own mind. Even so, I was pretty sure I could get along with him. Wilson was the county;s only full time vice officer. He had men working vice now and then on temp assignment, but no one was permanent assigned because the bad guys made them pretty quick. I had no desire to work vice. I didn't go out of my way to find him until Sergeant Michaels said that Wilson would be coordinating the assault along with SBI agent in charge. The agent in charge for the SBI seemed to changed every few weeks. This week it was an old man, at least to me he was old. "Hey Porter," the SBI agent said. ""How did you know I was Porter?" I asked. "Because you are the best looking one here. I was told you would be," He said trying to be cool. A womanizer no doubt, I thought. "Anyway, it was good work that you got the delivery man stopped," he said. "Thanks, now I looking to get approval to go on the lab take down," I said. "I'll put in a good word for you with Wilson," he said. I wasn't impressed. "That's okay, I'll put in my own world. Where is the sergeant?" I asked/ "Over in the break room, trying to choke down the coffee," he said. "Okay thanks," I said but didn't mean it. I had Wilson a pointed out to me before, so I knew who he was. When I walked up to him, I was ready for anything. "I'm deputy Silvia Porter and I'd like to go along on the raid tonight," I said. "Porter, you are the one who ran down the drug delivery man tonight aren't you?" he asked. "Yes I am," I said. "And you caught the girl who was growing pot for the survivalist?" he asked. "Yeah that was me to, I guess," I said. "Well, it was good work for a rookie," he said. "Sergeant, it was good work for anyone," I said. He looked at me as though he wanted to fight. Then he asked, "Promise me you won't go all John Wayne on me, and I'll find a place for you?" "Fair enough, you have my word, if I do go all redneck bitch, I'll only go for the bad guys." I said. "Sounds about right," he said. Get a real vest before you go out. That thing you have on will stop a small handgun, but these guys like to play whose is bigger," he said. "Deputy Reynolds can help you out there." I found Reynolds in the equipment room. There were only five of us from the Sheriff's office going with the strike force. But we still had our hands full. I had to draw everything from a tack vest, to a M-15 assault rifle. I had qualified with it in the air force, so I knew what to do. But I would rather have had an assault shotgun. Even the old Winchester Pump Shotguns would have been more to my liking for a night time raid. Still I was willing to go along, just to be able to go along. I rode with Reynolds to the staging area. It was a church parking lot about a half mile from the driveway. The SBI was setting up the raid, so we all had to take our orders from them. The old man agent told me that I could stand in the rear of the house. There wasn't much chance I would be hurt there. "Gee thanks, but I was hoping to go inside the house. After all I was the one who got the lead that brings us here." I said. "I doubt these guys are any more dangerous than the Taliban." "I guess she told you,": Wilson said. "If you let her cover your back, she can go in with you," The SBI Agent said. "She can cover my ass any day," Wilson said. "All right then she is second man through the door," he said, He didn't bother correcting his gender mistake. I suppose it was suppose to be an insult, like all the veiled insinuation that I was a lesbian. "Do me a favor forget all that John Wayne bull shit I kidded you about earlier. If someone points a gun at either of us, smoke his ass," Wilson said. "That was my plan all along Sergeant," I said. When we got there we went right for the door. Wilson tried to kick it and nothing happened. The door was reinforced. So much for surprised. The team with the battering ram cam up and began to hit on it. I tried to think like the bad guys. I wanted to slow us down long enough to get away, I knew I wasn't coming out the front, or the rear doors, but the house had windows in the foundation. Windows usually meant a basement,. I was going to bet there was a basement door somewhere hidden.along the overgrown foundation or in the ragged looking yard. It was dead of night as well. "He's coming out of a basement opening somewhere in that shrubbery," I said to Wilson. "We are committed to go in the front," Wilson said. "Then go for the basement first thing," I said to him. "Are you sure," he asked "hell no but it:s what I would do. Get everybody in the house and slip into the woods," I said. Just then the door fell in. It come off the hinges before the lock gave way. We were the first two inside and immediately began looking for a basement door. We should have been clearing the house but we blew that assignment to look for the basement. While everyone else was running from room to room, Wilson and I were making our way to the basement. We saw him with his legs hanging out of the open coal chute. Wilson said, "If you don't come back inside it will be my shoot you in the ass." He wiggled back inside. I moved around Wilson. I said, "Hands on your head." He immediately dropped the fancy automatic pistol and put his hands on top of his head. I used another zip tie to bind his hands. It looked as though Wilson and I had worked it out. It was a pretty good bit of cooperation. It really seemed a good thing, It seemed that way right up until Wilson took all the credit, I mean in his version of the story, I didn't seem to be present. I got him alone about 3AM. "You are a sorry excuse for a leader. You took the credit, not for listening to me, but for my fucking idea. You are acting like this was all your idea. What crap," I said. "Hey don't worry Sylvia, I am going to take you into my squad. You will get plenty of chances to bring in bad guys." he promised. "No thanks Wilson, I would rather work as a crossing guard than carry your ass till retirement." Monk had been right they were incompetent the the whole bunch of them. They were too lazy to find out who the players were so the could collect a bribe. It was probably the only reason they weren't doing it. Just my luck to end up in a place were the cops were to lazy to be crooks. I went home and checked into my bed. I was exhausted and didn't even want to think about what to do next. One thing I learned in the military nobody likes a snitch. Especially some one who out ranks you. Arguing with Wilson was all lose, lose. I feel asleep with a bad taste in my mouth. I slept till 10AM the next morning. Even at that time of the mornings I ran my usual route. I had to duck cars, bikes and old ladies shopping. When I got back to the room, I dressed for just handing around the room. I spent some time working on the computer, but got no new information or ideas; It was all just a waste of time, but it was a harmless way to waste my morning. I dressed for work then had a late breakfast of eggs and grits. I didn't especially like grits, but someone convinced me they were better for me than bacon. I decided that from now on, I could surrender to a few more hours off my life and just have bacon. When I got to the station the receptionist for the Chief Deputy told me he wanted to see me. So I walked into the lion's den. When I stepped inside I asked, "You wanted to see me Chief Deputy?" "Yes I did Silvia, you have been doing an awfully lot of good work since you got here. To be honest it's even more than we hoped." he said. "Are you telling me to turn it down some?" I asked. "Absolutely not, as a matter of fact, I am going to be looking for better ways to use you enthusiasm and know how." he said. "Chief deputy I don't know what to day," I said. "Nothing need be said yet. Not till I come up with something." ------- Chapter 42 I had no idea what they really thought of all the increased work I caused them. I know the district attorney, who was responsible for our cases. called me in before she arraigned the pot case of mine. The one with the survivalist and the grower from down east... "Well Deputy Porter, we are going to trial with a pretty good case. The girl tuned on everyone in the county it seems," she said. "Actually most of the buyers were outside the country. There are only two county residents," I said. "Yes, I guess I knew that we took pleas from all the buyers and they all are serving 30 days probation. Pot is not a very important offense for the judge here. I think he really would rather not waste his time with them." "Okay, how about the growers and distributors," I asked. I wasn;t happy but the judge's attitude matched those of judges all over the country these days. "Those he is going to have to prosecute, or I'm going to nail his ass to a door," she said. That was a battle about publicity. It all boiled down to politics. "Good for you," I said. "I was afraid you were going to let them plead to littering." "Your cooperating witness is not going to serve any time for the growing. But she might do a few months for distributing. The survivalist is going to plead guilty in exchange for a promise not to do more than six months in a county facility. The work farm or the county jail." "Then you really aren't going to need me," I said slightly miffed at the light treatment of my perps. It seemed like a huge waste of time. Maybe that how the others felt, which explained their lack of enthusiasm. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that it might not seem like it, but you are doing good work and it does make a difference." she said trying to ease my disappointment. "Well counselor, I had wondered why the cops here were all burned out, now I understand. They go out put it on the line and get zero positive reinforcement for their efforts." I said. "That why cops piss me off. I called you in to give you positive feedback, and you take it wrong. What did you want me to do go for the death penalty for growing and selling a little pot." she asked. "Well no, but a really nice charge is the manufacture of Marijuana, which has a five year sentence. That way I would feel like I did something good." I said. "sent the right message you know?" "He would never plead to that and I would have meant a trial. The trial judge would have wanted to know, if we tried to reach a deal before we wasted his time. Then to teach me a lesson, he would have found him guilty, but given him probation and time served." "Well then maybe we need to have us a talk with the judge," I said. "Well good luck with that one," she said with a laugh. "Oh, and why is that," I asked. "He will probably ask you for a date, as he tell you there is no way for a tough sentence to hold up on appeals. Which is code for, you don't have a snowballs chance in hell," she said. "Okay, I get it. Everybody would like to do better but the system is so flawed it wouldn't make any difference what they did." "I would never admit to that," the very attractive slightly over forty Asst. District Attorney said. I wondered what her weakness was. Oh my god I was thinking like Mary Ellen. We left it like that, and I got out of there quickly. Before I said something to give myself away. I went back and finished the shift. I had one more to go the next night and I was finished. After that shift I planned to at least have a drink, even if I had nothing else. And I wasn't opposed to a little something else. First I had to finish that night and one more. That proved harder than it sounded. I was sidelined by Simpson. "Hey Silvia, I hear you were at it again," He said. "That's old news it's been days," I said. "Well I don't get down in the trenches as much as I should," he said. "You seem to have gotten over the shabby way you were treated," I said. "Yes, sometimes it seems like they really don't want us to do our jobs," he said. "I guess," I said. I had a feeling that Simpson might be doing some spying. "Actually I was just leaving." "Well I just wanted to say congratulations," he said. I walked off leaving him standing there. So Gypsy had taken the back seat. I wondered if maybe she was planning to drop the law suit in exchange for a shoddy investigation. I frankly had just about given up on the Warren County Sheriff's office. I couldn't count on them, so I wondered why I was concerned about them being able to count on me. I decided that it was called integrity. Someone had to have some. I got through that night with Jenny Allen on my mind. Someone owed to her to find out what happened to her. Even if nobody ever went to trial for it. I wondered who could tell me. The answer was simple the Boyle Brothers, but the making it happen, was going to be difficult. I wondered what Monk really knew. I could convince him to give up all that he knew for a blow job. Of course then I would never be able to use it in court. I knew just enough, to know what I didn't know. I couldn't even decide who I needed to talk to first. First I had to finish my shift I had one more night with that one came to an end, I rode off for home in the tiny Toyota, The one with the heater that took longer to heat up than it took to get to the motel. I was always cold, when I got to home, for that very reason. I went inside and took a warm shower. Of course the phone rang while I was in the shower. I was naked when I answered it. "Hello," I said. I didn't recognize the number. "Is this Deputy Porter," the male voice said. "It is and how did you got this number," I asked. "Don't matter how I got it," he tried to say. "Yeah it does," I said hanging up on him. "Bastard," I said to no one. The phone rang with the same number calling. I almost turned the phone off, but I decided to give him another chance to tell me who was giving my number out. "So ready to tell me who gave you my number, before I block you." "I can't tell you but don't hang up it's important." he said. "You got two minutes," I said as I sat down on the toilet. "There is a man who wants your dead. He said, you had to be gone before those two methhead get arraigned," the mysterious voice said. "They going to be arraigned tomorrow," I said. "It's not the trail or anything." "Lawyer said that they could get it dismissed, if you didn't tell your story, I promised a friend I would warn you, now you been warned," he said. "Any idea when, or where?" I asked. "Before court tomorrow is all I know," he said and was gone. I was a creature of habit. I would run before going to court tomorrow. I was going to stick to my schedule because it gave me some control of the when and where. During the run was the only good time to do it. Since I had to be in court at nine, I would be running at eight. Since there probably were in sure kill snipers in such a small town, he was going to have to lay in wait for me somewhere. So there would be some activity in the motel parking lot that early as the people came to work, and the guests left for work, A lot of out of town workers stayed in the motel, So it was not likely to be the parking lot. I ran right down the block to the corner, Then turned right for my parallel run behind main street. That was a possibility anywhere along that stretch. The swing back onto main street was heavy traffic till I was back in the motel. So It was most likely after the right turn on to the side street. Anywhere along it or the rum up to main at the end of that street was also a possibility. I figured I would make it even more difficult for them. Instead of turning down the parallel street as I usually did, I would run down the alley between the two streets. By doing that, they would have to leave their car and chase me. It was a pretty rough alley. That's why I never ran that way, well I seldom did. I decided to go to bed, without calling anyone else. I didn't have that much faith that it wouldn't get back to the two Methheads lawyer that I knew. So I slipped into bed and masturbated one last time, so that I could fall asleep. I tried to remember some nice normal sex to relate, but it turned to kink very quickly. I could remember my introduction to sex, it was at the hands of a married man. That was pretty unusual for sure for a teenager to have her sex first with a married man. Even stranger that he was married to her mother. He had been playing with me and having me play with him for years but he finally did it when I was fourteen, I couldn't help, that I still came to the memory of it. I know I wasn't supposed to, but I couldn't help it. He taught me to enjoy my body and things that happened to me. It was all about the feeling, not any emotional attachments, even after all those years. When I awoke the next morning the idea that I might die had me sit down at the desk with a ball point pen. I very carefully wrote my name and social security number on both arms. Just in case they used a bomb. IEDs happened even in thet land of the cold beer. It was cold out so I wore a lot of additional clothing, I did carry my Smith & Wesson in my brand new nylon shoulder holster, I couldn't find a leather one like in the movie bullet, but I found an upside down holster in nylon to fit the Smith. I pulled my nylon running parka over it all. I ran from the motel room and headed to the corner. I ran just as fast as I could. Something I didn't usually do. I usually ran just to fill up a half hour, but that morning I ran really fast. If someone were watching, I got to the place where I was going to turn very quickly. I cut behind the main street buildings using the alley. My bet was my attackers where on the street that ran behind those building. Sure enough a older model Chevy came to life. I watched it as I pulled into the parking lot behind the fancy coffee shop. He roared in turned said ways and two men got out of the passenger side. One from the front seat and one from the rear seat. Just as soon as the car stopped I dropped to one knee and worked the pistol loose from the shoulder holster. They were both out in the open with their weapons in there hand, when I yelled drop the weapons police and opened fire at the same time. I got one first thing. But I felt the hammer blows to my chest and the burning pain of a gunshot. Even so I managed to get several round off as the one standing got back in the car and started from the lot clumsily. He was hit for sure. Somehow just before the darkness closed in, I managed to empty the .40 caliber into the car and it ran into another car as he left the parking lot. Thats when the dark closed in and I said a prayer. ------- Chapter 43 When I woke up, it was with a terrible thirst. There was a terribly annoying beeping sound, that wouldn't go away. I knew I was in a hospital room because of all the tubes and handing bags. What I didn't know was what day it was. There was nothing to give me a clue. I could have been in there one day, or a month. My head was covered in bandages, so I could even tell from the amount of hair on my head. Finally someone came about the beeping sound. "So you are awake, how do you feel?" the nurse asked. She was young and very black. "I feel fine, can I have some water please?" I asked. "How about I wet a cloth and you can suck it," she said. "Why not? they tell me I suck pretty well," I said. She just smiled. "How long have I been here," I really wanted to know what was wrong with me, but I figured she would tell me that. So I went with a question she might answer. "You came in yesterday morning. You been asleep ever since," she said. "What time of day is it," I asked. She looked at her watch and said, "It's two in the afternoon. Your mama is outside. She would like to see you." "I think, I need to see a doctor first," I suggested. "Yes, I guess so," the little nurse said. I fell back asleep just as soon as she left. When I awoke again, it was dark. I figured there was nothing I could do in the middle of the night, so I fell back asleep. They actually woke me with a tray at breakfast time. I didn't mind, since I was hungry. It was a good breakfast for a hospital kitchen to have put out. A short time later the doctor came in. "So how you," he asked. "I think, I should be asking you that," I said. "Okay, I'll rephrase it, How are you feeling," he asked. "I don't feel much of anything. I have a little pain when I move my head, but nothing I can't handle." I said. "Well you have a little help handling it. We will try reducing the dosage. If you need it increased just ask," he said. "Fine, now how about an assessment of the damages," I said. "Well they tell me that the broken ribs are from the impact of some 9mm slugs that you took to your vest. Three of them as a matter of fact," he said. "That guy must have been a better shot them me," I said. "You some how got some scraped to your scalp, but they are superficial. The major damage came from a slug that went into the fleshy part of your neck. It didn't hit anything too vital. Taken together with the broken ribs, you are going to be in some pain, I am afraid. If it hadn't been for a shop owner calling for an ambulance, you might have bled out," the doc said. "If I had run at my usual time, there would have been no shops open," I said. "Then you caught a break from that little change. Tell me, do you always wear a vest and carry a gun when you run?" he asked. "Sure, I consider it my handicap," I said. It was a lie, I never carried more than a box opener in case someone grabbed me. "Well, I think I want to run with you," he said. "So you ready for visitors." "Do I have to? I really want to go home. So tell me which hoops I need to jump through?" I asked. "You need a little more time for us to be sure that neck isn't going to be a problem. Trust me I want you out of here as much as you want to be. We can do without that SBI agent on the door," he said. "Hell bring me my pistol and you can let him go," I said it with a smile. I think we will keep him. You never know what a drugged up woman with a gun will do," the doctor said as started to leave. "You can have visitors." "Gee thanks," I said to the door as it closed behind him. It started with my mother, who came and felt like she had to be all upbeat. She acted as though it was just a minor misunderstanding. One that got a little out of hand. She didn't even mention that I might have been killed. I'm not even sure it occurred to her. "So mom, just go on back home I'm fine. I know you have been here a while and I'm fine. If anything comes up they will call you," I said to her. The anything I meant was if I took a turn for the worse and died, It was the only way that I would let them call her again. She finally left with the promise, "I'll be back if you need anything at all," She meant it to, she was real good with things, Just not so good with people, I knew that and I thanked her for it. "We need to talk," Simpson said as he walked in. "Don't tell me you are breaking up with me, while I'm in the hospital." I replied. "Very funny, lets go over what happened. You tell me what you remember and I'll tell you what I know," he suggested. "Okay, first of all I run everyday and I run the same place everyday. I think everyone in town knows that," I explained. "I didn't know that," Simpson said. "Go on." "The car came speeding into the parking lot and two men got out. I saw their guns so I went to one knee, to make me a smaller target. We started shooting. It sounded like a squad of Taliban for a couple of seconds. Then it was over. They jumped back in the car and left. I think they hit a car on the way out of the parking lot. To be honest that is where I went to sleep." "Where you expecting trouble, when you left the motel?" he asked. "Not really, why do you ask," I said. I really wanted to asked what tipped him off. "You always do this to run?" he ashed. then he turned my arm over. "They are usually tattooed on this one is ballpoint." "Running it dangerous, you know how traffic is out there," I said. "You got real lucky, whatever you are into watch yourself," he said, "I'm not into anything, except being as good a cop as I can be. If that is intimidating to your, good old boys club, tough shit." I was angry and it showed. "So so you have them?" "Sure we got them. You had them almost tied in a bow when we arrived. You killed on them outright in the parking lot. One had a hole in his gut, He was in the back of the wrecked car. The driver had made a run for it on foot. Him they found about half a mile away running for his life. So yeah we got them." He said. "Cool," was my only reply. After a couple of minutes I asked, "Why is there a guard on my door?" "The SBI wants to be sure the threat is past. They weren't sure who they could trust, since the guys who tried to kill you were in the Meth business too. They think there is someone higher up behind this." "So what's really happening," I asked. "Looks like the two we had in jail told their lawyer they were going to roll up the big guy, if they went to jail. So he thought that he could get the evident tossed, if you didn't testify. Hence the attempt on your life." "I see, so what's the feeling in the department about all this," I asked. "Mostly it goes from hero, to show off, without a lot in between," he said "So what's your feeling," I said. "I think, I don't want to look too hard at this thing," he said. "I have to investigate for the Sheriff, but I'm going to do my investigation of the three men in the plot, and leave you alone. That is if you agree to drop it, Okay?" he asked. "Works for me," I said. After Simpson left there followed a steady stream of visitor from whom I picked up bits and pieces. Like Butch told me that it was only a fragment of a bullet that hit me in the neck. Not that it mattered much. "When you are able, I would like to buy you a drink," he said. Even more important he said it in front of the three other patrol deputies who were with him. "Sure thing, I'll always take a free drink," I said. Next came the Highway patrol officers who had been on the investigation of the meth runner. They wanted to let me know that they thought I did a hell of a job. They didn't say, but I think it was for the shooting not the car chase. After court shut down for the day, the Assistant District Attorney for the country came to see me. She said she wanted to stop to be sure I hadn't misunderstood our previous conversation. "Why so you care?" I asked. "Things are going to change for you after this. Hell you could be the next Sheriff for all I know. That job isn't about age or experience, it is about popularity with the voters. Right now you got it all." "Shit, I don't want to be Sheriff, I just want to be a good Deputy," I said. "You might change your mind one day," she said. I gave it some quick thought and said to her, "I guess you truly never know about that. I don't think I misunderstood the conversation either," I replied. She left not to happy with the answer she had gotten. But before I fell asleep again for the night, the SBI agent on the door made a ruckus outside. He finally stepped in and said, "There is a biker out here who says he's your boyfriend." "I don't have a boyfriend, biker or otherwise. If I did his name would be monk. Is that Monk out there?" I asked. "Yes it is," the agent said with a smile. "Then let him in and let's see what he wants. God knows I'm not up for a date at the moment," I said. Monk walked in bold as brass. "Hey there my favorite Deputy," he said. "How did you get in here without being seen," I asked. "Came in the delivery entrance. So how you feeling there girlie?" he asked. "I feel tired. I have had too many visitor, so get it over with and get our before you are spotted," I said. "You knowed, it was me who sent the message?" he asked. "Yeah I figured it was. Thanks but you better not be using me to get rid of completion for you," I said. "I told you, I don't do drugs in any way. It was about payment for a tricked out bike, and a woman," he said. "I thought you would call the cops to cover your ass out there." "I wasn't sure the anonymous tip was worth bothering them," I said. "Well don't ever go out there alone again," he said. With those words he left me alone. I wanted to sleep but my rubs suddenly hurt so I called the nurse who brother me in a shot. She injected it into the IV and it was dreamless sleep for me. For the SBI agent on the door it was just the beginning. There was a delivery guy who turned around and walked away when he saw the agent. The agent had him pulled over outside the hospital and the cop found a small .38 in the flower box. There followed a game of musical beds, when they rolled me across the hall. I knew nothing about it until they told me the next morning. ------- Chapter 44 On day three I managed to walk to the bathroom, alone. I did it with a hell of a lot of pain and the help of a cane. I could never have gotten out of bed at home. My decision to stay another day was based on that experience. Trying to sit up caused me to cry that first time. Broken ribs are not for sissy, I decided. By the evening of day three I was going to the bathroom on my own. It still was with a great deal of pain. I prepare myself mentally for it and I did it with a lot of grunts and groans. It sounded as though I was in more pain than truly was. I would have screamed, except I feared it would bring the nurses running. I wanted as little to do with them as possible. By the morning of day four I had the bathroom thing figured out. With the aid of the cane and by rolling on my side and swinging my legs onto the floor, I could mostly avoid using the muscle which put pressure on the ribs. Not very medical sounding, I know, but it worked for me. I could make it to the bathroom which was about all the movement I was up to. I considered it a great victory at the time. By the afternoon of that day, I was ready to try walking down the hall for the first time. I rolled onto my side with some pain, but not nearly as much as sitting up in the bed caused. Then I swung my legs over the side and used the cane to lever myself upright. Yeah it was ugly, but it had me sitting on the side of the bed with less pain. It was a pain I could cope with. I pulled myself out of the bed with the cane, so that I was standing. I wasn't standing upright but I was up. I took my first steps using only the cane for support. I had been holding to door and rails attached to the walls to go to the bathroom. The bathrom trip was only three painful steps. The walk I planned was a lot more steps. I slowly made my way to the door, when I got there I was exhausted. Exhaustion or not I continued on. I managed to get the door open. I looked down the hall and found mine was the only door that was closed. I was also the only one with a plain clothes officer sitting outside the door. "Where do you think you are going," he said pleasantly. "Dancing?" I asked breathlessly. "You might want to hold off till after dark for that," he suggested. "Well then how about once around the halls and home James," I said. "Tell you what if you go real slow, I'll go with you. I probably can't keep up," he said. He used a cane to lever himself to a standing position. Since he was about my age and had the bearing of a military man, I figured him for a soldier. "Iraq?" I asked. "Yep early on before we armored the hummers," he said. "I'm sorry, you seem to have adapted pretty well," I suggested. "What else could I do," he said. "When you are a pro, it's all you can do, I guess," I said. "So now you are with the SBI?" "Not the State Bureau we fall under the State Attorney's office. You are in the witness protection program at the moment," he said. We were moving along at a snails pace while we talked. It took some of the pain away to have my thinking off the pain for a while. "So can you run in the Olympics?" I asked. "No, but I can outrun you right now," he said. "That is true. So where you living while you are in town." I asked. "A motel out at the interchange about five miles out of town," he said "Why?" "Well I live in a motel and nobody is using my room right now," I said with a smile. "Oh well, I'm not on a per diem. They pay the motel directly. So let them pay," he said. "Right," I said with a smile. We had been around the floor by that time. "Well I don't think I'm up for another lap." "Well you go on back and I'll have a nurse come tuck you in," he said. "Don't bother I'm fine," I said. "Lady you are a hell of a lot of thing, s but you are not fine right now," he said with a concerned look," I was back in bed when the nurse came in to change my dressing. "Your wound is weeping. It's to be expected for a few days still." She said it as if I had been concerned. I assured her I had not been. When she left, I went back to sleep. I slept for a couple of hours, then the day shift cops came in to check on me. I wasn't sure what brought them in, but I was glad to see them. Well most of them. They didn't stay but a minute, just long enough to update me on the progress. It seemed that the guy with the bullet in his gut wanted to make a deal. The driver not so much. But the one with the bullet was facing the needle, since there was no question that he had been a shooter. The district attorney was about to file on a local businessman. I asked who of course but they didn't know. "It's all just rumor anyway at this point," one of the older day shift's officers said. The two officers and supervisor from the day shift left, after fifteen long minutes. If the District attorney did file charges on the boss, my need for protection ended. Just when I was starting to wonder about sex with a gimp. I laugh at the thoughts I was having, not the man. When they left I fell back asleep for a couple of hours, I was awakened next by a visit form Chief Deputy Webster. "Well there's our little heroine," he said. "Not all that little, but hello Chief Deputy," I said. "How are you feeling," he asked. "I feel like I got kicked in the ribs by a jackass," I said. "Well you did in a way, I thought I would come in to tell you myself. The District Attorney is going to file charges against Dan Edwards," he said. "Dan Edwards the real estate developer," I asked. "One and the same. It seems Dan used Meth money to finance his realty business when the market crashed. He just found some kids with enough chemistry to cook, and off he went. Some where along the line he got twisted enough to think killing you would solve all his problems. It would have been only a short term solution, but maybe he planned to leave the country, who knows." the Chief Deputy said. "Well, I will be damned," was my reply. After dropping his bomb the chief deputy didn't stay long. I couldn't blame him we didn't really have much to say to each other. "I am still trying to decide what to do with you when you come back to work. You are coming back to work aren't you." And there was the real reason for his visit. He wanted to know if I was coming back. "That my plan at the moment," I said. "No one is rushing up to offer me a job." "Well just as soon as we allow you access to the press, that might change," he said as he went out the door. So they were still controlling my visitors. Well it did make sense, I was in protective custody. I fell asleep after dinner and slept till sometime in the middle of the night. When I woke I had to use the bathroom, so I tried my method for getting out of bed. The pain was terrible but I managed to make it. I just couldn't get back to sleep for a while. Since I was awake anyway I decided to try a walk around the hospital floor again. When I opened the door sometime later, the first thing I noticed was that my guard was gone. With the arrest of Dan the Realtor, I suppose the threat was gone, That kind of sucked since I supposed it meant that the press would have access to me. It also mean I had no way to defend myself and no one watching my back. I suddenly have a feeling of being alone. I hadn't really felt alone since Afghanistan. I walked the halls of my floor until I was tired. Then I went in and fell asleep. Day five opened with a visit from the doctor of the hospital which was fine since I didn't have a doctor of my own. "Well young lady you are doing well. They tell me you are up roaming the halls in the middle of the night." "I did. I bet that is a sign that I want to go home," I said. "It says on you chart that you live alone, do you have any close friends or family you can stay with," he said. "Family, I guess," I replied. There was no way I was staying with family. "Well if you go to stay with family, I will release you tomorrow. That is if you are truly mobile. So let me see you walk to the door," he demanded. I did my rolling thing and levered myself up with the cane, I did not scream, even though I wanted to. I made it to the door and back. "So how about it," I said. "Use today to line up your exit plans If nothing changes for the worse you can go tomorrow." he said. My first call had to be for a ride home. I wanted the Monk since he knew all about it, but I couldn't put him in danger. Next best was Mary Ellen even though her part time job might come back to to bite me later. "Mary Ellen you did know I was in the hospital?" I asked. "Yes what can I do?" she asked as I hoped she would. "I need a ride home. Does Angel work at all?" I asked "She works for me and I can send her to pick you up. Just call the store about fifteen minute or so before you are ready to leave." she said. "Mary Ellen I need some clothes as well. Do you think you could send some with her. I'll gladly pay." I said. "And Mary Ellen send panties." We both laughed at that remark. So I had the exit cover but I had a day to survive without a weapon or a guard. Yes I know it sounds paranoid, but I had proved that paranoids sometimes had a valid reason for it. I spent as much of that day outside my room as possible. I doubted that it would matter to a determined killer, that he had to go to the solarium. but I felt that I was at least doing something. The time passed slowly but it did pass. Then without much warning I was calling Angel to come get me. She brought me jeans and a tee shirt. She brought panties but no bra, I should have known. "Miss Porter," the hospital business officer person said, "You have no liability at this time. Since it was a line of duty shooting, the state insurance is going to cover it all, I think." "Gee that nice of them," I said. "The other thing is the lobby is full of press. You should plan to speak to them," she said. "No I shouldn't, A can I got out a back way," I asked. ------- Chapter 45 On the way home Angel stopped at the drug store for a prescription of Vicodin. I was expecting significant pain for a while longer. That expectation was based on the doctors warnings. "Take it easy and don't go back to work before you are releases, You are going to have some pain for a while." I was already having some pain when I moved, If it got worse without the hospitals big time drugs, I was going to be in a fix. I had Angel make one more stop on the way home. She went through the drive through window at McDonalds. I had not eaten a Big Mac and fries since the one I had on my first night back in the USA. I offered to buy her one but she refused. Smart girl, I thought. She got me home at a little past noon. I didn't figure I wouldn't get away from the press too long. Someone, who knew where I lived, was bound to give me up. It was just a matter of time before I had reporters everywhere. I needed to get ready for them. I sat down and wrote a statement. I tried to tell only what could be found in the record. I hoped no one found me at all. If I had to make the statement, I wanted to make it only once. They found my cell phone first. I refused to answer any calls from anyone I didn't already have in the phone. There weren't many number in that phone either. Butch's number came up once, but I was groggy from my nap. I disconnected him by mistake. I didn't return the call. Finally it was the Chief Deputy's call I answered. "Yes Chief Deputy." I said into the phone. I had a feeling the Sheriff wanted to campaign a little. "The Sheriff wants to have a press conference tomorrow to make the arrest public. He though you might like to be there." Webster said. "No thanks, I'm still in some pain," I said. "You could do yourself some good," he said. "And the Sheriff," I said. "That goes without saying," Webster said the sarcastic smile was in his voice. "I think I'll just pass, but tell him that I would love to if I felt better." I said. "Who said you weren't going to play the game," Webster suggested. "I don't know. I never promised anything more than a full days work for a full days pay." I expounded. "The SBI wants a statement you can't put them off for long," he said. "God how my times do I have to tell that same old story?" I asked. "Till they are satisfied," he said. "Oh yeah, they are going to send Mission to interview you." "Oh god, don't they ever change their tactics. I get the good cop bad SBI agent do I?" I asked. "In your version who is the bad one, Mission?" Webster asked. "Yeah she didn't come say how sorry she was, You know holding my hand kind of thing." I said. "Even that would be easier, if you face the press. It would help you to have if all out there." Webster was still trying to get me to stand beside the Sheriff. While he did his I saved this little lady's life. I didn't know how he could spin it, so he came out the hero, but I was sure he would manage. I just didn't intend to help him or to dispute his version. I planned to ignore it. I slept most of the after noon. When dinner time came I ate a frozen dinner from my freezer. Then I walked through the lounge. I stopped and had a cup of coffee with Sarah before I went back to bed. Monk hadn't been there, so there was no reason for me to stay. Reynolds called me at home that same night. "Did you ever get that off duty pistol?" he asked. I had mention at the hospital that I needed something small and light to protect myself... "Not yet did you find me something," I asked. "My son in law has a Colt Detective Special. It's about twenty years old, so it's got some wear on it. He want's $300 for it." Reynolds said. "I'm going to look it up on the net, before I make him an offer, Reynolds you might tell him I never negotiate," I said. "Well I didn't say I thought it was a fair price and I didn't say it wasn't. I told him I'd tell you about it. I know we have your service weapon in the evidence locker. I know you're looking thats all." "Tell you what, have him meet me in the station's parking lot tomorrow. He can pick the time," I said. "Hold on he is here," Reynolds said. I waited for him to come back to the phone. He finally did come back about five minutes later. "He said he could meet you anytime after 3:30 tomorrow." "Okay then tell your son in law to make it four. I'm not up to the range yet, so if you have shot it, I will believe what you say." I said to Reynolds. "I'd carry it to a close up gun fight," Reynolds said. "That good enough for me." I said. I knew it was a snub nosed revolver and I didn't expect it to be accurate at 25 yards. I did expect it to shoot within an inch of the sights at ten yards. That was a standard that Reynolds would expect as well. I finally fell into bed at 10pm and just about fell asleep before I even stretched out. Stretching out was a bit of a chore since the accident, as I thought of it. There was no sense being a drama queen, I told myself. I awoke at 7AM. It must have had something to do with being home. I decided that I couldn't run, but I could walk to the cafe for take out. So that's what I did. I was nervous and felt naked without a weapon. Still I had to pretend things were normal because I was going to act normal. "My god I didn't expect to see you so soon," the waitress said. "I still get hungry," I said with a mile. "Ya'll just have to make room for my cane," "If anybody says anything about your cane, I'll show them the door." The owner said. "Well I appreciate it. How about a biscuit to go." I asked. "Like hell,. sit your skinny ass down and I'm gonna buy you breakfast." he said. "I really don't eat much in the morning," I said. "Don't worry you just leave anything you don't want. I got this here cat that'll be by later," the waitress said. I grinned at her and tried to eat all the breakfast. I left about half of it and I left the two dollars, I would have paid for the biscuit, as a tip for her. I got back to the room just in time. I was thoroughly exhausted. I took a three hour nap. It was getting close to noon when I woke up. The afternoon saw me on the computer. The phone still rang a lot but I ignored it. As far as I was concerned I was still taking a nap. It was too bad I couldn't maintain my cover forever. The press found me that afternoon, when I went to the station parking lot. Oh I met with Reynolds son in law first. I wore an army issued green field jacket with the hood up. That was over jeans and a black sweat shirt. It was after the meeting which saw me pay $225. for the colt snub nose. It had some serious loss of bluing on the barrel and cylinder not to mention the frame. Still there was no rust so someone had take good care of it, even tjough it had been carried a lot. The pistol came with a clip on belt holster which I would seldom use. I would have the canvas upside down shoulder holster modified." When I left the meeting in the parking lot, I had the small light weight .38 wheel gun in my pants waist band but it felt as if they would fall down any second. I walked through the courthouse on the way out. It was then that the press found me. Someone had been staking out the Sheriff's office. It had been almost a week, I could not believe he was still waiting for me. "Hello Deputy Porter, you are a hard lady to find" the youngish man said. "Maybe that should tell you something. I really don't have anything to say," I said. "Come on give me a quote I can use," he said. "Tell them I said to vote for the Sheriff's reelection." Then I walked away. I had no idea that would cause me to be in trouble with the sheriff. But according to the call I got from Simpson a couple of hours later, I had better watch me ass. Seems the Sheriff took the comment as an insult. He was a lot more perceptive than I thought. So I started the evening with the feeling that I had screwed up. I had said nothing against the Sheriff, but he thought that I had. Once a man like that gets something in his head, you weren't going to get it out easily. His thinking, according to Simpson, had been that if I was able to slip down to the parking lot, then I should have been able to stand by his side at the press conference. Again he was dead on. I couldn't deny that I was there, or that I had refused to do a press conference. So he had me. Later that same after noon I found that the 'Hometown Market' would fill a phone order and put it the rear seat of a taxi for me. They even took my credit card over the phone to pay for it. Of course the service carried a 10% service charge. I only need it once, so I could live with that. I expected the doctor to clear me to drive in a couple more days. Those couple of days I passed playing with the new wheel gun. I learned how to handle the revolver. I had never owned a revolver before, hell I had never held one or even seen one up close, I fooled around with it empty, trying to get a feel for it. I sure as hell didn't want to be fumbling with it, if it was all I had. When I had it down pretty well, I put it away in the clip one waist band holster. I definitely wanted the canvas one modified, I tried it in that holseter as it existed, but the little pistol got lost in the holster made for the large framed Smith .49MM. I also didn't want it to fall out at the wrong time. Hell anytime would be the wrong time. I fell into the bed exhausted again. I still had a lot of pain in the middle of the night, when I went to the bathroom. I liked that I could get through the night without taking a pill, but the pain was sever when I moved to make that bathroom run. The day finally came when I went in for my first check up since my hospital release. I took a chance and drove the Toyota to the appointment. The doctor listened to my heart and asked how I felt. I told him how I felt. Then he decided that I needed to wean myself off the Vicodin tablets. I nodded my agreement. On the way out I toss the prescription tablets, that I had left, into the trash. It was my idea of weening myself off them. ------- Chapter 46 The ten days passed slowly but they did pass. I went back on light duty, It wasn't all I hoped it would be. but I was back at work. It sure beat soap operas on TV. The first morning I went in on the day shift, even though my squad was on midnights, I was not allowed in a car as long as my clearance was only light duty. I expected to be filing reports and answering the telephone. Which is exactly what I did. "So how you like it on a desk," Simpson asked me early on my first day back. "Well it's better than playing solitaire on the computer, but only barely better." I said. "I can get you transfered to help me out, if you would like," he said. "Is your crap work any different from Webster's crap work." I asked. "Well I'm going to be re interviewing some people in the Jennifer Allen case," he said. "Don't tell me, you are going to talk to the sister? The one who played us." I said. "Among others, yes," he said. "Then count me in," I said. "Tomorrow you come in plain clothes," Simpson added. "The jeans are fine but for god's sake wear a bra." "Yes boss man, you did clear this?" I asked. "Oh course, they are trying to find a place for a heroine. I'm not sure anyone knows what to do with you." Simpson said. "Simpson that ship has not only sailed it's out of sight. The news cycle changes, and you are forgotten. Good guy or bad guy, they wont even remember which you were." I said. "You don't get it, because you don't want to get it. You may see it that way, but the people in the Sheriff's department don't. You are an embarrassment to be around. You remind the rest us of our short comings. It's why they have to do something to hide you away, but it can't look like what they are doing." Simpson said. "You are so full of it," I said. "I don't embarrass anyone." "You wait, you'll recognize it now that you are looking for it. You'll see how they defer to you from now on." he restated it. "Look I do my job, no more no less. If the same situation happened to one of them, they would have done the same things," I said. "So do I finish today in the general pool?" "Yeah you start tomorrow learning to be a detective, unofficially of course," he said. "Oh course, you reckon I should ask for a new weapon or is mine available," I asked. "Go talk to Chief Deputy Webster, he will want to tell you to keep your eye on me anyway," Simpson said. I Left the pool just as soon as Simpson left me. I went down to get a new weapon, of course. Chief Deputy said I should take the opportunity to watch Simpson, and pickup what I could. I found out Webster and Simpson didn't get on so well. Seemed nobody like Simpson much. I guess he liked me, because I didn't bust his balls. I just listened and make sarcastic remarks. I didn't openly argue with him in front of others. After work I ate a pack of peanut butter crackers for dinner and drank about a gallon of coffee. It was still cold as a stepmother kiss, when I walked through the lounge at eight. There sat the Monk. He ignored me just as if nothing had happened. I went back to my room in the motel, to await my phone call. "You back at work I heard," he said. "Yeah, I'm on light duty," I said. "I noticed you got a big old bandage on your throat," he said. "Bullet fragment got me there," I said. "So you ain't up to that blow job," he said. "Nope, I sure am sorry," I said. "You really do sound sorry this time," he said. "I am, I owe you at least a blow job for warning me," I said, "Yes you do." he said "Tell you what, you let me do it my way and at my own speed, and I'll pay you this weekend." I said. "I'm going to hold you to it," he said as he hung up. He had no idea how much I wanted to pay that debt. He had not only saved my life. He gave me a chance to prove myself to the yokels. It wasn't a bad think now that I was on the mend. I might not have felt like that a few days ago. Things just seemed to be looking up for me at that moment. Nothing like the promise of sex to make me feel better about life. I was in bed by 10PM. I just didn't have any reserve strength. So I slept ten hours that first night back. The doctor told me not to run, He didn't have to worry about that. I walked with my cane around the route I normally ran. It took me almost three times as long. I was starting later in the day, so some of the merchants were in their stores and spoke to me as I passed. It was good Public Relations to talk to them, I reminded myself. They asked me how I was and I said just fine, then several of them asked me, if we knew yet what had happened to Jennifer Allen. I had to say I really didn't know much about that case, The fact that the case was still on people's minds was noteworthy, I thought. When I got back to the motel I manage a quick shower before work. I could do that only because I wasn't eating breakfast. I intended to fast in the mornings for a while. I wore jeans and a fancy tee shirt with a bra, It didn't do much for me but it was more traditional for sure. "Good morning Simpson," I said. "I know I'm late but the doc said I could only work half days for now, So I chose 10AM till 2 PM, but I will stay a little over if you need me." "Yeah, I knew your schedule so don't worry, it's only for a week. I can make do for a couple of hours in the morning. I didn't have you at all last week." He smiled and me. It felt good to be back. "So what we going to do today," I asked. "We are going to round up some of the meth players. The ones the big shot real estate man gave us in exchange for not going murder one on his ass. We should have you know. He setup a murder for hire, and on a cop. Either of those special circumstances call for a murder one charge. Anyway his lawyer probably warned them that he gave them up." "So why did you wait so long," I asked. 'Not enough bodies and not enough intelligence. We really need an intelligence team to find these pukes. So we know when and where to go for them. So that we won't waste a full tact teams time." "Yeah, I guess we do," I said. It sounded a lot like he was pitching an idea for Webster. I didn't even want to think about how it would work, or how dangerous it would be. I just wanted some action even if it was just a drive in the country. "So let's go get the first of these pukes," he said as he stood and walked outside to the parking lot. "You are not to get into any scuffled, or even a pushing match with any of these gentlemen, understand?" "So you take me out to a raid, but I'm not to get involved in it?" I asked. "He will likely come peacefully anyway," Simpson said. "With my luck, he will run right past the rest of you just just so that he can punch me in the ribs," I said. "Gosh, I hope not. Then I would have to write a report explaining how I went against order to bring you along. Before you ask, I thought you deserved to look all this bastard in the eye. If you want to spit in their face, that's okay too," he said. The one we were after that morning was Homer Evans. Homer lived in a double wide and he had been in the wind awhile. He left town it was believed the night before my accident. Somebody called to say he was back. Since nobody had time to check his home first, we were taking a chance. "Now if we see signs of him being there we will call the two on duty deputies to came back us up," Simpson said. I nodded we drove by at normal speed and I couldn't tell anything. "You got any binoculars?" I asked. "No, but I got a spotting scope. The kind they use on the range," he explained. "That will do. Why don't we turn around and pull up again. We can stop just in sight of his house. Let me set up the scope then get out and look under the hood. He is going to wonder what you are doing, if he is in there. He might give himself away." I suggested. He wanted to play whose is bigger, till I reminded him I was the one on light duty. In the end we did it my way. Through the very powerful scope I saw a window blind move and a man looking out just barely visible. I gave Simpson the sign to move it. He got back in the car and placed the call to the deputies on patrol. It was a couple of minute before noon when they stormed the building. I was forced to sit in the car. The first I saw of the bad guy he was in cuffs and ready for transport. Gee how exciting that was. The clown Homer Evans was sitting in our interrogation room waiting for his lawyer. He already knew his name had been given up by the Realtor. He didn't seem to be all that upset. I would have been livid, if one of the guys a screwed gave me up. "What's with Homer? He isn't even upset with the Realtor." I commented. "He has been in this position more than once. He knows how it is played, He will give us information on the Realtor and as well as every other person he knows in the business," Simpson said. "What's his lawyer going to tell him," I asked. "She is going to get him the best deal she can from the DA. Since Homer didn't have any knowledge of the assassination plot against you, we will deal." "So we just make deals all day long," I asked. "That's pretty much it," he said. It also had to be part of the plot by the Chief Deputy to convince me to take the intelligence job. I still wanted to see Simpson work old Homer, For that I was going to have to wait for his lawyer and an Assistant District Attorney to show. I was on my own time when everyone was in place. Simpson said, "Look Homer, you have your lawyer present. Hell you even have a ADA present, so lets make the trade." "I want immunity," Homer said. "And I want to trade my wife for a college girl, but it ain;t going to happen for either of us.? Simpson said. "Yeah but I know who killed that little girl, Jennifer Allen," Home said. "So you tell me, do you want to get me on a possession of meth, or do you want her killer." Homer asked. "Why I want both, but if I can only get one I'm willing to listen.," the ADA said. Simpson looked at me and most likely regretted I was present, They had much less flexibility to negotiate with me in the room. ------- Chapter 47 Homer began with the statement, "A good drug dealer is like a priest. In that he keeps everyone's secrets. The only think different is we will not be a martyr for anyone." "So?' a very nervous looking Simpson asked. "So when I got invited to stop by a sex party, I knew that I would be seeing things I didn't necessarily want to know about. I went to the Allen house. The old man who organized the party let me in, and I began moving product. The people there were so stupid, I had to show some of them how to smoke the shit, They had been smoking pot, so meth was the next step. While I was there, they stated the Porno Flick. It was a pretty detailed one but no worse than you can find on the net any day.of the week. What was different was his seven year old daughter was sitting there watching it.with the others. Everybody but me was naked. Believe me there are some people who shouldn't take their clothes off in public. They were all talking to the little girl asking her what she though of the movie ... As they got higher they, began to get touchy, feely wtih each other and the kid. The little girl objected and that just pissed some of them off more. Meth does that sometimes. People just fly into a rage for no reason. This one guy wanted her to give him a blow job. She didn't even know what he was talking about. Her dad was so high he was off with some chick. Hell I think it was his sister in law. The little girl was on her own with the porn movie running in the background and everybody naked. It was only a matter of time before someone had her gagging on cock. She must have been on her third, when the guy lost it and slapped her. She scream and he choked her to shut her up. She wouldn't stop struggling until she was dead." "Okay Homer the big question is who did it, and who else was there," Simpson asked. "Why I thought Dan gave you everything. The real estate guy, that'd who. Without me, or somebody else talking you would never have broke it." Homer said. Simpson put a notebook in front of him. 'Write it all down and give me a list of everyone who was at that party. And I mean every one, if you leave just one out, you lose you deal." Simpson motioned me out of the room. He met me in the hall. "Now we have something to go at the sister with," Simpson said. "Call her, see if she will come down. If she won't, we will pick her up for questioning. We can change her with impeding any investigation if nothing else." "She'll come in if we don't tell her anything. She wants to appear helpful." I replied. "We'll see," He said. "Yes we will," I replied. I should have made a bet. I made the appointment it for the next day at noon. All we had to do with keep it quiet till then and let her stew. I drove the Toyota the three blocks to the motel. Living downtown had it's advantages. When I arrived at the motel, I went right to the computer to check on things. I had lots of email that didn't amount to anything. While My dinner microwaved, I began to think about Homer Evans. Something didn't feel just right. He gave up someone who was already in the jackpot. It was too convenient. Still bad men tend to stay bad men. Maybe he had been protecting himself from this coming out when he sent the team after me. Or maybe he enjoyed playing god, I thought. I hated to admit it even to myself, but I didn't trust Simpson. They might be planning my newfound status to give credence to a half assed investigation. I wasn't signing anything involved with this investigation, I decided. We had closure of a sort for the public. They were demanding it. Simpson was going to take statements from everyone who was at the party. And he was going to have me sign off that the right thing was done, He wasn't going to ask the tough questions. They were all going to blame Dan Edwards. He was probably going along since he felt he had nothing to lose. Someone should explain to him about child molesters in prison. So if it was a conspiracy how far did it go, I wondered. Was the ADA involved? Possibly she wanted a deal for sure, but that was normal crap. Simpson would have to be in on it at some level. If it was nothing more than doing a sloppy job to keep his job. I hoped that it was just poor police work, not a dirty department. But Simpson was told to stop checking the parties that had sprung up in the wake of the double homicide. I gave up on the 'What if' scenarios and just went to the lounge to check for trouble. I carried a Tazer along just in case. Nothing happened so I was back in my room by 9PM. exhaustion put me to bed in the early part of the evening. I was awake and out the door for my walk by 7AM. I walked a little faster that morning. Every morning showed some improvement. The particular morning I realized that I wasn't Dependant on the cane any more. It helped me get up and down, but I didn't use it during the walk and since I wasn't stopping at the cafe any more, I didn't need it ... I hadn't stopped there since I decided to fast during the morning and over lunch. My fast, more or less, lasted until 5PM, when I cooked my frozen dinner. I used the cane to get into the shower and again to get out. I was more worried about falling than anything. While I was dressing after the shower, I realized that I was of no practical use to Simpson except as a witness. Probably an unimpeachable one, at least according to him. So that was my position in this investigation. I was the cover. I used them myself all the time, I knew how the chump game was played. I was at the station at 10AM as promised. I got myself a cup of the pretty much, strong enough coffee. After it had been on the burner a while, it was almost as good as my own. I had another hour until Gypsy's sister came in for her interview. I couldn't even remember her name and I didn't care enough to ask. If I was going to be the chump, I was going to get my opinion on record. I decided that this morning while I was walking through the downtown. Just before I left for work I found my old digital recorder. It was a close as you could get to a wire recorder that courts had once used. I could erased this one, but it had blips where ever I made edits, so it would be obvious I had not edited it. I intended to have my own recording of any interview I sat in on. I figured the first time I pulled out the recorder would be my last interview. When Gypsy's sister came I followed Simpson into the small interrogation room. He explained, "Dee you have become a suspect in the case of Jennifer Allen's murder, As such you have the right to an attorney and to consult him before you answer any questions. If you can not afford a lawyer one will be appointed by the courts. Do you understand your rights." "Yes, I understand that I have the right to an attorney, what I don't understand is why I am a suspect," she said. During that exchange I had put the recorder on the table. I waited for Simpson to question me about it, but he never did. "It has come to our attention that you attended that party. Since you told us you never went to one of those things, we have to assume you lied. If you lied about that, it is possible that you lied about everything." Simpson waited for her to speak. He was at the point where silence was more intimidating than anything he could say. I recognized the silence, but I knew that on the recording it would seem to be just a missed opportunity. I stay out of it while she was left to stew. "Alright, I was there the night Jennifer went missing. I was there to baby sit for Gypsy. I did it every time there was a party. At first I took her to my house, then I got involved with Jennifer's father. I was with him the night Jen went missing. I am so sorry I should have been with her she was my responsibility," Dee said. "Yes she was," I said only after it was evident that Simpson wasn't going to say anything else. "You need to tell us all you know about the events of that night." I suggested. "Yes, I wanted too but Gypsy said it would be bad for us. It would look as though she killed her husband, because he was cheating with me. It really wasn't I don't think. They had a terrible fight after Jennifer was missing." "Who killed her?" I asked. "I wasn't there or I would have stopped it. They said Dan Edwards killed her, but I didn't see it." Dee said. "So you really can't be sure. So who was there, who would know," I asked. "You knew Chief Deputy Webster was there, right?" She asked. "So he was in the room when Jennifer was killed?" I asked. "I think so. Like I said I wasn't there myself," she said. She gave us a list of names including the Chief Deputy. After she left the interrogation room, I confronted Simpson, "You son of a bitch. You knew he was there, and were covering for him. In a child murder." I said. I couldn't believe it. "He didn't do it. He was on the patio with one of the other guests," Simpson said. "Then why didn't he come forward?" I asked angrily. "The other guest was another man," Simpson said simply. "Since he gave me his statement and it checked out, I cleared him," "Did you exempt him from giving you the names of the other men and women there," I asked. "Porter you know you can't force them to tell you anything. There was nothing I could charge him with at the time, : Simpson said. "And now," I asked. "Now it appears he was doing meth, as well as dallying with men," Simpson said. "So are you going to do anything," I asked, "I told him I would give him 24 hours to make it right however he wanted to do that," Simposn said. "Everyone who will testify says she was with Dan Edwards last." I said. "As for Gypsy if she hadn't killed him, there would have been a line to do it," I said. "You know if Dan take the fall for her death, the incident has a nice ending to it," Simpson said. "Yeah but I don't believe it for a minute. Once I explain the difference in treatment of a child molester in the state prison system to him, I think he will refuse to take the fall." I paused a long minute holding the recorder. "What made you guys think you could get away with a cover up. And worse, what made you think you could walk it by me?" I asked. "I told Webster you still had principles, but he said everybody had a price. I guess he just didn't find yours," he said. "Not only did he not find it, he insulted my intelligence, while he was searching for it. I knew I didn't deserve and special treatment." I said. "Actually you do. You've done a hell of a job your rookie year and you have the whole summer of that year to go." He said. ------- Chapter 48 I figured the reason Simpson didn't mind the recorder I brought to the interviews was he had a plan to cover his ass as well. He did ask the important question and he let me ask the ones that were risky to his job. What he did was make sure he got the necessary information to make the case, and let me get the information that told us what really happened in that house,. Daddy was high on meth and had Dee in a room somewhere. Several of the people had disappeared into rooms for private parties after smoking the meth. The question was who was left in the room when Jennifer died. Nobody seemed to dispute that it was Dan Edwards in there. I was sure there were others, but we needed to get that from Dan. If he bothered to dispute the charge. "Dan," Simpson said. "We got a lot more to talk about. Looks like everybody is throwing you to the wolves. I guess they figure whats one more death on the list. But my partner here don't see it that way. She wants whoever killed that little girl to pay for it. So you should listen to her." "Dan, I know you are thinking what's one more body tired to me. I'm going to do life anyway. But there is life and there is life. Your lawyer, if she is honest with you, will tell you the hardest time in the joint is done by child molesters. They get beat or raped almost daily. Can you imagine that for the rest of your life. So did you kill Jennifer Allen?" I could see Edwards look at his attorney and then at the table for a while running it over in his mind. "No, she was alive when I left her on the sofa," he said. "Was she injured," I asked. "A little, and she was crying, but she was alive," he said. "So who did it," I asked. "The Reverend Shaw and Bobbie Martin were the only ones left in the living room when I left. That's all I can tell you. What happened to her next, I can't tell you cause I don't know." "The number of people who just didn't see is growing by leaps and bounds," I said disbelieving. "Why would I lie, I put myself there and admit I was high and molested that poor little girl. Why should I put it on the Reverend, if weren't ture." Edwards said. "I suppose that much is true," I told Simpson. "So Edwards, what were you doing that you didn't see what happened to the girl," he said. "My secretary came and got me. She demanded that I come with her right that minute or she was going to leave me there." Dan said. She can testify that she picked me up there," he said. "I didn't have time to dispose of the body." "Okay, but tell me this what was the Reverend doing at that kind of party, He knew it could ruin his reputation," I said. "You are kidding me right?" Edwards asked, "That's enough," Simpson tried to end it there. "No she needs to know. Those kinds of parties have been going on in this country for a hundred years. People have always turned their head. Before there was pot or meth, they got drunk and took their clothes off. Only the big names in politics and finance get invited. Ordinary people don't know. Hell, it's a big deal to get invited." "Oh is that right well I'm new here," I said. "Yeah I know that," the realty developer said. "Take him back to his cell," Simpson said to me. I walked him across the street to the small jail we used as a holding facility. It held the prisoner awaiting that day court hearings, or Drunks overnight until they got before the magistrate's court. If we had a prisoner who couldn't get bail for some reason he moved on to a state holding facility, No one stayed in out holding cells for more than a day. When I returned to the office in the courthouse, the first think on my mind was to ask Simpson, "Did you know about the tradition?" "Nobody knew, but the ones involved. Yeah, there have always been rumors of things like that going on. We all though they were just myths," Simpson said. "Simpson you know this in not going to end well," I said. "Yeah, well you will wear some of the stink, so lets try to keep it to a minimum." he suggested. "Just so we get whoever killed that little girl, you can spin the rest however you want. The Chief Deputy's involvement is going to come out at trial no matter what else happens." I said. "Yeah I know, and so does he. There are a lot of charges that are going to be placed." Simpson said. "Well then we need to go to church, or at least the parsonage." I said. "Yes we do," he said in agreement. "This time we take the handcuffs." We took one of the confiscated cars given to the Sheriff's office by the local judge. There were three that were pool cars and Simpson took one of them. It was a five year old Ford, but it ran well and it still looked good. It looked slightly out of place in the parsonage driveway. The drive was had three luxury cars parking in it. "Damn Simpson religion pays," I said. "It does indeed, but I think the Reverend made his money before he because a man of the cloth." Simpson rang the bell. The man who came to the door wore a priest's collar even though he was Protestant. "I've been expecting you," he said after we introduced ourselves. "Oh why is that?" Simpson asks. "One thing about my calling is that you see lots of weakness. You also see how people fall from grace. Usually it happens when more than one other person knows your sin. That's why it is so hard for you to catch a serial killer. No one to tell his secret." "I see," Simpson said. "You don't mind if I record this do you," I said. "No not at all," the Reverend said. "So, let's start by saying you have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney and to have him present during questioning. If you can not afford one the court will appoint you one. Do you understand these rights. "Oh yes, and I wave my right to an attorney. I need to get this all my chest. It might not seem that way at the moment, but I do believe in God. I believe he sees all and that he punishes the wicked. I'm not sure how much longer I could have waited to come forward," the Reverend said. At that point I almost laughed out loud. I have a feeling he would never have come forward, but I will give it to him he didn't try to bluff us. "I went to the parties because I'm and old man and I enjoyed the thrill of feeling young again. I told myself that no one was being hurt by any of us. And that was true until Mr. Allen started hosting the parties. Then they went from simply looking at the naked bodies of the ladies to more hard core activities. I even managed to convince myself that they were harmless. The night the man brought the hard drugs that all changed. We all went a little crazy. Jennifer was watching porn and she was so pretty and innocent. It started trying to protect her. Then when I saw the vile things she did for those others, I felt she had to be punished. The drug made me think God was telling me to punish her, so I did. I killed her." He sounds way to calm and remorseless to me. But I'm no shrink, I thought "If I had not been with people whose lives would be ruined, I would have come forward sooner but I kept quiet about it." "Who helped you dispose of the body," I asked. "The drug dealer took her body away. I told him to leave her somewhere they could find her. She needed a Christian burial after all." the Reverend said. "Naturally," I said. "Please write that down for us, don't leave out the part about the drug dealer disposing of the body," Simpson said. He passed the notebook to him at his own dining room table. The reverend wrote for a long time, "I wonder, if confession is good for the soul really?" he said. "I have no idea," I replied. "It never did much for me." "A lot of people will be ruined by this," he said. Not to mention a lot who will worry that they will be ruined, I thought. We carried the Reverend to booking and completed the paperwork that put him into the system. He called a lawyer there and had him come down to try to establish bail. As for me, after we dropped the car I checked out for the day. Since the next day was Friday my promise to Monk weighed heavy on my mind. I could call and cancel he would understand that I needed a little more time, but I didn't make the call. Instead I drove my Toyota out to the plaza and picked up a pizza. After all it was just another days work for a small time deputy. I ate two slices of the pizza then put it in the fridge. I figured that I could have cold pizza for a few meals. Well after a snack tonight, one more time anyway. I walked through the lounge around 8PM. I had one of the out of town workers giving Sarah a fit. "Hey you with the attitude, it's time for you to leave," I said. "You taking to me bitch?" he asked. "Yeah as a matter of fact I am," I said showing him my badge. "Oh well officer I got rights," he said. "So do the other patrons here. They have the right to a quiet evening out. Now you are loud and abusive and the more you drink the worse you are going to be. You are going to end up being shown our tiny little jail. So why don't you move on now and avoid the hassle," I explained it all hoping the logic would show him the wisdom of my suggestion. But I also had my hand on the Tazer, just in case he didn't see it my way. "Son she killed a man two weeks ago. If I was you, I would listen to her," one of the other patron said. "She don't look like no killer to me," He said just before he pulled back to punch me. Now I didn't think me body, which was just starting to heal, was ready for another blow, so I pulled the tazer and shot him with it. He did the Saint Vitus Dance for a while. Then he lay still while I used a zip tie on his hands. Damn I hated to call the 911 operator for this but It had to happen. "911 what is your emergency," she said. "This is deputy Porter, I need a car for transport," I said. "I'm in the lounge of the downtown motel." "Roger that," the operator said with a smile in her voice. I spent two hours booking him. I just knew it was a waste of time. But you know tazering the drunk made me feel better somehow. He would pay a find for disturbing the peace and be out of town by tomorrow night. Oh well it was as good a way to kill the time till I fell into bed suffering from exhaustion again. I was exhausted but my mind wouldn't shut down there were just too many people going to jail from such a small county, Our little holding cells were going to be standing room only ... At least we had broke the Jennifer Allen case. The Gypsy Allen case was still a lingering mystery and probably would stay one. I expected that she would dropped her harassment case as soon as she was no longer in danger of being charged with murder. I slipped my hand into my panties and rubbed my clit to the memory of making the movie. I really didn't mind that at all. I just had to prepare myself for the eventual confrontation with the Sheriff. ------- Chapter 49 Friday morning I walked around the downtown before work. I saw Mary Ellen in her shop, but I only waved to her. I wanted to set up another shoot, but I didn't feel up to it at that moment. In addition I still had the stitches in my neck. I would look like the bride of Frankenstein. Maybe that's why Mary Ellen hadn't called. When I got back to the motel, I took a quick shower and prepared for work. I was going in early to be there when the warrants came down. I was sure the ADA had been called. She had probably worked all night getting things ready for the arrests to begin. Boy was I wrong. She took all day to get the arrests warrant issued. It was time for me to go home before they were ready. I waited as long as I could, then I signed out for the weekend. They were planning to meake the arrests over the weekend. All the arraignments were to be Monday morning. Since the Reverend was arraigned on Friday word would fly through the community. Anyone who wanted to run could do so. It was a cluster fuck for sure. There was nothing I could do to stop them. The DA had given anyone who wanted it a chance to run, or to try to get their stories straight. "You know the best part of this?" Simpson asked me. "No what's the best part," I said, "Since that drug dealing slime ball participated in the crime, we get to throw out his deal and charge him with accessory after the fact," he said. "At least he isn't going anywhere. We have him in the state holding facility." "Yeah, we will get him but how about all these, so called, respectable people," I said. "Well we will get the sister for sure, the DA might be convinced to swing for felony murder," Simpson suggested. "Bullshit, the ADA is going to give her a walk, if she agrees to testify. Anyone who didn't have a hand in the abuse is going to plead out," I said. "Yeah, that's the system for you," Simpson said. "Well the system sucks," I said. "And not in a good way," Simpson agreed. I checked out at 4PM, since I started early. It was my last day working half days. I was going to miss that, I thought. When I got home I set about fixing my cold pizza dinner. I decided I needed something healthy with the unhealthy pizza. It occurred to me that I should have a salad. My choice was to drive to the plaza Mcdonald's for take out salad. When I got home I opened the bowl and picked out the carrots. I replaced them with raisins I had laying around. They were way old I was sure I had bought them when I first move in. So I had the take out salad and the cold pizza. It was delicious, even if I had to drink ice tea make from a dry mix. The iced tea formula I devised while I was recovering from the accident. I couldn't drive at first and I didn't feel like walking anywhere. So when I placed the take out grocery list, I had a jar of powdered iced tea with artificial sweetener and fake lemon flavor sent along, I also ordered a bottle of plain tea mix with no sweetener, no lemon, and a box of sweetener in those packets sent along. The formula finally evolved into this; Three tablespoons of the tea with lemon, three tablespoons of the plain tea mix, and three packets of sweetener mixed with water to make two litters of iced tea. It wasn't too awful is the best I could say for it. The cold pizza, take out salad, and chemical iced tea, made for a reasonable meal. I felt pretty good after my dinner. I walked through the lounge just to be sure the loud mouth pipe fitter hadn't come back. Since all was quiet, I went home to call Monk. I was a bit nervous, since I never called men. It was something I just never did. Monk was special since he had saved my life. "So Monk, when do you want your payment," I asked. "Damn Sylvia you were serious, Hell I thought you were kidding me. I'm so sorry but I'm going to a convention of after market producers in Baltimore this weekend." "That's alright, I'll find something or someone else to do this weekend," I said trying not to show my disappointment. "Why don't you come with me. It should be a nice dinner and party after the meetings," he said. "No thanks, I have been to conventions before. They are either deadly boring, or way over the top," I suggested. "This one is supposed to be over the top," he said. "I'm not up to it this weekend, sorry." I suggested. "Well we will try to get together next weekend," he said. "Sure, we'll see," I said. I never knew what kind of mood I would be in from one day to the next, let alone a week in advance, I hung up from talking to Monk and decided to take a walk through the lounge again, As I walked to the lounge I remember why I never called men. There is no rejection quite like a man refusing to have sex with you. I mean men will screw a snake if someone will hold it's head. I was tempted to sit down and have about a dozen drinks but I fought the urge. I didn't need to be seen in my own back yard passed out drunk. I might well be that bad, since my basic insecurities were showing. I thought about it while I drank coffee and realized I needed to go where people wouldn't say no. I needed to go to the dance club, but alas the sex there was too rough. So I went back to my room and masturbated. Then I went to bed and slept until 9AM Saturday morning. It had been almost three weeks since the accident, and I was getting better, I just wasn't completely healed yet. I could sit up for a few hours without too much pain from my ribs. I could lay down in a semi fetal position and not have any pain until I sat up. Trying to get out of bed was still painful for me, but I was getting better all the time. I wondered if I dared risk more damage by having sex. Maybe I could find someone, who would let me be on top. That might work. I know I was becoming obsessed with sex. I had been a long time without it, well a long time for me, One thing I knew for sure was that rough sex was out of the question. I didn't know anyone I could trust not to get rough with me. It called for desperate measures. I just had no idea what they would be. I left my room at 9:30 AM. I decided that I would try a run. I got about half a block and my ribs began to hurt again, so I quit. I continued my same path but I walked it. It hurt even at a walk, but not too badly. Mary Ellen was standing outside her store when I approached. "Well hello there princess how you doing," she said. "I'm healing up pretty well I think, how about you how you and Angel doing, I never did get the chance to thank her, or you either for that matter," I said. "It was the least we could do for out new star," Mary Ellen said. "Star?" I asked. "Oh yes, you and Lamar are a big hit. The visitors to my site had lots of positive comments for you both." Mary Ellen said. "I'm glad to hear it," I said. "So when you going to be up for another?" she asked. "The spirit is willing now, I'm just not sure the body is. I might be up to some careful sex but that wouldn't be very interesting," I said. "If I promised you it wouldn't get rough, would you be willing to meet us tonight?" she said. "You can set it up this quickly?" I asked. "Either tonight or tomorrow for sure. It just depends if my camera crew has a wedding tonight," Mary Ellen said. "Well you go ahead and set it up," I said. "But remember I have broken rips and the stitches are still in my neck." "I think I can handle that, Not to worry about your body aches and blemishes we can work around them," she said. "If you can do that, count me in," I said. "Wear your jeans this time with a top, no bra though," she said. "I am pretty much out of the habit these days," I said. "Good with those small boobs, you don't have much cleavage, but you can show a little nipple," she said. "Right," I said smiling. I was thinking how much could I show under a Kevlar vest and with a shirt and a parka over that. No sense bringing those things up though. "Okay I'll call the camera men and let you know just as soon as I know," Mary Ellen said. "Fair enough," I agreed. Then I continued on my route back to the motel. When I arrived I got the messages off my cell phone. I only had one it was from Simpson. It said to call him at home. "Hello Mrs Simpson this Deputy Porter, your husband left a message for me to call him at home," I said. "Sure hold on a second," She said then went to get him. "Hey Porter, come in uniform Monday, we are going to be on TV," he said. "What do you mean we are going to be on TV, who is we," I asked. "You, me, the ADA, and the Sheriff," Simpson said. "So how about Webster," I asked. "He won't be there, because he is in the wind," Simpson said. "And you are not going to tell how you let a lead go, because he told you too," I suggested. "No, I'm not planning to mention that and I'm hoping you don't either. We got them all Sylvia, we don't need to mention all the missteps," he said. "Oh it's a misstep is it. And the fact that Webster ran the department all during this investigation isn't going to come up. Or that the Sheriff's only concern is getting reelected, He will have to find someone else to run the office for him not. Are you expecting that to be you?" I asked. "Just wear the damn uniform and keep your mouth shut. Your righteous indignation is wearing a little thin," He said. He had no idea how thin it really was. He might find out one day, but I surely hoped not. "Alright just for you," I said. I hung up and remembered what I was planning for that very evening. I wondered if the Sheriff was any worse than me. I knew that Webster was worse only because he let the little girl die, Poor little Jennifer Allen, and then tried to stop us from finding the killer. I almost called Mary Ellen and canceled, but I just couldn't do it. I needed someone to pretend they cared about me. So for a little while I could get lost in that beautiful fog of the orgasm. I was trying to decide how I felt about myself when Mary Ellen called. "Sylvia I was able to find everyone and they are going to meet us at the house. So I'll pick you up at eight," she said. "Fair enough," I said. I remember after she hung up that I wanted to talk to the Boyle brothers about bankrolling her. I thought about the Boyle brother and the others I had been involved with over the last year. By the time Marry Ellen arrived I was more than ready. ------- Chapter 50 Mary Ellen was right on time. She was within a minute of being exactly on time. I walked out to the car in my jeans and a sweater that showed my bony chest. Since it was a very thin and tight material, it also showed my nipple outlined very clearly. I opened the army field jacket and got her approval. She didn't think much of the field jacket, but it would be in the movie shots. It took us about an hour to get out of Warren county and to the house owned by the Boyle brothers. When we arrived the camera men where already in place. Everything was clear between us. They had told Mary Ellen that I had been in to interview them, so there were no secrets. I wasn't upset. I always expected people to let me down, so it didn't bother me at all. "Hello Phil, hello Jeff, hope you guys are well," I said. "Yes Ma'am, we are just fine thank for asking." Phil was obviously worried about me being upset. Or maybe he was nervous about a cop being a porn star. "Good because I'm fine to. It might not have worked out so well, but thats water under the bridge. So it's just another day at the office for me." I said. "Yes ma'am, but you understand we had to do it," he said. "Sure you had to tell Mary Ellen I was looking into it, but it might have turned out differently. Just remember that next time." I informed them. Once I took the field jacket off, I had to take the shoulder rig off as well. I couldn't star in a porno movie with that thing. Well I could but it wouldn't look so good. It was a nice rig I put on the chair and hid it with the field jacket. The maker of the shoulder rig had mailed me an additional interchangeable holster for the .38. It made the .38 easier to hide so it was the weapon I brought along. A small strip of Velcro held the flap and gun in place. I just had to pop that Velcro strip and the gun fell into my hand. It was way simple. "Take off your shoes and put these on," Mary Ellen said. There were hooker shoes she had for me to wear. I got a laugh out of them. "Hey be nice," Mary Ellen said to me. To Angle she said, "Do her make up, over do it as a matter of fact. You know what I want." "So, I'm suppose to be a hooker for this one," I said. "Yes does that bother you. It explains the bandage we just have you say 'Rough trade.'" "Yeah that works for me. So who is the client?" I asked. "He will be here soon," she said. "He called from his cell phone. He is two miles away." "Okay, I can wait." The truth was I didn't want to wait, but I would behave myself. Just as I was beginning to wonder, a car drove up. The man who got out of the car had to be at least seventy. I turned and stared at Mary Ellen. "What?" she asked. "He won't be rough for sure. He will need to be coaxed into it. He is willing, but like you his body is failing to go along with his libido. It will be challenging for you." "Hell, there is a first time for everything," I said. After a moment to think about it, I added, "Well when do we start and where?" "The bedroom here will pass for a hotel room, so we will shoot in there," Mary Ellen said. "Now Phil and Jeff are set up to shoot you two entering. Once you get in, you tell him you want to take care of business first. Ask for the money, you know what to do." "Actually I have worked only one hooker sting, but yeah I know what should be said." "You may have to lead him to say the right things. He has no idea what his part is other than he is a John." Mary said. "For tonight you are going to be Jasmine." "Geese you couldn't get any more cliché could you," I said with a laugh, "Never mind. So who is he." I asked. "Call him Robert," Mary Ellen said. "Now let's go I don't want to be here all night." I met Robert outside the door. "Robert just follow my lead, but you are going to have to improvise," I said. "Okay, I can do that." he sounded a little shaky but het would be okay. When we got inside the bedroom door I said, "Robert honey, we need to take care of business first. Tell me exactly what you want and I'll tell you how much," "I would love to have intercourse with you, but it is really difficult for me to do that," He said. "So you need help getting it up. Is that what you are saying," I asked. "Yes it is," he said. "Well let's see what we can do about that. For a hundred I can promise you that you will fuck me." I said. "That would be great," he agreed. I held out my hand for the camera. Robert went into his pocket and came out with the money. He handed me the bill, and I put it in the pocket of my jeans. Without any warm up I went to my knees in front of him, I worked his flaccid penis out and began to lovingly kiss it. I didn't suck it or even take it into my mouth. I just planted wet kisses on his cock.and I gently massaged it. His penis began to stir. I looked up at him as I continued to stroke his awaking penis. "That is such a nice cock you have there. All that beautiful cock needed was a real woman to worship it. I'm the right woman for the job. You just relax and watch me worship your cock." "Yes please," he said almost in a whine. "Put it in you beautiful mouth for me." "Yes Robert, whatever you want. Just tell me what you want and I'll make it happen." I bend down and took his almost hard penis in my mouth. Just and few minutes of sucking it in and out and he was rock hard. "God how wonderful. Thats the first time in years I have had a hard on. God I want to fuck you so bad." he said. "Take your clothes off and lay back on the bed," I said. I held his cock in my hands when I spoke again. "Next time I'm going to put a cock ring on you so you will stay hard all night. You would like to fuck me all night wouldn't you?" "Oh god yes," he answered. I held his cock in my hands as I worked myself down on him. I could feel the tissue inside me stretch since I hadn't done it this way in a while. I lowered myself on him completely so that is was buried as deep as possible. I could take more if he had it but it would have been painful. I began to rock back and forth massaging his dick as I moved. I heard him moan and knew that he wanted to cum. I decided not to allow it. "Can't waste this beautiful dick, I said as I rocked again." He was going insane when he spoke to me. "God I need to cum. It has been so long I need to cum so bad." "You know I have been sucking your dick, right?' I asked. "Yes," he said. "I have the taste of your dick in my mouth, kiss me," I could tell he wanted to resist. "Give me a wet sloppy kiss and I will allow you to cum." By that time I had slowed down my movement." "He sat up and I leaned forward and he kissed me. It was with a lot of tongue and I loved it. I could feel his cock deep inside me jerk as he kissed me. I felt his cock inside me, even thought it was smaller than most, because it was a different muscles group I used to stroke him. I moved quickly and lost myself in orgasm as I worked him as fast and hard as I could. I came and came even while he was working toward his own orgasm. Suddenly I felt his body stiffen. It was the only way I knew that he had cum. I still felt the need to feel his love for me. I put a finger inside me and let him watch me recover some of his semen. I held my finger which was coated with semen up to his mouth. He opened his mouth and began to suck it. He was an old man, but he seemed much younger as he tried to pull me down for more. I felt a sharp pain as he did. I said, "That is what I promised you. I promised to fuck you and make you cum. I did both. So we are finished," I said. I sat on the side of the bed and slipping into my jeans and pulled the sweater over my head. I got out of that room quickly and into the living room. "Well," Mary Ellen asked him. "Was she worth it." "God you know she was. I would drive three hours anytime to fuck her. She is amazing," he said. "Then I guess our business is through." Mary Ellen said. "Yes, but could I get her number," he said. "That wasn't part of the deal. You get to be in an adult movie and you get a copy of the movie. Just as I promised it will be for sale on my website." she said. "You can have all your kinky friends buy one. They talked a little more and he was gone. I found out during there conversation that she charged him a thousand dollars to be in he movie. I knew that Lamar hadn't have paid anything to be in the movie he made. I waited for Mary Ellen in the living room, She paid off the camera men before she came to me. "Just as I promised no rough sex," she said. "So the stars pay to be in the films," I said disbelievingly. :"Sometimes, sometimes the customer just special order one. I don't do kiddie porn, but I will use a woman who can pass for sixteen and not tell anyone her age. Like my dress shop, I do boutique porn. With a little arm twisting of the actresses to keep them in line," She said. "So what are you paying me for this one," I asked. "You wanted some safe sex and I gave it to you," she said. "Yes and you are going to profit from it, so come up with some cash," I said. "Well, you have Robert's hundred, how about three hundred more. After all, you got to do whatever you wanted to him, He was just what you needed and you know it," "All right three hundred more, but I know I just got screwed twice," I said. "Look at it as a learning experience. Like the whore you just played, you never negotiate after you have been screwed," she said. "Yeah I get that," I said. "I had some one else in mind would would have done it free. She has daddy issues," Mary Ellen said. During the drive home Mary talked to me while Angel slept in the back. "You know I don't get too many women who want to star in adult films, but I get a lot of men who volunteer, Hell I have a ton of names of willing stars on my laptop." "Do these man send you pictures," I asked "Sure and some of them are really of themselves. A lot of them are just playing a part though. They just waste my time," she said. ------- Chapter 51 I gave Mary Ellen's operation some thought, but frankly I was too tried to actually consider what it meant to me. I was tired from living with the constant nagging pain. Then the release of the orgasmic flow of emotions just wiped me out. I stayed awake only because I wanted to be sure Mary Ellen didn't drive off the mountain road. She wasn't a very careful driver. She had control of the car alright, but she tending to let her attention wander. After she dropped me, I hoped that Angel woke up and took care of her. She really had a short attention span, when behind the wheel of a car. I really lost interest in her seconds after I got in the room. I took a tub bath for a change. I soaked and hoped the stench of sex dissolved. I keep nodding off to sleep, so I climbed out of the tub and fell into the warm bed. I sleep better than I had since the accident. My body was still in pain but I was exhausted for the right reason for a change. My sleep had been interrupted by pain since the accident, when I turned in my sleep the pain woke me. That night I must not have moved, because I sleep through till 8AM the next morning. When I awoke that Sunday morning at 8AM I tried to run again and I got a little farther then I had the first time I tried. I switched to a walk, but I did try to run again when I was within sight of the motel. So, all in all, I ran about a tenth of the distance I covered with my morning outing. I felt pretty good about it, even though it was hardly a big deal. I took the day to do nothing. I did some shopping on ebay, but nothing special. I bought some old military items that were surplus on ebay. I couldn't get to the the good surplus stores very easily. The next best thing was to find guys who had and were reselling on ebay. I bought several tee shirts in either small or medium sizes depending on which seemed as though it would fit. One of them was a Russian navy stripped thing, I looked forward to that. Later that day I drove the Toyota to the family style steak house in the plaza. I ordered a steak, a baked potato and a trip to the salad bar. It was after the church crown had gone and before the traditional evening dinner out crowd arrived. It was still too expensive to do regularly, but for a once in a while, 'feel good about me' dinner it was fine. You had to splurge when you did some did something good for someone. It was celebrating doing my good deed for Robert. I spent the evening watching tv shows on line and shopping on ebay. I had been told that I was to report to the detective office Monday, even though I was to be back on full duty. Since that was the case I had planned to return to my squad. I woke up with running in mind or at least walking and a nice shower, I stopped by the Cafe on the Square and got a biscuit to go. It was the most I could afford on a regular basis. I am a bit of a tight wad when it comes to spending money. I wasn't investing it, I was just saving it in my checking account. I have spent way to much the night before on military surplus tee shirts. So I told myself I had to make up for it by skipping restaurant food for a while. After my shower I dressed in my best uniform, and went into work. I drove even though it was a short distance. There were no ceremonial press conferences at 7AM. I knew there wouldn't be, but I was on my squad's roster so I checked in with Sergeant Michaels. "Morning Porter, I was told to you keep you available for a meeting at 9AM, so don't go anywhere," he said. "Yes Sergeant, oh yeah thanks, it's nice to be back," I said. I figured I had earned the right to be a little sarcastic. "Yeah, welcome back," Michaels said. "Glad you are feeling better." "So what's this meeting about all they told me was to wear a uniform," I said. "You know the Sheriff, odds are it's a press conference where he tried to take credit for everything." Michaels said. "Sounds about right for sure," I said. "So what do you want me to do till 9AM?" I asked. "Take one of the broncos and go sit at one of the schools. Then come in at 8:30 sharp. Do not write any tickets," he said. So I drove up to Northeastern High School and sat there showing the colors as it were. I'm sure the halo effect worked well. The halo effect is the fact that people drive better for a few minutes after seeing a cop. I walked back into the station at 8:30 on the dot. "Thank God you are here. The Sheriff has been in here looking for you. I told him you were here and would be back on time. Thanks for not making a liar out of me." Michael said. "Is Simpson looking for me as well?" I asked. "I haven't seen him, so I can't say what he is up to," Michaels said. "Well I guess I should head on up to the conference room," I said. "Yeah, when it is over, you need to go drive the roads up north. Also back up Butch when you can," Michaels said. "Just another day at the office," I said. "You bet," Michaels replied. I stopped by Simpson's office, but he had already gone up. I walked up the stairs rather than fool with the elevator. When I came out of the stairwell on the third floor Simpson was standing outside the conference room. "Well Simpson maybe now you will tell me what to expect," I said. I was a little nervous that the Sheriff had found out something about my personal life. I still figured the odds were on my side. The Internet was a big place and Warren County didn't have that many people looking at porn on it. Even those looking had way too many sites to easily find Mary Ellen's. "So Simpson what are we going to get a raise?" I asked. "Well I might be, but you I doubt. After all you are still a rookie. You haven't completed your first year yet." He said. All of a sudden the Sheriff was walking toward us. He shook Simpson had and asked how he was doing. "Well Sarah, you look like you are doing better," the Sheriff said. "I'm feeling a lot better, but my name is Silvia Porter Sheriff," I said. "I am Sorry Deputy Porter I'm not very good with names," I'll try to get it right when we are on camera." That was code for if I get it wrong, don't you dare correct me in from of the the camera. I was cool with that, since I didn't really care. I figured I was going to get a pat on the back and maybe a 'atta girl' award. I was just here because he wanted to be seen shaking hands with the only female deputy. I waited while the Sheriff made his speech to the news crew. "I called you all here because it is my duty to inform everyone that we have recovered the body of Jennifer Allen. She buried in a shallow grave in the national park and game preserve. That takes up much of Warren County. It was a lot of good police work that led to us being able to give closure to Jennifer's mother and her friends. That good work was done by the two deputies standing beside me. The leads were the direct result of a traffic stop and an attempt on Deputy Pierce's life. The leads were followed up by our own detection Simpson. This investigation not only cleared that little girls murder but led to the charging of several others in Meth ring. It was the excellent work by these two officers that led directly to ten people being charges in Jennifer Allen's Murder, and another five for the production and distribution of Methamphetamine, Both these officers have my personal thanks for their dedication. It also gives me great pleasure to inform Detective Simpson that I am promoting him to the position of Chief Deputy my second in command." There was applause all around and I thought for sure it was over. I would have been happy to go back to patrol. "Also with the new year we are going to be expanding the department. There are going to be some new positions open and Deputy Pierce will play a major role in the reconfiguration of the office. It's my way of saying thanks and keep up the good work." He took time to shake my hand before he shook hands with the press. "What the hell was all that about?" I asked Simpson. "We got some money from the Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Fund. It's part of the war on drugs. So you are part of the expansion the money is funding. We are getting more Deputies and we are going to use them differently." "If you think I am going to work Vice with that jerk Sergeant forget it," I said. "No I don't expect you to work for any of those jerks. What I expect is you to work where I tell you to work. Remember I'm the new Chief Deputy. You can be thankful, I can remember who helped me get here." "So what have you got in mind for me?" I asked. "Who do you get along with out there?" Simpson asked. "I've only worked with three men. Of them I like Reynolds the best. He is all business and he isn't playing politics." I said. "Don't tell anyone, but we are going to have a special detail that works 8P till 4A, Those are prime times for crap to happen but they are also going to do a lot of other things besides just patrol. I want to maximize the usefulness of the deputies. You'll see." he said. "So we have to pass it to know what's in it?" I said. "Something like that. So what do you say, want to work in special operations." "Why not?" I asked rhetorically. "Why not indeed. I'll give some thought to your partner. Reynolds is pretty old, but on the plus side he is in good shape. I think Butch or Learner might be better for this. I'll let you know and keep quiet till I work out the details," he demanded. "Right boss," I said. Damn calling him boss felt really weird. So his reward for being a team player was Webster's job. Mine was to be a spot on a special operations unit being formed with grant money. No it wasn't going to be like a special operations in the military, which I could never have qualified for a position. The police unit called that could be anything from crossing guards, to snipers. I had no idea what it would be called on to do, but I was definitely on board. I went back to my boring old patrol job but I was feeling good. I was back on full duty and if they followed through on their plans I would have a new job soon. It was a lot to keep my mind occupied as I drove the road of northern Warren County. The county seemed to be crime free that Monday. Which only meant I wasn't concentrating on the job at hand but was thinking about the next one. ------- Chapter 52 Spring had come to the mountain, and it was glorious. I have survived the last two months without being involved in any of Mary Ellen's projects. I did pay off the Monk for saving my life, otherwise I had been celibate. How did I do it you asked. Well everybody showed me a lot of love at work and the community seemed to appreciate all that I had done. I guess I didn't need the love of a strange man to justify my existence at that particular time in my life. I was reporting for the new SOU for the very fist night. We finally got the special operations unit up and running. The SOU had lots of things different about it for instance we carried a shotgun and a AR15 police version of the M-16 assault rifle, in the trunks of our cars. If someone had to die in a shootout, the odds that it would be the other guy were better with them than with the S&W .40mm hand gun. We had a lot of discussion about how to organize the Unit with so few resources. There were going to be two permanent members. From the start I was going to be one of them. Some people wanted a more senior deputy, so that he would assume a command position. Others wanted someone young and driven, much like me. They finally settled it with putting the two sergeants, who had platoons in the field in charge of us. We had one sergeant form 8PM till 11PM and a different one from 11PM till 4AM. Our assignments were set by the Chief Deputy. So we never knew what we would be doing on any given night. "I had never worked with Jake Learner, but I had passed him in the halls. I knew that he had a wife and a couple of young children. Why they had chose someone with a young family was probably to bring some maturity to the Unit. At least thats how I saw it at the time. Learner was good looking in the gym rat kind of way. He filled out his uniform nicely I admit, If the Sheriff's office ever needed a face for the posters he would do fine. Hell, he should run for Sheriff, I thought. He would damn sure have a fine campaign poster. Besides being married with the two young children, his mother lived with him. Christ he was the perfect partner, or at least he should be, I thought. Since he had five years on the job, he would be senior office but that wasn't a rank, He was to officer who should have most of the answers. If he couldn't answer, it was up to the duty sergeant. "Hello Sarge," I said. "I'm reporting in the start my first night." "On paper it is a hell of a efficient use of manpower, I have to admit that. So where is your partner?" he asked. "Don't know, I have never worked with him before." I said. "He was on my platoon. He is a good cop. You won't have to worry, if you need him, he will move heaven and earth to be there for you. Only bad thing its he sort of loves himself." "Oh really, how do you mean that. Like vain?" I asked. "Exactly, he will most likely be neater and cleaner than you. I know you aren't going to believe that is possible of a man, but it's true. He will most likely try to convert you to his faith as well. Lots of church invitations and that sort of thing. A bit of a bible thumper, but all in all, he is not much trouble. Since you won't be riding in a car with him, you should be fine." "So what do we have on to do tonight," I asked. "Here he comes why not wait a second so I can do it just one time," the sergeant said. Then to Learner he said, "Hello Jake, you know Deputy Porter?" "Never worked with her, but I hear good things about you Porter," he said. I nodded. I doubted that he heard anything at all, Let alone good ones. "So now that we are both here, what is our assignment tonight." I asked. "From now till midnight stake out the Northwest High School. Seems they have a graffiti problem," the sergeant said. "Yeah I have taken reports there. So why the sudden push the principal didn't want anything done last month." I said. "Well the last round, the perp wrote Principal Evans is a cocksucker. The problem is that it just might be true." The sergeant said. "Why do we stop at midnight," Learner asked. "We want you to swing by and serve a warrant. He gets off work at 11PM so we think he will be home then. It's a failure to appear, so we want you to bring him in. I don't think you will have any trouble, he didn't resist when they arrested him." "Okay, there are only two entrances to the the parking lot at the school. If it is a kid driving up, he has to go in one of them." I said. "What make you think he drives," Jake asked. "The walls he paints have always been near the parking lot. He either drives up, then does a hits and run, or he chose those wall for max exposure or both." I said. "Well it's not to cold tonight, maybe it wont be too miserable out there," Jake said. I hoped it wasn't his way of telling me not to leave the car running for the heater. We went into the parking lot for our cars. We were driving two of the confiscated drug bust cars. He had a Buick and I had a Ford. "501 to 502 ... tack two," Learner said into the radio. "10-4 going to tack two," I switch my radio to what had been the detective unit's frequency. The were going to have more traffic from this moment onward. "I just pulled into the parking lot of the convenience store. I can see any cars that go down the drive to the school from here." Jake said. "Okay I'll pull through the parking lot. Jut to make sure we are clean as of now," I suggested. "Good idea," Jake said. I pulled the beast of a Ford into the parking lot. I couldn't believe that drug dealers drove cars like those my mother drove. The thought of mom dealing drugs struck me as hilarious, and I laughed out loud. I pulled into the parking lot and there was no fresh graffiti anywhere. That being the case I started to leave, but then I noticed a drive way that went behind the building. I pulled into it and found that it was a drive for the dumpster. The pickup man had to service the dumpster. I could sit back there and see anyone who drove in. "502 to 501 do you copy?" I asked. "Go ahead 502," Jake said. "I have found a good hiding spot here. I can see the parking lot but I'm not visible I don't think." I explained. "I would say that one of us will see him, if he comes." he replied. "10-4 on that," I said. So for the next two hours I sat looking at the stupid parking lot. I had no idea how I would keep from going insane from the boredom. Then out of nowhere I saw him. He parked a bicycle and stood in front of the wall. "501 we have a bite. He is a while male approximately 12-14 years old. Blond hair 5' 6" tall 160 dressed in a blue coat with a pirate logo on the back. He is riding a bicycle. We need to get him before he gets on that bike and rides away on the sidewalks here." I said. "10-4 I'm rolling your way now." he said. "Come in hard so he doesn't try to take off on that bike," I said. Jake came into the parking lot on two wheels. He was out of the car before the kid knew what was happening. The kid ran about ten yards, but Jake was all over him. I silently thanked God that Jake was a gym rat. I still wasn't able to run for speed yet. "Kid you got any idea how much trouble you are in," I asked as I patted him down. I zip tied his hands behind him, then seat belted him into the Ford granny car. It was 11pm so we had our first arrest. I was happy about that. "There really is no reason to book him. We can just turn him over to his parents," Jake said. "We could, but we aren't going to," I said. "We need the numbers to keep this unit going." I explained the obvious for him. "Yeah but he is just a kid," Jake said, "One day that kid is going to be a man, Let's help him grow up realizing there are consequences for his actions," I said. "It would be a lot easier on everyone just to turn him over to his parents. We know who he is. There is no reason to go though with the Juvenile booking. They are just going to turn him over to his parents." Jake said. "Well I'll tell you what, let the sergeant make the decision," I said. We booked him at that point. Since it was after midnight by that time, we went straight to the address on the warrant. I knocked on the door since their were lights on upstairs. Jake was out back. The door was opened by a man, who looked as though he was ready for bed. "Could I help you officer?" he asked. "Yes we have a warrant for your arrest, please come with us," I said, "What's this about?" he asked. "Says you failed to appear for a child support case back in November," I said. "The attorney said I didn't need to go. That he had it continued." He said. "Sir I don't know anything about that. I only know you have to come with us," Jake said. "Can I at least get my shoes?' he asked. "Jake, you want to go with him," I asked. "Sure thing, come on Wayne where are they," He asked. I hoped that Jake knew not let him into the closet first, Jake did something right, since it went off without a hitch. He got zip tied just like the kid and seat belted in Jake's car. It took till 3AM to finish the booking of Wayne Waters. When we finished, I said to Jake. "You do know we forgot to eat." "I always carry peanut butter crackers just in case. Let's go get a cup of coffee though." he said. "Fair enough," I said. We went to the waffle house across from the plaza. "God I love this unit so far," I said. "I think we are going to have a problem. That thing with the kid tonight goes against my grain. He isn't going to be helped by time in the detention center." "Come on Jake, you don't know that. You did all you could," I said. "But you didn't do all you could," he said. "I'm not going to give you all the high minded cliche I'm just going to tell you we needed the number. Without the numbers they will shut us down, and I don't want to go back to patrol." "Well, let me just say this, I was not comfortable that my partner wouldn't stand with me," Jake said. "Well my answer is that we are not fishing. It is not up to us to be good sports. It is not okay for us to decide who to catch and release." "Yeah, like I said we are going to have a problem." Jake said. ------- Chapter 53 I drove home at five in the morning, more than a little upset by Learners comments. No I didn't have a lot of forgiveness in my heart. That was the church's Job or maybe even the ADA's job, Cops were supposed to pick up the bad guys. Somebody else had the job of deciding their fate. If he got me bounced from the unit because of this I was going to be pissed. I fell into bed without even taking a shower first. I was tired and my ribs hurt slightly. It was a minor pain, but it was always there. The doctor told me when he released me that, if I couldn't control the pain with OTC drugs, we should consider come kind of therapy. I could deal with the pain with no drugs not even the OTC kind. Even with the pain I fell right asleep and stayed that way until noon. When I woke at noon, I felt great. When I dressed for my morning walk and run, around town, I wore one layer less clothing. Partly because it was later in the day and partly because it was spring, damn it. I took off at a run because I was running more and walking less as I covered my usual route around the downtown. When I got back to the room, I wanted to eat something, but there was nothing in my tiny fridge. There was also nothing in the small cabinet, so I either had to go to the grocery store or to a restaurant. I chose the store. I bought a package of mixed cold cuts and a package of cheese. I also found a bag of flat bread which was about half the calories of regular bread. It was 2PM before I got a sandwich made. Since it was only two more hours to swing shift's roll call, I decided to take a shower, put on the uniform, and go down town for a milk shake. I know, half calorie bread then a milk shake. It would have been worse to have had full calorie break and the milk shake. Because I was going to have the shake either way. The best place in town was a cafe and soda shop off the main street. It was no more than a hole in the wall, but it did have four tables. It was busy and all the table were occupied. I ordered the milk shake and stood to drink it. I saw the old style bulletin board very prominently displayed on a wall. Naturally I went to look. There were cars for sale. There were services of all kinds listed, including repairing that car you just bought from the other notice. It was like a Craig's list in pin up hand written notes... On the bulletin board was a notice of a small efficiency apartment for rent. It was located in the downtown. There was also a picture of old Victorian house. The notice clearly stated they preferred a quiet lady tenant. You could not say that on Craig's list. I didn't have time to think about so rather than call, I went to the office. I was about thirty minutes late for the 3PM start time of that evening patrol shift. I went to the Chief Deputy's office. "Hey there Chief Deputy Simpson," I walked right by his secretary to say it. "Hello Sylvia, how did it go last night," he asked. I figured it was time to see what Learner had said. "It went quite well. We accomplished both tasks you set for us," I said. "I noticed good for you. So you are all set for tonight then?" he asked. "Far as I know," I replied. "I think we are going to make a change," Simpson said. Here it comes I thought either Learner got me bounced. or he asked for a transfer. Either way it wouldn't look good for me. "Oh what kind of change," I asked. "The duty sergeant will give you your assignments for the night, but he won't do any follow up. If you guys need help you can call him, but I think you two can work things out between you," Simpson said. "That's what I thought," I said turning to go. "What does that mean," he asked. "We both know what it means. Work it out or one of you goes. We are not going to babysit you," I said. "Damn you are pretty smart, as well as good looking," he said. "Yeah, I recognize the smell of bullshit," I said. "Good," Simpson said. I didn't try to defend myself because I didn't feel that I needed any defense. I went back home to await the 8PM start of my own shift. While I waited I fumed about Learner. I finally called about the apartment. I loved the idea of living in an old Victorian house. "Hello I'm Deputy Silvia Porter of the Warren County Sheriff's office. I was wondering if you have rented the efficiency apartment in the old Victorian house downtown?" "No as a matter of fact I haven't, are you interested?" The older sounding woman asked. "Yes Ma'am I am interested. I don't know if I can afford it or not," I said. "Why don't you come by and we will have a nice talk about it." she suggested. "Would it be alright if I came by right now. I am on a rather odd shift right now, but I definitely want to see the apartment." I said. I really did want to see it. I liked the motel and all, but I really needed more space. I was accumulating stuff and I needed a place for all the new stuff, "Yes dear, you just come right over. You do know where it is located?' she asked. "Yes Ma'am I have passed it often. It is a gorgeous old house," I said. "I won't rent the apartment till you see it, if you come tonight," she promised. "I live in the downstairs, just knock on the front door. I did just that, I drove right over. The blue haired old lady was a sweetheart. She explained that she livid in the down stairs and a very nice young couple lived in the upstairs apartment. There had been a very nice young lady who lived in the carriage house apartment until last month. "My son wouldn't let me rent it until he had a chance to clean and make some small repairs," she said to me. "I called him right after you called me. He said to do whatever it took to get you to move in. He feels I would be safer, if you lived here. In spite of the fact I have never had a problem of any kind." she said. "Well I'm happy you have never had a problem. Could I see the apartment?" I asked. "Of course here are the keys. The carriage house is at the end of the drive," she said. She allowed me to look alone. It was above a garage though she called it a carriage house. There was a full balcony over the two car garage. I unlocked what had to be the front door. It entered into not the space. It was over half the size of the of the garage below. It had been built as an after thought, so it was two thirds the size of a two car garage. The room was longer than it was wide, but all told it was about the size of my motel. Then there was a bathroom off the small hallway. Behind the bath was a walk in closet that opened into the front room. A very small galley kitchen took up what was left of the space. The kitchen was so small that a bar on the hall side of the kitchen was for dining. I didn't care it was still twice the size of my motel room. And I love the carriage house idea. "So how much," I asked when I got back inside. "I told you my son said do what it takes, so let me till you I last rented it for $350 a month. If you would pay that I would be fine with not raising the rent." How would you like to be paid?" I asked. ... "Well Sergeant how is it going," I asked. "Before you blame Learner for the little lecture you got from the Chief Deputy this afternoon, I went to him with the problem. I want this to work, but I don't have time to settle disputes. Neither does either of the other duty sergeants. Learner is going to get the same briefing, when he comes in." "I got it," I said. When Learner arrived I sat through the second version of the 'get along or get out' speech, Then he told us what our assignment for the night was. It was a basketball game at the Northern High School. We were to monitor the end of the game to make sure tempers didn't flare and people got out of the parking lot okay. Learner and I went to the parking lot "So did you tell him you wanted a change," he asked. "You should know better. I figured you did. After all you are the one with the problem," He started to object then said, "Yes, I guess I am, but I didn't complain." "Yep, but if we don't want to end up back on patrol, we have to find a way to get along. I want you to know there is never a question in my mind that you would come if I called for help. I hope you don't have any concerns that way." I said. "No that never was a question. As for the other, you had every right to question me and not go along blindly." he said. "I'll try being more compassionate, but I don't think that helps," I said with a smile. "I know you don't have the same values as me, and maybe we can work on that," he said. "Let's not go to fast with that" I suggested. There was some pushing and shoving at the door but I let Learner set the tone. I just went along with whatever he decided. It turned out fine, everything got diffused and we didn't come out looking like chumps. I considered it a success. "So what are we going to do now?" I asked. "That was the only scheduled thing, so lets just go on patrol." he said. "Suits me I didn't plan on dogging it anyway. But I do plan to eat tonight," I said. When the call came in that a silent alarm had been tripped at the county office building, I was the closest to the downtown. So I had the front covered when Learner drove up. "I'm going around to the rear. Wait till the patrol officer gets here and we will go in," he said. "Sounds like a plan," I agreed. The regular patrol office arrived about five minutes later. "Me and Learner had it sealed off before anyone had time to do anything." I told him. "Well let's go in then," He said. I followed him in and it turn out to be a nothing call. The alarm had tripped for no reason. It was old and very seldom was it serviced, so failures were likely at any time. The patrol officer for that area was a kid two years younger than me but with a completely different experience set. He was clerk in a grocery store, then community college student and finally he became a deputy. He was wet behind the ears, but he had a nice tight butt. Learner and I were having coffee instead of breakfast when I said, "Damn that patrol deputy had a nice tight butt." I said. "I can't believe you said that and didn't mention my butt," Learner said. "Learner your butt is married," I said. ------- Chapter 54 I returmed home again about 5AM. I fell into bed with work stink all over me. I fell asleep thinking about all I had to do to get ready for the move. First of course I had to tell Jennifer that I was leaving. I didn't think that a motel would require any notice. I was paid up till Sunday so I could use the weekend to move. I decided that much before I fell asleep. When I woke it was noon, so I dressed in my running outfit, which was no more than a pair of fleece lined pants and a sweat shirt pulled over the tee shirt I slept in. I did pull on a light weight parka usually worn over a pistol. I skipped the pistol on my run that day, as I did most days. I did slide the box opener into the pocket of the parka. Anyone who grabbed me from behind was in for a big assed surprise. I had already decided to tell Jennifer that I was moving, when I returned to the motel. Toward the end of my run, I stopped by Mary Ellen's shop. "Hello there chick," I said to her. "Hello Sylvia," she said. I could see that there were women looking at clothes and Angel tell them all how great they looked. No matter how they really looked. "I just stopped by to give you this," It was a small index card with my new address hand written on it. It gave the house number then said under that it's the Garage Apartment at the end of the drive way. She looked carefully at it then said, "Thanks Sylvia, I have been thinking about you. I'll give you a call on you cell sometime soon." "Okay, but I'm going to be moving this weekend," I said. Then I turned to the door and literally ran away. It felt good to finally begin to prepare for a move. I didn't realize how much I wanted a place of my own, Telling people I had a new place, made the whole thing finally seem real. "Jennifer, I need to talk to you," I said upon my return to the motel. "Sure Sylvia, you need more towels or something?" she asked. "No Jennifer, I'm going to move," I said hanging my head a little. "Oh hell honey, don't feel bad. You were here longer than I expected. You have been here almost eight months, How are you fixed for towel and stuff?" she asked. "I don't have anything," I said. "Well if you don't mind motel towels, I have bought new ones. You can have as many as you want of the ones you are using now," She said. "Damn that's nice of you," I said. "You're welcome, now don't you be a stranger hear. I know Sarah in the lounge will want you to stop buy there. She is always telling me you make the place feel safer." "I will do it, and thanks" I said. "You are welcome honey," Jennifer said. I was back in my room five minutes later making lists of things I needed to do, and things I needed to buy. The apartment came with appliances, but thats all the kitchen had. It was empty other than a stove, refrigerator, and plumbing fixture from the twenties. Before I got anything done it was time for dinner. I microwaved a TV dinner. I quickly added microwave to my list of things I needed. I had a thought which made me laugh. I screwed a seventy year old men for a bunch of small kitchen appliances. I actually did laugh out loud at the thought, After dinner I had time to go to ebay to look up things. I had no plan to buy anything big but it was nice to use them as a price guide. To give me an idea if I was paying too much for something. I also used Walmart on line for that as well. I planned to buy some things from Walmart on line and make one trip into Dobson for them all. I had towels and wash cloths from the motel but I needed sheets and blankets from Walmart. I had so much to do before I could move, but first I had to go to work. Learner and I were assigned to track down a meth lab that had set up to replace the one I helped to shut down. So we drove all over the county talking to people about strange smells or lots of coming and going from old farms or abandoned houses, We got nowhere by midnight. From midnight till four we checked up and down the roads for anything out of the ordinary. We had to fill in on a warrant being served in the middle of the night. We searched a two story house for the man who was supposed to be living there. We came up empty. The whole damn night was a waste. Learner and I met for coffee before we checked out. It was 3AM so close to the end of shift. "So it's almost the weekend what you planning?" he asked. "I'm got to move. I just rented an apartment, I am going to be busy with that." "Ah I see, I bet you have a lot of shit to move," he said. "No, that's my problem I have nothing. I have to buy literally everything. I'm going to spend all day tomorrow turning on utilities then trying to find somewhere to buy everything I need," I said. "So you like to shop," Learner asked. "Not at all," I said smiling. "I'm just not organized." "Okay today is Thursday, turn on your utilities so you have heat and water first thing," he said. "Okay that makes sense," I said. "Our shift ends Friday morning, so go home get a few hours sleep, then go to the Walmart in Dobson. You can buy linens, pots and pan, ect there. You can get your small appliances that you just have to have there as well. I'm sure you want a microwave so get it at the same time." "So far it's what I had planned, but I will be out of plans at that point." I said. I have no idea where to buy furniture." "Saturday morning at 9AM be outside your motel and ready to go. My wife and I will pick you up for a trip to the areas biggest yard sale. I will be in my extra large pickup that everyone laughed at me for buying." he said. "Shouldn't you at least call your wife?" I asked. "No, Rachel is always ready to go shopping for bargains. So just be outside with your list," Jake said. "Besides, I'll make sure tomorrow. We still have to get through tomorrow night." I went home and fell into bed. I fell asleep while making plans to work on getting things done. I knew I had to start being organized the very next day to get it all done by Sunday. Thats where my mind shut down. I slept through the night, something I seldom did since the accident. When I woke it was almost noon, but I went to run anyway. Since I had run almost all the way the day before, I thought of it as my run again. I was worn out when I got back to my room, but I smelled so badly I took a shower immediately. When I finished I put on my jeans and the new Russian Navy tee shirt that had arrive in the mail the day before. Yeah, if I were a clean freak, I would have laundered it first but I didn't bother. The blue horizontal strips accentuated my chest. Especially since I wasn't designed for a woman. I could see the outline of my nipples so I made a note to wear a vest of some kind with it. I had some heavy duty shirts I had bought which were too big so I cut the sleeves out to make redneck vests. I could wear one of those I supposed. The sun was shining, even though it was a little chilly, so I wore the redneck vest over the naked looking tee shirt. I didn't have to turn the water on since it was part of the rent. I did have to turn on the electricity, but that was a phone call from my cell phone to give them my credit card number for the deposit. The gas company was exactly the same procedure. Both places told me the utilities were already on, I had just made sure they stayed on, by putting up the deposit. I could have skipped the deposits, if I had a previous account with anyone. Since I didn't, the combined deposits were $150. I was putting quit a dent in my 'screw for kitchen appliances' fund. If I only counted the money for the 70 year old man, I had used up almost half of it. Fortunately I also had the Five hundred from the Lamar movie. So I wouldn't have to go into my Warren County Salary savings for a while. I had taken care of the utilities early, so I easily had time to have the cable turned on and order their Internet access. I did have to run over in the afternoon the installer to meet and have the Internet hooked up. I had been using the motel's wifi previously. Anyway it was all done before I had to cook my dinner and then get ready for work. The next step was the accumulation of things. God how I hated shopping. The next days shopping was going to be for soft things. I divided the items into soft and hard things. I needed to run down to the plaza and over to Walmart in Dobson for soft things. "Well you two, we are assigning you to help the detective unit. We want you to sit on a couple of guys tonight. The two of them are selling drugs and running that meth lab we are looking for now. So pick them up and follow them, see if they lead you to it." the sergeant.said. "Are you sure they took over the meth business," Learner asked. "It don't matter none, you just tail them Jake. Don't get spotted, it might get hairy if you do. They guys have a lot to lose." the sergeant added. I had the owner of an Internet Cafe in the poorer side of County Seat. A white girl was going to stick out like a sore thumb there. I found out from the new detective that he drove a new red Chevy. I was dressed like a homeless woman, some people thought I always was. I had run by the motel to change. So a street person, carrying a shopping bag, walked behind his car and dropped the shopping bag. Installing the GPS tracker was a breeze. I was told there was a warrant for all that we were doing. So I didn't much care what I did. I returned to my car and waited for him to close the cafe. The car moved at 10PM, so I assumed the place closed around that time. I followed along behind him totally out of sight. The only thing was I would have missed anyone who jumped in at a stoplight. The tracker showed him going home, and the car didn't move before my shift ended. I didn't even get my coffee that night. I really need to find a way to take better care of myself on this shift, I thought. I met Learner in the parking lot. He was carrying his rifle and shotgun, I had mine as well. Walking through the parking lat side by side with a riot gun in one hand and the AR15 in the other, we would have made a hell of a movie poster, I thought at the time. "So, my wife said she would love to meet you," Learner said. "You called her on the phone from the stakeout to ask, didn't you?" I asked. "Sure, whats wrong with that?" he asked. "Nothing, it's just easier to get away with it that way. I mean in case she doesn't want to meet your new partner." "Stop worrying," he ended the conversation. ------- Chapter 55 Since I woke up at 10AM, after only five hours sleep, I felt like crap during my morning run. I really was exhausted when I got back to the room. I found that the maid had left a half dozen towels and wash cloths on the bed for me. I assumed they were for the new apartment. I had done my research on line. I found that a Twin mattress was 38" wide. That was entirely too wide for a sofa seat in my opinion. So I decided I would make my own mattress. I had slept in a lot worse things than anything I could build. I had slept on small pads on the ground and narrow bunks in the government housing units in the military. It made me sleep in one spot without a lot of twist and turns. I knew there had to be a place that would cut me a piece of foam, so I went to a small fabric shop first. They had two foot wide pieces of foam in rolls. Getting a 4" thick piece cut 6ft long was no problem. I could even get it rolled and into the trunk of the Toyota. Since I had the whole back seat as well as the passenger seat to fill, I went from the fabric shop in Dobson to the Walmart in Dobson. In the parking lot I looked at my list and tried to decide which things I could find in a yard sale. I removed all the furniture items from the list as well as the dishes. I did leave the flatware on the list. Pots and pan remained, as did sheets and blankets. Once I started shopping I saw pillows cheap. I bought them on the spot along with two flat sheets and pillow cases. I figured I could alway lay the pad on the floor for now. I had slept on a damn site worse things. Then I headed to kitchen supplies, but on the way I passed the rubber maid storage boxes. They had one they guaranteed you could stand on. It was 24" long and 12" wide across the top. The bottom was only 8" wide. The whole thing was 16" deep.six of them would be perfect, almost. I could get them in the Toyota trunk but they would cost me almost a hundred bucks. I decided to come back another day, if there was nothing like them at the yard sale. In the kitchen area I bought my flatware and my pots and pans. The most expensive thing I bought, was the cheapest microwave and TV they had for a little over a hundred bucks each. After I checked out my 'screw for appliances' money was over half gone, that included the Lamar movie money. The next days yard sale needed to be cheap. I had less than two grand in the bank from my salary. I hadn't spent much of my salary, over the eight months so I still had that. I wanted to keep it for car expenses, since the Toyota had been used when I bought it. Unlike the Motel the distance from the Victorian house to the station was a little farther than a comfortable walk, so I needed a car. I got back home after a skipped lunch, so I had a cup of old coffee and a pack of crackers to make up for the missed meal. It was only a few hours till dinner anyway. I spent the time working on my computer researching the price things. I was freaking over the price of the small things I would need. I hadn't even thought to buy a shower curtain, it was things like that, which were going to eat up the money. Then I remembered, I hadn't seen a shower in the tub. The tub was free standing in the middle of the bathroom. The pipes were exposed and I just couldn't remember seeing a shower. That didn't mean there wasn't a shower, just that I didn't remember seeing one ... Why hadn't i thought to check it out. Since it wasn't too late, I decided to drive over to the apartment and drop off the items I had bought and check the shower. The stairs where tricky as hell to maneuver in the dark. Especially carrying a load that made seeing hard. When I finally got inside, I dropped the foam pad and went to the bathroom. I had a great pedestal sink a classic toilet and a free standing claw foot tub with no shower. "Son of a bitch," I said aloud. I walked out of the bathroom shaking my head. I went into the kitchen to drop off the microwave. Then I realized I didn't even know it the microwave would work in the hundred plus year old wiring, The fuse box had been upgraded to circuit breakers, so maybe it would work. I wanted to check the floor furnace outside the bathroom before I left. It came on a couple of minutes after I demanded heat, so that was a good sign, I left the thermostat set at sixty to keep the pipes from freezing. Which reminded me to check the pipes. Everything worked including the hot water, so it was time to get out before I got any more disappoints. On the way back to the motel I racked my brain trying to figure how I would manage to wash my hair that had grown out about a half inch since the head shaving incident. I came up empty on my own, so I decided to check it out on the Internet. A search revealed there was a rubber hose that fit on the faucet. It had a spray head on it, similar to a shower head. The whole thing just slipped on and off the faucet. It was cheap, it was Ideal. To make the hose reach, I would need to be seating in the tub. I could get the best of a soak and a shower, so it seemed ideal to me. A man might not like it, but I loved the idea. I ordered one on line immediately. I gave my new address for delivery. That was my first change of address notification. I went to bed shortly after I ordered the hand held shower attachment. I fell asleep thinking about how to make a short shower curtain to fit inside the claw foot tub. I fell asleep without coming up with an answer. For the second night in a row, I slept only a few hours. I was looking out my front window when Learner pulled into the parking lot in his long bed pick up truck with a crew cab. That son of a bitch was every bit as long as a stretch limo. I could not believe it, but I went out to his truck with my list. "Hello I'm Sylvia," I said to Rachel Learner. She was a petite redhead with that ivory complexion. It convince me the red hair was real. "Hi, I'm Jake's wife Rachel. He tells me we get to shop the giant yard sale for furniture for you. That is so cool,"she said. She was obviously the big talker of the pair. "Yes, if Jake will stop at the ATM of the downtown branch bank?" I said. "Sure I will, we have all day.," he said. The giant yard sale was really a flea market. It covered probably a couple of acres so there was a little of everything. I passed by a lot of things like lawn mowers before I came to a lady selling household items. She had lots of mismatched dishes. I found four plates that would look good together in any combination, so I bought those. She also had some restaurant cereal bowls with the blue strip. I bought four of those as well. Then there were four plain white saucers I added those to the pile. I added two restaurant ware cups as well. I had a couple of coffee cups already. "So how much?" I asked when I had the pile assembled. "$14 dollars," she said. "I was thinking more like $10." I said She came back with, "$12," "Sorry I wasted your time," I said and turned to go. "Alright $10, but only because I got so much restaurant ware." she said. I gave her a ten dollar bill and we moved on. I found a little table whose top was made from a piece of wood from an old barn. It was just clear coated, not stained at all. The legs were store bought which was a problem for it. I bought it for $15. Jake carried it as we moved on down the line of vendors. We came to a man selling used storage boxes. They were larger than the rubber maid ones but not quite so sturdy. I asked him, "Could I sit on one of them please." "Sure why, not they seem to be pretty sturdy," he said. They did indeed seem to be pretty sturdy. I don't think I would stand on one of them, but my full weight would be spread over five of them at least. "So how much," I asked. "These things sell for $19 each at Walmart so how about $10," he said. "At Walmart they are name brand and new, These are not name brands and they are used, how about five for $35?" "Make if forty and you got a deal," he said. I was the one who blinked, so I gave him the forty bucks. We carried them back to the car. Learner and his wife thought I was crazy but I didn't care. We went back out to the sales area again to shop some more. I found two nice old wooden chairs that I could use at the bar in the kitchen. Finally I found an office chair on wheels for the living room and six plastic blocks, which were made to look like glass blocks. They were a foot in each direction. I even bought a couple of lamps one of which was very light and made to hang from it's cord light a chandelier. It had a pull switch, a green poker shade, and plugged into the wall outlet. We were walking back to the car when I saw the four light stands from a photo studio that had gone under. They were old and heavy as hell. I bought them immediately with very little haggling. "You have the worst mish, mash of thing I have ever seen." Rachel said with a laugh once we were back at the truck. "I know I have just spent a lot of money on things that make absolutely no sense at all." I said. 'Well if you are finished for today, lets get you home and see how this all looks. I have always wanted to see what that place looks like up close. You did know that you are going to be living in what used to be the town doctor's home and office." Rachel said. "No, I'm going to be living above the doctor's carriage house. Yes let's go see where I stand." I agreed. Rachel loved to put things together as much as I did. She sent Jake off to the hardware store to get a couple of shelves cut. She and I stayed to arrange the furniture. We put the five boxes together, then she wrapped the foam rubber pad in one of the solid navy blue sheets. The weight and texture of the foam would hold the sheet in place. The blanket and top sheet went in one of the boxes. I just lifted the pad opened the box to get my sleep bedding out. "If you can sleep on something this narrow, you should be quite comfortable," Rachel said after trying it out. We put one of the small table at the end of the bed with a lamp on it. It was a few inches higher but it seemed to work fine. The office chair filled one of the other spaces. There was still a lot of empty space in the common room, as I thought of it. I carried the light stands into the bathroom. I planned to run a cable around the tub suspending on the light stands. I could use towels from the motel as a shower curtain. "The place is cute as all get out," Rachel said. "I can't believe how well it came together. There is even a hook over the little counter in the kitchen to hang your poker lamp." When Jake came back I used the plastic blocks and the raw wood to build a bookcase for the TV. He had managed to have a 12' board cut into three 4' lengths so that the was no waste. ------- Chapter 56 I woke up Sunday morning with running on my mind. I didn't want to do it. I knew that one skipped day led to the next ect, so out the door I went at 10AM. I ran the full route, I noted a lot of stores along the way were closed. It was kind of nice to see that on a Sunday morning, it made for a kind of sleepy little hometown feeling, Half way through the run I got to thinking about towels. I had enough to make the curtain, but nothing to dry my body with if I did. So I decided to ask for two more when I got back to the motel. Back at the motel I found there was a cute little smart car sitting in front of my room. Inside the car was Rachel all dressed up. On her way to church no doubt, I thought, "Hello Rachel, what bring you here so early," I asked. "I went by your apartment but I didn't see your car, so I took a chance and came here," she said. "Well you found me, good detective work," I said. "I came to see if you would like to go to church with Jake and me?" she asked. "To be honest I'm not much of a fan of the whole religion thing. I do appreciate the thought though." She looked really disappointed so I added. "I do hope we can all be friends." "Of course, and the invitation is always good," she said, She smiled and started her car. "I still want to see that apartment, when you get it finished." "Probably be the end of summer," I said with a laugh. After Rachel left I went in see the weekend manager's office. "Hi there, Jennifer said I could have some of the old towels she had replaced," I said. "Sure she told several people that. How many do you need," the manager asked. "Four towels would be great, if you can spare them," I said. "Oh we have more than enough to give you four. I hear you are leaving us?" she asked. "Yes today is my last day. I am headed back to pack up the car now. I should be clear by noon," I replied. "I hate to see you go," she said. She got me the towels, then watched me walk away. When I got to the apartment, I was still working out the details. I needed one of those little step stools for inside the tub. Plastic would be my preference. I needed some clothes line to hang the towels on and some clothes pens to keep them up. That should easily do the shower curtain. I really didn't need all that till the hose came, and that wouldn't be for several days. I supposed that until it came, I would be using one of the plastic throw away cups. Those came from the motel room, along with a package of throw away plates. By the time everything opened, I had a list which included dish washing detergent, sponges and toilet paper among other things. I kept adding thing until it because obvious that another trip to Walmart was in order. I also added some food items as I need peanut butter and coffee for sure, I left Walmart with several bags and a smaller bank balance. It had to be done, but I was about finished, I hoped. I still needed one more piece of furniture, so the common room didn't look so empty. Screw it, I thought, and went back inside. I bought a fifty dollar steel and pressed work desk and a Lamp for the desk. It came in a box that was almost too heavy for me, but I managed. I spent the afternoon putting the desk together. After dinner I begin getting ready for work. I planned an hour to soak in the tub. When the first forty-five minutes were up, the soak felt so good I didn't want to sit up. I forced myself up to sit up and wash my hair, such as it was. I soaped my hair and bent over to pour water through it in order to rinse the soap out. I didn't get water everywhere as I had feared that I might. I found that the system worked just fine. Also that I really didn't need the complicated system I had planned. Since the hose had only been eight bucks, I decided to store it for a while. I just wouldn't bother with all that shower curtain nonsense. I could control the water coming out of the plastic cup just fine. I was ready for work well before 8PM, but I had a problem. Someone had blocked my car in. I went to the neighbor and told him I had to work to please move his car. He started to make a protest, then I think he realized the uniform wasn't a security guard. A light seemed to go on behind his eyes. "Sure no problem officer. We probably need to work out a parking strategy," He said. "Tell me what is convenient for you, just so that in the end I can get my car out to go to work," I said. "Tell you what, I'll go back to parking on the street. I can tell my wife and she will do the same.," he said. "Yes it would be great, if I could get somewhere near the rear of the building at 5AM, since that is when I finish my shift," I said. I had always driven into work in my uniform, but I was beginning to consider leaving the uniform at the station. This new job required me to be in plain clothes now and then, Well I wouldn't be changing how I dressed for work that night for sure. I was already cutting it to close. The drive to the station was a real pain in the ass. At eight the downtown was pretty empty but the few people on the road were idiots. I parked in the parking lot near the courthouse. Then went into the basement entrance, which was also the Sheriff's department entrance. "Well Sergeant Michaels, we meet again," I said. "Porter, I expect you to make me proud. I signed off on this, even though there are people with more time on the job who wanted it," "Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said. If Michaels cut me a break, someone leaned on him, but I didn't care. I had the assignment and I wasn't planning on leaving it. "So how's the new place?" Jake asked as he entered the Duty Sergeant's Office. "I haven't slept in it yet, but I think it is going to be fine. When I go back at five in the morning, it will be my first night there." I said "Cool," Jake said. "Rachel wants a tour, when you feel it is complete. I'm glad she likes you. She usually doesn't like cops." "I'll keep that in mind," I said with a smile. "Tell her, neither do I, like cops that is." "If you two are finished with your conversation, you need to get to work. Find your drug dealer and follow him till your shift is over," Michaels demanded. "Right you are sergeant. I'll need to swing by and get some plain clothes," I said. "You need to keep something here for a while," the sergeant said. "I was thinking that too," I said. I stopped by the house and put on jean and a redneck vest under my parka. I figured if I needed to I could go several ways with that outfit, I carried the uniform I took off back to the station with me. It hadn't had time to develop a stink yet, I thought. I went by the Internet cafe and the beeping started long before I pulled into the parking lot across the street. I chose an auto repair shop which was closed for the night. A car that didn't move wouldn't be all that suspicious parked there. I ran every scenario possible for the stakeout. Most ended with me losing him, or him going straight home again. Stakeouts were dull and unproductive usually, I remembered that from the Air Force. Once I had staked out a warehouse, where parts had been going missing. It took three weeks and in the end the guy got caught taking the parts out in his lunch box, or something equally simple. I was bored sitting in the car looking at his car sitting in the parking lot across the street. I suddenly remembered my last adventure with Mary Ellen. Unbelievable as it seemed, I got turned on. In spite of knowing better I unzipped my jeans and quickly masturbated. I had only one orgasm and it had been very quick. I wasn't out of touch more than a second for sure. When I came back to the real world the cafe owner was closing for the night. I saw him get in his car and then pull away. I let him get a block ahead of me, then pulled out of the lot. I followed along behind him for a mile, then he made a turn away from his home. It was 10PM and he was not going home. I decided that it could be woman, but it just as likely be the drug lab which was the destination. I stayed a block or more behind him as he swung deeper into the country. "501 this is 502 tac 2," I said. "501 on tac 2 go ahead," Jake said, "Party is on the move out in the country," I said. "Is your's moving?" "Negative he has gone home for the evening and is still inside," Jake said. "10-4," I said as I continued to watch the blip move down county roads. I watched him as he doubled back on himself. It was just luck that far enough behind so that I had time to pull into a citizen's driveway, as he passed. What he had done was drive past his destination, then double back so that he would have passed anyone following him. I just got lucky to find a drive at the right time. The man pulled his car into the drive of a house hidden behind overgrown shrubs. I parked my car down the road a ways and walked back. I walked down the drive and found a house hidden behind the over grown bushes. The house didn't seem to be occupied, but obviously it was. I noted the address and walked back out to the road. I made it to my car without anyone noticing me. "501 this is 502, I'm going to the station for coffee." I said. I hoped that Jake knew that I wanted him to meet me. "10-4 502 I'll meet you there," Jake said. I waited for him in the parking lot of the station. "What's up?" he asked me. "I followed him to what looks like an abandoned house. I didn't want to risk a close examination of it. I think it's our lab. So what do you want to do." "It's your find, why are you asking me," he said almost resentfully. "No, it is a SOU operation. So who do we tell Michaels, or Detective Flatiron, or maybe the vice sergeant?" I asked. "Let's follow it up the chain. The midnight sergeant is coming on now. He will be the one who has to make the decisions," Jake said. "Okay let's go get it done then," I said. We went in and Jake held back and let me fill the sergeant in on my find. "So you think the house is abandoned, let me check something." The sergeant had the address run though the computer system. "Well it's an empty foreclosure, so odds are you have it just right. I'll get in touch with the Chief Deputy to see what he wants to do. Most likely he will want to hold off until he can set up a raid with the SBI." "Okay, they aren't going anywhere tonight," I said. ------- Chapter 57 The next day I tried to find a place to run that I felt had some interesting things along the way. On the downtown run, not only did I look for stray animals, I looked at the back doors of business as I ran by. The Victorian house was three blocks from the edge of downtown and ten blocks from the center of town where I had run the day before. So I would be adding twenty blocks to my run if I went there. Not something I wanted to do. So I ran the three blocks of full blown residential area, and then the mixed ten block to the downtown area. I found my fifteen minute for the run outward was up. I had to turn around to keep my run down to roughly thirty minutes. I had gotten a late start on my run because I overslept. It was 2PM when I ran that Monday afternoon. I got back home about 2:45 since I stopped to talk to my landlady. She wanted to apologize for the other tenant. "They know better than to park in the drive," she said. "I'm glad we got it settled, since I have to leave for work at 8PM and return at 5AM. I"m not really in any mood to argue at that time of the morning," I said. "I can imagine," she agreed. Once I got inside the apartment I folded the blanket and top sheet, then put them in one of the storage boxes. I straightened out the sheet with which Rachel had managed to cover my raw foam. Then I tossed the pillows against the wall and it looked almost like a living room. I went into the kitchen to fix a bowl of cereal. It was a new day, in my new apartment, so I celebrated with cereal for breakfast. I had no room to store milk in my motel refrigerator. I had bran flakes with raisins and honey. It was delicious with my day old coffee. So much so that I had another bowl. It was time for my computer and some stupid TV shows. Ones I would have never taken the time to watch ordinarily. Lots of reality nonsense and a little drama, mostly mystery and some period pieces. I really didn't mind because it occupied my mind. I ate dinner about six and then got ready for work, I had left my uniform in the rescued lockers from the old high school. It was actually two lockers, with two different combination locks. I stored my AR15 and my riot shotgun in one and my uniform in the other, The accident that put me in the hospital taught me to wear my vest home. One just never knew. It came off, when I came in, and went on over my tee when I next left for work. One Just never knew when she might need it. I had learned that on a Sunday morning not long before... So after my bath, I put on jeans, a gray tee shirt, my vest, and one of the new camouflage shirts over them all. When I walked out of the front door and down the stairs I wore the parka over the outfit, not that I needed it at that time, but it would be a bit colder at 5AM. It also covered my .38 which I now considered my off duty piece. I arranged to arrive at least fifteen minutes early, so that I could go into the large ladies room to dress. When I came out, I had ten minutes to wait before Jake Learner came into the station. "So let's go see what is happening," I asked. "Sergeant Michaels, and Agent Mission of the SBI, how nice to see you both," I said. "Why thank you. I should have known you would be involved. Seems every time I come up here, it is to work with you Porter," she said. "She can't help being a super cop," Leaner said with only a slight edge in his voice. "I'm sure she can tell you that sometimes there is a price to pay," Mission said. "So what's tonight's assignment," I said. "Tonight it's a walk through the woods first, then after you do a good recon of that house, we set up our raid," Michaels said. "Works for me," I agreed. Michaels threw a pair of one piece black fatigues at me, and another at Learner. "Leave these here after the recon," he said. I nodded my agreement. I drove them in the four door Ford of mine, out into the country. When I got close I explained that I could drop the two of them off, then leave the car somewhere and walk back. That's what we decided. I took the Ford on down the road till I came to an old closed store. I left the Ford and began hiking back to the spot where I left the two of them. We need to circle around and come up on it from the rear. My target will be closing his Internet cafe soon so we need to be in place. The residences sat on deep lots and they all had dogs. So of course we set them off. I felt that I could find he house, if was went deeper into the woods. I was risking getting lost, but we had to do something. We walked parallel to the road for about two hundred yards then, went toward the road to check our location. We needed to travel on about another twenty yards I figured. Sure as hell, when I went to check, I was looking into the back door about thirty yards away. The night vision scope gave a very detailed view of the house. The only thing is that it was a green image. I couldn't tell whether there was anyone inside or not. I let Agent Mission look through the night vision scope to get a feel for the place. She brought out her own night vision device. Her's was thermal images. The building was occupied. One man and a heat source that was probably used for the cooking. We walked back to the road. I have Jake the keys and let him go retrieve the car. Mission and I sat down against a tree and waited. "How do you like the Sheriff's Department?" she asked. "Why? you gonna offer me a job," I asked. "Maybe," she said. "If I were, would you be interested in listening?" "I don't think so, I kind of got settled in here." I wondered if they weren't trying to move me out of Warren Country. I still had memories of subtle hints that I might want to consider somewhere else to police. It had been a nice quiet little place, where everyone could get along, before I came along. Now Warren County was becoming a hostile environment for the bad guys. She didn't try to convince me to go along with the SBI invitation, which told me it wasn't a real offer. I expected that it would be apply and I'll put in a word for you, kind of thing. I couldn't quite figure it all out and that bothered me some. I could usually scheme with the best of them. We rode back to the station without too much more discussion. I really wanted some coffee after that walk through the woods. The station coffee pot was empty, so I settled for a Coke. I was in the break room with three hours of our tour to go, when the sergeant came to get me. "Time to go to work Porter," he said. I finished my Coke quickly and headed into his office. The Duty Sargent at the time had changed, since the shift had changed. "I was told by the Chief Deputy to give you anything you wanted. So what do you need?" He asked Mission. "I think if we have Porter, Learner and your two other deputies, who are on patrol, and you, it will be enough." She said. "That's pretty much the whole department," the Duty Sergeant said. "I can have the calls covered by the state highway patrol," Mission volunteered. "If you will release the two back to patrol quickly, we can go with that," he said. "Sure, we can keep you SOU guys around," she said. Learner and I waited around till they brought in the patrol guys and briefed them. So by the time we were ready to go out, we were within ten minutes of ending out shift. So much for ending on time," I thought. "Learner, Mission and me rode in the Ford. The two Patrol Deputies and the Duty Sergeant rode out in tow patrol cars. When we got close, agent Mission took my radio and asked if everyone was ready. The word came that they were. Learner and my assignment was the rear of the house. The others were going to hit the front and secure the inside. I went down the drive wide open and then broad slid The Ford up next to the house. Learner and I jumped out and went to the rear. I was behind a well pump house. Learner was covering far side and the rear of the house. The lab man came out a window when he heard our people break the door. By the time I got to him, he was on his feet and running. I had to run him down first and then tackled him. That all went as planned, but instead of becoming submissive he wanted to continue to struggle. We were rolling around on the ground, when Learner came up and grabbed him, we seemed to be pretty much evenly matched. Leaner's two hundred pounds swung the fight over to my direction. I was badly out of breath and I had a rock burn on my arm from rolling around in the gravel play area. Worst of all my ribs hurt like hell, once I tried to stand. I was bent over trying to get my breath, when Learner asked, "You okay?" "Yeah I think, the little shit kicked me in the ribs somehow," I said gasping for air. "You little shit, you better be glad all these cops are around, or I would beat you bloody," he said. We all pitched in to secure the scene quickly. The Duty Sergeant and the patrol deputies headed back to the station with the prisoner. Detective Flatiron would be called in to interrogating him there. Meanwhile Mission called in her lab people to secure and clean up the lab. All there was for me and Learner to do was wait until they arrived. We stayed just in case there was some problem. Nothing happened and we were ready to clear of the scene by shortly after 7AM. Chief Deputy Simpson came out to look around, After his tour and briefing he said, "One of you come in an three hours later tomorrow and one of you leave three hours early." I looked at learner who said, "If it's all the same to you, I would like to start later." "Suits me," I said. That set the pattern for how we made up for working late from then on. We just swapped hours around, so there was never had any overtime. I loved it. On the way home at 8:15AM, I saw a bike on the curb of a downtown consignment store which usually had nothing but clothing. I was too exhausted to look at the moment. I decided, if I were still there when I ran, I would come a little farther into town and take a look. I climbed the stairs to my apartment and knew I was all in for the the day. I had expending way too much energy in the fight with the bad guy. I still had to get out the blanket and sheet for my bed. Which I did first, then took off my jeans and top shirt. I fell on top of the bed and struggled to get under the covers. I was asleep before I could decide what to scheme about. ------- Chapter 58 When I woke it was 5PM and I rushed out the door. I remembered that bike that I saw on the curb and I wanted a closer look. So I ran faster than I normally do. I also ran farther than I normally do. I got to the consignment shop before they closed at 6PM. "The grossly over weight lady was very sweet. She said, "The bike belongs to a retired gentlemen, who brought it for me to try to sell. He has several more if you would like a bike, but don't care for that one.: "I don't really know much about bikes," I said. "I think I would like one that is easy to ride, but not too easy. I want to use it for exercise mostly." "Tell you what, let me call him. If he doesn't have what you want, he will build it for you I'm sure." She drifted off to her office to make the call. I poked around the shop till she came back. "He said to tell you to take the one we have here. Try it for a week, then he will know what you need. If you don't like it, he will build whatever you want." she said. "How much is the bike," I asked. "The one outside is thirty dollars and I'll give you that much credit toward whatever you want in the store. Should you decide you don't want a bike," she said. I gave her the thirty dollars. Then climbed on the bike and tried it. The bike wasn't quite as tall as the ones I saw around town, It was however a good fit for me. The bike didn't have a lot of speed, but it took the hills like a burro. I was sure he had done something to the gearing. It should have run faster on the flat and been harder to pedal going up hill. I did not complain for the mountain community it was ideal. I had to rest going downhill, because I couldn't catch up to the freewheel. Then it was pedal steady going up hill, but it wasn't hard to do. I not only rode the bike home, I rode it around the neighborhood before I went inside. I got to know a little about the area where I had settled. I don't mean where the roads led, I mean what was on the road. For instance in the next block, going away from town, there was a house with a lighthouse replica on the lawn. I thought that was pretty cool. It might have taken me months to notice that from a car. There was also a convenience store and a sweepstakes cafe in the same building three blocks away. I didn't think they were operated by the same person, but it was nice to know about the convenience store. When I got home from the ride, I carried the bike up the stairs. I put it on the balcony, since I didn't think anyone would try to steal it. I toyed with the idea of riding it to work, but decided against it. It didn't have any light on it. I needed them more to be seen, than to see. I spent some time with the computer then it was time to get ready for work. I took a soak, and hated to leave that tub, when my time was up. I washed my hair, which no longer stood up straight. It laid down flat, but I still looked like a teenage boy. I didn't mind so much when I was in uniform, but it had been bad in the lounge at the motel. More than one man thought that I was a cross dresser or some even thought I was a transsexual. Oh well maybe I was at heart. I mean all the military clothes, and the life style I lived was more suited to a man, than a woman. I wasn't very feminine, except that I liked cock. I had tried the other side of the plate and it left me cold. I slipped on the vest before I went down and started the Toyota. I drove down to the station with the box opener in my pocket and the .38 under my light weight parka. "Porter you are on your own until 11PM," the Duty Sergeant of a different squad said to me. "Yeah I know I'll be leaving at 2AM. It's my comp time." I said. "That's right so while you are here, let's get some work done," he said. "So what's on the agenda," I said. "Flatiron wants you to pick up the mooch you been working. By now he knows about the bust, so we want to get him quick." the sergeant said. "Why didn't they get him earlier today," I asked. "He seems to be in the wind. He might turn up at the sweepstakes cafe. So we want you to stake it out and let us know. They close at ten so you just stay a couple of hour there," he said. "Ya'll going to pick up my losings?' I asked. "Watch from outside," the Sergeant said dead serious. He was the one sergeant with absolutely no sense of humor. "Roger that," I said. I left the parking lot in a hurry. I might as well get to the sweepstakes cafe and settle in. I no expectation of finding that man. I just sat there till the place closed. Then I had a thought What if he had money in a safe in the building. He might come for it, but he would want to be sure we weren't watching. I remembered the double back trick of his from the other night. That told me he was careful. I planned to follow my orders to the letter. I planned to leave at 10:30PM exactly. Then I planned to wait fifteen minutes and double back to a different parking lot. My plan was to stake it out till Jake came on at 11PM. Then see what he was up to. The briefing for tonight stressed we were to look for the illusive drug dealers. I assumed they would have Jake looking for his mooch as well. It was almost exactly 11PM whet a car pulled up to the parking lot. The cafe shared it with a convenience store. The man was planning to run in for bread, but not the kind that came from a bakery. I watched him look around then open the door to the cafe and slip inside. He was using a small flashlight for illumination. I loved it. "502 tac 2," Jakes voice said. "502 on tac 2 go ahead," I said. "What you up two 502?" Jakes asked. "I'm about to pop my man, You want to come help me out?" I asked. "Oh yeah you at the second location," he asked. "Yes I'm at the French Fries, but you better hurry. I don't thing he wants to hang out long," I said. "10-4 on my way," Jake informed me. "ETA five." "He is coming out now, come hot," I said as I gunned the Fort and blocked his car in. I loved the sound of rubber squealing I came out of the car gun in hand. I went to the door of his car while he was trying to get out. "Good idea come out with you hands up," I said. He saw that I was a woman and considerable less bulk than he had. The son of a bitch just had to try it," I had him face the car when I cuffed him. I put the pistol away while I did it. It was probably the most dangerous time for a cop. He did a quick turn and hit me on the nose with his elbow. I found myself on the ground wrestling for my pistol. I was just trying to hold on till I heard the sound of a straining engine. I was holding onto to my holster to keep him for getting to the pistol inside. I don't think he didn't want to shoot me, just to keep me from shooting him, while he made his escape. Still I couldn't take the chance. It seemed like forever and I had blood in my eyes and mouth which made it hard to see and to breath. I took a chance and spit blood in his face. He released me to wipe it off. When he did I pulled the taser and lit him up. That's when I heard the laboring of the engine. Jake pulled in and did a sliding maneuver to avoid running over the man on the ground. He was still doing his dance of the 'wish I were dead'. "You got to love taser's," I said. "Why didn't you kill the son of a bitch?" Jake asked. "Too much paperwork," I replied. It was all over when the others arrived and the duty sergeant. "You need to go to the hospital," he said. "I can't stop the bleeding and he hurts like a mother," I said. "Yeah, he fucked you up some," one of the patrol deputies said. ":Does this mean we aren't going to the prom?" I asked. "Are you kidding, I would take you anywhere, You one tough lady." He said. "So you want a bus?" "No thanks, save them for someone who needs it. I can get Jake here to take me. If that's okay with you sergeant?" I asked. "Sure, Jake let me know what they say," the sergeant said. "No problem serge, As for you Sylvia hold that towel to your nose. I don't want blood all over my car," he said. "Wait a minute I need to throw up, I swallowed a lot of blood in he fight." I made it out of the crime scene before I tossed my cookies and my frozen dinner. it took me a while to finish and when I did I heard the sound of a siren. I looked at Jake as the sound got closer. "Yeah I called for a bus. I don't want you dieing in my car." he said. "Bullshit you are afraid I will throw up in your car," I said, "So," he said. "Okay, I get it." I said. "I'll be there when you get there," he said. When they opened the back of the ambulance he was standing there. They rolled me into the ER. A nurse asked me some question and a doctor came in and shot me up. Jake was in the room with me. He was waiting quietly in the corner. "We are going to do a cat scan to see what kind of damage you got to that pretty face," The nurse said, They rolled me into the room with the scanner where I met a young woman I had seen before, I had no idea where I knew her from, but I did know her from somewhere. The dope was taking effect. I went in and out of consciousness. I was back in the examining room when the doctor spoke to me. Officer Porter, Officer Learner tells me you were in the hospital a few months ago. Some one shot you?" "It wasn't much. I have been hurt worse playing softball," I said. "Sweetie you don't have to impress me," he said. "Then how about you impress me," I said. "We have called a cosmetic surgeon to set the bones in your face, You took a pretty good shot," he said. "Could I have something I'm going to throw up," I said. And I did throw up into a plastic pan. "Swallowed too much blood, I don't know how vampires do it." ------- Chapter 59 When I came around the bones in my face were set. I had a bandage that looked like a hockey mask. I felt like I was in the movie Friday the Thirteenth. I spend the day sleeping and felt some better when I woke that night. The next morning they released me. I had to promise to take it easy and skip work for a week. So for the week I rode the bike almost all day. I stopped by to visit Mary Ellen but she had nothing for me in monster mask. It was okay, since I didn't fell like playing yet anyway. I covered lots of ground on that bike. The man who built it had geared it for hills. Not the really big ones but the long ones. I found only one hill that I could not make it up, but it didn't stop me from trying. Everyday I took that hill on, and everyday I got a little farther up it. I would make it one day, but I hadn't make it as of the day I returned to work. I took the bike everywhere while I was recovering. I had gotten used to riding it in the early spring weather. So I thought, if need be I could ride it to work. Everyone needs an alternative to their car, I thought. The doctor released me to return to work with only a band aid over the bridge of my nose. I looked a lot like some old boxer from a bad movie. I couldn't help it, images of some old midnight movies were conjured up in my mind. "Welcome back, we have missed you," the Duty Sergeant said. "Thanks, that's nice to hear," I said with a smile. "When Learner gets here I have a new assignment for you," he informed me. "Cool, I'm ready to go back to work. You have no idea how boring recovering can be," I said. "Sure, we have all been there. A vacation is no fun, when you are sick." he said. "Exactly," I agreed. "Exactly what?" Learner asked. "Medical leave is no fun," I said. "If you had told me I could have sent Rachel to entertain you," he said. "She would have enjoyed that." "I'm not going to say a word what with all the lesbian jokes that go around about me," I said. "I have no idea why they would joke about that. You kick the bad guys asses better than half the guys on the department. Why would there be any doubt about your femininity." he said. "Easy cowboy you just insinuated your wife might have girlie, girl tendencies." I explained. "I didn't mean that," he said unconvincingly. "She wants to take up bike riding. She has wanted to since you bought your bike. If I get her a bike will you ride with her." "Of course I will. I would love to have the company." I agreed. "Fair enough then," he said. "Alright you two, tonight you are going to watch a suspect while Flatiron searches his house. You are going to serve the warrant, but Flatiron will do the search. You can help out if he asks but only if he asks, understood?" "I got you." I said. "Do you have it?" I asked learner. "What's to get, we serve a search warrant and stand around with out finger up our ass till Flatiron finishes. I don't mind doing nothing, but it's a terrible waste of resources." Learner said. "Good, I'm glad you understand. Be careful out there," the Duty Sergeant said. Lerner and I went out to our grandmother cars and began patrol. Flatiron called about any hour later to tell us the subject of the search was most likely home at that time. So we took the search warrant and headed out. When we arrived at his house there was a car in the drive. It was 10PM so odds seemed to favor us that he was home. Jakes said, "This is the guy who was mentioned by the man who punched you. You missed it, but Flatiron got him to give up the name, but they didn't arrest him right away." "Why not," I asked. "He needs something to corroborate the guys testimony. Juries need something to prove the guy who got caught isn't just settling old scores." Jake said. "Ah okay, well I hope there is something worth finding in the house. He has had a week to get rid of things though," I said. "I know it's a long shot that there is anything in the house," Flatiron said. He had walked up behind us. "We got to try though." "Well let's do it," I said. I went around back to stand on the small concrete stoop. I waited there patiently while the noises came from the front of the house. In the end Jake came back and opened the rear door for me. "All things went the way they are supposed to," he said. "So are we just going to stand here while Flatiron searches?" I asked. "That's what they said. Maybe they think we are going to plant something," I suggested. Which lead one to wonder who do they think would plant evident you or me?" I asked. "Of if we take turns," Lerner suggested. We had the suspect confined to the living room while Flatiron searched. "You know," Jake said. "It's almost midnight. Rachel will be going to bed soon. How about I call and have her meet us at 5AM for breakfast." "Jake if you called me at midnight and told me to meet you at 5AM. My next call would be to a divorce lawyer," I said. "Well Rachel ain't like that. She likes to do off the wall things," he said. "If you are stupid enough to call her, I'll do it," I said. He called her and I was shocked that she agreed. So it was set we would meet her at the pancake house in the Dobson Mall at 5AM. I couldn't believe she had agreed. Unless she didn't want to leave her husband alone with another woman if she had a choice. That would be the only reason I could come up with for the meeting. From the house Flatiron took the computer and a couple of notebooks. I was glad that he took something, but we did not take the suspect in at the time. He would probably get picked up later, or be allowed to surrender on his own. I wouldn't be surprised if he was in the wind by high noon. When 5AM came around we were ready to go. So since I rode the bike, I had to go home and get the car. When I arrived at the Dobson Mall Pancake House, the Learners were waiting for me. "Sorry to hold you up, but I had to go home for the car. It's a little far for the bike," I said. "So you are riding the bike to work now," Jake asked. "I'm trying it now that I have had time to get used to it. It actually isn't as hard as I thought. It's just a little slow because of the hills. If we lived down east it would be a breeze." I said. "Jake I want a bicycle. If I get one can I ride with you Sylvia?" she asked. I looked at Jake before I answered. "Sure I don't see why not. Maybe we all could ride. Of course, if you get high tech bikes you will leave me in the dust. Mine is an old single speed with the gears set for these hills." "Oh where did you get it?" Jake asked. I explained all about the old man who build them from scrap parts. Jake and Rachel love the idea and swore they were going that after noon to buy a bike from the old man. We parted outside the pancake house and I went home and fell into bed. It was exhausting to me to do that night's work. I just bugged my doctor the whole time I was out to let me return so he finally did. He gave me a note for light duty which I 'misplaced'. When I awoke that afternoon at 5pm, it was with a cloudy head. I also needed to take a pain pill, but I skipped the prescription and went to o.t.c. medications. They worked good enough for me. It was slow going but I managed to get dinner done. I didn't want to be seen in public as spacey as I was. Especially not in uniform. "You shouldn't be here should you Porter," the Duty Sergeant asked after one look at me. "I'm fine," I said. "Like hell you are, but you can stay you are just going to be staking out a convenience store for a robbery, which likely won't happen. You and Learner." The Duty Sergeant said. "They say they are going to hit it at midnight." "Any idea who they are," I asked. "One of the local gangs. We picked up one then on an old warrant and he gave it up." the sergeant said. "How many of them are there," I asked. "Why don't we wait for Learner and I won't have to do it twice," he said. "Whatever," I said shaking my head. Learner came a few minutes later and I found there were supposed to be only two inside the store and one in a car outside. So we were going to put one person inside the storeroom with a shotgun and one on the floor acting like a customer. The patrolman for the area would hang around the building but not too obvious. "I'll take the storeroom," Learner said. "If I were in the store I might frighten them off." "Well. I will try to lure them in. That should work real good," I said "Better than me for sure. You can look like a young mother shopping," he said. "Is that some kind of an insult?" I asked with a smile. "No of course not. You know what I mean. They won't even look twice a cute little girl, but a man they might decided to wait till I left." he explained. I was in the store over two hours when they finally came. I was in the back of the big open room standing behind an antifreeze display. They came in pointing their guns, they didn't even try to look around first. They had no idea I was in the back of the room. I decided that I was ready, so I took a deep breath walked up behind them. I got close and yelled, "Now." The clerk dropped behind the counter and the two men turned to me. "Bad idea," I said staring down the barrel of the .40mm. "Very bad idea," Jake said stepping out of the store room with the shotgun pointed at them. "So drop the guns and put your hands on your head." I could see the wheels turning and I got ready in case they decided to shoot it out. I honestly was scared shitless, but I could not let it show. "You both are going to die, if either of you so much as twitch, so drop those guns now." Something I said connected, because they dropped the guns. We called it in and the patrol officer picked up the other one in the parking lot. He didn't even know his friends had been arrested. I figure he was listening to tunes and playing the air guitar. They looked like the types. The next morning I couldn't sleep. It was the first time that I had laid in bed realizing that I could have died the night before. I didn't like that feeling. I wondered if it was the beating I had received finally becoming real. ------- Chapter 60 I dressed in my warm clothes even though I was riding the bike and would be warm enough very quickly. It was simply because the slow steady exertion of the bike ride seemed to heat my body better than even the running had done. Running had warmed me up, but it also wore me out. The bike tending to warm me, and give a work out, but leave me with some reserve energy in place. I didn't feel that I was completely tapped out when I returned home. After the ride I came home and fixed a bowl of cereal. I didn't love cereal, but it was easy to manage. It was also healthy, which didn't hurt. I kind of liked having a meal that was easy to prepare and good for me. I couldn't say that about the meals that I really enjoyed in the morning. For example I loved my breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and waffles come to mind as well. I knew I had to keep my personal life far separated from my professional life. My personal life style was far removed from my profession and never the twain shall meet, was my motto. Having to justify how I lived my personal life, with the expectations of the community I served, would be a huge problem and major disappointment to the people I served. Later that evening I got a phone call from one of the people who knew me well. It was Monk who called. "Hello Sylvia," his voice came from the phone. "Hello Monk, how you doing?" I asked. "I'm just fine how are you," he asked in return. "I'm just fine as well. So what you been up to since we last met?" I asked. "I haven't been up to anything to make me forget about you," he said. "Well that's sweet, but you know you don't want to be seen with a cop," I said. "No, but we could always meet at one of those motels far enough away to save both our reputations." he suggested. "Sure but why. I have paid you off Monk. If I owed you anything, I would be more than happy to pay you. You know that is true." I said. "Yes Sylvia, I know you pay your debt." he said. "That's a good thing for you to know, because it is also a fact that I don't just simply whore around, but I do pay my debts every time." "Yes, I know," he said with a smile in his voice. "I also know there are still people who want to kill you." "I'm a copper Monk. There will always be people who want to kill me," I said. "There will also be people like me, who want to screw you as well." he said. "I will let you just as long as you make it when and where I want," I said. With that I broke the connection. Monk really didn't have anything to say, he just wanted to feel sorry for himself, since I was finished with him for now. I didn't have any hard feelings he just didn't want to be seen with a cop and I couldn't really afford to be seen with a motorcycle type guy. There were plenty of questionable things I did, but openly consorting with criminals and those in the fringes, wasn't one of them. Oh I consorted just not openly. I spent most of the afternoon and evening either on the bike or checking on the bike. I did a lot of reading on how best to use the bike. I decided that I would not do the morning ride on the way home from the station at 5AM. It might sound like a good idea, but it was dark then and there was just no light bright enough to make it safe. Even though I planned to ride the bike to work, it would be a straight there and straight home thing. I was trying very hard to come to terms with the new job. I loved the hours and the lack of supervision but it was all the most dangerous parts of the jobs tossed into one. I had an idea why Chief Deputy Simpson sent me to the SOU. I was a bit of a mover and shaker for the quiet department to deal with. There was more going on in the SOU than on patrol. I took those and it freed up the patrol officers to take care ordinary stuff. What I had a hard time with was why Learner was assigned to the detail. Had he pissed off someone or was it because he was Gung Ho. I would like to think he was a good officer, but the truth was I had no idea. They might be just trying to get us both out of the way. It had happened before to officers that were too interested for their own good. I knew that I wanted to chase bad guys, but I didn't know about Learner. "After the convenience store bust, we came up with two days off Rachael asked me at the station to go to her church's revival during our two days off. Lerner and I had off from Friday morning at 5AM until Sunday night at 8PM. There was plenty of time, if I wanted to go, but I didn't. "I'm sorry Rachel but I have plans for this weekend. I'm supposed to go down and visit my mother." I said. I said it even though it was a complete lie. If I did anything, I might track down Mary Ellen, I thought. It was Friday night and I was trying to find something to do that wouldn't make it obvious to Rachel that I was a liar. In other words I wanted something that would amount to me lying low. I know I should have gone to visit the family, but I just hadn't managed to forgive them yet. Dad was still on my list of people I would one day kill for his abuse of me as a child, and mom, her I would kill for allowing it to happen. Of course that was all just the ramblings of a pissed off child. It was done now, I had somehow managed to get past it. As long as none of the grand kids had those problems it was survivable for me, but it they were harmed all bets were off. The shrink the Air Force got me to talk to had always said that I handled it better than anyone he had ever read about. I guess it was true, I was a highly functioning abuse victim. "So I guess all childhood abusive victims either come serial abusers themselves or cops?" I asked him. "No, but the most extreme do it seems. You don't hunt down abusers, but you do protect the weak. I have read your file." he said. "Well in the states I just did the job they gave me. In my two deployment, I went out of my way to assist the indigenous people, especially the women and children, to defend themselves, when they couldn't otherwise." I explained. "Probably a good thing that your commanders don't know why you volunteer so often. It's That need to be a hero is common in a lot of child abuse victims when they grow up." he explained. "I prefer to think that I can make a difference and survive it," I said. "I have learned a few tricks that give me a better than average chance." "You know you are not always going to survive it," he explained. "Well something is going to kill us all," I said. I would like it to be in my sleep, but one thing is as good as another. I had come to terms with is all. I still needed to be a hero but I didn't need to talk about it any more. I just accepted that the my compulsion was better than that of a serial killer. I did visit mom once in a while, but dad never. He was most likely to get a bullet in the back of the head, if I saw him. I hated nights I didn't work and had no plans. I sat around the house with my brain firing random burst of thought. Like I really did need to kill my dad before he died of old age. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I could still remember how good some of the things he did to me felt. Yes he deserved to die for them, but damn they had felt good to a preteen girl. When I performed my first oral sex on someone other than dad, it had been no big deal for me, but for him it had been a major awakening. I guess I should thank my dad for the number of boys who followed me around like puppy dogs during my teenage years. I was very popular with a certain crowd. I could have been prom queen, if they had their way. Instead I went to the prom alright, but it was with one of the guys who didn't seem to mind that they called me the a slut. He got his blowjob first thing, it was the price I paid for having a date to the prom. God I hated high school. I couldn't wait to leave town, so when I graduated high school on a Friday night, my bus left for the induction physical the next Monday morning at 8AM. I was in the military before dark. The current Friday night, I went to the dance club in Dobson where I had met Lamar. All the old memories caused me to need to be humiliated for some reason. I recognized the need in me, and had long ago learned to give into it rather than fight it. I sat in the parking lot to make the final decision. I decided to go in, so I took the pistol off and locked it in the dash of the Toyota. I did keep the box opener, and I had it hidden in my hand as I entered the club. I had the cover charge waved by the bouncer so I gave him a smile. I walked in to see the people trying to dance to that silly rap music. It was humorous, since they mostly did a variation of a tribal dance of some kind. I had a drink that was way too expensive, then danced with a couple of young men who asked. I flirted with them but none was as forward as Lamar, and he wasn't around. I got bored rather quickly and headed for the door. "You leaving this early?" a older black man asked. "I'm leaving now, I don't know how early it is." I said. "Why don't you stay and have a drink?" he asked. "I had a drink and now I'm ready to leave. There isn't much to do at the moment." I said. "This is one of the better nights, but it takes a while to warm up," he said. "You mean they men have to get a little drunk to build up their courage?" I asked. "Sometimes it looks that way, I'm afraid," he said. "I think I go home and wash my hair. No offense but it happens now and then that I just wait so long I lose interest." I turned and walked out into the parking lot. He followed me out and pulled on my arm. I turned to him and pressed him back against the cinder block walls. I had the box opener pressed against his throat. "Now tell me you weren't trying to manhandle me, or prepare to meet your God." I said. "I'm sorry," he said genuinely frightened. "I honestly didn't mean anything. I just wanted to get your attention." "Congratulations you did," I said ------- Chapter 61 I turned from him and walked away. I usually wasn't so close to violence, but all day I had been reliving my childhood. I hated all that had happened to me but it made me what I was. The world was lucky I wasn't a serial killer, some days I just had a hair trigger. That night I was suffering. I went home and got into bed, I considered taking one of the pain pills I had laying around. If I did that I would get to sleep much easier, but then I would also become dependent on them. So I got back out of bed and went to the net. Once there I went into a chat room and found a woman, with whom to chat. She was the one who was a little intelligent and who had an imagination. Then I simply became someone else for a while. I rubbed my clit and imagined myself as the daughter of a prostitute. It was an interesting bit of play acting. It was also crazy erotic and harmless. The story line was that the mother and I were a team and worked in a convention town. I was seventeen in the play acting and my mother was forty. We had sex in the same room and even helped each other with difficult customers. It took over an hour to orgasm sufficiently to take the edge of my mood. In the end I spasmed continually for several minutes. Afterward I fell almost instantly asleep. When I awoke the next day, I rode the bike around town for two hours. I didn't keep track of the mile. Just as when I ran, I rode for time, not distance. Which made it a lot more fun to ride. I could cover the whole downtown of County Seat in a few minutes which left me to ride out into the county. When I got back from the ride, I took a bath in the claw foot tub, then dressed for the day. I wore jeans and a tee shirt. My small breasts stood up so I didn't bother with a bra. I went into the county for the once a month flea market at the old drivein theater. Why there had ever been a drivein theater located in Warren County, no one ever satisfactorily explained to me. But it had been abandoned long before I came to town. Once a month there was an assembly of county craftsman and peddlers. It was that weekend, so I was taking advantage of it. Summer was coming according to the calendar, so I started to think about what I would do with my off duty hours. I was interested in a hobby that was inexpensive and fun. Mary Ellen's gig was both, but it was dangerous and not something I could do on a moment's notice. I had no idea I had an interest in fishing until I met Horace. Horace was the man in Warren for all things fishing. First of all he bought and sold fishing rods. He had quite an assortment of rods both new and used. The came with and without reels. Horace sold the tackle that made the rods usable instantly. Oh yeah, one other thing, Horace also sold bait. He was there for all things fishing, I'm telling you. So I walked around thinking and finally decided that I wanted to fish. I had been fishing as a kid with my grand dad, and I thought it would be a good way to spend some of my spare time. So Horace first proposed a telescoping rod complete with small reel and line. I vetoed that idea, but he did sell me an assortment of hooks and bobbers. I took along a booklet on raising worms for fish bait. When I got home I decided to call around to the stores. I found what I wanted at home depot in Dobson. They carried a driveway marker that stuck into the ground. It was made from fiberglass and was 4' long. They sold for about $2.29 or so. I ran to Dobson and bought four of them. I also bought a couple of 3/8 pipe nipples. I could somehow make them a coupler for the driveway markers. I also bought a roll of mason's nylon twine to use as line. I had a lot of little work to do in order to be fishing the next day. I had decided that I wanted to be fishing on Sunday. I should be out getting laid on a Saturday night, I thought as I worked on the fishing pole instead. My plan to put two of the driveway marker poles together didn't work out so well. So instead I used the one as the rod then I used the nippled to attach a handle. I was able to increase the length of the pole to well over six feel without harming it's action any. The stiffness was added at the base which was acceptable. I used two radiator clamps to attach a cheap reel to the small fiberglass pole I had made. It appeared to be acceptable, so Sunday morning I drove to the city reservoir to try it out. My grandfather had bread bread as bait and it worked. Not as well as worms I admit, but I mostly wanted to waste time anyway. I checked in with the city ranger and as a county employee there was no charge to fish. So I sat down with a cardboard cup of coffee to give it a try. The bread worked okay, of course the people using real bait did much better, Sunday wasn't really a religious day for me, but I did try to be careful on it. I also had to go into work at 8PM that night, so I wasn't going to do anything else that might be time consuming that day anyway. Since the reservoir was near the house I measured the real distance of the drive with my car. The Toyota odometer measured it as five miles more or less. That seemed like a reasonable distance for a bike ride out. So next time I would have to work on finding a way to fish with only what would fit on a bike. I was already thinking about it. I decided that I could carry three extra hooks and line in a small fruit juice can. The bobbers would fit in it as well. The six foot rod would be the real problem. I couldn't compress it down to a size to easily fit on the bike. The truth is while I worked on the problems associated with fishing from a bike, I wasn't thinking about my abused childhood, or the beating I had taken at work recently. It was my kind of therapy. "Hey lady you catching anything," the very redneck looking fisherman asked with a smile. "I think I might be coming down with a cold," I said and laughed. "Well what you using for bait," he asked. "Loaf bread, I used to use it as a kid with my grandfather. To tell you the truth, I don't think he wanted to catch anything. Mostly, he wanted to get me away from my parents, I think." I said. "Well here try this handful of grubs. You should catch something with them," he said. It was obvious that if I had been a man I would have been fishing with my grandfather's dough not the stranger's grubs. I kind of liked the idea of not buying bait. I could just bring bread and let people give me bait. I laughed quietly at the thought. Yes I found it a interesting idea. I sat there Sunday from 10AM until 4PM, then I went home mostly because the temperature was falling with the setting sun. I had caught half a dozen Perch, but nothing of any real size. I threw them all back to help keep the fish population up. It was a good place to fish, I wanted it to stay that way. There was a couple of oriental families that were fishing there. I had noticed them the day before when I scouted the place as well. I wondered how often they fished at the reservoir. When the park ranger came by, I introduced myself to her. I asked her more than one of those type questions. She was very helpful, she even told me I could leave me rod at the lake, if I wanted to bicycle out. I wouldn't be the only one who did it, but I had to have a case of some kind for it, so they knew whose was whose. The case could be anything at all, but it had to have a label. My rod was homemade and looked it, but I planned to get some fabric that looked like leather, Then I would just roll it up in it. I was able to carry the reel and tackle can on the bike, so I was just took the reel off and rolled the rod up in the fake leather. I got home from the laked in time to sit on the tiny stool in the bathtub and wash till I felt clean. It was no easy chore to manage, since I had grub filth under my nails. I didn't mind I had passed several hours without any thought of work or my crazy personal life. It had been a successful day in my opinion. I stopped by the cafe at the plaza and got a sandwich before reporting to work. I assumed Learner ate his wife's cooking before he came to work. Either way both of us went until midnight before we stopped for breakfast. Learner was never at the station when I arrived. That either meant, I was always early, or he was always late. I am assuming I was early since he still had a job. "Porter, what you up to these days?" the duty sergeant asked. It was a harmless question, but I had a second of panic. I didn't know what to answer, then I got control of myself. Once I was under control I answered him. "Not really anything, but working. I just took up fishing, why?" I asked. "My brother in law saw you out at the reservoir this weekend. He said you were the poorest looking fishermen there." the sergeant said with a laugh. "I might be the poorest," I agreed. "I went to have a little fun, not to impress your brother in law." "That is true, I'm sure. Anyway you are a big hit out there. Not too many women go out there, and none who dress like you." he said. "Oh and how is it that I dress?" I asked. "He said you were going braless," the sergeant said. "I go braless here. It's no big thing," I said. "Yes Porter, but here you wear a Kevlar vest over them puppies," he said with a laugh. "Okay, so you are telling me there is something sexual about a tee shirt and jeans on a fisherman?" I asked. "Porter there is, if that fisherman is you. Hell, if it is anyone even close to as good looking as you. You should know what your naked breast do to men?" he made it a question. "Yeah, I know what it does, but I didn't think men would noticed when I was fishing," I said. "Men always notice a good looking chick without a bra Porter," he said. "Okay sergeant, I'll keep that in mind," I said. "Porter, honest to god you really should. On duty you can't tell anything, but you should be aware of the impression you make when you aren't working," he said. "Sergeant, it is just now becoming noticeable. I have been wearing parkas and field jackets up till now." I said. "Just be aware," he said. ------- Chapter 62 Learner and I staked out a construction site the first night back. Sure as hell a couple of idiots tried to steal pipe from the site. I let the truck get inside the site where it was nice and bottled up, before I slipped the grandmother car into the neck of the bottle. If they planned to bring their truck out of the site they had to drive up and surrender. Just to be safe Learner walked in and confronted them. They jumped in the truck and tried to make a run for it. I stopped them at the entrance to the site. So much for all my intuitive skills. It was a slam dunk. The tip had come from someone's girlfriend or someone like that. After that bust we really didn't have to do anything at all the rest of the night. We rode around the county roads but we could have just hidden out somewhere. The tiny little Special Operations Unit was proving itself to be very successful. It was a good feeling to be part of something so positive. We went for a couple of weeks just doing routine patrol. We really were adequate at it, but we were best at special missions. Nothing happened at all during those two weeks. It became pretty boring even the weekends were a drag. Mary Ellen was up to something which did not include me. I expected it had less to do with video than it did with her personal life. She might actually be getting serious about Angel. They could be going to take advantage of the domestic partnership bit of contract law. Either way it didn't include me. I was spending some time with the Learners, though I didn't really feal as though I belonged on those church type picnics. I sensed Jake was suffering some as well. I gave in most of the time for his sake. Well that and the food was excellent. Between routine police work and my stagnant personal life I was ready for more intrigue in my life. So I didn't shy away when the call came for an undercover operation. I was all excited about it actually. The chief deputy called me in to put it to me. "Porter, I have an offer for you. The Sheriff went to a regional conference kind of thing. They talk about all their problem and work on solutions. This time we decided on a short undercover operation against Dragon's brew. Do you know what that is?" he asked. Actually I did but I decided to pretend that I didn't. "Never heard of it," I lied with a straight face. "It's a liquor laced with pot," he explained. The Boyle Brothers explained it better. "I'm going to have to take your word for it chief deputy," I said to Simpson. "It sounds pretty unlikely I know, but they lace the mash with pot stalks before it ferments. Then they just make white liquor like any other only they say it is a different kind of high." he explained. "Like I said, I'll take your word for it," I said. I thought I did a pretty good job convincing him. "Anyway they have an informant in the distribution network. He can get one of our people in the inside. We figure they won't make a home girl." Simpson said. "You have the right accent for down east." "I don't know so much about that but I'm willing to give it a try. So what"s my cover and what do I do to get in?" I asked. "We want to stay as close to the truth as possible. You just got mustard out of the Air Force. You did two tours in the sandbox and now you are coming home. You did a lot of driving under stress so now you would like to make it pay off, You want to drive for the distribution outfit," Simpson said. "Okay that sounds easy to explain, but how to I get the introduction?" I asked. "Always the hardest part to bring the new member into the organization. I think you will love it though, You are going to be looking for a job in one of the drink houses, but not as a hooker. You will take a job as a hostess but you really want to drive a delivery truck or car. "What about my place here?" I asked. "Well the assignment, if it works, will only be about three months. If it were me I would just pay the rent on it before I left and leave it empty." Simpson said. "You know cops live month to month," I said. "I don't have three months rent to spare." "Tell me how much you need and I'll get them to advance it to you. I really do want you going in pretty near broke. It always plays better that way." That's how I happened to disappear from the Warren Country Sheriff's department and wind up in Stoneville. Stoneville was a average sized town, but it was much larger then county seat and even larger than Dobson. It had a lot more poor working class concentrated in one place than either of those. When I hit town, I checked into a welfare type motel. I had the address of the drink house but I pretty much needed an introduction. That's where the informant came in. It was a Sunday night when I met him. The informant was approximately 28 or so and a fairly good looking black man. So I expected the customers of the drink house to be predominantly black. I wasn't at all disappointed when they turned out to be an even mix racially. The drink house served both store bought and bootleg liquor. They didn't advertise the Dragon's brew. It was however for sale to anyone there. That made it easy for me to order it. "I have heard of this stuff and I aways wanted to try it." I said to the waitress. "Well you certainly can," she said to me. "Good," I said as I sipped the potent mixture. The owner was black so he came to flirt with me. Even with my hair only slightly longer than a crew cut. "I like your haircut," he said. "Makes controlling the sand fleas easier," I said. "Where were you controlling sand fleas," he asked. "Iraq once and rural Afghanistan once," I said. "Oh what did you do there?" he asked. "I was a truck driver for the Air Force. Driving gasoline tankers through the mountains from Pakistan," I said. "Shit," he said admiringly. "Well it was a nasty job but somebody had to do it. I'm trying to find a job now with that kind of rush." I said it and looked away. I wasn't going to press it. "But I will do almost anything right now." I added. "Are you telling me you would like to work here," he asked. "I'm telling you I need a job bad and I don't want to work at McDonald's." I said. "How bad do you want that job?" he asked looking at the informant, who was supposed to be dating me. "I need the job really badly," I said. "Show me how bad," he said. I knew what he wanted of course, but I had convinced myself that it wouldn't come to that. "I'll do this for you, but I not turning tricks," I said. "Fair enough, so let's see your style," he said turning away from the dance floor. I moved around the table without a second thought. I pushed his legs apart, then moved between them. I unzipped his pants and freed his penis. It was big and black of course. It wasn't the monster every black man I ever met thought he had, but it was larger than most of the men I had known. I held it in my hand and felt the blood course through it. It was a very smooth piece of meat. I looked at it and then at him. "Very nice," I said. "I'm glad you like it, so let's see how you show black cock your respect," he said. I bent at the waist and lowered my head until I was low enough to kiss the head of the black cock. When my lips touched it, it jerked to full erection. "Nice," I said to the reaction. "I like having a white girl showing her devotion to my cock," he said. "Yes I could see that." I said as I continued to lick and kiss it without ever taking it inside my mouth. When I finally slipped his cock inside my mouth, he responded to it with a jerk. I could tell there was a shock of strong sensations running through him. I was beginning to enjoy the feeling of smooth skin inside my mouth. The stroking of my mouth by his cock was beginning to have a erotic effect on me. It took a few more minutes but I could feel myself wanting to get higher than his cock in my mouth would take me alone. Since I didn't want to push it in anyway whatsoever I slipped my hand inside my panties and rubbed. The feeling of my finger on my clit carried me to the top of my orgasm without any problem at all. I came and within seconds I felt him spurt his seed inside my mouth. I swallowed several time and hard but it was a wonderful feeling to know I had succeeded in getting everything accomplished and still having time for an orgasm myself. "Hey Burton, I got somebody here I want you to meet, ' the owner of the club said. "She give great head, don't you babe?" "I'm alright. There are better," I said. "Oh come on show him what you got," the owner of the club said. Instead of showing Burton what I had, I showed the club owner what I had for him. It was the plastic box opener with the razor blade up against his cock. "How would you like to go to the emergency room to see if they can sew your dick back on. I told you I wasn't turning tricks. I need a job bad enough to suck yoiur cock for it, but not the cocks of your friends. If you try to make me, you are going to find out why the men I worked with over there thought of me as one of the guys." I said. "You would really cut it off?" he asked not at all worried. "It would be a shame to do it, but yeah I would," I said. I didn't really want to but it might be necessary, if I was to ever be more than serving drinks to guys too poor for a night club. "Well, well we got ourselves a serious player here," he said aloud. "I didn't know there any other kind. Look I enjoyed the work over there. I enjoyed the feeling I got from it, so yeah I want to play again. I know that I have to do my time and prove myself, but I'm willing." "Well what's your name?" he asked. "My name is Karen Smith, and that's a fact it really is Smith," I said. "Okay Karen if you want to be a player go over and throw that guy in the pink shirt out." The boss said. "Not a problem, : I said as I stood and walked over to the table where the big man in the pink shirt sat. When I got there I said, "I got a message for you from the boss," I pointed to the man who sent me. "He said you got to leave. If you go now you can come back again, but if I have to throw your ass out, you ain't never coming back." "You too light in the ass white bitch, I ain't going nowhere," he said. I shrugged and walked behind him. I put my arm around his neck and the box opener against his juggler vein. "Your choice friend walk or be carried but you are going." I can honestly say he hadn't expected it from me, since I looked like a prim little thing. Still he got the message real quick. So did the owner of the club. "Come back tomorrow at 2PM," he said as he stood to leave. "Would you have killed that guy?" my informant asked. "I got no earthly idea," I said. ------- Chapter 63 That's how I wound up as a hostess at an illegal drink house. It opened at 9PM and closed at 3AM unless there was a crowd. If that was the case it might go till sun up. It didn't take me long to get well known. I did my thing and a little of their thing, but I did manage to remember who I was. I was collecting information the whole time on the guys who came to the house. Most of them were involved in some kind of petty crime or another. Even though it was petty, the pure volume was significant. I kept a file of everything I learned. Then every couple of days, I made a dead drop to the local Sheriff. We did it as carefully as I could manage. I had no idea how secure the sheriff's man were. It took only a week to begin to miss my old life. Hell I even missed the bike rides out to the lake. In Stoneville, I was back to running and hour a day. Yes that was significantly more than it had been at home. I wasn't getting as much exercise on the job here as I did back home either. After only two weeks of slinging drinks I met a member of the distribution network. He had heard of me from the club owner. "You are Karen Smith?" he asked. "Yeah, what can I do for you?" I asked not quite sure who he was. "I can do something for you. I heard you are a real piece of work. Is that true?" he asked. "Depends on what you mean by that. I can take care of myself, but I'm no killer, even though I have killed men." I said. "They tell me you were in the sandbox. Everybody who was there was a stone killer according to them," he said. "Not true. The ones I knew would tell you that they fired at a position along with about ten other people. You can't tell who actually killed someone unless you are looking right at him when he falls over and that doesn't happen very often." I said. "So you are a truck driver, why are you hustling drinks in this joint?" he asked. "Hustling drinks here gets me in the right place to meet the people who can get me driving the trucks again." I replied. "Well my name is Barry, and I'm the guy to give you a job driving, but only if I'm convinced you won't jump and tun off at the first sign of trouble, leaving my product to the cops." he said. "Well that's a decision for you to make. I know what I will do, you are just going to be guessing. But if the cops stop me by accident, I doubt they would be a skeptical as they would be of a redneck behind the wheel. It's a lot about appearances. If they get to looking, the cops will get your product anyway. So sometimes it's subterfuge and sometime it's horse power." I said. He just nodded, then said, "So do you want the job?" "If the pay is right you know I do," I replied. "I'm sure it will be more than you've ever made before. You drive when I tell you and do what I tell you," he said. "More money than I ever made is how much?" I asked. "I can pay you a grand a week, but it's a lot of runs for that," he said. "As long as I'm not carrying nukes for it, I can handle it," I said. "Can't promise, but we haven't carried one of those yet. So go over and put your tray on the bar and let's go. You can start by driving me around tonight." he said. There was very little doubt in my head that there would be sex of some kind involved in the interview process, "Fair enough," I said. I took him from the small town of Stoneville to the very large town of Charlotte. It was a parking garage across from the airport, where I made my first stop. He directed me to a mid sized American made pickup truck. "That's your truck. I'm going to stay here and you are going to take that truck and go get a load of product. You will off load the product at another location. Then the truck and you go back to Stoneville. I'll call you tomorrow with another pickup. Do you understand?" he asked as he handed me a burn phone. "Yes, is there a gps system in the truck?" I asked. "Yes, so I'll just give you the address for the pick up and delivery and you take care of the rest," he informed me. "I got it," I said. He handed me the note with the address. "When you make the delivery get rid of the note, you won't need it again." The information about future pickups was intentionally vague. He wanted to see how I worked out before he gave me too much information. I determined from it that he was a lower level operative. It was okay, one had to start somewhere. The trucks registration was made out to a lease company. I also had the paperwork to the lease in the folder and it was blank. I assumed that it was counterfeit, since it could be made out in anyone's name. I filled it in with my own name and drivers license number. Well not my own, I used the fake identity we had set up. When I was sure I had papers that would pass a quick inspection, I opened the note from Barry. The drive sent me to a small community in the mountains even more remote than County Seat. There was a dead drop set up for me along a county road. The drop wasn't in Warren Country, so the information on that one would ultimately go to their local Sheriff one day. During that long drive along those lonely roads, I wondered why Barry hadn't demanded sex for the job. After all the club manager had for a whole lot less in the way of reward. Then again I was going to be more involved and possibly Barry wasn't anywhere near the top of the food chain. I wasn't really sure how I felt about not getting sexual with Barry. Men tended not to ignore me once they had sex with me. The attention wasn't always good, but I tended not to get ignored. The drop was in a town in Virginia. I probably passed five other towns that would have bought the product, if it were legal. That was part of the problem with illegal products. The ultimate purchaser paid for the lack of efficiency. It was inefficient in the distribution process, but it was also inefficient in the manufacturing process as well. I would love to make the distribution more efficient, but that wasn't my job. Mine was simply to move a load from a to b with no stops in between. My first job was to record the data where the bad guys wouldn't find it. So I began with Barry. I didn't know his real name just that they called him Barry the Barber. My very first drop had been leads on crimes being committed by the patrons of the drink house. Also I gave as much information on the operation of the drink house as I had. I had included the name of Barry the Barber and two of his henchmen. Then later I reported that I had been offered a job with Barry. I had taken the job of course and had one run under my belt when I gave the location of the two dead drops I had used. I could send a text message and have the drop off monitored before I got there. That was the plan for future operations. I could also give the coordinates of the pick up point so that if it hadn't been made yet we could pick up the person making the drop and follow him or her. So the text message address I had would be the link. I was never to have direct contact with my handler unless it was an emergency. We just left messages for each other. Barry liked my services evidently because he called me the next day. "Karen I need you to stop by the camper cover store on Independence Blvd out near the mall and have a cover put on the truck. Pay for it with cash. I'll leave the money at the bar of the downtown motel. It will be with a bartender name Neil. I'll place the order and will have the right amount to pay for it." "I guess this means I still have a job?" I asked. "Yeah, you did fine but it was a simple task," he said. "Yes it was a simple task," I said. I had been unarmed as far as he knew. I wasn't of course. I had the .38, but that was my back up gun and he didn't need to know. He probably did know about the box opener though. I had trouble finding things to keep busy, so the camper top was a nice change. They didn't want a new comer finding out too much about the operation, so mostly I just make the distribution runs which, though they took a long time, weren't really very taxing. The truck was a black color and the new camper top was black as well. So when I left the motel two night later I was driving the truck with a new cover. I was off for another dead drop. It was almost a hundred miles from the last one. I got to the drop at exactly the right time and found it empty. "I'm at the drop and it's empty. I can't tell if there has been anyone here before me or not," I said into the phone. Calling the number they gave me in case of trouble was a decision I had to make. I know what I would do but I needed to know what they wanted me to do. "So what do you think," the voice said. "I think they are in production and anything could have happened. I can go get a cup of coffee and come back in a half hour. You could also call to see what is going on with the other party." I said. "I could also give you the number and you could coordinate with them direct," he said. "That's up to you," I said. "After all you pay the bills." "Go get the coffee, I would need to clear the other with Barry, and I don't know how to get him. I'll call you back in a half hour." With that he rang off. I turned the truck back into a convenience store parking lot near the highway. I fixed myself a cup of black coffee and had a package of peanut butter crackers. I rested in the parking lot since it had been an almost two hundred mile drive to the dead drop. It was almost the full half hour when the phone rang. "Karen you need to go back to the pick up and see what is going on, but don't stop unless the signal is right. I couldn't reach the contact and it might have been compromised." he said. "Well, if it has they will wait till I load it to swoop down on me. It is only against the law once I take possession of it. So yeah we need to be careful that it isn't a trap." I said. It didn't hurt for me to be the one to remind them that it might be compromised at the production end. ------- Chapter 64 I found the dead drop empty at 3AM when I arrived for the first time. Also when I checked again at 3:30AM. "There is no one at the drop site and no signal. It doesn't look at though anyone has been there at all." I said into the phone. I had no idea who I was talking to at the time. "So what you want me to do now?" I asked. "Are you willing to risk getting picked up by the cops and sweated?" came the reply over the phone. "Well there is nothing to tie me to the product, unless the leasing company is somehow tied up with it all," I suggested. "It isn't. There is nothing to tie the distribution to the production," he said. "I should be able to bluff my way through it. So where do I go," I asked. "Sit tight let me make a call and see where I can send you to check on them," he said, I found a quiet parking lot and waited. It took him till almost 5AM to get back to me. "Go into Blacksburg VA. and stop at the waffle house just off the highway. A man will join you there at 5:45 sharp. He is involved in the production end of the business. He will take you to the product. I know it sounds shaky, but he said that he will check it out before putting you at risk. I was waiting at the waffle house alright. I was also well into a bacon and egg sandwich, when the man came in and sat down. "They said you were a woman, who was trying to look like a man, One look and I knew it was you," the man with curly red hair and a red face said. "This coming from Ronald McDonald," I said with a serious look. "Wow, no sense of humor," he said. "I have been on the road all night, and I feel like shit, so no I don't have much of a sense of humor." I said seriously. "Okay pay your bill and let's go," he said. "Where are we going?" I asked. "It's a few more miles into the mountains but it's all ready and waiting for you." he said. "So you are taking me to where it is made?" I asked. "No, but I'm taking you close to it, Now that all the information I'm giving up," he said. "Fair enough," I said. "But you lead the way and if anyone else is there make sure they are alright, before you call me in the final quarter mile. This has been a cluster fuck so far." "I know more than you do about it. The crew had a fire at the boiler and got behind. They thought they could get it in place before you showed. They must have missed you by a half hour the second time. Then your boss called and said the drop had to be somewhere else and he wanted me to be at the drop site." The partner in change of production said. "I don't know any of that, but the other drop might have been compromised in our opinion." So live with it I thought. "It isn't compromised, but I'll go along anyway, since the original glitch was on my end," He said. "It was on your end yes," I said. "I was right where I was supposed to be, when I was supposed to be there." I was tempted to send a text message to my handler to see if I could get a raid at the second site, but I did not know where it was. It was a half hour later while I was following Ronald that my phone rang. "On down this road about a mile or so there is a barn. In that barn is your pick up point," the voice of the redhead said. "Okay you go in and check it out. Let me know and I'll come in. If I don't hear from you in ten minutes, I'm in the wind." I said. "Fair enough," Ronald informed me. About five minutes later his voice added, "Come on in and lets get it done," "Right you are," I said then swooped in with the truck. It was just five minutes later that I pulled the truck into the barn. Under a tarp were fifty gallon jugs of white liquor with a little extra kick to it. I only had to load it to be back on the road again. Payment was made by bank transfer. I had to make twenty very different stops with the witch's brew. They were all over two states, but I assumed the money was going to be good. I wasn't involved with wholesale middle man. I was the middle man. I delivered the gallon jugs to what appeared to be retailers of the product. They made their payments directly to me. I couldn't make my first delivery until well after dark the first night, so I found a park and took a nap. I would have preferred to get the product under a better lock and key but the camper cover had a really good locking system. I smelled really bad by the time I made the last of the first nights deliveries. I had delivered twenty gallons of the fifty I started with. I also kept track of every locations where I made the deliveries. There were a few high end restaurant, but most were to some guys house. I had to assume that he was a bootlegger of some sort. Except for the lack of sleep, it wasn't a bad gig. I collected a lot of cash for the outfit and felt really good about the information I had collected. I was surprised to find that the money went back to Stoneville. I had expected the operation to be run out of Charlotte or some other larger city. I made the cash drop in a park. There was no way either of us wanted to leave the kind of money I had alone, so it wasn't a dead drop. It was a brush pass. I could live with that. Since I didn't trust anyone to keep me from getting killed, I made the picture with the digital camera of the pickup woman. She was heavily disguised, so I had no idea who she was. It was up to the team and their facial recognition software to ID her. I pushed the button on my phone just as she walked away from me. The of local cops might or might be able to make her leaving the park, I didn't know nor did I care. Just as long as they didn't get me make in the process. After she left I decided that Barry obviously liked women employees. She was about my age, under thirty, and was even more attractive. She was more the girlie girl and I was more the butch type. In my case butch type didn't make me lesbian, it made me an abuses child though, which often make for lesbians. So I guess I did kind of fit the stereotype. I went back to the cheap motel on the edge of Stoneville and went to sleep. I stay in the motel's bed pretty much for two days. I needed the sleep that badly. I went back to the drink house as a customer after the two days rest. I had a drink and danced with some of the local thugs. I had to admit they were just as much fun as the guys I had met through Mary Ellen. I was actually having a good time at the new life. Of course the only person I ever got introduced to of any importance was Barry the Barber. The rest of them, I just managed to find. "For god's sake Sylvia be careful. We do not want to lose you. Of course we don't want to on a human lever, but the intelligence you provide is irreplaceable." My contact said to me in one of our very deep in the wood meeting. We were meeting in person because he wanted to give me a new piece of technology. It was supposed to be a marker of some kind. I was to mix it with the cash from one of the trips. Which would in effect plant it on one of the partners in the business. It would transmit for about thirty days, then self destruct. Which gave new meaning to the term follow the money. I had no idea how it worked but according to the contract it could not be traced back to me. They couldn't even find its electronic signature without a specialized detector. It was only used by military intelligence so far. It was a piece of paper used to wrap money. The whole thing was really James Bond stuff. What it did was allow us to follow the bundle of money right to the place that it was broken down. The text message came a week later and it said, We have the location where something is being done with the money. What they are doing with it there, we don't know but we want to know. Is there any chance you can safely get onto Green's Vineyard and Winery? My answer was, I never heard of it, sorry. Ever heard of Todd the gambler Green?" they responded. No, I never did, I can't make them take me up the ladder. That how operatives wind up in shallow graves, I wrote. If an operative is too careful it is a total waste of time and money, the answer said. Then maybe you should pull me out. I have turned in reams of material with several good obvious leads and probably many more not so obvious. If you can't make use of them you are idiots, I wrote. I was more than ready to go home. Being a delivery driver wasn't near as much fun as the life I lived back in county seat. Okay just calm down Sylvia. If you come across Todd Green or get an invitation to Green Vineyard take advantage of it. That's all I'm saying. I wrote, right, and shut down the connection. On the next run I drove the pickup to a convenience store which was the site of the dead drop. There was a outside storeroom from back in the days when it was a service station. The key was under a bucket in the parking lot. So I opened the door and began to load twenty seven gallons of dragon brew. As before I never saw anyone. The location of the drop was within the same hundred miles of the first two. Even I, who was no analyst, came to the conclusion that the production was being accomplished somewhere in a central location. I spent two days distributing the product and collecting the money. I had learned enough so that I had the camper top reinforced while I was in Charlotte waiting for the next trip. I carried my clothes in a quarter duffle bag and I stopped in campgrounds along the way to shower. I didn't sleep in them, but I did clean up in them. I hated smelling like a wild animal. I locked the money and the product in the reinforced rear of the truck. The reinforcing worked like this. The bed of the truck had a flat piece of reinforced metal welded over it, It also had the tail gate reinforced with a very strong locking system. The camper top was just there for deception. I raised the top of the tail gate and put thing on top of the bed. I could leave the truck for a few minutes and know that the bed would be a bear to break into. ------- Chapter 65 I threw thing on the false floor of the truck as I went along. Within a month I had a lot crap covering the floor. It looked really used without showing the false floor so much. I enjoyed driving it even though it took more gas and more space in the parking lot, than my Toyota had when I lived in that Motel in County Seat. I started looking for an excuses to go to the Green Valley Vineyard. I knew that unless it was a damn good one there would be questions. I had no idea how good my cover was. It wasn't exactly prepared by the CIA. As far as I knew it would only hold up, if they called my supposed bother. If they could get access to the military files I doubted that Karen Smith would show up. Of course the cops said the military connection would hold, but they would say that. The connection came with a trip outside Stoneville. Since I could created a fishing pole with line for next to nothing, I collected the pieces to make one. I had begun to fish in County Seat's water supply, so I knew it was a good way to fill in the down time. I had considered the ole stick and string idea, but decided to go for the more elaborate two dollar driveway marker. It was a four foot long plastic stake. It was under 5/16 in diameter and bright orange. I bought two rods and all the parts to assemble them. There were home made but should stand out where ever I went. I was using butcher's wrapping string, so it wasn't all that strong. I should have bought nylon mason's string, but I hadn't thought of it, when I was at home depot. I manage to rig the short pole with thirty feet of butcher's wrapping string, so I needed some weight at the end of the line. I used a couple of paper clips attached to the stake as line guides. They actually worked pretty well. The line was wound up on a small piece of metal that I glued on with JB Weld. I simply hand wound the line on. I had to pull off what I wanted to throw at my feet before I threw it. I couldn't throw the hook as far as I could with a fancy rod, but I could get it pretty far out depending on the weight I used. The point of all the above information was that there was a mountain stream running through The Green Valley Vineyard. I stopped the truck and began fishing with my ratty old system. As I expected some workers saw me moving toward the stream and reported me. Eventually two men came to discuss it with me. Neither looked like the law to me. "Hey there," the one who looked the roughest said. The other actually looked like a country gentleman. The rough looking one appeared to have a pistol in on holster concealed on his hip. I decided to ignore it. I was not planning to make any trouble over a fishing stream. "Hey, what can I do for you two?" I asked. I never was the shy type. "That's what we planned to ask you. My name is Todd Green I own this property. I don't usually allow fishing," the gentlemanly one said. "Well Mr Green, I'm Karen Smith and I usually ask the owner before I do any serious fishing, but I just saw this stream running by the road and I didn't know who to ask right away. So I figured I would find out whether if it was worth the effort befire asking." I said. "Ah so is it worth the effort?" he asked. "Not so far," I replied. "Actually Mr Green for me it's about the fishing not the catching." I at least said it with a smile. "I don't see anyway for you to carry them away, so I assume you are catching and releasing the fish?" The man with Green asked. "That's right, I have time on my hands so I just catch them as a way for me to get me out into the fresh air. I certainly don't want to keep them to cook. I don't cook much to be honest." I said it smiling. "Well then, why don't you come to the meeting room on the vineyard for dinner on Friday night. That is, if you are in town. It's a small town and I know all the locals," he said. "I'm sort of checking out the fit around town," I said. "So I may or may not be in town, but thank you for the invitation. Right now I am more interested in whether or not I can continue fishing in the stream." Green looked at me seriously and then said, "Fish as long and as often as you like. As a matter of fact there is a farm pond that I stocked with some bass and pan fish. Come on down to the house and I'll introduce you to the wife. Just so that she won't freak out, if she sees you drive into the yard. You can follow us down now." It all sounded very polite and above board, but there was hidden threat. It was clear to me at least that I had better follow along, or there would be trouble. If I hadn't been a woman the threat would have been a lot more open. Even though he had nice manners Todd Green was no gentleman. At least he was no real gentleman. I packed up my rod, which took only a second, tossed it in the back of the truck and followed them. Since the weather had finally gotten warm, I was wearing a tee shirt, without a bra, and cut off jeans. In my case, however, it wasn't sexy. I wore a thick red tee shirt, so it wasn't see through by any means, and the cutoffs were neither short nor tight. I tried to look like the kind of girl who wouldn't get noticed on a crowded street. I thought I succeeded pretty damn well, since neither Green nor his henchman seemed to have a hard on for me. I followed the two slightly older men to a simple farm house. It didn't seem to be the big for fancy house one would expect for a vineyard owner, or a successful gangster to own. It was very realistic to an era of mountain farm houses though. It would have fit in just as well in 1800, 1900, or a 2000 rebuild or restoration in either one. "The house is gorgeous," I said looking at it in awe. "Thanks," Green said. "I grew up on this farm. My family didn't own it, but we farmed it. When I made some real money, I asked my mom what she would like most in the whole world. She said to restore this place and live on it." "Did you get it done while she was still living?" I asked. "I got the house done for her. She passed before I had the vineyard done." he said. "I'm sorry to hear that, but you know that sometimes it's the doing of the work, not finishing of it that is important. It's like being a good soldier, win or lose." I said. "Absolutely, enough people don't understand that," he said. His employee just looked at me. He had said very little and I was afraid I might had blown it by not engaging him as well. The front door of the house opened and a women dressed in shorts and a halter top came out. "Molly I got someone I want you to meet. Molly this is Karen Smith. I found Karen fishing in one of our streams. so I brought her where there were some real fish." "Oh really," the woman, who was a well taken care of women in her early thirties, said. That made her eight to ten years older than me, but she was better looking. "Do you like to fish Karen?" she asked. "To be honest Mrs. Green, I like to be out in the fresh air and I don't like to work out. Fishing gets me out and it's a cheap hobby. I do run everyday, but I hate it." I explained. "My God were we separated at birth?" she asked. "I run down these stupid farm roads but I miss big city gyms and the men who watched me run on those tread mills. I tried fishing but it's just a lot of trouble for very little reward." "Maybe it isn't the fishing, maybe it's the company," I suggested. "Well, why don't you take me fishing with you?" she said. She seemed fairly serious. "Absolutely any time at all. "How about right now," she said pointing to the farm pond. "You need to get yourself a hat," I said. "I have all the stuff to make you a simple rod, so sure." "Give me a minute to get the hat," she said. "This place is pretty remote and my wife doesn't have many friends here," Green said. "Well I just moved here myself, so I can use the friend," I said. "What kind of work do you do?" he asked. "I work for myself. I operate a kind of courier service," I said being just vague enough to hide my employer. Of course since I was told to try to meet him, it was likely that he was my employer. Still I did not want to play a part, I wanted to blend in as realistically as possible. By the time Molly got back from her house I had the my driveway stake pole out of the back of the truck. I also had the extra pole that I carried just in case I ran across a child, or someone else who wanted to fish. In this case it was Molly. "Mrs. Green, we are going to need bait. I'm afraid I didn't plan on catching anything, so I was just using a slice of break from the diner down the road." "Well I don't really want to catch anything either, I have a slice of bread in the kitchen." She turned her attention to the rougher looking man. "Price you know where we keep the bread get me a couple of slices and bring them to the pond. She turned her attention to her husband. "It is alright if I borrow Price for a minute isn't it?" "Of course dear it's fine," Green said. "In that case price sprinkle some pepper on the bread," I said. Molly and I walked off to the farm pond carrying the short plastic poles, and my cloth bag of tackle, When we got to the pond I rigged a hook and leader to the washer, which I kept on the end of the line. Then I put a bobber about two feet from the washer. That put her hook at a depth of about 2 1/2 feet deep. Since I had it ready before price returned I baited her hook with my bread. I showed her how to strip off the line first, then how to throw the bobber out into the pond. The system was very hands on, so it wasn't as boring as fishing usually was. Especially in her over stocked farm pond. She began catching small perch instantly. She was laughing and talking about other times she had been fishing. "I like to fish but like I said earlier, it is mostly getting out of the motel room," I said. "You live in a Motel," Molly asked. "For now, I just got to town a couple of weeks ago. I haven't had time to settle in." I said. "I'm kinda hoping for a friend, if you get my drift." It was clear from the leer that she did. ------- Chapter 66 I was fishing with Molly, when the call from Barry to make a run that same night. I had spent the afternoon fishing with Molly Green, but it was time to end the afternoon and get back to work. It had actually been fun to talk about fairly normal things with a fairly normal woman. I recognized her for what she was, only because I knew. It looked as though she and her husband were normal small business owners on the outside. He was certainly no gun thug. I had no idea what all the Greens were involved with, but it could be anything, I told myself. The vineyard made excellent cover for just about anything, They might not be able to run a horse racing stable without it being noticed, but there wasn't much else that would be noticed. I was back in the motel by six waiting to begin the route. I was also wondering how long it would take Todd to figure out that I worked for him, It really might not be that big a surprise, since his criminal enterprise might take a lot of people to operate. If it did, then he was recruiting from a small labor pool in a town the size of Stoneville. I couldn't nap even though I knew it would be a while before I would sleep well again. I might be able to sleep a little in the truck, but that wouldn't be enough. I knew that from previous experience. Besides I had pissed away any real nap time I might have had while fishing with Molly. At 6PM I rode to McDonald's for a burger and fries before I put the truck on the road. The dead drop was described as a metal tool locker on the side of the road. It was one of those that looked like a portable toilet. It looked like a state highway project tool locker. That particular one was owned by the manufacturer of the Witch's Brew. After visiting the vineyard, I was wondering if Green Valley could be the only manufacturer or the stuff. They could also be the distributors of it. It was possible, but it was also just a possible that Barry worked for someone else and Green Valley Vineyard was a red herring. Hell I didn't know enough to know what I didn't know yet. It wasn't my job to figure it out. It was only my job to locate the pieces of the puzzle. Putting them together was someone else's problem. I drove the truck about an hour and pulled into a highway parking lot. It was on a busier road than we usually used for a dead drop. I opened the heavy metal door with the key I had recovered from under a roadside trash can about half a mile down the road. It was a typical security precaution for a dead drop. When I opened the door I was more than a little surprised. The load was not Witch's Brew. It was briefcase probably filled with hard drugs. At least that's what I assumed was in the case. I was in a bit of a quandary. I could open them to test, or I could ask, but the cops were surely going to ask me. So the best I could do was try to identify the delivery sites to the bosses. So that they could identify the pick up people. It might be possible from that to identify what I had. I sent the txt message with the delivery locations forward to the team working surveillance. They should arrange for some kind of response to the pickup. After I sent the message I disabled the phone and removed the battery. They knew not to message me, but I made damn sure that it didn't happen. I didn't want a message coming at the wrong time and getting me killed. The briefcase distribution would be easier than the gallon jugs of booze had been. This stuff was high dollar product. Even more so than what I had been dealing. I was to meet the wholesalers and collect from them, With so much money involved I was supposed to pick up a partner for the transactions according to the same text that told me where to deliver it. I would have been shocked if I hadn't had someone to keep an eye on me. The directions I received when I messaged Barry were simple. I was to go to the larger town of Sparta, there I would drop off one the four envelopes in the brief case. The one marked Sparta of course. I would get an envelope full of money to transport to a location to be name later. I would also meet a person in Sparta who would travel with me. It was clear to me that this was a promotion, since there was a hell of a lot more money involved. Still it was basically the same job, just a little more dangerous I would assume. If I had not been an undercover cop the level of punishment for the crime, would have gone up. So I assumed I should ask for more money, first though I had to get the product delivered. In Sparta my partner was suppose to be waiting for me at the large convenience store at the intersection of the county road leading into Sparta, and the interchange of the U.S. highway running through the mountains. I didn't see a car outside the convenience store, so I was worried. What I did find was a man about five years younger than me standing by the door. "You Karen," he asked as I walked in. "Sometimes," I replied. "Who does that make you?" "Barry's friend Bruce," she sniffed after he said it. "That better be a cold, and not a habit," I said of the sniffles. "It is," he said. "Barry said you were tough for a broad." "Bitch, I'm tough for anybody, Let's make the fucking delivery." I said. "You ain't in charge of me," he said after we were out of the building. "Get this straight Bruce baby, I'm in charge of the product, so I'm in charge of you. You got a problem with that the you tell Barry, not me." I turned and walked to the truck. I looked in the mirror and saw him talking on the phone. I decided not to wait. I started the truck and backed it into the parking lot to turn around. Just as I got it back far enough to make the swing, the clown pulled on the door. I opened it for him and I also also held the .38 out of sight. He knew what the cargo was most likely, and he knew that I was all that stood between him and the money. "Barry said to do as you said, so what do you say?" he asked. "Well we have a delivery to make here in Sparta, so keep your eyes open," I demanded. I followed my GPS directions which led to a closed service station on the side of the road. It was the design of an old country store, that kind of service station. It had one bay with a large retail space on the side. It also had a covered portico, where the pumps used to sit, connected to the building. "Bruce keep your eyes open. This place is too spooky for me." I said. "You worry too much," he said. "Well, if they don't come up with the right signal, we are leaving," I demanded. "There are supposed to be two different blinking lights in that retail space." We waited across the road for the signal. It never came. "Bruce something is wrong." I had already decided to drive off when someone with a gun came our of the side door of the station. I put the throttle down on the pickup truck to the floor. Just as I did the overhead door came up on the station. It was just slow and creaky enough to give me a slight lead on the car that came out. It look like some kind of European family car. If they planned a run it through the mountains, I didn't think it was, but we would see for sure pretty quickly. Because I had driven a patrol SUV in Warren county, I had practiced driving it on mountain roads. I hoped these boys in the sedan hadn't. I roared off to a pretty fair lead. I turned to Bruce in the dim light and asked, "Bruce do you know anything about this?" "Of course not. Think about it, I didn't even know where the delivery was. I was just your bodyguard," he said, "Well Barry is gonna have to figure this out quick, because we are about to go operational," I said. "I had a bad feeling about all of it but a that moment I needed to get rid of the guys on my ass. Then worry about who knew what, when. "Bruce do you know this road?" I asked. "I'm from a town a hundred miles away. I have never been on this road." I'm gonna bet you they are herding us into a roadblock." I said. "Why didn't they take us at the building?" he asked. "They obviously didn't know what the signal was," I said. "You can really drive this pickup," he said. "You damn well better hope so. I got a feeling they won't be leaving any witnesses, if they catch up to us." I said. "So what is your plan," he said. "My plan is not to let them catch us," I said. "We could double back and ambush them," he said. "If I get that far ahead in the truck, I'm going to lose them. If they catch up, you can shoot it out with them, If that is indeed what you want." I said. "I just saw a sign for a picnic area ahead," he said "Well Bruce you got balls I'll give you that. You got no idea how many or how they are armed." I had no time to think it over. I made the instant evaluation that we didn't have any advantage in the vehicles so we might as well risk it. Before I could prepare for it we were at the entrance to the rest area. I almost rolled the truck making the turn into the mini park. It if had been a right turn, I would have rolled the truck. I made it into the parking lot where I saw the sign that the bathroom were locked until daylight. As soon as the truck stopped I grabbed the briefcase and the Sparta envelope. I put it back in the case and out of the car I went. I went into the night with it. Bruce was right behind me. He grabbed my arm, "Where we going?" he asked. "We are going to stake out the car. If they come in we are going to hunt them, to keep them from hunting us," I said. "Then we ain't running?" he asked. "I'm not, you can if you want. I'm leaving here eventually." I said. What I couldn't afford to do was to kill anyone or let them kill us. I had hoped we could figure out something to chase them off. Barry could work on what had caused the breach in security later. We were only about twenty five or thirty feet from the pick up when th two of them searched it. When they finished, the one who was obviously in charge made a call. "The seem to have gotten away with the meth." They waited a second then said. "No Sir the only thing we can do it stake out the pick up or follow them into the woods. They are definitely on the run." He listened some more. "Alright sir we will sit on it a while." "We are going to take them," I said. "But not shooting. We can leave them alive, but embarrassed." "I like it. Let's see where they settle in." ------- Chapter 67 The two men from the big Mercedes searched the truck looking for the drugs. Then they tried the bathroom, but it was locked like the sign said. Then they went back to the Mercedes to wait. They had to know we had cell phone, so they should have expected our thug army to be on the way. Since they appeared to be just waiting, I called Barry. "We got problems here," I said. "What kind of problems?" He asked the concern in his voice. "When we got to our first delivery the signal from the pickup people was wrong. I thought it was an ambush, so I split. The came after us like it was a hijacking. We had to leave the truck in a parking lot on the side of the road and take to the woods." I said. "So where are you now and where is my package?" he asked. "We're fine, thanks for asking. I have your package and we are watching the men, who are watching my truck," I informed him. "There are two of them right now, but they might be waiting for friends and daylight to pursue us." "They are watching the truck to be sure you don't come back and take off. When the sun comes up they will try to find you. It's not a good place to be at night," Barry said. "You are right it's cold that's why I called you." I replied. "It's going to be morning before I can get a crew. That's the bad news. The good news it will probably take them just as long, if they can arrange one at all," Barry said. "Well do what you can Barry," I said. "Don't do anything stupid," he replied. "You mean like trying to avoid frostbite," I said. "It isn't that cold. You stay put and just wait till daylight," was Barry's advice. "So Bruce, Barry said to sit tight and he might come for us. More likely he will come for his drugs. To be honest with you Barry is out of his element in the woods at night. Maybe they will be here sometime tomorrow, but I doubt it. Besides which the bad guys are going to have gun thugs on the way as well. So what do you want to do?" I asked. "I want to sit tight like Barry said," was his answer. He was shivering I expected he needed the obvious pointed out to him. "Well its about six more hour till daylight, and thats just sunrise. There won't be any heat from the sun reaching the forest floor. It is gonna be more like 10AM before that happens. We have no idea which group of gun thugs get here first, so it's several hours of being chilled and then it's watch either a grand reunion or a gun battle of some sort which our side might or might not win." "Yeah, it don't sound like the best possible world does it?" he asked. "No it don't. There is an alternative," I suggested. "I had a feeling you had an idea. It involves us ambushing them don't it?" he asked. "Yeah, I'm afraid so. There is a good side though," I said. "What is that?" he asked. "We can wait till daylight, if things don't look right," I said. "What do you call right?" he asked. "Well we want them back in the car first of all. If they both get in the care we can get behind them. If not, then we wait for daylight," I suggested. "We are going to get really cold while we wait for them to get back in the car. Aren't we?" he said. "Yeah there are some down sides," I admitted. "They aren't soldiers and likely never were, so they won't take long to get to cold and move to the car. Also when they first get in they will likely turn on the car so they won't be able to hear shit." I looked over at Bruce in the almost total darkness. He shook his head and then said, "Well it sure would make me feel better to get them out in the cold." Bruce looked really cold. He clearly wasn't dressed for it, but then neither was I. Weather at night got really cold in the mountains. We were in the spring of the year, but it still had to be down in the low forties by that time. I wasn't going to give them time to fall asleep for one thing they might be going to have people coming, so if we had the opportunity, we had to go with it. Oh they got back in the car but they left the windows rolled down. It was about an hour after I left the truck and I was pretty damn miserable. I knew Bruce had to be as well, but he didn't want to show it. "Okay," I whispered. "We can work our way around behind them, We should be able to slip up on the car, since they have the heater on. They think we are in the wind and they are just sitting on the car to deny us use of it. We slip up and put a pistol in each one's ear." "Sounds good, do we shoot them," he said. "It would be much, much better if we didn't." I said. Bruce just nodded. It took us over an hour to work our way around the edge of the parking lot. It was dark as hell and we stayed on the dark side of the parking lot lights. When we were directly behind the car I motioned for Bruce to move forward and I did the same. I was at a very bad angle for the driver to point his pistol at me. He did have the window down thinking it would help him hear. Those heater motors were so powerful I would have had to be a cow in order to make enough noise to be heard above it. "If you move, you are both dead, so think about you friend," I said. "Hand me your pistol over your shoulder. By the barrel," I added. "You do exactly the same thing she said," Bruce added as he spoke to the passenger. "Now I want you out of the car. Bruce search them." I demanded. "Right you are," he said as he patted them both down. I wanted to get out of that parking lot quickly. I took the keys to their car and threw them into the woods. "Now guys I want you to start walking toward the woods. Bruce here is going to keep a gun on you till I get the truck started. When he gets into the truck, you can start walking back. I am going to leave your cell phone on the front seat, so you can call for help. I imagine you already have help on the way but, I'm going to take a chance. So good luck," I said. It was quite a speech but took only a couple of minutes before we were off. "You may be sorry you left the cell phone," Bruce said. "Hey I'm a driver not a gun thug," I said. What I didn't say was that I memorized the number. The cops could hack it and tell me who the hell was trying to rip us off. We were at least ten miles from Sparta when I called Barry. We were stopped at a busy convenience store at at interstate entrance drinking back coffee. "So Barry, we are back in the truck and still have the packages," I said. "I told you to hold up and I would come get you," he said. "So you won't need anywhere near as many thugs to come get us," I said. "Find a restaurant and hold up while I get to you," he demanded. "I'm across from a Waffle House Restaurant.," I got the gps coordinates and sent them along. "There you go, now bring your cash cause we are ordering breakfast and you are paying." "You don't tell me what to do," he said with a bit of an attitude. "Then I won't go to the restaurant, I'll go back to the parking lot and make a new deal with the guys there," I said. "That smart mouth is going to get you killed," he said. "It is a lot harder to get rid of a body, than to just stop calling me," I said. "You are right about that. I'll be there in a couple of hours, since I don't have to raise an army." he said. I had made enough twists and turns so that I wasn't worried about the bad guys finding us accidentally. We drove across the road to the Waffle house and I ordered a steak and eggs breakfast. I had never had one, so it was a different experience. I had also never had a thug supervisor buy my breakfast. It was just a day filled with firsts. When Barry showed up an hour later he didn't look near as handsome as I remembered. I guess it was having always seen him in the half darkness before. "Damn Barry, I know I look like hell, but I been up all night running through the woods. That's my excuse I hope yours is as good." I said smiling. "You got the shipment?" he asked. "Yes and try to stay calm you are drawing attention to us," I said. I also looked over my shoulder and saw Molly walk up and have a seat across from me. I knew better than to try to figure it out, so I just looked surprised. "Surprise Karen, you had a rough night I hear," she said. "I don't know what to say," I said trying to appear confused. "Don't look so shocked, you work for me. Well me and Todd," she said. "I do?" I asked. "Yeah Barry here manages the distribution for the winery. We have a few products and clients that aren't in the catalog or the customer data base," she said. "Okay, I guess. I'm going to need sometime to come to grips with this," I said. "Nothing to it Karen, we are all on the same team here. That's all there is to know. We need to go somewhere quiet to talk," Molly said. "Well talking, I can do, but I can't give you any answers. I got nothing but questions," I said. "They will wait till we get somewhere quieter," Molly said. "You armed?" she asked as we got to the truck. "Yes I have a .38 revolver. Just a little colt chief special." I said. Do you want it?" "I should take it, trust me Karen, it won't help you now." Molly said. I knew at the very least she had tried to make me nervous and she had. I kept absolutely quiet until we pulled into an empty garage. One that had been used for gang activity, based on the fancy graffiti. Bruce and I were seated in chairs in the middle of the floor. Really bad looking men surrounded us. I expected it to get physical at any moment. I was up to my ass in paranoid fantasies at that moment. When all the shit went rancid I dumped the cop burn phone and now I was glad that I had. I had expected Barry to be looking for any possible leaks and I was the FNG. Being the 'Fucking New Guy' was enough to get you killed in a situation like this. At least it had been in combat zones. Still there was Bruce, who was new to me, so maybe he would take the heat off me. "Before we get started here let me tell you that my money is on the home team," I said. ------- Chapter 68 Barry looked as though he was going to do the questioning. He stood in front of us seemingly waiting for Molly to leave. He looked at her and she looked back as if to say, she was going to watch and enjoy it. So much for strong women bonding over a homemade fishing rod, I thought. Barry said, "It would be easier if, the one who sold us out owned up to it." "First of all Barry I was kept in the dark as to where to take the package until I picked up Bruce. You told us where to go, and I drove straight there. If I had given it up ti someone, I did it withing ten minutes of our arrival there. So that doesn't even make sense. If I were you, I would look at people who would reasonably be able to do it. I would stay away from those with no possible way of doing it. I especially wouldn't bother with those two people who save my package for me. But you do whatever you want. I personally know nothing, but I can't speak for Bruce. "Why don't I just kill you both and be sure," he said. "Let's see, how about murder is a capitol offense. Making someone totally disappear it pretty hard to do. As they say, if it were easy, there wouldn't be nearly as many married couples," I said it pretending to stay calm. "You said your money was on he home team, what did you mean?" Molly asked. "Someone in Barry's operation. The way I figure it somebody else beside Barry know where we are going to make the dead drop. He has to have someone scouting, or picking the places. The person probably deals with half a dozen more. So all those people know where it's going to be. The big problem would be when, and that wouldn't be too hard to figure out. If nothing else just based on the amount of activity on the night of the drop, So the question is who had access to the location and would have either known or seen the activity surrounding a drop, but not have had access to the signal?" I suggested. "Also where are the real pick up people and how badly were they treated. Maybe it was the home team, if you get my drift. Either way I would move past the messenger drivers, who risked their asses to save your junk. But hey that's just the slow girl talking," I added. Barry didn't say anything he just looked at Holly who nodded. It was the look in her eye that gave her away. The only visible scar I had was the one on my throat. That was only because I wore long sleeves still, I had a feeling that was about to change. I just knew I should have brought those Vicodin along. Barry used Bruce for a punching bag. It was pretty horrible, but I gauged the level of violence from it. He was torturing him as much as he was looking for a quick confession. If it had been Bruce, I figured he would have given it up. I knew I was going to give it up after I made them work for it a little. It had always been my plan to stay alive. Barry finish with Bruce and turned to me. He smiled at me and I said, "So since you knew the when and where, who is going to beat the shit out of you." "Boss knows I wouldn't sell her out. We don't know about you. Now do we." He said. "We know I drove off when Bruce wanted to walk into a trap. We know I pulled into the parking lot where I could ambush them and save the package. That's what we know about me, what do we know about you?" I asked with a smile. I knew it was coming but it sure as hell didn't make it hurt any less. "Not the face," Molly said. Barry punched me in the left breast. I had been hit there before but the most recent blow was while I was wearing the vest and it was by a slug. I screamed because of the old injury. It was gut wrenching. "That's enough," Molly said. Then she walked up and spoke to me. "You been hurt there before?" "Kicked by a no good man," I said. "And him," she asked. "He lost his vision in one eye," I said. Molly laughed, "Barry I would watch out, if I were you. Now Karen how would you figure out who ratted us out." "How the hell would I know. Who had the information to give away, in time to use it. It looks to me like with all the dead drops, you are pretty security minded. So I would look at the other side for answers. I have said that all along." "You have indeed. So let me tell you that you sound innocent, but you won't be off the hook till we find the one who sold us out. You won't be working for us till then," Molly said. "Well I hope you do it quick because I am not wealthy and I don't have any sell out money to live on," I said. "Well me and Todd are going to want to keep you close at hand till this is settled, so you move out to our place and work on the vineyard." she said. "Mrs. Green, I know nothing about grapes," I said. "Then maybe we will put you in the grape jelly division," she said with a smile. It might have all been pleasant if it didn't hurt when I breathed. It was a physical reminder these people were not playing around. If I needed more, I could look at Bruce. I didn't try to negotiate a deal for Bruce. I probably should have, but I was too interested in staying alive myself. I also didn't want another beating even though mine had been minor. I still had to go to the Emergency Room, since there was a possibility of a punctured lung. Turns out I had rebroken the rib. Well Barry had broken it. I make a note that Barry was going to pay for the rib. Then moved past it. I drove the truck to the motel. I had one of Barry's men to help me load up. Then I drove to the vineyard and waited in the kitchen till Molly came. "Okay Karen, I am going to put you in one of the many tiny houses we built for seasonal workers from out of state," she said. "Out of state, or out of the country?" I asked. She looked like she might want to hit me herself, then she smiled, "We have the same policy as the White House. We don't ask, as long as they vote democratic at least once." she said. "Okay, but I'm a Republican," I said. "I never doubted it for a moment," she replied with a laugh. She honestly seemed to think that all was forgiven. She was the boss, so I guess she was allowed to be delusional. That's what it was to think I had forgotten Barry's punch to my chest. The tiny house she put me in was one that probably held ten migrant workers during the summer. It was empty at the time, since there was no harvesting or vine prep going on in early spring. When they had put the vineyard to sleep last fall, they had done all the things possible to make the season start a little later in the year. The only thing I cared about was getting enough information to put Barry in prison for life. I wouldn't mind if he carried the Green Valley Vineyard owners along with him for the ride. Of course I figured the cops would be looking for my body about that time. I needed to post the "I'm alive but in trouble coded message onto the Internet." It was a message that required the operation to shut down any new phases till they either heard from me or recovered the body. Yeah I know it's a dark way to look at things, but it was the only reasonable thing to do. When I saw Molly, at lunch I asked, "So are you keeping me incommunicado or can I send email and get messages." I asked. "For now, I'd rather you didn't have any contact with the outside world," Molly said, "That's fine for now, but I keep in touch with some people, who have instructions should I drop off the face of the planet. They will be getting in touch with people who would come looking for me." I said. "How long do we have," Molly asked seriously. "Couple of days easy," I said. "By then we should know who it was who tried to screw us," Molly suggested. "Good, I would like to be back out on my own. I don't mind the rent free digs but I would like to meet new people now and then." "Well how about meeting old friends in a new way," Molly said. "Now that could mean a lot of things," I said with a laugh. "Yes, it most definitely could," Molly agreed. Then she left me alone to settle into the tiny house as best I could. By that time I was pretty sure the controller would be thinking I might be dead. The delivery location I gave them would be all wrong for how a dead drop should look after. The after action report I did not file, I had to skip it because I didn't have a phone either text or voice. It was likely to be a few days before I could send a message. Most likely the controller thought it was too late to rescue me. Either I would surface, or I was probably dead. I'm sure that was what he thought, because it would be what I expected. I decided to forget the cop business for a while because there was nothing else I could do. I sat in the little house trying to figure out how I could keep warm. It had three blankets which would help some for sure. I took a look and determined they were government issue. The government buys blankets so cheep they are just a rectangle of some kine of synthetic material. They were unbound and had nothing to hint at which end was meant to be used where. I have a feeling there were used previous at some kind of disaster or other FEMA type moment. For heat there was a coal stove of sorts. I had never seen an unlined metal stove. I had especially never seen one so inexpensively made. It wasn't much more than a five gallon bucket with some sand in the bottom and a hood over the top. There was some stove pipe to get the fumes out of the room. The room was so poorly sealed I'm not sure anyone would be effected by the carbon monoxide. That first night Molly couldn't seem to get far enough away from me, or do it fast enough. To her I was sure to be poison and I could understand why. If I doubted they wanted to share a bottle of wine with a turned out to be the one who sold them out, they would most likely kill me. I skinny chick one night, then put a bullet in her head the next morning. Still it had been done before, not to me of course, but to others. I was a bit nervous but once I took the meds from the ER, I drifted right off. ------- Chapter 69 I awoke in the small bed wrapped in strange blankets and in a small cold room. I was pretty miserable, but I realized that I should be happy to be alive. Even if sitting up was so painful it took at least ten different attempts in different ways to manage it. The bathhouse was a lot like the ones in campgrounds from kiddie camps. There were ten shower heads on the wall and ten sinks on the wall. There were not any doors on the partition around the eight toilets. It was very much a kids camp ground at least in design. There was no heat in the bathhouse, so I decided to wait until later in the day. Meanwhile I hoped I got invited to use the bathroom in the main house. Hey it could happen, I thought. I figured the odds at about the same as me running into town for breakfast. I went back to the tiny house and tried to settle in. I managed to get a fire going it was painful but I managed it. Being in the field as a air force policemen helped with those basic camping skills. Now and then we built a real fire at one of the guard posts. Probably wasn't a good idea but we did it anyway. So the fire in the bucket stove was doable for me. The fire made the tiny house survivable. I would hardly call it livable. I was in constant pain from the damaged rid. About an hour after I awoke the probably illegal maid came down with a tray she called breakfast. It was some oatmeal kind of gruel and a boiled eggs. It was probably one of the simplest breakfasts I had ever eaten. It was also one of the blandest. Eggs without salt, no matter how they were prepared, were terrible. The same was true of gruel. I had a feeling I was getting a feel for being an 18th century orphans diet. I wrapped myself in the blankets and lay on the bed. I must have slept some because it didn't seem like a long time before the maid was back with a bowl of beans and a bowl of greens. There was no meat, but the beans had some kind of sauce that made them pretty good. The greens were just greens. One thing for sure, if it kept up I would be healthier than I had been. If Barry had expected me to cringe when he came in, he was disappointed. I pulled back some to make him feel safe. "Get up bitch," he said. So I had a pretty good idea where I stood. "We found out it wasn't you who tipped off the rip off guys." "I told you that last night," I replied. "Well you gonna stay here till you healed up some. The Greens said you could move into the big house, if you wanted." he said. I fought real hard not to tell him to relay a go 'fuck yourself' message. Instead I said, "I'm okay here. I would like some better food though. Looks like they are feeding me from the field hand pots." "I'll relay the message. Oh Karen, I hope there is no hard feelings. It was just my job, I had to do it." Barry tried to sell it to me. "Yeah, I could she how much you hated it," I said. "Honest, I did not enjoy beating you or Bruce." he informed me. "Where is Bruce?" I asked. "They kept him in the Hospital. We are taking care of him. He won't talk. He has nowhere else to go." Barry informed me. "Ain't nothing to me if he talks. I just drove a truck and picked up a package. I didn't assault anybody," I informed Barry. But once you relax that is all going to change, I thought, but didn't say it. "True, we are all going to plead ignorance, for some of us it is true." he said with a smile. "That sounds about right." I agreed. "Well, I'll pass on your message about the food," he said and left. I didn't want to rush out and give him a beating. I wanted something more subtle for him. Maybe something more permanent, I thought. I knew I needed the maid to bring food for a few more days, then I needed to get a burn phone and make contact with the state cops. It was about time to get back to work. I had no problem putting the Greens away, even if they were taking care of me. Without their 'help' I wouldn't need taking care of at all. Dinner that night was late, so I was beginning to think I had pissed them off, and that was fine as well. A nice long prison stay was just the vacation for them and their pet Barry, I decided. Dinner finally came, it was some Italian dish with pasta and tomato sauce. I really didn't care for it, but I had to admit it was better than the garbage they fed the farm hands. I got myself ready for bed after dinner, since there wasn't much else I could do. There was only one electrical outlet in the workers camp. It was in the screened dinning hall. The more I looked at the place the more I was convinced it had once been a church camp or something like it. The tiny house I was staying in could easily have been a camp cabin designed for four bunk beds. It probably was reconfigured for a couple of families. A few might be empty now, so that furniture could be used to reconfigure it on short notice. "Hello in the house," I heard Molly voice say. "Hello yourself, come on in," I said through the storm door, which was the only door. Once Molly was inside she looked around for about half a minute. "Get your shit together." she said to me. Then she screamed to someone outside. "Get you ass in here and load Karen's thing in her truck, and get them up to the house. Have them put in the guest house for now. I'll figure out tomorrow where she is going to stay, but tonight she will be in the guest house." She turned to me and said, "Karen I am so sorry. I told them the guest house and I suppose they thought I meant this dump. This is the illegal's area we also call them guests. At least they gave you the best of the houses." "So is the cholera quarantine sign still on the worst of the houses?" I asked. "At least you haven't lost your sense of humor," she said "Tell me did you find your rat?" I asked. "Yes it was like you said one of Barry's scouts," Molly said. "How convenient," I said. "What does that mean," she asked. "Just that Barry almost kills Bruce and would have done the same to me, but you listened. He was in a hurry to find the 'guilty' party. In such a hurry he didn't care if the one he sent down for it was guilty or not. But hey Just my opinion it don't mean a thing." "I think it's more about him breaking your ribs, than it is about who ratted on us," she said. "You might be right," I said. "It is still convenient that it is one of the people I said and one he can control the narrative. I'll bet you my bonus for recovering your drugs, that the scout died without you or Todd talking to him. All you have is Barry's word that he confessed." "Once I get you installed in a decent place, you can we contact those people who are going to come looking for you?" she asked changing the subject. "Sure it's some guys I once had a thing with. If they don't hear from me every month, they are supposed to visit one of those file a sharing sites. That site keeps my last known address and phone number on file. They have the address and number of the motel." I said. "So you what send\t your old boy friends a 'I'm fine' message and they send back a good to hear from you?" Molly asked. "Molly, I love you dearly but you had an almost sexual look on your face while Barry worked Bruce over. You had another one when he broke my ribs again. I'm sorry I'll keep the details of how my people work a little longer, if it's all the same to you." I said. "And if it's not all the same to me," she asked. "Then we will both know where we stand fairly quickly," I said. "Just see to it that no one comes looking for you and that you don't tip anyone off exactly where you are," she said. "Sweetie, I'm no fool. I don't want people looking for me either. I just wanted to make sure you knew that Barry can't just make me disappear. I do have people who will come looking." I said. "It was kind of a pact written. Litterally in blood." "Just a minor inconvenience," Molly said. "That's true for all of us, but the inconvenience stops for the one who is dead. Then it begins for the ones trying to stay alive. I have been close enough to death that I realize it is a ticking time bomb. One that may be better then the alternative sometimes." "How do you contract these people," she said. "Email," I said. "Actually a coded email. It's an old military trick a variation of your dead drop. Four of us who were in the same unit devised it to keep track of each other. See, the only way you know someone is gone is when they miss a check in. If they don't miss a check in, you assume they are fine. You give them a certain amount of time before they are late. Then you give them some more before you sent the calvary." "So you aren't going to tell me how you do it are you," she asked. "Sure, if you like it's a one time code when I use it the code becomes useless and the cycle starts all over again with a new code." She didn't need to know that it was the cops monitoring the drop. "That's pretty tricky, why would an ordinary driver, of an ordinary truck, need such an elaborate system?" the male voice asked from outside the door. "If the driver of the truck didn't plan to stay a truck driver, and she had seen enough to know everybody is at least stepping on the line, so why not go ahead and step over it. Truck driving is one of my skills Mr. Green, but I never said it is the only one." I said. "I see, so what do you consider your real talent?" Molly asked. "Mrs. Green, I solve problems. It is what I have done from Afghanistan to Iraq. I was put in those places as a simple air force soldier. The air force doesn't do anything violent, so no one really suspected me. Things happened problems went away. That's what I did best." "That's pretty far fetched. How do I know that it is not just a fantasy of yours," Todd asked. "You pick a problem, after I heal, and I'll make it go away, or I'll go away." I said. "Oh yes I have one more talent that comes in handy." "Oh what is that," he asked. "Well I'm good company," I said. "So what?" he asked. "If I had to have someone around to do that Barry character's job, I would want someone who was good company," I said with a very large smile. "So let me get this straight. If I brought you to the house, gave you a nice place to recover, you would send this coded message to your killer friends, and you would show your appreciation in other ways as well?" Todd asked. ------- Chapter 70 Todd had it right and he knew it, so I just nodded. I mostly wanted to get back in touch with the cops on the outside. Just in case Todd and company killed me, I didn't want them to get away with it. Nobody really wants justice. What we really want is both eyes for an eye. Of course a whole mouth full of teeth for a single tooth. So yeah, I wanted to start working in that direction. Of course I had a Louisville Slugger planned for Barry. The amount of damage grew with every insult. At the moment he was working on getting me access to a computer. I was pretty sure it was an easy thing. They had my computer from the motel and they had a wireless network on the vineyard, so there wasn't any problem. Of course they had their expert hacking into my computer files. They weren't going to find anything. I transmitted everything to a file drop, and I never used Windows for doing anything but playing games and chatting. All my files were sent through an operating system on a flash drive. It packed and unpacked itself with every use. That was also gone. Even though the system scrubbed itself with every use, I had it in my pocket when the shit went foul. I just dropped it in the trash in the roadside park. I felt like they wanted to keep the basic computer long enough to send it to a pro for analysis. "I had to get you a new computer," Barry said. "That's why it took so long." "Oh why do I need a new computer?" I asked. "Ask Ms Green, not me," he said. "I'm sure they are looking for clues to see if they can figure how to deactivate my 'You kill me, I kill you' system. I said with a smile. I would be," I said. The whole lie thing was complicated, far too complicated to maintain in perfect shape. Most total fabrications were. There was no team of elite killers out there. There had been no air force striker teams. Those teams were special ops people However, if it kept me alive, I'm sure they would understand. If the bad guys Googled Air Commandos, they would find entries. Add to that everyone's belief that the Government lied about the real reason those people existed and you had a viable cover story. Also I was pretty tough for a white girl so it seemed possible. Anyway I had to deal with a new computer which probably had been cloned. So my options were to not contact the controller at all, or do the drop things just like I told Todd I would. If Todd were more an operative and less a thug, he would know letting me leave a message was dangerous. Way more dangerous than any possible benefit it would bring. But I had downplayed the thing to the point that my attitude seemed to be, 'It don't make a fuck to me. It's your ass. I'm only tell you to save my friend some trouble and To have a job when they leave.' "So send your message," Barry said. He obviously planned to take the computer when I finished, I went all around hell to get into my email which would have been simple if I had signed directly into Yahoo. com. I wanted to give there 'expert' something to find. I had no emails in my personal account. I moved to a bulletin board where I could post a message. The thread on the open forum was titled, 'Messages left in the sand box, ' There were about a hundred messages left there. We, the cops, didn't create the thread. We just co-opted it. Most of the messages meant nothing to us. The one that had been added since I had gone on that trip was. ET Call Home. Which was a very simple code for they were looking for me. Before Barry could stop me I added. 'The zoo is nice this time of year, ET' I don't expect that it got send. I expect that it got blocked somewhere till they read it. I based that only on what I would do in their place. If it did get to the BB, it would tell the contract that I was alive. It would also tell them I was being watched and a captive. Probably not something the Green family would want a bunch of Mercenaries to know. There were no mercenaries, but they had to wonder, if there were. They also had to wonder what my relationship to them was. I still spent a lot of time in bed. I was healing and able to move around with the help of the drugs. I didn't like them, but I had to have them or I couldn't move at all. I felt like I was in better shape than I had been after the shooting. It seemed I was able to move around faster. I was pretty sure the contact with the state police had just settled in to wait for me to get back in touch. That was what the message meant, on one level at least. The Green family gave me a week to heal before the came to collect on all that big talk. The stuff I had come up with to try to save my life. Did I want to have sex with the Greens, yes but only as a means of putting them in jail. I still remembered how Molly had looked when Barry was beating me and Bruce. "You and Molly are close enough to the same size so that you can wear this. Take a long shower and wash and dry your hair. I will send Barry for you in a couple of hours. And you better be as grateful as you promised." Todd said. He also smiled a smile that was somehow similar to the one Molly wore while Barry was tap dancing on Bruce's head. I did the shower thing and I actually felt much better afterward. I was clean and smelling good for a change. After the shower all I had to do to my hair was towel it dry and bush it. The slightly long crew cut was no problem to get fixed. I might not have looked like a beauty contest winner, but I was no pig either. When Barry arrived to get me, he was nodded his head and smiled. "So you are very attractive for a woman they found fishing on the side of the road." "I had no idea who the Greens were," I said. "I was just killing time." "You are right there is no way you could have known he would go by that location at that time. So we figure that it wasn't a set up. Looks like all the rest just happened," he said. "Well I don't normally believe in coincidences, but there it is," I agreed. "True, you got to know Mrs. Green isn't really bisexual. She just goes along with it for him." Barry said. "I'm not either, so if she doesn't want to do it, I'm fine with it," I said. "You would still make love to her without her doing anything in return?" he asked. "Well if I have sex with someone strictly to save my life, or even to keep my job, then what is the difference whether I give him or her head?" I said. "Well don't tell her that. He is still hoping she will enjoy doing it one day. Who knows you might be the one." Barry commented. "Well my guess is we are going to find out tonight," I said. "Yes we are," Barry said. His look told me there was more to it than a simple threesome. "As a matter of fact lets go on over to the main house and we can get the evening started." I had eaten in the kitchen with the staff for the last couple of days, but it sounded like I was having dinner that night with the lord and lady of the house. I was also wearing the slightly sexy dress his wife had sent over. I would ordinarily have been in jeans or something similar. The dress was very short and had a very low neckline. Since Todd had made it clear that I was going to have to pay off on my offer to screw the both of them, I didn't bother to wear anything under the short dress., I walked over to the house with Barry. "Would you like a drink?" he asked when we arrived. "Frankly, I am taking so much junk for pain, I'm afraid to, but thanks anyway," I said. "Well then you won't need the alcohol to lower your inhibitions," he said. "Not this time," I said. "That's good. Boss likes for Mrs Green to be the aggressor. It works better for them both if you can just go along," Barry said. "Barry I can go along with anything but pain. Real pain and I react instinctively," I admitted. "Somebody might get hurt." "I think Molly knows that. Besides she might be wanting to protect you. She also gets this motherly thing now and then. You are the kitty with the thorn in her paw." he said. "Well hon it's more than a thorn. If I have sex with anyone. I'm going to have to be on top or on my knees. No one can not be on top," I said. "Karen you have a pretty good black eye still. I think if it comes down to sex, it is going to be what is most convenient not a lifetime of love." Barry said. "Well damn, aren't you the realist," I said with a laugh. "Yeah it happens like that in this business," he said. "Do me a favor and don't tell me about your business. I will do anything you want and fill any position you guys have open in the organization, but I really don't want to know about how it works." I said. "Now that is a very unusual attitude," he said. "I don't want you to ever worry that I am trying to take over. I just want to work. The less I know the better if they ever pick me up," I said. "Again a strange but good attitude," Barry said. "I like you better all the time." "Good, don't get to liking me too much. I don't think there is a career move here for me," I said with a smile. "Play your cards right and who knows. Maybe Molly will work out a sister wife deal with you." Barry said with a laugh. "You are assuming I would be receptive, but I doubt that I would. I like my freedom too much. I just want to drive a truck and get that rush now and then," I said. "Well I certainly hope you get that rush tonight," he said. "Well if don't then it is my own fault. I have more than one person to entertain. Surely one of them will entertain me back." I said. "There maybe more than you expect," Todd said as he walked up. Barry walked away leaving us alone. "That's always a good thing. I like more than I plan for of a good thing. I don't care much for it though, when it is more of a not so good thing." I said. "Well lets have dinner first. Then we can talk about all the other things," he said as he led me into the large dinning room. The room had more than just Molly waiting for us. There four additional couples. "Karen, I would like for you to meet..." Todd went from couple to couple sitting around the table. He introduced me to each of them as he went." "Am I going to have to screw them all?" I whispered in Todd's ear after the introductions. "Only those who want to, remember what you promised," he said with a wicked smile. "I might want to renegotiate my contract," I said with a calm smile to show it was no big deal. ------- Chapter 71 It was probably the best food I ever ate, and I had no idea what it was. Some kind of a meat and sauce was the star, then of course there were vegetable that were delicious. Then for desert there was a humble sweet potato pie elevated to a masterpiece of flavor. There were also several types of wine, which I did not recognize. Of course there was a fancy set up of silver and china. Fancy enough that I had no idea what fork was meant for what bit of food. To make matters worse for me, they placed silver on the table that were not meant to be used. So I was really lost. Yes it was obvious that I watched Molly to avoid obvious missteps. I made it through dinner and enjoyed the food. I didn't care much for the food rules, but they were negotiable. I finished desert and waited to see what the plan for me during the rest of that evening might be. Molly took me by the hand and led me Into the adjoining meeting room. Then she led me around to the various smaller groups that had formed. For some reason she wanted them each to at least meet me. I had no real idea what was going on. We spent probably a half hour socializing. Then Todd called for everyone's attention. "Good evening friends, I would like to welcome you to the Vineyard. I do hope you enjoyed your dinner." Todd said as a formal greetings. There were plenty of mumbles meant as to impart the guest's gratitude of the wonderful dinner and a thank you for the invitation, I was sure. "Tomorrow we will have a business meeting, but tonight let us enjoy ourselves. There is plenty of wine and our own brandy available as well. We also have a guest here tonight. Karen come up here please." I was embarrassed, but I had known all along something was coming at some time. That being the case, I went to the front of the large room all smiles. I was expecting to get laid not what I heard. "Karen here is a war hero from the middle east. She was a member of the US Air Forces Advanced Deployment Unit. That's something like the Green Berets, isn't it?" I never told anyone that and it wasn't part of the cover story. It was for real. I was blown and I knew it. "Now really, but I was in that great sandbox called the middle east." I was thinking hard trying to figure out how I was going to get out of the mess I was in. In evaluating why I wasn't dead already, I had to ask myself why they had nursed me back to health just to kill me. So maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought, or maybe they just found out who I was. "We found her working as a waitress in one the drink house where we sell product. Barry likes to hire women as drivers for us. Karen here had driver, and combat experience so she seemed ideal. She proved her worth when someone tried to hijack a load, which is not unheard of in these day and age. Karen managed to figure it out and saved the product for us. I'm afraid that we questioned her loyalty. Consequently she was injured during the interrogation. But we did find the right party. We also found out some rather interesting things about Karen Smith while she lived here healing from the interrogation. According to her finger prints Karen is really Silvia Porter. Silvia spent less time in the military than she said. She has been out three and a half years. She went to college at a community college and worked as a cocktail waitress during that time." Now that was a surprise and a total lie. Someone either had got it wrong, or doctored my file. It would not have been hard to manage. The main thing would be to change my major and add the waitress information. The school wouldn't necessarily know where, or even if I worked. They had dug that up somewhere else. Where I had no idea. "Our little Silvia, also did a year in the county jail in Martin County for possession with intent. Obviously not something of which one would be proud. It is why she changed her name I presume. So those of us who know her need to retrain ourselves to think of her as Silvia Porter." He was trying to make it appear he didn't know it all, but I expected a simple google search to have turned up Silvia Porter and her background. So one way or the other the undercover operation was over. I had a pretty good idea where at least some of the bodies were buried by that time. There was a good case of assault on me and possibly murder of Bruce. That and what I knew about the operation should be enough to get a search warrant. I knew where to look, so odds were good that Todd planned for me to die. Odds were even better, he meant for me to die right the fuck away. I had wanted to stay long enough to gain more information but you took what you could get while you could get it. I would bet my ass the state cops were monitoring everything about this vineyard, so if I could create any incident they might rush in and search for their missing operative. "Now I know you all have been fucked by the cops at one time or another, now I believe this is your chance to fuck them back. You see I am almost certain that Sylvia is a cop. I can't prove it, but my computer man thinks the people monitoring her have lost her. So if you ever wanted to fuck over a cop, here is your chance." I tried to think of something to say. But nothing I said would be believed, so there it was. I was just wondering how painful my death would be. There was only one thing left to do. Try to figure a way to take a few of the dope selling cock suckers with me. "So who is going to be first," Todd asked. "Todd honey, I want to go first," Molly said. I saw that cold look in her eye and I expected I could arrange for it to be over real quick. She had the killer look in here eyes. No long drawn out painful shit, Molly was my ticket out of it all. "Only if you promise to save some for the rest of us," Todd said. "And Molly you will have to do it hare, so we can all watch. We don't want her trying anything funny." Whatever I did try, I promise myself Todd wouldn't laugh. The only slim advantage I had was that they had tipped their hand. I was in for a long slow painful death, so I had nothing to lose. It wasn't really an advantage as much as a state of mind. I was never the type to lay down and die. It was my plan to take as many of the cock suckers as I could, even if it were only one. I turned to Molly and said all soft and loving, "I promise I will make you feel real good, if you will just be nice to me. You know I don't deserve to die, I saved your drug shipment for you." It was just a means of getting close to her. If they were going to play hard ball with me, they should have searched me first. In one of the tiny pockets, of the tiny dress, I had hidden a broken steak knife. It had taken me all day to get the wooden handle of the steak knife removed, but the serrated blade wasn't effected by it at all. I had always carried a backup blade so it wasn't a surprise that I had one at that moment. I turned Nolly and pulled her so that she was in front of me and my back was to the wall. I also had my arm around her neck and the steak knife blade against the main artery to the brain. In other words I was taking Molly with me if I went at that moment. "Well now aren't we in a predicament. You want me dead, and I want to live. I also assume Molly wants to live. Since you have already told me you want me dead, I have no reason not to kill Molly before I go. Why don't you put down your weapons and lets negotiate. If not this might make my death faster and less painful. So Molly, if they don't put down their guns, it looks like you are expendable." "Let her go. You can't get out of here alive," Todd said. "You know for a kingpin you aren't too smart Todd. First of all you didn't have me searched, then you as much as tell me this is my last night on earth, now you tell me to let Molly go, because I can't get out of here alive. So yeah I got that, but it is a damn poor argument to release her. Now if you would like to negotiate a better deal we can do that." "What do you mean?" he asked. Well I had walking away from here and letting you have Molly back. You can probably get one of you fancy lawyer to get you out of what little shit I know about you with a fine. The alternative is to find a way to explain Molly's cut throat. "You are a cop you won't just murder her," he said. "I'm a human being and self preservation is first of the human impulses." I said. The one thing I knew was that the vineyard was crawling with people, but not too many of them were thugs. Most would be maids, waiters, and casual laborers. "So what do you want?" Todd asked. "Why a cell phone of course, oh yes and a M16 would also be nice." I said. "You know I can't do that," he said. "Yeah I know you won't but I am willing to give you something. I'll give you an ear for the cell phone." I said smiling at him. "Don't bother saying a cop would do that." I knew that he wasn't going to do it. It was just a distraction. On the sideboard there were candles. I knew what I was going to do do all along and had been inching my way to one of them. I made the move as quickly as possible. I turned over the candle then returned to holding Molly. There was a urgency now there hadn't been before. The rustic old place was about to catch fire in a big way. No one was quite sure what would happen next. "Silvia you really fucked up," Todd said. "When you come out we will be waiting." Then he and the rest of the guest went out the patio doors. I really planned for me and Molly to get out of the fire. I just had no idea how. "So Molly, you got anything ideas," I asked. "No are you really going to keep me here to die," she had a much less in charge attitude at that moment. "Well that is pretty much the only option left to me," I said. "I never cared to travel anywhere alone." That's when I heard the sirens. The high pitched ones were very close and the deeper ones much farther away. The close ones were outside, when I decided to take a chance. I pushed Molly through the flames and out into the parking lot. There were unmarked cop cars in the yard and fire trucks rolling into the parking lot beside the meeting rooms. I went up to what looked like a cop in charge. "I'm Silvia Porter. I'm an undercover cop and I'm really glad to see you," I said. "We were hoping that was a signal from you. Either way we are glad you are still alive we had our doubts." he informed me. ------- Chapter 72 "I wasn't making any Christmas Plans myself," I said with a smile. "You need to detain Todd, his wife, a clown named Barry, and all the guest. This is like that tourist lake up in New York from the fifties. They were here to discuss business. My guess is they are all connected to a drug based criminal enterprise. I can connect Barry to an assault that hospitalized me and at the same time probably killed a kid named Bruce something or other. If you let me talk to Barry before you Marandize him, he just might flip. "I assume you would like to do this in the parking lot here before we get him to a place with audio video equipment," the state cop supervisor suggested. "Exactly," I said. "If he put you in the hospital, I know you want to return the favor. but if you do that his testimony will be worthless," he continued. "Yeah I know, don't worry I won't put a finger on him." I said. "All right we have them all corralled in the main house. Would you like a chance to put some clothes on first. The cops are having a great time looking you over, but it might be more believable that you are a cop, if your boobs and other lady parts were better hidden." he said. "Gee what a sexist thing to say," I replied with a laugh. I went back to the room I had occupied last. I found my clothes and put on a pair of soiled jeans and a clean thick tee shirt. The reason I chose the thick tee was that I was cold. The mountains got cold at night even in the summer I was told, and full summer wasn't even there yet. It had an effect on my breasts I thought better minimized. When I got back to the house there was a man walking around with a folder filled with photographs. He was identifying the guests. "How is it going," I asked the supervisor. "Not to bad I'm afraid the building where the meeting was to held is going to be a total loss. Otherwise they were lucky. No one was hurt," he said. "Good, could I speak with Barry now," I said. "Is that him?" He asked pointing to the slightly heavy man, who had beat hell out of Bruce. "Yeah that is him," I replied to the supervisor. "So you want our interrogator to go along with you?" he asked. "Probably won't be a good idea. Even though I'm going to be Line of sight the whole time, I might say something to accidentally violate his rights." "Well then go for it, but don't ask him any questions," the supervisor said. "When your man starts he should make a big deal of getting Barry to say he told me nothing. That won't be hard because he is going to tell me nothing, I don't already know. The rest your man should be able to get him to come up with." I turned and walked to Barry. "Well Barry, I need to explain your situation to you. Don't say a word just listen then an interrogator will come over. First of all, I want to kill you myself, but I waited too long. That steak knife was meant for you, I could just never get close enough. So now I'm going to just have to be satisfied with putting your ass in a state prison. You see Barry, you assaulted me. I even have the hospital admission to back up my claim. Also I am a cop and you are a thug. The jury is going to believe me. Then there is Bruce, I think you murdered him, I saw you beat him relentlessly. You have never seen me testify. I am going to get on the stand and tell the Jury how you beat him until he stoppled responding and how you and Todd personally carried him away. I never saw him again, even though you said you got help for him. Unless you can produce a living breathing Bruce, you are going to go away for life. Plus all the other stuff they can hang on you, That time is in a state pen. Now you probably wonder why I keep saying a state pen, Well I put a few other guys in the pen. They tell me you can get quite a beat down for a carton of cigarettes. Tell me Barry how man cartons of cigarettes do you think a broken rib is worth to a woman on the outside? Now don't say a word you son of a bitch, and let me put your ass inside, if I can't get to you before hand, that is." I smiled at him and I walked away. "You gonna be here much longer," I asked the cop in charge. "Yeah, but we don't need you," he said. "I got nowhere else to go." I said and almost cried when I realized that it was true. An empty little apartment over a carriage house in a mountain town was home. That was a sad, though considering I was banged up again and just wanted to withdraw from the world period it seemed pretty good to me. I knew I would be giving statements and probably confronting the criminal enterprise people I knew for a couple of more weeks. With a little luck they would send an investigator to County Seat and let me do it there. "How about I round up the kitchen staff and get some coffee going or would that jeopardize the investigation?" "It won't help it any for sure, why don't we send out for it." he said. "You need to get to our bus over there," he added pointing to a trailways looking thing. We are using it for a temporary interview location. Give your statement then you can go back home. You can't be involved in the wrap up investigation the defense will claim it tainted your testimony." he said. "Fair enough," I said. I went into the bus and was joined a moment later by a young woman about my age. Yes I still considered myself a young woman. "So Deputy Porter, let's begin," she said. "Sure what do you want to know?" I asked. "Everything, no matter how small," she said. So I gave it to her right up to the point where I turned the candle over and heard the sirens. "My God you are lucky to be alive," she said. "Are you new to this?" I asked. "It shows doesn't it?" she asked. "A little, a real pro would nod her head and agree, but never show any emotion." I admitted. It was two hours later that they said I could go. They even assigned me a driver to get me back to County Seat. Packing had been a bitch since I had stopped taking the Vicodin and was on OTC pain meds. I did get it done and the cop drove me the two hours back to County Seat. He even carried my bag up the stairs to my apartment for me. I found the place warm and cozy when I opened the door. The floor furnace in the place had evidently run at least at night. The very first thing I did was to put a large pot of coffee on the stove. I might not be able to do much, but I could make coffee in the tiny place. I really hadn't realized how much I missed the place till I sat on the bed with a cup of coffee and caught up on the world news on my old computer. Hell my old cell phone was even where I left it. I still had pains in the places I had it from the shooting, so it was just like I never left ... almost. I was still assigned to the state police for two more weeks for sure. Then how I would get back to the Warren County Sheriff's office was anybody's guess. I was sure it would work out without a doubt. It might not have had it not been that the state needed to keep me happy, till I testified for sure. At that moment keeping me happy meant breakfast at the Cafe On The Square. So I put on a heavy sweatshirt over the thin tee shirt and off I went. Getting the bike down the steps was a bit of a painful struggle, but not as much as carrying it up would be, I thought. I rode off into the early morning air. The town seemed to be smaller than I remember, because I was at the cafe in about five minutes. When I went in, I greeted the people there with, "Hello everybody." "Well hello there Sylvia, where you been?" the waitress who reported the stray dogs and cars for me asked. "I been down east a bit visiting," I said. "Well we are glad to have you back. We need all the business we can get." she said. "Well you know I do cook a little," I said with a smile. "Well when you get tired of toast, come on down and get some real food," she said with a smile. After breakfast I rode the bike the long block north and across the street to the courthouse and it's basement Sheriff's office. "Hello," I said to the receptionist who worked for the chief deputy. "Well hello Sylvia, how long you been back," she said. "Just a couple of hours, long enough to make a pot of coffee and visit the Cafe on The Square," I said. "Well it's a little early for the chief deputy," she said. "That's okay just tell him I came by," I said. I had been too happy to be home to sleep, but by that time I was ready for bed. I was wearing down fast. That being the case, I headed the bike back to the carriage house apartment. I decided to leave the bike under the small over hang created by the balcony walkway of my apartment. Once I got to the apartment I had one more cup of coffee while I converted the slightly uncomfortable sofa, to a little less uncomfortable bed. I lay out on the bed with the cell phone on the table beside me. I lay there for several minutes hoping that Barry flipped. I sure hoped I hadn't wasted the opportunity to kick his ass. I had passed it up for the greater good. I wanted Molly, on whom I personally had very little evidence. She had enjoyed the beating of Bruce, and even me, far too much. She was one sick bitch. I drifted off to sleep imagining her in prison. She should be able to find out how the business end of a broom handle feels. Well with a little luck anyway. It was a nice train of thought. The cell woke me up after noon, when Simpson found time to call. "Did I wake you Sylvia?" he asked. There was no need denying it. I sounded like a total idiot for a minute or two. "Yeah give me a second and I'll clear my head. Can I call you back?" "Sure make it about five minutes, Will that be enough time?" he asked. "Yeah, the microwave will do coffee that fast," I said. "No, make it ten." "Okay, I'll be waiting for the call. Oh you made the state news network again." He hung up before I could ask, if they at least used a picture in which I was wearing clothes. I heated the coffee I had made earlier and pulled a bagel from the freezer. There was nothing to put on the bagel but peanut butter and jelly. It wasn't too awful, so I managed it pretty well. I turned on the closest T.V. station. They had soap operas running. I turned in the statewide cable news channel but there were talking about the weather, which was warming up nicely during the day by that time. ------- Chapter 73 I returned the call to Simpson. "Well good afternoon Chief Deputy," I said into the phone. "I couldn't find the news story on TV. Was I wearing clothes?" "Actually it was just the remains of a building on the Greene Valley Vineyard grounds in the picture. They did mention your name, which isn't all that good for you. Undercover cops are probably better off going anonymous," he said. "Well I didn't give them my name," I replied. "I know some state cop on the scene did. He had your real name and where you are from even," Simpson said. "Well that is a pure D bitch," I said. My mind was racing. Would the Greens have the connections to order a hit on me, and would they be advised by their lawyer to do so. I know lawyer aren't supposed to do that kind of shit, but it is my opinion that lawyers who represent those kinds of people have to problem adding one more body to the list. "Well," Simpson said. "We have to figure out what we are going to do about it." "What do you mean what we are going to do about it. We don't do anything, but rattle the cage of any thug who comes to town," I said. "Well that will work for the next couple of weeks, while you are still on the state payroll and recovering, but what happens when I have to send you back out to work. That is turning the streets into a potential shooting gallery. I'm not about to do that, even more important the Sheriff isn't about to do it." "There goes his chances of reelection," I said. "What do you mean?" Simpson said. "What do you think the press will make of the Sheriff more or less running the hero cop out of town on a rail. I don't think the people of this county will want to vote for him. Country folks like their Sheriff to have a some balls," I said. I had no idea if it were true or not. It was just the only weapon I had with which to fight back. "Then there is that little matter of the deal we struck with the State for the temporary duty. It specifically stated that when my salary ended with the state my county salary kick in with no loss of pay. Benefits were also seamless in the arrangement. I expect that is a contract the state will expect to be held up." It would look bad on the governor, if I had to go to court for it." I felt like I had nothing to lose. They were looking for a way to throw me under the bus. "Silvia it isn't safe for you, or for the people around you. You know we make the material witnesses against a criminal enterprise this large disappear. It's the only way we can protect you. We need to enroll you in the witness protection program at least until you testify." Simpson said. "Bullshit, It isn't my testimony that is going to sink them." I said. "Sweetie, I talked to the agent in charge of the case with the state attorney general. The whole thing is a house of cards and Barry is the foundation. You are the key to making him open up. Without you Barry might not testify the way they want." "Simpson, I am not laying down for this," I said. "Then you are most likely going to die," he said. "It won't be the first time, I was in that position," I said. "Not even the only time recently." "Well I explained our position to you, and the attorney general's office has to explain theirs later. I was just giving you a heads up. Don't blame the messenger. They never should have let you come back. The whole handling of the arrest was a cluster fuck. They had no advanced warning they rode in there like the calvary and arrested everybody before the A.G. was ready. The A. G. has been scrambling all morning getting warrants out to them. They tell me it's a mad house. So you might have to wait a day or so, but if I have to, I'm to put you in jail to keep you safe. Nobody really knows where you live, so I think you are safe in the apartment, if you stay off the streets, wear your vest and carry you gun, if you do go out." "This sucks," I said hanging up. As I always say, no good deed goes unpunished. This is the reward I get for doing the right thing. I had to have food in the house, if I was going to be stuck inside it. I sure as hell wasn't going to order delivery. So I had to go to the store and do it before dark. I should have taken a bath but I didn't have time and the apartment had a slight chill. I pulled on my running flannels over my gym satin like shorts. Then I pulled the light weight running sweat shirt on over my Kevlar Vest under which I a thin tee shirt. Over them both I wore the upside down shoulder rig, and the colt revolver. Instead of my running shoes I pulled on my combat boots from my Air Force days. Inside the right boot I slipped the box opener. It wasn't much of a back up weapon, but it was all I had, if I couldn't get the colt in play. I filled a pocket of my parka with .38special rounds and my debit card, then I went to the store. I was even more paranoid than usual. I parked in the middle of several cars. When usually I would park away from everybody so that I had some room to load the groceries. When I got inside the store, I grabbed a cart and rolled away from everyone. I bought lots of rolls and a couple of different kinds of bread. I also bought eggs and several preserved meats. I knew I wasn't going to be able to get out at will, so I tried to get canned foods and frozen meals that would last a while. My refrigerator and freezer were much bigger than at the motel but they still weren't huge. I dropped well over a hundred bucks there, but I knew eating at home was safer than going to a fast food place. Predictability, and ambush were my enemies for a while at least. Son of a bitch I needed a simple life for a while and I wasn't going to get it yet. Lugging the bags up the stairs was a pure bitch for me. I hurt when I lifted things and I hurt when I climbed stairs. Doing both was a nightmare. I had to make three trips and I was in terrible pain at the end. I only managed to sit on my sometimes sofa and sweat in pain, while I got control of myself. I couldn't even take the excess clothing off for a while. I still needed some help getting up from a seated position. For that I used a golf club, which I had stolen from the Greens. It seemed like the least they could do, since it was their fault. It was well after 5PM when I struggled out of the clothes and slipped into a hot bath. I lowered myself onto the small stool I had planned to use for the sitting shower. I knew that I if I sat in all the way down in the tub, it would be where they found my emaciated body. By lowering myself about half way down, I could wash and rinse with water poured from the family size peanut butter jar. When I finished, I used the golf club to lift myself from the tub. I also used it to steady myself when I climbed out of the deeper than average tub. I felt really clean for the first time since Barry tap danced on my ribs. That always made me wonder where Bruce was. I reminded myself to ask the investigators down there, when I saw them again. I fell asleep in my panties and a cotton tee shirt that said Duke University Campus Security. I couldn't remember dating anyone who worked at Duke, so it must have been someone who dated someone or something like that, who left it at my place. It was way too big which was a good think with all the pain every movement caused me. I slept well I only woke once to take some over the counter pain stuff. The next morning I had a bagel with creme cheese and jelly for breakfast. I washed that down with the best coffee in the free world. God I loved breakfast. I actually felt well enough so that I wanted to get out and ride my bike. Sure I knew it would be painful off and on because it had been the day before. I didn't ride since I promised Simpson I wouldn't leave the house. To me that meant not for anything, well nothing I didn't consider important enough to risk my ass. I didn't think a few miles of bike riding was worth dying over. Now and appointment with the hair dresser, that was a different thing altogether. My hair had grown out almost to the stage where I could part it and brush it down like a man. After breakfast I went to stand in my panties and tee shirt in front of the only, more or less, full length mirror I had. It was two smaller square mirrors hung one above the other on the back of the bathroom door. By holding my mouth right and balancing on one foot, I could see all of me at once. Even though I had been called a skinny slut, I had a little tummy those days. Like all women, I was worried that the tummy might grow out of control, if I missed my daily exercise any longer. Still a promise was a promise, so I was going to hold off until something was worked out. I saw my breasts and realized why it was that I looked better in a tee shirt with no bra than anything else. They were hideous, my boobs were just awful. They were not a bit shapely. They were like two corn muffins glued to my chest walls. They weren't even perky, well they were better than if I was forty I suppose. Also my nipples were small and brown. They are supposed to be large, if they are dark. If the are perky they should be pink, or so men told me. Who made that rule they never told me. They say only a horny man could like them, fortunately most men are horny most of the time. My butt wasn't too bad except that my hips were wide and flat. I looked pretty awful in a pair of tight jeans. Again men didn't seem to mind, but hell they would screw a snake, if someone would hold it still. With my hair coming back it needed a cut, I had seen a mannish style I liked on a movie stay. Nobody mistook her for a guy, but then she didn't carry a gun either. Maybe it was a good thing that they questioned who it was standing in front of them pointing a pistol or holding a knife to their throat. I slipped out to the beauty shop at 10AM even though it my case it was just a hair cut, not a beauty treatment that I needed. I knew what I wanted and I hoped they had a catalog of available cuts. It all went well and I even resisted the urge to celebrate with lunch out. Like a good little prisoner I drove straight home. I had my cell phone so I was sure no one missed me. ------- Chapter 74 I didn't really consider a stop at the drive thru window of Granny's donuts a stop at all. It was more a detour in my mind. So I arrived home with a new hair style, not just a cut, the man who did it insisted. Since my hair was very then, he also tried to convince me to buy a lot of crap to make it appear thicker. I knew better than to waste my money. I had been there before and as I told him it was my first shampoo and set. Since it was so thin, I could just wash it and towel it pretty much dry for a styling. Again no special crap needed on it. Once in a while I might put a little mineral oil on my hands, wiped it off, then run those hands through my hair. I didn't even bother doing that often. Mostly it was wash it, when I showered, towel it dry and flatten it with my fingers. Even when it was long enough to brush, it hadn't been thick enough to bother. That's why I had chopped it all off and went back to the crew cut of my Air Force days. This new hair cut was a compromise of sorts. It ended up being short on the sides with the top longer, so that the top would lay down. It looked like one of those hair styles the seen on cyborgs wore in those futuristic movies. Kind of a civilian take on a career Marine's haircut. Anyway I liked it just fine. I spent the day in front of the computer with a coffee cup and a jelly donut in my hand. I decided that come hell or high water, I was going to bike the next day. I would give them that long to come up with something to protect their star witness. Yes my ribs still hurt, but the bike was downstairs which made it a hell of a lot easier. So the only thing left was to call my handler's super secret number and tell him. "Hello machine this is agent Silvia Porter, aka death star 007, tomorrow morning I'm going to ride my bike around town in a random manner' You have some choices to make. You can have me arrested as a material witness, or you can use it as an opportunity to catch some more bad guys, or my personal choice, you can do nothing. Have a nice day machine." Then I hung the fuck up. Since the threat wasn't immanent I didn't expect a call back anytime soon. It was a good thing because I would have been disappointed. The day passed with nothing happening. Then just before dark there was a visitor. "Why agent Mission, I suppose this means I can put the pistol away," I said welcoming her into the apartment. "Silvia I have to admit that this place would be hell to assault without ten men at least. You really do have a pretty easy place for only one person to defend. At least long enough to get the local sheriff's patrol to swing bye. " she said. "Nice to see you looking so well to," I said sarcastically. "Okay, it is good to see that your injuries aren't worse. It is also good to see that you want to get out and do things. The problem is you are too easy to find. What we need is to move you to a different place till the trials are all past, then you can come back here." she said. "Yeah, we need to talk. I wouldn't be so easy to find if your agent in charge didn't want publicity. He fingered me. As for the coming back here I'm not so sure they want me back," I said. "Hell Honey, I'm sure they don't want you back. I didn't say that by the way," she said. "Wonderful and how do you know that?" I asked. "The Sheriff called the A.G. and asked about that employment contract we all signed. Then he asked if we wouldn't just keep you on the state payroll as long as we needed you to testify." Mission said. "And exactly how long would that be," I asked. "No way to know exactly, but it could be a year or more realistically," she said. "You could offer me some coffee now that we are doing girl talk." "Alright but you won't like it," I said. I microwaved her some coffee which I took from the refrigerator. "So what is the offer?" "You take all the fun out of the pitch, you do know that?" she said. "This is a no drama zone honey. Plenty of sexual tension, but no drama," I said. "First of all, let me tell you that if you refuse this offer, the Sheriff can refuse to honor the contract, and it will fly. So it's our way or the highway." she said. "Mission you know I don't like it up the ass," I said because she was making too strong a case for the plan. "But I also note, you did say you that you don't take it up the ass," she said with a smile. "Alright give it too me straight," I said. "The A.G, is looking for cover, You did a hell of a job and got injured in the process. We have to protect you and we have to make it seem like a reasonable offer. The Sheriff hopes it sounds good enough to sell to the press and bad enough to make you say no. Remember that the duration is only for the length of the court case. It could end tomorrow, if the Greens cop a plea. Or it could go on forever, if there is a trial." "Okay so get on with it. I get that this is a compromise offer," I said. "We looked around for something outside of law enforcement, but still on the state payroll. Something we hoped you might not turn down out of hand. There is only one thing that we felt fit the bill. It's with the state wildlife department. Now don't get pissed before you hear me out." she said. "Fish and Game, you have to be kidding me?" I demanded. I couldn't believe she was serious. "Look Silvia, here is the deal. I can't bring you into the state bureau that is the first place a smart ass lawyer would look. Not only could they find you but if they didn't kill you, they would bring witness tampering into it," She said. "Okay, I get it but surely you don't think I'm going from copper to game warden," I said. "Would you rather be someone's secretary in the state capitol?" she asked. "No I wouldn't, How about somebody's special investigator?" I asked. "Sylvia, it would look too much like we were buying your testimony, and we couldn't hide you very well there anyway. You need to be someone else while we wait for the trials to be over. To be honest it's Fish and Game or nothing with the state. Then it becomes a matter of protective custody, the baby sitting edition. I don't think you would like that either." Mission said. "I think you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't," I said. "I think I'll get a lawyer and sue for my job back with the Sheriff's department." "You are under a witness protective custody order. They don't have to give your job back till that is lifted. As a matter of fact they probably shouldn't in good conscious. It would just be asking for trouble. I stared at her and looked out the window into the house in front of me. The old lady was in the kitchen reading a book and drinking what I presume was coffee. "Mission, have a donut," I said. "And then tell me about fish and game officers." "You got Strawberry from Granny's?" she asked. "Of course," I replied. "Then how can I say no. They have the best strawberry donuts in the state and for a cop to say that, they have to be good." Mission said. "Yep, better than most of the sex I have had with men," I said. "You ever had sex with a woman?" Mission asked. "Yes, and the donuts were a tie," I replied. "Those donuts are better than all the sex I ever had with myself though." "Get me the donut and the coffee then we will discuss the Fish and Game service," Mission said. "However we will not discuss sex in any more detail. You have gone into quite enough detail." "Bullshit Mission, I am sure you have had sex at least once in your life. You are an attractive woman," I said. Actually mission wasn't all that attractive, but she wasn't a complete dog. Since she wasn't a complete oinker, there had to have been a man in her life at some time. To be honest Mission was one of those almost fat girls. She was mildly obese but not morbidly obese. She had the chubby face, surrounded by thick blond hair I would have killed for that hair. She also had large soft boobs on a slightly padded chest. She had a real tummy and hips, but they were small enough for a good dress to hide. The one she wore was made with the in mind. "Bullshit, yes I have had men in my life, and sex was always good, but I don't want to talk about it. I'm a private person." she admitted. "Okay, then here is your donut, let's tell fish stories," I said. "Okay," she said as she licked the filling off her fingers. It would have been very sexy, if I had been a man. "There is no way they will look for you there. We will change your name and bleach your hair that kind of thing. Also the location of the job is out of the way a bit," Mission said. "What do you call a bit," I asked. "The ranger station is about a forty miles from the post office that delivers it's mail." she said. "How about from a McDonalds?" I asked. "The same, there is nothing between the ranger station and that little town. Not even an interchange for a major highway. But that's an advantage for you. There won't be much question about who is friend, and who is foe, or how many of them there are. And since you are being hired as an enforcement officer you will be armed. That should make you feel better." "If the place is as isolated as you say, what the hell I am enforcing, and who am I enforcing it on?" I asked. "Supposedly the fish and game laws, but you have jurisdiction on any state law," she said. "It works out that way, if it is committed in your presence. Otherwise you get a deputy of the country where you are assigned and go serve a warrant on the suspect just like any other job." "I know nothing about the game laws or how they are violated," I said. "That's another beauty of this deal. See we can call it a cross transfer of an SBI agent, to the fish and game department. So you won't have to do any of the school bullshit. You will be already have you certification, so all you have to do is get you up to speed on fish and game laws. To do that we are going to get you to work with the agent you are replacing for a few weeks. Maybe by the time the training is over the threat will be as well. The guy you are going to be working with doesn't know anything, he is just going to retire after the new year." "So I give up the little bit of a home I have managed to establish here, and move to god knows where. to live on a game preserve?" I asked. "Not exactly, but close. You got anymore of those donuts?" she asked. ------- Chapter 75 "So where do I sleep?" Special agent Mission asked. "Beats the hell out of me. I guess we could run down to the plaza, and buy you an air bed," I suggested. "Come on, we can go to the motel where I stayed when I came up last," Mission said. "I'm not going anywhere. You can find a space to throw down a blanket, you can go buy you an air bed, you can sleep in your car, but I'm staying right here where I feel safe," I was adamant about it. "Jesus, you are a hard ass," she said. But regardless she went in search of 5feet and eight inches of unoccupied floor space. She had to rearrange the furniture. Even though I didn't have it to spare, I gave her one of my blankets. "You are agreeable to the fish solution?" she asked. "With the understanding that the state will notify me the moment that the threat is gone. Also that Warren County Sheriff's office will be held to their contract," I said. "That's pretty much what we had in mind. By the way, why the hell would you want to force them to hire you. It will have to be a terribly hostile work place environment," she said. "I might just run for Sheriff," I said with a smile. "Now if you look in that cabinet over the sink, you will find a bottle of Tennessee sour mash sippin' whiskey. Please bring it to me?" I asked. Yes it still hurt to get up and down, and I was seated on the sometimes sofa. Mission brought two glasses without being asked. I gave it a little thought then decided what the hell, and poured a couple of ounces in each. It would be impossible to replace the whiskey, but she seemed to be worth a drink. The label on the bottle carried the name of an obscure brand of cheap whiskey. The whiskey inside was anything but cheap. The fifth of a gallon whole sale was more than the whiskey that came in the bottle was retail. The bottle had been sterilized then refilled with the dragon piss. I knew for a fact that Mission had never had anything like it. "Wow that is strong and smooth," she said of the amber liquid. It was colored with food coloring to look like sour mash whiskey. "Yes it is, that's why it's called sippin' whiskey," I said. "But my god that is smooth stuff," she said. "Too bad we don't have any brownies. Brownies go good with this kind of whiskey," I said laughing. After an hour of sipping on the glass of whiskey my pain was gone. Hell I could have danced I felt so good. "Sorry about you having to sleep on the floor," I said. "Don't be it will be like pretending to be a teenager at a sleep over," Agent Mission said. "Okay, but I'm going to sleep, not tell you how it feels to do it," I said. "I know how it feels," Mission said giggling. Then next thing I knew, it was 7AM and I had to pee bad. It was all I could do to hold it, while I found the least painful way to get off the make shift sofa bed. I held onto the walls while I found my way to the bathroom. Thank god there was enough ambient light to see Agent Mission on the floor. I was both early, and late enough to begin moving around. That being the case I went straight from the bathroom to the kitchen next door to it. First thing I dis was to heat coffee in the microwave and round up a stale donut. I really wanted to go down to the cafe on the square for a bacon and egg biscuit. To do that I would have to climb over Agent Mission. She was between me and the front door. There was a kitchen door but it was behind a tea cart of small appliances and canisters. It was for emergencies only. With my special cup, I had bought from Goodwill full of hot coffee, I went back into the front room. Agent Mission wouldn't be asleep much longer, if she had managed to sleep through the very loud flushing toilet, and the clatter of my getting the coffee out of the fridge and heating it in the microwave. When I reached the front room with my double sized delta coffee cup, I found Agent Mission sitting against the wall wrap indian style in the blanket. Her hair looked like shit. Suddenly my terrible short preteen boy hair cut didn't seem so bad. "You want some day old reheated coffee?" I asked. "Is that's all you got?" she asked as an answer. "Since I haven't sat down yet, I can get it for you no problem," I said returning to the kitchen. I heated a cup of coffee in the plain porcelain cut painted to resemble an old tin coffee cup. Yeah it came from Goodwill as well and it held almost as much as the Delta cup. "Here drink this," I said. She took the cup and then she took the half eaten donut out of my hand. "The coffee is good and the donut is perfect," she said. "Now you have done it. That was the only food in the house that was ready to eat. We are either going to have to go out looking like hags or cook," I said. "I vote hag look. I have no idea how you are at cooking and breakfast if the day's most important meal," Mission said. "If I remember right there is a decent cafe near here." "Yeah, Cafe On The Square," I said. "Wear your vest and carry a weapon, or two," she suggested. I brushed my teeth but skipped the bath since the apartment was cool. It wouldn't be warm enough for me until the sun heated the outside rear stucco wall of the bathroom. I did dress wearing the Kevlar vest and the .38 upside down shoulder rig. I carried the box opener in my parka pocket, since I wore my running shoes. Running was going to be painful but I doubted that Mission was going to let me ride my bike. That being the case I planned to run to breakfast. Mission could follow along in the car, if she didn't want to run. Mission proved to be a good sport, she ran the ten or so blocks to the cafe beside me. She was also badly out of breath when she arrived. "God, I should be doing this every day," She said. "Well the Glock and Kevlar are your handicaps," I said. "I highly recommend everything on the menu." "In that case I feel like I deserve bacon," she said laughing. When my waitress friend came to the table she order bacon and eggs. I ordered simply a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. I did put a spoonful of homemade strawberry jam onto the biscuit. That was my reward for running to breakfast. Mission even picked up the bill and I left the tip. The bill would go on her expense account, but I was stuck for the tip. It was okay though, I didn't mind. Once we ran back to my place, I sat on the make shift sofa bed and read my email. Mission made a bunch of phone calls and checked her computer often. It was slightly before noon when Mission came to me and said," Time to close your email and kill off Sylvia Porter. Not even one more message just gone. We will notify your family after you leave but not tell them where you are." I handed her my keyboard and walked to the window. I would sure as hell miss this place. I watched as a one ton Uhaul backed into the driveway. Two men came up the stairs and loaded all my stuff into the truck. It took up about a tenth of the space in the truck. They put the bike in the truck as well. "Give them your car keys," Mission said. "Don't worry we are going to put it in a storage locker along with your furniture. It will all be there when you get back to work here." "What about my clothes?" I asked. "I had them put in my car. Too bad we had to leave the coffee cups for the storage unit. I rather liked those," she said. "It's time to go now." With that we began our drive from the mountains. I hated to go they were beautiful since spring was finally in full swing. But then it was spring all the way to the coast. The coast was to prove beautiful as well and it was much warmer there as well. I loved the warm weather. It was a full day's drive since we weren't in any hurry. Mission was more interested in security, than she was speed. That and we got a late start so we ended the day pulling into a motel. It was one of those highway modular things. I was sure that each room had the same bad art work on the walls, since there was nothing original about any of them. We had eaten before we pulled into the motel. The only call allowed was from Mission to her boss with some cryptic messages. Mission had taken my cell phone, but I didn't care. I was used to burn phones by that time, so when she toss me the phone and the credit card to activate it, I wasn't a bit surprised. I sat on the bed and activated the phone. She put the number in her phone and we were connected. I expected the station where they were going to drop me to disappear to have an office phone. Even as I disappeared into the bureaucracy I would be connected there as well. You new identity is in this folder. Read it and figure out who you are," Mission said toss the folder at me. "By tomorrow you need to be the new you. The man you will meet probably won't ask you too much, but he will ask some basic things so we tried to keep the new you close to the truth." "Yes that always works best." I saw how questioningly Mission looked at me, so I added, "So I'm told." "Right, I wonder how much of what we know about you is true and what is fiction?" she asked. "It's all true, but it may not be all the truth there is," I said smiling. "Well at least tonight you have a bed of your own." "Yes and I plan to enjoy it so behave," Mission said as if I might do something else. "I don't have to behave for you to enjoy your bed. As a matter of fact," I said then she interrupted me. "Sylvia that's enough of that kind of talk. Don't even think about hitting on me I am so straight even make the men in my life cry." She said. "Geese that just sounds so boring," I said with a leer. "It is, but I like my life like that. You might want to find a way to pass the time without sex being such a big part of your life," she said. "And how big a deal do you think sex is in my life?" I asked. She had me curious as to how others saw me. "Well I think you have had a lot of sex with a lot of different men and women," she said. "Do you know anyone personally who ever said he or she has had sex with me?" I asked. "That isn't the point," she said trying to walk it back. "Of course it is the point. If you don't know anyone, what are you basing it on?" I asked. "Just a bunch of rumors, since I dress sexy and talk like I'm a slut is that it?" "Of course not," Mission said. "Then what?" I asked. After another few minutes thought with me staring at her, she finally said, "Okay maybe it is how you look, how you dress, and how you talk." "Then you believe, if it looks like a duck, quacks like and duck, then if must be a duck?" I asked. "Okay, maybe you are the exception," she said. "Probably not," I replied smiling. ------- Chapter 76 I had learned to sleep anywhere, and I did. I slept just fine in the motel room. It was a little noisy, and I guess I should have been worried but I really wasn't. I believed more in misdirection than it gun play. I lay in bed thinking about what kind of trail I had left. First of all my cover got blown with the rescue raid at the vineyards. The officer in charge of that raid was so wrapped up in saving my ass, he wasn't trying as hard to cover it and that was okay, I was blown anyway. Then for some reason known only to god. he told the press their had been an under cover agent in the compound, when it caught fire. And that she was a loaner from the Warren County Sheriff's office, named Sylvia Porter. All this went on of course, before they assessed the threat to me. Meanwhile after the debriefing they arranged a ride home for me. That all took a few hours. So I'm home alone over night the first night. I imagine they had lost track of me, but some asses were sore that next day from the chewing, I'm sure. While they got the threat assessment done, my complete protection that first day was the Warren county Sheriff being alerted that I was back. Even that I did first. Long before the state came along much later. But when they moved I have to give it to them, they did it right. First they sent Agent Mission to collect me. I had never liked Mission, but I did recognize and trust her. She convinced me to take a state job, where they could control me. They would know quickly, if anything happened to me, In moving to that particular job I would leave no footprint. No one would think to look for an active cop in the Fish and Game Department. They probably figured by being in the enforcement devision, I would be satisfied and not be too big a pain in their asses. That remained to be seen. After Mission convinced me to take the job, she did exactly the right thing. She packed me up and got me out of town in an hour. She knew the what and where all along, but I knew less than nothing. If I knew nothing, I could let nothing slip in my desire to stay in touch with my friends. Of course since I had no real friends, it was not a problem. I was safe since it would be hard for the CIA to find me, let alone the Green family's business associates. So that's why I lay in a cheap motel bed, next to the SBI agent Mission that Wednesday Morning at 7AM. I finally gave in to the need to pee and slipped from the bed, whose covers were a wreck. Evidence be damned, no matter how illogical it was, I still tossed and turned in my sleep. While I was in the bathroom I took advantage of the shower to soak my ass and wash my hair with less pain. It was heaven to be hot soapy and clean all at once. The only thing better would have been for Mission to rub lotion on my back, but I wasn't going to push my luck with that one. I put on the jeans I had worn the day before but I did find a clean tee shirt in one of the boxes of clothes I had packed hurriedly for the move. The jean were blue of course, but the shirt was GI jungle green and it was also more or less a men's underwear shirt. It was sexy as hell, when I was sweaty in the summer. Too bad that it wasn't quite that warm yet. I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I hadn't given the state all that much choice in hiding me. I would exactly fit in as a receptionist in AG's office. I left the bathroom and Mission rushed in as I did. She must have been laying in bed waiting for me to vacate. If she had asked me, I could have let her in sooner. You could tell we weren't real roommates or I would have known or she would have asked. "Eat a good breakfast," Mission said as we sat waiting for the waitress to come back. "You might only get a pack of crackers for lunch." "Sound fine to me," I said. I did however have the 'hungry man' breakfast. That was three eggs three pieces of bacon and two links of sausage with toast. If they had served good biscuits it would have been perfect. Well with that terrible blend of coffee that restaurants serve it could never be perfect, but it would have been better. On the way out Mission's handy dandy credit card came out. I was absolutely sure the state paid the monthly bill on that one. She sorted through her driver's license and other cards to find it. We continued eastward for another hour, Then she pulled off the interstate highway and into a medium sized town. I hadn't been paying attention but I could see a low skyline from the impound yard. She pulled right up to the office and we went inside. "I'm Mission is there someone named Edward Brady here?" she asked. "Yeah, I'm Brady," the guy with grease under his nails said. "You guys sure ask a lot." "Well Mr. Brady I don't know about that. All I know is that you have a contract with us, and I would like to see that contract honored. If not, we just have everything moved and stored somewhere else I suppose." Damn Mission can be a bitch, I thought. "You people," he said. "Wait outside and I'll bring it around." I knew better than to spoil Mission's surprise, so I just stood and waited. I watched the forest green Ford 4wheel drive pick up come around the corner of the building. Brady got out of it and left the driver's door open. "Want to test drive it first," he asked. "No thanks, but I will test drive the Ford Bronco I'm here to pick up," she said with a smile. I could tell she liked this advisory shit. "I called the GAO officer and explain that on this short noticed the only vehicle I could get ready was this pick up. He agreed speed was more important than the right model. He said as long as it had a heavy duty trailer hitch and four wheel drive it would do. You can see that it does." "Then I guess I need to call my boss," she said. I got back in her car to sit down the pain of standing was getting to be pretty awful. I sat there about a half hour while they worked out the details of the transfer. Evidently Brady stored state vehicles for the eastern part of the state. We were supposed to get a four wheel drive Bronco with a hitch but it would take too long to put on, so we had to take something with the hitch already on it. "What do you think Terry," Mission asked. "Uh about what?" I asked. Her using my new name was a jolt. I was Terry Madison, girl game warden, I tittled myself. "The truck, can you get in an out of it alright?" she asked. "Honey I have climbed in and out of a duce and a half all day long with sixty pounds of shit hanging on me. I think I can handle this little bitch," I said. "Did you have broken ribs then," she asked. "Good point," I said. "Let's give it a try and see." I climbed up in the truck. It hurt like a mother fucker getting up to it, but once I got to the right level, I used the steering wheel to get inside. "I'm just going to have to dope up before I try this for a while." "Then don't get out. You need to follow me. How is this thing fixed for gas?" she asked. "The tank is almost empty," I said. "Okay follow me to a gas station. You stay in the car, I'll pump the gas. I'm also going to try to find you a bandanna. That hair stands out like a sore thumb if anyone is looking." "Somewhere I have a knit cap, but it is too hot for that anyway," I said. "A biker's head scarf would be good." "Only till you get a uniform. The hat will distract from your hair. Hell you will look like a boy in the uniform I expect. They will be wondering when we started hiring teenagers," she laughed. After gassing up the truck to the tune of a hundred bucks more or less, I followed her onto the highway. The power steering made the full size truck easy to drive. After a short drive on the highway we were back on a side road for a few minutes. Then we pulled into another storage yard. I got down to go pee and when I returned there was a long RV attached to the truck. "Now it still smells some," the man who ran the lot was saying to Mission. That should go away pretty quick. I left two windows open to blow it out while you drive, the smell is mostly disinfectant anyway. It isn't noxious or anything." Mission nodded then turned to me. You want to see your new home. It used to be a drug headquarters, but it wasn't meth so it isn't poisonous. It just smells of pot, when it gets damp. They always do." "I can wait," I answered. "You going to be alright driving this?" she asked. "Gas trailers attached to a 2 1/2 ton truck, headed down roads filled with IEDs and guys with machine guns, yeah I can handle this," I said. "But did you have broken ribs," she asked. "Good point, but I will manage how far do I have to go," I asked. "No more than a hundred miles, but some of it road probably suck," she said. "Well you have gps and that map thing going for you, so we can make it," I said. We did make it even though the hundred miles took three hours. I followed her down a dirt drive where I wasn't at all sure the trailer would fit. The road was wide enough there were just some tree limbs hanging over the drive. When I came to the clearing at the end of the drive there was a small house attached to an office sitting off to one side. There was a river running behind the house with a boat dock sticking out into the river about twenty feet. There was also a flat bottomed boat tied up there. I saw that it did not have a motor attached, but there was a reinforced rear motor mount. It was easy to see all that at a glance, what was more difficult was what was going on around all the tree trunks and bushes in the yard. The parking lot was a great deal like the boat dock. It was open to the inspection of Mission and me both. There were two of those same green colored vehicles. One was probably like the Bronco that Mission had expected. The other was a mid sized American car. I had a bad feeling about the car parked out front. "Mission," I called out to her as she stepped from her car. "How about finding out where they want this camper before I park it in the wrong place." "Right," she said disappearing into the house. That was when I took the time to note the dock and boat in the rear. At least I might be able to do some fishing, I thought. "Put it on that concrete pad next to the office," Mission said when she returned. It was a snap putting the camper in place. There was plenty of room to maneuver in the parking lot. It was no more than packed sand with some kind of light binder to keep it from blowing away. I was highly familiar with things that could be done with sand. ------- Chapter 77 I got the camper parked on the concrete pad and it looked pretty straight to me. I was right in the middle of straightening it up even more, when two men came out to look. On was in his sixties and one was about forty-five or so. Naturally I thought the younger one was some kind of supervisor, and the older one would be my new partner. I was satisfied with the way the camper was sitting, when I climbed down from the truck cab. "Mission, I think that is pretty straight," I said giving her the chance to make the introductions. "Captain Smith is the supervisor of all fish and game officers for the south eastern district," Mission said. I was surprised when the older man nodded and put out his hand. "I understand you have quite a bit of law enforcement experience. We are glad to have you." He turned his attention to the younger man. "What do you say Hugo?" "Yes, it's a good thing that you aren't a complete rookie. This is a demanding area," the younger man said. "Well I hope you will help me get control of it," I said. I can't learn all you know between now and the first of the year, but maybe I can learn enough to stay out of trouble." "Well if anyone can teach you to stay out of trouble, it would be Hugo. He runs a tight area. It's large, but he keeps it under control. Hugo is also part of the enforcement strike force," the captain said. "Don't make it sound like such a big deal, almost all the Game Wardens are on the strike force. I will try to teach you about the job in the time I have left," Hugo said. "Well I thank you," I said. "So what do we do first?" "First thing," Captain Smith said. "We go inside and get you outfitted. I got your sizes from the SBI office and we have the uniforms. Mostly we have switched to utilities all the time. You can come down to the Wilmington office and get the dress uniform, whenever you have a chance. You might want to have it tailored some of the ladies do that," Smith said. I almost choked at the thought of a tailored uniform, but I held back because I knew he meant well. So I went inside. I signed for a Glock 36 pistol complete with two .45 cal magazines. I also signed for a Mossberg pump shotgun. Then of course the ill fitting uniforms that I was to wear in the field. It could be worse I thought. I would bet that the park game wardens had to wear that upscale uniform. "One more thing, I agreed to give you one week of office duty, to let you study the game laws. So Hugo she is to answer the phones here and keep track of you for the next week. After that she is to be on light duty for two more weeks. In other words she stays in the truck. You got it?" He asked. "Sure I got it," Hugo said. I was sure he had heard it before. Smith was just saying it for me and Mission to hear that time. I smiled politely and Mission turned to me and asked, "You need me to help you settle into the new place." "I can make do," I said. I figured I was going to have to beg a blanket from Hugo or sleep on the floor inside. Hugo was a lot closer to my age than I had expected, but I was in no mood to make a deal to sleep in a warm bed. "Then I'm going to leave. It is a long drive back to Raleigh. Come on out and get the other boxes in my trunk," Mission said. To my surprise the two boxes in her trunk held sheets, blankets, and towels. There were two boxes of those and two more boxes of clothes. It wasn't everything I needed, but it was a lot more than I had expected. It was about an hour before dark when I found myself alone with Hugo. "Do you know how to set up that trailer?" he asked. "Well I know I plug it in to that post with the circuit breaker hanging on it. At least that is my thinking." I said. "Yeah that will get you power, but water and sewer is a different thing. You aren't supposed to know how to do it. The maintenance worker from the campground it New Holt is coming up tomorrow to set the trailer up for you. In the meantime you can use anything you need to in the office. There is a bathroom in there with running water of course. There is no shower but you can wash in the sink I guess." Hugo said. "Not to worry I can make do. So you can plug it up, so I can get some heat and power?" I asked. "I'll go out now and see what the heat is like," he said. "It still gets a little chilly here. You will only have to live like a gypsy till I retire. Then the apartment behind the office goes with the job." "Hugo," I said while he checked out the little electric furnace in the trailer. "You either have to best genes I have ever seen, or you are retiring really early so which is it. You can tell me it's none of my business." "It is none of your business, but I'm 47 and I'm taking my half pension while I can get it. That was one of the reasons I took this job with the state. That pension is going to help me live, while my brother and I get our dad business back on it's feet." "Very good, they don't offer that kind of pension any more," I said. "I know that's why I'm going out now," he said. "Makes sense to me," I agreed. "So what are you going to do." "My brother and I are taking over my dad architectural salvage yard," he said. I looked a little lost. "When someone has an old building that needs to be demolished, we tear it down ang sell it for scrap." he said. "Oh is there a market for that?" I asked. "With the Internet, he can't keep up. That's why I figure the time is right," he replied. "Sounds great to me," I agreed. "Now one thing I have to tell you is I'm divorced, but I am still involved with my ex wife. She stops bye a lot of nights and I entertain her. You will have to convince her I'm not screwing you, or both of us will be miserable." he said. "I can probably do that okay," I said with a laugh. "So what's the verdict on the furnace." "It's a simple ceramic space heater kind of thing, In this climate and especially this time of year it will do just fine. I think you could probably get away with another one as will, if this one isn't enough heat for you," he informed me. "I'll keep that in mind. Is there anywhere I can get a burger around here?" I asked. "You are in luck, the diner just reopened. It isn't McDonalds but then what is," he asked. "So how do I find this place?" I asked. "Do you have a gps unit on that pickup?" he asked. "I think so," I said. "Good enter the street address now that they have 911 service." Then he gave me the address so I went out to the truck and entered it just to see. Up came the directions to the address. Whether there was a diner there and whether the food was good or not was still up in the air. I think I'll give it a try," I said. "Hold on, I'll call Helen that should go a long way to heading off any trouble," he said. "Only because I probably couldn't find the place without you and I skipped lunch." I said. "Trust me Terry, you are going to want to know things about living in the country that Helen can tell you. I might know, but she knows for sure." Hugo said. "Alright whatever," I said. "I suppose I can use a friend." It was 7PM before we were ready to go. The best I could do was a very thorough wash in the office bathroom sink. Hugo didn't offer his bathroom and I didn't push it for fear he would tell me to fuck off, and I would lose my access to the hot water from the bathroom. So I left for the diner dressed in my jeans, a white tee shirt, again from a six pack of boys size tee shirt. Over the boys tee, I wore a bright red cotton button up shirt. I didn't do my make up since his ex-wife aka gf was said to be jealous. Even though it wasn't my problem, I had to get along for a few months so I was going to try. Hugo and I rode in his Bronco which was a state car. The fish and game enforcement guys got away with it, because the were always on duty. Well officially that is anyway. Hugo I noted was dressed in his utility uniform and wore his baseball hat. I supposed if I were driving the pick up, I would have to do the same. Helen was waiting for us, when we entered. Once I convinced her that I was no threat, which took all of ten minutes, she proved to be a doll. "Oh I'm from up in the mountains. I went into the army right after high school and did a couple of tours in the middle east. Mostly driving a truck. When I got back, I went to community college and took the criminal justice course. Then I went to work for the state police. We decided I would be happier here, so here I am." I explained to them both. It was the cover story and close enough to the truth to be believable." After I sold the story, we sat around quietly eating the home cooked food. According to Hugo and Helen the diner had changed hands recently. It seemed to have a pretty good crowd at the moment. Then again it was the only game in the community. More than one man came up and started a conversation with Hugo. He accepted them at face value and made notes. Helen looked at me and smiled. The smile meant that the men wanted at least a closer look. I smiled back, since I also knew what it meant. Hugo seemed to be the only one who was oblivious. After my dinner of meat loaf and a salad, Hugo drove me home. Helen changed her plans and followed Hugo home to be sure it was harmless between us. I turned on the heater and sat in my heavy parka till the little metal box heated up. There appeared to be several things that needed to be done, before I would be fully on board with the present situation. One of them was definitely more heat. Another was hot water and a working bathroom. It was later that night when I let myself into the office to use the bathroom. I was finished peeing, when I noticed Helen standing in the office area. She was obviously waiting for me. I had no idea what was coming. "I just wanted to tell you that if you and Hugo decide to become lovers, it is quite alright with me. I know Hugo likes to think there is more here than there really is. If you feel that you would like to get it on with him, please feel free." she said. "You do realize how strange all this sounds?" I asked. "Yes but then you are not an ordinary women to accept a job like this one," she said. "No I guess I'm not at that," I said and went back to the chilly trailer. ------- Chapter 78 The first day at the new job, for breakfast I was on my own. Hugo didn't seem too interested in sharing, so I went to the cafe. I went in uniform, even though I didn't get a shower first. I thought it would made it easier to meet people. The first thing I had to do, was to forget that I was just marking time. In order to be accepted, the people needed to see me as a new resident, not a tourist. So I met one of the owners of the diner and his wife. He was the day cook and she was the waitress and cashier. Last night it had been his brother who was cook, and his brother's daughters who were the waitress and cashiers. It was truly a family business. The breakfast was simple and I tried to stay away from the grease. At least on that first morning. I went for the scrambled eggs with cheese and grits. I avoided the meats on the first visit. If the eggs proved to be alright, I would try the other items later. The eggs were actually pretty good. They were a little greasy, but things tended to be that ways in small diners. The prices were reasonable and there was even a breakfast special. Their claim to fame had to be the morning biscuits. The biscuit that came with breakfast was huge. The thing was five or six inches in diameter and an inch thick. I looked forward to stuffing it with eggs and bacon when I was in a hurry. The special was two eggs, bacon or sausage, grits, and a biscuit for five bucks. It was a good deal I knew I would be back after I had the eggs. Unfortunately there coffee was crap. They served that awful cheap restaurant blend you got everywhere. If I could find a travel cup, I would gladly bring my own coffee. I paid the bill and decided that they had seemed friendly enough. I figured next time, I would get the 'oh you are back, now who the fuck are you' treatment but with nicer language. When I got back to the office it was almost nine Hugo was an early riser I noted and was glad of it. I wouldn't want to walk in on a man in his Sponge Bob pjs. "Morning boss," I said when he came from the apartment in the rear. "Morning Terry, how was breakfast?" he asked. "Good, I hope I didn't wake you brushing my teeth this morning," I asked. "You did, but it's fine I usually get up about this time. If you let me sit at that computer I'll make some calls." he suggested. We switched seats and he called the campground some 15 miles away. He left word for the maintenance man to return his call and hung up. "So Terry, you aren't allowed to do anything, but read the fish and game laws for the rest of the week and next week as well. They want to bring you up to speed. But honestly you can read them in a day and then you learn the rest as we go. Since the captain was pretty adamant, we will go with it." he said. "To be honest Hugo, they want me to get a feel for a slower pace of life, I expect. I have some medical issues as well. I have a couple of cracked ribs," I explained to satisfy his curious look. "Do I need to know how you got them," he asked. "Fell off a motorcycle," I suggested. "Ah lucky you didn't get scraped up as well," he said looking curious. "Yeah I was lucky. Those leathers work very well and I wasn't going all that fast." I volunteered. "Well I guess you totaled it since you didn't bring it with you?" he asked. "Totaled and no insurance, so I won't be replacing it anytime soon," I said. That stopped the questioning until after the man from the campground came. He brought all kinds of pipe with him. When he left the camper had water that wouldn't freeze in the cold, and a toilet that worked. It also had a very, very small hot water heater, which he explained would give about enough water to rinse a few times." To shower I would stand in what looked like a giant plastic sewer pipe and wet down my body. I would then turned off the water and soaped everything including my hair. The next step with a little luck was a hot water rinse down of my hair. Which should also rinse most of the rest of me at the same time. I might, or might not, have to finish rinsing with cold water. Obviously the pot growers office hadn't needed much hot water. Growers must not shower often, I decided. I could manage the water situation. Heat was a different matter all together. I had a small sized ceramic furnace built into the wall. It was locatied across from the tiny bathroom in the center of the trailer. The trailer itself was eight feet wide and twenty two feet long. About the half the size of the family room in a modern house. I knew from the night before that the furnace wasn't enough heat. From talking to the man who came to install the trailer, I learned that people used the kitchen stove's burners as a propane heater in the kitchen. He didn't recommend it, but it was done all the time. It was mostly dangerous when left unattended, or if the owner fell asleep with it buring. I could safely use it to give the trailer a quick blast of heat only. Then use the electric furnace to maintain the heat. If I used the propane for supplemental heat only, it would be less dangerous and require me to run to the store for propane less often. Since the store that sold propane was probably where we bought gas for the trucks, it might not be too far away. It would still be a good idea to use it sparingly, since it gave off dangerous fumes. I didn't like it much, but the camper was a temporary thing. The good news was that the camper came with two tanks. My mind went to a more efficient way use to use the kitchen stove as a heater, but that could wait. I might never get around to that. I began making a list of things to get either at the closest convenience store, or the closest town with a Walmart and Home Depot. Propane was number one on my list. I knew damn well that I was going to be using it for heat, but probably not cooking. What little cooking I did, I could do in a microwave oven, or other small counter top appliance. That would save the propane for heating the trailer. Hugo was answering the phone while I read up on the necessary laws. Mostly it was hunting seasons and limit on how many animals a hunter could kill. Fishing was more about limits and having the proper licenses. "Hugo, what is that waterway behind us," I asked after the trailer installer left. "It's a little river called the Black River. It feeds into the inland waterway. A part of our job is to see that the waterway stay clean and open to small boats and barges. Sometimes fishermen from the waterway stop to fish and block the larger traffic. They can fish if they are licensed, but the can't block the waterways and canals. Now and then we find contraband while we are inspecting for fishing violations," he said smiling. I could tell Hugo liked that part of his job. I had a feeling he and I might just get along after all. "So you really are heavy into the enforcement part of the job?" I asked. "We all are supposed to be. Just like anything else, some wardens take more interest in the field work than others do. I guess I really like being outside more than some." he said smiling. I could hardly wait to get out in the field with him. I knew I had to read the law for a while to satisfy both Captain Smith and the doctors. It was late that same afternoon when Hugo came back to the office and said, "Come with me Terry and bring your list of stuff." I didn't ask question, I just opened the drawer and put the Glock into the holster. We headed off on the 45mile drive to New Holt. "I couldn't help notice you picked that pistol up without even thinking. You must have been in some shit in the middle east, if you got in the habit of keeping a weapon that close." "Yeah something like that. Hell over there the good guys were as likely to kill you as the bad," I said. "Not a bad way to stay alive, but a lousy way to live your life," he said. "Or at least I would thing it would be." "I don't make a lot of friends," I said. "Well don't worry, I'm not very social," Hugo added. In Walmart I bought lots of odds and ends for the trailer. I even bought a tea pot the kind you sit on a stove burner. I figured I might be able to figure out something to do with it. I also bought some plates and things like that. I would rather have gone to a flea market but I wasn't the driver. It had a microwave but I got a electric toaster oven. I didn't bother with electric cook top. I figured the propane cook top would work as seldom as I would use it. On the way back we stopped and exchanged the empty tanks on the trailer for two full ones. I paid for everything I bought at Walmart but not the propane. That Hugo paid for with one of those magic credit cards. "Whenever you need gas let me know and I'll give you the credit card." he said. "Fair enough," I answered. Just as we pulled into the parking lot of the office his cell phone rang. "Fish and Game," he said shrugging his shoulder for my benefit. "Calm down Ma'am what seems to be the problem," Hugo asked. "I'm pretty far away call the Sheriff's office and I'll head that way. He will likely get there first, but tell him I'm headed that way." "What's up?" I asked. "Woman hears shots in the woods behind her house. Her husband ran off some hunters in t here recently," he said. "Isn't the season over?" I asked. "Yes, but some of these guys buy a gun and think they can shoot it all year. They are probably plinking, but shots in the woods could be for either us, or the sheriff. It is definitely someone's problem. Like the woman said, she has grandkids who play in those woods." Hugo said. "We can investigate without any better information that that," I asked. "Oh yeah, we have reason to believe there is a state wildlife violation. The sound of gunfire from the woods is probably cause. Don't you just love it," That last was in response to my smile. I smile even more for an answer. "I'm not suppose to do this but you can ride along, if you promise to stay in the car," Hugo said. "Alright, I promise," I said. "I don't believe you, but you better. I'm way too close to retirement for any trouble," he said. It was all academic anyway. The sheriff's deputy had two young men against a car talking, when we pulled up. The deputy was a woman and she looked relieved to see us. My guess was she had been tap dancing as hard as she could waiting for backup. The men looked like young thugs, not young hunters. "So were they hunting," I asked. "Looks more like they were just trespassing. Maybe a little scouting out places for some kind of mischief," she suggested. "But all I can do is write them a simple trespass ticket." Both Hugo and I nodded. "You guys know this on my list of places, I keep a regular eye on don't ya?" he asked. They shook there heads and I could see them marking it off their list. I liked the way Hugo worked. He was rough as hell, and the law was a very broad guideline, but a guideline none the less. ------- Chapter 79 I settled into the camper quite well during the next week. I spent my days answering the phone, which almost never rang, and reading the fish and game laws, which took only a couple of hours of intense study. The rest of the time a I day dreamed and watched old tv shows on line. By the time my week on the desk was over, I was absolutely going mad. I was also able to move around a lot easier on simple OTC pain meds. So I guess the Doctor and the SBI agents were right. I would add Captain Smith in that, but he was just following their orders. I expect he would resent it, if he heard me the SBI could give him orders. I had a feeling it would cause a pissing match. Hugo had worked on Saturday and Sunday but he wouldn't let me even sit on the desk. I was learning all the time, because I listened and asked questions. For instance I asked Hugo, "So why do the fish and game people have apartments tacked onto the offices?" "Back in the early days there were no cell phones, and hardly any two way radios which would cover the large rural areas of the state, so it was used by the on duty Game Warden. He would be on duty for 24 hrs at a time at a minimum. So he just slept in the office and from that evolved the small apartment. With the coming of the cell phone. the apartments will going to soon be a thing of the past. I'm more than a little surprised they are providing you a camper," he answered. "People do still know where the offices are, but most places they find an after hours phone number on the door." "Well that makes perfect sense, but why do you live in the apartment full time?" I asked. "After the divorce it just seemed easier and I was in the middle of a illegal fish harvesting investigation, so it just happened. They take the rent from my pay." he replied. "I guess they will take the rent on the trailer from mine," I said. "I have no idea. I was told to buy your fuel at the filling station on the card, so I assume they mean the propane as well. I know they will be paying the electric bill for the camper, since it is all on one bill." he explained. "That sounds like a good deal," I guess. "I didn't need the propane last night, since I ran the electric heater all day. It stayed pretty warm in the camper overnight. I did use the extra blankets, but I stayed warm enough. I have to take such fast showers, I don't get time to be cold," I said with a laugh. I could see Hugo's mind turning at the shower comment, but he held off saying anything. With the end of the first week I insisted on at least riding along. I knew that I could fudge on staying in the truck. No one was going to turn down backup on a call, even if it was from a person not officially there. So when Hugo walked through the door that led to his apartment I was ready to pounce on him. I figured it might take a little drama, but to my surprise Hugo was ready for me. "Okay rookie today we are going to spot check boats on the waterway. You are dressed warm I hope," he said. "I can be in a very few minutes," I said heading back to the trailer. Between the cotton shirt and the light weight jacket the state provided, I added a thick sweat shirt. The Kevlar vest was under the cotton shirt. I might be pretty easy going about the risk, but since that Sunday morning run, I was a big believer in the Kevlar. While I was adding the thick layer of fleece, Hugo was getting the outboard motor from the storage building. It was a Mercury 6 horse motor I saw sitting on the boat when I arrived on the dock. "From the size of that motor I would say we don't chase speed boats," I said. "No, we aren't suppose to run down rum runners. That is a job for the DEA and ABC agents. But there is nothing that says we can't make them run, which is pretty good probably cause for those guys to give chase," Hugo said that with the smile again. It seemed like in those twenty years he had figured out a way to be satisfied with his lot in life. "Probably cause is always a good thing," I said. "Yes it is," Hugo agreed. Then a second later he asked, "Have you eaten yet?" "No but it's okay I can manage, I had some coffee," I admitted. "Well in about an hour or so, we will be at the waterway cafe. It's a little yuppie for my taste but now and then I like it. We can grab an egg or a bagel there," he explained. "Put on that life preserver." I strapped on the ugly yellow pilot's type vest. One that you pulled the trigger to inflate it. I felt a little like the Pillsbury Doughboy, when I finished even without it being inflated. We took off headed downstream, which was in an easterly direction. I have no idea how fast we were actually going but it seemed a nice steady clip. The air was cool and I was glad that I had added the sweat shirt. We seemed to go about fifteen minutes or so before the stream we were on merged into a much larger one. We had entered the inland waterway. We turned left which suggested we were headed in a northernly direction. "Terry we are on the waterway headed north now." Hugo said. "If we don't stop we will be at turtle bay in about a little over an hour. That's as far north as we are allowed to go, unless we are in pursuit of someone. So this morning we will check fishing license from Black River, where we came onto the waterway, to Turtle bay and then turn around and head south. That should take all day. I try to do it once a week, if I have time." I nodded, since I didn't know what to say. It was chilly but it was also nice on the waterway. We pulled up along side a few boats pulled over and fishing. All but one was in compliance with the F&G laws. He didn't have a state fishing license, so we made a note of his contact information and wrote him a summons. Since he was from out of state, we could have taken him into custody and before a magistrate. Sincet he had no criminal record according to the small computer Hugo carried. So we took a chance that he would mail the $80 fine, and just went with the summons. We stopped for breakfast at a cafe at the end of a pier. The cafe had a nice view of the waterway and the boats going up and down it. The food was good and the people all knew Hugo. Some of the good will they had for him rubbed off on me as well. After breakfast we headed on north to the Turtle Bay loch. It lifted and lowered the water levels in the loch basin to aid boat entering or leaving turtle bay. The boats would just sail into the holding pen and the gate to the bay or the water way would be opened to level the water inside the loch, so the boat could proceed. A very old and efficient technology I was told by the loch operator. "Hugo they finally got you some help I see," a fisherman type said while we were waiting for the loch to empty. We were in the loch operators booth just so that I could see how it worked. "Yep now I can catch you for sure," Hugo said. "Catch me doing what," the fisherman said. "Setting the gill net across the river," Hugo said. "I wouldn't do that Hugo, it's illegal to net across a waterway. Not to mention it's very unsportsmanlike." he said. "You know Mr. you just don't look like the type that would be bothered by that," I said. "You kind of light in the ass to be smart mouthing me," he said smiling a nasty smile. God I hated that I couldn't back down, but screw it. If you can't run with the big dogs, you need to stay on the porch according to my sergeant in the sandbox. "Well I'll tell you what champ why don't we go around back and see whose is really longer," I said. "You gonna leave that pistol in here?" he asked. "Now why the hell would I do that, unless you are going to leave that 100 pound you out weight me." I replied. I saw Hugo smile out the corner of my eye. "So Jimmy you planning to go to the hospital or let us finish the demonstration in peace?" he said. When he walked away I asked Hugo, "What was a piece of crap like him doing here anyway.?" "Probably selling fresh fish to the cafe's on the waterway. Son of a bitch is a commercial fisherman uses gill nets." he said with some disgust. "I was reading about those. The fish just get caught in the net and the fishermen pulls in the nets and frees the gills and they are in ready for sale," I said. "Yeah, it how they harvest the fish populations to control them. Trick is when they string those nets across the rivers and streams that it gets to be illegal. The fish have to go up and down the rivers and streams to survive. It gives the fishermen and unfair advantage over the fish," Hugo said. "How do you catch them doing that," I said. "One night soon we will ride one of the rivers and see if there are any nets. If there are we will either stake it out to make and arrest, or there will be an accident. A good gill net is very expensive." Hugo said smiling that smile again. How he knew I wasn't there to investigate him I had no idea, but he sure was letting me in on the dark side of his job without being asked. "I wouldn't mind losing a night's sleep for a good outcome," I said. "Good, I'll keep it in mind. By the way you did just fine with that fisherman," Hugo admitted. "Thanks," I said. We were back in the boat headed south when I said, "You know there seem to be a few little boat docks on the waterway. I would have though there wouldn't be." I said. "Well the idea is that it's a water highway and highways have to have a way to get on and off them. Think of those docks as interchanges. They have controlled access, but there are a lot of them even so." "I did notice there aren't many that seem private most look as though they are public use docks.," I said. "There are some of both, but mostly they are public, and no private ones on the canals or cuts." Hugo informed me. "Way too complicated for me," I said. "One of those things that really don't make a crap to us. We just live with what is there. If they put up a new one, we will have to live with it too. We have no control over what happens with boat docks, except who fishes on them." He saw my curious look, so he added, "They have to be licensed." I just nodded and kept quiet. about an hour later I asked, "Is that the black river?" "You got a good eye, it is the Black. We are going to go on down to the Sanford Loch. It's our southern boundry." I nodded again, since I didn't know what to say. At the Sanford Loch there was a bait shop where we got a cup of coffee. Hugo collected some intelligence from the bait shop owner I'm sure. They seemed like old friends. We left and pulled into the dock behind the warden's office an hour so so later. Most of the day was gone, so we left 'If you need help call' sign on the door and called it a day. ------- Chapter 80 The next few days could only have been more boring, if I had still been tied to the desk. I was on light duty and Hugo understood what that meant. He didn't take me on anything with a duration of more than an hour. If something was going to be strenuous or take more than an hour he left me in the truck or in the office. I hated it on one hand and I appreciated it on the other. I had spend one weekend tied to that trailer, so I did not want to spend another. Friday when Hugo gave me the weekend schedule, I decided to take off for New Holt the next morning. Hugo was going to take the call, which was no more than carrying the office cell phone. You had to love technology. By leaving the camper's electric furnace on auto thermostat, I could keep the night chill away. It came one early and often enough to keep the chill at a minimum. I took a quick shower, and I do mean quick, Saturday morning. It was a cool morning outside, but acceptable in the camper. I hated to leave but I had things to do in New Holt. One was to buy some transportation, since the Toyota had been put in storage. I would only get it back after I was cleared to return home. It could be a few months, if the Greens decided to cooperate and plead, or never if they plead not guilty and the investigation went national. Like it or not, I had to have my own transportation or learn to enjoy wearing the fatigues of a game warden. Yes I had to be in uniform to drive the warden's pickup. I hadn't driven the pick up much, since we had filled it up with gas, so it was still full. The pickup had a extra gas tank built into the system so it would hold over fifty gallons. It kept both tanks full at all times, just in case we had to make a trip. Hauling the boat trailer, which was chained to a tree in the yard, could eat up the gas. There was also a horse trailer, of all things, in the yard. I would be willing to bet that it too would eat into the gas mileage. It was nowhere near aerodynamic. I drove off Saturday morning with none of those thoughts. I just knew the gas tank was full and I was glad. I was considering what to buy as I drove toward New Hope. I had no idea what choices I would be presented. A convertible or dune buggy maybe. On the road into New Holt there were a few houses but nothing else. The gps map showed me coming in on a county road, not the one state road. The state road really was an old road that was pretty well traveled before New Holt was cut off by an Interstate. I gleaned that information from listening to Hugo talk. Hugo loved to tell me the history of the area. New Holt was only a few miles from the Atlantic ocean. It had started life as a cotton warehouse town. Growers brought the cotton to New Holt until a ship arrived at the coastal town of Blane. Blane was larger, several towns like New Holt supplied it with merchandise to be shipped. Those same small towns warehoused goods coming in by ship. New Holt held cotton for shipment to Europe and manufactured household goods coming from Europe and awaiting distribution to the colonies and later the early states. New Holt was far enough from the Atlantic not to be in as great a storm risk. Well that was the early thinking. Modern New Holt was no longer made up of warehouses for cotton, but it did hold agricultural production warehouses. One of the new industries was a peanut processing plant. There were huge boilers and roasters exclusively for peanuts. How that one ended up in New Holt was just a guess at that point. Hugo had never heard. As with any cross roads town there were people who commuted to Blane to work on the less than booming docks. Since New Holt was a river town it had been built on the banks of the Greater Pea River. The Greater Pea wasn't much of a river. It might be deep where it ran through New Holt but it was narrow. Where Flat bottom barges had once carried cotton to Blane, it was mostly pleasure boats that traveled through New Holt those days. When one says commercial fishermen what comes to mind is small ocean going boats with big nets. Well the freshwater fishermen of the Greater Pea River used ten to sixteen foot aluminum boats with outboard motors mostly. They strung gill nets along the shallow of the sounds and larger wider parts of the rivers, at night. Then came back to collect them the next day. It was traditionally how it was done in that area. Fresh water commercial fishing had mostly been replaced by fish farming. Still there was a place for small commercial fishermen. Two boats could also seine a portion of the river by stretching a seine net between them. It wasn't easy but it could be done. I had been told all this but I had never seen anyone harvesting the rivers with nets. Mostly I had run into pleasure boat fishermen. On that Saturday morning I was mostly interested in other things anyway. It was after 9AM when I stumbled across what looked like a family style diner in what had once been the downtown section of New Holt. The diner backed up to the river, so it was a few feet from the old dock on the river. Since the dock system was maintained by the state transportation system, it was in good shape. It also was about three feet above the water level most of the time. I got the tourist view of the river and the dock all for the hometown diner price. I had a late, but full breakfast. It was very good, except for the coffee. which was just awful. The coffee was no worse than anywhere else, but it was still pretty damn bad. There was no newspaper in the little town of New Holt but there was a city maintained bulletin board in front of the city hall. The waitress told me about it, when I said I was looking for a car. I found that I got a lot of help when in the fatigues of the game warden. It was much better than being a cop, which was better than being Citizen Jane. After breakfast I walked the hundred yards of waterfront that was the main part of town. After that sort of active street, it became abandoned warehouses and vacant fast food restaurant buildings. Here and there I had spotted a grocery store or a convenience store that sold bread and gas. New Holt was the typical river town of the 1950's dead but not ready to give up. The bait shop and diner on the river front might survive well into the new century on the locals and the river traffic. I had my doubts about most of the other enterprises. When I reached the bulletin board I began looking for a car. There were exactly two listed. One of them was way too expensive for a throw away. If I went home, I would be selling it at a quick sale price. The other one was of even less interest it was way too old to be even a little reliable. Especially for someone living as far off the grid as I was. Then I came across a index card for the New Holt bike shop. Since I loved my bike back in County Seat, I decided to take a look. First thing I did was to go back to the diner for the truck. While there I sat down to do an assessment of use. I knew I would want to go to the community build up around the one true crossroads. The convenience store had been built there because an old church had been converted to a community center. So kids gathered at the Community center, or across the street at the convenience store. The store sold the older ones beer, They most likely gave it to the younger ones to influence their decision making. Thus had it always been. The community center was used for community meetings of adult clubs in the day time. And community get altogethers when someone or some group went to the effort to arrange it. So I knew I had to go that far for gas and food products. It was a good eight miles one way to the community center. That was the closest milk and bread. So I had to keep that in mind. The gps in the truck sent me on a couple of twists and turns before I ended up just outside the downtown, I found myself in front of a house with a large barn type garage beside it. I realized at first glance it was more, and also less than, a conventional bike shop. How could it not be? I asked myself. I parked my car in one of the four spaces for visitor and went into the building. Sure enough it was filled with kids bicycles and a few adult ones. A couple were new but most showed some signs of wear. "Hi there I'm Mike," the youthful looking man in his late twenties, my own age said. "Mike, I'm Terry I just moved in the area. I'm looking for some transportation." I said. "Well that's interesting. Most people buy a bike for pleasure riding these days," he said. "I had one I used for that where I came from, but I didn't bring it. I also find a need to do a fifteen mile ride at the drop of a hat. So I'm not sure a bike is practical." I said. "It probably isn't for that kind of thing," he said. "Well at least you are honest. You could have tried to convince me it would work," I admitted. "Would that have worked?" he asked. "No, I pretty much know how far I can ride a bike," I said. "Now how much money have you got to spend," he asked. "Cash money, without floating a loan, five hundred dollars," I said. "You seem like a nice young lady, so let me give you some advice. You are going to be tempted to go with a Chinese scooter for that kind of money, don't. They are garbage. You can get a good European one for over a grand or maybe two so that is out. There is another alternative," he said smiling. "What is that?" I asked curious to see what the guy my age, with grease under his nails, had up his sleeve. "Come take a look," he said turning to walk into the bowels of the garage. I followed him to a set of open stairs that led up to a storage room on the second floor. It had a floor but otherwise was just one open room with no wall or ceiling. He led me to a dusty small black tricycle. "So what do you think?" he asked. "I think that would be harder to pedal fifteen miles than a bike," I said. "I also think you might be a bit nuts." I should be hurt, but I know things you don't smart ass. This is a Workman brand tricycle. That is the Mercedes of tricycles. Damn near indestructible." "Okay it looks heavy and with enough weight to wear my ass out before I made half of that 15 miles," I admitted. "I got a motor kit over here. One that has never been used. It mounts over the front wheel and it is gasoline driven. The kit is 50cc which is way bigger than any other I know about. It would need the workman or something like it to support it. The top speed will be over twenty miles and hour, but you still ain't going to be setting no records." ------- Chapter 81 "I don't want something so complicated I can't disconnect it to get it home, cause I know damn well it's gonna' break." I said with a good natured smile. "I'll be straight up with you, I built this motor kit, and I'm hoping to sell them on the Internet. The motor I got at a reasonable price by buying ten of them. I bought then from a factory that makes generators. Actually they import them and attach them to the generator they make here in this country. The motor is assembled in Mexico from parts manufactured in China I think. So yeah it's a throw away. The good news is I can get replacements easily. Everything bolts to the motor so it can all be reused on another motor. The throttle is a shifter off old bikes The kill switch is a simple on off switch from the hardware store. All the other controls are part of the motor itself. Oh yeah the drive wheel is welded to the sleeve used to attach the motor to the generator and then just bolted onto the motor. It is the simplest of all motor drives. "How does it start? I don't plan to stand there pulling my guts out on a rope start," I said. "Prime it, set the choke and pedal the bike with it on the wheel or drop in on the wheel, either way when the motor turns over it fires, then you lift it to turn off the choke and lower it slowly to start it running again." he said. "How long will it take you to put this together, so that I can try it out?" I asked. "Well I want to go through the Workman clean and grease it. Then I have to assemble the kit, which it a no brainer, since it is designed for you basic retard to use, no offense." he said. "None taken," I said, "So when and how much?" "Tomorrow at five, it will be ready to go. I'll give you a thirty day guarantee," he said. "That's all well and good but how much?" I asked. "Two hundred for the trike, the kit is going to retail for one fifty, and fifty for assembling it. So call it four hundred," he said. "I would like calling it three hundred better," I said with a smile. "I'll bet you would. Tell you what just to stop the haggling, I hate haggling by the way, I'll do the assembly free and have it ready at five tomorrow afternoon," he said. "Now here is the deal. I'll buy it, if it will start easily, and runs around town. Otherwise you are going to do this work for nothing," I said. "Fair enough," we said and we shook hands. "You know where to find me if anything comes up, otherwise I will be here at five tomorrow." I said, Those were my last words to him. I left the bike shop and went in search of an ATM. I had a hundred dollars in cash, but that was all. The rest of my money was directly deposited into an account in my new name. Oh I had ten grand in cash that no one knew about. It was in my bugout bag. Anyone in my situation without a bugout bag was an idiot. I had a clean pair of jeans, a shirt, some underwear, two fake driver's license. No one knew about and ten grand or the fake IDs All of it had been purchased and hidden away while I drove for the Greens. I knew that the day might come, when I needed to hide from everyone. If that or this identity went foul, I was going to be able to survive a while till I worked out my next move. That was just the reality of fake identities. The more the merrier. I needed to get into the direct deposit money for the trike purchase, since I wanted the bosses to know about it. Show them a normal life, right up till the minute I disappeared, if it became necessary. I went to the grocery section of the WalMart store in Blane. It was even farther from the ranger station but it was the closest real town. I would never have believed I would live in a place that was forty five miles from a Walmart. I spent almost a hundred bucks on canned and frozen stuff, then I hit the cash back for another hundred. Before I left the store I went to their third party bank ATM and hit if for three hundred more. What the hell I had the money in the bank and I would need it eventually anyway. With the cab of the truck filled with tied grocery bags, I headed back to the compound. I drove past New Holt and it was after 5PM. I could have gotten dinner but I chose to go on home and heat a frozen dinner instead. Hugo's blazer was gone when I arrived home at 5:30 PM. I wasn't surprised the ex-wife seemed to still like the physical relationship she had with Hugo. I don't think she wanted any emotional relationship, I'm pretty sure that is what she was telling me in our little talk. I really saw Hugo as a father figure, but in a good way not in the kind of father I remembered. So I went inside the camper and put my groceries away. That was a job I didn't like, but it didn't take long at all. Once I had that done, I turned on the TV and ran down the Satellite TV schedule. All those channels and nothing I wanted to watch, what a joke full access TV was. I went to the Internet to be entertained. At least there I could Interact with almost real people. Plus there was a ton of porn available there, porn had no intrinsic entertainment value, but it did pass the time. Hell I could even watch myself if I wanted to check out Mary Ellen's site. I was a lifetime member of the site, so I could watch whatever she was showing or selling. Sunday morning I woke early for no good reason. I had two errands to run. One was to pick up the bike at five and the other was to collect my bug out bag. I had it stored in a locker at one of those ups retail stores. It was located in a town near Green's vineyard. I figured I could breeze into town on this Sunday morning around church time. I would be driving a game warden's truck, Nothing would connect to my last identity. So I left at nine for the town with the ups store. I drove the three hours there and stayed just long enough to go into the shopping center based UPS store. In my extra large box I found the black gym bag I had left months before. I waited until I got to the truck to open the bag. The clothes and the money were there. I forgot that I had the black hawk case knife in the bag. I had bought it at Walmart and it went right into the bag. I never had it out of the case, except to check it once, then it went into the bag. Three hours later I pulled into the sandy parking lot. I had eaten a pack of peanut butter crackers and a diet coke so far that Sunday. I had to find a place to hide the gym bag. Somewhere like the UPS store, something accessible 24hours a day and seven days a week. Somewhere I could slip into without having to worry about it being staked out. Just like I had today in and out no sweat. It couldn't be in the camping trailer, nor the office, nor anywhere in the compound, so where did that leave me. Something in a town maybe, I thought. In the meantime I had to pick up the trike. Since Hugo still wasn't home I couldn't get him to help. I could get Mike, the bike salesman, to help me load it. Sooner or later Hugo had to come home and then we could unload it. So off I went to New Holt. The drive was only about thirty minutes but it was nerve wracking since it was all flat county roads. Once I got into town the roads weren't any better. But if I ran off the road and got killed in the pickup at least someone would find me. Those roads were really, really lonely and poorly maintained. "Well, how does it run?" I asked the man my age. "It runs like a dream, a little loud but other than that it is a cool ride." Mike said. "I'm dying to see can we start it?" I asked. "Sure let me show you how to get it going." He took about five minutes to show me how to choke and prime the motor then I was on my own. I made sure kill switch was in the run position and the motor was primed and choked. I got the trike moving then lowered the motor. It started for a second as Mike said it would. I turned off the choke and didn't prime it, but I did open the throttle and drop the engine on the moving bike. It roared to life. The agreement was that I would drive it around town before I paid for it. So I did just that. I went to the restaurant were I had eaten the day before. I shut the bike motor down and walk inside for a coke to go. I carried the coke outside and drank it while I looked at the river. Finally I went back and the trike started right up. I was sold on the trike and I rode it back to the bike shop. "Well do I get my money or not," he asked smiling. "You get it," I said. "Good, do you have a bike helmet?" he asked me. "No, but I'm sure going to need one," I replied. 'That thing run like hell and I didn't even open it up all the way." "Tell you what I got a half dozen used helmets that I get in with bikes. You can go through the box and if one suits you it's yours, no charge." Mike was smiling like an idiot when I counted out the money. The cardboard box was filled with helmets. Most were for children but a few were adult sized. I noticed a half dozen or so completely round helmets. It they hadn't had the air holes in them they might have looked like motorcycle helmets. "What the hell are these?" I asked. "Polo helmets they bought new onces at the polo club and I bought them an a yard sale," Mike informed me. "Well, I can't afford to play it or hang out with those who do, but I'll take the helmet of someone who played polo." I said it and laughed. Mike helped me load the trike onto the back of the truck. It was a half hour drive that I looked forward to being over. I looked forward to having wheels. I drove another 45minutes to get to Blane. It was in absolutely the wrong direction but I needed somewhere to drop of the Gym Bag. The best chance I had to find somewhere was Blane. I looked all over town and nothing seemed secure and also offered instant access. I drove back to the compound with the gym bag behind my seat. It was almost dark when I arrived at the compound and Hugo still hadn't come back. I was beginning to think he decided I was too much trouble, when he drove the bronco into the compound. He was alone which I somehow expected. His ex struck me as not really the emotional type. ------- Chapter 82 Shit, I thought. Hugo was back and I hadn't figured out what to do with the gym bag. There were two storage building in the small compound. Neither was very large or secure at all. One held the outboard motor and other mechanized tools. Like the portable generator, lawn mower, weed eater and other things of the same sort. The other building held shovel and rakes also the fishing rods. Those were most likely owned by Hugo. I had no idea if there were any state fishing rods or not. There was a state owned big game rifle available. It was kept in a metal cabinet under lock and key. It was also probably the ugliest modern rifle I had ever seen. It was a Savage 110. When Hugo showed it to me, he swore that it was deadly accurate. One thing I knew for sure a 90% accurate weapon, would kill you just as dead as a sniper rifle. It just might take two shot instead of one. So if you had the extra second, then 90% was fine. And since Hugo's assessment was based on deer, who weren't shooting back, I decided it was about 90% accurate. All this rambling is to say there was no where in the compound, I felt the bug out bag would be safe. I probably should have just left it at the UPS store. I wanted it close enough to get to quick in case the Green Machine found me. So at the moment it was behind the seat of my truck. Well it was behind the seat of the state truck That made it close enough, actually it was too close. I fell asleep Sunday night with that bag on my mind. I woke up Monday with it still on my mind. I decided to stop obsessing about it, and just transfer everything into a tool box, then put a lock on it and leave it in the truck. That would last only until I found a place to store it. One that met all my requirements. Even that would have to wait Hugo wanted to check on a lead he got over the weekend. "So someone told me there was a lot of activity out in the Dismal," he said. "The Dismal?" I asked. "Yeah the Great Dismal Swamp. It a mass of standing water a few inches deep in some places and several feet in others. The Waterway cuts through it, but it is also several thousand acres of nothing but rotting vegetation. There is enough dry land to do a lot of things like grow pot. There are also a few things in there that can be poached like a few gators and some bears. "I had no idea we had gators here," I said. "Yeah they are coming back. We have to wrestle one every now and then. I'll show you how, if we get a chance." Hugo said. "So what do you really think is happening?" I asked. "Kid who told me lives on an access road to the swamp. Nothing at the end of it but a boat ramp and parking lot. According to the kid cars are going down it, but they ain't got no trailers for boats. So I have no idea what is going on, but we need to go in and see." Hugo said. "I know I'm not very experienced but why don't we do a stakeout and see where they go. If we go tramping through a swamp odds are we are not going to find them," I said. "So what do you think about we go into the parking lot and set up a camera. See if there is anything to investigate?" he said, in that talking to an idiot child voice. "So that's what you did over the weekend?" I asked. "Yep, now we are going to go take a look at the camera. It is time lapse for 24hours starting Saturday at noon till Sunday at noon. I can't be sure we are going to have anything, but if not we will reset it and get the hell out," Hugo said. "Sounds good to me. So tell me Hugo what do you think they are doing in there," I asked. "I got no idea. I want you to drive since your truck can take the swamp better than this prissy bronco," He said. "No problem how long will it take?" I asked. "Three hours up there probably. Why you got a date?" he asked. "No date, but before we leave would you help me unload a bike from the truck?" I had checked before I entered the office. The trike was still under the plastic tarp in the rear of the truck. "Sure, I'll give you a hand with it. After that we can stop at the diner at the cross roads for breakfast. You can buy, since I am helping you out here." "Come on Hugo, unloading that trike is two minutes and very little work. I mostly need you to guide it to the ground," I said, "Nothing is ever as easy as people think it will be," Hugo informed me and of course he was right. The trike had shifted during the drive from the bike shop. It had jammed a little but it just took a little muscle to free it. Then the bitch was heavy as hell so it was hard to lower it to the ground without a bump. So we got the bump which caused Hugo to fall and twist his ankle. That cause me to ask him every ten minutes, if he needed to go to the emergency room. "I'm just fine lets get on down the road," he said. So I pushed the trike to the rear of the shed, where we stored the outboard motor and other power tool. I replaced the tarp before we headed off to breakfast. Hugo limped noticeably as he walked to the truck. "Hugo you really should have someone look at that ankle." "I'm fine. I know when a bone is broke and when it is just a sprain," he said. "Listen you macho ass, if you are hurt and have complications, it will be my ass for not forcing you to go to the Emergency Room. Now tell me you are okay or we are going to the ER." "I'm okay, but you are going to have to check out that camera. You think you can manage?" he asked. If you can tell me how it works?" I said. "I'm riding with you, I could some pills. While I dope up, you get the ladder out of the bronco and put it in the pick up. We will need it to check the camera and we might have to fix it, if they found it," He said. We finally made it to the restaurant about 9AM. That isn't late for most folks but from the waitress's greeting, it looked as though it was for Hugo. "Why Hugo darling, I thought your wife must be fixin' breakfast for you. You are usually here and gone by now." she said. "Thelma have you met my new partner Terry. Terry this is Thelma. She is a good friend, as well as a great waitress. Her only problem is that she is nosy as hell," Hugo said with a smile. "Well then tell me why you is runnin' late," the very large black woman asked. "I had to wake Terry up. She sleeps more than I do," he said. "Plus she had me help unload her truck." "Good for you Terry. Mr. Hugo is as lazy a human as I know. Don't do nothing, but walk through the woods all day. Hell half the time he is probably lost," she said. "Now Thelma you know I ain't never been lost. I probably been misplaced a dozen times but lost never. Hell I always turn up, don't I?" he asked. "Yeah, just like bad money. You want the usual?" she asked. "Sure why not? Put it all on one check and give it to her," He said pointing to me. "I'm just going to have one egg and a biscuit," I said when my turn came to order. "Girl what's wrong with you. You plenty skinny enough," Thelma said. "And I want to stay that way," I said. I remembered then that I had been neglecting my running routine. I hadn't figured out a safe route yet. "All you skinny girls like that. Always starvin', don't know why, men like me just fine and I got some meat on my bones," she said. "Probably ain't the bones they are concerned with," I said with a smile. "You know it honey," she said with a laugh. The food was as good as I remembered it being, but I had never seen Thelma. "What's the deal with Thelma. I thought this was a family place?" I asked Hugo. "It is, she just comes in to give the owners a break. Two days a week it is in the morning, and two days a week it is on the night shift. She and her husband run the place, while the owners are off. It works out good for everyone." Hugo said. "It sounds like it," I admitted. We were back on the road in less than a half hour. That was one thing I liked about Hugo he could finish a meal in a reasonable amount of time. Some men had gotten as bad as some women for dawdling over a plate of food. I know meals are supposed to be social events, but I just never could manage to think of a MRE heated over a Sterno can as a romantic event. So all meals became about the food, not the company or the ambiance for me. We drove almost three hours up some secondary state roads. Like me Hugo didn't like highways all that much. I had to resist talking about patrolling in the mountains. It was hard to alway remember, so I began speaking less and less. Hugo didn't seem to want to talk much either, so the three hours passed slowly for me. I pulled the pickup into the parking lot a1:20PM. The parking lot really needed resurfacing, but I expect there were a lot higher priority projects for the small amount of parking lot improvement money. "See that light post over there?" Hugo asked. "Yeah but I don't see anything that looks like a camera," I said. "That's because it isn't on the post. Look for a tree on the south side of the cleaning," Hugo said. "Hugo there are lots of trees on the south side of the parking lot. We are in the middle of a wild assed piece of swamp land," I said. "True, the one we are looking for has a 'Y' shaped fork about eight to ten feet from the ground. There is a clear view of the parking lot from the 'Y'," He suggested. Sure enough there the tree was. I took Hugo's binoculars and found the small camera in the fork. I could just make out a strap about eight of the branches. One held the camera in place no doubt. The other was probably for the recorder was my guess. "Okay I see it and it looks like it hasn't been disturbed," I said. "Okay take the battery pack and the memory card and climb up there and change them out. It's pretty straight forward," Hugo informed me. "You should be able to figure it out." "Just so I know, the battery goes in the recorder?" "There is no recorder. The camera is the recorder the battery is for it and the card is also in the camera. Maybe I should do it?" Hugo replied. "I'll get it not to worry," I said getting out of the truck. Carrying the aluminum ladder through the brush was a muther, but I managed. When I got the card out of the camera and the new battery in, I turned it on to film the parking lot for the next 24 hours. ------- Chapter 83 "Let's get the hell out of here, you never know when someone will come," I said. "Sure, we can look at this while you drive." Hugo said. "Hugo it you start that playback and find anything at all in the file while I'm driving, I will end up in a ditch. Hold on I'll find a country church parking lot. I saw a half dozen as we drove up from the compound." "Okay, I'm not that curious," Hugo said and I knew it was a lie. I stopped the car in the small parking lot of a frame building the was really not much larger than a old style farm house. The only reason I knew it was a church was the small sign attached to a large cross, it read, 'Sweet Water Baptist Church.' "Too bad we don't have coffee," Hugo said. "Did anybody tell you that you are demanding when you are in the passenger seat," I said with a smile. "Yeah, I don't do well, when I'm not in charge." Hugo said. "Then he put his laptop on the dash and started the time lapse images from the game trail camera. They started in the sunlight there was a truck in the parking lot with a boat trailer as well as Hugo's bronco. The first images were of Hugo walking to the bronco and sliding the ladder on top and tying it to the cargo frame up there. Then he drove off. Time passed until a boat landed and a two men spent some time loading the boat onto a trailer. They had a pretty good sized string of pan fish. It was quite the haul. But certainly nothing illegal about it. We waited and nothing happened all the way through the night. Then it started again. "I thought it only ran 24 hours." I said. "It does run 24hours at least. Then it keeps on going till the battery dies. I put new batteries in so it runs till it died. I started it noon Saturday and it ran till the batteries died sometime Sunday," Hugo explained. I just kept watching as the time flipped over. We had seen a boat launch Sunday about noon probably someone going fishing with the kids after church. That theory was boosted by the two kids who climbed from the car and 'helped'with the launching of the boat. They returned empty handed sometime after 5PM. The time stamp seemed to be accurate. Just when I was about to give up, because the image had gone dark again. It was a long time before a cars headlight showed up on the screen. The car could have belonged to a catfisherman, but he had no boat. When he climbed from the car he did have a large flashlight. "So what is he doing?" I asked. "I have no idea. He doesn't appear to have a rifle, and he isn't really dressed for a walk in the swamp. I bet he is meeting a boat. He is picking up something. Something they can't land in a port. Not even in a small port like Blane or New Holt," Hugo said. "That's a first rate theory, nice work. It will be even better, if it is true," I said. The time stamp showed it to be midnight when he went to the small boat ramp and flashed the light several times. A few minutes later a small boat pulled up beside the wooden dock. From the boat five small figures worked their way ashore. "Illegals," I said. They were not all that happy to be in the states. They were cowering. "Looks like they might not be here of their own free will," I said. "Damn, it would be so much easier to land them on some desolate beach in Florida," I said. "Think about it. If you bring them ashore in Florida, you have to worry about landing then in a state with a coast line that the coast guard patrols. Once ashore there is the problem of transporting them up the coast. As you said they don't look too happy to be here. There is always a chance for something to go wrong. Say they are going to Washington. Philly or even New York, you would have a lot less moving them around by road to do from here. You don't have customs or any real law enforcement along the waterway, so you get them ashore no sweat. Then it just becomes down to how to move them around. You are starting on a desolate road which connects back to roads from the days before the interstate highway system. Even then you can connect to the interstate highway system withing fifty miles. It's perfect for dropping off small amounts of contraband," Hugo explained. "Or five soon to be whores from the Ukraine," I said. Yeah it was just a guess but white whores were valuable in big towns. The Russian mob was big in strip joints which were just fronts for prostitution. Everyone in law enforcement knew that. "Or that," he said. "It's more complicated than most ways to land them, but it's pretty safe." "So we going to call homeland security and customs," I asked. "We could do that, or we could just wait till them come back and bust them ourselves," Hugo suggested. "There was just one of him, and he didn't look like he had more than a handgun, if that." "Hugo it sounds real good, but you need some logistical support if nothing else," I said. "Well, I can dream," he said. "I guess it could be weeks before they land anything else." "How often did your CI say they were using the road?" I asked. "His words were, 'There is a lot of new traffic on the road," Hugo explained. "That sounds like more than once a month or so. They are either flooding the country with girls from the old USSR, or this has become a regular stop on the pipeline for other things worth smuggling as well." I suggested. "Yeah, I guess we do need homeland security, or somebody like them," Hugo said. "I'm thinking Agent Mission with the State Bureau of Investigation." I thought of her because she would protect my identity. "Well we have a problem there. We are going to have to go up the chain. Report it to Captain Smith. I have no idea where he would kick it." Hugo Said. I could see the logic in it, but I could also see it coming back to bite me. Hugo should receive credit for it, but higher ups had a tendency to want to parade my skinny ass before the TV cameras. I had to figure out how to best keep that from happening. "Hugo, I need for this to go up to Agent Mission in the SBI. I can't tell you why, it just has to happen. So you tell Captain Smith, but I need to tell Agent Mission at least at the same time, if not before." I said it very clearly. He had to know something was wrong with it, but I give it to him, he didn't seem to be shaken by it. "How about you let me drive your car, and you use your cell phone. Then when we get back to the office, I'll call Smith. Have your agent give us time to make that notification before she calls him to take over the case. When she calls, Smith is going to know something is wrong he is no dummy. If he ever believed that bullshit about transfers, he won't believe it any more, so Terry or whoever, you are blown." "Yeah, I guess I am." I said. I dialed the number for Agent Mission who was my controller. "Hello Mission, this is Terry and we got a problem." "What you got yourself into now," she asked. She listened to me for about five minutes and didn't say a word. "Sylvia how the hell do you get into shit like this. We have been looking for a crew of Russian white slavers. We couldn't figure out where they moved their operation. This is probably them, so yes it is important." "Yeah I know and I didn't do it this time. Hugo my partner, you put me with, found them. He is a hell of a cop and deserves the recognition for this. All I want to do is not be paraded around in front of the TV cameras. But Hugo has to report to his supervisor, and they might drag me into it unless you can manage to make sure that doesn't happen. It would be nice if you could still get Hugo the recognition he deserves." "Has Hugo made the call to Captain Smith yet?" Mission asked. "No he agreed to hold off till we get back to the compound. So you have two hours more or less to make something happen. I'll go along with anything as long as Hugo gets the credit for the bust." I said. Well if we take a team in there, he would be on the stage at the press conference, and get an 'atta boy' from the AG, would that do?" Mission asked. "That would do fine," I said. "One more thing, we want to be there when it goes down," I said. "I'll wear a ski mask." "You bet your ass you will," Mission said. "Now listen to me. Hugo is a cop with twenty years in and the Captain has a lot to lose if anything happens to you, but ultimately it's up to you. You want to move on, or try to stay there." "This is a speed bump thing, just this one time you explain to the captain I don't ever do news conferences, but not why that is the case. I'll take care of Hugo, who will be gone in a few months. He doesn't need to know the story just the situation now." I said. "It's your little ass Sylvia, er Terry," she said. "Yes it is, nice of you to notice," I said with a laugh. I clicked the phone off and turned to Hugo. "So you okay with that?" I asked. "What are you talking about?" he asked me. "I'll tell you why I'm here in general strokes, and you forget all about it. Never mention it to me, or anyone else. If anyone asks you, plead ignorant, but tell me someone asked about me, no matter how insignificant it seems." I said. "Yeah I can do that," he said. "Alright I was a small town cop who got recruited for an undercover job a long way from home. I worked my way into a criminal enterprise and it went down. I need to hide out a while. The SBI stuck me here to hide me and to keep an eye on me. That all I can tell you." "That's all I need to know. I really don't need the credit for this, but the Captain is going to insist that the the Fish and Game Division get it." He said. "Yeah that's how I figure it, but somebody has to be the face of Fish and Game, it might as well be you," I said. "Yeah, well if it keeps them from looking at you," Hugo said. "It might look good on my resume later." "Hell Hugo, it is your lead, you worked it, you should get the credit for it." I said. I meant it too. When we got back Hugo went into the office to make the call. I went back to get the trike somewhere safe, but easy to use on a moments notice. Of course the bug out bag came to mind. I still didn't have a place, but the events of the day showed me again the need for it. ------- Chapter 84 When Hugo finished with the phone call it was only mid-afternoon. "Come on Terry, lets go over to the big cut. You have never been there." he said. "Your truck will do better than the Bronco." "So what is the big cut, a canal?" I ask. "There are two kinds of cuts in this district. One it the artificial ditched they made to connect bits and pieces of the Waterway, but the other are areas that the logging crew worked. They have been replanted, but you'll see why I call it the big cut." I was dressed appropriately for the walk in the swamp in the spring time. My boots were some nylon like material on top and a very tough leather, shoe area. That particular boot design was make famous in the Vietnamese war. They were still used because for their ability to dry fairly quickly. The big invention was the drainage holes in the bottom. If they got water inside, it drained out as you wore them. You might need to change socks, but the boot itself would dry out. Even military used surplus, they cost fifty bucks. The boots were worn with the issued fatigues in a dark forest green of the game wardens outfit. I didn't thing the jungle camouflage was a good idea. Especially not where there might be armed men. The idea was not to sneak up on anybody. The idea was not to have them shoot you by accident. When I left the truck, I added a blaze orange shooters vest over the solid green fatigue top. Hugo and I had just ridden an hour along back roads to the entrance of the big cut. There were small clear cuts in the swamp area, but only one big cut. According to Hugo the big cut was a thousand acres or more of flat land where once had stood trees as big around as small car. Industry needed the lumber, the state needed the money, so they harvested some of the swamp. When I turned into the big cut, I switched into four wheel drive. Even then I had to look carefully and plan as far as I could see ahead to stay out of the standing water. With water you never knew how deep it was and the pickup was not a submarine. We must have driven a mile into the cut when Hugo said, "Stop here, we can walk the rest of the way." "The rest of the way where?" I asked. "The rest of the way to the end of the cut. It's all going to be replanted this summer, but right now it's being baited I think," Hugo informed me. "Baiting is illegal on state owned lands. So if you find bait in the great dismal, you want to bring somebody before judge." "Do they get a slap on the wrist?" I asked. "No cop of any kind ever gets to decide what the punishment will be, but he can't let it stop thim from doing his job," Hugo said. It was the best answer I ever heard to why do you bother giving someone a ticket for a rolling stop sign violation. "I guess you do have a point," I said. So we walked over a portion of the big cut and found nothing. After a couple of hours we got in the truck and hoped to make it home before dark. I felt great from the walk. I didn't realize how much I had missed the exercise of my morning runs. "You know I got that camera from an illegal bait stand in the big cut. I found one of those bait machines and the camera. The person was filming the baiting operation to see if any deer found his bait. That way he would not have to waste any time on a useless spot." Hugo said disgusted. "That don't sound much like deer hunting does it?" I asked. "No that's more like deer shooting. Those guys sit in the stand listening to Ipods, till a deer comes for his welfare meal, then they shoot at him," Hugo said. "By god they don't all get away with that shit in my district." "Good for you," I said and I meant it at the moment I said it. He did sound a little pompous, but sometimes the world needed a little of that shit too. When we got home, I put a couple of slices of bread in my toaster oven. I used them and some canned beef I had bought at the store, to make a pretty good sandwich. I loved junk food and potato chips and canned beef was about as junky as you could get, without leaving the house. I decided to ride the motorized trike up to the convenience store for a gallon of gas and a can to put it in. I was surprised that when I did all the things Mike told me to, it fired right up. Not only did it fire up, it rode pretty well all the way up to the convenience store. I bought the gas and a plastic bag filled with 2 lbs of animal crackers. I know I paid at least 30% more for them, but I saw them and I wanted them. Even better the food police couldn't fine me in the middle of nowhere. When I got home, I found out why I really bought the animal crackers. I had started my period. I have heard some other women say they have craps or diarrhea when the menstruate, but me, I eat everything in sight I am always starving. I can not seem to fill the bottomless pit and it was now that I wasn't running regularly. I took some Tylenol for the slight discomfort in my abdomen and the slight pain behind my eyes. Neither of those things would stop me doing anything I wanted. I mean anything at all. Of course the smell might make me a target for bears. I had heard that, I didn't have a lot of faith in the story, since I heard if from and old wife. Then again, I planned to stay close to the truck for a few days, just in case. The curse also made me romantic. Not sexual, really just romantic. I didn't have anyone to take me out to dinner, to spend an hour hugging and kissing with me, then to be miserable when I said no. I don't like sloppy sex, some girls do I'm told and that is just fine for them. I don't mind some things that other girls wouldn't stand for, but the spilling of blood just isn't one of them. I spent a lot of time on the net flirting that night. In the end I found someone as romantic as I tried to be. I expect it was a Cross Dresser without the dress, but that was okay as well. It was all in the mind anyway, The next thing I new it was Tuesday morning. I checked my Email and found nothing at all. There were only two people who had the email. Mission and Hugo, so I didn't really expect anything. I had no idea what the plan for the day was so I walked over to the office and found a note for me. It was thumb tacked to the door along with the 'in case of emergency or you need the game warden call--' note. I took my note and left the 'In Case Of'note hanging. My note said to leave Hugo alone until 10AM, since he had worked over the weekend. I gassed up the the Trike and headed off to the diner. I really didn't want anything to eat and their coffee sucked, but I needed somewhere to go. I just needed to get out of that camper for a while. A small place like that is more bearable, if you get away from it often. It is best to limit the number of waking hours inside it, The trike was an instant hit at the diner. Kids were out of school for the summer by that time and old men gathered at the diner for coffee. Both groups were just enthralled with the trike. Since I wasn't working, I hadn't take, a shower. I was in a black tee shirt and the fatigue pants I had worn the day before. I was running low on clean clothes, so I had to find a way to get my laundry done. Only way to find out was to ask I figured. "Ma'am where is the closest laundromat," I asked the waitress. "New Holt is the only one I know about," she said. "Okay, thanks," I said. I finished the coffee and was headed back to the trike, when an older woman called out to me. "Excuse me, you were asking about doing laundry?" "Yes ma'am I was," I said." "There is an old house about a mile down this road headed toward New Holt. There is a South American family living there. The husband and son work as farm hands. The mother and daughters do laundry for folks like you. They go to my church. I can tell you they are good people." she said. So rather than riding the trike back to the camper I rode it down to the little white house that hardly seemed large enough for a couple, let alone a family. I had no idea how many people were in the family but it didn't matter it would be a tight fit. When I knocked on the door, a girl, well under 18 came. "Hello is your mother home?" I asked. "Yes, mother no speak good English," she said. "I see well a women from your church said your mother does laundry for single people like me," I suggested. She looked at me like she had no idea what I was saying, "Wash clothes," I said holding out the hem of my tee shirt... "Yes do wash," she said smiling at her new customer. "How much to wash," I asked. "Yes wash clothes," she said not sure what I was asking but making sure I did not leave without the knowledge that her mother did wash clothes. "Wash clothes, how much dinar?" I made sure she knew it was a question by the way I asked it. I had no idea if I was doing it correctly or not. She held up five finger on each hand, when she said, "Dinar, one bag." Then she held up a black trash bag. I decided to take a chance. The worst that could happen was she would ruing a bunch of surplus tee shirts and used jeans. I left after promising to return with my clothes. I never did get to meet the mother, but if her English was worse than the daughter's, they were going to have a problem. When I got back to the camper, it was after 10AM so I went to the office. I did that before I loaded my soiled clothes in the truck. "Hugo you here?" I asked. "While you were gone Captain Smith called. The SBI has taken over the case of the boat landing mystery," he said with a laugh, How long they planing to watch it before the move on it," I asked. "They are going to run a live feed from there for a few days then assemble their team. We are going to be part of the team. You are going to wear a ski mask. So for the next couple of days we need to stay available." he said, "No offense Hugo but the best I can tell we are always available," I said. "Yeah that is pretty much true. So where you been?" he asked. "I was at the diner, then I got a lead on someone who will do my wash for me, so I went down to talk to the woman." I said. "Madam Lopez I bet. Everyone knows she needs the money and works her butt off for it," Hugo added. I nodded. "Then fill a black plastic garbage bag up don't worry about mixing color or shit like that, they will do that for you." "Well I'm being very domestic today." I said. Since I couldn't explain things to the daughter. I would taking a chance that she would see and deal the menstrual blood. ------- Chapter 85 "So can we tap into the live feed." I asked. "Yes but you know how long that thing runs and how short a time they are there. We would most likely miss it," Hugo said. "Don't you know how to record it?" I asked not that I did either. "No, we are just going to have to trust the SBI to share," he said. "I would rather trust a black bear in the pantry not to eat the cookies," I said. Hugo laughed then said, "You know them better than me. Why don't you finish up your domestic stuff, then we can head on up to the big cut again. I just know some ass is baiting deer up there." "I can be ready in fifteen minutes, if you don't mind waiting while I drop off my laundry." I informed him. "We are getting a late start though." I knew it was going to be noon before we got to the cut. It was still getting dark reasonably early. "We can go till it starts getting dark. Then we just might check out the waterway a little. I like to see who is stringing gill nets and where they are stringing them. At least once a week I do a night check on the waterway." "Sounds fine to me," I said. I went back to the camper and threw all my dirty clothes including the sheets into a black plastic bag. I wouldn't wash the sheets so soon had it not been for my visitor. I swear I can wear the thickest pad they make and still bleed through some nights. I was wearing a tampon during the days, but I slept with a pad. I know it's more information than you needed. I threw the bag in the rear of the pickup then I went inside the office yet again. Hugo was ready and sitting behind the desk checking the office email. There was none of course. So we locked up the place and headed for the Lopez house. I dropped off the overstuffed black plastic bag and the daughter demanded her money in advance. I looked at Hugo who nodded his head so I gave her a ten dollar bill. "Tomorrow," she said then turned away. "How is she possibly going to get all that crap ready by tomorrow?" I asked Hugo. "She isn't, she just tells everyone tomorrow. I would say give it a couple of days and it will most likely be ready. She does have to or three washers, but I don't think they even owns a dryer. Those are the expensive parts of a laundry. "So I need to factor in the weather, when I bring my clothes?" I asked. "Check the online weather, before you fill the bag. I always do," he said. "Thats a good thing to know. I wonder what the weather for tomorrow is," I asked. "Highs in the seventies and sunny," Hugo says. "I just got in the habit of checking, since we spend so much time outdoors." "Okay, I got it." I said. "You are telling me, I shouldn't have to ask you what the weather is going to be." "More than that Terry, I'm telling you it's a different skill set you need to live out here, than it is living in the city. Here your back up is not minutes away, it's at least a half hour. So always think way far ahead." "Too bad we still have to be courteous, if we didn't I would just disarm and frisk everyone before I asked for their hunting license," I said. "I know, talking to a man with a gun in his hand is a bit nerve wracking. Even if you are there for more than a simple license check. Of course the the upside is that dope dealers and Russian mobsters usually don't go in the woods either. They like their life as easy as possible." "But you know Hugo, the great dismal would be a great place to hid all kind of illegal shit. That is if you don't mind the discomfort," I said. "Meth lab comes to mind." "You were a dope cop weren't you?" he asked. "I can't tell you any of that. But I do know a Meth lab when I see one," I said. Hugo just laughed. "I'll bet you even know how to cook that shit," he said. "Not me," I replied. By that time we had reached the cut, so I turned onto a different logging road and drove in as far as I could. When I reached standing water, we parked and began to walk. One of those new skills Hugo told me about I decided would be a way of getting back to the car. I made a note of the coordinates on the gps before we started to walk. We walked following the dry high ground. I got turned around with all the twists and turns we made following dry ground. "Which way is the car," Hugo asked several times. I took out the gps and pointed the right direction. "You could do that by the position of the sun as well," he said. "Hugo, you say tomato, I say red vegetable. It all works out in the end," I replied. We walked and looked at all the game trails in the area but no bait or feeders were out there. "I'm telling you I just feel it, someone is baiting the deer here," Hugo said. "Well Hugo we can come back tomorrow and look again," I said. "We have other things to do, but we will come back again," Hugo said. He was frustrated by the long walks that turned up nothing. I personally enjoyed the walks. They were exhausting and I needed that. Of course without easy access to a restaurant, I was not taking in so many calories. I was finding out that I ate a lot of processed food, just because it was so much trouble to prepare fresh. Fresh would probably cut down on the calories even more, but the processed foods had much smaller portions, so maybe it evened out. I did snack on peanut butter and Ritz crackers. I tried to stay with snacks that had at least a little protein. I tried avoid pure sugar when I could, but I did give in now and then to donuts. Yes it was a bad habit from the old days. Still the long walks and sparse rations seemed to be keeping my weight down. "Well, you and your gadget lead us back to the truck," Hugo said as a challenge. "I can see you don't think I can do it," I said smiling. "So how about a little bet gimp." Yes Hugo was still limping but he soldiered on regardless. "What kind of bet?" he said. "We go out to dinner tonight before we check the waterway, and if I find the truck you pay. If I don't I'll pay." I said. "You have to find it withing five minutes of reaching the target area," he said "and it's a bet." Hugo obviously didn't believe I knew how to read a gps monitor let alone set a course using one. My back story was mostly true. I had worked on convoys in the sand pit and gps was how we found helo outposts that weren't on any map and moved around from day to day. "I'll take that bet," I said. I had to back up a few times to stay on the path to the truck, but in the end I walked right to it. "I'll make it easy on you Hugo. We can go for fish." I was laughing. "Okay, I'll trust you to the find our way home, but pay attention to the signs as well. Just in case that thing craps out on you," he said. "Tell you what you can tell me what you see and I'll remember it but I'll also carry the gps device." I said. "How is Helen?" I asked once we were in the car and headed to dinner. "Helen is fine. She asks about you every time I see her, If I didn't know her so well, I would be jealous," Hugo said. "Maybe you don't know her as well as you think," I suggested. I smiled but Hugo seemed a little miffed. Fortunately we pulled into the parking lot of a fish camp about that time. A fish camp is an informal seafood restaurant. The decor was very much that of a dining hall at a church summer camp. Just screen wire with shutters where to windows should be. At that time of the year the shutter were down over the wire. There were large propane heaters in the center aisle of the dinning hall. The tables were picnic tables made from lumber purchased at home depot or something like it. The finish was from several hundred plates of greasy fish. Then there was the service. There was none. There were metal trays, probably retired from the marine base not far away. When you went in you picked up a tray and walked down a serving line. I picked up several pieces of very crispy perch fillets. I chose them because they looked small and well done. I passed the rest of the half dozen or so seafood offerings to get to the side item bar. There was coleslaw with cabbage chopped very coarse and dressing that was heavy with vinegar. The French Fried potatoes were about a quarter of a potato in each slice. The hush puppies were not round, nor were they shaped like a dog turd, they were a spoon full of loose batter dropped into the hot oil. What that did was to make hush puppies different from each other in size and shape. From another long table, one could pick up a glass of sweet tea, unsweetened tea, water, or a cup of coffee. That was the entire menu. You would that kind of place to be either empty or filled with farmers. Well you would be wrong. A Sheriff's deputy might be sitting beside a nurse from a local doctors office. Her boss, the doctor, might easily be seated with them both. A millionaire banker might sit beside a maid. It was just that kind of place. I let Hugo pay for the fish dinner. Mine was $5.75 for the perch and his was $8 for a large spoonful of shrimp and a another of oysters. We were seated when Hugo said, "I hope you like the fish," "I had expected something fancier, since you were paying off on a bet, but the food does look good. I can't say much for the ambiance though." I explained. After I started eating I added, "Okay, it's probably the best fish I ever ate. The slaw I have never had anything like it, and that potato is wonderful. I can see me eating here every Friday night." I said. "This is quite a crowd for a Wednesday night," Hugo said. "It isn't even tourist season. In June there will be a line out into the parking lot starting at 5PM and lasting till they stop serving," "So who owns this place," I asked. "An old fisherman and his wife, She used to cook what he couldn't sell. Then serve it out the back door of their little house, They had a bunch of mismatched table and chairs, but the locals would grab her fish as fast as she could put it out. Every penny she made, that wasn't spent on cooking, she saved. Then one day this church camp came up for sale. She bought it two years ago and it's been growing ever sense. It started out with an almost totally black customer base. Two years later you can see what it is now." "They must be the richest black folks in the county," I said. "Several counties, but you know her husband still supplies most of the fish. They buy the shrimp and oysters on the docks in Blane, but the pan fish like you had, come right out of the waterway. I'm not sure all his fishing is absolutely legal, but till somebody complains or I stumble on him, he can do what he does," Hugo said. ------- Chapter 86 After the fish fry, we drove back to the compound for the boat ride to the waterway. The flat bottomed boat was pretty slow but even so we made the inspection trip in a few hours. Like almost all our inspections of anything, it came up empty. There just weren't that many fish and game law violations. Hugo and I walked the cut and rode the waterway for the next two weeks. We also checked one end of the sound just to keep busy. All and all I was bored out of my mind. The trike and running was my one salvation. I rode the trike. or I ran along the road during my down time. Hugo thought I was crazy for running with no one chasing me. It was at the end of those two weeks. when the call came from Agent Mission. The raid was on. The best they could figure odds were about 50/50 the bad guys would be at the dock that same night. They hadn't given us any notice for security reasons. If I had taken the call I would have explained that not trusting us was laughable. Regardless we were to meet in the parking lot behind the church Hugo and I had used to review the film files. The church was two miles from the dock, but it was the closest place they could park the tech van with some cover. So Hugo and I drove his Bronco to the frame church. I put on the ski mask before I left the Bronco. A guard approached us. "Agent Mission is expecting us," Hugo said. "Just tell her Hugo and a friend are here." I hadn't said a word which wasn't like me at all. I had decided to let Hugo do all the talking. It just might make a difference though I doubted it. The guard went to the door of the van. Agent Mission came over to us, "Hugo good to see you again." She said that for the benefit of the guard. "We want you two as our backstop. We want you to infiltrate and set up a backstop in case they get past the arrest team." "Where is this arrest team?" Hugo asked. Good man Hugo, I thought. "Since the road is a dead end they will be coming from an old logging road about half a mile from the dock," she informed us. "How about the boat?" Hugo asked. "What you going to do about the boat that delivers the stuff?" "Since they are coming in from the south, we have a boat waiting around the bend north of the docks. They are going to come down when the party starts and grab the ones in the water. What we need from you two, is to make sure if the bad guys try to take to the swamp, they don't make it." "In other words we can sit back and watch the real cops make the arrests," Hugo said. I knew he was right that was exactly what she was saying, Still it was their show not ours. So my mind switched to how to make it happen. I pulled on Hugo's sleeve. He turned to me looked at the masked me a few seconds and said, "Yeah, not a lot we can do is there?" I shook my head. He took the Bronco about a mile past the dock. He pulled over at the end of the road. "Well Terry, we should walk back then set up as the fucking backstop," he said. "Hugo the SBI doesn't think anyone is good enough to work with them. So lets just do the fucking swamp thing and get this over with. Look at it this way, maybe we can save a few girls tonight," I said. "Okay which side of the parking lot to you want to backstop," he asked with a smile. "Hell, I'll take the downstream side," I said. "You know there is an upside to this." "And that would be?" he asked. "I won't have to wear the ski mask all evening since no one is going to see me. I might need to put it on when we leave." I admitting. "Whoopee shit," he said. I laughed at his high pitched voice. I could have run the mile back easily, if it weren't for the shotgun I carried. That made it a little harder to run, so I walked. Also walking allowed Hugo to keep up. When we reached the parking lot Hugo disappeared into the swamp on the upstream side of the parking lot. I went to the downstream side. It was obvious to me that the SBI and Sheriff's deputies had assigned us the backstop job because we were going to be sitting in the cold damp swamp for hours. We might get to watch the arrests, if the bad guys even showed up tonight, We waited almost three hours in the dead cold. I always hated the cold more than anything else, and it just kept getting worse. A big Mercedes pulled into the parking lot first. It was a nice crew car for the Russians, if that's who they really were. I was glad to see it starting to go down, since I might be able to get warm soon. Then a medium sized van pulled into the parking lot. Oh shit I thought the size of the party was growing. Two more men got out of the van. There were a total of three of them standing in the parking lot speaking in tongues. I had no idea what they were saying or what they were waiting for, I only knew that there were more of them than anyone expected. Three on the shore and probably three in the boat if they had cargo to unload. It looked as though it was going to be a bigger party than any of us expected. Since we didn't have any radios and they would be too dangerous to use, even if we did, Hugo and I had to assume the plan was still on. I sat quietly waiting for something to happen. The man from the Mercedes went to the dock and waited. I heard the motor of a boat about fifteen minutes later. It looked as thought the dance was about to start. The big flash light in the Mercedes driver's hand blinked twice, then after a pause it blinked three more times. Then a few minutes later a very larger boat pulled up to the dock. Even though it was a large boat, it still had only two outboard motors to propel it forward to the dock. I had an idea then, it might prove not to have been a good idea but it seemed to be a good one at the time. My idea depended on a lot of things going my way. First of all the boat was not carrying whores. It was carrying drums of chemicals. There were six large drums, My guess was that the drums were plastic. While two men from the boat helped the three men in the parking lot off load the drums, I used the time to slip closer to the boat. By the time the agents moved into the parking lot, I was where I wanted to be. The agents cars roared in. Just when they stopped before they even got out of the cars I put two round from the 12 gauge into each of the motors. I sure hoped the cops knew that I was in the woods or they were likely to begin shooting at me, when they finally got out of the cars. The boat didn't explode like in a move, but it wasn't going any where. The two men on the boat surrendered to the agents just as soon as they were confronted. So did the men in the parking lot. The only injury occurred when an over excited agent fired a shot into the swamp where the shotgun was blasting away. He hadn't realized he wasn't the target. so he fired into the dark. Mission was there screaming no, but it was too late, I felt the pain in my left hand immediately, but I knew that it wasn't anything serious. I even knew that it wasn't a real gunshot wound. The agent had missed me completely but he did hit a tree beside me. The round from the large caliber assault weapon splintered the tree. As luck would have it, I got a large chunk of wood and bullet fragments traveling at a high rate of speed in the palm of my hand. Mission walked to the edge of the parking lot. "Are you alright?" she asked. I pulled the ski mask down before I stepped out of the swamp. "More or less, anybody got a towel." I asked before I fainted. The emergency room nurse explained, "If your body hadn't been so cold, you I probably wouldn't have fainted, but you probably would have lost a lot more blood. It was kind of a trade off." "So I have warmed up now, right?" I asked. "Yes, and you are not being admitted to the hospital, even thought we would like you to move to our observation room for a couple of hours," she said. "You know it's part of the affordable care act. We don't dare release you till we are absolutely sure there won't be any complications during the next month. At least not any we could have foreseen." "Hey, if they have coffee I'm good with that," I said. "They don't have coffee there, but there are a lot of people outside to make sure you are okay. One of them will probably go to the snack bar for a cup." the nurse said. When they rolled me into the observation room, I found myself with a man who was sitting up in bed. I smiled at him as the bed rolled in. "What you in for?" I asked. "Automobile accident, they said I was unresponsive, so they brought me here. How about you," he asked. "Friendly fire," I said simply. I know he wanted more details but Mission came in. "Shut up Terry," she said. "Send someone on a coffee run and I will," I said. "I'll be right back and not another word from you, understand?" she asked. "Yes boss," I agreed. "Two black," She obviously sent someone else for the coffee because she was back to be sure I didn't tell the younger man in the bed beside me anything. I guess she thought that since he was good looking, I might spill my life's story to him. "Listen up," Mission said. You are going to have to talk to a shooting review board. Partly because you had the accident and partly because you fired your weapon. So don't talk to anyone till they get a your version of the story. "I'll make you a deal, I won't talk to anyone if you will find my vest. Someone must have taken it off me and I want to be sure to get it back. As a matter of fact I want it right now," I said. They had cleaned the wound on my hand and bandaged it. That wasn't what they had been worried about it. They had the most concern because I was out and wouldn't come back at the scene. It might well have been shock as they suspected because of the low body temperature. I wasn't sure about the shock since my body had been kicked around a lot in those last few years. It could be anything. I planned to wait until I faced the state shooting review board and got cleared by them, before I gave it too much more thought. "Two cups of black coffee," Hugo said. He stopped and looked me in the eye and then turned to mission before he added. "I am sorry I didn't get to kick the SBI guys ass yet, but the day is young." ------- Chapter 87 Hugo might not have kicked the guy's ass, but he wouldn't let any of them near me. My cover was blown to anyone with a smart phone and facial recognition software. Odd are none of them did, but I didn't want to take the chance at the moment. I needed time to think without that 'brain on drugs' fog. So when Mission came in and said, "Okay, this has been quite the love fest, but I'm taking her away for a few days at least." "Do you trust this SBI bitch," Hugo asked me loud enough for Mission to hear. "Yeah, I do Hugo. I know it doesn't look like it now, but they have been on my side since forever. If they had their shit together, and the agents had thought of us as part of the team, he wouldn't have sprayed the woods." I said. "You know that isn't fair. You knew we had that boat covered. It wasn't going to escape. You were wrong to shoot it and you know it. Hell you knew it was wrong at the time," Mission said. "Let me tell you what I know," Hugo said. "I know the boat didn't get away. I know that boat with those to big assed motors would have run off and left your piss ant of a boat in its big assed wake. So it instead you got to convince them to lead your sorry asses back to the mother ship. So don't try to tie an unnecessary shooting to her ass, cause I'm not an SBI agent and I'm not going to cover it up for your ass Agent Mission." "Hugo, when I get clear of all this, I am going to give you a blow job," I said smiling. "That's the drugs talking," Mission said. "And Hugo she didn't know what kind of boat we had, when she pumped the motors on the smuggler's boat full of lead. So you may be able to sell that to the shooting review board, but I know better. If Terry doesn't make a stink about the agent's shooting at her, I expect we will be prepared to not make an issue of her firing into the boat." "Now you have both shown me yours and I'll have to decide whose is bigger," I said. "She does cut right to it," Mission said. Hugo nodded. For some reason my hand was in a cast, when we left the hospital. Mission and I were alone in the state unmarked car. I wore the Kevlar vest and the upside down shoulder rig complete with my trusty .38 wheel gun. My pockets were stuff with crap but there was room for the box opener. Even if I could only use it with one hand, which mean no throat cutting. "You hungry, I always am after waiting to see if you are going to live or not," Mission said. "You realize that it is a rural community hospital we came from. There is no restaurant for fifty miles," I said. "There is a lunch counter inside a country store near here, so says your friend Hugo," she said. "He is going to stop there along with a couple of our people, including the one who sprayed the woods with .223 rounds. He wanted to tell you he is sorry," Mission said. "I figure it will be safe enough." "As long as you don't try to feed me Green tea, we are good," I said. "There maybe some good news on that front as well. The AG's investigator called me. They have set up a meeting with the Greens for this week. He thinks they might be ready to roll over for a plea deal. Seems they don't like jail so much after all. They probably figure they might like prison even less. We might need you to stay in hiding for a couple of more weeks. At least until the plea deal is inked, if it comes off at all," Mission said. That made me feel better. I had been in hiding three months and that was more than enough. I was looking forward to being me again. Of course that would bring up new problems. How to get my old job back for one. "So let's eat breakfast and get somewhere I can lay my head. They must have shot me up with something in the hospital. I have absolutely no stamina." I said. If they got the plea deal through I could go back and say a proper goodbye to Hugo. There was no doubt I would be leaving the fish and game service. I just fit better into a more rough and tumble lifestyle. "You are going to have to sleep in the car then. We have a long drive again," Mission informed me. The ride was long alright but not for me. I fell asleep within five minutes of getting into the rear seat of the four door Ford. It had a smooth ride and a good heater, so sleep was easy. I awoke once en-route when Mission stopped for gas. The next time I awoke it was at a farm house looking place. It took about a second after waking for the pain to become unbearable. "Mission I need something for the pain and I need it now," I said. "Here take this," she said slipping me a pill. I swallowed it without water. I didn't even ask what it was. I made it into the house before I fell asleep again. When I awoke next a young woman said, "Hi there is food and a pill on the tray by the bed." "I'm not hungry, but my hand does hurt," I said. "Well wash the pill down with the orange juice at least," she said. For what seemed like a week I would wake up from the drugs and a woman I didn't know would help me to the bathroom. I would then take a couple of bites of whatever they had by my bed, and take another pill and try to sleep. I finally awoke in pain but I didn't want to sleep again. I took that as a good sign. I was also hungry, so I got out of bed to go to the toilet then to search for food. I almost fell when I got out of bed. I had to use my right hand to catch myself. My left hand was in a cast and pretty much useless. I was still stumbling when the babysitter came in. "Are you trying to get to the bathroom without help. That is a good sign," she said. "I guess so. I really pretty weak," I said. "You are coming out of a hypothermia episode and a very painful hand injury so you have been sedated pretty heavily," the babysitter said. "Well I seem to be more lucid now," I replied. "Yes, we have cut back your meds. You have an appointment at the clinic where we send all out agents, so you will be in good hands," she said. "When is the examination," I asked. "This afternoon at two. You have time for a leisurely lunch, if you are hungry," she said. "Who the fuck are you," I asked. "Agent Wiley of the protective service group," she said. "Like the coyote in the road runner cartoons?" I asked. "That's me," she said. "Well beep beep me," I replied. Then I smiled as best I could for her, "Well let's get you in the bathroom and while you do your bathroom things, take a shower as well. I'll get you some clothes and we can stop for lunch on the way into town," she said. "I'll give it my best shot, but my hand is killing me," I said. "How about some Tylenol or an aspirin at least?" I asked. "Okay, but nothing stronger till you get to the doctor," Wiley said I handled the bathroom details pretty well even with one hand in a cast. I could not get my hair really clean, but since it was boy cut short, it wasn't a real problem. When I came naked into the bedroom I noticed myself in the mirror. I was even skinnier than I remembered. My small boobs were also beginning to show the ravages of time. Even though they were very small, they were beginning to sag a little. I also noticed that Wiley was looking at me. She was staring at the scars here and there over my body. "I guess I will never pose for playboy," I said with a laugh. "No I guess not," she said. We stopped at a fancy steak house for lunch, because I asked for steak, It didn't have to be a fancy place, but I didn't bitch about it. Of course my jeans and tee might have been too casual, except that I wore a white men's dress shirt over it. "So how is you steak?" Wiley asked. "It's just as good as one from Outback would have been," I replied. "Well since the state is paying what the hall," she replied with a small chuckle. "Well they do have good iced tea," I said. After the meal we headed off to the clinic used by the SBI agents, probably because the doctors were agency friendly. Meaning what happens in the clinic stays in the clinic. Or maybe they took me there for exactly the opposite reason, the doctor was in their pocket first of all. I was always looking for conspiracies, even where there were none, I told myself. The clinic was more than just one doctor. There were offices for several specialist in the five story building. I was seeing the emergency medicine specialist. He was going to assess the treatment, which I had already been given. He would determine what if anything I needed going forward. After a pretty substantial wait, I saw the doctor well it was his PA. The young man was pretty personable and actually flirted with me. "So Terry, we are going to strip that cast off. I usually play some music with a heavy drum beat to accompany the stripping of anything off a beautiful woman," he suggested. "I usually don't need the man to take thing off for me," I replied. Hell, I thought, two can play that game. In just seconds the cast was off and he was looking at the wound. I didn't look. "They tell me you were still standing when Agent Mission walked up to you?" he made it a question. "Yes why?" I asked. "Your hand it a fucking mess. You should have passed out instantly not waited ten minutes," he said. "It was probably the cold," I said. "Lady remind me not to piss you off," he said. "That might be a good idea," I said. "I'm going to send you down to x-ray, then I'm going to decide what to do with you." he said. "Fair enough," I replied. "But I'm walking down there and I'm going to sit in a chair in the waiting room with a towel over this, if necessary. I'm not going to ride in a wheel chair," he said. "You will go in a chair, if I say so," he said. "I know we don't allow firearms in the building for this very reason." "Do you really fucking want to play whose is bigger with me," I asked. "With a one armed, light in the ass chick, I'll take my chances," he said with a smile. It was all in fun, he was still flirting with me. It didn't sound like it, but he was. I put my one good hand in my jeans, in a very seductive manner and came out with the box opener. The blade was fully extended when I said, "How many stitched do you think it will take to close the gash I can make in your face with this thing?" I asked. "I'm going to call an aid to show you where x-ray is, you can walk. It is just down the hall." He seemed to have stopped flirting with me. Some guys just don't like foreplay, I guessed. ------- Chapter 88 The x-ray hurt a little, but I expected that, It appeared that they were twisting some broken bones, when they position my hand. It was over before I wet my panties, but it was close. After the x-ray I went to the bathroom, which had become a chore. It was painful getting up and down without the meds. Without that clumsy, cast it was extremely painful as well. I sat in a chair outside the the x-ray department while they made sure it was acceptable. I waited ten minutes with the pain grown with every tick of the clock. The transporter or med tech, whatever they called her, came out and walked back with me. My guess was that she wasn't just being nice, she was there to make sure I didn't fall, then bring suit against the clinic. I was getting testy as the drugs wore off and the pain mounted. I was outside the doctors examining room, when another transporter came with a wheel chair. I didn't object that time. She took me to a different office where I met with the real doctor. He looked at my x-ray on the computer screen then said, "The emergency surgery at the rural hospital saved your life. Without it you probably would have bled to death in an hour, but it looks like they used a pocket knife to do the surgery. You need to go back to surgery just as soon as you can. The longer you wait the more scar tissue we will have to deal with." "Well what about tomorrow at 9AM," I suggested. "Make it 6am and you got a deal," he said. "And young lady, when we operate we have the only knives in the room, understood." "So he wimped out," I said with a laugh. "He was joking about rough sex, so I thought I would show him what rough sex with me would be like." "Well he might have needed a little attitude correction, but that was a bit extreme. By the way for future reference, we also tape the conversations in those rooms. He didn't know it till we played it back to get the truth about what happened." "I'll keep that in mind," I said. The next hours were a blur of pain, then a drug fog, then a restless night's sleep. Finally a ride back to the medical complex in the dark and my mind in a twilight state again. I checked in for the additional surgery. I was trusting the doctors to do the right thing. "Good morning," the what a presumed was a nurse said. "Good morning, I see you are all dress up with no place to go." I said referring to her scrub suit and hat. It struck me as hilarious though I know now that it made no sense. "Well it's good to see you cheerful. They are going to roll you into the surgery and we are going to do this thing," she said. "Cool beans, if I'm good do I get a balloon after?" I asked. "No, but I hear you should get a medal for putting the PA in his place yesterday. So I'll do what I can to get you as much use as possible from that hand." she said. I realized two things. One, she was the surgeon not the nurse, and two it was a hell of a lot worse than I had been told. Neither really sunk in, but I knew I would remember them later. I guess I looked at her with a blank stare. "They didn't tell you did they?" she asked. I shook my head. "That hand is a mess. You got hit with mass of sharp things. You have massive nerve and tissue damage. The bones are out of line but that's the least of your worries. I'm going to try like hell to get all the wires reconnected correctly, but you never know." she said. She turned to a young woman standing in the room. "Get her a new consent form." Then to me she said, "If you are willing to let me try, I'll do the best damn job I can. Us nasty old broads got to stick together," she added. I signed, "It is my left hand, I hold the gun with my right hand." I never explained the comment and she seemed to understand, "Do I need to wear a vest, or go into hiding?" she asked with a smile. "No, we are cool no matter how it comes out." I said. Somebody rolled me into a room and had me sit in a chair. They position my hand then shot it up with some local pain killer and went to work. They kept me awake so I could move things while they worked. I have no idea how long I was in there, but it seemed like a long time. I couldn't tell what was moving and what wasn't, since I had no feed back from the hand. In the end they took me to an observation room. After about an hour the surgeon came in. "Well whoever you are, we did what we could. I got all the big wires either repaired or hopefully rerouted. You are going to have to relearn to do things with that hand, but you should get to 80% at least." "That doesn't sound good at all," I said. "The cup is more than half full," the doctor said. "Call my office if you need anything. We have a good rehab clinic here. I mean it, if you need anything call." My sitter got me back to the safe house and I settled in. It seemed as though the day had never existed. Such was the condition of my mind under the heavy drugs. I might have kept drifting along in the medicated fog, if they hadn't tried to get me to sign more shit. I had no idea what it was, but I also was lucid enough to know that they wouldn't bring harmless shit to me in the condition I was in. It had to be something important and that made it something I was not about to sign. "Come on Sylvia, you need to sign these so that we can process your workers compensation claim. The state needs it so that we can pick up your medical bills. Otherwise there will be a deductible you will have to pay." "Mission, I'm not signing anything till I get off these heavy duty pain killers. Once I am on the OTC shit, bring it back," I said sleepily. It was after that I noticed a definite difference in my thinking. The pain level went up, but my thinking got some clearer. It was another day before I felt I could call Hugo on my cell phone. "Hugo it's me Terry," I said. "How you doing hon?" he asked. "Hugo, I got no fucking idea how I'm doing. I need you to do me a favor. Pack up all my shit from the camper, and my tool kit from the truck. I will send someone after them, if I can't come down myself. But I would like them in one of the storage building, so if anyone uses, or comes to take the camper away, my shit is safe." "Right, I already got your tool bag from the truck. They came for it already," he said. That cloth tool bag was what I wanted most. It had the money and the fake driver's licenses under the a false bottom. I had fitted the bag with that fake cardboard bottom myself. It had been a temp solution, and I was glad that I had taken the time to do it. I wouldn't be slipping into camp in the middle of the night for it, but Hugo rescued it from the tow truck, so it should be there when I needed it. I didn't give a crap about the household stuff in the camper, but I had to cover myself by making sure it got packed and stored as well. It was over a week before my mind got totally clear. I was fairly clear headed by the time I went in to have my hand evaluated. To do that they had to remove the bandages just as they did to change them, but I had to try to move it while the board was off it. I almost screamed, the pain was so great when I tried to move the fingers. Without the big time meds, it was a nightmare. I managed to just cry at the pain. When I finished with all the test and the new x-rays it was decided that the rehab on the hand would need to begin immediately. So they bandaged it with a elastic bandage, which they wrapped over a custom splint. "Now I want you to work your fingers every time you think of it. I know it is going to hurt, but it's going to make all the difference in your recovery." I nodded my agreement. "I see you have stopped taking the medication Lois prescribed for you. That's okay, if you can deal with the pain." "I can deal with it better than the fucking fog stuff make of my thinking," I said. "Yeah, well if it didn't do that, it would be useless," he said in defense of the heavy duty meds. When we got back to the safe house Mission was waiting. I didn't know, if it was a coincidence or not. I don't usually believe in those. "Well Agent Mission what brings you to my humble safe house?" I asked. "We are going to remove the protection detail at the end of the week," she said. "So the Greens made the deal?" I asked. "Yes they are going to plead and testify against their suppliers. Some of the drugs came directly from drug cartels in Mexico, so it's international," she said. "That is quite a feather in everyone's cap, ' I said. "Oh you are going to be a decorated cop for sure," she said. "Sylvia, you will also be retiring on a full disability pension." "What do you mean?" I asked in complete disbelief. "You are never going to be certified for law enforcement work again. So the state is putting you on the disabled list. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you," she admitted. "Can't I get a waiver or something?" I asked. "Frankly honey, even if you could nobody wants you. They say you are too much of a cowboy, or cowgirl," she added. "Mission you know this is a shock. I mean I'm sitting here with my hand fucked up and now I am out of work on top of that. I think I need to see a lawyer before I make any more decisions." "We were hoping you wouldn't feel like that. It puts me in a difficult situation. If you bring action based on the events of that night on the waterway, we will have to charge you with reckless endangerment," She said. "Oh Mission, I wish you hadn't threatened me. You tell your boss that was the wrong thing to do. So you run on back to capitol city and do what you got to do. And I'll add malicious prosecution to the things I will file on." "You will need to be out of this house day after tomorrow," She said as she turned to leave. "Where is my car stored?" I asked. "The Toyota is in a storage yard outside county seat. Your furniture, such as it is, was put in storage in Dobson. I'll get you the address and receipts," Mission said. "If you don't have all the information back to me tomorrow, I'll add that to the suit," I said. "You know this isn't personal," Mission said. "Oh honey, I take this very fucking personal. I don't know about you, but when I get fucked it's hard not to take it personal." ------- Chapter 89 The state had pulled my certification. Without it I was unemployable, even as a game warden. That really hurt, not that I really wanted to back to being a rabbit police person. Even if I found a small town police force that wanted me, they could hire me without that certification. I could bring an action against the state but if the damage to my hand proved to be long term, I would lose. I doubted that any court anywhere would force them to do any more than make a monetary settlement with me. It sucked, but that was the reality of the situation. I had two days to make my plans, with that in mind I made sure to go to the drug store with my sitter. I bought a bottle of generic 12 hour pain killer and a bottle of a different kind of 4 hour pain killer. "Why are you buying more of the same thing you have at home?" my sitter asked. "Nothing personal, but I didn't break the seal on those bottles." I looked her right in the eye when I said it. "You do know how paranoid that sounds?" she asked. "There is a fine line between precaution and paranoia," I replied. In addition to the pills I purchased one of those prepaid burner phones. I took the battery and the sim card out of the old one the mission had given me, Then I tossed the old phone into the trash can on the way out. I finished out the day without making any decisions. I wanted to be absolutely sure that if they had switched my meds, the tainted ones were out of my system. I wanted to be absolutely sure before I made any life changing decisions. The next morning when I awoke my pain was about the same, so I figured the sitter had been right, I was just paranoid. But someone was really after a few of those people who thought there were people after them. I did not want to make a bad decision because of a dopey brain. It was about 9AM when I placed the call to the Warren County Sheriff's office from my new cell phone. I asked for Deputy Learner who had been my last partner in the Warren County Sheriffs department. "I'm sorry, he isn't on duty right now," the receptionist said. "Okay, how about Chief Deputy Simpson?" I asked. "Who shall I say is calling?" She asked. "Former deputy Sylvia Porter," I answered. "Sylvia how have you been?" she asked. "Not bad, thanks for asking," I replied. "I'll get the chief deputy for you," she said. It took a few minutes before Simpson came on the line. "So Sylvia, what can I do for you?" he asked cautiously. "Don't worry Simpson I'm not begging for a job, but I do plan to move back to County Seat. I have only been gone three months so I was calling to get Learner to check my old apartment. I wanted to see if it is available. But since he isn't working, I was hoping I could get his home phone number from you. I know the receptionist wont give it to me." "Tell you what, I remember where you were living when you left. I will have a car run by there to see if the apartment is vacant. If it is, we will ask the owner for his phone number. How is that?" he asked. "That would be perfect," I replied. I went on to give him the number for the burn phone. "Do you still need to talk to Learner?" he asked. "No, I'll see him when I get there," I replied. So at 10AM I carried the cell phone while the sitter and I went out to breakfast. I had dropped from a high risk target to a low risk one literally over night. So we went to Hardee's for a bacon egg and cheese biscuit and cheap restaurant coffee. I had convinced the sitter to take me to the local park to eat the breakfast. Half way through the biscuit the cell phone rang. "You got a pencil handy," the receptionist from the Warren County Sheriff's office asked. "Hold on," I said as I scrambled to find somewhere to save the number, I finally just decided to enter it into the phone, Which is what I did as the receptionist read it off. "Thanks, I really appreciate this," I added. "You just come by to see us," she said. "I will and I'll stop by Granny's Donuts at the plaza first," I said. "You remembered," she said. "Some things one never forgets," I replied. "People up there really seem to like you," the sitter said. I thought of her as the sitter, since they changed every couple of days I had stopped trying to remember them by name. "They seem to like me better when I'm far away," I replied with a smile. I pressed enter on the phone and waited for the blue haired lady to answer. When she said hello, I began, "Hello, this is Sylvia I rented your carriage house apartment for a while. I called to see if it was available again." "I remember you Sylvia. You weren't any trouble, except you left the place empty while you traveled. Then you left in the middle of the night," she said. "Was it really the middle of the night, when the movers came?" I asked. I would not have been surprised if it had been. "I guess it just seemed that way. But they did pay an extra months rent to give me time to rent it. They also left the cleaning fee, so I guess you were fair about all that. It is empty so sure why not." "I can be there on Friday to make the financial arrangements, and move it on Saturday. If that is okay?" I asked "Sylvia tomorrow is Friday," she said. "Yes I know," I admitted. "Very well," was her answer and then she was gone. "So, you are going to make the deadline to be out tomorrow," the sitter commented. "I didn't figure that Mission was kidding when she said be gone by Friday midnight," I said. "Well that is for sure when my shift ends," the sitter said. "Then lets stop by on the way back to the safe house and let me arrange for a car rental. I can be on the road tomorrow early if I have a car." I explained. "And a travel coffee mug." I added as a second thought. "That sounds doable," The sitter agreed. We went to two rental agencies before we found one that had a 3/4 ton moving van. It was actually a 3/4 ton pick up with a box bed. It would be more than enough room for me. I wanted it, as opposed to a full sized moving van, because it would be more maneuverable going through the small roads and streets in the mountains. In the afternoon I called the storage lot that held my Toyota I explained that I would most likely be there to get it over either tomorrow or the next day. I wanted to make sure there would be someone there to deliver it and give it a charge since it had been sitting several months. He promised me it would work out, Even with his promise I had my doubts. He sounded rather vague. I felt a lot better about the storage locker. I was told that since it had an outside entrance, I could get my shit anytime I wanted. "Remember lady, there are security cameras everywhere, so just keep that in mind. " the man said. "So, I shouldn't plan on cooking meth in the locker," I said. "Yeah, or do anything else you don't want big brother to know about." he said. "Roger that," I said with a laugh. "So you got all your plans made?" the babysitter asked when I returned to the living room. "Well the car storage lot closes at 9PM so I have to get that first. The furniture I can get anytime. The problem is I can't lift shit with this hand. I don't have any friends I can call on up there any more," I said. "Carry your pistol and your knife and hire some day labor. There are always guys standing around under a highway bridge," she said. "That will be my last resort I assure you," I said. Actually I thought I might find someone who worked the office of the storage locker company, who would help me load the truck for a few bucks. If I got it back to County Seat I might find someone there who would help a damsel in distress. As for the car anyone could drive it back in the city for me. I could find someone in the cafe to do that. As a matter of fact I might find some retired person to help me with the storage locker as well. There was no heavy lifting involved. The whole apartment had been set up so I could lift everything by myself. At least I could when I had both hands. If was all iffy but it seemed like it might workout. After the agreed time we went back to pick up the truck. I drove it back to the safe house where it sat over night. I set the alarm clock that belonged to the house for 4AM. When it buzzed me awake, I went into the kitchen and found a bagel in the frig. Once I toasted it, and reheated the coffee I was almost ready to set off on my journey. The clothes the agents had gotten from the camper, when they picked up the truck to return for storage, I loaded into a plastic trash bag. There was nothing I owned that looked worse wrinkled than it did smooth. The bagel and coffee would hold me till I made it onto the the interstate. That one connected with the interstate that ran through Warren County. It was going to require a few connecting jigs and jags, but I should be in town by noon. I was about to leave at 4:30AM when the babysitter came down. "Well Terry, it's been real. I have to admit you are a piece of work." "You mean I'm a piece of work for a woman," I said with a smile. "No honey, I mean you are a piece of work for anyone. You can handle pain and you don't let anyone push you around. Those two things are vital to who you are," she said and hugged me. Now I'm no hugger. At least not with strangers. I had a little tingle run through me. I realized that it had been too long, since I had anyone's body against mine. I was embarrassed so I left the safe house quickly carrying the plastic bad with a couple of pairs of jeans and a few tee shirts inside, all of them dirty. Where was the South American woman when I needed her, I thought. I put the plastic bag in the seat beside me and started the truck. I had to back out of the driveway in the dead of night. Even with the back up lights of the truck I was more or less blind. I somehow made it onto the residential street. Thank god it was a 'no parking on the street' type area. The shoulder rig hadn't been easy to arrange with only one hand, but it was on and the .38 hung down and reasonably easy to get. I was pretty sure no one would be after me unless it was just a random act of violence, but I stumbled into those way too often, so I was determined to be prepared for anything. Well at least as much as I could be prepared. The drive itself was pretty much uneventful except when I stopped for gas. I got all the way to the giant truck stop beside the shopping area half way between Dobson and County Seat. The charge against my debit card was almost a hundred dollars. I made sure to keep the receipt because I planned to charge it all off to the state. I went through the drive through window of Granny's Donut shop in the plaza next door. I promised donuts to the the receptionist and I planned to deliver them first thing. ------- Chapter 90 Even without the splint, the flimsy donut box would have been a difficult item for me to carry. With the splint, I had to use it as a resting place and hold the box in place with my good hand. Yes it sounds painful because it was. Still it would be short lived as I parked right outside the door to the courthouse basement. That basement was used by the Sheriff's office. The way over weight receptionist took the donuts and made a big fuss over me. "Sylvia what in the world happened to your hand," she asked. "I got stung by a bee," I said. "You mean to tell me a bee did that," she said pointing to my hand. "Yep, it was a big bee," I said. "Is the man in?" "Let me ring him," she said. It took Chief Deputy Eddie Simpson about a minute to show up in the small waiting area. When he did, he took one look at me and shook his head. "What in the world brings you in. I hope it is just to visit," he said. "It is. Don't worry I'm not here to try to enforce the old contract," I said. "Good, I wouldn't want to fight you on it. I hear your law enforcement certificate has been pulled permanently." he said. "I heard that too," I said with a smile. "What does that mean?" he asked. "They got their experts, next year I'll get mine." I said. "I see. So you are moving back here to do your rehab?" he asked. "This is the only place where I have any friends at all. So yeah, I'm moving back. You gonna have a problem with it?" I asked. "Not at all, you behave yourself and we will be glad to have you," he said. "I don't plan to behave myself, but I will try not to let it go too far," I said with a cheap grin. "So I got places to go and people to snow." With that I was out the door. I didn't even see a deputy at the station other than Simpson. I headed to the apartment to settle up with the Blue Haired Lady, as I thought of my landlady. I could never remember her name. I was terrible with names. Before going to the apartment I stopped by the bank's atm machine. It was a small bank but it had the only atm in the small town. Every store in the plaza was hooked to the atm system, but none of the ones in Country Seat were. I checked my wallet and found two hundred bucks and change. So I drew five hundred more just in case the Blue Haired Lady only took cash. I honestly could not remember how much I would need. After stopping at her house and knocking at the door. I waited a few seconds for her to make it to the door with her walker. "So Sylvia, I called my son. You do remember my son" she asked. "Of course I do," I replied. I had no idea if ever heard his name, but I knew she had a son. He had been a big part of how I got the apartment the first time. I hoped he hadn't sabotaged the deal this time. "He said to give you the same deal as before, so that's what the rent will be. Four hundred a month and you pay for any changes you want to make. I will pay for no repairs, at that price," She said. "Well I guess I need to make friends with a plumber and electrician," I said. "Couldn't hurt," she said with what had to be a wicked smile. After she assured me she hadn't changed the locks, I refused the key she offered. For some reason I had carried the apartment key through both incarnations. I think it had to do with being my touch stone to normalcy. It was late in the afternoon so I knew I was through for the day, except to call for gas, power, and water. All three were still working, I just needed to have them changed to my name. Turns out I didn't have to do any more than have them start billing me again. It wasn't too awfully late when I swung by Mary Ellen's shop. "Well as I live and breath," she said upon seeing me. "Hello there Mary Ellen," I replied. I noted that there was a new young woman helping in the shop. "New apprentice?" "Yes the last one moved on to bigger and better things in Atlanta. Ain't that just the way. You teach them how to get along in the world, and they go out on their own." "Every mother's cross to bear," I said. "So after slipping out of town in the middle of the night without saying goodbye to anyone are you back now?" Mary Ellen asked. "I'm back for sure, but not up for our old gig, just yet," I said holding up my bandaged hand. "If I remember correctly you don't mind a little rough sex," Mary Ellen said. "You do remember correctly, but I'm not sure a broken hand is very sexy," I said. "With the boutique sex tapes business one never knows," she said. "Well anyway, I'm back, I'm here in a box van to get my furniture out of storage, but I need to get my car out of storage as well. If I go by the storage lot to make sure the Toyota runs. Would you be willing to drive it back to my apartment if it is just a slide and drive?" I asked. "Of course, but be sure it is just slide in and drive away. I can't spare a lot of time away from the shop." She said. "I need to leave now to be sure, so let me call you when I have it running and bailed out of storage," I said. She nodded so I left and drove to the storage yard. "I'm here for this car," I said the to the attendant as I handed him the paperwork provided by Mission. "Sure, let's go see if it runs," he said. He brought along one of those portable jumper things. We went into the fenced in storage area and found the car easily. I was shocked that the battery didn't even need a jump start. It wasn't on the first try that it fired, but it did go after a single failure. The battery wasn't strong, but it did turn the small engine over eventually. He moved the car to his small parking area out front where it idled until Mary Ellen showed up to drive it to my apartment. I left the truck at the side of the street in front of the apartment. Mary Ellen worked the car into the driveway. I drove her back to her shop as soon as she parked the Toyota. Since it was after six, I didn't think I would have any luck getting someone to ride to Dobson and to load the truck for me. I had to go to dinner anyway, so I went to the doghouse restaurant. I ordinarily would not eat an evening meal there, so I had no idea who the clientèle would be. It turned out to be off duty firemen. They were drinking beer and eating hot dogs when I walked in. I knew who they were only because they all wore tee shirts identifying them as volunteer firemen. There were other people, but the vol firemen recognized me. "Hey, you are Porter aren't you," an older man asked. "Yep that is me," I said. "You guys remember she is the only who busted that end of the world nut for growing pot?" he asked. They mostly just nodded. "I thought you quit the Sheriff's department. What you doing back in town?" "Well to be honest I took a job working under cover for a while. I got a little hurt, so I'm back here to heal up." "You got shot when lived here didn't you?" one of the others asked. "Shot at, I had the vest on." I replied. "I don't suppose one of you big strong men would like to help out a damsel in distress?" I asked. "Now that would depend," the older one said. "I know, you want to know what you have to do and the pay," I said with a laugh. "I got some things in storage from when I lived here before. One man can load them in my truck. I just have this busted wing and I can't do it myself." "Where are they stored?" a very young good looking fireman asked. "Over in Dobson, the place is called liberty storage," I said. "I know it. We are about through here, so I can help you," He said, "I have a wife waiting at home, so we will have to hurry." The older man said. "I think we all need to go, so you don't have to fight for your honor." "Who said I would fight," I replied with a laugh. "But you are all welcome. I will pay off in hot dogs and beer, since there are so many of you." "So let's settle the bill and we will meet you over in Dobson," the younger man said. "Why don't I settle your bill as payment, and I'll need to follow one of you over." I said. "Otherwise I'll get lost. This truck has no gps." "It's on the right side of 601, you can't miss it." the older man said. "Why don't we all ride together in my car. Jerry can ride with you, to be sure you don't get lost." So their bill was forty-five dollars and change, but I figured it was a bargain. "So Jerry, I know the fire thing is Voluntary what do you do for a living?" I asked. I drive a delivery truck as a contractor. I'm kind of freelance," he said. "Like on that web show?" I asked. "Exactly like that," he said. "I'm gone a lot so I call the company Gypsy Transport." "Sounds like fun," I said. "If you ever want to see what it's like, you can do a ride along." he said. "You know I would like that. Would your wife mind?" I asked. "Not unless we tell her," he said. Men always amaze me. I'm not beautiful. Hell I'm not sure I would be considered attractive by most men I met in the mall. I mean my hair looks like shit. I have no boobs to amount to anything and my ass is a little large. I almost never wear makeup and they tell me my nose needs to be fixed. Not to mention my smile is crooked, so I try not to do it too often. Even with all the shit that is wrong with me, men are willing to risk their marriage to screw me. They have no idea whether it would be worth it or not. I tell you men are pigs. "We just might have to do that sooner than late," I said. I know I can be a pig as well. In my case I wouldn't be risking anything. There isn't even a risk of pregnancy, since I found out in high school that I have scaring in my fallopian tube. Since my father didn't want me getting pregnant, I didn't have it fixed then, and it just never seemed important enough since. If I ever get married, I probably will fix it. Nothing had to be settled when we arrived at the locker, so we went about the ten minute task of loading the truck. The four men made short work of the storage boxes and table including my chairs. I had used the key Mission provided to remove the lock, so when all was said and done, I got a lock from the deal more or less free. The guys make short work of the moving the furniture inside, then they were gone. Leaving me to arrange things and make the bed. I slept just fine in the apartment that night. It was still chilly outside, but the floor furnace worked well. ------- Chapter 91 I survived my first night back in the apartment. It wasn't hard, I had been there before when it was even colder. I got the small heater out of the storage box to heat the bathroom. While the Ceramic heater worked it's magic, I fixed the only thing in the house there was to eat. I reheated a left over donut from Granny's. You didn't really think I only bought a dozen for the Sheriff's office did you. It was still not quite sunup outside, so I fought the urge to run. I hated to run so it didn't take much fighting. I had the bike under the shelter of the balcony, but with my wing broken, there wasn't much I could do with it. When I got the tricycle today, there would be more I could do tomorrow, I though. The stale coffee and the reheated donut were gone before I tried the bathroom again. I found it warm, but in a different way than the rest of the apartment. The heat just seemed kind of surface heat, it didn't really penetrate. I don't know how else to explain it. I was still cold deep inside, but my skin was warmer somehow. Probably my imagination. I ran about eight inches of water into the tub, then I put the little plastic step stool into the tub then climbed in. With a kitchen sponge I washed my body with a new bar of soap. That one bar of soap was doing double duty as a coffee cup sanitizer until I got my stuff from the camper. I was going to the compound over two hundred miles away that very day come hell or high water. I dressed in clean underwear and a blue striped tee shirt from the Russian commandos. I had recently acquired several of them off ebay. Since I didn't get a letter of authenticity, I figured they were Chinese knock offs. I was wearing them, not collecting them so I didn't care. They looked great with my skinny jeans. It was still chilly in the mornings, so I struggled into the shoulder rig and the thin nylon parka. I didn't look a bit like a game warden that was for sure. Since I was ready, I went to the drive and backed the truck into the narrow street. It was difficult, but I managed not to hit the curb on the other side. I knew how to get on the highway headed east, then just follow the signs to the coast. The interstate highway would come within fifty miles of the compound. With that in mind I made my way to the plaza. When I pulled onto eastbound I40, I turned on the music which I had downloaded onto the recorder. It was the same one I had used to tape the bad guys and some of the good guys as well. I had thirty minutes of music and then it would start over. That is why I only downloaded music I could stand to hear several times. The trip began with me singing along, "Get your motor running, get our on the highway, born to be wild." It just continued on with traveling music for half an hour. I had California Dreaming and Leaving on a Jet Plane as well and fifteen more driving songs. As I rolled by some large cities the traffic would be terrible and the roads confusing, so I had to pay attention. Even with all that crap, I found a quiet stretch of road where I could call Hugo safely. "Hugo how you doing?" I asked. "Terry, how the hell are you. Me and Helen have been worried sick about you." He said. "I'm fine Hugo. I would have call much sooner, but they have kept me under sedation, probably so I wouldn't talk to anyone. Hugo we need to talk and I need my stuff. I'm a couple of hours away and doing the back stroke down to the compound, can you meet me there?" I asked. "You bet your ass. I also have all your shit including your tools," he said to ease my mind. "You are the best Hugo," I said. "Helen wants to know if you are going to spend the night?" Hugo asked. "I hadn't planned on it but I would like to take you two to dinner, if you will drive," I said. "Now that sounds like a plan," Hugo replied. "Good, I can't wait to see you. Right now I'm doing 70 mph, so let me concentrate. I should be there in a couple of hours. bye," I killed the connection. It was great to have friends. I would never have thought that Hugo and I would get along, let alone become hard friends. We were so different, he and I. He won my respect by his attitude. Hugo took no shit from any of them on either side of the badge. I stopped in the convenience store where I left the highway. I put almost a hundred dollars worth of gas into the truck. I took to the smaller state highway rather than go back onto the interstate. Later I would be on a county road before I pulled onto the compound driveway. When I finally pulled down the long driveway, I was very happy to see the place. It looked some different since someone had pulled the camper away. It was a good thing that I had Hugo remove my things, or the state boys would have been all over them. "Hugo you doll, god it is good to see you," I said when he came limping out. I had forgotten that I wasn't the only one banged up. "Helen it is good to see you too." "My god, Hugo said you were injured, but you look even skinnier, if that is possible. Not to mention your hand in the big old cast." she said with what looked almost like tears in her eyes. "Shit, I should have been a nurse with you two around. I guess sex is out of the question." "Only if you two say so," I replied with a grin. "We will see," she said. "Come on in and have some coffee. Rest a while before you load the truck." "Yes Ma'am," I said to her. Then to Hugo, "Is she always this bossy?" "We are divorced aren't we," he laughed. "You can't prove it by me," I said to them both. Over the coffee we laid the plan. Hugo and I would load the truck, while Helen went shopping. We could also start a fire in the giant fire pit in the back of the office. It was decided that we would grill steaks instead of going out. It was also decided that I would pay for dinner. That took a little persuading but they finally agreed. The menu would be simple, good steak, a fancy salad, and of course some kind of fancy bread. So we were going to send Helen to the farmer's market for salad material and bread. After we finished loading the truck and laying the fire, Hugo and I would go buy the steaks. It was 2PM when we started the days chores. Loading the truck was easy at first. The sheets blankets and the like were easy enough. The table top appliances weren't any real problem either. My computer down there had been a refurbished one from Walmart. I kept the drive clean, I'm sure the state would have liked to track me with it, but Hugo rescued it from the camper, Which meant they would need a warrant to search it. They either hadn't bother or were refused a warrant. Either way it was still there. I took it up front to the cab of the truck. I tried to give Hugo my microwave, since I had one in County Seat, but he refused it. The counter top toaster oven I planned to keep. I didn't have one of those in my apartment over the carriage house. At the compound I had used it almost as often as I did the microwave. The last thing we loaded was the trike. That proved to be a real mother. We found an old piece of plywood to use for a very steep ramp. We finally managed after some trial and error to load it. We were forced to back it up the ramp. The rear two wheels had to go in first and then front wheel. I steered while Hugo Muscled it up the ramp and inside the truck. He even gave me the plywood, we had used as a ramp, so that I could unload it when I got home. After the trike was on the truck, we took off in the state bronco for a butcher shop. It was the first all meat and chicken retail store I had ever been inside. They sold meat fresh on day one of it's slaughter, and then flash froze what they didn't sell. The flash freezer held all kinds of meat at 20% off the fresh price. "So, you got any preference for the cut?" Hugo asked. "Not really, what about you?" I asked. "Well, Helen likes fillets, so I usually just go with those," he said. "Well hell, since we want to get in her panties, let's go with the fillets," I answered with a laugh. "Works for me," he said with a grin. The man cut us three with one being a little smaller, since I'm not a big eater. "God those look good," I said. "Hell, they are good," Hugo agreed. "So you want wine with your steak?" Hugo asked. "Hugo, I am a liquor kind of girl. Get wine for the two of you and I'll buy some liquor for me. There is a liquor store in Blane isn't there?" I asked. "Yeah, but I confiscated some really good shine, it is so smooth you wouldn't believe it." Hugo said. "Where did you get it? I asked. "A boat in the waterway had an unopened gallon jug. He swore he never saw it before. The state wouldn't have convicted him because it was a rental boat so I just confiscated a two hundred dollar jug of shine. Cheaper than a lawyer for him, but enough to teach him not to do it again. It only takes a couple of ounces to get mellow as hell." Hugo said. I didn't say anything but it sounded a lot like Green Dragon Piss. "Hugo, be careful who you tell that story to," I said. "Hell Terry, If I can't trust you with a secret, who can I trust," he said. "On that note let's go home and have a cook out," I said. Hugo's fire pit was a hug cast iron stew pot. We left it burning some small spruce logs. Well they were split logs, but they hadn't burned down to complete ashes in the two hours. Hugo added more wood and let the fire build a little by covering it with a large aluminum dome. "Where the hell did you find that," I asked. "Believe it or not some jackass was pulling it behind a boat. He donated it to the forest service, when he found out he couldn't control it. Seems he almost hit several boats, who reported him. So he donated it." "You seem to get a lot of shit that way," I said. Far from thinking it was a bad thing, I was in awe of him even more. It was just common sense that he brought which government employees were not known to bring to the job. It was 6PM when we started to cook. "I think I will do the cooking, you two just go fix the drinks. I'll have a glass of the red with first," Helen said. "Yes dear," Hugo said. "Terry you want the wine, a mixed drink, or a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon Bock Beer?" "You have bock beer? Well hell that it the drink of champions, of course I'll have that." So that's how the evening began. ------- Chapter 92 The steak was delicious and the beer was fantastic. I was feeling it just a little, when we tossed the cardboard plates into the trash can. Hugo insisted on taking a wire brush to the grill while it was hot, so Helen and I took the salad bowl into the small apartment attached to the ranger's office to wash it. She said to me nervously, "You don't really have to sleep with us, you know." "I know that. Helen, I sense that you are the more dominant partner in your relationship with Hugo, so let me say this. If you want me, I'm yours. If not I'll make the excuse, so it sounds like it's my fault. As for Hugo, men will go along with anything, as long as they are going to get off." I did laugh after I said it. "Well let's just see how it goes," Helen said. "I have no real firm objection, it's just like you said, I'm more comfortable when I'm setting the pace." "That is as it should be," I replied. "I will go along with anything you want." That where we ended that conversation. We immediately began another. "So Hugo said you worked for a bank. How is that these days, since everyone thinks you are the enemy?" I asked. "Oh you noticed, most people don't," Helen replied. "I got it even worse, I'm the loan officer. We still get pressure from special interest to make bad loans to their people. Since the government won't insure them any more, we refuse. So they send their people in to curse us in front of the other customers. Fortunately all they do it look foolish." She shook her head when she finished talking. "I can only imagine," I said. "What are you forty, that means you have a long time till retirement." "I'm forty seven same as Hugo. I may leave and go manage the architectural salvage company for Hugo and his brother. Then again, I'm not sure I want my future tied to Hugo again." "Yeah loving someone you can't live with is a bitch," I said. "It's bad enough when someone or something on the outside makes it impossible. I has to be ten times worse, when you decide that for yourself." "You really do understand. I am surprised. I expected you to just accept that Hugo is the only victim in this little drama," She admitted. "Oh no, I worked with him. He can be a hard headed, opinionated man, who never fails to give you his opinion. He will defend it, even when you prove he is wrong." I said. "That's Hugo alright," she agreed. The door opened and Hugo came in. It's a great night, just a little chill in the air. Let's sit on the deck out back for a while." he suggested. "With a big glass of your special brew, I can handle the chill," I agreed. "Well, I have a sweat shirt, I leave here just for this kind of thing," Helen said. So we all moved to the patio. Helen's sweatshirt did a couple of things. It hid her small extended tummy, and the allowed her breast to appear soft and larger than they probably were. She did have a nice little butt to go along with the rest of her soft body. Hugo was lean for the most part, but like all game wardens he showed his enjoyment of good food as well. He had the thick waist line that seemed to go with lots of exercise of the wrong parts of the body. Lots of walking, but no midsection exercise. I was guilty of that as well, but I also had the genes to avoid the midsection thickening. I personally liked Helen's soft body more than my thin straight as a stick model. When I reached over and cupped her breast without any excuse at all, it was just pure admiration. I fell it's weight and soft structure then said, "I am so jealous. You have such a comfortable looking body." When I realized what I had done. I tried to apologize. "I'm sorry that was inappropriate." "Yes it was, but I loved it," Helen said as she smiled at me. "Good because I did as well," I said sipping the green dragon shine. "I have to warn you, I have never been with a woman," Helen said. "That's okay hon, I have," I said and laughed gently as did Helen. "Well, I have never been with two women," Hugo said. "Who said you were invited to the party?" Helen asked. "Oh you mean I'm not," Hugo asked. "That depends on what you bring to the dance," I replied. "Helen knows what I bring and has never complained," Hugo said proudly. "Well, I didn't want to hurt your feelings," Helen said breaking down in gales of laughter. She was being effected by the green dragon more than Hugo and I. It must be her first time, I thought. "So, are you going to show me?" I asked. "Now? In the cold night air, that really isn't a fair test." he said. "Don't worry one of us will help you make the best impression," Helen said. I might have started the good natured banter, but she was hijacking the conversation. That was fine with me. I obviously like a director, as proved by the Mary Ellen films. Hugo unzipped his pants and worked the flaccid penis from them. It was about five inches even in that condition. In the cold night air it wasn't growing. "Don't you want to help him Sylvia?" Helen asked, "Oh yes," I replied slipping to my knees. First I wrapped my chilly hand around the shaft creating even more physical discomfort for Hugo. Then I held it up as I began to lick the underside. It came to life a little then. I could actually feel the blood move into it. It really came to life when I kissed the head of his penis. I had returned to licking it when Helen said, "You love cock, I can tell." I stopped and looked over to her. She had the droopy eyes of a person under the influence of something, either lust or the alcohol and drugs. "Yes I love cock," I agreed. I went back to my chore of waking Hugo up. I tried to be mindful of my bad hand, even though the pain was minimal at that moment. "And it loves you, it shows," she said as his cock began to grow. Hugo's penis was about half hard and almost full size when I slipping it into my mouth. The warm, wet cavern finished the job of making it hard. I moved up and down on his hard penis and sucking the lubricant off it as I did. The earthy taste and the smooth, but thick lubricant taste was there. "How doe it feel honey," Helen asked Hugo. "She is wonderful at it," Hugo groaned. "Better than me," Helen asked. "No honey, just different," he said while almost whining with delight as I worked his penis into my throat. "Oh my I can tell she takes it deeper than I do. That must feel wonderful." Helen said. I turned my gaze to her and saw her hand inside her jeans. If both my hand were available I would have done that for her. God knows I wanted to do it. "That's enough Hugo, we don't want this to end too soon," Helen said. His reaction surprised me. Without any resistance he helped me to return to my seat. I went willingly, but I was disappointed. I also found my drink and finished it. I had to go back into his small kitchen to replenish it. The new one was stronger than the last. By that time I didn't mind the slight after taste of herbs. "Just as I finished Helen came into the kitchen. Bring that with you and come in where it is warm," she said. I followed her into the only other room of the apartment, the bedroom. It wasn't much of a bed, which we were all going to share, but I guess we hadn't planned to sleep any. Helen was really dopey when she said to me, "Show me what you do with women." I didn't say a word. I just kissed her with a lot of tongue. I swear I gaged her with my tongue. Then I put my good hand between us and massaged her breast. "Take off your clothes," I whispered. Helen took one step back, then began to remove her clothing. I watched her and felt my body lubricate involuntarily. It was like I was preparing to have sex with a man. Of course I knew that I would be having sex with Hugo, but I was looking at a woman strip for me and it had an effect on me. I had been right her breasts were heavy and dropped a little. Her nipples were hard, but pointed down because of the droop. I went to her once her panties were removed and kissed her breasts. I kissed both nipples back and forth. It was gloriously erotic. It was both the feeling and knowing that Hugo her real lover was watching as well. She fell back on the bed as her knees buckled. Her tummy was even more prominent when she was seated. It wasn't so bad, when I spread her legs. Naturally I slipped to my knees between them. I returned to her nipples and dry nursed them. I heard Helen moan and I felt emboldened by it. I left her nipple wet with my spittle, as I kissed her belly and over her hairy mound. I had her legs spread so much that the hood protecting her clit was open. I ran my tongue over her vulva and tasted the slippery lubricant. It was more a slippery, thick feeling than a real taste. I slipped my tongue inside to give her the feeling of being penetrated. I ran my tongue in and out only a second before I moved to lick her clit. I liked it up and down as well. Then I licked it side to side, finally I sucked on it gently. Thats when I felt her hips raise to meet my actions. Her hands went to my head, as she tried to pull my inside her. I quickly slipped the thumb of my good hand inside her and lubricated it well, then I moved to slip it inside her rectum. Her hips fought against the uncomfortable sensation, then she relaxed and moved against it. She was either riding an orgasm or just enjoying the feel of my hand and mouth on her. "Please stop," she begged in a weak voice. "I love it, but I can't take any more." I leaned back and stood slowly being careful not to use my broken hand to lever myself up. I couldn't feel the pain that I knew would be there. Once standing, I found my drink. I looked around and found Hugo sitting in a chair. His gaze alternated between the still wriggling Helen, and the more or less calm me. I smile with a promise of things to come. We both waited for Helen to calm down before deciding on our next move. If nothing else I wanted her to enjoy watching me finish what I had started with Hugo. Helen seemed almost asleep when she spoke to me. No one ever did that to me," she said. "Did what lick your body," I asked. "Not that. No one ever put anything into my ass. It was an amazing feeling, once I got past the discomfort." "Well I'm glad I was the first Helen. You are an amazing lover," I said. "I haven't done anything yet," she said. "You don't have to do anything. It isn't always about the physical for me. Sometimes it just about how you react to what I do for you." I said. I almost meant it too. "The night is young," she promised. ------- Chapter 93 After a brief rest Helen stood behind, a very naked, me. She wrapped her arms around me as I remembered men doing many times. Her arms were crossed in front of me and each hand held one of my small breasts. I press back against her, but of course there was no penis for me to feel pressing back. She even kissed my neck, which was quite maddening at that moment. Hugo remained in his chair watching, but he was just watching. He was also stoking his penis very slowly. Enough to keep it turgid, but not enough to cause it to ejaculate. Helen guided me to a dinning room chair. When I collapsed into it, she lowered herself to her knees between my spread legs. I felt her tongue on my lower lips and tickling my clit. I was arousing not just on a purely animal level but also it was arousing to know it was her first time. Combine the two emotions and it was hugely arousing. "Clit. baby, lick my clit," I said as I could feel my hips begin to squirm in response to her manipulations. She licked and sucked my clit and put a finger into my vagina. It was a welcome addition as I had begun to feel empty inside. Obviously Hugo could stand it no longer. He moved to stand behind Helen, then he lowered himself to his knees. Even through my arousal I could see that it was painful for him. He began to move in and out of Helen. "My god honey you are so wet," he said to Helen. "It feels so hot inside you." he said. She couldn't answer him, even if she had an answer. Her mouth was filled with my vulva. I think I was the first to orgasm, and I kept at it. I came for what seemed like hours, but was only the few minutes that Helen kept at it after I stated to cum. I was able to watch Hugo's face as he came, but I couldn't comprehend it at first. After only a couple of seconds, he fell back. Helen was still trying to work as though he were in her. She did manage to stop working on me. Of the three of us, I seemed to be the most composed. I lowered myself to the floor and positioned myself so that I could reach Helen's most sensitive spots and I went to work trying to scoop Hugo's semen from her body. Helen went crazy. It was all I could do to keep her on the floor as she tried to sit up. I think it was an involuntary tightening of the muscles in spasms that caused her erratic movements. "Please stop, I'm losing my mind," she begged in a voice I didn't even recognize. I stay at her vaginal opening a moment longer, then moved away. When I did, I realized the muscles in my face as well as my tongue hurt. I was in mild pain, but I was proud of what I had done. The three of us sat around staring at one another. No one was quite sure what had happened, but we were not about to jinx it by discussing it. After what seemed like a long time, Helen said, "I don't have far to go, I think I need to go home. Hugo, Silvia can't stay here alone, so she is going to come with me. My bed will only hold two, so we will be back for her truck tomorrow. Helen got her way as Hugo and I knew she would. I found myself in a big double bed with a warm blanket and a warm soft Helen beside me. I slept with her wrapped my arms. I had to be careful of my broken hand, but it was a nice way to sleep regardless. I awoke at 9AM Sunday morning to the smell of breakfast cooking. I got up and dressed in my clothes from the day before. I wished I had thought to bring my soft duffel bag. Or even the plastic bag Hugo had filled with clothes the agents had left, when they recovered clothes for me to wear in the safe house. As it was I just skipped the panties and wore the jeans and tee shirt from the day before. I had the box opener, but the .38 was at Hugo's house. I could only hope the Green machine had really giving up on me. Helen gave me a warm kiss, when I exited the bathroom. While in there I had used her mouthwash to make the taste in my mouth bearable. I was glad I did when I kissed her. "That and a cup of coffee and I could slay dragons," I said cupping her large soft breast. "Now be nice, it isn't Saturday night and I haven't been drinking. I would have to admit that was the best sex I ever had, and I'm not ready to do that," she admitted. "Of course not, and I have to get on the road. I really don't have time to kiss and lick your body. The use the vibrator, I'm sure you have, to masturbate you anally." I said with a grin. "You harlot," she said laughing. "Eat your breakfast, while I get ready for church. I will drop you at your truck on the way. Now get a move on." It was 11AM when she dropped me at the loaded truck. My shoulder rig and the, 38 were under the seat. Hugo's bronco was already missing. He was out being his game warden self, I supposed. I kissed a nervous Helen goodbye. She was obviously afraid someone would see her kissing a woman. Of course there wasn't another human being within a mile of the ranger station. She pulled quickly away from the parking lot. She was in a hurry to leave her memory of the kinky sex behind, or she was late for church. Either way it humorous to me. I maneuvered the truck through the tiny parking area then onto the long driveway out to the county road. Once I hit the county road, it was smooth sailing all the way back to County Seat. It took almost all the remaining daylight hours to get to the mountain town, but I made it with enough time to unload the truck. I had a little help from one of the men at the lounge in the parking lot of the motel. He was in the lounge at 4PM, when I arrived, so I did all the driving. I gave him twenty dollar, to buy beer, as payment for carrying the things I couldn't grip with my splinted hand. I could handle the trash bad full of blankets and stuff, but the table top appliances were too much for me. Then there had been the trike, which he helped me get off the truck. I rolled it behind the two wheeler I had ridden around town back when I had both hands to use. I covered the trike with the same tarp that covered it at the compound. Then I drove the Lounge Lizard back to his date with Sarah the bartender. I got settled in and once the truck was returned and the finances arranged, so that the state would pay for the move, things took on a routine. My typical day was to wake up, put the heater in the bathroom to raise the temperature a few degrees while I sat drinking day old coffee. I usually did my walk down memory lane, or my day dreaming at that time. That kind of thinking just went better with coffee. When the bathroom was warm enough to prevent frostbite, I ran six inches or so of water in the tub and added the plastic step stool. I lowered myself on the stool and washed my body and my hair before I left the tub. After my bath I dressed for the day. I almost alway wore jeans and a teeshirt under a pullover sweater. Before going out to ride my trike, I put on the .38, in the upside down shoulder rig and a parka. Summer was slow coming to Country Seat and the spring was still quite cold at night and in the mornings. I would start the trike while riding it in the neighborhood and then ride it all over town. I rode the trike because I could pedal it on flat roads without the motor engaged. I could ride it down hill with just a little brake to slow it down, and I could engage the small engine as a helper on the hills. I had only one gear, so there was very little need to use my broken hand. I simply guided the handle bars with it, without grasping them. So when I got the eight or so miles out to the plaza, I would fill up the gas tank for well under a dollar, then I would go over and buy breakfast at Hardee's. They had a killer bacon egg and cheese biscuit. Their coffee wasn't all that good, but it was no worse than other restaurants. I usually was entertained by the deputies, some of the paramedics, or the volunteer firemen. I had become 'one of the boys' and I hated it. I really wanted to be one of the girls in some ways. It was too bad Mary Ellen couldn't get her butt out of bed before 9AM. She was barely dressed in time to open the store. Then I would pedal the trike straight home most days. I always found a way to get a bit of a work out from it, because I just felt better when I was on the move. I even spend an hour in the morning and another one in the evening working my hand. Well at least trying to work my hand. I expect, if there wasn't so much nerve damage, the pain from trying to work my fingers would have been unbearable. It was pretty overwhelming as it was. Between the workouts I tried to watch TV or do basic research on the internet. In other words I was bored shitless. I was pretty sure that, when I got the hand operating at it new peak level, no matter what it was, I would become productive again. In the meantime I needed to find something to do to pass the time. I found Jerry, the volunteer fireman's, card in my pocket case. We had crossed paths once or twice since he helped me move my furniture from the storage locker. County Seat was too small not to run into everyone sooner or later. Every time I saw him he invited me to ride along on his pick up and delivery runs. After a month of the routine I finally got bored enough to call him. "Jerry when you get this message call me. The next time you get near here stop by and pick me up. I want do a ride along," I said. He called back that night. He was coming home for the weekend and would love to have me ride along. The problem was we might not be back for a week. He came home most every weekend but during the week he just went from job to job. "That is the life a gypsy transporter," he said "Sure, I can handle that. I'll bring along a bedroll, since I'm sure you meant that as a warning as well," I said. "Yeah, it pretty much was," he said. " Things are pretty basic out there. Just so you know this isn't about sex. You can always refuse." "Oh, I already knew that. It is nice to know that you do as well," I said with a laugh. "I'll need to get a job on Monday, so I'll be by for you at 7AM. We can check the postings from the restaurant," he said. By the restaurant he meant the Hardee's at the plaza. "I'll be ready to go," I said. ------- Chapter 94 I awoke to the buzz of my alarm at 6AM. I never really had a normal schedule, whatever that might be. I went to bed based on what my next day looked like. I awoke whenever I needed to for the day's activities. On days when I had nothing to do, I woke up when I had slept enough. My sleep routine was as simple as that. So with seven hours sleep I rushed into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get some coffee going. I took my bath just before bedtime the night before. By 6:30 AM I had vanquished the cobwebs in my head, and was petty much ready to finish my preparations for the trip. First of all I needed to pack the 1/4 side opening duffel type bag. That really wasn't difficult. I had three clean Russian Commando style blue strip tee shirts, so I put one on my body and one in the bag. I had two clean jungle camo tee shirts so I pack both of them. I had one dark blue tee shirts clean, so it made its way into the bag as well. I loved the red tee with the Henley collar so of course I had to carry it. I also loaded two gray sweatshirt colored tee shirts as well. I threw a couple of sweat shirts in, just in case there was a chilly day. I packed the Nylon parka in case of rain, and to cover the .38, should I need more protection than the box opener. I also put in three pairs of jeans. I didn't plan to go anywhere I couldn't wear jeans. Lastly I put my tooth brush and pain killers in a clear plastic sandwich bag and threw it into the duffel. I also pulled the two blankets off the bed and rolled them up with a washcloth and towel inside. When I finished, I had fifteen minute to wait for the 7AM departure time, so I carried my coffee cup and the duffel to the sit by the kitchen door. It had the only glass that looked out in the direction of the driveway. I had no expectation that Jerry would pull a truck into the driveway, but I could see him walking up the drive and save him a few steps. At 6:55 A very large pickup truck pulled into the drive. There was a short bed, but it had a crew cab, which probably made it longer than an ordinary pickup. I took my bag and bed roll out to the shiny black pick up truck. Jerry got out to greet me. When I reached him I said, "Nice truck but you can't carry much cargo in it." "True we will be picking up a large trailer before we leave town. I have two one is coveredt and one is open. I have to find out what I'm carrying before I decide which to pull," he informed me. "I see," I said even though I had very little understanding of why he didn't just have a truck. "Probably not, but you should understand by the end of the week," he said laughing. With that he navigated the truck out of my driveway and onto the narrow residential street. "Let's see an eighteen wheeler do that," he said. "I will definitely give you that one," I agreed. He negotiated the small streets easily but he didn't have a large heavy trailer attached to the truck either. However I did not challenge him. I was in the truck passenger's seat to break my routine, cure my cabin fever, and learn something about his business. I didn't have any real interest, but anything I learned usually came back to help me in some way, some day. At Hardee's, we sat at a table with is firefighter buddies. After a breakfast of sausage and eggs, with a crunchy biscuit I was ready for anything. Anything but the waiting I had to endure. Jerry said the job posting came out at 8AM and would run the rest of the day. We could be there half an hour or half a day till he found something he felt comfortable bidding on. He tried to explain his bidding strategy, but I barely listened. All I knew was, the start or the finish should be within two hundred miles, if at all possible. He spent half an hour placing bids before he looked up to say, "Well Sylvia we are off to pick up the trailer. We are going to take the open trailer this time." I didn't care which trailer, I was just glad to get started. Jerry drove back to his mobile home. It was parked on private property in the country. There he had two 25 foot by 8 foot trailers. One was open and one enclosed which made sense, if he wanted to get the maximum use from his pickup. "Let me help you hitch it up," I said. "I won't be much help with only one hand, but at least you will have three hands this time." He just nodded his agreement. The trailer had a built in jack on the tongue, which was a nice feature. We wrestled the trailer into position then lower it onto the ball. Jerry locked and chained it into place while I watched learning from seeing it done. Then he cranked up the tongue jack and removed the locking pin. When he was able to fold the jack against the tongue it was well above the ground. It was a very well organized system. I was sure the trailer came from the factory that way. "Okay Sylvia if you need to pee go do it now, we have a long way to go," he said. "Jerry, women always have to pee," I said. I went into the trailer home and found his bathroom. It wasn't immaculate, but it was a pig sty either. When I went outside, he was in the truck waiting for me. I could feel the strain when he started rolling. The truck was pretty close to the top of its comfortable power band. He probably shouldn't carry anything too heavy, I thought. Still it was none of my business. Sure I had driven trucks in the sandbox, and knew a little about them, but still it was his truck. From the county road outside of County Seat we got onto the interstate in a different entrance than the one by the plaza. We headed south on the highway at a good 70mph clip. "So where we headed?" I asked. "Little town outside just north or Columbia South Carolina," Jerry said. "I figure it will take us about three hours." "Cool, so what are we picking up?" I asked. "A Nascar racer," he replied. When he saw my skeptical look, he added, "That's what the man said." During that three hour ride I learned probably everything there was to know about Jerry. He had been married, which is how he got the trailer. The ex didn't want it after the divorce. She wanted to get as far away from the rural mountain life as possible. "We didn't have any kids, so when Ruby left me she took the dog. I sure do miss that old dog, Ruby not so much," he added. He tried to get me talking, but I avoided all the personal questions. "Do you just not trust me, or do you never talk about your past?" he asked. "I was a deputy here, you know that, and before that I was in a community college to get an LEC, but the state pulled that for medical reasons. They don't think the hand will ever be useful again." I said. "So now you know all about me." "Well, do you like sex?" he asked. "It always comes back to that doesn't it. Can't you just go slow cowboy, and see where this ends up?" I asked a little peeved. "I wasn't hitting on you." he said. After he saw the look I gave him he added, "Okay I was hitting on you a little." I did flash him a smile that said, "All is forgiven, but don't do it again. At least don't be so obvious about it." During the drive we stopped once for gas, a pee break, and a pack of crackers. Even with the stop it was only 2PM when we pulled into the garage where the shell of a Nascar racer was housed. "Does it run," I asked Jerry. "I don't think so, it's just the body," Jerry said. "Well it does have wheels, so we can load it without a crane." "Hello there, you Rex?" Jerry asked the man who came out to meet us.l "That's me, so you the guy whose gonna take this to the new owner?" he asked. "Yes I am, this is Sylvia Porter, she is here as my witness. There is usually some question about condition and damage in route," Jerry said as he walked around the car taking digital images. He did a few manipulations then sent them to the new owner. "That's just so him know what it really looks like, before I touch it." Jerry added. "You don't mind do you?" "Friend that car belongs to the new buyer. I don't give a damn what you do it it." "Fair enough," Jerry said. After the photos he lowered the tailgate on the truck and pulled a cable from the wench welded to the body of the truck. With that wench he pulled the shell of a car onto the trailer. It was as slick as could be. The car went right on and even straightened itself out with almost no help from us. The winch had a remote control so Jerry could steer the car while pulling it on the trailer. We were back on the road thirty minutes after pulling into the parking lot. "So where are we headed now," I asked. "We got about fifteen hours in the truck ahead of us. We are going to a spot outside Chicago. We will stop for the night in a rest area along the way." "Well it isn't the summer yet, so camping out won't be a lot of fun, but I don't mind, if you don't," I said. We drove until 7PM, which was going to leave us a 10 hour drive the next day. By driving till 7PM we also had fast food for dinner and pulled into a rest area along the highway to crash in the truck. "It's done all the time," Jerry said. "We can just crash here, and then be off tomorrow early." "It sounds pretty uncomfortable, but it can totally be done. It would be a lot better, if I had a wireless Internet connection. I don't suppose you do?" I asked. "Sure, how to you think I sent those pictures. It would really make my life difficult, if I didn't. Of course it's tied up with my cell phone, or my own laptop. I could let you hook it up to your laptop I guess, but the time would count against me. I use it strictly for business." "I don't need to use it. I just need to know there is a provider, if I ever want to go that way. I still have a dumb cell phone, and I'm very happy with it," I informed him. "Well it makes life easier on the rode. I can almost always find a hot spot except in camp grounds and truck stops inside a rest areas like this one," He informed me. "So even in a spot with no WiFi, I can still do business. Sometimes that is important." ------- Chapter 95 "Jerry, we are going to have to be good the seats are too small for both of us," I said. "Well there have been an awfully lot of cherries popped in the back seat of a car," he said. "I'm not sure those people were almost strangers. I need to get to know you some." I said. Yeah it was a lie, but it sounded better than I don't feel like fucking you. You are just too nice a guy for me. "Well we need to get some sleep then. We need to be on the road early. I want to get to the buyer by 3 or 4 PM. With a full 10 hour drive to go, we need to be our of here by 6AM at the latest," Jerry said seriously. "Right, since you are driving, why don't you sleep in the back seat it looks like it's set up for it," I said. It was too, there was a plywood frame with foam rubber pad on top where the seat should have been. It would pass as a bed as well as my bed in the carriage house. "You can have the bed," he said. "I would rather have you rested, since you are the driver. I'm just that selfish to want to live," I reaffirmed my preference. "Okay," Jerry said. I have no idea how Jerry managed, because I was asleep within ten minutes. Even the coming and going of the 18 wheelers didn't wake me or cause me to sleep any less sound than my usual oblivion sleep mode. At five o'clock I heard the back door open. I knew that it was time to get up and start preparing for the day. I reached out from under the cover of the two blankets and found that it was chilly. It was still early in the summer months so the night were just a little chilly. I slipped on a pullover and carried my toothbrush, soap, washcloth and clean underwear with me to the bathroom. I couldn't shower, but I did manage to wash with some soap and hot water. I felt much better after that wash and some clean underwear. The clean tee shirt didn't do much since the jeans were from the day before. What saved them was that all I had done was ride in the truck. "Wow you look great. I wish I could look that good at five AM," Jerry said. "Thanks, but I don't feel as though I look great. I just feel about half drugged. We are getting coffee before we get on the road aren't we?" I asked. "All you can drink," Jerry said. "Come on we are off for the truck stop about two miles up the road." Jerry pulled the truck out of the public rest area and headed off in a more or less northerly direction. As Jerry had said the truck stop was only a couple of miles. While he filled up the truck with Diesel fuel, I went inside and found a seat. I ordered coffee and waited for Jerry to join me. I looked around and noted that the room was filled with at least 99% men. Well it was a truck stop, so I guess that was to be expected. They way they looked at me, I felt like a big mac at a animal shelter. Okay, I admit that their hungry stares had a effect on me. The feelings were a little flattering, I had to admit. Still I was glad to see Jerry walk through the door. "So what is good in a truck stop restaurant? I'm not sure I ever ate in one," I said. "It's my experience you can't go too wrong with bacon and eggs," he said. I nodded and when the waitress came I said to her, "I'll have your hungry lady breakfast," I said. "We don't have one, just the hungry man," she replied. "Well that's kinda sexist, but I'll have one of those with over medium eggs," I said smiling. "Give me the same, but make the eggs scrambled," Jerry said. Jerry turned to me after she left. "I'm going to buy breakfast. Don't argue, I'm going to make you earn it. You said you drove in the Army?" he asked. "Actually it was the Air Force, but yeah I did some," I said. "How about when we leave here you drive till lunch," he suggested. "Sure, I don't mind driving." I really didn't mind. I assume he had good insurance and I wasn't going to do anything to his equipment, so I expected to do just fine. After breakfast I carefully pulled the truck out of the drive through parking space and headed it toward the highway. "You have to remember, you have a twenty five foot trailer behind," Jerry said. "It would be more helpful, if you told me how it brakes and accelerates," I suggested. From the 6AM breakfast till the 1PM lunch I listened to Jerry act like a father teaching his daughter to drive. When we stopped for lunch I asked him, "Jerry did you ever drive JP4 jet fuel tanker through an ambush?" He just gave me a blank stare. "Well I have, If you want me to drive again, remember that please." "I'm sorry but this truck is all I have. It's my only means of earning a living," he said. "Then hun you shouldn't let anyone drive it, no matter how bad you want in her pants," I said. "Yeah, you are right. I'll drive the rest of the way," he said. "I think that is an excellent idea," I said it without any anger or hurt in my voice because I didn't feel either. I just felt that he needed to be more honest about how he felt. After my burger and fries, we were back on the road. Getting the truck through the traffic around the fast food restaurant and back onto the highway was a major accomplishment. I was secretly glad I didn't have to do it. The next three hours were uneventful. It was shortly after 2PM when Jerry used his cell to call the customer. "Hi there, this is the man delivering your Nascar rolling chassis. We came up from South Carolina. We are a day early so I'm just calling to let you know we are about an hour out. I wanted to give you a chance to make it to the bank, if you needed to." Jerry listen, then said, "Very well, we will bring it to the address you gave me on the shipping order." Jerry turned his attention to me. "I love it when it all goes smooth." "Well I'm happy for you. This one wasn't so bad even sleeping in a rest stop wasn't as bad I thought it might be. The weather is nice for one thing." I said. "Yes we have had nice weather," he said. We arrived at the address and I found it to be a fast food restaurant. I'm not sure that Jerry knew that part of it either. Rolling the chassis off the trailer was a lot easier than loading it had been. The loading of it wasn't hard at all. The unloading was giving it a push. Nothing more was required of us. "Man that is great." the new owner replied. "It really does look good sitting there." If you say so, I thought. To me it was just a car with a garish paint job. Since we already had the truck parked, we decided to eat in the place. Now the damn place specialized in chicken, so I ate chicken strips, that could have been anything. All I actually tasted was the breading and the veggies. It wasn't too bad for a 4PM snack. "So what do we do now," I asked. "Now we look for something in the midwest going east," he said. "There are two shipments that are possibles. They both go up for bids tomorrow at nine." "Okay so where are we staying tonight," I asked. "You aren't going to like this," he said. "Oh I'm sure of that," I agreed with a smile. "I just have this to say, remember Chicago is the murder capital of the world right now. Don't ask me to sleep in a Walmart parking lot." "No way, on line I found a truck park, just south of here. We can spend the night in there, and decide tomorrow morning where we are going next," Jerry said. "According to their site, they have showers there but no bedrooms. It means another night in the truck. If I'm going to make any money it has to be this way." "I told you not to worry about me Jerry. I have slept on the ground, without a shower for days. I can survive this kind of thing no problem." I said. "Okay, then I'll stop apologizing for the accommodations," he said. "I wish you would. So lets get to this park thing and check in. I am ready for bed." I said. "It's been a long day." "Right," Jerry agreed. "We have to get some food and coffee and soda to take in with us. They don't have any restaurant service. It's pay every time you enter. So the trick is to go in only one time." We stopped at a convenience store on the same side of the road as we were headed. It was pretty easy in and out. I bought a mini cooler full of ice and some diet cokes to put in it. I also got a small jar of peanut butter and a bag of those chocolate iced Little Debbie donuts. I never snacked without protein. I convinced myself that peanut butter on the those little, one mouth full donuts, was healthy. I could delude myself with the best of them. I had never heard of a truck park before. I had no idea what to expect. It turned out to be nothing more than a giant fenced in parking lot. One that could accommodate several big rigs. One could pay them twenty bucks and park his or her rig inside the fence and get a hot shower as well. There was a guard shack with an armed guard on duty. There was a second guard who patrolled the parking area. It was my guess these were popular in the high crime areas of the country. By the number of trucks in the lot it would appear there was plenty of business. Once we were settled into the front bucket seats, we tried to spend some time communicating, The conversation ran out after half and hour. "So what do you usually do at night on the road?" I asked. "You want the truth?" Jerry asked. "If I hadn't, I wouldn't have asked," I replied. "Okay, I usually plug my lap top into the outlet on the dash and find out if I'm in a hot spot." Jerry said. "And if you are?" I asked. "I either watch movies or go to a chat room," he said. "I like chat rooms. I don't usually watch movies on the computer. It's too hard to concentrate for some reason." I said. "It can't hold my attention long enough to keep the story line straight." "Oh I see. Well Sylvia, the kind of movies I watch don't have much of a story line, You can pretty much understand them without much thought," he said with a laugh. "Oh my, are you talking about pornography?" I asked. "Yes, I am afraid so," he said. "Have you ever seen any?" "Sure, it just wasn't very much fun watching it buy myself. Some of the things were so humorous they just demanded some kind of comment," I said. "Well shall we see what you think of the places I know about," he asked. ------- Chapter 96 We did watch the adult films for two hours before bedtime. It was a lot of fun to comment on them, since Jeffy was quite witty. He could also see the humor in male, female relationships. Something that some men sometimes have a problem doing. Yes at some point he reached over and laid his hand on my thigh. The bucket seats in the front of the truck were very close, almost making a bench seat. It was how I managed to curl on them to sleep the night before. Needless to say we got closer as the movies ran. Somewhere in the first half hour we started to kiss and to touch each other. It had been almost a month since Hugo and Helen, so I turned on easily. I loved the feel of a hand on my breast flattening my nipple against my ribs. There was a tingle to it. The pinching and massaging of my breast sent a signal to my vagina. I lubricated and tightened at the same time. First I tensed then after a lot of touching and building pressure I began to relax in preparation for sex. In the only slightly larger than cot width bed, we had to be twisted into a fairly uncomfortable position, so any kind of kinky sex was out of the question. It was going to have to be straight old vaginal sex missionary or woman superior position, which was quite alright with me. I hadn't had a penis where it should be according to nature's design in months. I felt empty inside quite often. I even had a longing to be filled when it was impossible, so I wasn't surprised that I was willing to have sex with Jerry, even though I promised myself I wouldn't. Since I wasn't sure how well Jerry was going to do, I massaged him by hand only a very short time. I didn't want him to cum too soon. While he worked on my breast, I manually manipulated my clit. I wanted to be a close as possible. I knew that I could continue through my orgasm, but not all men could do the same. Jerry might just fall back after he came and just die. When he was finally ready to enter me, I felt him slide easily inside. He wasn't large, but since it had been a while that didn't matter one bit. His penis seemed to fill me. I was enjoying the feeling of his throbbing penis moving in me. The massage from the inside released pent up basic animal feelings. They went straight to my brain taking me higher than I had been in a while. Kinky sex is fine for a change of pace, but for a long lasting deep and yet gentle orgasm you just can't beat sex the way nature intended. When I finally came it was a gentle rocking and release in me. I could feel the liquid oozing from me. Then a few minutes later Jerry stiffened and I knew, even though I could not feel it, that he had ejaculated in me. I love the feelings running through me. There was a feeling of pride, that I had been able to make that happen for him, running under the surface of my orgasm. Jerry's little bed was made up and my bedding was in the space a passenger's feet would sit. It was therefore under part of Jerry's bed. I decided that I was too tired to get it, so I slept with my back against the rear wall of the truck cab, and Jerry slept pushed against me. We were cramped, but I for one slept better than I had on those uneven front seats. I awoke later on day three. Well not as late as I might have at home, if circumstances had been the same, but late for life in the field. It was almost 8AM when I awoke. Jerry was already awake and sitting under the wheel with his computer. I didn't kiss him because the taste in my mouth told me how foul my breath was. Instead I took my clothes and toilet articles to the shower room. In the women's shower there was a wall with eight shower heads on the wall. It was like the showers in a high school gym's dressing room. The difference was there were three quarter walls between the heads. Those little partitions gave the illusion of privacy. I took the quick shower then went out to dress in the locker room environment. I swear it was like being back in high school. There were half a dozen toilet stalls. I used one to take care of my bodily needs. When I left the shower room thirty minutes after entering, I was ready for another day to begin. I walked back to the truck in the cool morning air. The sun was up, but it hadn't burned off the night air completely. "He there," I said the Jerry upon returning. "What's up?" "We have a load going from Ohio to Georgia," he said. "By the way, good morning. Do we need to talk about last night?" "I don't. Do you?" I asked. "Things just kind of happened," he said. "Jerry, you are talking about it," I said to put an end to his need to make excuses. I waited a few seconds then ask what are we hauling?" I asked. "It's a two story metal fire escape from an old apartment building being demolished. Its in Toledo Ohio. We can be there in five hours so we should get on the road by 11AM. If we do, we should be able to get it loaded and get out of town before dark." "Sounds like a good plan to me." I said. We did squeeze breakfast in at a truck stop before we really started the drive. It was a big breakfast, since it was the only real meal we seemed to be able to find the time to have sitting down. Then we filled up with diesel and drove straight through to Toledo. The Internet had made it possible for buyers and seller to get together as never before. It also created the need for specialty truckers. There was no other way that the piece of crap could have been moved. The shipper wasn't going to pack it, so that a common carrier would accept it, and the buyer had no way to get it himself. So that left Jerry and guys like him. When we got there, we found that the fire escape had been disassembled by taking a torch to it. The stairs had been cut from each landing. Making it movable in four easy pieces, they though. The handrails on the landing and stairs made it more difficult but once we got them jig sawed into a bundle, we could strap them down and be on our way. We barely made it all work out before dark, no matter what Jerry had planned. Since Toledo wasn't Chicago we pulled into a home improvement warehouse type store's parking lot after dinner. We parked at the furtherest end and settled down for the night. We both slept in the back seat bed, but in our clothes because we half way expected what came next. A police cruiser pulled up well after midnight. Both Jerry and I awoke to the knocking on the door. "Yes sir officer," Jerry said. "You can't sleep here buddy," he said. "There is a city ordinance that says nobody can use these parking lots without the owner's permission and I know they didn't give you permission." "No sir officer they didn't. We were just hoping they wouldn't mind since we are in a part of the lot the customers don't really use." Jerry said. "Be that as it may, you have to leave. There is a truck stop outside of town where you might find a spot." Then he gave Jerry directions to it. "So we are going to do a swing around our beat. It will take about twenty minutes. Don't be here when we get back," he said. "Yes sir officer. We will be gone." And of course we were gone. Jerry turned to me and said, "So much for not driving in the dark." It was only about ten minutes to the truck stop. I felt very uncomfortable there. There was no value in our load, but there was also no security in the parking lot of the truck stop. There was a bathroom there, so there was an upside to the move. I used the bathroom before I again crawled into the little bed behind the front seat. With my clothes on I slept poorly but I did sleep. "Damn," Jerry said as he tried to find room to stretch out. It seems that I was not as welcome in the little bed, if we were not going to fuck, I thought. The thought actually made me smile. Day four opened with both of us worn out. We had the heavy steel pieces loaded and that was the only thing we really accomplished on day three. We had the full deliver before us. We figured with stops for gas and other things we would have fifteen hours of driving ahead of us. I didn't think we would make it in one day, especially since we couldn't make delivery at night. We decided to get on the road by 10AM and drive until 8PM that would give us two thirds of the driving behind us. On day five if we left at 8AM we could make deliver sometime right after noon, then decide what to do about getting home. Day four the drive went perfect. The truck and trailer required no more than a tightening of the straps and a fill up with gas. We found another truck stop with shower for the next morning and tried to fit into the small bed again. That night there was no complaining about the squeeze. I should have known that meant Jerry and I would be doing it. Jerry probably figured I didn't need any romancing, so he just ran his hand under my top. He was right of course. I was indeed ready for sex again. There was an old saying about sex. 'The more you get, the more you want," Not all old saying are true, but for me that one always seemed appropriate. For a very few moments we kiss then I felt Jerry roll me on top of him. I had to be careful of the hand when I levered myself into a sitting position on his pelvis. I used my good hand to guide his penis into me. Once I had him deep inside me I began to move as if I was in a rocking chair. For a change it was me, who didn't think about my partner. He could have been a warm vibrator without the vibration. I spent at least ten minutes getting to the point of an orgasm and several more actually in the throws of it. I felt exhausted when I had finished. "Did you cum?" I asked. "No I guess I was too involved with how you looked on top of me," Jerry said with a smile. I slipped down his body until I could reach his still hard penis and took it in my mouth. I sucked him and used my mouth to pump his penis until it exploded in my mouth. I sucked the thick gritty semen into my throat and swallowed several times. I could feel the semen coat my tongue and teeth even. I felt Jerry lift me to lay more or less on top of him. He kissed me passionately with a lot of tongue. I of course returned the kiss. We fell asleep in each other's arms. It was a restful sleep for me. Sex was much better than any sleeping pill to render me unconscious. ------- Chapter 97 Day five started in the dark yet again. There was time for a very quick shower and then breakfast before we left the fancy truck stop. Everything was over priced in my opinion, but it compensated for the amenities I suppose. Either way it's where we ate and where Jerry bought the last day's Diesel. We were on the road again, when Jerry noticed something 'funny' about the handing of the truck. It was a kind of thump in the rear somewhere. The truck ran okay, and he had control so he decided to hold off checking it till we pulled over for lunch. It was a gutsy call anything could go wrong and that was a lot of steel to be throwing around the highway, if something did go wrong. At lunch we found that it was just a loose strap allowing the load to bounce but not really move. "That's pretty much what I thought. If it had been a flat the trailer would have been all over the road," Jerry said. I had to take his word I had pulled very few trailers. Maybe a short based water wagon but nothing as long as the 25ft behemoth we carried that day. At 3PM we pulled into Augusta Georgia, then went looking for a street in a residential sub division. Since Jerry had called from the road again, there were several men waiting for us at the site. "Bob?" Jerry asked of a man about sixty, who seemed to be in charge. "That's me," the man said. "I see you have my fire escape." "Yes sir, I see you have some men to help us unload it," Jerry commented. "Yes so why don't we get on with it," Bob asked. "Why don't you walk around it first to make sure it has not changed from the picture I sent you. Then you need to pay me before we off load it." Jerry explained. "Fair enough," Bob said as he began walking around the trailer. "It looks just fine," he said handing Jerry a credit card. Jerry actually had a card reader that he could hook to his mobile phone somehow. After the card was processed. I helped as much as I could, with the bad hand, to unload the rusty steel. We were headed home by 4PM. On the drive home Jerry said, "You surprised me Sylvia with what a good assistant you were. You didn't ask me to make a lot of bathroom stops and you didn't want to go shopping in every town we passed through. I have had helpers who did." "Jerry I collect memories, not shit," I said to end that conversation. Jerry just nodded. After that we rode in silence an hour or so before we got into the mountains on the home stretch. It was dark when he pulled onto my street. I grabbed my bag and bed roll through one of the back doors. It was under the plywood bed, so it was tight, but it came out, I slung the bag over my shoulder and I held the blankets in my arm like a child. "So you want to do this again," Jerry asked. "I don't think so Jerry. I don't think I want to any of it again," I informed him. "Not even the sex?" he asked. "Especially the sex," with that I turned to walk away. He was mumbling a long sentence with a very clear "bitch" at the end of it. I smiled knowing I had gotten under his skin and not minding one bit. I didn't think his treatment of me deserved any better. After a week the junk mail had been backing up. I had three or four medical bills, but I checked on line and found the insurance for the state was taking care of it. With that knowledge, I planned to schedule my next visit for evaluation of the hand with a clinic nearer to me. I made myself a note and left it on the kitchen counter, where I heated my coffee. Then I took a bath and went to bed. Okay I did put a frozen bagel in the microwave, then in the toaster oven. The margarine seemed to never go bad in the fridge, so I had some of that with strawberry jelly on the bagel. The jelly did come from the my almost daily Hardee's breakfast biscuit. Yeah I kept all those little single serving containers. I'm a cheap bitch, what can I tell you. After the bagel I spread my blankets out on my DIY sofa/bed and went to sleep. I had to go to the bathroom twice in the middle of the night. It looked as though the road trip had caught up to me. I slept until 9AM, which was longer than normal. I was catching up on my sleep, I told myself. I went into the kitchen where I fixed myself another bagel, because at 9AM I didn't want to take the trike to the Hardee's at the plaza. I also didn't want to rush into anything else. The view from my tiny kitchen table was out the back door. There was a glass pane in the top of the door with a view of the drive way. It wasn't thrilling but I could see anyone who came my way. At 9:30AM or so there was no one coming to visit. After the bagel I felt good enough to do my rehab exercise on the hand. I had taken my aleve, but it hadn't had time to kick in, so I would have more pain than at any other time during the day. Still the pain told me things as well. I removed the elastic bandage carefully. Then I lifted my hand off the molded splint where it had rested. I didn't have to use my right hand to lift it from the splint. That was a huge improvement. At first the pain of the dropping hand had been unbearable. By the time the five weeks had passed, there was enough strength in the wrist to hold the hand up so that it didn't put so much pressure on the separated bones. I had remembered to bring the rubber ball to breakfast so I could try to grip it. When I first began, I wasn't even able to wrap my fingers around the large red ball. by that time I could at least lift it. I couldn't squeeze it yet, that was my next challenge. Just curling my fingers around the ball was a great improvement. I could actually lift it. I wasn't able to turn my hand around at the wrist yet, but I though it might come back. I would be happy when I felt comfortable enough to leave the splint behind. Just everyday things would be better than any rehab. Rehab exercises. They were only for an hour or two a day. But without the splint, it would be small things all day long. Well that was my thinking anyway. I called the clinic to make an appointment, but before they would take me they wanted to know payment stuff. Since Mission had dealt with all that, I had to call her as well. At least I left a message for her to call the clinic, then have the clinic call me. I had a feeling Mission would like to just forget all about me, but it wasn't going to happen. By the time I left the message for Mission, I was dressed and looking for something to pass the time. Hiding the bug out bad had yet to be done. I had it temporarily in the trunk of the Toyota. I was still using the cloth tool bag with the false bottom. It didn't look too out of place in the trunk of a five year old car. It did need to be in a better place for sure. I racked my brain but could think of no place safer at the moment. I had too much pain in the hand during rehab to consider riding the two wheeler, but the three wheeler was doable. So I took the tarp off it and rolled it out. By the time I reached the end of the short driveway, I was ready to fire the engine. It had been hard going up even the slight incline of the driveway. Once in the street it was easier to get up the required speed, of one or two mph. to drag start the engine. After it was running and I had adjusted the choke, I sat back and enjoyed riding and pedaling the trike. Mostly it was just ride, but not in all terrain, sometimes I had to help by boosting the power input. All in all it was even more fun than the two wheeler. I got more exercise on the two wheeler I'm sure, but the trike got a hell of a lot more attention. I stopped by to see Mary Ellen. "Hello Mary," I said as I entered her shop. "I tried to call you a couple of times, but you didn't answer," she said. I realized I hadn't given her the number of the burn phone. She had the old number. "Here let me write my new number down. I was out of town anyway. I went on a road trip," I said. "So what can a cripple do for you?" "I got a client that wants you especially. I thought you might make a movie for me." Mary Ellen suggested. "I still got this bad hand hon, but I'll tell you what. I am trying to set up an appointment with an orthopedic clinic near here. If I get it set up and the doctor says I can take the splint off, I will do it." I said. "So even if he says no, you will do it when you can take the splint off, even if it is a month from now?" she asked. "Yeah, when the splint comes off, I'll fuck on camera for you," I said. Why not I thought I didn't have to worry about being outed anymore. I rode the trike to the Sheriff's office just to see if Learner was around. He had been ducking me' What the hell I'll just stalk his ass, I thought. Going to the station was a little like stalking, but I had no idea why he was avoiding me so he deserved it. The special operation squad had changed their hours again. It was something they did from time to time. He didn't come on till 6PM the whole week. "Hey Porter, is that your motorized trike out there," Simpson asked. "Sure is chief deputy," I said with a smile. "You know that thing is considered a moped and you have to wear a helmet?" he said. "Not a bicycle helmet either. A motorcycle helmet." "Why you being a hard ass?" I asked. "The law applies to everyone," he said with a strange smile. I made sure no one could here my reply, "Simpson, you prick, why you on my ass?" His voice was equally low when he replied, "They act like you are some kind of super hero around here. Just want to remind you that in the eyes of the law, you are just another citizen." "Chief, I never ask to be shot, and I never asked for any special treatment. You are beginning to piss me off." I replied. "And I should care why," he asked. "You said yourself the people think I'm some kind of super hero. I just might be your boss one day." I said with a smile. "Not a chance, I would quit first," he said. "Well you might want to start looking for a job now," I said. "The elections are more than a year from now, I have plenty of time and so do you," So Simpson was planning to run. He wanted to make sure I knew, he didn't want me around. Well fuck him, I thought. ------- Chapter 98 The next thing of any consequence in my life happened two and a half weeks later, when I went to the orthopedic clinic. I drove to the High Country Multi Discipline Clinic in Dobson. It was truly a one stop shop for the person with multi ailments. I only had one thing wrong with me, that I knew about, but it was an orthopedic nightmare. Since I was running late, and I knew how doctor's were in general, I stopped for take out coffee and a biscuit. It was from the drive thru window of a restaurant that was supposed to specialize in that kind of thing. That didn't mean that it was good, just that they served the acceptable food all day. "Hello, I'm Sylvia Porter. I have a 11:15 appointment," I said to the receptionist who tried to look like a nurse. The clerk needed to wear a scrub suit, like I needed to wear the military garb, which I still wore. "Hello Miss Porter, would you fill out these forms." she said handing me a dollar store clipboard. "Sure why not, I had to fill out those same forms while I was bleeding out in the emergency room," I said with a smile. It wasn't true it was just a joke. Since there was no one who knew enough about me to fill them out, the admitting lady had come to the treatment room of the ER to ask me the insurance type questions. Once they were sure payment was guaranteed, they backed off. I sat in one of the chairs, with an end table beside it, to eat my biscuit and drink my coffee while I filled out the forms. I couldn't answer all the questions, so when I returned the clip board, I explained about the insurance and the payment. I also explained they should have all the missing information, because treatment had been approved by someone before I scheduled the appointment. "Yes Miss Porter, it is just a standard form. I think we have everything," the receptionist said. Since she didn't even look at the form, I assumed it was all bullshit. "Very well," I said. "Oh could you toss this out." I handed the the bag, which contained the biscuit wrapper. I hadn't finished the terrible coffee at that time. Soon I finished the coffee. and needed more. Of course there was not way to get any before some other kind of assistant came for me. "Miss Porter," she said from a hallway door. "Come with me please." Then she led me to a treatment room. The room was white of course with a table where I guess I was supposed to sit. But I chose to sit on the doctor's stool. Hell I was paying, I would sit where ever I wanted. At least until someone told different. Well technically the assistant had said sit on the examining table. I had just ignored her, Yes I was acting out, but I had enough of doctors, and even lesser employees telling me what to do. I hated even more that they were being paid to order me around. The doctor walk in holding my file. "Miss Porter?" he asked. "Yes that's me," I said. "Any you are?" "Doctor Harper," he said. "Now let's see what we have here." I held up my hand. "What I have is a fucked up hand. I have no idea what you have." "I have a patient with an attitude," he said. He did smile thank god. "You really want to lose it. You don't have the power here, this isn't a adversarial situation." "And you don't have a patient, who you can bully. So let's try to work together," I suggested. "I don't have a lot of patience with patients who want to show me how tough they are," he said. "I did some time as a ER trauma surgeon during my residency." "Well, seems I have spent a lot of time in the ERs and I'm not in awe of the people who work in them," I replied. "So what do you need?" he asked. "I need an evaluation of my progress, and a plan to get my LEC back," I said. "Well let's take a look at you, so we can evaluate your progress," He said. "Now if you will move to that chair, we keep for observers, we can begin." After removing the bandage, he began an examination of my hand. He manipulated it till the movements were past painful then consulted the xrays. "I can only give you an opinion. Nobody knows what will happen in a few years, but the LEC is not going to happen in the short term. I see you refused rehab, so whatever you are doing for rehab now, double down on it. You have made about the same progress, I would expect to see with rehab, so it is working." "Can I leave the splint off," I asked. "I feel like my hand will benefit from normal use as well as the rehab exercises." "Do you have a rubber ball?" he asked. I nodded. "Squeeze it while you watch TV," he added. "Wear the elastic bandage though. I don't want you going without some support." "That's what my mother said when I went braless for the first time," I said. "I notice you didn't listen to her either. Well you need to listen to me. Those bones have knitted pretty well but holding them together a while longer can only help your rehab and that's what we both want," he said with a smile. "Use the hand for anything that isn't painful. Remember that pain is a warning from your body to your brain. It is saying stop," "I got it doc. Well I guess this is enough for a while." I would xray your hand again, but the insurance company wont pay, and it is pretty expensive for you to pay, just to confirm what we already know." "Fair enough, and thanks for putting up with the attitude," I said. "I knew you were going to be trouble from your case file. You are one tough lady," he said smiling. "I would rather have you like me and listen to me. Than to wimp out and have you go do your own thing and have your hand heal wrong." "But you said my own thing worked," I said. "I didn't know that before I examined you. Now go and sin no more," he said with a grin. "You know I can't promise that," I said with a less than girlish giggle. "I would offer you something for the pain, but I would bet you are taking aspirin by now," he said as I stood to leave the examining room. "Aspirin makes me sick, I take Aleve and Tylenol. Hell sometimes at the same time," I said, "Well don't drink at the same time, they are all bad for your liver," he said. "You really think I'll live long enough for that to be an issue?" I asked. "You just never know. Try to be careful with the hand at least for a couple of more months,. And wear the bandage as long as there is pain. Now get the hell out of here, I have really sick patients to see," Dr Harper said. "Thanks doc I'll ask for you by name next time," I said. "Gee thanks," he replied but he was smiling. Well he had been honest. In the short term, meaning the next few years, I was going to have to find some other way to pass the time. Cop work was out damn it. Without the LEC I couldn't even be a meter maid, even if I wanted to. I called Mission when I got home. I was on the burn phone she had given me, when I left the safe house. She didn't answer to I left a message. After trying Mission I decided that I would go out to dinner. Even though I had been to Dobson once that day for the my appointment at the High Country Clinic, I drove back to Dobson for dinner a few hours later I was wearing a pair of black cargo pants, which were brand new to me, and a Russian commando tee shirt with a white men's dress shirt over it all. Not exactly an outfit designed to pick up men. It just wasn't girlie enough, unless I had plans to go where tough was acceptable. First of all I had dinner at a family steak house. I just wasn't dressed for the country club type places. I was dressed more for a run in the park. But the bandaged hand would hardly go with an evening gown, even if I owned one. "So where is a good place in Dobson for me to go for a drink dressed like this?" I asked the waiter. Yes I knew, when I left home that I was dressed like a butch dyke. I just didn't care. I could see the wheels in the waiters head turn. "It's a little dangerous, but there is the iron horse out on hwy 601. Then there is Lorilee's downtown," he said. "I just depends on whether you want hard men or soft women." He said it as if he understood me completely. "I assume the iron horse is for biker types?" I suggested. "Oh yeah," he said. I just nodded. I could have a lipstick lez or a hog rider. I had the choice. I could decide to be in charge, or just go with the dangerous flow. Hell my life had been too calm lately. Not even Hugo and Helen had been anything but safe. That made it pretty certain that it would the Iron Horse. The first thing I had to do was to get an address to put into my gps. I borrowed the phone book, after I paid my bill. I looked up the Iron Horse in the yellow pages and then when I got outside, I transferred that address to my gps,. It was 9PM and I still hadn't heard from Mission, so I just turned off the phone. Since I had worn the .38 in a hip holster, inside my black cargo pants I just pulled the holster off and slid it under the seat. I might have left the pistol in the car, but I did not leave the box opener. It took me about twenty minutes to get to the Iron Horse. It was outside of town and I got caught up in a crowd leaving a movie. Obviously movies were a big deal in Dobson on a Friday night. I found that the Iron horse had plenty of motorcycle parking space but not too many spaces left for cars. I found one that I could squeeze the Toyota into. Before I got out I counted the motorcycles. There were exactly twenty two of them and only three cars. I was scared shitless. But that was why I came. I needed that rush of fear to make me feel alive. I got out of the car on wobbly legs and walked to the door. I pushed it open and stepped inside the renovated old style gas station. It seemed appropriate. They had even kept the grease pits. They just added a see through floor over the holes. The poles for the lifts were used for strippers, when they had them, I guessed Fortunately on Friday night they didn't have any. At the small bar which had once been the counter where you paid for your gas, I said, "Give me anything that's cold." "You a lez?" I heard from behind me. I turned and saw a big assed guy. He was pretty overweight but some of it at least was muscle. "You a fag?" I asked him. The two biker types with him laughed. Fat boy made like he was going to hit me, I just stood my ground with the box opener in my hand, inside my cargo pants pocket. My finger was on the button to open the blade. I had practiced it a hundred time, I felt sure that I could remove it from my pocket, and open the blade at the same time. My plan was to wait till he was committed, then pull the opener and open his jugular. ------- Chapter 99 Just before he released the blow, he glanced into my eyes. Something he saw there made him chance his mind. He laughed instead of swinging his arm at me. I was thankful for us both. His friends would have surely killed me for cutting him. I had known that when I made the plan. "Girlie you got balls," he said. "Put that beer on my tab Harry." "Don't say that too loud, this crowd will think I'm a cross dresser," I replied. "Maybe I should ask you to prove you ain't," he said. "If you insist. Showing you my tits won't help I'm to small there and giving you a blowjob won't help since a guy could do that just as well. I can drop these pants and show you mine, but you are going to have to show me yours right here in front of all your friends. An promise not to try that shit again, if I laugh." I said it knowing it was a risky thing to make fun of these guys. "Drop it Moose, she is smarter than you," a voice came from the crowd. The big man turned his attention to the voice. "Sometimes Eddie you got a big mouth," he said. "She at least graduated from high school," The one he called Eddie said. The one called Eddie was cute in a greasy kind of way. He had greasy looking hair and there was black under his nails. They all had ragged beards and tats everywhere, so it was hard use that in a description. Eddie was taller and thiner than most. I mean some were tall and some were thin, but he had both things going for him. He didn't look junkie thin as some of the smaller ones did. He looked almost gym rat thin. "What's your name girlie?" Eddie asked. "Name is Sylvia," I said lifting my beer. I found the glass of draft beer to be ice cold, so cold it had no taste, which was fine with me. I never liked the taste of ordinary beer. "Sylvia, what brings you here? You have to know this place is like a club, not just anyone gets in," Eddie said. "I'm not looking to join, just to have a beer," I said. "This is not the place for a hard woman, unless she can go with the flow like these others," he said. I took a look around. The women in the room would have frozen to death, if the temperature in the room dropped twenty degrees. They were all Junkie thin, so on that part I fit in pretty well. They had pasty skin and sunken eyes, which I didn't. They were pure junkie whore material. Also they wore almost no clothing. Strips of cloth which barely covered anything. They might as well have been standing around naked. "What? ya'll got a thing for meth head whores," I said with a laugh. "I wouldn't say that too loud, a couple of those women are married to these guys," Eddie said. "And that changes what? other than their names," I said. "You got a smart mouth on you that's for sure," Eddie said. "I wonder if it's good for anything but pissing people off." "It is, but I don't feel like it tonight," I said showing him my elastic bandaged hand. "Believe me you won't need your hand for what I had in mind." Eddie said. "Oh and what is that," I asked. "First of all you prove you aren't a guy in drag, then you put that smart mouth to good use, with an audience of course," he said. "So what is the upside for me?" I asked. "For one thing, we don't take turns kicking the shit out of you," he suggested. "Now why would you do that?" I asked. "If you don't prove yourself, then you must be a cop plant," he said. "Every woman who comes in and won't give you a blow job is a cop? Man that is some paranoid fucked up thinking. You need to switch a better drug." I said. "Don't matter none what you think of our initiation, you do it or we just kick the living shit out of you," he said smiling. I looked to the crowd and they all were smiling. "I don't care if the others watch, but I blow just one. You can pick him," I said. "I don't give a shit who it is since this ain't about love. It's just self preservation." "Fair enough in the pit," he said. A cheer went up from the two dozen assorted misfits. I followed Eddie back to what had been the garage part of the building. There was this area where they had walked down into a hole under the car, to do oil changes. Beside it was a lift, which must have come later. The pit was still here for the first bay. As I said before it had a glass floor over it, now I knew why. Eddie lifted what would have been a trap door in most places. It covered the opening to the pit. The steps were steep, so I was careful even though I didn't have the high heels that the other women wore. When I got to the bottom of the pit, I noticed a light came on. It wasn't too bright, but it was bright enough to illuminate me. "Now," Eddie said. "Let's see what you got." "Don't I at least get music?" I asked. "Still with the smart mouth. We will see how smart mouthed you are after this. Now show us." he demanded. I slowly removed my white shirt. I was thinking as fast as I could and moving as slow as I could. The only idea I came up with was just go along and it would all be over soon. On the upside they probably only made new people do it once. Most likely they never came back. The Russian commando tee shirt was tight enough to show my tits. "Her nipples are hard. What a whore," I recognized the voice of the one called moose. "I bet her cunt is soaked," I kicked off my shoes then removed the cargo pants. I was left in the tee shirt and my panties. "I told you look at the wet stain on her panties," Moose said. I removed the tee shirt, "Shit she is the only women I ever seen who looks better with her top on," Moose said. "Speak for yourself," one of the guys in the gallery added. I lowered my wet panties to show my hairy mound. "No cock," I said. I was extremely glad my voice didn't shake with either fear or excitement. I was on the verge of a spontaneous orgasm. One that just came from nowhere. The one who walked into the pit wasn't Eddie or Moose it was a tall thin junkie type. I looked at him questioningly. I couldn't figure out why they would send someone I hadn't insulted into the pit with me. He kept his shirt on but dropped his pants. That is when I discovered why they had chosen him. He had the biggest cock I had ever seen on a white man. The black man, Lamar from the dance club not to far from where I stood, had a bigger cock but not much. Lamar had been painful to suck and this one was going to be just as painful I knew. "Well get to work bitch," the man said. I took his cock in on right hand, which wasn't injured, and began to stroke it. It hadn't been rock hard, when he lowered his pants but with just a little attention it stood at attention. It looked angry and dangerous. The owner's attitude was angry and the size of the monster was dangerous. Most anything could happen with it blocking my airway. I guided the wet slippery head to my mouth. I kissed it first and then allowed it to enter my mouth. When it entered my mouth I fought back the urge to gag as it touched the back of my throat. When it made me gag it also gave me an orgasm based in fear and pain. The slight pain in my jaw was from the stretching of the joint. I knew that he was going to force it down my throat, I also knew I couldn't stop him. All I could do was hope that if I cooperated, he wouldn't suffocate me with it. I helped him fuck my mouth hoping he wouldn't force it down my throat but I knew that it was just wishful thinking. I made my mouth tight as I continued to orgasm. I tried to keep my mouth wet for him. His lubricate oozed out and I tried to swallow all of it. It might not help my throat, but it couldn't hurt. He pumped my mouth for a long time. Then his rhythm change and he drove harder. He was almost entering my throat with every stroke. Then he let out a groan and I tried to prepare myself. His huge cock tore its way into my throat. It was going deep and he was struggling to cum down my throat. I couldn't feel anything but a burning pain in my throat and the constriction of my own orgasms. I don't remember him removing it or how it felt at the end. I had passed out from lack of oxygen. Or at least I had lost the ability to think, if I didn't become completely unconscious. When I came to my senses, I was laying on the filthy floor, in a fetal position. One the whores was standing over me. "Get up girlie, you gonna be okay. Your mouth ain't bleeding at all. We have had alot worse happen in the pit." "My throat burns like hell. I ain't gonna be able to eat or drink anything but Milk for a month," I said. "No it just feels that way now. The important thing is you can come or go, it's up to you. Nobody will do that again. It's kind of the female version of an initiation. If you hadn't done it, they would have beat you and wouldn't have let you come back. So now you are one of us, but on your terms." "I think my terms are to go home and lick my wounds," I said. "Let me help you get dressed and make sure you can drive," she said. "That's awful nice of you. I sure misjudged you," I said. "Probably not, I'm just helping cause I can. I would still cut your throat, if you got between me and a meth pipe," she admitted. "If I was you, I would carry these wet panties. They ain't going to feel very good once you get out in the cool night air." I agreed, so I dressed in the tee, the dress shirt, the cargo pants, and my shoes. I was headed up the stairs, but I was a little wobbly. I had to brace myself all the way up. Eddie caught up to me at the head of the stairs. "I notice you ain't got that smart mouth on you now," he said. "No smart mouth," I answered in a scratchy voice. "I would buy you a drink, but I doubt you want one right now," he said loud enough for the others to hear and laugh. "I'll take that drink," I said looking him in the eye. The alcohol burned all the way into my stomach but I showed it only minimally. I wouldn't have shown it at all, if it had hurt just a little less. I made it to my car unassisted. I even manged to make it to a convenience store where I bought a quart of chocolate milk. I sipped on the milk during the slightly chilly drive home. It cold milk, and the cold air, and the meds I was already taking for the injured hand, make it all bearable. "I should have been making plans to kill the guy with the big cock, but I knew I had asked for it. I had walked into the bears den and poking him in the eye. Truth is I was alive and I had orgasmed while I sucked it. So I really should be thankful. Besides now I could add biker whore to my resume. ------- Chapter 100 It was rough sleeping with every breath causing me pain. I managed to get enough sleep, a half hour at a time, by 10AM the next day. From there I went on auto pilot for the best part of a week. I didn't follow up with Mission, because I didn't want a job at that moment in time. By the sixth day I was beginning to fell less pain. Every time I swallowed I could still feel it, but it was only a minor discomfort. I should have been really pissed, but each time I swallowed there was a reminder of the whole experience. I stopped fighting it and decided to go with it. It hadn't all been bad. After six days, even the memories of the bad didn't seem so bad. I'm not sure how many baths I took during those six days, but I am sure it was less than one a day. The only reason I mention that is when Mission finally got around to returning my call it, set things in motion to right myself. Mission said, "I know it seems as though I have been ducking your calls. I feel awful but that shit at the safe house wasn't my call. Anyway, I have called around and found someone who is looking for someone just like you. I can't tell you about them, because I don't know a lot. We ran across his group in an investigation down east, One which got shut down quickly. So they have some serious juice," She said all that without letting me get a word into the conversation. "Damn, I'm just fine how are you," I said making an issue of her terse manner. "I'm sorry, they have me on edge around here. I'm not supposed to contact you. I shouldn't be calling around looking for a job for you, that's for sure. So anyway the guy is going to come talk to you sometime today. Make a good impression, these guys are a big deal in some circles, I have been told." "Why all the mystery?" I asked. "I don't think the company exists to tell you the truth. I mean I have never been shut down so fast. I figure the two of you might be a perfect fit. I mean the state attorney general wishes you didn't exist as well. Why I'm not quite sure. So make a good impression," "I guess in that case, I need to take a bath," I said. "Yes you do for sure," Message said then hung up without saying goodbye. I not only took a both and washed my short thin hair, I also ran a broom and then a damp towel over the hardwood floors. The apartment look nice by the time the big assed SUV pulled into the drive after lunch. Since I still wasn't up to eating my lunch was a slice of bread and a large glass of chocolate milk. That lunch was a non memorable event in my day. Only the SUV made it special. Two men got out of the SUV, they both walked as though they had broom handle up their asses. The driver looked around at the houses surrounding him, before the second man left the cover of the SUV to walk to the stairway which lead to my balcony. They had been in the drive a total of about five minutes before the knock on my door came. "Hello," I said. "Hello, I Colonel Martin." he said with the coldest smile I have ever seen. It was like staring into the face of a snake. "I'm Sylvia Porter, Colonel Martin," I said not offering him my hand. "Would you like to come inside." "Of course, I would hate doing business outside even though the weather has definitely take a turn for the better," he said. He took a seat on my DYI small sofa/bed. "Yes it has," I said even though I hadn't really noticed. I had been inside the house most of the last six days. I guess I was licking my wounds. "So in what are you a colonel?" I asked. "It's just what they call me at the office. I'm retired. Actually British SAS, Just so you dont need to ask." he said. "I figured it was something British, The accent gives you away.," I said. "So I'm told," he replied. "So what kind of office are we talking here?" I asked. "I run a branch of a private security company call Swamp Dog," he informed me. "Holy shit, I have a mercenary in my living room," I said with a laugh. "Well the branch I am in charge of doesn't do black ops type things. We are strictly body guards, a little more expensive than the usual body guards, but we are a bit better at it," He said. "I don't think I have the qualifications you are looking for," I said, "Oh you meet our needs quite well, or I wouldn't be here. I don't often waste my time. We have done some checking. You are one of those people who take your job seriously and do whatever is necessary do it well." "Yeah, but I'm not a commando ninja assassin," I said. "And I have a hand that isn't healed yet." "Well let me tell you what the job is, and then decide if you can do it." I nodded my agreement. "We have a client, who is a rock concert promoter. He has a huge rap music star headed out on tour this summer. He has a certain liability for his safety. Since he is liable, he has purchased insurance. He gets a much better rate, if he has a body guard travel with the performers. You see Sylvia, it just business. You can pass the insurance company qualification easily." "So you don't give a crap whether I have any experience as a bodyguard or not. You just want someone, who can fill the client's needs on paper?" I asked "Well it won't do our reputation any good, if we lose a client, but we aren't expecting any serious attacks on him. We see it more as a law enforcement type thing, than a commando type thing, as you put it," The colonel answered. "Look for the single man with a gun, rather than a frontal assault," I said in agreement. "Exactly," the Colonel replied. "So you in?" "If you provide me with the right equipment and this so called rock singer cooperates," I replied. "You didn't even ask what the job pays," he replied, "Okay, whats the pay," I asked. "Well the tour is three months and there will be two of you so we are thinking five thousand." he said. "A week?" I asked. "A month, but it isn't a forty hour a week gig," he said. "One of you will have to be with him at all times, At least when he is doing anything for the promoter. If he goes for a press conference, you will have to be there. If he goes to the theater to check equipment, you will have to be there." He said. "But not when he goes to the bathroom at home." "So the promoter will have a representative along to inform us when we are needed?" I asked. "Yeah, you are responsible only if you are called in, but let me warn you, they will be keeping you hopping I assure you. There are lots of promoter sponsored events on a rock tour. Lots of press parties all that sort of thing." "When do we have to start?" I asked. "Not tomorrow, but the next Thursday. You will show up at the first venue, and pick him up when he arrives at the airport." "So, who is this rap star?" I asked. "Coca cola or some such stupid name," he said. "He sings that chuga chuga kill whitey shit." It sounded strange in his British accent. I rather liked it. "So are you on board with it?" "Sure, what do I need to do. Other than show up with my bad assed attitude?" I asked. "My associate outside will drop off your equipment. Here is the number of the office. If you kill anyone, or anyone kills the subject you are protecting, call us otherwise handle it yourself." he said. At the door he stopped and handed me a thick brown envelop. "First months pay. Just in case you need anything. I will have the office call you with the names of the hotels and that sort of thing." He left me with the impression that he didn't know or care about the details of the operation. When he got to the SUV he had a quick conversation with the driver who went to the read for a black canvas bag, which he delivered to my door. The bag was very much like the bag in which I carried my clothes for the road trip. It was some smaller though. Inside the bag I found a Glock 10mm and a holster that went inside my pants. I also found the license and registration for it. Whether it was real, or not I didn't even want to know. I found a box containing a brand new stun gun with a note on top. Use this till your hand heals. Those things were good for one use, then I would need to recharge it. I figured that it should be enough, if there was more than one bad guy, I probably needed to shoot a couple of them first. There was one more item in the bag that convinced me they really did their homework. There was a plastic handle with a craft style snap blade inside it. I had its twin brother in my pocket. I had been there even as I spoke to Colonel Martin. If he had proved to be an assassin, I might not have been able to stop him, but I might mark him for the cops. After he left I decided that it was time I stopped feeling sorry for myself and start acting like the tough bitch he thought I was. I had time to go shopping, so I did just that. I went to the department store at the plaza. It didn't have the biggest selection or the best prices but I thought it would have enough. I couldn't find the biker whore section of the department store, so I went to Mary Ellen's store. She had what I wanted, but even she had it behind the counter. I bought a top with about four inches of coverage and spaghetti straps to hold it up, and a very short skirt. Hey if I was going to be a biker whore, I ought to at least look the part. It wasn't like I hadn't seen one up close. I had to explain to Mary Ellen what happened the last time I was out. She said, "My God, you should have called, so I could get that on film." "Mary Ellen I am sure you would have been in the pit with me not filming it," I said. "If these guys are as violent as you say, I'm glad I wasn't there, unless it was with a camera crew. "Honey your camera crew might have been in the pit with you. These guys play rough." I said. "Then why are you going back?" She asked. "You know I'm crazy, that's why your customers love me," I said. "So you are really going back to the club," Mary Ellen asked. "Sometime between now and next week this time yes I am," I replied. "Would you let me put a bug on you. The camera crew has some new technology they are dying to try out," she said. "If they catch me with a camera, it will be me that will be dying for trying it out," I said. You know you love the danger. You are a adrenaline junkie," she said. "You get off on the fear," "That's crazy," I said. I didn't believe what I said any more than Mary Ellen did. I could see her mind trying to find a way to cash in on my quirk. I left Mary Ellen's shop with a bag full of half clothes that were over priced. Mary Ellen's brain was still spinning with possible schemes, I was sure. When I arrived home, I swapped the Toyota for the trike. I was a glorious day once I left the house I felt much better, so I went on a joy ride. I rode down the main street and around the square. I left town on the road to Dobson with no real plan in mind. I had purchased the trike with 15 to 20 mile trips in mind. I certainly never thought I would be job riding it around County Seat. I barely heard the siren behind me so absorbed was in the sights around me. I immediately pulled over, when I realized it was for me. I watched as Butch came to the trike. "I heard you were back in town. What's with the bandage." "I was standing beside a tree someone decided to shoot. Got some splinters in my hand. Why did you stop me, just to talk?" I asked. "Not really, you know you are supposed to be wearing a DOT approved helmet on the road." He saw me look at him with a 'are you kidding me' look. "You know it's the law." he said. "So Simpson told you guys to look out for me in particular. You know if you write that ticket I going to hire a lawyer and fight it. Then it's going to be you on the stand, when she asks if you were told to look for me by name. Then to write a ticked for this petty bullshit. Butch we used to be friends, you know I'll crucify you for this. It won't be Simpson on the stand it's gonna be you." "Okay, I didn't see you, but consider this a warning get yourself a helmet. You can find something cool. Ask your friend Monk." "Alright Butch and thanks for not making me hire a lawyer for this," I said. I wasn't going to hire a lawyer. I was going to have Mission talk to the judge, or someone from the State's Attorney's office. I decided to go ahead and get some kind of helmet. I was not going to wear a heavy motorcycle helmet though. I returned home and searched the Internet for something that would pass for a motorcycle helmet. The search let me to several bike helmets which at a distance would look like a motorcycle helmet, but were much lighter. So I got in the Toyota and drove through the twilight to Dobson, and the bike shop. I was able to find the helmet I wanted. It was way over priced at forty bucks and tax. The other problem was the bike helmet, though it had the right shape, also had air holes to make it even more comfortable. To disguise those the helmet needed a custom paint job. I hadn't seen Monk, since my return. I am sure he thought I fell off the face of the earth. Well if he had thought that, I have no idea what he thought when I showed up at his shop. "Hello Monk," I said. "Well fuck me, Silvia Porter how the hell are you?" he asked. "I'm good. I"m back living in County Seat, but I'm not a cop any more." I held up my hand. "Permanent disability." "I'm sorry I know you loved that job," he said. He was quiet and second waiting for me to speak. "Monk, I need your help. I have a bike helmet I need custom panted so it looks like a motorcycle helmet." I went on to explain it all. "You got a good shape for it. Motorcycle helmets are round and bike helmets are generally teardrop shaped. You got a nice round bike helmet this should be pretty easy to disguise. Just plug these three vent holes and paint it. I have a guy who does my motorcycle painting that will do it for twenty bucks." Monk said. "How can you quote his price," I asked. "Because I outweigh him by twenty pounds, and twenty bucks is a fair price," Monk said. "Thanks Monk," I said. "We should get together again," He said. "I'm just getting over my visit to the iron horse in Dobson," I said with a weak smile. "I don't go there it is a club house and I'm unaffiliated. We would not be a good mix. If you are going there, you should be very careful," he added. "I am very careful," I didn't tell him what had happened. I didn't get home before dark. When I did get home, I found a note on my door from the blue haired lady. It read, Dear Miss Porter, there has been a car parking on the street outside all day. If it is a friend of yours please ask them to stop. If it isn't, I am going to call the Sheriff. I went by her house. "Hi there." I said when she answered the door. "Ma'am there is no one I know, who would be staking out my place, so call the Sheriff." "Then I will if it happens again," she said. I went home and tried on my biker's whore outfit. I didn't look hot like the girls with real boobs, but it was skimpy enough that I looked taller and even thinner. I had a few scars that showed, so I looked like a tough broad. I took one last look in the mirror before I decided to go to bed early. I didn't worry about the car parked outside the old lady's house, but I kept the .38 a little closer that night. I spent two more days in limbo. I didn't make any move as I waited for my throat and my hand to continue healing. The throat healed first of course. I was half way through my week off before I felt like even going out to eat. I rushed it by a day or so because I was just bored as hell and sick of frozen dinners. I wanted to go out somewhere nice for dinner. Somewhere the biker whore outfit would get me kicked out. If I could even get in that is. I dressed in my usual butch outfit and went to a family style restaurant in the Plaza for dinner. After dinner alone, I swing by Monk's shop and got my helmet. The plain black helmet had been transformed The holes had been covered and painted over. It looked solid and the dragons head was beautiful. I gladly paid Monk the twenty. "You know if you were friendly you could save twenty bucks," He said. "That wouldn't surprised me at all, but I'm really not feeling it honey," I said. "My hand is giving me hell tonight." I'm sure he recognized it for the lie it was. I went to the apartment and changed into the short skirt and top. I went out into the chilly night air with the parka covering the top and nothing covering my bare legs. I had to turn the car heater on even though the night was fairly warm for the mountains. I'm sure you guessed I went back to the Iron Horse. I walked in and right up to the bar without looking around. The parka had been left in the car, so I felt naked. Hell in my mind I almost was. "Well the Girlie is back. So Girlie, you looking for more of the same?" the voice behind me asked. "Not really Eddie, it was a little more than I bargained for last time. I just came by for a drink," I said. "At least you dressed properly this time. No more of that though bitch stuff?" he asked. "No more," I said quietly. "Good, then come just us," he said as he turned away and walked to a very small table by the overhead door in the garage part of the building. Those doors had been nailed shut and the tracks removed. I found an empty seat and began drinking the beer. I drank very slowly though. Unlike the others I wouldn't be able to hide from the deputies, who were on the look out for me. "So Girlie, what do you plan to do tonight?" Eddie asked. "I haven't decided yet," I replied honestly. "So you are just an opportunist. Ready to take advantage of us poor motorcycle thugs?" he asked. "I thought, I was the one who got taken advantage of," I replied. "So far that has been the case," he replied. "So, if you are a good girl, then we will get along fine. If you resist, then we might have a problem." "It was my understanding that after that last little test, there would be no more," I said. "Girlie. everyday is a test. You should know that," he said. "Now get on your knees." I had more or less decided to go along with anything by coming into the club unarmed. So I slipped to my knees in front of him. He was seated of course, so working his cock out wasn't especially easy, but I did manage it. "Now kiss it," he said. I leaned forward and kissed his penis. I couldn't believe that it turned me on, but my breathing was labored and I could feel my heart pumping. I couldn't resist sucking his penis into my mouth and nursing on it as I imagined a child nursed on his mother's breast, I felt his hand under my almost non existent top as he massaged and tweaked the nipples of my small but sensitive breasts. I could feel the lubricant begin to ooze out of me. I was deep into the sense of depravity, when I felt hands lifting my hips. I felt the head of a penis prodding me as it tried to find it's way inside my vagina. Whoever it was, his struggle was rewarded as I felt the penis spread me open. I could feel it working its way inside me. The sensation in my mouth struggled with the sensation in my vagina. One was purely physical lust and one was more a depravity of the mind. Then again I couldn't distinguish between them as I was climbing quickly toward orgasm. "God she has good pussy, Eddie you have to try her cunt," the voice behind me said. "Oh I intend to try all of her. I plan to turn the whore inside out," Eddie said as he worked toward his own orgasm. The one inside me came first. I could not feel him ejaculate, but I felt him stiffen and stop pumping then pull away. Eddie was a different story. I had finally found out how to suck his cock. He was saying, "Yes that's right cunt," so I knew that I had it right. I h ad discovered that I didn't have much of a gag reflex left after the initiation. I could work Eddie's cock into my throat the inch or so that it took for me to feel his pubic hair tickle my nose. He not so thick that I could not swallow against his cock once I had it in my throat. Then I would ease it out and take a breath. After a second or two to relax I would swallow his cock again. When Eddie came the sound he made was almost a scream of relief. I managed to get his cock into my throat when he came, so it went almost directly down my throat without filling my mouth. I did swallow many times but it was more to milk his cock than to clear my mouth of semen. I was allowed to leave the club without any more depravity. I wasn't quite sure how I felt about that, but I drove home in any case. Far from being injured as I had been the last time, I felt exhilarated and couldn't get to sleep for hours. I was trying to hold on to those feeling. ------- Chapter 101 I had my plane ticket for the flight to Atlanta to meet the tour bus, but at the last minute Colonial Martin called. He informed me that I would be picked up by my tour partner in a company SUV. We would be driving to the first venue. The band would be arriving on the tour bus. First stop was Atlanta. The pickup suited me just fine. It meant that I could carry the Glock 40mm that I had test fired, as well as my own .38, and all my other toys. I was sitting at the kitchen table drinking my reheated coffee, and waiting for the SUV with my new partner to arrive. I should have been waiting to go to the airport since it was that day the plane was due to depart. It was the same day alright, but one hell of a lot earlier. It was 4AM to be exact. I watched for the head lights of the overly large SUV to pull into the drive. I hoped at that time of the morning, he didn't wake my landlady. There was probably more than enough animosity between us already. There was no open hostility, but she didn't approve of my life style. If I took that light weight parka off, and she saw how heavily armed I was, she would surly ask me to leave. I wore the Glock inside the waist band of my jeans. I wore the .38 in the shoulder rig just to have a way to transport it so I knew that it was safe. I had the stun gun in the pocket of the parka and the two box opener in my jeans pocket. When the SUV pulled in, I rushed out to meet it. I threw the half duffel bag into the rear seat, The man behind the wheel asked. "You Sylvia Porter, right?" "Who the fuck else would be up at 4AM and packed for three months on the road," I said with a laugh. "You do have a point. I'm Rodney Smith," he said. "Okay Rodney you going to driver the first leg?" I asked. "If you don't object yeah," he said. "Well I don't object at all. You can drive all you want, I will drive when you need me," I said. "Works for me," he agreed. So off Rodney drove into the dark. Once we were on the interstate highway the questions began. Even though Colonel Martin said this was a police type operation, I figured he sent me a commando type. There was no mention by him of pecking order, so I assumed we would be making it up as we went along. He informed me that he was an army ranger, and had gone to war in Afghanistan. As an army ranger he was a little better trained and saw a little more combat than the average soldier. He wasn't the black ops types that the Swamp Dog used for embassy work. At least that is what he told me. "So Sylvia, I hear you were in the sand box yourself. " There seemed to be mostly contempt in his voice. "In the Air Force was it?" he asked. "Yeah, I was a payroll clerk," I said with a smile. I figure I would go along and then give him a big assed surprise sometime during those three months. It didn't work out that way. "Now that ain't the way I heard it," he said. "Well maybe you heard wrong. Besides all that shit was yesterday. It's today, we need to think about," I said. "Okay, I just want to know you gonna have my back?" he made it a question. "This job comes with insurance doesn't it?" I asked. "Of course," he replied. "Well you tell your next of kin, they are going to have to wait at least three months to file for it," I said being my smart ass self. "Fair enough," he said. "Martin tells me you been shot." He added after a brief pause in the conversation. "More than once," I replied. "How about you." "Never been hit. Guess that make me the better soldier," he said. "Yeah, I guess it does," I said to change the subject. "So how old are you Rodney." "Twenty eight, and before you asked I did two hitches in the big green machine. I stumbled around some before Martin found me working as a guard on an armored car. This is my first mission for the Swamp Dog too." "Well I have been a cop, with some protection assignments, so you might want to let me set them up, at least at first." I said it but figured I was in for a fight, since men don't usually like to defer to women. "So you married Rodney?" I asked. "Nope, gots me a girl though," he said. He was speaking street dialect suddenly. Up to that point he had spoken with perfect grammar and with a wide vocabulary. "As so you were hired to communicate with the rapper," I said since the sudden change in speech patterns was of some concern to me. "Well it did occur to me that I was sent on this assignment because I was black." he said. "Well I can't speak to that, since I don't know why I was hired at all," I said. I thought it was because they just wanted a body to stand around looking like a bodyguard." "I think you have a point. We both are probably here to pretend like we are bad asses, just in case there is someone thinking about doing something. The bosses aren't expecting us to really do anything." "That's my thinking. So I'm just going to take the money and run." I said. "Well we are definitely on the same page," Rodney said. "Since you came with the car, I'm guessing you know more about what's going on than I do." I said. "Well I know we are going to meet the tour bus in the Atlanta Raceway parking lot. There is going to be an outside concert in the track's infield. But there is some kind of an interview first. I'm not sure what all is involved in this gig, but I know it is the first show of the tour." "That's a hell of a lot more than I knew. I don't really even know the rappers name." I said. "I know the boss calls him coka cola, but his name is TJ Soda. Don't ask me why he chose that one." Rodney replied. "Well Rodney tell me? Is he talented." I asked. "Hell how would I know. I don't listen to that shit. You think because I'm black I like rap music?" he asked. "Well yeah," I admitted. "Well I don't," he seemed to be truly offended. Rather than apologizes I just dropped it. We had been driving about an hour by the time we got that far in our little show and tell. The emphasis was for sure on tell, when he said, "We need gas." "If you find a truck stop, we can get break fast with the gas," I said. "Well there should be one coming up soon. I saw the sign is why I mention it," he said. Good for him, I thought, He seemed to appreciate an efficient schedule. At a truck stop I had learned the best thing was bacon crispy and eggs scrambled, with toast. My little road trip with Jerry had taught me that the cooks in the kitchen almost always got those two things right. The eggs might be more done one place than another, but they were at least edible on the first try. Not so with eggs over. The same was true of sausage. It tended to be almost raw or leather like, about half the time. After the food on the was paid for with the credit card, we were ready to go. Rodney had bought the gas first. The SUV had auxiliary gas tanks for sure, since the bill was over one hundred and fifty dollars. When we were back on the road Rodney and I talked about neutral things to pass the time. From sport, to TV shows, and which websites were best for entertainment and news. We even discussed online chatrooms. It seemed that Rodney was a member of the National Honor Society in high school. He also read a hell of a lot of book, on shit I didn't understand. In the end I decided that Rodney was more intelligent that me. I didn't think that made him more suitable for the job at hand, but maybe I would change my mind as time wore on. We didn't have a huge debate inside the SUV, but we had some lively small discussions. We debated the issue of size vs ability to conceal a weapon. I came down on concealment, but then most everyone else in the world would say that size does count. That seemed to be Rodney's opinion as well. I thought it was foolish in our situation to go with size over concealment. I didn't want the bad guy to know I was armed, before I knew he was. It was an interesting argument, but it proved nothing. We were close to the city of Atlanta, when my phone rang. I looked at Rodney and shrugged. "Hello," I said into the phone. "Are you Miss Porter?" the voice said. "I am," I replied. "I'm Joan Pacer, the booking agent's road manager. Well one of them. I guess that makes me your boss for now," she said. "I guess it does," I agreed, "So what you got for me." "There is a 4PM press conference at the race track, are you going to be here in time?" she asked. Well Joan it's about 10AM and we are about on hour out so I would say yes. We should be there in two hours. We have to find a McDonald's first, then the race track, so yeah two hours should do," I said again. Rodney thought that exchange was hilarious. He was choking on his laughter, so I had to muffle the sound. "Then come to the arena manager's office by 2PM," Joan said trying to regain control. We had an early lunch but it wasn't at McDonald's. It was at a specialty designer sandwich shoppe. Rodney had looked it up on line. They had really weird shit on the menu. I opted for a hamburger and fries. "You have no imagination Porter," he said. "True but one of these days you will find out why," I replied. We arrived at the area a full hour before our meeting with Joan. "Why don't you and I check out the entrances to the office area and then the ones to the dressing rooms," I said. "Good plan," Rodney agreed. What we found was a area with only two accesses that was the office area. There were four offices, all but one of which, were being used by the tour personnel. The other one was the arena manager's office. Rodney and I checked his office to be sure it was not a threat. Of course it wasn't, but we had to be careful. We went down to check the dressing room the rappers would be using. There was one for the band and one for the singers. They were both in the drivers dressing area. The setup workers usually called roadies were in a different area. There were two entrances to those areas as well. It could have been much worse. There could have been many more entrances. The arena security was responsible for who got into of the dressing rooms. People mostly likely would have identity cards in order to gain access. We met with the area security boss. He explained that they had extra people coming in to run metal detectors, since this was a rap band. I expected Rodney to go ape shit, but he just nodded. Everything looked good on paper all we had to do was watch the crowd and keep Coca Cola alive.Sylvia 102 Rodney and I settled in to wait for the boss, or at least the rental boss. I had time to assess Rodney in full daylight. He walked with just a slight almost unnoticeable limp. He was not quite six foot tall and probably one hundred and eighty pounds. He was the color of coffee with just a touch of cream. There was some white in his gene pool for sure. His hair was too short to be in the least curly. As I think I said earlier he looked like he might have been a gym rat. Joan Pacer arrived along with her staff of three women, at 2PM exactly to the minute. They spread out over the empty offices like a swarm of locust. Rodney and I were amazed at their organization. Within minutes it looked like they had been there for months. After Joan claimed her desk she turned to me. "Sylvia?" she asked. "That's me, so you are Joan. You seem to be a force to be reckoned with." I admitted. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said smiling. "That is how it was meant, but you can take it anyway you like, since you are the boss," I said to feed her ego. "Good that we have that straight, so what have you done so far," She was either testing to see how competent we were, or she wanted to know about the security of her performer. "Well, we checked the office complex first. There are only two ways into the complex of offices. We talked to the track security manager and he agreed to have a uniformed guard on the doors during the time Coca Cola is in the office for the conference." I said. "Oh yeah we went to the dressing area there are only two ways in or out of it. Same thing tonight there, uniformed track security people. Rodney and I will be on the inside door to the dressing room. Until Coka Cola goes to the stage. When he does, we will go with him and stand at the bottom of the stage facing the crowd till he finishes. We will then accompany him back to the dressing room till the crowd leaves. That is the way it is done usually. After the performance and when he and the performers are on the bus, we would ordinarily call it a wrap. Now if you have something different in mind speak up now, or forever hold your peace." I said "It sounds good except I want you in the dressing room whenever he is there," Joan said. "Not a good idea for us both to be in there. Best to catch a threat earlier than that." I replied. "Okay one in and one out. You be the inside man," she said without batting an eye. "I think Soda would be less likely to complain than if it were Rodney." "Alright, but we work on a non sex discrimination policy in job assignments. You do understand that. No racial or sexual discrimination. Somewhere along the line, he will have to understand that as well." "Alright, but not right now please." Joan said. "If you two will excuse me, I need to use the latrine," Rodney said and rushed out of the room. "Is he gonna' be alright," she asked. "Just something he ate," I replied. "He should be okay any minute." "Why don't you take one of the network radios and go to the parking lot. Let me know when the tour bus pulls in," Joan said. "No problem," I said taking two radios. "I'm going to be in the parking lot when you feel up to it," I said into the men's room as I held the door open. I'm not shy that way either. I was standing the the parking lot filing Joan Pacer in my memory, when Rodney came up. "How you feeling?" I asked. "I'm okay I guess. You knew I was going to have the GI shits, didn't you?" he asked. "I knew it was possibly. That sandwich had thing on it you probably never eat. So it was possible. That little bit of information comes from a year of being a deputy sheriff. Pretty hard to deal with diarrhea, when you are in a patrol car miles from a public bathroom." "Point taken, nothing but burgers and fries on a work day," he said with a weak smile. "So you think Joan Pacer is a dyke?" "Why you ask that, because she has a take charge attitude, or because her staff is all woman?" I asked. "Because she talked to you and ignored me even though I am obviously in charge," he said with a big smile. For thirty grand and all expenses I don't give a rats ass who is in charge," I said. "Roger that," he said. "She is about our age so to get this job she must be pretty smart. I doubt a fat Lez chick fucked her way into it." "You do know, you are a pig," I said. "Cause I called a fat chick, a fat chick. You noticed it too. Don't tell me you didn't. You weigh what? a hundred pounds. You know, she would make more than one and a half of you." I don't think twenty five pounds over weight makes her a fat chick. I also assure you there are lots of men that prefer her body type to mine." I looked to the entrance and added, "Heads up." I saw the bus pass through the gates of the huge parking lot. "The bus is here," I said into the blue tooth headphone set of the radio. "On the way down," Joan answered. I want a word with them before they get off the bus. "Roger that," I said smiling at Rodney. The bus pulled to a stop and I stood by the door. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated till the craft is at the loading unloading ramp." by the time I finished my little speech Joan was there. I ignored her speech to the captive audience. I waved when she introduced me otherwise I tuned her out. The really large black man stood when she called for TJ. "TJ this is your personal bodyguard. Now I know you have your own people friends from the hood, but she is the professional we are assigning to you. While you are on business for us, she will be by your side. If you dump her, we will dump you. One day you might be a big enough star to no longer need us, but for now you do. Now do we understand each other?" she asked. God that woman had ball. You had to love that. TJ Soda dominated her in size but not in spirit. "Nobody talks to me like that," he said. "I guess you better find you own way home then TJ," She said turning to leave. "Hey, I was just joking, I'll let the bitch stay. My boys will take care of me, and she don't look too much like a cop. I can introduce her as my white bitch," he said. "I don't give a fuck how you introduce her, but believe me you don't want to piss her off," she said smiling at me. "Why somebody done fucked her up," he said looking at the bandaged hand. "The guy that caused that is dead, you dumb fuck," I whispered. "You feel you need to prove something, you do it with somebody else." I waited until he walked past me and out the door of the bus. Joan looked at me and smiled, then said, "You and me are going to get along fine." "I guess it's a good thing you are the boss and not him," I said with a wide smile. I followed Soda off the bus and introduced him to Rodney. "That's one smart assed bitch you partnered up with. She thinks she is some kind of bad ass." he said to Rodney, "Well man it's like this," Rodney said. "How many gunfights you been in?" "I been shot at a few times," he said. "Sure you have, well she's been lit up twice and she killed the shooter before the cops got there each time. You might want to remember that," Rodney said. He had obviously read my file. Soda just wasn't gettin' no respect at all from the home team. He went straight up to the office. He was about an hour early for the press conference. They put him and his crew in one of the spare offices. I had to stand outside their door with Rodney and listen to the crew kiss his ass for almost an hour. He was no celebrity but he was a musician on the rise, so he rated some specialty media coverage. By the time the press conference started, his crew had pumped him up to the point he thought he was a star. I listened to him answer stupid questions for about twenty minutes, then I walked with him to the dressing room. I stayed close so I could step between him and a bullet. I was a little pissed that I hadn't taken the time to put on my vest. It was still in the half duffel inside the company car. Then again this guy wasn't going to be any trouble. Nobody was going to want his ass dead bad enough to go up against Rodney, me, and his crew. Rodney opened the door and motioned me aside. "We have a problem. These rapper types are really a big deal with gangs. The gangs have their favorites and the some they don't like at all." "Anybody not like coca cola here enough to lite him up?" I asked. "No nothing like that. They want to pose for picture with him. It seems he had direct contact with the gang and arranged a meet." Rodney said. "You got to be shitting me," I said. "Not in the least," he replied. "How did you find out?" I asked. "The gang showed up outside," He said. "Gee give a girl time to think, why don't ya?" I asked. "I told Joan the minute I did what was going on, She and the race track security team is out there talking to them," he said. "Double fuck me. This could be serious," I said. "You reckon," Rodney replied. "Sylvia would you come to the parking lot please," Joan's voice came over the blue tooth device sticking in my ear. I wondered why I hadn't heard Rodney's report first hand. "Roger that," I said. "Rodney here is going to hang out with you guys. That isn't a request," I said to Soda and his crew. I hustled to the parking lot to find Joan surrounded by young men in tee shirts and old men in rent a cop uniforms. This could get out of hand quick, I thought. "Looks like the gangs all here," I whispered to her. "Yeah, you know what we are negotiating?" she asked. "Yeah and it's a fucking stupid idea that soda pop had," I said. "I know, but we are where we are now. So how do we get out of it?" "If you do this here, there will be a gangs in every town you play. All of them will want a picture with that idiot, He will agree cause it's good for his portfolio." I said. "I know, but can we stop it, without them trying something to get even." Joan asked. "I got no idea. You want me to talk to them?" I asked. "I have no idea what you can do, but sure give it a try," She said. "Who are the other players here in town," I asked the racetrack security chief. "Mainly it's there guys and the el-lobos," he said. "It's always the fucking el-lobos," I said. "Guys I'm going to have to ask you to hang out till the El Lobos get here. See it's a photo op. You know how TJ Soda's music is more powerful than hate." "You are kidding me puta," he said. "Not at all, they should be here in a few minutes," I suggested. "Then we are fucking leaving. You tell TJ his music ain't that good anyway." "I will do that. Have a good one now hear?" I said. What if they had called your bluff," Joan asked. "Then we would find out how good the company insurance is, I guess." I replied. ------- Chapter 102 Rodney and I settled in to wait for the boss, or at least the rental boss. I had time to assess Rodney in full daylight. He walked with just a slight almost unnoticeable limp. He was not quite six foot tall and probably one hundred and eighty pounds. He was the color of coffee with just a touch of cream. There was some white in his gene pool for sure. His hair was too short to be in the least curly. As I think I said earlier he looked like he might have been a gym rat. Joan Pacer arrived along with her staff of three women, at 2PM exactly to the minute. They spread out over the empty offices like a swarm of locust. Rodney and I were amazed at their organization. Within minutes it looked like they had been there for months. After Joan claimed her desk she turned to me. "Sylvia?" she asked. "That's me, so you are Joan. You seem to be a force to be reckoned with." I admitted. "I'll take that as a compliment," she said smiling. "That is how it was meant, but you can take it anyway you like, since you are the boss," I said to feed her ego. "Good that we have that straight, so what have you done so far," She was either testing to see how competent we were, or she wanted to know about the security of her performer. "Well, we checked the office complex first. There are only two ways into the complex of offices. We talked to the track security manager and he agreed to have a uniformed guard on the doors during the time Coca Cola is in the office for the conference." I said. "Oh yeah we went to the dressing area there are only two ways in or out of it. Same thing tonight there, uniformed track security people. Rodney and I will be on the inside door to the dressing room. Until Coka Cola goes to the stage. When he does, we will go with him and stand at the bottom of the stage facing the crowd till he finishes. We will then accompany him back to the dressing room till the crowd leaves. That is the way it is done usually. After the performance and when he and the performers are on the bus, we would ordinarily call it a wrap. Now if you have something different in mind speak up now, or forever hold your peace." I said "It sounds good except I want you in the dressing room whenever he is there," Joan said. "Not a good idea for us both to be in there. Best to catch a threat earlier than that." I replied. "Okay one in and one out. You be the inside man," she said without batting an eye. "I think Soda would be less likely to complain than if it were Rodney." "Alright, but we work on a non sex discrimination policy in job assignments. You do understand that. No racial or sexual discrimination. Somewhere along the line, he will have to understand that as well." "Alright, but not right now please." Joan said. "If you two will excuse me, I need to use the latrine," Rodney said and rushed out of the room. "Is he gonna' be alright," she asked. "Just something he ate," I replied. "He should be okay any minute." "Why don't you take one of the network radios and go to the parking lot. Let me know when the tour bus pulls in," Joan said. "No problem," I said taking two radios. "I'm going to be in the parking lot when you feel up to it," I said into the men's room as I held the door open. I'm not shy that way either. I was standing the the parking lot filing Joan Pacer in my memory, when Rodney came up. "How you feeling?" I asked. "I'm okay I guess. You knew I was going to have the GI shits, didn't you?" he asked. "I knew it was possibly. That sandwich had thing on it you probably never eat. So it was possible. That little bit of information comes from a year of being a deputy sheriff. Pretty hard to deal with diarrhea, when you are in a patrol car miles from a public bathroom." "Point taken, nothing but burgers and fries on a work day," he said with a weak smile. "So you think Joan Pacer is a dyke?" "Why you ask that, because she has a take charge attitude, or because her staff is all woman?" I asked. "Because she talked to you and ignored me even though I am obviously in charge," he said with a big smile. For thirty grand and all expenses I don't give a rats ass who is in charge," I said. "Roger that," he said. "She is about our age so to get this job she must be pretty smart. I doubt a fat Lez chick fucked her way into it." "You do know, you are a pig," I said. "Cause I called a fat chick, a fat chick. You noticed it too. Don't tell me you didn't. You weigh what? a hundred pounds. You know, she would make more than one and a half of you." I don't think twenty five pounds over weight makes her a fat chick. I also assure you there are lots of men that prefer her body type to mine." I looked to the entrance and added, "Heads up." I saw the bus pass through the gates of the huge parking lot. "The bus is here," I said into the blue tooth headphone set of the radio. "On the way down," Joan answered. I want a word with them before they get off the bus. "Roger that," I said smiling at Rodney. The bus pulled to a stop and I stood by the door. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated till the craft is at the loading unloading ramp." by the time I finished my little speech Joan was there. I ignored her speech to the captive audience. I waved when she introduced me otherwise I tuned her out. The really large black man stood when she called for TJ. "TJ this is your personal bodyguard. Now I know you have your own people friends from the hood, but she is the professional we are assigning to you. While you are on business for us, she will be by your side. If you dump her, we will dump you. One day you might be a big enough star to no longer need us, but for now you do. Now do we understand each other?" she asked. God that woman had ball. You had to love that. TJ Soda dominated her in size but not in spirit. "Nobody talks to me like that," he said. "I guess you better find you own way home then TJ," She said turning to leave. "Hey, I was just joking, I'll let the bitch stay. My boys will take care of me, and she don't look too much like a cop. I can introduce her as my white bitch," he said. "I don't give a fuck how you introduce her, but believe me you don't want to piss her off," she said smiling at me. "Why somebody done fucked her up," he said looking at the bandaged hand. "The guy that caused that is dead, you dumb fuck," I whispered. "You feel you need to prove something, you do it with somebody else." I waited until he walked past me and out the door of the bus. Joan looked at me and smiled, then said, "You and me are going to get along fine." "I guess it's a good thing you are the boss and not him," I said with a wide smile. I followed Soda off the bus and introduced him to Rodney. "That's one smart assed bitch you partnered up with. She thinks she is some kind of bad ass." he said to Rodney, "Well man it's like this," Rodney said. "How many gunfights you been in?" "I been shot at a few times," he said. "Sure you have, well she's been lit up twice and she killed the shooter before the cops got there each time. You might want to remember that," Rodney said. He had obviously read my file. Soda just wasn't gettin' no respect at all from the home team. He went straight up to the office. He was about an hour early for the press conference. They put him and his crew in one of the spare offices. I had to stand outside their door with Rodney and listen to the crew kiss his ass for almost an hour. He was no celebrity but he was a musician on the rise, so he rated some specialty media coverage. By the time the press conference started, his crew had pumped him up to the point he thought he was a star. I listened to him answer stupid questions for about twenty minutes, then I walked with him to the dressing room. I stayed close so I could step between him and a bullet. I was a little pissed that I hadn't taken the time to put on my vest. It was still in the half duffel inside the company car. Then again this guy wasn't going to be any trouble. Nobody was going to want his ass dead bad enough to go up against Rodney, me, and his crew. Rodney opened the door and motioned me aside. "We have a problem. These rapper types are really a big deal with gangs. The gangs have their favorites and the some they don't like at all." "Anybody not like coca cola here enough to lite him up?" I asked. "No nothing like that. They want to pose for picture with him. It seems he had direct contact with the gang and arranged a meet." Rodney said. "You got to be shitting me," I said. "Not in the least," he replied. "How did you find out?" I asked. "The gang showed up outside," He said. "Gee give a girl time to think, why don't ya?" I asked. "I told Joan the minute I did what was going on, She and the race track security team is out there talking to them," he said. "Double fuck me. This could be serious," I said. "You reckon," Rodney replied. "Sylvia would you come to the parking lot please," Joan's voice came over the blue tooth device sticking in my ear. I wondered why I hadn't heard Rodney's report first hand. "Roger that," I said. "Rodney here is going to hang out with you guys. That isn't a request," I said to Soda and his crew. I hustled to the parking lot to find Joan surrounded by young men in tee shirts and old men in rent a cop uniforms. This could get out of hand quick, I thought. "Looks like the gangs all here," I whispered to her. "Yeah, you know what we are negotiating?" she asked. "Yeah and it's a fucking stupid idea that soda pop had," I said. "I know, but we are where we are now. So how do we get out of it?" "If you do this here, there will be a gangs in every town you play. All of them will want a picture with that idiot, He will agree cause it's good for his portfolio." I said. "I know, but can we stop it, without them trying something to get even." Joan asked. "I got no idea. You want me to talk to them?" I asked. "I have no idea what you can do, but sure give it a try," She said. "Who are the other players here in town," I asked the racetrack security chief. "Mainly it's there guys and the el-lobos," he said. "It's always the fucking el-lobos," I said. "Guys I'm going to have to ask you to hang out till the El Lobos get here. See it's a photo op. You know how TJ Soda's music is more powerful than hate." "You are kidding me puta," he said. "Not at all, they should be here in a few minutes," I suggested. "Then we are fucking leaving. You tell TJ his music ain't that good anyway." "I will do that. Have a good one now hear?" I said. What if they had called your bluff," Joan asked. "Then we would find out how good the company insurance is, I guess." I replied. ------- Chapter 103 "Well Rodney let's go talk to Soda POP." I said. "I think we just dodged a bullet." "What did you do?" He asked. "I changed the gang members mind. Wasn't no big deal. But we need to talk to Soda Pop." I explained to Rodney. "Soda, we need to talk to you outside," I said. His crew stood up. "You, your bad ass neighborhood thugs aren't invited." That put the crew a little on edge. "If you boys want to get hinkie, now is the fucking time. I'm out of patience with you bitches. There are three of you, and no Kevlar vests on any of you. So I figure I can get two of you before you hit some non lethal spot on me. Then I figure Rodney here for at least one of you and he will be the one standing at the end. Now, if one of you street corner thugs want to go for it do it now, otherwise sit your asses down." Soda turned to them and said, "Cool it. I'll talk to the bitch." We were standing in the hall when I said, "There will be no gang photo op. Not today, not ever." I looked him hard in the eye. "Do we understand each others?" "Who do you think you are?" he asked. "TJ, let me explain something to you. If you get killed, your mama or your whore, is going to sue the racetrack and the manager. So they have to carry liability insurance on your ass. The insurance company insists they provide you with a body guard, so they at least have a chance to say we did all we could. That will make any payout they have to make smaller. Me and Rodney here are those bodyguards. Now, if we say fuck it and walk out, you no longer have insurance and your concert is canceled. Now, if you were some big star they might worry about the crowd going off on them, but you ain't. You are just a wanna be at this point. So, if we have a situation we can't control, like an uncooperative client, we walk. We walk Soda Pop, and you are finished in the business period. Your thug friends are not body guards, they are fucking window dressing and you know it. So like I said, there will be no more gang photo ops. Did I make myself clear." "The bitch speak for you brother?" TJ asked Rodney. "I got one brother, and it sure as hell ain't you. So she speaks for me," Rodney said. "Alright, but go easy on my posse," TJ demanded. "If they pull a gun, it's a threat period. I will take them out," Rodney said. "You some hard ass mother fuckers," Soda Pop said. "What other kind of mother fuckers you want keeping your ass alive?" Rodney asked. "That conversation was bound to happen," Rodney said. Yeah, now you babysit them, while I go out to the van to get my Kevlar," I said with a grin. "Woman, you so full of it," Rodney said then he laughed. I got my light weight Kevlar vest. I had to switch off the American Desert Camouflage tee shirt, for a much large and slightly heavier plain red one. It hid the vest better and was longer to hide the pistol better as well. The .38 shoulder rig was replace with an ankle holster. I felt like a walking gun shop. I moved the stun gun to a back pocket in my jeans. That and the holster for the Glock 22 made my jeans want to fall off my skinny ass. I would have preferred the Colt .38 but the swamp dog wanted the Glock 22, so I put up with the damn holster dragging down my pants. With the change in clothing I felt like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but I went back to my post. "I'm back Rodney," I said as I walked to the front door of the raceway entrance and office building. "Roger that," he replied. When I got down to the dressing room, I asked. "You need some time alone?" "No, I seem to be over my little affliction." he said. "Okay then tell me why you walked to the office to tell Joan about the gang rather than call on the radio?" I asked. "If somebody takes down one of the office staff, he could steal a radio. If that happened he will know exactly where and how to pick us off. The less we use the radio the better." he said. "Point taken," I replied. "Lesson learned in the sand box," he said. "Well I'm impressed," I said smiling. "So I guess I need to go inside the dressing room and watch the group and the groupies dress." "Better you than me," he said. "You know I feel that way myself," I said with a smile. "Just remember, if you don't see it for yourself the bulge is probably a pair of socks," he said smiling. "Now you think that interest me?" I asked. "Ah yeah," he replied. I was already half way through the door. I stood by on the inside of of the door and watched while the men dressed for the show. There were lots of tight pants and open shirts showing lots of gold chains. It was a concert after all. It was all about the fantasy which they all lived. After they were dressed the smell of pot filled the air. I would bet my ass there would be blow just before the show. There morals or their potential legal problem were not my concern. So if they did it, let them. I chose to stay ignorant. It seemed that they chose not to do it in front of me. I found that to be a good choice. I stood off to the side of the door. Everyone else would be a target, but I would be able to get a shot off at any shooter who came into the room. The door opened and Rodney came through it. "The fans are coming through the gates now." he said. "I thought, I heard a lot of noise coming from out there," I said. "Thanks for the heads up and you be careful out there. If the crowd is filling in the local band should be on stage soon." "Yeah, they will be jacking up the audience," Rodney said. "When they get them to the right level of excitement, or they run out of time we will be escorting the Star of the show, TJ Soda Pop, to the stage." "Well I know this is bullshit, but let's pretend we care whether the asshole lives or dies," I said. "It's gonna' take some acting, but I will do it for you Sylvia," Rodney said. "Rodney before you go repeat after me. It was a righteous shoot, and I want a lawyer," I said. "What?" he asked, "That's what you say to the cops and that all you say to the cops. Just repeat it over and over to them, if you have to lite someone up tonight," I smiled at him before he got ready. He led the way for Coca cola and I brought up the rear. It was a regular train. What with the singer his crew of three thugs and Rodney and I. The roadies had all been checked out by the promoter, so we weren't supposed to have to worry about them. Nonetheless, I worried about them having done their job right. I really didn't give a shit, if a spotlight fell on the arrogant ass, but I did worry about some new hire being a hitter. Those stage accidents could be faked as well as any bullet to the brain. The crowd was about 75% black and 100% insane. The music was all talk in rhymes to a pulsing beats. We stayed for 90 minutes while Soda pretended to sing. When it ended the crowd stayed for the closing act. We were loading soda into his bus, before he got greeted his fans. Joan showed up about that time. "Sylvia, we need some photographs of TJ and his fans. We need them to promote the next concert. I know he is going straight to it, but we need to get them up on the net," Joan said. "How long you going to need him?" I asked. "Half an hour max," she said. "We will take him back to the dressing room. Bring your fans in there," I suggested. "Perfect," Joan said. Rodney saw and heard it all. "That is bullshit. We have been going like hell since last night. I wanted to get some sleep. Now we got to babysit his ass while a bunch of stupid teenagers and some white stay at home single moms come in and fawn all over this idiot." Rodney said. "Such is the life of a private body guard," I said grinning. I said it as if I knew what I was talking about, when the whole time I was winging it. On the return to the dressing room I led the little caravan. TJ was not happy since he was coming down from the blow... "You might want to suck it up Soda Pop, we gonna' go greet your faithful fans." "Man all I want is to sleep," he said. "Well that ain't gonna happen, so suck it up and do the photo shoot for the next concert. Unless you want me to tell Joan the promoters road manager that you refuse. She wont like it. She has her photographer and a couple of dozen fans waiting for you." I turned my head to check out what if anything was following us. When I turned back TJ was doing a line. "You Dumb son of a bitch, I'm not going to jail for your ass, so get rid of the blow. I swear to god I will testify against you. Now get rid of it, or I will call a cop." "You talk big puta," one of Soda home grown body guard said. "You only got one hand." It seemed like as good a time as any to establish the pecking order. I hit him with the stun gun first. He went down hard. I was pretty sure Rodney had my back, so I laid one of the box openers against his penis. At least I thought it was were it should have been. "Now I have heard that puta shit for the last time, and you are going to dump the blow. Am I right, or do you lose your joy toy?" I asked. "Yes," he said. "That would be yes ma'am you tough guy wanna' be, " Rodney said waving the Glock 22 around. "Yes Ma'am," the thug said. "Now get in there and greet your adoring fans," I said. It was about an hour later when Rodney and I put them back on the bus. We were off duty till the next concert three day in the future. "Who would have thought our biggest problem would be with his body guards," Rodney said. "Oh they are more dangerous than that. They are fucking pretenders. They don't want to be thugs, They want to pretend to be thugs when it suits them. So anything that makes them look weak or embarrassing is going to require retaliation. A thug would just move on. These guys have to save face and they have to do it here." Surely you are not going to allow three men with guns, who are looking to retaliate against you for humiliating them, to hang around," he said. "Yeah I am. The problem is they aren't a threat to Soda Pop. They want to protect him, as much as we do. They are only a threat to you and me. Of course I can't prove any of this, so we just have to wait them out." I said. "I would bet my ass that you have a plan," Rodney said. "Oh I do, I'm going to get the thugs busted. See Rodney my gun and yours are licensed. And we are licensed at home as private protective agents. Now Soda thugs aren't. I expect their guns are illegal, and that they are holding. So when we know for sure that we need to get rid of them, I'm going to drop a dime on them. In the meantime we watch them, as well as the crowd." "Roger that," he said. ------- Chapter 104 "I'm Sylvia Porter," I said to the two men who had asked Joan about me. They were obviously cops. "Are you armed?" the younger of the two asked. I looked up and saw Rodney, shift his weight uncomfortably. "More or less," I answered. I have permits for everything and i am licensed as a private protection agent," I said. "Which don't mean dick," the cop's older partner said. "Well, let's see. Am I under arrest for something?" I asked. "Not just yet, we are investigating a accusation that you tazered a man and threatened him with a knife," the young one said. "That's interesting did the gentleman in question surrender his illegal weapons, or did you even ask him, if he were armed." Judging from there lack of response I said, "I guess not. I also guess you better arrest me, or I'm through talking." "Then you are not going to deny the charge," he asked. "I have nothing more to say. If you arrest me, I'm going to lawyer up in front of these civilian witnesses," I said. "I'm going to walk out that door, then to the parking lot to get in my SUV and drive the hell out of Atlanta." They didn't stop me. Rodney and I drove toward our next concert until we were out of Georgia. During that drive Rodney was nervous and watched his rear view mirror. "Don't get too nervous Rodney, you aren't the one in the cross hairs. Besides if they really had anything, we wouldn't have left that room. Those cops knew that it was bogus. A member of a thug crew accuses a skinny white girl of all that shit. Who is the jury going to believe, you and me, or this thug wanna bes." "Tell you what Sylvia, I ain't never gonna doubt you again. I think you are some kind of female Dirty Harry," he said. "Reminds me of a porno movie, called dirty Harriet," I said with a laugh. After a short drive we were in South Carolina. We stopped at a motel just over the South Carolina border for some much needed sleep. I got some eggs at all night breakfast place near the motel, then crashed, Rodney just crashed. "Hey you ready to go," I asked when the half naked Rodney answered the door. "Go where he asked," he asked. I wasn't dressed for going anywhere. I was in my running suit. My running togs that morning were sweat pants and a sweat shirt with cut off sleeves. "I thought all you commando types ran before breakfast every morning," I said. "Us Commando types sleep till noon, when we been up for two days with nothing but high tension shit going on around us. But give me ten minutes and I'll meet you in the parking lot," he agreed. I was drinking coffee from the motels office coffee maker. It was there along with sweet rolls for the guest. I just took the coffee. I had enough problem with sweet things during the day. I saw Rodney come down in this Jeans and a sweat shirt that could be mine's twin, but it was much larger of course. They were both blue with cut off sleeves. I would guess his didn't come from a thrift store though. He made a motion directing me to start. I threw the coffee in a trash can. looked at my watch and took off. It had been a while since I ran, so I shot for one hour of solid running. I doubted that I could hold out that long without a break, but it was a goal. The service road was filled with motel parking lots and even a truck stop. The road had to be three or four miles long at least. I lead Rodney to the stop sign, then we turned and ran back. The hour was up but that run would have kicked my ass anyway, so I knew it had been too long, since I ran. Even so we ran around the three motel parking lots as well. That probably added another mile or so to the run. I was tired when I stepped into the shower, but I wasn't in pain. That would come in about an hour. I dressed for the day in the green fatigue pants, they were sold in stores under the name cargo pants. Mine were big, sloppy and black, most women wouldn't dare wear. I loved them because they had lots of big pockets. I had even had a special holster made for the .38. It was made in probably the last shoe shop in the USA. The holster had a front and a back made of stiff canvas with a Velcro strap over the hammer for safety. There was no way to attach it to anything. But it slipped into the pocket of those cargo pants beautifully. I could wear those pants with a tee shirt and still carry the .38 and a couple of box openers, as well as the stun gun. What was there not to love about the pants? Well except that they wanted to fall down all the time. I packed the Glock on top of the duffel bag. I wanted to be able to get to it, before we had to meet with Soda Pop. We weren't scheduled to meet till the next day, but we were on call. If Joan came up with anything for him to do, it would be sooner. I was actually looking forward to seeing Soda and his Posse, we had issues to discuss. We left the little South Carolina pit stop at 8AM after stopping for take out biscuits. It was about a ten hour drive to out next stop, so we wanted to be on the move reasonably early. We pulled onto the highway with Rodney at the wheel and me with a large coffee and biscuit in my hand. He was juggling his breakfast, trying to eat and drive, while I just ate. I had my headphones on playing the highway music I had recorded for my drive from the mountains to the game warden station in the swamp. I was singing along with 'get your motor running, get out on the highway, ' when Rodney said, "Look at this fucking traffic would ya." "If you insist but there is nothing I can do about it," I said smiling. "You ready for me to drive?" "When I stop for a gas and bathroom break, yeah," he agreed. Rodney drove till roughly 10AM, then we stopped for gas. When we left I was at the wheel. "You want to turn right then under the bridge turn left back onto the expressway," Rodney said. "If you are going to be a fucking backseat driver, you are going to have to get into the back seat," I said angrily. "Okay, I'm sorry just habit," he replied. "Been riding with too many idiots. Armored car drivers are not the brightest bulbs in the closet." "Apology accepted," I said. I put myself in a hypnotic trance of sorts as I drove the big SUV along the interstate highway system. The time drifted by until we were in the Arlington Virginia area. Lots of signs started to appear for the city and various Washington DC attractions. When I got to the correct exit I left the interstate mess and pulled onto a far too busy access road. From there the GPS unit sent me to our motel. It had been booked by the tour. Of course when we pulled in there was no sign of the tour bus." Where are they," Rodney asked. "My guess is they were still trying to get their heads removed from their collective asses without major surgery," was my reply. "Well, do we check in or wait in the parking lot," I asked Rodney. "Hell, it could be 2AM, when they finally get here. Let's check in then call Joan on her cell phone. She would already be here," He suggested. "Okay, sounds like a reasonable plan," I admitted. I approached the desk clerk first. "Hi, I'm Sylvia Porter I have a reservation," I informed the cute black woman running the desk." "Yes ma'am, your room is ready and it's all taken care of. You are in room 221. Would you like some help with your bags?" she asked. "No, I've managed so far I can make it the elevator, thanks though," I walked away while Rodney approached the desk. There was a coffee maker set up in the lobby, so I went to it and poured myself a cup of the stale brew. "I'm a son of a bitch," Rodney said. "This is just unfucking believable. They don't have a room for me." "What do you mean?" I asked. "No reservations, and no room in the inn. It seems summer is the overbooking time of the year," he said. "Go back and charm her, I don't want you part of the walking dead again," I said as a reminder that he didn't function as well without sleep as I did. "They don't have a room period," he said. "Okay you can share my room, but just to sleep not to screw, understand," I said. "One of the great myths of the twenty first century is that all black men want to screw any white woman. Sylvia I like you as a buddy, but I don't fuck my buddies," Rodney said. "Good, come on lets go move our shit in," I suggested. Of course the room had only one bed. I was pretty sure a good night's sleep was more important to my survival than any false modesty. "Which side of the bed do you want?" He asked. "Well I can sleep anywhere, so it don't matter none to me," I said. We were throwing our shit around the room, so I didn't think he was going to be shy either. I called Joan. "Hey Joan what's with this booking one single room for us. At least you could have gotten two beds." "Shit I forgot that you two weren't a couple. I'll get you something else," she said. "They don't have anything else, but in the future get us two rooms, or a double room at the very least," I demanded. "So you are already there?" she asked. "Yeah and I assume you aren't," I said. "We didn't get out of Atlanta till almost noon. Best we can do I'm told by the driver is 11PM. So we are going to sneak into town. There will be no crowd of adoring fans on our website tomorrow." "So sad," I replied. "Is our friend who called the cops still on board." "Yes, but he doesn't appear to be too happy that you weren't arrest, or at least fired," Joan said. "He is going to be even less happy when I see him again," I said. "You have to promise me no violence," Joan said. "No violence and I won't make a scene, but we are going to have a talk. Traveling with someone who obviously wants me dead, is not gonna' happen." I replied. "As long as it doesn't make the eleven o'clock news, I could care less," Joan replied. "So Rodney and I have the night off, I assume?" I asked. "Like hell, I want you to meet this stupid bus. You are going to have to sweep the parking lot at least," she said. "Do you have someone to sweep the bus?" I asked because of the reputation tour buses have. I think we are just going to get a new one at every stop. I'm not sure this thing can be cleaned enough for me to ride in it again," Joan said. Rodney and I went to dinner at one of those chain restaurant. I figured it was safe enough, since we had about four hours before the bus would arrive. Actually the food was good, and the service was more than adequate. Rodney used the company credit card to pay for it. "I'm not sure about that food, but there was certainly nothing exotic about it," Rodney said. "I think your intestinal track is safe this time." I replied. ------- Chapter 105 It was several hours after dinner, when the bus arrived. I wasn't as tired as the night before. I was still tired, so I decided to hold off with my confrontation with Soda and his crew. When the bus arrived, Rodney and I did a quick check of the parking lot. It was late enough so that only a hand full of people were outside. Those were people coming or going. The had only a minor interest in the Moore Brother's Tour Bus, that pulled into the parking lot. Rodney and I watched over the bus passengers drag ass off the bus. That's when I realized the true duties of Soda Pop's crew. They carried his suitcases into the rooms. I had also seen them give him drugs and more or less kiss his ass on demand. I almost laughed, when I realized they were porters with guns. Even so they were as dangerous as any other amateur with a gun. "Well you look better than last time I saw you," Joan said. "I wish I could say the same for you. You look tired and nervous," I said to her. "I have been on a bus with that clown and his apprentice clowns for twelve hours without a break. It should be declared cruel and inhuman treatment," she said. "By the way I have been thinking about the sleeping arrangements. If you want you can share my room. I'm sure there is plenty of room in there." she said. "No thanks, but Rodney might prefer your room to mine. He told me I'm not his type." I said with a smile. "Don't let him kid you, every white woman is their type," She said dropping her guard. I put it down to her being tired. "I'll keep that in mind," I said with a smile. "But he would have to be my type as well. I'm really not that easy to take advantage of." "Oh I can believe that," she agreed. She walked over to talk to Rodney. I assume she was making the same offer to him. Her age or body type probably didn't matter to him. I was curious to see how he would handle it, if she had not been correct in her generalization. I went back to the room and changed for bed. Rodney never showed so I went to sleep. I was tired and it was going to be a long day coming up. I wasn't looking forward to the confrontation, even if I did live for the adrenaline rush. I fell asleep dreading it, but a little excited at the prospect as well. I wasn't sure that I wanted to involve Rodney in the confrontation. The upside was, if he was there the possibility of a violent confrontation went down. The downside was, if he was there the possibility of a violent confrontation went down. I went to sleep with a smile on my face, because I recognized that I had a problem ... I even promised myself that I would deal with it, after the tour was over. I woke up before daylight, as I had everyday since the tour began. I immediately began dressing for my run. I decided not to go to Joan's room for Rodney. He hadn't seemed too thrilled to run with me last time. Besides it would be good for me to be alone with my thoughts. I began to run down the access road to the highways. There were several major interstate highways that ran nearby. I began to run when I got to the parking lot, and didn't stop for over an hour. The sky had lightened considerably before I returned to my room. Rodney was standing in the room. He wore only boxer shorts. Since his hair was wet, I assumed he had been in the shower. "You should have come to get me. You knew where I was," he said. "I thought you might be too tired to run," I said with a wicked smile. "Nah, Joan and I just did it once and then went to sleep. I was exhausted. I haven't been getting as much sleep as I'm used to," he said. I noticed Rodney had an erection at least a partial one and it seemed to be larger than average, but not nearly the size of Jerome or the biker who, sort of, raped me. "I'm going to take a shower so be dressed when I come out. We want to get on the road ahead of that bus. We should have time to check out the venue in Patterson," I said. After my shower I felt much better. I came out of the bathroom in my Russian Commando knock of tee shirt and bikini panties. With my stick figure, I didn't expect Rodney to even look. I was surprised when he did. He watched me carefully as I put on the jeans I wore at least half the time. "You know you should really wear a skirt," he said. "Thanks for the fashion advice," I said. "My legs look like sticks." "No they don't, the running gives them shape," he said. "Meanwhile back on the the job, lets get a move on. We can be in Paterson by 2PM easy," I said. I knew because I checked on the computer for drive times. Most every motel was a hot spot by that time. We took the SUV back to the highway with Rodney at the wheel. I listened to my MP3 player with the headphones. Rodney didn't like the same music over and over. I sometimes listened to the radio with him. Rodney kept the radio on an easy listening station. He was trying hard to be just a nice guy and to avoid all the racial stereotypes. I approved, but wasn't sure how it would effect him in the end. You can't hide from yourself forever, I thought. We had biscuits for breakfast in the car, but a sit down lunch. The lunch was one of those places, one step up from a take out joint. Still the grilled cheese and fries was just fine. I mean what can you do to a grilled cheese. okay I guess if you really tried, but who would intentionally ruin a sandwich. If I was back in County Seat maybe it could happen. Nobody on the road outside Philadelphia knew me. We drove another hour or so on the interstate and hit Paterson NJ. It was a real disappointment. After the Atlanta Raceway, I suppose anything would have been. At least anywhere that would book TJ Soda. The theater was a very large movie theater from the old days. I wondered if Joan had ever seen the place for real, or just some twenty year old photos of it. Nonetheless, security was the same all over. The security company she arranged for the theater was a joke. Of the four people they sent over, two were white women over fifty. I couldn't imagine how they would control the line waiting to get inside. The other two were middle aged men, neither of which would ever see his correct weight again. If it came down to a fight, it was going to be a nightmare. The front doors were movie theater type. There were lots of doors into the lobby, but only two entrances to the theater seating. The entrance into the seating area was going to be controlled by the employees of the theater. The two of them were nice middle aged ladies, who were no more than ticket takers. I wondered it they had dealt with anyone since Gone With the Wind played in a retrospective re-release. Still they should be the security teams problem not mine. I talked to the theater manager. I asked him about the stage door. He assured me it had a one way lock. It would require that someone inside open it. I convinced him to put one of the really old ladies on it with instructions to call me, if anybody opened the door period. Rodney and I were as ready as we could be, when the bus pulled into the parking lot. My number one concern was that the offices and dressing room were on the second floor. It meant we would be going down a narrow stairway. We then had to pass through the audience to get to the stage. The theater just wasn't laid out for 'wanna be' rock stars. It was possible even Soda Pop could be manhandled by the crowd. Of course we might get lucky and there wouldn't be a crowd. I doubted that if it could be a pain the ass, it would be a pain in the ask. It was 7PM when the tour bus hit the parking lot. They had stayed at the motel till mid morning, then they met the friend of a friend outside Philly. While Coca Cola went up to dress I pulled Joan aside. "The security of the theater is a joke. If shit happens, they are going to worse than useless," I said. "Well, we are not responsible for the theater, just Soda," she said. "With this venue no one is going to show up are they?" I asked. "It is 90% sold out already and we are selling tickets at the door tonight," Joan answered. "How the hell could that happen?" I asked. "You are kidding right?" she answered my question with a question. "No, I'm not kidding," I said. "TJ was on star search. He lasted till the tenth round. He got a lot of TV exposure. He placed higher than any other rapper in the history of the show. We are trying to help him parlay that to a recording contract with this tour. This theater will be full if we have to run a shuttle bus to the ghetto," Joan replied. "Does he have any gang affiliations," I asked. "He swears not," she said. "Any gang tats?" I asked. "None that anyone in the company recognized," she informed me. "I don't like this. We are in a theater thats from the twenties and has been restored. Some how you convinced them to have your boy's concert here. They have no idea what they are into," I said. "Suck it up Sylvia. Most of the venues are just like this. It's the gritty tour that will sell that shit he records," Joan said. "I bet it would be even better, if someone attempts to take him out," I said. That would be a lot of free publicity for you." "Your boss knew the score when we gave him the contract," she said. "Oh I don't have a problem with it, I just wanted to be sure I understood it, so I could be ready for it. Now if Rodney, or I get hurt protecting this asshole, whether you are a good fuck or not, I will cut your fucking throat. You have a good evening now." I said as I turned to go confront TJ Soda about his punk assed crew. I also expected Joan to call Swamp Dog and ask for a replacement. Which suited me just fine. I had no idea how to quit a gig just because it was dangerous. I didn't think I would mind being fired. I supposed it was better to be fired, than dead. While I was still boiling mad, I went to TJ's dressing room. "Soda, we need to talk," I said as I pushed by the large man I had tazered Rodney pushed behind me. "Now we are going to have a talk about your crew. We can have it in front of them, or you can send them out." "Guy, it's okay wait outside," TJ Said. When the door closed he added, "You disrespect me again in front of my crew and I'll get you fired." "You dumb fuck, the promoter wants someone to make an attempt on your life for the publicity. Now do you really want those three clown to be your protection, or do you want the pros from the swamp. You saw how easy I took your man and I was even trying not to hurt him." I waited. TJ looked at Rodney who nodded. "So how do we gonna work this out?" TJ asked. Your boys are window dressing first we admit that. Then we work out what their role will be. But the very first thing you got to do is send that punk ass with the loud mouth home. Not because he went to the cops on me, but he just ain't capable of listening." "He what?" TJ said. "He called the Atlanta PD to have me arrested for assaulting him. If I leave this gig for any reason, I'm going to entertainment tonight with the story about the tough guy afraid of a 105 pound white girl." "If I send him home, are we good for the others?" he asked. "As long as they know they are window dressing. They are also to stay out of the way," I replied. He nodded his agreement. ------- Chapter 106 "Sylvia could you please step outside the door? We need a little privacy," TJ main man asked politely. I nodded. I didn't want to see him provide whatever drug TJ was doing at the time. I saw Rodney standing by the door. It was his job to see that I didn't have any surprise visitors inside the room where they were getting ready. "Rodney, It sure sounds like a full house out there," I said. "Yeah, Joan was right. They probably chose this smaller venue so they could get some pictures of a packed house for the web," Rodney said. "We are definitely learning more than I personally ever wanted to know about show business," I said. Just then the door behind us opened and the much nicer Tyrone said, "We are ready to go any time now." "I got you. We will check with Joan and come back in to lead you guys down. Make sure Soda knows not to stop and shake hands or kiss the girls. We want to go straight to the stage," "I got it Sylvia," he said and closed the door. "Damn, you sure changed their attitudes," Rodney said with a smile. "When you get to the bottom line, nobody is gonna break their rice bowl, if they have the choice," I said. "Huh?" Rodney asked. "You had to be there," I said to him. "Bring them down," Joan said over the radio. "You lead the way, I'll come along last." Rodney nodded. "So lets get this train on track," I said. I stuck my head in the door and said, "It's time." We led the slightly smaller crew down the stairs, Rodney's head was on a swivel as he walked down the center aisle of the theater. Rodney was followed by the rest of us. I had to prod TJ Soda to keep him from kissing all the pretty young girls. He did finally start the show. Rodney and I spent our time looking around, but nothing happened. I would bet a months pay that if anyone decided to try our security, it would be because of me. Me because of the bandaged hand. That thought came to me for the first time while soda pop was singing. I guessed some of it was because I felt comfortable enough to go without the bandage for a few hours anyway. I made my decision right there, it was the last event at which I would show any weakness. When we led them out of the theater after ninety minutes of non stop crap pounding in our ears, Rodney and I were ready to go back to the motel. We still had to put soda back on the bus but then we were headed to the motel. After he got on that bus, we didn't give a shit what he did. It took half an hour before the place was empty enough for me to feel comfortable taking them out to the bus. Something about an empty parking lot after a show was eerie, but nothing happened. When the bus door closed I said, "Let's get the fuck out of here." "Roger that," Rodney said. We found a waffle house on the way back to the motel. "Hello there, I think I will have a waffle and sausage links with coffee to drink," I said to the older lady who was taking orders from the booths adjacent to the counter. "I would like two eggs with crisp bacon and toast. I think I would like a coke to drink," Rodney said to her request for his order. "You spending the night in Joan's room again?" I asked after the waitress was out of hearing. "She called on my cell phone and told me to invite you as well," he said with a grin. "I'm gonna' pass on that one. For future reference I never crap where I eat," I said. "Is that your way of telling me, you don't approve of me sleeping with Joan," he said. I could tell he was about to get his dander up. "It's my way of telling you I don't sleep with people I work for, or with. That is all it is. Stop looking for shit to be pissed about. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar according to Freud. When the food came several minutes later Rodney said, "You are right. I'm sorry. You have never treated me different than anyone else. You order everyone around. It's just your way." I don't in the bedroom, I thought. I sure as hell don't want you to see how I am, when I am all sexed up. I did not say anything though, I just nodded. When we reached the motel he dialed Joan's number from his cell phone. "Well hey," he said into the phone. "You still taking in strays." He listened then said, "No just me is that a problem?" He listened again then said, "I'll be right down." "Damn, she really sounded disappointed," he said to me. "I'm sure you can calm her down. She most likely will be all smiles in the morning." I said. "So do you want to run tomorrow?" "Probably not," he said with a wicked smile. "Fair enough," I said as he disappeared out the door. He could probably get away with screwing her. As long as there was no trouble it shouldn't make any difference. If he fucked up though, would she blame it on me. We would have to wait and see. If I raised a stink, there would be a stink on me as well. I looked at the schedule before I went to bed. I was happy to see there was a two day window before the next show in New York City. We could either stay here or move to some place closer. My choice was to stay where we were, then just drive into the city to set up security for the show at the last minute, as we had done everywhere else. I fell asleep thinking about the New York show. The Patterson show had gone well, so I had every expectation that the New York show would as well. The next morning I ran. I ran up and down the access road to the highway. Before the trip began, I had decided to stop running by distance. I ran for time. I hit one hour, just as I entered the parking lot on my return to the motel. When I got back to the room, Rodney was still MIA, so I headed into the bathroom. I carried a bright orange tee shirt and clean bikini panties with me. I took the quick shower and washed my short hair. I was looking less like a cancer survivor all the time. I looked more like that soccer player than a soccer mom though. My hair was about two inches long at it's longest point. When I got out of the shower I heard the door open and close. I correctly assumed that it was Rodney. I left the bathroom dressed in my traffic cone orange tee shirt, and white bikini panties. I was forced to put the jeans from the day before back on my body. "Rodney we are going to have to find a laundromat. I have no idea when we will have another chance." I said. I had only one pair of green cargo pants, a black pair, and two pairs of jeans. The cargo pants were both dirty and smelled of cigarette smoke. I had on one pair of the jeans, so I only had one pair left. I had soiled five tee shirts so I needed to get them into the laundromat today or tomorrow for sure. "How about we have breakfast and go do laundry," he said. "I need some clean clothes as well. I have a feeling this is going to be a major problem. Maybe we should hit a Walmart for more stuff as well, as the laundromat." Well looking at the schedule for the week after New York, we do have some serious traveling to do. It looks as though we can squeeze in a wash and dry every week but it would be nice to have some extra underwear just in case. We found one of those chrome and glass diners built to resemble an old railway dining car. It was much larger of course, but still it was supposed to remind me of one. It was just a mundane day off. We spent almost two hours doing laundry, then we drove to a Walmart store. It was time to stop for lunch on the way back to the motel. Rodney chose the restaurant I didn't even object that it was another chain with over decorated wall and under flavored food. Rodney's phone had rang twice while we were out. I wasn't surprised that Joan was calling to look for her new lover on her day off. She probably wanted a little nooner, I thought. While Rodney went to service our boss, I went to have the SUV quick oil change shop. They checked the tires and fluids for me as well. Since I knew neither Rodney or I was about to keep an eye on anything on a regular basis, it was a good idea. When that was finished, I went back to the motel and got on the computer. I checked the weather and the national news, before I checked into an adult chat room. Since I had bookmarked four of them, it was easy to move from one to another. The first thing I found hilarious about the chat room was that men swore all the women in the rooms were pretenders. Men pretending to be women I supposed they meant. It was hilarious, because if all of us were pretending, and they hated it as much as they claimed, why were they there. If I asked that question, then I was labeled a pretender as well. Also I was labeled a pretender, if I refused to send a total stranger a picture. Now I don't fear total stranger face to face, but I do fear cyber stalkers. I like being the only person having access to Sylvia Porter's bank account. I also like being the only one who has access to my biographical information. In other words I don't want stranger on the Internet to know enough about me to change my life. I don't send pictures and I don't give strange access to my email address or my messenger account. If we meet enough times that I'm willing to take a chance, then that's a whore of a different color. All that is to explain why I have four different chat rooms bookmarked. I simply move from one to another as the other chatters get too pushy, or try to get too much information from me. Of course I had to make a more believable life's story. Nobody would believe that all the shit I got into was real, so I had to be a divorced wedding photographer on line. My online age varied from 27 to 40 just depending on how I felt that day. I never pretended to have children because I would have no idea how to talk about them. If someone asked me at what age a child's pubic hair started to grow, I would probably say 16 and they would know I was pretending. Hey I guess that made me a pretender after all. Anyway that day I was a divorced women of 35 living in West Virginia. I started chatting with a man who pretty soon had my hand inside my jeans. I was busy masturbating when Rodney opened the door. I pulled my hand out of my jeans, but Rodney was no idiot. He knew exactly what I was doing. He even said, "Don't mind me I was just coming back for my dental floss." ------- Chapter 107 Yes it was embarrassing, but I knew that no real harm was done. After he got his shit and left, I finished what I had been doing. I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on TV shows on line. I did keep up with them, but not to the extent that I couldn't miss a few episodes and catch up later. When bedtime came, I was alone again, and I was fine with that at the moment. I knew that the time would come, and it wouldn't be that much longer, when I need that rush. The one that sex of any kind gave me. If it wasn't rough and dangerous, that was okay for a while, but I had to have some kind of sex fairly often. Now and then it had to be rough or dangerous. I had come to accept that fact of life for me at least. The next day I didn't even go ask Rodney, I just ran. I ran the usual hour, when I returned to the room I was exhausted. Since Rodney hadn't returned, I went into the bathroom for a long slow shower. The warm water eased the pains I had and I hope eased the pain that was coming later. I spent a lot of my day in pain lately. It wan't sharp and unbearable, it was more dull and continuous. They say ribs injuries are the worst for being slow to heal. They could be right mine still hurt, my hand hurt, and even an old knee injury hurt, when the weather was just right. Of course on that morning the weather was just right. It was going to rain, my knee said to me. My knee was never wrong, It was a short drive into NYC. Even with traffic I figure three to five hours maximum. Rodney must have figure it the same, because he showed up after 10AM. "I was about to put aside my shyness, and come looking for you." I said with a smile. "Joan said we could drive to the armory in under five hours," Rodney said. "And how long did she say it would take to secure it?" I asked. "She has never seen it, so I get it." he said. "Have you had breakfast yet?" "No, it's time for brunch now," I said with a grin. "Pack you shit and lets get on down the road." We managed to find a place that still served breakfast. I had steak and eggs. Something I almost never eat, but it was a new day all filled with new beginning. After all we were headed into the big apple, I was optimistic that things would go well. We rode into the city after lunch. It was a little before noon, when we pulled into the parking lot across the street from the venue. The older man gave us a ticket, on his side of the booth. A black woman about forty sat on the other side of the same booth collecting. I didn't even look at the rate, since the company would be paying for it. We walked across the street to the building, which filled the whole block. That real estate, if it were in a highly desirable location, would be worth a fortune. In the neighborhood where it sat, it was still worth a pretty penny. Maybe not the millions it could have been somewhere else though. It had multiple entrances which would each require a man at each to make sure we controlled the access. The former armory had been renovated inside to host events. There was one huge room with bleachers against the walls and more removable bleachers rolled onto the floor. In addition to all that Soda was going to be doing four shows. He was going to do a Friday night show, a Saturday matinée, a Saturday evening, and then a Sunday matinée. Even so it looked as though everything was controlled with a minimum of manpower. The venue had people already on call who could control the access doors. I even noticed a sign at the front door in two languages. It pretty much said, for your own safety, those who bring a weapon in here, are going to loose it. (we will conduct random searches) If you don't agree to these terms, don't come in. It was effectively tell the audience, we could and would search for and confiscate confiscate weapons. So it really was just a matter of finding where there Soda crew would wait. It was a room that required us to walk down a hall and then into the arena. We would have to go between the bleachers to the stage. There lots of possibilities for trouble, but good crowd control was the answer and the arena planned for that. It obviously wasn't the managers first rodeo. Since we had the place secured and the plans made, we went to the new motel to check it out. The tour bus would be moving everyone there after the show. The motel was outside the city since they could never afford city rents. It was okay with me except we had to throw our bags down, then drive right back to the venue. I was pretty sure the tour bus was right behind us. We met the bus across the street and walked with the occupants to the arena. There were only six of them, so we could cover them all pretty effectively. I was glad to see Rodney didn't show any favoritism to Joan. He moved between them effectively covering everyone. I felt a hell of a lot better when they were inside the building. Once we were inside Rodney stationed himself outside the dressing room door and I went inside the room. He said it was to give me a cheap thrill, but I knew it was to make me the final line of defense. He didn't want the responsibility for the actual loss of a client. He would rather take the shock of the assault first. The Kevlar was very uncomfortable against my skin under the tee shirt, but I felt it was necessary. If we were going to have an gang trouble, New York seemed the logical place for it, so I wore the vest. I had the Glock in the waistband of my pants. The .38, stun gun, and box openers were in the big pockets of the new cargo pants. The ones I had bought from the Paterson New Jersey Walmart. The pants were black and the tee shirt orange. I looked like Halloween, but I didn't care. The orange was covered by the green nylon very light parka. I expected to be soaked with sweat before the night was over. I typically was after one of the events. I went into the bathroom and removed the elastic bandage, which was used to take pressure off the bones in my hand. I would have to be careful not to over extend the hand, otherwise it should be fine. I never did a lot with my left hand anyway. Well I did use it to catch tree shrapnel, and I previously had also used it to masturbate. I laughed at the thought as I walked out of the bathroom with my left hand feeling very exposed. I returned to the dressing room well before the crowd started to arrive. The three days in New York were filled with sky high tension, but aside from a few yahoos trying to smuggle guns into the arena, it was just boring. The arena security took care of the few incidents that we had. On Sunday afternoon we already had our shit packed so we could get out of New York and find a new motel north of the city. We were in the car headed along a highway in Connecticut, when Rodney got the call. The call was from his new girlfriend. Joan was behind us in the tour bus, but she had called ahead and gotten us reservation at a motel just outside of Stanford. Rodney and I were only a few miles south of the exit, when we got the word. We checked in before the Tour bus arrived. We barely had time to check out the parking lot before they showed up. We saw them to their rooms, before we had the chance to see the room assigned to the bodyguards. It turned out to be a room with only one bed again. That made it obvious what the new normal was going to be. If she needed a scapegoat, I just might get fucked by Joan after all. The grand plan was to drive to Providence Rhode Island and check into a motel near there for a few days. The next event was Friday night in a small arena there. After the show we would drive to a motel outside of Boston. There were two shows in Boston before we got another break. We found ourselves outside of Boston on Monday morning trying to recover from the weekend of hustle and bustle. We had until Friday to get to a motel outside Augusta Maine. The tour bus carried the crew out to Logan airport for a flight home. The bus would pick them up at the airport outside Augusta Maine. Joan and Rodney planned to rent a car and hook back up with me Thursday evening at the New Motel. I sat in the motel room trying to decide what I would do with my four day break. I was about to head to the lobby for a cup of coffee, before I packed for God alone knew where, when Joan's little redheaded gopher caught up with me. "Miss Porter," she said. "Yes, I know you work for Joan, but I don't know your name hon," I said. "My friends call me Reggie, it's short for Regina," she answered. "If you don't mind, I'll call you Reggie. So Reggie what can I do for you?" I asked. "I was hoping I could ride with you up to Augusta. I know Joan and Rodney rented a car and Lucy the clerk is going to fly home for a visit with her husband. Joan said she thought you would be going on to Augusta, since you weren't planning to head home." "I see, so Reggie let me be a little blunt, and ask you right up front, are you BiSexual?" I asked. "I like sex and to have a good time, but no I'm definitely not bisexual. Why are you?" she asked showing no real emotion. "I wasn't coming on to you. I was making sure we had an understanding. We both work for the promoter, so nothing is going to happen between the two of us. That is a rule," I said. "That suits me fine. We can be friends can't we?" she asked. "We can absolutely be friends," I said. "I know the boss isn't going to pay for our motel, so I have to go somewhere else." Reggie said. "Well my boss is going to pay for mine. Since Rodney isn't going to use the extra bed you sure as hell can. Of course not in this motel. Joan only reserved a single room, What we should do is head toward Augusta and find a motel along the way for the next couple of nights. We might even find one near a town with some nightlife," I suggested. "You did say you liked to have a good time?" "Yes I did," she replied. "Then go pack you shit and we will go to breakfast and decide where to stop first," I said. I just signed the bill at the motel office and replaced the company credit card in my wallet after the swipe. Like almost everything else I owned, the wallet was special. It was new and a two compartment wallet. It was large enough to have one compartment that held folded currency and a second compartment with an aluminum roof flashing lining for credit cards. So I slipped the credit care back into the special compartment. It also held my driver's license, personal debit card, and two insurance cards. With the checkout complete, I went back to the SUV and found Reggie walking out to meet me dragging her suitcase behind her. "Lets go find a good breakfast and a cheap motel," I said. "Gee, this sounds almost like my last date," Reggie said. ------- Chapter 108 Reggie and I drove off heading for Portland Maine. It seemed like a reasonable place to stop for a couple of days. Reggie was a true pixie. Since Joan had roadies to do the equipment toting, a pixie as a gopher was fine. Reggie probably weighed less than my one hundred and ten pounds. Well one ten when I wanted to impress someone. It was sometimes a light in the ass one hundred and five pounds, but sometimes it was a too many donuts, one hundred and fifteen pounds. The heavier weight was also, when I didn't run or ride my bike enough. She was a couple of inches shorter, but on her the full weight thing worked. She had a smaller frame, but a larger chest. She also had hips that made jeans look a hell of a lot better on her. All in all she was a great bait chick. That is the girl, a less gorgeous girl took with her to attract the men, So she would win them over with her charm or willingness to screw. It wasn't why I allowed her to come along. I did it just because I thought she would be fun. Since I was putting her on the company expenses account, sort of, it cost me nothing to let her ride along. If she proved to be a bother, I could always push her out in the cold. Well maybe not, but I could ignore her easily enough. We stopped at one of those pancake house restaurants for breakfast. All the chrome and glass places were wearing me down. Hometown restaurants might suffer from my absence, even when I got home. There was less adventure in chain restaurants, but also less gastrointestinal issues. "So are you a permanent employee of the promoter, or just summer help?" I asked. "Summer help, I'm a college student in the winter," she answered. "Oh what college?" I asked. "Do I have to answer that?" she asked. "Of course not," I said. "I love a mystery." "Good," she answered. I took a better look at Reggie. Her hair was red and her skin pale, so it was probably her real color. It had also been enhanced, that hair color didn't come for God. It was to vibrant and there was a more natural color showing on her roots. She could have gotten her outfit from my bag. She wore a tee shirt and jeans. Well she did have to wear a bra. She was much better endowed than me. Where I wore military style boots or running shoes, she wore leather slip ons. Her clothes fit really well, which led me to believe she came from money. She was also too well spoken to be a gopher for a rock promoter. "So how did you land the job working for the promoter," I asked. "Family connections," she answered. "My mom knows a lot of people, she is an accountant." "So you had your choice of jobs and this one sounded like the most fun?" I asked. "It got me out of town for the whole summer," she said. "Ah that works," I said. "In our rebellion stage are we?" "Yes, I guess that had something to do with it," she replied. After a moment to think she asked, "How about you, what was your path here?" "Used to be in law enforcement," I said. "Now I'm hiding out from law enforcement," I had thought it was just a smart ass comment, but I realized there was some truth to it. "Well, I'm glad you are here. You know you are quite the role model." she said. "Hardly," I said "If you have finished eating, lets get back on the road. We need to find a cheap motel." "Not too cheap, I hope," she added. "I'll keep that in mind," I said. The motel turned out to be an Econo-lodge at the first exit to Portland. I didn't even ask the rate for the double room, I just handed them the card. "You know I'm sure that Swamp Dog is going to bill the promoter for this room, so Joan is going to pay, sort of," I said. "Good, then I don't feel so bad," she said. "You know I don't believe for a minute that you cared anyway," I said. "I'm sure it would have ended up on your mother's credit card in the case of an emergency." "Then why do you think I am here. I told you I'm not gay," she said. "Well I figure you didn't want to be alone on the road and I was the only game in town, if you didn't want to go home. It okay I know that being on the road alone in a strange place is scary," I said. "Regular Sherlock Holmes aren't you?" she asked. "Hardly, anyway Watson bring in your bags and lets set up shop," I directed. After the bags were in she asked, "So now what?" "You bored already. Damn I'm the one who should be bored," I paused a moment then went on. "You ever take a run in the pouring rain?" "God no, it sounds awful." she replied. "Well if you have any running shoes that aren't designer type, or ones for which you paid less than a hundred bucks, you can come with me on my run. If not you can watch TV. You could use my computer, but it is password protected. Of course you probably have your own. I suggest Imaslut, com got some great pics." It was a little cool out but I put on a dark long sleeve tee and a pair of gym shorts to run. I didn't were the running suit it would be miserable when it got wet. I might be a little chilly, but I could dry these rags out on the shower rod, if worse came to worse. "I see you decided not to come along. That's a good choice," I said. "When you get back we are going to Walmart for some ordinary clothes. Things I can run in tomorrow," Reggie said, "Right you are Watson," I said with a grin. "You know I'm not gay right?" she asked. "Of course dear," I said with a grin. I had no idea how it would work out, but I was sure it would be a nice change for us both probably. I ran an hour in the pouring rain. It was really quite miserable on one hand and fun on the other. I have no idea why I had found the cold rain fun to run in, but I had. When I returned to the room, I found Reggie sitting at the desk by the window. She was punching keys on a laptop that looked an awful like the one I owned. "Well you dared me to crack the password, I had to try. I have been at it since you left," Reggie said. "So how did you do?" I asked. "Well it isn't password, Sylvia, or Porter. I tried a lot of job related words as well. So you have really done a good job with it." "Then to you are no cypher expert are you," I asked. "No, I'm an accounting major," she informed me. "My how exciting," I said. "How did you get in law enforcement," she asked changing the subject. "I saw the one tee shirt with a police logo on it. You obviously don't wear it, so you keep it as a souvenir," she said. "Well done," I said. "You don't mind that I went through you bag?" she asked. "If you hadn't told me I would have. And if I really had something to hide I would have hidden it. Like I did this," I said removing the Glock, and the .38 from between the towels in the bathroom. "What if I had taken a shower," she asked. "Your hair was wet, when I first spoke to you this morning. Not the I ran to the car for a clean top wet, It was soaking wet from the shower, By the way I'm glad you aren't so prissy you need a blow dryer. Anyway, if you took a shower three hours ago, and you hadn't had sex, why would you shower again?" I asked. "Hide in plain sight, I love it," she said. "I might be even less prissy than you. Even if my running shoes cost more than yours, and I wear designer jeans," She knew that I had noticed, I thought I liked that about her. Shall we go look around town. I will even buy you a cup of designer coffee," I said. "Oh no, we go were ever you want. I am so fucking tired of Starbuck's and all that shit," Reggie said. "Good let's go see what is in Portland then," I suggested. She was all smiles as I went into the bathroom to take a warm up shower, I needed so badly. When I finished I put my wet clothes in the black plastic garbage bag with my dirty ones. Okay we have to do laundry for about an hour and a half. Then we have the Walmart trip for you, before we stop for coffee," I said. Then I added, "Okay?" "Sure, but what about your running shoes?" she asked. "Well they go into the dryer at the laundromat. If they fall apart this time I spend fifteen bucks more for a new pair," I said. "Sounds reasonable of course you are ruining your feet wearing cheap shoes," she said. "Yeah, when I get to be seventy I will have to wear those old lady shoes. Oh yeah, I will be an old lady, if I live that long," I said. "Right," she said sarcastically. "Well Watson let's make a break for it," I said after I had the, 38 tucked safely in the pocket of the cargo pants. I was wearing the forest green ones, along with one of my black tee shirts. Because I was still cold from the run, I put a white dress shirt with long sleeves on over it. It was a chilly rain after all. We found a McDonald's on the way, so I bought two large coffee's black. I was surprised when Reggie didn't insist I get her some creme or sugar. She really was trying to be a good sport. I could tell when she made a face at the taste. "Sweetie you can only tell if the coffee is good when it is black. Ask any coffee expert, like a truck driver or a cop," I said at the face she made. When we settled into the local restaurant facing the water with coffee, she finally looked at home. Well as much as a rocker chick wannabe could in a fisherman's restaurant. I mean that it was a real sit down, full service, coffee in a real cup, kind of place. As opposed to the coffee from a paper cup that I usually drank. "The rain falling on the ocean makes the coffee taste even better. "It would still be better with creme and sugar, but I'm determined to learn to like it," she said. "Good for you. And I want to compliment you on the clothes you bought. You spent less than a hundred bucks and got a lot of stuff." "It's hard to believe I could get so many tee shirts for that. I mostly have worn button up shirts to hide my boobs but since you don't, and I'm going to be hanging with you for a few days, I don't want to look like a nerd, when the boys compare us. I assume there will be boys?" she asked. "There will be boys for sure," I said. I had even bought a pair of shorts myself, since there would be boys. I had asked the waitress, and one of the slutty looking clerks at Walmart, where was the best places to go for a drink. One place made it onto both lists. The lounge at the Portland Inn. ------- Chapter 109 Reggie and I spent the afternoon just driving around town. We checked out restaurants for dinner and where exactly the Portland Inn was located. The Inn was a very fancy name for a shabby downtown motel. It was obviously outside the downtown rehab area. It was headed toward oblivion, and should be there in a few year. It was a good thing we got to town when we did, if we wanted to hang out there. "So it's dinner at Elizabeth's Italian restaurant and then on to the Portland Inn's lounge," I suggested to Reggie. "That Portland Inn looks pretty seedy. Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked. "You are the one who told me she wanted to see how people, who have never been to Starbuck's live," I reminded her. "Yes, but that place may be a little more grunge than I can cope with," she suggested. "All right little girl, you can either get picked up while having dinner at Elizabeth's Italian, or you can come with me to the Inn. I'm going, with or without you," I admitted. "What do we do, if we both get lucky?" she asked. "I guess we play it by ear. I will tell you this, it wouldn't be the first time I did it with another people in the room," I replied thinking back over the last few years. I definitely did not plan to tell her how it happened. "Alright, let's go back and watch the news on the computer, then get dressed for dinner and the lounge," Reggie suggested. The news was depressing but I refused to allow anything to depress me. I managed to ignore the parts that would have brought me down. Reggie and I took turns at the hot shower. It didn't run out of hot water, so they had a great tank somewhere. We were each in the shower for a long time trying to shake the bone chilling cold rain. For me it was worse, I hadn't been warm since my run in the rain in the morning. I just could not shake the chill, but I was determined to go through with our evening out. It was way past time I got away from the job. On the news I really bummed that there was even more shit in Afghanistan. It was never going to end. I personally liked George Bush's style, but he should have consulted with the Russians before he sent in troops. His replacement decided that it was a war, we could actually win. Every politician was so arrogant, they refused to learn the lessons of history. They were even going to allow a country with a half dozen nukes to blackmail us into giving them millions in aid, which they passed along to our enemies in the field. Jesus we were in effect buying them IED's, like the one that rattled my brain. If I had the money I would sue the government for my brain injury. Okay, It wasn't a permanent thing, but it sure scared the hell out of me. What the hell was I thinking, I was in the room with an almost beautiful young woman and we were about to go out for a night on the town. Why was I letting those times resurface at that moment. Maybe I was brain damaged after all. "Hey Reggie, we can't go to dinner till after seven and it's only four what the hell you want to do till then," I asked. "Well I h ave already told you, I'm not gay, if you had that in mind." She said it with a smile, so that I wouldn't lose my temper at her. It probably would have worked on anyone else. "Look Reggie, sex between us is not an option. You have told me, you are not that kind of girl, and I don't force myself on people. Plus we are employees of the same people. That is the second no, no and third and most important, I just don't find little girls attractive," I said. "Well I guess you told me," she said angrily. "Yeah, well you shouldn't answer questions before they are asked. Now would you like to go to the movies this afternoon. It's to cold and wet to do anything outside," I said just to piss her off. "Oh that's what you meant," she said. "Yeah, we could dress for dinner then go to the movies and dinner. Then, if you don't want to dress slutty, we could go from there to the club. If you do, we could come back and change," I said. "What are you planning to do," she asked. "I thought I would come back after dinner to change into my slut rags," I said. "Oh I can't go in there looking all prim and shit, if your are going to do that. Okay movie, Italian food, and then orgy," she said. "I was only kidding about the orgy." "It's alright I think I know now that you are all talk. Just be careful some of these New England fisherman types might not get it like I do." I said. "Most likely you won't get it either," she said with that pixie smile again. "You are hopeless," I said. I on the other hand was not smiling. We managed to find a revival theater in town. Lots of towns had them in their renovated downtowns. It was a old but small theater. Most of those theaters were grand old music halls. This one probably seated a hundred people. It had a 4PM showing of Casablanca. I couldn't believe it, when Reggie said she had never seen it. "Well that will never do. You can not grow up without seeing this movie," I said. "I saw it on the public broadcasting channel late one night. I always wanted to see it in a theater. There is a different feeling watching a film in a theater," I said. "Alright I will skip the latest teenage vampire movie and watch Casablanca, but who is Humphrey Bogart," she asked. "What a dork name." I just shook my head. Before the movie we had a large coffee and filled our pockets with candy. I raised hell when they tried to keep the coffee out. I told them we would be happy to buy his coffee, if he sold it. With that he backed down a little. I didn't think he would really try to keep us out, just because he didn't sell coffee. So it was a boggy, black coffee, and sour candy kind of afternoon. Life was good for ninety minutes. After those ninety minutes, I had to come back to reality what a bummer. I shook off those reality feelings as Reggie and I walked out on to the rain soaked street. The rain had stopped but the air was still damp and chilled. Reggie and I went to dinner at Elizabeth's. The food was good and the coffee wasn't bad at all. I had a salad with about a hundred things in the huge bowl. It was filled with fruits, veggies and lots of deli meats. The restaurant was Reggie's choice, I hate pasta, I hadn't told her because there are lots of things I hate. Since that is the case, I learned to find edible things on most any menu. The restaurant was warm and I think we both appreciated that most. The coffee after dinner was great. Reggie had some kind of Italian desert I had never heard of, but I didn't mind I kept my mouth shut and Reggie never knew. It was after eight when we arrived back at the motel. "So what you gonna wear," Reggie asked me. I had bought a slightly more conservative outfit than the biker slut one, at walmart. The top was soft knit, but cut just above the waist, rather than barely covering my nipples. That I wore over a pair of short shorts, not a skirt the same length as the short shorts. I also wore panties, something I didn't do with the biker slut outfit. I did make up my face the same as I did for the bikers. I wear make up so seldom that it always looks like shit on me. Reggie took one look and redid my eye makeup. It looked the same to me. Reggie said it made a different statement. I had to believe her. since I had no idea what the hell she was talking about. I drove the SUv back into Portland and found my way back to the Inn without too much trouble. "You sure you want to do this little girl?" I asked Reggie. "Oh yeah, it's time I cut loose a little," she said. "Maybe this will be like Rick's Cafe American." "I think this is going to have a lot less class than that. Most likely the entertainment will be a juke box with country and western music." I said. "How do you dance to that?" she asked. "I don't think there is a lot of dancing, but I could be wrong. Since this is a thousand miles from the kind of bar I'm used to, it could be really classy," I knew it my heart it wouldn't be. I wasn't prepared for what I did see upon entering the lounge. There had been a middle aged white woman at the registration desk for the Inn. The lounge however was almost all black college kids. Well at least they were the age to be college kids, so that would be my guess. They were all dressed casually but none had anything that would make me think street thug. Reggie and I would have recognized it, since we were babysitting thug pretenders. "So Reggie, you want to leave?" "I'm fine if you are," she said. "Well we are badly out numbered, but I didn't come to fight." It was a good thing since I had only the flat box opener with the snap off blade. It was hard to tell I was armed, but was also impossible to frighten anyone into behaving with it. So it was a weapon of last resort. "Let's at least have one drink If you feel uncomfortable after that, we can leave," I said. "If they play any hard rap music, it is one drink and I'm out of here," she said. "I second that," I agreed with a laugh. That's the only kind of music I had heard for two weeks. Well except for my traveling music. We found out quickly there was no table service. It was a do it yourself bar. I decided on a beer since it seemed to be the only thing in the joint with a reasonable price. The draft was a dollar a glass, so I planned to pay for one. If I couldn't get someone to buy the next round, I would be out of the place. I ordered two planning to carry a draft back to the table for Reggie. The young man who approached was definitely more Reggie's age than mine. "Hey I saw you two come in. If you aren't meeting anyone, I would love to buy those for you," he said. "We aren't meeting anyone, so sure you can pay for these, and join us as well," I said. "Good I Jamal," he said. His accent was definitely New York or somewhere close to it. We were back at the table when I said, "I'm Sylvia and this is Reggie." "Wow you are both gorgeous," he said wide eyed at Reggie up close. "Well thanks, but I think you meant Reggie," I said with a laugh. "Oh no, I meant both of you for sure," he said. I knew damn well I couldn't compete with Reggie she was better built, had great hair, and really a great personality. Hell if I was a man, I would be mad about her. Hell if we didn't work for the same boss, I would still be mad about her. I smiled and sat back to enjoy him flirting with her. I sort of encourage him to sit nearer to her. Alright I wanted to see how she handled the flirting. ------- Chapter 110 It was a very short time later when another young man approached the table. "Hello, would you like to dance?" he asked me. "Are you sure you mean me. I'm kind of old for you," I said. "I like hot older women. Besides you look like you can uh dance," He said smiling suggestively. I thought about it really hard for about half a second, then I stood and followed him onto the postage stamp sized dance floor. There were about half a dozen other white women in the place, and they were all on the dance floor. That in and of itself made dancing close a requirement. He held me tight against him while we moved more or less in time with the music. I began to feel things and to notice my reactions. First I felt the nipples on my breast harden. I had the feeling that he felt them too. It should have been fairly easy, after all I wore no bra. Pretty soon thereafter I felt his erection press again me. It was big and as hard as an old water pipe. Then I felt the slippery sensation between my legs. "My god you are hot," the younger man said. "I guess, I should say thank you," I replied. "Not unless you mean it," he said. "I might, if I though you did," I said seriously. He spun me around so that my butt rubbed against his cock. He also held me close then his arms crossed over me. Yes you guessed it, his hands rested on my breasts. He was close enough so that no one heard when he whispered, "You like this don't you?" he asked massaging my breast and tweaking my nipples. Everyone on the dance floor could see, if they weren't too busy to look. I honestly wanted to lie and tell him no, but I just couldn't. I didn't dare speak loud enough for him to hear me, or I would have alerted everyone on the crowded dance floor, so I just nodded my head. I thought so," he said. He made the same move as before and I was facing him again. "Do you have good pussy Sylvia?" he asked. "I have been told I do," I said in a breathless whisper. "I guess I will have to find out for myself, what do you say Sylvia?" He asked. "I'm here with my friend Reggie," I said. "I know, I guess that means I will have to fuck you both," he said. "I think Reggie is going to have her own man," I suggested. "Then I'll fuck you tonights and her tomorrow night," he said. "Does that sound good." "Yes, it sounds fine, for you," I said. "But she and I are sharing a motel room. It would be a little embarrassing. Her watching might be a turn on, or it turn out to be just embarrassing." "You would like to find out wouldn't you?" he asked. "I have no idea how I would find out," I suggested. "Well I could dance with her, then get her to agree to join us," he said. "Or I could talk to the dude with her, and see if he could get her to join us. Would you agree to that." "If you can do either of those, or get her to watch and not freak out, I will take you back to our motel," I said in agreement. "By the way my name is Randy," he said to me. "Of course it is," I answered. That's Reggie and Jamal." I added. "Jamal let's got get a drink," Randy said when we returned to the table. The second young man stood and walked behind Randy. It was obvious that Randy was the alpha male. When the were away from the table, I asked Reggie, "So what did you think of him?" "Jamal? He's okay, but I really think I like Randy better," she said with a laugh. "So how about both of them?" I said. "I think they both might ask us to go home or take them back to the motel." "Well Jamal is harmless," she said. "So would you want to go back with him and Randy, or just share Randy?" I asked. "Well either idea sounds good to me right now," Reggie admitted. I simply nodded and awaited the two men's return. Only Randy returned. "I'm sorry Jamal had to return return to bar he is waiting for his girl friend. I'm sorry Reggie, he is meeting someone later." Randy said. I recognized it as bullshit. I wondered it Reggie did as well. If she did, she didn't let on. She just shrugged. "Would you dance with me," Randy asked. "I don't think Silvie would mind." "Not at all, we are both her to have fun," I said ignoring the pet name he had called me. He and Reggie stood and walked to the dance floor. He smiled at me but Reggie wouldn't even look at me. I knew what the plan was going to be already. Randy didn't plan to share us with anyone. I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about that. Randy was going to get quite the deal, two women for two bucks. That had to be the best deal he would ever get. When the two of them returned to the table Reggie's face was flushed. "Ready?" he asked me. I didn't answer I just stood. I turned to the door. When we got to the parking lot he said, "Reggie is going to ride with me. Just to be sure I don't get lost." And to be sure she doesn't change her mind, I thought. "That's fine. If you get there first you will have to wait in the car, I have the only door key." It was a small lie. I actually had both door keys just to be sure I wouldn't be walking into an ambush. He just might not be what he claimed to be. When I got into the SUV I wrapped my hand again. It had been out of the wrap since we got left the motel. I brought it along just in case, so now it was the case. If I had to move it more than just a little, it would hurt less with the elastic bandage in place. When I got to the motel Reggie was standing by the door. "Where is Randy?" I asked, when I was near her. "He went to the coke machine," she answered. I nodded then asked, "You sure you are good with this?" I asked. "Are you good with watching us. I know you said you would be are you still?" she asked. "Randy hadn't told her the truth about his plan. I decided to wait and see how he planned to manage it. "I'm fine with just watching," I said. "Of course I'm fine with fucking him as well." I added. "You wont make a move on him will you. I rather like the idea of a strong man for a change." "No honey I won't make a move on him," I promised. "You do know what might happen though." "Nothing I don't want will happen to me, he said," Reggie repeated it. "I can promise you that as well. If you say stop, he will stop that I promise you," I meant it too. He might be bigger, but I assure you I was badder than any college kid, \. No matter how bad he thought he was. I went into the room. Before I stripped off the shorts, I recovered the .38 and slipped it under the bed out of sight, but not out of reach. I sat on the bed furtherest from the door. Randy came in the room with one of the ice buckets that the motel kept by the ice machine. He also carried two cans of coke and plastic cups provided by the motel. He mixed two drinks one for each of us. Sure I was a little concerned, but not so much that I didn't want to go along. "Here you go," he said handing me one of the cups. "You know, I think I'll hold off on that," I said. "Randy, you don't need that." "Nothing but coke in it." he said. "If I hold a gun on your head and search you, I won't fine anything?" I asked. Ordinarily I would make him drink the coke, but the truth was he would enjoy the feeling probably. "Okay, it's just to help you relax," he explained. "I'm relaxed enough," I said. "So is Reggie." "What are you two talking about?" Reggie asked. "Randy here just wanted to be sure you were going to relax and cooperate. It's okay, it doesn't mean anything." I said to her. I wasn't quite ready to give up on Randy, but I was damn close. He walked to the bathroom, then poured the drinks in the sink. "Well, how about a real drink," I asked. I used his coke and mixed it with a bottle of cheap bourbon I had laying in the bottom of my duffel bag. Then we all sat on the edge of my bed to watch TV while we drank. "Damn that's good stuff," Randy said, breaking the tension. It took three drinks and half an hour but Reggie had time to think things over while she got more relaxed. She was all in and that's what I wanted to see from her. Randy began to kiss and manhandle her body. I was enjoying every second of it. The whole thing was lite only by the light from the TV. I couldn't see the small details, but I could sure see the larger moves. I could see his hand under her tee shirt and most likely inside her bra but I couldn't see that last part I had to imagine it. He broke the kiss and said something to her. She moved away and lifted her arms over her head. He stripped the tee shirt from her body. She reached behind and unclasped the hooks of the very pretty lace bra. She was breathing through her mouth from the excitement, when he bent to her. I could see what came next. Not too clearly but I could see him lean forward. I knew he was sucking on her small hard nipples. I saw his hand cover the over breast. He was massaging it and tweaking the nipple. Reggie was gasping for air. She was more than willing, she was an active participant at that point. She held his head pressed again her breast. While she gasped for air. I could feel my panties flood with lubricant. It was as if it were happening to me. I watched as Randy forcefully removed his head from her breast. He stepped back and said, "Strip for us." It was the first time he acknowledged my presence. "You heard me strip for us," he demanded. I was about to call a halt to the game, when Reggie stood and removed her pants. She had a beautiful body. It was hard for me not to gasp at the sight of her body. Her breasts hardly sagged at all. Her belly was perfectly flat and her hips barely flared on the sides. Looking back, I am sure the light dim, colored light of the TV helped, but she was beautiful. Randy stood and began to undress in front of her. He was stood naked to the waist before us both. He was medium dark for a black man. His body was that of a amateur athlete. "What's your sport?" I asked speaking for the first time." "I play on the basketball team," he said. I nodded and again was quiet. Shortly there after he dropped his trousers. His penis was straining against his shorts and he too had a wet spot in his underwear. He had to struggle to get his underwear off. When he did I heard Reggie gasp. It was probably her first black penis. "So you like my dick," he asked Reggie. She couldn't answer. "Answer me." "Yes I like it," she said in a voice not even I could recognize. ------- Chapter 111 He turned so that I could see his full length and thickness. His cock was big, how big exactly I had no idea. I was sure that it was going to cause some discomfort for both Reggie and me before this night was over. He didn't ask me anything I think somehow he knew I wouldn't cause any trouble so he was concentrating on Reggie. I couldn't say that I blamed him any. She was more his age and more attractive than me. Much less likely to have any experience with this kind of thing. "Kiss it," he demanded of her. Reggie looked first to see if he was joking. Then she looked at his cock for a long few seconds, finally she looked at me. I couldn't help it, I nodded that it was okay. She moved slowly from the bed where she was seated to kneel in front of him. She held his cock in her hands while she planted a kiss on the had of it. She tried to move away but her said, "don't stop." She continued to plant kiss after kiss on his damp cock. Soon she seemed lost in the feelings of the smooth cock. She kissed it willingly and even licked it with the tip of her tongue and first. After a few minutes she was licking it with a much longer tongue stroke. Finally without being told she began to stroke his cock and cover the tip on the head with her mouth. She was sucking up all the pre cum as it oozed from his cock. Probably not a good idea with the size of that thing, she was going to need all the lubricant she could get, I thought. I said nothing of course. When Randy had enough, he bend and moved Reggie so she was on her knees still, but her chest was positioned on the bed. Then Randy knelt behind her and tried to enter her, but she was too tight. I saw him reposition and try again with what was a steady pressure. It was the kind of pressure a machine exerts. Nice even driving force that he exerted on her. She was sobbing as he continued to work his way into her body. "Tight pussy," he said to me. "Are you this tight Silvie?" "No," was all I said. "I bet your ass is this tight though, isn't it?" he asked. "Yes, I would think so," I said not daring to say more. He was working the last of his cock into her, when he said, "Come hold my balls while I fuck the little one." I moved over and then I knelt down beside him. I supported his testicles with my hand while he pumped slowly into Reggie. "Ask her if her pussy hurts," he demanded of me. "Does it hurt?" I asked. "No damn it ask her what I told you to ask," he said sounding angry. "Reggie, does your pussy hurt?" I spoke the words half heartedly. "Yes Silvia, he is hurting me, but I'm okay. I don't want to stop." she said. I would never have recognized her voice, she was almost sobbing. "Tell her what you are doing Silvie," he said. "Reggie, I'm holding his testicles while he does it," I said. "Silvie do it right, or I will really hurt her," he said smiling. I knew he could and would, if I didn't play along. Even though I could have, I didn't want to stop him. I am ashamed of that. "Reggie, I'm holding his balls while he fucks you," I said. "Knowing that makes it better doesn't it Reggie?" he asked. She was having a full emotional break down, when she almost screamed, "Yes." "Reggie do you want me to finish fucking you first, or do you want to see me fuck Sylie first?" he asked. "You can see her in pain like she is seeing you." "Please do her I want to see," she said in a stronger voice. He backed up to remove his cock from her. "You heard her Sylvie, but kiss it first," he said. I turned to face him. His cock dangled in front of me. I placed both hand on his turgid cock and kissed it. I kissed the head and used my tongue to lick the thick lubricant off the shaft. I could taste both him and Reggie on it. It make my heart pound. "You love it don't you slut?" he asked. "Yes I love it," I knew my lines and it was easy to say them because I did love it. I was an earthy animal taste and it invaded my senses. "Suck it for me," he said. I immediately took his cock inside my mouth even though it hurt. My mouth was open more than was normal. There was no room to move it inside I could only suck it. That wasn't really enough of a sensation for him. I knew then how Reggie had felt and why Randy was ready to move on so quickly. "Turn around Sylvie, and lay beside Reggie. I want her to see your face while I fuck you." Randy explained. I did exactly as he said. Even though I wasn't as tight as Reggie, he still had to work it inside me. But once he was inside, he was able to move freely. I could feel him massage me from the inside out. It was a wonderful feeling, because I was wrapped so tightly around his cock. I know Reggie saw my face drawn into almost painful look. I certainly was not having anything recognizable as pain. It was pure Ecstasy mixed with lust. His driving cock lost it's rhythm and I knew he was about to cum in me. I silently begged for it, but he pulled his cock from me and walked to the side of the bed were Reggie lay. He was at her head, when he reached over and forced her to turn it. He put his cock to her mouth. He began to stroke it. I saw him tilt his head back. I knew he was almost ready to cum, "Do not swallow this, but take it all in your mouth." He said it in a loud demanding voice. "You are going to kiss Sylvie and share with her?" I had a shiver run through me as I heard his words. Then he groaned and I knew he had just cum in Reggie's mouth. Before he even finished cuming, he turned her head back to me and I kissed her. She opened her mouth and I slipped my tongue inside and felt the warm thick cum that filled it. I sucked a large amount of it out of her mouth and into mine. I felt Reggie turn to me and hold me close while she rocked in my arms. Her orgasm sparked my own spontaneous orgasm. Randy helped Reggie to her feet. He kissed her tasting his own cum. Then he helped me to my feet and did the same. "Clean your Master's cock sluts," he said to us both. It was hard for me to believe, but Reggie and I both knelt in front of him and took turns kissing and licking his cock clean. He was rock hard when we finished. I was surprised when he dressed and left. Reggie and I were exhausted. We were also embarrassed and didn't want to talk. She got in her bed and I got into mine neither of us bothered to brush our teeth. When I awoke at five the next morning Reggie was still sleeping. "Reggie, it has stopped raining do you want to run?" I asked. "Yes, give me a second," she said almost crawling into the bathroom. "Sylvia, I can't run." She said when she came out of the bathroom. "I have a burning pain inside of me." "Okay take a couple of Tylenol it should pass," I advised. "Don't you hurt?" she asked. "Yes, but I'm going to run anyway. The pain probably isn't as bad for me." I said. It was true that I had been stretched previously and that I could deal with pain better than Reggie. She was still looking for a pill, when I left on my run. I tried not to think about the pain, or the wet panties, it caused as I ran. I was already tired, when I started but the run knocked me out. I barely made it the full hour. When I returned to the room, Reggie was in bed but she wasn't alone. There was a strange black man with her and Randy was watching. She had to have let them in, so I wasn't too worried. I also had the box opener. I could cover the damn room with blood, if they were forcing her to do this. I needn't have worried Reggie was almost screaming. "Fuck me," to the second man. He was covering her mouth, which almost got his ass killed, till I realized why. "You want to join in or just stand there watching," Randy asked. "I just ran. I'm really not in the mood," I replied. "What has your mood got to do with anything. A good slut is always willing to fuck. You are always willing aren't you?" he asked. It was the confident way he looked at me that cause me to look down and say, "Yes." "Then come here and worship my cock," he said. I walked to stand in front of him and then kneel. I reached up to work his cock from the restraining underwear. I kissed and tasted his cock with Reggie's moans in the background. I couldn't help the excitement that ran through me. I was shaking badly when Randy began to force his cock deeper into my mouth. I gagged but he didn't stop working it in and out of my throat. He and I both knew he wouldn't get I down my throat, but he was enjoying my discomfort as he tried. After several minutes of gaging and having my air cut off he finally came in my mouth. I swallowed as quickly as I could, but even so a large amount of his cum slipped out of my mouth and got onto my running suit. "See Sylvie, I said I liked a hot older slut. The little one couldn't have done that without throwing up." I looked up at him and saw the other one standing beside him with a limp cock. "We will be back this afternoon. I have an appointment with the scholarship committee right now. When we come back we are going to fuck you both in the ass." he said. When they had gone I said to Reggie, "We are either going to leave here, or I'm going to shoot that arrogant bastard's cock off. Which do you prefer?" "I love that cock, so I'll be packed in five minutes. I won't even wait for a shower." she said. "That sounds about right to me," I agreed. It took me about ten minutes to pack up my shit and fill the duffel bag with it. I slung it over my shoulder then went to the SUV to await Reggie. "Do we need to talk about this," Reggie asked. "Let me tell you something Reggie. We can talk about it, we can joke about it, we can even relive it, but we don't have to do any of that. We can ignore it and hope it goes away," I said. "It won't go away will it," Reggie asked as we prepared to pull out of the parking space. "It never worked for me. Eventually it always comes back to haunt me. Whether it is sex, or the job, it always comes back around." "Yeah, I kind of figured that. So could we make a stop on the way out of town?" Reggie asked. "You change your mind and decided you want me to kill them," I asked smiling at her. "No, I need some Tylenol. My pussy hurts," she said bursting into laughter. I of course laughed with her. We waited till we found a convenience store outside of Portland before buying the Tylenol. I also used the company card for gas before we left. ------- Chapter 112 We hadn't been told what motel the show employees were staying in while they played Augusta Me., So we found a cheap one for one more night. We bypassed the motels on the interstate highway, which wasn't far from Augusta. The only economy motel I found in Augusta was one of those chain things. I was owned by the company, It wasn't ones that wad independently owned. Well at least it looked the same as all the others of that brand to me. That led me to believe the build at least built by the company. Regardless, the number on their sign was meaningless. They might have once been $6 once upon a time, but they were considerable more on that day. Instead of checking in there we drove into town and looked for a mom and pop motel, which I was pretty sure would be run by a middle eastern family. "There," I said to Reggie. "It even has a river view. What river I'm not sure, but there is a river running behind it." "You must be kidding Sylvia. That building has to be fifty years old," Reggie said. "Honey, if they have hot water, I'm going to check in there. You can go anywhere you want." "Please, let's go back out to the highway," Reggie begged. "No dear, we are not going back to the highway. Trust me, I will look after you," I said. Of course my cliche was correct. "Hello," The middle aged lady said in a heavily accented English. "Hello. we would like a double room. A room with two beds," I explained to her. "Yes of course, that will be forty dollars," she said. I just gave her my company credit card. The room was on the second floor of the two story building. There was heavy rust on the metal steps leading up to the concrete balcony, which ran the length of the building. "Why are you doing this," Reggie asked nervously. "This is the kind of place filled with hookers and drug dealers." "No dear, that would be hookers and drug buyers," I said. "Dealers might come and go all night, but they would never invest in a room." "Then what the fuck are we doing here?" she asked. "We are here because you wanted to experience life. This honey is a part of life." I explained. "Sylvia you are crazy, but if you swear I'll be safe. I will stay," she said. "You will be fine," I said. Since I couldn't control other people, I hoped I was telling her the truth. After we unpacked. we went in search of a slightly late lunch. We found a downtown cafe. While they prepared my shrimp hoggie, I asked the waitress, "So what is the biggest employer in Augusta?" "The state of main without question," she answered. "Most everybody works for the state." 'Okay how about the second largest," I asked. "Still kinda state jobs. Medical and the college I guess. Lots of fishermen live here, when they ain't out of their boats." she said. I nodded and she went off to get my shrimp sandwich. Which by the way was excellent. So were the french fries. The iced tea needed work though. When we got back to the motel I was a little surprised that it seemed to be filling up. I really hadn't expected hookers and drug dealers. I had just with her fearful appraisal to rattle Reggie. I'm not at all sure they were hookers, maybe more like lawmaker's girlfriends in for a long weekend. I guess they figured that, if everyone else was doing it, no one would break the code of silence. Of course since I had been the other woman more than once, I wasn't going to tell, even if I had known who was who. Reggie crawled into her own bed and I was just as happy to see it. Like I had always said, I didn't need the complications of an office romance. Especially one with a woman. Reggie couldn't afford it either. "Sylvia, wake me in the morning I want to run with you. I'm feeling much better." she said. "I'm going to run down along the river. It could be pretty cold out there in the morning, are you sure those fancy girlie outfits will keep you warm." I asked. "Don't worry I'm hot when I run, even in those little outfits," she said. "I think we mean different things by keeping warm," I said. "Maybe so, but wake me anyway please," she said. One thing about being me, is that I fall asleep instantly. I tell myself it is the sleep of the just, or maybe it is just my ability to turn off my mind completely. Either way the almost beautiful Reggie didn't keep me awake for a second. I closed my eyes and was asleep. I opened my eyes and it was Friday. It was a cool morning in Maine, so I wore lots of fleece when I went out to run. Reggie on the other hand wore lots of denim. She looked better, but I was warmer. Not for long thought. Within minutes we both were sweating. When the hour was up, I told her we were going to run back to the motel. "First one to the door of the room, gets the first shower," she said. she took off running. I followed along behind her. She really did run well. Sure I could have beat her back to the room, but I let her win while making it look as though she did it on her own. Yeah, I know that's the kind of thing you do for someone special. Well I never said she wasn't special. Once we were inside she stepped into the shower, while I sat on the bed wondering what I was going to do till I heard from Joan. In only a few minutes the shower stopped running and Reggie came out of the bathroom naked. She smiled suggestively at me, and I knew she was tormenting me. I could ignore her, but it wasn't going to be easy. "Let me get in the damn shower and cool off," I said with a smile. I stripped off the running suit and my panties and got into the shower. There was no tub in the bathroom it was a shower stall only. I was all soaped up and working hard to get myself clean, and to get the image of a naked Reggie out of my head, when Reggie pushing the shower curtain aside and climbed into the shower stall. Of course she was still naked. She was also still beautiful. "Sylvia I can't forget how I felt last night when you kiss me. My heart rate goes up every time I flash on it, and I flash in it every few minutes," she said. With that she stood close and kissed me with a hell of a lot of tongue. I gave in and held her close. I felt her breast pressed beneath my own. I know hers felt better against me than mine did against her. As I kissed her my hand crept down to her butt. Yes I admit I massaged it. It felt wonderful to hold so firm a butt, most of the men and women I knew had soft flabby butts. I shouldn't have been surprised, when she forcefully pushed me against the wall and under the shower. She grabbed me by my pubic mound and forced a finger into my dry vagina. It hurt but I was paralyzed by the shock. She seemed to be trying to tear the pubic bone off my body, as she tried to lift me and kissed me at the same time. The excitement of the kiss and the pain of the pressure on my mound were blending. Reggie was giving me the two things I needed from sex. Excitement and pain were both emotions on which I thrived. I found my knees growing weak and the almost whining noises coming from me. Sweet beautiful Reggie was causing me great pain. It was hard to believe how strong she was. let alone what she was doing. Sure I could have kicked her butt, but I couldn't find the desire to do it. More than anything I wanted her to keep on kissing me. "You love it don't you Sylvia. You are the big brave Sylvia everyone looks up to, and here you are almost ready to slide down the wall and do anything I tell you." Just then she pulled even harder on my pubic bone. "Isn't that right?" "Yes it's right," I whispered. "I knew it last night. You were just as soft as you thoughtI was, when you were turned on. All I have to do is show you my naked ass and kiss you and you are mine. You are mine aren't you?" "Yes," I said. "I know you have limits bitch and I will respect them, but otherwise you are mine whenever I want, understand?" "Yes, I understand," I said. "Good we are going to have some fun you and I. We have eleven weeks to screw our way across America. You are going to take care of me like I was your baby sister. Well maybe not exactly like I was family. But you are going to be sure no one hurts me, no matter what I do. Aren't you Sylvie?" "You don't need to do this I would take care of you anyway," I said. "They say the way to own a woman is to fuck her ass. Is that right Sylvie. If I can make you love being ass fucked, will you love me forever?"" she asked. "I don't know, but you can't make me love it. I have never liked that," I said. "Not really." "Oh I will make you love it alright, and when I do, I will have you. I will have you forever," she sounded a little psycho. Still at that moment she was the sexiest woman I had ever met of any age. She was standing naked holding me up by my pussy like I was on a stake. The little pixie had fangs it seemed. I couldn't resist her. I didn't try to fight it when she lathered up her hand and put her finger up my ass. I clung to her. The strange feeling of something in my ass was compensated for by the removal of her fingers from my pussy. Yes I was turned on and thought in those terms. Why all of it turned me on and kept me turned on I couldn't imagine, but he sucked on my nipple while she moved her thumb in and out of my ass. I wrapped her head in my arms and rocked her as I felt the relief of the movement in my ass rather than the pain in my pussy. She removed her mouth from my breast and asked, "You want to make me happy don't you Sylvie." "Yes, I want to make you happy," I said. "Want to make me feel good right?" she asked. "Yes, I want to make you feel good," I said. "Good, it would make me happy if you went into the bedroom and laid on the bed. Then if you were to hold your ass open so I can fuck it. I would feel good fucking you ass. Someday you will feel good too, but for now it is only important that it would make me happy." I went into the bedroom and lady on the bed and put one hand on each side of my ass. I felt her insert the slippery vibrator into my ass. She shook my ass as she moved it in and out. After a few seconds of no obvious emotion from me, she slide her hand under me to massage my clit. I came instantly. "Oh yes that is so good isn't it baby," she asked. "Yes so good," I answered. "I know you aren't going to turn in one session, but there will be more. Now let's get dressed and go to breakfast. You can buy," she said. ------- Chapter 113 Once we were dressed the Reggie I had previous known return. She never mentioned the events of the morning, and she acted no different from the Reggie who first ran up to me a couple of days before. She seemed to be a true Jekyll and Hyde, but then wasn't I one as well. After I ordered pancakes and sausage with bad coffee, I asked, "So what do you want to do till we hear from Joan?" "This is the smallest town on the tour, I think. The bosses back in New York had an open date, so they came here. This place is so small they seldom get live entertainment, so we could book it with hardly any notice. It was also dirt cheap. In other words there is nothing to do here, but work." "So, do you want to go check out the venue?" I asked. "Sure why not," she replied with a little girl's smile. There was nothing sexy about her she just looking innocent. I would have doubted my own memory, if I didn't hurt front and back from her actions. The pain was real, if not sharp. So after breakfast we swung by to see the place. "Gees this place looks like a college basketball arena." I said. "Most of the time it is," Reggie replied. There will be good crowds both nights, according to Joan. There are very few live shows that come here. So she thinks even though the music is rap, some folk will come just for something to do. Those, the college kids, and local teenagers both white and black, should make for a couple of good shows." The roadies were already hard at work setting up the equipment for the night's show. I looked the place over and found there were four doors into the lobby but only one big one into the arena. There would be a ticket taker on either side of the door, allowing a two line entrance to the arena. That was explained to me by head of security for the arena. He also said that the dressing area was at the other side of the arena from the ticket entrance. There was one door per dressing room leading to the outside and one door into the arena itself directly from the dressing room. A second dressing room was beside the one the performers would use. It would be empty but an arena security man would check it ever few minutes to be sure it was empty. The door was locked to the outside, but one never knew. They were worried about people opening it for fan to get in free. I was worried about it for someone who wasn't a fan. Since there was just me and Rodney, I decided to have him check it just before we went out with the crew. He would be in the arena just outside the door. I would be inside the door to be sure no one came in who shouldn't. Any other security was on the Civic Center people. I was in the parking lot checking for possible sniper locations, when Joan called. "Where are you Sylvia?" she asked pleasantly enough. "I'm at the civic center looking it over," I said. "Is anything wrong?" "Not at all I just wanted you to check out the parking lot of the Embassy Suites motel. We will be staying there for the weekend." she said. "What is your ETA?" I asked. "About thirty minutes," she replied. "I'll get right out there then. Is Rodney still with you?" I asked. "Yes are you jealous." It was a come on, I thought, but I said nothing. "I'll meet you in the parking lot. Should I check in first since I'll be there ahead of you?" I asked. "If you want sure. I had to book you a small suite even though you will be alone in there. Rodney insisted it not look as though he is with me, when he should be working." she said. "I got the implication. As far as I'm concerned, if he keeps his mind on work, when we work I don't care where he sleeps." Actually I did care since she would be reporting to the company on our performance. If someone screwed up I hopee her relationship with Rodney wouldn't effect her judgment. I also hoped that, if there was a threat against the object of our protection duty, he didn't suddenly worry about Joan more than he should. Of course we were as much window dressing as Soda Pop's crew, so it shouldn't be a factor. "Come on Reggie I have to go out to the Embassy Suites motel and check in," I said to Reggie once I found her inside talking to the Roadies. We drove the SUV back out to the highway. We had checked out of the mom and pop motel already, so it was just a matter of checking into the Embassy. It was a hell of an improvement over the place we had been for sure. I got the key to the suite reserved for the Swamp Dog crew. Even though only I would be using it. I had no idea where Reggie was going to stay, and it didn't really matter to me, since I wasn't turned on at the time. I was in my suite when the tour bus pulled into the parking lot. So I hustled down to great it. Rodney exited the bus first. He stood off to one side white the other stepped into the parking lot. I handed Joan the key to two more suites. She gave Soda a key to one of them and kept the other. Then she and soda were gone. Leaving the tour bus driver to unload the huge load of bags. Soda's crew got the bags they had brought. Rodney got his and Joan's. Then without speaking he went to her suit. I had no idea what arrangements were made for Reggie and the clerk. It seemed that every suite had two bedroom and a little living room and kitchen. It also seemed the second bedroom of the boss's suite was for Reggie and the clerk. So she moved her bag from the company's SUV to her boss's suite. Since she was afraid her boss might feel the same as I did about love affairs between employees, she chose to sleep with the clerk. I found that to my surprise it more than fine by me. I really didn't want Reggie around on a permanent basis. I liked her, but I had a feeling she was like chocolate donuts, I liked them now and then, but I couldn't have them every meal, every day. I mean how much diarrhea can one person stand. Considering what she had in mind for me, the diarrhea comment might be appropriate. Rodney came into my suite and sat on the sofa. "So Sylvia are we okay?" he asked. "To be honest I'm not sure. Do you still have my back, or are you going to be worried about Joan in the unlikely event this gig goes rank?" I asked. "I know it must be a concern, but first I keep Soda alive, then I keep you alive, then and only then I worry about Joan," Rodney said. "Then we are fine," I said. Of course I didn't really believe a word he had just spoken. Only time would tell. I also didn't plan to roll on him. I had no reason to doubt him, except I didn't really trust anyone totally. "So my sleeping with Joan isn't an issue?" Rodney asked. "It will only be an issue, when something happens to make it an issue, then it will really be an issue. You know how I feel about it, but I'm not going to make any reference to it till I am forced. I'm also not going to withhold information from the boss, if it is relevant for some reason." "Fair enough," Rodney said. "Fair or not that's how it is," I said. "And the same goes for you and Reggie," he said as he turned and walk away. I would have asked him what he meant, but I knew better. A confrontation like that would only end in one of us leaving the job. Truthfully I quite liked the job. "Not so fast Rodney, there is nothing going on between Reggie and me," I said. "That's not what she told Joan. I just found this out today, but it looks like Reggie played you. She told Joan, she had you in her pocket," Rodney said. "Do me a favor will you, keep this quiet for a while. I am not involved with Reggie, but we spent the time between the last stop and this one together. I need to work this out before it gets out of hand," I said. "Sure thing Sylvia," he said. Rodney and I drove to the Civic Center, where I explained what I had learned about the up coming event. I had no idea what the crowd would look like but it didn't matter the basic job was the same. When the bus got close, we went to the parking lot and kept an eye out for anyone or anything out of place. Then we rushed Soda inside the building, where we sat on him till show time. I had watched him dress before and though nothing of it. I never got turned on when business was involved. I certainly wasn't interested in the arrogant son of a bitch, but he began to take an interest in me. I didn't like that at all. Something had change during that last break between concerts. I didn't like what I was thinking at all. When time came, we went out to the concert floor in our usual configuration. As usual I had to stop Soda from stopping to kiss the girls. He finally made it to the stage and began the show. For the next ninety minutes I was assaulted by that throbbing crap he called music. I noted the arena was pretty crowded. I wondered how many of the tickets were complimentary and how many were paid. It didn't matter they were still bodies. It seemed there were a lot more drunks than usual, but as long as they didn't rush the stage they were the local securities' problem. We just kept an eye on them as I'm sure the local rent a cops did as well. We are the out of town rental cops, I thought. The show ended with the same song every time. When I heard it start I assessed the number of kids dancing in the aisle. It shouldn't be too hard for Rodney and Soda's crew to clear a way through them, I thought. I just had to follow behind and keep them from tearing his clothes off. I was always surprised how someone wanted a souvenir from anyone, no matter how minor a personality. We got Soda back to the dressing room where he no doubt did more drugs, since they usually ask me to wait outside. They had at least learned to ask in a nice way. Since they were remarkably deferential to me, I always did it. That night they didn't ask, but the pills came out washed down with warm beer. It seemed like they were acting differently toward me. That I didn't like, since it meant something had changed in our relationship. Something that happened during out last break had to be the answer. The only thing that had happened on my part, was Reggie spent time with me. It looked like what Reggie told Joan not only made it back to Rodney, but also back to Soda Pop. Now I did have a problem that needed to be solved. "Guys let's get something straight, I don't work for you. Swamp Dog would not like me witnessing drug use and not reporting it to the law. I will do that if I have to. So put away the drugs, when you see me period. "How about we do this instead." They all unzipped and waved a sea of black cocks at me. "Would you still call a cop." In answer I pulled out my cell and dialed 911. "911 what is your emergency," the operators voice came loud and clear though my phone. "I would like to report a some drug activity." "Wait we get it," Soda said. I hung up the phone. "Now I figure you have about ten minutes to put your cocks away and get on the bus before the cops show up to see what the fuss is about." I said. "You one hard ass bitch. We just got some bad information," Soda's number one man said. "You sure did," I agreed. ------- Chapter 114 I waited till we were back at the Embassy to confront Joan and I did it with Rodney in the room. "Call you little partner in crime in," I said to Joan. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "I'm talking about your little bitch Reggie. The one you sent to set me up, so that I wouldn't tell Swamp Dog about you and Rodney. Get her ass in here so she hears this as well." I said angrily. Angry hell I was ready to explode and someone was gonna to die, if I did." Joan wen to the second bedroom of her suite. She opened the door and said, "Reggie stop cowering and come on out." It took Reggie a couple of minutes to make it into the room. She was shaking. "Now we are going to get a few things straight. Your biggest mistake was sending this child Reggie to set me up. Your second mistake was talking out of school. You should have waited until I actually violated Swamp Dogs rules. The third mistake was trying to put me in a compromising position with TJ Soda. That's when I realized you were trying to get me to violate Swamp Dog rules. See Joan I was off duty with Reggie no harm no foul, but Soda admitted you told him how you thought you could compromise me. I wasn't on Swamp Dogs dime with Reggie but I would have been with Soda. I realize you can make the same argument for Rodney that you two weren't compromising his relation with Swamp Dog, but we aren't talking about Rodney now. The other difference is Reggie has no control over me. She has no power to control what I do or don't do. In theory you do. You wanted your affair kept quiet so you planned to blackmail me." I looked hard at Reggie. "You have no control over me at all, and you never will have. You will stay the fuck away from me, now and forever more amen." "Now as for you Joan, You run the logistics of this tour, and I will run the security detail from now on. There won't be any sharing of responsibility or planning with Reggie. He is to do as he is told period." I said. "Or what?" Joan asked "Or I will expose you to my bosses at Swamp Dog. Now before you say they won't care, they will not want their company's reputation compromised that's their rice bowl. Especially no just because you want to get off. They in turn will call your bosses and tell them we are pulling out protections service, because you can't keep your hand off the help. Your bosses are also in line for a lawsuit for sexual harassment from me. Pretty little Reggie will not stand up to cross examination on the stand in a harassment suit. I have been down the trail once with Warren County, so I know what I can do. Now you might be a fighter, but I assure you I will burn all of your asses. Even your pretty boy Rodney is going down. I won't want to do it, but I will." I addressed Rodney next. "You see Rodney, you knew what she was doing. So it will be your ass on the stand answering, what you knew and when you knew it. Now do we understand each other people?" I asked staring Joan down. Joan looked around to the others who would not meed her eyes. "I guess you have us dead to rights. We will go along for now, but you better watch you back," Joan said. "You never threaten the woman with the power bitch," I said pulling the digital recorder with my traveling music on it out of the pocket of my lightweight parka. The recorder had a very sensitive built in microphone and a one button record feature. I played the accusations and her compliance with my demands. Then the player moved into my traveling music. "I never go anywhere without it." "Now as far as I'm concerned nothing happened here tonight. We go right back to where we were except I am in control of security period. You keep you little agent away from me," I said. I calmly walked from Joan's suite to my own. There I sat down and shook for ten minutes. Then I stood up, found the bottle of cheap bourbon and poured a stiff drink. I pulled up a porno story on the web and masturbated so that I could sleep. I had extra med from the time I broke my hand but I didn't use them. Just before falling asleep I realized I had bandaged my hand all day. I also realized that it didn't hurt too badly. When I woke up Saturday morning, I realized sleeping without the bandage had been a mistake. My hand was throbbing, so I carefully wrapped it. I gingerly put on the running suit and the parka. The parka wasn't to cover my gun. It was to keep out the slight chill in the air. For the next hour I ran and I tried not to think about the mess Reggie had created for me. She found my weakness and that was not a good thing at all. I had to allow myself to do the things I did, but it was almost impossible to resist the urge. I was afraid they might find a way to use it against me again. I finished the run and put the chain on the door when I got back. The first thing I did was make sure my pistols were where I had left them. Since they were I stripped off the damp running suit and took a shower. Since the show wasn't till evening we didn't check out of the Embassy. It would be the next morning before we left for out next gig. I had begun to think like them and I didn't particularly like it. The running suit I laid out on the bed to dry before I took my shower. I wore a thicker red tee shirt with a Henley collar and black cargo pants. I carried the .38 in my lightweight canvas holster with the safety strap made of Velcro in one of the deep pockets, and I wore the Glock in the inside the waist band holster as I left for breakfast. It was more to know where they were than because I was worried about an attack from Joan and her crowd. I was seated in a breakfast diner on the same access road as the Embassy eating a bacon egg and cheese bagel when Rodney sat down. "Mind if I join you?" he asked. "Why do you want to join me. I no longer consider you a friend. If you didn't know about the sting she was trying you should have. If you knew and didn't stop it you should have. If you found out after the fact, you should have told her to stop it immediately before she carried the information she thought she had to Soda to try to compromise me further." After I said my piece I looked him in the eye. "Okay I felt like you were trying to take over the operation. I was looking for some leverage. I admit that but I would never have let her use it against you with the company," he said. "I don't believe you Rodney," I said simply. The statement was so simple but it said it all and it also told him there was nothing he could do to change my mind. "I expect you to do your job as you did before this happened. You are to do no more and no less. If you put Soda life in danger I will have you ass fired, but unless Joan makes trouble I would use the recording against you or her. You can tell her I said that." "I'm not here about the recording. I hear to try to put our working relation back together." "I just told you how it is. Do your job and that all I expect from you." You can screw who you want but your first priority is keep Soda alive and well." He stood and left without ordering. I was glad to see him go. When I got back to the room I didn't have anything to do but watch TV and wait. I made sure the chain was on the door, even though I didn't expect any trouble. I laid the Glock beside the computer keyboard within easy reach. Mostly because the hip holster was uncomfortable. I ordinarily would have put it in the duffel bag but I felt better with it handy that day. There was a knock on the door at noon. I looked out and saw Reggie. I opened the door and asked. "What the fuck do you want?" "Have you had lunch? If not we could go out to lunch and I could apologize." She said. "I do not want to have lunch with you, and I do not want to hear you half assed lies. So just go back to Joan and tell her no deals." "Joan didn't send me." She stood there leaning against the balcony rail looking cute. Worst of all she knew it. "Reggie, let me make this perfectly clear. Stay the fuck away from me. I'm not going to threaten you because I know that's your plan b if you can make up with me. I am asking you to stay away now go." I went back inside and closed the door. "What next," I wondered out loud. I had lunch alone at a drive inn restaurant. I pulled up to a speaker on a post ordered my burger and a girl brought it to the car. It was like 1950 again. I enjoyed the nostalgia of it all. The food wasn't awful. There had never been any love lost between the security and management staffs. That night at the show it was absolutely chilling. Still we made it through it with a minimum of conversation. It was almost all job related. Rodney and I did discuss Reggis a moment. He said, "Reggie is really cute and I don't blame you at all for letting her close to me. "Sure but you know it was all about the black cock," I said mocking him. We both laughed but it was forced. I was determined not to be overbearing just because I could. Rodney was trying to find his place in the new pecking order. When Rodney and I had Soda safely on the bus, I noticed two men caming from the ticket office area. They were headed for a car in the parking lot. They just didn't look right. The were walking fast and looking back. Mostly it was the cloth shopping bag that didn't look just right. The two of them were about ten feet away, when I said to them. "Hey guys my battery is dead could I use your cell phone to call a tow truck." I hadn't had time to tell Rodney they looked wrong. I give him credit he did catch on quick. The two men didn't even acknowledge me. I walked over to cut them off. "Hey I'm talking to you," I said. I was close enough to touch them when one of them swung a pistol toward me. I credit the fact that I'm a woman with saving my life. He hesitated pulling the trigger. I rushed to close the gap between us. He had no idea I was armed, but even worse he had no idea I was wearing a bullet proof vest. Without the vest I would never have reached for the gun. His gun fired as I was drawing mine. I had managed to grab his hand with my injured one. The shot went wild thank god. Meanwhile I managed to get my own pistol out. I stuck it right in his ear. "I expect you want to consider your next move really carefully," I said. He dropped the gun. I looked over to Rodney who was holding the second one by the throat against the car. "I guess I'm going to have to call the police," I said to him. "I think they did," he said nodding to Soda's crew, who were standing by the bus staring all gaga at us. ------- Chapter 115 Having seen Rodney with his big hand around the junkie looking Dude's throat, I stopped worrying about him. He had come to cover my back, when it counted. It there had been a threat to his girl or Soda, he might not have been there. I would not have blamed him for covering Soda, while I dealt with the immediate threat. Of course Swamp Dog was gonna be pissed that we left Soda to take care of two guys running away with a shopping bag full of money. My argument, if Joan made a report, was a man with a gun in Soda's vicinity was a potential threat. Yes it was bullshit, but it would fly. Since her access to cock would be affected as well, I didn't think she would complain. She could probably request I be transfered, and I would never be able to prove that it was her. Just a realignment of forces. It was a good thing that we were having a travel day that Monday because we didn't get back to the motel till 3AM. What with the cops writing reports, then the detective showing up. Just because there was a gunshot, we had to stay and go over the same story with the detective. Then there was all the bullshit from the crew on the bus who witnessed the whole thing. They needed a hero for the little incident, so they chose both me and Rodney. The one comment that summed it up came from Soda's number one man. "I never seen nothing like it. You two running at those stickup men. Me, I was trying to hide under the seat, and you just ran up them and took them on. I ain't never gonna forget that." "It's what we are paid to do," I said. "No ma'am you was paid to hide in the bus and keep my man safe," he said. "Why, I knew you had the bus covered," I said throwing him a bone. "Yeah, I guess," he replied smiling. I had told the truth sorta. A stranger would have had a hard time getting on the bus, even if the crew was window dressing, they were window dressing with guns. When we finally got back to the Embassy I got Rodney off to the side, and said, "Well I got no more questions about where you stand." He simply nodded, smiled and went into Joan's Suite. It took me a while to wind down, but when I did, I slept hard. However it was for must to short a time. Check out time was noon, so I put a wake up in for 10AM. That would have given me six hours sleep. I didn't last that long I was up at 8AM. The first thing I did was cancel the wake up call, then I put on the running suit which was a little smelly, but dry. I took off from the motel and ran till 9:15AM. I got back in time to shower then sit down naked to remove the elastic bandage. I had a feeling the hand was swollen some. Even before the previous night's altercation, I could not make a fist. That morning even trying was too painful. I might have put myself right back at the beginning, therapy wise. With the bandage off, I used my right hand to guide it to the table. It was a little swollen and it throbbed. I though a day or two on the road would take care of it, so I re wrapped it. I searched for and found my sling. I probably could hide the stun gun it there, if I needed to easily access it. I walked from the door at 10AM and headed out to breakfast. I noticed that Joan's suite door was open. "Hey hold up," she said. I stopped outside her door. "I wanted to tell you that was a hell of a thing you two did last night. Nobody got hurt and two bad guys went to jail. Well done." "Is there a but coming?" I asked. "No but, just a big pat on the back," she said. "Why the sling?" "I did a little damage to my hand last night. Nothing a couple of aspirin and a day in a sling won't cure. If you would like to have me replaced, this is a no harm, no foul time to do it." I said it to give us all a way out. "I couldn't, even if I did want to, Soda would have a fit. This time the boss would listen." You are a bona fide heroine. Of course Rodney is a hero as well. I expect even swamp dog would like the coverage, I gave it on the web. Photos at eleven. I will check the local newspaper when they post it on line and add a link to the story." Joan said. "You do that," I replied turning to go have breakfast. "Do you want Rodney to drive today," She asked. "No thanks, we are on downtime. I can make it work to get to the next event. You two have fun," I said. "I would offer Reggie but she is Persona Non Grata, I expect," she said. "Well thanks again, but no thanks. I'll pick up a hitchhiker, if need be, it would be safer. If you want to help, check me out. I'll go back and get my bag from the room," I suggested. I had come to like the chain breakfast joint, so I went there for a pancake and bacon sandwich. Who would have thought sugary syrup and bacon would be so damn good. "Well hello how are you?" the waitress asked. "Why the sling. I saw you yesterday with a bandage, but no sling." "You are very observant, but it is just a ploy to gain attention from pretty waitresses," I said being far to obvious to do any good. Also I was on my way out of town. "Well thanks but I have a girlfriend already," she said. "So what else can I do for you?" she asked looking down at her pad. "I think I'll have your pancake sandwich, with bacon and eggs on it." I said. "Good Choice," she replied heading away to place my order with the kitchen staff. She also left me with a cup of not too awful coffee. It was almost 11AM when I decided what I was going to do. The tour's work crew would take all day that first day and probably some of the next to tear down and load the props. There was also the musician's crap to load. Then they would truck it all down to Philly, where we the next gig was. They would be there probably on Thursday. They were in no hurry since it was Friday before the first show. They would have a full 30 hours, if necessary, to set up. Then they would just stand bye to repair anything that failed. It was a trimmed down but still a pretty much self contained unit. I was free from Monday morning to Friday night with just a ten hour drive to make before Friday. I again would be on the management company's dime Friday night. So I had another three day holiday. I knew I didn't want to spend it in Philly, it was to busy there for me. I decided to go back to the mom and pop, Paki motel instead. I had some good memories of it. Even though I wasn't directly on their dime, I was using the company credit card which would go directly onto the management company's bill. I could have stayed at the Embassy, but I preferred the smaller older Paki motel. Once I was back in the motel, I removed the sling and the stun gun from it. I propped my hand on a pillow to rest it. I was pretty much asleep sitting up when I decided to get in the bed. The very next thing I knew it was time for dinner. I swallowed some OTC pain killers then found a small home style restaurant near the water. The place didn't have a river view, but it did have a decent steak. I had to have hash brown potatoes, since they didn't make french fries. I really didn't want mashed potatoes. The salad they served with the steak was good. I wondered what their objection to french fries was, but I didn't care enough to ask. The hash brown potatoes were quite good enough. I decided to stay away from the lounge, where the big black college men hung out, "Could you tell me where a girl would get a drink in this town?" I asked the waitress. "If it were me, I would go to the dockside lounge down by the river," she suggested. I wondered why the first waitress hadn't mentioned it. "I'll give it a try," I said. "Well if you intend to go there tonight, it is a bit early," she said. "Best to go after nine. If you go tonight, I just might see you there." "That a nice though, and yes I will be going tonight," I said. The waitress had not been flirting. She just meant that she might be headed that way. If she did show up I would know someone there. It was always nice not to be a stranger in a bar. Cutting that steak was a nightmare with the hand in a sling. I had more or less learned to juggle the knife and fork to allow me to eat properly. It took some time, but I did pretty well with the utensils, but I wasn't comfortable with them. I would rather have picked up the steak and bitten it, but that would never do in a restaurant. Of course I could always ask the waitress to cut the steak for me. Now that would be flirting. Instead I struggled. At least I had the good sense to choose a table away from the other diners. I almost wanted to cry from the pain and embarrassment of the clumsy attempt at cutting up the steak. I had started with it and I damn sure would finish. Even so I wouldn't ordering that any more in a sit down restaurant. I would only get it as a take out, so that I could pick it up, when I became frustrated. I left after leaving a nice tip for the waitress and paying the bill. It was a reasonable amount. As I drove back to the motel I thought about dinner. I decided that the hand was going to require more advanced planning because it was never going to be right again, I decided. I had feeling in the hand, so it wasn't dead weight, I just couldn't make it work properly. I would probably never be able to use it completely again. That was what they said after the first round of surgeries. I had no idea, what it all meant at the time I was beginning to realize that I would need to make some real changes. It wasn't going to be like the ribs. I couldn't just wait it out. In time I would get used to not being able to grip things with my left hand. It was only a minor inconvenience, I told myself. It would come around I though, well neither thing was true. I was in for an adjustment period I finally admitted to myself. On the way back to the motel I stopped at a package store and bought another bottle of cheap bourbon. I tried to decide if I really wanted to get drunk, or go to the Dockside lounge and get laid. I knew that a woman almost any woman can get laid, if she really wishes to badly enough. What kind of escape from reality did I really want?" I asked myself. I sat staring at the unopened bottle. I could drink it and masturbate, or not drink it and go to the club and get laid. I walked to the bathroom and got a plastic cup, filled it with ice, added coke and left the bottle unopened. ------- Chapter 116 I took a couple of OTC pain pills and washed them down with the coke. I put the unopened bourbon bottle in my duffel bag. Then I watch a couple of episodes of an old single season TV show on the computer. I had been surprised to find that there were complete sites specializing in those things. Lots of them were perfectly good drama series, which couldn't find an audience. There were a lot of British series on the site as well. It was almost nine, when I headed out for the dockside lounge. It was located in what had once been a downtown cafe. I was absolute sure of it, even without asking. The front window was plate glass. The name of the place had been attached to the glass on the inside then a black background painted. It was the way a really cheap bar would have done it. The bar had been the lunch counter and even had a row of round low stools. The first couple had been removes so that customers could line up there, It was the 'you sever you own table' area. On first glance I could tell that the grill area behind the counter served as a beer storage cooler and keg holder for the five beer taps. They seemed to have several brands of draft on tap. I went to the 'you tote it area'to order a dark beer. The bar maid took my two one dollar bills and gave me fifty cents change. There were cheaper beers, but I only planed to have the one. I looked around to see whether the waitress had shown up. I found that she sure as hell had, and was sitting with two men. I walked to the table and asked her, "So which one is mine?" I spoke before I looked at them. When I did, I thought I might have fucked up. They didn't look old enough to be in the place." "Well this one," the forty something year old waitress said, "is my son. The other one is his friend from school. So I guess you get them both." She said smiling up at me. "I'm sorry. I am still learning not to say the first thing that comes to mind, even if it is witty," I said. "Not to worry, they came to meet you. I told them you might come." the waitress said. "Really why?" I asked. "You are the closest thing to famous, we have around here." the blond young man, who was her son said. "The paper made a big deal about what you did. The TV people picked it up and ran it as well." "Jesus, there must really be nothing happening around here, if I got that much press." I said. "Okay, so I guess you know my name," I said after taking a drink from my beer glass. What are yours." The waitress's son was Jamie and his friend was Bruce. "I am ashame to have to ask this, but what is your name honey," I said directly to the waitress. "They call me Paris at work." She saw my curious look and went on. "I really want to go to Paris one day." "Someone asked her, why she was working as a waitress, and she told them to save for a trip to Paris. They all thought it was a wiseass answer so they nicknamed her that." her son added with a smile. "Well whatever the reason, I love it. To run into a woman named Paris in Augusta Maine will be an interesting story," I said. "I'm glad you find it interesting. Now. tell us about you. We find you interesting. Start with what happened to your hand." "Gee, to explain about the hand I have to go back some." I told the abridged version of Warren County and the abridged version of the Undercover assignment, finally the abridged story of the great dismal swamp shoot out with the SBI. Then the fact that I had gone to work for a private security outfit." When I finished James said, "Holy shit," that was all he said but he had a look almost like he was in awe of me. That was far from what I had in mind. I decided, then and there, to never tell it again. "Yeah I might write a book, but it would be fiction. I actually was a traffic cop in a small town, when Swamp Dog came calling. I never did anything but write a few tickets. I broke my hand in a traffic accident and lost my police certification. They hired me because I work cheap. But I can spin a hell of a yarn." I realized I had ruin my chances to get laid, so I added it's getting late, I need to head on back. I'm going to be around a day or two, maybe we will meet again." "Let me walk you to your car. This place can get rough at night," Jamie said. I saw the look his mother shot at him and said, "I'll be okay but thanks." "Got to take a leak," Bruce said he stood and walked to the door with me. He didn't stop there he walked me to the big black SUV. "You know we don't believer the first story was a lie, the paper did a background check on you and had some of the same things you told us." "Well they get answers to the questions they ask. So they only find out what they want to know for an interesting story." I replied. "Where are you staying?" he asked. I thought about it a little longer than necessary then thought, what the hell, he isn't the waitress's son. "That place down by the river," "What room?" he asked. In answer I showed him the key. Then I got in the company SUV and drove away. When I got home I had pretty much forgotten about him. I opened the bottle of bourbon and poured myself a drink. I had the computer coming on line while I mixed it. I knew that the wait time was a couple of minutes. I took my first sip of the drink as I moved into an adult chat room. I slipped easily into my online persona. My life was pretty much a no go, since I realized it sounded unlikely for a woman to have been involved in so much and still want to sit in an adult chat room. My on line persona was a divorced woman a few years older than me. She operated her dad's business after her retired. So she was a professional woman but of a small business. My online persona was much more believable than the truth. I quickly found myself in a chat with a man who was perfect in every way, if you believed him. Of course I didn't believe a word of it. I pictured him with gray hair, a beer belly and unable to get it up. But unlike him, I didn't care, I could turn off my skepticism after a couple of drinks. I was pretty involved in the give and take, when I heard the knock on the door. I closed the computer and opened the door. Well okay, I looked out to be sure it wasn't my friend from my first night in Augusta. It wasn't, it was both of the young men I had met earlier in the evening. I stopped and thought it over just a minute before I opened the door. "Hi, what are you doing here?" I asked. "You know what we are doing here," the once called Bruce said. "Well, You might be wasting your time, but you can come in anyway," I said. "No, we aren't wasting our time," Jamie said. "We know a horny woman, when we see one." "Even if that would true, I'm not sure I want an audience," I replied. "What audience? We are both here to fuck," Bruce said. "What makes you think, I would do something like that?" I asked. "You just have a butch, slut look. You didn't back off when you found my mom didn't invite you to the club because she was a lesbo," Jamie said. "You swing both ways, and you will do it with both of us. If not you would never have let us in the room." "Gee, you are a real Sherlock Holmes," I said. "Well I must be right, since you haven't denied any of the accusation," he said. "You do have a lot to learn about romance," I said. "Oh and do we need romance," he asked in a very soft voice. One meant to move past the confrontational nature of the conversation up to that point." "No, I guess not," I said. "That's what I thought," he said moving toward me. Jamie was a full six inches taller than me. He had to lean down to kiss me. His mouth was hot and his tongue almost choked me. Then he pushed me to my knees without any further foreplay. That one kiss was all I got, and to be honest it was all I needed. I looked down as I unzipped his trousers. "Look me in the eye?" Jamie demanded. I looked up at him as I finished working his only average penis out of his trousers. I was about to slip into the pit of anything goes, and I knew it. I took his penis into my mouth without any foreplay, since he hadn't bothered doing anything to me. I controlled the movements and depth of penetration, something I had been unable to do with my first Augusta lover. It was comfortable to have him in my mouth. I felt him get all stiff, and thought it's too soon. My mouth filled with his sperm and I swallowed hard to keep it off my clothes. I leaned back and looked up at the almost sleepy looking eyes of Jamie as he stood over me with weak knees. I suddenly felt hand lift turn me to face Bruce. His penis was already out and ready for me. I sucked it into my mouth even more eager than I had been for Jamie. He might have been slightly larger but not enough to mention. They were both just average white boys, when it came to that. He was a little more aggressive. He was not content to allow me to control the whole thing, He wanted to actively fuck my mouth. I couldn't control the movement but I used my good hand to control the depth. He pump and I just make my mouth tight and wet for him. When he came it was an intensity equal to Jamie's. "This is one hot bitch," Bruce said. "Just like I said she loves it." I was over the edge and I knew it. I slipped my hand into my panties and began to masturbate. "Take your clothes off, so we can get a good look," Bruce said. I removed the tee shirt over my head. My cargo pants and panties were the last to go, I had to stand to remove them, so I was standing when I started to masturbate again. I was over the edge and needed to orgasm. I didn't care who knew it or who watched. "Do you need cock, slut," Bruce asked. "Yes," I mumbled, "Beg us to fuck you," he said. "Please, I need your cock," I said to Bruce. "You get me first," Jamie said and pushed me down across the bed on my stomach. I got to my knees with my head resting on the bed. He stood beside the bed and entered my slippery body. I felt his penis pumping me. It had all the same sensations as as I had with the huge black, but without the pain. Yes I missed the pain, but not enough to stop. He kept pumping at me till he came inside me. I was surprised to hear me beg for more. I felt a another hard penis enter me. "Tell me to fuck you," Bruce said. "Yes god fuck me," I said quietly but with an intensity they couldn't miss. He pumped at me until I was on the verge of an orgasm. It was then I felt myself being lifted and another penis on my lips. When I sucked it into my mouth, I exploded into an orgasm with an intensity as strong as I had ever felt. Jamie, who was in my mouth, forced me to hold myself up while the fucked my mouth. All I wanted was to rest, as he flooded my mouth yet again. There seemed to be less sperm in my mouth, but it seemed thicker somehow. "Come on Brice, I got to get home mom is expecting me," Jamie said. "Man you got to be fucking her. She is too jealous, not to be getting it from you." Bruce said. Shut the fuck up Bruce," they said. There there was a blast of cool night air that filled the room, and then the sound of the door as it was pulled shut and latched. ------- Chapter 117 Tuesday morning bright and early, I immediately dressed for my morning run. I had room in the fleece pants for only the box opener for self protection. I probably should have carried the stun gun as well, but it was bulky. It Was also uncomfortable, as it bumped against me in the loose jogging suit. The hour passed slowly because my hand hurt. I had taken my pills first thing and they should have kicked in, but my hand still hurt. Probably the running raised the pressure of the blood throbbing through it. Regardless I was thrilled when the run was finished and I could return to the motel. I took a shower with the bandage off. I was glad to find the swelling appeared to be going down, but I wished I hadn't been so stupid. I should have just let them go and gotten a description of the robber's car. I might give it more thought next time. Then again maybe not, I hadn't thought at all the last time. I tended to just acted without thought. And that hadn't worked out to well, it had gotten me shot twice and last time it set back my healing On the plus side it also got me some great sex. Too much thought could be a downer, I decided. Not enough thought could get also get me killed, I conceded. There had to be a compromise somewhere. Maybe next time I would find it. I went to the cafe by the river for breakfast. It was good but not nearly as good as the breakfast restaurant out on the highway. So I supposed I would be driving to the highway service road the next couple of days. At least for breakfast. There was also a nice steakhouse in the parking lot of the Embassy. After my last experience with steak, I decided to pass on the steak. The mother of the college boy hadn't come to work. It was obvious she worked the lunch and dinner shifts. After breakfast I drove the block to the docks and found a fisherman who hadn't left. The men were storing ice in the hold of a tug boat looking craft. The ice from a covered pick up truck with an air conditioner compressor on top. "You the captain?" I asked the man who was supervising the ice loading. "Over there," he point to a stooped man checking the lines holding the vessel to the dock. "Captain, I would love to be a part of your crew today. I work for free, but I only have one good hand at the moment. I won't be much help with the nets, but I promise I will stay out of the way." "You might be of some help, and if it's free, I will take it. Tell you what you heat the coffee and make sandwiches with what we have on board, and we will call it even for your fishing boat experience. Sometimes we don't get time to eat." he explained. "I can do that and keep the coffee going as well," I said. "Fair enough, there is a life preserver on a hook in the wall of the wheel house use it," he demanded. "Aye aye Captain," I said stepping on to the boat and entering the wheel house. I pulled the oily, old preserver on over my light weight parka. We sailed out and I spent the first hour puking over the side. Then I got all the food out of my stomach and drank some coffee. I even managed to carry the captain a cup. The two deck hands as well. I watched as they put out the net and trolled for an hour then pulled it in. There were a lot of fish that were thrown in the hold, nothing went back into the ocean. I had no idea why but it didn't matter. I began to enjoy the experience. It was noon when I went back to the galley. I made and heated some cold cut sandwiches in the oven. I intentionally did not make one for me. I walked to the wheel house. "Captain how do you want me to serve the sandwiches I made?" "The crew will come to the galley, one at a time to eat. You can bring mine up here." So thats what I did. It was after two when I got things cleaned up. It would have gone faster, if I could have used two hands. For the rest of the after noon I watched the crew pull in the net. They didn't have much time to talk. While the boat trolled there were a few minutes when they rester. "So why the hell are you here," one of the older men asked. "I just wanted to see what it was really like on a fishing boat." I replied. "So what you think," he asked. "It smells worse than I thought. Actually I never even considered that," I said. "After a while you don't even notice the smell. It's like, do you notice how you smell when you are ripe?" the younger one asked. "I always notice, and no I'm not turned on now," I said with a laugh. "Just so you know." "Well you are a damn good sport. You want to go for a drink when we dock," the young one asked. "No thanks, I'm going for a hot shower and a good dinner seated at a table that doesn't go up and down." I replied. "Well, we had a good day," the captain said a couple of hours later. "The hold is full, so we are going on in." It was only about 4PM. "So how late would you stay out, if you didn't have the hold full?" I asked. "We go in by six, if we don't, the ice in the hold melts. We have a small pump to pump the hold dry but the fish spoil soon after it is all gone. Today we are lucky but we will still have to pump out the hold once we unload the fish." The Captain explained. "So why don't you fish for lobster, I thought everyone in Maine with a boat tried lobster fishing," I said. "I started on a lobster boat, but I didn't like it much. It's one of those either you make it or you starve. Fishing for the cat food plant is much better. We throw nothing back. It all pays the same. We don't have to sort or grade the fish. We just dump them in the small truck with the reefer and run them to the plant a few miles up the road." he explained. "Sounds like good steady money," I said. "Yeah the big plants use giant trawlers, but the plant here is too small. They make a real gourmet cat food, according to them. I don't know how a cat food can be gourmet," he said. "Well maybe when I retire, I will came back and buy one of these boats," I said laughing. "You do that. I might be ready to retire by then myself," he informed me. "We aren't through though how about a hand moving the fish to the truck. The older man used what looking like a snow shovel to dump the fish into a plastic box. It weight about thirty pounds but I managed a few of them. "So, am I finished now skipper?" I asked. "Yeah Gilligan you can go, and thanks," he said and he looked like he meant it. "Come back any time." "I just might do that," I said I got back to the motel in time to choke down the twelve hour OTC pain meds, If I had been home I would have taken them at eight hours." My hand was throbbing from carrying the plastic boxes of fish. After my shower it was almost 6PM. I wanted to see the young boy's waitress mama. I wanted to see, if she knew anything. It didn't really make any difference, but it would be nice to leave the area without leaving hard feeling behind. I found my self back in the waterfront cafe. My stomach had calmed to the point that I was actually hungry. Jamie's mother was indeed working. I sat in her section, so I could evaluate her level of concern. "You left early last night. The boy's left a couple of hours later. Did you see them again?" she asked me. I expected her to ask me. So I did what any older woman with a very young man would do, I lied. "No, were they looking for me?" asked to answer her. "No, I was just wondering that Bruce is a dog. He even hits on me," she said. "Well I can understand that, you are an attractive woman," I said smiling. "He says I'm sexy," she laughed. "I'm not doing anything but it is flattering. "I can imagine it is. Hell I would be flattered, if my son said I was sexy," I said. "Not that I have a son." "Well I guess that is true as well," she admitted seeming to take it in stride. "So what will you have." "How about the half pound hamburger but don't bother with the roll just put it on the plate." I said. "How about garlic bread instead of the roll?" she asked. "Sure why not," I replied. The food came in a reasonable amount of time and it was good. I left the waitress, who happened to be the mother of the kid I screwed, a nice tip. I was secretly glad he didn't kiss and tell. I went back to the motel and found Jamie waiting for me. "I came earlier but you were gone," he said. "I spent the day on a cat food fishing boat." I explained. He didn't even change expressions so I guess it was an accepted way to make a living. "Could I come inside. I just want to talk honest," he pleaded. "Okay sure, but you are going to keep it in your pants," I said. "Sure no problem," he said. I didn't figure either of us meant it. When we were inside I gave him the ice bucket and told him where the ice machine was. When he came back I fill two plastic cups and split a canned coke between them. "Now what do you want to talk about?" I asked. "It's my mom," he said. I wanted to say I don't care but I remained quiet. "Did you hear Bruce ask, if I was fucking her?" I nodded my head but remained silent. "I'm not really doing that. She bad a guy at the house last year. I got up to go to the bathroom and saw her. She was naked and on her knees in front of this guy. He was holding her head and moving his dick in and out of her mouth. I watched till he came in her mouth." "Oh how did you feel about that?" I asked. I didn't want to risk saying, oh how awful it must have been, if turned him on. Not did I want to say hot, if he had been revolted by it. So I just nodded and kept quiet. She didn't see me, but the man who was with her did. I knew him of course it's really a small town." "So how did you feel about it?" I asked. "It was like a porno flick, except it was my mother instead of some hot teenager," he said. "Yeah," I agreed. "I went back to my room and jacked off. I have never looked at my mother in the same since. I don't think of her as mom but as some sexy older woman living with me. I swear sometimes she looks at me funny. I think she knows and wants to talk about it, but what if I'm wrong?" he asked. "Well I can't advise you. But you can't always tell what a look means, especially family. ------- Chapter 118 "You can't tell me what to do?" the kid asked. "No Jamie, I can't tell you what to do." I replied. "The ideal thing would have been, if you had never seen her. The second best thing would be, if you could forget it." "I can't forget it. It is like a porno movie playing in my mind. It just comes to me at the oddest times," he said. "Did it loop through, while we were having sex?" I asked. "Yes you become her. It was like I was fucking my mother," he said. "Damn," was all it could say. I didn't know how I felt about that. I didn't think Jamie wasn't BSing me he seemed too torn by it all. I just didn't know what to say to him. "Yeah and to make it worst I have tried some things with her and I get mixed reactions," he said. "Do I need to know this?" I asked. "I guess not. I just don't have anyone else I can talk to about all this," he said. I was about to show my softer side, and I really didn't like that at all. "Jamie I'll listen, if it helps at all. But I will not give you any advice," I suggested. "Fair enough, I just want to talk," he said. "I feel better already." I poured myself a drink then said, "So talk." "After it happened, I kind of got an attitude with her. I couldn't come to grips with her still being my mom. She was like a porn actress to me. I became obsessed with her. It was her that popped into my mind as I masturbated. The image of her on her knees and that dude's cock going in and out of her mouth was everywhere. Then of course it became my cock." Jamie said. He really did look ashamed of his thoughts. "I guess I can under stand that," I said. "I wondered if he knew that I had been sexually abused. I always wondered, if there were signs that only certain kinds of men could see. I shook my head hard to clear it of those images. "So, I sorta kissed her," Jamie said lowering his eyes, when he said it. I thought at the time, that he was truly ashamed of it. "She didn't kiss me back, or anything. That's when I realized she didn't know that I saw her. The guy she was with hadn't told her. I wondered about that. Why hadn't he told her: I asked myself. About a week later I found out why. I couldn't sleep and I was headed for the kitchen for a glass of coke. The door to her bedroom was cracked and there were moans. I knew, if I opened that door, I would see her and her boyfriend fucking. Honest I just couldn't stop myself, something came over me and I opened the door. He was doing her dog style. They were faced away from me, but he must have heard me, because he turned his head and smiled at me. He began to pump her harder. The bastard wanted me to watch. I hated him and myself for it, but I couldn't stop." "What did you see. I mean what did you really see?" I asked. "I could see it all in great detail. I could see his thick cock move in and out of her. She moaned, he told her to beg. I know he did that just because I was watching." Jamie said. "Well did she," I asked. I shouldn't have but I couldn't stop myself either. "Yes she said, 'Fuck me please fuck me.' Then he asked, 'Where do you want me to cum?" She said, 'In my cunt, Please cum in my cunt.'" "Yeah, I can see how that would make you see her as a porn actress," I said trying to agree without being judgmental. "Why do I have this feeling it wasn't the only time?" I asked. "No it wasn't. He kept it up till they stopped seeing each other, almost a year." he said. "Surely she knew?" I asked. "Somewhere in there he told her, and they had a big fight, but it didn't stop. I don't know what caused them to break up, but they did." he said. "So, did watching your mom have sex stop after that kinky boy friend," I asked. "It actually got worse, if that is possible," he said. "Bruce the friend who was with me, while we did it. He somehow talked her into having sex with him. So it kind of started over again. Only I was in the room from the start. I discovered what turns mom on and makes her so crazy, she didn't mind doing all that shit with him, while I watch." "You are seriously telling me she screws your friend, while you watch?" I asked. "Yes I's true, I swear it is," he said. "I though since you did me and Bruce, you would understand. She is we first were in the room together." Then I understood. While Bruce had been in me and I was crazy with lust, Jamie had moved to my mouth. I knew almost for sure that he had learned that move from his mother. It was just too kinky for me to accuse him of it, just yet. How old were you when it started?" I asked "It was two years ago, I was seventeen," he explained. "So whose idea was it for Bruce to screw your mom?" I asked. "His of course," Jamie said. "No, it's not of course. You got your kicks watching mom do it. You and her both knew it, so one of you could just as easily arranged it with Bruce. Then you could go back to watching, and she could enjoy the sex more being watched by you." I suggested. "Alright I had to tell Bruce about watching her, and what all I had seen. He wanted to try it, so I agreed to set it up sorta. Mom had a few drinks in the kitchen on Saturday night after work. Bruce and I were in the den while she did. He went in after she was a little drunk and told her she looked sexy in her night gown. She went to mix another drink and he got behind her and hugged her. His hands were on her tits, while he did. He kissed her neck and move a hand down to her pussy," he said. "Like you told him to. You knew what would turn her on. So did she resist at all?" I asked. "Just a little at first, then she gave up and enjoyed it. I swear it wasn't rape," he said. "Not rape, she just needed a little convincing, right?" I asked. "Yeah, that's all just a little convincing," he said glad to get the way out. "So she struggled a little at first?" I asked. "Now much really, she just struggled a little, when Bruce first held her," Jamie replied. "Yeah but Bruce had his arms around her he couldn't stop her struggling could he?" I asked. "No he couldn't. I didn't want to do it. I really didn't want to do it, but I had to. Who knows what she would have said." he replied. "So you slapped her, not hard enough to really hurt, just enough to get her attention?" I suggested. "Yeah, you do understand," he said. "Yeah I do, so who had her first?" I asked. "Bruce, I just wanted to watch," Jamie said. "How long did it take till watching wasn't enough?" I asked. "I can't imagine that once you had her helpless and terrified that you didn't join in the games." "Honest to god I just watched. When Bruce came we left her to sleep it off. I'm not even sure she remembered the slap." he said. "Well then she resisted the next time Bruce touched her?" I asked. "She wasn't really into it at first, but she didn't resist. Just kind of stared at me," he said. "Oh, she looked at you while your friend raped her?" I said. "How did that make you feel." "Bruce didn't rape her. She enjoyed it. She fucked him and begged for more." he said. "She begged for more, so what did you do?" I asked. "I went around and I gave it to her. She was begging for it," he said smiling. "Like you begged for it." "Well I'm not begging for it now. I will tell you the truth Jamie, I won't ever be begging for it from you again. As I matter of fact I might even talk to your mom and tell her if she wants to put your ass on the street, I have some friends here already. They are the kind of friends who will make sure your ass gets a little persuasion to stay away after I leave." "You bitch," he said and slapped me. "I came here to make you understand, but I can see you never will." He stood and pulled me up. I acted a little cowered like I am sure his mother did. Then I'm sure he got the surprised of his life, when I kneed him in the balls. Then I recovered my stungun and zapped the crap out of him. While he lay on the floor I pressed the Box opener against his throat and explained, "You piece of shit. Let me tell you what you are going to do. You are going to move the fuck out of your mother's house, and you are going to leave her the fuck alone." "Or what?" he asked. "You are going to have a bad accident. The kind where the body is never recovered. There is a lot of fucking ocean, a half hour boat ride from here. Hell you might even make good cat food. Ever see one of those giant grinders they use to make fish loaf for cat food. Take your clothes off and throw your ass into the hopper. I expect there is room for two, if Bruce gets curious. Now do we understand each other." "Yeah," he said much to confident. "I got a couple of fishermen friends, who will keep an eye on you. They will call me if you don't behave. I got nothing better to do than come back here and turn you into cat food. Now get the fuck out of my sight," I stood up holding the box opener. He rightly assumed I knew what I was doing, so he left quietly. Yeah I was bluffing about the fishermen. "I am going to have a talk with his mom tomorrow," I said out loud. I went to sleep before the sun went down, but I did double bolt the door and move a chair against it. I slept with the .38 on the bedside table just in case, of course nothing happened. The best way to avoid trouble is to be prepared for it. It's the law of universal perversion. If you aren't prepared for a thing, that is what will happen, if you are prepared, it will not happen. As a part of that same philosophy, I put on the shoulder rig and wore the light weight parka over it while I ran. After the uneventful run, I went out to the highway for breakfast. Jamie's mom wouldn't be working till noon or so. The waitress in the chain breakfast restaurant was younger than Jamie's mom but not a lot. She was also much less talkative, She was all business and that suited me just fine. I tried to think of every possible thing that might go wrong, while I waited for my breakfast to arrive. Since I wanted to avoid the river side restaurant's busy time, I didn't eat lunch till 2PM. "When Jamie's mother came to the table, I said, "We need to talk." "Yes we do," she agreed. ------- Chapter 119 I hung around till her break came. We went on the patio, which was empty, since it was the slowest half hour of the day. She looked angry when she asked, "Who the fuck do you think you are?" "I thought I was someone doing you a favor, Do you even know what this is about? I asked. "It about you threatening my son's life," she answered. "I sure as hell did that. He explained what her and Bruce are up to with you. I thought you might like the chance to get out from under their thumbs." "Out of what?" She asked. She appeared to be in the dark totally, "The only way I know to handle this is just to ask you. Are you having any kind of sex with those two." I asked. "Are you insane of course I'm not having sex with either of them. They are just kids," I wanted to believe her. Then she asked, "Are you?" Her question left me wondering what the hell was going on. One or both of them had to have said something to make her wonder, if I was screwing them. "I had a little adventure with them, but your son told me you also had a relationship with them," I said. "Jamie would never do that," she said. "Jamie say they forced you at first, but that you had stopped resisting. I figured they raped you and were bullying you now. So I put an end to it." "I don't believe for a minute he told you that, but even if he did, I don't want or need your help." It looked as thought either the kid lied, expecting in some sick way to get a different reaction than he got, or his mama was lying to keep him from getting killed. My guess was the latter, since mothers are known for doing anything to keep their children safe. Well almost all mothers. I wrote my cell phone number on a napkin which I had wrapped about my coke glass. "That is my cell number. If you need help call me." I said it wondering how long it would bd before she needed the help. I was going to call the police, when she called me. I wouldn't be returning to Augusta to help her that was for sure. Since the little prick Jamie was off the hook, I needed to leave town. I figured tomorrow would do. It was as good a time as any. The evening I went somewhere else for dinner. I went to the restaurant attached to the Embassy Suite where I had stayed. It was a little too expensive, but I didn't eat in places like if often. I have some very nice beef tips over oven baked potatoes. It was like scalloped potatoes only better, much better. When I returned to the cheap motel, Bruce was waiting for me in the parking lot. "What do you want?" I asked fingering the box opener in my pocket. I was prepared for anything from them. I carried a full compliment of weapons. I knew they were scared, so I had expected something from them. And sure enough there Bruce was sitting in the parking lot. "I would like to talk to you about Jamie's mother," he said. "What about her?" I asked. "She isn't who you think she is," he said, then asked, "Can I come in to explain?" "Sure why not, I really didn't think things could be any more confusing, but I guess I was wrong." I said. "Not sure what you mean, but you need to know this, so we can get an ending that won't bring you back again," he said "Okay, so what are you going to tell me that will send me away for good?" I asked. "Jazz, Jamie's mother set you up that night in the bar. She knew you were looking for something, and said it might as well be me and Jamie. She is no victim in this whole thing. She isn't bisexual, she has set us up before. We always tell her all about it in great detail, when we get back to her place the next day." "Okay Bruce, tell Jamie that, if what you all have said it true I won't be backm but if she ever calls that number, he will be cat food. Understand?" "Yeah, she won't call no on Jamie, me maybe but not her little boy," he said. "Is he really fucking her?" I asked. "No, she just gives him blow jobs. What that is all about I have no idea, but it's all I have ever seen. That is what he always says, so I guess it is true. I have never seen a woman seem to enjoy giving him head as much as she does when she is sucking his dick." "Okay, so everyone walks away no harm, no foul," I said. "As long as she never calls to ask for help, so you two better make sure she stays happy." "Right. I don't suppose you would like to do it once more time before you leave town?" he asked. "Sure honey, just not with either of you, so go home and forget you ever met me," I said. "So, is that what you are going to do?" he asked. "Absolutely, I replied. I showed him to the door and bolted it. In spite of what I told him, I went to bed. I really just wanted to forget all the conflicting stories, and get the hell out of Augusta without any more drama. When I woke up I ran my usual hour. I should have been feeling better about the run, but I still hated it. I was able to leave my hand unwrapped as I drove to breakfast. I had the lumberjack breakfast at the chain restaurant. I wasn't planning to stop for lunch, so it seemed the reasonable thing to do. I ate as much of it as I could. There was just too much food for a skinny bitch like me to get down. I made myself and egg sandwich from the left overs before I left. It seemed the reasonable thing to do. I was about to Climb into the SUV, when I thought Swamp Dog would be paying for my meals everyday I was away from home. So I put the food in the grassy area by the sidewalk. Maybe a stray dog or even a raccoon would find it. Then I headed the SUV toward Philadelphia. I was expecting about a ten hour drive with stopping time, Since I left Augusta at 10AM, I figured to be in Philly about 8PM. That being the case, I called Joan to get the name and location of the motel where we would be staying. "So Joan where are we going to stay?" I asked. I spoke into the cell phone as I wrapped the bandage around my throbbing hand. I had gone as long as possible without it being wrapped. The bandage held the bones in place and the hand hurt much less with it in place. "There is another Embassy Suites out side Philly. We have the reservations. but your reservation is for Friday and Saturday only." she informed me. "It's okay I will find somewhere near there. Swamp Dog is picking up the tab, Which means you will be picking it up, in the expenses section of your bill." I said hanging up. Yes it was sadistic to enjoy hearing her try to control her temper. I heard her say, "Whatever," and then the click of a broken connection. The whatever was suppose to make us even, but instead of being angry, I laughed. I found the turnoff for the Embassy Suites motel. Beside it, as it have been in Augusta, there was another high end motel. But farther down the road in what was the low rent and beside a convenience store which sold gas, sat an Econo Lodge. I decided to check in there. I didn't have to, but I was still working on the impression I made with Swamp Dog. I had really come to enjoy the assignment and wanted others. Since I was next to a convenience store that sold gas, I filled the SUV up After I put a hundred bucks worth of gas on the card, I did the registration thing. The room was really nice for a second rate motel. It was a far cry from the Paki motel on the river in Augusta. I didn't care much for the area, I was going to have to run in. With some luck it would look much better in the daylight. The Econo Lodge did not have a lounge, but the motel next to it was equipped with a restaurant and lounge. It was 9Pm when I got to the restaurant, so I ate dinner then went into the lounge to pass an hour or so. Since I was within walking distance of my motel, I planned to blow off a little steam. Since I had decided before I left for dinner, I wore the slinky top and the tight jeans, I didn't have a lot of shape in the jeans, but the fact that I was skinny hid that pretty well. The knit top with the spaghetti straps did wonders for a flat chested girl. Especially if she didn't wear a bra. I was in good shape, since I never wore one anyway. A couple of guys asked me to dance. I danced once with an average type nice guy, before I met Emil, He was most likely in the country illegally, but I didn't give a crap about his politics. When he slow danced with me, he had great rhythm and what appeared to be a great cock as well. He wasn't especially large, but he was especially hard. His cock stuck out in the thin cotton pants he wore. He also placed my hand on it after the first dance. Unlike most of the men I met in the lounges, Emil wanted to dance, even when I had my hand on his cock. We danced a half dozen times and I enjoyed each and everyone. The waitress said to me, "Honey we don't mind a little dirty dancing here, but he is trying to dry fuck you every time you go out there. You guys really should leave." I said to Emil after we left, "I have been kicked out of better places." "Me to," he agreed in his heavily accented voice. After a second's pause he went on, "I am having too good a time to leave now." "We need to leave now or they will call security. I don't know about you, but that would be embarrassing," I admitted. "Yes I agree. Why don't you come with me?" he suggested. "I don't think so," I replied. I was waiting for him to make me the right offer. "Then I will go with you," he suggested. "That might not be a good idea," I said. "Sure it is. I know exactly what a woman like you wants," he said trying to convince me to take him home with me. "And what is that?" I asked. "You all want to be choked on cock. It doesn't have to be long. It is better if it isn't. Just so it is long enough to enter the throat. So you can gag and choke on it. Tears running out of your eye. Your nose running and finally the explosion of cum. You know it is what you were made to do. Wasn't it?" he asked. I tried to think of something clever to say, but nothing came to mind. Then he raised his voice when he said, "Isn't that what you love to do?" Since I couldn't think of anything witty I just said, "Yes." "It is good that you know your place, Sylvia," he said with that smirk which all men like that seem to have. ------- Chapter 120 "You know you shouldn't have said that. I'm going home I'm not in the mood now." I said it with my hand in my pocket in case he wanted to take a swing at me. Most guys won't hit a girl with a closed fist, but some will. I was willing to take a slap now and then, but I drew the line at a closed fist. He was good at reading that look I shot him, because he said, "Okay, I will write you off as just another stuck up puta," "Okay. You got the last word, now move out of my way. I had to walk through two parking lots to get to the parking lot of my motel. It was a bit more than I bargained for, so I stopped at the convenience store for coffee. "If you hold on, I will fix some fresh coffee," the man behind the counter was old enough to be my father. "Don't bother, this is fine," I said. "You sure, it ain't no trouble. I don't mind at all," he said with a big smile. "I prefer it old to tell the truth. As long as there is no mold, I'll drink it," I said. "You in the Army?" he asked. "No a few years ago I was in the Air Force. I was an AP. Lots of time we drank day old coffee so this is fresh for me," I said. He nodded his head, then asked, "You a cop?" "I used to be one of them too. Now I'm just a rent a cop." I said. "I was a police Sergeant, but they did a reduction in force, when the city had budget cuts. I had enough time for a partial pension, so I took it. They really didn't give me a lot of choice, There were about twenty position they did away with. If you had the rank, regardless of the time in, they wanted to put your name in the fish bowl. I had the choice, put my name in the bowl, or take the pension. I chose the pension and let the younger guys have my spot. Didn't know how hard it was to live on the crappy pension, so now I work a couple of shifts here and there." "Yeah the bastards got me as well. I got my hand banged up, and they declared me unfit and pulled my certification. So I'm a body guard now, but its probably two gigs in one. Most likely it's my first gig and probably my last, a twofer. I said laughing. My name is Tom what's yours?" he asked. "I'm Sylvia," I said. "Sylvia if you would like, I get off at 11pm and that is twenty minutes from now. I still have a drink now in then, in the local cop bar. I would be thrilled to buy you a drink after work," "I'm afraid not Tom," he looked sad with my answer. "But I'm starved and in no condition to drive in a strange town. Why don't you drive me to an all night diner, Some local place you know from the old days. I'll put your breakfast on the company credit card." I said smiling. "Have you ever got a deal," he said grinning quite widely. I found a table by the window used by people eating terrible hot dogs. They bought all kinds of microwave crap so they could save a few minutes. I sat drinking the undrinkable coffee until the middle aged woman working the real night shift showed. "This is mine," Tom said when we reached the three year old Korean car. "Since I drive a Jap car, I like it. How do you like it though,?" I asked, "A hell of lot better than I thought I would. I mean the air bad sign doesn't work. The plugs that cover the bolts for the door panels came off. I was very surprised with the engine and transmission, considering the body is so much tin foil and plastic. No matter how bad it looks, or how many parts fall off, it always gets me where I'm headed." Tom said "That is the purpose of a car. I tell anyone who asks about my crappy Toyota that, if I wanted to look cool, I would have bought a Harley," I said it with a laugh. We shared other trivial things during the ten minute ride to the waffle house restaurant. "I was expecting something a little more home town," I said. "We would have had to go into Philly for that, This place is fine for breakfast that won't have you in the bathroom all day," he said. Over breakfast he told me his wife had died from cancer and he went into a bit of a depression. It was part of the reason they wanted his name in the fish bowl, I told him about my life in the small mountain town of County Seat. "I didn't realize how important it was till they told me they were pulling my certificate. They kicked me out of the safe house with a barely healed hand. I explained about the rehab and the retired British commando who recruited me for the joke of a mission. Tom laughed easily and often, I like that about him. After breakfast he said," I know you are too tired and I need about an hour to get ready, but I you would like tp go out again tomorrow. I promise I will be more fun. It was his way of saying he would like to try to screw me. I smiled at him and said, "Not sure where I will be tomorrow, but I'll look you up for some more bad coffee," "Well that's better than nothing," he said. "Trust me, it's much better than nothing," I said. "Now take me to my motel." "Only problem with that plan is I'm not working tomorrow. So here take my card and call me when you settle in somewhere," His card was like what they sold online by the hundreds, Okay, I'm going to change motels tomorrow, when I get settled I'll call. I would invite you to run in the morning, but you don't look like a runner," I said. "I'm not. You can tell by the thirty pounds of extra weight," Tom said. "Make a deal with you, I won't mention the extra pounds, if you don't mention how skinny I am. Remember, I have been sick," I said it laughing. "Done." Tom said. He drove me back to the Econo Lodge where I fell asleep and slept way too hard. I was up at five and couldn't get my head out of my ass before I ran. If I hadn't been so tired, I might have stopped running, since my body was trying to tell me, I was in for a nasty cold. The exertion just kicked my ass. I could hardly make it to the Embassy Suites when Joan called at 11AM. I felt like shit but I went to the venue, with Rodney at the wheel of the SUV. We made sure the exits where secure and the entrances covered. Philly was going to be a big deal. Most likely bigger than New York. We had Philly and Camden NJ to worry about. "Sylvia, you look like shit," Rodney said. "You don't look like a princess yourself," I replied. I tried to keep it light. "You need to see a doctor," Rodney said. "We have a show tonight and two tomorrow, I don't have time to be sick," I explained. "I'm not sure you are well enough. I don't want to go out there in that mob with someone who isn't a hundred percent," Rodney commented. "Maybe you can show up, but you can't do shit." "And what do you suggest," I asked. "Call Swamp Dog and get a replacement." Rodney suggested. "He couldn't get anyone up here for tonight," I replied. "I know a retired cop from Philly," Of course you do," Rodney said with a laugh. What if I get him to come along as backup. The two of us ought to be as good as the healthy me." "Have you known him long enough to vouch for him," Rodney asked. "I will vouch for him. You make the call Colonel Martin or whatever name he is using this week," I said. "Tell him if he doesn't want to pay my friend, I will pay him." Rodney removed his cell phone and made the call to Swamp Dog. When he returned, he said "Martin said it was your call. He said to make a cash with drawl of $300 and if costs any more you pay the rest. You are also to go to a doctor and get a diagnosis today. Then you are to decide, if you can continue. However, I am to report on the safety of Soda, and whether I feel safe with your man. I am also to send all his information to the office for a quick background check." "I will call him while I am waiting to see the doctor." I said. He was going to wait for Joan and the roadies to finish, before he went back to get ready for the gig. I checked in at the reception desk, then sat down. I called Tom. "Hey Tom this is Sylvia. Do you remember me from last night?" I asked. "Of course, I was hoping you would call," he said. "Tom are you working a shift anywhere else this weekend?" I asked. "Nothing I can't get out of, why?" he asked. I need to find someone to be my backup tonight. If you are interested there are three rap music shows spread over two nights at a hundred bucks each," I said. "And I get to be with you, that is a no brainer. Of course I'm interested," he said. "Tom this is business, after the last show maybe then we can do something. But not till it ends on Saturday night. Do you understand?" I asked. "Yeah, I got boss lady," he said. "My boss is going to do a quick background check on you. Is there anything in your past?" I asked. "Nope, I'm as clean as a choir boy on paper," he said. "Good then I'll call back after I see the doctor," I replied as I hung up the phone. I quickly call Rodney with the information. I knew that I was going to have to tell the doctor everything, so he could make an educated guess as to what I had. I answer everything he asked honestly. I especially mention the diarrhea. After a half hour and a couple of quick blood test he was ready to see me again. "Okay here is the deal, you have an elevated white cell blood count. I think it is either a short term virus, or a mild case of food poisoning. Either way all I can do is give you something to keep you out of the toilet. I can give you an anti fungal to kill whatever you got hit with if it's mold." "Old coffee," I said. "What do you mean." he asked. "I drink day old coffee. I don't like fresh coffee. I could have been contaminating the new coffee with the old till it got me. I never completely empty the cup." "Yeah that would do it. For god's sake wash the damn cup, when you get home." He said with a grin. He also cleared me to work. I got word that Swamp Dog cleared Sergeant Tom Brady, formerly of the Philadelphia police department, to work for us temporarily. I called and told him to meet us at the venue and to bring a pistol, if he had one. NOTE : I AM ENCOURAGING ANYOTHER AUTHOR WHO HAS A BLOG OR A SERIAL GOING OR THINGING ABOUT DOING A SERIAL, TO PUT LINKS TO IT IN THE COMMENT SECTION. I ALSO ENCOURAGE READERS TO READ THE COMMENTS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND THERE. NO SPAM PLEASE I WILL DELETE IT AS SOON AS YOU POST IT. ------- Chapter 121 I felt a little better at 9PM, when Tom and I followed behind TJ Soda, as he walked quickly to the stage. The horrible thumping shit they called music began immediately. The warm up band had been pretty good, if you liked hipidy hop music. The warm up bands were always locals. Some how the promoter always hired the best band in the area to warm up the crowd. Usually they weren't as good as the band that night though. Mostly it was a cover band that did a lot of bump and grind shit. So it was kind of nice to enjoy the music that came through he walls of the dressing room. Okay enjoy may not have been the right words, but I didn't want to take a Mac 10 to them either. Rodney, Tom and I stood at the bottom of the stage waiting for the shit to end. When it did, we hurried him to the dressing room. I told Tom to go inside as I rushed to the bathroom. I couldn't decide which end to hang over the toilet bowl first. I managed to work it out, but when I finished I found Tom and Rodney in the parking lot. The bus was pulling out. "You Okay," Rodney asked. "Sorry guy's. I think it is the flu. The doc said there is a two day version of it going around. I should be okay tomorrow." "And if you need help in the middle of the night? I think I should move in the extra room and make sure you are okay," Rodney said. "Sure you do that, then we both get to deal with a pissed off Joan. I think I would rather die than spend two more months wath a boss who has a hard on for me," I said it drifting back to the days in Afghanistan with my choice of those words. Tom put his hand on my forehead. You have a fever, look I got nobody waiting on me at home. I left Randy with my daughter. I can call and she will let him sleep over. I can stay with Sylvia to make sure she is okay. I'm working with you guys tomorrow anyway. I can run for a change of clothes for tomorrow night. I won't have to leave her till after the show. Maybe a night's sleep is all she needs, if not she will have another day to mend." "Is that okay with you Sylvia," Rodney asked. "Well he doesn't look like a rapist. If he is he will be easy to find, he will be the one covered with vomit." I said. "Gee that sounds romantic," Tom said. "Just telling it like it is, so you wouldn't get any ideas, you horny old man," I commented. "I guess I don't have to worry about her. But Tom keep your pistol handy. Sylvia is a horny old lady," Rodney said. "Thanks Rodney I will. I would hate to lose my virginity to the boss," he said. "That is just so trampy. Do they still say that?" Rodney and I both said, "No," and laughed. "You want me to drive you back to the motel," Tom asked. "No, I'm good. Meet me at the Embassy Suites. You know where that is?" I asked. "On the same road as the Econo Lodge," he said as confirmation. "That's the one," I said heading for the SUV. "Unit 23" "Are you okay to drive?" Tom asked. "I already answered that," I said. I looked at the day old coffee cup in the car and I tossed it. That insulated travel cup had cost me five bucks, but looking at it made me ill. I dry swallowed one of the anti nausea pill and then an anti fungal one as well. While I was at it I took the OTC pain pill. I wanted to barf and crap again, but I headed the SUV for the motel. I decided along the way that I wasn't going to make it but I did make it to a McDonald's. I found the bathroom to be clean. I didn't get much more than water from either end of me. I did buy a milk shake on the way out. That chocolate milk shake was the best thing I had ever had. It calmed my scratchy throat and seemed to sit on my stomach well enough. I took all those pills again since they were no longer in my system. Tom was waiting by the door when I arrived. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I stopped by McDonalds for a shake." I said to him. "Not a problem," Tom said with real concern showing on his face. Once we were inside I handed him a hundred dollar bill. "Just to prove you are really working, not just babysitting for nothing." "You don't have to pay me to stay the night. I'm no whore," he said laughing at me. "That was for the concert, not sleeping here. If anyone pays you it will be Rodney, so he could sleep with Joan. Frankly I doubt she is worth a hundred bucks," "Damn, you are mean when you are sick," he said. "Mean hell, I'm a real bitch, when I'm sick," I said to correct him. "Yeah that to," he replied. "I'll make you a deal. If you go to the lobby and get us a couple of cokes, I'll buy you a drink." I suggested. "You sure you are up to drinking?" he asked. 'I'm not, but you can have one. There is no need to deprive yourself for me," I said. "But what if I'm a mean drunk?" he asked. "I have a 10,000volt stun gun, a .38 revolver, a Glock model 22, and two very sharp box openers, being a mean drunk would be a very bad idea." I admitted. "I'm not a mean drunk. I just wanted to know you could protect yourself," he said. "Good, now you know," I said. "Now I know," he agreed and went for ice and the cokes. When Tom returned I had the bottle of cheap bourbon sitting on the small table. He sat down and put the two canned cokes and the ice bucket down. The table already held two of those disposable cups. Tom made himself a drink. while I poured coke in a glass. Unlike Tom's, my glass had nothing but coke. I drank it and held it down just fine. "So what does the doc think," he asked. "48 hour flu or fugal infection," I said. "Bad coffee?" he asked. "Could be," I admitted. "Bummer," he as he took a big pull on the drink. "You know that shit ain't music," he said. "Yeah, I know. I expect them to break out, with kill whitey, any minute, Probably won't, since white kids in the 'burbs spend the most money on that shit," I replied. "Yeah, how the hell do they get so twisted?" he asked. "TV," I replied. "Yeah I guess if tell it loud enough and long enough it becomes the truth," he said. "10-4 Herr Goebbels," I replied. "What do you think we are talking about here?" he said. "The collective white man's guilt," I said. "Since I'm not a white man, I don't buy into it. But if I were. I probably would buy into it." "Did you ever do a spade?" he asked. "More than one," I said not objecting to the words he used. After all Tom was old school and they were just words. "Is it true about the size?" he asked. He didn't seem to be getting an attitude. "Sometimes, but not as often as they want you to believe. Probably the average is a couple of inches longer, but I have met white men just as big or bigger. Besides size isn't a big deal, unless it is a big deal." I said. "Now that's, deep," he said. It took me a second to get it, when I did I said, "Painful." "Good pain?" he asked. "The best," I replied. "As pain goes, it beats the hell out of a fucked up hand." "Yeah," Tom said. "Tom did you ever watch porno films on line," I asked after a minute of silent thought. "Sure everybody does," he said. "Yeah they do, The trick is how does the makers get paid. Would you believe these days it's all about the advertising. They have some boutique film makers. The advertiser orders what he wants, the producer makes it, then puts it on line with the advertisement." I said. "O--kay," Tom said. "Let me show you one," I found Mary Ellen's web site. I entered, 'Cindy fucks Black Monster' into the search line. The screen filled with a dating service adv while the porn downloaded. Then the film started and there I was sitting at the table watching my self with the man from the dance club in Dobson, It only lasted seventeen minutes and change, but it was all hard core sucking and fucking. There was a link to a paid service to see the unabridged film for 99cents. But the real profit was from the advertisement on the first page for the dating service, and the one that would flash while it downloaded the full film for just 99cents, "Holy shit Sylvia that was you. Did you need money that badly?" he asked. "No I needed the experience. At the time I made that film I was a deputy sheriff." I said. "I have to admit, I have never watched interracial porn, but that was hot. Did you do more." he asked. "Yeah you can find them at the website. This is just between you and me. No one else knows," I said. "Why did you tell me?" he asked. "You just remind me of someone. It's no big thing," I said. "Now I think I can sleep. I'm going to bed. Tom, I lock my door." I was still tired when the five o'clock bell went off in my brain. That morning I rolled over and went back to sleep. Then Tom knocked on the door. "Sylvia it's noon you want to go to lunch?" he asked. "Sure hold on a second." I got out of bed where I had slept in only my tee shirt from the day before. I went to my pants and removed a ten dollar bill. I knew I needed something, but it wasn't coffee. "While I shower would you run down to the convenience store and buy me a carton of chocolate milk, and one of orange juice." "Sure no problem." Tom said as he stared at me, After he left I manged to drag my ass into the bathroom. I turned on the water in the shower. It was really hot by the time I got in. I finished the shower and realized I needed to empty my bowels, but I wasn't nauseous. I took that as a good sign. It was still a little watery, but better. I also felt like I was on the mend. I didn't feel feverish at all. I came out of the shower then brushed my teeth. I entered the little sitting room with wet hair, but wearing a clean tee shirt, panties and cargo pants. The tee shirt was the Russian commando rip off, the panties were white cotton bikini style and the cargo pants were the black ones I wore whenever I was almost out of clean clothes. It looked like a laundromat Sunday for sure. Tom came in a few minutes later with a plastic grocery bag. "The convenience store doesn't carry chocolate milk so I went to the grocery store," he explained. "I knew I could count on you," I said with a smile. "Well, are you feeling better?" he asked. "I'm already thinking about doing my laundry tomorrow, so I must be. Yesterday I just wanted to find a quiet place to lay down and die." I said. "Good, the job is over tonight," he said with a smile. "No promises," I replied. "Same here," he said. ------- Chapter 122 The job went off without a hitch, both shows, Best of all I was fully engaged. I watched over the inside of the dressing room, and I walked Soda to the stage. When the show ended, I watched group change, then put them safely on the bus. "Well Tom it't over and I will be moving on tomorrow. So would you like to come to the suite again?" I asked. "Sylvia, I have a lot of respect for you. Most of the women I know would still be in bed whining about how sick they are. The stories I have heard about you would make most of the cops I know jealous," He said. "Okay I know there is a 'but' coming, so let's have it," I said. "But I need to get back to my dog. I have left him alone with my neighbor long enough," Tom said. "You also think there is a catch to this somewhere. Why would a woman half your age invite you to come sleep at her place?" I asked. "Yeah that came to mind," he said. "And there are the videos on line." "You are a prude," I asked smiling broadly. "Well you have to admit some of them are pretty hard core," he said. "Of course I admit it, but I don't apologize for it." I waited a moment before I continued. "We can at least be friends can't we?" I asked. "Why of course we can," he said. "Like I said before, I have nothing but respect for you," "Good then before I pay you for the two shows you did today, lets go to breakfast. You can call this a perk of the job." I suggested. "Fair enough," he agreed. Since we were in Philly, I let him drive. It was that home town diner I had requested before. Since I didn't like restaurant coffee and the thought of any coffee of any kind made me squeamish, I asked for chocolate milk. Since they had none, I settled on a Coke with ice, "Why not try regular milk," Tom suggested. "I don't like the taste of milk," I said. "The Coke will do till I figure something out." After I finished my steak and egg sandwich on a kaiser roll, we drove back to the motel where Tom's car sat in the parking lot. I handed him the envelope with the tree hundred dollar final payment. I had added one hundred dollars of my own money. It was for staying around a babysitting me. It was the least I could do. I wasn't sleepy, so I went on line and did my research. I used Google to find the best milk additive to make it chocolate flavored. Turns out it was a product that came in a one pound box or in individual packs. It was a liquid which could be squeezed into a glass of milk. The milk could be hot or cold. I figured it was cheap enough, if it kept me on the road and working. Since it was all chemicals it added no sugar or fat to the milk. Also it was all chemical, so it wouldn't grow mold. Then I had to find a place that sold it. That proved to be a problem. As a result I shut down the computer and went to bed. I figured I could make a stop by a Walmart on my way to the laundromat. It was 5AM when I woke up. I didn't want to run, but it had nothing to do with my health. I didn't want not to run any more that day, than I hadn't wanted to run a week ago. I forced myself out the door and did my hour's run. I ran down the service road before anyone was awake. It was the safest time to run. Even so, I almost got hit by a car as I ran along the side of the road. I swore for at least the tenth time to get some kind of marker light. When I got back to the motel I added it to my paper list for Walmart. I filled one of my plastic trash bags with dirty clothes. I kept them rolled up in inside each other, till I was ready for the laundromat. I trusted no one so I didn't go to Walmart while my clothes washed. I spent the full hour and thirty minutes in the laundromat. It was a boring place to be. I didn't have a hard cover book or a digital book. Since there was no Wifi signal, I just sat along with my thoughts. Tom had been a real gentleman, I thought. If I had pressed him, I'm sure I could have got him in bed. I guess that meant I hadn't felt as good as I thought. After the laundromat I went to Walmart. I decided If I had to fix hot chocolate, I would get milk and do it right. If I got milk, I might as well buy cereal and dried fruit. There was no way I was going to carry milk in a hot car. I could however buy all the dry products to fix breakfast. So that's what I did. I had everything but milk. I had enough reconstituted milk in Afghanistan to last two lifetimes. so I decided that it was out of the question. I did add a plastic box big enough for all the dry supplies. I also bought a small cooler. It would hold enough motel ice to keep the milk cold in the room. I was in the check out line, when I remembered the marker. With my cart full of groceries and reflective strips, I rolled into the parking lot and headed for the interstate and on to the next gig. I was on the interstate about an hour, when the phone rang. It had to be Joan I thought when I looked at the caller ID it was blocked. That told me right away it was Swamp Dog Enterprises. "Where you at?" the voice of Colonel Martin asked. "Somewhere between Philly and Baltimore," I replied. "Pull over, we need to talk," Martin ordered. I'm fucked I thought. "Some woman from the promoter called me. It seems she is not satisfied with the security we are providing." I said, "I see." But I was thinking, she called my bluff. She went and got another company. So that is what she had been doing these last few days, "So, What do you want me to do with the SUV. I can leave it at the airport, or let Rodney drive it home or if he wants to fly I'll drive it anywhere you want." I said. "You are not going anywhere. The client said she wanted to keep you. I don't see why she has a picture of you and Rodney with those to thieves. But she still wants Rodney replaced. She seems to thing that Tom fellow we hired, while you were sick, will do fine. I have called him and he is willing, Two months at five grand and expenses. I had no idea people would charged to uproot there lives, so I wasn't surprised. Would you have done it for that?" "Not a chance," I said. "Well don't tell him. Go back to Philly and pick Tom up. I have taken care of Rodney. He is flying home from the airport there but he is taking a cab to the airport." Martin informed me. It looked as though we were finished not even time for a quick goodbye. I had warned him, I thought. Martin said, "One more thing, I made it clear that you were the boss. That woman from the promoters said you did one hell of a job getting Soda Pop and his crew under control." "Well, I'll have to thank her," I said sarcastically. "You better play nice Sylvia," Martin warned. "I will boss," I said. I turned the SUV around at the next exit and headed back to Philly. I hated to see Rodney go especially the way it was being done. He would most likely think it was my doing. Well I knew the truth. I guessed I would have to live with his version of events. He surly would have a different story to tell, when he got back with Swamp Dog. Those are the kinds of thoughts that ran through my head while I drove the SUV to the convenience store by the interstate highway. The one at the end of the Econo Lodge motel parking lot. Tom recognized the SUV before I recognized him. I first saw him walking from the office of the convenience store to the SUV. "Well hello there," he said to me. He tossed his bag in the rear seat of the SUV. "Hello yourself," I said. So is that all the luggage you have?" I asked. "Yeah, I figured I would buy more stuff, if I need it," he said. "That's a good idea, so is there anything else we need to do before we leave?" I asked. "Not a thing," he said. That being the case I had to make the decision about where we would spend the night. "We don't have anything to do before we check the security on the next venue. Today is Sunday and the sun is going down. Why don't we just check into the Econo Lodge behind us. We are on Swamp Dog's dime, so I try to make it easy on them." I said. "I don't have a problem but I could have slept in my own bed tonight, if I had known," Tom said. "That is true you could have. Actually you still can," I suggested. "No, it's okay. We can get an earlier start tomorrow, if we are together tonight." Tom said. "Okay you have your choice separate rooms or one room with two beds." I said offering him the choice. "Truth is I would feel better if we could cover each other's back," he said. "Okay one room, two beds it is," I said. We spent the evening talking about our past again. Tom also liked to drink. I drank straight coke, he was having some pretty strong drinks. "So Sylvia did you enjoy that black cock?" he asked after several strong drinks. "I think I enjoy them all white and black," I answered. "But that black dick was so much larger," he said almost angrily. "Well to be honest it hurt. No matter what they tell you stretching that much dosen't make every woman happy. I found it to be just painful." I said. "To be honest you seemed to be enjoying it. You didn't seem to be in pain." Tom said. "I didn't realize how much pain I was in, until the next day," I know I shouldn't have been, but I felt my breathing get faster and my heart rate go up, all signs that I was getting turned on. "So you were so turned on you didn't realize what he was doing to your cunt?" Tom asked. "I suppose that is true," I replied. I probably should have shut him down while he was still in control, but I chose not to do so. "You took that black dick in your mouth, and made it shoot cum down your throat didn't you?" Tom asked. "Yes I guess I did," I said softly. "You guess?" he said. Okay I did," I said. "Did what?" he asked. "I sucked his dick till he came down my throat," I said. "Yes you did, You might be one tough broad, but you are just a slut at heart," he said. "You could be right, and I could be a warrior princess who uses the commoners and throws them out. when they begin to bore me." I said. "Then I guess I better not bore you," Tom said. "Martin made it clear that when we were on the job site, you were the boss no exceptions, Now I'm making it clear that when we close that door, I am the boss no exceptions." "Alright," I said. "From now on in this room you will call me daddy," he said. ------- Chapter 123 "I don't mind play acting, but get this. I do know it is just a part on the world stage. Real life trumps play acting," I said to Tom, when we got to the room. "Everything is just a part on the world stage, it's all play acting." Tom said. "True," I said. Then after a couple of seconds of thought about my present gig, I added, "Daddy." No, I never saw Tom as my real daddy, nor did I see him as a sugar daddy. I just saw him as a man who wanted to be called Daddy. I was not responsible for how he saw me. "Go take a shower and get into bed," he demanded. I didn't answer I went into the bathroom to shower. I washed the smell of pot and sweat from my body. Then all fresh and clean I got into bed. I said to Tom. "You better hurry the acting stops at midnight." Tom took his bag and went to the bathroom to shower. When he returned, he did so quietly. He slipping into the dark bedroom. Then he slipped between the sheets and I flashed back to own father doing the same thing. I should have been a terrible and shocking memory, except I had already come to terms with it. It was just a memory and it held no power over me, I had decided that all on my own. I didn't need a shrink for it. The hardest thing to come to terms with was that he had made me feel good. Not at first, but after I while, there was no pain only pleasure. That was also a memory the pure animal pleasure, and also the emotional pleasure of pleasing daddy. With Tom, the later memories won out. There was no shame in the bed, that came later when the sun rose. In the dark, and in my warm bed, there was only pleasure. My first real orgasm had come in that bed in the arms of the man I called Daddy. When I came the first time, it was all just perfect. I spent most of my life in search of that first almost painful orgasm. Nothing painful had been going on, it was just a emotional pain of a kind of break through. The gut wrenching, muscle cramping, teeth clenched orgasm. Of course I could never find that almost painful orgasm again. Like any first, it only happens once. Tom was a demanding lover. I was told exactly how to give a blow job, as if it were my first. He talked to me the whole time in a soothing voice. I could remember my childhood reactions to doing it for the first time. Of even being proud when my mouth filled with his semen. I know it was wrong, but I loved it, and was proud of myself regardless. Just as it had happened the first time, Tom kissed me and then left my bed. I masturbated alone in the darkness to the memory of his cock in mouth, just as I had the first time as well. With his bed so close he had to have heard me getting off. Daddy had missed those sounds. 5AM came way the fuck too early. I dressed for my run, then left the room. Tom's was sound alseep, so I didn't ask if he wanted to go. I just took off and ran till 6;15, since it took me about fifteen minutes to find my clothes in the dark. That morning I took my special wallet and well as my key card. It went down the road a half hour then back to the motel, with the convenience store in the parking lot. I stopped at the convenience store and bought a quart of over priced milk and a quart of exorbitantly priced orange juice. Then I returned to the suite. I put both items on the sideboard while I dressed. I didn't even try to be quiet, since I wanted Tom up and ready to move. I took a shower and then dressed in a very thin white tee shirt, which I wore only with the outfit I wore that day, after it I put on the upside down shoulder rig for the .38. The thick red tee shirt came next, then the tight jeans. I chose the tight jeans, since I would be driving not body guarding. I didn't need all the pockets of the baggy cargo pants and I wanted to look as sexy as possible, I admit that. After I dressed I found the bag of paper bowls I had bought in the grocery store. Into it I poured a full bowl of all bran cereal. Then I added the a large pinch of the three dried fruits mix to it. I topped it all off with two packets of equal, then milk. I knew that big ass bowl of cereal, crammed into the small paper bowl, was going to make it difficult to control. I used some of the milk and a packet of the coco mix from my stash to make hot chocolate. I wasn't near as watery, as it would have been with the water, but it still wasn't very good. While it heated in the small electric coffee pot, I started on the orange juice and cereal, I should be able to sip it after breakfast I thought. I took one bite of my breakfast and decided I needed a real spoon for the cereal. The plastic spoon was much too small. I was watching the morning news and sipping on the hot chocolate which wasn't even warm, when Tom left his bed for the bathroom. "Is there any coffee," he asked looking at my make shift table top kitchen. "Sorry, Coffee made me sick, now the thought of it turns my stomach," I said. "I threw out all the coffee making stuff, except the coffee maker. You can buy some coffee stuff today if you want. I won't be using the coffee maker again. I am going to stop for a tea pot to heat water to a boil, so you can get stuff then." "I'll can wait till we are on the road. You look like you are about ready to go?" it was a question. "Just have to pick up my bag," I said. and put all this stuff away. "Me too, so let's get to it," he said. His voice had that command presence to it. "Sure Tom, I just want to finish this cup of hot chocolate." Now I could have poured it out and left immediately, but I wanted to let Tom know from the beginning, I was going to be the one making decisions. If we could settled it without making and issue of it, maybe it would never be an issue. I know that makes no sense to you, but it did to me. I told you I was warped. After another five minutes, I shut down the TV and rinsed my travel coffee cup really well. Tom how about running down to the lobby and filling the ice chest. I want to carry the unused milk and orange juice with us. I'm afraid it might spoil in the heat, if we don't ice it. While you do that, I will get my shit together." That didn't sit well with him. "Tom listen hon, you can ride in the car with me, and you can stay in the company provided lodging, while we are on the road. Or you can just show up at the venue three hours before the gig. If you chose the later, the company won't pay. If you decide to take advantage of the company expenses, you will have to be a team player. That means doing what I ask of you, it's as simple as that." "Yeah, I know, It's a little hard taking orders. I'm really not used to it, since I left the department." he said. "Surely people in those part time gigs tell you what to do," I suggested. "Yeah but we didn't 'you know' the night before," he said. "Tom, if that is going to be a problem, I will book two rooms and keep my door locked. The job is still the job, even if it is only pretend," I said smiling. "No, I'll be fine now that I understand," he said. "I'll get the ice chest, if you will be ready to go, when I get back, and if you agree to stop for coffee at the corner store." "That's a deal," I said. That's is when he decided I was an equal partner, even though he was the one on probation. Twenty minutes later we were pulling out of the convenience store headed for the city of Charlotte North Carolina, It is where I decided we would spend the night. It gave swamp dog a full days work driving, after wasting the one before. It was almost 8AM when we left for the day. I found another Econo Lodge in Charlotte at 7PM. "So what is your stomach up for,?" Tom asked. "I can find something edible on the menu, anywhere except Mexican," I said. "Well I don't know the town, how about we just go to a steak house," he said. I thought about explaining the hand thing, but decided that I wouldn't bother. I could order ground steak and a baked potato. I could usually cut the potato with my fork. So we went to a family steak house. I paid the bill and put the tip on the company card. After dinner we went back to the motel. Tom took the ice chest to the motel office to fill it and the bucket from the room. I took the white milk, the orange juice, and the chocolate milk out of the cooler. There was half a bottle of white milk, half a bottle of orange juice and very little chocolate milk. We had stopped at lunch to buy the tea pot and the milk along with coffee for Tom. I sipped on the milk all the way to the motel. When we got back to the room I made coffee for Tom. I used the electric tea kettle to heat milk for hot chocolate. The side board was littered with small appliance and food for the night's tv and the morning breakfast. Tom used my computer and the motel's Wifi to check his email after dinner. After that Tom wanted to watch the news on Fox. I read some news online while he did that. I also checked in on the adult chatrooms Just to see who was there. "Why don't you take a bath and go to bed," Tom said. He was somehow different but not nutty different, just confident. He looked at me not as a partner, but like a lover. I knew I could swing either way, and I hoped Tom could as well. I moved easily between two worlds. One was filled with light and one was filled with darkness. It remained to be seen if Tom could do it. If he could, he had just slipped into the dark world. I simply shut everything down and went into the bathroom. I took off my clothes and folding up the jeans, but the tops went into a pile to be added to the roll of clothes from Sunday and Monday. My hair was still short from the military hairdo I had just before we left. I did it not for the weird look, but for the convenience. I could towel it dry and it was fine. That's what I did that night. I also put on the extra long tee shirt, which I sometimes slept in. Then I walked into the bedroom to give Tom a look at me almost naked. "God you are so beautiful, " he said. "Thank you," I paused before I added, "Daddy." "Go to bed and turn out the lights," he said as he walked into the bathroom. I noticed he carried nothing to wear out. ------- Chapter 124 After his shower Tom slipped into bed with me. He rolled me over so that I faced away from him. I felt his rather average penis pressed against the crack of my ass as his hands covered my small breasts. He removed his left hand from my breast, he used it to rub his penis against my anal opening. I knew what was coming next. I didn't care for it because, it alway left me feeling as if I needed to use the toilet. I felt that way all the next day, but I could deal with it. Did I get pleasure from anal intercourse? no. Did it cause me pain? not usually with a penis the size of Tom's. It might upon initial insertion, but after a couple of strokes, I was sure that I would adjust to it. It was just the dryness that would be painful till it lubricated. Tom had an answer for that. After I was breathing hard, he reached over to the night stand to retrieve something. That some proved to be a lubricant. It was a thick have lubricant. He smeared it around, and into my anus. When he returned his hand to my breast it was greasy, His penis easily moved into my opening, He went all the way inside me with a single stroke. He wasn't anywhere near as deep as I had been previously been penetrated. That was a good thing for me. I began to feel the familiar sensations. A lot of my state of rising arousal came from his hands covering my breasts. Some of it came from his kissing of my neck. But I admit some came from his cock massaging the inside of my ass. I turned on to it some, but the emotion I felt was the girlish pride, I felt whenever I could please my father. Yes that felling had stayed with me. Tom knew how to play on that because he spoke to me as he fucked my ass. "That's right baby move you ass for daddy," he said. That drove me even higher. I moved my hips in a rolling motion. "That's right baby suck that cock up you ass," I couldn't help it after a few minutes of him sliding up and down my ass I said, "Fuck my ass daddy, please fuck my ass." At that moment he increased the speed of his efforts. Then he suddenly stiffened and I knew he was shooting cum up my ass. Some of it would penetrate deep into my bowels. I knew I was going to be in the toilet shortly, but I savored the feel of his cock wilting in my ass. I lay in his arms till he was completely soft. He went into the bathroom first. I lay or my stomach while he was gone. Laying on my stomach prevented his semen from leaking out, and making the bed any wetter than it already was. Yes I knew how it worked. When he came back, Tom got into his own bed and I rushed to the bathroom with semen dripping down my leg. I spent several minutes on the toilet feeling semen slip out my ass, then I had a bowel movement. I knew that would clear most of Tom's semen from my canal. I managed to stay out of the bathroom until 5AM. I sat on the toilet longer than usual before I began my morning run. It wasn't the first time that I ran after anal intercourse, but it was the first time in a long time. I checked my watch and found that it was 5:45 when I left the room. I ran out to and then down the access road and around a parking lots until it was 6:30. Then I began to run black. The timing was good, because I got back to the motel at 6:55. That was more than an hour, so I felt okay about the run. I went in and sat on the toilet again. I wasn't sure whether the pressure in my bowels was real or not. It proved not to be, so after I urinated I was back up and into the shower. After my shower I tried one more time but nothing happened so I dressed. I put on clean panties and a camo tee. It was a desert pattern so I pulled on the jean from the day before. Hey they weren't dirty. They just smelled a little of my skin creme. I went out and gave the bathroom to the groggy Tom. I was glad to see that he seemed to be able to compartmentalize the relationship as I did. He was very much about business when the sun was up, and so was I. I managed the cereal and the hot chocolate drink with ease on day two. I called it that, since it wasn't real hot chocolate. The orange juice made it easy to get down. Tom just drank his coffee and ate some kind of bakery item, he had picked up at the store. Since things were working out better than I expected, at least as far as the travel was concerned. I decided we needed to stop and pick up a bigger cooler and plastic storage box with wheels. We could get the cooler in it, and still have room for the food items. We stopped in a Walmart store located in a shopping center located by the interstate. We still made Jacksonville Florida by 5PM. We had driven almost the whole eight hours that I had dedicated to Swamp Dog. Which left only a short drive to Miami on Thursday. From the interstate it was only minutes to the Civic Center. The roadies would be hart at work all day, if we wanted to do a perimeter check. Since the Gig wasn't till 8PM Friday, we could also take Thursday off, any combination of the options would work. Over dinner at an Italian restaurant I asked, "So Tom do you want to take tomorrow off and stay here again, or get on down to Miami and take some down time Thursday night and Friday morning. I have no preference." I admitted. "I should warn you that we can't put Disneyland ticket on the card." "How about we stay here and go on a real date. Dinner on Swamp Dog and a night club on me." Tom suggested. "If that is what you want fine." I said with a smile. I wanted him to think it was okay with me, "But how about we get down to Miami first, so we know we don't have that drive on Friday. We can be there just a little after noon, and still have time to do those things." I suggested. "I don't know shit about Jacksonville, so that's fine with me," Tom said. "One is as good as the other." So that Wednesday night was a repeat of the night before up until bedtime. At bedtime, after a day of false alarms, I had a bowel movement before my shower. When I came out of the shower, I felt much better. I put on the night tee shirt and went out to bed. Tom came out of the shower a while later, and went to his own bed. That was more than okay with me. I was awake again at 5AM and running down the access road by 5:30. I stretched it to a a half hour by running down the city street that the access road emptied into. I ran in the nylon parka with the reflective tape strips attached. It had warmed up enough, so that I didn't need the parka for the gigs. I wore it without the fleece sweat shirt under it. As a matter of fact, I had nothing on under it. The reflective tape strips adhered better to it than the jersey material. I had two vertically stripes up the front. They were about six inches apart. Then I had the same thing on the back of the parka. If a driver missed those, he was asleep, I thought. I would have worn shorts, but it was a little too chilly for them in the early morning. Tom was awake and the coffee was cooking when I returned to the room. I went into the shower and stripped off the parka, and fleece running pants. Then into the shower I went. Breakfast was a repeat of the day before. Orange juice and cereal. The hot chocolate left a hell of a lot to be desired, even thought it was made with real milk, it was a poor substitute for real hot chocolate. There was about half a cup of chocolate milk in the cooler, so I heated it. It was far the better than the mixes. The problem was I needed something I could buy at a convenience store. I could get milk and cereal, though it was awfully expensive. I could get enough dry hot chocolate mix to last a while at the grocery store. It was a problem getting it to taste good, but I would work out I knew. All I had to do was keep experimenting. Meanwhile Tom went to the motel's ice machine but came back without any ice. "There is a sign down there that says, 'do not fill up coolers'," he said. "I can't believe I missed that." "No big deal. I will have a second glass of orange juice. That should use it all. When we finish we will just toss the milk that is left Is there any ice at all left in the cooler?" I asked. "Just a little," Tom said. "Just throw it out then. We can resupply later," I suggested. I made as much hot chocolate as the insulated mug would hold, then washed the remaining milk down the drain. We hit the road headed into Miami. The drive was pretty short and uneventful. I called Joan's cell to find where we would be staying in Miami. She booked us into a Miami motel which had been converted to all suites. The Swamp dog suite was what had once been two motel rooms. The room I entered first was a kitchen living, with a day bed. The access to the second bedroom was through a large closet area. There was a bathroom and the end of the closet. The bathroom itself had a door with a lock. The bath could be entered from either room, I had no idea what the price of a motel rooms in Miami was in the summer, but I would bet we were in the middle of their worst time of year. It was miserably hot outside. My guess was that the arena fee was much lower than it would have been in December, when tourist were running from the cold. The Soda show had the advantage of not being a show designed for tourists but homies. We checking in a day early, but the motel had a place for us. "Let's go by the area to check on the perimeter and their security arrangements before lunch," I suggested to Tom. "You really are all about the job aren't you," he suggested. "Yeah, I guess I am," I said smiling. What I didn't tell him was I had learned something from Rodney. If Tom was screwing me, then if he wasn't watching my back out of professionalism, he might be out of concern for his piece of ass. Either way I got a partner I could depend on. There are those who tell you that is a terrible reason to have sex with a man, but I personally have done it for a lot worse reasons and survived. The arena was a football stadium. It wouldn't be used again for a while so it was no doubt cheap. It would also seat a bunch of people, several thousand at least. The supervisor of the work crew was on scene working with his men. "Jethro, this is Tom," I said. "He is our replacement for Rodney." "Glad to meet you Tom. So what happened to Rodney?" He asked. "I got no idea, they just told me to pick up Tom for this gig. I don't think he is coming back though." ------- Chapter 125 "So we are using only half the stadium?" I asked. "Are you kidding? We are going to use less than half. We are roping off the edges of the bleachers. It's gonna leave use seating for less than five thousand. If Joan had her way she would have them sitting in each other's lap. It makes better shots for the website. Which sells more tickets to the next event," the head roadie said. "So what is the maximum capacity going to be?" I asked. "We are planning for a five thousand maximum probably be less for the Saturday matinée," he said "Okay," I answered. I walked away. "Hold up," Tom called after me. "Where we going?" "I'm going to talk to the venue manager, This place is a fucking sieve." I explained. I had forgotten Tom had not been involved in the planning stage of the Philly shows. He just nodded. I found the manager in his office inside the field house, "Hello. I'm Sylvia, this is Tom. We work for the promoter trying to make sure Soda stays alive," I explained. "Dale Simpson," he replied. "I going to make sure you leave the stadium in one piece." "Then we both want the same thing. Would you tell me the security plan for tomorrow night?" I asked, "We are going to close off the far ends of the bleachers, cutting the seating capacity to 5K." he said. "We will be using our security officers to be sure no one sits there." "So you will have officers on the unused side of the field to be sure no one slip in there?" I asked. "We planned to just keep the gates on that side locked," he said. "How about just one man over there to be sure it isn't used for a sniper's nest?" I asked. "Yeah, we can assign one man there," he said looking at me differently. "Now would you mind, if we walked the perimeter. You are more than welcome to come along an brief us. If you can't spare the time we can make recommendation and leave them with you." I said. "Why would I pay any attention to your recommendations?" he asked. "Because, if somebody gets hurt they will sue the shit out of you. At a trial I would have to say that I recommended things. Things that weren't done and then you would have to explain why you didn't follow my recommendations. Then it would get just plain complicated. You don't have to pay any attention, but I am required to make a plan or approve yours." I said it with a smile. "Just bring me your recommendations," the security chief said. "Right, I'll just email then to you, so there is a digital record," I said as I prepared to leave. "Hold on a second, I'll go with you after all," he said. "I don't want you bothering my people." I just nodded as a reply. Twenty minutes later was were back in the SUV. "That was a sloppy plan he had. Terrible crowd control, even I knew it." he said. "I thought that as well. He was providing security as if it were a college football game. If we just have a normal concert, he can say it was all bullshit. If it gets rank, he will thank us for the suggestions." I said. "You do that so well," Tom said. "Do what?" I asked. "Intimidate people of course," he said. "I'll bet you were a good cop." "My supervisors seemed to disagree, to them I was adequate, no more," I said smiling. "They were either afraid of you, or they are completely incompetent," he said. "Thanks," I said. "So. the company is buying us lunch where we gonna eat?" He asked. "I'm still not right enough for Mexican, anything else I'm up for," I said. "I really want a good cheese burger," Tim said. "If you want a good one, and you want it cooked the way you want it, then you need to go to a southern diner. I bet there is one somewhere around here," I said. So we asked the security people on the parking lot detail. We got two or three recommendations. The closest one was just a few miles away, so it was our choice. It was one of those long thin diners. There were about a dozen booths on one side, a counter with stools sort of in the middle and a grill along the other wall. Since it was between lunch and dinner we rated a booth along the parking lot wall. Through the window we could see the parking lot, and the plaza of a tall office building. Since I was still watching my stomach I had a grilled cheese and a baked potato. I was a little surprised by the lack of heavy butter on the outside of the thick break of my sandwich. It wasn't much like a diner. It was almost a health food diner, if there could be such a thing. Tom and I took the rest of the day just riding around looking the town over. Four hours of that and I was ready to get the hell out of the SUV. Tom was good company on a short trip, or even one where we were headed somewhere definite. When he tried to comment on his surroundings, I found him a little too opinionated for my taste. Still the time did pass. For dinner he chose a chain restaurant in the parking lot of a mall. I didn't care so long as they served something I could order precut. I settled on beef tips and rice, with just a garden salad and bread. I drank iced tea and Tom drank beer. He seemed to drink beer with every meal. He also stopped for another one or two in the afternoon. Tom might drink a little too much, I decided. Since he did his heavy drinking after work, I didn't object. There were lots of ex-cops who were functioning alcoholics. I figured Tom was just one of them. He had been able to get it up with the help of the blue pill, so it couldn't be too bad, I told myself. When we asked for the name of a good spot at the diner, I was a little skeptical but Tom was all ready to go. Since I was more worried about Tom than myself I didn't complain. So we went to a place called Sandy's. We waited long enough so that it was time for the clubs to be rocking before we drove into their parking lot. "Are you sure this is a club," I asked Tom. "You were there when the guy gave us the directions," Tom informed me. "Yeah," was my only reply. We went to the front door of what had once been a metal prefab warehouse building. It was left from Miami's bustling port days. It was far enough from the port to be the first closed during the current economic downturn. I did not expect it to be anything more than an improvised bar and some boards on boxes for a stage. It turned out to be a lot more. There were colored lights hanging from the ceiling on very long cords and a hardwood floor glued down over the raw concrete. There were also lots of chrome fixtures. The tables all had glass tops. It was an New York or L.A, type dance club in an old warehouse. I was more than a little surprised. Tom and I were in the club naked, since I insisted he leave his firearm locked in the car. I did have the stun gun, since my hand was still fucked up. Of course I also carried the box openers. Just force of habit, I told myself. Tom and I watched the kids dance while we had a couple of beers. After a half hour a young Latino man approached the table. "Hey pretty lady, you want to dance?" he asked in a heavy accent. "No thanks, I'm with someone," I said it nodding toward Tom. "No offense, but you need someone young with a big hard cock," he said. "And that would be you?" I asked.\ "Yeah that would be me," he said. "Well since you are basing this only on the size of your cock, let's see it," I demanded. "Here?" he asked. "Yeah, right here," I suggested. "You are crazy," he said. "Obviously he doesn't have what he claims to have," Tom said getting into the spirit of the moment. "That's pretty much my thinking as well," I agreed. "Would you move please you are blocking my view of those well hung black men." "You, one crazy puta," he said walking away. I turned to Tom. "You know I hear that an awful lot. Maybe I should change the way I act. "I think it is a reaction to your not falling all over him, because he young and says he have a big dick," Tom said. "That could be true," I said with a laugh. "This music is too much for me," Tom said. "If you want to dance with some of these young bucks be my guest. So long as you remember who you came with." "Okay the next one who asks me to dance, I'm going to do it," I said. Tom just nodded. We had a hard time talking. It was most short sentences between songs. A man slightly older then the last one came to the table. He just held out his hand and I took it. I got a chance to shake my ass for him, and I liked it. "Do you and your father go out often?" he asked as he held me and spoke in my ear. "Of course," I said smiling. "You fucking him?" he asked. I didn't speak I just nodded my head, If you fuck old men, you must fuck anybody." It was a statement not requiring and answer. "You suck his dick too?" I nodded again and smiled. "So what does that make you?" he asked. "I guess it makes me a very good date," I replied. "I guess it does at that." he said, "And a cocksucker as well." "I suppose it does," I said. "Nothing wrong with that," he said. "Nothing at all," I agreed. I was quickly slipping into my 'do anything' mode. "How about me and you disappear for a quick blow job," He suggested. "I don't even know your name," I said. "Tomas, so how about it," he said. "Where did you have in mind," I asked. "The men's room?" he asked. "Or the parking lot, it's a nice night." "Neither one sounds like much fun," I complained. "So what did you have in mind?" he asked. "It looks to me like only about half this place is being used. Surely there is a corner where we won't be disturbed." "There are things going on, that it's best we not know about," Tomas said. "Oh my that sounds exciting," I said it and I meant it. It did sound exciting, and god knows when i'm in that mood, I'm all about excitement. "If we got caught they would kill us," he said. "Them we best not get caught," I said. "No, it is too dangerous. We can go into the parking lot, you can do it in the back seat of my car." Tomas. "Tomas, I haven't done it in the back seat of a car, since I was in high school. That has to have been at least ten years ago," I said as I returned to sit with Tom. Yes I know it was a strange coincidence that they were named Tom and Tomas. "You just can't make this shit up," I said out loud. Of course the music drowned my voice out. "Let's go home and fuck," I said to Toms. "But first let's see what's on the other side of that fake wall." ------- Chapter 126 We found that not only was there a fence around the building's rear, it also surrounded the rear parking lot. We couldn't even drive up and scope it out. But fortunately for us the bag in the rear of the SUV was equipped with a hell of a nice Zeiss spotter scope. With the scope anchored to the dash, I found out that the walk in door had only a pad lock. The overhead door must have had a wireless remote since there was no lock visible. Also I noticed that there was a camera aimed at the door. Then I saw a small sign on the door. It wasn't easy but I read the sign illuminated by the outdoor light, that was there for the camera. The sign read, 'property of the U.S. Border Patrol'. The sign also held the usual warnings against entry and the amount of jail time one could accrue by ignoring it. "Well that answers the questions I had, I guess." I said. "When a woman says I guess that way, it usually means, I still have questions," Tom said. "Well, why would the border patrol need a storage facility. The night club was probably here first, since I can't see them allowing a night club to close off part of a warehouse. So, if it was here first, why the hell would they chose a place next to a night club?" I asked. "There are a hundred warehouse like this one empty due to the recession." "Just for the sake of argument, let's say that it is not really the border patrol. Then who would want to be behind a night club?" Tom asked. "Well someone who didn't care about the later hours and the noise." I said. "You know what? Let's forget this and just swing by during the daylight hours, We have a lot of time before the show tomorrow, since we did our recon today," "Sounds like a plan, now can we get back to plan A?" he asked. "And plan A was?" I asked. "Go back to the motel and fuck," he said. "Oh yeah," I said grinning. We went back to the motel. Tom continued to play daddy. That night we had straight vaginal intercourse and Tom as adequate. He also didn't take it personal that I masturbated to have the orgasm he couldn't provide. I took the small bed in the living room combo, since I left first in the mornings. It was 6AM when my mental clock went off the next morning. The sun rose early so it was fairly bright, even that early in the morning. I checked the watch I had clipped to the waist band of my running pants. It was 6;10 and already hot. I figured it was time to start running in shorts. That one hour made a lot of difference, Unfortunately I didn't have any shorts, so I ran till I was covered with sweat, big time. It was a little after 7AM, when I opened the door to the suite. I had the cereal in the bowl and the hot milk in the cup with the power that never quite completely dissolved. I also had my orange juice. I tried to eat well on the road so I wouldn't become ill. "Nothing like a balanced breakfast," Tom said as he sipped the coffee I made for him, and bit into the cinnamon bun, we pickup up in the convenience store. "You want some of my cereal?" I asked. "No, I want to go to a restaurant for breakfast," he said. "Why didn't you say so," I said. I'll be happy to stop for breakfast anytime you want." "I really don't want to stop for breakfast. The bun and coffee is all I would have at home. Just watching you eat reminds me how I have let myself go." Tom said. "Well a good start would be a glass of orange juice," I said. "There is enough left in the cooler," I explained. "Why not the longest trip begins with the first mile," he said. True," I agreed. Yes I recognized the old saying that he had attempted to improve. "So I'll take a shower and get the smell of running off me, We can go take a look at the Border Patrol Building in the daylight." "You do know we aren't being paid to involve ourselves with the contents of that building?" Tom asked. "Of course I do, but I have been on the road with these idiots for a month, more or less, and I'm bored silly. It isn't much fun driving between towns and appearing to be a competent body guard. A body guard for people only an idiot would want to harm." I added. "So you are telling me you are bored," Tom said. "Yes, I know this is all new to you. If you like you can stay here and watch daytime TV, or I can drop you in a mall to go shopping. I shouldn't be more than an hour," I said. "No, I'll ride along to keep you out of trouble. If you promise to remember, sometimes a dick is just a dick," he said. "Okay, I'll remember that," I said shaking my head. Surely he knows those are all screwed up interpretations of well known saying, I thought. I was proud of myself, because I remembered how to get back to the night club with something else going on behind the fake wall. Something that wouldn't be bothered by the loud music of a night club. Something that needed a new chain link fence and a sign that said border patrol and a surveillance camera focused on the door. When we arrived, there was still no car in the lot and the padlock on the gate was locked. Someone could have parked somewhere else and walked in, I thought. Why would they do that. They wouldn't of course. "We need to find the owner, and then find out who rents the space. I don't really think it is the border patrol," I said. "Okay, call the register of deeds," Tom suggested. "Let's find a hot spot and try to Google it first," I suggested. "With all the money Washington has been throwing at the cities to hire people, they just might have put the files on line. It was a job they could count, and when the money ran out for it there would be a stink because some one lost there job because of it. It was just a matter of did Miami use the money like a lot of cities did, "Here we go," I said out loud when I found the address and the owner's name. "It is owned by a realty holding company." A quick search of the white pages gave me the phone number. "Hi there, I represent SD enterprises and we are interested in the property at 22 industrial park ave." I said. A fancy address for a bunch of run down metal buildings. "I'm sorry that property is already rented," the agent said. "We rode by yesterday and it was perfect. Maybe I could persuade the lessee to do a sublet of part of it?" I asked. "You could try, I guess. The lessee is the night club there. The owner has an office in the club. You probably could find him there later." She said. "Thank you so much," I said. "Is the club the only lessee?" "Yes," she said. "Thank you very much," I said. I drove to a waffle house. "You didn't have to do this for me," he insisted. "Why not I hate that fucking car. Drink your coffee and have breakfast," I insisted. Tom ordered breakfast and I ordered hot chocolate. When it came it tasted like real hot chocolate. Not powdered crap or heated chocolate milk. When the waitress passed I asked, "Is the recipe for the hot chocolate a secret?" "You know, you are about the thousandth person who has asked me that," she said. "The secret is whole milk, and part of a Hershey chocolate bar," she said. "There is enough sugar in one of those so that we don't have to add anything else." "Holy shit how simple is that?" I asked. "So after I finish my eggs, we can go buy you a teapot for the car." Tom suggested. And a case of Hershey bars," I said. At 2PM there was finally a car in the club parking lot. Actually there were three of them. I parked the SUV and slipped the canvas holster with the .38 into my cargo pants. I was tooled up except for the Glock, which I didn't carry. Tom had his own .38 in an inside the waist band holster. It was the kind cops were so fond of wearing. "You ready?" I asked. "I'm ready, remember sometime a dick is just a cigar," he said smiling. I knocked on the door. The man who came to answer my second know said, "We don't open to seven and we ain't buying nothing." "We ain't selling nothing." I said. "We are buyers, aren't we Tom," I ask turning to him. "Yes ma'am we are definitely buyers," he said. "Are you cops?" he asked. "Are we cops?" I asked Tom. "No, we are definitely not cops," Tom said to me. "Not cops," I said. "We might be the real border patrol though." "Yes we could be the border patrol," Tom added. "Since we might be the border patrol and that might be a border patrol warehouse attached to the shitty night club, we might go cut the locks off the building and just see what is in our warehouse," I said. "Or your boss could convince us that the sign is just a joke." "Hold on," the thug type guy said. "You the border patrol," the man asked. "Let me see you ID cards." "I never really said we were border patrol. I said we weren't cops, but we might be the border patrol. Then again we might not be." I said. He looked at Tom and said, "Is she crazy." "I don't know, do you think she is crazy?" Tom asked. "What the fuck is this Garza's idea of a joke." he asked. "I don't think so, since I never met the man. This is the City of Miami's idea of a joke though. I'm here for the city." I said. "Your liquor license is for a night club. I need to make sure that the storage facility behind you is not a health hazard. Since we both know the Border Patrol doesn't own it. We came to you." "Wait right here," the club manager said. "Do you think I should have worn a suit?" Tom asked. "No, at least you aren't in faded jeans," I said. "I know, but you are," Tom replied. "We might want to keep a hand off the weapons, this might have just gone rank." I said it as the police cruiser pulled into the lot. It took us an hour to clear it up. I simply explained a gang banger told us there was a warehouse full of weapons behind the night club and they were going to deliver them to a member of the Soda's crew. I simply wanted to be sure they weren't full of shit before I wasted a cop's time. It was a weak story but I was pretty sure it interested the cops. All they had to do was explain the border patrol sign and security camera and we would be out of there. The patrolman asked the club owner to look in the warehouse. The club owner got defensive so I shrugged. "I'll tell you what ma'am you didn't break any law by asking the man questions and you didn't impersonate anyone, that they can prove so be on you way and sin no more. Call it professional courtesy and we'll talk to the detectives. Meanwhile be very careful at the show. If that gang banger shit is really true." "Fair enough," I said. "By the way officer where is the nearest Walmart. I need a coffee pot and a pair of running shorts. Oh, I also think they are smuggling illegal aliens through the back." He shook his head, but he also gave me directions. ------- Chapter 127 "Why." Tom asked. "I mean I went along, but really why did we do that. You said we should keep a low profile in these strange towns, So why" "Okay, I like riddles and puzzles, that's why I obsessed about the warehouse/nightclub. I am betting the night club masked the comings and goings at night from the warehouse. It would also mask any noise there might be coming from the aliens. They aren't illegals coming in over the Mexican border. Most likely they were Eastern European women coming in as stowaways. They would be for those dating websites. There is lots of demand for white women for those sites, I had been told. Either way that was my best guess." "Why would they be here in Miami?" Tom asked. "The port of Miami is a busy place a couple of containers get lost, so what. The shipping container get loaded on a truck and the truck winds up here. The women leave one prison and are back in another. They repackage their human shipment and send them out all over the country." Tom looked skeptical so I added, "It's only a guess." We stopped at Walmart and did our shopping. From there we went to the arena for a morning check in with the roadies. They were on schedule and were ready for the musicians, if you could call them that. I check in with Joan via the phone. "Where are you?" I asked. "We are at the motel. Are you and the old man at the venue?" She asked. "Yep, the roadies are almost through with the stage. We are going now to check the dressing rooms. Put the bus driver on and I'll give him the most secure entry point." "He is out getting the bus serviced," Joan said. "He took it in after he dropped us off, and it's not ready yet. He must have slept in the bus." "Call and let me know when he shows up. Let me know if it's not the same driver, and let me know if he is acting nervous," I said to Joan. "You worry too much," she said. "Yes and that is why you trust me," I said. We both knew that it was true. "Okay my captain, I will let you know," she promised with a laugh. "Good," I said. I pulled the stadium up on my GPS as we walked to the locker rooms where the band would wait. They were going to arrive in costume, so they wouldn't need to change. "So we bring the bus in on Homestead Avemie. They go straight to the dressing room to wait until the home band finished playing. Then we walk them out on the field and wait till the finished. Then we walk them back and put them on the bus. They will want to stop in the dressing room for some quiet time." "You mean to get high again," Tom said derisively. "I have no idea how they alter their mood or why. I just want him alive when he gets on the tour bus, then he is Joan's problem." I said. "I can dig it," Tom said. "Do the kid's still say that?" "I don't think so, but then I'm not a kid either," I said. "Shame," Tom said. I wasn't sure how he meant it considering his sexual proclivities, so I didn't answer. Instead I asked "So want to go to lunch?" "Sure, if you do, it is fine with me," Tom said. "If you don't have an preference, then we will eat closer to the time they are to arrive here. That way maybe my blood sugar won't crash during the concert and make me sleepy." I said. I was actually thinking more of Tom than me. "If not that, what do you want to do now?" Tom said. I'm sure the college over there has WIFI, lets steel it and see what's on Ebay," I suggested. "Cool," Tom said, "so they do still say that don't they." "I have no idea," I replied again. "Tell you what," Tom suggested. "Let's kill two birds with one shot. Let's go through one of those drive-in places, and eat while we explore the Internet." "That sounds like a good idea," I agreed. The drive through we chose had baked potato sticks, and grilled cheese on the take out menu. I went that route, while Tom went for the Philly steak sub. I knew he wouldn't like it, but I said nothing. We pulled into the parking lot of a classroom building. I did some snooping around and found a good signal. So we hijacked the signal and used my laptop to search Ebay for items neither of intended to buy. "This is not a Steak and Cheese sub," Tom said. "It's some beef and cheese shit but it is not a Philly Steak and Cheese." "Yeah I'm sure, but you know the grilled cheese, is a grilled cheese. The potato sticks are baked," I suggested. I also secretly had a good laugh at his expense. After about half an hour Tom asked, "When is this Swamp Dog thing going to declare me worthy of being a full time employee?" "I got no idea who they really are, or how they work. All I know is they pay me on time, and they don't question the expenses. Of course I'm not cheating them either. They may be doing a background on you, before they decide." I suggested. "That's a waste of their time," he said. "They probably got a secretary at the home office who is tasked with wasting her time," I suggested with a laugh to lighten the mood. "They pay good and I like the work. I would like to stay to the end of the tour at least." Tom said. "We all work at the whim of that bitch Joan," I said. "Yeah, what did your last partner do to get fired?" Tom asked. "I guess his penis wasn't as long or strong as he thought." Tom looked lost. "He was screwing Joan, and she decided to replace him for no reason. At least none that I could see." I explained. "You knew that she could do that?" "Yeah, that's why I let you deal with her. Joan likes you best," Tom said. "She might like you best, if she got to know you," I said. "Doubtful," Tom said then he seemed to be deep in thought. While he was lost in thought, I bought a one hundred and fifty pound draw crossbow on Ebay. I h ad it shipped to my apartment in County Seat. I had just finished with the purchase when Tom said, "Drugs." "What about drugs?" I asked. "The warehouse, they are repackaging drugs there and sending them out from there to the dealers. You were right about using the night club as cover for the coming and goings," Tom replied. "Bet you ten bucks it's not drugs," I said. "And I bet you it's not hookers," Tom said. "If it turns out to be exotic plants or some such crap, we just call off the bet," I suggested. "You know after the Saturday night show, if the local cops haven't gone in, we are going to never know." Tom said. "Yep so we need to decide how to go in ourselves." I suggested. "How about an old fashion burglary. If it is something legal they will call the cops again. If it is something illegal, they will maybe come kill us, but they won't call the cops." "Hoodie's and sunglasses for the camera." Tom suggested. "Ski masks in the summer might be suspicious." "Hell, ski masks in Miami anytime, would be suspicious." I agreed. "Park the car in the night club parking area." "If we are going to burglarize the place lets borrow a car. We can use it then take it back, no harm no foul." Tom suggested. "You can steel a car?" I asked. "I didn't spend twenty yeas as a cop and not learn the basics," he replied with a laugh. 'Okay, we borrow a car. If the padlock is on the outside of the gate. It was locked as someone left. It might not have been all of them, but it is one less we will have to worry about. If it is on the inside of the gate, we are going to have company," I said. "Sounds right, but we don't have to go inside. All we have to do is find a hole and make a picture with a cell phone. If there are no holes, we go back to where the fence meets the wall and drill one. While the music is going full blast, they won't hear a thing. A noise cover works both ways." Tom suggested. "I think we can do it. We need a cordless drill for the hole and a battery powered grinder for the lock." I said. "Not a grinder, a Dremel tool will do both. We get a few cutoff wheels and a drill bit and we can do it all." Tom said. "Excellent idea, and if the cops come we split up and meet at the motel," I said. I thought for a few minutes. "You know we are going about this all wrong." "How so?" Tom asked. The ladies room is against the back wall of the club. There is nothing between it and the warehouse but a couple of sheets of drywall. I can use the Dremel to drill a hole insert one of those cameras with a flexible lens, make have a dozen pictures, and be gone. No one will know what happened, even after they find the tiny hole. You can stand guard outside the ladies room." "Oh no, I'm coming in with you. If someone comes, you were just giving me a blow job." Tom said laughing. "You know that never happens in real life, right?" I said. "I'll be you can sell it, if we have to," he said laughing his ass off. My phone rang. It was Joan. "Silvia we are going to leave the motel in about twenty minutes. Can you be on hand when we arrive?" she asked. "You are leaving so soon?" I asked. "It's a half hour before the warm up act starts. That is our usual time. The driver is the regular one and he seems just fine," she said. "Right, we will be there no problem," I promised her. "Let's go, we have spent way to much time on this," I said. "We are going to do this aren't we?" Tom asked. "Find out where we can get a camera with a flexible lens," I said. "We don't need that, you just need to buy a Dremel and a little camera with low light capabilities. What you do is drill a hole all the way through the wall insert a pipe nipple and shoot through it. All we need is one nipple 1/2 long and one 4 inches long. Depends on, if they have a second wall up there, You can look on the camera screen to see what inside and shoot whenever you want," Tom said. "You sure that will work?" I ask. "Never mind. I keep forgetting you were a cop for twenty years. You know how to do an illegal surveillance." "Bet you ass," he said with a laugh. When the bus pulled in, I was still debating it. I finally decided that I would do it. "There is the bus, switch gears Tom," I said. "I will pretend that I am interested in these people and that terrible music," he said. "Good," was my one comment. "Tom isn't it," Joan said. "Yes, ma'am I'm Tom," he said. "I hear you have lots more experience that either of the others," she said to Tom but looked right at me. "In years maybe, but Sylvia has a hell of a lot better background, if we have to defend TJ Soda," Tom said. He had just satisfied both of us beautifully. "Well then I look forward to working with you both," Joan said. Tom was familiar with Soda and the show. He was firm when he needed to be but flexible when it was necessary. All in all the show went well. I was very pleased, when we left for breakfast. It was close to midnight but it was normal. The show ended a little after 10PM but it took Soda's crew over an hour to shut everything down and be ready to move back to the bus. His head gopher, asked me to step out and I did. I wasn't comfortable with the drugs, but I understood Soda needed it and I wasn't being paid to protect him from himself. ------- Chapter 128 Breakfast after midnight is a whole different thing. The places are usually, if not full to the point of long waits, at least to the point of limited table space. Tom and I had to wait for a table, but just a few minutes. I looked around and tried to put the pegs into the proper holes, but I was never sure about them. Some were the waitress who had finished cleaning the restaurants nearby they were usually pretty easy to spot. But only if they wore their uniforms. Some of them probably stopped at bars for a last call drink. More than a few mixed with crowd of the all night restaurants. Some of the customer were probably bar patrons. Those were usually the groups of two or more of the same sex sitting at a table. Ones who hadn't been able for one reason or another to pick up a date. Then there were the late night workers who lived along and were headed home after shift. The couple ahead of us was called at the six minute mark of our wait. We were called at the eleven minute mark. Yes, I kept track of such things. I have no idea why, I did that. "So it's the 'He men breakfast'for me," Tom said to the middle aged waitress who looked like a drug addict or drunk in rehab. "Make mine soft scrambled eggs with crisp bacon no potatoes," I said "If you can get the cook to put a little cheese on those eggs, please." "So, are we going to do it?" Tom asked. "Of course we are," unless we find out the cops busted them in the paper tomorrow." "Since we have a matinee tomorrow, we need to split up. I'll get the drill and you get the camera," Tom said. "You can drop me at home depot and head over to Walmart." "Why don't you drop me the camera purchase will most likely take longer," I said. I reached in my wallet and pulled a hundred dollar bill out, then handed it to him. "What's this for?" he asked. "The drill, the look see was my idea. I'll foot the bill for it." I said. "Don't argue. It will be cheap entertainment," I said. "I didn't think to ask if there is a heading for burglar tool in you expense account," he said. "I know pencil pushers are so unreasonable," I said with a laugh. Tom laughed as well. The waitress even smiled as she put the plates in front of us. After breakfast we drove back to the motel. On arrival we each went our separate ways. However after a few minutes the naked Tom slipped into my bed. He held me from behind and played with me till I was almost on the verge of sleep. Then be began rubbing his penis over my anus. I knew what was coming so I tried to relax as much as I could. Even so, there was pain as he first entered me. He had a lot against him, I was very dry being the worst. But he forced his way inside the hot tight canal. It soon lubricated from his dropping cock. After the first three or four minutes it was more comfortable and it even felt good. Nothing really physical arousing more an emotional lift. One of those turn on like seeing porn. I knew I was making Tom feel good. Just as I had understood the first time I did anal intercourse. "After he came Tom left my bed and went to his own. I really did like that about him. Fucking is fucking but sleep is sleep. I managed to sleep till seven that morning. I dressed in my new shorts and found room in the small pockets for my box opener and key card. I Pulled on my old running shoes before I headed out the door. When I came back Tom was awake and drinking coffee. He had managed to make it with no help from me. I poured the teapot half full of milk and then I added half a Hershey bar to it. While it heated to a boil I mixed up a bowl of high fiber cereal and fruit. When everything was ready I ate the cereal and drank my orange juice. After that I sipped my hot chocolate. I found that i had added a bit too much chocolate. It only yielded one cup of chocolate so that it was obviously too much candy. The car's tea pot yielded even less than a full cup, so I knew i was going to have to be careful with it. We actually had a small refrigerator in the room so the usual routine of adding ice to the cooler to keep the milk from going sour was unnecessary. Tom finished his coffee around 9AM. Since we left immediately, and we already knew the location of the Walmart I found myself entering shortly there after. I had the camera purchased and was through the five items or lest check out in minutes. The only hold up was the woman ahead of me paying with a food stamp card. The card was presenting the cashier with a reading error sing. She was using food stamps, but had fake finger nails and a fifty dollar hair do. The expensive clothes could have been from Goodwill, but more likely from strolling the boulevard. I didn't judge her for doing the stroll, but it did piss me off that she was using food stamps. When I got out of Walmart, Tom was nowhere to be seen. So I sat on a bench to await his return. There were also men on the bench about eighty years old. The all nodded so I said, "Hi guys." and settled down to wait. I didn't have long to wait. Tom showed up and I was glad. I almost ran to the SUV I was so glad to be away from those old guys. They reminded me too much of my own future. If I stopped running, the future would catch up to me. "So, did you get my drill or Dremel," I asked. "I did, I got a drill bit, and I got your nipples," he said smiling. "I also got a bunch of alkaline batteries. We can use them because we only need the thing to operate a few seconds." "I'm pretty sure I had my nipples with me the whole time," I said laughing. "Find a quiet place and pull over, we will test out the pieces." When Tom pulled into the parking lot of the stadium, I thought, it isn't the ideal place but it will do. He wasn't kidding he had a box of alkaline AA batteries. I found that the camera took two. I bought it because it was small, had a low light setting and an exposed lens. I had guessed that it would fit inside the pipe nipple and it did, with room for a little movement. I could shove the lens into the pipe opening and see what it saw on the rear screen. I held it up to the 1/2X1 inch nipple and it saw everything with just a little corner cropping. Then I tried the 4 inch nipple and it looked more like a keyhole view. I hoped they hadn't bothered with a second wall on the inside of the warehouse. Next we checked the drill. The drill Tom bought took four AA batteries, but it didn't need the rechargeable pack and all that crap. I didn't plan to ever use it again, but I probably could. I turned it on and it ran slowly compared to what I was used to, but for drilling drywall it should work fine. He also had a 3/4 inch dry wall spade bit to cut the hole. "I had hoped to cut the hole at the ceiling height so that it might go unnoticed for days, but we can cut it near a fixture and it will go unnoticed for the rest of the evening I expect." I said. "I agree. It probably would work best at about four feet off the floor," Tom said. I just nodded as I began to read the directions for the camera and work the controls. I thought I had it pretty well worked out, by the time we needed to go into the stadium and walk the perimeter. I had decided that everything looked fine by the time Joan called me. "Everything seems to be in place. The hometown band is here and ready to go. The fans have started to stream in," I explained. "Okay we are going to start your way. Meet us in the parking lot," she said. "Can do," I said into the phone. "Are you bringing the radios," I always reminded Joan. I am, Reggie will have them. You do remember Reggie?" she asked. "Yes, I remember Reggie and I remember the damaged hand I have. Some things are hard to forget," I said. "So they are," Joan said. Tom and I went to sit in the SUV till he spotted the bus pull into the parking lot. "The great TJ Soda is here," he said to me. "Yep, the legend in his own mind," I said. We climbed down from the very Tall SUV and went to meet the bus. Soda and his crew descended from the bus. We stayed with him till he reached the dressing room. I went in first to be sure it was empty, then I allowed him and his crew in. While I held the door for them Tom handed me the radio we would use to communicate. The show went off without anything major happening. The only things that prevented it from being a routine show was a woman gave birth. The paramedics arrived and clamped off the cord. The show didn't even stop for it. She has already been carried to the exit so she really delivered in the parking lot. I was impatient to leave but even after the show was over, we had to wait while Soda did his mood altering thing. I knew he would be much easier to handle so I let him get high. Just as long as I didn't see it I was okay with it. The bus finally pulled off a few minutes before midnight. Tom walked up to me in the parking lot after we saw the bus safely off. "Well is it a go, or are we going to make the sensible decision and go back to the motel?" he asked. "I'm going dancing, I don't know about you," I said quietly. "Let's stop at the convenience store on the way. I'm going to need some coffee," Tom replied. We got to the club a little after midnight. "Two Buds," Tom demanded of the waitress. Tom downed his almost in a single gulp so I switched glasses with him. He drank that one more slowly. I went to the bathroom and Tom went with me. It was shortly after 1AM. The club was still rocking and still noisy when we left the dance area. We both entered the ladies room. Tom blocked the door while I removed the drill from the purse, which I had purchased at Walmart with the camera, since I never carried one. I drilled the drywall and broke though within an inch. I slipped the 1/2 x 1inch pipe in the 3/4 inch hole I had drilled. When I stuck the camera up to it, I could see things, but I had no idea what they were. There were enough night lights burning so that I could tell there were no people there. That didn't mean there hadn't been. It was one giant room with rows of storage shelves but there were something on them but not drugs. I would need to get the high definition pictures on the laptop to tell what was there. When I heard someone rattle the door, I put the camera away quickly and then I pushed the plastic pipe even with the wall so that it wouldn't stand out. The customers might be mistake for a vent or something else meaningless. I reached over and pulled the front of Toms shirt out of his trousers. When he opened the door nothing was out of place, but his shirt. I put on my most seductive look as he and I left the room together. "Sorry," I said the the woman entering the room. "Get a fucking room slut," she demanded. "Next time I fuck your boyfriend, I will," I said. ------- Chapter 129 We left the club and drove out of the parking lot before Tom checked out the pictures. "Shit this screen is so small I can't tell what is there. I can see that there are no hookers in there though. It is all metal shelves with stuff on them. I can't tell what it is, but it doesn't look like a cutting and repackaging room. Shit all that and neither of us are going to win the bet. They are just storing some kind of shit in there." he said. "When we get to the motel, we will hook the computer to the camera and see what they are storing," I said as I continued to drive toward the motel. "Lets stop for breakfast and take a look at that laptop. I'm hungry and I want to see," Tom said grinning. "Oh alright," I said pulling into a waffle house restaurant. The problem was it was full. I didn't want to run the pictures in front of that many people. Tom agreed. "I'll have the big breakfast," Tom said to the older waitress. "Make mine a bacon egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel," I said after checking out their standard menu items. After the waitress left I said to Tom, "They are doing something illegal with that warehouse, I just don't know what." "They could be smuggling, just not what we originally thought. Something else but not the obvious." "Well Tom it is obviously not the obvious," I said with a smile. "I have a good idea that between the two of us we will know, when we see the pictures." Tom could hardly wait to get back to the motel to see the inside of the warehouse. He obviously made him feel young again. Back to the chase, I thought. I plugged the wire which connected the computer to the camera into the usb port. I loaded the software and it was ready to go. When I clicked on the icon, I was able to follow the files until a picture came onto the screen. The first image was the size of the camera almost. The enlargement was a shot of the warehouse over all. There ware several rows of shelves and on those shelves were a hell of a lot of cages, the kind in which you might keep gerbils. "What are those gerbils? Tom asked. "Why would anyone want that many gerbils and what are they going to do with a hundred gerbils." "The aren't gerbils they are mice. The are being used as snake food. Look on the side by the outside wall. The cages are much bigger there. I'll bet you that those are Burmese Pythons, or some other large snakes in those cages. It is hard as hell to get an import license for exotic animals. These guys are bringing them in and reselling them without an import license." "Why would they do that, when they could be smuggling cocaine." Tom asked. "Well for one thing, you don't have anywhere near the risk of getting your ass shot by your competitors. There are no python sniffing dogs, and it is very unlikely the pet stores are going to roll on you. If and when they are questioned about their drug habit. In other words it is a very safe operation." I said. "Hell I can see that, you and I thought they were smuggling much worse things. If they get caught it will likely be a fine equal to a half dozen snakes and they will be a 'go and sin no more warning'," Tom added. "Yeah I can see it. The club noise wouldn't bother the rats or the snakes I guess." "I guess not. So we have solved the case and without breaking any laws. Damn good job," I said. "Let's have a drink to celebrate." Actually Tom had several drinks. After four he asked, "What shall we do about the great snake smuggling caper?" "Nothing, as far as I can see he isn't hurting anyone, just cheating the government. Aren't we all doing that a little?" I asked in return. "I suppose we are at that," Tom said. "So they are laundering the money through the night club." "That would be my guess yes." I said "It would also explain the club in the same building." "They do have a sweet operation." he said. "Tom you are not a cop anymore and they didn't piss us off, so there is no reason to drop a dime on them." I said. "Don't forget who is paying the bills. If Swamp Dog finds out you did that, they will most likely replace you." "If I call in on the tip line, they won't look for me. Like you said it's a very low level crime," Tom added. "Tom everything doesn't have to end with the cops. Hell they never end with the cops. Half the time you never knew what happened with a case you are working on. So let this end with us. There is no sense making an issue. We will be on the road to Memphis tomorrow." I said. "Okay, Okay, I will drop it," Tom agreed. I had a feeling that he was going to call in an anonymous tip tomorrow while I ran, but I couldn't stop him. I just hoped he wouldn't take me down with him. Tom came to my bed that night and we had straight sex and it was fine. I like ordinary mom and pop sex now and then. When he left my bed I was tired enough and calm enough to sleep through the night just fine. My 6AM run didn't start till 10AM. I dressed and ran off into the damp morning air. The sun was hiding behind storm clouds so I was glad we were leaving Florida. Florida and the whole gulf coast was like a hurricane magnet. Not that I objected to a small one. All those thoughts ran through my mind as I ran for the hour. Since I checked my drive time calculator, and it showed a two day drive time, I decided to take Sunday off and do laundry. I decided that while I ran as well. When I got back, Tom had a nervous look. "I'm packed let's get the hell out of town," he said. "I thought we would stay and do laundry today. Rest and hang out since there is a storm coming. It might be interesting." I said. "Let's start driving today," he said. "Tom it's almost noon. We aren't going to get far today, unless we drive after dark. It would be better to leave tomorrow." I suggested. "Look Sylvia, I know you are the boss, but we should go now," he said. "Tom, what the fuck have you done," I asked. He thought about it a long time then said, "I called the tip line." "Why would that make a difference. It is supposed to be anonymous," I said. I still didn't like it, but I couldn't see the need for panic. "I am sure they traced the call to my cell. They kept asking for more and more information, and when I hung up I got a wrong number call." He said. "Voice recognition software," I said. They wanted to be sure they had the right number. They had already traced the call to you. You made that call from the phone in your name didn't you?" "Yes," he said quietly. "If I had known they would trace it, I would have gotten a burn phone." "Since you are packed we are getting the hell out of here right now," I said as I threw shit in my duffel bag. I didn't shower eat breakfast or pack. "You have given them enough to make a case for a arrest warrant if they want." "But it is an anonymous line. It's clearly entrapment," he said. "Tom you came to the police's attention, Swamp Dog is not going to like that. Let's get on the road and try to figure out a way to save this situation." I said. We headed for Albany Georgia while I tried to think of a way to undo what Tom had done. There was no way I could do anything. I could only hope the cops didn't want him bad enough to trace him back to Swamp Dog. If that happened, I had no idea what would happen to us. Shit why did he call the fucking cops? I should ask him, but he would just bullshit me. I had kidded myself into thinking he had my back. I had told him not to call the cops, but he did anyway. Not only that, he let them trace the call back to him. He wanted the fucking glory of being the lead that got the smugglers busted. Whether the cops bothered to do it or not, I no longer trusted Tom. What we did in the dark hadn't mattered to him, so now it doesn't matter to me, I thought. "Tom you were a cop, you know how long it takes to trace a call. You also know what they can do with the information you gave them. If they get a search warrant based on your tip, and it goes sideways they can pick you up to testify at a grand jury, or some such thing. There was a reason they wanted to know who you are. They get you to tell them all about the smugglers and how you found out and I come into it. You are a fucking idiot." I said. "Stop it, I feel bad enough, you don't have to make it worse," he said. "You showed lousy judgment, and now I can't trust you any more," I said. "If you think you can talk to me like this you are crazy," he said, "Well I'm driving this car at seventy miles and hour, if you are ready to die just do something to me now." I said logically. "Alright, what should I do?" he asked. Pick up that fucking cell phone and call Swamp Dog. Tell them you have a family emergency and quit. Do it now and without any notice. Then I'm going to drop you at the airport and you can fly back to Philly." I explained. "What if I say no?" he asked. "Then I call them and have us both fired. You don't get it, if the cops show up and haul your ass away, the job won't get done. The same is true of me. When you quit don't worry, I wont be far behind." I said, "Alright, but you don't have to quit. I won't give you up. They only have a misdemeanor offense, they won't prosecute me for that. They might pick me up as a material witness, but for a misdemeanor they wont come after you. They just want enough to justify that warrant. They may not need me, but you are right. They might come get me and leave the job unfilled at the last minute. I fucked up calling, but you fucked up too." he said. "Yeah, I didn't vette you well enough," I said. "I thought you were who you seemed to be, You turned out to miss the days of glory more than I thought." Yeah you are right, I wanted to be part of things again. I guess I let them keep me on the line long enough to trace the call, so they would force me to come forth. They may not need to bother with me. But you will never be able to trust me to put this job first." "Exactly, that's why you have to go Tom. I can't work with someone who doesn't have any loyalty to me and the job." I said. "Is that why you screwed me?" he asked. "To be sure I would take care of you first, before anything else," "Part of it was that, yes," I admitted. "Then I want to go. I will call the office as soon as we get to a town with cell service." It was true that we were often out of touch while between towns. ------- Chapter 130 It turned into a whirlwind. I stopped the car for gas, and Tom went to a quiet spot several paces from the SUV. He talked into the cell phone for a long time. Well past the time it took to fill the SUV's gas tank and the axillary tank as well. The receipt show $123 so I knew he had been a while. I got back into the car to wait for him. It took him at least ten more minutes to finish the call. A lot of the time he was on hold or listening to the other party talk. It took him so long to finished the call that I moved the SUV away from the pumps. I went inside the little convenience store attached to the gas station. They had chocolate milk so I bought a small carton. Finally Tom returned to the SUV. "They ran me around a bit. Since it is Sunday, they had to track down a duty officer and patch him through to me. I explained I had a family emergency and had to return to Philly. He had to get some answers, but he said there would a ticket waiting for me at the Augusta Air Port. So I guess we are going to have to stay there tonight." "It's going to be late when we get into Augusta for sure. I guess we can check into a motel there, so you can fly out tomorrow. I have till Friday to get to Memphis, so that is no problem. You may hear form Miami PD before you fly out, but I doubt it. Unless they found something major in that warehouse, they wouldn't bother with you. When they get the evidence the bad guys will most likely plead guilty and it will be over," I said. "You know I couldn't take the chance on having them force you back down there at the last minute and leave me with no backup?" I asked. "What I really know is that I didn't do what you told me to do. You feel you can't trust me to have your back, and you want me replaced. I covered you, by telling the family emergency thing, but we both know it's about you Silvia," he said. "You just don't trust me to be your partner in crime. I want you to know that the duty officer questioned me, but I didn't give you up. I stuck to the family emergency crap." "That was up to you. either way I figure you were gone. Swamp Dog would not have been any more understanding of you calling the police, on something the surely is none of your business, then I am," I said. "Whether you took me with you or not would make no difference." "I know that, but I could have gotten you for spite and I didn't," he said. "If you change your mind go right ahead and tell them. I got no more to lose then you have. I love to work and I like the money, but I can get by without it," I explained. I got two rooms at the motel by the highway. I would never have stayed there, if it was just me. Tom knocked on my door shortly after we checked in at 10PM. "Sylvia check in time for my flight will be noon is that going to be a problem for you," he asked. "Not at all, I'll just carry my dirty laundry and do the wash after I drop you off." I replied. "Good, I have no idea how I will get the pistol home," he said. "Just UPS it to yourself. You will beat it home," I suggested. "Don't tell them what is in the box. We can take care of all that in the morning." "Okay, I'll see you in the morning," Tom said and left. I chose that particular motel, because it has a convenience store within walking distance. I walked down to it and bought a quart of milk. When I got back I poured about a forth of it into the tea pot. I made one cup of hot chocolate before bedtime. I filled the smaller of the coolers with ice from the machine and put the remainder of the milk in it then went to bed. I fell asleep quiet easily even in the midst of all the turmoil. I awoke at 5AM the next morning and went out for my run. I ran until 6:20 then fixed a bowl of cereal. It was my usual routine. I prepared the hot chocolate with the last of the milk. I had about a third of the Hershey bar left. It was enough for one more cup of hot chocolate before I needed to consider my next move. I read the news on my computer before Tom arrived. I read the same articles on the conservative news website, and then read it on the liberal website. I felt like I got a pretty fair idea of what really happened that way. I probably didn't really know any more that way, but I felt like I did anyway. When Tom came, I realized that I really was going to miss him. What he did might not have been that bad. Maybe I had just over reacted, because he let me down. I never thought he would let me down, since I was screwing him. At least he hadn't thrown me to the wolves so far. The next time I got a wild hair to do something for kicks, I promised myself no one would know about it. If I hadn't involved him, he would still be my partner. It really was my fault for involving him. I would not have, if I had any indication he had the hero complex. He just had the deep seated need to be part of the action again. I should have realized that was the case. So it was really my fault Tom was forced to leave. I spent the day in a funk. I drove Tom to a UPS store and got a box. Then we went out and put his pistol and some packing inside it. After we sealed it up well, we went back and shipped it. From there we went to have an early lunch, since he might not get to eat for a while. It was 11:20 when I dropped him off. He wanted to be earlier than the recommended time for his check in. I offered to wait but he insisted that I leave. I was glad he did. He might well blame me for his having to resign, but the real reason was what he did, not my reaction to it. Yes I had done a hell of a lot of soul searching. I spent the afternoon in the laundromat. It was the chore I hated the most. There was no hot spot so the laptop was useless. I did not have a cell phone plan that allowed me to tap into the Internet, so I was looking forward to an hour of complete downtime. All that changed when I got a call from Swamp Dog. "Sylvia this is Martin," the voice on my cell phone said. "Yes Colonel, what can I do for you?" I asked. "I just wanted to inform you that I'm picking the next replacement for your little operation," he said rather testy I thought. "It isn't my operation. I never had anything to do with your hiring Tom," I replied. "You know passing the buck doesn't become an operative," He said. "Oh am I passing the buck? Maybe you should remove me as well," I suggested. "Frankly Sylvia I had considered that. The client said you were doing an exemplary job, or I would have just sent in a whole new team. It would probably take them a week or two to develop the rapport you already have, so I chose to keep you in place." "How very kind of you. I think now I wish to be replaced," I said. "That is your choice, but if you do I want you to refund that part of our payments to you, that are in excess of the fee for the shows you have done. Since you were paid half the contract fee in advance and you have worked only five weeks of a three month assignment you owe us one more show or refund the money," he said thinking I would do the one more weekend. "Figure out how much I owe you and I will send you the refund. In quarters so it will hurt more when you shove it up your ass. Now I'm either getting a plane ticket home, or you can pick up your SUV in county seat. Now Colonel fuck off." I shouted into the phone. I finished my laundry, then drove back to the motel to await his arrangements for my return home. It was just Monday and I had a days drive to the next show which I could make on Thursday, so either was I wasn't too worried about it. The phone rang about 4PM. "Sylvia this is Joyce at Swamp Dog. We have an operative on the way to Augusta are you still there?" the voice on the phone said. "Yes I am still here," I said. "The Colonel asked if you would please stay and meet the operative and turn over the company vehicle to him. I am not sure who the operative is at this time, but he will arrive at on tomorrow's American flight at 2PM." she said. "Sure have you booked my flight yet?" I asked. "No Sylvia, but your replacement will not leave you stranded," she said. "Good," I replied. "Once my mind close the door on the body guard gig, I began looking forward to going home to County Seat. Until I was told I was going home, I hadn't thought about how much I missed it. Since over the last couple of weeks the bones in my hand had set, I was able to do without the elastic bandage. That allowed me to work the hand a lot more than before. I couldn't make a fist but I could grip large things. I began to make plans to make my bike more handicapped friendly. Back in the motel I began looking for things to make my new life easier on ebay. I didn't really find anything since nobody worried about small disabilities. It didn't matter I could work it out when I got home, I decided. I actually slept well that night. The end was near and a new beginning was about to start. I was a little bummed that I wouldn't have a chance to say goodbye to the band of gypsies, but life goes on. When I awoke on Tuesday, I ran my hour and choked down my cereal. I was getting a little tired of it. I still didn't know whether I would be on a flight that that day, or the next so I didn't check out of the motel. At noon I went into Augusta and found a very nice restaurant for lunch. I managed to get a steak and baked potato with a salad. I got a fillet because I hoped it would be tender enough to cut with one hand. I still could not grip anything as small as a fork handle with my left hand. When the meat came I found I could cut it with my fork. It took some heavy duty pressure but it was worth it. I finished my meal well before 2PM, so I had a very nice Boston Creme Pie for desert. Even that didn't kill enough time, so I took the SUV to the airport. I sat in the parking lot to hijack their WIFI. The connection was tenuous, but I was just reading the news, so it didn't matter at all. At 1:45 I went into the the terminal. I carried a home made sign that read simply 'Swamper.' ------- Chapter 131 Not one, but two people walked toward me from out of the crowd. Well that seemed to answer my question about what Swamp Dog wanted me to do with the SUV. One of them should have my flight information for heading home. "Hello my name is Hanna. Colonel Marten sent me." A very fit looking woman with very red hair said to me. "Sorry to meet you under these conditions." "Don't worry about it I was the one ready to go," I said. "Good for you," the guy following her said. "You have a ticket waiting for you at the American Airline desk. It should be there now." "Then you collect your bags and I'll collect the ticket. If the boss had told me there were two of you on the way, I would have had my bags and be ready to go now. You are going to drive me back, right?" "Our instructions are to wait while you pack, then drive you on any errand you need to do, so that you can make your 6PM flight out." the woman said, "Fair enough," I agreed searching my special wallet for the credit card. I handed it to Hanna. I was standing at the ticket counter, when I realized I had no idea who the tall handsome man, with the two facial scars might be. He hadn't introduced himself. "I'm Sylvia Porter, Do you have a ticket for me to Charlotte N. C.?" I asked the clerk. "No ma'am, we have ticket for you but it's to Raleigh N.C." She said. "That must be a mistake. It should have been to Charlotte," I said. "So you don't want this ticket to Raleigh. It was prepaid," she demanded expecting that to make a difference. "Okay, I'll take it," I agreed. The only reason I would be going to Raleigh was to visit the Swamp Dog Compound. I found Hanna and her scarred friend waiting for me in the baggage pick up area. Upon seeing me she asked, "Would you mind, if I drive. I find it best just to jump right in." "Not at all," I said handing her the keys. "We left a SUV just like this in the long term parking area of the Raleigh Durham airport. There is a GPS and a map in the glove box marked with the route to the compound." Hanna said. "I do hope they are not planning to have me disappear in the swamp," I said smiling. "No, they are not. At least not before they interrogate you," she said. "Breakout the water board," I said. "I don't think you are in any trouble. Now is there anything I should know?" she asked. "Nothing much, I think I have broke Soda's personal security team. You shouldn't have any trouble from them. I would caution you to keep in mind they are all carrying weapons, even if they are mostly for show. If they pull them to shoot a bad guy, I would personally get behind something," I explained. "I'll keep that in mind. How is this woman Joan to work with?" Hanna asked. "She never gave me any problem, except I would keep your friend there on a short leash, she is a barracuda," I explained. "She will probably hit on you as well. She likes to have something to use for leverage on all the hired help." I had Hanna stop at the UPS store, so I could pick up the packing supplies to ship the .38 Detective special to county seat. When we reached the motel, she took my room for her self, then booked one for the friend who never spoke. That became my nickname for him, The man who never speaks, seemed to be as goad a name for him as any. I sat packing the pistol waiting for some idea of what was going on. When I finished I came right out and asked Hanna, "Where am I headed next? I need to know so I know where to send this," I said. "I have no idea. Is there anyone who will hold it for you," she asked. "Yeah, I guess there is," I said. I quickly called Mary Ellen. "Hi honey, I want to send you a package and have you hold it for me. Don't open it Mary Ellen, but you can have a dope dog sniff it, if it makes you more comfortable." "I'm find too, how are you," she said humorlessly. "Of course I will hold it for you." "So, I think I will be home soon, but I'm not sure," I said honestly. "UPS should be delivering a package from china for me to the apartment. I didn't think of using you as a package drop until just this minute. I don't want this on laying on the porch till I can get back." "I get it. Don't worry I'll keep it handy for you." she said. "When you come home you are going to owe me. It isn't much to do, but I will hold it over you till you pay up." "You know I'm good for it," I said then rang off. When the call was finished I put Mary Ellen's store address and my name on the box. I convinced Hanna to let me stop and get a burger on the way to the ups store and then to the airport. I didn't want to depend on finding anything open when I got into Raleigh at 8PM. Well at least not anything on the route laid out for me on the map in the dash of a strange SUV. I knew from my game warden days how sparse restaurant were in the backwater areas in that part of the country. Since I was flying out, I had to trash my box openers. That was one detour along the way to the compound I would make come hell or high water. I didn't like the idea of flying naked. I couldn't even take the stun gun so I had packed it along with the .38. Now Hanna said to me. "If you are ready to travel, just give me your Glock and I will take it off your hands." "I think before I surrender my weapon I want to verify it with the home office." she nodded her agreement. She had no choice, I was armed and she wasn't. I called Swamp Dog and was told that it was procedure in such a situation. It was the easiest way to get a weapon in the operative's hands. So I handed over the weapon. I had not bothered to ask the person who gave me that information why I was being routed through the swamp. Surely they weren't that concerned over a couple of hundred bucks. Anyway I was going to know soon enough. Hanna had to rush to get me to the UPS store, and then the airport on time. I left slightly over $15 to get the pistol to Mary Ellen's Shop, but it was worth it. From the UPS store we drove straight to the airport with no other stops. At the airport Hanna put the baggage charge on the company card. I was really going to miss that card. I kept the box openers until I reached the lobby, where passengers waited to go through screening. I went to the trashcan there and emptied my pockets. I actually had two different box openers. Either would make anyone who did a snatch and grab on the poor defenseless woman, sorry they had chosen me. What I hadn't told Hanna, the puppet master, was that I had taken a plastic knife fork and spoon set from the fast food take out restaurant. It wasn't a box opener, but I could slash with the knife and stab with the fork and gouge an eye out with the spoon. I wrapped them in the French fry box to hide them from the scanner. I went through the line to security with the cardboard wrapped utensils in the much larger wallet. The one I carried when I traveled was a zipper type wallet. The TSA agent opened the carry on bag, like everything else I owned it was special. The bag, when empty, folded to the size of a large sandwich. When in used it expanded to the size of a large purse, complete with shoulder strap. I had it cluttered with stuff a typical women would carry in her purse. Since I normally carry all the shit I need in my pants pockets, it was a chore to find enough to fill the purse. I especially packed things to confuse the TSA. Of all the junk I packed the only thing I really needed was the tee shirt, extra panties. and the zipper wallet. I only needed the wallet for the dining utensils, credit card and other ID. It also held a small amount of cash. As I expected I went right through TSA and onto the plane. I took the wallet out of the travel bag before I put it in the overhead. Since I chose to wear the green camouflage cargo pants, there was plenty of room for the wallet. The plane ride to Raleigh N.C. was just a little over an hour. When I left the plane, I got my bag and then began looking for the SUV in the long term parking area. I went from row to row beeping the horn till I was standing right beside it and beeped it one more time to be sure. When I was I got into the car and turned on the GPS. I also glanced at the map. I pushed the spot on the screen's menu marked compound. The GPS started giving me directions. Since I had never been there, I followed the directions like a complete dolt. I did stop to buy a chocolate milk shake at a drive in restaurant on the outskirts of Rockford which was a big enough town to have a restaurant with a drive thru open till midnight. By that time I had left the main road and was driving down a state road. The road seemed to be about a thousand years old. It ran right through the downtown of some places, so small that downtown wasn't even applicable. I still had no idea why I was going to the compound. Even so I was happy to be driving by myself through the early evening. It seemed strange to be driving without weapons though. I turned onto a county road where I felt the Swamp Thing compound must surely be. Swamp Thing was the larger entity of Swamp Dog. At least that is what I had been told. The GPS had me turn down a sandy drive. "Your destination is one mile on the right," the female voice of the GPS unit informed me. The guard on the gate looking more like an army ranger than a civilian rent a cop. "What can I do for you Ma'am?" the very attractive man on the gate asked. "I guess, I need to see Colonel Martin," I said. "Please stay in your car. An escort will be with you in a few minutes," the guard said. I pulled into what would have been a parking lot, if anyone parked there. After five minutes I was about to go back to the gate, when another SUV pulled into spot beside me. Another young hunky man got of the passenger side of the newly arrived SUV. He walked around it and then got into the passenger seat of my SUV. "Good Evening Ma'am Colonel Marting has left for the day. He asked that we put you up tonight and he will join you for breakfast at 0700." the hung informed me. "Very well," I said not too worried. A little worried for sure. Everyone but me was armed, so there was reason to worry. The escort rode with me into the compound. He had me park beside an all wood version of a small mobile home The sign read Guest House Five. There were two more on the right of the wooden trailer, and on more on the left. I didn't understand or care that the numbering system made no sense to me. I just went in and found no food in the refrigerator or in the cabinets. I guessed that I would go to bed hungry. It wouldn't be the first time. ------- Chapter 132 Since I went to bed early, my internal clock went off at 5AM. I dressed in my shorts and tee shirt for the morning run. I took off at 5:15 AM to run along a trail in the swamp. I knew I could get lost, so I decided to turn around after a half hour and run back. When I turned around, I ran right into two very fit looking men. They had short hair cuts, and muscles everywhere. I felt like a wimp compared to them. "You are Sylvia Porter right?" one of them asked. "Yes I am. How did you know?" I asked. "We were tasked with making sure nothing happened to you on this run. We know you run every morning," The other one said. "Did they also tell you that I hate to run?" I asked. "Yes ma'am they did. It is one of the signs of a good soldier. One who does, what he doesn't want to do, just because it is the right thing to do." the first one said. "That's too fucking Zen for me," I said. "Me too, just something I heard," he said. "Well I don't know about you two, but I'm headed back," I said. "After you ma'am," They said. I knew they were slowing down their run just to be sure no one grabbed me. I would still rather have been tooled up, than be an anyones else's mercy. I was in the shower forty five minutes, when I heard the outside door open. It wasn't hard for me to think what to do. I put the bar of soap in the towel. The one I should have used to dry my ass. I stepped into the main room of the small trailer swinging the towel. I was about to slap the man in the head with the towel, when he raised his hand. "It is a great view, but I would enjoy it more, if you weren't about to do battle with me," the man in desert camouflage fatigues said. "Okay, then who the fuck are you?" I asked. "David Theodore Smith," he said. "Bull shit," I replied. "True, but none of us give our real names," he said. "I'm here to take you to breakfast." "Well that's better than what I thought," I said. "What did you think," he said. "Well there are all kinds of nasty things that can happen to a poor defenseless woman all alone," I admitted. "Lady, I don't think you are defenseless for one god damn minute," he said smiling. "Well I will have breakfast with you just give me a minute." I said that and waited till he nodded. I pulled a pair of panties on first, then one of my Russian commando knock off tee shirts finally I pulled on a part of jeans. I did stop long enough to slip into a pair of leather moccasins. "Okay, let's go." "You bet," he said. It was almost 7AM, when we got to the dining hall. I almost felt like I was back in the Air Force. The food was served from behind a long counter by a couple of kitchen people who passed the plate down the line till it was full of food. I managed to skip the coffee even though I wanted it badly. I got the orange juice instead, I sat at a table already occupied by Colonel Martin. "I thought you were through with me?" I asked. "Well, we almost were. You are a willful bitch," he said. "But we like that here." "Okay," I said. "The captain here filled me in on your misunderstanding with him. Something about a prison baton." the colonel said. "I didn't have time to make a shank," I said. "I don't believe that for a minute. Let me see what you have in your pockets." he demanded. I showed him the knife from the fast food restaurant, the fork with all the two outer tines broken off, leaving only the two in the middle, and the plastic spoon. "If you had given me another hour, I would have had a toothbrush shank." I informed him. "Unfucking believable," the man who had escorted me to breakfast said. "And that Captain, is why I didn't cut her loose," Martin said. "If I'm not fired, why did you pull me off the Soda Pop tour?" I asked. "I want you to come to work for us as a contractor. Someone we can hire by the job, when something that matches you abilities comes along. Sylvia, we know what all your abilities are, and I do mean all." Martin said. It was his way of telling me he had seen my Internet porn. I just nodded my understanding. "So are you interested?" he asked. "You are going to have to give me a for instance?" I asked. "Well, say we have a diamond dealer in New York, who wants us to supply a courier for a big shipment to Las Vegas." He informed me. "The shipment is big enough to pay you to carry it there," I asked. "It is." the captain with him said. "So tell us how you would do it." "I would send them by UPS, who would think they were carrying a box of chocolate candy." I said. "But if I was going to defend them. I would want a fast car and a pistol and stun gun. Then I would leave the weapons in the airport before I boarded the plane. I would be sure I had another pistol and stun gun waited for me in Vegas. I would also wear a bullet proof vest. Another fast car to make the delivery." I said. "Not bad at all, how about on the plane?" Martin asked. "A tooth brush with a pointed handle," I suggested. "See why I wanted her," Martin said. "Yeah, I think she will do," the captain said. "I think she could also pull off the girlfriend or the hooker parts as well." "What has being able to pull off the hooker thing got to do with being a diamond courier?" I asked. "The courier thing was just an example," the colonel said. "We have all kinds of domestic job offers these days. With the current government in place, there isn't a lot of trust around. Used to be you knew pretty much what to expect. These days, with the government actually attacking civil liberties, you don't know any more." "Sounds a little paranoid, if you don't mind me saying so," I said with a smile. "Well paranoia is good for business, the more the better." was his reply. "So you in or out," the Captain asked. "Oh I'm in, what else can I do," I replied. "I doubt that I'll get another job that won't put me to sleep." "Then you need to qualify on our range. Then take a few self defense courses, then you can go home and rest till we find a job that fits your skill set. At least something you come close to filling the client's needs," the Colonel said. "Let me ask you one thing, why me?" I asked. "Why you, my my, you do ask the right questions. I don't think you are afraid of the truth. Okay, we can teach anyone to shoot. We can teach anyone how to kill with a knife or a pencil. After all that time and money, when it comes right down to it, we can't teach them to actually kill. You Sylvia Porter are a proven product. We might be able to raise your skill level, and teach you better ways to do it, but you have already proved you will kill." "I am not an assassin," I replied. He looked at me hard then said, "I have assassins, what I don't have is a woman who will fuck her way into a targets confidence, then kill him efficiently. You are that woman, whether you believe it or not." The words were certainly not a compliment for sure. I hoped they weren't really true either. I did believe that you could no longer have a reasonable expectation of justice or even protection of your constitutional rights from the government. I wasn't quite ready to buy into the idea of a private army yet. Still I loved the danger, I had to admit. I also loved a good puzzle. It sounded like I would get both with Swamp Thing. After breakfast I met a retired sergeant major from the British Commandos, the SAS. He was a mean old bastard, "Go back to your quarters and remove that shirt or you might well be a target on the range." I almost complained, but I went back and replaced the tee shirt with a red one tight and soft enough for my nipples to show. I figured I would make sure no one shot me by accident. "I have no idea what you will be able to do with the club hand, but my job is to evaluate your weapons skill level." he said. "And what should I call you?" I asked. "You can call me anything you like behind closed doors. On this range you will address me as Sergeant Major." he said angrily. So it was going to be that kind of game. "Right Sergeant Major, am I suitably attired?" I asked. "If this were to evaluate you as a slut, you would be. Never mind let see what you have lady, and I use that term loosely." With that he walked toward a apparently empty part of the compound. At the gate that led to the abandoned area he stopped. From his holster he removed a much larger and heavier Glock than I had in the field. He gave me a spare magazine and said walk to the end of the range. "Try not to kill to many friendlies." I was a live fire shoot, don't shoot course. Shit I hated those fucking things. The walk was about half a mile. The targets presented themselves. The number one picture was a mother pushing the baby's carriage and number two was a cop. Then came three straight bad guys. I shot them as they thought us on the Air Force's combat range, Two shots to the center body mass. I continued shooting terrorist and bank robbers till I was half way through. I leaned against a building to transfer the pistol to my club hand as the sergeant major had put it. I used my good hand to load a new magazine, then I went back into the street. I wasn't in a hurry. My mission was to lure the bad guys out then kill them. When I got near the end, what looked like a real person popped up holding an outstretched arm with what looked like a gun, but it was really a bible. I held off on him and immediately a man dressed as priest with a small pistol came around a building. I double tapped him, then it was just over. My body was filled with adrenaline, my heart was near the point of exploding. The sergeant major came from nowhere. "So how did I do?" I asked. "You got all the bad guys and one questionable target. It was a possibly a bad guy but he might have been a butcher," he said. "I heard him yelling Alla Akbar, as he waved that meat hook at me," I said in my own defense. That's my story officer and I'm sticking to it. "You are a real smart ass Porter," he said. 'If you were in my company I would knock that out of you," "You wouldn't hit a poor little skinny assed girl would you? At least not one holding your weapon." I said holding the pistol pointed to the ground at his feet." "It's empty," he said. "Would you bet your life on it Sergeant Major?" I asked. "Well now I have to know Porter," he said. So I pulled the trigger and fired into the ground in front of him. "You may return to your quarters, while I discuss this incident with the Colonel," he said to me. I handed him the weapon and then said, "Don't forget to clean it Sergeant Major." ------- Chapter 133 That afternoon they came for me again. I was taken to one of the buildings which looked a lot like a double wide mobile home, only one hell of a lot stronger. My escort to the building was just like all the other men, I swear all the men I met were beautiful. They should put out a fucking calendar, I thought. "My name is Tom," the instructor said. He was wearing fatigues not one of those robes that the jap slap guys wear. "I'm supposed to show you all the ways to kill a man, when you lose your gun." "Okay," I said. "Empty your pockets and I'll show you how to use stuff you already have as a weapon." he suggested. "Okay," I said again. I put the knife, fork, and spoon on the table as well as the recently added tooth brush shank. I found time after lunch to sharpen it. I used a steak knife which I had stolen from the mess hall at lunch. I didn't try to carry the steak knife it in the jeans which I wore that afternoon. "Shit maybe you should teach this course. I heard about your jail house club. That and what you have in your pockets would do a man in just fine," he said. "You have something to make a puncture wound." He was holding the tooth brush when he said that. "Something to make a slashing wound. He was holding the plastic knife. Not to mention a couple of eye gouging wounds. He said holding the spoon and fork. What else do you usually carry with you?" "I only have those things because, I was flying and had to toss out my box openers and stun gun." I said in a very simple voice. "Armed with what you have on you, what would you do if I grabbed you from behind?" he asked. "Since, I don't have the muscle to throw you, I would stab you in the arm with the toothbrush. Most men can't look past that kind of pain. If you could, I would pull it out and do it again. That is like for a gang banger not an experienced hand to hand combat killer. You I would convince that I was helpless, and then stab you in the eye, Go for the brain dead wound right away." I said simply. "Where did you learn all that?" he asked. "Here and there," is all I would say. "So you would play act to get me to lower my guard, then kill me without warning?" he asked. "If I can survive the first five minutes, I would butcher the attacker like a pig," I said. "I'll bet that was a favorite in the sand box where you were," he said. "It fits for men in general," I said. "You don't think much of men do you?" he asked. "Never knew one that didn't disappoint me," I replied. "Even your father?" he asked, "I learned some thing from him, but yeah he was the first to let me down," I said. "He teach you the soap in the towel thing," He asked. "Visiting day at the federal prison in Atlanta/ I went to see him just before I shipped out for the sand box. He told me that and and a few other things," I said. "Like what, I'm curious now. I might learn something," he suggested. "Like where to bite a man to sever his juggler," I said, "Best done naked and while engaged in sex. His heart is pumping fast and the end is quicker. Then you can step in the shower and wear the same clothes home," I said. "I see, well I don't know how much more I can teach you, but lets just talk common weapons." He said then he lectured me about household items that make excellent hand to hand combat weapons. They worked especially well for a girl like me, light in the ass and crippled up. Another beautiful man escorted me back to the trailer I was calling home for a day or two it appeared. I plugged my computer into their wifi and checked out the web. I had no doubt that I was being watched and probably filmed. I decided to fuck with them. So I went to an adult chat room and masturbated for some dude hanging out there. Then I looked up and said, make me up about ten of those. They are worth real money on the net. Another of the really handsome and muscled young men came and walked me to the dining hall again. The food was good especially for food made in such a large lot. There weren't any fried food but lots of baked and grilled items. I returned the steak knife. At the end of my meal, a woman came to escort me back to the trailer. "So what's your name?" I asked. "This week I'm Ellen," she said smiling at me. "And Ellen what are you supposed to test me on," I asked. "I an supposed to talk to you about your moral code. I need to decide how flexible you are." She said. "Oh this should be interesting. I always wanted to know where I drew the line," I said. "Well, maybe we can find out," the bookish looking woman suggested. "Let's do it, I can never know too much about myself." I said. "Good, then first of all do you consider your self moral?" she asked. "I can only answer that if we both have the same definition of moral. For instance my definition is knowing right from wrong and doing right more than wrong is moral," I said. "That's interesting, do you think taking a human life is ever the right thing to do." she said. "See that's one of the times I have been unsuccessful at being completely moral. I consider it always wrong to take a life," I said. "But you have killed men?" she asked. "Yes, so far they have been men who wanted to kill me," I said. "I still think it is wrong to kill anyone, but I did find it necessary to preserve my own existence. I think we are all connected. In killing any man, for any reason, I am killing part of myself. We are all part of the same existence." I said. "You are putting me on, right?" she asked. "Am I? I don't think I am, but maybe I am without realizing it." I said. "Would you ever kill a man, who wasn't trying to kill you?" she asked. "Say he was threatening someone else." "We are all innocent, and we are all guilty. some of us are more innocent than others. If I found myself in a situation where killing a man, who is more guilty than the people he was about to kill, then I could kill the more guilty of the two, but only in order to save the more innocent of the two. But it would still weight heavy on my soul. For we are all connected and killing anyone good or bad also kills a part of me. It would however kill a much larger part of him. I wonder how you measure that." I said. "Do you always talk like this?" Ellen asked. "No, just when I get into a philosophical discussion, People who want simple yes or no answers are not striving to really learn about me. The just want to find a hole to put my peg into." I said with a smile. "Alright lets move on to other things," she said. I nodded my agreement so she went on. "Would you ever use sex as a weapon." "Sex would be a poor weapon for me. I almost alway enjoy sex as much as the men or women who share it with me. I don't think I am capable of any kind of sex that would injure my partner." "No, I mean would you use sex to further a plan," she asked. "I really can't say. I would use sex, if I were hungry to obtain food. Would I use sex to gain an advantage is what you are asking. It really depends on who the man is. I have never screwed a man, I find truly repulsive. But then there are few men in which I can't find some good. We all have good and evil in us, It is only the measure of each which makes us who we are. I screwed my last partner. He had more good than evil in him. I did it for my own welfare. I knew that if I screwed him, he would be more concerned with protecting me. So I did it, so that I would not have to look behind me, if we had to go through a door." "So you would use sex to gain an advantage," Ellen asked. "If I could justify it, yes," I said. "Is there any sex act you would not do if necessary?" she asked. "Sex with a horse, I definitely would not have sex with a horse. A pony, I would have to give some thought, when I was confronted with the pony," I said. "How about sex with a woman?" she asked. "Are you propositioning me. Because not only are you a woman, you are a shrink. I would be forced to make two decisions would I have sex with a woman, which wouldn't require all that much thought, but also would I want to have sex with a shrink. I'm not sure about that one. Unless you are propositioning me, then I will give it some serious thought. So are you?" "No I'm not," she said. "Good, I want have to think about that," I shivered when I said it. She looked a little flustered when she said, "How would you sum up your moral code." "In one word?" I asked. "Sure, if you want," she agreed. "Flexible," I said with a smile. "You know you have the kind of background that makes for a serial killer," she said. "I suppose so, but even serial killers have their uses I suppose. We are connected to the serial killer, just as we are connected to his victims." I said. "Would you take out a serial killer," she asked. "I need more information. Did I know any of his victims. Is he likely to target any of my friends or family?" I asked. "What difference does that make?" she asked. "Well, if I knew any of the victims past, present, or likely future, then it would be personal. I would have to think about that. But if it were purely taking out the trash, it would be a different thing." I said. "If you didn't know any of the people in your scenario?" she asked. "I would kill him, if called on to do so, but I would take no pleasure in it. Not even in knowing that I had done something that needed doing." I said. "And, if you did know the victims," she asked. "Then I would kill him more than one time," I replied. "You know this interview is the only thing standing in the way of you working for Swamp Thing?" she asked. "Yes, so tell me Doctor Ellen, what have you learned tonight." I said. "Truthfully?" she asked. "Yes truthfully," I said. "I learned that your moral compass does not point to due north," she said. "Not even toward magnetic north." "Probably loose on it's peg," I said. She left me and reported to the Colonel and the Commandant. "So what do you think," the commandant asked. "In my professional opinion, she is crazy as a loon. Those reports from her personal files are contradictory and so is she." Doctor Ellen said. "But you liked her didn't you," the Colonel asked. "I would spend a lost weekend with her, and I have never considered a woman before, but I'm not sure I like her." The doctor said. "And that my fine doctor is what will make her an excellent employee," the commandant said. "We will start her as a contractor and work her into the system." "You know, she may come for you one day," the doctor said. "I wouldn't have an employee who followed blindly, or was afraid to hold us responsible for what we do," the commandant said. ------- Chapter 134 I endured three days of a class designed to teach me how to turn a can of hair spray into a flame thrower. If you needed one bad enough to risk your hand, or life. I loved the information, but I had grown tired of the Compound. I was more than ready when the Colonel said, "Go on home and rest. We will call you when something you are uniquely qualified to handle comes along. It might take a while." "Okay, thanks for the lessons. Are we square on the money now?" I asked. "Alright, you can keep the over payment for the Soda job," he agreed. I didn't realize how much of the summer had passed, till I got back to County Seat. The light poles downtown were decorated with red white and blue bunting. I seems I had already missed the July 4th parade. June and half of July were gone while I had been engaged with Soda Pop and his band of Gypsies. I took the Colonel's advice to heart. Other than my morning run, I did nothing. I played on the computer and watched some old TV shows on something call project free TV. It had a list of old TV shows and how to find them. It would keep me busy for months, since I had missed so many show which only lasted one season. I could take a few days and see the whole seasons TV shows. By the second week I was sitting around in my underwear and a dirty tee shirt watching TV on line all day long. My real cell phone rang and it was Mary Ellen. "Hey Silvie, you about ready to make a movie," She asked. "Do you think we can do one without showing my busted up hand," I said. "Isn't that healed yet?" she asked. "Oh I can use it, just not very well," I said. "Okay let me call the camera guys and see what they say. I have a scrip concept just made for you," she said it then was gone without even saying goodbye. That was what happened when Mary Ellen was in her producer mode. She got really irritable and rude. I didn't mind so much, I had been good for too long. I thawed out some pancakes for lunch. I got three cakes, a puddle of syrup for dipping, and apple sauce in a microwaveable kit. Add a couple of links of microwave sausage and then throw the whole thing in the garbage was what the directions should have said. Still I could choke it down. I was getting bored for sure. Ten days since I left the Swamp, and I was bored to hell. After the pancakes I went for a ride on the bike. The two wheeler was fine since my local bike man switched the cables so the front brake was on my right hand along with the six gears in the back. I could hold onto the handle bars just fine I just could not squeeze the brake with my left hand. I could move the gears with my left hand after he added five layers of black tape to make the shifter larger. So I had begun to ride it every other day, rather than run. I also rode it everywhere I went in County Seat or out to the plaza. The summer was glorious in county seat. That time of year made the winters bearable. I rode out to the plaza just to begin moving again. A girl can only take so many five year old TV shows and just so much masturbation. I went looking for guys who would whistled at me on the bike. Some guys just like skinny girls I guess. I sure was glad. I heard the sound of a siren behind me and pulled over. "What the hell are you stopping me for Jimmie?" I asked. "Deputy Melvin to you," he said. "Oh of course Deputy James Melvin, what is it I'm supposed to have done on a fucking bicycle?" I asked. You made a left turn on a red light," he said. "Bicycle or not, that's against the law." "Well I'll tell you what Officer Jimmy, you just write that thing, and I'll get my lawyer to beat the ticket, and get a restraining order against you, so that you stop harassing me." I said resentfully. "We have a new judge in town now," he said. "I have friends who work for that state news channel on cable TV. It gets broadcast all over the state. You want just look like a jackass to the locals. I can arrange it so you look like a jackass statewide.' He thought that over a long time before he said, "I'm gonna make it a priority to catch you dirty," he said. "All that shit you done undercover had to have rubbed off." "Have a nice day officer," I waited till he pulled away before I got back on the road. What a prick I thought. I got home in time to check my email messages before I went out to dinner. I had an email message in one of my alias names. It must have been one of twenty fake names. It was from one I used when I couriered drugs for the Greens. I had known for a while that I didn't get blown everywhere. Some of the places, where I only picked up one time, had no idea who I was. Some of them did of course. I had given my word, that I wouldn't approach any of the old contacts. The state agents thought there was too much chance I would be recognized. I didn't answer the email, but it did get me to thinking. That courier gig hadn't been so bad. If something didn't come along soon, I just might get back in the business. Fortunately Mary Ellen called again to give me a temp reprieve from my criminal thoughts. "I consulted with the camera men and I think we have it worked out. Besides some guys get off on handicapped women, or health women with handicapped men." "You are kidding me right?" I asked. "Oh no, I am dead serious. I am getting lots of interest in you and Lamar. I used him in a couple of other videos, but I got more requests for you and Lamar anyway. The camera loves your look and the men do to," she said. "Sex with Lamar is pretty painful," I said. "Okay do it for me and I'll pay you five hundred," she said. "Can you really make that much from the films?" I asked. "Not that much from the housewife actresses that visit my dress shop, but for you, yeah I can. It has a lot to do with your skinny, but healthy look. The big cock of Lamar spreading you doesn't hurt of course. You might not know, but the boys had a couple of shots from the last shoot, where your vagina gaped open after Lamar was through with you." Mary Ellen said. "When do you want to do it?" I asked. "How about Sunday night, meet me at the shop and we will go to my new double wide mobile home. We are using as a production lab." She said. "Okay, I'll see you Sunday," I agreed. While I had been on the phone with Mary Ellen my eyes came to rest on the package from the ebay seller. It was supposed to hold a good crossbow. Not the most expensive, but not a toy either. I hadn't even opened it. I pulled the box over to the table and carefully unwrapped it. The bow had some wood, some metal, and some fiberglass parts. It also came with twenty bolts. I used the wireless Dremel tool to cut the point off one of the bolts. Drawing that string was a bitch with one and a half hands, but with the lever and a few grunts I managed it. I put the bolt without a point in the groove and seated it properly. It was supposed to shoot through a telephone book. If that wasn't total bullshit I needed something heavy duty as a target. I walked to the small park near the apartment. At the park I found a big tree, then backed off about thirty feet or so. I looked around to be sure I was alone in the park, then I fired the thing. There was no recoil of course but there was a noise. The bow had a open iron site so I was surprised that I even hit the tree. I chose an angle that If I missed the tree there was a quarter mile of creek and woods before it came to any people. I didn't miss the tree. The chipped bark told me the bow fired true. I was more than a little surprised. I decided to find a place where I could really practice with the crossbow. It would make a fine addition to my skill set for Swamp Think to consider. Things were still highly boring, when I pulled to a stop in front of Mary Ellen's shop. I went inside just a little before 6pm on that Sunday evening. I drove the Toyota, not only because I had no idea what time we would be finished, but also because I had no idea what condition I would be in, when the shoot ended. Mary Ellen was not known to protect me, when it came to her movies. There was a new girl working in the shop. She was very young. By very young, I meant like 16 or 17. "You got a new girl friend?" I asked more than a little surprised. "Yes isn't exquisite?" Mary Ellen replied with a smile. "Yes, if you are looking to go to jail, she will do just fine," I said. "Oh no, I don't us her in videos. I know a female porn producer gets noticed. Kinky porn gets noticed as well, but kiddie porn gets you noticed by the cops. That gets you five to ten years in a state prison." Mary Ellen said. "How about child abuse?" I asked. "I don't know that anyone has ever been convicted without the victims testimony, and she isn't going to testify against me." She said. "Well I hope not for your sake," I replied. We left as soon as she locked the door. "Willow here will be going with us. Even though she can't participate, she likes to watch and I like for her to watch. It makes her more friendly. The three of us traveled in Mary Ellen's brand new Buick. I almost remarked on it but decided not to. The drive was much shorter this time. The double wide she used for productions also housed her photographers Phil and Jeff. "Surely those two are finished school," I said to her. "Sure, they live here until they sell their first documentary," Mary Ellen said. That interested me some. I wondered if I could use my knowledge, and experiences to make a documentary. I wondered if anyone would be interested in anything I had to say. I decided that, if we went with something slightly illegal, but not so serious that we would do a lot of hard time, if we got caught, it might be worth the gamble. I would have to get Phil and Jeff aside to see what kind of contacts they really had in the TV business. "Why are you asking," Jeff said to me. "I might get you a series that one of the networks would want to carry. Something just illegal enough to be interesting, but not so much as to get us a long prison sentence. But you would be partners in it all, not just filming," I said. "If I go down, we all go down." ------- Chapter 135 The answer was an immediate and enthusiastic yes. They knew how to film a docudrama, but they had miserable luck with packaging them. I decided I would change all that. I didn't like to be bored, and I thought I could make a hell of a docudrama. First I had to get through the filming of the latest porn video. I decided to call it Lamar and me 2.0. I actually had to act a little in the second one. We met in the parking lot of a Walmart at night, well not really. They had some stock footage of a Walmart sign they were going to patch into the shots of Lamar walking up to a car while I struggled trying to load a TV. The TV was actually an empty box which Mary Ellen had laying around. That is how they planned to manage my fucked up hand. Lamar walked up and asked, "Do you need a hand with that TV?" "Ordinarily I wouldn't, but I guess I do now. I only have one good hand. The other one works pretty good, but I can't make a fist or grip anything small." "Not a problem," he said putting the TV in the trunk of the car that was supposed to me mine. I gave him a long look as he loaded the TV. "What can I do to thank you," I asked. "If you aren't in a hurry, you can have a drink with me," he said. And that's how it started. The next scene is us sitting on a bench outside the double wide on a deck. "This is not exactly what I expected, when you asked can I buy you a drink." I said with a smile. "You know how people talk. I thought you might be more comfortable here. I know I am," Lamar said to me in a soft voice. "It is true that my husband would have a fit, if he knew," I said. Without warning he took out his cock. It was simi hard but even so it was huge. Even bigger than I remembered. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Showing you what you can have or what you would be missing if you decide to run home to your husband and kids," He said. "Let me see that hand you can't use well. Let's see if my dick is thick enough for you to hold with it." He took my hand and moved it to his cock. When I didn't pull away he said, "Stroke it so you really can see what you have been missing." His ton was more demanding and more confident than before. I of course stroked it up and down moving so the camera got a good shot of my knarly hand stroking him. He leaned his head back and asked, "Doesn't that feel good to you?" I mumbled, "Yes." "Speak up," he demanded in and even stronger voice. It was obvious to me and would be to the viewers that I was overwhelmed by the size of his cock. "Yes, it feels good to me," I said louder, but still tentatively. "Well it damn sure feels good to me," he said. Then he added, "Don't you love the feel of it in your hand?" I knew the tone they wanted me to answer in was a voice in awe of what I saw. So I tried to speak in the right voice, when I said, "Yes I love the feel of it in my hand." "Wouldn't you like to kiss it," he said. "It is to thick," I said in that voice as if I was in awe of it. "Not to thick to kiss," he demanded. Then he reached over and guided me to the floor. I was willing as, I am sure it would have happened in real live. "It's all wet," I said in shy soft voice. "It's okay just kiss the shaft you don't have to kiss where it is wet, if you don't want." he replied in that strong voice. I started at the back and placed kiss after kiss on it as I worked my way forward. When I got to the head I knew the camera was in close up so I pulled back allowing a bit of precum to form a bridge between my mouth and his cock. "Don't stop now," Lamar demanded. 'Keep going it feels so good. Doesn't it feel good to you?" he asked. "Oh god yes," I said in a more confident voice. Then I replace my mouth on his cock. I moved to the very tip of it and I made a big show of sucking his precum into my mouth. I felt Lamar's hands on my head as he forced his cock into my mouth. I could feel my jaws being stretched beyond their normal opening capacity. It had been painful the first few times it happened, but now it was just a little weird feeling. Then I felt him move slowly in and out and it felt like he was massaging the inside of my mouth. He was so big I had to fight to keep from biting down on his cock, but it was worth it. I had forgotten, or maybe I never knew how good it felt to have my mouth massaged by a large cock. I surrendered to it, and it was glorious. My orgasms are less about the physical and more about the emotional sensations, and those were running wild. I cam before he shot his load into my throat. If he hadn't pulled out immediately after, I believe I would have drowned on his cum. As it happened I began to orgasm again. When it ended, I was truly help less. They threw the script away and Lamar and I just went on instinct. I am pretty sure there was screaming. I know there were a lot of fuck me's, and some tell me you love me whore's, going around. I took his cock everywhere but anally. I drew the line there, since he was way to large not to tear my sphincter. It ended with Lamar dropping one more load inside my belly. Then he held his cock for me while I licked it clean. "Holy shit," Mary Ellen said. "You are amazing." Then I dressed very slowly. I was sore and I was tired. I knew it was only going to be worse the next day. As I walked to the slowly toward Mary Ellen's car, one of the cameramen pressed a card into my hand. Mary Ellen and her teenage friend helped me into Mary Ellen's car. I was sitting in the front seat trying to stay awake. My body had shut down completely. I was incapable of conscious thought. Mary Ellen was talking, but I wasn't responding. When we reached the parking lot behind her shop, she handed me an envelope and asked, "Are you okay to drive./" "Okay," I mumbled and got inside. I put the envelope on the seat beside me along with the business card. When I pulled into the drive, I left the envelope and the card on my seat as I climbed the stairs with great difficulty. I didn't even bother to convert the DIY sofa to a bed. I just fell on it and slept. I felt nauseous in the middle of the night so I got off the homemade bed and went to the bathroom where I threw up. Actually I three up three times before I left the room. I undressed and removed the sheets and a light blanket from the storage boxes. Before I returned to the bed, I half assed made it up. Sleep was again instantaneous. I slept through the night that time. Actually I slept well past my normal walking time. When I awoke, I was pretty sore so I decided that I would ride the trike on my morning outing. It hadn't been started in a couple of months, but I tried it anyway. I had put gas stabilizer in the tank before I left, So it was time to see if that shit worked. Sure enough, I got on the street in front of my house and dropped the motor and off it went. I had to reach over and move the carburetor off choke but it smoothed out immediately. The centrifugal clutch worked well so I could sit and idle without the motor being engaged. I reached behind and got the light weight bike helmet that would pass as a motorcycle helmet form a distance of ten feet or more. I wore it because I believe in them. I prefer my brains in my head not on the pavement. I pulled down the goggles I wore with it and then I took off at a blistering ten miles an hour. I didn't dare turn the corner any faster. I rode it out to the plaza, then stopped for breakfast at Hardee's. There were a few cops there, ones left over from the later shift change time. The state police changed shifts twice, once at 7AM, and once at 8AM. The ones in Hardee's had to be the 8AM shift. They really had no idea who I was, and for that I was thankful. I was still suffering from brain overload. Shortly after I sat down to eat my breakfast, Chief Deputy Eddie Simpson approached my table. "Well Sylvia you haven't been around much lately," he said. "Doing a little bodyguard work out of state, "Did you miss me?" "Of course, I need someone to keep me on my toes," he said. "Eddie, you need more than one person to do that," I replied. "Yeah, so you say, You still thinking about running for sheriff, when the one we have now comes up for reelection?" he asked. "Sure," I said just to rattle his cage. "I might support you from behind the scenes," he said. "Why would you do that," I asked. "The Sheriff is going to run for another term. I figure you would be so bored, that if you even reached the end of the term, you would never run again." "And if I lost you would still have your job," I said. "That was a consideration, I won't lie about it. Regardless of my motives, I can introduce you to the right people to get your name on the ballot," he said. "Tell you what, I got a gig right now that I like. When do I have to commit?" I asked. "About six months from now," he said. "I'll keep an open mind." I said. "Primary is in may you have to start planning in January so keep that in mind," he said before leaving me to my biscuit and coffee. It was my first coffee in over a month and it was delicious. Even though restaurant coffee is awful in general. When I left the restaurant thirty minutes later, I found a mother and her two kids looking at the trike. "Hi there," I said as I climbed up on it. "Did you build that," one of the kids asked. "Wish I could build something this good. No a man down east build it for me. It has the motor from a water pump I think." "It is really cool," the other child said. "Thank you, I kind of like it." I said to the kid. I smiled at the mother and she smiled back nervously. My guess was that it was the chopped hair, and the tee shirt that made her nervous. I almost said something to reassure her but decided not to at the last moment." The ride home was a blast and not a bit strenuous, I pedaled only going up hill and then only to keep the speed up. Otherwise I just sat there and enjoyed the sights, I didn't have to give my full attention to the road, since the trike was stable as hell. When I arrived home I parked it under the balcony where it had been store and placed the cover over it. I also reached in the front passenger seat of the Toyota and retrieved the business letter sized envelop, and the photographer's card. ------- Chapter 136 I came home from breakfast with a whole lot of options. I tried my best to always have a lot of options in my life. If you kept your eyes open and almost never said no to anything on first hearing it, then you had lots of options. At least it seemed that way to me. I wanted a cup of coffee, but I did not want to be as sick as I had been on the Soda job. I never wanted to be that sick again, no matter what it cost. I went up on the Internet and did some research. For about seventy five bucks I could buy a single cup coffee maker. It had to be one which used real truck driver coffee, not that sissy shit you bought in coffee shops. I found one sold in a home improvement big box store. I was gonna have to drive the Toyota all the way to Dobson that kind of store. I had this wild hair up my ass that I wanted one of those coffee makers. I couldn't get my mind on anything else. There was nothing left to do but take the Toyota to Dobson. Fortunately I decided to check the Walmart store in the plaza, before I drove all the way to Dobson. I found one in stock and cheaper too. I couldn't wait to get home and try it out. When I got home, I ran though my old deputy sheriff notes while the very first cut brewed. The coffee was ready just about the same time that I found the note for which I was searching. I poured myself a cup of the coffee and it was pretty good. I poured it from the brew cup to my delta shaped travel mug. I immediately took the basket out of the coffee maker and toss out the grounds and then put it in the soup pot I kept in the sink. I had gone a little over board, since the incident with the coffee mold. Every morning since I got home, I fixed a soup pot of hot water, dish washing soap, and a cap full of bleach. I left that in the sink all day and I dipping anything I used in it. I also had a brush I used to scrub the utensil before putting it into the drainer. So thats what I immediately did with the coffee filter, and the brew cup where the finished coffee accumulated, The minute I finished with the delta coffee cup I drank from, it would go into the sanitizer solution as well. that would be followed by a good hot water rinse. I was way past over kill with my precautions, I knew that it bordered on paranoia, so I never told anyone about it. So I had a cup of hot coffee, which was a little too fresh, while I read the file. From the note was about one Wilbur Hayworth. I had stopped him during the first three months of my time with the Warren County Sheriff's department. Wilbur had a truck full of empty one gallon milk bottles in the back. There was nothing but the stop sign violation to charge him with, so I didn't bother, A couple of brother I knew at the time told me who he really was. Wilbur was a moonshiner. He had made liquor all over the area. Nobody targeted him because in Warren county, most everything got a pass. If anyone had died from his liquor, the deputies would move heaven and earth to put him away. Since no one had died, he would get a pass till someone stumbled across his still, or he was caught with those jugs full. Until then it was live and let live for Wilbur Hayworth master moonshiner. I got his address on the FI card, and I had copied it into my notes. I had no idea whether I could find him or not. I especially didn't know, if he would do business with me. Somewhere along the search for my master moonshiner, I sat the coffee cup down. I looked at it on the table and decided I could risk reheating the cold coffee. When it came out of the microwave I finished it immediately, then went right to the sink and ran the cup through the sanitizer rinse. I felt better about the coffee thing. I went to the fridge and flushed the chocolate milk down the sink. I almost wanted to cheer when it was all gone. I tooled up before I went to see Wilbur. Then I programed his rural address into the GPS device. It carried me into a fairly nice rural residential area. I found Wilbur's house without any trouble. "Can I help you?" a young woman about twenty or so asked me. She was a cute red head who really needed to have her teeth worked on. They were stained and crooked. "I'm looking for Wilbur Hayworth," I said. "You the law," She asked. "Not any more," I said. "What you want with my grandfather then?" she asked. "It's a private matter, a business deal I want to discuss with him," I said. "Come on in," She said, She had been so cold I was a little nervous, but I followed her into the house, I was in the house and seated when she shouted, "Daddy, Grandpa has a visitor." A man in work clothes came into the room. He looked about thirty five years old. He looked me over then asked, "I'm Joshua, what you want with my father?" "I had a business proposition for him, but I really don't plan to discuss it with anyone else," I said. "Well you can talk to him in the home, but he won't be answering. You see missy, he had a stroke two months ago. He is in pretty bad shape." Joshua said. "Then I guess we are through," I said standing to leave. "Did the business include shine?" he asked. "Yes it did, but if he isn't working any more there is no deal," I said that to keep him from getting curious. "You looking to buy, or you want to make it?" he asked. "A little of both I guess." I admitted. "I don't understand." he said. "You really don't have to understand. You know where I can buy some white liquor?" I asked. "Let's say I could broker a deal for you," he said. "Why would I want to say that, I came to buy liquor not play kids games," I stood to go. "Hundred dollars a gallon," he said. I laughed, "Bullshit I said. Maybe from your father, but not from you. Tell me where I can find a jug on the side of the road somewhere, and I might pay fifty dollar for the information." "You might as well leave for that," he said. "That's ten bucks a fifth and thats more than is it worth," I said. "If you was buying a hundred gallons maybe, but one gallon. No way," he said. "Look, I'm not buying nothing till I test it, then maybe I will buy a hundred gallons, but not now." I said. "How, I know you ain't a cop?" he asked. "You got the Internet here?" I asked It was the daughter who nodded. "Go here," I gave her the address on a scrap of paper. It was Mary Ellen's web site. I had expected the questions to be asked. "It's pron," she said. "Click on Leroy and me," I said. "Ain't no cop gonna do that, just to get a shine bust." "You suck black dick? the price should be double," he said. "Maybe, but I wouldn't pay it. I know what it is worth," I said. "If it tests out alright we will negotiate for a hundred gallons. If it don't, then we got a problem. And I want it all from the same batch." "Go to the closed station at the end of this road after midnight. Sitting by the back of the building will be a gallon of shine. At sunup it will be gone so do it tonight." Joshua said. That will be seventy five." I agreed then I went home and called the two photographers. "Is this Phil?" I asked. "It's Jeff," he said. "I can get Phil." "Never mind it's me Sylvia. Are you guys ready to film?" "You mean tonight. We are still editing from yesterday," Jeff said. "If you want to make a docudrama you will find a way. If you do find a way, I need you to need me at midnight behind Mary Ellen's store. Surely it doesn't take two of you to edit a one a one camera shoot of porn." I said to him. "Yeah, I guess one of us can be there." he said "Bring your camera and be ready to go," I said. "Make sure you have enough batteries to go for a half hour." I said. "Okay, but we have to have some light." he said. "Only if you can shoot with the car's dome light that's all unless you want us to get shot." I said it, even thought I doubted anyone would be at the drop sight. That was the point of a dead drop. I got on the computer and went to an adult chatroom. I was so nervous I knew only one thing would calm me down. I found an interesting man and masturbated with him. It calmed me down as it always did. It usually wasn't painful though. Of course everything still hurt and probably would for a while. By the time I finished, it was almost midnight. I drove to the parking lot behind Mary Ellen's place. I found a car waiting there. I flashed my lights and he did as well. We had agreed on a certain way he was to answer, and he answered correctly. I drove up and parked beside him. I got in his car since he had all the cameras. Okay get your camera rolling. I put a blue wool cap over my head and a pair of big reflective sun glasses to cover my face. "My name is Jill and I'm in the moonshine business. I buy moonshine and make cocktails with it. Then I sell it to retail outlets, who resell it under the counter. I'm going to show you from day one how I run my business." I said into the camera. "Today I met with a second generation moonshiner and arranged to buy one gallon for test purposes." I waited a full minute then said, "Kill it." I told Jeff to start the car and drive. I gave him directions to the end of the road where we found an abandoned concrete block building, It could have been anything, but the raised island where the pumps had once set made it a service station. It was all just as Josh said it would be. Jeff wanted to get a shot by moonlight of the outside, so we drove a few hundred yards up the road. He drove a little closer and shot a stock shot, then he repeated that two more times. Finally he turned the camera on me as I got out of the car and move behind the building. I found the jug just where josh had said, so I hurried back to the car. I told Jeff to put the fucking camera down and get the fell out of there. He did and we drove back to Mary Ellen's parking lot where I filmed a follow up. He could use it as a voice over or show me sitting in the dark car with my dark glasses. Then we parted ways. He went back to editing the video I suppose, and I went home to prepare for the testing. I had to remember it was very early Tuesday morning when I got home. I had ordered a box of test strips, and a test kit's for suspended lead and methanol in well water they be in the mail from the day before. so it sould arrive on Wednesday. In the meantime I could test for the percentage of alcohol with a simple hydrometer from the auto parts store. The were used to test antifreeze solutions. I had the test strips sent to Mountain Health Service and gave the street address as Mary Ellen's store. Hell I might as well take her down with me. I would have to call and tell her I was MHS. She should get a kick out of it. It was a simple cut out. She could tell me if anyone started to snoop. It should give me enough time to dump everything. Of course I couldn't imagine anyone snooping. I was simply testing a well on a piece of land I was thinking of buying. The old service station would do as a cover. ------- Chapter 137 I had faith that the liquor was good, but it was made by the old man, so I wasn't 100% sure. Without that, it just sat on the floor of my kitchen in a corner like water or something. I sat around for three days drinking coffee and riding my bike or trike around town. The Toyota only went out, when I went to the grocery store. I talked to the girl, who made sissy coffee at one of the coffee shops at the plaza. She told me what she thought was the secret of coffee stronger than that out of my pot. It wasn't more coffee grounds, it was to cook it longer. I had already investing in a one cup coffee maker, so I needed something I could run through it. I was told there were blends of over the counter coffees, known for making a strong bitter coffee. I had been reheating regular blends to get that taste It was a taste I had grown accustomed to in the military, where the pot sat till it was empty. At one cup at a time, I could experiment with blending my own. First I bought a large plastic jug of dark roast blend from Maxwell House. Since I already had a bag of morning blend, which was what we had used in those all night coffee pots, I expected to be ready to go. It was Tuesday after noon before I began my test of coffee blends. The cup I made with straight morning blend was fresh and tasted weak. What I needed was something to add the bodywhich sitting a few hours seemed to give to coffee. So next I tried the full bodied model. I found it bitter but it was strong enough. So the answer was going to be to blend the coffees till they were close to how it liked it. then learn to live with that. I found that a fifty- fifty mix wasn't bad, but still not strong enough. So I went with about a 70-30 leaning toward the dark roast. It worked out to be close enough for me to live with. Of course by then I was so wired I couldn't sleep. When I am wired and don't feel like going out, or if I been out and failed to find anyone, I go to the Internet. I can always go to the chat rooms and find someone who presents an absolutely perfect image of himself. I usually wind up masturbating with him. It was a harmless way to fall asleep and it worked just fine as always. I awoke at 5 AM. It was almost light enough to ride the bike for a couple of hours. There was a lot of exertion going up hills, but at least half the time I was coasting down hill. To make up for it I rode two hours. I did it not because I was health nut, but because I really had nothing else to do. I mean I sat around squeezing a tennis ball, but that wasn't a fitness thing. While I waited for sun up to ride, I made a strong a cup of the blended coffee. When I emptied the brew cup into my thermal cup. I added a little water and put it in the micro wave for thirty more seconds While the microwave reheated the coffee, I had time dump the grounds and dip the basket in the sanitizer, then rinse it. While the microwave complained that I didn't take the coffee cup out fast enough, I sanitized the brew cup as well. Then I carried the coffee from the microwave to the table that looked through the glass in the back door and down the driveway. I sat at that table and just zoned out. Getting myself ready for the ride, that would have me start the day physically tired. There was nothing moving as 6AM when I went down to remove the cover from my two wheeler. I removed the locking chain, checked the tires, then headed out. I rode the bike around the empty city streets then out to the plaza. I had decided to go the cafe on the square for breakfast. I had eaten there often before I got the bike. It would be nice to catch up on the real people's gossip. I had already caught up on the cop gossip with a trip out to Hardee's in the plaza. It was after 8am, when I parked the bike in front of the Cafe on the Square. I did not lean the bike against their plate glass window. I leaned it against the brick wall, which separated the Cafe's window from the News Stand's window. I waved to the young girl of questionable origin, who ran it the newsstand /used book store, then went into the cafe. "Good morning Cat," I said to the waitress who had rescued several of the stray cats, I found when I ran in the downtown. "Why Miss Sylvia I saw you riding your bike around town. I wondered when you was gonna stop in?" She was gently scolding me. "I eat a lot of cereal these days. They tell me it's better for my heart." I replied pushing back just a little at her food. "So how many cats you got now?" "I got them same four you and me found. If you don't never do another good thing, you done one when you found them poor cats." She said placing a cup of that awful restaurant coffee in front of me. "Who made your sausage?" I asked with a grin. "I got some of my Uncle Jim's sausage, I been saving it for someone special. I guess a crippled up old lady will do. Since no good looking men come in here no more." she said smiling. "I might be crippled up but I bet you I could show you a thing or two," I said, and the patrons laughed. They all thought I was gay, so I played the part of a Butch for them. You got any of those eggs that come from your sister's hens?" "No, but I'm on a first name basis with the hens, they do come from." She said. "You are on a first name basis with every living thing," I said. "But how about two of them eggs scrambled with Uncle Jim's sausage crumbled in with them. I had to wait while they were cooked, but oh my how they were worth it. Some days the food out of the Cafe on the Square carried me back to my childhood, and probably even farther back to when men wore suits all day long. Of course in that neighborhood maybe they wore bib overalls. Of course it was across from the courthouse where the lawyers and guys trying to look their best would have hung out even in those days. I finished eating and left a huge tip. I didn't want to see the cafe go or Cat either. "I don't have time to sit around like you lay abouts," I said as walked out the door to sound of laughter. It was almost 3PM when I got the call from Mary Ellen, her mail had just arrived she explained in way of an apology. She blamed it on post office cut backs. If she thought I could do something to get her mail faster, she was wrong. I had no pull at all with the feds. Matter of fact, they would be likely to arrest me, if they knew what I was doing. I had no intention of being a cage rattler. I got the Toyota out of the drive then drove to Mary Ellen's boutique. I ordered both test kits at the same place, from the same place, so they arrived together. Both were supposed to be well water test kits. But they would work just fine for what I had to do. I had thought they were dip strips and the lead test was, but the other kit was a wet test for methanol. From Mary Ellen's I went to the plaza's my stop there was a Dollar store that carried lower cost cleaning supplies and they had small two ounce plastic bathroom disposable cups. Then it was off to the grocery for my usual purchases. I also picked up several bottles of fruit juice and one of fruit punch. I had a shopping cart, not full, but at least it was more than I usually bought. First thing I did, when I got everything into the apartment, was to open and I read the directions on the two kits. It looked as though I could pour about half an ounce in one of the plastic cups to test for lead with the dip stick and then use the same liquor to test for lead. I was ready to test before I called my camera crew. "Jeff?" I asked when the phone was answered. "No this is Phil," the male voice replied. "I need one of you with the camera to come to my place. I ready to shoot the second scene of our video." I said. "I'll be right over. Should we meet at Ellen's parking lot again." he asked. "No, you can come to my apartment for this sequence." I said then told him how to find it. When the kid came I was drinking coffee and watching the drive way. He stepped tentatively from his car. I walked onto the porch and was able to guide him to the apartment from there. When he was in the apartment I said, "Be sure you tell Jeff how to get here." "Sure no problem," he said. "So how was the first sequence," I asked. "We are going to have to cut some stock stuff into it, but it looks like we can get about ten minutes of clean stock from it. The hat and glass were a great touch by the way," he said. "That is for my protection, not for your video." I put the blue hat and glasses on again before I went on to do the tests. "I'm going to pour a half ounce or so of white licker into this here cup. The liquor is illegal, cause it was made a master moonshiner's boy. We don't pay no tax on it is mostly why the government searches all over hell for the still. Even though I'm sure it is safe I test it anyway. I don't like surprises on either end of the business." Yes, I said it using poor grammar. I tried to hid behind it, and still be understood. The way I was dressed and my hair made me hard to identify as female. My voice was the only thing that identified me as female, but to disguise my voice would make the audio hard to understand. It always sounded like finger nails on a chalk board after a while. "I'm going to take one of these test strips, they are a lot like the diabetes blood sugar test only this here strip tests for lead in a liquid." I said that before I dipped the tip of the strip into the liquor. "It would have turned blue, if there had been any lead present. Since there ain't none in here, we won't have to test again for lead from this still, but one more time. That will be when we pick up the full batch." I poured most of the liquor back into the gallon jug which had sat prominently on the table. There was only a couple of drops of liquor in the cup, when I used an eye dropper from the test kit to put one tiny drop of test material in the cup. I returned the dropper to the bottle and closed it tight. Then I used a tooth pick to stir the mixture. I waited a minute while I explained, "If it is drinkable shine, it will turn yeller and if it ain't it will stay clear. There you go, it is yellow as pee," I said smiling. "So now we get down to real business. We are going to make blended whiskey from this shine. Something for the real ladies, who want to feel a bit like an outlaw, to sip on in their parlors." I laughed when I said it. ------- Chapter 138 I turned to the task of testing for the best way to flavor the shine. I knew there were two options to make a cocktail of it. I just needed to find the very best ways and go with that. Like I had said on the tape, I thought the novelty of it and the slightly illegal nature of it, would make it sell like hot cakes. Phil turned the video recorder on as I spoke, "What I really need to do here is to find the best and most universally accepted drink. Then we can figure out how to make it in bulk. I think orange juice would be good, I also think a planter's punch with be a good choice, I also want to make some old time rock candy. Purely for medicinal purposes of course. So now I'm going to start the testing. First I am going to cut up an orange and then I am going to soak it at least over night in about a pint of shine." I cut the orange and stuck it in a plastic container. It came from the bag full of things I had bought a bunch of them at the dollar store. I looked up at the camera and said, "Now I am going to put a cup of shine over a bag of peppermint candy. That ends the soaking of items in the shine experiment. Next I am going to mix orange juice and a couple of ounces of shine to make a shiny screw driver. And some planter's punch to make a shiny new planters punch, so that completes our first expierment. Only left to do todayj is to try the two cocktails and decide which is best." I looked into the camera then after a minute I said cut. "So Phil, you and me will be the first two people to try it. This shine is real thing it is over a hundred proof. We can mix it a little heavy on mixers and get away with it. So let's try the shiny screw driver," I suggested. I mixed the first one with an ounce of shine and an ounce of orange juice. The second one I had less shine and more orange juice. I took a drink of each and found it smoother than Vodka and stronger as well. Both drinks tasted the same to me. The amount of liquor in the drink did not seem to make a difference. Phil had the camera on me while I tasted it. He didn't show himself drinking it, but I asked him on camera what he thought. He said, "It is smooth, very smooth." "Now let's try the shiny new planter's punch," I mixed the two drinks exactly as I had before except I used a fruit drink with several juices in it. The cocktail it made was just as good. Phil's comment off camera was, "I think this one is even smoother." When the camera stopped rolling I said," I think we are going to have to choose one because they taste so much alike," "I would go with the planter's punch it is smoother," he said. "It doesn't seem so acidic." "Okay we will definitely start with the planter's punch then," I said. "I want to see how the orange wedges in the shine makes the shine taste and the candy." "So when do we want to check them out," Phil said. "Well it's Wednesday, how about you or Jeff come her at noon on Friday. We will check it out then." I suggested. "You only used about a quart of shine, you got almost three fourths of that gallon left." "I have couple tricks left up my sleeve for Friday," I said. Thursday was a complete bore. After I stopped at the fanciest grocery store in the plaza during my morning bike ride. I had to go back home and then return later, because they had not been open, when I visited Hardee's at 6:30AM. After my two attempts to buy the next experiment items, I pretty much spent Thursday alone, I had only the computer and TV to pass the time. I did watch just about every reality show on TV. The docudrama was coming into it's own, it seemed. Shortly after noon on Friday I was ready to see what was what. The phone rang just after noon. "Do you think that shine is ready?" asked the voice on the other end of the call. "You know, who ever you are, I have no fucking idea what you are talking about. If I do know you, come on over and we will talk about it like civilized people." I broke the connection abruptly. The two clowns both showed up at my door about a half hour later. I watched them come up the driveway. I thought I could kill one of them with the cross bow and even with my club hand I could probably load and shoot the other one before he could react. They were such simple minded fucks, I thought. I knew I was going to let them live since they might prove helpful and I didn't have pay them. Once they were inside I told them to start the camera. Then I began talking, "If you ever call me like that again, I'm going to rip you fucking tongue out. Do you understand me?" "Yes," they answered off camera. They did seem thoroughly impressed. Maybe they had heard of me from Mary Ellen. "Good, because I am serious cops and feds can tap a cell phone easier than a house phone. So watch what you say on them. even when you talk to each other. They can tap, because of you for you other films and get to me, or they can tap me and get to you. So be fucking careful what you say." "I understand," one of them said. "Me to," the second one said. "Now lets get down to business." I filled the two ounce cup with the shine off the peppermint candy. "Taste it and tell me what you think," I demanded. "It doesn't taste much like peppermint, but it is a little smoother," the one I knew as Jeff said. "How about you?" I asked. The camera shook while Phil tried it. "I like it but it isn't very pepperminty," Phil said "Now try this one," I said opening the cap on the storage container with the sliced oranges in it. They both agreed there was a mild orange taste in it and the orange slices were excellent. I poured a straight two ounce cup of shine, then put one drop of peppermint oil in it. "Now try this one," I demanded. "Oh yeah that is almost too much peppermint, but you can sure as hell can taste that." Phil said. He handed the cup to Jeff, who agreed with him. "Okay so we have three products to sell," I said. "Now I need to see about distribution." "Who you gonna see and why the blending," Jeff asked for the camera," "Moonshine has always been a man's business. Men hide in the woods and make it. Then men pack in a car and carry it to road houses, where other men buy it. What I plan to do is market it to women. They are going to be dealing with a woman, and they are going to be selling it to other women.," I explained. "First we are going to distribute, then later we might just go into the manufacturing end of the business." "So where you gonna sell it," Phil asked. "That ain't none of your fucking business camera man," I said. "Alright, sorry I asked," he said immediately. "Don't worry about it. I will tell you when you cross the line," I knew he was still filming and it was fine with me. "So we need to find a place to do the blending and repackaging. First thing thought is to be sure I can sell it. I need to pitch it to a friend from the old days. He has the connections." I waited a minute and told them to cut. I went into the living room to call my old friend Jim Boyle. I had made him a lot of money back in the day, and I figured he would owe me a favor. At least he would know who the hell I was. "Jim this is your old party girlfriend," I said. "Do you remember me?" "Of course, what can I do for you?" he asked. "We need to meet. I have a little favor to ask." I answered. Tell you what, you know that park on the way to Dobson, The one with the bandstand?" he asked. "Yeah, I know it," I said. "Two hours and come alone," he said. "Fair enough," I said, then broke the connection. "We aren't prepared for this," Phil said. "Nothing to be prepared for, you can't film him. I'm not wearing a wire," I said. "We can do an on camera replay of it for you, if he agrees. If not then you can film me repeating what we agreed upon." I met Jim and his brother Simon in the park. I knew just what to expect, since they were both very familiar with my body. They had no qualms about searching me thoroughly. "You going to do a cavity search right out here in the open?" I asked. "Well maybe we will get in my car and I can do one of those there?" he suggested, "Not for what I have in mind," I said. "Okay what do you want from me after all this time?" he said. "I need some names, addresses, and introductions," I said. "I'm going in the moonshine business." "You gonna be in competition with me?" he asked. "Straight shine doesn't interest me. Neither does that shit you sell that takes shine to a whole new level, a DEA level. I just want to sell something for the ladies, I'm going to test it before I sell a drop of it make sure we don't leave a trail of bodies behind," I said. "What's my cut," He asked. "There isn't room for anymore hogs at the trough," I said. "Then the answer is no," he said. "Okay, your call we probably aren't friends any more then," I said that as I turned to go. "I see what I heard about you is true," he said pointing to my hand. "Probably, but I still got lots of friends over there," I said smiling at him. "How you going to prove to me that you ain't working undercover no more?" he asked. "Only one thing that I'm doing that I didn't tell you because you don't need to know. I got a couple of documentary film makers following me around. See they ain't here. So that means I take this seriously." I noticed that Simon and Jim both looked nervous, "You gonna get paid by that film maker," Jim asked. "I'm getting half of whatever they get, when and if they can sell it," I said, "I ain't asking you to be part of that." "I have seen some of them shows. I tell you what, you have them film you give me a blow job, and you can have both. I'll give you the introduction, and I'll be in your docudrama. They to include the blow job in the show. No undercover cop would do that," he said. "Where you wanna do it," I asked, "You come to that motel where you used to live. I'll call to give you the room number. I nodded my agreement and that is how we left it. ------- Chapter 139 "You really going to do it," Phil asked when I explain what Jim wanted. "Consider it my sacrifice for art," I said. There was no need to tell Phil and Jeff what all I had done for a lot worse reasons. My proclivity for sexual deviancy was admitted by me to me and me only. Phil and Jeff didn't need to know that I was more than just willing. To me the idea of it all was a huge turn on. "Since there was no time agreed to, stay around your place. If you go out anywhere, carry your cell phone and the camera." I said. "So do you think you will be able to do it with the cap and glasses in place." Jeff asked. "Honey, I could wear a ski mask and Jim would agree to it. You just make sure if anything gets pulled away, you change your angle." "I got an idea, how about you disguise him and we shoot you from behind." Jeff suggested. "You know what, I liked that. How about we have a fake tattoo put on and you film with it very prominent. If they ever try to use the film against me. I can ask them to show the film, then show my ass with no tattoo," I said. "That a hell of an idea. We can disguise the disguise," Phil agreed. "I know just the guy to do it. He is in our graphic art class. He does these amazing paintings." "The sun is going down can you get him here tonight?" I asked. "He is a nerd. For a chance to draw on a woman's ass, he would cancel anything else he is doing. Trust me," Jeff said. So he made the call. "You guys are not going to be in the room while he does his thing," I said. "Oh please we won't say a word," they said. "You don't need to be there. Who ever does the filming will see it all," I said. Besides I want you to go to Walmart or somewhere and buy me a disguise for Jim or Simon which ever one wins the toss. Sunglasses and a baseball hat will do. It was two hours before the kid showed up with his paints. Jeff went to the store and returned brining fast food. We were through with that before the kid got to the apartment. His name was Marty. "So Marty are you cool with this?" I asked. "If you let the guys take picture while I paint. They won't show your face but I want them in my portfolio," he said. "Yeah, I'm cool with that. Just be sure they don't get my face," I demanded. "So what do you wanted panted?" he asked. "I'm thinking a Harley Davidson set of wings as a tramp stamp," I said. He turned to Jeff and Phil. "You guys said I would be painting on a nude. The tramp stamp isn't on a nude," he said. "If that is the only problem hon, I will get nude for you. Now lets do it," I said slipping out of my shorts and panties. I pulled off the knit top as well. Then I laid down on my DIY sofa bed. Marty went happily to work. I thought it might take him too long, but he really wanted the photos more than to look at me naked. Okay, he did have a hardon the first half hour or so. But he got over it after a while. When he finished I couldn't see it because the only mirror in the place. It was on the medicine cabinet. Since the boys said it was great, I was okay with it. I posed for a few pictures for his portfolio. I didn't wear the disguise but the guys were careful that my face didn't show or they gave me something to hide behind. You know hold my knit top up over my face like a bandanna. "Too bad nobody thought of a veil. Maybe we could start a riot in a Muslim country," I said. "You know what," Phil said. "We could do that. It wouldn't be hard to improvise one." "If you want to use this in the finished product, you will never be able to sell it. Any real TV people will be scared to death," I said. "Yeah, I guess so," he said. Even the foolishness gave me an idea. I got in the Toyota and went to the store. Thank god Walmart was open all night. I rode the bike the next morning for two hours. While I was out I stopped one other place and bought two more of the same head scarfs. By the time we went to the motel I had three to chose from. One was the old time red bandanna and one was blue, while the third was an American Flag. I also had time to practice tying them. It wasn't near as easy as everybody made it seem. The red one with the country design was the easiest to tie, so it got the nod. Jim called after lunch, "Okay Sylvia I'm gonna be in room 113." "Okay Jim tell me what time, so I can tell the cameramen." I demanded. "How about 3PM, I always like a little afternoon delight," he said. "3PM is fine. I'll call you back to make sure the men with the camera can be there," I said in agreement. I immediately dialed their number. "Hello," Jeff said. "We are on for 3PM can one of you make it?" I asked. "I don't have a class, so I for sure will be there," he said. "I need for you to man up and use your take charge voice. We have to have the camera angle we want. No matter what he says do not start shooting till I drop to my knees. You got it?" I asked. "Yep don't shoot till you are on your knees," he agreed. "Bring some way to copy the file. He is going to want a copy." I said. "We can make him a copy on my laptop. That won't be a problem. I have been thinking he is going to want your face to show. Otherwise he won't have anything," Jeff said. "I can work that out trust me. You just make sure it doesn't show," I said. "Okay meet me at the Italian Sub Shop at the plaza between here and Dobson I'll buy you lunch." Jeff was the only one who showed. Jeff was a good looking twenty-one year old community college student. "Why are you still at the community college at twenty-one. Isn't that a two year course." "Yeah, I already finished one degree. I'm working on the second one now." He said. "Do they have a video degree?" I asked a bit surprised. "No, they say it is too specialized. We finished the art degree first, then Phil and I started the theater degree," He said. "That's pretty cool. It isn't going to take you the whole two years for the second degree is it?" I asked. "No, just a year, We graduate later this year. We had to take one summer school course to stay on track for a Christmas graduation," he said. "Way cool," I said. "Well, let's finish lunch and get on over to the motel. What Jim probably didn't know is I had stayed in touch with the motel's owner. We weren't really friends but she did remember me from when I first arrived in town. I had also thrown a drunk out once or twice from the lounge in the parking lot. I parked the car at the lounge and made Jeff walk to the office with me. "Sylvia," the owner said, when she saw me. "What are you doing here?" "Got to give a quick blow job to one of your customers," I said with a laugh. She looked a little concerned. "We are going to fake it, of course. Jeff here is making a docudrama about small town life in County Seat." "You know that nobody does that here. I would never allow it," she insisted. "I was only kidding hon," I said "I'm supposed to wait in room 113 for the actor. Thought I could get the key from you." "I shouldn't, but since it's you, here is the spare key," she said handing me the key. "Thanks hon, I'll bring it back when I leave." I said. Jeff and I were in place at least an hour early. Jeff I do hope you learned something from this." "Not to trust you?" he asked with smile. "If you going to set up a meet, don't do it so early, and never tell the other party where it is until just before it starts." I explained. "Why," Jeff asked. "Because Mr. Boyle is going to get a real surprise." I said. When Jim came in, He found himself staring down the barrel of the .38. He really was surprised. "Hi Jim come on in. Do you have that list of customers. Oh and by the way, a cop wouldn't do this either," I explained. He made a big show of getting his folded list. "I really didn't think, you would hold me at gunpoint." He said. "Oh this is just so we understand each other. I plan to honor my agreement. I just want you to understand what will happen, if you cross me. See me and Jeff wil kill you, and make it look like self defense. My friends on the Sheriff's department will pretty much believe anything I say." I explained. "Now, I got the list. You are providing it to me for the services I rendered you back in the day. When we leave here, you are going to call them all. To tell them that I'm okay and to listen to my sales pitch. That isn't too much to ask for the ultimate blow job is it?" I asked. "If it's the best one I ever had, that won't be too much to pay no," he admitted. "So you just sit in that chair. Here is a ball cap and sunglass so nobody who sees it will recognize you. Jeff here is going to shoot me from the back while I do this thing. I have already given you proof that I'm not a cop, but I can be identified by the tramp stamp tat on my ass. But the average John who sees it can't ID me. Now that we all know the rules, we can go forward," I said. I have to admit Jim wasn't too rattled to get it up. I had my do rag on, and it hid my chopped off hair. That and Jeff's camera work hid me pretty well. First thing was I had my back to Jeff, when I stripped off my clothes. I spent the first half hour naked kissing, and slobbering over Jim's cock, Then I took him in my throat and finished it. When he came. I made a big production out of coughing. "Damn Jim you almost drowned me with your cum," I said. A few minutes later Jeff hooked up the laptop. He played the tape as he copied it. It was probably the best blow job I every gave. At least the moaning and groaning on the tape made it seem like it. I sat naked on the floor while Jim dressed and then left the room. "God you are beautiful," Jeff said. "That is just your hard on talking Jeff," I said. "I know some of the housewives Marry Ellen uses are much prettier." "Maybe, but none of them can do what you do," He said, Then he walked toward me. I was still sitting on the floor naked. "Don't," I said. "I learned my lesson about having sex with the men you work with." "It won't be sex, It's just another blow job," Jeff said. and it was. ------- Chapter 140 Since we had the list the next thing to do was find a place to make the stuff. I could disappear during the day to mix the stuff and package it, without arousing suspecion. The place had to be 100% secure. We were going to have to store the equipment and the raw materials there. I did not want any more shine in my apartment. It was my intention to mix all the product for a complete runs at once. No since being on the road any more than necessary. Even so, the first one would be small, since people had never tasted anything like it. I would be working on Jim's name that first time. I divided the list into convenience stores and neighborhood bootleggers for one list and the drink houses would be another. I checked Craig's list for two hours before I started making calls. I came across a farmer who had retired and whose kids didn't want to run the small farm. The were selling everything. They had a storage container on a 8x12 trailer. I checked it out then had my friend Monk take a look at it. "I called you Monk because I trust you. I need you to take a look at a storage container on a trailer. It was used to store produce during the harvest on a family farm. The farmer could move it from one field to another while he harvested. So I have no idea what condition it is in," I said. "Just because it's you I will meet you there," He said. When we arrived he kissed me felt me up a little, then laughed. He also inspected the hell out of the building. "Tell me the truth Sylvie, what you gonna do with it," He asked. "I'm going to buy mix and repackage moonshine liquor," I said honestly after I made sure no one was around. "Give me a bottle of each for my professional opinion, and I might get you a buyer for a lot of it. You know biker bars sell anything." he said. "This is flavored stuff, mostly fit for a woman's taste," I informed him. "Now you know we have chicks visit biker bars. They only have a beer license, so they always sell illegal liquor," he said. "I know a guy or two in the business." "Okay, but what's the verdict on the trailer?" I asked. "At $500 it would be a good deal. At a $1,000 I could build you one pretty much brand new." The Monk said. "What you have here is a used storage container on wheels, not much more than that. And the running equipment isn't new or street legal." "Well I appreciate you coming out and looking Monk," I said. "Now that you are back in town and not Sheriffing no more, when you gonna come by the shop," he asked with a leer. "You just never know but I will be out to barter not give it away," I said with a laugh. "I think we could work something out," he said. "Make me a good price on your stuff and I'll deliver it to the bars." "I'm gonna need a place to park this. There will only be a couple of cars that come and go, so that isn't a problem. We won't need water or power just somewhere quiet," I explained. "You gonna need to get it moved. I ain't got a truck that will move it no more," Monk said. "If you got a place, I can get it moved." I said. "My daddy has got a piece of land only good to hold the earth together, but it does have a farm road on it that runs though a patch of woods. I expect if I ask nice, he will let me part a trailer there," Monk said. "He might come look in on you, so keep it locked when you ain't working. And Sylvia you gonna owe me." I nodded my understanding. Monk went on to tell me where it was located. When we parted company, I went to talk to the owner. "Well Mr. Jefferson, I talked to my expert and he gave me an idea of what you had. So what you looking to get out of it," I said starting right in to work on him. "Well daddy has got over a $1,000 in it," he said. He stopped talking. We both looked at each other a while, then he spoke again. Of course, we are flexible, daddy mostly wants it gone. How about $800. I had him at a number that fell inside Monk's price spread, but I wanted the best deal I could get. "I don't like to haggle Mr Jefferson. Tell you what I will do $500 bucks cash money right now." I said. "You give some and I'll give some, $700 and you move it within two weeks," he said. "Tell you what, make it $650. That gives me just enough to get it moved," I said. We shook on it. Five minutes later I called Jerry my freelance mover friend. I knew Jerry had the hitch and the big ass pick up to more it. "Jerry, when you coming home?" I asked when I got his cell phone. "Actually I am home now. I got an early start this week and I'm back in town now looking for another load." he said. "Why, you want to go out with me again?" "No honey, I got a big ass trailer I need moved. You got the truck for it," I said. "Will it fit on my hitch and how far you got to move it?" He asked. "On my GPS it looks like about twenty road miles, It has a standard hitch on it. Nothing but farm use and it's empty so no weight to amount to anything," I said. "Fifty bucks and a blow job," he said. "Fifty bucks and no blow job sounds better," I said. "Fifty bucks and you keep an open mind on the blow job," he said with a laugh. "Give me your GPS coordinated and I'll be right over. I got absolutely nothing to do right now." "Hold off till I get the delivery coordinates. I should have them in fifteen minutes, but I'm not positive." I said. He agreed so I called Monk, who called his dad and we had a place to park it. Jerry came and bitched about where he had to pull it from. It did have shit growing on it. Like vines and shit, but he managed to pull it free. We went in a tight caravan over the twenty miles of county roads. I rode close behind the storage build, since it had no lights or license plate. When we got to the farm road Jerry bitched again, but he set it on a turn around in the woods. It was just off the dirt farm road. "You better be glad it has been a dry summer. We never would have gotten in here, if it hadn't," Jerry complained. I gave him the $50 and promise to consider the blow job. Then I went home to go on line and buy the mix fixtures. It took just five minutes to decide to hell with that. So I drove to home depot and bought a good padlock and a ten gallon water jug with an open top and a spout on the bottom to drain it. I got a large wooden paddle to stir the mix and a couple of other things like several five gallon plastic paint buckets and a stiff push broom. The total bill was less than a hundred bucks. There was a lot of orange shit, but it was about half the price of a plastic mixing vat. I rode back to the apartment to called the film crews. They came right over and I wore the doo rag and the sunglasses while I explain about the storage container. I did not explain how I came by it or where it sat. As far as the documentary was concerned, it was just a storage container in the woods, that I had bought, I did explain the plan to clean it. After that bit of the filming, we went to the storage container. The two of them got shots of me sweeping it with the Push broom. After they had there shot I got them to hope. We had to do that before I could even decide what I needed to do to clean it. I made a big deal for the camera about the next step being to scrub it with bleach. "I want to at least start with a fairly sterile area." I added at the end of the shot. We left the container after the explanation. I left to get buckets filled with soapy water and bleach. It took days to get it clean. Then I rented a paint sprayer and sprayed the inside. After all that I decided I needed to buy a couple of camouflage tarps to do a wrap of the outside. After the paint cured, I moved the mixing equipment in. The whole thing had been filmed by the crew. Anything that happened at the site was fair game to film. Anything I had to do in the world outside, I just explained. Like how I got the mixing equipment. "We are going to make a deal with out liquor supplier," I said in the car with Jeff doing the filming. I also said for the camera, "I will see if this 3rd generation moonshiner will let us film him. I doubt it but I will ask." Jeff and the camera stayed in the car with a promise not to film the house, where the moonshiner lived. "If he sees you with that camera he might just shoot us." I didn't even ask Joshua because he really wasn't important to the docudrama. After we shook hands the the work began. "Okay Joshua your liquor checked out. I can use it so let's see if we can come to a price agreement. I don't need a huge amount at any one time but I might need a steady supply. So how about we start with twenty five gallons?" "I have twenty five gallons on hand, so you can get them tonight," he said. Then added, "If the price is right." "What would you consider the right price?" I asked. "$75 a gallon, just like before," he said. "Ain't gonna happen," I said. "How about $65 a gallon in that volume." "Look, I don't want to have this haggling shit every time, so lets settle this now. Under 25 gallons at $75 each, 75 to 100 at $70, over a hundred gallons $65 and that's the best I will do, Take it or leave it," he said. "How about 27gallons for two grand even?" I asked using the calculator on my cell phone to get the numbers right. I even held it up for him to see. "Done," he said. I gave him the cash and he told me it would be at the same place as before at midnight tonight. That same night I pulled into the abandoned service station at 1AM. Phil had filmed me in the apartment before we left for the pick up. I had already explained to Jeff about the negotiations, so Phil was there to film the pickup. I sat in the drivers seat when I started to explain. "We are here in my very small car to load twenty seven gallons of shine. It is going to take every spare inch of space, I expect. We are going to take it to the lab to store it before we go home." Phil filmed me checking the pickup site closely with the inferred scope. I didn't see anything, so I parked the car near the rear of the building. Then got out to start loading the car. I put it in the rear floor board then in the seat above it. then a second layer in the floor. I finally put a blanket over it at the height of the front seat. I had about six jugs I had to put into the trunk. "Let's get the hell out of here," I said. After I removed the black cardboard I had taped to the dome light while I loaded the shine. Phil had to use a low light shot and it was shitty, but it was just to show me load a couple of gallons. "The viewers could fill in the blanks," I said. We drove the Toyota straight to the lab and unloaded it. Phil got me saying, "So far so good." I think we have enough on film to start trying to sell it. If we don't get a bite on it, we will be forced to toss it," he said. He had obviously rehearsed the speech. "Seems reasonable. but things are going to happen that will need filming just in case you get a buyer. You might as well make plans to finish it." "Yeah it will be a good thing to have in our portfolio." he said in agreement. ------- Chapter 141 On Saturday morning we went to a big box grocery store in Dobson. There we bought more peppermint oil and even some hot pepper oil. There was just enough of the later to test some of the original gallon of shine. We also purchased three cases, of twelve ounce bottles of fruit punch. We bought six cases of of eight ounce bottles of water. We planned to do the mixing and repackaging of just one case of punch. It figured to use as many of the eight ounce water bottle as we needed. Then there was the shine to consider. I planned to work the math out in the storage box lab on Monday morning. Since the shine was there, it wouldn't matter that I didn't know exactly how much I would need. The plan was not to work at all on Sunday. All those plans came to a sudden halt after my bike ride early in the morning. Sure I noticed the strange car parked in front of my landlady's house when I returned, but it didn't appear sinister or anything. It was out of place a little, but the car was empty. It was not a surveillance car or an ambush car, so it registered, but didn't appear to be a threat. It wasn't a threat in the conventional sense. I have to admit that he was really good. I parked the two wheeler and covered it before I sensed something was wrong in the apartment where I lived. It was a small thing, but there was a small bit of dirt on the bottom step from a shoe. I had come from a nice clean apartment to ride the bike. There should not be any dirt on the step at this time of the morning. I never doubt myself, so I took it seriously. I climbed the stairs carefully only after I removed the, 38 from the holster hanging under my two sizes too large sweatshirt. It was cool in the mountains so early in the morning. so the sweat shirt with the cut off sleeves didn't appear out of place. I knew that I was going to be a sitting duck, if it was a pro. How many pros would there be in County Seat? I asked myself. Most likely it was a moonshiner, who had come to try to convince me there wasn't room for both of us in the business. There was likely to be bloodshed, if that was the case. My guess was that I had a 50/50 chance, that it wouldn't be my blood. I opened the door quietly just in case he hadn't heard me coming, which was very unlikely. The man was in jeans and a desert camo tee shirt. He didn't appear to be armed at all. "Sylvia Porter I presume," he said. "Yes, are you the Benny the burglar?" I asked. "It's as good a name as any," he said. Probably Bob the Briefer would be better though. I bear a message from the Swamp." "Oh and what would that be?" I asked. "We have a contract to rescue a child," he said. "The Colonel thought you might want in on it." "How could you spare time to come here and try to recruit me, if it's a rescue. I always thought a rescue was a situation that was time sensitive," I commented. "We have time but not all the time in the world. The person to be rescued is a seven year old girl She was kidnapped by her drug dealing dad," He said. "You do know most kidnapping are by the non custodial parent." "Yeah, I do know that. Did he remarry, and decide he wanted the child to make his family complete?" I asked. "Nothing so noble, he kidnapped his daughter to be sure his wife wouldn't testify in a probe the DEA is organizing. It could also be he wants her with him, but I doubt it. It is confirmed the he has been responsible for hundreds of deaths. Including his own brother." "So what's the big plan?" I asked. "Oh it's very elegant. We go to Mexico, where he has his base of operations. Then you and I go in and get her," he said. "I guess what his staff lacks in training, they make up for in numbers," I said. "Probably a hundred hangers on. Some will be good some awful and everywhere in between. The all have on thing in common though. They will all be armed," he said. "I would expect no less from a drug lord." I said. "So how do we get in and out of the country." "The same way they get the drugs in and out of the country these days. We slip into Mexico on a boat. The boat waits for us and takes us home." "Why isn't the government doing this?" I asked. "They are leaking information like a sieve, besides they don't have our unaccountability." He said. "You have the tools?" I asked. "They will be waiting for us with the boat in the Florida keys," He said. "How long will I be gone?" I asked. "You should be home in time for church next Sunday at the latest," he said. "And the pay?" I asked. "Twenty grand each and all we can steal," He said with a laugh. "Of course we don't get paid, if we fail." "My guess is we won't care about that," I said. "That's what I figure," he said. "You are going to have to change your name to Karl the killer," I said. "You can call me anything you like," he said. "There is a lot of that at the Swamp Thing headquarters," I said. "Well I am, who I am," he said. "Sorry Karl, you are not God," I said. "Wait till this is over before you judge," he said. At just before noon we took off in a very small plane from the local grass runway. We light heartedly called it County Seat International Airport. It might have been the last grass strop airport in the country, though I doubted it. When we were in the air I said, "One good thing is, if we fail he probably won't kill the child." "No, most likely he will just kill you and me, a couple of times each," He said. I didn't expect that it mattered that the pilot might have heard us. Karl was sitting beside him and I was in a jump seat behind Karl. Even I realized the team was too small, there had to be more to it than just us too. This wasn't a quick kill the bad guys and run. No this was going into their fortress and steal something they valued with just two people. It would only work with a bigger team and just smash into the place. I was never meant to operate outside the country according to the boss. I left home after a quick shower in only a pair of cargo pants and a clean tee shirt. On and order form Karl the killer, I carried no ID and no money. I wasn't even allowed the .38. I had a slightly more sturdy plastic knife than a McDonald eating utensil, and I had a box opener. I had the plastic knife hidden in my sock. I had the box opener in one of the big pockets of my cargo pants. Other than those I was at Karl's mercy. I didn't like the feeling at all. so I started to look for more tools. Just in case the plane was just a nice place from which to dump a body, mine. Shoe lace Garrot was an option. But then I had to take the lace out very quietly and carefully. What the hell, it was a long flight and I had nothing else to do. I almost needed to be a gymnast and two good hands for the Garrot, but I managed to the get one of the laces out and even get loops in both end. It was not going to be pretty. It was going to be a blood bath leading to sudden death, when he plane hit the ground. If they tried to kill me in the plane. But as my daddy had written to me once when I was in the sand box, We are born bloody, and we with a little luck, we will die bloody. In other words die fighting for our lives. Or maybe he meant die doing something, rather than laying in bed. A man with terminal cancer rides his bicycle head on into a bus on a beautiful spring morning. He dies covered in blood, but with a smile on his face. Who knows what the old bastard meant, I thought. The plane refueled at a real airport. We got out and walked to the bathrooms in the general aviation lounge, "Change in plans. The target is on the move. You can put your shoelace back into the shoe." He was smiling. I sat in the lounge on a plastic chair and re-laced my shoe. "Are we flying commercial," I asked. "Yes," he said. I went to ladies room again and dumbed to box opener." "Are you clean?" he asked. "Of course," I replied. "I called home. We are still going to meet our friend. It may be later this week though. They decided to fly back in our private plane," "I may not be home but call me. I will try to meet you somewhere for the trip," I replied. I considered going back for the box opener but they sold them in the dollar store so I didn't bother. "You really want me to tell our uncle, you will try to make the meeting," he asked. "Call me and I'll drop what I'm doing and meet you It just may not be in County Seat is what I meant." I had absolutely no plans to change everything else in my life, waiting on a call that might not come. He handed me two one hundred dollar bills. "Whats that for," I asked. "Your Sunday we ruined. Don't worry the customer wont mind," He said. I'll fly you back to the grass strip and then drive you back to your door step. It was well after midnight and I was scared to death, when he attempted to landed on that grass strip with no lights. But he pulled it off. Karl turned to me and said, "You worry too much." "Right," I said as Karl and I climbed down from the cabin. "He has special instruments that make that possible. And he left a marker on the strip when he came in this morning to pick us up." he explained. Give me sharp and shiny things or thing that go boom. I don't like computer and ghost lights. Those things just ain't right." "Yeah, I feel the same way," Karl said, He got into the SUV with me right behind him. It was early Monday morning when I feel into bed, so I slept till 8AM. There would be traffic on the road, so I broke out the trike. It was more stable and harder for the cagers to ignore. I rode out to the plaza and found State Troopers at a table across the dinning room when I entered. Since I was back home, and riding the Trike, I was tooled up. Even so I said hey as I passed them. I was on the way to my table with a tray of food anyway. I didn't recognize them and I expected they didn't recognize me either. "You are the lady who runs around town on the motor trike aren't you?" one of them asked. having seen me arrive. "Guilty, is it in violation of some law I don't know about?" I asked. "None that we know of," they agreed. "Cool," I responded. "You mind, if we look it over on the way out," the trooper asked. "Not at all," I said. The motor was bigger than the moped law allowed but I was told by the builder not to worry it would pass an inspection. Unless they were marked, cops couldn't tell shit about the motor, without sending it to a lab, he promised. Since they didn't make any notes and got back in their car, I figured I was good to go. I still was a little nervous while I ate. In my future line of work, it would be best not to draw attention to myself, I thought. ------- Chapter 142 It was almost none before I went to the storage container on wheels. I looked the place over very carefully, before I opened the doors. There was no reason to believe anyone would find it, and if they did would think anything of it. I still had a couple of traps set. I set the old spider web trap. It was simply a piece of 5 lb test mono filament fishing line from Walmart, strung above the path to the Storage unit door. It was still in place, so I felt better. The second tell was a layer of sand over the black earth leading up to the door. It was just as I had left it Saturday evening. I took one more look around with the spotter scope before I opened the doors to the unit. I wore a pair of very short shorts, and a very small tight tee shirt. I would have worked naked, if I knew for certain that neither Monk nor his father wouldn't drive up on me. I set about mixing my first batch of 'Shiny new Planter's Punch'. First I opened the ten gallon water jug from Home Depot. I made sure it was clean and had no odors in it. Then I poured all twenty four 12 oz bottles into the container. The case didn't come anywhere near filling it up. It was about two gallons of mixers. I wanted to mix it about two to one, so I poured a gallon of shine in the container with the Fruit Juice. I was tempted to add a little simple syrup just to make it a little sweeter, but I forced myself to just taste it. It was way too strong, but very smooth. Since it seemed a too strong I decided to had half a case more of the mix. When I finished I had a little more than 3 gallons of punch. Next I emptied three and a half cases of the 8 oz water bottles into a 5 gallon bucket and added a lid to keep it clean. I repacked the bottles with the punch. I had seventy eight 8 oz bottle of the drink and about an ounce left in the water jug. I packed the bottles back into the cases from wince they came. Half way through the repackaging process camera crew came over. The filmed me more than half naked packing the shine. For them to film I added a baseball type cap, with a John Deere tractor logo on it. I also wore the over sized mirrored sunglasses. When I finished with the packaging, I thought Jeff had a hard on. I laughed to myself... "Okay, I let you guys film the results of the first gallons of shiny punch being made. Now you get to film me trying for my first sale. I loaded a single bottle into my Toyota. I drove, with Jeff in the car, to the biker bar where Monk said he would meet me. I didn't bother to change, I just went with my ass pretty much covered and my boobs just barely covered all of me sweaty as hell. Hell I knew I was using sex to sell, but all the big ligit companies did it. I met monk inside. "Hey babe, you got the shit," He asked. "Oh yeah, I got the shit," I laughed. "Let me get Jess over." was Monk's reply. "Jess I got a drink for the ladies, I want you to try," I said handing him the bottle. He tasted it and said, "Not bad. Hold on right here," he said. "You looking mighty good there Sylvie," Monk said. "You have had too much to drink," I answered. When Jess came back, he poured the drink into a glass filled with ice. It took only half the bottle to fill the glass. "Delia come over and try this," he said. A really slutty looking white girl with jet black hair came over. She had several black and gray prison looking tats. She looked much better after she tried the drink and said, "That is good Jess, but it's a little strong. I would have to add come sprite to it." He looked at the bottle and asked, "How much?" "I need to get six dollars a bottle." I replied. "How much you got of this ready to sell?" he asked. Three cases," I replied. "I'll give you a hundred and twenty five bucks per case," he said. "I'll take the three cases but you got to deliver them." "We will call it an introductory price. I'm going to have to go up on the next batch," I said. "Let me see, if I can sell this first," he said. "And you don't retail to any more of the biker bars." "I agree." I said. "I will deliver tomorrow during daylight hours, if that's alright with you." "We open at 1PM I'll be expecting you then," he said. I nodded my agreement. When I got back to the car I finished the interview. The boys were pleased and went back to edit their film. I went back and worked a few more hours mixing up another batch only a little larger. I had hoped for more but I found that $5 to $5.50 was top dollar for the Shiny Punch. After a week, either Jeff or Phil had gone with me to the drink houses on Jim's list. I had plenty of orders to show for it. I honestly thought it would be more fun to be a moonshiner. I found that it was really more work than I had expected. I had moved over two hundred gallons of that shit and made a couple of grand profit, in the first month alone. The only problem was that I was bordering on going mad. The demand more than simply outstripped my capacity to produce it. I found that I really didn't like the business. The bushel of oranges I pickled in the 12 oz punch bottles went faster that I could produce them. Hell so did the punch. I never had the moonshine or the time to produce the peppermint or the hot and spicy shine. It had been six weeks since I heard from Swamp Thing when Karl the Killer showed up at my door. "We need you," he said. "The same gig," I asked knowing full well I needed a break and would do anything. "The same job but the location has moved," he said. "Do you have a good plan?" I asked. "Oh yeah," he said. "But we got to go now." "If you are waiting on me you are backing up. I will throw some things in a bag." I said. "Ten minutes and nothing that goes boom," he said. "Commercial air or do I pack for the grass," I said. "Pack for the grass, but don't bring anything you are in love with. We may still have to fly commercial somewhere along the way," He said. So it was a sharpened tooth brush, in the duffel, a heavy duty plastic knife with serrated blade and three box openers went into the pockets my cargo pants. I threw some clothes, which were easily replaceable into the duffel. I was definitely not in love with any of them. From the apartment Karl drove quickly to the grass field yet again. I had a few more weapons at my disposal that day than I did on the last attempt. "So, where we headed this timed?" I asked. "We are going to fly to Miami. Our target it staying there. It looks as thought he has moved his base of operations to the Belvedere Hotel." Karl said. "You have to be kidding a hotel?" I asked. "Yeah, he seems to have rented the whole top floor. It is the tallest building within a half mile radius. He doesn't have to worry about snipers, with the updrafts and swirling winds in a city a mile shot would be amazing." Karl handed me a stack of small photos. "So this the hotel? I asked. "Yes it is, It is seven floors and as I said, he has all the seventh," Karl replied. "So can we get up there?" I asked. "Sure, but we wouldn't be coming down," Karl said. "A swat team might make it, but I doubt there is any product up there. Lots of cash sure but no product." "Does he ever leave the hotel?" I asked. "Of course he travels in a three car caravan. No one knows which car he will be getting into. He goes out at least once or twice a week every week. Usually it's to a meeting at some other very secure site. "So what is the plan?" I asked. "We are going to shoot him from the parking garage a half block away. That is a sniper shot with a high probability of success." "By we, you mean you," I said. "Yes, I do mean me. You will be in the hotel. When you hear the commotion, you go up and get the girl. With a little luck they will all be coming down to take care of the boss." Karl suggested. "Also to meet any threat at it's source. If I don't have any luck, he will have told them that they never leave their post. Then what do I do?" I asked. "You do whatever it takes," he said. "Do they have maid service on that floor?" I asked. "Yes we have a maid's uniform for you waiting at our hotel," he said. "I would like to make a suggestion. I think a car bomb would be more effective at getting the guards on the seventh floor to come out. Then maybe a small blast in the stairwell to distract the guards on the seventh floor," I said. "That could be done. But the target has to be eliminated period," Karl said. "Best thing for us is to stay in that hotel and get familiar with it. I don't want to turn a corner with that child in tow and not know what is there," I said. "Two days to get the lay of the land and work out any kinks in the plan. Two things have to happen, the target has to be neutralized permanently, and the little girl has to be rescued. I am going to take care of one, You have to take care of the other one." Karl said. "Are you terminating the target to keep him from chasing us down, or are you doing it as part of the contract?" I asked. "What difference does it make?" he asked me. "One is self defense, the other is contract killing," I said. "Collateral damage as opposed to targeted kill." "Silvia, dead is dead," he said. "Not really, this would elevate necessary violence, to just plain murder." I said. "Trust me Sylvia no one deserves it more, then this guy." Karl said. "Besides all you are doing is taking the girl back for her custodial mother." "Gee that takes it all the way down to conspiracy to commit murder. I'm really happy to see that." I said. "I thought you could kill," he said snidely. "I can kill to save a life, especially my own. I'm not sure I can kill simply for money," I said. "Not even if the man is pure evil," Karl said. "Karl we could spend our whole lives killing people who need it, and not diminish the evil in the world by .001%," I said. "So if I tell you this man orders hits on children just to keep their parents in line, that wouldn't be enough for you to bust a cap in his ass?" Karl asked. "It would piss me off yeah, but would I lay out a plan to kill him? I honestly don't know." I said. "If we don't kill him, you would be looking over your shoulder every hour of every day, for the rest of your life," Karl said. "It took you long enough to say it. So even if we didn't get paid for it, we would kill his ass anyway?" I asked. "That's what I have been saying. The cock sucker needs killing whether we get paid for it or not," Karl said. "I wish you wouldn't say that," I said. "The term cocksucker offends you?" he asked. "A cocksucker is not necessarily evil, it cab be great woman," I said to him. "Okay, I'll try to remember that," Karl said with a smile. Just as we had before, we stopped in South Carolin for fuel, before going on to Miami. A few more hours got us into Miami. We were met there by two more men in a SUV. "The men in black had a day off?" I asked Karl sarcastically. "The blend better in cut off jeans and cut off sweat shirts," he said. "Even then they look like what they are," I said. ------- Chapter 143 I was glad that he didn't ask me what the two men looked like. It would have been a problem I'm sure since Karl was one of them. The handed me a plastic bag, from Walmart of all things, with a 9mm automatic pistol inside. The serial number had been removed. There was a box of shells inside a well. The box still had the seal in place. I noted that Karl got one as well. There was also a large briefcase looking fiberglass case, whicht Karl was handed as well. "I suppose I should wear the gloves in the bottom of this bag, when I load the magazine." I said. "Probably would be a good idea. We shall be on maximum security before and after the action." He said. I put on the gloves, then used one of the box openers to open the box of shells. I loaded the magazine, put it in the gun and then demanded. "Drive out of town, before we go to the hotel." "Why?" one of the men who brought the SWV asked." Karl looked at me holding the pistol pointed at the floor and said, "You really have to learn to listen to Sylvia. She seldom says anything she isn't damn serious about. Find a empty road," Karl said as he put his glove on as well. We were well out of town when I pointed the pistol out the widow and up in the air. I fired nine rounds off just as fast as I could pull the trigger and the automatic pistol worked flawlessly. "Your turn Karl," I said. He pointed his pistol out the window, checked for traffic then emptied it rapid fires. The he stuck the barrel of the rifle out my door and fired two shots with it. As he fired I had my hands over my ears. "Now let's stop somewhere and police this brass. Then you can take us to the hotel." When we got almost to the hotel one of the two young men turned to Karl and said, "One room is in my name and one is in Ed's name, as we were instructed. So how do we divide up," he asked. "Sylvia, the rooms only have one bed each, do you have a preference who sleeps on your floor?" Karl asked. "Better the devil you know," I replied. "Then it's me with Sylvia and you two double up in the second room. We do recon of the hotel tomorrow," he said to them. "We already did some recon. He didn't leave the hotel at all today," Whitehead said. I dubbed him that because of his brand new haircut revealing his very white scull. The other one I called Curly because of his longer straight black hair. Curly pulled the car up in front of the hotel while we unloaded the bags. Just as soon as we had everything out of the cur, white head showed us to the elevator and then up to the rooms. The two of them were not on the same floor, at least I didn't thing so since the elevator carried him up. I noticed he didn't pick a floor till we were out. "If I didn't know better, I would think he didn't trust us," I said. "Just operational security. I don't even know their room number, and I'm supposed to be in charge." Karl said. "Well let's go visit the bar," I suggested. "You know they are going to have camera's all over the place." he said. "Then I guess before we actually do anything we should find out where they are, shouldn"t we? I suggested. "You know a loving couple just looking about." "So seeing us tonight proves nothing. Then when we do it, we know what to avoid or wreck. Very good thought Sylvia, but we already have the camera's taken care of. Part of the Swamp thing's plan. The hotel was built long before surveillance cameras Tech rep came to work on the system. It seems the camera's are WIFI, so they didn't have to run cable through the grand old plaster." "So you are going to jam them," I asked. "Let's say that sometime tomorrow the Internet access for computer is going to go down. Someone might be able to use that time to go about the hotel unseen." Karl said. "Very good," I said. "But if they hadn't done that, yours would have been a hell of a good idea," he said. "It's still a good thing I wore dark glasses and a ball cap when we entered," I said. "It was fine but you aren't registered and the registered guest, will be back in their rooms tomorrow. Leave all your clothes packed in the duffel they will check out the day after. At that time they will carry them out and burn them." Karl said. "And that's why you told me not to pack thing I loved," I said with a smile. Even I had known better than to pack my computer. There was a laptop with the tags still on it in the room. That would in up in the airport lost and found I was told. "I am really glad that you understand, So I guess we can get on with the planning," he said. "So you think the target will go out tomorrow," I asked. "Yes there was an incident in Mexico. that he will most likely need to talk to someone here about," Karl said. "Do I need to know what happened," I asked. "Not really, but you should know our target is a bad man. There is no doubt he will be plotting a lot of revenge. Revenge where people die," Karl said. "Then we will be saving lives and getting paid for it. Makes me feel like a cop again." I said. "Well even the bad guys can do good things now and then," Karl said. "I assume you still see us as bad guys?" "The jury is still out on that," I said. "As it should be. If I knew which team you played with, I might not be interested." "We are still talking about Swamp Thing?" he asked. "Are we?" I asked in return and smile. I walked directly in to take a shower. after the shower I walked into the room naked except for a bath towel. But it was just a tiny bit too small to cover everything. I got into the bed and threw the town on a chair. I wanted to see what Karl the killer would do. He walked into the shower. I was sound asleep when he returned. I have to admit it was the first time I ever slept in a bed where a man and I were both naked and didn't try to screw him cross eyed. When I Awoke at 5AM, I knew I wasn't going to run, but I also knew I needed something. I couldn't screw Wesley Sniper so I went into the bathroom and fantasized about him instead. I'm sure the fantasy was better than Wesley would be, since he was so clean looking. He and I went to breakfast two blocks from the hotel at 7AM. He rushed me a little he wanted to be back by 8AM. He wanted to be in place. I went back to the hotel and to the room alone. In the closet I found the maid's uniform. I turned the computer on and went to the Internet. I was waiting for the Net to go down before I made a move. Just a little after 8:45 the connection to the net just crashed. I had been wearing the maid's outfit since I got back to the room. So all I had to do was take a deep breath and head upstairs. I got past the guard by on the door by carrying a arm load of towels that the guys had arranged. I was in the suite reserved for the family. Another suite was used for business meetings. It was obvious that the girl's father was gone. Security was much less visible than it would have been, if he had been in the hotel. I was in the family suite and opened the door to the little girl's room. She was still in her night gown and sitting on the edge of the bed. "Sweetie would you like to see your mother?" I asked. She just nodded. "Good then get dressed," I said. She moved much faster than I expected. I was silently shouting come on Wesley Sniper do your thing. That's when I heard the commotion outside the door. The guards were shouting and I heard them scuffling around. Then there was the explosion outside, and then the one on the stairwell. "You Stay behind me and go where I go, Okay?" I asked. She nodded again. I moved though the bedroom door then motioned her out. I had her stand on the side where she would be covered if some one rushed into the room. I stood on the other side of the sitting door as it open. Just as expected a single man rushed though it. The security was on the boss, not the girl. She wasn't a threat, so he rushed in expecting to find her in her bedroom. That's why the seemingly empty room didn't alert him. To say he didn't realize what happened to him probably was grossly inaccurate. I am sure he probably felt little pain, but when the artery to his brain sprang a leak I am sure he realized something was wrong. I was wearing gloves so I just dropped the box opener after he bled out in my arms. I led the seven year old into the hall only after I made sure it was empty. I had the 9mm out in case anyone showed up. Since I had not fired the gun, if anyone did get off the elevator they wouldn't be expecting anything. When the doors opened, we rode it down to the floor my room was on. When no one showed up we went to the stair well where the bomb had been. That stair was filled with smoke above us but not on the floor where we were. We got down about two flights when a very nice fireman led us from the building. I removed the gloves as we walked and put them in the maid uniform pockets. We got to the street and walked away from the paramedics. The little girl and I got a block away on foot, when the black SUV pulled up beside me. Wesley Sniper was in the SUV. The little girl, and I got into the blacked out vehicle. "You know what sweetie, you are the bravest little girl I ever met, Would you like to talk to your mom?" I asked. "Yes Please," she said. Karl dialed the number and handed her the phone. I didn't know anybody's name, so I was thrilled that he had it. The mother cried the little girl cried and we drove like hell across town. They were still at it while we drove toward the airport. I removed the maids uniform and changed to the escape clothes I had left in the SUV. Karl said, "You will be with your Mom in a few hours honey, but you have to hang up now." She said goodbye to her mom and Karl handed me the phone and said, Wipe it." I took the gloves from the pocket of the maid's uniform and put them back on before I broke the phone down. I thew the battery out first. then I removed the Sim card before I wiped down the phone. I threw the phone out the window near a park. Finally the Sim card went out the window in the middle of a mini traffic jam. I left the little girl with Karl, while I went into the ladies room and dumped the 9mm, and the maids uniform wrapped around the pistol, in the trash can. Karl saw us on the plane before he dumped his pistol, then boarded a different plane I presumed. We met the little girl's mother in Atlanta. Since it was pretty obvious from the little girls reaction that she recognized her mother, I just disappeared in the crows while they hugged. When I got to the gate, I looked around but no one I knew was there. I wasn't sure that Karl made it out, until I got to the closest airport to County Seat. He was there with a rental car to drive me home. We said all we had to say on the hour drive When I got out of the rental all the say was good bye. I was amazed how well it all went. Swamp thing knew there shit for sure. ------- Chapter 144 I used the first couple of hours back to catch up with the film crew. None of my customers knew how to find me, so there were no messages about that part of my life. Without those contacts, all I could do was just make hootch and move it. The film crew wanted to tell me some good news. Because I was exhausted I had them come by the next morning at 9AM. I took a long hot soak and washed my hair twice to remove any blood that might have gotten on me when I cut the guards throat. I left the box opener because I knew I would never be able to remove every trace of blood from it. I had also knew that if two men had come through the door, of the family suite, I would have died. That was too sobering a thought for a bathtub, but it had to be admitted, I just got damn lucky. Maybe I should be content running moonshine, or run for Sheriff, and forget all about Swamp Thing, But I never felt alive till I was putting it all on the line. I had been afraid out of my mind, but I had also been thinking a mile a minute. It was exhilarating beyond words. I knew for better or worse Swamp Thing had what was left of my soul, and the money wasn't bad. Laundering money was how most people Got caught. It was always follow the money. I could live my simple life on the pension I received from the state. I used the liquor money to buy more liquor and other supplies. I also had a plastic shoe box full of cash. I kept it in a the bottom of a plastic tool box. It wasn't much of a place to hide it, but it had to do for a short term hiding place. I still had ten thousand in bug out money hidden in the car. My problem was the same as every other person selling an illegal product. I had way too much cash for the lifestyle I could afford on paper. Fortunately, I did it for the thrills not the cash. I still lived the same as I always had. Even so it still accumulated. I put a wad of cash in the sink and covered it with Dawn dish washing soap and half a cup of bleach. Then when it dried, I put it in a new envelops that was never handled by me without gloves. I did some thing not to many people in the liquor business ever though of doing. I dropped the envelop in the collection box of the Salvation Army. Another time, I bought several cases of corn beef hash and put them in a collection box for a food pantry for Warren County's homeless. Even so I still made liquor runs, and the money still accumulated. It was the beginning of winter way to soon. We were forced to shut down the shine business, because no one would be making it again until late summer and into the early fall. I had not had any work from Swamp Thing either. Even though I had done everything right, I figured that were pissed at me for some reason. So fuck them, I thought. By November their was no more shine to buy. The leaves were off the trees, so stills were easy to spot from the air. And the weather was cold, making it uncomfortable to work in the open. Also the supply of corn had pretty much been exhausted, There were people who operated sill year round, but I didn't know any, and I was ready for a break by the end of November anyway. I had been mixing and selling shine for since July and I knew that I had been damn lucky. The buyers told me how much they hated to see me shutdown, when I saw them that last time. I explained it all and they knew what it was all about. My shit was real shine, not the crap they would be getting from now till we opened again. What they got in the winter would be weak sugar liquor and it would have a different taste. I decided I had money I couldn't spend, and money I could get to if I had to bug out in a hurry. I needed to concentrate on the money I couldn't spend. I watched those god awful reality shows. One of them sort of interested me. It was one of the storage locker shows. I became fascinated with it and realized I could use it to laundry money. I still had my state buy out money in addition to my pension. I had received a lump sum form the state and had not invested it at all. Because I hadn't there was almost no gains for me to pay tax on. The reason I had never considered doing anything with the money, was I had no idea what I would do if if I lost it. I would have no seed money at all in that case. I was getting money from all over I could use for seed money, but I couldn't really use it because is was gray market money. I had lived in the apartment long enough. I wanted to own a house but the pension wasn't enough income to buy a house. There just wasn't enough money for large enough down payment. What I needed was enough money to make a large down payment, while still leaving some seed money in the bank. To do that and keep the feds off my ass, I needed to clean the money I had. As thing usually do for us all, it kind of all came together at one time. I could take money out of my illegal stash and buy some coins. Say I bought $1.000 worth of gold coins with stash money. Then I went to an auction for abandoned storage lockers. I could buy one piece of shit locker for under a thousand bucks. I could salt it with those coins. Then I could sell them on the open market and bank that money legitimately. The first one would be coins, after that it could be anything of value. I could lose a little money and still make money on paper because it would be legal and I wouldn't have any real overhead. I looked online and found a storage auction, in a town less than a hundred miles away. It was on the weekend, five days away. So I drove to Dobson purchased two coins for five hundred each. The seller had asked a few dollars more but came down because I bought two. Then when the time came, I rented a rather large panel truck. I drove it the hundred and twenty miles to the sale. I picked a locker that looked like it was full of old furniture and bought it. I didn't bother to check anything I just hired on of the other bidders to help me load it on the truck. It took about twenty minutes and I paid him fifty dollars and had him sign a receipt. Then I took the locker's contents to the back of a thrift store. The store employees and I sorted through the stuff that had been in the locker. I donated everything except a couple of paintings, two folding chairs, and a small jewelry box comple with cheap costume jewelry, That is where, I said I found the coins. I sold them to a dealer in town for $470 each. I was able to put $600 and change in the bank legitimately. I got a donation tax credit for $300. I was no accountant but it looked like not such a good deal. Mary Ellen got wind of the donation to the thrift store, so she called me. Sylvia honey, I hear you are out buying storage lockers," she said. "I tried it Mary Ellen, but to be honest I think once was enough," I said. "That's because you are doing it all wrong," she said to me. "Why don't you come to see me, I think we can work out something." "Alright, I'll be right down," I said. I rode the bicycle down to her shop. It was the Friday before thanksgiving. As soon as I saw her I smiled, then I spoke first. "Oh so now you are going to tell me how to do it right," I asked. "Yes I am, you need a partner. One who knows how you can move that much merchandise quickly, one who has a truck, and one who has a building where you can sort through it at your leisure, and store it till it can be sold." she suggested. "Oh and I bet her name is Mary Ellen," I said. "That's right baby. You obviously have some money and some time to go to the auction. I have the truck the service station that belonged to the end of the world nut case. I can unload that junk and give you half the sales price. I will pay the sales expenses out of my half, if you buy the merchandise out of your half. I don't even care what you buy. I have a couple of college students who will take it to the flea market for us." she said. "If I do this, I get first pick of anything in there that has a high value and you get to sell the rest on the deal you suggested." "Anything we don't sell between one locker, and the next, we donate to the goodwill for the tax write off," she suggested. "It is a lot more elegant plan than running a high overhead boutique." "We need to do a few test runs to be sure it will work," I suggested. "Of course, I leave the actual buying up to you. I will handle disposal and give you 50% after expenses." She said. "Wow, you said you would pay the selling expense, if I paid the purchase price," I said. "That was before you suggested, I let you cherry pick the items. You are no antique expert, so you are using the lockers as a way to clean money, or something like that. It is genius and quite worthy of your talents," Mary Ellen said. "I know you have other outside sources of income, like the acting fees I pay you. Speaking of which, we haven't made a film lately." she said. "I'm in no hurry to do another film," I suggested. "So what do you say, you want to do the deal or not?" she asked. "Not under those terms," I said. "What terms do you think you can live with?" she asked "The business I have now is that I cherry pick for things I can sell on line. I am donating the rest to Goodwill. Now if you loan me your truck, and get someone to help me load and unload it, you can sell everything for which I don't see an easy opportunity to sell online fast. I just want a 25% cut of the sales price on all the rest." You can have all the donation tax deductions. It will be as if I'm not involved." I said. "Done," she said. I extended my hand she took it then used it to pull me to her then she kissed me with a lot of tongue. When she pulled back she said, "Now that's a hell of a way to seal the deal." "Yes but you know it is strictly business," I replied. "Nothing is strictly anything," Mary Ellen replied. "For right now, this is business and nothing more," I said. I smiled when I said it. The truck and one of her friend's sons, who would help me load and unload, were the most important things she brought to the table. She had agreed to pay the kid not me. Then Mary Ellen and I would sort through the junk at her storage building. It would save me having to give away things which might have some value. It sounded good, if I could trust Mary Ellen I had to trust her before, so I wasn't to worried about it. She had kept my secret then so I expected she would keep this little secret at well. ------- Chapter 145 Christmas was at hand, so I bought apple cider from a fellow who made it. It was legal and above board. He sold me some at a discount from his apple shed. I saved him the expense of bottling it, transport it, standing out in the cold at the festival, so he cut me a almost half price deal for twenty gallons. I plan to make one more batch of blended whiskey. I had five gallons of moonshine I had been saving for Christmas presents, so I mixed it up with the twenty gallons of apple cider. The result wasn't hard cider, and it wasn't apple pie, I called it shiny red apple. Yes I added some food coloring to it. I made one more run through the mountain shops where I did business. I gave a gallon to the biker bar owner, who distributed my shine. I gave a gallon to Jim and Simon who turned me on to the drink houses. When I shut down for the year, there had been only three houses I could keep supplied. The smaller user's orders were just to small to risk transporting to them. I carried the shiny red apple to them anyway. I gave them a half gallon of the mix. I kept some in even smaller jars for people I knew from around town. Christmas came and I spent it alone. It was by choice, since Mary Ellen and a few of the others invited me to their homes. I just preferred to be alone. My Christmas memories weren't really bad, they were just lame. We celebrated Christmas and all that but it usually ended badly, when I went to bed. The day after Christmas I began to think about moving money to the bank. I wanted to buy a house. I had no idea what kind of house or where it might be I just wanted to own something. I had Swamp Things payment for the Miami affair. I kept it in a different place, away from the liquor money. I did not know whether they intended to report it or not. I wasn't sure that they wanted records of any part of that operation. In any event I had plenty of money from my moonshine business to worry about first. After I had all that taken care of I might worry about the Swamp Thing money. It was hard but I managed to not do anything for the week after Christmas. Then of course it was the New Years parties. I went to one of the drink houses that catered to a variety of clients. I ordered my product and was told they were sold out. I drank beer. If there was one thing I had learned it was to know who made the homemade liquor I drank. I had a couple of beers danced a little and welcomed in the New Year at midnight, then I went home. I went right to sleep and actually sleep very well. A few days later I picked up the local Bi weekly newspaper to read over breakfast. I found that the adult education center at the community college was offering a class in jewelry manufacturing. It wasn't a course in some factory shit offered to the employees. It was an arts and crafts thing. I decided that I would go to Dobson and sign up for it. Yes I decided on a whim, but I knew I was going to need something to occupy me during the winter. The class met twice a week for 12 weeks. It was going to cost $200 for tuition the book and the materials. It sounded awfully reasonable for all that. After my bath and hair wash, I drove to Dobson and took advantage of the early registration. I paid for the course with a swipe of the card that tied the purchase to my checking account. I was still in a quandary to take care of my money problems. In January I got a 1099 from swamp dog. My job title with them was Law Enforcement Consultant. It showed the $36,200 I had been paid by them. I immediately deposited the money in the bank. It gave me a nice boost to my checking account and my down payment fund. During this same time I was working with Mary Ellen and her son's friend Joseph. Joseph was fifteen and because I treated him as an adult, he fell madly in love with me. It was cute and it was good for my ego, but I never touched him. I remembered being fifteen and I wasn't getting into those memories again. I had a pawn shop in Dobson, which I visited religiously. They had gold coins. I saw the certificate of authenticity and the chemistry report for the mint which had produced the gold coins. Before I did anything further I put it in a glass jar of vinegar. Since it didn't change colors I bought 4 of them at $500 each. I used cash from the liquor business to pay the $2000 for the coin. I saved the coins till I went to another storage auction. I bought a locker for $300. It was stuffed full of items that you might get from you grandmother's house, when you put her in a home. I figured that was a best case scenario. Granny might well have died and the kids forgot about the locker. I had driven Mary Ellen's full sized pick up to the auction. We were not going to get every thing in the pick up. " So Joseph, lets do the usual." I suggested. The usual was to take everything out and sort it. What we wanted to keep and would fit on the Pick Up, we put back inside the bin and locked it temporarily. The rest we carried to the dump. When we returned to the storage building after lunch, we loaded the truck and headed back to County Seat. We had done a quick search at the storage unit and found nothing of value. I always saved any small boxes to search till after I dropped Joseph off at home. There were usually a few pieces of costume jewelry in the boxes. I kept those and Mary Ellen never objected. She would sort through the rest and get it ready for Joseph to take it to the super flea market. It was held in a field across from the Plaza by the highway. There was sometimes some antique items she pedaled to an antique dealer in Dobson or another town nearby. I always took whatever she gave me as my share and never complained. I did like for it to cover the cost of the locker, but I considered it a cost of doing business when it didn't. I would take the coins or gold chains to the net and sell them. The money went into a legit pay pal account and then to my back account. I sold the coins with all the certification and guarantees. If they came back, I took them back to the seller. Coins were the safest item to handle. In the two weeks I held the coins their value increased almost enough to pay for the auction. I transfered $1,800 from pay pal to my bank. I had pulled $300 out for the locker so it had cost me 2oo so far to do the deal. That wasn't too bad, I figured. Later Mary Ellen came through with $220. Which was my cut of the locker's junk. She had a way of making money on them. I didn't ask her how. I knew that now and then she put some things in her store, but it had to be special. The call came from out of nowhere. I had a auction planned for the weekend, but I had closed out the one on line fortunately. I could call Mary Ellen and tell her something came up and to give Joseph the week off. But I would miss class till the job was over and I didn't want to do that at all. I guess they thought they could trust me. I had ten hours warning that I was needed but not what it was. The ten hours ran out and Mikey Spillman came up my drive carrying a very large coffee cup made of some kind of thermal plastic. I knew this because I had one just like it in the cabinet and it's little sister in my hand. Switching to the single cup coffee maker forced the change. "Well if it isn't Mikey Spillman," I said to the almost 30 year old man at my door. "What?" he asked. "Come on inside to talk." Once he was in I continued. "Since none of you guys down there have names, I make up my own. You have a coffee stain on your shirt and a cup in you hand therefore Mickey Spillman," I said. "Oh I see, but you have a name," He said. "I don't work for you. take me off the shelf dust me off send me out to do a specific job, then put me back on the shelf,." I said smiling at him. "I don't know about that but I have orders to pick you up and take you to join a crew in New Orleans." he informed me. "You are going to be part of the crew I assume." I said. "Yes I am going to be part of it, but you worked with the crew chief last time out." he informed me. "So we need to go now the pilot doesn't want to take off after dark." "No rush he really doesn't mind at all." I said. "Boss said to pack like it is Miami all over again." he said "Not to worry I always do," I regretfully didn't get to pick up my .38 and put it in my cargo pants pocket. I hated to travel so light, but alas you have to trust someone. The first flight was to a regular commercial airport where we hopped a plane, after I tossed the box cutters into the trash, to New Orleans. I slept all the way to New Orleans. We were met at the airport there with the sunrising. I had no idea planes flew all night any more. The ted eye was alive and well it seemed. Mickey Spillman and I were met by a by a younger version of the Sergeant Major. He had the same stick up his ass. "He a Brit?" I asked Mickey. "How can you tell," he asked. "The real question is do they all have sticks up their ass?" I asked. "Now that you mention it, I think that is pretty much true," Mickey whispered. "Sorry you two we can't leave just yet," the Brit said. "We have another pick up." "I hope it's a rocket launcher," I said. "I was under the impression you could make do with a pencil," he said almost smiling. "I don't have a pencil, which is why I'm so testy," I said. "Oh tell us what you have in your sock," he asked. "I see killer Karl talks too much," I said. "All part of the debrief," he said. "Don't worry we will stop at the arts and crafts department of a big box store for you to tool up." "Thanks I might be able to save your life one day," I said. "I sincerely hope not. If that happened it would be because I made a mistake and I don't make them often." he stated. I was just about to make a remark about giving him a blowjob, when passenger from another flight emptied into the terminal. "Ah there you are," he said to a middle-aged blond. "Yes here I am, so what the hell do you people want now," she asked in her own British accent. ------- Chapter 146 "Good to see you too Helen." The Brit turned to me. "Sylvia meet Helen now play nice and when we get in the car we will talk." he said. "Hello Sylvia nice to meet you, I hope." she said with resignation in her voice. "Me to," was all I could manage. Helen had a much nicer travel bag than I. Once we had it and her in the car. we began driving into the country. "Hey Brit, You promised we would stop at a hardware store," I said. "I did better than that," he said handing me a plastic bag. "If these won't do, I'll take you anywhere you like." The bag was filled with box openers and even a metal handle utility knife. I left it in the bag, while I looked at the others. One of them was the six inch long, inch wide blade, which meant it was for large boxes. I put it in the pocket of my cargo pants. A further search provided a much smaller version of the same snap off blade utility knife, but with a thiner narrower handle. It would be much easier to conceal, if it came to that. I threw the rest of the blades out on the side of the road. I looked out the back glass until the car behind us drove past the spot. "You are pretty damn strange," Mikey Spillman said. "You don't have to mention that again. This ain't a marriage Mickey," I said slightly worried that he took caution as quirky. "So Brit, whats your story?" I asked. "Sorry love, unless you have permission from the boss to interrogate me, I would prefer to just live in the moment." he said. "Just making conversation," I said. Of course I wasn't. I wanted to know, if I needed to watch my back, when he was behind me. "You did say we would talk in the car." "You will know everything you need to know, when we got to the F.O.B." he said. "Forward Operating Base," Mickey explained. I had a feeling it was more for Helen more than me. In the darkness of the car I could make out Helen, but really couldn't tell much. So I relied on my memories from the airport. She certainly didn't look like a warrior, not that she appeared particularly soft. Her body was indeed soft, but there was something in her eyes. It along with her soft body told me she might kill me, but she wouldn't chase me through the wood to do it. "What happened to your hand," she asked while I was still musing. 'Splinters," I said. "Shrapnel damage can be terrible," she said. "It was wood splinters not metal," I said. "Metal would have taken the hand off as much as I got hit with." "Yes it probably would have. You must have had a good surgeon to save it," she said. "I had two operations on it within the first 24hours. I expect that is why I have as much movement as I do." I said. "The first one probably was a battlefield butcher, and the second a first class plastic surgeon," she guessed. "ER in a small local hospital. then a big time hospital, when they had me stable and could chopper me out I'm told." I said. "You were very lucky," she said. "I was a little lucky. If I had been very lucky, I would have been standing somewhere else." I said. "Right you are," she said. "You are a specialist too?" I asked. "A contractor like me?" "I am a consultant," she said with a laugh. "Actually a retired trauma nurse." The driver of the car, The Brit, spoke again, "Okay since you now know about Helen, here Helen." he said handing her a plastic bag. The bag contained a small .38 revolver like mine at home, but mine didn't have the scars where the serial number had been ground off it. Helen took it flipped the cylinder out very professionally. I noticed that it was loaded with five rounds. I would bet my ass they were hollow points. I noticed that she wore surgical gloves, when she handled the pistol. She dropped it into the large purse she carried with her. She perhaps felt my questioning look, anyway she explained, "If five shots won't do it. I'm not going to have time to reload." "So this isn't your first rodeo," I said. "Sorry I don't know all your American Slang yet. I'm fresh off the boat as it were," she said in the accent again. "Right," I said. I guessed from that exchange, that she had been either a missionary, or a field hospital nurse in someplace hot and sandy. Everyone who went to movies, or watched American TV, knew what 'it isn't my first rodeo meant'. We traveled on to a old house a few miles out past the New Orleans city limits. It was early in the morning, I had tried to sleep all night on the plane, but I was still dead tired. The nurse and I were sharing a room. I finally got a good look at her. She was fortyish with badly bleached hair. She wasn't tall, nor was she short. She was really kind of average in every way. I did wonder why we needed a nurse, since we hadn't needed one before. "You have about an hour," The Brit said. "So do what you can. Fuck him, I thought. I was going to run the whole fucking hour. I quickly dressed and took off alone. I carried the smaller box opener in the pocket of the sweat suit. I ran out to the main road then ran another twenty minutes away from town. Then I ran back to the house. I had been gone 58 minutes. When I entered the bedroom assigned to me and removed the knit cap, I was proud that I was back in under and hour. Even so I had still managed to work up a good sweat. The Brit came in before I could shower and said, "Let's go to the meeting." Then he turned to me and said, "Don't ever do that again." "Fuck you," I said angrily. "I'm a contractor fire me, if you don't like it." "If it were up to me, I would," he said angrily. "If you can't fire me Brit, don't sit near me and you won't even notice." I snapped at him. We met in the living room where a coffee pot had been set up on an old rickety table. There was almost no furniture in the old house. The whole farm was owned by someone friendly to Swamp Thing Domestic, aka Swamp Dog. "Good to see you two here. You are the last pieces of the picture. Sorry Sylvie the coffee is fresh, This is why we gathered here." Karl handed out pictures. The picture was of a black girl, no more than twenty if that. She was in a school uniform. "Her name Holly, because she was born on Christmas Eve. She is seventeen years old. She is holed up with a street gang. Needless to say her father wants her back. and we are going to rescue her." "If her father can afford to hire Swamp Dog, he has some bucks, surely the local police would do it for less," I said. "Good point," Karl said. "He is afraid the publicity would ruin the rest of her life." "He is a fucking politician and he is afraid she will spoil his chances of stay in office?" I guessed. "Not quite, but close. He is a player in town. He is afraid that if gets out that he can't take care of his little girl, the sharks will start to circle." "So we have to do this without making waves? That's almost in possible." Mickey said. "Oh no we can make all the waves we want, as long as we get her and get away. No one knows she is missing, so when she shows up only the gang will know." Karl said. "You aren't suggesting we wipe them out are you?" I asked. "That's murder. Maybe you are an assassin, but I'm not." "I know who you are Sylvia. This is a street gang and they are some of the worst of the worst. But we are not going in to assassinate any one. We get the girl and get out. Anyone who gets in out way is fair game. Anyone who tries to take her back is fair game. Is that better," Karl asked. "Slightly," I replied. "We know where the gang is. We go in like swat on steroids. If she is there, we come back here and Helen takes care of her. If she isn't, we find out where she is. We need to make sure no one warns anyone we are coming." What he was advocating was the closest thing to murder, I ever heard. I sure as hell didn't like it and Karl knew it. "We have a giant size roll of duct tape. Anyone left gets rolled up in that shit and left locked in a bathroom or something. We will only need a few minutes to find her. Now memorize that face, she is not to be harmed. Also memorize that floor plan it was difficult to obtain. Everybody rest, we are going at eight tonight. One more thing, no one gets left behind, no one," he said. I knew that was more for operational security than a humanitarian gesture. The second, no one, meant bodies as well as living operatives came back with us. Best I could figure there were four of us shooters and probably a surveillance team as well. Karl was a hell of a sniper for sure, I hoped he was as good at a swat type mission. Helen was busy turning our room into an emergency surgery. She looked at me and smiled, "Just in case." "Glad to have you with us," I said. But it was more about Holly than us, I expected. My guess was she was on drugs and Helen was aboard to deal with her withdrawal. It didn't matter why she was with us. As I had told her, I was just glad she was. I knew what a difference quick treatment had made to me. Meatball surgery was better than no surgery. I took a nap helped by a couple of benadryl tablets. I knew I would sleep for about six hours before I woke up. Any more than that I would be dopey and any less I would still be sleepy. Either way I would have time to come back to normal before we moved. I awoke terribly hungry about 4PM. "Do we have anything here to eat?" I asked Helen. "Cold pizza," she replied. "Why the fuck is it always day old pizza on these fucking jobs," I asked. Helen just looked at me and smiled. I knew then she had been on a lot more of these raids than I had. "If you put in your request, I imagine they can get you something different for tonight," she suggested. "How about some Louisiana po boy sandwiches," I suggested. "That would be a new thing to me," she said. I ate cold pizza and watched TV on the small screen TV. They had a satellite disk sitting out back on a tripod like a video camera would be. "Damn you guys travel first class," I said but I thought it was because we were going to be here a while and would need to communicate with the Swamp. Karl came over and motioned for me to join him in the bathroom. Somehow I knew it wasn't for a quick blowjob. "Sylvie there is going to be a guard on the street. We need to get him out of the way very quietly." "So you want him to think he is going to get a free blow job, then when we are alone, you want me to cut his throat?" I asked. "If you don't, we can't hit the door with any surprise," he said. "There is no where I can fire from without being seen. I nodded. ------- Chapter 147 We made a stop on the way to the rebuilt house where Holly might be held. The house had been rebuilt with insurance and Disaster funds, then it was taken over from the owner who couldn't repay even that small amount. The gang had taken over, but left the ownership in the name of the previous owner. They had made even more improvements. They reinforced doors, and barred windows not so much from concern about random crime, as concern about rival gangs and the New Orleans PD. The gang also had a guard on the street in front of the house, any time it was being occupied by the bosses or under bosses. My job was to distract him long enough for the strike team to enter the house, If I couldn't keep him occupied I was to kill him. Real simple assignment, but it was much easier to shoot a man ten feet away, than to cut his throat. When you cut his throat you could smell him and even smell the fear as his blood drained out. My choice would be for him to run away, when he saw Karl, Mickey and The Brit hit the door. I knew even after they hit the door I couldn't let him get behind them. I stopped and bought a slutty outfit at Kmart. I was going to ask, but I doubted they would say slutty outfits on aisle three. I bought a fake fur coat. leggings. short gold shorts and a low cut sweater. I even got a cheap wig on the Swamp Dog's dime. I changed in back of the SUV. We drove right to the house before anyone changed their minds. They were probably worried more about me, than anyone else. I seemed to be the only one with a qualm about killing, and yet I was the first to be put in the kill or don't kill situation. I got out of the SUV two blocks before the house. I walked in my hooker outfit up to the house. I could see that the gang member in front of the house was a young black man. I again hoped he would run away, when he saw the hardened soldier go into the house. It was about ten at night, when I asked him, "Hey baby you want to have a good time?" "How much?" he asked. "Twenty," I said. "What do I get for that," he asked. "I'll blow your whistle and your mind," I said with a sleepy look. "You do it right here?" he asked. "I would rather go in where it is warm," I said. "Not possible, how about behind the house?" he asked. "Yeah, but the money first," I said. "Sure just come on back out of the light," he said. If I had really been on the street, I would have demanded the money before going back into the dark. The problem was that I wanted him out of the light as much as he wanted me, back there, I knew I was going back where he could rape me and take my money, rather than pay me. Being a whore had it's risk. It was all part of the game. Rape and robbery were in the job description under the down side. It was just one of the dangers of street walking, I told myself. He was standing real close when he went for the pistol behind him. I was standing so close that by the time it came out of his waist band with the black automatic pistol my club hand pushed it away. Because I knew what he was going to do, but he didn't know what I was going to do, I was able to cut his throat before he knew what was happening. The stupid bastard never noticed that I was wearing lightweight cotton gloves. They were not thick enough to keep me warm, nor were they so thick as to impede me, when I reached into the coat pocket. Since the large box opener was clean, when I put it in the fake fur jacket, and I wore those gloves, I just dropped. It fell beside his already dead body, which ended up in a seated position by the side of the house. My main role in the drama was done, but I couldn't hide out in the back. I could have, but it just wasn't me. So I picked up his automatic and I went to the front of the house. The strike teem was already inside I went in behind them to watch their collective asses. They had already cleared the downstairs or so I thought. They headed up stairs where the intelligence said the gang would have the dope processing room. It the girl was in the house she would be there. As they went up the stairs a man stepped out the kitchen door. I shot him in the face while he was getting his bearings. I looked around to check the rooms downstairs. There was a TV room the team had cleared before going up the stairs. The kitchen and dining room were behind the stairs and behind the living room. It also had a door to the rear yard. The man I shot must have been on patrol there. The house was three stories. The strike team cleared them while I guarded the stairs, there were lots of shots. Then a couple of minutes of screaming before the strike team came down. Everyone but Helen had come and they all were in the house. When the team came down, we all jumped into the SUVand it sped away immediately. Someone had jumped in the car while we were inside. That someone drove us to a second location, where the man on the curb acted as though he had no idea what was happening. They shot him as we went into the house. Clearing that house was just as fast as the first one. Again I guarded the path of our retreat. The difference was they came out with Holly. I knew it was a black female, but I didn't know for sure that it was Holly. I just presumed it was. Suddenly there were two cars. "Get in the car with Holly," Karl said. So I did. It was a large older Ford of some kind. We drove off in one hell of a rush. In the car were me, Holly, the driver who I had never seen, and The Brit. It drove us back to the house. The moment we were out of the car, it took off. It was all like a dream at that point. Holly didn't resist, she was very docile. I had no idea, who drugged her. I didn't know, if it was the gang, or Karl the Killer. It was someone for sure because she was on the nod big time. I helped her into the room, which Helen had prepared for her. Since it wasn't need to use while pulling bullets from one of us, Helen put Holly into what should have been my bed. I did not argue, since I didn't really have the nurturing gene in me. I went out and found Karl standing by the SUV. "What you going to do, if some one got the plate numbers?" I asked. "I almost hope they did," he said. "I don't know, if I want them following a false trail, or have then left with no leads at all." "You are going to have to explain that to me," I said. "On the way here we stopped in Arkansas. We went into a giant mall and stole a license plant from a Ford sedan. Then we went across the lot and stole a plate from a pickup truck and replaced it with the plate from the Ford sedan. Now the man from the sedan probably hasn't discovered it missing. Usually it take a few days, but maybe not. If not they are looking for that plate." Most likely it will take years to discover the mistake. These days, to save money, they issue a new sticker for the plate not a new plate. Even if they find the plate, there has to be a brand new search for whoever took that plate. But since we are out of state, it is very unlikely they would stop us. Even if they did, that plate is now in 'Old Man River," He said with a grin. "Either the cops are following a false trail, or they have nothing." "And the occupants of the two houses?" I asked. "They won't be talking to the cops either, Trust me New Orleans won't be missing them." "Somewhere a mother is crying tonight," I said. "That is true I guess," he said. He also gave me a strange look. "You gonna be okay with this?" "Sure, we wiped out the equivalent of a city block's worth of kids, to save one rich junkie," I said. I knew I had said too much. If they thought I would talk, they would probably kill me. They might really hate to do it, but they most likely would do it. It was all about self preservation for them and for me. So, I could live with this, but it was the last one for me. These guys were going to have to work without me. They could use what I had done as blackmail to keep me in line, but I was through. I took my turn watching the the perimeter and said nothing. They hadn't broken my only hard fast rule. I don't kill cops and I don't let anyone I'm with kill cops. That was rule one for me. Everything else was flexible. When my turn came to sleep, I was exhausted so I tried hard to sleep. I knew Karl was in touch with the Colonel, so I kept very quiet about how I felt. It bothered me but I kept it inside. I hadn't seen it, but I was damn sure that they had executed at least one prisoner. The one who screamed, before he gave up the second safe house. In a really smart gang, he wouldn't have known where it was, so he couldn't give it up. The gang leader had no idea who would be coming for the girl. He might have expected the cops, which was probably why the girl was at a second location. He could not have known that there were men one hell of a lot worse, than his worst nightmare, on the hunt for Holly. It took Helen ten days to dry Holly out. She didn't go cold turkey she was brought down using methadone as a anti-withdrawal drug. We could hand over a girl in methadone treatment, but not a junkie. Why that was I didn't know and didn't ask. What they could arrange for her was up to mommy and daddy, as far as any of us were concerned. Helen kept Holly away from the rest of us. Probably so she couldn't identify us. She just might develop a need to confess all. Hell she might even have been in love with one of the dead boys. Nobody knew what caused her to be on that bed with semen stained sheets. After ten days Helen declared her free of the Heroin or any other drug. Well any drug but methadone. So Holly was ready to return home. We put a black bag over her head and arranged a meeting. We handed her over at a deserted service station one of hundreds in the south. The blacked out SUV followed behind the sedan which had delivered her to the safe house. This time it carried her to her father. The delivery was made without incident. Helen talked to Holly's parents on the satellite phone. She gave them directions for Holly's care. Then it was over. I caught a bus to Jackson Miss where I caught a plane home. I was glad to walk away from the men who were on the strike team. If I needed help with a problem, I would like men like them, but I was ready to put them back on the shelf for now. ------- Chapter 148 I got back to County Seat late on a Sunday night. Just in time to start a new week. I was pretty well rested, since all I had been doing was watching the perimeter a few hours a day for the last week. I also watched a lot of TV news. The country was going to hell in a hand basket, but someone or some group always thought that way. I did have to admit that the country had changed, but that is what happens in a democracy, one man one vote. All you have to do is make enough people depend on the government. Then you get a self perpetuating government in control. When you get that far down the road to socialism you have European style governments. Governments that tell the Dependant masses what to do in order to keep their dependency lifestyle in tact. Then one day you have Greece. When I got back to County seat, I found enough things to keep me busy and ways to stay off the government's radar. Or at least activities that did not make them suspicious. On my return I found my crazy landlady was even more crazy, or maybe she wasn't. She said to me the morning of the first full day back, "Sylvia, if that cable man damaged anything, you are going to pay for it," then she slammed her door in my face. I had only checked to see that my bike and trike were in place the night before then fell into bed. Since my crazy landlady mentioned a cable man around my apartment, one I hadn't called, I decided a more thorough examination of the place was in order. I knew I probably should call in an expert, but the only ones I knew could well be the ones bugging me. It was possible that Swamp thing had lost faith in me. I took a look at the cable TV and the telephone lines coming into the house. Inside the phone box was a device which had no apparent reason to be there. I had been paranoid even before the old lady's outburst. Because I was a little paranoid I recognized the device as the most common type RF transmitter. It would pickup wireless microphones or cameras, then transmit the signal to a remote location. It was only a temporary device, since it's range was less than a mile. I decided to leave it in place. So I left my bicycle and uncovered the motor trike. I climbed on to it and rode through the downtown. I continued on until I got to the plaza. At the Plaza I went into the Walmart wearing my baseball cap and sunglasses disguise. I bought a couple of new burn phones, then I activated them. I also bought a vacuum cleaner before I left. I had to tie it on the trike, but It wasn't hard to do. I rode the trike back to the downtown. "Hi there Mary Ellen," I said once I was inside her boutique and upscale antique store. "Come on out let me show you my new trike sear." "Sure, " She said following me outside. "So whats going on?" "Are you all paid up on your taxes from the movie industry?" I said. "Hell, I don't know, why?" she asked. My landlady said some stranger was hanging around outside my house. I don't think it was about my time with you, but just keep an eye out anyway. This is my new number just in case they tapped my phone. I gave her the newly activated number on one of the phones. I had bought one for her just in case but she appeared not to have noticed anything so I chose not to alert her just in case. The reason I had chosen the trike for my trip to the plaza was it goes only twenty five miles and hour. If anyone tailed it, they would stand out like a sore thumb in traffic. No one seemed to have been following me. So it seemed as thought I had only passive surveillance. Something someone did who thought I might be a problem, but didn't want to run a full time hardcore surveillance. When I left Mary Ellen's boutique and high end antique store, I went home and checked to see what all had been disturbed. I would bet my ass the place had been searched. If so, they no doubt found several minor things, but probably not my bug out money because it wasn't in the apartment. I moved it around from time to time. I did that because the classic story about gray money. It was about the fellow who had a hundred grand in the spare tire of his old truck. He had an accident in the truck, while he was in the hospital the insurance company paid off his wife, who knew nothing of the money, and then after a string of hand changes, the truck bearing the cash got crushed. Other gray money items have been delivered to Goodwill by spouses over the years. Some of the finds even made the Internet news services, but since the gifts are anonymous the stories ended with the new owner of a piece of art or fancy jewelry. I made sure mine didn't stay in one place too long. So it looked as though I might need to move faster than I had planned. It was February first and I had already missed two jewelry making classes. I had to be realistic in my plans to move. If it was swamp thing, they just wanted to be sure I hadn't lost it and decided to tell the cops everything. If it was some kind of cop, I needed to keep them in the dark. I didn't need to use the phone to call Swamp Thing, they had a code when they wanted to get in touch with me. They sent me a spam on the computer. I was probably the only one who opened spam that had no subject line. Well the truth is, I only opened it, if the sender was named Lucy Martin. When I got that message, I went to a secure phone and called them. So a move would take care of the bugs. In the meantime, if anyone showed up to discuss business, which hardly ever happened, I would turn on the vacuum cleaner. The best damn low tech bug jammer ever made. Well the best that could be used in court. Any jury would have a reasonable doubt about me trying to jam the bug. Any bug in the would get only the white noise of the vacuum. Sure they knew you were onto them, but they couldn't prove a thing in court. I planned to move anyway so finding a new place to live moved to the top of my list of things to do. Otherwise I was going to continue my life as usual, but keep the bug out kit close. It was true that the money was the number one thing in the kit, but it also held fake IDs. "So you are looking for a house?" the Realtor asked. "Yes, I most definitely am," I replied. "There is no urgency, but if the right one comes along I'm all in for it." "You know I offer a mortgage application service as well as just plain Realty," she said. "Yes Lori, that's why I am here rather than with someone else," I replied. "Good then you want mind me asking what kind of payment you can afford," she almost demanded of me. "Well, I would be comfortable with four hundred a month," I said. "You are kidding. I realize the Real Estate market in County Seat and Warren county is depressed, but four hundred a month will get you a mobile home and a small one at that," Lori said with a laugh." "Well to be honest, if my sideline business goes down the tube, it is all I can afford comfortably," I said. It really wasn't. I had almost no other expenses. The pension was fifteen hundred so I could have squeezed out eight hundred maybe, but I wasn't comfortable with it. And I couldn't use the gray money for any of it. "So if that won't work, I would have to rethink the whole thing." "Well you do that and let me know what you come up with. But a nice two bedroom house in town is going to run at least eight hundred. Out side of town, maybe six hundred in this market would do it. But trust me a mobile home on land is all you would get for four hundred. With all that in mind, I put off making a decision till after I finished the jewelry course at least. While I was finishing up there I was also running the storage scam, We would actually have turned a small profit from the storage lockers, but now and then we would have taken a loss. There was no income coming in form the illegal business and only losses over all, on the conversion to legit money, I made a another decision, I was going out of the whiskey business on the scale I was involved presently. If I cut back to my two best customers, I could probably do enough business to stock pile enough cash to wash half of it easily, and use the other half for cash purchases that needed no explanations. With that in mind when the jewelry course ended, I signed up for a course in jewelry appraisals. I wanted to know what the costume jewelry in the storage units was worth. The course was actually an ongoing newsletter rather than a specific course of study. It was also a set of CDs with examples of good costume jewelry. I found that I could look up the pieces, I didn't know about. The newsletter taught me the rule to guessing the value of an unknown piece of costume jewelry. It more or less seemed to be construction materials, weight, and artistic flair that gave it value. With my new found knowledge of how to test material and a guild to gems, I had a basic knowledge. Certainly enough to cut down on the missed opportunities. I wasn't planning to go legit or anything, but I thought I might could use the money laundry to actually make money, if I knew enough. It was May when I read the article on line about 'tiny houses'. I had been living for four months in the bugged apartment by that time.The 'tiny houses' were mostly in big cities and they were always in unconventional places and built with unconventional materials. The best advice from the builders was, step one: read the zoning laws. The first thing I learned was Warren county had no zoning laws, but County Seat did. In County Seat's residential areas, a house had to have 900 square feet or more, and had to be built on side. That prevented mobile homes in the residential areas. I decided that I would have to move into the county to build what I had in mind. I had to go before the county commissioners to get a variance, but it was just a formality. As I expected, when I showed up with plans, drawings, and precedence, the commissioners folded easily and approved it. Of course it was conditional upon me getting all the usual inspections. So according to the county commissioners, I could build my house anywhere I wanted except in County Seat Zoning areas. Next morning I called Lori the Realtor back. "Lori this is Sylvia Porter. I would like you to find me a lot outside the city's zoning area but close by. Something with county water and sewer available. I would like no less than an acre and not in any development." "Well hello to you too. I wasn't sure I would ever hear from you again. I will check my files and get back to you." Lori said. "Fine, I look forward to hearing from you," I said. It had taken me over two months but I was ready to start moving ahead with the plan. ------- Chapter 149 I began looking for deals on line. I needed a particular item. A twenty foot steel shipping container. I was going to build my own tiny house, but with easy expansion possibilities. I could simple add another unit. The additional units would be much less expensive than the first unit, since the first would have all the utilities in it. The trick was to buy the unit shortly after I bought the lot to put it on. Then get moving on it very quickly. I contacted several people and found one who had a unit only used ten times and in good condition. It was sitting outside the port of a few hundred miles away. It wasn't on wheels but if they would load it, I knew someone who would bring it to me. I got it all arranged except the pick up date. I was waiting on the Realtor for that. "Lori, I expected to hear from you before now. It has been two weeks," I said rather shortly on her voice mail. "This is Sylvia Porter, if you want to do business call me, if not I will find someone else tomorrow." As I expected the phone rang later that afternoon, and it was Lori. "Miss Porter, I'm sorry. I have been looking but nothing has come on the market, which meets your criteria," she said. "Please feel free to contact other Realtors, if you think they would suit you better." "Very well then Lori don't bother to call me again," I said wondering what the hell had got into her. Yes my paranoia was showing again. It usually was nothing, but sometimes it was something. Since I realized that something was wrong, I decided to keep an eye out for other strange things going on around me. I took a chance and called Monk, but I did it from the burn phone. I was also sitting on a park bench when I did. I made sure there were no cars parked near me. Early May in the mountains is not the real park weather. That comes in late May and early June. I figured that I could use the park for a couple of more weeks anyway. "Hey Monk, it's Sylvia I need to buy a piece of dirt out in the county, so I thought of your dad's place." I said. "Well Dad's in a nursing home, and there are three of us. We would have to all agree to sell. Do you want it all?" he asked. "No just from the road back to and including those woods were the storage building is located," I said. "There are county water and sewer lines there?" "Yeah, the county put them in two years ago," Monk said. "You know I can't get you a better deal. If it were up to me I would. but I got a brother and sister to satisfy," "I know Monk. I just want a fair price nothing special," I said. "When you work something out, let's not talk on my home phone, we will just meet somewhere to discuss it." "Sure is anything wrong honey?" he asked. "I'm just a little paranoid these days. It's nothing," I said. "Okay, we can meet, when I know something," Monk said and hung up on me. While I was waiting for Monk and his siblings to get a price in mind, I got the coded message from Colonel Martin. I went to the park, since it was still empty. I called. "Swampland Enterprises," receptionist said. "This is Sylvia Porter. He is expecting me to call," I said. There was a click. I found myself on hold, but no elevator music played there was just silence. "Are you still working for us?" Martin asked. "That depends, are you bugging my apartment?" I asked. "No is it bugged," he asked. "Yes, I'm sitting on a chilly park bench talking into a burn phone," I said. "Good girl, how long have you known about the bug, and how did you find out." I explained it all to him. He commented that I had done the right things. "It is a good thing you didn't run' It was also good that you stayed and acted normal. I'll take it from here. I will find out who is bugging your apartment, and I'll let you know who it is. Now don't worry about this job, it will all work out just fine without you. It is more important to find out who is bugging you," he said that as he broke the connection. I went home and continued to work on the details of my new home. It was nuts, when I thought about it. The whole thing was crazy. It was a lot like living in a boxcar. But I was determined to make it work. "Sylvia?" Monk asked when I answered my house phone. "Yes Monk, I only spoke to you yesterday," I said remembering how Lori had acted. "Well, I have good news. Believe it or not that piece of land isn't part of the original farm. Daddy bought it for the Tobacco allotment. So if you want to buy it without any allotment, we can maybe make a deal. The deed had the small fields on either side of the road and the small patch of woods where the trailer is. It goes all the way back to the creek. It is seven acres in all." "It sounds expensive," I said. "I don't know what you call expensive, but there are ways," he started but I cut him off. "Monk why not meet me for coffee at the downtown cafe, and let's talk about it," He seemed to understand that something was wrong. "It needs to be after 6PM." he said "Make it 6:30 then," I suggested, and we rang off. I had three hours to kill so I went to the Internet and to an adult chatroom. While I was there the Lucy Martin message appeared. I left the computer and went to the park, but there were cars in the parking lot with no people in the park. I turned the two wheeler onto the bike path the rode it till I got to a bench. One with a view of the walking/bike path for a about a hundred yards in either direction. There were no parking lots near me or any line of sight places that weren't in my view. "Could I speak to the boss it's Sylvia," I said. "Sylvia you are going to meet a man tomorrow night at the a club in the parking lot of that motel. You will know him. He is going to go home with you and spend a few days." Martin said. "Should I be more paranoid than usual," I asked. "A little paranoid is a good thing sometimes," he said "Get rid on the burner like we showed you." then he hung up on me. I took the battery out of my burner, then the sim card, before I tossed the carcass in the creek. I thought how it was a good thing that I had bought two at the store at the same time. I worried all the way home because it looked more serious than I thought. I thought it was probably and ABC wire tap. I was carrying the .38 and the box openers. I didn't know what else to do. I went back home to worry until I met with Monk. I waited an hour and two cups of coffee then I went down to the cafe. I took a seat at one of the table, but I got one away from the windows. I waited with a glass of iced tea, even though for some folks it wasn't warm enough for iced tea at that time of the night. Monk came in and sat down. "What the fuck is going on with you?" he asked. "Just a little paranoia, it's probably nothing we will see," I said. "It has nothing to do with this." "Okay here is what I know. That parcel of seven acres is not good for anything, but to build a house on maybe. The ground is worked out and the creek isn't pure enough to use for anything but irrigation. There isn't enough water in it to use for that. In other words we don't have any other offers on it. You can buy it for $1,500 and acre, if you take it all." he said. $1.200 an acre and you have the lawyer draw up the sales papers. I will get them checked out and then we set up a signing." I said. "Oh make sure the taxes are current or the lawyer write in the contract that you agree to assume all liabilities. "All right, but before we invest in a lawyer and pay off the taxes, we are going to want some up front money," he said. "I will write you a check right now," I said. "You know I'll see you get it back, should anything happen." Monk said. "You can bet your greasy ass, I'll get it back." I said but with a smile. I went home after the meeting where I left a check with Monk for $5000 check as earnest money. When I got home I had to go to the net, then into an adult chatroom. I needed to orgasm just to sleep. I kept ignoring guys till I got to one who called me names and put some really interesting images in my mind. Some I'm sure were illegal in a couple of states and all of the of the Arab world. I took the trike out the next morning. I stopped by Mary Ellen's store. "Mary Ellen honey if you need me call this number." I said handing her a card with the new phone number. " I lost the old one." Then I went home to check on my possessions, to see what would fit in a really small house. The container would be about half the size of the apartment. I could fit most of what I had in the container. I drew plans then tore them up and drew them again and again and again. I finally came up with a working plan. I liked the layout pretty good. It had a bath in the back of the unit. A kitchen in the center and a living/bedroom in the front. It would require a door be cut in the side because I wanted to enter into the kitchen. I liked it so well that I stopped drawing plans. The plans weren't set in stone I knew I might have to change them. The next thing I did was to have dinner at the downtown cafe because it was only a few blocks from there to the lounge. "Well hey there girl we seen you twice in a month, you must be tired of that fast food," The waitress said. "Leave her be," the owner/cook said. "Just take her order and save that smart mouth for the regular customers. "You heard the man what you want Silvie," she asked. "How about the hamburger steak with those deep fried tater tots?" I asked. "You want that pile of shredded lettuce he calls a salad," She said. "Sure might as well go all the way," I replied. The food come quick and it was just a little greasy but very good. I might have been good, because it was just a little greasy. I left the Cafe on the Square after the meal headed for the lounge. As soon as I walked in I recognized him. I would have ordered something stronger than the beer if the lounge carried it. "Howdy Brit," I said. "Let's get one thing straight, I am no happier to be here, than you are to have me," he said in his accented voice. "I don't think that is possible," I said. ------- Chapter 150 "Look Sylvie, we have to make this look convincing. We want whoever is bugging you to think I'm an old boyfriend," He said it quietly over his beer. "Exactly how far to you think I am going to carry this charade?" I asked. "That depends on how bad you want to know who is bugging you. Believe me I don't want to be here. I have better things to do with my time, don't I?" he said. "Look that cockney accent is going to wear thin in about an hour. I have heard you speak with hardly any accent at all. If you could manage, let's try not to get on my last working nerve," I said. "So, I guess this mean we won't be swapping spit in private," he asked. "Exactly right," I said finishing my beer and ordering another. I figure I was going to have to dance with the prick. Just to add to the cover. "The things I had done for Swamp Dog," I said in disgust. I expected that I had done my last job for them. But if I was being bugged they needed to know, It could well be about them. While we drank and I dulled my disgust reaction, I noticed that the Brit was slightly OCD. Before he returned his glass to the table, he used the napkin provided with the beer to wipe the table top dry. Over and over he did it to the point of driving me insane. I finally had enough beer to dance on the tiny dance floor. The amount of beer I consumed left me perched on the edge of DUI. After we dance several time with me glued to him I said, "Brit, we have a problem," "Oh really, we surely can't make him or her disappear," he said quite seriously. "If anyone is going to disappear, it would be you," I said to correct his thinking. "Or you," he did smile. "So what is the problem?" "I used to be a deputy sheriff in this county. I made an enemy or two." I said before he cut me off. "How could that be old girl?" he asked laughing at his attempt at humor. "Never mind that, I am not going to drive after having this much beer. I am on the verge of drunk driving. I figure since you probably weight twice what I do, you are still quite sober. So the question is can you drive a car, and if so can you stay on the right side of the road." "Give me your keys, I am both sober and know my right from my left," he said. I gave him my car keys from the pocket of the cargo pants. I was very careful not to put the keys in the same pocket as the one containing the, 38. It was okay to have keys in the pocket with the box openers though. He paid the bill and herded me into the parking lot. I pointed out the old blue Toyota. "Well I see you don't waste your compensation on shiny new automobiles," he said with a laugh. "It only gets worse," I said as we crawled into the car. I didn't even notice how he drove since it was only a short distance to my apartment. "When you pull into the drive, stay to the right as far as you can and still be on the pavement." I demanded. He parked the car then said, "Nice old house," "Yes it is, but I don't live there. I live in the maid's apartment over the garage," I said to correct his thinking. He followed me up the stairs, then into the small apartment. I looked it over complete then said aloud, "Well it is the right size for you." Then he laughed. He brought his folding suitcase up the stairs with him. It was the kind that bulged on both sides. In the Air Force we called them B4 bags. I have no idea why. I had seen him move it from his company SUV. From that bag he removed an instrument of some kind. He ran it along the walls. He stopped at the light switch. He held his finger to his lips demanding silence. Funny how all that good, alcohol induced, lightheartedness disappeared. The Brit was all business, and I fell right into it as well. Both the light switch in the main room and the kitchen had microphone. They would be the easiest place to hide a microphone for sure. "Damn Brit you spilled that ashtray. The smell of ashes will drive me crazy." I said that as I got the small vacuum cleaner. I set it under the light switch in the living room and turned it on. Then went to the other side of the room to talk. "Every room except the bathroom is bugged." He said. "I don't think it's a law enforcement agency. It pretty obvious where they were hidden. The CIA would have done better. This is one of your Radio Shack buggings. One of those husband and wife things, You got anybody pissed at you?" I just looked at him. "Okay anybody pissed enough to do this?" he asked. "The Sheriff's Department might use something like this. They don't exactly rate state of the art technology," I said. "There are probably some moonshiners who aren't happy with me. They might want to know my plans," "What is a moonshiner?" he asked. "People in the Illegal Liquor business. It's make from corn distilled by the light of the moon," I said. "And you are making this liquor?" he asked. "No, that vacuum has been on too long." I said going over and turning it off. "You about ready for bed," he asked. He had me and he knew it. Then he pulled me too him and forced me to kiss him. While he held me he whispered. Let's leave them in place and act for them for a couple of days. At least till we know which one it is." I nodded, Hell I had screwed a lot of guys for a lot poorer reason. I undress with the light on then, turned it off before he undressed. I did that just in case they were watching the place as well. When the lights were off, I took the back rest cushions from the sofa and pulled extra covers from the storage boxes, which was the frame of my sofa bed. I was sure he had slept on worse, so I didn't feel sorry for him. When he saw what I had done, he smile and went immediately to sleep in his clothes. I awoke at 5AM and he jumped right up. "I'm going to ride my bike Brit, If you would like to tag along, I could run for an hour instead," I suggested. "I suspect that I run a bit farther and faster, so ride your bike," he said. "I think I'll run down and get the SUV." "Then I'll see you in two hours," I said taking off on the bike. Since he would be waiting at home, I didn't stop for breakfast at the plaza. Instead I turned off on a county road before I got to the plaza. The road ran to the dirt drive which went into the land I was in negotiations to purchase from Monk's family. I turned around then rode back to the apartment. I had been gone a little over two hours. When I went into the apartment, I heard signing, bad singing I might add. I went to the source and found The Brit stretched out in the tub as best he could be, with an empty cup of coffee by the tub. He saw me and said, "You did say to make myself at home. That is damn fine coffee. And of course there is nothing like a soaking to improve a man's disposition. Now I assume the plastic pitcher is for washing the hair?" He had made it a question, so I nodded as I left the room without closing the door. Yes I had seen his penis and it was rather ordinary, but the scars on his body were far from ordinary. Since he hadn't commented on mine, I didn't comment on his. He walked out of the bathroom thirty minutes later. I was glad that he had enjoyed his soak. I noted that he had somehow managed to clean the bathtub when he finished, and had a small towel hanging on the rack to dry. "I am glad you didn't come out wrapped in the towel," I said as I closed the door to take my own bath. "It would work better on me than on you love," he said with good humor in his voice. "Don't lock the bathroom door and I'll bring you coffee and scrub your back." He had checked the wall switch in the bathroom the night before. They had only used the kitchen and living room light switches for their bugs. It would seem logical not to bother with the bathroom. They might want to rethink that with the Brit in the house. He brought the coffee and a chair from the breakfast area of the kitchen. He spoke softly. Lets go somewhere and work on the plan. We can go out to breakfast." he suggested. "Fine now wash my back, you did promise," I demanded. He washed my back as I sat naked on the small plastic step stool. The stool made it easier for me to get in and out of the tub. The hand had presented a new challenge that way. But it was doable now that the stitches were out. The hand would at least grip the wash clothe. when it was waded up. It wasn't efficient. but it worked. Same with the hair washing. I could hold the pitcher that way when it was no more than half full it worked fine. It took more effort, but it worked in the end. Through the whole process, The Brit sat on his chair and watched. He didn't have an especially sexy look, he just looked. I stood up and he handed me my big ass towel. I dried and dressed in my usual tee shirt. The one I wore that morning was a boy's undershirt, I wore it with jeans I had cut off. Not cut off short, but cut off almost to knee length. "So Brit, after that workout in the tub you need a good breakfast. I know just the place, I can show you off. They serve the kind of food to keep your strength up." I said with a laugh. I saw as he removed a large thick vase from his bag then set it on the end table, which was also a plastic storage box. The vase was of course a camera and transmitter. I drove the car down to the Cafe on the Square. The were serving breakfast still. It would be breakfast until 11AM. So we ordered two hero special breakfasts. That one had biscuits, eggs any style, bacon, sausage and grits or hash brown potatoes. When my buddy the morning waitress first showed up at the table she asked. "My god girl where had you been hiding this man. He looks fine enough to eat." "Honey, you know that's what I have been doing all night. Now I need real food." I said. The Brit actually Blushed. Of course he wiped the table three times before the food came. Now the Cafe on the Square served a table, with more than one person, country style. They put a plate of home made biscuits in the middle of the table. You were expected to serve yourself from them. The bacon, sausage, eggs and grits all came in small bowl. The Brit was shocked at the amount of food. "We aren't suppose to eat all this are we." "No, what you don't eat goes out the back door to the city's homeless shelter. The shelter will be by for the bacon sausage potatoes and biscuits. So feel free to leave the food in the bowls. You pay for it and the extra goes to the poor, think of it as your good deed for the day." I said seriously. "Some times the waitress feeds stray dogs and cats, if the owner doesn't catch her." The waitress heard me. "Your Silvie used to take off her belt to make a lead for strays back when she ran downtown. She would bring me them strays she found. I found them homes. Since the shooting, she don't run here no more." The waitress said then she left. The Brit looked at me hard, but he didn't ask for an explanation. I was beginning to wonder, if I had made a mistake about him. I guessed, I was more willing to give him a second chance, since I had seen him naked. ------- Chapter 151 I mean there was nothing special about him except the scars. I guess I felt a little like scars make the man. Scars on your body and scars on your soul make you who you are. I wondered what my soul looked like. The morning sun had driven the chill away, which made it pleasant for The Brit to sit in the park and call home. "Number 2329," he said presumably to the girl who answered his call. "No elevator music," I said. "What?" he asked. "They don't have music while you are on hold. All the best doctors and shit have elevator music." He simply nodded and continued to wait. After about five minutes he said into the phone. "Good morning Sir. I have determined what kind of equipment they are using. It's a direct RF transmitter with two slave microphone also RF. Bad news it it's line of sight. There is no platform I can use to track it down. It's Radio shack shit. Yes, I was thinking that as well. Very well sir, we shall see who shows up, but not attack them. Yes sir, it makes perfect sense. Goodbye sir." The Brit said. "So what's our next step," I ask. "The main transmitter draws its power from a simple 9volt battery. The Microphones have a similar power source. Probably a smaller battery like a hearing aid. So we just have to catch them changing the batteries, or there is some other problem that causes them to go into the apartment. There is a camera on your front door right now. It should give us a view not only of the inside of the apartment, but one of the steps as well. since you have a nice big window in the door." he said. "It could take months for the batteries to die." I asked. "How about we bait them?" "Okay, what are we going to use for bait?" He asked. "Well there are only three possible groups interested in me. The county sheriff, the bootleggers or the government. So lets bait them one at a time and see who bites." I said. "So what are you thinking?" he asked. "Well the proof of a crime would be more than enough to bring the Sheriff's Deputies into the apartment. And if that proof was a list of delivery points and pick up information, it would bring the bootleggers in as well. So I fake a list and we plant it for them to find. Then we sit back and watch your camera," I suggested. Tell you what, let's give it a couple of days before we do that. Just stay out of the apartment during the day for a while. Just go about your business and I will tag along and watch your back. "Well okay, but I'm going to bore you to tears," I said. "I doubt it. You have no idea what kind of things in which I have an interested," he said. "Okay, I'm going to make a call to see about some dirt," I said. "You did know you talk funny?" "Garden soil," he asked. "No, the kind of dirt that holds the earth together." I left it a mystery as I made the call to Monk. "Did you talk to your brother and sister?" I asked. "They said the price was fair and the taxes are all paid up, so all we need is to get old Sam, Dad's lawyer, to draw up the contract. My sister was supposed to call him this morning," Monk said. "Monk I'm going to arrange for a house on the place, don't fuck me up now," I said. I had the phone on speaker phone so The Brit could hear. "What was that about?" The Brit asked. "I'm going to buy some land from that guy's family. Then I am going to put a house on it. Well not exactly a house. If you stick around long enough you will see. The first thing I have to do is get the house on the way up here." I made a call to Jerry. Since it was early in the week I had hopes he would be on the road. "Jerry love, where are you?" "I'm in Maryland about to drop off a couple of front end loaders. a construction company needed right away. why?" he asked. "I need you to pick up a storage unit at the port of Wilmington and bring it here." I said. "That is just great. Can I get it tomorrow?" he asked. "They said anytime and they would drop it on your trailer. It's only twenty feet long." I said. "That will work just fine. If I drop this today and head back, I can be there tomorrow. If they will load it I can be in County seat day after tomorrow. Will you have someone to take it off my trailer?" "I was hoping you knew someone with a front end loader to drag it off. You could just drive out from under it." I knew he could do it because I had seen him do it. "Sure, I can call my buddy and have him standing by. You gonna meet me at that convenience store by the plaza and pilot me to your drop site?" he asked. "No problem I can do that and even help you with the work. I might even have another body to help." I was thinking I could use The Brit, if he didn't finish my case by then. "Sylvie that is going to be $500 cash or $600 check," Jerry said. "$500 cash would be fine," I said. I was planning to use gray money as much as possible. "And Silvie honey, another $100 for the front end loader." Jerry said. "Jerry, honey that's the end of the money. If you come up with anymore shit you need to drop it, you are going to have to pay," I said. "You got it," he replied. See you day after tomorrow. Please remember that will be a Saturday. Don't go getting drunk and forget me," Jerry said with a laugh. I turned to The Brit, "We got lots of shit to do before he gets here. Come on let's get a move on." I knew the owner of a company that did paving for the state. We drove to his office which was a trailer in a storage yard. "Gary Dean, you old bastard how are you. You remember me, Sylvia Porter?" I asked. "Yeah I remember you Sylvia. What the fuck do you want?" he asked. "Now Gary, what kind of greeting is that? I just want you to run by the place I am buying with a scraper and flatten the drive to my new house. Wont take a minute," I said. "Sure won't cost you but a thousand dollars," he said real mean. "How much would you lose in a divorce honey. If you try to jack me like I was some stupid city government somewhere, your wife will get a video. And then more copies will start to show up in the mail of city officials, and do gooders on the city councils. You know what a long memory I have, and what a pack rat I am," I said. He looked at me real hard then said, "$300 and thats the cost of diesel and a driver no profit at all." "Bullshit. but it's a reasonable cost. First think in the morning Gary Dean or your wife hears what a bad boy you are." I replied. "What was that all about," The Brit asked. "Oh Gary Dean attended some of the same parties I did. We have some interesting picture of Gary that's all." I said. "You really are a cold hearted bitch," The Brit said. "I'm beginning to rethink my dislike of you." "I was thinking the same thing this morning after I heard you singing in the bathtub. I thought anybody with enough courage to sing that lousy can't be all bad." We both smiled then move on. "So in thirty minutes you arraigned delivery of a packing container which I assume you are going to do something with?" He asked. "If I had my computer I could show you the tiny house I'm going to build," I said. "We have had breakfast, we have called in a couple of favors and blackmailed a contractor, I would say we have time to swing by and get your laptop. Let me take a look at the camera footage first." He used his smart phone and the Internet to check and playback the camera footage. "Not even a spider," he said. I turned the corner back to the apartment. I ran in while he waited in the car. I picked up the laptop and turned on the TV, then ran back down the stairs. "Why are you smiling The Brit asked, "I turned the TV onto the home shopping channel and left it on. That should bore the shit out of anyone listening." "If the bugs are voice actuated, it should also run the batteries down faster," the Brit said. "I just wanted to annoy them. I really wasn't thinking that far ahead." I replied. We drove to the plaza then parked in the lot of a coffee shop with wifi. I pirated their signal while we drank their over priced coffee. I bought it from the take out window. It took a minute or two, but I found the article. "This looks something like your apartment now. You don't have a shower though. Are you going to put in a fancy glass shower like this," He asked. "Hell no, I'm going with a shower unit you buy as one piece. IIt looks like a packing crate with a shower head. I'll have a plumber hook it up. I am going to get a toilet and a janitor's plastic sink for the bathroom. One deep enough to put pots and pans in as well as wash my hands. That way I don't need a kitchen sink. I need to have some wiring put in. So I'm going to get enough plugs and circuits to run a microwave and an air condition at the same time. Whatever that takes." I said. "You will need a twenty amp breaker for each. A 220 circuit for the air conditioner is better. If you mounted it at the ceiling and used the door frame for support, it would handle one as big as you ever wanted." The Brit said. "Oh shit there isn't enough height is there." "Nope, but we are going to have to figure it out as we go." I thought just a minute then said, "You need to meet someone. Come along with me." I drove down to Mary Ellen's Shop. The Brit looked way out of place among all the fancy women's lingerie. When Mary Ellen approached she looked very curious. "Well now Sylvia, who is this hunk," she asked. "This gentleman is name Britt. Britt honey this is Mary Ellen. She is a friend. It there is anyone in town, who doesn't owe me a favor, he owes one to Mary Ellen." I said with a smile. "Oh my such kind words Britt. Our little Sylvia is looking for something. She is only this nice to me, when she wants something. I do believe she brought you in to trade for it as well." "Oh no Mary, this one is mine. You go out and find your own. The only thing I want from you now is a name. I need a serious plumber. One that isn't going to charge me an arm and leg." I said. How about a handyman who works by the day?" Mary Ellen asked. "A hundred bucks a day and he can do almost anything." With that she handed me a card. I allowed her a few more minutes to try to score points with The Brit, then we left. We drove back to the parking lot for the downtown park. We were the only car in the lot. The Brit checked the camera footage and I called Tomas Escondido. At least that more or less what his card said. He was finishing up a job, but said he would be free the next day. He agreed to meet me the next morning at the Hardee's in the plaza at 8AM. ------- Chapter 152 The Brit and I drove out to the site, where all the activity would begin the next day. He asked to go there. I thought for sure it was some kind of security thing, but he asked far too many question about the plans for it to be anything but genuine interest. "You were right to blackmail the road builder into grading this road. It would have been difficult with these ruts to back that trailer onto the site. As a matter of fact, why not just cut a new drive over here?" he ask pointing to a spot of more or less level ground. "The grader could get down to clay in a just a few minutes and you could have it graveled later. It would be simple. You are going to use the flat spot for you box house anyway, right?" "Of course I am," I said not having even thought about the placement of the box. Sure it would be the easiest place to level it." I was thinking out loud then. "I'm sure you also thought to put it so that the doors opened on the drive way side. Do that and your laborer can put a deck with a sliding door to replace the ones on it now. that would give you lots of light and a way to get in. Bolt some 2x4 studs up, then attach a patio door, and bingo it's a home." "That is the plan," I said quickly adding the door to my list of things to do. Well it's getting late shouldn't we check the tape from the apartment?" I asked before he redid my whole plan. "You are absolutely right," he commented. Let's go back to the McDonald's in, Dobson is it," He suggested. "And how the hell do you know where the McDonald's is?" I asked. "Have you been here before." "Of course not, but I found the location of McDonald's, so that I could get a WIFI signal without any questions." he said smiling. "Hmmm," was my only comment. I turned the car toward McDonald's. Anyone with half a brain in my situation would doubt The Brit. He might well have been up here running a background check on me before Swamp Dog's offer of employment. When we pulled into the McDonald's parking lot I ordered two coffee while the man from the swamp checked the first of the video. "Do you have mail delivered to your house?" he asked. "Packages, I am sure come to the house," I said. "Why?" "A black woman in a uniform came to your door an hour ago," he said. "Are you expecting anything." "Yes bought a fishing rod from China," I said. "Is the timing about right for the delivery?" he asked. "Sure, it is about right," I agreed. "Okay, do you fish?" he asked. "Not yet, but there is a regional reservoir here. I decided to give it a try," I said. "Oh that should be nice. I used to fish as a boy," he said. "I had an uncle who fished when he retired. He even raised his own worms, at least he had worms." I said. We used these god awful creature on the farm trees. Some kind of caterpillar I think, It might be my only good memory," he said. "Mine too," I said as I backed into a space against the wall of a building next door. "Excellent choice, no rear sniper threat," The Brit said. "Best view of the parking lot," I said. "You chose the space as a random selection didn't you," he said all serious. "Yep," I said and we both laughed. "I feel it to. The battle never touched this place," he said. "Not enough people for any demonstration at all," I said. "Good on you," he said. We sat there drinking coffee until he had accessed all the tape. He went back to the postal worker. "We want to take a look at that package for an outside trigger before you pick it up." "Come on Brit, Sometimes a bomb is just a fishing pole." I said. "And sometimes a bug is a microphone. There are no coincidences, till we find out who wants to bug you." he said. "Well at least the coffee is good," I said. "That it is, too bad you can't get a decent cup of tea in this country," he said laughing. "I shouldn't tell you this, but if you buy a box of good tea, that coffee machine is supposed to make excellent tea as well." I said. "There is a first class grocery store here. I have never been in it, I have heard they carry all that specialty shit." He came out of the store smiling. "Believe it or not this is the brand my mother used to use," he said with a very small laugh. "Do you have a bottle of that hooch you make," he asked. "I have a bottle or two of the peppermint. It wasn't a big seller. And I have some Apple Shine. Which would you prefer?" I asked. "I guess you need to get rid of the peppermint," he said. "I do indeed. Let's go get a couple of bottles." With that I drove to my apartment. I put on a pair of rubber house cleaning gloves, then went into the garage below my apartment. From a dusty old trunk, with a new combination lock, I removed two 12oz bottle of peppermint flavored Shine. It was a twelve oz bottle of water according to the label, but it was pure flavored fire water. "Now before we start Brit there is no delivery service for food in a town this size. There is a Little Caesar's pizza to go, at the plaza. So do you like pizza," I asked. "I do indeed but it's my treat. Besides I have been looking for an excuse to ride that tricycle. So tell me how you start it." he said. I explained all the operations and safety feature on it. "So you understand how to start it?" I asked. "I do," he said. "I also understand there are no safety features except this one little hand brake." "Are you catholic?" I asked. "Yes, what has that to do with anything?" he asked. "You might want to say a few hail Marys, and make the sign of the cross. Good luck," I said. I watched him pull out of the drive. It was eight miles out to the Plaze and the bike went about twenty five miles and hour, so he had about a half an hour each way. I went inside and planned on him being gone about a hour and a half, so I took a bath. I was still in the tub, when he came in, slight under an hour later. "Geeze is my trike alright?" I asked when I got to the door in panties and the Russian commando knock off tee shirt. "It is fine. Hell it's better then sex," he said laughing. "You have been having sex with the wrong people, if you think that," I said. "Maybe, but you run along at full speed and the traffic is still passing you. I felt sorry for them cause they are missing so much. The little kids and old men waving at you. Those assholes in car cursing you, my got that was fun." "You did get the pizza, right?" I asked. "Hell no I wasn't hungry at all while I was on that trike. Of course I am now. Put on a pair of shorts and lets go out to dinner," he demanded. "Well my hair is a mess," I said with a laugh. "That's bullocks, if you spend an hour on your hair, it will still be a mess," he said laughing. "Alright, but I wear pants not shorts, It might get chilly before we get back," I said. We went to a home style restaurant for dinner. It had once been a dairy queen drive in thing. It had been turned into a small high volume, quick turnover joint. But they served the best damn barbecue in town. "You have to try the barbecue," I said. He ordered it and he smiled. "If you knew how many times I refused to eat this you would laugh. I have had everyone from Martin to the Nurse trying to get me to try it. Well it was a day for first. I rode a low speed toy and ate this barbecue so I guess I'm becoming a rebel," he said. "Here, I thought you always were a rebel." He shook his head, so I went on. "What else would you call what we do?" I asked. "Chasing the rush," he said. " Like a forking junkie." "Yeah I know," I said. "So what now." "Now we go back to your place and answer our email. We haven't checked at all today," The Brit said. He had his own laptop, so he could piggy back on my IP connection. I checked my email and was bored with it until I got the one from the two documentary makers. It read something like, just wanted to remind you the show premiers tonight at 10PM. It on late because you curse an awfully lot. "Get off that computer by10PM." I said to The Brit. I had changed back into shorts after dinner, but he didn't even notice. "What happens at ten?" he asked. "It is that new moonshiner series." I replied. "Oh really, I wouldn't miss it." he said. "Maybe I'll learn something about your American history." It was about quarter till ten when he went to fix a cup of tea. I waited until he finished before I made a cup of coffee. I rinsed the coffee maker before I started but not after. "You really should clean the coffee grounds holder. It is much easier to do now, than it will be when you need it next," he said. "Geeze Louise, you are a terrible roommate," I said. "You are no prize either you know," he said with a laugh. At 10PM the promo ran, then there were several commercials, then the history of the mountains, then several more commercials made money for the network. After all that my part in the show started. There I was in disguise as I went through the whole first episode buying the shine. Then there was a lot of talk of picking it up. After the pick up there was more talk about blending, but no real work shots. He was saving those for the next episode it seemed. That is when the real shock came. The two of them interviewed an AFT agent. Not even a ABC agent, who would be state, but they were talking to a fucking Fed. I could hardly speak I was so pissed. Finally I said, "I'm going to kill the son of a bitches." The Brit was sitting beside me. He put his hand over my mouth. "I know you hate mice, but set traps. It's best not to go after them with a shotgun. It takes longer, but it is better in the long run," Then he laugh. He held my mouth till I calmed down and remembered I was bugged. "But I hate the little bastards. It just creeps me out to hear their squeaking," I said. I also nodded that I was under control. After that first episode, I was ready to murder the two of them. But I kept in mind someone, probably the ATF was listening in. "I'm going to take a bath," the Brit said. "How about you come scrub my back." "Sure," I said. When we were in the bathroom, I said. "Those son of a bitches set me up for the fucking ATF." "Not they didn't. They set up an ATF investigation, but it would kill their show to have you arrested. They want the chase, not a jail house shot of you." "That would make more sense, but you know the ATF is going to be watching the show, if they haven't confiscated the tape already." I said. "If they had the film before the airing, the bugs could be their's except the equipment is pure amateur. I think we have a winner though in the two guys doing the filming. I think they want to use your comments on the show and any comments you make about preparing for next season. They can use them as a voice over for shots of other stuff with no sound track," he said. "That makes sense in a sick kind of way," I said. "So leave it till tomorrow, and we will figure it out between all the work out at the site of your new debugged house," he said. "Are you going to sleep with me?' I asked standing close to him. "I have a confession Sylvia. I'm probably get turned on by the same blokes you do." he said seriously. "I swear one day I might be able to get it up for you but my heart wouldn't be in it." "I guarantee I can get it up for you, but I won't force you." I said. "This stays between us, right?" he asked. "Absolutely, but I warn you, I'm not giving up on you," I said. "That's a good thing," he said. ------- Chapter 153 We had drank 12oz of very strong peppermint flavored shine the night before, so 5AM came way too early. Even so I was out the door to ride my bike first thing, hangover and all. I knew we had the answer to the bugs, but I didn't think I gave a shit. It was too early to care about anything. I rode out to the plaza and back but I still had to go through the downtown to make the 2 hours I wanted to ride. There was a slight chill in the air that I only noticed when I stopped peddling. It just felt good, even in my hung over state. I rode back to the house and the Brit was gone. I was in the tub, when he came back. I was so comfortable with him, that I didn't even try to cover up when he walked in. I just went on with my hair washing. He reached over to scoop the water for me. Then pour it over my head. "You know, I could get used to you being around," I said with a smile. "So could I," he said. Then of all things I got my first sisterly kiss in a lot of years. It was kinda nice for a change. I stood up and dressed right in front of him. I did it just as a matter of fact, not trying to be sexy or posing. I was just getting dressed. He took a turn in the bathroom and I washed his back then left while he dressed, Something about those two things bonded us in a different kind of way. A way I didn't understand at all, but I felt protective of the big ugly Brit all of a sudden. If we ever were on assignment together again that might get in the way. I knew it, but there was nothing I could do about it. We drove the car to Hardee's in the plaza for breakfast. I Ordered iced tea to drink with the biscuit full of animal fat. Then I found a table, as the Brit walk up placing his tray across from mine. "I will have to run an extra five mile a day for a month, to get rid of all this animal fat," The Brit said smiling. "You can always say no," I replied. "I will say no, when I get back to the compound. I'm enjoying it right now. I'm on vacation. Haven't had a proper vacation for years." he informed me. "I got to tell you, that was some good Liquor. I hardly have a hangover at all. I didn't get a chance to answer because I saw the latino male who looked a little lost entering Hardee's. I Stood and motioned him over. Tomas I'm Sylvia this is Brit. Suddenly The Brit began speaking Spanish to Tomas. I looked at the Brit hard. He knew what I was thinking. "Just a little something I picked up in Columbia "I hope you were on the right side," I said. "I must have been, I can't go back there," he said laughing. He repeated it to Tomas in Spanish. There followed a conversation in Spanish. "I'm not trying to take over Sylvie but he speaks better Spanish. I told him that you need him on the job tomorrow morning, He needs to bring enough blocks and lumber to level the trailer and frame in the door. He is going to bring the door as well. That's just about all we can get done tomorrow." The Brit said. I had to laugh. "Okay I like this idea of what you are doing I want to see it come together," he said. "Good, I don't have a problem with this at all. So how much money does he need?" I asked. "He wants $300 he will bring the receipts and you can settle up at the end of the day." The Brit said. "If you don't have the cash, I got some." "No you don't," I said. Tomas took the money and left to find something to do that paid, I presumed. "We should go to the site and wait for the Grading contractor." I said. "Right you are," The Brit said. "Let's get one thing straight Brit. When you get comfortable and drift back to your native speech patterns. You do not call me old girl again. I will kick you ass." I said. "You kick my ass? not bloody likely. Not even if you had two good hands," he said. "But I like that you would even try." I laughed, "I don't just try I'll get you when you are sleeping. Use a bat and just beat the crap out of you." I said with a smile. We made it to the site quickly. Just as I expected no contractor. I called Greg and was told the driver was on his way. When I hung up I called the county sanitation office. The man there told me I would need a septic system where I was located. He would be out after lunch to see if the land would perk what ever that meant. "Have you arranged to have to county install a meter and shutoff valve for you?" he asked as a second thought. "No, I had no idea I needed to do that," I said honestly. "Well I'll have a crew out this afternoon as well. We can get you ready to go this afternoon on that." he said. "What's that going to cost," I asked. "No charge, you will be paying for it in your water bill," he said. "Try to be there after lunch to show them where you want the meter. I'll try to come out at the same time." After that call I was stressing out. When the grading contractor pulled up with a small grader on a trailer pulled by a pickup, I was a little pissed. "Calm Sylvia, we can handle this." The Brit said. "You here to do the drive way grading?" The Brit said cheerfully. "I guess that's me. Do you just want that dive leveled out." he said looking at the drive where my Toyota sat. "No the lady wants a twenty foot driveway cut over there," he said pointing to the flat spot about twenty yards away. It was still within the boundaries Monk gave me. "Is that going to be a problem?" "Not for me. boss told me to come out and give you a full hours work. I'm here and ready to go," he said "Well I guess you need to get to it. I wont bother you any more." The Brit said. I started to speak the Brit shook his head. He waited till we were out of earshot. "I don't think he can finish in an hour," I said. "We shall see Sylvia I think he will finish," he seemed to know more than I did, so I shut up and called Monk. He needed to call his sister to give me a time to sign the sales contract and deed. When Monk called back, he said they could all get together at four the same day. I wasn't sure I wouldn't be needed at the site, but I agreed. I thought I would take a chance. "My there are so many details all coming down on me at once," I said to the Brit. He looked at me and grinned. "Tell you what Sylvie, you take me to your house when this guy leaves. You can come back in the car to wait for everybody. If you need me to babysit the country boys call, and I'll bring the trike out and you can run to the lawyer. Even though I didn't call him, The Brit showed up on the trike. "What the hell you miss me," I asked, "Some, but mostly I found out who is bugging you, ' The Brit informed me. I got a picture." "How the hell did you get a picture?" I asked. "When I you dropped me off, I didn't go in. I pulled the power on the transmitter. I went in to talk to the lady who rents you the apartment. We had a grand old chat. A couple of hours later this guy came to reconnect the transmitter. He pulled it since he suspected he had been busted." The picture was Jeff one of the Documentary Photographers. I explained it to The Brit. "Well honey, you want to pick him up and sweat him, or just play it out." "I think for now, I will play it out. I have time. If he was flipped for a cop somewhere, then I'm clean they got nothing on me till next season. If it is for his show. I'll get the tapes and destroy his documentary program. I will go out of the business. Either way I think I'm through dealing with them. You said that the receiver had to be no more than a mile from my house?" I asked. "Yeah about that, why?" The Brit asked. "I know where they keep it. The pricks have the receiver in Mary Ellen boutique. I'd bet on it." I said. "Do you think she knows?" The Brit asked. "She would be willing to play both ends against the middle just for the fun of it," I said. "She didn't strike me that way, but you know her best. So what you want to do?" he asked. "I want to think about it, but I also want to know if it is her. What would the relay look like," I asked. "A small receiver unit about the size of two packs of cigarettes and it would be hooked to either a computer to record it, or to a telephone to transmit it farther. "Oh I meant to ask you," I said as I nodded my understanding. "What did you say the grader driver this morning." "When his hour was almost up. I asked him if he would rather have you pissed at him, or his boss." He said. "Sure, it was me he was worried about, Anyway he finished, even if did take him two hours," I explained. "The county guys haven't come yet and it's 2PM." I said. "Don't worry Sylvia." I know where to put everything now. I'll wait for him. I can bring the trike back when he leaves. I got to ride it back anyway. It's a beautiful day for a ride." "Brit, I'm sorry about all this. I know you want to go home," I said it feeling a little bad for keeping him, but also I enjoyed his company. I really didn't want to see him leave. "I'm going to say this once and never again. There is no where I would rather be right now. If I'm cramping your style, I can leave though." "You stay just a fucking long as you want. You're my new partner in crime," I said with a laugh. "Speaking of crime, I need to go sign those papers. You can call the county and see what the hold up is. Of course honestly tomorrow is fine. It's gonna be more than a day before we have to make any decisions," I said. "You must be monk's sister," I said to the tall over weight middle-aged woman in the lawyers reception room. "I am," she said then gave me her name which I promptly forgot. The younger man explained that he was monk's brother. Before we could say more than a hello the lawyer's girl Friday carried us back. Monk and the lawyer were waiting. We all signed the Contract and the deed. It was over very quickly. Oh yeah I handed over a certified check for the agreed price. When I left I was the owner of the land on county road 1283. It was guaranteed to be free and clear of any encumbrances. I hurried back to find Two men working on the side of the road. One was also walking around the area I planned to put the house. ------- Chapter 154 The news I got from the county was terrible. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but this land won't perk." the inspector said. "What exactly does that mean?" I asked. "It means the ground around here will not support a septic tank. So you can't get a permit to build a septic tank, or a permit to put a house of any kind here." he said. "But I have a zoning waiver," I said. "If you had a sewage disposal system, you could put any thing here your waiver covers, but without that permit from out office you can't put a tent on this lot." He said. "Isn't there something I can do?" I asked. "Yes, we can grant a waiver, if you put in a holding tank and have it pumped out every so often," It's cheaper to install, but it will be more expensive in the long run. You have to have it pumped out on a regular schedule and that could cost about a hundred dollar per pump." he said. "Well I own this land and I have the first unit on the way in the morning, so I'm going to have to get a holding tank installed." I said. "You don't happen to have a family member in that business do you?" "What are you implying?" he asked. "I'm not implying anything, I am asking for a referral. Any company who does the work in a way to meet your requirements will do," I explained. I noted the Brit left me alone with him to work it out. "There are three companies, who do work in the county. Either of them is going to do about the same thing. You can probably get an estimate on the phone that will be pretty close," he said. That was as much as I could pen him down. It was too late to bother with it all, so I just smiled and began plotting how to destroy his life. When I cooled down, I forgot about him. "So, should I ride the trike back, or do you want to," The Brit asked. "That's up to you." I said just a little short. "Then I think I will ride it back," he said. "There is nothing else to do here until tomorrow." "No, there isn't but I'm going to Mary Ellen's store before I go home," I informed him. "Will there be violence?" he asked. "I wouldn't think so. If there is, it won't last long and I don't need any help." I said. "Very well, I do remember where her store is. If your car is there when I get there, I will stop just to look around. I do love a good cat fight. If it is not I will go back to your apartment." he said. I nodded my agreement. Mary Ellen wasn't in the store, so I pretended to shop. I went into all the dressing rooms, and both the ladies and men's room. "Can I help you find something," the cute little teenager asked. "I need to see Mary Ellen's office," I said. "She wouldn't like you looking around in there," the teenager said. "She most likely won't like the cops poking around then," I said handing her my cell phone. "You might want to give her a call." "Mary," the kid said into the phone. "That crazy girlfriend of yours who looks like a guy is here. She is insisting on looking in your office." Then she handed me the phone. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" Mary Ellen asked. "Mary Ellen, shut the fuck up and just listen. The Brit is on his way. Now we know you are helping Jeff and Phil bug my apartment. When he gets here we are then going to kick your fucking door down and recover the recordings. At that point I will call the police and have you charged with tapping my phone without my permission. Of course there is breaking and entering to plant them as well. So unless you can convince me this is harmless bullshit right this fucking minute I'n going to start kicking down doors. I grant you we might share a cell in county lock up tonight, but so be it." "Calm down Sylvia. Jeff and Phil just wanted to record some conversions about the business to play over some stock footage that is all. There is nothing to it. It's not like we are going to the cops." "No and it's not like you broke into my house and recorded me without my permission. I'm going in your office and I am taking all that shit to my apartment to review it. With or without your fucking permission, so to save your door, you need to tell Goldie locks to open the fucking door? I said really losing my temper. "Well, put her on," she said. At exactly the same time The Brit walked in and the girl unlocked the office. I explained to him what had transpired. He asked, "Did she tell you where it is?" he asked. "No and I didn't ask," I said. It took just a moment to find the receiver and laptop under her desk. I took them both. "You are going to return those aren't you?" the teen asked. "Is this your shit?" I asked. "No," she said. "Then it's none of your fucking business," I said and walked out of the shop. I glanced back to see The Brit backing out of the shop. He was watching my back. I was impressed. When I was getting out of the car in the driveway, he pulled up on the trike and maneuvered it into the space front of the car. "Are you calm yet?" he asked. "I won't be calm till I review this file and kick the shit out of Jeff and Phil," I said. "I don't want them in jail, I want to beat the shit out of them." "We could do that easily and probably get away with it, but do you really want to over a bunch of recordings that probably don't mean anything. Cut your ties with them and tell them that next time you will cut off their penis," he suggested. Well you certainly know how to calm me down," I said with a laugh. "Let's go out to eat before I start with the tapes." "Let's go to that cafe downtown," he suggested. "They are closed. Downtown is dead this time of night," I said. "Hello Sylvia, it's only 6PM," he said. "Brit this is not Charlotte or some tourist town on the coast, this is County Seat," I said. Everything within a mile of downtown is closed at 5PM." "Very well then where can we get a decent steak," he asked. "I don't know how good they ares, but we can get steaks a couple of places. We will have to drive to Dobson," I said. "Well I am extremely tired of your midget car, made for midgets to drive, so I will take the company car," he said. Which is how we ending up in a chain restaurant that specialized in beef steak. They had other things. but steak was their specialty. "Now this is more like it," The Brit said. "So do you have the need for that rush you get from danger?" I asked. "Not really, do you?" he asked. "I could go either way." I answered. "That's how I feel," he said. "Let's not go looking for trouble, but if you ever want to find something, I know a couple of places." I said. "I would expect no less," he suggested. It was 9PM when we walked into the house. The message light was blinking on the answering machine. I walked over and turned it on, then thought better and paused the machine. I walked to the bathroom to remove my shorts. I went back to turn on the machine. Yes I was in a tee shirt and my panties. I had no problem with it, since I doubted it would effect the Brit. If it did that was okay as well. I returned to the message machine. "Hello Sylvia you have to let me explain." The voice was that of Jeff one of the photographers. "Call me please." "I say, are you going to call the poor chap," The Brit asked. "I promised you I wouldn't kill him. I did not promise I would tell him that. Let him think I might kill him a while longer. I will do him good," I said. "Sylvie that is just pure evil," he said. I smiled and went to the next message. That one was from Phil saying pretty much the same thing. He ran out of time on the machine before he could finish his explanation. The third and final one was from Mary Ellen. She was insistent that I call her back immediately. I turned off the machine and then turned to the Brit. "Tell me something Brit?"I demanded. "What do you wish to know?" he asked. "That dumb blond at Mary Ellen's store today said I looked like a guy." I said. "So?" he asked. "So, if I was a guy would you be interested?" I asked. I was holding a glass of the peppermint shine in my hand. I had kept a bottle in the refrigerator just for times like this. When I needed a little extra courage. He looked at me hard and said, "I could probably enjoy the hell out of it, if you kept your mouth shut, but you might not." The Brit said. "Have a drink and lets discuss this some more." I said. "Very well, but I don't know how well this would work out," he said. "That's okay that you don't know, because I think I know," I said as I lowered myself to my knees between his legs. I unzipped him while he took a deep pull on the water bottle. I had his cock and took it into my mouth and made love to it. I kissed his cock and slid it in and out of my mouth. I made my mouth wet and tight for him. In spite of himself I felt him harden in my mouth. I worked his cock softly and lovingly, but he didn't pump my mouth, He just sat there letting his cock get massaged and growing harder all the time. Then without warning he pushed my away. He raised me to my feet then began to kiss me. "You really do that well. You are a very accomplished cock sucker." I almost said thank you, till I remembered he told me not to speak. He turned me so that my back was to him. "This is how I would jack your dick, if you were my lover." he said putting his hand inside my panties. It came to rest over my clit. He massaged it roughly without opening the hood. I yelped in pain. I couldn't help it. "Does it hurt?" he asked. "Yes, No." answered. "Yes, but I don't care." He bent me into the wall. I held myself up with my hands and learned forward. I felt his hard penis against my anus. I almost begged him to penetrate me, but I didn't have to he was working his hard cock into my back channel. I could feel the strange sensation inside my channel. The intruding cock was moving things in the wrong direction. The sensation was maddening. I didn't think I would feel so full, since he was only average, but in the rear opening he felt huge. I felt him working his penis inside me. It never went far from fully extended but then returned to his maximum penetration dept. I felt him speed up and move harder and fast inside my abused backside, until he stiffened and I actually felt his hot cum inside me. I knew that even after he pulled out of me I would feel the results. I would most likely feel the seeping of his cum out my rectum and the strange need to evacuate my bowels all the next day. Even though nothing would come of it, I would feel that need all day. ------- Chapter 155 I woke at 5AM but I didn't want to get out of bed. I was sleeping on the floor with the Brit. All six of my sofa cushions made the bed. It was reasonably comfortable. Mostly it was being in bed with someone, who I wasn't in a hurry to get away from, was almost a gift. It felt really nice, so I had to forced myself out of bed. I slipped into my bike outfit of shorts and a sweat shirt, with the sleeves cut off, trying not to wake The Brit. Even though I knew he was only faking being asleep. Why I had no idea, but I left the apartment and walked down to the stairs to my bike. It was five fifteen, so I would ride till seven fifteen without a break. I usually stopped at the Plaza for breakfast but not today. I was meeting Tomas at the site of my new house at 8AM. I had to admit I was excited. When I got back to the apartment just after seven The Brit was dressed in Jeans and a cut off sweat shirt. I thought what the hell, I found my jeans and my scissors. I stood topless and cut off the sleeves of my winter running sweat shirt. Somewhere I had one already cutoff from previous years. It was in the pile of laundry to be done as soon as I got around to it. I cut the sleeves out of the winters sweat shirt every year. Every fall I bought a new sweatshirt to cover my pistol while I ran or rode the bike. Then I cut it off in the spring to do the same thing for the summer months. It was just that I hadn't planned to wear one with my jeans, so the winter sweat shirt was the only clean one handy. I didn't mind sacrificing it. We went through the drive in window at Hardee's before we went on out to the site. The Brit agreed to ride in the Toyota, even though he would have preferred the SUV. Since I wasn't contracted to the Swamp Dog at the moment, the Swamp guys would be pissed if anything happened. There was no need for that. The Brit could drive my Toyota for coffee, if we needed it. "Did you run this morning?" I asked while we ate biscuits filled with animal fat and drank restaurant coffee. "Yes, but only an hour, after that I came home and bathed, then dressed for this." He said. "Did you hear yourself call my apartment home," I said with a laugh. "I realized, I had done it right after I did. I know it was a bit presumptuous of me, but it did feel right at the time." he said with a smile. "It most certainly did," I said in agreement. Before we got to mushy, Tomas drove up in his truck. I had parked the Toyota at the end of the newly graded driveway. so Tomas pulled in beside me. Since The Brit spoke Spanish, I asked him to translate. Between the two of us we managed to have Tomas move his truck nearer the house site so we could unload the blocks. We made a pile of them about ten feet behind were we hoped to set the container. I called Jerry when I was sure he would be awake. "So Jerry when do you think you will be here?" I asked. "I should be at the convenience store off the highway about 11AM. I am going to have my friend Sammy meet us there with his tractor," Jerry said. "Jerry, if you tear up my container, I'm going to take it out of your ass," I said. "Sylvia trust me, I know what I'm doing," he said. "Famous last words spoken by General Custer to his men," I replied, but I let him go. The Brit had Tomas start the trench for the water line. If I had a Ditch Witch or whatever they call those pipe burying machines we could have made short work of it but we didn't have one. Tomas was digging it by hand. We had to go down two feet to get below the freeze line. It was the depth at which the earth about it would insulate the pipe and prevent the pipe from freezing. When the pipe came up from the earth, we had to do something else. I had decided that even though it would be a little more work I wanted the house back about thirty feel from the road. So Tomas had a lot of digging ahead. But he didn't seem to mind. I expect he was just glad to have the work. I didn't rush him because I wanted to see what his natural pace was. If he worked steady at that shit job, then he had a job till we finished the whole project. If he fucked me then he was gone after we set the house. I wasn't too surprised that he worked at a slow steady pace on the trench. He opened the trench to the stub off from the county water supply and dug back toward the house site. He got about a forth of the way, when I left to go meet Jerry and his friend Sammy. I saw a farm tractor sitting on a trailer attached to a pickup truck. It was all sitting in the very large parking lot of the Convenience store. I parked the Toyota went inside the store for coffee. Since Jerry hadn't arrived I went to the farm tractor. "Hey, you Sammy?" I asked. "Yes Ma'am that's me. You must be Sylvia?" he asked. "Yep," I replied. "Have you ever done this before?" I asked. "A time or two out on the farm, We move and set Tobacco Barns all the time. The are just metal buildings on skids. These are pretty much the same thing." he said. "Why don't you go on out, and brief my friend and the other guy out there helping us?" I suggested. "I can tell you where they are." I gave him detailed directions, then sent him off to coordinate with The Brit. I had complete faith in The Brit, even if I didn't completely trust Sammy and Jerry not to fuck it up. I finished the coffee and started another one when Jerry pulled in. The box was a terrible yellow color. I could not believe, I had not asked about the color. Well I had it now So I might as well learn to love it, or plan to buy paint. "Jerry I need to carry my foreman some coffee, so give me a second and then we will be off," I said. "I got to pee, so you have time," he said. Twenty minutes later we were pulling on the site. I gave The Brit his coffee and we did a quick consultation. In the end Jerry maneuvered the trailer in the spot we had decided. It was a little crooked so he had to redo it moving back and forth for twenty minutes. I finally said, "Fuck it Jerry that is close enough." "It's Okay," the Brit said. "It is pretty straight. Let's begin." He said. The tractor driver positioned his machine at the back of the trailer. He hooked a chain onto the bottom frame of the container and pulled it back. He pulled it about four feet from the trailer and stopped. Then Tomas and The Brit piled blocks up near the corners. The chain was tight on the tractor when the driver said "That's it for me." Jerry pulled his truck and trailer forward sliding the trailer form under the container. When half the container was off the trailer Tomas and the Brit placed blocks and boards under it to match the height of the trailer. Jerry pulled forward more until only about a food rested on the back of the trailer. At that point the guys blocked the container for the last time. Jerry pulled his trailer free. He walked from his truck to where was all stood. "I do believe I completed my delivery as promised," he said with a grin. I removed a wad of hundred dollar bills from my jeans. I peeled off five for Jerry, and one for Sammy. Then I gave Sammy another hundred and said, "You guys go out and have a drink of two on me." When they drove away, I asked the Brit. "Do you think it is too high?" "No you want to be above the ground some. Keep the ground water from damaging it. Also prevents the small animals from rushing the door when you leave it open a few minutes. When Tomas and I level it, the thing will be about twenty inches," The Brit said. "Alright, I'm taking lunch orders what should I get you," I asked. "I'm not all that hungry after that animal fat biscuit. But get me a sandwich of some kind, but just one," He demanded. "Ask Tomas," I said. "Tomas brought his lunch, but he would like an Iced tea," The Brit said. I made the run and came back with the food and drinks. We sat in the open doorway of the container and Tomas sat on a stack of unused blocks. During the meal it was decided that I would rent four house jacks and the two of them would walk the container down to level at twenty inches on the end with the door. But that could wait till Monday morning. Since the next day was Sunday, I had things to do. Tomas took his family to church, he informed me. The Brit promised to tag along with me. So the day came to an end. "Tomas before you leave put the lumber and door you bought into the container. Work a couple of more hours on the trench then we will settle up," I said. The Brit of course made sure he understood. When we were ready to settle up The Brit said, "There was about twenty five dollars left over from the door, and lumber purchase," "Tell Tomas I am paying him for a full day today and half day for yesterday. Make sure that is acceptable with him." I said to The Brit. When it was agreed upon I paid him. "Tell him we start work 8AM. on Monday." He explained it to Tomas and we all parted company at 4PM. When we got home The Brit and I each took a laptop and began looking up things. I was surprised how involved he was in the house. He was looking up sewer stuff, while looked up jewelry making tools. I was trying to find a niche for myself. It was a bit difficult to find a way to hide money making jewelry. The hiding money was my first real concern. I just didn't see how I could do that without spending way too much time manufacturing jewelry. I switched gears I decided I could use my newly acquires skills in jewelry to buy estate jewelry. I could use a lot of gray money, and sell it on line. Even if I just broke even the money would be clean. The plan was to replace the storage locker scam. That one had depended heavily on Mary Ellen and she and I were fighting. I was not planning to do anything with her again. That might change, but at that moment my feeling was to put it simply, fuck her. Since I knew a lot about jewelry and how it was made I thought it might work for me. I planned to run advertisements that would read. 'I buy estate jewelry, at 75% of retail'. It really was a negotiation tactic since I decided what retail was. I would have the people send me a picture on the computer. If it was a lot of 'mom' jewelry, I would send them an offer. They sent the jewelry to me, and I send them a money transfer, which I paid for in some cases with gray money. I figured it would be people who had jewelry, which the local stores refused to buy. Some of them would be people who didn't want to go to a pawn shop, or who had been to one and found the offer too low. The convenience factor might attract some of them. I made no guarantee that I would actually purchase the jewelry. I felt like I could tell enough from the photos to determine whether or not it was worth my efforts. If in doubt pass would be my motto. ------- Chapter 156 "So what do you want to do tonight," I asked. "Do you have any normal friends?" he asked. "What do you mean by normal," I asked. "Friends who live in a house with a white picket fence. A couple of kids in the back yard playing. That kind of friends," He asked. "I lost them all when I left the department to go undercover. I just didn't cultivate them when I came back. Then your Colonel Martin came to drag me off, to do god knows what. The short answer would have been, no I don't." I replied. "Okay where did the ones you had hang out back when you had some?" he asked. "There are a couple of places where my friends from the old days go on a Saturday night," I answered. "Then let's go there," He said. "You want to go to a cop bar?" I asked. "God no, they might have papers on us. How about one of the places you sold your stuff to," he said. "How do you feel about motorcycle bars," I asked. "Lets do it," he said. We did stop for dinner, then we went to the club Monk turned me onto. The Brit and I walked in. The owner and the bartender both knew me. The bartender was a tough ass chick with huge breasts. "Hello there Sylvie," she said. "Hello Gloria, how about a couple of beers," I said. When she put the to beers down, it was accompanied by, "Whose your friend. He is cute." "This ugly bastard is Brit," I said. "Pleased to meet you," she said. "Likewise, I'm sure," The Brit said. "My God Sylvie, he talks fancy," Gloria said. "Yeah he does," I said with a smile. "Talks like a fagot," a biker who was also standing at the bar said. "Wonder how he will explain a fagot putting his greasy ass in the hospital?" The Brit said to me. "I expect he want much like to admit that," I replied. The greasy biker lunged at The Brit who side stepped him and then turned him backwards and wrapped his arm around his throat. He had the other hand on the man's chin. "Now lad, I can brake your fucking neck, or I can turn you loose and you can but me a drink," The Brit explained. During that one minute fight no one had time to make a move, but they suddenly came to life. I drew the .38 and considered who I would shoot first. "Now guys, I suggest we buy these two a drink before the shooting starts." the owner said. It took a full minute but everything did calm down. "No harm done," The Brit said. One of the bikers walk up to the bar. The Brit turned to him. "I got a fully restored Norton WWII motor bike. I'll bet you would love to see that." "Is it for sale," The Brit asked. "No it ain't," the biker said. "Then, I would love to see it. If it was for sale I couldn't look at it." The Brit said with a laugh. "Do you know what I really need. I need a good electrician, who can do some work for me either tomorrow or Monday." "I know one of them too," I can give him a call, if you want. "I would like that very much," Then he turned to me. "It would really be nice to get that settled tonight." Fifteen minutes later the biker with the Norton returned. "Big Mike said he would meet you at your building site tomorrow after church." "I do appreciate that." The Brit said. I'll bring that Norton by there and show it off a little," the biker added. Then he said to me, "Sylvia we don't see near enough of you. Those boys in Dobson were talking about you." "I wouldn't be a bit surprised," I said with a laugh. I had to tell the Brit something, so I added, "They must miss there entertainment." To his credit the Brit didn't need any further explanation. We stayed there for a couple of more beers and some talk about motorcycles, then we went home. Saturday night was a repeat of Friday except I orgasmed while The Brit was in my backside. That was something new and weird, but I didn't tell him that. The next morning I left him faking sleep just as the previous day. I rode the bike till seven thirty then pulled into the drive. I parked the bike beside the garage. I got to watch The Brit run up the drive from the street. He came very quickly for a man his size. "So what you planning for today," he said. "Well I was going to do laundry, but now I have to meet the electrician at 1PM," I said. "No you don't, I can meet him. You want regular house type wiring with an outlet every few feet. You want two overhead lights. One at each end of the box." The Brit said. "No wiring on the back wall That is where the plumbing fixture go. I don't want to mix electricity with water under any circumstances." I said. "Okay I have this covered. You have to learn to trust people to do some things for you Sylvia." he said. "Okay you take care of the wiring, and I'll wash your dirty clothes," I said. Sunday night we ate out and nothing happened. The fact that nothing sexual happened was more than alright with me. My butt hurt and I felt like I needed to go, all day long. Hell I had felt that way for two days in a row. We did sleep together, but it wasn't sexual. I saw a two by four, with wires attached.extending from the ground on Monday morning.when we arrived at the site. "What the fuck is that," I asked. "That is a saw service, I think Big Mike called it. He said he can't do the wiring till the walls are framed in. We have some neat things planned for that, but we need power for saws." The Brit informed me. "Oh yeah you owe me two hundred dollars for the saw service. I know you would hate to owe me anything." Tomas arrived and handed me a receipt from the Home Depot for $18. He had stopped there to get some lag bolts and washers. It was to bolt the Studs to the walls, according to The Brit. Tomas did not return to the trenching at all that day. He and the Brit drilled holes and bolted wall studs to the sides of the box. They did that only after they had lowered the box. It was a hell of a day's work. I was going nuts from the sounds of all that Spanish. I just hated not knowing what the hell they were talking about. "At 4PM I gave Tomas $125 dollars. "The extra $7 is for the gas," I explained. He and The Brit talked one last time then Tomas left. "You are going to have to go with him in the morning. To the home depot. He is going to buy the plumbing fixture. He doesn't want to be responsible. Big Mike is going to come tomorrow morning to install the wiring, breaker box and the meter base. Then we will be ready for regular service from the regional power company," I could tell The Brit was really getting off on the building thing. Putting something together for a change, instead of blowing it up, seemed to agree with him. "So what are you going to do about windows. We can remove any of this framing and add windows," The Brit informed me. "Yes I want windows. Not too many just a couple anyway. A small one over the toilet back here," I showed The Brit. "Then one on the front side. It has to be big enough to use as an emergency exit." The Brit just smiled at me, when he nodded his head. After Tomas left on Monday The Brit and I did some things. Mostly just finished up thing Tomas and The Brit had started. It was six when we left. "Let's go to that place where they fix barbecue again," The Brit suggested. "Sure," I said smiling. He was about to get converted, foreigners always did. We didn't sleep together that night either. Tomas and I went first thing Tuesday and bought a fiberglass shower stall complete and ready to attach to plumbing pipes. Then we picked out a toilet that was a water saver and would fit against the same end of the box. I planed to one in each corner. Between them there should be enough room for sink which was a large plastic janitor sink. I planned to up grade to a better one later. With the necessary things to make it all work and two lighting fixtures it came to almost $500. I didn't mind to much except that I had to use real money. I got back in time to pay Big Mike for the electrical service. I had paid him over $500 dollars before he was finished. That seemed to be a magic number on Tuesday. I didn't really bother me too much since I could actually see progress being made. We made a small change and had ceiling fans instead of light fixtures installed. They came with light fixtures anyway. "You need to bring a lot more money tomorrow," The Brit said with a smile. "Can I ask how much and why." I demanded. "Because tomorrow the representative for the sewage holding tank company will be here," he said. "Shit Brit, its only Tuesday and I have laid out over a thousand dollars," I said. "I'm going with Tomas to get the insulation, so don't be surprised at how much you have to give me up front.' he said with a big grin. "Maybe I should let you pay for some of this shit," I said. "Bullshit, you don't want to be beholding to me or anyone else," he said. "Yeah right," I said it with a smile. I happened to be standing where I could see how they had used the lag bolts to make the wooden framework. They had drilled a quarter inch hole in the outside wall and run a lag bolt into the two by four. Tomas had used a rubber washer, as well as the head of the lag bolt, to make the connection water tight. The lag bolts were galvanized, so they wouldn't rust. He and the Brit were doing things right. The Brit and I didn't have sex that night either. I didn't really know what was wrong but I was sure there was something. Outside the apartment he was very comfortable with me, but he was uneasy in the apartment. I don't think he was comfortable with any kind of relationship more than just friendship. I cared enough about him not to push it, just to fill my needs. Since the apartment was so small he did have to watch me masturbate while chatting on the computer. He didn't say whether he approved or not. The next day after my bike ride in the misty rain, I managed a bath before The Brit got back. We bought takeout biscuits and coffee, then drove to the site of my house. I gave him $300 for insulation and off he went with Tomas. They were hardly out of the drive when the salesman for the sewage tank company came. His pitch was based on the tank for a family of four. He had one the right size to require pumping about every three months. There was an full alarm built into the tank. Which was buried in the ground at least ten feet away. That tank was $1850 complete. I paid him with the last of the gray money. I didn't need to clean it after all. I knew I had just put the jewelry business on hold till I decided about the next year. After the salesman left I drove to the plaza and stole the coffee shop's WIFI to do some research. I knew what I was going to do. in order to make that system more efficient. When I got back to the construction site, I found The Brit and Tomas putting up insulation. "Tomas and I talked about the interior walls. Drywall will get ruined if we try to move it around in this weather. But the interior walls are the next move. We can't do the plumbing till we get the walls up." "It's only eight feet on the back wall and you would need to go four feet up each side wall so four sheets of material," I said. "Yeah but four will get as wet as twenty," He said. "How about we use a laminated pressed board. They still make them don't they?" I asked. The Brit said something to Tomas who nodded his head. "Well we have a winner. We can get enough of that shit for the back wall and four feet up each side then set the fixtures. Tomas has some pretty good ideas how to do that as well." "Since they say it is going to rain like a bitch tomorrow, we should get the stuff right now. We can work on the wall covering and the fixtures first thing tomorrow." The Brit said. ------- Chapter 157 Brit and Tomas went to home depot at the plaza again. They probably knew all the cashiers by name. They bought the four pieces of pressed board and wrapped them with a plastic tarp which I paid for as well. They were back before the four o'clock deadline. The best they could do was push the board into the house before I paid Tomas for the day. After he had gone The Brit asked me, "How do you feel about hanging this shit. It will be a damn sight easier before it starts to pour rain. "I'll give it a try as long as you hold the nails for me to hit with the hammer," I held up my club hand. "Tell you what, you hold the boards in place I'll attach it to the wall." The Brit said. He put something called liquid nail on the studs before we started. Then while I held them in place, he ran screw with little plastic medallions into the wood frame they had installed earlier. It seemed that it only took minutes to apply the wall board. It actually took an hour but the time flew by. Wanna see how your bathroom is going to look" he asked me. I helped him work the flimsy fiberglass shower into place. Once we pressed to two walls into the corner and anchored them. It made the shower more stable. "Tomorrow we will attach it with more of those screws with those plastic things. That should hold it pretty good, We will have to frame that one side that is loose." The plastic sink was very easy to set in place it weighed nothing. Now the toilet was a problem but we managed to sit it in the rear corner of the container. When we stepped back, it looked really good. It was a nice fit and it took up the whole eight foot rear wall. The day ended on an upbeat note. On the way home I bought two baking potatoes, which were huge, and 'fixins' packs from the deli in the store. I put the potatoes in the microwave and baked them, sorta. The package of 'fixins' contained sour cream, chives, and bacon bits. We ate the hot as hell, potatoes drank diet coke and laughed. When it was good and dark The Brit asked, "Are you going to chat and masturbate again?" "I won't, if you would rather I didn't," I said. "Actually I would rather you did. While you to that I think I will go to a site I use on line," he said. I guess, I was a little surprised, but by then I didn't really mind. The Brit was like a big brother by that time. Even though we each did our own thing, we slept together. Well in the same bed anyway. I enjoyed the steady breathing next to me, I have no idea what he enjoyed, but obviously there was something. It was raining hard the next day. Everybody canceled everything, including me and the bike ride. Even the hard ass Brit said, "Fuck it," and rolled over to sleep an extra hour. After that hour I went to the drive through at Hardee's for biscuits. We quickly ran to the box and jumped in. It was our first chance to check it for leaks. There were none, for that I was grateful. Tomas showed up right on time. I was glad though I doubted we would have enough to keep him busy for the day. He started right away to set the plumbing fixtures. He had them set by noon. He asked if he could work inside building frames for them. I expected it was to get enough time so he could get paid for a full day. I said sure, having no idea what he would do. Tomas built a false wall beside the shower stall to made it sturdy. Then he build a frame around the sink to make it stronger. He told Brit that he could buy some shutter doors for the front. He and The Brit had cut holes in the floor for the drains of the sink toilet and shower which Tomas set. Tomas had purchased all the material when we bought the fixtures. The last thing Tomas and Brit did was to change layouts for the windows. He based the new layouts on measurements The Brit had picked up off the net. Tomas ran totally out of materials by 3PM, but I paid him for the full day. The weather was supposed to be good the next days. Just to be safe, I paid him to pick up the thin white pressed board laminate for the rest of the place. The bath laminate had blue flowers on a while field, so I had him get solid white for the rest of the place. He was also going to buy two different widths of wood shelf boards. I had no idea what they were for, but Bret said to trust them both, so I did. After Tomas left the Brit and I sat on some building material and looked out the door of the container. I didn't let them install the sliding door so it was just a big hole with the two metal doors open. The unhung door had to be taken out of the container every day to make room to work. Since it was raining we had left it in that day and worked around it. It was still in its box and leaning against the wall, so it make a good back rest. "I want some coffee. We should go," I said. "I called Colonel Martin," The Brit said out of the blue. "Are you tired of this place already?" I asked a little sadly. "Not at all. I asked if he would put me on the contractors list. I would be like you, Helen, and half a dozen others." He said. "You will lose your monthly salary," I said. "I have some saved, I think I will invest in a business. Something that leaves me time to do other things," he said. "Like work for Swamp Dog?" I asked. "Yes like that, and maybe some other things as well," he said. "Well, if you and Tomas decide to go into business, I'm sure there will be buyers for these things, after I get this one in the papers," I said laughing. "You just never know what I might do. Anyway I have to go back to the swamp to get my things. I have very little there. I think I will drive the company car back and get my car and the small amount of personal gear. So I'm going to look for a place like your apartment." It was a broad hint and I knew it. "Did you charm the landlady?" I asked. "I did and she can't wait for you to leave," he said laughing. "The old hag hates me," I said laughing as well. "She only rents to me, because her son makes her. You can do, what he thinks I can do, much better." "Then you don't mind, if I take it?" he asked. "Not if I can stay till this is finished," I smiled at him. "Of course you can," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "Okay, you told me the news, lets go get some coffee," I said. We sat in Hardee's parking lot to drink the coffee, Then we went to the grocery store. I bought two of those new and really good frozen meals for the microwave. My freezer was to small to store two so I couldn't keep enough on hand for company. I bought two of the spaghetti dinners and a loaf of French bread for garlic toast. When I looked up from the cashier, I saw The Brit behind me with a bottle of wine. When we got home, I microwaved the frozen dinners and broiled the toast in the oven. The Brit and I ate dinner and drank the wine. It was actually quite a nice evening. We managed to stay dry by staying home. We were getting to be quite the old fogies. We had sex that night but mostly it was me giving him head. I did not mind at all. I rather enjoyed it. I took his cock up my back side quite easily. I wasn't sure that I was leaning to like it, but I could tolerated it much better. I could tell he was still pretending I was a man, and that bothered me a little. Not enough to stop sleeping with him though. The next day was dry but windy. The Brit left before sunrise to return the SUV and pick up his car. So I rode the bike two hours and rushed to meet Tomas. I was anxious to see how well he spoke English. I was surprised to find that he was slow but quite competent in English. He and I hung the wall boards which took a couple of hours. Then he went under the box to stub off the drain line from the toilet. I helped him run the gray water line to the filter and then to build a dispersal field. It wasn't hard since it was only twenty feet of underground pipe. The shower might run into a problem but if it did I would get more pipe added. The toilet was the only think in my system that had to run to the storage tank. That should at least double the time between pumping. Since I had ordered a tank for a family of four, I expect to only pump it twice a year. Anyway I knew I had done all I could, so screw it. On the second day without The Brit we frame up and cut out the window hole. We added the window and secured it lightly so that I could push it out. The window also had plastic panes not glass. Yes it was to be my rear emergency exit. Unlike most people I built it like I meant to use it. I probably would have to one day. Without being told Tomas went back to work digging the trench. He managed only a few feet before quitting time. I paid him up to the end of the day. I told him that we would be laying flooring the next day. I asked him to meet me at Home Depot to help me decide what to use. I think he was happy I didn't plan to make him dig that trench all the next day. I had no idea if The Brit would be back that night, or the next day or later than that even. There was just no way to tell, he hadn't bothered to confide in me. But he would be telling the Colonel that the bugging of my place had nothing to do with Swamp Dog. That could be either a good thing or a not so good thing. On the way home I had stopped to pick up a frozen dinner. I really didn't feel like going out. To be perfectly honest I missed The Brit. I would never tell him that, but it was true. I also spent a fairly sleepless night. Even so I rode my two wheeler the full two hours. The home depot was out at the plaza so it was only a little past the country road with the building site. I was there first and I went looking for flooring. When I saw Tomas I had to ask. "Tomas can you lay stone flooring tiles." "Yes Miss Sylvia I can. I have done it often," he said. I did not want to spend that kind of money on the floor. I almost did it because they were beautiful. In the end I bought a black and while industrial looking tile. It was a rubber based tile, rather than stone. It was also a fraction of the price. We loaded the twenty boxes of tile in Tomas's pickup and one can of mastic. I gave him the key to the metal doors to start unloading while I got coffee and breakfast. He said not to bother for him, he always ate with his children. I was jealous of that. ------- Chapter 158 When I got to the house, and it was becoming a house, first thing I did was ask, "So after we lay the tile how long before we can walk on it." "At least five hours," he said. "How long will it take you to lay it?" I asked. "No more that three hours," he said. "So we want to start about noon with the floor and leave it over night to set up?" I suggested. "Yes Ma'am that would be good," Tomas said. "There is no need to put tile under the built in items so lets work on those till noon," I suggested. "Very good," Tomas said. I could tell he was relived not to be digging the trench to the container. I decided to build cabinets along the wall with the window. Then I wanted storage shelves on the wall across from the window. In my mind I had allotted four feet to the bathroom area, eight feet to the kitchen area, and twelve feet to the living room bed room area. The extra foot would be taken up by the thickness of the bathroom divider. There were no real interior walls to build but I did want room dividers/shelving units in the bathroom area. I wanted twenty inch wide units on either side of the box. On the bathroom side it would be open with shelves, and have wallboard on the kitchen side. The shelves needed to be at least eight inches. We already had the lumber, since we had bought it with the tile. Tomas built the two room divider storage units in place. I had most of the spaces between the shelves set at approx one foot. The very top shelves and the lowest shelves were two feet each. The units were the same on either side of the box. Tomas had to remove the screws from the wallboard joints in the bathroom wall to secure the dividers to them. He also secured them to the metal floor of the unit. He did an excellent job. He finished the building an hour before we were to start on the floor. He could spend the hour on the center kitchen area and do a little, but I really couldn't see the advantage in it. "Tomas, let's break early for lunch. I need a break." I said so he wouldn't feel bad about it. I also needed to decide how I wanted the kitchen cabinetry to look. I decided over lunch to make the cabinets under the window the work space and the ones on the other side my dining area. In order to get more walk space in the kitchen area I decide to make the counter top on the work station eighteen inches wide and the one on the dining counter twenty inches. I left the amount of wood and sizes up to Tomas. I would rather have had The Brit figure it out but I just knew what I wanted. I wanted closed cabinetry at the work station and open storage above the dining counter. Since we had to have everything out of the box to put down the floor I held off buying anymore materials. After I finished my lunch I said to Tomas, "Well as soon as we finish the floor, we will call it a day." He was agreeable since I always paid him for a full day, whenever I called the day over. We had some lumber scraps and the door, which we slipped under the box. Her and I covered it with the plastic tarp. Then we laid the tile in a black and white checkerboard pattern. When we finished the place really looked like a house. Not a finished one, but it looked more like a house than a storage container. I drove to my apartment and waited to see if The Brit would be home in time for dinner. When he didn't show, I made a pot pie in the microwave. I emailed him, but he didn't answer. I was beginning to worry, when I saw the headlight of a car pulled into the drive. It was him and he had several boxes. I went down to unlock the garage. The garage came with a small area where I was allowed to store my stuff. It was the area I stored the last of the shine, it was also pretty much full. "God I am glad to see you," it came out sounding like a lover. I was sorry instantly. "I'm glad to see you too," he said more casually. "So I have a few more boxes in the boot of the car." "I will have to find room for them upstairs. There is not enough room in the garage for it all." I said. "Not to worry love the old lady inside loves me. I can use the extra space where her old car is stored." he said with a smile. "That's fine with me, I won't be here much longer," I said. "I could get the power turned on tomorrow and be in there if the sewage holding tank was set and the water line run." "We have only two more days this week so let's get it all done," he said with a grin. "You want to get rid of me that bad," I said. "Well to be honest, Jeremy is coming tomorrow," he said looking hard for my reaction. There it was then. No matter how much I pretended, I was never going to be a man. It also explained why he hadn't answered the phone. It wasn't the kind of news your brother would drop on you over the phone. Oh well I supposed that not being able to pose as a man was a good thing. "Have you eaten?" I asked. "I stopped on the way up," he said. "Well how about a spot of tea then," I said trying to keep it light. "Yes I could go for a cuppa," he said. "Sylvia you did know it wouldn't work between us?" "Of course I knew. I might have been a little hopeful, but I always knew." I said sadly. "Now let's go make the coffee and tea big brother." That night I slept on the bed and he slept on the floor. I expect he didn't want to be unfaithful, while he waited that one night. I was up at five and out on the bike. I rode with a vengeance and covered more ground than usual on my two hour ride. I was in the tub when The Brit returned from his riun. He brought one of my two chairs from the kitchen. I knew it was bad when he spoke. "Sylvia I need you to do me a favor." he said. "Don't worry hon I won't tell Jeremy you screwed me." I wasn't smiling when I said it, even though I tried. "Thanks but that isn't all I have to ask, you not to tell Jeremy. He has no idea what Swamp Dog does. He thinks I sell gym lockers," The Brit said. "Have you told him anything that is true," I asked. "Not really, We meet mostly in rustic bed and breakfasts when I can. I lived in the compound, so this is going to be difficult to explain to him." he said. "So what does this Jeremy do?" I asked. "He is a commercial artist. He has a few clients, but he lived with his mum." he explained. "The two of you are going to live here," I asked. "For a while. We are going to try it out for a bit to see how it works." he said. "Well you know more about logistics than I do. So have at it, but I really need to get the house finished then." I admitted. "Yes and I can help you. What do you need most?" he asked. "I think if I get the power turned on and that damn septic holding tank in and hooked up, and the water line run, I can live in it. The rest Tomas and I can finish while you do that," I said. "You will have the tank in today, after all they did promise by the end of the week, and it is the end of the week tomorrow," he said. "I really haven't had time to check up on them. I didn't realize I had to do it all by the end of work tomorrow." I said. "Don't worry together you and I are pretty persuasive. Jeremy and I can help you finish up with it," he promised. I quickly threw on a camo tee shirt and green cargo pants. I drove to the plaza where I met with Tomas at the home depot. I paid them almost four hundred bucks for the rest of the lumber to finish all the cabinets and counter tops. When I left the store I drove to the box. The man from the power company arrived while we were talking about the 'eat on' counter top to be attached on the wall. In order to get full use of the space the cabinets on that side had to be only tree feet tall, and hang from the ceiling. So Tomas built the frame for it and then I held it in place while he screwed it to the wall. He was adding the shelves, when someone shouted in through the open end doors. "Hey I'm here to hook up your power. I'm going to put the meter in place and turn you on. Should, 't take but a few minutes," he informed me. "You going to have to set a pole," I asked. "No ma'am we are going to run it underground," he said. "Do you have a trenching machine?" I asked. "Yes it buries the cable," He said. "I don't suppose you would run a little extra trench for a hundred bucks," I asked. "I could lose my job, if anyone found out," he said. "You see that trench from the road," I said. "I need it finished up to the side of the house, I'll give you a hundred and fifty cash." I said. "I'm sorry ma'am, I just can't." he said. I nodded and that was the end of it. I figured I would make the sewage tank installer the same offer and see what happened. If it didn't work out, I would have Tomas finish it the next day. Slightly before noon the trucks and heavy equipment arrived to put in the tank. They dug the hole, then installed the tank. They also ran ten feet of drain line to the box and hooked to the outlet of the toilet. Then I made them the hundred dollar offer, to dig the last of the waterline. The had a the tiny shovel back hoe which was run by the operator walking being with a remote control box like a model airplane. "Make it two, if I don't share with Luke he will tell the boss." the operator said. I agreed just because I needed it done right away. It was agreed he would wait while we unrolled the water line then bury the most of it. The black plastic pipe had laid under the box since day one. Tomas stopped what he was doing and hooked to the supply line at the street, then unrolled it up to The house. The trencher operator buried it and we were good to go. The inspector was called and promised to be out and check it all before we could cover the connections up. The contractor had covered the holding tank all but the trap and connection. He left us to cover that in after the inspection. Tomas stayed till five finishing up the interior cabinetry. There was a lot of raw wood left but I planned to finish it myself, someday. The last thing was the sliding door at the front. The door was a security night mare but we installed it anyway. Tomas left me a small piece of trim cut to length to put in the track to secure the door while I was in the house. He left the outside door on the container so that I could close them over the sliding door and lock the box should I go out of town for an extended time. I paid him a hundred dollar bonus just to make sure I had covered all his out of pocket expenses. His final act was to place a set of factory built concrete steps on at the new front door. We agreed that he would come back in a couple of weeks to build me a deck on the front. Enough had been done for me to move in on the same day Jeremy arrived. I made no effort to be out of the apartment before he arrived. I planned to have him help move me the next day. We might not be sleeping together, but he was damn sure going to know that I had a claim on The Brit. ------- Chapter 159 The Brit and I spent our last night together sleeping alone only a few feet apart. It was five when I awoke on the Saturday. I knew I never had him, but it sure felt like I was losing a lover. I looked at him faking being asleep and just left the room. I was pretty unhappy as I rode the two wheeler along the dark roads for two hours. I stayed off the busy roads until the sun came up. Finally the two hours was done. I was in no hurry to do anything, so I stopped at Hardee's and went inside. There weren't any deputies inside. but there were two highway patrolmen. I recognized them but not as friends. I had seen them before, but I sat alone. It just sucked to be eating alone again. I spilled the coffee on the table and said aloud but under my breath, "Cocksucker." Yeah I was frustrated, and any first year psych student will tell you. Frustration leads to aggression. Yeah I admit that I was looking for trouble. I wanted to get it out of my system, before I met Jeremy. I called The Brit. "Hey what you doing now?" I asked. "I'm sitting in a tub of hot water. So what do you need?" he asked. "I'm at Hardee's and just finished breakfast. How about you come out to the house and give me a ride back. I would like to leave the bike out here." I said. "Have you got a lock for it?" he asked. "Nobody will steal it while I go back and forth. I have a chain and lock for it, but I left them at the apartment." I had always locked it to a porch post at the apartment. Nobody ever bothered it there. I wasn't expecting anyone to even know I had a bike hidden behind the shipping crate. "Okay give me a few minutes to dress," he said. I went over to open the house. I left the bike leaning against the rear of the house. When I went inside, I noticed it had a definite chill about it. The apartment hadn't had that much chill when I left. Sometime during the night the apartment's furnace must have come on. The house had no heat source and it was noticeable. For the time being I planned to use a couple of electric ceramic portable furnaces. I could pick them up for about a thousand dollars cheaper than a furnace. We had installed three 20 amp circuits with that kind of flexibility in mind. Houses use 15amp circuits normally. Three separate circuits in a building the size of the container was unusual enough. It was especially unusual that they be 20 amp ones. I sat in the chilly house waiting for The Brit. I knew the first stop of the day would be Walmart for heaters. They should be on sale right now, since it was summer. Of course there might not be any available either. The Brit pulled up and handed me a coffee cup. "Thought you might want this," he said. "Thanks, but I'm not over feeling hurt, you know," I said honestly. "Yeah, believe me I know. But even if it's a brother sister relationship, it's better than losing you completely," he said. "Yea but I never let my brother butt fuck me," I said with a laugh. "God that sounds so disgusting," The Brit said with a laugh as well. I didn't even go into the apartment, I just got my car and went to Walmart. I bought two small ceramic heaters first thing. I rolled the cart over to were the twenty inch box fans sat. I put one of them in the buggy as well. I would make the decision later to buy an air condition, if I needed one. I was pretty sure I would need one. I was about to check out, when I saw the appliances. I took a look at their smallest refrigerator. The smallest one they had wasn't really all that small. We had left three feet at the end of the 'eat on' counter for the refrigerator. So I was good for most any size. I decided to go to the home depot store for a look before I committed to anything at all. I didn't need one immediately. but very soon I would. Like the first of the next week which was about the soonest I could get it delivered anyway. I dropped off my purchases, then went back to the apartment to see what the plan was to be. When I got there, I noticed that it was almost noon. Damn, I thought where had the morning gone. The Brit sat on my sofa watching TV. He looked nervous. "So Brit how about the coffee maker, Do you want me to leave the big one? It works fine. I just don't use it any more." "If you are going to toss it anyway, leave it," he said. "Okay, would you help me carry the Microwave down to the car. Then I'll clean out the refrigerator and get the dishes and stuff." I really had no idea how much crap I had accumulated. I filled the car with just kitchen stuff. It was three when I got back from unloading it at the house. It took me two trips to carry the storage boxes. We didn't unload them before putting them into my small Toyota. The Brit didn't want to leave the apartment since he wasn't sure when Jeremy would arrive. Without a truck it took me six trips to do what I could have done with one, if I had a pickup. When I went back after dark for a load of shine, Jeremy had arrived. He was a very effeminate young man of about twenty-five or so. He seemed to be very sweet and he even helped me fill my car with the last of my possessions except the trike. "Hey Brit, can I leave the trike till tomorrow?" I asked. "Sure why not sell it to me," he asked. "Go have one built for yourself," I said. "I am sure you would get a better price than me," he said with a grin. I had a comment on the tip of my tongue, but I didn't let it out. I took the last of the apartment stuff to the house. Even though I was exhausted, I soldiered on and put things pretty much in their place. It was bedtime when I finished. I made a bed from the sofa and fell onto it. When I awoke Sunday morning I was starved. The restaurant didn't open till six, so I took the bike out for a ride. It was a hell of a lot different riding in the country instead of the city. There weren't too many animals traveling at night around the city. Even the small town wasn't filled with wild animals. Squirrels were mostly what I saw crossing the street in town. That Sunday morning a deer crossed in front of me. The near collision put me on guard for the rest of the ride. If I had hit that deer I could have gotten hurt for sure. I made it to the plaza in time for breakfast with the night shift highway patrol. I ordered my food then sat down a few tables away from them. One off the officers seemed to almost recognize me, but it was obvious that he wasn't sure. We both just looked at each other and smiled. After breakfast I went grocery shopping. I wanted to eat in more now that I had the place farther from town. I still tended to gravitate to the prepackaged meals. I did not have a freezer for them. I did buy a fresh box of cereal since the stuff I had on hand had lost it snap crackle and pop. I wanted a refrigerator even more when I left the store. I had the microwave, and the one cup coffee maker sitting on the counter. Even so I had a heck of a lot more space there. I wanted a toaster oven because you can't make toast in a microwave. So I bought a cute one that would take about a four inch pan and still not burn it up. Finally I bought a convection single burner unit, I could do a lot with that, I knew. I bought all that shit because I wanted to make the spaghetti frozen dinner with French garlic bread. I couldn't because I did have the ability to keep a frozen meal. I decided them that the first store to be able to deliver the refrigerator would get my money. I remembered that I didn't have cable that evening, when I tried to watch TV. I also didn't have any Internet service. I rode to the Plaza after dinner to pirate a wifi signal. I checked my email and found it was all advertisements, like the penis enlargement pills and discounts on Viagra. I decided to pass on those. I got into bed and tried to sleep while bored as hell. I lay in bed thinking about the house. I realized that I had well under fifty grand in it. I liked mostly that it was paid for completely. I wouldn't even have the apartment rent to pay, which had been very affordable, but nothing at all was even better. When I finished with my present project, I would be well able to live within the constraints of my pension. Not having to work, didn't mean I would be able to not work. As the Brit said, we were danger junkies. I would drive a car at 200 mph, if I didn't have something like Swamp Dog in my life. It was nice to do some good while you risk everything, but it was the risk that really had us do it, not the good, in and off itself. I mean I could be a foster mom to do good, if that was really what it was all about. I had the house finished and I had The Brit and his Friend Jeremy to hang out with when I wanted, but it wasn't enough. I needed to put it all on the line. I really needed to do something dangerous. Something that I had some control over. Something I could take off the shelf and use to satiate my need for a rush, but then put it back on the shelf till needed it again. Unfortunately I couldn't think of a single thing I could control that way. I finally fell asleep. I enjoyed my new house and spent a lot of time working on it. I couldn't build anything, but I could decorate and furnish one quite well. After a few days passed I had it complete and I wanted to show it off. I convinced The Brit to come out and bring Jeremy with him. T "So how do you like County Seat," I asked Jeremy. "I really haven't been out of the apartment enough to form an opinion. It is quaint looking, but I'm sure there is more than meets the eye here." "Isn't that always the case," I said. "Yes," Jeremy said simply. "So Jeremy how to you like the little house," The Brit asked. "Well Allen, I think it would make a great apartment in downtown New York or Chicago but I'm not sure as a house in County Seat it works," he said. "You might have wanted to wait till I wasn't around before you said that," I said laughing. "I'm sorry Sylvia, he really isn't a diplomat is he?" The Brit said. I didn't think of him as Allen, since I doubted it was his real name. "It's okay. Small footprint houses aren't for everyone. That being said answer me this Jeremy, how are you finding the apartment?" I asked. "It really is too small for a commercial artist. There is no work space at all in there," he said. I knew that I was stirring up trouble but I honestly didn't care. "Well if you can afford it, I'm sure there is plenty of studio space downtown." I said. "Well I'm pretty far from my client base, but I think I can make it work. I do a hell of a lot of computer networking. I'm going to give it one hell of a try," he said. "Good for you," I said. I secretly was encouraged by his personality. If that didn't wear thin, then The Brit was hopeless. Okay that was bitchy. ------- Chapter 160 The days went by fast, while I finished making the house livable. I contracted a down on his luck mason to underpin the box/house. Then I had Tomas add the deck that went from the door around and took up half of the front. It was a lot of deck for sure. That, and the small awning I had installed over the door, completed the outside for the rest of the summer. The refrigerator and a two gallon stainless steel water tank which I set on the counter completed my purchases. I did arrange for a phone to be installed. I also bought my Internet through them as well. I furnished my own wireless router, as I had previously done. So it wasn't too bad. Since Cable was not available, I watched TV shows on line the next day. I was thrilled with seeing them at my convenience anyway. Of course after I completed work on the house I was bored. The Brit was busy with Jeremy, so I was left to my own devices. I wasn't really ready to move past the Brit. I wasn't sitting home lovesick thinking about him, I just wasn't ready for any new involvement. I walked up to my storage building, which was about a hundred yards from my house. When I opened that building I was a little surprised to find everything just as I left it. It was absolutely ready to start mixing. I didn't want to mix anything, but it was all there, and I was there looking at it. I shook my head and was ready to walked away from it. I did make the decision to clean it out and then use if for storage. I had a few bottles of punch and a few bottles of water and many empty water bottles. The fruit punch was too sweet for me to sit and drink, but I could use it for mixer at home. The bottles of water I carried to the house and emptied them into the water tank on the cook station. The empty water bottles I drove to the dumpsters that the county supplied for its residents to deposit our trash. There I dumped the bottles into the recycle container... I was determined to use the storage space for some kind of money making venture, I would like it to be legal or a least bullet proof illegal. I started to run down things I wasn't going to get into. Number one was forgery or counterfeiting. I was too shaky for either of those. Fraud was out of the question. I couldn't handle the constant lying to people. Besides I wasn't the sales person type. It was going to be manufacturing something that sold itself. Everything kept pointing me back to making liquor. I really didn't want to do it, but I was so bored. I was saved by a call from 'Karl the Killer', "Hello Sylvia, do you know who this is," he asked. "Karl," I said. "Right you are. We have a little job. You could help us out with," he said. "It is completely on the four square." "How long, when do I start, and lastly what do I have to do?" I asked. "Do you really care any of those?" he asked. "I guess not to be honest. I have no were to be, and nothing special to do for the rest of my life," I said. "I'll be there in a few minutes then," he said. "What, you are here?" I asked. "Yes, I was pretty sure you would be in. You are part of this thing now, believe it or not." Karl said. "What about my melt down last time," I said. "Well we have you on a modified job description," he said. "Oh?" I asked. "I think I will wait to discuss it with you, face to face," he said... "We do need to discuss it, but not for this job. This is a straight up bodyguard gig. Only three and a half days." I had to wait ten minutes for him to arrive. When he did he held a large coffee still steaming. It was from the coffee shop, whose WIFI I stole now and then. I let him into the little house. He looked around standing in what I used as a living room, bedroom, and office. "Nice," he said. "If this is going to be another one of those insurance things, I'm really not interested." I said. "This one is a scientist speaking at a conference on the methods of eradicating illegal Marijuana. Her university is afraid she will be in danger while she is in Mexico." Karl said. "Do you think?" I asked sarcastically. "It's more than just a tourist thing, she is going to give a lecture on how to eradicate pot. They think she might be a target. American police or soldiers can not carry guns down there." "Outlaw guns and only Outlaws will have guns," I said sarcastically again. "So, they want us to stay with her. You know take one for the team kind of thing," he said. "Fuck that, I would rather the guys on the other side take one for the team," I said. "So we can carry guns right?" I asked. "No we can't get a permit to carry a gun, That's why we thought of you," Karl said. "Karl honey a toothbrush shank, really isn't going to cut it against a man with an AK47," I said. "The Mexican counter narcotics squad is protecting her. They are the best cops down there," he said. "Karl what help are we going to get from our government, if we get killed protecting one of ours?" I asked. "Why are you really going to care, if you are dead," he asked. "Good point, okay I'm in," I said. "I knew you would be. We are taking a team, These people are serious about keeping her alive. If she gets killed by narco terrorist, it will give the war on drugs another black eye." He said seriously. "Yeah that war is one we are winning, right," I said. "So why do you want me along? So I can go to the bathroom with her." "She is insisting on taking her 15 year old daughter. It's supposed to be a cultural event for her. You get to be her nanny for a couple of days, and get paid a shit pot full of money for it. "Nanny my ass," I said angrily. "Look her mother insists we not send some musclebound guy to guard her precious daughter. So we are going to send you," Karl said. I looked at him and shook my head. "So are we flying commercial," I asked. "Yes, but a couple of team members have already left, They went ahead by car. They will be meeting us there with our tools," he said. "You realize that mine has to be something very small?" I asked. "Yes, this isn't our first bullfight, Sylvia," Karl said to me. "Right, but have you ever baby sat a fifteen year old. She might try to have me helping her get laid," I said. "In that case you ask her mother, is that part of the cultural exchange she had in mind, Before you help her get have a wild night." Karl said. "And if mom say, 'Whatever'" I asked. "Then it's whatever, just as long as she gets home alive," Karl suggested. "How much time do I have to get ready," I asked. "Pack one bag with no weapons. Carry no weapons on your person, that you can't leave in the trashcan at the gate," Karl said. "I understand so how long?" I asked. "When I finish this cup of coffee, we are leaving. Even if I have to drag you out," he said. "I would really like to see that," I said but I opened the duffel bag and put in enough clothes for the trip. Karl drove to the grass strip via downtown County Seat. Anyone else from here going?" I asked. "Yeah your partner in this attempt to turn boring into an art form." he said. "You do know that made no sense," I said. "I'm the boss on this trip, I don't have to make sense," Karl said. I kept quiet when he parked in front of the Cafe on the Square. He got out and went into the cafe. A few minutes later he came out with the Brit in tow. "Imagine bumping into you here." I said to the Brit. "We really do have to stop meeting like this," the Brit said. "Yes we do, people will talk," I said with a smile. I wanted him to know I wasn't going to say anything. "God I feel the love," Karl said. "Yes you do," The Brit said. "If you two have something on, put it aside till this is over. Then you can swap bodily fluids all you want." Karl said. "Are you jealous Karl?" I asked. "Of course," he said sarcastically. It seemed I wasn't the only one who was going to deal in sarcasm this trip. "Now, we are going to the grass strip and catch a plane to Douglas airport in Charlotte. We change planes in Dallas for Mexico City. In Dallas we meet the Mrs. Dixon and her daughter Wendy. We will fly to Mexico City with them. At the airport in Mexico City we will meet the rest of our team." he said. "Karl, I am so proud of you honey," I said. He looked at me questioningly, so I went on. "You said Mrs Dixon and her daughter Wendy without laughing." "Why would I laugh," he asked. "If I ever heard of a Nerd name, it would have to be Wendy Dixon." I said. "Just to get you up to speed. The narco terrorist will grab nerd Wendy, if they get a chance. If for no other reason than to thumb their nose at us." Karl said. "They will be sure to leave her body where her mom, and the US government, will be sure to find it. When we got on the small plane, we found the two rear jump seats, The Brit and I occupied them while facing each other. Karl and the pilot sat in two more or less normal seats facing forward. "I hope you checked this plane. If it goes down in the national forest and I survive, I'm going to eat your ass without wine," I said to the pilot as he taxied down the grass strip. He looked back and smiled as if he knew something I didn't. Like maybe he had one parachute hidden on the plane. It was about an hour later that I stood in the line waiting to be screened to fly to Dallas. "Save my place in line Brit," I said as I went into the lady's room. I threw two box openers, and something I had started carrying, since Tomas showed me what you could do with a ten penny nail. I had nothing else on me but a tooth brush with a completely normal handle. It was in my pocket. I explained to the screener, "My dentist wants me to brush after every meal. I have gum disease, do you want to see?" I seriously doubted she really wanted to see my gums. I figured I had a fifty fifty chance of getting the tooth brush on the plane. It wouldn't take much to make a point on the end. The screener didn't care, she made me give up the tooth brush anyway. She had probably seen the same TV show as me. The cons in the joint making shanks, as Christmas presents. Since I had no weapons, I planned to stay near the Brit. I got my first look at Mrs. Dixon in the terminal where we changed planes. I just had to take Karl's word that it was Dallas. Wendy was no where to be seen. Probably in the lady's room smoking a joint. ------- Chapter 161 "Hello Mrs Dixon we are from Swamp Dog, The university hired us to be sure nothing happens to you," Karl explained to her. "So they sent three of you?" she asked. I couldn't tell whether is she thought there was too many or too few of us. "This is what we have for this part of the trip. Are you going to be alright with it?" he asked. "I am going along with this mostly for the university, and some for my daughter, if it were up to me I would send you home," she explained Suddenly the job got much harder. She was going to need convincing, and the only way that would come about was, if someone tried to kill her or her daughter. Which might mean one of us was going to have to die to convince her there was a need for us to be there. Wonderful. I thought. "Then we will try to be as inconspicuous as possible," Karl added. "I rather doubt that will be possible," she said. I saw the red hair well in advance of the 15year old actually reaching our little group. It was no color I had ever seen on a person. It was more the shade of red one might find on a cheep piece of polyester cloth. "This is my daughter Wendy. Wendy this is our security detachment provided by the university," her mother explained. "You and I are going to try to get along with these people." "Wendy my name is Sylvia," I said holding out my hand to her. She just looked bored as she said, "Whatever," She ignored my outstretched hand. "Yeah whatever," I said. Yes I knew I was supposed to ignore her and act all friendly. If Swamp Dog thought I was a diplomat, they really didn't know me. "I can see you two are going to get along famously," Karl said. Wendy gave him a look that said more than words could have. I smiled, but said nothing. We all boarded the plane headed for Mexico City. It was too short a trip to serve food. so I had no weapons whatsoever. I hated the feeling of helplessness. I knew The Brit could kill with his bare hands, as could Karl, I was the only one who was useless without a weapon. The first thing I was taught about combat was no you own limitations, and work within them. I the case of a being on a plane, there was no way I could do anything. The government had made sure we were helpless sheep. I was in a seat two rows behind the Professor and her daughter. My companion was Karl. I would have preferred The Brit. Life was like that. I had to listen to Karl discuss Professor Dixon's importance to the war on drugs. According to the university she had developed something that would eradicate pot. It sounded like a pipe dream to me. I had a strong opinion about it. The opinion was that no one would care what I thought. When the Plane landed. the Professor and her daughter were met by their interpreter and two Mexican Uniformed policemen. The cops would escort them to the hotel. The cops went with them to pick up their luggage. We tagged along to get our clothes and tooth brushes. A Mexican dress in casual clothes walked up to our little group. "Karl?" he asked. He didn't single anyone out. I was more than a little surprised when the operative I had nicknamed Karl the Killer answered him. The Brit whispered, "For some reason Colonel Martin liked your nick names. He adopted them as operational names for this operation." "Damn, I had no idea I was so well liked," I said. "You aren't universally liked. Just like everyone else, you have admirers and detractors," he added. "I guess the trick is to screw more of the higher ups," I said with a laugh. The Brit just smiled and shook his head. "The man who met us?" I said to Karl. "What about him?" Karl asked. "He didn't know any of us. I assume you didn't know him either. So that is not a good sign," I said. "Who vetted him?" "He is just here to deliver some equipment and a car. He doesn't know anything about us." Karl said. "Bullshit, we arrive on a plane with a woman and girl escorted off by the Police. You think he can't sell that to somebody, who wants her dead." I said. "We just started and this operation is compromised." "That's why people don't like to work with you. You see fucking conspiracies everywhere. You are a hell of an operative, but you over think everything." Karl said. "Like I over thought your assault on the building. You didn't leave anyone to guard the stairs. If I hadn't come in when I did, that asshole would have been behind you." I said. "I would have handled it," Karl said. "Bullshit," I replied and turned away before it turn violent. "Look Sylvia this guy was vetted, and we need a driver who knows the city. He was a Mexican National Policeman till he lost an eye. Now he drives for a lot of people. He hates the Narco Terrorist as much as anyone. If we are after them, he is on our side. Now you know, but I want have you questioning my decisions or those of the Colonel again. If you can't follow orders, leave now." Karl explained. "If you want me to blindly follow orders, then you need to send me home. As long as I'm here, I do the job and I don't walk away ever." I said. "Fair enough," Karl said. "For what it's worth Karl. She hasn't been on that many jobs, so cut her some slack. Her instincts are good and you know it." The Brit said before he left me and Karl alone. "Okay let'a call a truce. You can ask about any part of this operation, but try not to accuse us of being incompetent. Trust me I am going to make sure that Alejandra doesn't get behind me. " Karl said. "Just for the hell of it make sure he doesn't get behind me as well," I said. "Done," Karl said. Al drove us to one of the better hotels in Mexico City. I didn't care for the assignment, but then I wouldn't have cared for anything happening outside the United States. I had never felt comfortable anywhere that didn't use English as a first language. The Brit hung close, so he could interpret for me. He managed to get us all checked in. Karl gave the driver a burner phone to keep in touch with us. The Swamp had him for exclusively till the mission was over. Karl was sure that the promise of a large bonus would keep him loyal. I had my doubts. Karl handed me a large mail envelope before he went to the room. I Had decided to take the first lobby watch, I waited in the lobby for either the Professor or Wendy to come down. Just in case they tried to duck our surveillance. I was betting one or both of them would try to shake the cops guarding them and us. I was dead tired and it was well after midnight when Wendy came down in the elevator. She didn't try to sneak out as I would have expected. Instead she simply went into the bar. It seemed no one paid any attention to age in the upscale lounge. I slipped in behind her and sat at the bar. She had already hooked up with someone, so my guess was that he knew her. I also guessed he wasn't a member of any drug cartel. I took their picture together, so I could have him checked out later. I knew I could bust her and separate them, but I wondered if it wouldn't be wiser to leave them alone. If I did, I might be able to keep better control of her, than to have her always trying to duck me. I was still thinking it over when Wendy went to the ladies room. "Hello Wendy," I said when I closed the door behind me. "What are you doing here you pervert," She said. "Look Wendy, I don't know how you dumped the guards and I don't really care that you did. The truth is, I don't have much faith in anyone but my team. Now you and I can come to an accommodation, or I can drag your ass back up to your mom and show her this picture," I showed her the cell phone picture. "Or I can let you go right on with whatever you are doing and make sure no one bothers you. The choice is yours," That is when I shut up and waited for her to speak. "Okay lady, lets make a deal," she said. "Okay, here is the deal, One: you tell me who that man is. Two: you agree to tell me before you leave the lounge. Three: you tell me where you are going. then if all looks safe, you can have at it. If I say it isn't safe, you fucking believe me and don't argue." I said. "Okay deal," she said. "So who is the clown you are with and how did you meet him?" I asked. "He works with my mom. He is down for the conference. He is just here to listen not participate. So he offered to buy me a drink," she said. "Have you dated him before?" I asked. "Yeah, we have been out a few times back home. So see it's alright," she said. "It's alright, but you are fifteen and he is at well over twenty," I said. "But we just have fun together," she said. "Let me suggest something to you. If you want to sneak around meeting guys you would draw a lot less attention if you change your hair color. In the meantime I'll just watch over you. Do not tell him I'm watching over you. It will just freak him out and spoil your date." I said. "How would you know," she asked. "Men like their women all helpless. If you show them any thing else they get defensive. Trust me on this." I hid in plain sight while he drank and bought her drinks. I sat and watched as he danced with her. I even watched while he groped her, and presumably she groped back. When they closed at 3 AM, she kissing him goodnight and left him. I made sure she went home by getting into the elevator with her. "So, did he ask you back to his room?" I said once the elevator door closed. "Yes but I said no. I knew you were watching," she said. "Do you want to play let's make a deal again?" I asked. "What's the deal?" she asked. "Tell me everything about him and let me run a background check. If he is harmless, you don't have to say no to him," I said. "Otherwise I am going to break in every time you try to get laid." "It's not about getting laid, I just enjoy his company," she said. "Yes and putting the screws on your mom," I said. "Showing her you are going to do what you want, and she can't tell you what to do." "That might have been you, but it's not me," she said when the elevator door opened. She also ran down the hall and swiped a card in the door lock. I thought about going back down and having a talk with her date, but I didn't know enough. That wouldn't always be the case I promised myself as I sent a text to the Swamp Dog office. Time to see what kind of background check they could do for a field agent. ------- Chapter 162 After Wendy left the elevator, and I made the call to Swamp Dog, I settled down in the lobby. Now ordinarily we would just watch the elevator and stairwell, but Karl had bribed a Mexican security officer of the hotel for access to the surveillance equipment. In other words my smart phone could tap into their cameras. I found the one for The professor's floor. I couldn't control the camera from the Phone just monitor it. If Wendy were to move, I would have to go to the security office to manipulate the tapes. Of course Wendy waited a few minutes until she though I was asleep, before she exited the room. "Son of a bitch," I whispered before I called The Brit. "The bitch is on the move," I said to the half asleep Brit. As I spoke I headed for the security office. "Which Bitch?" he asked. "The baby bitch," by that time I had reached the security office. "Where is she headed?" he asked. "I'm in the lobby Brit, I can't cover all the exits. I'm at the door to the security office now. You might want to come help me here." I said it in a whisper. I quickly when through the unlocked door. The place was empty. I had no idea how to run the equipment. Fortunately there was one monitor per camera. Each floor had a camera over the elevator and there were also cameras over the exits. In other words I could see them all at once. My girl got off the elevator on a different floor. "Come on Brit," I said under my breath as she went into a room after knocking. I heard The Brit enter the room. "Where is she?" he said. "She just went into a room here," I said. Then I explained what had been happening all evening with her. "So you think the boyfriend is in that room?" he asked. "Yes, but I don't know if he is a simple pervert, or one who is trying to blackmail mom, or worse," I said. "Did you send his name to Swamp Dog?" he asked. "I did but it is the middle of the night," I replied. "There are people in the field, so there should be operators standing by to take our orders," The Brit said smiling. "Well they haven't delivered yet," I suggested. "Let me call to check on our order," he replied. Then The Brit stepped out so I could monitor the situation. Five minutes had passed before he returned. "Word is go break up the party. We need to do it quiet though," he said. I called Karl he is bringing a master door key. He will meet us on the floor now. I took a deep breath and followed The Brit out. I fingered the tiny pistol in the pocket of my cargo pants. It was a much smaller pistol than I was used to carrying. For some reason Swamp Dog had decided for this mission I needed a .22 Magnum Derringer. It was small and highly concealable, but most likely not a real 'put 'em down' kind of weapon. Since it was the only thing I had that could reach out and touch someone, I kept my hand on it. Karl met us at the door to the room. "You sure she is in there?" he whispered. I just gave him a dirty look. He held up his hand then swiped his card. We pushed out way inside quietly. He was sitting on the sofa in the tiny sitting room area of the suite. His pants were down and Wendy was on her knees with his cock in her mouth. They didn't even know we were in the room. That's how involved they were with what was going on. I took a couple of low quality picture with my company smart phone, then I set if for flash and got one really good close of her face and his cock. The flash alerted them to our presence. "Wendy, you really should have honored our bargain. Because now your boyfriend is going to end up in a Mexican jail. I hear those are most unpleasant." I said. "What the hell are you doing," she demanded angrily. "Now little girl, you just shut the fuck up and listen to me," I said. Yes I knew Kart was mission commander, but I had rapport with the little slut. "You are fifteen years old and this really nice young man is 27years old. He is going to jail for ten years in fucking Mexico, if I call the cops. Er if we call the cops. So you just shut up while they take Mr Perv into the bedroom for a talk." I just knew The Brit was dieing to use his pliers on this guy's balls. The Brit lifted him, then he and the asshole went into the bedroom. Wendy sat on the sofa with a defiant look on her face. "You know that 'I don't give a shit' look would work better, if you wiped the cum off you chin," I said. When The Brit came out, he went to a painting over the sofa looking down on Wendy's little show. From it he removed a button cam attached to the frame. Then he went to a drawer in a small table. From that drawer he remove the receiver. "Damn I bet that is going to make a hell of a TV show. The real teeny sluts of Mexico city," I said. "Just shut the fuck up, I get it." She said. "Just show mama the film and lets get it over with." "Actually we work for the university, and I think it would be in their best interest to show it to the cops." I said to her. Yeah it was a bluff, but I figured she might not care if her mother was pissed at her, but she just might not want to see her 'friend' in jail in Mexico for ten years. "You think I care what you do?" she asked. "I have no idea. That wasn't an offer because sweet heart I can tie you up here as a witness for months. Trust me you wouldn't have a lot of fun in a Mexican jail either. You see the Mexican government is used to dealing with teenage hookers. It's a national disgrace here." "You won't do that," she said. "Like I said bitch, I work for the university and so does the guy you were with. I tell the cops we were checking on him, and found him with a teenage girl. Then we just leave it to them to straighten out." I suggested. I could tell Karl was nervous with that prospect. Hell I didn't much want to do it either and likely wouldn't. "Alright what do you want," she said. "You go back to your room. You pretend this didn't happen, but from now till you leave Mexico, you do exactly as I say. Do you agree?" I asked. "Yeah, and for the record, if that asshole was filming me to blackmail my mother, I don't care, She treats everyone around her like shit," she said. "Including me." I looked her dead in the eye and said, "Whatever." I lifted her up and walked her to the elevator and back to her room. "Now this never happened. From now till you leave this country you play nice." She walked through the door without a word. I went back to the boyfriend's room. Karl met me at the door. "So what you gonna do with him?" I asked. "He has decided to fly home tomorrow, a family emergency. Just as an after though The Brit told him to stay away from children." With that Karl, pulled him from the bedroom and send him to the desk to check out. "He may just be a child molesting asshole but we can't tough him without involving the girl," I said. "But we can drop a dime on him and have the university check him out. This won't have been the first time for him." I said. The rest of the conference was a bore. Well except the lecture explaining how to use the new and improved second generation agent orange. Some kind of herbicide that was turned on by THC and nothing else. Yeah right, dioxin on steroids. It begged the question if it was so good why didn't we use it at home. Wendy and the drug thugs behaved themselves. What could have been a dangerous situation worked itself out of the first night. On our last day Wendy even thanked me for not telling her mom. She had behaved with as much dignity during their visit as a girl with polyester looking red hair could be expected to. She told a cop to go fuck himself but she was right that time. The day after the last of the Mexican cops got briefed on the new herbicide we went home. The Brit and I drove from the grass runway in his car. It had been at the grass strip for almost a week and hadn't been broken into or damaged in any way. He looked shocked. I would have been shocked, if it had been damaged, such was Warren county. "Damn I really love this place already," he said to me on the way into town. "So how you planning to spend you I'll gotten gains?" I asked. "I'm thinking a downtown pub. I guess they call them a cafe here," he said. "Not a good idea, Cafe on the Square couldn't stand the competition," I explained. "But Cafe on the Square closes at 3PM," he said. "That's because there is no one left in town after 3PM," I said. "That's because there is nowhere to go," he countered. "So it's catch 22," I replied. "I don't know what that means, but it's like the chicken and egg thing in reverse." he replied. "Well, I'll be your customer," I said. "Good," he replied. "Have you got a location in mind," I asked. "Hell the town is full of empty buildings I just need to find one. One where Jeremy can have a work space above it." he said. "Now the old lady will kill me for sure, but the radio building would give you room to make an apartment upstairs," I said. It's the tallest empty building in town. "I'll take a look at it." The Brit said. When we got to his place, I tried to start the Toyota and found it dead. The motor wouldn't turn over. The lights came one nice and were bright, but no movement from the motot. After five minutes of me and The Brit trying and getting now where, I called Monk. "Monk my Toyota wont start," I said into my burner phone. I had to leave the smart phone with Karl, "I'll call Tim at the junk yard," he said. "I do custom work not repairs." "I would like to have it fixed, if it's worth it," I said. "He has a couple of guys who work on cars. He also has fifty acres of used car parts," Monk said with a laugh. "And a truck for picking up junkers." "I waited outside while Monk went up to bring me coffee. Coffee made in my old coffee pot. The coffee was dreadful, but I was grateful for it. A short time later Tim himself came for the Toyota. I could tell because he wore a dark blue shirt and pants. On the shirt, with the sleeves cut of at the shoulder, was a patch, The patch told the world that he was Tim. "You Silvia?" he asked. "Yes I am," I said. "I hear you got a Toyota that wont start?" he asked. "Yes I do," I said. "It's right over here." He raised the hood, then had me try to start it. After a couple of seconds he said, "Well your starter or your motor is frozen. The starter is getting power, it just isn't turning. I'll pull it to the shop and check it out. Most likely the starter is froze." "Diagnose it for me. The car is pretty old, if it's going to be a lot, I might just junk it." I knew I probably shouldn't have said that, but I hoped I hadn't jinxed it. They loaded the Toyota onto the back of a flat bed truck. The bed of the truck had fold down ramps welded onto the rear. Tim positioned the truck at the rear of the car, then he used a wench to pull the car up the ramps. He was loaded and gone in nothing flat. "So what you gonna do for a car?" The Brit asked. "I thought I would get you to give me a lift to the house. If the trike starts it should do for Now. I have no plans to do more than hand around the house for next couple of days anyway." I said. "Let me tell Jeremy where I'm going and I'll be right back," he said heading up the stairs. The old bat landlady was looking out of the window the whole time. ------- Chapter 163 Sleeping in my own bed appealed to me, even if it wasn't as comfortable as the Mexico City's fancy bed. It belonged to me and no crazy drug dealer was likely to come for me. The Box House was cool at night, which was okay because it was summer and the temperature didn't get too cold. It was hot in the midday sun, but that wasn't too back because the ceiling fans kept the air moving, and the 20 inch box fan, I converted to an exhaust fan, pulled the stale air out and the fresh in. There was always a breeze in the Box House. So far it seemed to be a pleasant alternative to the heavily manipulated air in most houses. Well it probably helped that I lived in the mountains as well. If I had trees where the house sat, it would be even cooler. I was on a piece of land that had been a farm's field many years before, till they wore the soil out. Any profit from crops in my field would have been severely cut by the cost of the fertilizer needed to grow the product. I had those thoughts while I rode the bicycle to the plaza and had breakfast at Hardee's. I knew the land was in the recovery phase. Wild grasses had grown in the field. The fields, on both sides of the road, were probably five to six acres. The other acre or two were in woods down by the creek. The woods were mostly fur trees of some kind. The hard wood trees were gone, probably logged out in the thirties. I returned home from breakfast to reread the snail mail that started me thinking about the land. I had received it while I was in Mexico. It was from the State Forestry Service, and it was an offer to every land owner of more than five acres in Warren County. The offer was from the state, It was to subsidize the planting of two or more acres of land in trees and wild flowers. There was a limited to ten acres of subsidy. I hated having them poke around my property but if I ever wanted to do it now was the time. The way the subsidy worked was they furnished the manpower and machines and I bought the trees and flower seed. What the fuck, I thought and answered the letter in the affirmative. I promptly forgot it. The main reason I forget it was the garage/junk yard call with the news on the Toyota. "So Tim what's verdict," I asked after some small talk. "It's worse than we first thought. Some how the starter locked and shorted out the wiring. Didn't you smell the computer burn up?" he asked. "There was no burning smell at all," I said. "Well every module was burned up. The fuse panel for some reason allowed enough current to make toast of it all." he said. "Okay what's the bottom line," I asked. "The car is ten years old. If it were in perfect shape with no dents or faded paint, had a perfect motor and good tires it would be worth about two thousand dollars. "To put the motor in good condition replace the modules and the wiring. Put a new starter on it and fix the body and paint would cost you between 1800 and 2000 dollars," he said. "So its a wash." "Now skip the body and paint and save about 500 dollars, which happens to be what it is worth to part out. So to put it back like it was the day you parked it, the cost is about 1000 to 1200 dollars," Tim informed me. "I'll take the 500 bucks and you take the Toy," I said. "Actually it 450 bucks I towed it here and diagnosed it," Tim said. "Fair enough," I said. " I guess I better start looking for cars." "I'll send you a check," Tim said. "That's fair," I said. So I need to start looking for used cars, I though. I was truly pissed, but I wasn't shocked. I had driven the Toyota almost five years and it hadn't been very expensive, when I bought it the same day I was discharged. I found a spiral notebook in one of the boxes under my sofa cushion. I wrote, what I need in a new car. I drew and x over the word new and added used in it's place. I wrote the word small, then I wrote cargo space. When I wrote that I was thinking about maybe distributing again. I could have written things like, sporty or comfortable, but those things didn't matter to me. It was a motorized box with wheels, that's all it was to me. As I always do, when I begin to look to buy anything, I went to the Internet. I allowed myself 5,500 for a car. I picked that figure because I could easily come up with it from the Swamp Dog funds I hadn't touched. I had a about half a dozen choices it seemed. The only person I knew with any motor knowledge was the Monk, so of course I called him. "Monk, you friend told me the Toyota was toast. Can I trust him, or do I need a second opinion?" I asked. "It is toast, you have my word on it. He called me before he called you. I went over and looked at the modules. I also took a look at the test results from the computer read out. It was zero. It wouldn't even recognize the test signal. That computer is out completely. It took all the electronic stuff with it. I know because I saw it all. I wouldn't let them cheat you Sylvia." The Monk replied. "So I guess I need to look for a car," I said. "What you looking for," he asked. "Something reliable, small, and with some cargo room," I said. "Humm," he answer. Well I have a friend who has a car for sale. He is selling it because his wife left him for another guy. The car is in his name, so it wouldn't be any problems with the title. He bought it new for her about five years ago. You know, the guys I know are all about motorcycles and pick up trucks. I'll have him drive the car over to your place, if you want to look at it." "How much does he want," I asked. "He borrowed some money on it for her a while back. I think he wants to get out from under the loan and make a grand on it. He will tell you more, but that's what he wants," Monk said. "I can't be sure, but I'll have him bring the loan paperwork over. I think he said bottom line was five grand." "So what kind of car we talking here?" I asked "If memory serves me, it's a 2007 PT cruiser," he said. "The cruiser was one of the cars I was thinking about," I admitted. It wasn't first on my list but it was on the list. "Go ahead and have your friend bring it over." I gave Monk my new burner phone's number, After I called Monk I went outside to pull the cover off my trike. It started right up. I drove it down to the Plaza and had lunch. I also went grocery shopping. I kept the purchase small so that it would fit in the wire basket on the rear of the tricycle. I had been home about a half hour worrying about not having a car, when the owner of the cruiser called. "Sylvia, I am the guy with the cruiser for sale. Before I drive it over there are you really interested in it, or just window shopping?" he asked. "Let me put it this way, I was told earlier this morning that my car is toast. I need a car, if yours will fill my needs, and we can come together on the price, I will make you an offer. If it isn't all Monk thought it was, I might not, but I don't have time to window shop. I am not in the habit of wasting my time," I said angrily. "But I am not going to commit to buy a car sight unseen either." "I understand that ma'am, but I never drove a car to someone to try and sell it." he said. "Do what you want?, Like I said, if it will work and the price is right I'll but it/ Iif not I won't buy it. That's the best I can do," allowing the irritation to show in my voice. "Alright it is one now I can be there in an hour," he said. "Before you come, you might want to get the pay off figure for the loan as of this week," I said. "The more I know, the easier it will be to make a decision." While I waited for the owner of the car, I transfered five grand into my checking account from my savings. I didn't want to have any problems paying the bank off. I kept a couple of grand 'just in case' in a cookie box. That was just in case I had to leave the house in a hurry. My bug out money and ID had been moved to the storage unit by the creek. I had cleaned it of anything to do with the liquor business. It did hold a few old farm implements and a wheel for a Toyota. If one opened that wheel, they were in for a surprise. The farm tools were stored there from the days of the storage lockers. The kid who took stuff to the flea markets quit. I took possession of his inventory and put it in the Storage unit to add to the clutter before putting in the wheel. That had been done only days before the main house was finished. The kid had brought it in a rusty old pick up and put the stuff into the storage box haphazardly. The antique farm equipment was a perfect cover for the Toyota wheel. The guy who showed up with the cruiser was a jerk. I could see why his wife left him. The car however was a well cared for vehicle. I drove it, listened to the motor, looked at the oil and kicked the tires in general, then the shit started. "So whats the payoff for this car?" I asked. "If you pay it off before Friday the payoff is 3800 bucks and change," he informed me. "There are no late fees that need to be paid?" I asked knowing people tended to let loans on cars go into default, before they tried to settle them. "No, I kept the payments up," he said as if he resented me implying his credit rating might be in question. "Okay, what if I pay off the loan and give you 500 bucks, will that do it?" I asked. "Hell no this thing is worth six grand easy," he said. "If it was worth six grand easy, you wouldn't still have it," I said. The computer says, if it were in excellent shape, it might be worth six grand. You will be waiting a long time to get someone to pay top door for this car." I said. "Meantime you are paying interest on that load which you can never recover." "Fifteen hundred and you pay it off," he demanded. "Listen real close this is my last offer. I will pay the loan off and give you one thousand dollar in cash today. We can drive it down to the finance company and pay you out from under this thing. You won't have to make another payment period." I said it and looked him in the eyes. ------- Chapter 164 "Twelve hundred." he said. I looked him in the eye and repeated, "When I said it. it was my final offer, I meant it. Don't came back tomorrow and say you will take it." I headed to the door. "I want to see the color of your money first," he said. I wanted to tell him what a fuck he was. I also wanted to tell him that his wife had good sense, but what I did was pull out my wad of hundreds. "Satisfied?" I asked. "You are a smart mouthed bitch, I could just take the money," he said. "That my friend, would be the worst decision of your life," I said looking at him hard. "Okay, lets go to the finance company," he suggested. We drove the car to the finance company in the plaza. There was a very nice young lady who handled the bank transfer, then found the title for me. She signed the release and then notarized it. "If you want, you can take this to the registration office in Dobson and it will be all transfered today. "Fair enough," I said to her. The previous owner of the car walked out of the finance company, and started to get in the car. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" I asked "What you ain't going to drive me home?" he asked. "No, this smart mouth bitch is not going to drive you home. Matter of fact, if I ever see you again, I might carve you up. My advice is that you is, take that thousand in your pocket and call a cab." I drove off with his tag still on the car. I drove the little car home. I parked it in the grass behind my house. Just in case the asshole came looking for it. I got a call around midnight from The Monk. "So you bought that cruiser?" he asked. "Yeah, but that guy is a first class asshole," I said. "Hey, it was just business. He did mention that you were a bitch. I told him yeah you were, but you were my bitch. I think you have seen the end of him," Monk said. "Honey, for his sake I hope you are right," I said with a laugh. "When we gonna do that lovin' thing again?" he asked. "No time soon, night and thanks Monk," I said. After my 5AM ride on the bike the next day, I drove the cruiser to the junk yard. I wasn't worried about being stopped I still had the asshole's tag on the car. "I came to get my plate off the Toy," I said to Tim's man. "No problem, you want me to move it to the cruiser, you drove up in?" he asked. "Sure that would be fine," I said. I sat in the parking lot with the asshole's tag on the seat. I called and had my insurance policy updated. Then I made the boring drive to Dobson and waited in line to get the paperwork for the state completed. I decided I would just leave the assholes tags at The Monk's shop. I kissed Monk and groped him as a reward for all his help. He Said, "That ain't no where near enough for all I done for you." "Just keep track and I'll pay up one day." I promised. I was pretty much settled into the house and had determined that the car was doing well by the weekend. I removed the back seat making the cruiser a little panel truck, I had picked up several things form the home depot just to see how it did. It was excellent. By 8AM Saturday I had tested everything about the car and the house for bugs, Glitches and anomalies and they both seemed to check out. I was thrilled. So I went to the grocery store for real. I filled my freezer with frozen dinners and I stocked my kitchen shelves with food. The house, because of it's abundant storage areas, began to take on the look of a vacationer's cabin. Almost everything was stored right out in the open. Since I had only the .38 and I could afford other guns, I had for days been thinking of purchasing some additional fire power. Since I couldn't get anything but revolvers in the .38 I thought it might be time to move on. So I began my research, as I always did, with the Internet. I began with ammunition that could be used in hand guns and rifles. I wanted to be able to walk into a Walmart and pick up the ammunition without any hassle and use it in either my rifle or the pistol I chose to replace the .38. I couldn't find even one of the hand guns I wanted in any local store, so I went to Walmart for the rifle. I bought a bolt action magazine fed .22 magnum rifle for under 200 bucks there. It was a name brand, so I was satisfied. I left the Plaza after a quick lunch and drove the forty five minutes to the next town of any size. Even Dobson was too small to have real gun store. The larger town had one gun shop, which had a large number of firearms. "So what can I do for you little lady," the arrogant clerk asked. I didn't want to argue with a man who was bearing a firearm, so I didn't say what was on my mind. Instead I said, "Do you trade guns?" "Sure what you got," he asked. Since I had taken the pistol our of my cargo pants in the car, it was in the plastic grocery bag I handed him. "I want to trade this in on another pistol." I said simply. "Nice, this is a beauty." he said. "So you looking for something with a little more punch or more rounds. Something like a Glock 22 or what?" "What you got in a short barrel .22 magnum?" I asked. "You don't really want a .22 magnum honey," he said. "Sure I do honey," I said sarcastically. He had crossed the disrespect line. "If you don't want to sell me one, I can go somewhere else." I guess my voice had increased in volume because the owner come over. "I'll handle this Ed," he said. "What can I do for you," he asked. "I want to trade this in for a .22 Magnum short barrel," I said with a smile. "Are you law enforcement?" he asked. "No, I'm not. I am from out of town, so It would be nice if you could deliver it today," I replied. "I do have this." Since I knew I was going to buy a pistol sometime in the near future, I had stopped by the sheriff's office for a permit the day before. I did have to spend half an hour saying hello to the officers there. In the end I had the permit and was ready to go out and buy a gun. "Okay we can do business today," The owner of the store was all business as I would expected him to be. "I do have a Taurus light weight .22magnum. If you buy a box of ammo we can walk back to the range and let you try it out." he suggested. "Fair enough, would you like to shoot the .38?" I asked him. "If you wouldn't mind, that would be fine," he said. When we got back there he asked, "How far do you want the target." "Ten yards, any more than that I will run from him," I said with a smile. I fired six slow rounds then reloaded, them fired six rounds rapid fire. After that I pulled the target back. They were all in center mass. "That's accurate enough for me. Okay I like it," I said. "Let me try this one," He fired it at 25 yards and all six were center mass. "It is a sweet little gun it is still like a woman, tight in all the right places," He said. "And deadly," I added lest he get any ideas. "So let's go see if we can make a deal," He suggested. "Here you go," I handed him the Taurus. "Yon don't want me holding this while you try to screw me," I suggested with a smile. "Thanks for the warning. Tell you what, you give me the colt and a hundred bucks and I'll give you the Taurus." he said. "I'll bet you would," I agreed "But I guess I'll keep the colt how much for the Taurus. An outright purchase cash on the counter?" I asked. I knew he wanted the colt. I had taken good care of it. "Have you ever shot anyone with the colt," he asked. "Do you have the Internet," I asked. "I knew you were a cop," he said smiling. "You just have that 'don't fuck with me' look." We went back inside and I pulled up the Dobson news paper files for the day after the Sunday morning shootout with the drug dealers,. There was a picture of me, but not the gun. I was in my running clothes though. The article went into great detail. I turned the laptop to the owner. He hit the print button and printed it out. "Sign this article," he said pushing the print out to me, "And I'll trade you even if you buy a .22 magnum derringer at retail." "Hell no that is a killer gun. You know it doubled in value, with that signature. Tell you what, I will give you the hundred but you throw in the Derringer." I suggested. "Any brand Derringer?" he asked. "Hell yeah, they don't have to be accurate. It's just a 'belly gun' anyway," I said. "Done," he said pulling out a FIE Derringer. A pure Saturday night special. But what the hell not, I thought, it is Saturday. I actually had to give him 107 bucks to pay the taxes on the purchase. and another 10 bucks for the full retail on the box of ammo I had used to test fire them both. I decided not to use his gunsmith for the scope on the Marlin rifle. I could use what I expected to be a decent gunsmith, since the receiver was already grooved for a scope. When I got something on my mind, I just couldn't move on till everything was done, that could be done. I again stopped at the Walmart store on the way into town. It was after 6PM but they were open. I left the guns in the car while I went in to buy the dedicated .22mag rifle scope. It was under 50bucks. I left the store pretty satisfied with my purchases for the day. Yes I had blown my whole Saturday, but I had the gun thing off my mind finally, After almost a week researching and preparing to buy the firearms, I had finally bought them. There was only one thing left to do. I called The Brit, Jeremy answered. "Hi Jeremy is The Brit around?" I asked. "You mean Allan, no he is looking at another building downtown. He has been looking at them all week. I think he is looking at one for the second time tonight. He might be going to buy it, though god only knows why. Of course we do need more space." He stopped for breath so I jumped in. "I called to invite you two out for dinner tonight, if you don't have any other plans." "Sylvie I can't commit to anything, but I will have Allen call. It is short notice," he said in the bitchy voice. His voice had almost stopped sounding like fingernails on a chalk board to me. "Well if not tonight tomorrow night," I suggested and rang off. ------- Chapter 165 "Hello," I said in the phone. I knew it was The Brit from the number. "Sorry I wasn't answering the phone," he said. "I didn't try you. Jeremy said you were out looking at a building to buy. I figured the last thing you needed was me calling." "It would have been okay. So what can I do for you?" The Brit asked. "I hadn't spoke to you for a week. I just wanted to see how you were," I said. "Bollocks, now what did you want," he said. "I was planning to take you and Jeremy out to dinner, but you are busy," I said. "Jeremy told me that. He also said we could make it tomorrow. I would really like to go out tomorrow. But let's make it lunch," he suggested. "Okay where you want to meet on a Sunday for lunch," I asked. "Just meet us here and I'll drive," he suggested. "Like hell you will not trap me in a car with Jeremy for five minutes, let alone all the way to Dobson," I said. "Shit you are no fun at all. Alright meet me at the Cafe in the Square," he said. "They aren't open on Sunday," I replied. "Just be there at noon tomorrow," he said as he hung up on me. I smiled as I went to the kitchen to have a glass of peppermint shine. It was good even if I couldn't get anyone else to think so." I watched a TV show from the night before on the Internet. After that I moved to a chatroom and masturbated, then I went to bed. Sunday began with my ride around town. I went from my house to the downtown on the bike. Sure enough the cafe was closed just like it always was on Sunday. I assumed the cafe at noon was the meeting place for us. That being the case I gave up trying to figure out what was going on. I just rode back to the plaza for a breakfast of animal fat and coffee. From there I went home to shower and dress. I had bought a sheet mirror at Walmart. It was almost full length, so after my shower I stood before it naked. I decided that I had fat guy tits stuck on my body. In other words they were small and not shaped quite like other girls I had seen. Actually that was not true. Teenage girls, who were not quite filled out, had breasts shaped like mine. My hair was just starting to look a little girlie. The time had come to either have it cut again or start having it shaped. I decided at five seven, I was too short to pull off the boy look completely, but I could confuse people for sure. I decided then what I needed to wear under the loose tee shirts, was a tube top. Not just any tube top, but one that was strong. I would bet that with that combination, and a little less attention to my grooming, I could be mistaken for a guy. That, I thought, might not be a bad thing. I would bet that I could pull it off, if I tried. I decided that I would give it a try purely for research. I could get away with a gay guy, if not a straight one. I was never going to make it as a macho guy, but I bet I could get away with a femme guy. That opened a whole new world of excitement up to me. The thing today would give me a chance to observe Jeremy's behavior, and mannerisms. It had nothing to do with gender identity. I mean I was a girl and I knew it, but it would be nice to be a guy for a while. Just to see what it was like on the other side of home plate. I could dress more like a guy. No not that, I could dress more like a gay guy. If I was on a job as a gay guy and was spotted, I could dress like a girl for the getaway. People tend to see what they want to see. So it was a good idea to give them what they wanted. I really did like the idea. In truth I guess I had to thank Jeremy for it. He was the feminine version of a gay guy and The Brit was the masculine version. I had begun to experiment with gender bending with The Brit. I asked myself did I really want to take it to the next level. The answer was it would be a new experience, so fucking A I did. I went to the Walmart store to buy me and outfit that could go either way. Then I would try to pick up Jeremy's mannerisms. It would be playacting for sure. I drove up to the store and parked in the parking lot. I was in my Russian commando knock off tee and black cargo pants. I caught a glimpse of myself reflected in the glass. With a different haircut and no breasts poking through I would look like a preteen guy except for my age lines. I went to the mens department and tried on Cargo pants. There was a subtle different in the fit. When I found that a pair of boy's 26 inch waist cargo pants fit me and that my ass looked different in them. I knew that I was on to something. I even bought a pack of boys undershirt type tee shirts. I got some that would measure 32 chest. They would be tight on me, but that was a good thing. I bought a wide elastic bandage to try out my breast flattening. The old bind your breast trick. I also bought a boy's tee shirt for over the bandage and white undershirt. I would experiment with which combination worked best. When I got back to the house I just had time to wrap the bandage around my chest, but not too tight, Then I pulled on the boy's tee shirt and the cargo pants to complete the look. I looked in the mirror and tried to decide which haircut would look best on me. Something I could change from a male cut to a woman's cut. I decided I would part it for lunch with the boys, and consider a different hairstyle later. Every way I turned my body in the mirror, it was a reasonable assumption that I could go either way. I was satisfied that I had done as much as possible to be androgynous at least in dress. I never wore makeup, so it was easy for me to pull of the man look, if my body didn't give me away. I decided not to do the androgynous that day. I also decided the next day to have the short hair cut redone. I wanted one of those movie looking hair cuts for Julius Caesar. An inch long and all brushed forward. After all the playing with clothes I just had time to join The Brit and Jeremy for lunch. I parked in front of the Cafe and waited for The Brit and Jeremy. As I had predicted the Cafe was closed. I assumed I would be following them somewhere, so I hadn't gotten out of the car. The Brit's giant SUV parked beside me and the two of them got out of it carrying a picnic basket. "Okay spill it, why are you carrying a picnic basket, and why the hell are we parked in front of the closed cafe?" I asked. "Because you knew where it is, but might not know where my new building is located," he said all smiles. Jeremy was as surprised as I was. "Okay, show me where it is," I said. looking all around. "Right this way ladies and gentlemen for the next stop on our County Seat Tour. It's and authentic English pub." Jeremy and I followed as he cross the street in front of the court house square. He walked with his usual, stick up the ass, SAS march till we were standing in front of an old Woolworth type store. "Welcome to the future home of the Greenwich Pub," he explained as he produced the key. He proceeded to open the door. Inside there was a folding table and three folding chairs. "Sit down you two. we are going to celebrate. Since you are my two best Yank friends, I wanted you to be here to help me celebrate," he said as he opened the wine. "I propose a toast, may you have all the luck I would wish for myself," I said and drank the wine from the cheap plastic cup. "Now let me make a sandwich and I want the grand tour," I demanded. "I chose this building because there are already two bathrooms on each floor." The Brit said. "The second floor is just like this one, except it doesn't have those big windows. I am not going to change a thing up there. Here I am going to add a bar of course and turn the rear end into a kitchen. It had a lunch counter but that is long gone." "You are making quite and investment in this town," I suggested. "I'm tired of rolling around from place to place. If I have to I'll put stripper poles out there," he said. "I am determined to make this work." "Well good for you," I said. "Alan, are you sure you haven't lost your mind?" Jeremy asked, Good for you Jeremy, I thought. I didn't say a word. Let him try to undermine The Brit. "Say something Sylvia," The Brit demanded. "Have you called Tomas yet," I asked. It was all I had to say, The Brit knew I was all in on the project. "We start tomorrow and we stay at it till it is done," he said to me and Jeremy. The four of us can do this in no time. Jeremy you are in charge of the upstairs. You can have almost anything you want. Sylvia you me and Tomas will build a bar." "We are working on the assumption that we can make it grow, so we start with basics," The Brit said. "I am assuming I get part of the second floor as a studio," Jeremy asked. "I said anything, I meant it," The Brit repeated. "In that case count me in." I could tell his heart wasn't in it, He was trying to make nice to his Allen. I smiled inside because I knew he couldn't keep the farce up long. "So where will the bar be," I asked. "Along this wall with fake wooden kegs with ten beer spouts," he said. "Ten count them ten different brands of beer and ale on tap," he said. "If will be a long walk from one end of the line of beer taps to the other end," I said. "We might have to get the tavern maid a bicycle," Jeremy said. "First things first," The Brit said. "We have a years lease with an option to buy anytime for the amount agreed upon not matter what the value is at the time of sale. In other word no matter what we do to the place the price remains the same." "So what do we do first and when do we start?" I asked. "You are going to help are you?" Jeremy asked. "I am unless The Brit asks me not to," I said rather peevishly. "I am counting on your one good hand," The Brit answered. "Now on to less strenuous endeavors. I was told by Mary Ellen of a party of like minded people at a place called Mountain home. I was also told that you have intimate knowledge of the place." The Brit suggested. "You know I have not decided what I am going to do about Mary Ellen," I said. "Do you want to kill her over that little misunderstanding. Which I should remind you brought me to this place." "I'm not going to forgive her or ever trust her ever again. I am also not going back into business with her, but I will listen to your proposition." I said. "I propose nothing but that you go to a Party at this Mountain Home resort with Jeremy Marty Ellen and Myself. Mary Ellen as agreed to go along with anything. She really does want to stop looking over her shoulder. She tired of worrying about what you are going to do to her." ------- Chapter 166 "So what did you want from me," The Brit asked. "God don't make it sound like I'm asking for a kidney," I said with a laugh. "Alright what can I do for you," he asked. "I bought a rifle and a scope. I was hoping I could get you to mate them and zero the scope in for thirty yards or so." I said. "You have to know where you want it Silvie. The parallax view will cause it to be off at any other range." he said. "Make it thirty-five yards then and I will guesstimate the rest," I said. "My advice go with the SWAG system," he said. "Yeah Scientific Wild Ass Guess," I agreed. "Do you have it with you," he asked. I opened the back of the car and took the rifle out. "Here you go," I said. "I'll have it for you in the morning, when you come to help with the bar," he said. "You don't have to rush," I advised him. "I want to do it this afternoon while Jeremy sulks," he said with a smile. "He still wants to move back to capitol city?" I asked. "Yeah, but it's his choice, I'm staying right here," The Brit informed me. You want me to come along?" I asked. "No, I would really like to be alone," he said firmly. "Okay, I'll get the rifle in the morning," I said. The Brit had the equipment to bore sight the rifle. He would project a laser through the bore and then focus the scope just above it. The distance above it would be the the amount of drop one would expect at thirty-five yards. There was a mathematical formula for it. It I shot the rifle at a target twenty yards away it would come in a little low, and if I shot at fifty yards it would be a little high. That was the parallax view rule. I didn't plan to shoot anything so small that an inch or two would be the difference between my life or death. The Brit left with my rifle, and I left with an empty cruiser van. I drove back to the box house feeling all alone. So The Brit could see that Jeremy wasn't going to be happy in County Seat, even so he had bought a building, He was planning to build a pub, and I was going to help him. So fuck you very much Jeremy, I thought. When I got home the place was just as I left it. I had to rummage through all the sofa frame storage boxes before I found my hair trimmer. I unpacked the plastic case with the trimmer and accessories. I found the squeeze tube of oil in the case, so I lubed the blades. I attached the long cutter guard. The guard turned the electric razor into a trimmer. I took a drink of the shine and started the motor. When I cut my hair all off before, I was in a different place than at that moment. I wanted it to look like something this time. The last time I hadn't cared. I ran the trimmer over my head several time, and in every possible angle. When I was finished I ran my hand over it to be sure I hadn't missed any. Of course I had to run over a few spots again to even it up. When I finished the cut, I took off all my clothes and stepped into the shower stall. I lathered my hair several times and rinsed it as well. It was free of all oil when I finished. It also stood almost straight up and in a butch cut. It was an inch long around my ears as well as ragged in the back. Since I couldn't see to run the razor over those spots I just left them ragged. It was a mess but my hair was thin enough that it would adapt I was sure. It didn't look any worse than the punk cuts I had seen around. Hell some women paid a hundred bucks for their hair to look this bad, I thought. I used the built in web cam on my computer to take picture of my new hair cut. I decided that if I wore eye make up and lipstick I would look like a punk female. If no make up, an effeminate gay guy. And if I didn't bind my breast, I could keep them guessing. So I had three completely different looks, which I could change with no more tan an elastic bandage and five dollar worth of makeup. Pretty cool was my final thought on it. I took a good look at my club hand. I had about 60% range of movement after a year of squeezing the tennis ball whenever I could. I still couldn't make the hand close completely. If I held anything in it's grip, it was just as likely to wind up on the floor as to stay in the hand. It was not a part of my body I could count on any more. I noted this because it had been useless in trimming my hair. Oh well I had no choice, but to work with what I had. Since my thumb and first finger wouldn't meet I could half ass grip the rifle's forearm but it wasn't very secure. I knew I was going to have to figure it out if I ever planned to use the rifle. I still had the 12guage pump gun, which was pretty much useless at the moment. I knew I had to begin spending more time with the firearms. I knew I was a danger not only to myself, but to others as well. Swamp Dog picked missions in an urban setting for me. Sharp and shiny weapons or hand guns were needed in those situations nothing more. In a field environment the lack of grip in my left hand would be a problem. Somehow Swamp Dog had allowed me to work without being 100%. I wondered if I wasn't more dangerous than helpful to my partners though. I needed to prove to myself that I could adapt to any situation. To do that I had to be able to fire any type weapon. Maybe not be great with it, but at least hit what I was aiming at. So I decided to go back to the gun store and pick up a shotgun that I could use. But it wouldn't be anytime soon. I ordered a pizza and then drove to the plaza for it. I could buy a frozen one, which was okay for a pizza and salad at home now and then. The frozen pizza made a good bread stick but sucked as a pizza. The pizza restaurant made a good take out pizza. Not that garbage can type with everything on it. Those were too damn mixed up to be good in my opinion. I did however like a couple of the meat ones. That night I ordered a sausage pizza to pick up. I drove to the reservoir to eat it just as the sun was going down. After that I went back to the house. It was warm in the house, but not enough to bother with all the fans. It was about to cool off anyway, so I just crawled into bed early for a change. Even so I had no trouble falling asleep. At five fifteen my body woke up. It made no difference whether I went to bed at midnight or 10PM, I was up around 5AM anyway. I climbed on the two wheeler at five thirty and rode it all over the area till 7:30 AM when I stopped for breakfast. I ate quickly and rode home to change. I didn't bother to shower, I just went to work at the two story downtown brick building. I could have showered since Tomas and The Brit didn't get there until almost 9AM. They had been at the Home Depot picking up Lumber and Hardware for the bar. In the back of the SUV sat a cardboard box which was marked 10" Table saw. Unlike me The Brit was serious about his place. It didn't matter to me, since I was just a laborer and gopher. The Brit and Tomas talked in Spanish about plans for a wall to separate the kitchen from the rest of it. I sat in a folding chair drinking coffee. I made the coffee in my old coffee maker, which The Brit had brought from home. Jeremy probably had a fancier one at the apartment. The Brit and Tomas were cutting 2x4 boards to some magical size I didn't understand, when two men in work clothes arrived. "So are these the floors," the older one asked. "Yeah, all the way back to where we are working." The Brit explained. "We are going to have to scrape that tile up and see what's under it," the older man said. "You do that but it's hardwood. I have no idea what condition it is in, but that's what you are here to tell me." he said. After they left he said to me. "They are supposed to be hardwood flooring experts. They fucking better be." I laughed and drank my coffee. By noon The Brit and Tomas had a list of hardware they needed. They also had a lunch order. I went out and got both. When I returned Jeremy was in the building. He was wearing one of those cotton particle masks. There Tomas and the Brit were cutting the boards with no mask, while Jeremy was prancing around looking like something from a bad Japanese movie. But I held my tongue. The flooring guys had been contacted sometime before that day for sure. They came in and measured the space for the bar and gave The Brit a price to remove the tile first, then clean the floor of glue residue. No matter what was under the tile that had to be done. He must have agreed to whatever they said to him in private, because they began to work with scrapers digging up the tile. That took all after noon, but we could see the glue covered hard wood floors by 4PM when Tomas left. I was ready to go home when The Brit changed hats metaphorically speaking and took my rifle from the rear of his truck. "It seems to be a nice little gun, but I'm not sure you will be able to hold it steady enough with that hand," he said not sparing my feelings. "What do you suggest?" I asked. "Well have you seen the forearms that are a pistol grip?" he asked. "Sure and that sounds like a good idea,. I could hold a large one in my fucked up grip. I could at least hold it well enough to work the bolt. Then I could brace it against something as well. " I agreed. "Tomas and I can probably rig you something one day," The Brit suggested. We might could figure out something that wouldn't have to damage the gun itself." "That doesn't matter. It wasn't all that expensive. Just make it so I can steady the gun and work the bolt without totally losing the sight picture." I said as I put the gun in the back of the cruiser van. I drove home with plans to stay home and do my boring home things. It was just another day in County Seat and the box house for me. I went to bed knowing that the next day would be more or less a repeat of that day. Everyday for a while was just going to be like the one before it. I found that I no longer had a problem with that. To be honest it was how I felt at the time, but soon I would need my life or death moment fix. Damn I knew it was fucked up, but I couldn't stop it. I didn't help a bit that I knew there were others like me. Even The Brit couldn't do more than understand it. Not even he could stop it. Hell he would probably be beside me. ------- Chapter 167 We finished the first work week on the pub and I could see progress even though The Brit was getting impatient. The floors were finished on both levels. We had worked around the floor guys so there were things going on everywhere at once. To me there didn't seem to be a plan, but I had to admit things were coming together. Everyone dropped what they were doing and went to work painting the upstairs. We had to finish it before the flooring men worked up there. We did that and the upstairs loft looked really nice. Tomas and Brit had the kitchen framed in while the flooring men moved upstairs. It was pretty much ready for fixtures by the end of the first week. I didn't see how he got so much done, until I realized that the changes were all cosmetic. The Brit wanted the building to look old. On day five the Brit was ready to start on the bar itself. "Have you ever built a bar before," I asked Tomas. "He doesn't need to have experience building a bar. I know what I want." The Brit said. "Do you know what they will approve. Everybody and his brother will be in to inspect this place before they give you a license. You might want to be sure the bar you are building is going to be acceptable, before you waste a lot of time on it." I suggested. The Brit made the calls on his cell phone while I sat with a cup of bad coffee. When the call was finished he kicked the brick wall. He was lucky that he didn't break a toe. "So?" I asked. "What we plan is fine as long as the top is seamless." he said. We will have to lay a granite top on it," he said. "No you don't. You can put some man made shit on it as long as it is seamless. Check with Home Depot and then build the bar to fit the top," I suggested. We were arguing about when Mary Ellen came through the front door bold as brass. She walk up to The Brit and congratulated him. The place looks terrific," she said. The Brit looked at me while he spoke to her. "Thanks it's coming along." "Sylvia there is a Party at Mountain home in one of the lodges tomorrow night. I am inviting you all to come. Especially you Sylvia," she said. Then added, "No strings attached." The Brit look at me and I knew he was hoping we would make up. I looked at The Brit who replied, "Sure why not,. "Why not indeed" I said. "Sylvia have you forgiven me for helping those two ingrates," She said. "No, but I'm past the point of killing you all," I said. "Thats a good thing then, So who is going to drive up there?" Mary Ellen asked. "I can drive the SUV and we will all have a little room," The Brit suggested. It was agreed that we would meet at the new pub building and drive up in the SUV. I wasn't crazy about the driving arrangements, but I was willing to go along with it. Just as long as I didn't have to pretend everything was alright between me and Mary Ellen. I had decided it was time to introduce Porter to the world. Porter was and effeminate guy. Twenty eight years old, my own age, and a really fun loving guy, When I got out of the car dressed as Porter no one seemed at all surprised. I wasn't surprised that The Brit got it, but Jeremy and Mary Ellen should have been a little surprised anyway. The fact that they weren't could mean I hadn't fooled them or maybe it didn't mean anything because they had always thought I looked mannish. Either way I was committed, so let the games begin. We left County Seat at six and arrived on the mountain at 8:30. "Well Mary Ellen I certainly hope you have an invitation. I would hate like hell to be forced to turn around and drive home." I said. "Not to worry Porter honey, you are the invitation," she said with a smile. "Oh that sounds rather interesting," I suggested. The Brit and Jeremy followed behind. "So how did you know about this party." "There is always a party in Mountain home. The question is only what is your perversion of choice. Surely you remember that." Mary Ellen said with a smile. "Don't get the idea that entertaining my friends gets you off the hook," I said. "Oh I thought I was also entertaining you Porter," she said with a laugh. No I didn't know how she knew in advance what I had in mind but I did know one thing. She best not be bugging me again. If she did Mary Ellen might be going out of business permanently. "So how did you know?" I asked. "I didn't know anything until you got out of your toy car. I can spot a gay boy a mile away. A real one that is. I have to admit I never saw a woman pretend to be a gay man before. I won't ask why, I will just enjoy the show. "I'll try to make it interesting for you," I said. "Oh I don't think you will have to try love. I'm sure it will be interesting." she said it about ten seconds before she rang the bell. The door was opened very quickly. "Why Mary Ellen, I see you brought friends," the older man said. "Yes Harold, I most certainly did. This delicious young man is Porter. We met last week. The other delicious young man is Jeremy. And last but not least we have an English gentleman named Allen." Mary Ellen informed the older gentleman. "And we all know who you are Mary Ellen. You are our very own pimp," he said laughing. "Well come on in all of you, welcome to the party." Oh shit, I thought. About half the guys were naked. I decided I might have a problem. "Are we required to take out clothes off?" I asked smiling seductively at the old man. "No but we hope you will after you relax a bit," he said. "I quite like the looks for Porter, Marry Ellen. He and Jeremy are going to fit right in. I don't know about Allen. He has the look of British aristocracy about him. You know he thinks he is better than us rabble." He did laugh when he said it. He wasn't trying to hide his feelings. Jeremy and I started to socialize. I heard him say that it was the most fun he had in months. He was drinking and dancing with the other Girlie boys. I joined in to keep him close. It wouldn't do for him to blow my cover, or to get himself in a jam from which Alan had to save him. People could get hurt, I thought. A middle-age man who reeked of money approached me. "What's your name honey," he asked. I tried to lower the tone of my voice when I said "Porter." "Well Porter you sure do have a pretty mouth," he said. "Are you quoting from the book Deliverance?" I asked. "You actually read that honey?" he asked. "No, I saw the movie," I said. The middle-age man laughed. "Come on let me buy you a drink," he suggested. I left Jeremy to follow the older man to the bar which had been set up in the main room of the lodge. "Porter what do you want to drink?" he asked. "I really like white wine," I said. "Ah Chablis?" he asked. "That's fine, am I suppose to be a hooker or something cause I'm not you know," "Lord no honey, we just invite your good looking boys up to have fun that's all. Nobody has to do anything." he said. I drank the very cold white wine and looked around at the other pretty boys. Most of them looked a hell of a lot like me. Shaggy hair and flat chests seemed to be everywhere. Half of them were trying to look like they could be girls as well as boys. I found it amusing that I was trying to look the other way. It seemed really funny to me. I mean way funnier than it should have. The older man who had bought me the drinks was talking to me but he sounded like he was standing in a tunnel or something. I felt him take my arm and lead me away from the others. He was still talking and I was trying to answer, but I wasn't sure anything was coming out of my mouth. Then in kind of a haze I felt something in my mouth. I heard the voice say suck it Porter come on honey suck it." Of course I did. It felt really good in my mouth as I sucked it and felt it moving around in my mouth or maybe my mouth was moving over it. I wasn't sure at all what was going on. Next thing I remember I was on my hands and knees while he pulled my pants and my panties off. It must have been dark because I didn't hear any comments about being a girl. He just drove his cock into my back channel. I felt my sphincter being spread. I was glad I had done it back door before because he would have really hurt me other wise. "You didn't have to take it, I would have given it to you," I said. I heard myself say in but I didn't recognize my own voice. When he came in my ass he groaned and fell off me. I lay down to sleep I was so tired. I don't how long it was, but I felt another cock in me. I tried to help him work in me but he got angry when I tried to help him. I knew better than to talk back, so I just went along. I had no idea how many men came in my back side but it was more than two or three I know that. When it was over I heard the Brit say, "Come on Sylvia you have been drugged, and buggered." My answer was simply, "Do you want to fuck my ass to?" "No honey, I'm going to take you home." Then it was a fog for a while. After the fog it was black for a while. Then I woke up in my own bed made on the floor. The Brit was sitting in my office chair over me. "What happened," I asked him. "Wait I need a glass of water and then I need to use the bathroom." He actually helped me to the bathroom naked. He also got me a glass then ran water from the sink beside the toilet. "God I need a shower my head it like wrapped in a wad of cotton," I said. The Brit helped me into the shower. I stayed there for a long time. When I came out I asked, "What the fuck happened." "You found out the dangers of being a gay hustler. You dear where raped by several men. It happened before I knew what was going on. I thought you were having fun. I know how kinky you can be. I went in to check on you and found you in a stupor. You had been drugged." "I'm alright now. I just want to go back to the bathroom then to sleep, you don't have to stay." I said. "Would you leave me?" he asked. "Bet you ass I would," I said with a smile. "That's what I thought. Go to sleep and we will figure out what to do next." The Brit said. ------- Chapter 168 "I need to see Mary Ellen," I said over my bowl of cereal that Sunday morning, "I'll bring her to the pub," The Brit said. He meant the building, we had worked on all week. It was still empty and on a Sunday afternoon the whole downtown would be. I loved The Brit at that moment. There was no question about what I was planning, or had I thought it through, there was a simple, I'll get her. I wanted to ride the bike or run but my butt was too sore for either. So I sat at the door of my box house and drank cup after cup of coffee. I also swallowed a couple of OTC pain medication. I didn't think too much about what I was going to do, I prepared myself for it. I found the old blue tarp I had used to cover my building material and rolled it up tighter so it would fit in the cruiser van. Then I drove to the pub. I sat in front of it till The Brit drove up with Mary Ellen. I watched as he drove around to the alley behind the building. I hadn't seen her in the SUV, since she had been laying in the black seat. I noticed when he opened the door that she had a bag over her head. He hustled her inside the pub. "Don't do this upstairs, that's my home." he made sure Mary Ellen heard him. "Take her hood off Brit. I want her to see every thing we are doing," He pulled her bag off, but did not remove the duct tape from her mouth. I didn't speak to her at all. I spread the tarp over the newly finished hardwood floor. Then I put one folding chair in the center of the tarp. I personally pushed her to the chair. "Sit your ass down," I said as I pushed her down. "I would ask if you were comfortable, but I don't give a shit." She tried to speak. "Not yet Mary Ellen you will get your chance to communicate." I removed the large box opener from my pants pocket. "Here is what I think you did. Now don't even make a sound while I talk. I think you have been providing talent to the Mountain home parties since their beginning, two years ago. Like most addictions it grows. First they just wanted to have girls come up and they got a little strange ass. I was there for some of those parties. But after a while that wasn't enough for them. So you started providing hookers who would do the kinky shit for them. After all there are a great deal of housewives in need of money in such poor area as Warren County. So you were pimping for those parties. Now Mary Ellen you can nod or shake you head. Were you pimping for them?" I said. I stood in front of her holding the box opener. "If you fucking lie to me Mary, your face will look like a patchwork quilt when they find you, if they ever find you at all." She nodded her head. "Now that's a good girl Mary Ellen, What I asked myself is what can I take from you that will cause you great pain. There aren't a lot of things you value. Certainly exposing you would ruin your business and make you a outcast in the community. But if I know you, you would land on your feet. I could fuck your face up, but God knows you aren't a raving beauty now. See I can do anything to you, because you aren't going to the cops no matter what I do. If you do go to the cops, you will be in the cell next to mine. You do believe that don't you Mary Ellen." She nodded her head again. "Give me the password to all your websites. Write them down," I demanded. The Brit managed to come up with a piece of paper. "Mary Ellen I want them all including the underground ones the men use to contact you. We are going to remove your presence from the Web, or we will remove you. Sweetie that is your only choice." She wrote and continue to write for at least twenty minutes. I was pretty sure she just gave us part of them, she would hold back the ones she thought I couldn't find. "Now Mary Ellen, I want all your blackmail materials write down where they are, and how to access them." After she finished that I said, "Mary Ellen pull up your bank account," I pushed my laptop to her. Now I want the name on the pay pal accounts of Jeff and Phil. She wrote it down for me. Now Mary Ellen, if you want to live you will transfer all the money from your account to their pay pal account. Use your pay pal account to make the transfer." She balked, so I cut off her ear lobe. After that there was real terror in her eyes. I saw it and I didn't flinch there was more evil in me at that moment, than there was in Mary Ellen. When she finished she slumped back in the chair. "I will never know how many real victims you took to Mountain Home. I wonder how many of them would like to be here to see you die. It is a shame I can't call a meeting and take a vote like a jury. I walked away to let her think a moment. To let her make peace with her god. Then I put a bag over her head again. The bag I used was from home depot and was made of plastic. I held it tight over her face cutting off all oxygen. In spite of how they show it on TV, that is not a clean way to die. She struggled she vomited into the bag and probably her air way. In the end she was just gone. She was just alive and struggling one moment and dead the next. We wrapped her body in the tarp and carried her into the alley where the cruiser van was parked. We force fitter her into the back of it. "What are you going to do with her?" The Brit asked. He didn't seem at all worried just curious. "The sun will be down soon. I'm going buy some house hold cleaning rubber gloves, then I'm going to strip her and in the dark of night I'm going to drop her in the reservoir." I explained. "I'll buy the gloves and meet you at your place," he said. "You will need some help getting her into the reservoir." We took her clothes off at my place while wearing the gloves. We returned her to the plastic tarp. At 2am we dropped her body off a bridge on county road 1181, She went into the water where the county road crossed an inlet of the regional reservoir. The tarp went into a dumpster reserved for county residents on the far side of the county near the photographers house. She would no doubt turn up in a few days, the tarp probably never would. Not only did she go into the reservoir, but my computer she had used went in as well. When she turned up, the cops would start running her background. Find her computer trail, and then the money trail leading to the two photographers. I wondered what their alibi would be for a Sunday night. The Brit called Jeremy several times and told him I wasn't doing well and he didn't want to leave me. At 5AM The Brit went home and I rode the bike for two hours. I didn't feel the need to justify Mary Ellen's death. She had proved to be not just quirky, as I once thought, but evil. She knew what was going to happen to me, at Mountain Home. I wondered why in the name of god, she thought that I wouldn't take revenge on her. I showered then dressed in my work clothes. I stopped for a biscuit, but I couldn't eat more than a single bite. It had never killed anyone who had once been a friend. It had not been a kill or be killed situation. I had complained about unprovoked killing to Karl, and there I was wrestling with having done the same thing. It was a murder, no matter how you cut it. The Brit and I met and worked on his pub without mentioning Mary Ellen. Why should we mention her. We had both killed people for a damn sight less compelling reasons. Mary Ellen needed killing, pure and simple. She was going to get someone killed, if she hadn't already. I regretted only that the Brit had gotten involved. I threw myself into the work and ignored that part of my brain trying to make sense of what I had done. It made no sense, I was not going to sit around playing what if, I told myself. Instead I cut and measured boards that day. Jeremy showed up and worked upstairs. He looked shaken. I looked at The Brit and knew my secret was safe with him. He hadn't told Jeremy. The kid was shaken by what happened to him up there as well. I had no idea what that was and didn't need to ask. I was dealing with my own demons. The Brit looked at me as Jeremy past and then said, "He is not going to be a problem. Do you understand me Sylvie." I nodded. and went back to putting wood screws in the back shelves of the pub. Even with all the bullshit going on, I still had to go to the bathroom every once in a while. Nothing ever happened in there. We finished the back bar shelves. The Brit insisted that they be made of wood not glass. So the three of us had worked a whole day on them. About all I could do was hold the shelf in place, and drill a hole every now and then, and run in a wood screw. I was pretty exhausted by 4PM when Tomas left for the day. The Brit, Jeremy and I sat at the folding table with a coke each. Jeremy spoke first, "I'm sorry for what happened to you in Mountain Home," He said. "Oh don't worry Jeremy, I have had worse things happen. I'm just glad I had a friend like Allen to help me through it." I said. "We can all put it behind us." Jeremy said, "Yes that is for the best." It was the right thing for him to say. I drove the cruiser van home to the box house. I sure hoped that Jeremy didn't become a problem. I went to bed early Monday night, I was exhausted. Even with all the things on my mind, I fell right to sleep and slept until 5AM. At 5:30 I was on my bike and riding along the country roads. I was sitting at the Cafe on the Square at six thirty. I bought breakfast and check for gossip, Mary Ellen's name was not mentioned. Something about a new farmer's market was being discussed, so I tuned them out. Nobody seemed to miss Mary Ellen until Wednesday, when the Sheriff finally declared her a missing person. That only came about because her teenage girlfriend reported her missing. The Brit and I stayed busy with Tomas working on the pub. It was the end of the second week and we were ready for kitchen equipment. At the same time we declared the place ready for the outside contractors to take over, Jeremy declared he was ready to move into the upstairs loft. The Brit figure he could supervise the contractors better, if he lived in the building. So on the second weekend I helped them move their meager possessions into the space above the bar. There was a fire escape entrance to the apartment that could be used to avoid going through the bar. There was also a set of steps leading from the bar up to the loft. Tomas had built a false wall around them. The wall had a door with a good lock as well. ------- Chapter 169 The Brit was dealing with contractors the next day, so he didn't need my help on the pub at all. Which left me time to think about the shotgun problem again. I decided not to trade the Mossberg pump gun in on a new shotgun. It would be worth next to nothing in its present state. So Tuesday after my ride and while the kitchen equipment contractor worked on The Brit's pub, I headed for the gun store where I had bought the .22 mag revolver and derringer. It was almost an hours drive, but I didn't mind. "Hello," the salesman, who had been so arrogant the last time I visited, said. "Hello yourself," I replied. "What can I do for you today," he asked. "I'm looking for a 20 gauge over and under shotgun. Not too expensive and I don't plan to ever use it. "Well in the last couple of years a Brazilian gun has gotten a lot of chatter. They haven't been around long enough to get a reputation for reliability, but they seem to work fine for the first year or two at least." he said being a hell of a lot more helpful than on my first visit. "Have you got one here?" I asked. "I sure do," he said walking across the store and retrieving a moderately long barreled shotgun. "It ain't fancy but it will do the trick." I tried to hold it with my bad hand and knew that it wasn't going to work the way it was supposed to. The forearm was a bit thin. On the other hand it broke down allowing me to use my good hand to reload it as opposed to having to pump it. "So how much," I asked. "Retail is $350 but I could maybe do $300," he said. "I need the barrel shortened. It isn't any good to me at it is now. If you cut the barrel down to half inch over legal, I'll give you $300 for it. I would also like to leave with it now," I said. "Let me check with the boss." the salesman said. He was gone about ten minutes before he came back. "Boss said you pay up front and accept a hacksaw cut and it's a deal." I reached in my cargo pants pocket for the cardboard wallet I carried. I gave him three one hundred dollar bills and two twenties for tax. Without a word he carried the over and under into the back. Then minutes later he brought the gun back. "You want to be careful, those barrels will rust. You to keep some protection on them. Boss coated them with some lacquer, but it needs to be redone now and then." "Sounds reasonable," I said. I left with a riot length shot gun and a box of 20 gauge #2 buckshot It would stop a man and I didn't need to be all that accurate to do it. I could have had The Brit hack it off, but I figured why not get it done at the shop where I bought it. I decided after I got home I wanted a pistol grip, so the next day I went to the pub. Tomas was helping The Brit paint and put Formica on some pantry shelves. Painted wood alone would not pass the health department inspection. "Hey Brit how about using your Columbian Spanish to ask Tomas, if he can turn this stock into a pistol grip." I asked. The Brit looked at the weapon and said, "You do realize that you have totally fucked up this shotgun?" "Yeah, now will you ask him?" I asked Rather than answer he rattled off some Spanish. Then The Brit said to me. "He will do it, but he doesn't like it either. He insists you never tell anyone, who did it for you." "Agreed." I said. When Tomas left he took the shot gun with him. He wanted to do it in his shop at home. I didn't have any problem with that. "So Sylvia, it's been two weeks since we saw Mary Ellen where do you think she is?" "Probably California, she was always saying she might go to California." I replied. "Sylvia are you alright out there in the county all by yourself," Jeremy asked. "I'm just fine Jeremy. I stopped drinking anything I didn't fix myself," I replied looking at The Brit when I said it. "That sounds like a good policy to me," Jeremy replied. "Well I've been good since that Mountain Home party. I might just go out this weekend and get in trouble," I said. "You want us to come along and be sure you don't get in over your head," The Brit asked. "No that's okay. I learned my lesson," I said. I went home to spend the day alone. I did some research on the computer, then I went for a ride on the tricycle. I ate my meals alone and I drank my shine alone. I really didn't like it since I had gotten used to The Brit being around. I knew he and Jeremy preferred each other's company to mine. Hell I didn't blame them a bit. I rode out to the biker bar where I had sold my shine. The owner was very nice to me but he was a business man. It was buy a drink or sell some shine, which is how I preferred it myself. I had one beer and left before the crowds arrive. I was getting bored and that was dangerous. I probably shouldn't start anything new at that moment, I thought. So I drove home thoroughly miserable. I just climbed into bed. I seemed to be sliding into a depressed state. The next morning after my ride, I met two deputies over breakfast at the Cafe on the Square, where I had taken to eating breakfast lately. They were late getting away from the office it seemed. They were late because someone, who was cat fishing in the reservoir, hooked Mary Ellen. Things like that didn't happen in County Seat. I mean sure some women got pissed at their husband and shot him with the family deer rifle. It was possible that a man found his wife in bed with someone else, and then shot them both dead, but a naked Mary Ellen in the reservoir was unusual. Even though the deputies didn't know the cause of death, with her being naked, they immediately thought of rape. I was sitting near enough to eavesdrop on them. The deputies both knew me and nodded when I went by, but didn't speak to me directly. They seemed curious about her but not much more than that. The case belonged to the detectives and the chief deputy. they were just as glad it wasn't their's. Cops in general hate who done its. With good reason it could leave a sour taste in your mouth, if you couldn't figure out who done it, I thought. I got on my bike for the long ride out to the box house. On the way out there, I knew I should have been nervous, but I wasn't. I had taken out the trash, and done all I could to clean up after, so now it was in God's hands. It was my guess that today they would be tracing Mary Ellen's movements over the last days of her life. It was good for me that she was paranoid. It would be hard, if not impossible, for the cops to find out about Mary Ellen's trip to Mountain Home. Neither Jeremy, or the Brit would even come into the investigation. If I did, my plan was, in the words of our president, 'Deny, Deny, Deny'." With that in mind I went to the pub to help out. Tomas had my shotgun, I really hadn't expected it so soon. I locked it in the cruiser van then went back inside to work. The tables and booths came so we spent a lot of time arranging and rearranging them. The place was beginning to look like a bar though. I didn't bother to spread the news. Jeremy had been out shopping. He came in with a big bag, then he asked me and Tomas to go back to the SWV for the rest of his purchases. He had a dart board and candles in a jar. I would never have used those things, but what the hell it wasn't my place. I expected the Deputies and Troopers to at least come in once, since it was much closer than the Cop Out in Dobson. That being the case I had my 12 Gauge Mossberg pump with the shortened barrel mounted over the bar. I don't think Jeremy liked it much, but he went along with it. I decide that it was Friday and I needed to get laid like a woman. The shotgun reminded me of the Cop out club in Dobson. So of course I had to head that way. It was 9PM when I pulled into the parking lot of the Cop Out Club. It was a members only club but I knew I could sign in as a guest. I was wearing my red tee shirt with no bra and a pair of tight jeans over my skinny ass. I wasn't sexy, but the guys seemed to like me. I expected to have to ask someone to sign me in, but the man on the door was someone I knew from my Deputy days. "Sylvia is that you?" he asked. "Yeah it's me," I had no idea what his name was. "My God girl, it's been forever. What happened to your hand?" he asked. "Got a splinter in it. Anybody in there I know?" I asked. "Don't think so, you been gone a long time. If you ain't got a badge you gonna need someone to sign you in. But hell, I'll sign you in," he said. "Thank you, I appreciate it," I said. I walked into the single room of the cop out club. It was just a converted old commercial building, a half mile outside the city limits. Seemed like a good place to get away from the Dobson PD. Hell everybody knew the Warren County deputies wouldn't bother checking it, unless somebody called. Nobody in the club was going to call a cop, unless somebody died in the club. It would take one stupid ass, to start trouble in that club. If I had been a member I would have brought The Brit, but probably found a way to leave Jeremy home. Cops and Queens don't get on so well. Even thought there are gay policemen and women. Hell they all though I was a pure dyke. I mean I did dress butch and all, but I had a feminine side as well. I was planning to show my feminine side, if I found a man who attracted me at all. Before I could start trolling for men, a woman approached me. "Hey you are Sylvia Porter aren't you?" she asked. "Some days I am, do I know you?" I asked her. "I'm agent Morris with the SBI. We kept an eye on you for a while when you first got injured." she said. "Were you in Capitol City?" I asked. "No, I worked out of the Dobson motel at the time. We usually have something going up here or down on the coast. The agent who caused the accident, that injured you, was working on something else down at the swamp, when the call came in ... Since we caused the injury we were just keeping an eye on you." she said. "So when did you stop watching me?" I asked a little worried that it might not have been soon enough. "Last year they pulled us all off. For some reason they decided you were on your own," she replied. "Messenger," I said looking at the bar signs. "She decided I had a new gig, so I didn't need babysitting." "We never did an active surveillance. It was more like your name was in the computer's red flag list," she advised me. "When and if it came up we went out to be sure you were okay." "Well then you didn't see me at all. I haven't had any attention paid to me for the last year at least," I said. "No, but I know all about you," she said. Not all, I thought. "You know just in case we needed to get you out of trouble." ------- Chapter 170 "Well these days I try to stay out of trouble," I said. "I certainly hope so. You know it's hard to live on that pension. A lot of early retirees try to supplement it." "Well honey, all my income is reported. I don't hide anything. so feel free to check it out," I said. "How about I check it out personally?" she asked. "Feel free to come around anytime. I'm always glad to have a cop stop by," I said. Since she was in the club first, I didn't expect it had anything to do with me. "If you aren't here to check on me, what brings you up here," I asked. "Your sheriff invited us to come up and help with an investigation. I really can't say any more." It was a teaser statement. The kind of thing a cop says to find out how much a citizen knows. She was waiting to see if I would ask, whether she was working on a certain case. I really didn't care. I knew they weren't going to tie me to anything. That was for sure my hope. If I over played my hand, it might look like I was trolling for information on the Mary Ellen investigation. She was sure to find out, if she didn't already know, that I knew her. "Well good luck to you on whatever brings you here," I said moving away from her. If she followed, I would be a person of interest. Well it could be for a different reason than strictly business. Going to bed with a suspect, was totally a bad idea. Playing up to one in a bar was good police work. So if she came at me again, I would see how far she was willing to go. Otherwise I had said all I was planning to say to her. I moved down the bar making it obvious that the conversation had come to an end. "Hi there you new here," A guy asked. "Well I've been here before, but it was a couple of years ago, and I only came a time or two. You a cop?" I asked. "Well not exactly, I'm a highway patrolman." he said. "Oh you ride up and down the roads," I said. "Yeah something like that, what do you do?" he asked. "You ever see that show on TV storage wars?" I asked. "Yeah, you do that," he asked. "I'm retired on disability. I do that to earn a little extra money now and then," I said. I didn't try to hide it, since it was better if I told it, than if they sprung it on me. I had no idea whether he was working on the Mary Ellen thing and didn't care. It was my cover story, even before I had to kill Mary Ellen. "So you have a store somewhere," he asked. "No, I resell the thrift store stuff to a guy who does flea markets. I just deal in estate jewelry. Sometimes I go to festivals, but I sell a lot of it online." I said. "That sounds like a sweet deal," he suggested. "Well, I don't get rich, but you never know it could happen one day. One of those pieces of jewelry, or art, could be worth real money." I suggested. "Damn Silvia, is that really you," I nodded to the guy who approached me. "I thought that was you." the young man said. He was obviously a cop. "Do I know you," I asked. "Damn, I'm that easy to forget," he said it with a laugh. "I'm Deputy Bobby Ellis. I worked for Warren County at the same time you were there. I guess it was natural you wouldn't remember me. I came in just a month before you went UC with the state." "Sure Bobby, you still with Warren County," I asked. trying like hell to place him. "You don't remember me at all. Don't feel bad, I'm with the crime lab and yeah I'm still there." he said. "Of course the crime lab," I said. "They were just cranking it up when I went UC. So how is the Sheriff these days. Is he going to run again." I asked staying the hell away from Mary Ellen. "He had his posters printed. He said this is the last term for him. He has some health issues. There was some speculation, you might run against him. You know you are are pretty well known. You got a lot of press over the years," he said. "Well you never know. How do you think you would feel working under a woman," I asked. I noticed the Highway Patrolman drifted off. I also noticed he didn't go sit with Morris the SBI agent. "Depends on what kind of work you are talking about," he said with a laugh. "Well it might have been Monkey business before I knew you were a Warren County employee. I can't have you getting the wrong idea, just in case I do end up your boss," I said. "Okay, I'll leave you alone then," he said. If I was a person of interest I could imagine them saying, "I got to give it to her. The woman has balls. Her walking into a known cop bar would take big ones." If I were a person of interest they would expect me to be trying to gain information about the investigation. I acted as if I didn't even know Mary Ellen was dead. That had to confuse them at the very least. I finished my beer and had another one. I side stepped more than one advance. Some where smoother than others, just like they would be in any other bar. When I saw Morris go to the ladies room, I went behind her. I took a chance and forcefully pushed her against the wall and kissed her hard. Lots of tongue and heat. She didn't return it at all. "You know that is assault," she said. "And you would seriously take that to court," I said with a laugh. "No," she said as she pulled me back to her. That time she was the aggressor. My submissive side was getting the better of me when next she spoke. "This wouldn't be good for either of us." "What fooling around?" I asked. "Being seen fooling about by cops. I'll meet you in the parking lot." she said. I handed her a 'quick print' business card from the quick print shop. Every time I changed burner phones, they ran off twenty five business cards for me with the new number. "Call me, I need to get some sleep tonight. Big day tomorrow," I said. "Be sure it's at a time when you have a few hours. I think it is going to take that long." "You know, you will be my first woman," she said. "Another good reason to stop and take a breath," I said. The fact that she was willing was enough for me. She probably wouldn't have gone through with it, if she was playing me. At least she wasn't revolted by it for sure. I would just see, if she called. She hadn't learned anything and she hadn't give away anything, so it was a no harm no foul situation so far. If I played her it would be a long con. She couldn't play me without crossing the line, making her testimony useless in court. Yeah it was cold blooded, but sometimes you just had to be that way. The Box house was a little cool, when I arrived, so I turned the ceramic furnace on for a few minutes, just to take the chill away. The area was so small even my body heat would help keep it warm. I also put on a very unsexy four sizes to large sweat shirt, I had stolen it from The Brit. The Brit really didn't need me, so I took a look on line for a storage locker auction. There was one two weeks away in Dobson, but there was one scheduled for Friday of the same week at a warehouse. It was an insurance auction for damaged packages from a trucking company. After my bike ride the next morning, I sat down to check for any new action listings. There were no overnite listing, so what the hell, I thought. I called Mary Ellen's young friend, who had worked with me before. I acted as though I knew nothing about Mary Ellen. Yes I was trolling for information as well as merchandise. "So kid how about bringing your truck and lets go to a damaged auction over in Granger. The S&K warehouse is doing an insurance thing. I called Mary Ellen, but she must have gone out of town." I said. "Sylvia, haven't you heard?" he asked. "Heard what?" I replied. "They found Mary Ellen floating in the reservoir," he explained. "I didn't know Mary Ellen had a boat?" I asked. "No she didn't, but she was in the reservoir for sure. The cops said she was naked, I can't believe you haven't heard," the kid said. "I haven't heard a word about it. Damn I'm sorry to hear that. Mary Ellen and I were in business together. I thought it was a little strange, that I hadn't heard from her for a while, but it was like that with Mary Ellen. I never heard from her unless she wanted something. To be honest I never called her unless I wanted something. I did call her last night, to see if she wanted to work this auction like we did the storage units. All I got was her voice mail." I explained. I was laying a false trail, just as I had by moving all her money to Phil and Jeff. I wouldn't mind seeing them get a lot of attention. Even if it might being down some heat on me as well. I had a feeling they wouldn't want to get into what all they had done, since Mary Ellen was not in the documentary part of the business. Maybe the porn. I would go down for but there was nothing illegal in that. Mary Ellen was pretty secretive about her business, so how much the cops could trace was questionable. Probably some of it from the teenage girlfriend. But I could be Mary Ellen hid her, since she could have been charged for her taste in lovers. There was so much shit she was into, that it would take the cops years to unravel it all. That might be why the SBI had been brought into the case. The kid and I decided I would go to the auction then call him, if I need him and his truck. Before the auction I spent two days helping The Brit finish his pub. It looked as though he would be open before another week passed. We also talked a bit about Mary Ellen. "Brit you need to tell Jeremy something. Just tell him you are a consultant to a private security company. Tell him you do body guard gigs and shit," I suggested. "Tell him to keep us from losing our license, he should forget about Mountain home," I said. "If anyone asks him, he met Mary though you and I. It was just a casual meeting." I suggested. "No need to mention how she set us all up. The less said about it the better." The Brit looked into my eyes and asked, "And what if Jeremy decides to go to the cops?" "That's up to you," I said. "The cops will probably never question him, but if they do he should tell the same story you do." "Yeah, you are right. I won't mention it unless I have to. The less said the better. I expect he can add two and two." he said. "Yeah by now the cops have found someone who saw her that Saturday, so they know she went in the water sometime after that. They can probably pin it down to Sunday by appointments she missed, or the store being closed on Monday. The best we can hope for is they take the bait, I threw at them. We can also hope that they never find out about Mountain Home. She wouldn't have told anyone, since it was not in her best interest." I explained it to The Brit. "If we have to bug out, make your way to the swamp," The Brit said before he turned away from me. ------- Chapter 171 I rode the bike on Friday for two hours. As I had begun to do lately, I went to the Cafe on the Square for breakfast. There was usually a deputy or two there, and since Mary Ellen was a local business women, she was a topic of conversation around there. Even if there were no cops, there was always some news that someone had gotten from a cop. The latest thing was the cops thought they might have a good lead. I thought, if the lead is the camera men, it was about fucking time. I said nothing. I wasn't trying to lay a false trail at the time. I had a thought though, if the SBI thought that they had a good lead, I might be hearing from Agent Morris. In that case it would be a good thing. I knew I would get her into bed before I discussed Mary Ellen. I had to laugh because that was kind of arrogant of me. She obviously had second thoughts, since she hadn't called. Newbys usually call while they were still in a fever, I thought. If she doesn't call today, but does call later it will be a trap for sure. I showered and dressed. Then I sat at the computer researching things that caught my fancy until noon. At noon I got in the Cruiser Van and drove to the S&K trucking warehouse. It was located a few miles on the farr side of Dobson. It didn't matter since I had driven farther to buy storage lockers, I thought, It took me a while to find where the auction was going to take place, but it always did. Even in the places I had been at least once, they were always changing things around. Trying to keep it interesting I expected. I didn't like the damaged freight auction. They actioned it off a box at a time. I would be there all day for the two hundred piece auction. I stayed about an hour and bought nothing. I had a very late lunch in Dobson but found nothing interesting to do there, so I drove home. When I got home I found a note on my door, the SBI agents had been around. I'm sure they only had one or two agents assigned to a homicide in a small town. Mary Ellen had no known ties to anything important, like the mob or politics, so it would be just a small investigation. If they tied me and The Brit to the case, then things might get interesting. I didn't really have that in mind, when I threw them Jeff and Phil. It certainly wouldn't hurt to have them focus somewhere else. I called the number on the card for Agent Morris. "Agent Morris," was the way she answered her phone. "Very business like," I said. "Who is calling?" she asked a little cautiously, like she knew it could be overheard. "This is Sylvia Porter. I thing you came to see me today," I said in a business like voice of my own. "Yes I did Miss Porter. I am interviewing some of the residents of County Seat who might have some insight into the Mary Ellen Poole case," she stated still using that business like voice. "And you think I could help you?" I asked carefully. "I would rather meet face to face for this interview. We are using the Sheriff's office for interviews," she added less definite than she should have been. "Well to be honest I don't like going to the Sheriff's office. We could do it at my place, or I can meet you on neutral ground, if you like." I said. "Well, since I know where you live, your place would be fine." she said. We agreed on an hour later. So I gave the box a quick cleaning, which included a careful vacuuming. Since Mary Ellen had never been in the place, I didn't mind a visit from the crime lab, let alone a detective. I checked out the refurbished computer I had bought to replace my old one. I wanted a refurb so that it didn't look new sitting on my desk, if I had the place searched. It was a small IBM laptop. I was in the midst of checking it out. I didn't know if I would keep it after the investigation ended. I did some things to it to made it more to my liking should I get it taken as evidence ... For one I added a second operating system. It still had the windows system and would open to it, unless the memory stick was inserted before it started. If it was in place, the computer would open to a Lenox system called Puppy. That system ran completely in the ram memory. It also wrote any new information onto that memory stick. Without the stick the computer opened to a windows system which was absolutely unused. A person would have to look carefully to find any trace of the Puppy System. They would need the memory stick to trace my movements on the web. It was all I could do without appearing guilty of something. I was on the computer when Morris arrived. I pulled the memory stick and turned the computer off. "I answered the timid knock with a "Hello come on in" in a strong voice. I was trying to control the interview. "Well Sylvia we meet again," Morris commented. Outside the dark bar she looked a little older. She was probably forty, a full ten plus years older than me. She also was a bigger woman than I remembered but she was a bit softer as well. I figured even with one good hand I could take her, if push came to shove. "I would like to record this meeting," she said placing a digital recorder on the storage box in front of her. "So we do Miss Morris, meet again that is," I said it still giving her a once over. She had large soft mama boobs. I liked that about her. She had a soft wide ass as well. I didn't think all that much of it. All in all she had looked a hell of a lot better in the Cop Out. "So what brings you here?" "It's Agent Morris, and as I said on the phone. We are speaking with anyone who knew Mary Ellen Hopkins. "So what can I do to help?" I asked. "Then you have heard that Mary Ellen's body has been recovered?" she asked. "Yes, a mutual friend told me. I called to ask him if he would help me with a project," I said. "I'll need his name," she demanded. I gave her his name and phone number. I didn't go into any details of what he had said. I left that for Morris to fill in. "Do you know what Mary Ellen might have been doing at the reservoir on Sunday?" "Not a clue did you find her body there?" I asked. "You friend didn't tell you where she was found?" Morris asked. "I don't put much faith in rumors. I try to get my information from someone who really knows," I said. She nodded then said, "A few days ago a fisherman found her naked body in the reservoir." "Just so you know Agent Morris to my knowledge Mary Ellen did not have a boat out there, nor did she know anyone who did. I didn't know enough about her that I can be sure, but to my knowledge she did not." I said. "How about one of the houses that back up to the reservoir?" she asked. Could she have been there for a party or somethiing. "Not that I know of," I replied. "Just for the record where were you that Saturday night and Sunday." I had expected it and was ready with half truths. "Well let me see that was three weeks ago. At that time I was working with The Brit on his pub, So I might have been working there during the day on Saturday. That night I most likely was home. I haven't been going out much lately. Not since I moved in here. Sunday I almost certain was in all day." "What about in the evening of Sunday?" she asked. "I expect that I was in a sex chatroom to be honest." I said. "So you don't have an alibi?" she asked. "I didn't know I needed one, since I haven't done anything," I said. It sounded good to me. "If I had known I needed one, I might have picked up a friend somewhere to spend the weekend It was three weeks ago." "Okay," she said. "Are we finished now," I asked. "No not quite. Do you know anyone who might want to harm Mary Ellen?" she asked. "No not a soul. Far as I know she didn't have any enemies," I replied. "Okay, now the interview is over." She said turning off the recorder. "In that case can I offer you a cup of coffee?" I said. "I'm afraid it is all I have to offer you. I do think I have a bottle of spring water in the refrigerator." "Don't bother I'm fine," she said. "You don't look fine. You look a little confused," I said "Agent Morris." "Okay it's Lisa, when I'm not being taped." she said noting my scornful use of her title. "That is a little better. Now you can tell me what the hell is going on with you. Not the case, you?" I asked that because I knew she wouldn't give me any information on the case. I figured she might let something slip, if I could work it into the personal questions. "Nothing is going on with me," she said. "Take the coffee, and if you decide you want to talk, I'll listen," I said. "I'll pass on the coffee, and on bearing my soul," she said. I could tell she wanted to tell me something. but I let it go. "Okay it's up to you, but I am a good listener." I had very deftly changed the narrative, if I do say so myself. "I do need you to forget what happened at the Cop Out club," she said. "If you forget it, I will too," I said. Well she might be for real about it all. She seemed to be leaning toward someone else not me. That was a very good thing. After she left I went back to the computer. I plugged the memory stick back into it and then started it. I had kept my contact list on a memory stick as well as a backup to my computer files which rested at the bottom of the reservoir. I baked a potato for my dinner. I had enjoyed the one I had a couple of weeks ago with The Brit, so I did it again. The one I had that night, I had alone, so it wasn't as good but it was filling. I went to bed early for me. It was around 9PM when I convert the DIY sofa to a bed. I put the .22mag revolver by the bed and went to sleep. I was way too close to that door for comfort. It reminded me that this was only phase one of the box house. I was planning a second box to use as a bedroom unit. I figure I would wait till all the fuss about Mary Ellen went away. My guess was that without a solid lead the body would take a backseat to some new case. I couldn't get to sleep till I pinpointed what was bothering me. Something was rolling around in my head, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Then I realized what it was. The cops had brought in the SBI, within the first 24hours and there was no obvious cause of death at that time at least. Could Mary Ellen has been more significant that I thought. What in the world would bring them in that quick. I knew that Mary Ellen wasn't a native to the area any more than I was. She had her fingers in a lot of questionable pies. For me that was a good thing, but something brought the big guns into the investigation first thing, so I had to wonder what it was. ------- Chapter 172 I rode the bike very early every morning. It was barely light out most morning when I began. Time passed slowly while Agent Lisa Morris did her thing. Then on a Friday, when I got back from my ride, Agent Morris was sitting in her car in my drive. "Well hello, are you Lisa or Agent Morris this morning?" I asked. "I'm Lisa, I just came to say goodbye. We are giving the investigation back to the Sheriff. We have done all we can do, now it's just slog is out and hope for the break that will never come." she said. "Oh, why do you say that," I asked. "Let's go inside and have that cup of coffee," she said to me. I opened the big heavy steel outside doors. She went inside first then I followed and closed the glass patio door behind us. Once I was in the kitchen I started the single cup coffee maker. I turned to her and learned back to the counter, Lisa kissed me way too passionately for 7AM even if was Friday. "I have been dreaming of doing that. Now that you are officially not a suspect, I can do it," she said. I knew better than to ask her why I was no longer a suspect. I just returned her kiss and clutched her hips. She began to grind against me as I kissed her. I could feel her big soft breasts flatten against me. I could only wonder what it felt like, since I barely had any breasts at all. Even so I could feel them being compressed and it was a comfortable feeling for me. I wondered if it was for her as well. Okay I only thought of that later. At the moment I was living from minute to minute. Since I knew how strong the cabinets where I tore her panties off before I sat her up on the eating counter. Once I had her up there I forced her legs apart then I bent to the task of licking her clit till she came. Once I had her body moving to music only she heard, I bent even lower and slipped my tongue inside her soaking body. She covered my face with her lubricant and I continued to work her body to a fever pitch. When she had enough she pulled me up and kiss my sticky face all over. She kiss and licked my face until I was as much a wreck as she was. When she finally slipped her finger into my shorts and brought me to the giant orgasm I craved, we relaxed together. She spoke first. "How about that coffee," she said with the kind of smile that only one thing in this world could produce. It was the smile of a satisfied woman. "Sure," I said moving away from the breakfast bar. "So are you really going to do that and leave?" "I couldn't do that till I left." she admitted. "So do you know who killed Mary Ellen?" I asked. "We found a couple of vague ties to organized crime, so we think it might have been a professional hit. We just can't find who was behind it." she said. "I'm sorry to hear that," I said. "You should know your name came up in the investigation," she added. I began to wonder, if I was being played. "Oh really," I said calmly. It was a calm no one could feel, when a cop said your name came up in a murder investigation, especially if you did the deed. "Why would you look at me. I mean Mary Ellen and I knew each other. We were sorta in business together, but other than that we didn't have much of a relationship." I said. "Well it was the business you were in. She had some pretty rough images of you." she said. "Sure, but I'm no shrinking violet. I knew she had them and I told her to put them on the net. I didn't want her blackmailing me. The fact that she had images of me sucking cock on the net helped me in the undercover work I did for you guys," I said. "It really was a win win situation." "In the end that the conclusion we came to. As far as we could find out from her little girl friend, you two were never involved romantically." She left the question dangling. I knew she was still working the case even if it were unofficial. "If you are asking if I ever fucked her, the answer is no. I don't mix business with pleasure," I said. Then I added, "You shouldn't either." "What does that mean," she asked. "It means, you might not be taping but you are still being agent Morris," I said with a laugh. "Yes I am, but it's just follow up. We really have moved on to organized crime. We think they made her transfer funds to her cameramen to throw us off the track. But anyone could have done it, and the boys seemed to not really understand it. They also had alibis," she said. "That's good for them," I said not feeling at all that way. "Yes they were out filming for the new season of their documentary, which is also illegal. By the way that is you in the documentary." It wasn't a question it was a statement of fact." "Did they tell you they ever tasted the 'moonshine' I made?" I asked. "They said you wouldn't let them." she said. "No because it was all a set up. I was repackaging Vodka," I said. " Or just pretending to sell and it was water. It was all about the documentary, not the liquor." "You can prove that?" she asked. "I think you have to prove something, not me." I said. "Well that doesn't matter because I really will be gone today. I just stopped by to say goodbye," Lisa Morris said to me. She handed me the coffee cup planted a sloppy kiss on me and left. The investigation of Mary Ellen's death was for intents and purposes over. To be honest it didn't seem as though it was a very thorough investigation. And what the hell were her ties to organized crime. That seemed pretty far out there, unless the ties were before she came to live in County Seat. That was possible I suppose. After Lisa left I felt a little let down. I couldn]t find anything that interested me. I honest to god gave some thought to robbing a bank. Anything to break the monotony of the moment. Then I thought about the day after and decided that I didn't want to be on the run the rest of my life. I got through the morning by calling my flea market friend to clean out the rolling shed. I pulled everything out of the shed. I asked him to put what he thought he could sell into a pile and to pile those things he thought were a waste of time into a second tile. The to sell pile was only slightly larger than the crap pile. He made one trip to the country landfill and the second trip he carried to his place. Since it was a Friday he planned to leave it on the truck for a trip to the flea market the next day. "Tell you what for all the hard work, you can keep what money you make tomorrow. Do not refuse any offer for a sale, and anything that is left at the end of the weekend take to the dump." I said to him. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yeah I never want to see this shit again," I said with a laugh. The rolling storage unit had some mixing vats and some wooden paddles, but that was all. At the end of the day I had a clean building and the kid had all my shit except the spare tire for the Toyota, which I no longer owned. When the kid had gone I took a saw to the tires. There were a couple of small tools I did keep. The hand held jig saw was one of them. Cutting the saw with it was a bitch, but I finally got into it around 5PM after two hours of work. I moved everything to a orange plastic insulated water jug. One of those large ones that go on the side of a work truck. I stuffed the bug out kit into it Then I put the plastic lid back on it. Once it was high up on the shelf, it looked just like a couple of others I had used as mixing vats. Since I had that done, I carried the pieces of the tire and wheel to the dumpsters. The ones used by the county to make it easier for the citizens to dump their trash. From the dump site I drove to the Brit's pub. It was obvious from my smile that something was up. "So Sylvia you look pleased with yourself," The Brit said. "Give me a draft bock beer and I'll tell you all about my conquest. It will be the first time I ever did a 'kiss and tell'," I said. He put the mug of beer with no handle, in front of me then said, "So give," he demanded. "I had a very enjoyable visit with agent Morris," I said smiling wickedly. "Oh come on you have to give me details," he said. "She was on her way out of town, so she stopped by to say goodbye," I informed him. "And was it a passionate parting?" he asked. "It was indeed. The investigation was been returned to the Sheriff, where it is expected to go cold, since the SBI is convinced it was a hit by some old mob friends of hers," I said. "Mob friends?" he asked. "In County Seat." "Calm down, I think she was a witness for the State against someone before she came here to live," I suggested. "That makes more sense," he agreed. "I'm glad that is behind us, but I never was very worried. You handled it so well." "Thanks it was just one of those things that needed doing," I said. "Oh I agree, this is home. There was no room for her here anymore," The Brit said in a very serious voice. I felt like we had done Mary Ellen for different reasons suddenly. "True, so how is business?' I asked. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about that. How about tending bar for me now and again?" he asked. "What so you and Jeremy can have some time together?" I asked. "Oh we have plenty of together time. We would just like to hit some of the bed and breakfasts around the area," The Brit admitted. "Sure now that I don't feel like I'm being watched, I wouldn't mind being watched." I said it with a smile. "Well I'm glad. So can we make a plan to go to that place tomorrow night. I can be back on Sunday," he said. "I know as much about this place as you do damn it. I helped to build the damn place," I said. "Hell you could spend a month away and I could manage," I said. "Right, Tomas's daughter is scheduled to cook for you. She or her mother cook for me all the time now. Her mother insists on being off on the weekend for the younger ones. Juanita is a great cook though. Well for what we do, she is excellent," He insisted. "But listen Tomas would have a fit if you flirt with her, understand. I promised she would not get in any trouble here." "She won't get in any trouble, even if she wants trouble," I said. "Good," The Brit agreed. I found myself actually looking forward to tending bar at the pub. All that night at home I tried to decide what I would wear. Hell I couldn't look sexy no matter what I did, but I could look unusual. Saturday morning after my ride I stopped the plaza. The big box discount store was the only one open so early. I bought a low neckline tee shirt and I also bought hair bleach. I had been a true brunette, since I buzzed my head. I decided to make my stubble blond. It didn't take but a couple of minutes to get the chemicals in place. Then I had to let them sit a while to take. When I rinsed my hair it was a terrible white color. I looked fifty years old. Shit, I thought. I was going to look like a grandmother. Since it was getting close to opening time, I put on my cut off jeans and new tee shirt with a low neckline. I looked in the mirror and looked like a granny with no boobs trying to be sexy. I was so pissed I almost went back to the commando tee, Instead I went to the pub. ------- Chapter 173 When I got to the pub, I unlocked the front door. The pub was just like I left it the night before. I went to the pub for a least an hour or two every night. I made sure everything was going smoothly. I knew The Brit would never ask for help, but I intended to be there if he needed it. He was the only friend I had left. Plus we were in the Mary Ellen thing together. The first thing I did to prepare for the evening's customers was to wash the beer mugs from the night before. The sink was three stainless steel thing. The first sink was filled with hot water. The second was a rinse of hot water and third sink held a sanitizer made with a special mixture to kill any germs left over from the other two sinks. Next I fired up the coffee pot. Since I would be drinking while I worked, I would need the coffee for sure. I had the glasses finished when Juanita arrived. The pub didn't prepare lunch they served only the evening meal. Even then it was mostly sandwiches with only a meat pie for those who wanted more. Customers started to wander in around six o'clock. After six people came and went, until midnight when I turn on the overhead light and shut the door. Shortly there after the place emptied out and Juanita left for the evening. I went to the alley behind the pub to pick up my cruiser van, I felt a little under dressed during my evening in the cut off jeans and tee shirt. Even so I managed to keep he place running. Not only had I helped build the bar, I had also been on of it't best customers. I went there at some time everyday. I drank a cup coffee with the Brit every day. Yeah I realized he was my only real friend. That Sunday I called a lot of my acquaintances and had them drop in for a drink. There were sheriff's deputies and highway patrolmen. The cops occupied half the bar and the motorcycle guys occupied the other half. Mixed in were a few girls as well. The pub was only half filled but it was more than I expected. Also more than the Brit had expected. Juanita ran out of food about nine o'clock. So I called the pizza restaurant at the plaza and them bring several pizzas to the pub. Juanita left before I closed the pub, so I was alone when there was a knock on the door. "Are you alright?" I asked Juanita. "No a man grabbed me in the alley," she said crying I took the .22 magnum out back just as soon I was sure she was okay. The alley was empty I would bet my life that he ran away just as soon as Juanita did. He wouldn't want to be there when the cops or her family came looking for him. "Juanita I need to get you to a hospital." It was obvious that her clothes had been disturbed. She needed an examination. "No hospital, I can't go to the hospital. Please no Miss Sylvia we are in this country illegally." Juanita said to me. "Juanita had you ever been with a man before?" I asked. "No never," she said. "I'm sorry this really isn't the way to learn about sex. Did you recognize him?" I asked. "Yes I know him he is such a nice boy I don't know what got into him." She said. "Was he in the pub earlier?" I asked. Trying to remember anyone who seemed hinky. No one came to mind. I had Juanita agree to meet me the next morning at my house. I told her to tell her dad she was going to help me clean. What was actually going to do was go to the drugstore for the morning after pills. Juanita didn't want the kid of a rape. She wanted to have a nice normal life. I was determined, if at all possible, to arrange that for her. She was in my house reading a fashion magazine, which she brought with her, when The Brit got my message. "Sylvia what the hell is it," he asked. "You ought to come over to my place. You really need to come alone." I said. "I can't do that Sylvia Jeremy agreed no more holding back when I'm home. We can both come out there if you like. Give me a couple of hours I have to go to the store." I hung up the phone in disgust. "Come on Juanita we are going to the drug store." When we got there we bought a couple of thing each. "Might as well make the trip worthwhile," I said to her. We were home several minutes when The Brit and Jeremy showed up. I wasn't how Jeremy would react to Juanita. He proved to be sympathetic. He tried to be helpful, but there was nothing he could do. I took her home then went back but The Brits new pub. "Jeremy you might want to wait upstairs. This is not going to be pretty." The Brit said. Jeremy turned on his heels and climbed the stares. I didn't think he wanted to know what was going to happen. "What are we going to do?" I asked. "What we are not going to do is let him get away with this. There has to be a cost to that kind of action. If not society would fall apart." The Brit said. "Society be damned, this is about the fucking alley behind your pub," I said. "First we have to find him, then we have to decide what we are going to do. I suggest we string him up by his balls while we decided." I said with what at any other time might have been mistaken for a smile. But it was no smile and The Brit knew it. "Was it someone who had been inside the pub?" He asked me. "There is just no way to tell. He might have been inside or he might have been outside just watching the people. It next to impossible to tell what he was doing." "You did get Juanita taken care off?" The Brit asked. "Yeah I got her all taken care of, at least I think I did. She shouldn't get pregnant now anyway. I don't know how she will make peace with it. She isn't like me." I said. "No she isn't, or she would have scratched his eyes out," Jeremy said. "Thanks for that vote of confidence," I said smiling at him. Jeremy could definitely do without me around so much. But then I could do without him around so much too. Unresolved excitement just festers and this one did just that. It was always just below the surface. My guess was that The Brit had a ton of money, so it might be years before he was desperate to make a profit. Still he had to wonder if he ever would make a profit. The town was too small for a pub. Country seat hardly had a downtown at all. Still there were the lawyers at after work for a quick pint before going home. They had five of those video games that are so popular on the web. No it isn't a black kind of game its more a happy game. I think its programed to let you win the first time, then not again for a hundred times. People sit in bars and play those things for hours. You just know when you look at them the aren't going to win. Still they sit there for hours flipping flippers or whatever they do. We snooped around all that Monday and didn't get a lead. I tried again during the week and again over the weekend. Nothing, I was about ready to give up when The Brit called me. "Sylvia you should come down here. I got somebody you should meet." he said. "Oh my don't tell me you have him?" I asked. "We do," The Brit said. "He came in a couple of hours ago, sat at the bar and confessed everything." "Well did you absolve him?" I asked. "He needs a church for that Silvia," he said. "Do you know who I am?" I asked him when I was seated across from him... "Yes, you're Silvia the Brit's friend." he said dumbfounded. "How much do you know about me?" I asked. "Not much," He said. "Well let me tell you something right this fucking minute, no one does to me what you did and lives."I said angrily. "I didn't do nothing to you," he said indignantly. "Bullshit you raped me. I'm going to call the sheriff and have you arrested. Twenty years at hard labor." "Please no I can't to go to prison. I'll do anything please," he said. "Will you leave town and not come back?" I asked. "Let me say this we are giving you this chance to get out of town and live. Take it, never come back here." My look said more than the words had. If there had been any confusion The Brit made abundantly clear. He made an imaginary gun with his fingers and shot the man in the face. The guy jumped up and ran to the door and right through barely bothering to open it. I stood up and walked to the coffee pot. The Brit looked at me and asked, "Should we follow him and end it once and for all." "Mostly likely yes, but I have bagged my limit for the year," I said with a smile. "Yeah, probably best that we don't," but he deserves as much as the other one," The Brit Said. I stayed for dinner at the pub since I was there. I had the meat pie and I had no idea what I was eating. It looked a little like one of those chicken pot pies but it tasted much better. It probably wasn't beef, but I didn't care I enjoyed the hell out of it. "Okay we can change the subject now. Jeremy wants to go to one of those storage locker auctions," The Brit said. "Why on earth would he want to do that?" I asked. "He's been watching on TV and he has to see what one is like. Come on, it wouldn't hurt you to spend a little time with him. " he said "Brit you don't know that," I said. "Come on Sylvia do it for me." he said. "Alright but there is one scheduled two months from now in Dobson," I said. "Sylvia, you can do better than than," he said. "Okay there is one on Gold Hill this weekend. They only got ten units but who knows." I said. "You two will be gone all day. I don't know about that," he said. "Make up your mind Brit do you want me to take him, or not?" I asked. "Will you try to get along?" he asked me. "I will do all I can to get along with Jeremy I promise. Now will you back off a little. I solve one problem and you create another. I'm going home call me, if you make up your mind what you want me to do." I didn't say it to The Brit but I was almost positive Jeremy didn't like sitting around the pub all day. He was probably going to have to find a way for Jeremy to amuse himself. I was in the cruiser van headed back to the box house, when I realized that life really wasn't filled with grand gestures, it we really filled with 'taking Jeremy Shopping'. It was storage lockers this week, next it would be horses or something else. Life wasn't exciting when I wasn't with swamp thing but I stayed occupied, Let me get an offer from the swamp and see how fast I drop the day to day BS. ------- Chapter 174 The auction was cash only. Not only that you had to clear the locker out by end of day. I had a young man, who had helped me before, with his truck standing by. I was going to call him if I won a locker. He could at least carry the crap to the dump for me. I would pay him of course. I expected I could make a deal with Brit. In exchange for babysitting, Jeremy he would let the kid drink some beer on the pub. Jeremy and I left county seat the following sat morning at 9AM. The auction started at 11AM, we should have about fifteen or twenty minutes to spare. I found Jeremy to be rather amusing, when you threw your yardstick away and just took him like he was. His catty remarks about movie stars and other in the limelight were hilarious. I actually enjoyed the drive down. I would never have believed it possible. But we kept it light and it never got nasty. Well not between us anyway, By the time the auction really started we were hot and tired and already looking for the exit. Nonetheless I looked at the lockers as they came up. I was always looking for jewelry and other collectibles. The first couple had nothing at all. However the third one looked like something my own mother might put in storage. I decided I wanted it even though it was lots of furniture packed into the space. None the less I bid on it. I got all the way up to $200 and I was ready to quit there. The others bailed because it was a lot of mattresses as well as the two pieced of an antique bedroom set. I didn't move on I was ready to arrange pickup of the items I had just bought. Since I had to pay cash for the locker, I paid with gray money. I would be a good way to clean some of it. That is if we found anything in the locker with a commercial value when my friend came. He was the one who helped me with the lockers when Mary Ellen was my partner, The summer was heading to a close, if there was any business we wanted to start, it was the time to do it. Winter was no time to start anything. Since I had recently emptied out the storage building on wheels, I had a place to put it all. There was also a piece or two that would end up on ebay. At least a third of it went to the landfill. By 4PM we had taken care of it all. All but the costume jewelry that is. I was planning some more research on that. Jeremy wanted to research it on his computer. So I let him. The kid with the truck led us back to County Seat. The fact that there was nothing to do for the long winter months bothered me. I thought about going back into the liquor business but even if I did it would only last a couple of months and I would be looking again. I left Jeremy researching jewelry while I started research on my end of the summer project. Before anything else I planned to get a serious heating plant installed. I fellow who drank at The Brits Pub sold and installed those things. He usually subcontracted the installation of someone else's sale. However he could be forced into a sale. "To be honest with you Sylvia I have access to a full line of furnaces." he said to me. "Well Sammy I have a metal shipping container I need heated this winter. Have you got something that will work in there." I asked. "Honey I got something that will work everywhere. Let me look at it and I can put something together for you." He said. "When you gonna come look?" I asked. "I can come now if you drive. I would probably get lost," he said with a great laugh. "Let's go," I said. Ten minutes later we were walking around my place. "What's the volume of air you need heated?" "It's 25 by 8 by 8, that's all there is to it now. I'm going to add a bedroom in a few months, I think." "We should include enough volume to handled another box even larger." Sammy said. "I might go with a 8 x 40 box and yes, I want to get it all on one furnace," I said with a smile. "You ain't gonna like it," he said. "Well, I have had to do a lot of things I didn't like. Tell me quick don't drag it out." I demanded. "Well it could make it do with a smaller one but this is the one I recommend. That way you can have a heck of a lot of space before it starts be to small." He said. "What's it going to cost." I asked afraid to hear it. "With the tank large enough for a good reserve, before you have to be refilled it, everything is going to run $8,5000. The thing has a good trouble free life for about ten years. He said one thing that made me decide to wait till I had the other piece of the system ready. He said it would really be a lot better if it was together before you heated it. The next day I arranged to buy it, and then for Jerry to bring it. I should have it by the end of the week. I was about to hire someone to set it but the Brit lost his temper. "Are you telling me there was something wrong with the last one we set." "Of course not, I just hated to ask you again. You got the pub now." I said. "Bullocks," he said. "Okay you and I and Tomas will set it. Jeez I had no idea it was going to make such a fuss." That's how the box would being just a little out of level. I didn't dare mention that to the Brit. He might have pitched a fuss at me. I was just glad to get it done period. Both shipping containers were were rust red so it should be okay, I thought. I worked on the box house till thanksgiving. It was cool but the furnace at least so far had worked well. I felt like I could leave it at any time. Well since Jeremy had a key and could check on it I felt pretty good about it. All the busy work would never replace some real chore but I pretended that it would. I was also pretty sure the Brit was pretty damn close to strangling Jeremy. Hell I know I would have been. I was pretty well in the box house by the week after Thanksgiving. I would also do anything to get away from the house. I welcomed Karl with open arms. Well at least a friendly greeting. "Damn Karl if you were to call I would clean this dump up a little." I said. "I like your house but we aren't staying." Then he looked at me real hard and said, "Is there anybody else in town who might be ready for a little trip out of the country?" "I certainly hope, so call The Brit and see. You can call from here," I offered. "No, I'll just go see him. I know it's almost like he is married," Karl said. "Bite your fucking tongue," I said with a laugh. "I'm still going to see him. As for you pack a bag. You might be flying commercial so pack accordingly, leave the snow globe." Karl said. "God you, where we going?" I asked. "I'll tell you when we are on the way," he said smiling. "It's a simple security guard gig. They decided they want us yesterday though," he said. "Don't they always?" I asked. "Always, I'll call you when we start back. You will know, when I call times up. They will be warming the plane up." he said. "You got it no weapons," I said. I had some very serious plastic knives. I promised myself I would try to get them past security this time. If all they had was a metal detector, I could skate right through. If they had a full body scan I was going to have to use the bathroom and leave it in there. Either way I intended to protect the passengers. It was better to have me with some kind of weapon than the bad guys be the only ones with a weapon. "You traveling with anything?" the Brit whispered the question. "I might have a plastic case knife," I suggested. "Good luck," the Brit said. "I haven't had any luck smuggling, so I'm going in naked." We hit the airport of the state's biggest city and they were scanning everyone. I went into the bathroom and ditched the knife. Son of a Bitch, I thought. Well without a weapon I would have to be very alert. I had absolutely no advantage, no matter how small. "Okay," Karl said. "I have your tickets. You have your passport and your shots are all up to date. God get ready to board the plane." "So are we heading to a place where we can get a car to Venezuela?" I asked. What are we going to do there?" "We are going to protect the ambassador's daughter," Karl said flatly. "Okay there are three of us and the marine detachment," I asked. "The three of us and two Guards probably employed by the CIA." Karl said. "Karl, I would be willing to bet that there are rumblings," I replied. "There is a lot of chatter about a cell of terrorist in Venezuela. According to the chatter they plan to launch a Benghazi style attack. Just over run it completely and kill everyone in there. A half dozen men with plenty armament could hold one of those compounds. I think we are the right people to send don't you Sylvia. "I'm not sure three of us will do any good. I think they need the second marine division." I said seriously. "So for god's safe Sylvia, don't be so dramatic." Karl said. "Karl did you even notice how little I think of all your plans," I asked. "Yeah, but you always come with me," he said. "Just shows you what poor judgment I really have," I agreed. "Possibly," He said. The Brit just looked at him and shook his head. I had no idea what side the Brit was on or if he even cared. "Brit help me out here," I said. "Sylvia let me ask you just one thing. If Karl here turns to you and says, I don't give a fuck we are going, and you know everything thing by then, are you going to walk away?" "No, but by god I want that option?" I stated flatly. "Why, you are never going to come this far and walk away." The Brit said. "Brit you don't know that." I said turning away. "Don't I? You are just here to get your fix. As long as you get it, then it don't matter none what else happens." The car left the airport and stopped by a gift shop along the side of the downtown street. We all poured out of the car and went inside to get our weapons. There in a box sitting on saw horses was a case of pump shotguns. They were the cheapest Mossburg pumps made. There were some AK-47. Brit and Karl took the AK-47 but I asked the driver of the car for ammo. I would have said ammunition, but I wanted him to know what the hell I was talking about. I took the whole case of 12ga Ammunition with me when I left, and I took two shotguns. Might as well take them before the government troops come for them. Thugs in jack boots have no respect for shotguns, I thought. ------- Chapter 175 The car was an old American sedan. "Why is it these guys in special ops can never afford a fancy car? They are always running around in a ten year old ford." I asked. "You are kidding they have all the money in the world. They run around in these old egg beaters because someone told them they draw less attention. We are all cramped so the boss can slip around town. You know they have a deal. They buy a whole fleet of these as 'after lease cars' and transport them all over the world," The Brit explained. "So we are liable to find some executive's credit card in the seat?" I asked. "Yeah it could happen," he said. "We are about to get our first look at the building they think needs our help to defend against the Jihadist." "We should write a book. Jihadist I have known and sometimes loved." I said. "Oh exactly, who have you loved?" Kurt asked. "I once loved someone," I said faking defensiveness. "Sylvia, you have made love to a lot of men that isn't the same thing as loving them," The Brit said. "I love you two," I said more seriously. "I'm not sure that you just don't realize you better keep us somewhat happy. That isn't love honey." Kurt said. We were busy looking around the streets trying to gain any leg up we could. The neighborhood with the consulate was quiet and beautiful. Once we got inside the walls we took a good look around. A CIA contractor named Reynolds showed us around. "When we got here they thought that outer wall would keep the bad guys out. I have no idea what color the sky is in their world, but it was a real shock for the staff to find out the wall was only good to keep them in, since every one else in the country except them could scale it. We are going to work on a collapsing defense. If we come under attack from the rear, we fire on them as they drop over the wall. Then we can no long hold the position we fall back into the house and fire from the house into the yard. We only have to hold till the government troops arrive." "You are sure the government troops will come?" I asked. "They have to come there is no one else," he said with a smile. "I don't suppose we can find the radicals before hand an wipe out their stockpile of arms," I suggested. "Porter this is a sovereign nation. We do no launch an attack on a sovereign nation." Reynolds said. "Did you even ask around about what you are up against?" I inquired. "You know we gather all the intel we can. But frankly there isn't that much out there right now. Also you know this isn't a western style democracy. Information is in short supply." Reynolds said. "I think the President here would dress his soldiers in rags to attack you as well." I said. "That my dear Sylvia is very likely. Along with this ain't home, I need to tell you get caught outside this gates with a firearm and they shoot you with it." Reynolds added. "Now that's gun control that works," I suggested. "You don't get any repeat offenders." "The point is, if you go anywhere outside leave the firearms in the compound." Reynolds said. "Or shoot first," I suggested. "You are always going to be out gunned, so even if you do shoot first odds are not good." Reynolds replied. "Now on to less pleasant things." "Less pleasant things, what would that be, that the air is full of the hiv virus." I said. "It can't get much worse. "Intelligence suggests there is going to be an attack on this compound tonight." Reynolds. When we recruited you we didn't know when it would happen, but it could be as early as tonight." "Wonderful, what kind of strength are you talking about?" I asked. "That's the real problem. We don't know it will be a dozen of five dozen." Reynolds said. "It likely wont be more than five dozen. There would be no where to stand," I said. "Do you expect ladders over the walls?" "Thats usually how they do it. Sometimes they scramble up, but usually they bring a ladder with them." Reynolds suggested. "Are you going to be able to handle that shotgun?" "We are mostly going to find out how I do with it first time they come over that wall. I can't grip small things but a shotgun forearm I have just learned to manipulate. How I do when I'm in a hurry is something else. I guess we will find out though." I replied. "You get me killed tonight, I will never forgive you," Kurt said. I laughed. I won't be the one to get you killed. If we die here, we can all go haunt Colonel Martin." I said. "Here, here, The Brit agreed. "And the awful Sergeant Major from the SAS." A young woman came into the room where we were waiting for dark. "I brought you some food," she said. "I don't recognize this as food, but I am grateful for it," I said. "Yes thank you," the Brit said. He was so much smoother than me. But I didn't mind because he was Gay. I thought that with a chuckle. We turned on the TV and watched the street demonstrations. There were marches all over town. The police contained them and even beat a few marchers into submission. I wasn't too worried about the police. They had all they could handle in the streets. They didn't need to come looking for trouble in the houses. Not even the diplomatic house would be high on their radar. What we had to worry about was the agitators in the country. Their objective was to bring Islam to Latin America. They were the ones who were at war with everyone else. At least that is was what the briefings all said. So there we sat on an October evening waiting for them to come. I didn't want to play cards or read a book. I didn't want to watch TV or listen to music, I wanted it to start. Pure and simpled I wanted to test myself just like always. Someone always won and someone always lost. Losing was not really good for ones longevity. There were very few people pensioned off from the swamp. Most of us didn't want to be pensioned off. Not that I particularly wanted to die that night, but I knew their was that chance, when I took the job. I took it because I was so bored, I was about to lose my mind. So there I was sitting on the patio, in the very darkest part of the night. Just waiting like I said. About eight the CIA man came to me. "I need you to do me a favor. I understand you can handle it." he said. "What do you want," I asked. "I need a prisoner. We need to know what they are up to." he said. "We know where they are we just need to pick one up." "So what am I bait?" I asked. "Yeah, that is the size of it." the CIA man said, "Well let's go get one then," I said. "I think The Brit and I can do better than I can alone. I don't speak Spanish." "Yeah, he could do the talking for you. Okay let's go get a prisoner. The Brit and I didn't have any trouble finding someone who was preaching theocratic government based in Sharia law. Hearing that in the western hemisphere was quite a shock. I didn't understand it all but the Brit did. He told me how bad it was in whispers. We waited till he left the Cantena, then followed him. When he stopped along a dark street, we threw him in the car. I held the box opener just in case he decided to struggle. When the South American and the American CIA operative met they shared a disgusted look. Neither had much respect for the other. Since I didn't understand the interrogation, I left. The sun would be up soon, so it appeared we had been spared for at least my first night in the country. "There are an awful lot of south Americans here. I feel like we should be running a factory or something." I said. "Well we know what side you are on in the great cultural wars," The Brit said. "Let em eat cake," I said. "Yeah right, well you will be happy to know they are whipping themselves up to a frenzy. He said they were planning something he wasn't quite sure what. The Brit went on to tell me that the guy was a zealot and probably would die before he talked. "You and Kurt hold him," I demanded. I tore down his pants then pulled his penis into my hand. I took the large box opener out of my cargo pants pocket. I showed him the box opener then said, "I can see you probably won't miss your penis. It is so small your wife probably won't either. Of course you know when I cut, I can't fix it again?" I asked. He just looked stoic. I think he still didn't think I would do it. It took one swipe, with that swipe I changed his mind forever. There was arterial blood spurts and I just looked at his face. He had stopped smiling. He was in a panic. "I didn't get a real good cut so if you tell me what I want to know now, you might make it to the hospital before you bleed out." I said. Just to make it worse while he was bleeding I thumbed through a magazine. It was all about the act as far as I was concerned. He finally opened up and started to talk. He was pretty weak went I helped kurt put him in a taxi headed for the Vera Cruz hospital. "We have got till tonight," The Brit said. "Yeah if they come in force nothing will stop them however a heavy machine gun can slow them down," Reynolds said. I think I know where I can get you one." "Oh hell, get a half dozen," I said with a grin. "I'll see what I can do," Reynolds said, then left. After he had gone I began marking distances. Of course I slept some as well. The food was a little too spicy for me, but I managed. I had to wash from a basin so I didn't feel very clean but I had been a lot dirtier. I had my doubts about the next couple of days. I was telling the CIA man he really needed to evacuate the position, There was just no way to really hold it. It could be held an hour with the assets in place. Any more would be be just courage, The president of the United States was on TV asking for calm. He wanted the two sided to get together and talk. That always proved interesting, I had no easy answers except maybe to kill them all and let god sort them out. Just before dark Reynolds and another clown brought in a .50 cal machine gun. He also had a 308 bolt action rifle with a night scope. "Here," Reynolds said to me. You won't need the shotgun for a few minutes, I brought you a sniper rifle to keep them off the walls." "I'll try to make good use of it," I said. It was a long way from eight pm till midnight but we had to endure it. Intel said they were demonstrating all night and at midnight the Jihadists were going to use the demonstration as cover to attack the consulate. ------- Chapter 176 "Sylvia you want to get some food. The kitchen staff cooked somethings before they left." The Brit said. "No thanks, I think I want to spend my last hours hungry," I said. "I don't think anyone is coming. I expect it is just more B.S. from the government," The Brit said. "Well it won't be too long before we know," I said. "Yeah, we will know soon. How about we get to the top of the wall and shoot down on the demonstrators." The Brit suggested. "If we do that, they are going to swear they were just walking by and we fired on them. You know how these guys twist thing around. When they get through we will have went to their houses and forced them to come to the compound for us to shoot." I suggested. "You are right the Russians will be coaching them on how to create an international incident." The Brit suggested. "It's a shame we have to worry about how things look as well as staying alive." "Oh I agree, There is one thing we can do though," I suggested. "What's that," Kurt asked. "We can make some foo gas booby traps," I suggested. We all agreed that foo gas bombs might well be the difference in somebody getting away and there being no survivors." Me and the Brit went and bought all the bottle soda the neighborhood grocery store had. We also bought all the dish washing soap available. Back at the compound we made napalm bottles with rag fuses to light. I felt pretty sure we could make them think twice about coming over the wall. The demonstrations rolled by the consulate in the early evening. It was somewhat later when demonstrators climbed up on the compound walls. When I saw the first one I fired a warning shot directly over his head. Then just as fast as I can I put a round right six inches lower. I quickly made the .308 ready to fire again and waited. "I like the napalm hand grenades, They will let us clear the wall but wouldn't compromise the structural integrity of it. With a little luck the glass punch bottles filled with 10 ounes of jellied gas. would buy us even more time. "If there is one or two, we shoot them off the wall. but if there are a lot of them on top of the wall, we burn them off." Karl said. "That's kind of what I thought as well. I am going to have to keep the .308 ready to fire. It has the best scope for the kind of use." I said. "Actually I think the .308 is going to quickly become obsolete. If they come up with the number of men on the wall I think, it is going to be the gasoline and AK47s if we keep them out at all." Karl added. "You know what we could do?"I asked. "What could we do," he wanted to know. "Find out where there headquarters is and drive a bomb into it," I suggested. "We could slip out and steal a car and drive it with a bomb inside into their hideaway." "Let me call the CIA. Just to see what they know," He said as he walked into another room, so I wouldn't overhear him. He was gone about five minutes then came walking in. "We can't find them because there are four places they can meet. We could be at one while they were coming here and the place was unprotected. We have to stay right here." "Isn't there something we can do?" I asked. "There is one thing that can change the odds a little. But it also might be suicide," Kart said. One of us can go over to the Martinez house and set up a sniper post in one of the rooms. From there you can shoot into the yard and take down the odds some. However if the demonstration spills over to the Martinez house you will most likely die." "Interesting, the Martinez house is empty according to the staff here," I said. "Yes they may send a hit squad up to you. It maybe pure suicide," he said. "How about sending someone to help me install myself up there," I said. "The rifle has a flash suppressor on it, so maybe I can disguise the fact that I'm there." I said before I left the consulate grounds. Two guys helped me carry all the .308 and .12ga shotgun ammunition to the roof across the street. It was going to be a long shot but I planned to make as many of them as possible before the bad guys came for me. When they came I intended to make it just as difficult as possible for them to occupy the compound. Unlike the defenders in the compound I could fire on them outside the walls. Of course if and when they found my location, I was going to die. There was no escape from my rooftop perch. The thing I really regretted was that I was cut off from my friends on what might be my last night on earth. I was all alone and freaking out. I knew that I needed to be with someone and not alone before this fight. The CIA station chief said he had it under control but no body believed him. We had a president who didn't want to rock the boat. Who though it was a weakness to take a stand. So since he wouldn't take a real stand the rest of us had to take a stand while out on a limb. It would be a matter of principle except no one was sure what our principles were any more. Our positions were also flexible according to the politicians. We couldn't find a way for this to be flexible. The street thugs were coming to kill out people tonight, and the few of us who were here had to stop them. Unlike the politicians, if we couldn't stop them. we had to die trying. I watched from the room as the groups started to form on the street. I felt like the majority of the people were harmless. They most likely just wanted to be seen but their friends taking a stand. There were always going to be a few bent on causing trouble. I at least had a couple of first class weapons to keep me company, I had the sniper rifle I could use to keep the attackers confused. I figured with the flash suppressor, I should be able to rain dead down on the agitators from concealment. If I could keep it up without being seen for a half hour, I thought the CIA's rescue team might just get to the people in the compound. About 9PM the demonstrators took to the street. They had been meeting in several different places and were now ready to show the government their strength. I had the compound on the radio and the radio connected to my ear by a small ear piece so I couldn't be heard listening to them. "Brit, I know you can't see them hon, but the demonstrators are taking to the street." I said. "Watch them and let us know when they are coming this way. The more advanced notice the better." he said. "Well they are just wandering around. They don't seem to have any plans or anything. It really looks harmless at the moment," I said. "Maybe we can get through tonight. I think if we do, we can start making plans,"Kurt said. "Kurt, if you can evacuate the employees, I think you need to get permission to close the consulate," I said. "This demonstration is going to get out of hand according to the intelligence." "We don't run away," Kurt said. "Kurt, we are here for money. Patriotism is fine and all, but we are just here for the money," I said. I didn't really believe it worked that way, because the swamp was more honorable than the government as far as I was concerned. By midnight it became academic because the demonstration was being led by guys with sound equipment. They were able to whip the crowd'e emotions into a frenzy. I watching them shouting anti American slogan and headed toward us. "Brit are you there?" I asked. "How bad is it Sylvia?" The Brit asked. "There is about 300 people headed your way, Set your Amplifier up and get ready to bombard them with sound. Also some non lethal shit from the roof. I'll stand bye, if that doesn't work and it turns violent, I will try to send them home." I said. "Sylvia be careful, you don't have any help," he said. "Trust me I'm well aware of that. It is my intention to not be seen at all, They are coming down the street now, so here we go." I said. The crowd walked down the street as a mob. They were shouting and raising all kinds of hell. I watched the man in front with a bull horn. He was shouting in Spanish and he did not sound friendly in the leasts. I held off firing until the shots came from the inside of the compound. The shots were ahead of the crowd but they turned back. I was happy I didn't have to fire on the crowd. There was no way I could fire warning shots. Mine would have no effect as warning shots. Mine had to disable the agitators and that was what I intended to do. The rifle had not be test tired before so I knew center mass would be the only safe place to target. I watched for twenty minutes while the agitators began moving toward the compound again. They were picking up supporters as they went. My first shot was center mass into one of the organizers. When he fell, those near him began scanning for my location. I sat very still while waiting for the next surge, I noted the surge and also the three men searching for me. I had no choice but to kill them. I turned my attention to the surging crowd. I drop three of the men in front of the crowd. Even while I was shooting to the front of the surging crowd they were putting ladders on the walls. "They are coming up the walls," I shouted into the radio. I turned the .308 toward the organizers temporarily leaving the guys in front of the crown to their own devices, I had dropped eight of them when the first demonstrator pushed through the roof door. He rushed toward me with an AK 47 rifle at the ready. I dropped him with the shotgun blast. I killed two more before I ran to the edge and jumped into the swimming pool three floors below. The three story fall almost made me semi-conscious. I barely made it out of the pool. I made it into the garden shed to wait for either the man with the gun or the sun. The crowd visually stumbled and turned back. They had apparently stopped their assault for the time being. Since I had decimated the leadership they were trying to find a new direction. They were very angry, but I didn't think they really wanted to assault the compound again. Then four large trucks pulled into the residential street. In the back of those trucks were soldiers. I wasn't sure whose they were, but I felt like they were there to send the crowd home. They quickly circled the building and took a position keeping the crowd from attempting to breech the compound again. Then I watched as the officers went into the compound. Within seconds of them going into the compound, I heard shouts and then shots being fired. I didn't know what to think, but what I was afraid happened. A few minutes later the soldiers came out of the compound obviously the men from the swamp were in custody. ------- Chapter 177 Sylvia 177 It appeared I was the only one from the swamp not in custody. I could go to the military compound and try to rescue the others, or I could head on over the border. The rule was contact base give them the information, then run like hell. That was standard operating procedure. That's what they expected, but it was in the end our decision to make. I never had a job go wrong enough to require that kind of decision. Since I had never seen Swamp Dog at work in that kind of scenario I found myself trapped with no idea what to expect. I did get a message to the French diplomat we were to contact, if things went terribly wrong. He was supposed to relay it to the swamp. The message read, 'The Alamo fell everyone was taken into custody. What you want me to do." The answer came within ten minutes, it was 'Run'. I read the note and decided not to go back to my hotel room. I could run alright, but there was no guarantee I could get away. I really needed to talk to The Brit. I didn't want to leave him in the jackpot. I was trying to think of something that might help. So far the only thing that made sense was indeed to run. Even so, I wasn't quite ready to do that just then. My phone rang, "Hello," I said into it while looking all around. "Miss Porter, this is Gerrard at the French consulate," The government has your people. They are threatening to put them on trial. Even though they were under attack the government wants to call their response to that attack murder." The male voice suggested. "That's not good," I replied. "You got any idea what the swamp's advice is?" "Don't get caught," the voice said. "They suggest you hang around, if you can do so safely. They may be able to come up with a plan." "I think I can do that. Are they going to stay in touch through you?" I asked. "I have no idea what they have got in mind. Please be careful, you don't need to get caught." The representative of the French Government said. "That's for sure my plan. Have you got any idea how I can get inside the jail." I asked. "If it was me. I'd walk through the front door, but then they didn't murderl my ambassador and throw my friends in jail," He said. "Yes there are some challenges for sure," I said shaking my head. "Sometimes the best thing to do is the most direct, I could do a prisoner exchange," I said. "Who do you have to trade?" the Frenchman asked. "The real question is before I grab someone, who would they accept in trade." I said smiling. "They would trade the commandant of the prison for sure," he said. "That is a bad choice. He needs to give the order. So is he married?" I asked. "He is married and has two children," the Frenchman said. "Then tell me where he lives," I demanded. "You need some help as well," the Frenchman said. "How do you feel about working with criminals." "I can work with them as well as anyone else. I guarantee nothing though." I said. I could work with criminals as long as they knew better than to try and fuck me. If that happened there might a be a few less to choose from for the next person in need. "Go to this location and sit at the bar someone will contact you," the Frenchman said. "Fair enough," I replied. If this works out you can bill the Swamp for a favor someday. If it doesn't, I will try to get the guys in the prison to make you some prison art." I went to the club very early in the morning. The place was being cleaned. The man who met me at the door said, "I didn't expect you so early." "Oh who are you expecting. I might not be the right one." I said. "Oh you are the right one. You were described in great detail. Are you ready to talk details," he asked. "Sure, what have you got for me?" I asked. "Well, I have got the address for the Commandant of the prison." he said. "So help me get a couple of prisoners, ones I can exchange for my friends," I said. "You and your friends will leave, but I will be stuck here. I'm not sure you can pay enough to risk that." he said. "No one will know you are involved it you stay out of sight. Mostly I need information and a couple of hours with a few street thugs. Otherwise I will handle everything." I suggested. "It's nice that you are confident, but you are going to need more help. You just don't know how much." he said. "I seem confident, because you don't know what I need either." I said. "You show me where the commandant lives and loan me a couple a guys with balls, We will handle this." I said it with a smile. "I will get you all the guns and men you need to kidnap the commandant's family. We can arrange for him to meet you at the border with the prisoners." he said. "Tell me about the man or men you have on the inside," I demanded. "He will tell you anything you want to know," the criminal said. "So ask him how many men they arrested in the house. Also see if he knows what happened to the ambassador." "Get me a line into the USA and I'll get you money," I said. "Very well first you get me a half million dollars US. and I'll get you all the pertinent information." "Fair enough," I replied. What he didn't know was the French were verifying it all for me. If he gave me bad intel, I would know and he would die. It was as simple as that, but he didn't know it. Twenty minutes later I was told there were two full time guards on the Prison Governor's dwelling, Inside the house we would find the wife and two kids of the commandant. I looked over all the drawing of the commandants home and came to the conclusion that we had to grab her and make the trade. I really didn't want the kids, but I needed more bargaining chips, so they became pawns in the chess game. The gangster sent me a Swedish car and three thugs, one of whom spoke reasonable English. I couldn't pronounce their names so there were thug one, thug two, and the driver. The driver was the one who could manage a few words of English. He and I drove the car by the house of the commandant. There was plenty of indication that the commandant was home. "So where can we hold and hide them while we negotiate?" I asked. "There is a warehouse. We can drive them into before we unload. Then we can move them to the exchange site." The chief thug suggested. "It's the middle of the night let's do it now," I suggested. "There are so many loose ends," he said. "No there are just enough, the really tight planning has to be right now, before anyone knows the plan, Drop me at the rear gate and give me five minutes to open that gate and move to the front to assault it." Fifteen minutes later I was moving toward the rear gate on foot. I stood at the gate dressed as a harmless peasant. When the guard came to the gate I convince him that I was hungry and would give him a blow job for five pesos. His chance to get a blow job from an American was too much to pass up. He opened the gate and ushered me into the gate house. He died with a smile on his face since I had his penis in my mouth. When I stabbed him in the heart with a small knife. He died quickly. I punctured his heart. I had never felt a man's penis in my mouth when he died before. It was a brand new feeling for me, something very sexy about it, but also morbid. I opened the gate for the other criminals to enter. They grabbed the occupants of the house. We threw them in the Swedish car along with me. The two young people looked terrified as did their mother. To my surprise the commandant of the prison was home and in bed. When we woke him, I held a shotgun on him till we had them all awake and attentive. The bedroom belonging to the soldier and his wife needed painting. It also had an odor about, It was most likely a new smell it was the smell of fear, "Colonel Alejandro, as you can see we have your wife and your two children. Now you will go to the prison and release the four prisoners you grabbed from the American Consulate tonight." "I had nothing to do with that," he said. "I have heard that, so let me explain to you what is going to happen. You are going to agree to release the three American. Then I am going to allow you to go to the prison and retrieve the prisoners. You are going to have them taken to the border crossing with Basil. When the three American cross the border into Basil, I will send you family across the border, If they are not there by 8AM your family will be slaughtered, It really isn't right and not something I want to do, but I do think it is the only card which I have to play. Colonel I have absolutely no qualms about killing your family, if my friends aren't released." The thug who was on my side said to me, "You know he will hunt you and your friends down. He will never rest till he has an assassin with you in his telescopic sight." my contact said. "I wouldn't have it any other way," I said. "I might just have to send one of his kids home wearing a few pounds of plastic explosives. He might ought to give that some thought. If my friends don't walk across that border his family dies a slow painful death. It could take days but they will die. We drove the truck with his family inside to the warehouse and duct taped them to chairs. We just held them there and waited. "Sylvia," The Brit's voice came over the phone. "Well hello there, are you alive and well?" I asked. "More or less, they say they are going to take us to the border and release us." The Brit informed me. "They want to get it on tv. But I wouldn't trust them." "No shit Brit. I don't know what we can do but I'm going to give you a chance." I said. I made it pretty clear that sometime from the moment to the exchange it was up to him and the other prisoners to escape. During the driving hell bent for the border, we stopped to plant a device the swamp had sent along, just in case we needed to disappear. The device would lead the government troops to determine that we were a mile or two from where we would cross the border. It was the equivalent of a false trail, only it was laid by electronics. The first call came from the Frenchman Gerard. "Silvia they are in the van and headed to the border. They are going to be crossing on the Trans American highway." "Got it Gerrard they aren't trying to pass off dead men on me are they?" I asked. "Not at the moment, the prisoners are all quite well," Gerard said. It was an hour's drive to the border. During that hour something had better happen, I thought. My friends needed to take control of the bus or car they were in. I couldn't trust the colonel to honor our deal and the Brit and company should know that as well. The waiting was maddening. The call came in from the Brit. "Sylvia we are across the border. Now you get the hell out of there just a quick as you can," he said. "It's not going to be quite that simple but I'm definitely going to be trying." I said. I left the colonel's family in a shack in a small village. The shack was pointed out by the thugs with me. I told them thanks and left them in the village where they were going to disappear I assumed. I walked across the bother dressed as a peasant. It took me two day and I had to give another blow job to make it to civilization of a sort. ------- Chapter 178 We all managed to get back in touch with the Swamp from Balise. I called around the small tourist town till I found the Swamp dog crew. The little town right across the border from where the terrorists were operating was neutral territory since it was a beach tourist town. Even terrorists wanted to lay a yankee tourists once in a while. Karl and the Brit were in a bar when I arrived. "Sylvia," The Brit said standing. "Brit you okay?" I asked because his face had some new bruises. "You should see the other guy, not a scratch on him," he said. "I tried to tell you that you can never have too many concealed weapons," I said with a laugh. "You really should listen to me." "They killed the Ambassador you know?" Karl asked. "I heard. He came with a price," I said. "How many street thugs does it take to kill one ambassador?" Kart said. "I don't know how many did it take?" I asked. "A hundred street thug or one rescuer," Karl said. "You know they were going to kill us when they carried us away. The only reason we are alive is you didn't bug out." "Well Karl I guess that makes you my slave. I expect my car washed and waxed every month for the rest of your life and your kid's life as well." I said taking a beer. "Sounds reasonable. No shit thanks for not listening to common sense," he said. "Karl, it was a lot easier when we left the world of terrorists, and went after the commandant of a prison. Then I got to be the terrorist and it was much easier. Of course it would never have worked, if you hadn't realized you needed to overpower the guards." I informed him. "I know Sylvia, we kept looking for the hidden weapon and never did find one. The Brit strangled a guard with a zip tie. It really did look painful but you know The Brit he never feels pain." Karl said. "Oh I feel pain, I just don't talk about my feelings like you Yanks." he said. "Well no matter, you are alive that is the important thing," I said. "No Sylvia the ambassador is dead, that is the important thing. The state department and the CIA are going to be looking for a scape goat. My guess it that Karl and I are going to be in the Jackpot." the Brit said. "Well, I was there too," I said angrily. "You didn't get caught, and you got us out. You are going to be the heroine of this little farce," Karl lamented. "You get home and tell the senate what happened. The government will have to explain why the 1st marine division wasn't called in to rescue the ambassador." I suggested. "The president will say we did all we could, and the people will give him a buy. The world is willing to give him a buy anytime he wants. He just says it's for your own good, I know what's best for you. and they buy it like drugs." Karl said. "Fuck it Karl whose going to debrief us. Is the Colonel sending someone, or is it going to be a government puke?" I asked. "You know I think I'm through," The Brit said. "Yeah me too, we could find something to do more fun than this," I said to The Brit. "Why don't the three of us start our own bodyguard service. We could keep the pukes alive as well as swamp dog." The Brit said. "Hell I'm tired of playing with guns. I think I'll make whiskey. They been making it with spitting distance of County Seat as long as white men lived in the area." I explained. "I know there is good money in it and the fed doesn't consider it part of the war on drugs. It might as well be for all the trouble they go to in order to track you down." The Brit said. "I just don't want to hang out in the woods making liquor. There has to be a cooler way to make money." "We could become bank robbers," Karl said. "That is too safe," I suggested. "Yeah, I agree with Sylvia we would become bored in no time." The Brit said. I think we need to take up international exterminating contracts." "We would be in competition with our old boss," I replied. "Wouldn't we?" "They claim they never took a contract to kill anyone. People often die, but there was no plan for that to happen." Karl said. "Well this one was it for me. They claim they do a threat assessment before they take these jobs. I got news for Martin, if he tries to tell me they didn't know this was coming down, I'm going to call him a liar." I said. The Brit at least nodded. Karl didn't acknowledge the remark, but I knew that he knew. "Sylvia shit happens now and then," Karl said. "It's up to you," I said. "I know that if you have bugged out like we all agreed, The Brit and I would most likely be sleepin' with the fish now, but that don't make all this talking any more reasonable, "Well it's okay Karl, I'll make sure the Colonel doesn't judge you by me," I said smiling. "Or me either," The Brit said. "By the way Sylvia, you are going to loan us some money aren't you. The guys who took us in also took our money." "Sure I still got all my expense money. Don't look like I'll be needing mine." I said. "Well if you will give me a hundred bucks I'll find myself a chick that can suck the chrome off a trailer hitch." Karl said. "I could save you a hundred bucks, if I felt like it, but I don't," I said smiling. "Sylvie, it you wanted to show off, I'd let you, but I would never suggest it. There are people across the border who are going to be telling evil tales on you." Karl said. "No matter how bad they think I am Karl, they don't know the half of it." Mary Ellen invaded my mind, but I let her slide in and out with hardly a ripple. At the time I wasn't sure I could do her, and stay sane, but I was surprised by how little it bothered me. So The Brit knew what I was capable of, but the others would never know. It reminded me of what my dad had said, when I visited him in jail. No matter how bad you think I am Sylvia, remember I am always holding some back. He might not have been bad but I was. I just didn't brag about it. The Brit and I drank while Karl went to meet his idea of the worlds best cock sucker. He probably will have some tissue damage, if she sucks as hard as advertised, I thought. After a couple of more drinks The Brit said to me, "I am finding you more attractive all the time Sylvie, why do you reckon that is?" "Probably because I am dress like a girlie boy," I said. "Damn you are right. You look like a gay boy out on the town. What did you do?" he asked. "I just comb my hair straight and wear an ace bandage over my boobs. Hell I just do it to turn you on." I said honestly. "Sweetie you turn me on more than an other women and most men. Trust me, if I get drunk you might have to fight me off." he said. "In that case get drunk and lets see how hard I'm willing to fight for my honor." I said with a laugh. "I have a better Idea let's go to a night club frequented by gay men and see how you do," He asked. "Do you want to see me turn a trick?" I asked with a huge laugh., "I want to go somewhere and forget I almost died last night. I want to forget I choked a man with my handcuffs, While Karl broke his companions neck. We had that opportunity because you were willing to wipe out a whole family to save our asses." The Brit said. "In that case point me to the fags," I said with a laugh. "Take it easy old girl. You never know when I might decide to write a 'tell all' about the mountains back home." The Brit said. "I see, Well I surely don't want that, so you can screw me anytime." I said smiling. "I wouldn't have to threaten you would I?" The Brit asked. "Of course, it's your turn to hold the knife," I said. We paid the hotel bar tab and went in search of more exciting places. I could have gone back to the room with The Brit and had sex. Any kind he wanted as a matter of fact. I was just glad he and Karl had come through the incident without any real injuries. I knew they had some bruises and scrapes but over all they were healthy. The Brit and I were sitting in a second club watching a couple of guys sing like girls. It was okay with me and The Brit seemed really happy. He was drinking and forcing himself to act happier than I felt he was. I hoped he was enjoying himself. It was well after midnight when I pointed out a very clean looking young man leaning over with his head in his partners lap. "What do you think of that?" I asked. "You know I don't do that. The English are too reserved for that kind of public display." Just as he finished the statement, I allowed my hand to wander to his lap. I unzipped his trousers and worked his awakening cock out into the night air. He seemed to sit back and be listening to the music, but if anyone looked carefully they could see that he was obviously enjoying have his penis stroked. It was mildly slippery and quite enjoyable for me to do it. He was no doubt enjoying it more than I was. He had his eyes closed and I could see the tension in his face. He seemed to be lost in a different world. I whispered to him, "Would you like to celebrate our new lease on life with a blowjob?" "Yes please" The Brit whispered. With his scratchy voice still ringing in my ear, I smiled and lowered my head to his lap. His penis was hard and wet. It had that funky taste a man's cock always has. Of course it was also exciting as a cock in my mouth always seemed to be lately. I hadn't always been aroused by the act of cock sucking, but I had lately turned on to the feel of a rock hard, but silky smooth cock in my mouth. I could even get turned on to the slightly frightening feeling of gagging, as it worked it's way down my throat. I was off balance as I raised and towered my head in The Brits lap. I was using my mouth to jack him off because he was just sitting like a statue while I make love to his cock. Then without any warning his cock exploded in my mouth. I choked on cum and swallowed as hard as I could. I continued to nurse on his cock till he lifted my head from his lap. I sat up then I heard applause from a table of clean young men who had watched me and The Brit do our thing. Then without warning The Brit leaned over and kissed me deeply. It was a very erotic kiss and I swear I shivered with almost orgasmic approval. ------- Chapter 179 "So you two getting up or what," The Brit asked me. I turned to look in the bed beside me and found Karl naked. "Dear God, tell me I didn't." I demanded. "Oh course not," The Brit said. "When Karl got back last night, he needed a place to sleep, so I let him stay with us." "That was sweet of you Brit, except it wasn't your room," I said laughing. "After the two days we had just wrapped up, I figured you wouldn't mind." he said. "Oh hell, Killer Karl saw me naked in bed with you, why should I mind that," I asked. "Maybe cause I was going to do this?" Karl said placing my hand on his penis. "Ewwww you prick," I said running naked into the bathroom, "Damn Sylvia stop pretending to be embarrassed," Karl said. "Karl I'm coming back to bed, but I'm bringing a blade with me. Guess what I'm going to cut off with it," I said as I flushed the toilet. "Easy Sylvia, we all have to hang together right now. When we get home you can cut off anything Karl shows you. You might remember, we don't have any papers," The Brit explained. "Hell Brit I do, I"ll just go on ahead, and wait for you. I can talk to Fox news, if you like. That way when the super liberals find out what you did here, maybe they want will have you prosecuted," "Sylvia, you might want to remember who did the kidnapping and threatening of civilians," He said. "Oh my how soon they forget. Tell me again where you would be, if I hadn't?" I asked. "No, I haven't forgot, but you shouldn't either. What you did was absolutely wrong, and you could be jailed for it," he said. "I know it probably saved our asses, but you could still go to jail." "So tell me Karl, would you walk away?" I asked. "No, but I don't know what I would do, if they said shut up or we will arrest Sylvia and maybe you two." he answered. I looked at him very hard then said, "I do." That was the end of the conversation. I didn't need anyone to tell me what was about to happen. I had talked to the press from home before I fled the country the day before. When I say the press, I mean I called Fox the conservative press network. So I expected them to be working on getting us out of the country. The three of us went to breakfast while we waited. The Brit and Karl both called home and had money made available to them. I was glad to know I wouldn't be financing the whole trip. Okay, but you and the Brit are in no position to be making decisions that effect me. I'm the one having to pay hookers," Karl said. "Would you rather we were paying for sex too," I asked Karl. I also laughed the question was ludicrous. "You know that's not it. Hell lets just go home," he said. "I cast my vote that way," I replied. "I have my passport and am ready to go. You on the other hand are in this country illegally, and can't get out." I laughed as I spoke. "Well I'm not staying here, even if I have to sneak over every border between here and Texas," Kurt said. "Has anyone spoken to the guys in the swamp lately?" I asked. "I'm just a contractor," The Brit said. "Karl has to talk to them for us all. Nothing we can do." "Oh you are so cute," I said to The Brit. "What do you think you can do?" Karl asked. So I showed him. I called the embassy and told the receptionist, "I really need to speak to someone from the state department, I just crossed the border of the latest country, from which the terrorist threw us. We need to talk to somebody or things are going to get very public, very quickly." "Who the hell are you," the receptionist asked. "My name isn't important. It should be sufficient to say, I came in on a boat loaded down with swamp dogs," it was all I had to say. "Hold on I think we are looking for you," she said. "Good, I would rather talk to you than Fox News, but whatever it takes to get out of here." I said. A moment later a man came back. "We have been looking for you guys, since we monitored the call about the warden's family," the voice said. "I don't have any idea what you are talking about. I just slipped away from the bad guys at the house, and then slipped over the border. I did run into a couple of friends who slipped away from the police, and then over the country's northern border, We were all part of the exchange program that got attacked by a crowd the other night. All we want is a chance to get home." "You need to let us bring you in, then we can help you get home." he said. "What about the country next door?" I asked. "Yes we will have to make some accommodation with them." he said. "That's pretty much what I thought. I saw middle eastern type terrorist kill a US ambassador and you want to make some kind of accommodation with them. One which will no doubt require people to go to jail. I thing I speak for each of us, when I say fuck off. Karl took the telephone after I closed the connection. He dial a number from a card in his wallet. I have no idea who he spoke with but whoever it was agree to call back in one hour. When he hung up I asked, "Who did you call, the Colonel?" "Yes," Karl said. "He can get us into talk to the people at the TV Network. They will pitch the idea that if they get us out, it will be a hell of news show. It would even make a hell of a movie." "Let's hope it works out." I said looking to The Brit. I swear I think he would just as soon have slipped across the ten borders between Balise and Texas. As for me I didn't mind either. I was legal, so I could get on a plane for home. I had my passport and I had come over the border legally. After an hour the News Crew, who were in the country next door covering the death of our ambassador, showed up to interview us. Their position was they wanted to interview us before they committed to helping us. Karl negotiated with them. He said, "You do know that, if you don't help us, we can't let you leave. You know we are here, and that makes you a threat to us." "What do you mean a threat to you?" the chick with the microphone and the look of an Egyptian asked. "The Muslim extremist don't know where we are, but you do, We couldn't expect you to allow yourselves to be tortured to protect our secret. See what I mean," He said. The girl looked to me for some kind of sympathy. I just shrugged. The news team stayed in our hotel that night. I wanted to sleep with The Brit, but Karl demanded I spend the night in the room with the reporter. Just to keep her honest. One of the camera crew knew an awful lot about what was happening on the ground around us. Karl looked at me after watching him for about five minutes. "He is CIA. You can bet you ass on it." "Well he better get moving, or we might have to shoot out way out." I said. "No, they have a plan," Karl said. "And what plan is that," I asked. "He has been talking to somebody. They are working on transport to the dock." He informed me. "I didn't get much sleep last night. I hope this ends really soon," I suggested. The man, supposedly with the camera crew, held a conference with Karl, then Karl came out to talk to us. "We are going down to get interviewed on an American Cruise Ship. We are going to go on it for the interview, and we are not coming off. We are then going to spend five days on the ship as it sails around the Caribbean, After that we will dock in Miami. This will be a bad memory afterward." "Are we really going to answer questions for the press?" I asked. "It's the price for their help," Karl said. "Someone from the swamp will meet us there. She is a friend, I think, but she does work for the swamp. She will be landing in an hour and will go straight to the dock." "This is way too complicated," I said. "Yes that is the bad news, the good news is you can keep all things sharp and shiny, " he said. "I would certainly hope so," I replied not even bothering to smile. I followed the others down to the cars. The news crew took off first. One of their cars had some room so I sent The Brit with them. "Spreading us out some Brit, will give a better chance of going unnoticed. I have my papers, so let the cops stop me. I'll go in the cab with Karl and the CIA man. We will be 2/3 legal anyway." "I don't like this," he said. "What's not to like? You get to ride with the chick. She doesn't have to know you are gay," I said with a smile. "Fuck you Sylvia," he said. "Just as soon as we get on board that cruise ship," I said. We made it to the docks, there an envelop full of money changed hands. I was just as happy to bribe them, rather than kill them. It was cleaner, so it was a good lesson for me. Corruption could be almost as good as force. The only down side was bought men do not always stay bought, but dead men always stayed dead. We occupied one of the cabins on the ship, while we waited for the representative from the swamp to show up. I expected her to be a slippery fucker. One who would try to get by with saying as little as possible. When The Brit came into the cabin where I waited, he had the reporter chick in tow. We were all waiting for the Swamp's representative. The Brit looked a little pale. "What's wrong Brit you seasick?" I asked. "Yeah, a little," he said. He didn't look just right, that was for sure. "Anything I can do?" I asked. "No, they just want you to stay here and keep Lucy company," he said. The reporter chick gave me a big smile. I guess I should ask for some entertainment?" she suggested. "Well the only talent I have, you probably wouldn't want to see," I said. "Trust me love, you wouldn't want to see it," The Brit said, "Sylvia they are saying about half an hour, we do the interview, then the ship sails." "I got it Brit. I'll be here," I said. "So what part did you play in all this," the reporter asked. "It won't be long now and you will know it all. I have no idea how much detail, but I'll do what I can." I promised. She had after all got Brit and Karl on an American boat without papers. Well not exactly, her but whoever was traveling with them. When the representative came from the swamp, I recognized her. They drove her straight from the airport to the dock. When we all gathered, she spoke to us before the news crew was turned loose on us. "You are probably going to give the only operational details that make it through the fog of war, you might want to keep that in mind." She smiled then said, "have at them." The hard questions and slippery answers went on for two hours. When the news crew left, we were still on the boat and it was out to sea. Very shortly thereafter we got a US Navy escort. I had no idea what kind of boat it was, but I was very glad to see it. They were interested in keeping us alive and on the boat while they managed the narrative. ------- Chapter 180 For the next five days I lived in a bikini. It was really a pair of panties. The top on me was nothing but a pretense at modesty. I had barely a bump in the cloth to show it's purpose, I did put on a skirt and tee shirt for dinner a couple of nights. The guys were in jeans and swimsuits, since that was about all available in the shops. For five days I did very little but sleep and relax. Yeah I took it up the rear from The Brit more than once. I also took a lot of grief from Karl because I wouldn't screw him. There were plenty of willing girls on board, but he really didn't have a winning personality. Which was fine for the business he was in. I went to one of the lounges after dinner. I got a glimpse of The Brit with a pretty boy and was a little disappointed. I knew deep down that it was my faulty. The Brit owed me nothing and I knew he was basically a gay leaning bisexual with absolutely no obligation to me whatsoever. I could handle that. Okay Maybe I could handle that. On the last night I got drunk but I wasn't drunk enough to screw Karl. I was drunk enough to get picked up by a kid barely old enough to vote. Not only was he too young too vote he was too young to last. I wasn't in his cabin more than an hour. Truth is I expected his mom to walk in any minute, and I think he did as well. In our stateroom I found Karl and a female of questionable age and morals, They were all in one of the beds occupied by the men. I was in the second bed alone, "I wasn't sure you were coming back," The Brit explained. "I wasn't sure you were either at least not alone." I said. "So what happened?" I asked. "The guy was a wbore. How about with you?" he asked. "The kid was about eighteen. I took off my top and he came. I figured his mother might want to come back to the cabin so I left," I said. "Well it's better than a third world country's jail, but I'm not sure a Caribbean cruise is for us," The Brit replied. "Well you and me are going to have to find something to do to keep from being bored silly. That pub is not very exciting." I replied. "Neither is bidding on storage lockers. It is even more dull than running a bar." The Brit said. "How about 'murder inc'. I suggested. "We need to keep an open mind. We are not in any hurry here," The Brit said. "Well by tomorrow night you will be back in town and back in your bar with Jeremy. All will be right with the world." I suggested. "And exactly who will you be with," The Brit asked. "Hell Brit, I do better alone. I don't bored as quickly," I said with a smile. "I have a feeling boring you is not all that healthy," The Brit Said. When I got off the cruise ship at the Port of Miami there was a crew of reporters waiting from the fox network. They wanted a comment on the president's statement about what happened. They kind of reminded us that we owed it to them. My reaction to the incident was that the idea that it was a peaceful demonstration was bullshit. That was just the government's attempt to hide the truth, so people wouldn't demand action. Something they obviously had a fear of doing. That's my personal reaction to what happened during the so called peaceful street demonstration. I sure hoped the TV people had enough at that point and were ready to leave us alone. I gave them what they wanted. The three of us went out to the airport in a shared taxi. "What do you think is the best way to get home?" The Brit asked me. "I usually take a flight on a plane landing closest to County Seat then rent a car," I suggested. "Then let's do that and share the rent on the car," he suggested. "Sounds like a plan," I said. "But I need to stop and get some weapons. Since I am an embarrassment to the government, they may be making plans to have us disappear, "True, we can but a shotgun an any sporting good store on the way," The Brit Suggested. "That would sure make me feel better," I suggested. We flew from the international airport in Miami, to a regional airport nearest to County Seat. From that airport we rented a Ford family sedan for the drive home, We could have managed with a smaller car since we had no luggage of which to speak. We stopped at a big box store on the way out of town and I bought a breakdown single barrel shotgun. I didn't plan on anything more than having it handy, if I needed to makes someone think twice, The drive on into our mountain home was about three hours. Once we got home The Brit dropped me at the the Box House, I decided I wanted to change some things. I decided that before I even went into the tiny box. Since me and Tomas know how to build it now, it should be pretty simple, I thought. I opened the door before The Brit left. I waved and he went inside, To my great surprise the box was warm even though I had been gone for a almost a week. I had been gone but the place hadn't been empty. I looked around and asked the guy holding the gun on me, "How did you get inside?" "I found your emergency exit. I just asked my self what I would do and the hidden exit came to mind," he said. I guess that's reasonable, but why are you here," I asked. "Well, if I was a cop, I would want to know all you know about your friend, The one who went into the water," He said. "That would be a shame," I replied. "Why is that?" he asked. "Because I don't have a clue about it. And since you broke in here and I'm sure without a warrant, I wouldn't expect that kind of question." "Oh so what kind do you expect," he asked. "More of a 'stop talking to the press' kind of statement than anything else," I said. "I think the boss wants to turn you guys into heroes, but he can't do that if you stab him in the back." The man said. "Well you know, he shouldn't have tried to make a group of Americans, who were fighting for their lives, sound like the villeins." I said. "We really would like you to let us have the last work here," he said. "I'll see how I feel about letting the government lie about me," I commented. "I don't really want to make your life miserable, but I will." The middle aged man suggested, I took a tong look before I answered him. He was at least seven or eight years older. He did appear to be in good shape. He would have had to be, in order to enter the emergency escape. "Do you believe all the our government pulls is okay, or are you just too cowardly to speak up?" I asked. "You are good. I was told you would try t have me attack you where upon you would cut my throat. So do you have a knife, in addition to the shotgun?" he asked. "Lets put it like this, I'm prepared like any good operative, who wants to get out of this crap alive." I informed him. "So what are we going to do you and I?" he asked. "I'm going to give you a break and forget this is highly illegal. So why don't you go back and tell the president to stop lying. If he doesn't that, he can make all the comments he wants. Tell him I am asking him to stop sending men out to die, and then lie about it. He would probably be better off not to answer at all than to lie." "Tell you what lady, I'll suggest that," the stranger said. "When I tell my friends you stopped by, who shall I say called?" I asked. "Well I've been out of town a while, so they won't know me. But my name is John Banister." he said. "Well Mister Banister it's nice to have met you. I am so glad I didn't have to kill you," I said. "I'll glade of that myself," Banister said. "Then if you are moving here, I'm sure we will meet again. If not have a good trip headed back where ever you came from." I replied. "Why don't you come back and tell him yourself. I know he would love to meet you," he said. "I doubt that. Most likely he would prefer you made me disappear," I argued. "Oh I don't think so. I'm pretty sure he isn't really one to order something like that himself," Banister suggested. "So you are the type to help him make up his mind?" I asked. "No more than I imagine you are," he said. "Hummmm," I said. I didn't want him to know what I was thinking. "Well could I bother you for a ride, or should I call a taxi?" he asked. "Surely someone told you how hard it is to get a taxi here?" I asked. "Yes, but I figured I would get a ride back to town with you. I didn't figure you would want me to stay, or to kill me. At the very least I thought I might could use your phone," he said. "Oh hell Bannister I'll drive you to town, but where you go from there is strictly up to you," I said. "I understand that." he admitted. "I understand there is a motel downtown." That is true. It is where I stayed when I first moved here," I suggested, "Did you drive into town?" "No, I Came in a taxi," he said, "There is an airport taxi you can arrange while you are here," I suggested. "Oh I took a message for you. The fellow who sold you this little box you live it called, He wanted to see if you were interested in a Shipping container 8x40. I wrote his number down for you," Banister said. "Well that sure is nice of you. Look I'll give you a ride to town, if that is all it will take to move you on down the road?" I replied. "You know Miss Porter you would be much more convincing, if you were outraged that I would be here." He said smiling. "Look Banister you obviously knew why I was in Central America. So let's stop all the crap. I'm going to deny everything and swear I was just visiting, when the shooting started. I was lucky to have gotten out of there alive. "So what do I tell him, the president?" He asked, "You tell him if he keeps his mouth shut about what happened down there, I will as well. However if he misrepresents the truth I won't." I did flash him a tired smile. "Tell your friend I like his pub. He has quite a future here in County Seat," John said,. That was also his biggest mistake. He looked down to be sure he had everything. He had taken his eyes off me, to be sure he had all his possessions. I hit him with a football type block. Even a 110 pounds sailing through the air, if it takes you by surprise, it will also take you down. John Banistser and I rolled around on the floor. Each of us was trying to get the upper hand. To do that I had to get to my weapons before he could bring his to bear or more, Since he had the weight he would also just block me and struggle for a stalemate, John Banister was a operations type guy for sure. He stayed right with me while we struggled. Before I could get control without killing him, he managed to pin me. He pinned me to the floor and kissed me. : ------- Chapter 181 John Banister was a little too straight to be a good kisser. Still it was interesting to be kissed that way. Interesting in that I needed a small bandage to cover a scrape on my knuckle when it was over. "So do I spend the night, or move on to the next largest town?" Banister asked. "For that you should call the president's men to ask where they made your reservation, because they didn't make it here. Since it isn't here, I'm headed for bed." I informed him. "You don't mind sleeping alone," Banister asked. "I hate sleeping alone, the only thing I hate worse, is sleeping with spooks," I said. "That was cold," Banister said with a smile. "I'll make a note to try the sensitivity training." I said. "Surely you will give me a ride to town," Banister asked. "No, but I will call for a ride for you into town," I offered. "Never mind, I have a number," Banister said. After he left I showered and dressed for bed. I wore a light weight sweat shirt to bed. The fall was starting, well not really deep fall, but the evenings were getting cool. I had to start thinking about a real heating system. I was laying in my bed winding down when the phone rang. I changed phone numbers so many times I was surprised that anyone could make my phone ring. "Sylvia, you gave me this number recently. I wasn't sure it would still be good, you change phones a lot." Jerry said. "Yes I will probably change it again soon. So what can I do for you hon?" I asked. "This time I might can do something for you. There is a guy here who has a storage unit for sale. I delivered him a piece of farm machinery and he wants to give it to me for the delivery. I was wondering if you wanted another one?" Jerry asked. "How much Jerry?" I asked him. He decided he wanted to gee and haw around, but I didn't, so I added, "Jerry, if you want to take a chance bringing it down here without a firm commitment, bring it on. I have planned to buy a second unit, but I had also planned to wait. I will however buy it, if it is a deal. So if you are going to make me a deal come on with it." I said. "I'll be there in a couple of days. Get that piece of dirt ready for it," He said. "Right, I'll make some calls," I agreed. Before I went to sleep I placed a called to The Brit. The plan was to see if Tomas would be at the pub. The Brit and I agreed that I would swing by and pick up Tomas. I needed for him to decide, what prep work we needed to do in order to make an addition to my cabin possible. So after I hung up the phone I went to bed. Too bad Banister was such a jerk, I was almost ready to sleep with a Government man. It Banister had been just a little nicer, we might have worked out something. The first morning back I went to Hardee's for a biscuit filled with animal fat. I finished it and then headed off to the pub. The pub had been open the night before so Tomas was working around the mess waiting for the cleaning lady to show up. Judging by the size of the mess there had been a real celebration for the Brit's safe return. Tomas was hanging a mirror, when I walked in the back door. "Hey Tomas how's the family?" I asked. "My family is fine, thank you for asking." he said. "Good, in the next couple of days Jerry is going to bring another storage building for me. I need you to come by today and tell me what we need to do for it." "Mr Allen told me to expect you today. He said I should go with you and get the plans made. We are pretty much through here. Well at least the pub is open. There is no rush to complete it." he informed me. "So you can leave now to look at the place and make a list of things I need to get?" I asked. "Yes, I can do that," He said putting his tools away. Then he went out and got into my cruiser/van. "You know, if we do this pretty much like before, we should be able to get it set to the ground pretty quick." I suggested. "Yes I will give you a list of things to buy. You will finally have a back door when this section is complete." he explained. That's how Tomas and I started on the 40x8 storage unit. It turned out to be as good as Jerry said. Which of course surprised me. Two weeks later when Tomas, I, and all the friends, I could get to work on it finished, it was great except for the need of painting. I had the painters put an epoxy paint on it, when we had all finished. Tomas built a roof over the whole sprawling thing to cut down on the damage from the weathering effect of the elements on the metal. It was a fairly hard job, but I felt better with it done. Even the 4x6 posts that supported the roof were attached to the walls making them part of the design. It was really pretty attractive. A month after our Central American cruise I had the house ready for winter. Included in that was a large gas furnace. The furnace in addition to the other work made the house better prepared for winter. For that I was happy, since the harvest season was on us. The house had been complete a week when I got the call from the Swamp. "Sylvia it me Karl." he said. "After that last little trip it has to take lot of nerve to call me again." I said angrily. "Crap, you gave them boys a lot better than you got," he said. "Karl they are looking for an excuse to fuck me. I think I'm going to pass on their plans for me." I said. "Sylvia you really should take this one. The pay is really good and you don't have to work with any of us." "Oh there is no team just me?" I asked disbelieving of it. "Just you, this time." he said. "Karl it's tempting, but I think I'm ready to give it up," I said. "You were really serious?" he asked. "I'm not sure I meant it, when I said it last time, but now I do," I said. "Well honey you do what you think is best," Karl said. "We can always find someone else to do our babysitting." "Good for you," I said. "I am so tired after that last trip, I can't seem to get rested. The weather was turning colder which was going to make life take a change soon. It always did in the winter. I decided I was pretty much out of the business. I hadn't planned on it but after that Central American fiasco, I had made some new and ruthless enemies. I just decided it was ready to do a little more illegal shit. I had enjoyed the moving of liquor before, so why not do it again. I didn't have to move it, when I thought it might be dangerous. I still have enough money to survive. It might be barely survive, but it was survive. There was money I had that I wasn't supposed to have, and that could prove a problem. In the meantime I prepared for winter as best I could. The Brit had his pub and just barely any customers. Yeah he got all the lawyers who came to town. There just weren't enough of them to make a guy rich, he said. I was deciding whether to blend liquor again or not. I had just turned down anymore work from the swamp. There were somethings I would miss about the swamp. I enjoyed the feeling of putting it all on the line. It made life more exciting. But I also hated that government bullshit they had tried to pull on me, Karl, and The Brit. They hadn't saved us so I found it humorous that they tried to spin it their way. That was even after goody two shoes in the white house wanted to dance between the rain drops He big idea was to leave Kart and the Brit to rot in that half ass jail. I figured, I was through for sure. I had no desire to risk it again, now that I knew what their attitude would be. I figured it was about time to get busy again, so I called my liquor maker contract from the year before. "Well Sylvia I sure did enjoy selling to you," he said. "Well that's good. So how much you got and how much you want for it?" I asked. "I got about 20gallons left from the last run. I can let you have that for $1800," he said. "Is it as good as last year?" I asked. "Made just the same as before," he said. "And where do I pick it up?" I asked, "That old country store on the Palmer rd. The one with the Shell sign still hanging. It will be behind the store. How about bringing the money by and I will take it there by 11PM." My contact said. He was actually the man who made the shine. I thought it all sounded pretty much like it had the last year. There was one cut out for the delivery and I liked that, So I agreed to meet him after lunch at a fast food restaurant. When I went in the burger burger restaurant, I saw my contract sitting by the window. I got a sandwich and a coke then went to set beside him. I recognized him from the previous year. "Hello Sylvia, do you remember me?" He asked. "Of course I remember you. How you been?" I asked. "Been good honey, how about you." He replied. "Bored, spring and summer this year were pretty dull," I replied. "They shouldn't be. There are all kinds of specialty items for sale after the harvest corn is gone," He said. "Well I'll do some investigating. Right now how about the deal we are working on?" I asked. "Yeah, it's a deal. You give me the cash and I'll move it to the location," he said with a smile. Since he seemed pleasant and the dining room was more or less empty in the middle of the afternoon, I gave him an envelope with $1800 cash. "Nice now between 11PM and 2AM you want to pick up 20 gallons of hooch. It will be behind the old closed down service station out on Palmer rd. But you want the to be sure it is the one with the shell gas sign still handing. There is another one, but the hooch will be behind the one with the sign." he said. When I left the restaurant, I rode back into town to meet with The Brit. I didn't mind the Brit knowing what I was up to, but Jeremy was not going to know period. "Brit where are you?" I shouted when I went in. "He left for a few days, didn't he tell you?" Jeremy asked. "No he sure didn't, and that pisses me off," I said. I'll tell him you are pissed Sylvia. I'm a little surprised that he left without at least telling you." Jeremy said. "Me too," I said. "Didn't his boss call you. They usually do don't they," he asked. "They don't usually do anything Jeremy," I said. "Every thing they do throws the mold away." "I'll tell him you want to talk to him," Jeremy said looking more than a little worried. ------- Chapter 182 After midnight I was on the road to pickup the liquor. There were twenty gallon milk jar filled with liquor. I unloaded it at the storage building. Long ago I had bought shelves for the storage building. I had put in the wrong kind so I had replaced them from the storage units I bought. The walls were completely lined with shelves. The twenty five gallons didn't even come close to filling them. I left the liquor to rest while I went to the closest large town. In the Sam's Club I bought several cases of water, several cases of fruit punch. The punch was a mixture of an orange juice base and a pineapple base. After lunch in the larger town, I drove back to County Seat. When I drove there I unloaded at the storage facility by myself. There wasn't that much, so even with the fucked up hand, I could do it. Making it and distributing it was a problem for me, but it had to be done. Well it had to be done, if I wanted to do anything on the edge. The law would be looking for me, or for whoever was responsible for a fact. They didn't care that it was me. Now the bootleggers would be looking to crush the competition. They could be a bigger problem, but that was just the way it was, We might have a skirmish or two. It was just business nothing personal. If one of them beat me up, it wasn't personal just business. If I blew up one of their shipments, it was just business. If wasn't good for anyone, but it had always been done like that, Last year had been my first year out there with new products. Since there wasn't any competition I had gotten a lot of warnings but there was nothing to replace my stuff. I expected there to be other projects like mine this year. So there might be placement issues. It could get messy even though I didn't want it to. I started by cleaning my mixing vats. They had been covered, but not cleaned. I had three ten gallon vats. If I decided to run them at capacity, I could mix half the twenty gallons at once easily, so that's what I planned to do. I took them to the house where I filled the ten gallon water colors with boiling water and scrubbed them. Then I went to a huge amount of trouble to rinse them clean. When I finished they were spotless. I carried them back to the spotless building. There was no chance they could make anybody sick, so I was ready to go into production. I mixed over one gallon of raw shine up to make two cases of punch in 8oz bottles. I left it in the storage box until eight o'clock then I loaded it up and left on my run. I only had two stops on my run. First I went to Monk's Biker Bar owner friend. He was glad to see me, which made me feel better. He agreed to sell, and setup an introduction this year to his business associates might sell the punch. It was a pretty good deal. It was a little labor intensive for someone who hadn't really worked a day in recent history. Still the work wasn't hard and I didn't have a boss, so I just rolled with it. By 2AM I was finished with the bars, where I knew people. From that point on I would be risking jail time. Even so I continued on and sold out all I had mixed up by 3:30AM. The beer bars who sold only beer and wine were good spots for small sales. They would take ten bottles just for themselves. Guys liked to buy the liquor for their dates. That of course suited me fine. I knew there was a string of liquor houses that were in no way legal, but I had no idea how to get in with them. So I went home after my first round, not thrilled with my take, but it was good enough. Since I wasn't dealing with preachers, I carried the .22 mag in a upside down shoulder holster. The shotgun was legal so I carried it right out in the open. The Brit came in after a couple of months. "Hey," he said to me. "Where the fuck have you been?" I asked. "Somewhere back in South America, teaching the government how to fight gangs." Brit said. "And how did that work out?" I asked. "About like you would expect. When the training broke down so completely, that we were leading strikes in the field, I knew the writing was on the wall." he said. "Did it get so bad that the most corrupt ones in the room were on your side?" I asked. "Pretty much yeah," he said. "You gotta just hate that," I replied agreeing with him. "So did you get your little project started?" he asked. "Yes I did, It is just a hobby though. There is no real money in it." I admitted. "But it keeps you from working the streets," The Brit said. "Yes it does keep me from wandering the streets," I replied. "I really don't care much for it. If I could find something more fun, I would close down the next day," "Well I'll tell you right now, swamp dog is taking some rank jobs." he said. "You mean rank dangerous or rank you can't tell the good guys from the bad without a program?" I asked. "Both," The Brit said. "Then you need to start getting ready to retire, You knew this wasn't going to last surely you saved your money," I suggested. "Yes but you know I can't run a pub. I'm far to deep into the life for that," The Brit said. "Then it will kill you," I said. "And you want even have your good intentions to wrap yourself inside." "Well, it was never idealism for us you know that," he said. "No but it was never a matter of asking myself whose money had the most blood on it either," I replied. "Yeah there is that," he said. "So to change the subject, you going to keep the bar now that you are back running Swamp Dogs errands again," I said. "Yeah I'm an errand boy and to be honest I don't know what I'm going to do next." With that The Brit changed the subject. "Has anyone been around asking any questions?" "Just you now," I said smiling. "Good then," he said returning my smile. "So tomorrow during the day are you doing anything fun?" "I'm going to stay home and try to relax. Sometime I have to round up some new customers, but I'm not looking forward to it. Monk's friends are moving some of the stuff for me, but I need to deliver it right to the retailer myself. This distributor thing brings too many people into the distribution chain." I said. "Where the fuck did you learn all this business stuff?" he asked. "Hey I wasn't always a soldier," I said. "But I am willing to do most anything you want to do." "I don't have any ideas, but one day doing nothing is more than enough for me. So I am going to think of something you in?" he asked. "Shouldn't you go with Jeremy?" I asked. "We will take Jeremy if he wants to go. Otherwise you and I will do something. Let me figure out what I need to do," The Brit said. "Alright but if the kid wants to come along, you two go. You don't need me tagging along," I said. What I didn't say was that I didn't want to be trapped with him." That is how is sounded to me though. That very night I went out on a date. One of the guys from the Warren County Sheriff's department invited me to dinner and a movie. We drove over to Dobson because there was no movie theater in County Seat. When I met the young deputy for dinner, he asked, "So what you up to these days Sylvia?" "I am back checking out storage lockers Robbie," I answered. "So you buy those abandoned things?" he asked. "I buy some of them, if the price is right," I said. "Do you have a place to sell them?" he asked. "Yes I have a partner who spends his weekend at the warren county flea market. In the summer it's at the fair grounds and at the winter there is a flea market run by some guy in an old high school over by Dobson," I explained. "Do you ever go with him?" Deputy Roberts asked. "Why all the interest in my business?" I asked. "Just trying to figure out how you spend your time," Robbie replied. "This whole date thing was a set up wasn't it. There is something else at play here. So what is it Robbie." I asked. "I'd like you to try to buy some pot for me," he said. "What I'm not known in the drug circles. If they did know me they would know I am a police informant. Those guys would never tell me anything except to kiss thier ass and good-bye, I not popular in the drug trade." It was true. I might could help him with the bootleg business, not that I would, but I really couldn't help with the drugs. "Sylvia there are all kinds of rumors going round about you," Robbie said over dinner. "Don't believe rumors," I said. "I don't usually, but I think there is some truth in these," Robbie said. "We have a problem Robbie. There is no truth to the rumors going around about me. If there were I would roll out of here in the morning. I have a pension from the state. It is so small I am force to live in a metal box. I do this and that when I can for extra money, but I'm not involved in any criminal enterprise whatsoever. I do a little consulting with various law enforcement agencies. I also buy some storage lockers for the jewelry and electronics in them. The rest I sell to a man in the flea market business. That Robbie is all I do for income." "That's not the word around the county," he said. "Then maybe you need to arrest me for something," I suggested. "Wait a minute, I didn't mean to imply you were a criminal. I just wanted to know if you could be a source of information for me." he said. "No Robbie I can not be a source for you. I really think I'm going to pass on the movie. Dinner was about all of you I can stand. I want you to drive me back to County Seat now." I said. I went back to the box/house and worried about being on the police radar until the sun came up. When it came up I drove to The Brit's pub. I beat on the door till Jeromy opened it. I sat at the kitchen table while they showered and dressed. Well I did make coffee for them in my old coffee maker. When The Brit came in he asked, "So what's going on?" "The cop who asked me out last night wanted me to be his snitch," I said. "Shit what did you tell him?" The Brit asked. "I told him to bite my ass," I said. "If I had one, I would have told him to suck my dick. Everybody who ever met me knows I'm no snitch." "He might have though because you were a cop, you would roll over for him," The Brit said. ------- Chapter 183 "Well he would be wrong. I mind my own business and expect the cops to do the same, especially the Sheriff and his crowd." I said. "You need to lay low a while," The Brit said. "Good play, and what should I do with the twelve gallons of hooch I have left?" I asked with a smile. "Well for one thing, I'll take a gallon from you," The Brit said. 'You know a gallon of this shit is $75 for you." I said with a smile. "I can afford that," he said. "Good, be careful who you give it to, Be double careful who you sell it to." I said. The Brit was back in town and things had pretty much settled down. I found buyers for all the booze, so it was a good time of year. Things in the liquor business occupied me till well after Christmas. It was cold in January and I got bored easily around the house. I hung around the house bored and hating it. There was nothing I hated worse than being bored. The dead of winter boredom set in after Christmas. I had a feeling it was the same every year. Not many new things started. I peddled a little shine, the twenty gallons hardly made a ripple so nobody was really out looking for me. I even bought a few storage lockers looking for jewelry and of course I spent my retirement money. It was all rather routine through the winter. By the end of February all of the shine was gone. Well all except two gallons I had flavored peppermint. I kept that for me. I really liked that and most folks didn't seem to like it as well. The liquor business just kept me out in the mix of people. I wasn't really a player. I was far too small and didn't really want to be any bigger. You see The Brit and I both understood that we could be bigger, but what would be the benefit. More money, but we didn't need any more money. More money would not make our lives any better. The only thing that would make my life better was, if it was less boring. I really didn't want to stumble through the jungle on a daily basis, but I did like things to be interesting. I just hadn't figured out how to do it. There was't any real heavy weight crime in Warren County. So there was nothing in need of fixing which the Sheriff couldn't handle. We were surplus and the only way to be useful was to go to some shit hole and do some jobs not worthy of us. I just didn't want to do it any more. I could tell I was getting antsy, but I didn't want to admit it. I would love to go out and do something in the United States. Surely there is some job here that is worth doing. It would be even better if it were legal, but not absolutely necessary. I searched for something of interest for months and found nothing. The most exciting thing I found was a piece of land for sale adjourning my home place. It was an almost ten acre parcel of woodland that was in need of cleaning of it's underbrush. I wasn't sure I wanted to clean it, but I knew I wanted to buy it. I entered into negotiations with its current owner. "The current owner was trying to unload his share of the family farm, His real estate agent called all the neighbors looking for a sale. The parcel of land did have a two and a half acre meadow on the property otherwise it was in woods replanted when the area was clearcut ten years earlier. I would own almost twenty acres if I could swing the purchase. The real estate agent and I met for lunch the day after his first call. We met at the Cafe' on the Square for lunch. It wasn't fancy but the people who knew me knew I wasn't impressed by fancy. The Realty agent was a man, a fact which I supposed was a bit unusual in those days. There wasn't a lot of heavy development going on, so fewer men went into it. The reason I got a man is that he was less than dynamic. He mostly just wanted to slide into the sale. He could hardly bring himself to close the sale even thought I was begging him to take my money. It took almost another week to get all the details handled. Anyone who ever bought real estate knows there are all kinds of details that seem to pop up along the way. In the end I owned the property and it seemed like a good thing. The piece of land I had bought had been in something called the Warren County land bank. The Previous owner had six out of the almost ten acres in the land bank. Those were the old farm fields. He plowed and planted them in crops provided by the land bank. Then at the end of the season, but turned them under. It supposedly made the soil stronger. I had six acres of really fertile soil but I didn't want to plant anything on it. Hell I knew I was no farmer. Another reason the land was cheap is that it had no road frontage and was useless for development, but it did attach to my land at the wooded area. The thing that had made me most interested was that the ten acres included about three acres of the fast and deep running stream. The spring fed stream wound it's way across those several acres of over grown woods. I knew that if I wanted to actually cook off liquor, I had a really good place to do it, but I also knew I would lose everything if I was caught manufacturing there. It was really a lot more involved than I wanted to be, I did love having the option. Owning that land was really about the options for me. It was two weeks after everything was finalized, before I made the final decision not to make moonshine on my own property that year. To be honest I didn't like the risk benefit ratio of the enterprise. I felt the day to day risks were just to high at the moment. Things might change at any moment though. My background was all in high risk for short periods of time. Then the risk was over. It would never be over, if I was in the liquor business. There would always be daily smaller risks in that business. Even though they were small, there were constant risks just the same. It seemed like it was asking for ulcers to become involved in it. The act of making liquor was a constant low level of risk, but it would still be a threat. Where as the kind of risk I was used to was a high level, but when we walked away, we were completely away from it. Okay it was more or less completely behind us. I could live without the money, but I wasn't sure I could live without the adrenaline fix. I had never been able to do it before. I wasn't sure I even wanted to do it. I had always admitted the reason I did what I did, was over half because I liked the thrill of it. The money and the good that I did became secondary to how it made me feel. I never, ever denied I was an adrenaline junkie. Dealing with the underworld characters delayed my need to put it out there. I wouldn't be long before I needed it all on the line again. I took a couple of days to look for something to do. Anything that had some excitement but nothing came up at all. I began looking for something, anything to do that would occupy my mind. I was about to give up hope and leave town for a few days, when The Brit called me. "Silvia," he said to me. "We have a bit of a problem." "What kind of a problem?" I asked my heart beginning to beat faster. "I have Marsha Blane the school mistress on the cell phone," The Brit said. He made her sound like the school marm of a one room school. She clearly wasn't. "Brit, that isn't a one room school house we have in Warren County. I know it would be more romantic for you and Jeremy, but we have an area school. The Southeast Warren County school district is what we have." "Yes I suppose that is true, but she called me anyway," The Brit said. "Did she want you to sponsor the dance troupe." I asked. "How did you know she was the dance instructor," he asked. "Brit every body knows she is the dance instructor. She is also the biggest Pollyanna in the county. Give that girl nuclear waste and she will paint watch faces." I said. "I agreed to put an adv in the program," The Brit Said. "Good for you, If I ever go into a legal business I will advertise in the local high school publications." I said. "That's nice but she also mentioned she has some of her dancers being approached by the boys from the county and even over in Dobson. She wanted to know if we could discourage the boys from hanging around." he said. "Good God Brit I would rather battle the falling of darkness, than to try to get a teenage boy to leave a teenage girl alone." I said. "If she is right Sylvia, it is a gang of boys who are well organized doing the harassment." he said. "Is the Sheriff looking into it?" I asked. "Of course he is and it will go absolutely nowhere," The Brit added, "Yes Brit, but you and I can't go all vigilante on their asses," I said. "Why not? It is our town. If we know something is going on and we can stop it, why shouldn't we?" he asked. "Because the Sheriff frowns on it. We could end up in the jackpot," I suggested. "We could kill the culprit a heck of a lot easier than we could do an intervention." "Well," The Brit said. "Brit we would pretty soon be handing every little problem that way. It wouldn't take long till someone noticed. "I suppose you are right." he said. But I did tell her that if they had a problem at the school house to call us. If we were in town, we would be faster than then state police." "Well I'm sure the Sheriff's people will never let us inside a locked down school building." After that I immediately forgot it. and went about my own business. Which was mostly monkey business. In my wildest nightmare I never expected a terrorist act in out county school system. The problem was in progress by the time I found out. There was nothing I could do to prevent it, since the terrorist was already inside. The Sheriff, and highway patrol, had the place on lock down before The Brit and I found out about it. We did get to listen to the progress on the dance teachers cell phone. They wouldn't even let us near the buildings, and I could understand why. There were probably two hundred parents, with guns in their pickups, who wanted to get their hands on that madman. No one in the area knew exactly what our specialty was. So we were overlooked. When it happened, my phone rang, and I drove into town. I drove right past the Sheriff's office to the pub. My cruiser/van held a shotgun and a pistol. I didn't have any idea I could get near the school, but I was going to be armed, if it came to that. Brit and I sat over a pot of coffee and listened to the meeting we hadn't been invited to. The dance instructor named Marsha Blane had the Brit's number, She had placed the call to which unknown to everyone present we listened. ------- Chapter 184 "What are we doing sitting here?" The Brit asked. "I can not see anything else we can do. The cops have the place surrounded and they are isolating the shooter. I suppose when they feel the time is right they will go in." I said. "I want to do down there. Surely the Sheriff will allow us to help," The Brit said. "If you want to go down there, I will go with you, but they are going to ignore us. We are going to stand there in the cold with no coffee." I suggested. "Yeah, we are just citizens to these people," he agreed. "Besides which the Sheriff just might shoot us. Anybody with a gun is going to be a target." "That's true, however there might be something I could do," I suggested. "Oh and what could you do that I couldn't," He asked. "Well he might see some skinny ass teacher type as harmless. You know lower his guard a little," I suggested. "Are you thinking a box opener?" The Brit asked. "And the Derringer, just in case I got the chance to use it," I said. "You know they won't let you go in there," The Brit said. "Yes I do know that," I agreed. "I also know that I don't know anyone in there personally, except that dippy dance teacher." "Well then lets go before they decide to go in without us." The Brit said. "We can try, but I have no faith that we can find a way inside," I said,. "Yeah, I agree. They will all be trying to do it right and we won't be considered the right way. Best I can figure from the our spy Marsha they can't decide what to do. There are about twenty kids in the room and he had a lot of fire power. He pretty much says, he will kill them all if anyone shows up. "What does he want?" I asked. "He knows he is not getting out," The Brit said, "Ask him how he wants it to end. Promise to make it happen just like he wants and then make arrangements for me to carry something he wants in to him." I suggested to Marsha. "You are assuming we are in contract with him. I am in the crowd being briefed, but I don't know if they are in contract with him." Marsha said. "Fuck it, let's be a TV Station." I said. " Marsha, where is he in the building?" She waited a second and came back to me. "He is barricaded in the cafeteria," she said. "The Sheriff will have all the entrances and exits covered. Plus a full contingent of men in the halls cutting off the perpetrator." I said to the Brit. "Then we aren't going in are we?" he said. "It's like you said before, without their cooperation, we aren't going anywhere. Shit you have no idea how I hate to do this," I said. I used the super secret number to call. "Agent Mission," the voice came over the phone. "Mission this is Porter, you know what's going on in Southern Warren County consolidated school. I have a plan for you that might solve your problem." "Are you at the school yet," she said. "No, but I'm five miles out and moving that way," I said. "Meet me in the parking lot," she said. "You've got it," I replied and motioned The Brit toward the school. "You want to stay away from Agent Mission," I said to Brit. "She will want to pigeon hole you," When we arrived in the parking lot by the cafeteria it was filled with police type cars. Of course there were news crews as well. The standoff had been going on a few minutes so lines were being drawn in the flour of the cafeteria. The Sheriff and the asst director of the State Bureau Of Investigation were strutting around trying to pose for pictures while at the same time looking for a scape goat. I met Mission in the parking lot and offered myself up as a scape goat. "Sylvia, I am sure you can shut that guy down with no more loss of innocent life, but the people in charge are more worried about how it looks than ending it," Mission said when she walked up to me. "In that case why did you bother to meet with me?" I asked. "Do you have any ideas I can take credit for and pass on," she said smiling. "Do you have a communications line into the space he occupies?" I asked. "We do, but he isn't answering us," she said. "They all want to be understood. Tell him you have a TV reporter who wants to talk to him. She will bring in a tape machine and let him tell his story. Explain to the Sheriff he might get something he can use. Don't bother telling him that if I get the chance he won't be coming out. I won't be in there to take him prisoner." I said. "The Sheriff and the Bureau Chief won't go for that." Memory said. "Then don't tell them," I suggested. I looked at her hard got very quiet and then said. "I can end this now." Memory looked back at me and said, "I know." She walked away and left me standing in the parking lot. The Brit was standing beside me at least. It wasn't five minute later when we heard the gunfire. I looked at The Brit, then I kicked the tire on the Brit's SUV. "Tell me something Sylvia?" he asked. "Is there some kind of universal perversion that requires the people in charge to be complete idiots?" "I don't know. but it is possible," I replied. "God having a good laugh at our expense." "God Damn it, you and I need to come up with a better way," he said to me with a stare. I waited for him to break the stare, but he wasn't kidding at all. "Damn it Brit, I'm not sure I'm up for going to jail for doing the right thing," I said. "Then we need a figure a way to do the right thing and not get caught," he said. "I have no idea how we would do that. I mean you and I are bad ass, but we are not desk warming material." I said. "I don't want to do anyone of those pukes at the swamp's job." "I know Sylvia, but you just as much as admitted we need somebody like that," The Brit said, "Brit we can't do that. The job is just too big." I said. "No the job isn't too big. It just needs an organization. One with people who do the hard things for the right reasons," the Brit replied. "With a group who has the power of life and death, there has to be a counter to every power," I said. "Write something up and le'ts see what was agree on, as well as what we don't." The Brit proposed. "When we write it Brit, lets try to remember what we are good at and what we are not," I said. "Of course you and I need to do some good in the world. Sylvia almost every one in the world who does something really, really evil is not a cherry. They worked up to it. Stating out with less evil things before hand." The Brit said. "Yes there are precursors, but there are no guarantees," I said. "So Sylvia go home and think about where you draw the line." The Brit proposed. "Brit if we are going to pull the trigger, we can't decide who gets it pulled on them. I think it has to be the guy who decides to do it, doesn't have to be the one to deal with it. The guy who flips the switch on him, can say to himself, I was just doing a job that needed doing." "Yeah, but these have to be the worst of the worst, or we risk winding up getting used," I suggested. "When we get the final solution order, we also get the facts of the case. We can accept or challenge them, I think. You do realize, we are building a shadow government." I said. The Brit and I agreed that the new thing wouldn't have a profit motive. I told him, "If it does, I am out. As long it is stays this small I'll cover my own expenses even." We pretty much stumbled around for a few months before we added the first man, Brit got hold of one man who knew the government justice system computer like his own home. So he organized the information for us The Brit and I talked about it, If we were going to be really involved then we needed someone to decide who was guilty. We were going to need someone to pass judgment. We were surprised how easy it was to recruit a retired judge. Not just any judge but a highly respected one. He recruited a second one, who was still sitting. He explained what might be necessary. I didn't fight him on it. We all knew any infighting would be the end of us, so we avoided it. The Brit and I would carry out the sentence, but only after we reviewed it completely. In spite of what everyone though, we decided to have either Brit or I meet them and see their face. I felt like it would be harder to execute an innocent man, if I had the condemned man look the executioner in the eyes. It should never be easy to condemn someone to die. I was a little surprised at the length of time it took to get the first one on the schedule. It was almost a year since the Brit and I stood in the parking lot of the Warren County School and listened helpless as the guy inside opened fire on the kids. That day was the last time I admitted, there was nothing I could do. After that there was always 'we could have done something more, sooner.' I could pronounce the computer expert who came to us first. I met him in person only once. We agreed to communicate by internet bulletin board He was a little more than a computer operator but that was the title we gave him. He was the one who programed the computer to find the candidate. He send the file forward to the retired judge who had joined us. The judge had finally had enough of letting people walk for all the right reasons, but feeling dirty every time it happened. When he retired he found that he had lost the high ideal of the court system. The retired judge verified the fact and passed judgment. He was the one who wrote the opinion before judge two pass on it. In our little organizational flow it was going to take both judges to pass the same judgment, they weren't to change each other's mind, It had to be unanimous. Then The Brit and I would come up with a plan based on the evidence. We decided that both had to approve it before it was a go. By that time it was a pretty damn good plan. It would also have had a pretty thorough review. ------- Chapter 185 The first was a drug dealer and convicted murderer operating in Capitol City. The dealer had corrupted law enforcement and terrorized honest people in almost half the downtown housing areas. "So Brit, what do you think will happen. He runs dope, junky whores, and crooked cops, What will happen in the vacuum we create?" I asked. "I don't like the possibilities," he said. "But I like this even less." he waved his arm around at the evidence. "This isn't going to save a bunch of school kids, but it might save a couple. Well he somehow managed to get out on parole for a murder. Mostly I think because the victim was also a drug dealer. What bothered me was his statement that he should never have been sent to prison, since it was only business. If that were a justifiable excuse, then one car dealer could kill another and it would only be business. I could understand a more personal motive than a 'it was just business'. I reread the evidence on the young man named Jerrome. I knew he wasn't going anywhere so I had all the time in the world. I knew I wasn't going to feel any better till it was done. Every day he woke up there was a good chance someone else wouldn't. A lot of them weren't worth saving, but some of his victims were worth it. I tried to concentrate on how I was going to do it. It is much easier to kill a street thug than it was to kill a 2nd or 3rd level manager thug. He was more insulated. Brit and I had spent the last seven months setting up the structure of the thing. So now I had to come up with a plan to accomplish the first mission and we didn't even have a name for the thing. I realized that I didn't even care if it had a name. It suited me just fine to call it the thing. We had agreed we would end recruiting at five, We could get others to help without them know why. As for me and The Brit, we had signed on to in effect be serial killers. Hopefully we wouldn't draw any attention to ourselves and the same was true of the others. If we lost one somehow we would meet to discuss our next move. I really only envisioned it working a year. I had no idea what we could accomplish in that time, but we all were determined to do what we could to rid the world of as much evil as we could/ Make no doubt it wasn't just a game of wits any longer. It was about ridding the world of a bit of evil. Jerrome's name had came in a less than a week after we started the search. It seems the judiciary system was filled with guys who had been caught but not thoroughly caught. We were careful to get the worst of them. I had enough shit on my soul I wanted to sleep better at night not worse. The others did as well I was sure. Jerrome had been paroled after he did eight years and then killed his way back into the hierarchy of his gang. He told anyone who would listen after he was released the he should never have been convicted. He should have never gone up at all, because it was just business, nothing personal at all. Well he sure had everybody around him scared to dead of him, He also trusted no one, He traveled with two body guards and used two car whenever he went any where. He was going to be a challenge. There had been a message from the scout on a bulletin board That next morning, so I read his file yet again then I drove to the pub. It was a bulletin board about bow hunting. I had no idea if it was someone's idea of a joke. Once inside the pub I sat at my usual spot at the end of the bar. The Brit walked down and put the dark draft beer in front of me. "Make it coffee instead," I said to him. He looked at the beer and started to take it back. "Oh hell leave it to," I said. One beer wouldn't have enough effect to be of any significance. "You get that message," The Brit asked. "Yeah, you seen the packet yet," I said. "I did," The Brit said. "How does it look to you?" I asked. "Jerrome is not a nice boy," The Brit said. "So how involved in the life is Jerrome?" I asked. "He has been in and out of the joint a dozen times. He is the number one suspect in half a dozen murders." The Brit said. "Any chance we can adjust his attitude with a two by four?" I asked. "He was beat all his life, till he got into management. No way to put him down again." The Brit answered. "It's a shame but he will kill you before he backs down." "Yeah there are gonna be a lot like that. Why should he be any different, What I am asking is what makes him more deserving than the kid next to him." I asked. "He doesn't believe in any other answer to a problem. If a obstruction shows up, his answer is always to remove it with lethal force." the Brit said. "Well Brit. doing the deed won't be hard, but we have to do more than just kill him. We need to make a change in the attitude both of the victims and the killers." I said. "Sylvia we are not in the education business. We are problem solvers, you and I. When we leave town the problem is gone, but we haven't changed the world, just the neighborhood." he said. "I know Brit what difference will we really make this way?"I asked. "Honey I don't know, it's either this or we go back to doing nothing like everybody else," Brit said, "Well I'm going to meet Jerrome, since he is the first. I want to know that he is as bad as we think," I said to the Brit. "Sylvia you don't know anyone where Jerrome operates." The Brit said. "No I don't. I have never even been to that town. I'm not even sure that we want to be working that far from home." I hadn't said it before but I knew Brit was thinking it to. "Maybe we need some boundaries. We are the ones to set them." I demanded. "Yeah I know but we also don't want too much contract with the others," he said. "Yeah, the less real contact the better" He said again. "Let me do Jerome, then you do a thorough after action review." I suggested. "No I want to do it, but I do know you are right. One of us should do it, then one of us should review it. So okay this time you act, I react. Next time it goes the other way." I nodded my agreement. I had been bored a long time. This job was a new endeavor for me and the Brit. Not to mention the other three member of the thing. I knew them by reputation, but I didn't know them personally. I was putting my freedom in their hands, so I had to trust them some. None of us wanted to go to jail I hoped. I for sure didn't. After the Brit and I talked about my pending trip to Capitol City, I went back home and packed. The first thing I did was to line up some storage auction for the end of the week, I should get down to Capitol city with a day or to for a reconnoiter. I checked into a cheap motel in the part of town were Jerrome operated. I went to a couple of places where he had offices. I just wanted to spot the buildings first thing. I did my site map of each. I had two approaches and two routes out of the kill zones at each place; I went to a thrift store near the motel and bought a badly used bike. I rode that bike back to the motel. It was getting late in the afternoon when I got all the running around done so I got dressed to go to the clubs. I dresses as flashy as I could. If anyone took a look at me I would to scream slut not killer. I was wearing a pair cargo style hot pants and a halter top. I wore a soft top so the fact that I was a girl would be a little more obvious. I skipped the bra and hoped that would make it clear as well. When I got to Jerrome's club I found there was a cover charge. I was surprised there wasn't a sub category of free door passes for sluts. Maybe one day there would be a class for killer slut as well who knows which once I would qualify for, I wondered if the cover charge would be higher or lower for killer sluts. I guess it wouldn't make any difference. One of the things I had noted in the file was that Jerrome insisted on being seen. He didn't want anyone challenging him because he was judged to be timid, That being the case at least once a night ne made an appearance at one of his clubs. So there was going to be a slut walk with Jerrome doing the walking somewhere every night. He left the club about midnight. My guess is he went somewhere for the night, maybe a club, maybe a girls place, or maybe his own apartment. I had the address of his place, so I thought I should go look at it, I made a stop before I moved deeper into the hood. I went back to the motel parking lot to recover the bicycle I bought that day. I rode it the ten blocks to the apartment building where Jerrome kept a fancy apartment. I checked the parking lot but didn't see his car. I thought I could wait for him but if I did that then someone would notice me hanging around. A slut in on a bicycle would be unusual enough to be noticed. I rode the bike back to the motel and put the bike inside the room. I went to bed and slept late the next day. I wanted to check his apartment so I wanted to be sure he had time to get home. I drove to his apartment but I was dresses more conservatively. Actually I probably looked a lot like a feminine gay guy. While I was checking the parking lot I did find the car. There was nobody who paid any attention to me. I could do a bomb and end the drug dealer's life fairly easily. I decided not to do that because it would require too large a trail of purchases. I wanted to leave town after not having made a wave anywhere. I knew he had two body guards, my choice would be a box opener from behind, but the two body guards might make that a little difficult. So I slipped back to the parking lot that night and waited. Jerrome came into the apartment well after midnight. The limo parked in the fire lane while the two body guards cleared the way for him, Everybody was shocked when the faggot with the over and under shotgun stepped out of the dark. The dealer got one shot from each barrel. The two body guards were beside him and a little in front and behind so they were injured. Before they reacted I had the gun reloaded and pointed at them. I backed away into the shadows. Like men whose boss wouldn't be able to pay them for any further bravery, they saved themselves. Like reasonable men, they chose not to run into the dark after a gay guy with a over and under. I rode the bike away with the cut down shotgun in a roll of cloth tied over the handle bars. In my Motel Room I washed it down with a spray bottle of bleach. When I drove away, I packed the wheels from the bike and other pieces of evidence in the back of the cruiser van. I dumped the pieces in different dumpsters. I threw the spent shells in dumpsters even farther from the killing zone. ------- Chapter 186 I was on the road home when I realized that I had committed a cold blooded murder. I knew I should feel some kind of remorse but I didn't. What I thought was that I was sorry there would be some other piece of trash who would take over. The business would go on because they needed the business it really didn't need anyone of them to continue. The business would always be there in some form to pray on the innocent trying to cope. The only way to kill the business was to kill the customers and no one was ready for that yet. If it ever came to that cut the junk with rat poison. and tell them it was cut with rat poison. Those who weren't too far gone might find the strength to quit. Well, one of the rats was gone for sure. I had no idea who the cops were looking for but I thought it was a gay guy on a bike. I was within an half hour of County Seat when I realized I should be getting a birthday party ready. Not just any birthday either it was my 30th. My god how old that had sounded to me at my twentieth. I remembered that I had turned twenty wearing Air Force Blue. I even did a tour on the gate of a forward Air Base that day. No I can't say anything happened except I got laid. As I remember it the party was for me but several guys got presents that night. That was the thing about serving in a predominantly male area. Every thing was about them in the end. Well what doesn't kill me makes me strong I thought. I would have to inspect my face for lines tomorrow, after all I was over thirty now. Hell I was no longer trustworthy, I thought. Of course a local drug dealer had not make the radio news, not even on the all news station based in and covering all the state news. Hell so many drug thugs died on any given day it was hard to keep up. I was supposed to have visited a storage facility auction the same day I had followed them all around. I followed them so that I knew where things where when I began the operation. I often went that far for an auction and I often returned with nothing, so I was okay in that part. I was always doing something and covering it with something else. Even I didn't know all I did that was just for show, and that was okay. I got home about 2PM and was interested to see how my house had done without me. It had taken five days to end Jerrome's reign of terror. I had been away three nights so I was curious how the house had managed. Since the Gas furnace had been installed almost a year earlier, it had been the first trip that I had left it running. I half expected it to gut the insides of the storage units. Of course I wasn't disappointed that everything worked just fine, just surprised, I went inside and looked around. I didn't stay I got on the bike and rode it into town. I was tired and I needed to wear the edge off my nerves. I parked in front of the pub I got there just in time to greet The Brit as he opened it up. "Hey Brit," I said as I walked by him toward the bar. I chose the bar because when you sat in the middle of the room you knew just how close everyone was to you. "Well did you buy anything," he asked. "Yeah I got what I wanted. You can't really get the choices here you can down there. Did I tell you this is my birthday?" I asked. I was a little disappointed he didn't say anything. "Really?" he asked. "Yep, it sure is. I wasn't sure I would make it back in time," I said. Then I opened the menu and saw it. There on the menu was a tiny burger made on a standard dinner roll. It was really a smashed down meatball with a little tomato sauce with chilies. The new sandwich was called the Porter Burger, I swear I almost cried. "Damn Brit thanks," I said. "Nothing special we needed something light in the ass for you little farts. Tomas's daughter started making Mexican meatballs, so I figured what the hell." Then he did something totally out of character he leaned over the bar and kissed me. "Come back at nine for the party," he said then went to clean the glasses. Tomas's daughter came out front. "Hey would you fix me a porter burger or is it too early?" "For you anything," The teenager said. "Why aren't you in school?" I asked. "I only go half a day. I can't go to college, so I go to school to learn what I need to know to work. You know in places like this one." The young girl said cheerfully. "If you really learn how this place works, you can own one like it and have those college kids wash your car." I said. What I didn't say was, or do twenty years in prison. She could run the legitimate parts of our business, but some things she should stay away from. The burger was very good. I would have enjoyed it regardless just because it was named for me but it helped that it was made with ground beef and rice and lots of chillies. I hung around an hour drinking that one dark beer then I rode the bike off for home. When I pulled into the yard I was greeted by the sight of a strange car parked beside my box house and behind my cruiser van. Oh shit, I thought. I really wanted to go in and just catchup on everything thing. There are always things that need my attention. If nothing else I could slip in a adult chat room and get some tension worked off. So instead of that, I was going to have to deal with someone who I didn't know. Whether it was a cop or a con who wanted my attention, I had to respond. Most likely it as someone in between the two. I put the bike onto the covered deck. I leaned it under the front window of the house and walked to the edge of the porch. The vehicle was actually a old muddy pick up truck. It would certainly not stand out in the rural mountain community. The individual who got out of it was a lot like me. She was headed toward middle aged and yes had a youthful attitude somehow. It could have been the filthy jeans or the tight top she wore. "Can I help you?" I asked. "I got your name from Mary Ellen a while ago," the big tall blond said. "She was planning to introduce us, but she never got around to it." "Oh do you have a name?" I asked. "Maybe she mentioned you." "You don't seem much like one of us," she said. "But my name is Vivian the last name won't mean anything. Everybody knows me as Vivian or Viv." "You must be right Mary Ellen never mentioned you. If you like I'll give her a call and ask about you." I suggested. Now that would be difficult to say the least. Sure you haven't heard, everyone has heard?" she said in a very annoying voice. "Well whatever I'm supposed to have heard, I must have missed. So why don't you tell me," I suggested. "A fisherman found Mary Ellen's body in the reservoir a couple of years ago," she said looking for a reaction. "I'm sorry I hadn't heard. Were you two close?" I asked. "We did some business together. She and her friends bought some product from me," she said. "Oh really well I don't move anything but jewelry, I hope you didn't think I wanted to take over her business." I said. "Yeah, I thought you might. I managed to lay off some of the product with some friends of hers. That biker guy Monk and a guy named Boyle managed to fix me up but they thought you might be interested in buying some surplus product," Vivian said. "Don't know nothing about that and I don't know either of those men," I said. "Oh I think you do, and if you will give them a call I think we might do some business," she said. Then she got in her muddy truck and drove away. I watched her go and wondered what the hell that had all been about. She obviously wanted me to ask Monk and Jim Boyle about her. She seemed very sure they would provide her bona fides. I supposed I could give her that. After all the new project was not going to be a money maker. If either of us made a profit on the project, he was likely to become a target for it. Doing something off the books to finance something off the books struck me as the way to go. I just wouldn't all mayselt to make a direct profit from our charity work. So I would be looking for something to finance the operation of my part of the business. I had to have clean accountable money as in the money I spent on real things, but I also needed some money that couldn't be easily traced to me. Money I could used to be get from one place to another without leaving a trail. Or money I could use to buy a law missile if I found one for sale some day. So when I arrived at the Essex Pub, no that wasn't the official name for it, I found Monk almost as soon as I found The Brit. "Happy Birthday Sylvia, When you gonna give me my present?" The monk asked. "Monk, you have it wrong, I'm supposed to be the one getting the presents," I said with a laugh. "Okay Sylvia, I will force my self to give it to you. Wanna come on out in the parking lot?" he asked. "Maybe later, so how you been Monk?" I asked. "I been doing okay. I wish you would stop by the club over in Dobson. Owner would like to see you, if you know what I mean?" he commented. "Yeah I know, tell me something Monk you know a big ass blond named Vivian." I asked. "This her?" he said showing me a picture on his smart phone. "Yeah, that's her," I replied. "She told me you might be asking about her. She is going to be suspect one in the Mary Ellen killing I think." he said. "Oh really, why is that?" I asked. "She wants to add Mary Ellen's business to her own?" he said. "Okay, but you haven't told me what her business is," I replied. "She is a pot farmer. Not so much her personally, but she owns some wild ass land up here near the national forest. Word is she grows pot up there. Word also is she sells it wholesale. Most of it went Mary Ellen this year. She's trying to replace her on the customer list." Monk said, "Well Monk she is the one who told me about Mary Ellen," I said. "She kind of told me you would vouch for her, if I wanted to buy something from her," "Sylvia I have known her for two years and she has been all around the edges of the pot business but not in the distribution part. She is a wholesaler and I know why she wants to do business with you. She asked me if I knew anyone who could make use of her stalks after they harvest." Monk said. "And you gave her my name, you bastard," I said. "No she had your name, she wanted to know your bona fides cause you was a cop," he said. "Well if you would tell her I'm not safe I would feel better," I said. "Well that's up to you, but I know you can afford a small still and you don't have any problem running liquor and some green dragon would be easy for you. It's something you could run a small batch of and make a ton of money." "If you get busted they gonna get you for everything," I said. "I get ABC and DEA both after me." "You know it's twice the profit for the same risk." Monk said. "You sure she ain't an undercover cop?" I asked. ------- Chapter 187 "Surely you can protect yourself," Monk said. "Yeah I can protect myself. Tell me what she is selling." I suggested. "She is selling whats left after the harvest," Monk said. "So what's your interest?" I asked. I remember back when you and Jim had that stuff. I never really bought any but I heard it was primo stuff." Monk said. "Alright I'll call her back after I check the rest of her references," I suggested. "Now it's my birthday and I'm gonna party." "Good for you, but this place is too quiet for a party. Come on out to 'Bone Crusher's place. I'll tell them it's your birthday." Monk said. "Monk, that isn't the kind of place a woman gets anything for her birthday. She probably has to give all the guys a blow job because it's her birthday." "And there is something wrong with that?" he asked. "Depends on if you are the one on your knees or not," I said. "Not to you it don't," Monk said. He did laugh which was a good thing. "I'm gonna hang out here tonight, but thanks anyway," I said to Monk. "Well it's just too quiet in here for me no offense," Monk said. "None taken hone. The quiet English countryside isn't for everyone," I said. "I know you and the Englishmen party hard sometime, you just don't do it in here," he said on his way out the door. The Brit came over to bring me another beer. "Thanks Brit but don't pull me any more for a while. I want to be around some tonight. It's my birthday, I don't want to be out of it tonight." "Alright I'll baby sit you," he said with a laugh. Before he left his position in front of me, he was joined by Tomas' wife. "Hello Miss Sylvia," She said. I had no idea what her name really was. I heard someone call her Rosa one time so I did as well. "Hello Miss Rosa how is the family?" I asked. "Every one is fine Miss Sylvia," she said. "I sure am glad to hear it. We have all survived another year," I said. "Yes we have Miss Sylvia. I came to wish you happy birthday," she said handing me a package. I had never bought her a present or received one from her. It was a monumental birthday, but not really a big deal to most people. Still there she stood with a small wrapped package. I was like a kid opening hers because it was so unexpected. It was a lace handkerchief, The kind a real old fashion high society lady used, I almost cried it was such a special gift. Then the door flew open and Karl came into the pub. "Geese this place is dead, How do you all stand it here?" he asked. "We sit around retelling old tales, Like that time in Vera Cruz," I said. "Ya'll never gonna let me live that down?" Karl asked. "You ain't been here in six months Karl. I have to listen to it every Sunday," The Brit said. "Well I guess I should buy her a present since I wouldn't be here without her." Karl said. "Don't it feel strange to owe someone so young your life," The Brit asked. "It's nothing I wouldn't have done," he said. "I know," I replied and kissed him, I also took his present since it came from all the guys in the great dismal, including the game warden. When I opened it, I was pleased and impressed. To get that wooden box with the six inch switch blade knife inside. It was a real pleasure, I had been wanting one, but I could never bring my self to pay two hundred dollars for it, I had a feeling that the one in the wooden box cost even more, "I got this for you to," he said slipping me a card. There were words in it that someone had written. Lots of them said nice things about me. One of the guys who had been there long enough to really know who I was wrote the thing that brought me to tears. Sylvia there is no where I wouldn't go with you beside me. Just that one sentence brought me to tears. Lots of things did that day, Damn I hated birthdays, Later that night I left the pub with one of the Deputies from across the park. They came over now and then after their shift. "Happy Birthday Sylvia, if you wouldn't mind a younger man I would really like to give you a gift," One of the kids, who worn a deputy Sheriff's uniform said. "Damn kid, they would probably have me arrested for sexual assault on a minor," I suggested. It was well after midnight when we all decided it was time to leave. I had too much to drink so I considered how to get home. The easiest thing to do seemed to be to go up and stay with The Brit and his friend. But I really didn't want to deal with Jeremy that particular night. "Hey Sylvia, you need a ride home," the voice asked. "Karl you are not in any better shape to drive than I am," I said. "No but half the cops up here don't want to bust me, just to get a brownie point with the sheriff." he said,. "Tell you what Karl there has to be a taxi around somewhere. If you will split a cab with me, we will share a bed as well." I said to him. "I haven't seen your place since you got a real bed so it's a deal," he said. "Do you think you are still young enough to get it up?" I asked. "I am if you are," he said laughing heartily. "Honey I know it has been a while since any woman would sleep with you, but I had no idea it had been so long that you forgot how the parts work," I said with a laugh. But I didn't say it so loud that anyone else heard it. Every woman learns early not to make fun of men, if she wants to get laid. The taxi had to pick us up and make us his last call. The ones from Dobson ran over to County seat in the evenings but it would be a long wait for him. The one that ran around town must have needed extra money obviously because he picked us up at the pub and dropped me at home, Of course I also had Karl along for the ride. I had never had sex with Karl but I knew of no good reason why I hadn't. So when the taxi stopped outside my box house I guided Karl into the house. He wasn't too drunk either just enough so they would charge us, if someone stopped one of us driving. Knowing that, I opened the door and stepped inside with him right behind me, "So this is the house that you put together like a tinker toy," Karl said. "This is it," I said. "Do you want the grand tour?" "Sure how hard could the grand tour be?" he asked. "I do hope that is a rhetorical question," I said. That back there is the bathroom, Now you might want to know where that is. This area just outside that area is the kitchen living room area." "It's a little small but not bad at all," Karl said. "I actually thought it would be smaller." "Through the opening halfway down the wall is the bedroom and office area," I said leading him to it. "I see you have a large bed," Karl said. "Yes, I decided if I was going to buy something that only had one purpose, it would be the best one I could find," I said that with a smile. "Well it looks like a great bed to me," Karl said. He seemed to know that it was a decision made as far as I was concerned. I suppose I could have wasted time fixing another drink but I didn't bother. What I did was look Karl in the eye and remove my top. He smiled then kissed me, "Did you know you feel so fucking good," he said when he finally broke the kiss, "I wasn't sure you noticed Karl but I sure did," I said Then I leaned back into him and kissed him again, I took a minute and unbuttoned his shirt while I kissed him. I couldn't show a lot of passion in the kiss while I worked on the buttons but what it lacked in passion it made up for in efficiency. At the end of that short kiss Karl and I were both naked and breathing hard. I was lubricating like mad. I could feel the cold wet feeling in my panties. I could also feel Karl running his hands inside my panties and gripping my butt. I loved the wicked feel of him spreading my rectum and even the feel of his invading finger. It might not have felt so good if The Brit hadn't been using my rear entrance so regularly. I broke the kiss and Karl forced me to my knees. I didn't mind at all I had come to enjoy the feel of a hard penis in my mouth. I especially enjoyed the feeling of my body lubricating while I worked his cock in and out of my mouth. His cock in my mouth had a feeling all it's own. Once I upon a time I had done that just because it created more cooperation in the men. Lately I had begun to enjoy the feeling of the cock moving in my mouth. When it moved involuntarily in my mouth it thrilled me. I knew the man was near orgasm and I reveled in that feeling. When Karl came from the effect my mouth had on him I was thrilled. He seemed to appreciate that more that anyone had in a while. I had to remind myself that it was likely unusual for him. Like most women I hadn't really enjoyed doing it until recently. As Karl came in my mouth I choked and gaged but never gave up on his cock. I took every drop of cum that came from it under great pressure. We lay several minutes getting our breath before I spoke. I said it before he could. "Thank you," I said. "God that can't be for real. Silvia that is the best sex I even had," he said. "So far," I replied. "Yes so far," he said. I turned my butt to him and settled in pressed against him. I felt him trying to work his half hard penis in me. "Don't worry there is tomorrow," I said. I reached back took him in my hand and slipped it between my butt cheeks. Not inside where it would have had to be hard, but just at the edge laying flat against my butt crack. "God Sylvia you have got the best body I have ever felt. You might be skinny but god damn you are hot," Karl said, I suddenly broke out in a laugh. "My body isn't good Karl it's just that I have a lot of experience in using it. I started having sex early and learned young." "I don't know if you consider that a good thing or not but I sure consider what ever is responsible for how you make me feel is a beautiful thing," Karl said. "Honey there is one thing I need to ask you," I said. "What is that honey?" he asked. "What is your name?" I asked. "Andrew," he said without a smile. ------- Chapter 188 When I woke the morning after the birthday party, Andrew was sitting at my breakfast bar. He had a single cup brewed coffee in his hand. "Is that any good?" I asked, paused a moment, then added "Andrew." "Best I ever had Miss Porter," he said with a smile. "You know Andrew I never noticed how plain you were. You walk around like you are a beautiful guy, but you are really quite homely," I said. "I act beautiful, but I never said I was beautiful. It's all about perception. I try to give you women the right perception." he said. "Well you sure lost ground with me in the bedroom department," I said. "Oh why is that?" he asked. "Karl you are out of bed before I even woke up. That is the sign of a less that enthusiastic lover," I said. "True but one has to ask why," he said with a grin. "Oh you are blaming me are you? Why you piece of shit. I have a waiting room only line, when I'm out with men." I said. "Yeah I noticed," he said. "By the way that wasn't our last time together. I am not going back to the swamp for at least a week. I intend to spend the time with you and the Brit." "Well you are a little behind with me, but I suppose I can give you a chance to catch up. You seem to be a willing candidate," I said. "We need to go downtown and get our cars. Both of us are without a car." he complained. "Well if you want to wait here, I'll go to town and get my cruiser van, If you don't want to wait you can take the motor trike and meet me down there for breakfast," I suggested. "You got a motor trike?" he asked. "If I said I do, I do," I said. "Well I want to see it first," he said. After I finished a coffee of my own I put on more clothes then went to show him the trike. It was stored under a leanto shed built against the rear of the metal box I called a home. "Son of a bitch it is a Tricycle." Andrew said. "If it were not so, I would not have told you," I replied going all Gothic on his ass. "I wan't to take it to breakfast," He said. "Listen up then," I said. Then I went on to tell him how to run it and where the downtown cafe was located. Then I climbed on my two wheeler and took off for town. Andrew blew by me before we reached the end of my side road. When we turned onto the main road, he was well ahead of me but I didn't mind. He probably had to wait fifteen minutes at the Cafe on the Square for me. When I got there Andrew was charming the black waitress who was also the sister of the owner/cook. "'bout time you got here," Andrew said. "I pedaled my bike you ran a gasoline motor down the road." I said. "You make so many excuses," he said. "Well I'm going to take my cruiser/van with the bike rack on back home. You are going to have to take the Trike home," I said. "In that case lets have breakfast. Since you put me up last night, I'll buy," Andrew said, "Bet your ass you will," The Brit said as he and Jerome entered. "Since you left without settling your bill, it's breakfast or I call the Sheriff." "You can't really blame him Brit it isn't often that a woman agrees to take him home without being well paid first." I said. "How do you like her house, Karl?" Brit said. "I like it, and she knows my name," Andrew said. "Have you ever ridden that trike Brit?" "Of course I rode it Andrew. Did you asked her where she got it?" Brit asked. It was shaping up to be, who know the most about me, moment. It was fun, but I didn't want hard feelings with anyone. "No, he didn't ask Brit. I had it built for me by a man at the edge of the great dismal swamp. It was about the only thing of value I managed to hang onto from that experience." I said. "I knew your background intimately. I know you have caught more than your share of rough shit. But I also know that you know how to beat the shit out of the odds, After Vera Cruz when shit comes down, you ain't never gonna have to face it alone. Well you might if somebody is holding you prisoner and does it to you before we find out." "Stop all the crap and lets go some where and screw." I looked at the table full of people and added. "All of us." I laughed. "Sweetie I am going to have to be a lot drunker than I have been lately for that to happen," Andrew said. "Damn Jerome, these guys are no fucking fun at all," I said. "I agree," he said with a girlish laugh. The two guy broke out in guffaws. "So if I wasn't here what would you do today?" Andrew asked. I looked first at The Brit and then at Andrew aka Karl and said, "Run down and old boyfriend and see if I was going back into business. But since you are here, I have a few other ideas." "Oh don't let me stop you. We can get a couple of errands run first for you, then we can go back to bed." Andrew said. "How is your breakfast Mr Andrew," Lucille the waitress asked, "That was one of the best breakfast I ever ate. I do not see how these people avoid being fat as pigs," Andrew said. "Why we all get a lot of exercise in bed," she said and looked at me smiling. "Ain't that so Miss Sylvia." "Hey it works for me," I said with a smile. Breakfast was done, so I added, "I'm going over and pick up my cruiser/van. I'll tie the bike on the back and meet you at home Andrew," I suggested. "That's fine. So Brit you want to show me around," he said, "I can but I expect Sylvia knows more about this place than I do." The Brit said, "Hell you can all join the tour," I said. "You gonna take us over to the fancy palace in the valley," Jeremy asked. "Sure we can go any place you want," I said shaking my head. "Just come on out and meet me at the Box House," I said. I hopped on the bike and rode across the square and parked behind the Cruiser. I lifted the lightweight bike onto the bike rack hanging on the rear of the cruiser. Then I quickly drove home after having breakfast with my family. It was a new experience but it was also a pleasant one. When I got home, I was only in the house a few minutes before Andrew showed up. He stepped in the house and said, "Get your fucking clothes off woman. I have something to prove to you." I smiled all the way into the bedroom where I removed my clothes in a few deft moves. I moved to lay on my big hard bed. It was a new bed only a few weeks old and the best that money could buy. It had been my present to myself on my returned from Central America. It was only fair that Andrew help me break it in. We started with some heavy duty kissing and then some heavy breathing. I worked Andrew's clothes off and return to kissing him. As I kissed him I lazily stroked his penis. I made it nice and hard. I leaned toward lowering my mouth on it when Andrew forced me back so he could place his lips between my legs. While he kiss my clit he slipped his finger inside my quickly lubricating body. I was probably as hot as I had ever been. Hell I couldn't get a reasonable thought in my head. The only thought that clearly came was that, I need to get fucked. Then Andrew did something not every man knew how to do, but almost every woman did. Be began to manipulate my clit. First he flicked it up and down then when I was ready to orgasm, he change directions and flicked it side to side. I actually raised my hips off the bed. I was grinding my vagina into his face as I shouted, "Fuck me damn it fuck me." Then I collapsed onto that bed. I tried to say thank you or something but I couldn't. All I could do was cling to him. Sometime after noon I managed to stand. I was shaking but I could at least make it to the bathroom. After I managed to pee, I showered and wash my hair. I am sure I looked like hell sitting at the dining area of the Box House drinking a cup of coffee. I looked up and saw Andrew walk in the room and sit at the opposite end of the counter attached to the wall of my house. "God Damn woman you can sure as hell fuck," he said. "Hell I was about to say that. Only I wasn't going to call you a woman." "I'm supposed to call The Brit when we finish this." He pauses a few seconds took a sip of his coffee and asked, "So are we. Finished I mean?" "No, I'll make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then we can go back to bed and call them in the morning," I said. "Sounds like something really good to me," Andrew said. "I got something else I would like for you to try," I said. I walked to the refrigerator to remove a ten oz bottle of peppermint shine. I sat it on the table for him while I made the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I gave him half and a few potato chips. He drank about half the bottle of shine in one keep swallow. "So how did you like it," I asked, "I like it a lot. What is it?" he asked. "It's peppermint moonshine," I said with a warm smile. "Where did you get it?" he asked and he had a curious looking smile. He knew exactly what I was about to say. Or at least he had a good idea. "Well Andrew, you just found my part time job." I said. "I don't understand," he said. "There is a lot you don't understand. I am pretty sure once you do, you will be sorry that you were told. Life in my world isn't nearly as simple as you think," I said. "Life in our world simple, You have to be kidding me. We land in foreign countries and are up to our asses in shit a few hours later and this seems like simplicity to you?" "Andrew that's your life. It was never mine. I was traveling on buses with rap stars everyone thought." I said. "Damn it Sylvia I didn't know what it was, but after that last trip, I knew you were up to more than riding around on buses." Andrew said. "So what have you been doing." "I have been doing all kinds of things to keep from being too bored. I have made liquor or at least changed and sold it. I sold it to biker bars and bootlegger drink houses, I made a lot of money. Money that I had to cleanup to use. I knew better than to have my expenses be more than my income. So I cleaned the money," "There's a lot more to this story isn't there?" Andrew asked. "Yes there is," I said sadly. "Could I have another bottle of that liquor then," he asked. ------- Chapter 189 We finished the second bottle of peppermint shine, before I finished my story. All of the story except the part about the 'Murder Inc lookalike' The Brit and a few others ran with me. We promised not to tell anyone else about that endeavor. Since we promise each other to take no money from it, we couldn't call it a business. So Andrew and I took a drive into town to pick up his big ass SUV. The thing was almost as big as phase one of my house. We dropped off his SUV and we went sight seeing. He had promised to stop by to pick up the Brit and Jeremy so we did that first. We stopped by an old grists mill that had been turned into a fancy restaurant. It was on the far side of Dobson. It had to be to get enough people to pay those prices. "I heard good things about this place guys, but I have never personally been here," I said. "I have also heard good things about it they have a fancy French menu. It's supposed to be modeled on a French restaurant that actually exists somewhere there." Jeremy said. "Modeled on a restaurant that exists somewhere else in the world none of us have ever been. God, do we live in a place with nothing to recommend it or what," I said. "I don't care where the food comes from, just so it is good," Andrew said. "Here, here," The Brit agreed. 'Okay we will sit on the terrace and pay twice what the food is worth and be waited on by chubby teenagers with southern accents trying to pronounce the French food items," Andrew said it with the dry wit that three out of the four of us shared. "My God," Andrew said once we were seated. "They have rabbit stew, that's what lapin a la cocotte is he explained to me." They all liked to explain things to me like that because I was always interested and never took offense at their assuming I didn't know things like it. "Well if it has been boned and comes with bread, I'll try it," I said. I also made a face when The Brit made a face. "We can't all be world travelers," "Why not just tell the girl to bring you the tourist's special," he suggested. "Andrew kick his ass, so I don't have to kill him," I said. "If you get my Allen hurt, I'll scratch you eyes out," Jeremy said with a giggle. "In that case tell your friend to stop talking down to me," I said equally as bitchy as Jeremy. Then I laughed at them all. I was tapping into the below the surface humor, See The Brit, Andrew, and I were all fair game for that rough humor but Jeremy wasn't part of it. I would not hurt him and I would not allow anyone else to either. Jeremy was part of the group but he wasn't part of The Group. It's just the way things were. I wasn't sure he realized it. So it was best we just move on. "So what do you want to do after dinner?" Jeremy said. The kid just wouldn't give up I thought. "No offense Jeremy but I think I'm going to take Andrew home and screw his brains out. You are welcome to come watch," I said. "Wouldn't you like desert first," Andrew asked. "Sure Brit, get me something chocolate and sticky," I said. "Get this woman a chocolate tart," Andrew ordered. "That's what you need," I said with a laugh. "What I need might be a chocolate soldier," "let's not go there at all," The Brit said. It was about ten o'clock and everybody was getting on everybody else's nerves. " We need to head on back to County Seat," I suggested. "Yeah, I need to get back and check on the pub," The Brit said. I squeezed his arm as if to say thank you for not objecting, It the conversation continued someone was likely to loose their cool. When we got back to County Seat about twenty minutes later we dropped The Brit and Jeremy off. We left them with a promise, "Hey we will meet you guys at the Cafe on the Square for breakfast in the morning." I said. "Sounds good to me." The Brit said. Jeremy was noticeably quiet, which was fine with me. When Andrew and I got back to the Box House he asked, "Do you have any more of that peppermint shine?" "I've got some," I said with a pleased smile. I was glad he liked it. Between us we finished half a 10oz bottle. It was midnight when he followed me to bed. I have to admit I was skeptical when he made a move on me. Even so I returned his kisses and stroked his damp cock. As I stroked it, his cock got harder and even damper. He was feeling my vagina while I stroked his cock. I don't usually think like that but he had me more in touch with my less than lady side. When he rolled on top of me I guided his cock into my pussy. I thought of it just like that. I am sure I was moaning the same things. Then out of the blue he said, "Damn Sylvia, you are the best fuck I ever had. Damn it I love you." "Shut up and fuck me Andrew," I said. "God if you love me fuck me." I could feel him driving into me. He was driving to the bottom of my pussy, then I tried to pull him even deeper. We weren't just doing it. we were rutting like animals. I couldn't help it I screamed in pain when I orgasmed. He fought to get away from me because he said I was smothering him. I had no idea I had pulled his face that tight against my small breast. "Son of a bitch, are we fucking or fighting?" he asked. "Sometimes it seems like the same thing," I said. "Go to sleep Andrew tomorrow is another day." The first thing when the sun came in the next morning I slipped into my shower stall and tried to bring my dragging body back to life. I sure hoped Andrew didn't want to fuck. And I thought in those words which wasn't like me at all. I couldn't help it, Andrew had me all confused. "Morning sunshine," I heard him say. "Before you open your mouth I do not want to hear you say that you love me again. If you say it, I'm going to ask you to leave. Do you understand?" I asked. "Yeah, I got it. So can I take a shower with you," he asked smiling. "I'm already finished but I am willing to stand here naked and watch you," I said with a smile to show there were no hard feelings. Andrew called Brit and had him join us for breakfast. As I almost always did, I had a .22 Mag revolver in my cargo pants pockets. I liked the sleek look around town, so I wore the cargo pants with the air weight .22 magnum revolved in a pocket. It kept me from having to wear a jacket to hide it but it made it hard to reach. Since it was hard to get at I also carried and eight inch piece of driveway marker sharpened at one end. I rested in a spot under my wide belt along the rear of my cargo pants. It was the thickness of a gutter spike, but was made of plastic. Just in case I had to go through a metal detector. I also practiced getting it out in a hurry since it was much faster than the pistol. Thats how I was tooled for the downtown breakfast again. As luck would have it on that morning the once in a hundred year event happened. Someone starting trial for something, almost serious, in the country house. He must have seen the writing on the wall, so he decided that he didn't want to go peacefully. So he made a break for it. Us locals would ordinarily learn about it form the state cable news show. Except that Friday morning my friends and I were in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was hard for me not to know what was happening when I saw fat Joan, the female bailiff, being herded down the granite steps of the courthouse by a man in an orange jump suit. I'm sure the pistol was just to be sure she wouldn't resist. He couldn't possibly know how many dangerous civilians were having breakfast across the square. I carried a piece of jelly covered toast with me, when I walked out to watch. I knew that Andrew and The Brit were behind me, not to mention a couple of deputies. "So I'm guessing he isn't supposed to be walking behind her in an orange jump suit and carrying a gun." I suggested. to the assembled crowd. "Sylvia there are plenty of law enforcement types behind us, let's sit this one out." Andrew said. The Brit said, "This is our home." Then he headed off to one side, while I moved to the other. When we were on either side of him with about ten feet between us, The Brit said, "You know you can't get away, so why not let the bailiff go. She has got kids, I know." "What I'm gonna do is kill her, if you don't get out of my way," He said. "Well that's up to you I guess. I won't try to stop you leaving, but if you harm her, I will kill you. No trial, no judge's mercy, just an instant death sentence." I said to him. "Get out of my way," the man in the jump suit said. I looked like Just a woman in sloppy pants to him. "I really wish you would let Joan go. What's your name anyway?" "Who the fuck are you lady?" he asked. "My name is Silvia Porter. I'm going to be running for Sheriff. You know come to think of it, I would be a better hostage than Joan. I may well be the next Sheriff. So what's your name?" "Don't try to make nice to me Silvia. Why would you trade yourself for Joan here?" he asked. "Are you kidding? what a great campaign gag," I said. I just knew The Brit and Andrew were waiting for him to make a mistake. "You want it too much," The man said. "What's your name?" I asked. "Gerald my name is Gerald," he said as I closed the gap between us. "Oh alright, get on down the road Joan." He said that as he turned her loose. He pointed his gun at me. The Brit spoke to him. He kept his gun pointed at me but he turned to The Brit. When his eyes shifted, I removed my plastic spike from under my belt. It was a move that didn't worry Gerald too much. The long orange plastic bar was about the thickness of a number two pencil, and almost as sharp, fit my hand nicely. I moved as quickly as possible to bury the eight inch rod about half way into his gun arm. It is a natural reaction to drop whats is in that hand. It would take a real pro like Andrew. not to drop whatever he held in his hand. Gerald was not Andrew. "You stabbed me you bitch," he said. "I turned to answer him, but I didn't bother, since there were about three grown men taking turns beating the shit out of him. "Come on guys stop it he needs a medic." I said. The Brit looked at me. "He needs a new way of life. His was the worst 'man with a gun' scenario I have ever seen." he said. "Joan are you alright?" I asked. "Where did you learn to do that?" she asked. "Honey, I didn't do anything and I hope you stick with that story," I said. "Damn it Silvia, you have got to stop getting involved in things that are the Sheriff's job." Joan said. "You keep this kind of shit up even the Sheriff will vote for you." ------- Chapter 190 We went back inside to finish our breakfast. An older man came by to leave his card on our table. "You never know," he said smiling." "Bob you are a defense lawyer, now why in the world would I need you," I asked. "You never know when the Sheriff will get a hair up his ass toward you," He said. "Well Bob, if the Sheriff gets a hard on for me, I'll give you a call." I replied. "I might make you a special price, you never know," the older man said. "Fair enough I laughed," as I handed The Brit one of his cards. "Bob Dell Attorney at law," The Brit read. "He any good." "He says he is, and the D.A. hates him, which is usually a good reference for a defense attorney," I admitted. "I'll keep that in mind," The Brit said. "Me too," Andrew said. "Andrew you aren't going to need a lawyer up here," I said. "Oh you just never know about that," he said. I just finished my breakfast when one of the Sheriff's Deputies walked into the restaurant. He walked directly up to the table and seated himself. "Make yourself comfortable," Andrew said. He didn't live in Warren County so it made no difference to him what the deputy thought of him. "Pay him no attention, Michaels," I said. "I see you are still a sergeant." "Yeah Sylvie promotion is slow around here. So how you been?" he asked. "I been okay and you? I mostly been doing consult work here and there. Having that pension helps some." I said. "Yeah, you know that guy out there in the ambulance has one of those smart ass defense lawyers, He is gonna wanna know, if you had to do that," Michaels commented. "Yeah tell him and the rest of them that it was that or let him get killed," I said. "How you mean?" Michaels asked. "You know as well as I do, if he kept that pistol on me, someone would have gotten nervous and he would have died." I kept my eyes on my coffee cup, but I sensed him look over at The Brit and Andrew. I knew they were both packing and he did as well. I was sure some witnesses explained why the bad guy had stopped on the courthouse steps. "Your friends all have carry permits?" he asked. "Now Michaels, you gonna take my word for it?" I asked "Yeah I am," he said. "Then of course they do. They are all private protective agents." I said. "Then I guess he is lucky," Michaels said to the table in general. Everyone nodded their heads. "So the detective might want to talk to you later," With that Michaels stood and left. "So what you want to do after breakfast," The Brit asked. "I'm thinking we might all want to wrestle a bear." "Or go over to the pub and go to the top floor for an orgy." I suggested. "You know Jeremy is like an old church lady," Andrew said as he laughed. Brit didn't seem to find it funny. I didn't commit to either school of thought. "Andrew why don't you and I go see an old friend of mine," I suggested. He didn't look all that happy but he agreed. When we got in the car I said, "We are going to have to find him first. I want him for some information about making liquor." "So how do you find him," Robert asked. "I'm going to start by finding someone he owes money," I said and laughed. "Oh and how do we do that," Andrew asked. "Believe it or not, we start at breakfast this morning," I said. "Okay, why don't you show a dumb gunslinger how you operate," he suggested. I leaned against my truck and placed a call to Bob Dell the lawyer from breakfast. "Bob it's Sylvia Porter, you said to call if I needed help." I said. "Okay what you need Sylvia?" Bob asked. "Well you remember that Blossom guy. The one they called Bosco?' I asked. "Sure, I got him off a possession of non tax paid liquor last summer." Bob answered. "Well you kept him out of jail I heard, but he is still on probation," I replied. "Now that is a fact," he replied. "I need some consulting work from him. Not any actual work with anything that would see him in jail, just some information of a hypothetical nature." I said. "Well I know he needs money, because he owes me five hundred bucks. Tell you what give him a message for me, and I'll tell you where to find him." he said. "Oh course Bob," I replied. "I think he lives with his sister now, but I know he works first shift at the dog food plant. You could catch him after work in the parking lot." he said. "He still drive that tricked out El Camino?" I asked. "He does indeed, that ugly old green bitch. So if you find him you mention my name he should know what it's about," Bob said. "Deal," I said. "Andrew asked, "What you want with him?" "Well Andrew I have Flavored white liquor, but I never brewed any from scratch. Now Bosco knows how to make plain old white liquor from the old days. I busted him for transporting it, now he is working in the dog food plant. He might be willing to consult and advise me." I said. "He might be willing to set your ass up," Andrew said. "I don't think Andrew would be a snitch. We aren't friends but it was okay. I did what I was doing at the time and he did what he was doing. Now both of us are doing other things, But we will see." I said. "So I'm assuming he won't be off work at 10AM, if he is working first shift," Andrew said. "Exactly Andrew he wont be off till 3PM and it's only 10AM now. So let's me and you ride through the parking lot of the dog food plant to see if his old truck is there. If it is we will come back closer to 3PM. if not I'll try to find his sister." I said. Andrew nodded his understanding. Andrew and I had been standing on the sidewalk outside the cafe while we held our conversation, I got to see him walk about the cruiser van. As I have said earlier Andrew had the body of a warrior. He most likely hadn't been long our of some special forces or other. I probably did mention yet how I wasn't sure how I felt about his red hair. He looked like some cartoon kid on steroids. "So what we gonna do till 3PM?" Andrew asked. "Well I think I have about fucked you out, so how would you like to go meet a new woman about to enter my life?" I asked. "She fuck as good as you?" he asked. "I have no idea Andrew, but we can ask her when I find her," I said. "Well, let's go do that then," Andrew said. "First of all I have to check her out with a friend. Let's give him a phone call before we leave the court house." I said that while I dialed Jim Boyle's number. "Jim you old piece of shit how you doing?" I asked. "You are just as pleasant as ever," Jim commented. "You are lucky I don't come bust a cap in your ass," I said. "I had some contact with a pot supplier named Vivian she said you knew her and could vouch for her," "I know a Vivian she furnished some supplies for a few of the parties we ran up in Mountain Home." He said. "Did she ever give you any reason to worry about her," I asked "None, she was also reliable and it was obvious she was a farmer type," He said. "Okay Jim, thanks," I said. "We are thinking about running some again, you interested?" he asked. "Not in being a party girl for them. Check with me I might can set up up with some refreshments." I said. "Cool, I'll give you a call. Better still give me a call when you have some product ready. Your number seems to change once a week." He said. "That is true, you know how it is when you are popular," I said. "I might call in about a month." "Look forward to it," Jim said, "So who is this Vivian," Andrew said. "Well to be honest she is a woman who wants to be a friendly partner, At least that is the impression I got. To do that I need to get in touch with her and see if she has the product." I said. "Then call her and we will go see her," He suggested. "Let's see if she is home." I fished her number from my wallet where I had it stored. I dialed the number and got voice mail "Miss Vivian this is Sylvia Porter we need to talk call me." "Now what?" Andrew asked. "Andrew when was the last time you did any real work?" I asked. "Does this morning count?" he asked. "No it doesn't. Never mind I'm going to give you the chance to impress me." I said. "We need to switch to that SUV first." On the way back to my place we stopped by Home Depot at the plaza. I bought some 8* wide pine shelving. I was going to build storage units for my house and storage building. They didn't have to be covered for me. I was not going to require a health inspection. We barely got the lumber bought and delivered to my house before the time ran out on me. We got it on the deck and the cover over it before we had to rush off to the dog food plant. When we went back there we were in the cruiser/van. I saw Bosco come out to his truck. He was about fifty and heavy but not too fat more oversize than soft fat. I had Andrew along just in case Bosco wanted to kick my ass even though I doubted that he did. I arrested him but I didn't persecute him. It was just a job for me. This however might concern him. I got out of the car before he reached it. "What the fuck you want?" he asked me, "To be honest I want to buy you a beer and see if you will help me," I said. "You have to be kidding," he said. "I ain't no rat." "I'm counting on that," I said. He looked at me real curious and he also looked at Andrew. "I see you brought your body guard along," he said. "Actually he is here for you," I said. "What you mean to protect me?" he asked. "It's like this Bosco, if it was just me, you might think you should kick my ass. Of course I wouldn't let you, so you would get hurt or worse," I said. "You think you could kick my ass?" he asked. "See me Bosco. That is why you would get hurt. You would be thinking honorably, but I would be frightened and just be trying to stay alive. Believe me, you would get hurt." Bosco said, "I have been legit since the time I was up for possession of non tax paid liquor." "Yes a misdemeanor charge for carrying under 10oz when I could have charged you with carrying several gallons. With your record that would have been a five to ten year felony easy." I said. "Yeah that's true. Long as it is legal, I will try to help you, if you will do something for me." he said. "What you want?" I asked. "You do know I'm no cop anymore?" "Yeah, my daughter needs a sponsor for a Christmas camp program at the State University. I figure you can find a way to get her in," "You drive a hard bargain, I guarantee I will make it worth your while otherwise and promise to try to help her and to let you watch me try." "Okay what you want?" he asked. ------- Chapter 191 I'm gonna hire you to Ghostwrite a book on making moonshine. We gonna have a beer every day for a week or so and you are gonna tell me all you know about making moonshine. I want to know what it's like to search for the place to set up what I can and can't use all that sort of thing. When we are finished I will give you five hundred dollars and make a couple of calls to get your daughter a slot at the University Christmas Camp. What do you say. "Well I like to drink beer and hell I would tell you about moon-shining as long as the beer holds out for free, so of course it's a deal," Bosco said "I need to tell you this is between us and you will sign a non disclosure contract. I'll probably take full credit for the book, so I don't won't you out saying it's my book," I said. "Hell my probation officer would probably frown on me writing a book on moonshine anyway," Bosco said. "Okay, so let's go find a quiet place for a drink," I said. "You got a guard with you, so get a six pack, and we can do the talking out by the reservoir. There a overlook on the Shiloh Church road," he said. "I know where that place. I'll meet you there in ten minutes," I said. I drove off to the closest convenience that sold beer. "Is he gonna trust you, and can you trust him?" Andrew ask. "He is going to trust me, because he has nothing to lose, and everything to gain. I'm going to trust hiim because I'm going to verify everything he tells me. I"ll look it all up on the internet," I said. "If you are going to verify everything, why are you going to bother with Bosco?" Andrew continue. "From talking to Bosco I'll get a feel for the business, not just the written word," I replied. Andrew looked at me while I paid for the beer then followed me to the car. When we got inside, he said, "You gonna have him make the shit for you?" "Let's say it's an option down the road." I replied. We were waiting for Bosco when Vivian called me. "Hello Vivian," I said into the phone, "It seems we might have something to talk about after all." "I thought we might have after you had a chance to think about it. So when do you plan to meet?" she asked. "Well I'm in a meeting now, so when is good for you? I'm pretty flexible." I said. "How about we meet at Old George's Chicken Coop tonight?" she asked. "I expect that is a possibility," I agreed. "You aren't wasting my time I hope." "I'm more worried about you wasting mine," She said. "Well, I guess we will both just have to feel our way along," I said. Yes I knew we both looked a little butch, so it sounded suggestive. I really didn't care how it sounded. We were going to be all about business. "Damn Sylvia, when you move you move like hell. You are all business," Andrew said. "So I need to remind you that you owe me and keeping your mouth shut about this is pay back. Not to mention I might need a competitor killed some day." I said. "I can see it now, I can write a book when it is finished. I can call it the great moonshine wars. Sell it to TV and Retire," he said. "Just as long as you wait till everyone is dead," I said. "I'm only half kidding, if the shit gets rank you call me," Andrew said. "That was my plan all along," I said. "Why do you think I screwed you?" "Good, then here comes Mr. Bosco. We can start our education." Andrew said. Bosco sat at the picnic table with a plastic cup of beer. He had the lapel microphone on his shirt and the digital portable recorder sitting on the table top. "So Bosco you ready?" I asked. "Let her rip," he answered. I spent the whole hour asking about fixture, from what they needed to be made and what sizes I needed to make what volumes. I found out a lot like I need approx five gallons of mash for every gallon of liquor I hoped to run. Bosco could drink some beer. By the time he had told me about holding barrels and cookers the six pack was gone. So we agreed to meet the next day. He was back in his truck and gone before Andrew asked, "Do you trust him?" "As much as I trust anyone who hasn't been beside me when the bullets fly." I said. "You are right, we don't trust many people do we?" he asked. "I can count them on the fingers of one hand," I said. Can't we all," Andrew said. "So what is the chicken like at our next stop?" "Old George has two long chicken houses and a fenced in yard. He goes out and kills the chickens every day then fries them. He feeds on picnic tables outside in the summer. You can't really say 'serves' cause it's pay at the door, when you come in, then go get whatever you want." I explained. "Sounds like a place with character," he said. "It's the only chicken I can eat. Restaurant chicken give me the runs. I'm allergic to some cheap antibiotic or something. George doesn't have his chickens long enough to get sick. They bring him new small chickens and a week later his house is probably empty. Frankly Andrew it's better not to ask any more than that," I suggested. It was close to five when we got to the house. We went in and changed for dinner. I don't mean dressed fancy, I mean put on long sleeve sweat shirts. Mine had the logo of the community college nearest to us. "Some college student leave that?" Andrew asked. "That my friend is none of your business. So where did your army ranger shirt come from?" I asked in return. "The army surplus store near the swamp," he said. "Mine has been worn out a year or two. I'm a little older than you Silva." "Andrew, what I need to know I'll ask you," I said ignoring him. "Now get your ass dressed and stop tormenting me old man." We went to big old white house then found a parking space in the gravel lot. "It is a weeknight we probably won't have crowd control problem. This place is a madhouse on the weekend George doesn't do take out so everybody come here for chicken." "Or they go to the colonel," Andrew added. "That's right," We went through the hall to the screened in porch. I led Andrew to the desk were the girl took our ten bucks each from Andrew. She didn't make any change or charge us any tax, We got our metal tray and silverware then walked out onto the brick patio, Vivian was nowhere in sight. We walked around twice to be sure I hadn't missed her. Unless I had forgotten what she looked like, she wasn't there. "Let's start eating, if she doesn't come before we are finished, we will just leave. My grand plan isn't dependent on her." I said. "Oh I figured that, you got too much on the ball to need any of us," Andrew said. "Sometimes it isn't need Andrew, it's lust," I said laughing at him. "I had no idea you were bringing the boss," Vivian said. "He isn't the boss luv, he works for me. If you try to tell on me, he will be coming to visit you. If not him someone else like him. It might be good if you kept that in mind." Vivian looked hard at Andrew as I spoke. "She serious?" she asked. "You weren't planned to screw her, were you?" Andrew asked really mean. "No, of course not. I just don't want to get in business with a hard case," Vivian said, "Then Enjoy your chicken and it was nice to have met you," I said. Andrew smiled at her very cold. "I still want to sell the product," she said. "Look how many times you gonna clean the field?" I asked, "Just once," she said. "Then you cut the stalks with a mower on a tractor. You rake it and you run it thought a wood chipper. You put it in a few black garbage bags and you sell it to me. You met Karl here, so you know we are not playing. You deliver me the bags I pay you and I don't see you again. If I ever do see you, I figure you are trying to cause trouble. Now you know I can bring trouble of my own. If you want to do business fine. If not, enjoy your chicken." "I can process the fields like you say and have the product for you. I got a place so far in the mountains I can even dry it for you." She said. "How much?" I asked. She obviously was rethinking her pricing. "I think I can get about a couple a hundred pounds of that shit, but it ain't premo. The THC content is low." she said. "So how much?" I asked her again. "Fifty bucks a pound," she said. "That would be 10K for 200lb and I ain't doing 10k for your garbage. I'll do 2k. but you don't throw no grass clippings in the bags. It is all the real thing. Bring it all to me dried and cut as small as you can. We weight it together and there better be a min of 200 lbs but I get it all for one price." "Okay, we should be through harvest in a couple of weeks give me a couple more to process your shit," she said. "Sounds good." I said. I returned to the chicken as though we hadn't just agreed on an 2,000 dollar deal. Once we were outside Andrew said, "You used me. You used me to convince her screwing over you would get her hurt." "Andrew, it was better than letting her think it was easy to screw over the little lady and then killing her." I said. "You would kill her over a couple of grand?" he asked. "Would kill her for screwing me? I don't know I would rather not find out what I would do for a couple of grand." I said. "Okay, but next time let me know in advance so I can being my bad ass suit," he said. "Oh you mean the Italian one," I asked with a smile. "Yeah that one," he said and laughed. After dinner we went to The Brits pub. The crowd was mostly farmers, shop girls, and thugs so Andrew and I sat alone at the bar enjoying the show. We sat there and drank a couple of beers each before midnight. "You guys aren't drinking much," The Brit said. "No one of us has to drive and the other one won't be worth a crap in bed if they are drunk. Besides I don't need much convincing," I said. "And I don't need any," Andrew said. "I never met a man who needed any convincing," I said. "Well, having the two of you around has really been great," The Brit said. "I know it's been the best damn vacation I ever been on," Andrew said. "If you guys are going to start singing campfire songs I'm leaving," Jeremy said. "Jeremy you never heard us sing," I said with a laugh. "Before I go, I want a basket of those potato rounds Juanita fixes." "You got it," Jeremy said going back to place the order. "When you going to tell him what you really do?" I asked. "I don't think I have to tell him," The Brit said. "Did he guess?" Andrew asked. "No, I think I'm through with swamp dog. I think I can find enough to do on my own," The Brit said. ------- Chapter 192 Andrew left town the next day around lunch. "I would like to meet you somewhere next time. You know like take a week at Disney World?" he asked with a laugh. "Andrew you are a nice guy and remembering back the places we have been, I have to admit you really know how to show a girl a good time, but I think I have had enough of swamp dog and their people. I'm real sorry but I don't love you honey. I like you okay, but it ain't love." I admitted. I hated those speeches, but I had a feeling it wasn't Andrew's first one. "Okay, well if you change your mind, you know how to find me," he said. "Yes I do," I said then kiss him goodbye and gave his penis one last squeeze. He shook his head got in his SUV and headed out. I had lunch after he left and felt a hollow feeling. I missed the companionship not necessarily Andrew. I hung around the house till time to meet Bosco at the over look. "Hello Sylvia, how you doing hon?" he greeted me. "I'm just fine Bosco. Let's get on with it." I took out some notes I made that morning from the earlier interview tape... "So I need a mixing barrel I'm thinking heavy plastic trash can. Maybe even on wheels" "Yeah long as it has never been used and as long as you keep it clean. How much do you plan to cook?" he asked. "I really plan to write the book for the home cook. Probably set all the recipes for ten gallons of finished product max." I said. "Well then your home cook will need to mash in about fifty gallons in total. That's a lot for a garage size still." "Okay, so let me thing backwards, What is a good size back yard cooking still?" I asked. "If it was me and I wanted to do a one man operation which is probably what your reader is going to want to do. I would go with a twenty five gallon pot and cook twenty gallons at a time. Then if your reader wanted to cook less he could. If he wanted more he could reuse his mash and cook another run. If he made two batches he would want to mix them before he bottled one run would be higher in alcohol then the other." He was also filling the tape with antidotes as a writer would want for his book. That's why I let him ramble. "So I can recommend a 35 gallon or so plastic can on wheel to use as a mash barrel," I suggested, "Yeah that sounds good." he agreed. "So I let my mash work off till it makes beer?" I asked. "Right about a week of bubbling till it starts going flat. You want to catch it right after it stops working. Sylvia, the reader is going to need a way to vent that garage, cause it is going to have a yeast smell. Kinda of sweet like somebody baking break the neighbors are gonna notice it.' "Okay I got that," I said. Bosco looked at his watched then said. "I got to pick my daughter up from band practice." "Fair enough I think we are going to have a couple more of these meetings. Later I might have to call with a specific question now and then," I said. "Okay, whatever, you just remember the deal," he reminded me. "I know, I'm working on it." I said. When I left Bosco I went to the pub to see The Brit. Once I went in the back door he locked it. Then he said, "We are alone Jeremy is gone to meet a client in Charlotte, He will likely be gone all day. So let's talk about your last project." "Jerrome went off without a problem. A couple of things we need to consider. Any checking we do personally on the subject has to be minimal and well hidden. Let the judges gather the information and trust the case they build. Verify a few things just to make sure they aren't corrupting the process for their own gain. Then if it is clean make sure there is no connection between us and the subject of the hit." "Almost a murder for hire?" The Brit asked. "I used a bicycle to get to the scene. Did the hit with a shotgun, got rid of it in pieces. Nothing to tie me to him at all. I don't think I will ever hear from it again." I said. "Then I guess the next one is mine?" The Brit said. "Yes, but you don't have to and we can bail any time," I said. "Sylvia the structure isn't there yet. We are making this up as we go along, but one day we may not be able to bail." "Like you said Brit, 'We are making it up as we go along.' all I know for sure is I don't ever want this corrupted for personal gain. It has to be above that, or we are just thugs for hire," I said. "I agree 100%," he said. "God knows there will be a huge temptation." "That is true,. The investigator and the two judges know that it is an automatic death sentence to corrupt the system. The also know there is the possibility of more than their own death involved. "We all have to agree on the penalty and any changes in the procedure." The Brit said. I knew that procure a place on the consideration for elimination list, the subject had to have been in a large news story within the last month. I insisted that the package provide a news story from a large newspaper. Then all the other facts that we could check. We had set a project once a month. There was enough evil in the world that we could pick those who were extreme nominees and never get to a questionable one. The Brit and I were going to take care of the wet work. There would be no time limits on the turning of the switch. If there was a time limit, there was far too much temptation to make a switching error. I wanted to always have time to be sure the switch needed to be flipped. "I think it was done and done well. Don't have a second thought, he was one mean bastard," the Brit said. "Oh yes and I had no second thoughts about collateral damage either. They were all murderous thugs," I said. I thought but did not add, just like us. "Okay rule one, there is no collateral damage in a sanctioned hit." The Brit said. "If they are hangin' with those fucks, they need killin' too." I took a drink of the bock beer in front of me and said, "Heard that." "So how is the green dragon coming?" he asked. I hadn't really told him what I had in mind but The Brit could think for himself. "First I have to learn to make the whiskey, that I'm going to use for the base. That is just mechanical," I said. "You are going to be careful?" asked. "As far as what I told Bosco, my expert, I am writing a book. I will pick his brain then kick him to the curb and do the work myself. But I don't want to spend several weeks in the fall cooking liquor just to make a couple of grand. I wanted to cook batches small enough to do it anytime, and make some real money on it." I explained. "Sylvia I knew you had a handle on it. You are going to use your money for the other thing," The Brit said. "Yes I am," I said. "I am not taking any money for this. It is something I need to do because I uniquely qualified. I'm not tell you to do it the same way." "I am going to have to give financing it some thought. If I do decide to do it your way, it will have to be a victim-less crime like yours," he said. "Brit, I would expect nothing less," I said. "So how did it feel to do that guy in capitol city?" The Brit asked. "I would never tell anyone else anything at all about it, but it actually felt like I was doing God's work. Don't get me wrong I'm not a bible thumper or anything." I said. "I know it just felt like it was the right thing to do," The Brit said with a smile. I know the feeling every now and then when we did a job for the swamp there was so much evil it just felt like god was on our side. Silvia it is moments like that, when I can almost believe." I simply nodded. "Well we should go shopping. At least I have to go shopping." "What you going to buy first," he asked. "Well Brit first I have to buy a 35 gallon plastic garbage can with wheels," I said. "I want one of those good ones." "We need to go to home depot for that," The Brit said. "I had to buy one that size for the pub." "Beautiful, I want to pay cash anyway. If there are any questions, it's for your birthday," I said. "Can't say that is what I always wanted, but okay," The Brit said. I rode with him since he had the bigger car and he thought I might need it. First we had to wait till Juanita came to watch over the pub. The Brit and I made sure it opened without any problem then we went to the Home depot. The big thick plastic trash can with wheels was 32 gallons and was about $60 each so I took two. I could have gotten a bigger one, but then it would have been bigger and harder to deal with. I was scaling back the size of by runs. I would feel my way along. I was going to mash in with 10 gallons the first time. The first thing we had to do was to get the trash cans. I decided that I could mash ten gallons from the house, then transport it to my storage building in the woods on a small trailer. Of course I didn't have a trailer so I decided to build a very lightweight one. One good only for off road use. The Brit went along with me to drop the two trash cans at the storage building. "You are going to make this your still house aren't you?" He asked. "Of course not, I think I will do some experimenting though," I admitted. "So you are going to the mixing at the box/house?" He said. "That is the plan right now," I admitted. "So, you will be transporting the twenty gallons of green mash to the storage building?" he asked. "Yes I am," I said. "But the first time it's just ten gallons for a test run." "And you know that container of liquid will be over a 100lb?" he asked again. "Ah Bosco hadn't gotten that far. I guess I won't be lifting it off the trailer." I said. "But I could move the water on a water trailer from the box house to the storage building. Then I could pump it in the mash barrel." "Yes, put it in one of your plastic tanks and then drive it up from the Box/House to the still house." The Brit said with a smile. "You know this won't be easy, but we both need to do some things that are labor intensive." "Brit you are not counting yourself in on this are you?" I asked. "Is there anyone you would trust more to help you?" he asked. "No, but do you want to be in the slammer with me. We can do more for each other if we don't go down together. But you can help me just like you are now. Help me work the kinks out of my thinking." "So we are at the mashing barrel and getting some clean water to the still house. Talk to Bosco for next items on the list. We can at least go together to get them." The Brit said. "Fair enough," I said. ------- Chapter 193 I put a microwaveable bowl of frozen macaroni & Cheese on for dinner. While it heated. I found one of those boxes of frozen hush puppies kind of things. The macaroni was very good but the hush puppies was pretty awful. I knew I should have made muffins in the toaster oven. Next time, I thought. After dinner I watched TV shows on the computer. I caught up on a couple of reality shows from Alaska and a cop show or two. I really watched a lot of TV on the computer but it was at odd ball times. Like the Alaska reality show was from two years before. A couple of the cop shows were from the previous season. Then of course I went into an adult chat room and played reindeer games. I know it was a sad existence, but I did sleep well. The first thing the next morning at 5 AM or there abouts I got on the bike and rode for two hours. I went into town, then out to the plaza for a biscuit with the highway patrol guys. I really just spoke to them as I passed I didn't try to have conversations with them. There weren't too many things I did I could talk to them about. Well they might find them interesting but I might not like the consequences. After breakfast I just hung out most of the morning. I did nothing but check out new ideas and research where to buy things till almost noon. At noon I decided I needed to start working on my promise to Bosco about his Daughter. Getting her into the band camp shouldn't be a problem, I thought. I couldn't figure out who owed me a favor, and was in the position to help a high school musician. Since it was almost noon, I began calling around. I wasn't asking for the favor, I was looking for someone, who knew someone to ask for the favor. I had exhausted all the other possibilities, so I called one of the people from my past. I hated to do it for more than one reason, but such is life. I dialed what I thought was the best number. "Hello the State Bureau of Investigation locater service." The voice answered. "Good could you tell me where I might find Agent Mission please?" I asked. "I can connect you Ma'am. Who shall I say is calling?" she asked. "Tell her it's Sylvia Porter," I said not being cute. I could have given her an alias, but why bother. The call bounced all over. I would have been surprised, if it had been easy. "Hello," the voice answered. "Sylvia what in the world are you doing calling me?" You in trouble?" she asked. "Do I have to be in trouble to call an old friend?" I asked. "Sylvia come on, I'm a cop, you were a cop, you know better," she said. "Okay, I need to know who can do me a favor," I said. "Dare I ask what kind of favor," she said. "I arrested a guy a few years back and his daughter wants to go to a state music Christmas camp this year. I need to see that she gets a fair shake in the application process, that's all." I said. "You sure about that being all," She asked. "Absolutely sure," I said. "Tell you what, have her send me a copy of the application with a note that you are involved and I'll shop it around. I might can get it looked at by someone who can help, but no guarantees." She said. "Then no guarantees next time you come to town," I said. "Are there ever?" She asked. "Not in my experience," I said in agreement. I made a note of her mailing address. I went to a late lunch at the cafe on the square. When I finished I went next door to the pub and entered through the rear. "Hey you always leave that door open? You are asking to be held up." I said to The Brit. "Nothing worth steeling here yet," he said with a smile. "Brit it don't take much for these dudes," I said. "Give them a shotgun and they all turn into Rambo." "Well, we will just have to convince them they ain't," He said. "That's true. Well I'm going to go meet Bosco, Is there anything in particular you want me to ask?" I asked The Brit. "Well you have covered the mash barrel and you have an idea of your first recipe. You might want to know where to but the ingredients without having cops on your ass," he suggested. 'Okay. I'll Come by after the meeting with Bosco," I suggested. I picked up a six pack and went to meet my expert. First thing I did was tell him about the application for his daughter. He just nodded his understanding. "So where did we leave off?" he asked. "Well I know what I'm going to recommend for a mash barrel. I'm going to suggested a 32gal recycle barrel from Home Depot. One with wheels," I suggested. "That's a good choice I think. Only problem is there is no bottom tap to empty it. Of course that only comes into use to clean it out. You gonna want to keep using it a couple of times or more." Bosco said. "Before we get to that, lets talk about the equipment a home brewer would need," I suggested. "Well a brewer using that kind of barrel, if he was using it in his garage, would need to get water to it. He would probably use a hose to get water into the mash barrel. He could probably dip it out and into the cooker. So the guy cooking at home would need a plastic cup to dip it out and a fine mesh strainer to pour it through." he explained. I made a note as I nodded. I was also recording his statements. "So after our man strains whatever he is going to cook off out of the mash barrel, I assume there will be some left in the barrel?" I asked. "Well some but if you do it like I always did you cook half of the mash at a time. So if something goes wrong you don't lose it all. You can also mash a large volume easier than you can deal with that big a cooker." he said. "I see, so I should suggest about a fifteen gallon cooker?" I asked. "Yes, and you cooker has to be either stainless steel, aluminum, or copper to be safe. I know guys make them out of other things but in a small home still there is no reason to take a chance. Tell them to go out and buy a big ass stew pot with a rubber seal around the top. You know like a pressure cooker. You can convert one of those real easy I would think." Bosco said. Then he began to tell me stories about all the things he had used. "Sounds to me like if this is a yuppie, he should probably go with a 41qt pressure cooker either alum or stainless." I suggested. "Yeah the big advantage in a cooker over a stew pot is you can get a good seal on a pressure cooker. You won't be making a lot of pressure inside it so you can use alum but you can get a seal. You need that. All you would need to do is remove the pressure valve from the top and install your worm there. That's just a 20' length of copper tubing. I would think for a ten gallon still 3/8" inside diameter would be fine." he said. "Well that sounds good to me. Tell me some more stories about running it in the woods," I demanded. "Well you got to condense the steam back to a liquid before it gets to the end of that worm pipe. To do that the worm has to be inside a condensing barrel of some kind. You know like a big barrel of cold water or a small barrel of ice. Then you just need a bucket under the end of the worm to catch the liquor," Bosco said. I let Bosco go one and give me recipes and then tell me stories about the old days for a while. I took his phone number and told him I would call with any last minute questions that came up. "You are going to brew one batch, just to prove you can aren't you?" he asked. "Of course not there is no legal amount you can cook. I'm going to take your word for it." Of course it was a lie and we both knew it. So that day ended my casual contacts with Bosco. After I got his information I went home and processed it. I went on line and ordered the cooker. I paid four hundred bucks for it but I thought that was a fair amount. It would pay for itself in one run and I wouldn't be fighting a piece of crap cooker every time I used it. There were several more hours of daylight so I went out to build a trailer. I had bought a piece of plywood 3/4 thick and 2'x 2' I decided that it would be the bed of the trailer. I have to admit Tomas told me how to build it. If it had been up to me I would have bought one at home depot but it was kind of fun not to buy everything. I took the 'L' bar of metal to Monk He cut me four pieces 6 inches each. He even pre-drilled them for me. He said he would have drilled the plywood but he didn't know the location of the wheels. Tomas had told me about trailers he had built in Mexico to carry water. So by sunset I had assembled almost all the parts to build it. I still needed a child's bicycle. According to Tomas if I drove over to the county dumpster area, I would find them stacked up waiting for the trash trucks. I fixed dinner that night then drove down to the pub. I sat for three hours explaining where I was on the brewing. I did it very quietly. I really did not want anyone, but The Brit to know. When I told him about the trailer, he said, "If you don't get a bike tomorrow, You and I will go buy some wheels. I know a place that sells trailer wheels, they aren't too expensive. I can also put the trailer together for you, since I bought a few tools for the pub. Just bring the parts by tomorrow." I went home and played around on the computer. The difference between me and the men in those rooms was I knew it was all illusion. I knew I wasn't built like a brick shit house with long blond hair, down to my ass. They should as well, since they weren't who they claimed to be either. If I told them I was skinny, had almost no tits, and the hair of a teenage boy they would swear I was a fag. Well I wasn't, but I would have to admit I played one now and then. Both on line and in real life. After my morning ride the next day, I drove over to the dump area. There I found two 16" bikes so I stripped off the two front wheels. Yes I had done something right, in that I thought to bring a metric wrench set with me. The front wheels come right off. The rear ones have been more difficult so I was glad I hadn't had to pull them as well. I went to home depot and bought exactly the parts on Tomas list. They made no sense, but I bought them anyway. ------- Chapter 194 The next morning after my bike ride I drove the Cruiser van full of odd and ends to the pub. I had called the previous night to advise The Brit I was definitely coming. So yes I expected him to open at 9AM even though he was open till 2AM the night before. They hadn't gone to bed till 3AM I was sure. But that wasn't my fault, he promised to help me build a trailer. "Alright Sylvia I am going to help you build a trailer to haul water from you house to the storage building," The Brit said. "We will lay everything out in the alley behind the pub." "Okay Brit, but I have no idea what any of this shit is for," I said "Do you know what the bike wheels are for?" he asked. "Of course but I have no earthly idea how to attach them to the trailer," I admitted. I could tell that The Brit was looking forward to showing off his expertise of such things. Just to prove he wasn't just a gunslinger. He used most of the alley to lay out bits and pieces of the trailer and hardware that somehow magically held it all together. "You do plan to help?" he asked. "Brit get off your high horse or I'll do the whole thing myself," I said even though I knew I could never do that. I would just reload it and go find Tomas. "If you decide to fire me, good fucking luck." he said with a strong laugh." "Alright, lets get to it," I suggested. The Brit set me the task of taking the axles out of the two wheels. Of course I didn't know how he wanted it done, so he took over half way through. I did get to bolt the metal angles to the bed of the trailer, while The Brit managed to somehow have that bolt run under the trailer bed and through the angels where they got bolted. Even before The Brit bolted the wheels on I could see it as a trailer. Then when he bolted a wheel on each end of the threaded shaft it really became a trailer. Somehow the construction of the trailer made the wheels just a stable as they had been on the bike, even though the axle was bolted only on one end. They also seemed also plenty strong enough for what I wanted. I stepped back and looked at the tiny little trailer and knew that I could never have done it alone, but The Brit could have. When it was finished, I had a 2' x 1.5' trailer eight inches off the ground. It also had a tongue that extended 18" from the front. "Now go over and have Monk fabricate you some kind of trailer hitch for your cruiser/van." The Brit insisted. An hour later I returned and attached the trailer to the van. Even though it would easily fit inside the van. I pulled it to my box/house. No it absolutely was not legal. It wasn't even close to being legal, but I managed to make it home without being stopped. I did it to test it's stability just in case I had to pull something using it. By late afternoon it was in my yard and I had test fitted one of the 32gal recycle plastic cans with wheels. There was indeed enough room for it. I decided that there was no way I could unload that thing full of water, so that was out. I figured I could load four of the ten gallon water coolers on the trailer and off load them by myself. Hell I could fit them in the back of the cruiser van. Oh well I was sure that if I had the trailer, I would find a use for it. It was too late to do more than go buy the ingredients. I didn't have a cooker, but I would in a week for sure. The ingredients were all dry so they wouldn't spoil. I would just wait to mash in till the cooker arrived and the assembly was finished. Since that was the case, I went out to buy the grain. What Bosco had told me was that the place to buy feed grain, which would attract the least attention was Walmart's deer feed corn. So I bought a hundred pounds but knew I needed a lot less. I bought a cheap hand crank type food mill, for ten bucks on sale. I went to one of those grocery warehouses to buy fifty pounds of sugar. I asked the cashier, who didn't even seem curious about the purchase, if I could get a discount. Since I was buying if for a bake sale at the church. She smiled and said, "Sorry." I also had a six pack of baker's yeast in the Discount store purchases. I didn't have the ground stalks from the pot plants or the cooker, but I felt like I was close. Once I got the cooker, I had to make a condenser bucket. By the time the cooker came I was getting really bored. It came from Fed Ex Ground in a big ass box. I really was surprised at the size of that monster. It was only a ten gallon cooker. When the cooker came I removed the pressure gauge as Bosco had told me to do. I had monk drill out the hole and fit a 1/2" threaded bushing onto to the lid. Then I had him use a reducer fitting to fit the female end of pipe joint onto one end of the 3/8 copper tube I was going to try for the worm. Yeah he knew what it was for, but he also wanted to try the product. "Monk I have no idea what you think, but I am making gasohol," I said. "Okay, well this should do the trick. Is Vivian helping you with the formula?" he asked. "Vivian and Bosco contributed to it, but neither of them know for sure," I said. "Neither do I, but I will tell you this, that shit will be worth about $12 to $20 a pint. Bring me the first one and I'll get you a bid for all of it." "Monk you can distribute it if the price is right but nobody knows where it is coming from. If they do I wont need you. I don't want to know them either." I explained. "We can do that. No problem," he said. "You are going to need some pint bottles. I will supply the bottles for my batch, We can figure that into the price." "Let's see how this works before we get too deep in planning," I said. "Neither you nor I want too many people to know about this. It is safe for both of us." Everything except the pot stalks was ready to do. I thought about making a run of peppermint corn. Me and Andrew liked it, even if the real rednecks didn't. Before I had to make a decision Brit and I got a new name. "Sylvia you need to meet me at the pub, we have a file to read through," The Brit's voice came through the phone. "2AM at the pub," I said and hung up. The less said about those files the better. I watched some TV and chatted with some men. I was more relaxed that I might otherwise have been, when I arrived at the pub after midnight. As A matter of fact it was almost 1AM when I went through the first door. "Hello Sylvia, what can I get for you?" Jeremy asked. "The dark draft please. I see Allen got you working behind the bar," I said with a smile. "According to Allen, it's the family business," he said. "Ah well, it's as good a racket as any," I said with a smile. "Not to mention all the people I meet. Allen seems to know everyone," Jeremy said a bit suggestively. I let it go. "Sylvia you have to try the meat pie that Nita made tonight. It is the best ever I think." The Brit said when he came into the room. "Well why not," I said. "Have Nita bring me a bowl and some of that good bread from the oven." So I spent the time till closing eating the meat pie and corn bread. You aren't suppose to have bread with one of those meat thing, but I did it anyway, You can't have too much corn bread, if you live in the mountains. I stayed till even Jeremy left. That's when The Brit brought out the file. "This one bothers me a lot," he said. "For one thing it's a woman." "Well there are bad women too, but I wouldn't think there would be career killers." I agreed. "This one has had four husbands die under mysterious circumstances," He said. "Did she profit from their deaths?" I asked. "The first one had a slightly too large insurance policy. They were having marital difficulties and he died. There were two motives, but they couldn't prove it was murder. She didn't even get charged." "Well that isn't near enough," I said, "But I'm sure there is more." "Oh yes, She used the money from husband one to go back to school. She got a degree in nursing then she went to work in a small town hospital emergency room. One where the doctor's and nurses spend a lot of time at the hospital." "Found herself a nice single young doctor?" I asked. "No but she did find her self in the room with a nice married middle-age rancher." The Brit said. "Rancher here?" I asked. "Maybe they call it pig farmer. I never know the right term. His wife had died a few months before and he suddenly had a heart attack. There is no known connection between her and the wife, but she sure latched onto the husband when he came to the hospital." "Was there much differences in their ages?" I asked. "Over ten years, kind of like you and me," he said. "Ah, didn't he have kids? " I asked. "Yes but he changed his will the year before he died. He left them the minimum amount and her the rest," The Brit said. "According to this she was under thirty when the second one died," I said quoting from the synopsis. "When she was thirty five, she married a sixty year old divorced man. He owned a slaughter house who bought pigs from her." The Brit said. "That just sounds like good business. He was probably going to die in a few years and she would have a hog empire," I said. "Looks like men who marry BeeBee have a shorter than usual life expectancy," The Brit added. "BeeBee, what the hell kind of name is that?" I asked. "Just nickname, she had to have some kind of name that was consistent. After The third one she married a fourth," he said. "You have to tell me how three died," I asked. "Industrial accident, he lost an argument with a commercial meat saw," The Brit said. "You know there is no way you have that kind of accident. if you are married to BeeBee," I said. "Was she present when he attacked the meat saw?" "You bet she was. Just another commercial accident. Then last but not least, she married her third husband's financier." The Brit said. "Now I got to know, did she need more money?" I asked. "Sylvia since the first husband, she didn't need money. After the last poor dead hubby she walked out with money, political power, and a fancy place in the country. She is even a big deal in society now. The good news is after this hit, there will not be a lack of suspects with real motives. It will take them years to get around to considering justified indignation as a motive." "Is she bad enough to have done what we do. We started this to be about preventing terrible crimes. Is BeeBee Queen really that bad?" I asked. "I wonder myself but one of the questions was will the killer continue, if not stopped. I think it is obvious, until she is queen of the world she is potentially a killer. She has developed a taste for it. I expect there could have been more they don't know about. I mean these were all for obviously a big gain. If she is the kind of psychopath who doesn't need that big a reason, there could be more we don't know about." "Every human has people they have brushed against who died questionably. I expect if we have them investigate farther back there will be others." he said. "Are you convinced it all just couldn't have been a big coincidence?" I asked. "You think we should pass on her?" he asked. "And if he were a man, would you even question the decision." "You are probably right. She is probably going to be harder to get to if she is high society," I said. "Well we need to find a way," he said. ------- Chapter 195 "So we are going to do it?" I asked, "Yes, we are going to do it, unless you say absolutely not and have a good reason," The Brit said. "No, I guess you don't have to be a mass murdered to be evil. So we have her address and the brochure from when it was advertised for sale. That gives us the layout of the apartment. I'm kind of surprised that it isn't on the top floor of a high rise,. It seems as though she was killing to end up there." "Maybe that is next," The Brit said. "I'm going to need a day to work out a plan." I said. :This time Sylvie make it a plan for two. I'll want to review it of course," The Brit interjected. "Brit that's fine, but we can't be in any hurry." I said. "Absolutely not," he agreed. He also did something most unlike The Brit, he kissed me passionately. He almost seemed ashamed of it, he was so flustered as I left. "You don't have to be ashamed of having straight thoughts, I have twisted thoughts without any shame." I said as I left through the back door. I had to walk down the dark alley to get to my car. "Want me to walk you to your car," he ask. "Then I would only have to walk you back to your door," I said with a laugh. As it turned out I should have accepted. He could have carried the file for me. That way I wouldn't have dropped it, when I stabbed the teenage boy from Dobson. He was obviously one of the kids the dance teacher had complained about. One of those harassing her girls after practice. He had stayed way past the time he should have been in bed. He grabbed me from behind. Now if I hadn't had that damn file I would have handled it differently. For one thing I wouldn't have stabbed him till after the dance. But as it was I went right for the bit of orange plastic drives way spike that fit inside the side pocket in my cargo jeans. The pocket meant for a carpenter's large pencil. I dropped the file went with the motion of the clutching man till I got the spike out, then drove it into his leg. I also twisted at the same time and kicked him in the testicles. The next thing I did while accompanied by his screams was collect all the papers by the light of the streetlight. Then I walked to my car. Since the kid hadn't stopped screaming long enough to call an ambulance, I called 911. No since letting him bleed out, I got out of my cruiser/van an locked the door. I left the file safely locked inside. The wait for the ambulance and Sheriffs deputies wasn't too long, but I expect it was long enough for the kid laying in a pool of his own blood. Since he was cussing at me I decided not to help him any more than the 911 call. I figured it he was strong enough to call me bitch, then he was going to make it to the ER. The ambulance came and left me standing with the deputy sheriff on duty and The Brit. I told The Brit what happened. His response to it was, "Do you want to have him killed." "Thanks Brit but he really isn't worth spending the night in jail, let alone years. I think he probably learned his lesson." I said with a very small smile. "In five years he might well meet the requirements," he said looking around to be sure no one was close. "He never will. He will always have a connection to me," I said. "True," The Brit said. To be honest I was surprised not to see Jeremy standing around. I didn't mention it though. "Speaking of that the file?" "Under the driver's seat in my locked van. I wasn't in quite as big a hurry as I might have been to call 911" I said smiling. "It was a puncture wound and it didn't appear it hit and artery so I doubted he would bleed out." Unlike the deputy I told of my diagnosis The Brit accepted that I knew what I was talking about. The Sheriff's Detective didn't even get woke up, so I expected him to come see me. What I didn't expect was the deputy requiring me to go to the ER. I could have refused but it wouldn't look good. I wanted to drive myself there, but they refused. After an hour's wait I stripped off my very light weight parka, tee shirt, cargo pants and bikini panties in front of a forensic nurse. I also removed the upside down shoulder holster and the .22 Mag revolver. She took pictures of my strip. "Could I have a little music to get in the mood, if we are doing a photo shoot," I suggested. It seemed over kill but she photographed the bruises I was developing where the kid grabbed me. I even had a finger nail scratch from him on my forearm. I hadn't noticed that. She was very efficient and thorough, The stab and his release happened so fast there was none of his blood on me. Not even on my shoe from where I kicked him. The forensic nurse delivered the photo and sample collections to the Sheriff. It seemed to me that it was a lot to do about nothing. I was pretty sure he had learned his lesson. My only reason for going along was to prevent any liability on my part, Then after an hour I found out that there had been other reports of girls grabbed and assaulted by young men. The others had not been so lucky. They had been raped and traumatized. If he was going down for the others I needed to get my shit in order. Number one priority BeeBee would have to wait. The Brit had waited in the lobby for me, even though he was there all night. I came out wearing a hospital green paper outfit I wasn't really surprised to find The Brit. "Hey Brit, I need a ride back to my van." "No you don't he said, You have one old girl," as he smiled at me. "So you are okay, and the rapist is suffering from a stab wound. Still you lose your clothes. How does that work?" The Brit asked. "Shit don't you watch TV. There might be a grain of sand on my clothes that will link him to fifteen other rapes." I said with a laugh. "The one that gets me is they took my .22 to test for evidence, They are going to put it in the national data bank, just in case it gets used in 20 years." "Sounds more and more like England all the time," he said. "There gun paranoia runs rampant." "Well they are welcome to the slugs. When I get it home I'll run a wire brush or file down the barrel." I said. By the time I said that, I was outside the hospital and inside The Brit's SUV. "Is our project still secure?" The Brit asked. "Yeah, but that is the beauty of this thing of ours. If it were at all compromised I would dump it and get a new one, We have no substantial reason to choice one over another." I said and meant it. "But we need to let it cook a few days," I said. "I agree, Just take it nice and slow," he said to me. The drive from the regional hospital to my car back in County Seat took no more than fifteen minutes, "How about I buy you breakfast at the cafe?" "Breakfast sounds good but I'll buy," I said. "I do want to show off this fashion forward outfit. Paper pants and tops are going to be all the thing next year in Paris, maybe not in this color." "Or jail house orange, but I could see it in black or while," he agreed. I had a thought go through my mind. "I'll bet you watch project runway." I commented. "With Jeremy, how could you even question it," he said with a laugh. By that time we were seated at one of the table in the rear. Well as much in the rear as there was a rear in the wide open space. "Girl I do love the outfit, are you alright?" Lucille asked. "Yeah, just bring me the usual and trust me you don't want to see the other guy," I said. "If he is like the last one, who had you wearing one of those outfits, I need to send flowers?" She asked. "No Lucille, I done got mellow," I said. After breakfast I drove the Cruiser/van home to an empty but warm house. The temperature at night was falling. The paper outfit was chilly, but the Box House was warm. I hide the file I had gotten from The Brit and went to bed. I didn't do my morning two hour ride. I just slept. Of course the incident reran itself. In my version I left him shouting in pain to go back to my car to get the cell phone I had locked in it. Keep the lies as close to the truth as possible is how one became a successful liar. I could still feel the plastic dagger, I had made from a driveway marker, pierce his skin. I had stabbed him hard like a snake striking. Since I had never stabbed anyone with one of those daggers, I wasn't sure how much force it would take. It had taken very little and I wasn't surprised, well maybe a little, at how much I enjoyed it. I had put the final edge on the blade with a crank type pencil sharpener. I had found one in a storage unit. The son of a bitch put one hell of an edge on the plastic stake. I didn't expect to get it back, but they were easy to make. I had found a Dremel tool in one of the storage lockers as well. With a cutoff blade in it, I could cut the three foot long orange stake to any size I wanted. Then put it in the rotary pencil sharpener to put an edge on it. I found that I could just heat the other end with a propane torch, also from a locket, and bend it to make a circle for a handle. It did not look anything like a weapon, which is what I loved about it. I had learned to manufacture a very sophisticated tooth brush shank from a sign post. I couldn't slash with it, but that is what the craft store snap blade knives were for. Throat cutter should be listed on the package as well as all the other uses. Right out there in the children's craft section was one hell of an edged weapon. They could give detailed directions for throat cutting with diagrams even. Anyway I was home taking a long hard nap before starting on the replacement for my dagger. When the phone woke me. "Hello," I said. "Sylvia this is Vivian, how much time to do you need to get the cash?" she asked. "That depends Vivian we are talking for real now. Before we were talking what if prices, now we are talking cash in the hand prices. Bring it to my house, stalks from a wood chipper and dried. I'll give you the cash right now," I said. "I can be there in ten minutes you have the money and I'll bring the product but I got over 100 pounds." she said. "Let me tell you sweetie, you don't want to try fuckin' over me." I said it sounding as mean as I could. "I have already heard that." she said. "We agreed $2000 and I get all, you agreed one price takes all," I said. "I know. I just told you so you could make room for it," she said. "The one price takes all was so that once we hit a hundred pounds I could stopped worry with weight." ------- Chapter 196 I awoke the next morning at 5AM. I took off on my bike shortly thereafter. As I rode along the empty roads I realized that I had gone from nothing going on in my life, to three major projects all at once. It would be funny if either of them was the least bit lighthearted. I was about to enter into the drug business. Yeah I had been in the illegal enterprise before, but it had been only as a peripheral player. I was about to become a serious player. The kind of player that gets killed or goes to jail. I knew it and it didn't discourage me which speaks volumes to my lack of good sense. That one would be a full time time adventure for most people, but I had other things going on as well. I had a kid who tried to rape me to put away, or put down. I really didn't care which I did to him either. He probably would get raped in prison, so for years he might be getting as good as he tried to give. There was some justice in that I supposed. Maybe it would be more justice than a quick merciful death. Then there was me and The Brit's little sideline thing. I even had a sideline thing operation to launch. I had to design an operation for her execution. That was the only way to think of it. We had passed judgment and were executing her. I wanted to think of something for her in keeping with her crimes. Shotgunning the drug dealer wasn't that far fetched. Probably other drug trade operatives were likely to use that method of retiring him. So what would fit BeeBee's lifestyle? Now that was going to require some times to figure out. So what should I start with at the end of my ride, I wondered. I looked forward to getting home to a very hot shower after my breakfast. Most mornings breakfast for me was at the local Hardee's. It was usually a quick and easy stop for a biscuit of animal fat before I went home. Once I left the order counter, I saw the highway patrolmen sitting in a corner booth.I walked by them and smiled on my way to the small table where I planned to sit alone. "You are Sylvia Porter, aren't you?" the older patrolmen called after me as I passed. "Yes I am, how did you know?" I asked. "Well I have been on this stretch of highway for a lot of years. In that time your name has come up more than once," he said. "Oh really?" I asked. "Nothing bad, a couple of times we had to work with the Sheriff or SBI investigators. They stopped in here to ask something over breakfast. They like to ask questions over food." He said. "Always works better than asking in the interrogation rooms." I commented. "Something like that, seems you are well known to those types," he said. They pointed you out to us." "What you mean is I wasn't the subject of the investigation?" I asked. "Not so far," On of them said. "Course we did hear you almost killed a gang banger night before last." "First of all it wasn't a gang thing. Second, if I wanted him dead, he would be," I said with a smile. "Bad news sure travels fast though," "There are SBI types in town taking a look at it now," one of them said. "They think he might be a person of interest in some other things." "Well, if they come around I'll mention the heads up I got from the highway patrol," I said. I saw how the oldest one of them looked. "I'm just kidding guys. I have no desire to help the suits." Very soon thereafter they left, I stayed a little longer to think it through. I was a little concerned with the attention by the SBI about anything involving me. The Sheriff's men hadn't paid a lot of attention to the dagger, but the SBI might. I decided to let everything lay till the assault was settled. I figured when that happened I could expect the visits from the cops to stop. That being the case, I went to the store to buy more odds and ends but mostly it was household items. I was careful that I did nothing to draw attention to myself. It was after noon, when I went to see The Brit. It was just two days after the assault, so he wasn't surprised to see me. Since I had no real family, I had nowhere else to go. Even Jeremy greeted me warmly, "Sylvia I want you to know, I had no idea what went on the night before last. If I had known, I would have been by your side the whole time girl." "Jeremy, I was glad that Allen didn't worry you. There was nothing anyone could do. I really didn't want Allen to get involved to be honest." "If you had gone through that alone, I would have been a lot more upset about it. I know you and Allen share something I will never understand. He tells me he is like your big brother, and you are like his little sister. That you share a family like understanding." I nodded my agreement but thought, only if your family was involved in incest, but I said nothing. In a way he was right The Brit was the only family I had, and he had no family in the states. Since I had gotten involved with him my life had calmed down some. At least my sexual antics were less likely to get me killed. When Jeremy went to the kitchen to start getting things ready for Nita, Tomas's daughter, the Brit said, "Don't pay any attention to what Jeremy says. I have no idea what our relationship is like, but I know it isn't brother and sister," "I would drink to that, if it weren't so early in the day." I agreed. "If you don't have any plans for the rest of the day, you could hang out here with me and Jeremy," The Brit said. "That would be nice, but I still haven't gotten enough sleep." I said as I finished my diet Coke. I really didn't want any alcohol for some reason. "I think I'll just go home and take a nap. I might spend sometime wondering why I didn't kill him." That's how I came to be in bed at four in the afternoon when there was a banging on my door. I staggered to the door to greet Andrew. "What you doing here?" I asked. "That the thanks I get for bringing my trauma skills all the was across the state just to help you cope." Andrew said as he blew past me. "If you don't want unexpected company, you need a locked gate at the very least. "Who told you about the indecent?" "How many mutual friends do we have?" he asked. "You didn't need to come here," I said. "What? I just came to get laid," he said. "Well if that's all it is, I can get down with that," I said smiling at him. Andrew and I went to bed and had sex. I mean it was so average, I can't describe it except to call it boring. Boring but somehow satisfying as well. After it was over and we were drinking a cup of coffee I asked, "Did the Brit tell you to come?" "No the Brit told me not to come. I figured I would just come to see for myself how you were. I should have known better though," he said. "Yes, you should have," I agreed. "But I'm not sorry you came." "Then let's go to The Brit's Pub," he said. "You drive all this way screw me one time and now you want to go visit your gay friend. I should be jealous," I said. "Bull shit I came to visit you first," He said. "Well hell that makes all the difference," I said but I did laugh. That's when he flashed me one on those soulful looks that says all the things you just can't get out. After a few seconds of that stare I said, "Yeah me too Andrew." "I'm thinking we go to The Brit's Place and have dinner," he said. "And than what?" I asked. "Then we come back here and screw again," he suggested. "I'm glad you were able to keep me getting almost raped in prospective," I said. "Women, first you tell me it was no bid deal, then you want me to act like it was a big deal," he said. "Well I'm doing what I can, but honest it was more of a headache after it was over, than when I was happening," I said. "So let's go spend some money with our mutual friend. Hell he can't be making much money in the pub." Andrew said. "Yeah, I'm actually concerned about that," I said. "Well take him into whatever business you are in," he said. "It isn't exactly kosher, and I wouldn't want him in the jackpot because of me," I said. It was about thirty minutes later that we went into the pub. It had been long enough for me to take a shower. I'm pretty sure I shamed Andrew into showing. I believe men would go out to the fanciest restaurant in town with the stink of sex on them. If some cologne maker could bottle that smell, men would line up to buy it. It's like a who's is bigger kind of thing. I should have insisted that he shower, but I was just too tired to care. Besides his might not be literally the biggest, but I knew for sure it was figuratively. I knew if you wanted to walk into a biker bar to recover your earring from some biker's ear, Andrew was your man. That was fucking more important that inches. If thats is somehow a necessary part of a woman's life we can always buy a dildo. You can't open a box attitude and have your man put it on at will. "Andrew, my friend," I heard The Brit greet Karl. They stood at least two feet apart while they shook hands. "You can show affection here," I said to Andrew. Andrew, The Brit, and I sat at the bar in the the dark, while Jeremy poured drinks and pretty much ran the pub. I hadn't noticed before but Jeremy was having a ball playing host to twenty guest at his dinner party. Not only that the town had taken to him, the truth is I reckon everyone couldn't be a redneck or a biker. I just never would have guest a English style pub with a manager who might or might not be gay would be a hit. The reason was Jeremy pure and simple. Jeremy could get the women to come in and they brought their husband and boyfriends. It seemed to be working. "So Allen, how's business?" Andrew asked. "We are able to keep the doors open," Allen said. "Good for you. By the way the food here is excellent." Andrew said. "Hell, we sell as much take out as we do inside some nights. It's the only place Mrs. Jones feels safe getting a bowl of Mexican stew," The Brit said. "Damn racism." "Here's to it, as long as it keep you afloat." I agreed. "Here, here," Andrew said. We had been drinking at the bar about two hours when Andrew asked, "So what we going to do about the clown who grabbed our girl." "He is in jail there is nothing we can or should do," I said. "Beside it wasn't a life changing experience for me, but it might have been for him. You would need an army." "Sylvia this is the mountains. Everybody here has a bear rifle and they know how to use it." Andrew said. "Why would they risk jail to help a total stranger?" I asked. "I figure we would just send out a call for every one who ever slept with you," Andrew said. "That is cold, a hell of an idea, but still cold," I said. ------- Chapter 197 A case of the flu probably saved my life from going in the wrong direction, but it definitely save Queen BeeBee's live for real. I still think Andrew brought the flu with him from the Great dismal swamp. When he left, within a week I had about every minor ailment that traditionally goes with the flu. The worst thing was that County Seat became a pest house. The county board of health declared it an emergency. The board of health began looking for a place to set up a pest house. Okay that is what they would have called it in 1917, when the Spanish Influenza decimated the slums of the USA. I don't know what cute name they gave the latest strain, but it was causing real problems for those who were uninsured. Some of them were unable to afford the expensive meds that actually worked. There were some over the counter medicines that gave some relief for the symptoms, but those didn't cure anything. The county found a benefactor for their clinic in one BeeBee Queen. It was hard to believe that BeeBee had been born in Warren County. She had moved on and up over the years, but had never lost her connection with the poor people of Warren County evidently. When I heard, I began to doubt whether BeeBee met out criteria at all. We also had a second problem with out requirements. To increase the likelihood that we would get away with it, our paths had to never have crossed. Frankly there were way too may candidates to risk going after a person in our circle of acquaintances. BeeBee became one of mine when we met. BeeBee Queen walked into The Brit's Pub bold as brass. I was sitting at the bar and I recognized her from the picture on my computer. I would have known she was someone special even without the picture. She looked like she was expensively dressed, if nothing else. "You are new here aren't you?" She asked Jeremy. "Yes I am. My friend and I came here several months ago," Jeremy answered, "I'm Betty Bell Queen, my friends call me Bee Bee," she said. "It's nice to meet you Betty. What brings you to County Seat?" He asked. "I'm setting up a flu clinic. It's only temporary you know a few beds a couple of nurses and a few drugs just to help the poor survive this outbreak," He said. "That is commendable," Jeremy said. "Isn't it Sylvia?" "Yes it is," I replied after taking a sip of my beer. I didn't want to rush into any conversation with BeeBee. I also still felt like shit, drugs or no drugs. "Hardly, just something I could do." She said. "Do you live here," I allowed Jeremy to ask questions to which I already knew the answer. "No dear, I live in Metropolis. I was born here, so I came in to see how my money was being spent." Then she turned to me. "I heard the young man call you Sylvia and with that hand, that would probably make you Sylvia Porter." "It would indeed. I already had the flu, but thanks for the aid you are providing to the county." I was trying hard not to like her, but I wasn't sure yet just how I was doing at it. You have to remember, all my other friends were killers. So I guess I couldn't hold a few dead husbands against her. The truth was no matter how I felt about her, I wouldn't be the one to kill her. It was just a matter of our rules about the selection of victims. They were based on the highest probability of our not even coming up in an investigation. "I'm certainly glad you came through it alright. We probably won't be operating the clinic more than a month or so. Just long enough for me to get a belly full of Warren County," she said. "I'm surprised that it would take you so long," I said with a smile. "You don't have to live here Sylvia, so why do you?" she asked. "To be honest I like Warren County. I guess I'm just a simple country girl at heart," I said. "Nothing wrong with that," she said. "Now you want to tell me how you knew who I was," I asked. "I have enough money to hire a security company. They do a threat assessment, before I make a trip like this. They want to know who they should observe and how carefully." "There is no reason for them to watch me. I don't even put on a good show, when I take off my clothes." I said. "I would definitely have to agree with that. I have this really good stylist, who works wonders for me," She said. I noticed Jeremy was enjoying the conversation a little too much. "I think I do better, by not trying to do well at all," I said. "My security couldn't decide, who was the most dangerous. You or the pub's owner Allen." BeeBee said. "So you decided to walk into the Bears den?" I ask. "I have always found it to be the most productive," she said. "Well I can't disagree with that. So you came to warn me that you have a really bad ass security team?" I asked. "Not really warn you. It is more of an advice kind of visit," she said. "I have to admit you are probably going to get the last word this time. And since I don't expect to ever see you in Warren County after the current epidemic, you will get the last word period." I said. "Oh I really wish this didn't have to end with us being less than friendly," she said. "I'm not sure I want to be your friend BeeBee. I think that would probably be something that would cause my insurance rates to go up." I said with a smile. "I wonder how being, not my friend will effect them?" She asked. "Well it's only fair I warn you. I have a pretty bad ass security team of my own," I said. "So I hear." she said. "Mine would never quit, even if I die. As a matter of fact they would get even more intense, if I were to die," I said. I was just being honest, "It's one of the perks of screwing some really bad men," I said. "Jeremy, go see if The Brit is up coming down, or having company," I suggested. "I'll pretend to be the bartender for you." A minute or so later The Brit came down looking a little pale. He was obviously battling his own demons. "Sorry to get you off your death bed," I said with a smile. "So what is so important?" he asked. "BeeBee Queen came to visit," I explained. "What the fuck is that all about?" he asked. "To be honest, I think she found out we had her targeted." I said. "Why do you think that," The Brit asked. "She hinted at it. She had her security team investigate us," I reported. "That report must have been a fun read. Even the parts and only adequate investigator could find would be interesting. Does it go deeper than something we did tripped a computer trap switch." The Brit asked. "To be honest that is my guess," I replied. "We need to call the nerd and have him back track to see if he did something like that. I would rather not think we have a leak." "I agree," The Brit said. "I feel like shit, I'm going to have to take a hit of speed, or go back to bed. I feel like shit." "Go back to bed. You know as well as I do you don't think clearly on speed. I'm almost finished with mine flu symptoms, so I will move in here till all this is over." I explained. "For Jeremy." "Take care of him," The Brit said. "Just like he was my little sister," I said. "Fair enough," The Brit replied. "Call me if you need me." "You better believe it. Sleep with that old Walther," I suggested. "Don't worry I will," he said, In my mind I put the odds of BeeBee sending her crew for us at less than fifty percent. If she counted on isolating me from weapons by catching me out, she was in for a shock. Actually her crew was in for a shock. I knew where The Brit kept his spares. Business was almost non existent due to the outbreak of the flu, but I stayed open anyway. It was my way of choosing the battlefield. That was always an advantage. I had the five rounds in the .22 mag. Then I would be going to the pump assault shotgun. The Brit and I had each bought two since the last job. I never wanted the thugs to be the only onces decently armed in a showdown. Okay that was propaganda as well. I like that version of the truth better. To make a long story short I knew where the assault shotguns were and I got them both. "Go back to sleep Brit. It will be a turkey shoot if they come." I said. "Yeah we might be the turkeys," he suggested. "Anything is possible, if you only believe." I said with a smile. When Tomas and The Brit build the bar from 2x8 framing lumber, I thought it was terrible over kill. As I stood behind that bar drinking coffee I changed my mind. I sent Nita home right after BeeBee left the pub, so Jeremy and I were the only ones left down stairs. I explained to him and asked if he wanted to leave. I didn't have anywhere safe to send him but he could go down the street a couple of doors and sit in the sheriff's office. That might work. To his credit he chose to stay. BeeBee had enough money and enough connections to make even the sheriff's office not completely safe. It was pretty close to midnight when they came. There should have been more of them, if they came from Bee Bee, but there were only two. I couldn't exactly define them. I didn't think they were a raiding party send by BeeBee but they were out of towner's for sure. Then I recognized one of them. I hadn't call them. I sure as hell didn't want them to know what I was up to day or nights. Agent Mission came first, followed by Morris. They didn't come in guns blazing which was a good thing in my opinion. It was a fine line I was going to be walking in accepting help while not giving away anything. I wasn't even sure it was possible. But it did beat waging war on my own. "What in the world brings you two here?" I asked mission. "Almost all the deputies are sick. Hard to be on patrol, when you are in he bath room all the time," she said. "I don't need any more images, I have a pretty good idea. I had it myself. I was early on in the outbreak." I said. "Everybody told you this shit might be bad, why didn't you get your shots?" Morris asked. "Morris some of these people weighed the possibility they might get the flu, against the certainty that their kids were hungry. Flu shots lost out. So now they are paying. Just for the hell of it, the deputies were required to take the shot and half of them are out sick." "Yeah, must have been too late," Morris said. "Yeah it wasn't the most effective vaccine," I agreed. "So what brings you to the pub?" "Frankly we need a temp space to hold briefings. We would like to have them here. It's big enough and your business isn't going to be worth a crap for a while anyway," Mission said. "And you are across the street from the courthouse." "Sure you can use the downstairs, but the upstairs is Allen and Jeremy's home," I said without asking Allen's permission. ------- Chapter 198 The SBI returned my pistol on the same day they moved into the pub. Even with the state police and SBI in the house, if I hadn't heard from our nerd I might not have felt safe. I got the message from our cut out board on the net. BeeBee was a liar of monumental proportions. Yes she knew we were looking at her, but she couldn't possibly be sure what our purpose was. Yes she also knew our backgrounds and reputations. She had no one with our talents on her payroll. She had accomplished one thing and that was to guarantee that we would not kill her. As I said all along, when we lost our shield of anonymity, it was just too dangerous. So we had been thwarted. Unless BeeBee Queen did something to make it personal, she was going to walk away the winner. Our nerd also checked her company, and her personal management group, he found that she employed a small security force of retired cops. She either under estimated us, over estimated her security, or was a monumental liar. She would probably call it a great poker player's bluff, but since we found the truth, it was just a lie. With the SBI setting up shop in his place, and Jeremy looking after his health, the Brit was in good hands, so I could go home. God knows I needed a shower and change of clothes. I was, as my friends would say, ripe. I wouldn't have stood near me, if I could find a way around it either. I planned to go home first thing that morning. The SBI moved in some files and I moved my ass out to the Cruiser/van and then home. With BB not an issue I went home to work on the .22Magnum. I found a round wire brush almost exactly the size of the bore. I have no idea what it had been designed for but it worked fine to scrub the barrel of the mag. I used a small diamond file to change the character of the point on the hammer. When I finished it was a different gun. I was glad to have the mag back. I had been carrying the derringer, but it was just a toy somehow. The .22mag was on a heavy frame so it had a better feel than the derringer, which tended to fire all over the place past ten feet. That heavier frame made the revolver extremely accurate. I'm not sure I needed a half hour in the shower to get clean, but it sure as hell didn't hurt anything. I walked from the shower, through the small kitchen area. There I picked up a cup of coffee from the single cup brewer, then moved to sit by the patio door. Through that door I had a clear view of the left side of my property. More important I could hear the two wireless microphones playing through the small amplifier on my book shelf. One of those microphone was hidden by the cattle type bridge over the trench by the road. Because it was just a few metal slats over the trench it make a hell of a rattling sound if anyone crossed it in a car. It was a simple early warning system, which I had found in one of the storage lockers. Since it had two microphones, I set one up at the storage trailer. I actually used the trailer for storage at the time. The final pieces had come for my still, but I hadn't assembled it. I hadn't felt like it. Even though my case of the flu was much lighter than most of the other folks, it was bad enough. It was also inconvenient. If you ever had the gastrointestinal symptoms of the flu, you know what inconvenience really is. I finally felt better, so I was thinking about assembling the still. I needed to settle the BeeBee Queen thing first. Not by wiping her out, but by making sure she was finished with it. I didn't see anything I could offer her or threaten her with, so I was going to have to play it by ear. No play is sometimes as good as a great plan, not often, but it could happen. In the mean time I had to keep an eye out for her, or more likely one of her henchmen. I hadn't found a wireless CCTV unit in a storage locker, so I left a message for nerd boy on the board. He sent me a link to a website that offered what I wanted. I ordered one of their best units. It came with a camera that transmitted to the net. I also got the code to access the last twenty four hours of recordings on any computer or smart phone, if I had one. I agreed to the the monitoring fee which included the rental of the equipment. The monthly fee was like 10% of the alarm company, because there was no live monitoring. I had to monitor it myself. I was good with that, as I wasn't sure I wanted anyone else to know what I was up to anyway. I fixed myself a good lunch and went to the storage building to begin assembly of the still. Once the building was unlocked I realized that it was going to be way too tight to do everything in the building. It wasn't exactly news to me. I knew all along that the space would be too small for any thing but cooking and packaging. Much earlier I had Tomas build a lean to storage shed attached to the building. I had a heavy weight work bench made from 2x8 framing material. It was a very sturdy work bench to which I had mounted the food grinder. I could use the grinder to grind a batch of deer corn for the mash, then use it to grind a few pounds of marijuana stalks to convert my brew to something worth a hell of a lot more than moonshine. That was the plan, but I had to make a couple of gallons to test my theory. That was my project for the next week or so. The plan was to let the moonshine mash cook off under the lean to. However I planned to mix it in the house and transport it up to the storage trailer to cook off. So I began to rummage through the assorted plastic buckets and barrels, which I had stockpiled for this project. Yeah most of them were from storage units, and yes I planned to sanitize them before use. I found what looked like a trash can from a granny's last apartment. It was small and had no signs of ever being used. So I loaded it into the back of the Cruise/van. I could hear a car entering the property, if I listened. I felt like it would be hard for anyone, no matter the reason, to slip up on me. I took a deep breath and a drink from my big ass coffee cut and began to mix the mash in the box house. I had decided to mix one ten gallon batch first. I took that little granny trash can and cleaned it really well. Then I poured a couple of ounces of chlorine bleach in and swished it around the inside of the clean container for a while before I rinsed it, twice. I had ten pounds of the ground deer feed corn and ten pounds of sugar which I put in the trash can for the mash. I added enough warm water to mix it well. When that was done, I I pre mixed two packs of brewers yeast in a quart plastic container. I let it sit a few minutes just to be just something happened before I added it to the mash. When I was sure something was going to happen, I added it to the plastic granny can. I managed to get the can of mash into the cruiser and up to the storage building. Since I wasn't going to be moving it about, and since it wasn't too big I loaded it into the storage building to work off. I had a couple of hours of daylight left and had all the parts so I began to assemble the still itself. The Forty four quart pressure cooker would easily hold ten gallon of mash. So I set the large stainless still pot on the metal stand. The stand was about a foot high, it was strong enough to support the pot with filled with ten gallons of mash. The pressure valve had been removed by Monk a few days before all this sickness started. He had installed in it's place a 3/8" ID type brass threaded connector. One to which I was able to attach Piece of CPVC pipe to raise the height over a foot. Then a treaded fitting to allow me to attach another pipe to make an extension to move the snake away from the cooker. I used an adapter to attach a length of 3/8" copper tubing to be used as the snake. Monk had also been the one to add the flange fitting to the snake. I left the temperature gauge on the pot, so I could monitor the temp in the pot more closely. I needed lots of water to keep that snake cool while it converted the vapor back to a liquid liquor. I planned to pump water from the creek. The real moonshiners used gas pumps to do that, but I planned to stay in one place a while, so I went with a much quieter electric pump. I did have to come up with a way to power it though. In the end I just hooked it up to a extension cord and a wall switch. Since I was using a boats bilge pump, I had to do some improvising. At the end of the day I had a fresh water source running into a reservoir at that still house. I was definitely over the flu, but I didn't feel like running any races. I tossed five pounds of ground marijuana stalks in the mash and I planned to add five more pounds to boil off with the distilling process. It was still going to be a crap shoot, but that was okay. The first thing was to see if I could make liquor. The second was to see if I could make a liquor valuable enough to be worth it. While the mash worked off, I waited and tried to rest. How much water I had to use in the cooling barrel was still up in the air. I could figure a way to control speed of the pump which was going to fill the outside reservoir which would fill the cooling barrel by gravity flow. First thing was to get the mash cooked off. After that I could make improvements to the design. The mash was bubbling so it was a good sign. I was waiting patiently for it to finish. It was three days into the fermenting when the big black car came up the drive. I had no idea who it was, but I wasn't surprised that someone had come up the road. The town was filled with strange cops and even stranger do gooders. So it could be anyone come for any number of reasons. Who turned out to be was was a big forty year old woman. One who almost looked twenty. Did I mention BeeBee Queen also had big gorgeous boobs. But why wouldn't she have the best money could buy? I asked myself. I greeted her on the porch. "So Mrs. Queen, I thought we had a policy of mutual destruction in place to assure our mutual good behavior," I said. "First of all both parties have to be sure the other is capable and willing to pull the pin on the bomb." She said. "I'm sure I'm capable and willing to destroy you," I said. "My computer was breeched again and now you know I may not be willing to destroy you," she said. "Actually, I'm pretty sure you would be willing, but I'm also sure you are not capable of destroying me." I said. "How about we have the conversation we should have had before?" she asked. "Actually BeeBee we had exactly the right conversation," I said. "Take off your clothes if you insist on going on with this conversation." I was surprised that she didn't need more of an explanation. She entered the house first but was much better looking naked than any woman, of any age I had ever met. "It would not be beneficial for either of us to be involved in the death of the other. Which is the best we can hope for any time from anyone." I added when she was naked and I was sure not wired. "You know I'm always going to worry that you might come for me," BeeBee said. As she dressed again. "You don't need to do that," I said. "Then you have decided I'm not guilty," she asked. "No I have decided you are guilty, but it would just be stupid for me to kill you. There are plenty of others just as guilty, who would be safer." I explained with a smile. "One thing before I go. I showed you mine, so show me yours," she said. ------- Chapter 199 "I think I'll save that for next time," I said. A few minutes later, I stood on the porch and watched her leave my property. After she had been gone for a few minutes, I locked the property up tight, and went into town. It was late morning when I arrived at the pub. I went inside and found the pub open under the management of Jeremy. "Jeremy how is Allen doing?" I asked. "He is doing fine, good of you to ask." It was a comment on my not having called daily for the last few days. He didn't know how hard it was not to call. It was too easy to monitor cell phone calls, and he had the SBI, State Patrol, and probably the Fish and Game's temporary offices in the house to monitor. If they chose to do so. "Jeremy, I assume you know that if Allen had needed anything, or just wanted something, I could and would have been here in five minutes, even if it meant coming wrapped in a towel. I also hope you know what would happen, if he needed me and you didn't call." I said. He thoughtfully nodded his head. "And I might add the same goes for you." "I'm sorry Sylvia, I know that. Allen has been difficult to live with lately. He checks that big mysterious bulletin board and curses. Frankly I think he wants to take a more active role in solving your problem." Jeremy said. "Well maybe I have good news," I said. "Let me talk to him a bit alone." I went up the stairs to the second floor, which was their home of course. The Brit was sitting at their fancy, fancy dinning table drinking tea. "How you feeling old man?" I asked. "I expect you know, How did you feel, three days or four days in?" he asked. "That good huh?" I asked. "Yeah that bad," He said. "I heard you talking to Jeremy, what's the good news?" "BeeBee Queen came bye my place. She doesn't have an army, just a bunch of retired cops. It would be the Keystone cop vs the army rangers," I suggested. "Plus we agreed that there should be a mutual reduction of hostilities. I explained why it was safer not to get involved with her, and she understood, Then I explained why it was safer for her not to get involved with us again. She understands that as well, so I'm sure our problems with her are over. "You really feel that it is over?" The Brit asked. "Yeah, but it has made me question the whole organized nature of the beast. I have no problem killing a guy who fits out profile, but what I have a problem with is someone else knowing about it. So I'm going to rethink this. Meantime I have lots of other projects going. I can keep myself busy. "I was a little freaked by BeeBee," The Brit said. "Maybe I can learn some new skills along with you," "Maybe so. You keep working on getting better and I have something to keep an eye on out at the farm," I said. "Well, if you need any help, I can do a turn babysitting I think," he said. "I haven't gotten to that stage yet, but I will be there soon. For now you work on getting over this shit and then we will get back to work." I promised. I left the pub and drove directly back to my farm, for lack of a better term. When I arrived I went to the shed on wheels. In the rear of the building were two brand new 32 gal plastic trash cans that would hold my mash while it worked off. I was working off only 10 gallons for the trial run though. It was working off in a ten gallon granny's apartment sized trash can. It sat right inside the door of the storage building, so it was easy to check. I quickly determined that it likely had two more days cooking time. With nothing better to do I made sure I could get water up to the storage building from the creek and that it was cold and clean. It didn't need to be pure but it did need to be clean enough not to clog the pumps. I was using a bilge pump to keep the tank under the lean to shed filled with creek water. To get the water from the reservoir tank to the cooling coil I had decided to use a gravity feed since I could mount the reservoir tank higher the the bed of the trailer. I still had time to add an outlet at the bottom of the reservoir for a drain line to the cooling condenser. I hooked it all up with plastic fish tank hoses. I hooked on of them to the orange water cooler spout hole at the bottom of the cooler and ran it back to the creek. When I finished at the end of that day I turned on the pump in the creek and the water flowed. I just had to add some hose clamps to stop the drips. The worst thing about the system was that it would only produce two gallon every eight or so hours. So those two gallons better have a hell of a mark up on them. All I can do is try, was my thought that second day after I visited The Brit. I had a good night's sleep. That was thanks to an intense interactive fantasy, and masturbation experience. What I think men don't understand is that sometime for a woman it's just better to masturbate than bother to go find a man and risk getting killed or contracting some disease. Yeah most any women can find a man somewhere, of some sort, but sometimes victor the vibrator is a better choice. No matter your feelings on the subject, I went to the storage building during the daylight hours the next day to start the cooking. I was well rested and relaxed. I filled the large 44 quart cooker with nine of the ten gallons of mash. I used a plastic iced tea pitcher to dip from one container to the other. Then I poured it into the cooker through a strainer. Even though it had been strained I added two pounds of the ground marijuana stalks to the mixture. The mash was by no means clear, but it didn't have to be, I hoped. When it was almost full, I clamped the lid back on top of pressure cooker. When it was on tight, I screwed the connector from the cooker to the worm in place. It all looked secure so I checked the worm. It was wound around the inside of a ten gallon orange water cooler left over from my alcohol blending days. That condenser had the plastic tube from the bottom outlet to the creek. So I had a fifty gallon holding reservoir for the water outside the still house trailer. It was high up under the lean to. From that tank ran a small hose connected to the orange water cooler. That was my cooling condenser for the liquor. I had drilled one more hole in the orange condenser half way up the side for the outlet where I hoped the liquor would run from the copper worm. The best thing about the cooker was it had a built in thermometer. I could tell when it reached cooking temperature. The thing was based in solid theory but looked like Rube Goldberg was the inventor. Since my water pump ran off 12v batteries and I had no idea the power consumption, I had two car batteries on hand. First I filled the reservoir outside, which surprisingly took only a few minutes. It seemed that a man with a sinking boat wanted a pump to move some serious water. Then I open the valve to drain water through the orange water cooler and run back to the creek. I held the bottom of the water cooler closed till it filled to the top with water. The flow from the reservoir to the condenser had to be continuously running since there was what amounted to a hole in the bottom of the condenser. I fired up the bottle gas fire rings and we were cooking. I took a whole lot of precautions building that bastard, even so I was watchful. It took several hours for the witches brew to reach 175 degrees. From then on it was a struggle to keep it close to the target temperature. I could let it go under at all and not over 185 either. It was also a struggled to keep the condenser full of water. Nonetheless it all seemed to work, and the steam began to move from the pot to the snake. The pot was a strange looking beast. The top had a 16" piece of CPVC pipe attached to it with fittings and adapters. That one thing made the cooker look pretty odd. Then on top of the cooker I had a threaded connector, which how I connect it to the condenser. I used CPVC pipe for that as well. At end of the pipe from the cooker there were several connectors and adapters which reduced the pipe to the 3/8" copper snake that then went inside the orange condenser. Just a little over four hours after I began cooking alcohol was flowing. It wasn't flowing in great quantities but it was flowing. I collected the first two ounces and tossed it. Folklore said that those were methanol and I wanted to be careful. Especially since I planned to make this the most expensive moonshine on the market. It was past dinner time when I finished the run. I had to clean everything so even then I wasn't finished. I also hadn't packaged the shine or tested it at all. I turned the fire off before it stopped dripping shine. The dripping was almost finished but I didn't want to wait and let it burn especially not the first one. I was trying to anticipate every possible problem. In the end I collected the hooch in a clean gallon bucket. I had a hydrometer like they test antifreeze to use for a proofer. The Hooch from my cooker proofed at 177 proof. I still had another orange foam water carrier I had used to blend liquor. It seemed like a good use for it. So I dumped the almost two gallons of liquor in it. The bottled water cooler is what used to cut the liquor down to 120 proof. To do that I emptied almost three twelve ounce bottle into the hooch before I got it down to 120 proof. I tasted it for the first time at that point. I could taste the alcohol but not the pot. It was a lot smoother than I expected. It was getting late so I decided to make sure everything was safe, but also prepare for the cleanup the next day. I figured I should take the cook pot down and get it ready to clean. I was able to remove the connect pipe even though I had to use heavy rubber gloves and wrenches to do it. Once I took the top off the cooker, I saw what was left in the pot. It was definitely an unappetizing slurry of spent ingredients. I knew that the old timers reused that stuff but I didn't plan to do that. So what to do with the remains became the question. I ran some water into the cooker and left it to soak. For dinner that night I celebrated with fast food burgers. I had for years been making a staple of frozen dinners and such. I seldom bought take out burgers, I would pick up a pizza now and then. I had even been known to get a salad to go, but going the full fast food takeout route was a special treat. I got the the burger full of fat and bread. I also picked up a large order of the world's best french fries. In other words it was fat grams and calories be damned. I had such a great time I decided not to go back to the still house, as I had begun to think of it, at all that night. I went home with the big bag of fatty food and a 2 liter bottle of died coke. I sat in front of my computer an watched TV from around the world while I ate all the things that were bad for me and reveled in them. I slept very well with no outside stimulants at all. I just laid in my big old comfortable bed and drifted off. At 5AM I awoke as always, I went to the monitor site and looked at the camera fast forward all the day and night before. As always there was nothing. I got on the bike and rode into town. It was very early but I took the chance that The Brit and Jeremy would be at the cafe on the square. They weren't of course. I ate breakfast alone so I only stayed a minute then rode off to the plaza. I didn't stay there either. ------- Chapter 200 When I got home everything was normal. I went into shower then returned to the still house. I loaded the cooker with a gallon or so of soapy water in the back of the cruiser/van. There was no cleaning to do to the condenser. I went on with my plan to fill up twenty or so 12 oz bottles with the hooch. I got all that done by dark that same day. My choice became simple take the stuff out for a spin that night, or wait until I had some people lined up to meet me somewhere for a trail run. There were going to be the same risks regardless of when I did it, so what the fuck, I said to myself. When I got to the house I had the cook pot and the twenty two bottles of hooch in the back of the less than half a minivan. I took the cook pot out and changed the water in it before I did anything else. I emptied the existing water out only after I swished it about a few times. Then I put about a gallon of very hot water in cook pot in the shower stall. It just wouldn't fit anywhere else which was just as well. I had hot water there and the janitor's type sink next to it only. As a matter of fact I didn't have any kind of water in the kitchen area of the box/house. The big cook pot was pretty much clean and all the soap out of it went I moved it to the janitor sink. I couldn't make water from the faucets on the sink reach but I had managed to clean it. I took a quick shower, put on a pair of the cargo pants, and a long sleeve tee shirt. I even wore one of the better looking parka's. I usually wore a ratty one to hide my pistol, but now and then I wore a nice one, when I wanted to impress people. This was my impress the boss moment. "Hey Monk, do you think your friend bone crusher will be in tonight?" I left the message for him early in the evening. While I waited for him to call back I thought about his friend Bone Crusher. Every biker club in the country had a member with the nickname Bone Crusher. Not everyone with that name deserved it, but Monk's friend did deserve it. He ran a biker bar and he ran it with a minimum of violence. He explained to everyone that he ran a neutral country type bar. "I run the Switzerland of biker bars." he explained to anyone who would listen. I didn't want to drive all the way to Dobson to talk to anyone else. If I knew he was there, I could swing bye and talk to another dance type club. A lot of shit ran out of that club, so I had no idea whether it was a good idea to go there. Then too Jim Boyle and his brother lived in Dobson. They were party guys, They liked to deal in the unusual, so they would love the stuff. I would have to let them sample it, which was a good idea regardless. I was about to call Boyle, when Monk returned my message. "Hello there Silvie. I just called the crusher he will be in tonight and expecting you. You want me to come over and go in with you?" Monk asked. "Monk, I get in much more shit with you, than I would without you. But thanks honey," I said. Once Monk killed the connection, I made the call to Boyle. He said, "Let me meet you somewhere. We try to keep the business out of house since the Mary Ellen thing." I need to stop at that biker bar on the Sparta road first, but I can give you a call after and we can meet." I offered. "Works for me," he said. So I left County Seat with at least two stops on my schedule. I headed to the Biker Bar Monk had taken me to almost two years before, when I was still working for the cops. I never turned on them, so they never had a problem when word went around that I was a cop. They just remembered the nights I got drunk and screwed guys in the parking lot. That convinced them that I wasn't always a cop. Sometimes I could be just a fun slut. Then when word smuggled down that I had been cut loose by the other side, they were willing to make room for me. That didn't work out quit as they wanted, but nobody went to jail either. I went into the bar that night with a 12oz fruit drink bottle of pure green dragon. There are new guys on the door all the time. I wasn't surprised when I asked the complete stranger, "Is Bone Crusher around?" I asked it very respectfully, so if the conversation went rank, I could truthfully said it wasn't my fault. "Who the fuck is askin'?" the bad ass looking biker type asked... "Let me put it this was honey, I met the crusher before and you definitely ain't him, so run alone and get him." I said. "You do not move from this spot till I get back," he demanded. "What I can't even go back to the pool room and give blowjobs oh well," I said "I should have known it was you," the morbidly obese bald man said. "And I should have known you were still hiding behind fagots with motorcycles." I kept a close eye on the biker, who had met me at the door, He looked as though he might want to kick my ass. "I should let you back those words up Sylvia but it takes so long to find one who will show up for work everyday." He looked over to the ones behind the bar. Those were the ones with the sawed off shotguns hidden under the bar. They were the ones I really feared. "Okay Sylvia what the hell you here for now?" he asked. "Here is the deal Crusher. I have decided to start brewing some green dragon the way it should be made. This is distilled from The Marijuana tea. It ain't one of those blended things. I have a very low capacity. So I'm offering it to a couple of my old customers until I reach the capacity I wan't to brew." I said. "Crusher, it ain't cheep." "If you got a small glass behind the bar, I'll let you try it free. Just you and just one time." The bartender produced something that looked a lot like a pill cup. I poured an ounce of the clear looking liquid. The crusher took it in one mouthful. Her held it in his mouth a second and then swallowed it. "That's some smooth shit Sylvia. The THC ain't as fast as smoking it, but it's smooth and you ain't gonna be seen smoking it either. So how much a gallon?" I'm starting at $2.50 per oz anything less than a gallon. Each gallon at $300 and here is the deal I can guarantee that price for one order only. My capacity is low, if someone is willing to pay more for an order to get it, I have to go with the money. I'll honor anything we agree to until it is delivered then all bets are off." "Let me have the rest of that 12oz bottle for $25 and I'll shop it around over the next few days. I want to place an order now for two gallons half now, half on delivery." he demanded. That's fine if you want to risk someone else getting ahead of you in line on the second gallon. It has to be prepaid to secure your place in the manufacturing schedule." I said all businesslike. "Damn you a hard woman, but okay. I'll pay you for two gallons in advance. So when can I expect delivery." Crusher asked sticking out his hand to me. "Two weeks, we want the drop it somewhere else to protect us both." I said. "You bet we do," Crusher agreed. "You let me know." "No notice, just go pick it up," I said. "Give me your email for the GPS coordinates." "Agreed," Crusher said. From the Crusher's parking lot I made arrangements to meet Jim in a McDonald's Parking lot. I slipped into his car, when I saw him pull in. I was seated beside him, when I handed him a note. I said, "So how you doing baby." "I'm doing fine. Why don't you and I go in to eat. I haven't been in one of these in years," he said, Not only that but a couple of cops doing an eavesdrop would stand out like a sore thumb, I had the last 10 oz sample of Green Dragon in my cargo jeans, so I wanted to be careful. "You know I haven't had a Big Mac since some asshole decided they were death on a bun. Fuck it, I'm going to have one and a large order of French fries," I told the cute little girl behind the counter. I left the order counter and wandered into the dining room nobody was paying any mind to me. Even so I sat at the table next to a few teenagers playing rap music at their normal ear splitting volume. We managed to negotiate a deal. Jim wanted to shop the hooch around, but he agreed to take the orders, and the money for them, before he called me. I gave him the same story as I had Crusher, Prepaid orders were processed before promises. I headed home after I closed out my first sales trip. I decided to wait until the next days to mash. I could take the ten days minimum it took to cook a batch to shop around the hooch I had on hand. Maybe I would try to package it in smaller quantities. and sell it at a higher price. Either way I considered my first trip a success as I undressed for bed. The next morning I rode the bike hard for two hours. I felt better when I was all damp and sweaty. Not only did I sweat on those rides, but I let my mind wander. While not planning I realized that I felt good about actually creating something. I knew the state did not approve, but I could still feel good about it. After my long tiring ride, rather than go straight home to shower, I stopped for breakfast at the Hardee's in the plaza. The highway patrol officers were there, some were on duty others were in civilian clothes. I didn't sit with them, and they didn't seem to mind. I figured they had already learned what they wanted to know. I hadn't felt too endangered by them, so I was fine with it. After my shower and two more cups of coffee, I moved the water trailer with the empty clean plastic 32 gallon trash can sitting on top of it. I attached a short piece of hose to the janitor type sink in my bathroom area. I ran the hose to the water trailer and turned it on. During my first mash in I had used a ten gallon water cooler. This time was for real. The trailer had been easy to swing around empty but the 30 gals of waster added one hell of a lot of weight to it. When I got the trash can almost full, I turned off the water. Then I pulled the trailer, with the disconnected hose from the utility sink as well, as the water tank back to the storage building. The water tank was closed so I knew it was staying clean. Once I had all the supplies ready, I stopped to have one last cup of coffee and study the lay of the land. It took me a half hour to do my security sweep of the land and the computer tapes. I felt that no matter what happened later, I was starting with as clean a slate as possible. I began by milling the corn from the deer feed corn. I ground thirty pounds of it. I planned to mash in 30 Gallons so I needed thirty pounds of corn meal. I had been able to back the water trailer up close to the storage room door. I put the empty trash can right beside it. I put the thirty pounds of meal into the can about 15 or 20 lbs at first, with the balance to be added later. I was ready for the water. My solution for getting the water from the trailer to the mash barrel was to dip it with a plastic iced tea pitcher. After I had the barrel about half full of water I found the new electric drill with the stirring ladle drill bit attached. It wasn't as long as I would have liked but it might do. It didn't reach near deep enough, but I had known that it wouldn't reach the bottom from the beginning. That is why I had a very clean piece of pine shelving I could use as a boat paddle in case I needed it to reach the bottom. I had even done a quick trimming to shape it a little like a canoe paddle. I had the grain completely dissolved in the mash barrel using only half the necessary water. I unhooked the cruiser van from trailer and drove to the box house with a thirty pound bag of sugar. I had a new paint bucker sitting in the floor of my box house while I ate a frozen Meat Loaf TV dinner. While I ate the dinner and drank diet coke, I also heated water in my teapot. It heated water very quickly. While I finished that dinner I was able to heat the pot several times. I was able to make a simple syrup of the thirty pounds of sugar in about an hour. I took the time to check my security camera and the audio as well. Since everything looked good, I carried the simply syrup in a large water bottle. The last thing I needed to do after supper was to grind three pounds of pot stalks. So I went back to the storage building to take care of that. I put them in the mix along with my simply syrup and the activated yeast. The las thing I did was to finish filling of the mash barrel and stretch a white piece of sheetlike material over the top. It was held in place by bungee chords wrapped around the barrel. I had cleaned everything and then I wore rubber gloves for all my chores. I was going to have to wait to see how long I could keep it up. I left the box house after changing into something not quite so smelly. I went to the Pub for a couple of beers on the first night after I mashed in. I had done some checking with my lawyer friends and decided to take repeat orders by email and deliver the product in a dead drop. If the ABC investigators got on to me, catching me wouldn't be easy. Then making the connections necessary to prosecute me wouldn't be easy either. All that in order to pursue a small time moonshiner, who would most likely only be of interest to the local law dogs, might just slip through the cracks. That is how me, The Brit, and Bob the lawyer saw it. So I left the pub at 9PM with two 12 oz bottles of hooch in the car. I decided to take $30 for each of them, or sell them for $3 an oz. I had a list of dealers from Bob the lawyer. He specialized in bootleggers, so he knew his shit. Bob had also heard of me. It was 10:30PM when I arrived at the club in Dobson. It was a dance club which held only a beer license. "Hello," I said to the female owner. "A mutual friend said you might be interested in something unique." "Oh who is the friend, and what is the unique product?" she asked. "His name is Bob and he works at a different kind of bar. The product is green dragon. He said you would know what it is." I said to the grandmotherly looking woman. "Oh is it real green dragon, or some blended shit," the owner asked. "It was distilled right along with the corn liquor. I know because I distilled it." I said. "You let me try it, and if it's what you say it is, I'll buy a gallon from you," she said. "Don't you want to know what I'm asking for a gallon?" I asked. "Let me try, it then we will talk money," she said. I poured about two ounces in a glass then returned the glass to the bar. I stood watching while she knocked it back. She had to do it in two swallows. "Holy shit baby, if that shit effects me as good as it tastes, you got a deal." "$500 a gallon gets you priority delivery," I said. I sat in the club for about an hour while the shit kicked in. "When can you deliver the first gallon?" she asked. "Pay in advance and I can dead drop a gallon tomorrow night by the dark of the moon," I said with a smile. "Okay then bring it," she said opening the register and removing the cash. "My name is Ramona." "Mine is Sylvia," I replied. "Yeah Bob said you might be by to see me. Try to drop the product after midnight so that I can stop by to pick it up after I close this place. I also got a friend. I'll see if he wants any." "That would be nice but my capacity is low so I don't promise to have it on hand or even delivery dates," I said. "Fair enough," she said. I gave her the bulletin board address and the order information before I left. I drove straight home and checked the mash. It was still cooking off. It made it's own heat but it was chilly outside the building. I was still concerned that there might need to be some heat in the storage building to make it all work. But then I remembered I would have the cook pot to a hundred and seventy five degrees soon. When I set the pumps in the creek the water would flow more or less continual. If there was a problem I would know for sure soon enough. After a good night sleep I rode the bike two hours around town checking things out. Nothing looked out of place, so I took a shower when I returned home. I dressed in my work clothes which where pretty much the clothes that I had on at any give time. I owned very few fancy clothes. No matter what I was wearing, at any given time I was likely to lean down and start working on something. I had no clothes sense. I moved the two used automobile batteries I used to power the pumps to the back of the Cruiser. After that I moved them to the box house where I attached a battery charger which I had also found in a storage locker. I had sent two others just like it to the flea market vendor for sale. It would take the batteries most all day to charge, but the mash still had at least two or three more days to cook off. I removed the pump from the creek while the sun was at its warmest, I did that so I reconstructed my rock damn. It was no Hoover dam, but I was still proud of it. All it had to do was make a pool of water behind it deep enough to hide the pump. The pump had to be strong enough to pump the water uphill about ten feet to the reservoir. From the reservoir it ran into the orange ten gallon water cooler that I used for a condenser. From the hose attached to the bottom of the cooler the water went back to the creek. After I improved the water situation for the condenser, I move on to making sure I could get enough bottles. I spent the time till dark checking out recycle spots and found the ideal one for me. There was a gym in the plaza area outside Dobson that recycle hundreds of water bottles a day. They probably recycled enough in one day to cover a full run. I just had to come up with a way to take them without appearing to be suspicious. I was still trying to figure it out, when I drove by on my way to drop off the gallon of green dragon for Ramona. I drove by the place I guess hoping I would find what I found, but I certainly never expected it. The trash from the gym was outside. It was stored in really large clear plastic bags. I could see that the bags contained well over a hundred bottles each. The gym still had a car in the parking lot so I went on to make my drop. I put the gray grocery bag with the green dragon inside behind a bush beside a highway sign. I sent Ramona the GPS coordinates. Since it was my first time doing business with her, I put a game camera on the pickup site. Just to make sure there was no misunderstandings. Then I headed back home and found the gym's parking lot empty. So I quickly circled behind the concrete block building to load two of the bags filled with plastic bottles into the cruiser van. After that I drove home and went to bed I still needed to figure a way to sanitize the bottles. Hell I didn't even know the capacity of the bottles, but those were challenges for the next day. 5AM seems to come even earlier, when you don't get to bed until 3AM. Sometimes I wonder, if a couple of hours sleep isn't worse then no sleep. Regardless, the morning air was getting cool enough to wake me instantly. After a quick breakfast of animal fat on a biscuit, I got back home at seven thirty. I slipped on a parka that was lined with a jersey material before I walked up to the storage building. The mash had been working five days before it appeared ready to cook. I knew there was a short window for best results, so I decided that I might start after lunch. It might be a little early so I had to force myself to consider waiting a little longer. It was hard for me to get it, the patience thing I mean. I checked the Internet, while I ate takeout from McDonalds. I had tried a BigMac and fell right back into my addiction to fast food. I was working on the withdrawal, I told myself. I found from my bulletin board that the delivery had been pickup by Ramona. So I ran by before I went cooking to pick up my game camera. Sure as hell when I checked it, there she was getting the plastic bag and running with it. I drove from the chore straight home to figure out what I was going to do with the water bottles. The first thing I did was find three large cardboard boxes, which still seemed to hold their shape. I sorted through the bottle and found that they were mostly half a liter or one liter bottles. I had expected others, but I probably shouldn't have been surprised. Also they were mostly one brand, which I'm sure the gym sold. So I needed four to make a gallon of containers. Fifteen of them would cover a full run it might take a little more but I figured I would clean up twenty four and see how that did. I separated the bottles before I stored them in the trailer. I took ten of the one liter size and began working on them. I took them down to my bathroom. The one thing my shower and sink had was some hot water. It also had a super hot on demand wanter delivery system. So the first thing I did was run them through with cold water to get every drop of old water from them. Them I took a cloth dampened with a sanitizer made with soap and chlorine bleach. Finally I flushed them with super hot water, then put a drop of sanitizer into the bottles and let them sit and hour. Then I came back and flushed them again with the super hot water. I loaded the bottles in a milk crate to dry and took them to the storage building. While I was there I check the mash again. I made my decision then. After the next day's bike ride I was going to start cooking, and all that was involved with it. When I got home I was exhausted, so I fell into bed well before midnight. I slept like someone in a coma. I wasn't hot, I wasn't cold, I wasn't hungry or thirsty, and I didn't need to pee in the middle of the night. I just breathed in and breathed out for ten hours. When I woke, I kicked my bike into gear and away I rode. I rode for two hours as I did most mornings. I stopped by the Hardee's for biscuits before locking myself into the still house. Before I closed the door on myself I filled the reservoir which was quite a bit larger that the condenser so I should be able to turn the pump off now and then. Hell that would likely be my only job to amount to anything for the next eight hours or so. I began by dipping and straining about ten gallons of mash. I had it in the cooker and ready to go in a few short minutes. I also had well over half the mash left in the barrel. I added approx 1 pound of pot grind before I started it to cook. Once I got the cooker all sealed up, I slid the fire ring under it and off she went. Once it reached 125 degrees I could feel the pipe between the cooker and condenser heating up. When the cooker reached 175 degrees I began to work at the gas control to try to control the temp. I also kept the pump going but turned it off now and then so I wouldn't float the trailer away. Six and one half hours later I felt like it had finished cooking, so I pulled the fire ring. I emptied and cleaned the cooker a little before I started again with a new pound of pot grind and all the old stuff in the bottom of the cooker and started it again. I ran it two more times before I shut it down completely. In just over 24hours I made 6 gallons of the green dragon. It was however 170 proof. Since I had combined it all together it took adding about a gallon of bottled water to get it down to about 120 proof. I bottled 4 gallons, give or take, in one liter bottles, 2 gallons, give or take, in 1/2 liter bottles and one gallon, give or take in 10 oz bottles. ------- Chapter 201 "I swear to you Sylvia I don't understand why people are buying that stuff. I don't like the taste of it and I don't like the quick high I get from it." The Brit said. "I know, hun but people don't always make sense. As a matter of fact the one thing you can count on when dealing with people, is that they will all act irrationally at some point." I said. "Yeah, that is true enough. So what's the thrill?" The Brit asked. "Jim says it's designer drugs. Something nobody else has. If I ever got into large production, it would be about two hundred dollars a bottle." I said. "So what would you do then," he asked. "Make something else I suppose." I suggested. "Do you have a new barrel of mash working?" he asked. "Not really I have and old batch of mash working. Bosco told me how to sustain the brew, so I'm giving it a try." I said. "How do you do that?" The Brit ask. "You don't throw out all the used up mash you save about half of it. Then you add everything just like it were starting all over and go from there, Well you don't add any yeast. So we are gonna see what happens," I said. I spent the next day laying off the hooch and delivering some of it. I had several trips to make it work but when the alcohol started running I was able to concentrate on the booze. It was also about the things to come and making them work. Over the next few months there were more order on the bulletin board than I had product on hand. I had started to fall behind on a weekly basis. The price was to high already. I went to see Ramona while I was mashing in a few months later. I was trying to figure out what I needed to do about the lack of capacity. "Sylvia you here because you got competition? I sure hope this don't mean no drug war." she said. "Well it sure as hell doesn't mean one from me. So what's the deal?" I asked. "Some hard case came in and said he could give me a better price and promised there wouldn't be no trouble from you," she said. "Well he was right about about that. If he has a better price, I won't give you a problem for switching. So who is this new supplier?" I asked. "He is named Leo something or other," she said. "I'm sure we will get to know each other soon." Even though I didn't care if he won the business fair, he might feel he needed to make an impression. Drug people often felt that way. Fortunately I was armed to the teeth, just because it was habit. It was also good that Romona had warned me, so the man standing in front of me in the parking lot didn't get even a small element of surprise. As I passed him he went for his gun, but he found it hard to get it out with the sharpened driveway spike buried in his shoulder. He had planned to brush past me then come from behind me with his 9mm. I didn't plan to give him the chance. He was rather strange looking standing there with the surprised look on his face as he sank to his knees. The orange spike with the bent end showing though his clothes. Meantime I was down on one knee with the .22mag revolver waving about. I cautiously worked my way back to the cruiser through the crowded parking lot. When I made it back to the cruiser, I removed the shotgun from the area behind the front seat. I carried the shotgun to make a lot of noise, just so win or lose they knew I had been in the fight. I looked up just in time to see to men carrying the injured man to his car. Since the cops hadn't been called, I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I hadn't been wrong about his intentions. I sat there in the sat in parking lot and realized for the first time that I hadn't considered anyone taking offense to my little project. After I decided that it really was a threat, I decided that I was over worked, so I probably should give most of the business up for adoption. Still I wasn't sure what he knew and what if any understanding we could come to and to make it work. I went back to County Seat to wait for the next move. It seemed to me that it was their move next. I didn't want The Brit caught up in the cross fire. That being the case I stopped at his place first to give him a heads up. I was at the far end of the bar drinking a dark draft, when Brit finally got everyone settled down. He knew something was wrong for sure. He finally looked at me and asked, "So what is it?" "Someone decided that if I could make so much money in just a few months, he wanted the business," I suggested. "To make worse knock off shit. So have they asked for a sit down," Brit asked. "I'm not sure. I got warned he was going to talk to me, then I spotted him doing a brush pass in the parking lot. I might have over reacted a little. I shanked him." I said. "Did he call an ambulance?" The Brit asked. "No," I said. "Then you didn't over react," he said. "You might want to be careful around strangers for a while," I suggested. "Yeah, thanks for the heads up. If he wants to have a meet, do not set it for less than three days. We need time to get our gang together." The Brit said. "You have to be kidding," I said. "Do I look like I'm kidding?" he asked. "No, I can use the time for recon anyway," I said. I used my cell phone to call Mission. When her voice mail answered I asked, "The is Sylvia I need you you to tell me who is Leo in the drug trade around Dobson in Warren county. I want to know who he is connected with. Thank you love." I hung up. I left pretty much the same message with the detective deputy, he should be curious anyway I thought. I used the WIFI from the pub to check the files on the camera's website history. They didn't show anything. Since not too many people knew about the farm. "Looks as thought I'm good for a while." I commented. "My guess is you got their attention with a low level soldier," The Brit said. "Probably take them a day or so to react. I doubt they are as lean and mean as a striker team on a single mission." I replied. "You do know I built that front room with the wide couch with you in mind," The Brit said. "Thanks but I expect Jeremy would have a hissy fit." "He would have a hissy fit, if I let you go home and something happened to you." The Brit replied. "Thanks Brit," I said. "You go on up and get undressed and into bed. I'm going to lock this place down and then come up. Now do you have any of that hooch in your pockets?" The Brit asked. After I stopped laughing at how he said hooch I answerer, "I left it all in the car. I don't want my shit to come down on you." "Thanks but that's crap. Besides I wanted to try this stuff to see what all the fuss is about. I guess it can wait," he said. I had brought in the shotgun, and a few shells. I did as The Brit said since I was exhausted. I went to sleep on the sofa with the .22mag and the over and under on the floor beside the sofa. It was the early morning before we got to bed so I slept till noon. I woke after lunch and it took another hour till my brain was functioning. I made lots of calls and called in lots of favors before the sun went down. If there was a war, it would have to come to us, since we had no assets capable of taking it the war to them. That was until just after 5PM. The Brit and I were running the bar, since Juanita had the night off and Jeremy was not allowed downstairs. Business didn't seem to suffer from the temporary changes. There were a few customers ready to enter, when we opened. When the small group of very fit young men entered around 5PM I was more than a little surprised. Six man I had worked with at Swamp Dog came through the door. They each carried a heavy black duffel bag. I knew they were standard issue and inside was a standard issue of body armor. They came looking for a fight. My guess was that they planned no more than a stay of two days. The Brit went from table to table of regulars assuring them there was nothing to fear. They were just friends he explained. Came up to do some winter hiking on the trails around town. Now the locals might remember me being attacked by some young man a few weeks before, so some might have made that connection. Anyway some of the customers went home, and others went home to get there squirrel guns. Andrew came up to the bar to pow wow with us. "So is the Sheriff on the take, or can we work with him." "He lives way better than his salary would allow. When he has trouble, he calls the state police for help, and he hasn't called them in yet. I'm thinking they will come in, if this gets bigger than me disappearing." "Nice, we will be for sure explain the facts of live to the Sheriff." He said. "That might not be necessary," I said knowing what that meant. "I think I need to follow up on the calls I made last night." "We will get settled in. Can we sleep here Brit," Andrew asked. "Andrew, if you wanted to sleep here I couldn't stop you, but thanks for asking." The Brit said. "Mission this is Sylvia, you don't return your calls anymore?" I asked. "I have been busy and I just got what you wanted. Best we can figure, you have a Leo Vasquez running some low level drug dealers. He has a couple of thugs working for him but no real army. Best we can tell, he is backed by some heavy hitters out of Miami though. They don't mind busting a cap in anyone's ass." she said. "You know where I could find this Vasquez?" I asked. "Yeah, should I stay out of Dobson tonight?" Mission asked. "I don't know, do you usually hang around places like that," I asked. "No, but I might want to pull my team that I put on them this morning?" she Asked. "Could be," I said, "And thanks." While I spoke with Mission, there had been one of the gunslinger from the swamp, I hardly knew, standing in front of me. "Yes?" I asked. "You bitch, I'm Jim you don't even remember me." He laughed. "Damn you have to be the most aggravating bitch. Anyway there is a biker outside." "Bring his ass in, and Jim I never forget a cock, but faces mean nothing to me." I said and laughed. "Monk," I said as the funky biker came into the room. "Looks a lot like shit's about to happen?" He said. "Yeah stuff is happening fast can I help you with something?" I asked. "That's why I came. I got a dozen soldier over at the club the are ready to go. I am serious Sylvia, they hate Vasquez and will take care of his turf, so there will be no vacuum." My mind raced as it always did in this kind of situation. "You can police the trade all you want, but pot is open. There is gonna be no organized distribution of pot or pot products in this area. It all open territory." I had no idea what I was saying, but I didn't want to come back in a few months and have to kill Monk. Once this is opened up, you can do what you want to with the other shit," "If we ride with you, we can stop any soldiers from slipping through. We know them all. One of the boys has a landscape business. We can have him carry an industrial wood chipper up to an remote area of the reservoir. The reservoir is filled with catfish. In a few minutes there won't be nothing left of them bodies. After the shooting's over, you guys just load up and go. We will take care of the rest." "Monk you got a deal, but you never saw these guys, and they never saw you. Trust me honey you don't want them coming for you." I said. ------- Chapter 202 "Oh I trust you on that one, but I new that without even being told." he said as he left. "Andrews how about one of your 'out of the box' attack plans?" I asked that as I pulled up a satellite picture of the building from the Internet. "We go in the back of the club here," Andrew said pointing to the screen. "Meanwhile you wait with the bikers out front. None of us will come out the front door, so anyone at all who does has to go." "Half of the people who work, or live close by are going to be illegals. They are not going to call the cops. This is also a ghetto area, so the gunfire may on go a while, before it gets called in. But the cleaners need time to load bodies into the dump truck," Andrew said. "Reverse Trojan horse," Andrew said. "In the Trojan horse you had something that looked like nothing, but was dangerous as hell. We need a road block that looks dangerous as hell but ain't shit. We are in and out in a couple of minutes, the bikers have a dump truck they can drive through the road block with those biker following it. If you notice even though the street is a dead end, the last commercial building has a rear parking area off the dead end road, but the building faces the access street on the other side. If that drive from the access road runs through to the parking lot as it looks on the satellite picture the dump truck could go out that way. So the pub was open the next day, but the half dozen men stayed hidden upstairs most all day. By 6PM we were ready to start the grand plan. We pulled down the road where the warehouse sat. We were being followed by a stolen delivery van. We wiped it clean then used some of that biker power to turn it over. "Now be careful guys they want it exactly here," I said to the twelve bikers who helped with the rollover. I had put on the black ski mask two minutes before I met them and planned to keep it on till I left them. Half a minute after the van turned over, a high capacity Sport Utility Vehicle emptied half a dozen soldiers into the parking lot. All of them wore body armor and everyone of them knew his job. They went to the road leading behind the building leaving only a sniper to cover the front door, just in case the bikers had a change of heart. The small attack unit went into the rear of the building and killed everyone who didn't attempted to escape though the front door of the building. The team's sniper killed one before the bikers were in place, but then they killed three more. The call came over the net all was secure, so the Swamp Dog crew came out the rear got in their car and went back to the swamp. The Brit, who was the front man, got in a stolen pick up truck, and drove down to the building with the drive that might or might not go through, to wait for me. I stood with Monk and his crew while they loaded the dump truck. The all wore gloves and I made sure they did not take anything. Which meant, we left a million bucks, more or less, laying around. It made no difference, it was part of the hit plan. The whole thing from the first shot till the last body going into the dump truck took about twelve minutes. A looked at the digital timer I had running, and knew it was too long, but the last of us left at a little after 12 minutes. The cops had not arrived at the time. The Brit and I discussed visiting the Sheriff, but I just letting it run it's course. I had a feeling if Mission took a good look at his finances, he was toast anyway. I doubted he was as careful as me and god knows at times it almost got away from me. When we got back to the pub, we found Andrew waiting. "What you doing here Andrew?" I asked. "Well we got to talking it over, and we all know you can't screw us all. So we thought you might want to send me home with some hooch," he suggested. That sounds reasonable. Stay for the after action debrief and we will run out and I'll pick you up a little something for the boys." I suggested. "Okay I'll start," I said. "Did any of you notice that I dressed as a man for the raid?" I waited and neither of them spoke. "Well I guess it worked then. With that black hood on no one would know." "The truck," The Brit asked. "Monk and his boys got it from a fed-ex depot. Drove it right out the front gate at 3pm. Replaced the cut lock with their own unmarked one. No idea how long it took to get reported but they weren't looking hard for it. The empty boxes came from a natural gas storage point in Sparta. They were empty but market flammable, and went missing from there a few hours before the raid." "Good work," Andrew said. I nodded. "The assault on the rear went well. The Vasquez soldiers didn't have time to fortify, which is why we went straight from the vehicles to the rear door. We were inside in half a minute and cleared the two room within two minutes. A few of them went out the front but I think Monk's people took care of them. Once we knew they were all down, we exited through the rear, since I had warned everyone to use only the rear exit. It Leo was there he is dead, if not he has the message." Andrew reported. "You are right, it was about either killing him or send a message to him. I expect I will be hearing from him through the Sheriff maybe." I said. "You might hear from the Miami bunch," The Brit said. "If we do, we can always have a talk with them. We have our own local soldier base now. We needed the infamous shock and awe strike, and we got it." I said. "Now risk assessment," Andrew said. "Possibly some brass missed the policing sweep." "They have nothing to match it too. Those bodies made it out to the lake I'm sure. By now they are chum." I suggested. "What if the Sheriff searches your still house?" The Brit suggested. "Well I'm going out there now with Andrew and we will move the stock and take the still apart." I suggested. "I frankly don't see any glaring errors." "Actually I don't either," Andrew said. "I still might need to come back and have a talk with that Sheriff." "Let's go on out to my place." I suggested. I checked my Internet camera from the Hardee's at the plaza. I ran all the footage on the camera and nothing changed, so I could only assume it was cool. Andrew and I rode to my house and had the after action fuck I needed so badly. There wasn't any love involved. It was just the celebration of being alive. It didn't even last that long. Not because we were in a hurry to get to the storage shed, we went to the trailer because we were finished screwing. It was almost midnight when we started loading his SUV. "So Andrew there is a case of 24 of these 1/2 liter bottles share them with the others on the mission. This is a one liter bottle give it to Martin." I said I was at the end of a run but I had to throw out the last ten gallons of mash. I also threw out my starter mash. I hated that because it made my mash less yeasty tasting. I put my deer corn in a five gal bucket. It fit nicely. There were a few ten pound bags of sugar stacked on a shelf. There was one bag of unwashed bottles and the plastic bag almost full of pot stalks. I carried the pot stalks to an old dilapidated barn I knew on a nearby farm. The bottles I left on the deck at my house. They were not a bit incriminating. Andrew helped me take the still apart. We took the cross over pipe off the still first My crossover was CPVC so it proved nothing at all. Since it was harmless I put it back in the corner of the trailer. I put the condenser/ water cooler in the back of the cruiser. I left the cooker right where it was. Andrew kissed me goodbye at 2AM and I went back to the pub where I put the cooler in his kitchen. I put it far enough out of reach and sight so that Nita and Jeremy wouldn't think to look inside, I hoped. I made a mental note to make the condenser more a permanent fixture by epoxying a second opening in the bottom one where the liquor could drain directly from the worm. With thoughts of a technical nature running through my head, I went to sleep on The Brit's sofa. The one he swore was just for me. It was almost ten minutes into the 8AM edition of the morning mountain news on the only station covering the local news from the small communities. "Police in Dobson were called to investigate gunfire reported by multiple neighbors in this semi industrial area. The picture in the back ground was of the small warehouse type building we had raided. It was a better picture than the Satellite picture. There were cop cars and state police cars everywhere. CSI lab units from the SBI and lots of uniformed officers controlling the news people. Police say that when they arrived their entrance was slowed by an overturned truck blocking the road into the warehouse area. The Police spokesperson said they can't be sure what, if anything, took place in the warehouse. If anything did happen here, there were no witnesses and no one left to talk about it, when they arrived. Neighbor's claim to have made previous reports to the police that it was the headquarters of a criminal gang. Neighbors of the building said they heard gunfire, but saw nothing. Frankly it wasn't the first time they heard gunfire from the building, but as usual Dobson police had done nothing. Following her description of the scene, there was some barely legal Chicano who explained that, "The gang has terrified everyone here, so that nobody looks at or talk about anything. If these hombres do not return, we will not be sad," he said. "They were bad men." "If you let them come back, it's on you my friend," I said to myself. I had slept in and skipped the morning bike ride, not only because I was up all night, but I also didn't have a bike handy. My safety would also been in question but mostly because I wanted to lay on The Brit's couch and watch girlie TV with Jeremy. Which is what I did while waiting for the cops to come question me. My cell phone rang so I answer it of course. "Sylvia Porter?" the voice on the phone asked. "Yep," I answered. "We would like you to come in for questioning please," the voice went on. "In reference to what," I asked as any innocent person would. "Would you just come in please?" the voice went on. "Of course, let me get in touch with my attorney and have him make the arrangements. Is the Sheriff in? I think he would want to talk to me before we set the appointment." "Miss Porter, I do not usually involve myself in individual investigations," the Sheriff said. "That is a very good policy. I have a policy to use information I have accumulated, when it will do me the most good. Now I know and can prove you have been taking bribes for years. I can even trace some of that money to the same drug gang that operated out of Dobson with ties to Miami. I realize you call it campaign contributions then they become surplus after the elections, so you re purpose them for a new boat and things like that. I have the facts, figures, and dates. I was planning to use them in a primary race, but I think I will get more bang for my buck now." I said. "What the fuck do you want?" I could picture him on the verge of a stroke. "You are about to call a press conference and get out of this investigation. If you recuse yourself, the Miami hard cases may not kill you and your whole family. But if you don't, I am going to call a press conference this afternoon and drop the T bomb on you." I said. "T Bomb?" he asked. "Yeah the most dangerous of all, the Truth bomb," I said. "You will still have to answer the same questions," he said. "Probably, but my answers to anyone else mostly likely won't get to the Miami Mafia, before they get to the Court House. So call your dogs off." I said hanging up as sharply as possible with a cell phone. ------- Chapter 203 When I went into The Brit's shower, I had clean clothes with me. The shower showed signs of Jeremy's good taste. Unlike The Brit and I, who built a shower to be a shower, Jeremy made it artistic. For one thing it was a real tile enclosed cubicle. The slightly biscuit colored tile had a few decorative tiles scattered through it. They really were quite lovely. The Brit had the kind of hot water you didn't have to worry about. You could stay in the shower as long as you liked. A girl like me could wash my short thin hair ten times and not put a dent in his hot water reserve. I put on clean bikini panties and a pair of standard skinny jeans before I pulled on a long sleeved Russian Commando knockoff top. I at least bought my knockoff from the Army Navy store, not some designer store somewhere. Since I was wearing tight jeans, I had to wear the upside down shoulder holster. I had a sloppy parka should I decide to leave the apartment which was a certainty. I could sit around the apartment with the .22 mag swinging but if I went downstairs I needed to cover it. I went down to the Pub for a consult with The Brit while they prepared for the evening. "Allan," I said since Jeremy was present, "What you got planned for today?" "Just getting this place ready to open why?" he asked. "We need a little consult about the conversations we are going to be forced to have with the law." I said. "Well I was thinking name rank and serial number," he said. "That would work as well as anything. Our testimony has to keep swamp dog out of it. Nobody who saw them is going to testify, except maybe Jeremy but he shouldn't be considered. I'm thinking I will go see what kind of lawyer Bob is before we actually need to use him. If he is any good, we can hide behind him." "Sounds good," The Brit said. "I figure we got a few hours at least before the state people come calling. After I talk to Bob if nothing happens to dissuade me, we might as well go with it. We can both use the same lawyer just to keep the conversation going in the right direction, agreed?" I asked. "Agreed, but I'm not saying anything to him either," The Brit said. "Good enough," I said as I pulled the parka over my pistol. I headed out to my car. I drove to the address on Bob's card. His receptionist was a cute little girl, no more than twenty. I had no idea if she could use the computer, but she probably could give a better blow job than me. "I need to see Bob." "Do you have an appointment?" she asked. "No, but I got a pocket full of cash," I answered. "Have a seat I'll try to locate him," she said. I spoke in an elevated voice. "Never mind, when you find him, tell him Sylvia Porter was in. If he wants my business, he needs to make himself available." After that tirade, I just walked out and drove the cruiser home. It was taking longer everyday for the cold to burn off it seemed. I shivered when I walked to the car. I was halfway home, when I answered the phone. "Miss Porter, it's Bob your attorney." "You are my attorney, if you are any good, and you are around when I need you. From now on Bob, let your receptionist know right where you are. Checking back with the office now and then is not going to be good enough. Go out and do your business that's find, but let her know where you are." "I'm sorry, we are not a good fit Sylvia. I run my own office. I don't let my clients tell me what to do," he said angrily. "That's your choice," I said and hung up on him. I called my friend at the clerk of court's office immediately. "Hey there Mattie how you doing." After all the usual about her family and my lack of family, it was time to start the conversation for real. "Mattie, I have a five pound box of Sea's candy kind of question for you," I said. "Long as it don't also come with a prison term," she said laughing. "Nothing like that. I'm looking for a lawyer. Someone young just starting out maybe, but smart and a scrapper." I said. "Miss Sylvia you come to the right place. I know an attorney almost working out of a Toyota's back seat." Mattie said. "Nothing wrong with that," I said honestly. "Well, it's female attorney," she added. "In case you hadn't noticed I'm a woman too," I said. "Sometimes it's hard to tell with you girl," she said. Then hurried on, "She is also black and tiny. Probably more tiny than you even." "Can she raise her voice, when she needs to get a man's attention?" I asked. "She has been able to do that since she was a baby," Mattie said. "She is my sister's little girl. I helped Louise raise her up." "Okay what is her name," I asked. "We call her Rita. I'm sure she has some fancy lawyer name now." "You gonna hold it against me, if I have to fire her?" I asked. "No, but I might ask for bigger boxes of candy," she said. "Done, then ask her to call me when she has time, but it's fairly important." I said and hung up. Everyone around here is related to everyone else, I thought. I was halfway though the epoxy repair of my condenser, when the smart phone rang. It was Mattie's niece Rita calling. "So let's me and you meet," I suggested. "Sylvia, you do know my only experience was interning with a legal aid department." she said. "Nice of you to be honest, but honey, you don't need to tell everyone that. When and were can we meet?" I asked. "You want to do it today?" she asked. "It would probably be for the best. Are you gonna be anywhere near the plaza this afternoon?" I asked. "I can be sure," she agreed. "I would rather we meet in my cruiser. I promise it won't take long, but bring a letter of intent to represent me." I said. "We might not need it, but if we do I want to be ready." "Okay, I drive a gray Toyota." she said and hung up. I sat in the Cruiser/micro-minivan waiting for Rita the Lawyer just a few minutes, before the Toyota appeared in the Hardee's parking lot. I checked to be sure no one came in who was obviously following her. Then I pulled my van in beside her. She left her car carrying a laptop and smart phone. "Hello Rita, let me say first your aunt's opinion is good enough for me to hire you sight unseen, but that doesn't mean I wont fire you in a minute." I said. "Hello and I have heard a lot about you as well." she said. "Nothing I heard would prevent me from representing you." She was smiling when she said it. "Let's get the terms straight. Consultations are $75 an hour, preparation for court is $75 an hour, Time in court or police interview rooms is $100 per hour. If that is satisfactory, sign the contract so we can start discussing your problems." She was all business and I liked that. I signed of course then I said, "I am going to be interviewed by the SBI I believe. If this happens I would like to learn more from them than they do from me. I would also like to have them work through you, so that I can gain the maximum information." "Then just have them call me to arrange a meeting. I will be sure there is justification for bringing you in before we go down there. If they show up at your home or some other place you can refuse to go with them, or to answer questions without me present. While refusing you may learn a thing or two. At the very least you can delay their questioning to allow your friends to get their stories straight." she said. "Could you arrange to represent my friend who runs the pub?" I asked. "I can and you have my word, if his interest conflict with yours, your interest come first," she said. "That is a decision I hope we never have to make. I will tell you I'm innocent of every charge, until I can no longer be innocent. So you better be a scrapper." I said. "Well you will have to judge that yourself. So what do you think you might be questioned about?" she asked. "Possibly the events at that warehouse in Dobson. I have no idea where the Sheriff got the idea I might know something, but his investigator called me yesterday out of the blue. I managed to squash that. It happened in Dobson, so I don't know if anyone else will latch onto my name, but I know nothing and don't want to start a dialogue with any more cops." I said. "Well I would suggest to you, that you and your friend 'The Brit's' next best move would be to do nothing." she said. "Good advice, if I get asked for an interview about this or any other criminal matter, I'm going to have them talk to you." I said with a smile. "Okay, we are through now, so can I ask you a question?" she asked. "Well that is one question, so I guess you want to ask at least two, but go ahead." I said with a smile. "Were you really driving trucks filled with gasoline through the passes from Pakistan to Afghanistan, when you were only twenty?" she asked. "Most of the time they were MREs which are pretty lethal in themselves. But that was your one question. Someday you can join me and your other client, when after hours in the pub and we will all get drunk. Then you can ask anything and expect to get almost the truth." I said. "With your history, you would be an ideal client to put on the stand. I mean as long as you didn't kill a nun in the McDonald's parking lot at noon. Even then we would have a fair shot." she said. "Well, the people I come into contract with are not priests or nuns I assure you." I laughed. I reached into my pocket and slipped her a hundred dollar bill. "I don't count you as a tax deduction so let your conscience be your guide." I called the pub to let The Brit know that he was represented, not by Bob but by Rita. "Does she have a good ass," he asked. "She is a young black woman with a big mouth and a equally big ass," I said. "Wonderful, finally a woman with a big mouth and a big ass," he said with the smile in his voice. "You coming in for dinner tonight?" "I think I need to stay away from downtown for a while. I will most likely go back into the kitchen soon though. The natives will be getting restless." I said. I made frozen Mac and Cheese one of my favorite meals. I cooked the mac and cheese in the Microwave and cornbread muffins in the toaster oven. I finished most of the muffins and all the Mac and Cheese at one sitting. I had no idea how I could stay so skinny. I didn't eat often, but when I did, it was like a homeless woman's first meal in days. Yeah I had a high fat biscuit most mornings but the rest of the day I might forget to eat. Still in the end I neither gained nor lost significant amounts of weight. I played around a little on the Internet then went to bed. ------- Chapter 204 I fell into a routine while waiting for the other shoe to fall. I woke at 5AM then rode the bike for two hours. I stopped had a biscuit for breakfast or some other kind of cholesterol bomb. After that I rode the bike home and took a hot shower. It was getting cold enough so that soon I would be stopping the breakfast out in exchange for a bowl of cereal. The ride from a warm restaurant back into the chill while sweaty would soon be unbearable. But somewhere in there I would squeeze a quick shower and be all dressed and ready for the day to begin. After taking care of my few business interest, I would begin my work day by either heading to the pub for my daily dose of The Brit and our work schemes, or I would tend the still. The closest thing to a schedule I could manage was to constantly work mash. Work two barrels of mash at a time. It was still working my ass off with barely enough time to gather the ingredient. Even so I fell back into that routine. It still left me with enough spare time to do some things. After three weeks it began to look like the Dobson PD wasn't going to tie me to the missing drug gang. I had though a few days earlier that I might have wasted the retainer I had paid Rita. As everyone knows it is when you least expect it, that the shit goes down. I had a locked gate over the drive at the road, so I wasn't surprised to see a car parked there when my phone rang. "Miss Porter this is Emery Sutton with the Dobson Police department, could we have a word with you please." the male voice asked. "Mr. Sutton, I'm going to give you the number for my lawyer Rita Somerville. I would be happy meet with you, just work it into her schedule. Since I'm retired most anytime will do for me. You might want to tell her the reason for your request, since I have no idea how I could help you with anything." I said. "You don't know anything that could help us, but you want an attorney present." he asked. "I invoke my right to council before I buy a hot dog these days," I said. "It's nothing personal." Since I was calling from inside my still house, I really didn't want to meet them. I was also going to shut down just as soon as the run I was making was finished. I needed a rest anyway. They would be deciding that I needed a closer look, since I had invoked. But being cautious, didn't make me guilty of anything, it especially didn't drag anyone else into the mess coming my way. "Is it convenient for you to meet with the Dobson PD today," Rita asked. "Tomorrow would be better and it's a long drive to Dobson to be paying you for nothing. Ask them if we couldn't use a room in the courthouse. I know there are interview rooms in there that aren't being used. The run was on the verge of being done, so I would just shut it down where ever I happened to be tomorrow and trash the rest of it, no matter how much I lost doing so. That is how I came to be sitting with Rita and two Dobson cops in the middle of the day. "So I am Detective Emory Sutton, I am interviewing Miss Sylvia Porter, and her Attorney. I am making this recording of the interview which is in connection with the attack on her by Freddie Louis Vasquez." That is when I thought, oh shit, this fucking drug war either started by sheer coincidence, or some kind of witness tampering. The whole thing might have been personal, not a Miami sanctioned thing at all. I almost wanted to laugh. I wasn't sure that since he brought his army into it, there could have been any other ending. "So let's get started," Emory Suggested. I nodded my agreement. "Let the record show the subject nodded her agreement." "So Miss Porter, I have the police report from that night would you read over it to see if there is anything you wish to change or update." he pushed the paper to me. I read it quickly and it seemed to be correct. "That's what I remember yes," I said. "When Freddie grabbed you, you decided to fight back knowing he might kill you?" he asked. "I fought back, because I was sure he would kill me," I said. "I had no way to know he just wanted sex. If I had known he would rape me and walk away, I might not have found back." "You have been involved in other violent incidents have you not?" he asked. "Don't answer that. It has no relevance to this investigation." Rita said. Good for her I thought. "Did you know that several of Freddie's friends have gone missing?" Emory asked. "No, I did not know that. Is Freddie one of them?" I asked. "No, only because he was in jail awaiting trial for fifteen counts of rape." he said. "I guess, he was lucky then," Rita said. "Now is there a question pending." "Do you know anything about the missing men?" Emory asked. "No I do not," I answered. "Do you have any new questions?" Rita asked. He made a big issue of turning off the recorder then he said, "My heart isn't really in this investigation. In one night our violent crime spree in Dobson ended. There is no one taking advantages of the poor illegals at the moment." "I guess that's a good thing," Rita said. as she stood to leave. Emory whispered in my ear as he passed, "Too bad you missed Freddie." I forced myself to bite my tongue. I paid Rita in cash, then went back home to lay another layer of security on, before I went back to cooking. I certainly did not want to be involved in the drug business. I just wanted to make a little liquor and whatever I had on hand I planned to use. Right now that just happened to be pot stalks. I put some more bells and whistles into the alarm system and started a new batch of mash. It would take a week or so to work off, so I had that much time to do other things. First it was visit the Pub to tell The Brit everything seemed cool. I hadn't rushed to the pub after my interview just in case the cops were checking my movements. "Have you swept this place lately?" I asked. "Actually it is time. Let me get my broom," he said as he went for a small wireless receiver and his laptop. He ran the recorder along the walls and into the booths and flower arrangements. When he finished he whispered, "Clean but wait." He left the room while I poured a beer. He came back with a random noise generator. It would fuck up anything that broadcast through the air. He sat it on the bar near us. "So what happened?" he asked. "The guy who grabbed me was the brother of the guy who tried to grab me at Ramona's place. I have no idea, if it was about the hooch, or he was trying to prevent me testifying against his brother." I said. "He clearly knew about your hooch, and the other he may or may not have figured in. So now the cops can link you to one of the missing druggies," The Brit said. "Yeah, the cop didn't seem to interested in linking me to the warehouse, so I just played dumb which for me isn't hard," I said. "You stay out of the real drug business, and I think they will keep it you tied to the brother, but not the other. It will just be a random coincidence. It might chafe his ass, but he can't arrest you for that," The Brit said. "That's how I figured it. They are going to need a hell of a break to tie me to anything. Then they are going to need a waterboard to tie any of the rest of you to it," I promised. "You going to fish in the reservoir this year?" The Brit asked. "If I ever have time to fish again," I said. I drank my beer for a while then just in passing I asked, "I wonder what Miami is doing right about now." "You know Sylvia this was probably a very low profit area for the super thugs. It is my guess they just wrote it off. I doubt Vasquez had any real serious blood brothers there. If there was going to be a vendetta, we would have heard by now." "I hope you are right. Monk and I are still working out a drop system for the product. I am trying to stay out of the loop. As far as anyone is concerned now, they can thing it was Monks idea from the start. Anyone who even considered me, would have to admit I'm not really in the drug business." "Yeah Freddie's brother just made a bad life choice, It had nothing to do with his career choice," The Brit said. "That's how I see it," I said. "We are walking a fine line here, but I love it." The Brit agreed. "I never wanted to be a godfather, but I might be good at it." "Tell me that is just a bad joke," I demanded. "It is for now, but I keep my options open." he said with a dark smile. He turned off his jammer, then he called out to Jeremy. "Jeremy lad, how about we find something to make a couple of sandwiches in the kitchen." Then without anything else being said, he went into the kitchen presumably to make a sandwich. Before I knew it the pub was open for business. I did get my sandwich down before the crowd came in. Since the Cafe just closed, there would be very little food business for at least an hour. "Sylvia I am experimenting with something new. I want to make one thing really special for the ladies, do you have any ideas?" he asked. "For the ladies, I couldn't help you hon, I'm sorry. Something will come to you though. I have faith in your creativity," I said. "Why thank you Sylvia," Jeremy said genuinely pleased. It was after midnight when I left the Pub. I pulled into the Hardee's parking lot for a cup of coffee and a quick scan of my compound. Nothing seemed to have been in or out since I left. I drove to the gate at the end of my driveway. I entered the key code and it swung open. I looked around very carefully before I drove in. Once inside I locked it behind me. I also reset a few of my other trip wire type devices. It took about ten minutes to reset all the security devices, but I felt better for having done it. At the still house I checked the mash but it hadn't even started to work. I had tossed a full batch but it couldn't be helped. There had been and still was a chance that I could be raided. The still house looked in order, so I drove to the box house. I didn't even turn on the TV or the computer. 5AM came early in the mountains. Just as I predicted it was way too fucking early when I started out on the bike at 5:30AM. It was also starting to get chilly. October at the higher elevations we heading on to winter for sure. When I turned onto the road I was thinking how good it was to be alive. Just a few yards from home a pickup truck cut me off. I immediately stopped caught my balance and removed the .22 mag revolver from my under my parka. I held it close beside my leg as the drive of the pick up walked back toward me. "Sorry about that Sylvia," The voice said. I recognized it as Monk. "You should be you almost killed me. Now why did you scare hell out of me. I needed to have a private word, one that I knew was private." Monk said. "Shit it's to early and too cold for his. Let's go down to Hardee's." "Okay but you go first," I said. When he had gone I put away the pistol. If this happened again I would have to rethink my morning work out. ------- Chapter 205 Monk had been waiting maybe five minutes when I pulled into the parking lot. He waited till I dismounted the bike before he opened his door. Then he walked over to me. "Come on in they have great coffee at 8AM, I assume it is just as good at 5AM.," He said. "You do know that 5AM isn't the middle of the night?" I asked. "Who says it isn't?" he asked. I went to a booth away from the two truck drivers by the door. I waited till he came back with the coffee before I started the conversation again. "So Monk what brings you out at 6AM?" I asked. "The cops in Dobson want to tie me to the warehouse," he explained. "Monk the only way your name would come up, is if you were trying to make moves on the distribution network Miami had in place. If you are doing that, then the cops are the least of your worries," I said. "The cops can't prove anything and want it to just go away, I think. So my advice is start now, and then continue forever to say, 'I know nothing'. It never happened. If you have a problem with your people fix it. That's pretty much what we agreed." "My people are solid, they have just never done anything like that before. I don't know, if they are going to keep quiet." he said. "Monk, if I have to call in a cleaning crew they are going to want to clean everything. You do understand what I mean?" I asked. He looked sick when he nodded his head. "I just needed to talk to someone," he said. "Sit down with Miami and work out a peace that leaves the weed business open territory. You do that and this all just goes away. If you don't make peace with them, then you have a war on your hands. One I will not help you with, if that's why you are here." "I just wanted to know where I stood," he said. "Monk you always knew where you stood. You asked for this, I was going to walk away and let Miami work it out, but you wanted to try to manage it. So now you are going to have to manage it," I said. "If you give me and my friends up to Miami as part of any deal, you will die, your wife will die, your children will die, your mother will die. Your father, aunts, uncles, and everyone you love will also die as well. That probably includes your dog, if you have one. We are not some drug cartel. You bought into a game far worse than you could have imagined." "I won't give you up, I promise," he said. "Good luck," I said. After he left I sat alone thinking. I wanted to finish my ride but I wasn't sure that it was a good idea. I reasoned that he would gain nothing by killing me, but I would gain some piece of mind, if I killed him. That just wasn't a good enough reason to take his life. I decided it would have to just play itself out. I knew I had best not tell The Brit about this meeting, or we might have another body for the reservoir. After my ride I stopped for coffee and a biscuit and I checked my security cameras and tapes before I went home. I had checked my still house, and the mash was just beginning to work, so I felt pretty good. Five or six more days and I would be cooking again. Between now and then I had to reinstall the still which should take all of an hour. One more day and I would begin asecond batch of mash. It would be constant cook form then on till I decided to take a break, when I could just not make more mash. As long as there was mash there was work to do. A few days later the phone rang while I was working on the computer. I was buying things for the business on line. The calling number was blocked, so I pretty much knew who it was. "Hello," I said with a deep sadness in my voice. "You know who this is?" the voice asked. "Not really, but how is the weather where you are?" I asked. "75 degrees and lots of sun," the voice said. "That's nice. It's a little chilly here today. I doubt you would like the weather here," I said. "I do business in many places, with many kinds of weather," the voice said. "My father always said, before you go into business find out what the real cost of the business will be. Sometimes the business is not worth the investment," I said. "Your father was a wise man. Is your business worth what the investment is going to be?" he asked. "It is to me, but I would suggest you take a look at your own business. I have no interest in your business. I do not care who manages the business, so long as they leave me alone. If I have to take an interest in the management, it would not be a good thing." I said "I see, then you do not have a dog in the fight, so to speak?" he asked. "I do not," I replied. "I would suggest you be very careful, that there is no collateral damage." "That seems like very good advice. I understand you like to ride your bike early in the morning, that is good exercise." he said. "I also like to carry a couple of hand grenades, they make for a peaceful mind." It was a bluff, and he would be almost sure of it. It was the doubt that I had planned to plant in his mind. "Also there were some concerns that the original incident might be business, but I understand that it was personal, so that has been settled?" I said. "Absolutely, I am not sure what has happened, but I assure you it will be history soon." the voice said. "Sylvia I would love to take you to dinner some night." "I'm afraid that we would have to be two different people," I said. "Yes we would," the phone went dead. Trying to save Monk would have been useless. Only Monk could say himself. If he was smart, he would end up working for the voice on the phone. If not, I would say a prayer for him. I found a real peace in brewing my moonshine. It was slightly illegal but not really enough to cause me to be a leper, if anyone found out. Hell it was tradition in these hills. There was a kind of modern day Robinhood image attached to moonshiners. Plus I could spend all that time while it cooked playing on the Internet, or watching TV, so I had plenty of spare time. I also needed a road trip to make some legal money to hide the income I was accumulating. First thing it was time to make some decision about riding the bike. Since Monk's visit I had stopped riding in the early morning. I knew that I was not really any safer at noon then I was at 5AM. I would be no safer in a gym than on a bike. In other words, if they wanted me, they could get to me. The trick was to make it too costly to get me. I told The Brit about it and two days later he told me not to worry. A message had been sent to Miami for me. Eight heavily armed men in body armor made a video explaining what would happen, if I died mysteriously. Problem solved in The Brit's mind anyway. He was probably right, everyone knew about the gang at the clubhouse, that just ceased to exist. There was also a story about Freddie Vasquez's first and last day in the general population at central prison. Shanked in the heart, as a present to me. What message that sent, I never asked. I had zero interest in the drug business. It was after Thanksgiving dinner at the pub when The Brit, Jeremy, and I decided to go on a road trip. Thanksgiving dinner was turkey, dressing, green beans and yams for dinner. There was also a table filled with pies and cakes. It was a traditional Thanksgiving as much as Jeremy and I could make it. We were the only truly Americans to celebrate the traditional American holiday. Since there was so much food we invited Tomas and his family, all the way down to the dog. A few of the special customers were invited as well. The ones with no family of their own. We were all sitting around talking about what we could do to top this. I said. "Road trip." Jeremy heard auction and went crazy with lustful desire. The Brit was more than willing, he was hopeful that he and Jeremy could learn the ropes. "I never did it myself, but I saw a guy who drove a pick up with a big trailer. He would stay out till it was full, then go home and empty it." I explained. "The SUV can pull a hell of a load," The Brit declared. "So we need to find a trailer to rent." "No you don't You ain't forgot about Jerry have you," I said. "He has four or five. We just have to find one he will rent us for a weekend." That's how we ended up on the first day of December driving this huge SUV and trailer down the mountain road headed for a storage locker complex in the town of Sparta. It was a mountain town so small there was only one storage locker facility in town. I couldn't figure if it was stupid or brilliant to have the auction at 2pm on a Friday afternoon. Whatever the turnout was light which was good for us. There were three units which wasn't good. More would have been much better. We spent the whole weekend crisscrossing the western part of the state. We stopped in four town and went to an auction in each. They were storage lockers, unclaimed freight, and damaged freight as well. We had the trailer full on Monday afternoon. I made a hell of a lot of money on my share. The Brit didn't do nearly as well but he more than broke even. I took all the jewelry from all the containers and Jeremy and The Brit took everything else. They did fine, they just didn't pad the sales like I did. Just as we left town I had put a barrel of mash on, so that it would be ready when we got back and it was. I was cooking it while I took care of my Internet auctions. I had a lot of straw buyers to help get more money in the coffers. It was an eloquent scheme. I could use the one weekends auctions to add several thousand dollars to my bank account. Anything of any real value I gave to Jeremy and The Brit. In true form Jeremy loved it. Between the auctions where we bought the items, and the on line auction where we sold them, he seemed to have loved the trip. He also loved playing lord of the manor at the pub. He hardly ever worked on his art except to make drawing for gifts. I had two of them and loved them. He made beautiful morning mountain scenes. We did the trip three more times before Christmas. We were all in a hell of a good mood after the last one. I was back getting the box house and the Still house ready to cook till spring. During that time I also ran into Monk. He was with two of his motorcycle buddies at the lounge in the parking lot of the motel. He approached me. "Sylvia I wanted you to know I didn't want to give you up, but they were going to cut off my hands." "How long did you hold out?" I asked. "I'm not near as bad as I thought," he said. "None of us are, you seem to have landed on your feet," I said. "Looking back at his buddies. "Yes I run an enforcement crew for the man in Florida," Monk said. "I think he and I have an understanding, but know this Monk, I'm one hard bitch to kill. Trust me I am worse than you think I am." I said. "Word is to leave you alone and make sure everyone else does as well," he said. "Words change, so remember what I said," I suggested. ------- Chapter 206 After my meeting with Monk, I was optimistic that we could all coexist until spring at least. So I went home and to work. I was pretty much locked in the compound all the time. I tried to ride my bike any time I could squeeze a few hours away from the still. The old moonshiners said there wasn't time to do anything, but make liquor when you were making liquor. I got that feeling for sure. When the fermented mash went into to the cooker it was as demanding as a baby. I ran up to 170 in a few hours and from then on you had be present to control the heat. When it stopped running I cleaned the cooker and forced a few hours to visit The Brit and to ride my bike. Then it was back to the still house to add the fermented mash and start it all again. My mash worked till it was absolutely through fermenting, since I had to cook a barrel in three batches. I did that because my cooker was small. It was small but I kept everything working just fine. I had a battery on the charger while one ran the pump. It was labor intensive but I really didn't want to do anything else. Even something that you enjoy becomes boring after a while, and so it was with making liquor. Monk was buying all I could cook and distributing it where ever he wanted. He might be pouring it into the town's water supply and I really didn't care. It was almost springtime in the mountains and I was getting bored. Even more bored than usual which made me dangerous. All along I had stored some of the liquor just to have my own supply. I stored it in what we called a dry well. It was a highest spot on the property. To make a dry well you dug a hole in the ground, then lined it with clay pipe, and then you would build a well house to keep rain water out of your dry well. That is how it used to be done. These days I just dug a hole deep enough to bury a fifty gallon plastic barrel almost completely. Then put the top on it, seal it, and cover it with camo netting. It was a large area of storage not in my house and I could deny it was mine if someone stumbled across it. In early April when I made the final decision to cook off the last few gallons and fill that dry well, I a month or so I would shut down the still and put it in storage. I intended to play and have fun during the spring and summer. I might or might not go back to cooking liquor the next fall. I got the call from Jeremy after an early dinner of frozen Mac and Cheese as well as 'hot from the oven' corn muffins. At the time his call came in I was sitting back with a TV show from the night before running on my computer. "Silvia we need you to come to the pub now. It's nothing bad but it is important it's about Allen." the kid said. "Is Allen alright?" I asked. "Yes, but we need your help, please come now," he said. "Alright I'm on the way. I grabbed the .22 mag and a handful of shells. I also grabbed my cut down twenty gauge over and under shotgun. If I needed more than those, I would have to play it by ear. I did wear the Kevlar just to add some protection, but safety wasn't my main concern, when I parked my Cruiser in the alley behind the pub. Jeremy had never called asking for help, so I was taking it very seriously. I went in through the kitchen which was empty. That wasn't right for the kitchen of the pub to be empty while it was open. So I stepped though the kitchen door into the pub with the shotgun up and ready for anything. Yes, I would be ready for trouble, but I would look foolish, if Jeremy and The Brit were having a surprise birthday party for me. Which of course they were. "Jeremy you are a dead man," I whispered as I put down the shotgun after unloading it. I also removed the lightweight Kevlar feeling like a complete fool. I was greeted by cops and killers from all over the state. "Go easy on Jeremy, you only turn thirty once Sylvia," The Brit said. "Thank god," I replied. "I see you invited the detective from Dobson." "Yes, Jeremy doesn't know of course, and frankly it makes us look even more innocent. You done good keeping me out of it." The Brit said. "It wasn't hard, you had nothing to do with it," I said ending that thread of conversation. "Happy Birthday Sylvia, you are only thirty you seem older," Agent Mission said. "Mission thanks for coming. You are spending a lot of time here, aren't you?" I asked. "It sure seems so. We are investigating some politicians this time," she said. "Well then you should be able to sit back and enjoy this party, since I'm not the one under investigation this time," I said. "You would think so wouldn't you. Morris seems to be enjoying herself," Mission replied. "You could take a lesson from her. Maybe get up on the table and dance," I said. "My dear Sylvia, this is as loose as I get," Mission said. "Too bad," I replied. There were several local cops and the pub's usuals at the party. Then we had our own Tomas and his family present. The Swampdog crowd blew in about ten and from then on it was all about them. They kept the whole place fascinated with stories and attitude. By Midnight people began leaving. Mission I noted left alone, but I also noted a Swamp guy left right after her. I had to smile. Then of course Andrew came over, after he had flirted with all the women. "So you come to me after you strike out with all the other women?" I asked. "Of course, but if you would like, a couple of them would be happy to come along with the two of us. There is one little Hispanic cop from Dobson who looks really good. She did say she would have to leave early she is working tomorrow." "I don't want anyone, who has to leave early," I said. "Me either," so you about ready to end this party?" Andrew asked. "Yeah, let's go see how long we can stay in bed," I suggested. "I can't stay forever, we have to get back. We just drove up for tonight. We have to be back tomorrow night." Andrew said. "Well then you are wasting time," I said. "Seriously would you like to have a third in bed with us?" he asked. "Male or female?" I asked. "It is your birthday, you get to choose," Andrew said. "Then that tall thin young man who came up with your crowd," I said. The only downside was the three of us had to ride in the cruiser. I also agree to deliver them to the downtown motel by noon. Other than that there was no restrictions other than I told the second man not to tell me his name. For it to be a true birthday present, it had to be nameless and never to be repeated. We were all three a little drunk, but not too drunk to drive we told ourselves, and I believed it to be true. The young man in the rear was folded up like a rag doll, since the rear seat was long gone from the read of the Van. The drivers side door had also been welded shut so it was possible him to use it as a back rest without any concerns. When we arrived at the Box house, I fixed everyone a couple of shots of green dragon. Soon it all took on a dreamlike quality. It was then that I really understood why the brew was so valuable. Who wouldn't want to have a beautiful dream and still have some control over it. The two of them undressed me, but not each other. I got to take the wrapper off my own birthday presents. It was beautifully erotic. What you ask? Everything would have to be my answer. Cock had never felt so good in my hands, nor had it looked so beautiful. They seemed to almost glow from the blood flowing through them. Then there was the sensation of kissing one, then the other of them. They both had the same taste but somehow different. They were also both difficult to get rigid, but they eventually seemed to have a wood like feel about them. No that wasn't right, they were wooden like in their core, but soft like foam rubber on the outside. In the end I decided that nothing else in the whole world felt like cock. I knew for sure that nothing else felt like cock in my mouth. It was smooth and wonderfully large and thick to nurse on. It was like being a baby again nursing on my mothers breast. I am sure her breast had felt as large and thick as that cock did. That is probably why I had come to love the feel of just nursing on it. I felt almost angry when the cock became demanding. When the cock drove into my mouth at it's own pace. Then I felt the cock in my ass come to life. There had been no cock in my vagina they had gone straight for my mouth and ass but I didn't care. I just needed them. For some reason even with cock moving in and out both ends, where it didn't belong, it just wasn't enough. One more cock wouldn't have been enough either. I was just in a place, I can only describe as cock crazy. I was just insane and fucking them both as hard as I could. I worked my ass on Andrew's cock using the muscles a new way for me. At the same time I was trying to swallow the stranger's cock. It all was just too unbelievably erotic. We began coming. It was hard to say who came first. It just happened and kept happening. I could feel hot thick cum in my mouth in my ass and was lost in the feeling. It should have been over, but it wasn't I was so lost in it, when they switched, I helped them to become erect again, so they could fuck me from different locations. I finally felt a cock in my pussy and one in my mouth. Neither was quite hard at first. I seemed to just be lost in an infant's dream as I rocked on the young man's cock and nursed slowly on Andrew's not quite hard cock. The sun was up and I was still sucking gently on a cock. I was surprised to find the it was the unnamed young man from the swamp. He was sleeping while I sucked on his soft cock. Andrew's head was between my legs but he was sleeping as well. I must have been asleep and just woke up with the unnamed young man's cock still in my mouth, from when I feel asleep. Nothing like that had ever happened to me before. When we woke up there wasn't even time for coffee. We had to rush to the restaurant for coffee and take out biscuits just so that I could have the two of them at the motel in time for their departure. One thing I had learned about swamp dog was you better be on time or they would leave without you. The three of us were still covered with the stale smell of sex, when I dropped them in the parking lot of the motel. "Sylvia I do love you. You should know this place is about to become the R & R spot for us. We have about decided to look for a little place to buy up here," Andrew said. "Andrew try to talk them out of it would you?" I asked. "No way," he said with a smile. ------- Chapter 207 "So we leave in the morning," Jeremy said. "I'm up for it and Allan is definitely not going?" I asked. "He is going to stay with the pub. He also did not enjoy the last trip as much as we thought." Jeremy said it with a huge grin. "He was just humoring me. I guess we have been together long enough, he doesn't feel he needs to humor me any more." "Well anytime you want to go shopping come get me," I said. I almost meant it. I went home and to bed early. I did go to an adult chatroom for a few minutes then went to bed and slept better for having done so. I also rode the bike two hours the next morning before we met downtown. I drove the cruiser in even though I had been by the pub while riding on the bike. I took the cruiser and left it in front of the pub, just in case The Brit wanted to use it for something. Jeremy drove the SUV complete with a twenty foot trailer pulling along behind. He was determined to make it a profitable trip so he wanted to rough it some, as well as just buy things. It was Friday morning and we were off to a storage building auction in a mountain resort community. I expected it to be filled with junk but hopefully good quality junk. There were things going on behind the scenes with Jeremy and The Brit, but I hadn't asked. It was clearly none of my business. We arrived at the sale site an hour early so we went for lunch. I wanted to stop at a McDonald's Jeremy wanted to go to a tea room near the sale. I convinced him that we were keeping track of expenses, and the tea room was just too expensive. Even so I couldn't stop him from buying a salad with some kind of chicken pieces on it. A chicken salad for god's sake, Ronald was spinning in his grave. I had a big mac and fries. I did hope that in some small way it made up for the Jeremys of this world. It was kind of funny at the auction I was there to lose money in a way, and Jeremy was there to make money. He tending to get caught up in the auction and I tended to buy something cheap. I mean I could arrange fake purchases of ten grand from a $200 lockers just as easy as from a $1000 one. There was a locker that looked like granny's last apartment clean out. Nothing fancy or valuable in there. I paid $275 for it. The auction moved on and Jeremy bought two units. In the clean out of mine, I found some costume jewelry which I kept. and a few decorator items. There were also some small household tools. I kept them as well. All her clothes and linens I tossed in bags and threw them out. I had the whole locker condensed to one plastic storage box I found in the rear. "Are you going to throw away that bed," Jeremy asked. "Yes I am. I know it's real wood and from the thirties but I don't have the kid along who would carry those to the flea market and I don't want to do it." I said. "If you are going to throw it away, I would like to have it," Jeremy said. "Enough to take it in exchange for my share of the gas expense?" I asked. "Let me pick through your trash and you have a deal," Jeremy said. I helped him with his two units. We kept all the wood furniture and most of the small decorator items. Jeremy even kept the power tools and sporting goods items. I felt like there was something going on for sure. Dinner that night was in one of those pancake restaurant chains. "Jeremy what's up?" I asked. "Are you and Allen having problems?" "No of course not," he said not quite angry, but close. "Well, if you are having money trouble, I would like to help," I said. "It isn't that. I don't know how the pub is doing, but it seems to be doing fine. We always have customers and everyone says we have a great business," he said. "Okay then I'm going to shut up now," I said with all the best intentions. "Oh okay, I just feel like I gave up everything thing for Allen. I feel lost in his life." I had never thought about Jeremy's life. I guess the truth was I had always judged him by some other standard. I mean his life seemed fine to me. I couldn't understand him, so I couldn't really understand how he felt. "So do you want your own art studio?" I asked. "I could never make enough money with an art gallery and studio. I just don't have that kind of talent. Not the kind to draw customers two hundred miles." "So do you think in you were back living in a metropolis with a gallery you could make a go of it?" I asked. "I will never know, will I?" Jeremy asked. "Jeremy you probably don't want to hear this, but I'm going to say it anyway. You are very talented, but you are lazy. You are lazy, so instead of saying I'm lazy you are saying I gave up everything for the man I love. Now if you want to be an artist, you all you need is a pencil and paper. You are still an artist no matter where you live even if it's not in metropolis." I said. "Damn you are tough," he said. "First decide you have to courage to face the extent of your talent. Work your butt off and put together a show. Then take that show on the road for a few exhibits and take your lumps. Then you can really assess your future." I knew I had said all the wrong things, but it was how I felt. "Get your fucking life organized. If you can't work over a pub find somewhere you can work. Then stop making excuses and produce the best work you can, and let it speak for itself." That night the trailer was still almost empty so Jeremy wanted to sleep in it. I had known that was his grand plan, so I had brought one of my electric ceramic furnaces and a blanket bedroll. We spent the night in a city campground. Jeremy hardly spoke to me at all. He did curl up close to keep warm but he still managed to put distance between us. We went to an afternoon damaged freight auction the next day after yard selling all morning. There was nothing in that kind of auction for me but Jeremy bid on a few things. Mostly cartons with no labels. It was all just a guess and a gamble. When it was all finished it appeared that he had done pretty well. In the early evening we went to one of those metal building that held a local auction of local things held every Saturday night. I had never been to one of those things, so I went along. Those were the places were estates ended, when they were to small to have a complete auction of their own. It looked to be the combination of a dozen small household estates. I was pretty excited to see what would happen. I bought several lots of costume jewelry and Jeremy bought a shit pot full of decorator things. We parted with some serious money. We ate dinner in one of the cookie cutter steak houses. "Jeremy," I said when he was seated across from me. "I wanted to apologize to you. I had no right to say those things to you." I truly was sorry I had given my opinion. I had a feeling that it was going to cause me trouble with The Brit. "You know Sylvia people have never spoken to me like that. My parents were disappointed in me, of course, but they encouraged me. It was to make up for their own feelings of inadequacy. Lovers always say nice things till the end comes then you dismiss what they say as bitterness. You however have only one ax to grind. You love Allen. You two can claim it's brother sister all you want, but if he was straight you would be all over him. So you are talking to me like a family member should have. You are right I am lazy. I could have taken this year and created a large show, but I have been play lady of the manor instead. The most awful thing is I have been blaming Allen for the wonderful time I have been having. I have been acting like it was a shame to be enjoying myself. I was supposed to be making my mark in the world." he said. "We all thought we would be making our mark on the world, but damn few people ever do. I for one thought I would be solving homicides in some place like Chicago, but here I am a bootlegger." I said. "But that isn't all you are and even if it were, it's yours not some boyfriends thing. Don't get me wrong I love the pub, and I think the people love me there, but it is still Allen's pub." he said. "Yes I can see how much it would damage your self esteem not to have anything of your own. So if you were going to build something of your own, what would it be?" I asked. "An art gallery of course," he said. "Ah an art gallery in county seat, now that would be a lonely place. On the upside you would have lots of time to create." I pointed out. "Now on the other hand we get tons of tourist in the summer. They don't stay in town, but they do come to see the quaint little shops. So open a quaint little shop that has a heavy art bend. Spend your days painting or making something artistic and now and then talk to someone who comes into your shop. The emphasis being your shop." "You know maybe that's what I started the last time we were on the road. I'm going to do something that is for sure," he said. "Good for you, now we need to find a place to sleep tonight." I said picking up the bill to pay. He looked like he was going to argue, so I reminded him, "It's my turn." We spent that Saturday night huddled together in the trailer. The little ceramic furnace put out enough heat I think, but it was still nice to huddle together with someone, even if it was with Jeremy. Sunday morning we went to breakfast without a shower because the bath house in the state park was unheated. I for one wasn't bothered by it, but I could tell Jeremy had problems eating without his morning shower. "Jeremy honey consider yourself lucky you could brush your teeth," I said and laughed. "Gee that's disgusting to think of starting the day without brushing your teeth," Believe it or not we both laughed. "Trust me you do learn to carry gum, when you can find it." I said and we both laughed again. We walked up and down the long aisles of the flea market. I couldn't make a deal on anything and I could make jewelry as good as that being sold by the craftsmen. One of the booths had some pretty good paintings. At least I thought they were good in a commercial sense. "So how's business," I asked. "Business is great when I have any," he said. "This is not exactly the best place for an artist," he said. "So what is a good place?" I asked. "I make jewelry now and then." "Craft fairs and festivals are much better for the crafty things. There are some festivals that are really heavy into the arts. You might try here for a list of them and descriptions of each." he said that giving me a card on the back of which he wrote a website. "Thanks, I appreciate it," I said' "Us artist types got to starve together," he said with a laugh. ------- Chapter 208 We got back Sunday evening, so we dropped the trailer at my place to unload sometime Monday. Jeremy drove, and I rode along with him to the pub in the SUV. My Cruiser had been parked at the pub all weekend. The Brit had the choice of it, or Jeremy's econobox. I went inside to get my keys and have a beer before going home. The keys were easy The Brit threw them at me. "Shit Sylvia, you have to be a midget to drive that crappy little car. The driver's seat won't adjust." "Monk might have welded it solid to make the whole thing ride better. If it is flexible, it will vibrate is a biker's mantra. You would get used to it, if you drove it much," I said. "That ain't gonna happen," The Brit said. "Well then don't bitch. So was the weekend quiet?" I asked. "Quiet yes," he said. "It would be nice to have had a few customers. Now that the cops have all gone, there should be more customers." "Brit you didn't want to tend bar anyway," I said. "While the place was filled with cops, Jeremy and I didn't have to worry about any unwanted visitors." "You didn't need to worry, I got a shotgun," he said to me. "You don't have to be a sniper to use one of those. No matter how sick you are, you just use is as a point and shoot weapon." "That is true. I still felt better, when Mission was hanging out here," I said. "She hasn't been around that much. It was mostly that other dyke Morris," he said. "Oh you think she is a dyke, because she didn't flirt with you?" I asked with a laugh. "No because she spent almost an hour drinking beer and asking about you Saturday night," The Brit said. "I thought they had all gone by Saturday. That doesn't sound good at all," I commented. "Why do you think I'm telling you about it. Be careful around her," The Brit said. "I'll definitely keep that in mind," I said. "Right now I want to get home and into a hot shower." I left immediately. I drove the cruiser t home with only a quick stop at the Hardee's restaurant for coffee, and to run a quick check of my security cameras. I did stay long enough to run the 24hour loop of files from the camera. There hadn't been anyone in over the last 24 hours, before that I couldn't say. When I got to the front gate I examined it carefully before I went inside. The gate did not appear to have moved. The cotton sewing threads that connected the gate to the post was intact. So I was reasonably confident no one had open the gate. Someone could have parked on the shoulder of the road and walked in but that was pretty risky. There car could have been seen. Not to mention they would be trapped inside, if I came home. Yes I know it was paranoid. Paranoia in small amounts was a good thing in my line of work. I went inside the box house and stripped my clothes off first thing. I put them in a net bag to take to the laundromat, then I climbed into the shower. My plan was to stay in there till I ran out of hot water or shriveled like a prune which ever came first. The hot water ran out after twenty two minutes which was about average. Without any more hot water I dressed. I had decided that I would mash in just one barrel. That would be more than enough to cover my fun money which I really hadn't used. I got around eight gallons of hooch from 30 gallons of mash. Six came from the still and two or more from proofing it with bottled water. Once I got the mash to start working on Monday morning, I planned to drive into town and do laundry. It was barely dark on Sunday night, so I went ahead and mixed the mash. It wasn't hard and mixing it gave me an eight hour head start on cooking. After I had the mash mixed I put away my tools and went back to the box house to check the Internet for new toys. I had already bought such things as thermal imaging scopes and cameras. I was very high tech in my security around the still house. One of the lowest tech things I did might have proved to be the most useful. I had some signs printed and then stapled them to trees on the edges of my property. Mostly the said no hunting with gun or dog on this property. I had a pretty good feeling the neighbors had the same kind of signs up as well. I spent two hours looking for more security gadget but didn't really find anything new. I had been debating upgrading my scanners to cover the new laser technology. I didn't know how it worked exactly but supposedly they could bug you with a laser pointed in your direction. There was a scanner for it, so I bought one to add to my gps tracker scanner and jammer and the wireless bug detector and jammers I had purchased when there was downtime. I had spent more than a thousand dollars trying to minimize my digital footprint. The best security was to stay off their radar, but I couldn't help the damage that had already been done. I just needed to stay ahead of the curve, if possible. That included an erase system for the computer the CIA would be proud to own. After I placed my orders for new scanner upgrades, I went to bed. I knew 5AM still came early. It was really peaceful riding that early in the morning, since I had made peace with the idea that they could get me anywhere. All I could do was hope the deals, I had made, held. If they did there shouldn't be anyone out to get me. If not, then all the hiding in the world wouldn't help me. I stopped at Hardee's for breakfast and a scan of the camera files from the night before. Everything was quiet, so I rode home and checked the mash. There was nothing more I could do to it, so I put the two net bags of dirty clothes into the back of the cruiser and went to town. I always considered the doing of laundry a complete waste of time, but a necessary one. While the clothes washed, I roamed around the Internet looking for news, or toys to buy. I didn't find any news, but I did find a .22 magnum Henry lever action rifle on a heavy frame. I couldn't put a scope on it, but I could crank out a lot more rounds than I could with the bolt action sniper rifle I had at that moment. I could get one for less than one days cooking. It was a no brainer. I placed the order to ship it to a local gun shop. I gave them my debit card for the deposit. In a couple of days the gun shop in Dobson should be calling. When the laundry finished drying I drove home. It was still a little early for the pub, though I needed to check in on The Brit sometime that day. He had been recovering from the flu for a long time. He was well enough to take care of himself, but not well enough to be to far from a toilet. I knew just how he felt I went through two weeks of that myself. I dropped off the clothes and checked the mash before I went shopping for a new pistol. Hell I had bought a rifle, so I decided that I needed a new pistol as well. I found that I could buy a Taurus .22 magnum on a heavy frame with an 8 shot cylinder. So I ordered one of them to be shipped to the same gun store as the Henry lever action .22 mag. I would have to part with some serious money for both, but I could afford it. The pistol crossed my mind because of the changes I made to the rifling of the barrel on my only serious .22 mag revolver. I doubted it would make any difference in the combat characteristics, but why risk it. I could swing by the sheriff's office for a permit, when I went in to check on The Brit. It was well after noon, when I had the permit in hand and was walking into the pub. The Brit was standing behind the bar and he really looked pretty good. "How you feeling Brit?" I asked. "I'm find except for a little loose bowel syndrome thing going on. But hell you had that for over a month," he said. "Gee thanks for reminding me," I said. "You and me need to talk about Jeremy." "He didn't get the flu, what do we need to talk about?" he asked. "I think he is not as happy as he could be," I said. "Come on Sylvia, I hear that from him all the time. He feels wasted here. He clearly isn't. You know he can paint and draw or whatever he wants. He doesn't have to work in the pub." The Brit informed me. "Brit he needs something of his own, I'm just saying," I shut up at that point. I put the idea forward, they would either work it out or not. "Tell Jeremy we need to get that trailer unloaded and back to Jerry this week." With that I left the pub. After the usual paranoid checks I went into the compound. I pulled the .22mag revolver from my shoulder rig. The frame of the pistol was the same as a colt .38 snub nosed revolver. The only difference was the barrel was bored for the .22 mag cartridge. The cylinder was massively thick compared to most .22 mag. All that extra steel added to the weight of the pistol, but it also made for a much more stable platform. I had done my research, so I was sure the Taurus would be just as heavy, plus it was a little larger weapon. The barrel was three inches, which made it longer than my current pistol. It had an 8 round cylinder which made the cylinder just as massive, but more efficient. I didn't really think that would matter too much. I hoped not anyway. I was really looking forward to the new additions to my arsenal. I decided that I wasn't going to sell any more guns, they were just as good as gold in the mountains. It was just by accident that I decided to start my own company. Sure it was just a shell to cover the hooch business, but it would give me a legitimate presence in the business community of Warren County. It was a business I might want to go in. I kept seeing all those trading companies masquerading as pawn shops on TV. I thought I might like to try that on a smaller scale of course. The mash was doing fine and there was nothing else I could do. Well I could unload the trailer we had used on our road trip, but I had no where to put Jeremy's junk. I called the pub and reminded Jeremy again we needed to get the trailer back to Jerry. He assured me he would bring Allen's SUV, so we could move the furniture to his warehouse. "What warehouse?" I asked. "I just rented Mary Ellen's old store to use as a warehouse," he said. Now that is likely to be some bad karma, I thought. I asked, "Well are you planning to open it back up? She had a pretty good tourist trade I think." "Allen and I are trying to work out the details now. We definitely have it for a warehouse, so we can start filling it up," he said. "Fair enough, bring the SUV out and we will take the trailer downtown and unload it. Then we can take the trailer to Jerry's." After Jeremy hung up the phone, I began thinking about my own little business venture. I decided to open a company called Warren County Trading company. I would claim to buy and sell most anything. But I would not run any advertising. I didn't want people trying to buy and sell from me. It was all a sham to hide money, well mostly a sham at that moment. ------- Chapter 209 After my ride the next morning I checked the mash. I found it still working as I expected it to be. I drank two cups of coffee at my house before I walked down to open the gate for Jeremy. He actually got out of the car and hugged me. It was really quite strange as it was the first time he had ever done so. I went immediately to the Jerry's trailer to wait for Jeremy to help me hook it to the SUV. When we had it ready, he took off while I made one last coffee to travel. I went down town to watch the The Brit and Jeremy decide what to do with the furniture. There were two floors, so to keep from moving it twice, I suggested they decide or just leave it by the door. It ended up in a pile by the back door. I rode with The Brit to take the trailer back to Jerry. "Jerry what you doing home in the middle of the week?" I asked when he came out to greet us. "I didn't get a job till the end of the week. I'm going to New York City to pick up a load of costumes for a road show company of 'The Bird Cage' or some such thing." "Sounds like fun. Here is your hundred bucks," I said handing him the single bill. "Silvia, wouldn't you like to buy this thing?" Jerry asked. "Jerry, I got nothing to pull it with. I might could pull your little horse trailer looking thing," I said. "I need that one. This is the one that is surplus," he said. "How much you need for it Jerry," The Brit asked. "Nine hundred," Jerry said. I didn't comment though I knew it was too much. I might step in, if The Brit was about to get taken. "Jerry, if it were brand new it might be worth close to that but in the condition it is in now, it is hardly worth half that. Probably we have paid enough in the two rentals to cover it's real worth," The Brit said. "You might ought to look it up," Jerry suggested. "I did Jerry. I found that with this many road miles on a trailer like this, I would be a fool to pay more than five hundred, and we have already paid you two. I think three hundred is more than fair," The Brit said. "To be honest I need some cash right now. If you want to do that five cash right now, I'd probably take it," Jerry said. "Can I store it at your place Silvia?" The Brit asked. "Sure," I said. If it were anyone else I would have said, hell no. So instead of dropping it off we took it back to my compound, where I had The Brit drop it near the still house. Even so the Brit had to give me a ride back to town. Before I left The Brit's pub, I called the gun store. Fed Ex had brought both my weapons. All I had to do was deliver the pistol permit and fill out the long gun paperwork and it was all mine. I drove the twenty minutes to Dobson. From a town where two cars was a traffic jam, even the five stop light main street of Dobson was too big for me. I found the gun store on the outskirts of town to be almost empty. I showed my Identification and my permit. They delivered my two weapons only after I gave them the cash remaining to be paid. The .22 magnum revolver was larger then my current pistol The current pistol frame was as heavy, but the new one had a longer barrel and longer hand grips. I wasn't sure how it would fit in the upside down rig. Since it had a flap with Velcro it probably would do fine. I put the weapons in the cruiser and then drove straight home. I didn't want to have any problems with some clown trying to car jack me. I had way too much firepower for the gun control nuts to overlook. In spite of my concern, I made it home with absolutely no problems. I checked the mash and it was working down pretty well. It should be ready to cook the next day or the one after. I wanted to shoot the two new guns, but I didn't want to do it till I could go to a range. I did not want to shoot them on my property. It wasn't flat land, but there wasn't a good spot to use for a backstop either. Shooting a shotgun was one thing, a rifle with an effective kill range of over half a mile was quite another. I locked the new rifle in the gun safe I had purchased on line a few months earlier. I also locked the pistol that the SBI had once had in their lab in the safe. I managed to get the new pistol in the upside down rig. It was way to big a frame for the pocket of my cargo pants. It looked like for those it was the five shot model. That or the two shot derringer toy. That derringer was just barely better than throwing rocks, but it was cute. A couple of days later I started the cook off, while The Brit and Jeremy were working out their plans for the future. I didn't start it till the mash had worked off completely. Then I added a little more pot stalks to the strained mash in the cooker. I cooked it almost 24 hours before it all distilled down to alcohol. A lot of the time was spent in getting the mash up to 175 degrees. It took a while since there was no pressure in the pressure cooker. The lid was on just to catch all the steam then condense it back to alcohol. It was four days of continuous cooking to get all thirty gallons of mash cooked off. Fortunately I could take naps and watch TV on the computer. The on line TV was a benefit of having WIFI on my compound. When the run was over, I bottled a little over eight gallons at 120proof green dragon. The value of it hooch was about $2500. It had taken a little over ten days all told to get it cooked. Best of all it was tax free money. I went into the box house and slept for a whole day. Some of the time the sun was down but some of the time it was up, it made no difference, I still slept. When I awoke, I was starved. I decided not to go out, so I found a couple of frozen hamburger patties I used for making sandwiches. That particular Thursday I felt the need to eat something on a plate. I broiled the burgers in the toaster oven and thawed the Mac and Cheese. I even manage to juggle the cooking times to make some muffins. It was a banquet compared to what I usually ate. I was almost impressed with myself. After dinner I checked the messages since I turned the phone off when I went to bed after the marathon cook off, I found I had one message from Andrew, Two messages from The Brit and One from Jeremy. I decided to return Jeremy's call to boost his self esteem. "Hey there Jeremy, what can I do for you?" I asked. "I was calling to see how you were. You have been out of touch a while," he said. "Yes I was exhausted, so I feel into bed and just woke up. So how is the new business coming along?" I asked. Much better than I expected. For one thing the shop Mary Ellen kept was very clean. I managed to get Nita's younger sister to come help me clean it. We got all the things we bought during our last two trips in the place and it looks good," Jeremy informed me. "Sounds like you have everything under control. Is Allen in control of his life?" I asked with a laugh. "Yes. we are planning a weekend buying trip. Allen wants to ask if you will stop by to make sure everything is going okay in the pub." Jeremy said. "I would be pissed, if he asked anyone else. I'll stop by tomorrow and talk to you guys," I said. Then I returned the call to the number Andrew gave me. "Andrew is that you?" I asked. "Of course it is. So how are you Sylvia?" He asked. "I have been worse, sorry I wasn't home when you called. Well I actually was home but I had the phone off. I needed sleep badly," I explained. "Say no more I understand. So are you going to be home this weekend?" "Yes but I might not be around the house the whole time. The Brit is going on a road trip with Jeremy, so I'm babysitting the pub." I explained. "A few of us are coming to town and would like you to have dinner with us," Andrew said. I knew that he wouldn't talk about it on the phone, so I just said, "Sure come on up." That is how we left it. I was the replacement bartender at the pub when they showed up. There was Andrew of course, Colonel Martin, the Sergeant Major and then there was the Training Sergeant. "Well my God what can I get for you guys?" I asked. "I haven't seen you for almost a year, and that all you have to save," the Colonel said. "Okay would you like some pretzels," I asked with a smile. "Still the insolent bitch," the Sergeant Major asked. "What made you think I would change, Sergeant Major?" I asked. "True, you have had some luck this last year and a half," he said. "We only learn from our adversities." "Wouldn't you rather have a beer, or analyze me?" I asked. "Well I for one would like some of that dark ale. The one of which you are so fond," Andrew said. "Make mine the same," the Colonel remarked. "Do you have a good draft?" the Sergeant Major asked. "If you aren't too snobbish we have Michelob on tap," I said. "That will do," the Sergeant Major replied. "Make mine the same," the younger Training Sergeant said. We drifted into small talk. There was absolutely no mention of the Dobson thing. We may have over reacted, but the men who disappeared wouldn't be missed by the world as a whole. They might be missed by the people they supported, but you play the devils game you had to expect it to turn and bite you on the ass one day. "Since there are four of you, and County Seat is on the way to nowhere, you are here for something. So what brings you to town?" I asked. "So suspicious," the colonel said. "We are looking at some real estate not far from here. I thought it would be nice to stop in for a visit." "I see, and what did you think Sergeant Major?" I asked. "I thought it was a waste of time. We can neither learn anything here, nor can we teach, those who will not learn, anything," he said. "Surely you can teach us country girls something. We can all learn from a man of your background. How many royal marines did you take into that village in the Falkland island campaign?" I asked. He looked up at me very cold for at least five long seconds before he replied. "More than I came out with, but then we weren't really there were we?" he asked as an answer. "No, I suppose you weren't really there," I said. "If it hadn't been for the sergeant major, none of those men would have gotten out alive," the colonel said. "And how did you know about that?" "Colonel, we all have a bit of rust on our shining armor. It isn't that hard to find out what that rust really is. An ex- cop would just take a glass from the mess hall that had the Sergeant Major's fingerprints and run them through interpol ect. Nothing to it. Us country girls are a bit slow, but we have our ways." I said. ------- Chapter 210 "Damn Sylvia I always knew you were smarter than the average operator," the colonel said. "She is ruthless as well," the sergeant major said without a hint of kindness. "And thank God for it," Andrew said. "If she were less ruthless I would still be in a Vera Cruz prison." "Not likely, more likely a mass grave. There are not many mercenaries, who do jail time anywhere in South America," The sergeant major said. He still showed no approval at all. "Ah you guys," I said faking a humbleness I didn't feel. "So what are you really doing here?" "There is a church campground about twenty mile deeper into the mountains. It is for sale. The only part worth anything is the land. The cabins are crap and the meeting house is pretty much crap as well," Andrew said. "So ya'll decided to pass on it?" I asked. "We haven't decided yet. The decision isn't ours to make anyway." the colonel said. "Oh who has to decide," I asked. "The board of directors, of course," the colonel said. "Of course," I agreed. I had no idea what kind of board of directors they could have. I thought about it for a few seconds and decided I really didn't care. "So what do you want with a mountain retreat?" "We might just move up here. I mean since you are here, we would at least know someone," The colonel said. "Hell Colonel, I can't help you guys any," I said. "Who knows," he whispered smiling. "By the way, do you have any of that green dragon drink?" "How much you want?" I asked. "I imaged a half gallon will do," he said. "Sure $200 and I'll round some up for you. If Andrew is going to stay, I'll send it out with him," I suggested. "Oh we are going to be around a couple of days. We want to walk the property as well as check out that lake." The Sergeant Major suggested. "Sorry I don't have room for you all to stay," I lied. "That's quite alright," the colonel said. "We are registered at a motel closer to the camp. Actually it's a pretty nice motel. We could put up potential customers there. We have to give tours now and then. Not to mention this is a new kind of operation we are talking about. I would tell you about it but you aren't working for us any more." "That right, and you aren't going to make me curious about your new line of work," I said. "You would love it," Andrew said. "I don't want to know," I suggested. "Tell me this, is the camp in Warren County." "Yes it is, does that make a difference about you running for Sheriff?" the colonel asked. "I'm a bootlegger, I'm not going to run for Sheriff," I said. "Just curious, would it make a difference though," Andrew asked. "Not a bit," I said. "Okay, what if it was an instant adrenaline fix," Andrew continued. "That's why I bootleg, I get my fix that way," I said. "Come on that's out smarting the cops, but it's not life or death," the Sergeant Major said. "I don't need that shit," I said. "Do you really tell yourself that and believe it?" the Colonel asked. "Let's say yes, I tell myself that," I replied. "But you don't believe it," He suggested. "No comment," I replied. "We have a female Mossad agent coming in to work with us. You would like her," Andrew said with a lewd smile. "Andrew you should know I'm not gay," I said. "Not unless you need to be," he replied. "We like you because you will do anything you need to do to get the job done," the colonel said. "You know we do kind of have a history." "Was that a threat?" I asked. "No it was an appeal to your better nature," Andrew said. "You, of all people, know I don't have a better nature," I said with a laugh. "Talk to Allen when he gets back. We are going to talk to him." Andrew suggested. "We are pretty sure he will be interested. He is probably bored running this pub." the colonel added. "Well, we don't work together just because we live in the same town," I replied. "Just keep an open mind," Andrew said. As usual the sergeant major acted as though he didn't want me to join them. I suppose that was supposed to intrigue me, It didn't. "Well let me think about it before you pitch it to me," I said. First I had to make the decision that my current life wasn't enough for me. Then I might be open to some kind of work with the guys from swamp dog. I guess if they moved to the mountain, they would adopt another name. Then again it wasn't like anyone found them up in the yellow pages. They could call themselves anything. Most of their customers were routed to them through government agencies, who couldn't help them. Of course a lot of the work was for the US State Department or the CIA as well. When they needed help Swamp Dog interviewed the personnel, assessed their skill level, and trained them in a specific job. In exchange Swamp Dog got the pay check and sent part of it on to the Operative in the field. What they had planned for the peaceful mountain community, I had no idea. I doubted that I would like it all that much. Sure for me personally it might be a thrill, but for the community it might bring them nothing but grief. "So tell me the truth, what kind of neighbors are you going to be?" I asked. "They are not even going to know we are here," The colonel said. "There is no way that is true. Can you keep the threat level and impact down to a small amount on the communities around the camp?" I asked. "You have been to the Dismal Swamp site did the people outside the compound seem to be upset by our presence." The Sergeant Major said. "I don't know really do you want me to do some research. I could ask the local cops what they think of your guys, when they get drunk?" I asked. "Yeah, well we keep that down to a minimum. These days we don't let them out of the compound until we are pretty sure they have come down," Andrew said. "Okay, I'll keep an open mind. You haven't decided to buy the site yet have you?" I asked. "Not yet," Andrew said after looking at the Colonel for direction. To me that said they had decided to buy the camp. "So when do you think you will make a decision?" I asked. "I don't think we will do anything till spring," the colonel said. "Then just enjoy the remainder of your trip. Hell go sight seeing be tourist for a while," I suggested. "That's what we had planned. Can we trust you to get Andrew back to us by Sunday noon?" the Colonel asked. "Colonel, he is a grown man. I think he can make it back to a pickup point without my help. If he can't, you might want to rethink his position in the outfit." I said. "We are constantly rethinking our personnel," the sergeant major replied with a smile. "Well Sergeant Major, I believe there is a reservation for two at a strip bar in some nearby college town." The Colonel said standing to leave. He did leave $20 which I put in the register for The Brit. Andrew waited until 1AM nursing a beer. Then I drove us to my box house. I decided I would clean the pub Saturday at noon. I didn't want to put it off, but I was more interested in getting Andrew in bed, than I was in washing beer glasses. We were out of the bar and into the alley behind the bar when I noticed a women standing by my cruiser. "You know her?" Andrew asked. "I don't think so, I was about to ask you the same thing," I said. "Well let's go see what she wants," He suggested. "Shit, I don't want to get in any more shit right now," I said. Even so I closed the ten yard gap between us. "Hi there can I help you?" I asked. "I hope so I'm Melody. I just got to town and I need a place to stay." she said. "What do you think I can do for you?" I asked. "Even more important, why should I care." "Well I was hoping you would let me stay with you," she said. "Why would you stand outside till 1AM waiting for a total stranger to ask her to take you in?" I asked. I had to admit that I was confused and curious. "I used to live with Mary Ellen. We made some films together for her." she said. "God Melody, I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn't place you. Where have you been?" I asked. "I have family in Little Rock. I have been there for the last year. I was in a couple of rehab programs." She said. "How long you been clean," I asked. "Almost a year," she said. She had the look of a recovering drug addict. Like she was one more disappointment from being back on the drugs. "You know Mary Ellen is dead?" I asked. "I didn't till I got back. I thought everything would be like it was before. She told me to go get straight and I could come back," Melody said. "I'm sorry hon, but I don't have any room for you at my place and I don't know anyone who does. Tell you what though I will pay for a room in the downtown motel for tonight and give you a few bucks to get a bus ticket home," I said. "I don't like being alone. Couldn't I sleep on your floor Sylvia?" she asked. "No I'm sorry I can't do that. Like I said, I can pay for a room for you, and give you bus fare home, but that all I can do," I said. I had way too many things at my place to allow a stranger to poke around. "Can you cook?" Andrew asked. "Some but I'm not likely to ever be on top chef," she said with a smile. "Tell you what, I'll go to the motel with you. Maybe we can work out a job as house keeper for a place I know," he said. Melody looked at me with a question in her eyes. "He is a pervert, but he isn't dangerous, I don't think. If anything happens, I'll kick his ass," I said. I sounded really cool but I was fuming. Andrew was going to stay with a total stranger, rather than come home with me. Melody said, "Thank you, what is your name?" Yeah you really should get his name first, I thought. "My name is Andrew, and I live down on the coast. Would that be a problem? Moving out of town I mean." he said. "No, I really have nowhere to go," she said. "Andrew I need to talk to you a second," I said as I pulled him aside. When I had him out of earshot I asked, "What the fuck are you doing?" "I'm trying to help. She seems like a kid in need of a break. Since you know her, I think she would be alright as a kind of den mother at the swamp," he said. "You sound more like a serial killer interviewing a victim," I said. "Come on Sylvia you know better than that," he said. "The Colonel and the Sergeant Major will have to meet her, but I think she will do." "You know I don't believe a word of this. You are beginning to worry me," I said. "I'm going to call the colonel to come back for us. We can skip this little motel and carry her to where we are staying. Sylvia nothing is going to happen to her." he promised. "The only change in plans is I'm going to go back in and wash glasses," I said. "You can come inside to wait." I felt better when Andrew came inside until the Colonel and Sergeant Major showed up. They took the girl and her suitcase with them when they left over an hour later. ------- Chapter 211 When the three of them came back into the bar the next day they stayed only a few minutes. They came in just long enough to put me at ease that they hadn't raped and murdered her. The talk was all harmless, so melody wouldn't be privy to secret information. Yes the Swamp Dog crew did have some secrets. Even if it wasn't a secret, their plans were Just better left out of casual conversations. "So Andrew, what's the plan for Melody?" I asked. "We are going to take her back to the HQ and teach her how we do things. If she really is clean and straight, we can use her as a kind of housekeeper." he said. "So which one of you is going to screw her, or are all of you going to?" I asked. "Now that was really bitchy. It was also uncalled for," he said. "I'm not screwing her, but if I were, I don't owe you anything. You sure as hell haven't promised me anything." "Yeah, but I didn't come to your home and screw your friend," I said. "She isn't your friend. You were ready to leave her to fend from herself," he said angrily. "Well Andrew, you need to stay away from me for a while," I said. "That might be a good idea," he said walking out the door alone. Since they only had one car I had no idea where he would go. "Colonel, I think Andrew is going to wait for you in the car. It might be better, if you didn't leave him alone," I said. "So you think we should all leave," the Sergeant Major suggested. "Yeah, your tab is on me, but you probably should go somewhere else," I suggested. "Fair enough, your feelings for Andrew aren't going to be an issue are they?" the Colonel asked. "They won't effect how I feel about Swamp Dog, but you know I'm out?" I asked. "So you say," the Sergeant Major said. "Well I guess we will go on out to the Land Rover and take Andrew and the girl back to the motel. I might come back after I get them settled." "Why Sergeant Major, I can't believe you are being civil to me. Someone might think you liked me," I said. "I never said I didn't like you Silvia. I just said you were hard headed and couldn't be counted on to do the sensible thing. Like walk away from Andrew and the Brit in Vera Cruz," He said. "It worked out," I said. "It won't always work out," he said. "Some things, I wouldn't want to carry on my soul," I replied. "Like leaving half your command in the jungle," he said. "I wasn't there, I don't know what really happened," I said. "It was simple. We should have fought our way out ten days sooner than we did. The Mission was to hold that relay station till relief came. It never did." He said. "Did they tell you to fight to the last man?" I asked. "I stayed till they told me I could leave, We each got a ribbon for that action. Even the dead got a ribbon for their families. I hope that was comforting. I could have gotten out with a lot more men, if I were you Silvia." he said. "So Silvia, I never said I didn't like, or admire you. I just said I would never trust you to follow the mission brief." "Sergeant Major, why don't you let them take the Land Rover. I can drive you back to the motel tomorrow." I poured him another Guinness while he broke the news to the Colonel. "The boss thinks this is a really bad idea," he informed me. "What do you think Liam?" I asked. "It probably is, but even I am entitled to act foolish now and then." he said with a smile. "I'll drink to that. Then Liam, I expect you to buy me breakfast in the morning," I said. "Okay, even if you aren't worth it I will buy your breakfast," he said. Liam was almost a foot taller than me. He was also ramrod straight in his manner. But once the light went out, Liam was quite animated. He was a respectable size, but nothing spectacular but it really didn't matter. He wasn't near as rigid as I would have expected. Which made for a very nice experience. It was 4AM when we finally went to sleep. I was planning to sleep all day, but to my surprise Liam was up and ready for his morning run at 6AM. "I don't like to run," I said. "So go back to bed you lazy bitch," he said with a very broad smile. "So that's how you are. You get your dick sucked and you become a real prick," I said pulling on my fleece pants and shirt. I really couldn't run with him. He showed me no mercy all I could do after a half hour of hard running outward was turn around and return home. I just hoped, he could find his way back. When he showed up after two hours I had coffee ready. We drank it while we discussed the day ahead. "So you want to got back to the motel?" I asked. "Unfortunately what I want has very little to do with it. I have to be back by 11AM which means we need to leave soon, if I am to buy you that breakfast." "Well you are not getting away without buying me breakfast. I usually get dinner first, but I'm going to get it now at least." I said. "You did catch a break. The only expensive restaurant open on Sunday morning is in the next town. The most I can get you for, is the waffle house by the highway." He seemed to be in a somber mood during breakfast. I didn't get it till he said, "You do know, I'm not the kind of man for the pipe and slipper bit?" "I see, are you the kind to only do one night stands, or can I expect to see you again?" I asked. "I usually am a creature of habit, so I would expect to see you again. I will not kill Andrew though." he said. "Liam, if I need him killed, I'd do it myself," I said with a smile. "He hasn't even gotten close to that line yet. I'm not a crazy slut." "Good," he said. "So let's get to the motel." "Fine, but Liam, don't even think of screwing Melody, I could probably kill you for that," I said. "And if I asked you not to screw Andrew again?" He said. "Are you?" I asked. "No, I guess I'm not," he said. "To bad you probably should have. It would have been an easy one for me to promise," I said. "God this is far to convoluted for me. I'm just a simple soldier," he said. "And what if I were to believe that," I asked. "I suppose I might try to sell you a run down cabin, in a run down church camp," he said. "So, you are guys are planning a condominium development at that camp," I said. "Not quite, but we could make an exception for you," he said. "No thanks I can get all the cold I need just touching my walls. You can't get enough insulation to keep the walls warm," I said. "I saw you had panels of insulation made from coffee cup material," he commented. "Yes, I am going to add a second layer to try to keep it warm. It's like living in Alaska or something. Any work you want to do to the place has to be done in the summer, because you are pretty much shut down by the cold in the winter," I said. "How do you manage to ride your bicycle in the winter?" he asked. "I look like the Pillsbury dough boy mostly. It's lots of layers of insulated clothing," I said. "All that clothing must make those .22mag hollow points pretty useless," he said. "I don't know. I haven't had to shoot anyone with them yet," I said. "When a hollow point hits heavy clothes, like the insulated canvas coats they wear around here, the coat absorbs most of the velocity used for penetration. You might want to do some checking on that," Liam the sergeant major said. At that exact same moment I pulled into the parking lot of the motel. It was located on the access road of the highway. That access road had a retail park at the end of it something like the plaza near County Seat, but it was a different one. Those things seemed to have become the new small town America Liam kissed me goodbye, then left the cruiser/micro mini van. I watched him walk to a room and knock on the door. Melody answered the door. I was a little disappointed by that. It was bothersome, since she was a few years younger and much better looking them me. She would find something to do down east for sure, I thought. I drove back home and tried to forget them. I did pretty well except for the information that Liam passed on about the .22 mag hollow points. I was counting on those hollow point for maximum damage from the small round. With that in mind I began researching the characteristic of hollow point bullets in general. There were no studies specific to the .22mag. I found that Liam had been telling me the truth. The .22mag hollow point was a hell of a round in a head shot situation. Even in a shot through a shirt, but when it was forced to penetrate a piece of heavy clothing first it mushroomed on contact with the first layer of clothing, which made it less effective in penetrating what was under that clothing. Like the target. There were all kinds of home made fixes but the one that seemed to be the most likely to work was a dab of silicone caulk in the nose of the bullet which would prevent it mushrooming on contact with anything soft. It still looked to me as though it would lessen the effect of the hollow point's effect inside the body. I read another article that suggested the hole in the hollow point be filled with the silicone caulk and a BB pellet pressed into the hole. Of course they were talking about a larger round and therefor a bigger hole in the head of the bullet. I had to go the the Walmart store to buy a box of bird shot for the 20 gauge to get a lead pellet that might be small enough to fill the hole of a .22mag hollow point. When I got home I had a cup of coffee and opened the shotgun shell. I had about a thimble full of shot in the shell. I also had about a ounce of silicone bathtub caulk in the tube I had used to seal the holes I cut through the walls of the still house. So I took advantage of the combination to fill the head of about half the rounds in the box of fifty .22 mag rim fire hollow point cartridges. Then I switch out the loads in the rifles and the pistols. The fact that I used revolvers meant I didn't have to worry about how they would react in the magazines. Of course that was not true of the rifles, but I still didn't use semi automatics so there was less chance of a problem. That and I allowed the caulk time to set up before I loaded the weapons. I put the weapons away with a determination to find a gun range the very next day to test them. ------- Chapter 212 It was five am on Monday when I rode the bike out into the cold morning air. The TV weatherman said it was getting warmer, but you couldn't prove it by me. I still had a problem pedaling the bike because I was wearing so many layers of thermal clothing. I stopped to have some animal fat before I made the final push back to my compound. I checked the tapes as I always did as I ate. I never saw anything until the morning. The thing I saw was a couple of deer crossing my drive. I was pretty sure I needed to mix my mash inside the trailer to let it work. I was a little concerned the the dear might try to eat the mash. With that decision made I rode home. I hoped I could get the box really warm before I showered. I hated to step from a warm shower into a cold bathroom. My furnace in the house was propane gas as well as my cooker burners. The one in the house ran from a large tank, while I used a burner with a RV size propane tank. I had about ten different outlets where I bought the gas. That was just to keep the ABC boy honest. That morning was all about weapons testing not mash or moonshine. I loaded the cruiser with all the weapons I owned and the two boxes of .22 mag ammunition. One box was plain hollow points ammo, and the other was the caulk and pellet bullets. I carried a couple of chickens and some old jeans to the range. I figured I could test the ammunition in either weapon, since they should react the same regardless. I stopped for more coffee at McDonald's on the way to Dobson. I didn't get out of the car with so many weapons in it. I just sat in the car with the engine and heater running, while I drank the most of it. With less than half a cup left I headed to the gun shop and from there to their range behind the shop. Since I had bought so many weapons from them they gave me use of the range at a reduced price. The five dollar charge included the spotter scope so I wouldn't have to walk down range every time. They did know I would be walking on the range to retrieve the special targets. So we agreed that was a good thing I was early before the afternoon crowd arrived. First thing I did was fit one leg of my old jeans into the other giving me a double thickness of cloth. Then I tied a string around the bottom the pant legs before I pushed the raw chicken inside it. I took them down to the 25yard marker and hooked them to the target. I also pinned a white piece of cloth over the chicken to bullseye it. Once I had the target set I fired one hollow point with the scope topped rifle into the paper target beside the chicken legs. I used the spotter scope to zero in the bolt action rifle. Once it was zeroed and ready, I put a single hollow point in the rifle chamber and very carefully fired it into a chicken. I was the only one on the range, when I went down to assess the damage. The bullet had gone through the heavy fabric and penetrated the chicken about an inch with a massive sized hole. I thought it was pretty impressive. Then I went back and fired a caulk and pellet round at the chicken filled pants. It didn't look all that different from 25yards. When I got to it I noticed the hole in the jeans was smaller. It didn't look as though the bullet had mushroomed as much. Then when I saw the chicken I noticed the penetration was deeper and the hole was equally impressive. My conclusion was that the caulk round would be more damaging to a human being, unless the round hit in an unprotected fleshy area. I stomach shot in the summer would probably be more damaging with just the hollow point. In the winter any shot with a caulk and pellet round would be more likely to do the most damage. I spent the rest of my range time firing the lever action Henry rifle and the three pistols. The Henry was pretty accurate at twenty five yards. But I couldn't hold it very steady at fifty yards with my bad hand and all. The pistols didn't appear to be any different as far as accuracy was concerned. Except the Derringer which was pure trash as far as accuracy was concerned. It was okay at ten feet but at even ten yards it was all over the target but still on the target. At twenty yards it was just as likely to miss the whole target as to hit it. I returned the spotter scope before I left for home. When I got to the box house I took the time to clean the guns before I mixed the next batch of mash. I bought two 100' cord which I planned to run a ceramic electric heater. I would use it while the mash was working off. I planned to use it to run a fan which blew the smell of the mash out of the still house and high into the air through a 6" PVC sewer pipe. So that afternoon, I dragged the electrical cord from the box house up to the still house. I was less than the full 200' away. So with the heater running just a bit to keep the small area warm enough to give the mash a chance to work, I began to mix it. When I was finished I covered it and locked the house up tight. I was bored already, so I drove into town to report the results of my research to the Brit. The Brit did not believe that the .22 mag was anything but a toy. He claimed the smallest weapon of any value in a firefight was the 9mm. So he really had no interest in my experiment. After lunch I drove to the compound, then went straight to the still house. I checked to see if the mash had started to work. Since it appeared to have begun I checked for the smell of mash and didn't notice any. I decided I could probably wait to turn the vent fan on until the next day. With everything seemingly on schedule and Liam off at the the coast, I decided I would check out the trike. I hadn't ridden it in a while, so I wasn't even sure it would start. I went to the little shed Tomas has added to the house. There I rolled out the trike. Since it had a centrifugal clutch all I had to worry about was starting the motor. The bike builder who assembled it for me swore the motor would be good for years. He also said it would need a tune up maybe every five years. This wasn't the year for that, so I expected the damn thing to run. I pulled the fuel line from the carburetor and let the gas from the tank run onto the ground. I let the gas drain from the tank as well. Then I sprayed a little cleaner in the gas line and reconnected it. I pulled on the starter cord a few times with the spark plug wire removed. Then I filled the tank with new gas and pulled the motor over. It took a couple of times because carburetor cleaner does not burn worth a crap. That I had learned at the fish and game compound on the edge of the Blackwater river. After three or four brisk pulls the motor hit. I had to adjust the choke and let it idle to get all the cleaner out of the lines. Then I put on my nylon wind resistant parka and took off on the trike. I rode it all over town and enjoyed the smiles I put on the faces of grownups and kids alike. Yes I know I'm an attention whore at times. I stopped by the pub to let Jeremy ride it. I found him two doors down working in his new shop. He was wearing a dusk mask and working on a headboard we had bought at an auction a few weeks before. It was fun to see him working, but it was more fun to watch him ride the trike. He was a real dare devil on the thing. "Alright damn it, how much do you want for that thing," he asked. "Jeremy you don't want that thing. It is not at all practical, you can't ride it in the rain and you can't ride it when it is cold, which is about half the time up here," I informed him. "I don't care if it's practical or not, it just took ten years off my life. I want it or one like it," he said. "Buy your tricycle and I'm sure we can find someone to put the motor on it for you. It really isn't that hard." I said not having any idea how mine was actually assembled. I was just playing expert without being one. Of course there was nothing at which I really was an expert, but I seemed to be doing okay. I took the trike home, when I could finally get Jeremy off it. I barely got it home before the nice afternoon turned cold. I didn't bother to check on the mash, I just watched TV and did some basic research on the computer. I watched the sun go down just as the clouds rolled in. The forecast was for rain and cold for the next two days. I just set myself to be content with being house bound. The beginning of my second day trapped inside I was considering going into the rain to ride the bike, but it was just to cold and wet even for me. There was a mall down the interstate a few miles. The mall was outside one of the college towns which the mountains were famous for hosting. It was also home of the school's basketball team, which ranked nationally every couple of years. It was my decision to go to the mall and walk since I wasn't quite sure when I would get to ride again. I usually waited the day or two necessary to get back to biking, but I had been watching the news and saw the large number of walkers at that mall every morning. I decided I might meet a man there. Hey it could happen. I had been looking for an excuse to do it and it looked as though I had one. That being the case at eight thirty I got into the cruiser/micro-mini van and drove to the High Meadows Mall. I parked outside the food court, then left my rain coat on the back of a chair. Under my parka, I carried the 8shot .22mag revolver, and I even had a couple of driveway stake daggers. One just never knew, what might be needed. I knew that I walked at three miles an hour when I was just walking with no particular place to go. So I figured that's what I would do at the High Meadows Mall. So I started at the food court, and started to walk along the walkway that circled the inside of the mall. I went around once up stairs then once down stairs. When I finished one lap, top and bottom, I had been walking just about twenty minutes. I made the estimate that One complete lap top and bottom was a Mile. It sounded like a reasonable guess. I was going to be walking by time so it didn't really matter how far it was. The plan was two hours walking. With a twenty minute break halfway through. That would give me approximately five miles. It wasn't Andrew's two hour run, or even my two hour bike ride along the mountain roads, but it was enough to work up a sweat. ------- Chapter 213 After my walk I sat in the food court with a cup of coffee. I certainly didn't want any of their designer food. The place was full of college kids just as I had been promised by the news reporter on the local station. The guys were all in their twenties and walked every day so they were in pretty good shape. I was surprised, since the walkers at most malls were older than dirt. I mean no disrespect, but these walkers were overwhelmingly college students or college age students. "You finished for the day?" the young woman asked. She was a college student and probably mistook my dress and hair style for a statement of some kind. It was nothing but me being me. I decided not to correct her so soon. What could it hurt to find our what she had to say. "The day is just starting, but I am finished walking for today," I said. "How far did you walk?" she asked. "I think, I went five miles or so. How about you?" I asked. "I usually quick step about five miles as well. Quick stepping burns more calories," she informed me. "Ah, I see, well I'm just trying to keep my muscles loose," I said. "Yeah you don't seem to need to lose weight," she said. "My name is Kara." She held out her hand to me. "Sylvia," I said taking her hand."Nice to meet you." "Do you come here often Sylvia?" Kara asked. It sounded a lot like a pick up line, but I let it slide past me. "This is my first time here," I said, "Do you come in often?" "Yes, I try to walk here everyday. There aren't that many places where I can get out of the weather to walk, and not have to pay for it." she informed me. "I heard about it on TV yesterday, and thought I ought to try it. I usually bike in the mornings," I said. "Bikes scare me. Actually not the bikes the cars you have passing you," she said. "Come up to County Seat at 5AM and you don't have that worry so much. I have started to wear a light on my back as well as one on the bike." I explained. "I can imagine, the more light the better. So are you married Sylvia?" she asked. "No never have been, how about you,"I asked. "I never have either, So what do you do for a living," The tall, large frame young, black woman asked. "A little of this and a little of that," I said holding up my hand then added, "I'm a retired cop on disability." "Oh I'm Sorry to hear that. You doing okay?" she asked. "In what way do you mean that?" I asked. "Well you ain't getting rich I know on a retired cop's pay," she said. "Yeah but I get by. I have very simple taste," I replied. "I wish I did. I grew up poor, and I want nice things now," she said. "So what do you do?" I asked. "I'm a student at the university right now, and I'm a dancer," she said. "As in ballroom dancer, or rockette type dancer?" I knew better but I didn't want to sound judgmental. "Exotic," she said simply. "I hear you can make some real money doing that," I said. "Sometimes," she said. "Some of the girls waste it on drugs. I'm working a medical degree." "Wow, how much more you need to finish?" I asked. "I got two more years to go," she said. "How long you been at it?" I asked. "I have already finished four years and should get my PA license in two years." "I hate to say this Kara, but you seem a little mature for be 22 years old," I said. "There just ain't no polite way to ask a woman her age, is there?" Kara said. "I did a hitch in the army, before I came here to go to school. So I'm 26 not 22," she said. "Oh, did you go anywhere interesting?" I asked. "Yeah." was all she said. "You got a boyfriend?" "Kara to be honest they come and go," I said. "Yeah literally," she said with a laugh. "Yeah that too," I said also with a laugh. "So how do you feel about girls?" she asked. "Well they smell better," I said. "And I'm as strong as any of these wimpy little college boys," she said. "I have absolutely no doubt, but I don't screw around with college kids. I just came to walk in the mall." I explained. "So you wouldn't be interested in doing a college girl?" she asked. "To be honest Kara men or woman seldom pursue me with such directness," I said. "What would you say the odds are of us meeting again, if I don't push hard?" she asked "Not good, but why me. I'm certainly nothing special?" I said. "I don't know. You look like somebody I can take care of a little. Why don't you come to the club and see me dance?" she suggested. "I just might do that. Do you have to go now?" I asked. "No, did you have something else in mind?" she asked. "Wanna ride in my car up to one of the overlooks off the parkway. We can sit in the rain and make out," I suggested. "You know girl, I think that is probably the best offer I have had all week. But there are no string or commitments here. If it works out fine, if not we walk away right?" she asked. "I was hoping you felt that way," I suggested. "You ever been with a girl before," she asked. "Yeah," was my only answer. I had been trapped in the box house and I needed the release damn it. I didn't have to make any excuses. The the view from the overlook down onto the campus of the state university campus was gorgeous in the rain. It softened all the edges and make it a fairy land. While the world spun on everywhere else time stood still me me, maybe for Kara as well. As I noted earlier, Kara was taller than me, and had a much wider frame. To be a stripper I suppose she needed the large breasts. They were at least 38d maybe even larger. She would have beaten me to death with one of those things and I probably wouldn't have resisted. Kara was also black. I do not mean chocolate, I mean black coffee black. She had shiny black skin except where it was pink. She was gorgeous and I reveled in the big black body. She absolutely dominated me. First by subtle suggestions then with absolute control of my body. I had long ago given control of my body to any strong partner, but I always maintain a core of control in my mind. I never ever did things that were permanently harmful. My hand and mouth wandered over her almost naked body. My cruiser/ micro-minivan had only marginally more room than her Hyundai, but we managed. I had huge orgasms as did she. My hands and face were sticky with her body excretions as were her's was with mine. I needed a shower after, since I smelled of sweat from my walk as well as my sweat while attacking her body. Also my body needed a good soak in hot water since I was sore, and needed a little antibiotic ointment here and there. Kara was a bit rough in her embraces. I dropped her back at the mall with a promise to visit her at work Friday night. It was only Wednesday so I had to manage without her magnificent body for two more days. I had also never seen her truly naked. "You know you fuck good for a white girl," Kara said. "I was going to say the same about you," I said. "But you were afraid you would offend me right?" she asked. "Yes," I said. "You were right to feel that way. I'm not black or white I'm Kara. You are a white girl, and those bitches one can hear all the across the mall, are black girls. I'm better than either of you. That's why I would be offended." She explained. Honestly it made sense to me. I nodded my head at her before she left my car. I drove back to County Seat in a bit of a fog. I also had mash cooking at the time. It was going to have to cooperate, before I could really commit to the strip club idea. I also wasn't sure I wanted another session with Kara. She was a little rough. I like rough sex, but I had never experienced it with a woman before. Not that rough anyway. I checked the mash first thing and it was bubbling right along, so I knew I was going to be cutting it close for Friday night. I went back to the house and began researching Kara. I got her last name from her driver's license, when she went to the ladies room and left her wallet on the food court table. She most likely knew I checked her ID. If she were a plant by someone out to harm me, she would have left the wallet intentionally. If she were just a woman out for some exercise, she might have left it as well since she had only three dollars in it. Her name was Kara alright and her least name was Davenport of all things. I would hardly have expected that with so dark a skin. I would have expected Ohbahwa or something equally hard to say. I used my tie in with the computer at the swamp to check the FBI files as well as NCIC. I got her drivers license file from the state computer system. I had been hacked into them for a year or more. I found that her legal guardian was a Luther Davenport. I was curious so I ran him as well. He came up on Google. Luther was a missionary in Nigeria, if he was still alive. So Kara was an adopted child. Probably sent to live with church members as a foster kid. Most likely she joined the army as a way to get citizenship quickly. I had no idea what the rules concerning church adoptions. Anyway I had a plausible scenario whether it was the truth or not only Kara and God knew for sure. Since God stopped talking to me long ago, I would have to keep my wits about me, if I saw her again. I could of course just forget her and see if she turned up again. Problem was I kind of liked her and I wanted to see her dance at least. I wasn't all that surprised when Liam called on Thursday. Since the mash wasn't ready I had time to think about him. I had both Liam and Kara on my mind, when he called. "I was just thinking about you," I said. "Really anything good," he asked. "I was wondering, if you might be headed this way anytime soon?" I asked. "Not till spring. I was hoping you would come to visit me here," he suggested. "I really don't have time I have work to do up here," I said. I did not tell him about Kara. I did however decide what I was going to do. "In that case I will see you when I see you," he said more than a little snippy. He just wasn't used to people refusing him anything. "I suppose so," I said. and hung up the phone. On Friday morning I checked the mash and it was still working. I spent the day working around the house doing nothing at all. I cleaned three dozen water bottles and sanitized them. Other than that there was nothing to be done in preparation for the cooking of the mash. I went to dinner Friday night at the pub. "So are you going to meet the dancer," Jeremy asked. He had been present with I briefed The Brit. I did that just in case she was a plant. He would at least know where to look, if she was from the Miami Mafia. Yes it was highly unlikely, and my paranoia was showing. But it wouldn't be for justice that I send him in her direction, it would be for revenge, I thought. "Yes I think I am going to leave here and drive down to Abbottville to the exotic dancer club. It is not somewhere I usually go, since it is 25miles and full of kids. It is the university town for the western branch of the state university. It's enrollment is more than the population of the towns of County Seat and Dobson combined. So everything is geared to college kids there. There is just nothing for me to do in a town like that. Well nothing I can't find closer. I was pretty sure that Jim sold product to someone in Abbottville, but that had nothing to do with me. "So you guys want to drive down to the strip club with me," I asked. "One of us needs to stay and keep the doors open. It is Friday night," Jeremy said. ------- Chapter 214 "Maybe I should go to keep you from getting mugged. A woman alone in a strip club is going to be mistaken for a hooker," The Brit said. "I'm not sure anyone is going to recognize her as a woman. Sylvia is wearing her androgynous look tonight. Sylvia you do that so well, I wouldn't know for sure myself," Jeremy said. "But Allen you are right just in case you probably should go. If it is a fun place, we can go on a weeknight, if Sylvia will manage the pub for a couple of hours?" "You know I will," I suggested. "But," Jeremy said, "I expect you to bring that bimbo dancer here for dinner on her next night off." "You thinking about changing sides Jeremy?" I asked. "You never know. They say there is a woman for every man. Maybe she is the one," he said with a huge laugh. One in which we all joined him. It had stopped raining earlier in the day, so the road was more or less dry. If it hadn't stopped raining it would probably be freezing rain as it had been the night before. The interstate had dried off due to all the traffic running up and down it. Most of the side roads were dry as well, but the parking lot of the Exotic dance club had a few slick spots. I didn't have four wheel drive and the cruiser/ micro-minivan was light in the ass. All that made me a little ice paranoid. I managed to find a space where I could back the cruiser in against the building. I didn't think it was too slippery there, but we would see when I tried to leave. At least I had The Brit to push me, if I needed it. I didn't plan to stay long, so conditions shouldn't deteriorate before I pulled away from the dance club. "So this is what the strips clubs look like in a college town," The Brit said. "Yes, I guess it is," I replied. I wore that strip of elastic for a bra. I also wore a baggy top and pair of cargo pants. I hoped that I looked like a slightly effeminate young man with really bad hair. It was ten thirty when we entered the club. It was dark enough outside and bright enough inside, so that we didn't need any time for my eyes to become accustomed to the dark. I saw Kara right away. I even pointed her out to The Brit. "She doesn't seem all that sexy." he said. "She was a hell of a dancer I thought. It has something to do with her movements. She just doesn't hit you in the face with sex." "True but even so I bet she is a popular dancer. She has enough rhythm and she has one hell of a body." Her problem was she looked bored to tears. "I can't believe that the mood of this place doesn't influence her dance. It obviously doesn't. She doesn't seem to know that she is an exotic dancer." "What can I get you," the bartender asked breaking into our observations. "Two of whatever you got on draft is fine," I said in my best attempt at a gravely voice. I put a five dollar bill on the bar and he returned and said, "That is six buck. The are three bucks each." "Sorry, I had no idea that the entertainment was that good," I said. "That black girl has a hell of a body, but she isn't very enthusiastic," The Brit said. "Whatever," the bartender said. "Is she new or something," he asked. "She's been here a couple of months," he said and walked on to one of the other customers buying drinks for a dancer on break. "Sounds like she is legit. Two months for a sleeper is fine, if she is a spy. That ain't what we have to worry about. When the people in Miami send someone, it will be job specific," I said. "I would have to agree with that, besides this is a shitty cover job for a specific female target," The Brit said. "But I have to admit the dancing grows on me." Her set seemed to finish a few minutes later. She walked to one of the tables first then to the bar. "Do you also wait tables?" I asked her. I did it mostly to get her attention. "Well Sylvia you look all butch and shit tonight. Is that just for me?" she asked. "I do this look now and then, even when I'm not meeting big beautiful black women," I said. "Well I have to admit you do it wall?" So this Brit guy with you. What up with him?" "You can actually ask me yourself dear," The Brit said. "Okay Brit, you screwin' Sylvia?" She asked. "Is that why she look like a sissy guy?" "Well I have been known to have a fling with Sylvia, but that's not why she is dressed like that tonight. I think it was so she could stand at the bar without being hit on by every Tom Dick and Harry," The Brit said. "I see, so am I going to be the filling in a guy and girl sandwich?" she asked sarcastically. "No sweetie, I just came to see you dance," I said. Frankly I wasn't impressed you just look bored." "So you could do better?" she asked. "I sure as hell couldn't do worse," I replied. "Does it count that I don't believe you bitch," she said. "Who you calling bitch, bitch?" I asked. "You are so full of bullshit," she said with a smile. "Even with my skinny little body, I can dance sexier than that," I said laughing at Kara. "Well, so far all you can prove by me is you are full of crap," she said. "Fuck it," I said as I headed to the ladies room. Once inside I took off the parka the shoulder rig and my cargo pants full of weapons. I was in the tee shirt bikini panties and stretch bra. When I got back to the bar I said, "Go tell you boss he has a free dancer tonight." I waited with The Brit, I could tell the guys still weren't quite sure who I was. It wasn't for a few minute that Kara returned, when she did come back she said, "Go for it slut." "Right," I said as I went to the stage and started to dance to the hard driving music. I took off the tee shirt to the beat of the music. I even removed the elastic sports bra that flattened my boobs. Without it I had small breast but they were definitely boobs. I danced and swayed my hips. Thats when I heard the man in the front row say, "He is a guy on hormones." and laugh. I took off the panties I wore and showed him the stubble on my mound. I let him get a really close look before I went back to dance on the pole. I felt as sexy as I looked I'm sure. I really was getting wound up. I looked to the bar and saw Kara touching The Brit with one hand and herself with the other. All over the bar people were breathing through their mouths. I actually enjoyed the effect I had on the customers. I even enjoyed see Kara rubbing The Brit though his trousers. She looked as though she were enjoying it as well. I waited until the song ended, before I picked up my clothes and went to the bathroom to dress. The Brit was safeguarding my parka and pants. They held the deadly weapons, as the saying goes. "So do you see how it is done," I asked with a smile. "I don't really enjoy men looking at me, you obviously do." she said. "You ought to consider a job at Walmart then," I suggested. "I might not have much talent but I got a hell of a lot better body than you honey," she said her voice bordering on nasty. "You will get no argument from me on either score. If you had my talent or I had your body one of us could get rich dancing." I laughed at her. "I do okay," she said. "I'm sure you do," The Brit said. "Yeah like I was doing for you honey. I get twenty bucks for a hand job and a hundred for a blow job," she said. "I can imagine there is a lot of demand for those from you," I said. "Yeah and to think you got one for free Sylvia," she said. "Imagine that I charged for mine as well. Then we would be even and you won't have to feel so bad." I said. "You two about through playing whose is bigger," The Brit asked. "No contest there, hers are," I said. "Even though you don't think much of my act I have another set to do. Are you two going to hang out till I'm through." she asked. "Why not," I replied. The Brit didn't look happy but I figure it was my turn to get what I wanted. While we waited several guy came to offer me a drink. I turned them all down. I was driving after all. An especially sleazy looking man approached me. "I own this place. I think you got some good moves. Are you looking for a job dancing." "No, and I don't give blow jobs for money, and if I did, you couldn't afford me," I said. "Don't get so snippy Miss. I own this place and I'll throw you out," he said. "You gonna do it yourself?" I asked. "Or have one of your bouncers do it." "Oh I think I could do it myself," he said. "I sure hope you have good insurance, and if you do I hope you try it." I said. "Sylvia, you have bagged your limit for the month," The Brit said. "You go on to the car and I'll tell Kara to come out and we will buy her breakfast." "You must be living right," I said to the sleazy manager as I passed him. I really wanted to shank him. Maybe nail his hand to the bar with one of those driveway spikes. That always look like so much fun in the movies. I went out to the car and started it so the heater would run. It was definitely past chilled. It had reached downright cold. I waited about ten minutes until The Brit showed up. "So what's the deal?" "She said to go on to the restaurant. She will meet us there. She has to get her car out of the parking lot after work. She probably doesn't want to have to drive from this parking lot later tonight," the Brit suggested. "Sounds about right I guess," I agreed. So the Brit and I drove to the all night waffle house restaurant for coffee while we waited. We actually had two cups each before she showed up. When she did come in, she looked more like the mall walker than a dancer. "Well hello not so tiny dancer," I greeted her. "Hello Tiny person, I have no real idea what you do," she said. "I shop," I said. "I guess that's what going to actions is really just shopping. I'm pretty good at it I think. "So you buy things at auction and resell them on ebay or something?" she asked. "Something like that yes," I said. "I also do an odd job now and then." "So how odd are the jobs?" she asked. "They are pretty odd at times," I admitted. "But that's boring talking about me. So how was school today?" "School was fine," she said staring at The Brit. "Are you gay?" she asked. "Yes," he said. "Actually he is bisexual," I suggested. "Leaning more to the gay side," he said. He looked at me a little less friendly than usual. I wondered, if I had crossed some line. I sure hoped not, but I had only told the truth. I had never told Jeremy and never would. After an hour of eating I asked, "So you coming home with me?" "No I'm not, thanks anyway." she said. "I'm leaving early tomorrow going home." "Oh okay, well thanks for meeting us for breakfast," I said. "Yeah thanks," The Brit said. "I guess it was nice to meet you." I turned to The Brit, "You about ready to go home?" I asked him. "Yeah," he said. ------- Chapter 215 We were in the cruiser headed for County Seat when The Brit said, "Sometimes no matter how much you want something to turnout one way, the mother fucker goes a different way. Matter of fact it happens more than it doesn't happen. Seems like more thing go wrong in life, than go right." "Are you trying to be philosophical, or talking about me and Kara, or me and you?" I asked. "Hell, maybe a little of all three," he said with a laugh. "You know Brit, sometimes you have a one night stand, that was so good you would to do it again, but it just don't happen. Sometimes the other person wasn't as high on you, as you were on them, fuck'em if they can't take a joke," I said. "I will agree with that a hundred percent," he said. "So we won't get to share her, I expect we can live with that," I said. "Me toom there are more fish in the reservoir," The Brit said. "Got that is an awful thing to say," I replied laughing so hard I actually lost sight of the road for a few seconds. Thank god I was on the interstate and there was no oncoming traffic to worry about. "You know we are beginning to lose our way," he said. "Brit did you ever know your way. I could just as easily ended up a serial killer as a cop," I said. "That's probably true of most cops. They have a moral compass, I believe. You and me are half a bubble off center," he said. "Maybe a little more than half a bubble in my case," I said. "Oh I don't know. You aren't into the drugs that burn people's brains out. It would be more profitable, and no more work. So that's a moral choice, and I think a good one." he said. "Is that one of those, you aren't so bad. You could be cooking meth, kind of compliments?" I asked. You would expect him to say no, not at all, but he said, "I guess it was." and left it at that. "You know I might run for Sheriff, but if I do, I want to clean my act up first. Get out of the moonshine business. The people in this county wouldn't hold the moonshine or the bootlegging against me at all. The gang in Dobson about half of them would approve, but I can't keep sliding downhill. There has to be a limit." "Make up your mind and I'll support you, if you want to run. I think I can make a hell of a argument. Vote for Sylvia or I'll shoot your ass, in the ass," he said. "Sounds like a good campaign slogan." I agreed. Then added, "There is Mary Ellen." "Not an issue, you can't make unprovable accusations, it's liable," he said. "Do we really want to take the chance that it come back on us though?" I asked. "You want to be Sheriff, I wouldn't worry about it," he said. "It isn't that big a deal. Now those porn movies might be a big enough deal." "They aren't illegal though," I said. "Maybe the sales will go up. They are looking at the guys who took over Mary Ellen's porno company for her death. You know those two kids who were in school at the time we made them. They shot them to payback their student loans, but they have the master tapes." "You know you would have to get ahead of that shit. God only knows what would happen." The Brit said. "One thing I have learned, this is the bible belt for mama, but moonshine and porn for daddy. How it would play out, I have no idea. But I can run in the primary against the Sheriff we have now, or his chief deputy, if the Sheriff doesn't run again. It wouldn't cost much to print a few posters and make a couple of speeches. I am sure I would have to answer the charges in the primary which would get them out of the way, before I invested too much time and money." "It would blow your moonshine operation. You could never go back to it," The Brit said, "It's getting to be too much work. The money is good, but I don't have time to spend it." I said. "That's the trouble with life, you have to keep working to be sure you have an existence," The Brit said. "Work is the curse of the leisure class," I said. "They are registering for the primary now. Last I heard the Sheriff wasn't on the ballot, but his Chief Deputy is. Deputy Webster wants to be the Sheriff." "So what do you have to do to register," The Brit asked. "Pay the filing fee and prove you are resident of the county. Everything else is scrapping with each other," I said. "So shit register and let them attack you then respond and turn it back on them," The Brit said. "You know Jeremy and I will be on your side. Probably that lawyer Rita as well." "I'm going to do it. Mostly because I'm tired of cooking liquor. If I lose the race, I might go back to work for Swamp Dog," I said. "If they will have me back again." I said. "Good for you now let me tell you this, if you get elected and something big comes up, you can always deputize the guys from the church camp," he said. "I hope that never becomes necessary, but it is comforting to know," I said. "So you definitely gonna file?" The Brit asked. "Yeah I think so, I got two more weeks to put my hat in the ring. I'm going to take most of it. I want to cook off this last batch of mash and close down. Then if I don't win the election I can look for something else to do. I got way too much gray money tied up in trade goods. If I don't get elected, I will have to get rid of that stuff for cash. By the time I let The Brit off outside the rear door to the pub, I had pretty much talked myself into running for sure. I went home and to sleep. I went to bed without doing anything to secure the place, but I got away with that every now and then. I did again that night. I rode the bike a couple of hours the next morning. I rode it for two hours until 7:30AM to be exact. When I got off the bike, I had a bag of biscuits filled with sausage and eggs. When I checked the mash I knew it would be at least one more day, so I ate and went to sleep. I turned off the phone, so I felt good about crawling between the sheets on the big bed. I didn't even take a shower, I just laid down on the clean crisp sheets. It was after six in the afternoon when I turned on the phone. It was only a half minute at most when I answered the call. "A little bird just told me you might run for Sheriff of that county. Let me know if there is anything I can do." Thanks Colonel, but I think I'm going to take it easy. Just let the others take pot shots at me and try to defend myself." I said. "If I can do it with a little humor, I think I can turn their attacks into votes." "Well if it they get too rough let me know. We might be able discourage them," he said with a laugh, "If I do that, I won't be much of a Sheriff. I want to win without intimidating anyone," I said. "Well it sure would be nice if you won," he said. "Well I got to weeks to file for the ballot spot," I said. "You should do it. It would be fun," the Colonel said. "Well I will give it a lot of thought. I'm going to stop the moonshine business either way," I said. "You gonna cook one more batch?" he asked. "Yeah this one is going to start cooking in a couple of days. I could mash in one more time, I guess." I said. "Cook a load after the one you got going now and mash all that stalk you got left in it," he suggested. "I'll buy it at $500 a gallon for all you make on that last run." "One special batch only because we are friends," I said. "Yes we are," the Colonel said and then he was gone. It looked as though things were conspiring to put me in politics, I thought. I didn't mind because like I said, I was bored with the liquor business. Win or lose when it became common knowledge that I had been in the moonshine business, the cops from all over would be looking for my still. So before it became common knowledge, I had to dismantle it and close down the operation for good. The next run belonged to monk, but it was going to be his last. The very last run was for Colonel Martin from the swamp. I figured it was good for buying me a favor or two. Of course if I won, I expected him to come looking for a harmless favor now and then. The first thing I did was to get busy working out what I needed for the last two runs, then getting rid of the rest. I had a bunch of deer feed corn to get rid of even if I brewed with mostly corn as a component it might taste better, but it wouldn't make it any higher proof. The fact that the Colonel wanted the pot heavy in his batch told me he understood about THC. The higher the concentrate the more potent the brew. In my case the more potent the alcohol and THC drink. During the next week, while I worked on Monk's last batch, I spent a lot of time with Kara on my mind. She had acted strange toward The Brit and I. Maybe it was something to do with that club. I didn't see how it could be, she had invited me to the club. I knew and she should know that The Brit was harmless, if he was with me. I would like to know what had happened, but I didn't want to know enough to go ask her. She was going to have to come looking for me, if she was in some kind of trouble. I cooked for two days to get the two barrels of mash done. I wanted to cook the batch for the Colonel after I had cleaned everything up from Monks run. I had 16 gallons before I proofed the shine and twenty gallons after. So Monk but some real money on me. I explained that I was out of the business. He had the last batch coming his way. I arranged a dead drop on the farm down the road from me. The owner had died and it had been abandoned for a year. I never dropped to anyone, but the monk there. He moved $6000 from his account to my pay pal account to purchase a signet ring from an estate sale. I dropped the whiskey, when the money cleared pay pal. It was all above board when I delivered the whiskey to the drop and left the game camera to watch the pickup. It was definitely the monk in his old green pick up with the primer colored door. I called him to say I had his picture and the pickup with clean. He agreed and hung up. ------- Chapter 216 So I mashed in the Colonel's run. I put in 15pounds of corn and all the stalks I had left after I ground them. Then I added the yeast and let it begin to work off. For two weeks I made myself seen around town. I talked to a few people I knew and who could help me, if I decided to run for Sheriff if couldn't hurt to have their advice. The advice was all the same, try to turn your negatives into positives, admit to everything, and make a joke of it. The Colonel Martin Mash was working and it had a couple of more days, when Kara called. "Sylvia I would like to see you," she said. "I don't think that would be a good idea. You see Kara I was about to get involved with you and you dumped on me. So I'm clear of you now, and I think I want to keep it that way." "Okay, if you change your mind come to the mall at 9AM any morning, I will be there most any time. I'll try to explain it, but if you aren't interested, you aren't interested." she said. "I'll think about it, and if I'm there tomorrow, you get your shot. If not, I just decided not to try again." I said it pretty sure I would not be at the mall the next morning. "That's fair enough, I can't ask for more than that," she said. I spent the evening at the pub. I mentioned Kara's call to The Brit. "You aren't going to meet her are you?" he asked. "I'm thinking about it. She might have a reasonable explanation," I said. "She is going to sell you ten pounds of bullshit, in a five pound wrapper," The Brit said. "Maybe she has an explanation," Jeremy said. "Jeeze Jeremy, you are just as foolish as Sylvia. Kara is a bitch, you just want her to be harmless, because she is beautify. Yes, I admit she is beautiful." The Brit said. "Maybe I can talk her into doing it with all of us," I said. "From what Allen said you don't need to talk her into anything. You just need to have enough cash." Jeremy said. "So she admitted she was in the sex for money trade. She didn't seem to be involved for any reason other than the money. I mean she doesn't act like a junkie or anything." "I think she is probably a little like she seems, but more full of shit," Jeremy said. "And I never met her." "That's probably true, but I don't know what her bullshit story is. If I meet her at the mall, she can't pull anything on me. If I'm at least a little careful."I admitted. "Carry the big revolver and the derringer," The Brit said. "Yeah, and lots of untraceable shanks," I agreed. "Remember you are thinking about running for sheriff. You do not need to get involved in anything shaky. The Brit said. "Are you really going to run for Sheriff," Jeremy asked. "I'm pretty close to making a decision," I admitted. At the pub I drank one dark beer and five cups of black coffee. I was definitely not drunk but I was jittery as hell. I saw the blue lights in my rear view mirror, so I pulled over. "Well hello deputy," I said to one of the new deputies. "What can I do for you?" "Got a question for you Miss Porter, if you run for sheriff and lose, what you going to do after?" he asked. "I don't know, what should I do?" I asked. "Leave Warren County. The word is to make your life miserable between now and after the election." he said. "I haven't even filed for the election yet," I said. "I know, but you been asking around about it. People say you are going to run, but that you don't have a chance, too many skeletons in the closet. Yeah, I got some skeletons, but don't we all?" I asked. "At least anyone I would want to be Sheriff would have a few. "Well I'm just saying, if you run and lose, this might not be the best place for you," he suggested. "And what if I win. What do you think I'd going to do to those who threaten me?" I asked. "I'm not threatening you Sylvia, I just warning you." he said. "Well, we will just have to see how bad the good guys are." I replied. I drove home trying to figure out what all was happening. I had the Sheriff's deputies warning me that someone was out to fuck me up. I had a black hooker who seemed to have problems trying to apologize for being a bitch, and I was in the process of closing down and disposing of my still and liquor business. I had gone from boring to overload in a couple of weeks. I loved my life at times like that. There would be time for the peaceful life, when I reached sixty. And that didn't even take into consideration my strange connection to a mercenary group. I had no idea how they would play into things. The spring and summer were going to prove interesting in the one hitching post towns around County Seat. I awoke at five and rode the bike through the mountain community of County Seat and to the plaza which sat on the road that connected the Dobson road to the interstate highway. It was a nice long two hour ride and it always wore me out. It was only 7:30 am when I rode around the gate which blocked cars from entering the compound. How could that be you ask, well the drive way had a three foot ditch on each side of the cattle gate over it. Then there was the solid metal gate that was anchored in lots of reinforced concrete. So the bike crossing was a single 2 x 10 across that three foot deep and 3 foot wide trench. It wouldn't support a car but it would support me and the 6 speed bike. I went into the house and then immediately into the shower. It was a plain fiberglass shower stall sitting beside a plastic janitor's sink. The janitor's sink was flanked on the left by the toilet completing the coverings of the rear wall of my front box. I stepped into the shower stall and stood under the hot water. Even after I washed my body and my hair several times, I stood there. The tankless water heater finally gave up and spewed cold water. It just couldn't keep up no matter what they said in the commercials. The water also wasn't that hot, but I didn't have room for a conventional water heater. It also got me dressing faster than I would otherwise. I put on my navy blue cargo pants and the red long sleeve tee shirt. I planned to wear a white canvas parka over the outfit. The parka the man at the army navy store swore was a knock off of some Asian country's navy's submarine service. Of course I knew better, but I pretended to believe him because I wanted the parka. Parkas covered my upside down pistol rig better than anything else I had found. I planned to follow The Brit's advice and carry the revolver in the upside down shoulder rig and the derringer in the pants pocket. Not to mention at least one of the driveway spike daggers. It was to be a somewhat contentious meeting. I knew I should stay home to disconnect and get rid of the still first, but I had days to do that but only this one chance to meet and find out what happened with Kara. I did hope she had a good story to tell. I had more coffee while I waited for the clock to show me it was time to head down to the University Mall. The wait got to much for me so I drove down to the mall. I went into the food court and got myself a cup of really bad coffee. I drank less than half of it before Kara came up. Unlike me when I worked out, she was dress in a designer sweat shirt. One of those from some workout line of clothing. The pants were fitted showing off her butt. The most obvious thing was that her massive breasts were real and swung free. She looked like a model in a super bowl advertisement. She sat down taking my coffee cup and finishing it. "Thanks," she said then got quiet. "Is the thanks for the coffee, or for me showing up," I asked. "Both," she said. "Well the coffee is no big deal, but I'm leaving if you don't come up with some explanation for Friday night," I explained. "Look Sylvia I don't like telling you this. I certainly wouldn't do it in front of your friend," she said. "Okay what is the explanation," I said. "The club manager was having a Saturday morning party in the club, and insisted I dance for it." she said. "I don't buy that at all," I said. "You seem to be a nice kid, but you are no great dancer." I "I'm also no kid. I know what dancer means in this business. The point was I couldn't go home with you and make the party," she explained. "So you miss one party to be with me what it cost you a hundred bucks, do you need money that bad?" I asked. "Yes Sylvia I need money that bad and it wasn't just a hundred bucks. If I refused I wouldn't be dancing at the club any more. I can clean houses for fifty bucks a day or I can dance for two fifty a night. I got some student loans, but they don't cover everything. At least not things I want." she said. "Well if you can live with the things you do to get it, then it's nobody's business but yours," I said. "I wanted you to know why I stood you up Sylvia. That's all, if you want to try again, it's cool, if not I understand." Kara said. "I assume you have a car," I said. "And a phone." "Yes I have a car and a phone," she said. "Then call me, when you want to try it again. Its only a twenty minute drive up to my place. Call first, I don't like unexpected guests." I said. "Sylvia its a five minute drive from here, and there won't be any visitors at my place either. No one knows where I live." she said. "No one has ever been there?" I asked showing my surprise. "Okay a boyfriend, but he doesn't come around any more." Kara replied. "So are you inviting me to come home with you?" I asked "If you wait while I walk another quick mile, I am," she replied. "I can do that sure," I replied. I got myself another cup of coffee while she walked. I didn't actually see her walk, but I was sure she did it, because there was a sweat sheen to her exposed skin that gave her away. We left the mall immediately and I followed her European sports sedan to an upscale apartment complex. I parked beside her and then followed her inside the very stylish one bedroom apartment. It might have been a one bedroom, but it was a full one bedroom. The eat in kitchen was separated from the living room. "This is very nice," I said. "I like it she said," closing the space between us and kissing me roughly. ------- Chapter 217 Kara had my number for sure. She kissed me while her hands made a rough move on my body. Then she realized I was wearing a shoulder holster. She stepped back with a curious look. The look said it all, should couldn't have faked that surprise on her face. She had no idea who I was. That might be a good thing. I took a deep breath before I removed the canvas parka. "It's a .22 magnum revolver and no it isn't a joke. I am licensed to carry it. I am a licensed private protective agent, body guard to you laymen." I said. "Do you always wear that. Even when you aren't working?" she asked. "Anytime I'm not sure what the threat might be, I wear it. I have no way to know who you really are. If you want, I will leave." I said. "Guns freak some people out. I didn't think it would freak you out." "No you don't have to go, but I need to see your identification as a private protective agent," she said. "No problem," I said removing my card case from my pants pocket. Another reason I liked loose pants with lots of pockets. She looked at it closely then handed it back with a serious look. "Do you feel comfortable enough to take it off?" she asked. "Sure," I said. I didn't mention the derringer or the dagger. I just slipped the shoulder rig off. I tossed it on the sofa. She again closed the gap between us. She reached down and unbuttoned the trousers. When they fell to the floor all my weapons were gone. I was at her mercy, because frankly I never was much of a fighter. I'm small and light in the ass. I don't know Karate or any of those things. All I bring to a fight is my willingness to do whatever I can and that is no match for a two hundred pound man with ham hocks for hands. Or in this case a six foot woman with a very athletic body. If this turned rank, I would be at her mercy unless I found a weapon of some kind. She had me almost naked when I stepped out of the trousers. I did have my bikini panties and bright red long sleeve tee shirt. Kara kissed me again. It was long wet and breath taking. I felt like I was being deprived of oxygen it was so intense. The temperature in the apartment must have risen ten degrees because it was suddenly uncomfortable. She looked down at me when she broke the kiss and said, "Kneel." I shook my head and tried to step back. She held me with one hand on each arm and forced me to my knees. My face was even with her fleece covered mound. "Take my running pants off," she demanded in a quiet voice. Refusing never entered my mind. I just reached up to the waste and untied the string and pulled the pants over her hips. She kicked them off her feet. She stood over me in a black thong. "Take it off." There was no question what she meant. I reached up and pulled the piece of lace off her body. When it was on the floor, she spread her legs wide. "You know what to do," she said almost angrily. I buried my face in her body. I had to balance against her as I used my hands to open the hood surrounding her clit. I sucked it between my lips. It was long enough to fit between them which was a little unusual. My clit was no more than a pea, it would never have done that. She moaned and rocked moving my head while I tried to stay in contract with her clit. "Put your finger inside me," she demanded." She liked being in charge there was no doubt about that. She continued to move against me for some time before she moved me away then sat in the chair by her desk in the living room. Then she motioned me over. I tried to stand but she motioned for me to stay on my knees. I moved between her legs and returned my face to her vagina. I covered the opening and sucked the liquid from it. The liquid from her body was much thinner than that from a man's would have been. She continued to move under my mouth and hands as she stroked my hair. My hair was short enough so that she could pretend I was a man if that was her desire. "Oh baby you eat pussy better than anyone I ever met. God I want to cum so much. I want to fill your mouth with it. Don't you stop now." she said as she forced me to make the seal over her opening even tighter. "You my whore Sylvia just like I'm a whore for the men at the club. You gonna be my whore ain't you baby?" she asked. She had my mouth pressed so tight against her I couldn't answer. "Tell me you my whore baby, tell me now." she said holding me close while she squirted her thin lubricant into my mouth. I couldn't help coughing she came so much. "That's a good whore you choke but you keep on sucking. That's how I do it." she said. I wasn't sure what had happened except I was so turned on that when she touched my clit I exploded and couldn't stop for a long time. "You a good whore. You want to eat my pussy all the time don't you whore?" she asked. "Yes I want to eat you all the time," I said. "Say you want to eat my black pussy all the time, you white whore," she demanded. "Yes I want to eat your black pussy all the time," I declared. "Whenever I let you are you gonna eat my black pussy?" she asked. "Yes I am going to eat your black pussy whenever you let me," I said in a whisper. "And you gonna come when I call you whore," she asked. "Yes I will come whenever you call me," I said. "Good now get dressed and go home and dream about my pussy," she demanded. "Alright," I said. "Call me ma'am you cunt," she said. "Yes ma'am," I said. Once I dressed and was back in my car I tried to assess what had happened. I had never known a woman so much in charge. One who knew how to dominate me. More important, I had never known a woman who could recognize that I would respond to that approach. Maybe even needed that kind of sexual encounter. I knew that it could just as easily have been a man. I was responding to the strength of my sex partner not the person. I came to those conclusions while I rode back to County Seat. I stopped at the Hardee's for coffee while I ran the scan of the last 24hours. I had run it before, but I ran it anyway. As usual it showed nothing. When I got to the compound, I found the colonels mash was finished. It was a little more green than I usually ran, but it was ready so I strained the first ten gallons into the cooker. I added another two pounds of stalks to the mix and began to apply the heat. The Brit called me about about two hours of the cooking. "So how was your meeting with Kara?" he asked. "How do you know I went to meet her?" I asked. "Because I know you. She is a mystery and you could never leave a mystery alone. So how was it?" he repeated. "It was fine Brit," I said. "Well that's good to know. So you coming by the pub tonight?" he asked. "No, I think I'm going to stay home and cook my dinner tonight," I said. It was out code to let him know I was in the still house. "Okay well if you need anything let me know," he said. He hung up immediately after the conversation ended. I cooked into the night. I put the liquor in a five gallon bucket with a lid to store tell the next one finished. It was the middle of the night when I refilled the cooker. I did take the time to clean out the residue from the first batch. I strained the mash into the cooker added some more stalks then started the fire again. While I waited for the pot to boil I carried the residue from the first batch into the woods and poured it onto the ground. I would take the residue from the mash as well as the last cook out to a field near the house and spread it. It was supposed to be excellent fertilizer. By the time I finished the third cook I had been almost three days in the still house. I left it to go to the house for food and to use the toilet. I was way to tired to bottle it but I did anyway. Then I took it up to the dry well I had built. I slept for two days, then went into the still house and cleaned it thoroughly. Yes, I still had the still parts laying about but they were cleaned of any evidence. Just as I had done last time I took the condenser to the Brit's pub, but this time we took it apart and scraped the copper. Scraping it, in out case, meant giving it to a scrap metal dealer. The CPVC and fittings, I tossed into a dumpster the county used to avoid trash pick up. I thought I might keep the cooker, but then I decided I really didn't want anything left over from the liquor business. I called around and found one place in the whole damn county that had use for a ten gallon cooker. The First Calvary Baptist Church of Dobson. They had a Brunswick stew every spring. At the moment they were juggling it between ten different pots trying to cook up eighty gallons. With the cooker I was donating they could cut it down to six pots. I had no idea how it would work but I loaded the into the back of the cruiser and carried it to the church's fellowship hall kitchen, where the ladies of the church and the men of the church were cooking to beat hell. That fellowship hall reeked of game parboiling. There few smells worse than that. With that cooker gone, I went home and called Monk. "Monk my friend why don't you meet me for a cup of coffee." I suggested. "Well how about we make it a drink at the Brit's pub," he suggested. "I think you would be comfortable there. I know I would." "You know I think that is an excellent idea," I suggested. "How about we make it for dinner tonight. They have a hamburger pie Mexican style tonight." "Say 7PM then?" he asked. "Done, see you there," I suggested. That's why I got to the bar at 6pm and had coffee until Monk showed up. We took a walk about back before dinner. That is where I explained I was out of the liquor and pot business. I might or might not run for sheriff, but I was out of the liquor business anyway. "As long as you aren't selling to anyone else," Monk said. "Monk, I want you to think back to that gang clubhouse in Dobson. Now I'm not selling to anyone else, but if I wanted to honey, I would do it and not think twice." He looked a little sick, but nodded his understanding. He decided he wasn't hungry after all. He was gone when I had dinner with Jeremy and The Brit. I went home and checked the compound extra carefully that night. ------- Chapter 218 I awoke the next morning at 5AM and rode the bike out of the drive and across the plank that was over the trench just to allow the bike across. I rode the two hours and felt better for it. I was sitting in Hardee's with a biscuit and coffee when my phone rang. I had a pretty good idea who would call me so early in the morning. "It raining here this morning, but very warm springtime is upon us," the man's voice said with just hint of a Latino accent. "Sounds nice, it's still chilly here in the mornings," I said. "So, I hear you are making a change," he said. "It's a very large change, not a small change," I said. "I'm sure the priest told you." "Oh yes he did. He also said you might be going into politics," he suggested. "Well I'm opening a trading company first, but I might dabble a little one day," I said. "Well I do hope you do. We could always use a friend in politics," he said. "Sorry, but we aren't friends now, and we aren't going to be friends, if that happens. You won't be treated any worse than anyone else, but no better either. Just the same as everyone else." I said. "Have you thought that position through?" he asked. "I have and I hope you think your position through as well. I don't know what, if any arrangement you currently have here, but if I were to win, all you get from me is a fair deal. Just like the local gas station. First do no wrong and we will get along fine," I said. "That's not what I hoped for, but we will have to wait and see," the voice said. "That's true. We will have to wait and see," I suggested. "You do know it's hard to keep anything secret in a campaign," he tried one last time to convince me. "Well do what you have to do, but you might want to remember, I might win. I admit it isn't likely, I do have a skeleton or two in the closet, but you just never know, when it comes to an election where mountain people vote," I informed him. When he broke the connection, I felt like I needed a shower more than ever. The camera revealed nothing, so I took off for home. I decided if I did run and were to lose, I was going to move the gate about ten to twenty feet onto my property, I would also have to post notices that the field on either side of it was mined. That should stop people from trying to drive around the gate. I had no intention of doing it for real, just of posting the signs. What I would do was to line the drive with well hidden spike strips. Not as deadly a solution, but maybe a distant second to the land mines. I know I was beginning to really get paranoid but I had enemies. I rode the bike home and rode it up to the empty still house. It had a heck of a lot of space inside it at the moment. I could put the inventory of the trading company in it. If the inventory wasn't to valuable. I couldn't see putting guns in the storage box. What I needed to do was to go out and buy things with my ill gotten gains. I also had at least ten gallons of the Green Dragon in my dry well. Some of it was the last batch I had brewed for the Colonel. That stuff was either going to be a kick ass batch, or just the same as the others. I couldn't measure the THC level, so it was purely a guess, but I hoped it was a higher level. I left the alcohol proof at one hundred and twenty. I thought about it and knew I couldn't keep really bad ass stuff in the dry well. I couldn't for instance keep guns and knives in one, but I could keep thing that were unlikely to interest thieves. There were probably things I would come into contact with that I couldn't even imagine at that moment. I went to the house and sat around trying to decide what I could possibly do to occupy myself now that I wasn't cooking all day. I really hadn't realized how much of my life revolved around cooking liquor, till I stopped. I rode the tricycle into town. It wasn't all that far, but it took about twice as long on the trike than it did in the cruiser but I didn't mind. What else did I have to do with the time. I was back to being retired and it sucked. I thought about buy some aluminum and silver wire and going back into making jewelry. That morning the best I could do was sit in the pub and bitch, "Like someone once said to me, find something you want to do and get on with it," Jeremy said. "It doesn't even matter, if you are really good at it, or not." "Damn that makes good sense," I said. "I want to start a trading company, make jewelry, and run for Sheriff." "Well that's a hell of a list. Why don't you go into business with Jeremy?" The Brit asked. Jeremy was sitting on a stool behind the bar where The Brit stood. "It really would be a nice tie in, hand made jewelry and my art work. You could have a couple of display cases for your estate jewelry and other items. We could work out a fair rent." "Jeremy sweetie, I know I can trust you, but Allen will try to have me paying all the rent, if I let him." I said with a laugh. "Well don't let him," he said. "Tell you what let me think about it over the weekend," I said. "My God Sylvia, it's only Wednesday," The Brit said. "Alright, now you have told me that, I might need a little longer," I said with a laugh. "We could run the shop part together and be in our studio or out buying stuff separately, or together," Jeremy suggested. "How about I think it over and make you an offer, if I decide to go the retail store way," I said. When I left the bar I rode the Trike home. I always got a lot of attention when I rode it. If I did run for Sheriff, I could put a poster on the back of the trike and one on th back of the Cruiser micro mini van and ride around town. The primary wouldn't be for several months but registration had already started. There were three names on the ballot already. I liked that. It would water down the vote. I decided to toss my hat in the ring on the ride home from the pub. I put the trike away and went on line. I had decided to do it, but I had not decided to do it that day. It would wait, the same as the decision to go into a retail venture with Jeremy and The Brit. I wanted to see Kara, but I knew better than to call her. She made it pretty clear what the rules of our relationship were going to be. If I didn't want to follow them, then it was over. I could live with that, since I did not expect the relationship to last long at all. It was more a very secretive thing. One that by it's very nature made it both dark and sinister, but also thrilling in its nature. There was a mystery about Kara. A mystery that I knew more about than she thought I did. Kara was a hooker but a hooked on her own terms. That was interesting to me. When I made the definite decision and made the first move toward running for Sheriff, I would have to end the relationship such as it was. I also had to do something about all the cash I had on hand. I had half a million dollars that had not been cleaned. That was going to require some doing in order to account for it. I wouldn't mind turning it into something easier to deal with than a little over half a million dollars in cash. I expected I could buy a hundred dollars worth of gemstones with good money, and a thousand of gray money at the same time. By co-mingling them there was a good chance I could confuse the IRS. Jeremy and I needed to go shopping again. I would love to wait till we could hit yard sales and flea markets as well as auctions, but the weather still wasn't good for those. I spent a couple of days trying to decide what to do before the phone rang. "Sylvia," the voice on the phone said. "Yes, what can I do for you?" I asked. "Do you not recognize the voice luv?" Liam asked. "Of course I do. I am just not thrilled by the sound of your voice. I'm not disappointed either. So as I said what can I do for you." "I called to see if you would like to go visit a small port city down here. There are a few cargo vessels that were damaged in the hurricane last year. They are just now getting around to auctioning off the cargo. You told me you liked to bid on that kind of thing." Liam said. "Well I have never bid on marine salvage before. I guess I could take a chance. Got any idea how much money I would need to get some of it." I asked. "To be honest the way it works is they sell it off in sealed cartons. You buy it off the dock and then if you are real lucky, there are other people there to purchase it from you. If purely a gambol, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. It is a quick resale usually." he said. "So how much money do I need to bring, and when is it?" I asked. "Twenty thousand would get you a couple of lots. They tell me two lots is the minimum you want to buy. From that one should be a winner and cover the cost of a loser. Like I said it's a gamble." Liam said. "So when is it?" I asked. "Saturday at noon," he said. "Short notice but okay I'll go by the bank and get some money this after noon," I said. "Where do you want to meet me?" "That old 1940 retro tourist cabin thing. Vickie's Villa in Marksville," he said. "I remember it. It is about five miles from the swamp compound on the road to the inland waterway." I confirmed. "Yes that is the one. I will be there after 6pm tomorrow," he said. "Fair enough," I agreed. I also hung up without saying goodbye. I wasn't real pleased with Liam. He had no idea what was required to maintain a relationship. That why there was no relationship. No one had any idea what a trip to my bank required. I waited until well after dark. Then I used a very low strength light to find my way to a specific tree. Then I walked three paces from it toward the creek and started to push a sharpened wooden stake into the ground. When it hit the plastic top of the storage container about eight inches under ground, I used a gardener's hand trowel to remove the few inches of dirt. When I had it exposed I removed the top of the box and opened the plastic garbage bag and removed thirty thousand dollars. I took a little extra just in case I needed it. Truth was I had five plastic boxes buried around the property. How that happened was simple I put the cash payments for the liquor business in the storage boxes. When the box got full, I took them out by the light of the moon and buried them. They were all on my property, so there was no worry about someone digging them up by mistake. I could still swear I knew nothing, if the IRS or ABC agents found them. Anyone could have buried them was going to be my position. ------- Chapter 219 I left headed for the coast after my morning ride. It was 9AM after I showered and loaded the car with a few clothes and weapons. I carried the eight shot .22mag since I had thirty K in cash. I didn't expect any trouble, but one just never knows what might happen. The thirty K was in hundred dollar bills, so it took up a little more space than the cargo pants could accommodate. That morning was one of the few times in my life, that I carried a purse. I carried it to hold the cash. I meandered along toward the coast so it took me the better part of nine hours to make the drive. I got to Vickie's Villa about half an hour before Liam. When I told the girl I was checking in for him, she seemed a bit skeptical. "Tell you what honey, I'm going across the street to that Wendy's Restaurant, when Liam shows up tell him to come get me." I said. "You don't have to do that ma'am. You can wait in out dinning room," she said. "I don't think so," I said without a smile. I found a seat and a cup of only fair coffee, then I waited for about twenty minutes. "Why are you over here?" Liam asked. "The chick over at the tourist cabins didn't want to let me have a key to your place. I think she thought I was an old whore or something." I said smiling. "Well I will fix that," he said. "No you won't. This is the classiest place around here. It's this or some middle eastern, poorly maintained, concrete block warehouse, with bathrooms," I suggested. "Yeah," he said. Anyway you want to go to dinner or to the cabin first." "I am pretty hungry, but what I want is not on any restaurant menu," I explained. Liam smiled and headed back to the cabin. I followed along behind with my little cruiser van. He waited by the door until I parked and joined him at the little freestanding wood cabin. It was really a neat place. I expected to see Clark Gable come out of the cabin when we opened the door. Liam waited until the door closed behind us before he kissed me like a man who missed his girlfriend. I was glad that he at least appeared to miss me. I could feel his hands move over my body and I gasped for breath. I could feel my skin on fire, all I wanted was for Liam not to stop what her was doing. He didn't disappoint me. He took my top and and then began to suck and nibble one my small breasts. I am sure he could feel me wrap my arms around his head and try to pull him closer. He pulled back and I said. "What?" My voice had to be angry. "You know what I want girl," he said. I did indeed know. I dropped to my knees and unzipped his thick cotton trousers. When I worked his erect, but average sized cock out of his pants, I sucked it into my mouth without any playing. I had missed cock in my mouth. I didn't know, if it was his that made it so exciting, or just any cock would have worked the same magic. I just knew I had come to love the feel of cock in my mouth. I hadn't always, but I had begun to love the feel of it, not just the power that sucking cock gave me. I could feel him getting harder and fighting back to use my mouth. He wanted to move to his own rhythm and not be limited to my movements. He drove his hard cock toward my throat. I had never been able to allow cock into my throat but I always tried. My body just refused. My throat closed up and I gagged. The sound of me gagging and choking turned Liam on. It turned a lot of men on and Liam proved to be no exception. His cock emptied its load deep in my mouth and I could feel it slide down my throat as I swallowed hard not to drown. I tried not to choke completely as it pour spurt after spurt down my throat. He had emptied a huge load of cum into my mouth and both of us were still more or less dressed. He stepped back and collapsed onto a chair. I had not cum, but I felt warm and strangely satisfied. "Let's go get a huge steak," Liam said. "I need to take a shower first," I said. "Bullshit, I would rather have you all sexy and smelling of sex," he said. "That's crazy Liam, I wont be a minute," I said. "No, I don't want you to shower. Come on let's go to dinner." With that he guided me out of the room and toward his SUV. I felt so damn slutty and he must have known how I would react. I actually clung to him all evening. I ate and enjoyed it, but I couldn't wait to get back to the room. Once we were there I stripped off my clothes and got into bed. I pulled him down on me and worked his not quite fully erect cook inside me. His cock hardened as it worked its way inside me. I felt him begin to move inside me and it thrilled me completely. I could feel his cock massage me from the inside. I could feel my breathing quicken my heart beat faster and my body right against his cock. In other words I was working toward a huge orgasm. I was close to an orgasm of very high intensity. I loved it and I only wanted to go higher and higher. I fought against the urge to orgasm. I wanted to make it last. I tried to hold off but just as I lost control and flooded the bed, I felt Liam trying to drive his cock into my stomach. It was an intense sensation his trying to destroy me, while I tried to destroy myself. It was almost like death, to have such an intensive orgasm. We slept in a wet bed that night but it required some doing. I knew then that I was getting soft. I was up at my usual time but without a bike it was simply to run up and down the secondary road outside the tourist cabins. The Sergeant Major ran with me of course. When I turned around he said, "Wimp and kept running." I said, "Show off." loud enough for him to hear. Then ran back to the cabin. I used the spare key to enter the room. By the time Liam returned, I had showered and dressed for the day. I had a feeling he wouldn't be interested in sex for a while. I knew I wasn't interested at least. He returned and flopped into the chair. The bag in his had held two coffee cups. The were Styrofoam so the best I could hope for was adequate coffee. I don't give a fuck who made it, if it comes in a Styrofoam cup it is just adequate. However adequate is fine sometimes. At time like that morning, after you almost died orgasming, after an hour of running, adequate was more than just adequate. I drank my coffee while Liam showered. When he finished the shower, and dressed in his unofficial fatigue outfit, we went to breakfast. He drove so I carried the purse that looked more like a small camera case with a shoulder strap, which is what it really way. Only instead of a camera it held 30K in ill gotten gains. Since I carried that kind of cash I also carried the upside down rig under my parka and my derringer inside the pants pocket. I just never figured out where I would carry that thing with a skirt. Over breakfast Liam explained why the auction of freight damaged items was being held in a small town. "In the old days they would have called it a tramp steamer. It does not carry containers like the ones you live in. Speaking of that, don't ever feel like a bag lady living on the street?" He asked. "No I don't. Now go on," I demanded. "Okay, this thing carried probably 100 tons of freight I really don't know thats a guess. Some of it had already been delivered in the shallow water ports along the east coast of your country. It put into harbors too small for a super freighter. Maybe even a regular sized freighter. Then it got caught in the storm. It got washed up on the rock or somehow went aground. There were items up on the deck that were scheduled for delivery in other ports along the way before they got soaked and tossed around the deck. The wooden creates were water damaged and broken. So the insurance settled. Now they are trying to get some of their money back. They figured it was cheaper to auction the crates off where they sit, than move them all over hell." Liam explained. "Any idea what's in those crates?" I asked. "Here is a manifest, but it isn't too helpful since the crates are unmarked. Why that is I have no idea," he added. The manifest called for mostly items that would not be helped by water exposure, but not necessarily ruined. I figured some of the stuff on the manifest could be resold easily, if I got it cheap enough. "Okay it looks good," I said. "Now tell me why you are interested." "I just saw an opportunity for us to be together for a weekend," he said. "Liam don't ever go into politics, you are a terrible liar," I said. "Spill it or I say thanks for the fuck and go home." "Okay, but that's why I agreed to get you into bed again. Otherwise I would have told them to go to hell." He saw the look I gave him then held up his hands and continued. "There was a shipment on the freighter meant for us. It was part of the water damaged merchandise, but we don't know which crate it is." "So you can't bid without drawing attention to yourself. You don't have an import license for what is really in the crate. You need a shill and I'm the perfect patsy, nice," I said to him. "Now don't get your panties in a wad. We will buy it from you for a huge profit. You will have to buy more than the one crate to make it look legit." he said. "Do you think? This is so fucked up. Why the hell should I do this for you guys?" I asked. "Because no matter how you deny it, you will always be one of us," he said smiling. "I am sure as hell not one of you. You are going to rent me a truck to haul this shit home. You can also get a tow bar to pull my van." I said. "Just as soon as we find out how big a truck we need," Liam said. We took a walk through the cute older port town. They had done good things with the historic district. Then we went into the small dock area and to the warehouse where the damaged sale was being held. "I have the dimensions. I will tell you which crates it could be. You need to buy them all." Liam said. When the auction ended I had bought six crates that were possibly theirs and five more just because I had the money and thought they looked interesting. Then Liam placed a call. Fifteen minutes later a Budget Rent A Truck showed up. A fork lift from the company that ran the port, loaded the crates onto the truck. Andrew was the truck driver so I wasn't surprised the truck was quickly on it's way out of the port and headed for the swamp. ------- Chapter 220 By 6PM I had parted with most of the 30K and was headed to the swamp to she exactly what I had bought. Getting into the swamp was a lot easier than getting into my small compound. Well it seemed easier. There were all kinds of observation devices and more than one dead fall along the way. The swamps idea of a dead fall was a 1/2 pound of Semtex swinging on a cable from a roadside tree onto your car. Slightly more lethal than a bitch with a over and under shotgun waiting for you at the house. In the case of the swamp they pretty much knew who I was before I got to the end of the two mile drive way. It dumped me into the parking lot of the administration building. The driveway ended and it was pretty much the only paved road on the property. ATV were the only mechanized means of transportation. I wasn't sure it that had been the case my only other visit to the swamp compound. It was shortly after my release from the hospital so I was still suffering emotion injuries. In the parking lot I saw the big ass Budget Rental Truck. The rear loading door was up and several of the crates were open. By the time I made it out of my car Colonel Martin and Liam were standing in the parking lot. I could tell Colonel Martin was trying to decide how he should greet me. I walked to him and shook his hand very masculine I thought. I could be girlie but I could also be butch. The situation called for butch. Martin handed me a bank transfer for 25K. The voucher said it was for two cases of electronic devices from the embassy at Tripoli. My bet was that there was some other hardware involved. However I took the money for the two cases. I had no idea what was inside the other nine crates. "So can I go into the truck to see what the fuck I bought?" I asked. "By all means we would prefer you have dinner with us and stay the night. You can leave in the morning for home," he suggested. "That sounds like fun," I said thinking of Liam and Andrew. "On that note I have warned both The Sergeant Major and The Post Commandant that you are not to be disturbed." Martin said. "I see, I suppose they told everyone else?" I asked. "The have indeed." he said. "So you can go check out your truck. I will send someone for you when we begin serving dinner." I nodded and moved to the back of the truck. The men had repacked the crates. One of the crates the right size to hold whatever the Swamp had been looking for had not contained it but had contained laptop computers of an unknown brand. There were probably a hundred of them. The three other crates held boxes of Chinese dinnerware. One of the cases held cutlery. Mostly there were things That would make me a small profit. Then I came to a crate of 9" tablets from china they were most likely knock offs but I could sell them anyway. I needed to get the items back to County Seat where I could check the electronics and see if anyone wanted the crates of cutlery and dinnerware. In the mountain environment the crate of blankets would sell pretty well I thought. "Well I'll be damned. Hello Melody how are you?" I asked. "I am going good Sylvia. Meeting these guys has been a life saver for me. I get up at 5AM and start breakfast. Then I go to Sandhills community college. I'm taking culinary arts. I'm going to be a real fancy chef one day. Right now I just cook for these guys. Breakfast and dinner they fend for themselves for lunch." she said. Fend for themselves meant they didn't eat at all. If they had anything it might be peanut butter crackers. I didn't say anything since it was dinner time. "Do you have any idea where I should sit?" I asked since I was the first one to arrive. "They told me you were going to eat at the Colonel's table," she said. "Melody are you clean," I asked. "I have been clean for over two years," she said. "Here no one is on drugs and they keep me clean and straight." "Well sounds like you are on the right track," I said taking a seat at the Colonel's table. I drank coffee for several minutes until the men started filtering in. There were about twenty men and to my surprise five women. The women looked like combat vets from a Eastern European state, or maybe middle eastern state like Israel. I smiled at them as they passed. Then the colonel entered the room and everyone stood, so I did as well. When in Rome, I thought. When he reached his chair, the Sergeant Major said, "Seats." The men and women were seated and a couple of there brothers in arms served them and us dinner. "I thought you had Melody for this?" I asked. "We do but she needs help now and then, and the troops need to know who the boss it now and again," Liam said. "By the way this pasta with meat sauce is quite good. So you have KP to remind them?" I asked. "When there is a need, if not that there is always the march through the swamp. It's a long difficult trail," he explained. "And Melody has proved to be quite a good cook. Also she seems to be an asset in dealing with the new females we are recruiting these days." "I can imagine she is quite the little asset. I know it is changing the subject but what about my car. How are we going to get it back to the mountains?" I asked the Colonel. Truth is we are using this as a opportunity to take some photos of the church camp. We need to make a layout for it." he said. "Why do you want a mountain camp? this one seems to pretty much fill your needs?" I asked. "We need to train men to operate in any environment," he explained. "Bullshit," I said. "We do have plans for it, but we need to prepare it first. Of course we also need to buy it," he said with a smile. "Well I'm going to bed early tonight. After I check one of the computers I bought," I said. "Well good luck to you. We do have WIFI you can use," Colonel Martin said with a smile. "And feel free to visit us anytime." "Thanks but I like things they way there were without Swamp Dog's presence in my life," I said. "How do you know, since the soda pop thing, we have never really been out of your life," he said smiling again. "Don't reckon we will be again either." "Whatever," I said walking out to the truck and picking up one of the computer and one of the tablet knock offs. I expected somewhere in the cargo there had been smart phone knock offs as well. Those would most likely work and be easy to sell as well. I looked but couldn't find chargers for the the electronics. When I got to the cabin I tried the computer. It didn't even turn on. I checked for the battery pack and found that instead of a battery pack it had a battery compartment. I went back to the truck in search of batteries for the devices. I found several packs of rechargeable batteries and some universal chargers. I was amazed at what I found. I went back inside and hooked up a charger and filled it with batteries even though the computer needed only half the chargers capacity. Since I had the computer on the way to being ready to test, I tried the 9" tablet. There were batteries in the tablets but they used a removable and rechargeable battery as well. I got the tablet to could on and light up. They like the computer had been in sealed bags so I expected them to work. The tablets had basic applications, though I had no idea what they all did. I had never used a tablet so it was pretty much all Greek to me. I knew it powered up, so my basic nerd Jeremy would know how good it was. Finally the computer was ready to go. It came up but did not have an operating system. I looked all through the box and found nothing. I had loaded a computer with a self contained operating system once. The system was a Linux system. Since I never went anywhere without my trusty computer, I did some basic research and found a operating system I could use to test the hardware. I downloaded the newest version of Linux Puppy to a thumb drive. That is also when I was grateful for the time I spent on line in the company of nerds. I didn't just get off with them, I also learned a thing or two. I hadn't learned enough so I went to a chatroom that wasn't about sex but was about computers. I found a guy who helped me install the Puppy Linux system on the laptop. The system took right off and worked quite well. The temp system allowed me to find out all about the hardware and to even get to the Internet. It was way after midnight when I tried to go to sleep. When I turned out the light someone slipped into the cabin. I knew the person was too short for Liam so I wrapped my hand around the Derringer. "Sylvia, don't be afraid," the voice said. "Oh I'm not afraid. I spent some time in the Middle East and you have the wrong accent so you must be one of the Eastern European chick," I suggested. "They call me Nicki. I am born in the Yugoslavia ... now Serbia," she said. "Okay Nicki you obviously know my name, So what can I do for you that you needed to wait for the cover of darkness?" I asked. "I want to know about these men here are they trustworthy?" she asked. "Very interesting question. What makes you think you could trust anything I say?" I asked. "You stand up to them. Is that permitted?" she asked. "Probably not in your case. I was hired to be a body guard for a rock singer one summer a few years ago. Nobody quite knew what to expect. I have a feeling they don't know what to expect with you ladies. So you can't judge your experience by mine." I replied. "You can tell if they are honorable men," she said seriously. "No man is completely honorable it isn't in their nature. They will say and do whatever is necessary to get the outcome they want. That said the men I have worked for and with here are much better then men in general. When they give you their word they mean it. When the screw you they screw you and forget all about you like any other man. When you work with them, you have to expect the outcome to be different from what they think it will be. They piss me off almost everything time I have dealings with them, but I seem to come back for more or let them walk in and out of my life without any rules to be honest. So If I don't set any rules how can I expect them to honor any rules society sets for them. Wish I could be more help," I said. "I guess it is the language, I didn't understand most of that," she said. "Well to sum it up, I would trust them with my life and I have on more than one occasion," I said. ------- Chapter 221 After the chick left I went to sleep. She had been looking for reassurance, that she had done the right thing. I must have been doubly hard for them, since they had moved thousands of miles away to live in a swamp. Maybe the did need that R&R center in the mountains. It wasn't something that concerned me at that moment, so I drifted off to sleepy land. I awoke at 5AM to the sound of people assembling in the parking lot of the administration building. The assembled crew left for a morning run in the swamp. It was dark as my soul out there and yet they ran. I quickly dress and followed along the trail they had taken. There was zero chance that I would over take them. but their running gave me an idea where the trail was located. Once on it I saw the small markers that glowed in the reflected light from my pocket held light. I usually used it in the mornings so people wouldn't hit me with their cars, but it also illuminated the reflective strips along the running path. I ran for a half hour into the swamp, then turned and retraced my steps. When I got back and showered I found that the others were just coming in from their run. They had been on that trail almost two full hours. In honor of where I was, I wore my camo knockoff fatigue pants and Russian Commando tee shirt with no bra. It was almost warm enough that I didn't need the camo light weight parka but I needed it to hide the .22 magnum revolver. I walked to the mess hall while the others assembled in the parking lot and then were dismissed for breakfast. I didn't really know who was who in the assembled crews, so I just planned to eat alone. It didn't work out that way. I found myself seated with the three girls. They came after I had sat down, with my metal tray full of eggs and toast and some kind of hash, at the table for ten. They were from different country's military, so spoke different languages. To communicate they all used bad English. Most of the men, I noticed, were American or English. Less chance of having one of your own kill you in your sleep. Why they felt these soldiers wouldn't take a automatic rifle to their detachment was beyond me, but I assumed they had been well vetted. "So," one of the women in the poorly fitted fatigues said, "You are the Famous Sylvia Porter?" "Well, I'm Sylvia Porter. I don't know about famous," I said. "Around here you are the woman who ran the shot don't shoot course with a perfect score even with you hand bandaged." she said. "I had run it a few times in my police school, I knew what the targets looked like. It isn't that hard when you know what is coming." I replied. "So how are you finding the training here?" "It is difficult," one of the soldiers said. "Are you the Mossad operative?" I asked her. "Former Mossad," she corrected me. "This should be a walk in the park for you," I said. "I did not like middle of the night runs for them, and I don't like middle of the night runs for Swamp Dogs," she said. "I was lucky I never did that stuff. I came in through the back door. Special soft operative I think," I said. "An you are the one who kidnaps whole families and plans their execution, if her friends are not freed. That doesn't sound so soft to me." she said. "That never happened," I said looking very hard at her. "Don't worry they did not tell me about it here," she said. "That never happened," I said again for emphasis. "Very well you were just a body guard," she said. "What's your name?" I asked. "Rachel," she replied. "I am sorry, if I crossed some line." "Always good to know what the other side knows. I do hope you are not on the other side, because believe it or not, I love these people." I said. I didn't bother to finish my breakfast, I just went to the cabin to pack. I went into the office part main building. I couldn't find Colonel Martin, but I did find Liam in his office. "You leaving?" he asked when he saw me. "Yes I'll be going. You will send someone along with the truck who can find his ass in the real world, I assume." I said. "I think we can find someone who can drive a truck. So how are things," he asked. "Are you going to make any money on the auction." "I'll do fine. Listen if you vetted the Israeli girl, do it again. She knew about Vera Cruz and she would have unless Mossad did a background on the organization that was way too thorough." I said. "I will pass it on to the Colonel. As for you," He said closing the gap between us. He kissed me and then slapped me on the ass. "Drive careful." "I can do that," I said. I left immediately for home. I had to drive into the afternoon to get home again. I called The Brit to tell him I was home. "So I'm back." I said to The Brit. "Good, we need to talk when you get a chance," he said. "Anything serious?" I asked. "Not much just some deputies started to drink in the pub after shift. They tell me the Sheriff is not running for reelection. Seems he is afraid you are going to run and doesn't want to face you in the primary election," he said. "Well now there is an even bigger chance that I will run," I said. "So I have a delivery from the Swamp tonight, then I have to unload a crap load of merchandise and get a rental truck returned. I was calling to see, if I could count on you to help." "Anything, you know that," he said. "Thanks Brit," I said and hung up. I found some pimento cheese with a good date, so I had a sandwich. Pimento cheese sandwiches always made me think of watered down soup. I guess it is a common memory of school kids of all ages in the South. Everyone I ever spoke to from the south remembers that good pimento cheese and that terrible vegetable soup. I had loaded the one computer from the packing case into my cruiser so I played with it until the truck pulled up. I rushed to the road to let them in without tearing my traps to hell. I decided then that it was time to move the gate back farther up the driveway. We got the truck up to what had been my still house, then they helped me unload it. That was a big deal because those packing crates were heavy. The three of us managed to move them but only by taking some of the merchandise out first. I carried a set of the dishes into the box house. I also carried one of everything else as well. It was going to be a hell of a mess trying to sell all that merchandise one at a time. I wasn't sure I wanted to do it. I also realized that by buying nine crates I would compensate for those I had over paid for with some that I got a real deal on. The crate of funky computers should be a winner, since I really had less than two grand in any one crate, if I averaged it out. I had first thought there would be about a hundred computers in the crate but there were only fifty because of the packing. If I only got fifty bucks a piece they were worth $2500. I thought they might be worth more. That little tablet was like a book reader. I found that much out when I researched. The retail on that brand was $79. I had one hundred of them. If I took $30 each, I still came out at $3000. Those two crate could potentially break me even. Of course that wasn't the business I was in. A trading company wouldn't last long if it just broke even. I really needed to know how to get rid of them. I decided to take one of each of the electronic devices to Jeremy and see if he had any ideas. I loaded the car up with the dishes and cutlery and blankets too for that matter. I hadn't even opened two of them. The crates were so light I didn't think it was anything but more blankets or something similar. So off to town I went with the back of the cruiser filled with junk. I went into the pub and found both The Brit and Jeremy inside. "I need to borrow Allen to drive a truck for me," I explained. "It's pretty slow these days so no problem at all," Jeremy said. "Do me a favor take a look at these things and let me know what I can do with them Jeremy. I trust your judgment." I knew that would make him feel good. "You ready to go?" I asked the Brit when we were sitting in my driveway. "Yeah, That rental place is in Dobson so it could be worse." he said. "Yes it could," They are open till nine so we have time, but I would rather get it there a little early than late," I said. Thirty minutes later I said to the clerk at the rental office, "This thing is paid, so all I'm supposed to do is drop off the keys." He read the paperwork and said, "Yes we had an open account on this card number, so you are good to go." It was that simple and we were off for home. We were back at the pub before 9PM. "So Jeremy what do you think?" I asked. "Well the tablet is nothing more than a book reader. It does have a USB port for a card reader so you can add books though that as well as downloading from the net. It is WIFI capable and it uses that new removable battery system. When the batteries need charging you can use the cord or take them out to recharge if you want a second set. That's a pretty nice thing." "Okay so what is the price for a quick unload?" I asked. "Fifty bucks should be a good price how many do you have," he asked. "I think I got a hundred," I said. "Wow, how much would you like to sell the all to me?" he asked. "Thirty bucks each," I said. "I'll take them all," Jeremy said. "Are you sure? There is probably going to be some sales expense." I said. "I'll take them seriously. I think I can get fifty bucks each for them, or maybe more after I check them a little bit." he said. "So how about the funky computer," I asked. "I love that computer. It is really a nice little laptop. I used the one you gave me and it works awfully well. I had a glitch, but I think that is the Linux program, not the computer. I have a really old windows program I am going to load, if it's okay with you. If that works well, we should think about selling some of them with some kind of windows, some with the Linux you put on this one, and some with no program at all." Jeremy said. "Well I'm sure of one thing, you know more than me about these things. So what is it worth?" I asked. "I'm out of cash with the little book reader, so I couldn't give it to you, but a hundred bucks with no program would be a good price." he said. "Jeremy why don't you not buy the readers and be my partner. I got the product, and you can put up the cost to sell them, and we will split the profit." I suggested. "We can work out the details later." "Are you sure?" he asked. "Of course I'm sure, However there is one more thing. You have to get rid of the other junk as well." I said. "God I would love to do that," he said. "Good then it is settled." I said and we shook hands. ------- Chapter 222 I woke up the next morning and felt a lot better about everything. A new week was starting and I was ready for it. The first thing I did after my ride and shower was call Jeremy. "Jeremy I'm going to have to bring that stuff to you in the back of the cruiser, so what do you want first?" "God Sylvia, we haven't even had breakfast yet. Wait a couple of hours and bring in the computers. I need to decide what I'm going to do to them," he said. "Jeremy, I need to decide what I want to do about your retail space today. I know you have the place to store this stuff, so since you are going to be selling it, I feel like we should move it all to your second floor at least." "That's fine, you can bring a load every time you come to town," he said. "That's what I thought. So the first load will be computers." I said. I went out and loaded the cruiser. I got almost all of the crate inside the back and front seat. I had three that wouldn't fit, so I decided to keep those. I knew that I could load the Linux program on them and get up to the net easily. I could use the small program on line and be almost guaranteed not to be hacked. I could keep my current computer for work related junk. "So any idea what your plan is?" I asked Jeremy. "My plan is to put them on ebay first with the Linux system. Just to see how they go. Want to read my description of the computer," he asked. "No thanks, you know much more about this shit than I do," I said. "Well thanks for the compliments. Allen and I want to buy two for ourselves. With that little Linux system they would be great for banging around the Net. If they got lost, we would have nothing to lead back to us. Allen says they are kind of like a burn phone. He says we need to market them that way. I'm going to try it, and see what happens." "Sounds good to me. That is all of the ones I want to sell in on load." I said. "So what do you want next the book readers?" "Sure why not. I have to experiment with them to see what you have," he said. "You mean what we have," I said smiling. Why not it cost me nothing to stroke his ego. I had breakfast and never ate lunch any more, so I went by the county board of elections to get the form for entering the race for Sheriff. I had given it some though and I had come to the conclusion that rumor didn't count. I had never been convicted of anything so fuckem. I dropped off the computers then went to the courthouse. "Hello there, I would like a form to enter the primary for Sheriff," I told the small white haired lady behind the counter at the board of elections office. "Well are you registered to vote?" she asked. "No I'm not," I replied. "Well first you have to register to vote. You have been a resident for over a year haven't you?" she asked. "Yes ma'am I have," I replied. "Do you own property in Warren County?" she asked. "You don't have to, but it's the easiest way to prove residency." "Yes I do," I said. Then I gave her my address. Under the new 911 system I had a real street address. "Well then you are all ready to join the race. All I need now is $500 for the filing fee," she said. "That sounds fair," I said paying her in cash with gray money. It had a certain poetic justice to it. I left the board of elections office and drove home. I had a pitcher of iced tea in the refrigerator. I was trying to cut by on the diet coke. I drank way too many of those. That said I had a formula for making iced tea that was easy and pretty darn good. I didn't cook it either. So I poured a glass of iced tea and took my burn computer to the Internet. I used the throw away to see if Mary Ellen's site was still up. It seemed that if you didn't pay your rent the provider suspended your site. Which meant my porn from Mary Ellen was off the net. Now I was stuck wondering how many people locally knew about me, and Lamar's porno. Those were the most likely things to haunt me during a run for Sheriff. I was also chatting in an adult room at the same time. I was really enjoying the back and forth when my phone rang. I saw that it was Kara and I knew it was time to put and end to her, but I decided just to see what she wanted first. "Well hello there Kara," I said. "You have already forgotten your lessons?" she asked. "Sweetie don't confuse sexual playacting for real life," I warned her. "Then I guess we need to quit, because I wasn't playacting," she said. "Then I guess we do. I do want to wish you a lot of luck with your career." I said. Blow her out was a hard thing to do, but in an election, shit like that would kill my chances. No matter how much I enjoyed her, and I did enjoy her, I had to look at the bigger picture. I went back to the chatroom and enjoyed being someone else for another half hour. It wasn't the same as sex with Kara, but it was something. I realized that it was time for dinner, so I just disappeared from the chatroom like everyone else did. when they were through. My idea of through had more to do with food, than with sexual gratification. I drove to the steak house in the plaza. It was one of those that you walked down the line and placed your order at the grill, then a girl brought it to you. I really didn't much care for the service setup, but it was close and the food was pretty okay. I picked up a salad and turned down the potato and bread options. I had the sirloin steak and salad with a glass of iced tea that was a bit better than mine. Of course their's was probably made with real tea. Eating alone didn't bother me all that much. I had done it more than I cared to admit. I did hate a noisy bunch of kids out on the town though. Of course I had three guys sitting across from me. It was all I could do not to get up and hurt one or more of them. I finished my dinner and paid my bill. To my surprise they were behind me in line. I was in the parking lot, when they came out of the restaurant. They cornered me between my cruiser and a monster truck. One of them grabbed me and I grabbed the Derringer. "Now young man, if your friends and you keep fucking with me, they are going to be taking you to the hospital, because I'm going to but a nasty hold in your kidney. You will probably live, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it." I smiled as I held the derringer against his belly. He looked down to make sure it was really a weapon, then the three of them left. "Hey guys, what happened, you decided you didn't want to party after all?" I asked. "Wimp," I added to no one. I had to go home with my skin on fire from the fight or flight rush. I almost went to the university to find Kara, but I fought off the urge. Instead I drove home, I should have gone to the pub, but I chose not to share my feelings at the moment. I really regretted not shooting that guy. He and his friends hadn't learning anything at all. They had just been moved on to someone a little less prepared. Damn, I thought, I hated being civilized sometimes. I went back to the box house and though about the unopened crates in the storage building. I took a flashlight and walked up to it. I opened the crate that I had moved unopened into the building. I had assumed it was some kind of textiles. I was right, there were some very nice 4' x 6' rugs in the crate. Since they didn't have an nonskid backing they were comparatively light from their size. I took three of them for the box house. I had a non skid rug in front of the shower, but all the other floors were painted steel. The little rugs would be a nice addition. Maybe I could finally walk around the house in my bare feet. There were about fifty or so of them left in the carton. I had to wonder why anyone would ship such and obviously inexpensive item in a crate all the way across the ocean. Then I realized some of the cargo might have come from South America. Surely a small package boat would be constantly picking up and delivering cargo. So someone might have been planning to sell the fifty rugs for a good mark up. I would have to discuss them with Jeremy. There were two more Crates that I had been able to move alone. So I pried the top of another and found it to be mostly bubble wrap and a bunch of USB drives. They must have been headed for the same address as the computers and tablets. They would work nicely to load shit on the laptop. More stuff for Jeremy to sell, I decided. Then I came to the last light weight case. Only it wasn't. It was one so heavy I couldn't even move it. I had assumed it was one I had moved in alone, but I realized it was one the guys from Swamp dog and I had moved in together. It had just never been opened. When they found whatever they were looking for, the the Swamp Dog guys had just stopped. That made the prying of the top much harder since it had been nailed on at the factory. I managed to pry it open and found a bunch of metal shit in the crate. They looked like art work that might go on a wall. Deeper in the box under more layers of bubble wrap were sculpture that might sit on a corner table or something. I had no idea what to do with them except to melt them down for the metal. I decided to give them to Jeremy to try to dump on the market, somewhere. It was late and I had worked myself into a state were sleep sounded good to me. If not sleep at least laying my head down. I slept like I had been awake for days. Sitting in some frozen landscape waiting to shoot someone. I say that because it was what I dreamed that night. I dreamed that because the house was cold. Sometime in the middle of the night the new furnace died. When I woke at 5AM, I began cursing. First I cursed the thousand dollar furnace, then I cussed the company that sold it to me, because the office didn't open till eight and it was 6AM. Finally I put on about all the clothes I had, and started the cruiser. I drove it down to the fast food restaurant and ordered coffee from the endless cup and a biscuit with lots of shit on it. I Sat down and I ate the biscuit and began calling around. I found a service man who had just come to work. I explained about the furnace for five minutes. He thought a minute and then asked, "You use propane right?" "Yes," I said with a sick feeling in my stomach. "Did you check the valve on the tank?" he asked. "No, but I will when I get home. I'll give you a call if it has gas in it." I sat there ready to kick myself. I hadn't had the tank filled in months. Even though it was almost spring it was still cold in the mornings, but during the day it wasn't, so I hadn't thought of it. What a dumb bitch I was. ------- Chapter 223 Yeah I felt like a dumb ass while I waited the hours in a cold house for the emergency delivery of propane. I could have brought the small commercial cooking burner in the house to get some heat, but I chose to heat the small box in front with a ceramic electric heater. It didn't get warm but if I sat right in front of it, I didn't freeze either. The delivery man came after lunch, but that was okay. I couldn't be pissed at him for my stupidity. He left me with a bill for $376.00 it was interesting to know what a full tank of propane cost me. In the dead of winter the tank required filling once a month but it was usually less than $300. I had learned a valuable lesson from the experience. I loaded the micro- minivan with several of the items from each crate. I wanted Jeremy to know what he was up against. I drove off in the van with no thought whatsoever of riding the bike that day. "So here are a sample of the rest of your items," I suggested. "I have already got your stuff on line. I went with ebay for the electronics and itsy bitsy for the other stuff. I expect to sell something today." Jeremy said. I felt like he was overly optimistic, but said, "That certainly would be nice." Every day when I went into town I carried some of the product with me. I loaded the micro-van and unloaded it behind Mary Ellen old boutique building. The top floor became a storage space for the things we were going to sell on line. While the bottom was more a browse shop. I had a very small space in the store for a cheap jewelry display and I kept my tools there in case I ever wanted to make jewelry again. Time just kind of drifted by. I had lots of things going on but nothing that really seemed to hold my interest for more than a few hours. I was bored even though something or other always seemed to demand my attention. If it was Jeremy and that part of the business, I was calls from my moonshine customers begging me to go back into business. I even had to have the cruiser checked twice for running really rough. It also was having the oil light come on every week at least once. Even I knew that wasn't right. I began thinking about a new car. My first thought was a little sports car. Then I learned they were somewhere between 50K and 200K and I decided against that. I gave electric some thought, but knew better than to even consider that. Maybe in ten years but not now. The problem really was I liked the cruiser but the engine was really starting to give me trouble. I mean, it might be something I did or the last driver, but it only had ninety thousand miles on it. I had replaced the timing belt, and a bunch of other parts on the outside of the engine. I guess I just wanted a different car. Even with all that going on I couldn't get motivated. I just walked through each day like I wasn't really there at all. It was a lot of 'whatever' attitude. Jeremy actually called me every other day it seemed to tell me how much he had made on something. He was getting to be a real business man. I thought he wanted to paint, but he had lost that urge in his desire to chase the almighty dollar. His reports were part of the 'whatever' world. I mean I had more than broken even on the damaged crates and I was bored. The only thing that brought me out of the boredom was the board of elections decision to have a town hall meeting with all the candidates for office present. Mostly there would be a couple of minutes at best per candidate. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I went. It started at six with opening statements. I really hadn't planned anything, so I just winged it. "Hi, I'm Sylvia Porter and I want to be your new Sheriff. I guess you want to know what my experience is, so let me tell you a little about me. I was a deputy here for a years or so. The state police borrowed me to be an undercover drug runner for a local dealer who was a major distributor. After a year we shut his ass down. Then the state had to hide me out for the year it took to get the subjects of that investigation to trial. They hid me in a game warden job at the edge of the the great dismal swamp. Believe it or not we got involved with some other drug dealers, and I got hit by some flying Cypress tree splinters and lost almost 50% use of my left hand. They wouldn't renew my LED certificate and without that you can't work for Law Enforcement anywhere. That is unless you get elected Sheriff. After my forced retirement, I did some security work for a private company and that's kind of my total six year experience in the law enforcement field. Thanks for listening and I hope you will vote for me. A couple of other people got up and made their speech before Chief Deputy Webster Retired made his speech. They all had prepared remarks and pretty soon it was over. Then the questions began. "Miss Porter, Debbie Messer here with Chanel 8 TV. Could you tell our audience how many people you have killed." "Yes Ma'am, I killed all I could, that were trying to kill me." I said. The crowd burst into laughter. "And none who weren't." "But can you give us a number." She insisted. "Well I really can't. You see I fired a, 50 Caliber machine gun into some rocks when the Taliban tried to kill me and my fellow airmen. I have no idea whether I hit anything or not. I do know it got quiet after a while." "How about in Vera Cruz," she asked. "You are remarkably well informed. Again as many as I could of those trying to kill me. That's the best answer I can give you." I said. "Let some of the others talk you are hogging the whole question period." I went back to my chair, but an old man in overalls stepped up to the podium. "Miss Porter if you are the Sheriff, what you gonna do about moonshine liquor?" "Well Sir, I'm going to tell my deputies, if they have a reason to stop a car, and a reason to search that car, and they find moonshine, I expect them to charge the person. But I think there are more important things for a deputy to do than walk through the woods trying to find a still. Now if they come across one in the course of some other investigation, then I expect them to do the right thing. So be sure you hide yours well." "If the president of the unites states can tell officers not to enforce laws just to get elected, then I guess I can chase after the moonshiner vote. Oh I do have one condition, if the moonshine is dangerous, then I will chase the moonshiner down. So if you are going to make it be like a doctor, first do no harm." "How about drugs," a young woman asked. "If a deputy comes across a pot dealer while he is doing his job, then I expect him to make an arrest. If he sees a teenager smoking a joint in public, I expect him to drag the kid's ass in and we will call the daddy. If daddy don't do the right thing, we might start looking at him. If he does, then the case is closed as far as I'm concerned. Sometimes justice is just a matter of scaring the hell out of some kid. Sometime it is shutting down a hard drug dealer. There is no place in my Warren country for hard drugs period. If you have to have drugs, go to Surry County to buy them. Now please give the others a chance. That ended my participation in the town hall. When it was over I had a lot of people come up and say they agreed or they disagreed with me. That also fell into the 'Whatever' part of my life. I mean I wanted the job, but I wasn't going to kiss any babies to get the votes. I was surprised when Jeremy called to tell me I was on the llPM channel 8 news. So how did I look?" I asked. "Well you need a hair cut," he said. "Well before the big elections, I'll get one. So did I win your vote?" I asked. "Honey you would have to shoot Allen in front of me to lose my vote," he said. "Thanks sweetie, Well if that's all there is I'm going to go to an adult chatroom and pretend I'm a fancy lady bored with my life and masturbate," I informed him. "Sweetie you could come to the pub and let us watch," he suggested. "Aren't you getting all bisexual on me," I commented. "Well you just never know," he said. "Besides you look more manly than any of the men around here most days." "Sweetie, that is not a complement," I said and laughed. I did exactly what I said I was going to do. I went to an adult chatroom, but I just pretended to be a bored housewife. I might really try that someday. I mean I had done a lot of things maybe I should try housewife for a year at least. Then I thought about all the shit I had going and how bored I was even with all that going on. I realized there was no way I could be a housewife without blowing my brains out. A Few weeks later Jeremy called to tell me all the computers were gone. He had sold ten of them to one buyer on ebay. "Someone with a lot of shit to hide," I suggested. "Well I didn't ask, since I figured we really didn't care what he did with them," he informed me. "True, so is that all the merchandise?" I asked. "I have some of those dreadful sculptures left, but all the textiles are gone. Blankets and throw rugs went in the first week. Those thumb drives likewise. Selling that stuff for ten percent lower than anyone else makes that shit just fly out in a mail truck," he said. "Give me my cut, and you can have all the merchandise left." I said. "I have been making regular deposits in your company's bank account. Don't you ever check it?" he asked. "Not really. I trust you Jeremy why should I second guess you. I don't have the patience to do what you do." I said stroking his ego. "Well thank you. Did you see that add Webster is running on TV?" he asked. "No should I?" I said. "He is doing a real law and order thing. Pretty much saying you are going to be soft on crime," Jeremy said. "You know Jeremy, we need to have a barbecue dinner for a hundred or so farmers. Have it and not invite a single big wig except the press. Let them interview the people who are eating the barbecue. We won't do anything but shake hands and and answer questions, one on one," I said. "Why do you keep saying we," he asked. "I planned on you organizing it. Shit you know I can't organize anything." I said. "There isn't a hall big enough for such a meeting," Jeremy said. "How about we go out to the state park. If we have it in the middle of the day it should be warm enough. I will give them the food and they can stay and eat with us, or take it home, no strings attached," I said. "First hundred who show up regardless of their politics. That's how we advertise it." "You know that TV woman will be talking to the people who hate you, as well as those who love you," Jeremy said. "Whatever," I replied. ------- Chapter 224 Jeremy was working on the catered meal. "We were calling it a counter rally. A political rally with barbecue and no politics. It was a hell of an idea, even if it was mine. While he did that I went back to thinking about a new car of some kind. The cruiser really was breaking down a bunch, and that meant a tow bill just about every time. Fortunately the breakdown had been during daylight and in area's with cell phone coverage. I was worried that it might not always be so cooperative. I went into the bank to order a new debit card because mine was hard for the machines to read sometimes. Ir had banged around in my jeans pockets, because I didn't do well carrying a purse. Carrying shit in my fatigues was a habit I learned in the Air Force, and I never broke it. Airmen in flight suits or fatigues didn't have room for a purse in their life. Anyway while I was there I mentioned to the woman that I was looking for a replacement for my cruiser. She told me about the bank repossession and their off lease cars. They sold them after only two years use by the bank executive. They were sold early to get the maximum return on their investment. According to her there were some good deals. All I had to do was drive down, bid on one, and get it home. I convinced The Brit to wake up early and ride down with me to the bank auction. It was actually held once a month and ten banks participated in it. They let the buyer begin kicking the tires at 8AM and started selling them at 9AM. There was one of those tiny Ford Pick up trucks in the line waiting to be picked up and driven through the auction. It had to be a repossession the bucket seats had been recovered in a cowhide that still had the hair on it. There was a lot of what I would call cowboy custom work on it. It had twenty five thousand miles on it. I would have checked the oil, but I was pretty sure the people who got it ready for the sale would have changed all that and made it look well maintained. I got in and started the truck and the gauges all worked and didn't show any problems. Best of all there were five of them in the row of trucks. None of the others had the custom interior but that might not add anything to the sale price of the truck. The all seemed to be between 25 and 30K miles. They took one of the other trucks first and it went for $18,200. I had checked in on the smart cell phone and found it to pretty close to retail. There sure wasn't much room for markup. Full retail with the factory extras might be 25,000 or a little more. So when the ranger I was interested in came to the block I said to The Brit,"For God sake stop me at 18,500. The auction didn't have any drama. They started the bidding at 10k and it went to $13,500 where I bought it. I was a little shocked till I though about it the others were off lease bank owned. I was buying a truck with a lot more possibilities for problems. I was willing to take a chance on it, while I still had the cruiser. Brit followed me home in the cruiser, after I paid my fees and picked up the title. I stopped and filled it up with gas, then drove the truck home. It handled beautifully and the son of a bitch was a bright red. By god they would know me when I drove around town. I didn't mind drawing attention to myself since I wasn't making or transporting moonshine any more. It was a fun little truck to drive. For the next four days nothing happened. Sure I drove my new truck around town. I rode my bike and I transported merchandise to the post office for Jeremy but it was really boring shit. I really needed something to occupy my mind. I guess I got it when Webster took to the airway. "I do acknowledge that my opponent told the truth at the first town meeting. She just didn't tell it all. Sylvia Porter made a pornographic film, so vile I wouldn't show it to anyone." There were other accusations, but that one was going to do the most damage in a heavily evangelical Christian area. I decided if that hurt me beyond repair, so be it. I wouldn't lie or scheme to win a rinky dink election. When the news crew caught up to me at the Barbecue, I was ready for them. "Well Debbie, I wonder if Chief Deputy Webster just happen to find that film while he was perusing the web for porn, cause that's the only place you could find the film. I think it's been taken down now. I really don't know, since I don't look at porn. So why did I make it, you ask? Let's say you are me and you were introduced to a drug dealer for the first time, and you are looking down the barrel of a cheap 9mm pistol. He says to you, "How do I know you ain't a cop." I don't know about you but it was sure nice to say, "You got a computer?" Then send him to that sight. Then ask, "You know any cops that could do that? You know what, It must have worked I'm still alive." "So you are saying you did it for the job?" she asked. "No, I'm saying I did it for my cover. It was my decision nobody asked me to do it. They also tell me it was a pretty good porn film." I said. "Now if you would like there is barbecue over on the buffet. I would rather it go to someone who is hungry, but you are welcome to it if you want to take it." I turned and walked away ignoring her questions. I stood behind the table and as the people came in I filled Styrofoam cups with coleslaw. I heard a lot of people say they were going to vote for me and I heard a lot of them just say thanks for the food. I was more than happy to shake hands with all of them. The servers were Jeremy, The Brit and me. It was a lot of fun even with that rotten TV bitch and her questions. When it was over the restaurant came and took the pots and pans away. There was no food left. We had to turn people away and I was sorry for that. We did have another 100 hot dogs for those who really were hungry. I was satisfied that we had done a good thing, even if I lost the primary election. Then it was back to boredom, but I did get a call from a national news network. One of those cable things. They had picked the story up and wanted a quote. I gave them the same bullshit story that I gave the local news slut. They said they had found the video. The talked like there was only one. There was definitely one Mary Ellen left on the site the longest. I had no idea which one they found. "So the Chief Deputy thought you explanation was laughable," the voice on the phone said. "And he would know, because he has never been undercover," I said. "I have nothing else to say. I don't regret doing whatever it took to keep a cover in place and me alive. Sorry he probably would have prefer that I get killed." Now I'm through talking. "One more question, what are you going to do, if you are elected sheriff and your deputy arrests an undocumented alien for a traffic violation." he asked. "I'm going to take them to the local immigration office and hand them over to an agent. If they choose to release them, I'm going to file a lawsuit and see just how legal it is to ignore a law that is on the books. I think we all take an oath to enforced the laws equally and with disregard to politics. It has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with the law. If the people of this country want to change the law, I'm good with that. If they want to leave it, then we will enforce it. If we don't have to enforce that law, then there are plenty of laws on the books I don't agree with, we can ignore as well." "You know that kind of talk isn't going to make you any friends in the civil right community?" he said "Mike, I'm not running for Sheriff of the Civil Rights Community. I'm running for Sheriff of Warren County. Now I have said all I have to say." I broke the connection and turned the phone off. I decided that I had said all I was ever going to say about the video. From now on it was about the job, and nothing else. There were a few things that were bad about the department and they got pointed out by some of the other candidates. I found Debbie the news slut waiting for me at Hardee's at seven thirty one morning the next week. "Silvia, I need a comment from you one the charges by Alvin Ross about the Sheriff's office." she said. "Alice I have nothing to say, but if you would like I'll buy you a cup of coffee, since you came all this way." I suggested. "Come on surely you want a chance to fight back after you were slandered, so many times in the press about the videos." she asked. "You mean the remarks you ran for days, till you get every ounce of press from them. Look the sheriff's office can use some improvements. Some of them are going to take money, we don't have. Others can be done for almost nothing. I will look at which ones we can fix, and fix them. That's my statement." I said. I got invited to speak several places, and always the cameras were present. "You know this election is getting more press, than any before or any the will come later," Jeremy said. "The chief deputy really opened Pandora's box with that porno thing. It will either bury my ass, or give me a nice lift. Just depends on how many people take their Christian morality into the ballot box. You know, if we win the primary, we have a really good shot. The democratic party has won ever election held here for thirty years." I said. "Well if anybody can break there streak it's you," He said then laughed. "Bitch," I said. "Porn slut," he said and we both laughed. "By the way, can you teach me how to do that thing with it down your throat?" "Nothing to it, you just imagine that it's a chicken leg." I said very seriously. "Chicken leg my ass," he said "But it did look a little like an animal." "Jeremy, don't say that where anyone else can hear you it's kind of racist." I said and laughed again. What really surprised me is that none of my old moonshine customers came forward. They might be thinking they could black mail me to get a pass. Hell as far as I was concerned, if they caused me no trouble, I would not be out to bust their asses. If they did cause trouble, no matter what they had to say about me, they were going to be treated like anyone else. ------- Chapter 225 The primary election was held on a Tuesday. Warren County is so small nobody bothered to take any polls, so we had no idea who won until Wednesday at noon. I called the board of elections from the Pub. "Well Miss Porter it looks as though you lost the election by about a hundred votes. You can ask for a recount it you like," the lady said. "No thanks looks at though the people have spoken," I said. I clicked the phone off and turned to Jeremy who didn't know the results, "Well we lost by about a hundred votes must have been about a hundred and five ballots cast." At least I could laugh about it, I told myself. "I'm so sorry," Jeremy said. "Thanks Jeremy," I replied. "Well I'm not sorry you lost. It keeps me from having to go to your funeral, because the job bored you to death." The Brit said. "Yeah, some truth in that," I agreed. "You give any thought to what you are going to do next?" Jeremy asked. "I guess I'll begin taking our business seriously," I said. I knew one thing for sure, I was going to have to tow the line. That was why cooking more green dragon was out of the question. "At least I made enough money to pay for that truck from the ship auction," I said. "By the way I finally figured out what color of red that is," Jeremy said. "It is the same color red that you find in peppermint sticks at Christmas." "Yes, I think it was a custom paint job on the truck. Those seat covers are definitely custom," I said. I was a little surprised how little losing the election bothered me. "I'm going to get in my peppermint colored truck and go to that steak house in the plaza. They have cheese cake there. I'm going to buy a whole one and take it home, then eat the damn thing all by myself. Then I am going to sit on the toilet and either have diarrhea or throw up all night." "Well call me tomorrow at least," The Brit said. "I will be up at five for my bike ride as usual. The cheese cake will take care of my need to work through the disappointment. It's kind of like when I found out you were gay," I said. "Don't try to make me feel guilty for your emotional trials and tribulations," The Brit said with a laugh. Jeremy was in the bar so I didn't go into the times I dressed like a teenage boy for The Brit and let him do it to me in the rear as often and hard as he wanted. My phone rang before I left the pub. "Hello Liam?" I asked. "Actually Andrew, Colonel Martin, and I are all here. We wanted to call and ask why you didn't let us come and stuff the ballot boxes." he said. "Thanks guys, but it just wasn't to be," I said. "Well maybe you can spend more time with us. We are going to have a satellite location near you. We closed the deal and are going to start work in a couple of weeks. Which is another reason we called. If we send you the plans do you think you could stop by just to be sure the builders are on the right track?" Colonel Martin asked. "Sure why not, I really don't have any other plans," I said. That was pretty much how we left it. There was a bright side to getting beat I could go down to Abbottsville and see Kara. Well I could, if I had an urge to be abused, which I often did. I didn't go anywhere but the steak house before going home. I didn't go anywhere after I got into the house. I just sat in the kitchen area of the box house eating cheese cake and drinking diet coke. The Cheese cake was eight inches in diameter which was a pretty good size. It took me most of that evening to finish it. Probably because I was forced to stop now and then to either eat real food or answer the phone. Lots of people called to tell me how sorry they were that I didn't win. I got a call from a blocked number about 9pm. "Hello," I said into the phone. "So how is the weather in the mountains?" the voice asked. "Cold and damp, how is it were you are?" I asked. "Weather is always beautiful where I am," the voice said. "That's always good to hear," I said. "So what can I do for you?" "It's what I can do for you," he said. "I don't think so. I don't need a job and I have a feelings the repay on favors would be a bitch." I said. He laughed for a second then said, "They tell me the man running against you would do anything to win." "Probably, but I won't. He can have the job." I said. "Well they tell me there is still a two party system up there. I would give some thought to changing you affiliation, if someone approaches you." He said. "There is nothing in if for you," I said emphatically. "I know, but I don't like the man you were running against. Frankly Warren County need to be a neutral territory. He wants to turn it into a war zone. The payoffs would be larger." "I see. Well I might consider it, but don't count on it," I said. "I can't ask any more than that you think about it. By the way the manager of the Club in Abbottsville send me a video. You are a hell of a dancer, but your body need implants bad, if you want to make a living at it," he said with a laugh, then hung up. I went to the cabinet over the microwave and got the vodka bottle full of moonshine. Yes I had half a dozen empty vodka bottles that I recycled. I had them from the cop out club in Dobson. The bartender saved me half a dozen. I sat down with the bottle of moonshine and thought about what the Miami man said. Obviously the manager of the club was in his pocket, and the meant probably Kara was as well. He had to know that I would figure it out, so let's see what his next move is, I thought. I had two more drinks, then went to bed early. When 5AM rolled around I was ready to go again. I did my two hours riding on the bike and eating breakfast then I went home about 7AM. I did some research on a couple of the items I had at Jeremy's store. I couldn't find anything on them, so I decided just to wing it. Hell if I waited long enough I could slip back into the liquor business. I had to try not to lose too much money that was my next goal. For the next couple of days I tried to find something to buy. I really needed to make a profit on whatever I bought for a change. If not make a profit, at least not buy anything in which there wasn't a potential for a profit. I still had about 30K in gray money buried around the place. I also had over 50k in the bank in usable money. It was a hell of a lot more money that I expected to have at thirty, when I left the Air Force eight year previously. I had a bunch of trade merchandise as well. My gate buzzer went off around 8:30am. It was Kara's little econobox. I had been half expecting her since last night's revelations. I went down to let her in the gate. I still needed to have that gate move farther up the driveway. "Well what brings you here?" I asked the tall beautiful black woman. "I heard you might need some cheering up. Since you ain't running for nothing now, having a exotic dancer girl around shouldn't be a problem." she said. "The only problem is everything you see or hear winds up the the ear of people who I would just as soon not know everything thing I do. Tell me how did you guys know I would be at the mall walking?" I asked. "Nobody knew. I just picked you up because you looked like you knew how to fuck," she said. "The manager of the club recognized you after he made the video of you. He saw you on TV. After he recognized you he sent the video to Miami to see if they wanted to black mail you. That's all there was to it. The video was made of you dancing just in case you were somebody like a school teacher or something he could blackmail." "So it was just a smalltime scam that turned into something more?" I asked. "That's exactly what it was, just a coincidence," she replied. "Now you gonna offer me some coffee at least?" "Sure help yourself," I said pointing to the single cup coffee maker. She had the coffee in front of her when she said, "Come here and lick me while I drink it." Once I made the move to her she lifted her skirt and removed her panties. She sat down again then spread her legs. Before I knew it I found myself on my knees and my tongue as deep inside her as it would go. She held my head and rubbed it against her vagina as well as my tongue darting here and there. "Yes baby you are one of the best. Now just slip your finger in my asshole and you will be the best I ever had." I quickly did as she demanded. "Oh yes you are so good. I bet you got a vibrator here don't you." My voice didn't sound normal when I answered, "Yes I have a vibrator." "That's yes ma'am I have a vibrator. Now go get it." I did as she demanded. I returned with the eight inch vibrator that took 3C cell batteries. "Oh may that's a right large one. Now work it into your ass," she said almost angrily. I did as she ordered. "Feel nasty doesn't it?" she asked. "Yes ma'am," I replied. "Do you like being fucked in the ass?" she asked. "I don't like it, but I can do it." I said. "Can you do it for me. Can you work that thing like you like your men to work it?" she asked. "I really don't want to do this," I answered. "I don't give a fuck what you want. I asked if you could do it. Our mutual friend will pay big bucks to see you doing that. He has a thing for you baby," she informed me. "I am not going to let you film me dildoing my ass," I said in what I thought was a strong voice. That's when she reacher over and took one of my small breasts in her hand. She squeezed it till it hurt. "Now bitch you gonna do what I tell you to do, or I will walk out that door. You don't want me to leave do you?" She asked. "No," I said feeling the pain deep inside. "Good now work that dildo in and out nice and slow. Be sure you look back over your shoulder. We want to be sure he recognizes you baby. Just be sure you hold off coming till you can't stand it any more that way it will be a big one. You might even squirt for him. Now tell him you are a asshole whore," she said. "Yes I'm an asshole whore for you," I said. ------- Chapter 226 It was almost noon before she left. She left with the video she came to made. I didn't care. I was sexually exhausted for the first time in what seemed like months. I could have stopped her at any time I told myself, but I always let these things play out. There was nothing the man in Miami could do to me, since I had been beaten in my run for sheriff. I realized that the timing of the Kara's visit was organized so I would go along. He knew I felt as though I had nothing to lose. He didn't get to lead a large criminal enterprise by being concerned about other people's feeling. Kara said something about him paying for the film, as if he had not been previously arranged. She probably just planned to sell it freelance. That's why I chose to let this kind of thing play out. The more you learn about the game, the closer you came to having the power shift from the enemy to you. Not that he was the enemy yet. The little pickup I bought would never pull the trailer that Jeremy and The Brit bought but I didn't want to buy furniture, what I wanted was jewelry and guns. The kinds of things that could be stored and sold easily. Those could be carried in the small pickup. I had to find places to buy things for sure. By nightfall on the day that Kara came to visit, I was no closer to starting the old life. I did have a list of auctions of storage lockers and estate auctions. Both of which would give me a shot at the kinds of things I wanted to buy. The storage locker I bought, I could clean out now that I had the truck. Clean outs were part of the deal. You had to leave them completely empty, or pay a large cleaning fee to the facility. I scheduled a western half of the state auction trip for the weekend. It took me to Abbottsville as well a three other towns of more or less the same size. I would be running the whole weekend. I could sure use a partner to help with the driving, if nothing else. Kara was out of the question, so I gave Jeremy a call. "Are you kidding, that's a wonderful Idea. We can take the SUV and trailer," he suggested. "You have to know, I did not call you for that. I can carry everything I really want in my own little truck," I said. "I know that, you pay for half the gas and motel bills like last time," he said. "Okay I can do that," I said. All that expense and I wasn't even going to get laid. I began having second thoughts about the trip. Maybe I needed to learn to travel alone. It certainly wasn't fear that prevented my from going it alone. It was the thought of being totally alone for four days that did it. Friday finally came. After my morning ride I waited for Jeremy to come for the trailer. It was still before noon, when he showed up. He and I managed to get the trailer hooked up and ready to drive away before lunch. "Jeremy let's leave it in the yard and take my truck to eat lunch then head out," I suggested. "Good idea," he agreed. I drove us to the plaza, where we ate almost fresh burgers, and almost hot fries, before we headed out for out next big adventure. We got on the road before 1pm and headed to our first stop in Abbottsville. The place was a storage facility about two blocks from the campus. I didn't have high hopes for any jewelry but what the hell, I did want to look. They bid off 4 lockers before 5 PM. Each of the lockers seemed to hold storage boxes and nothing else. I had a feeling it was all going to be books and shit like that. Just for the hell of it, I bought the first one for $525. Then we were more particular. Jeremy saw one that had a lot of picture in pretty nice frames. He said the frames were a good sign so he paid $1,000 for it. Then we stopped bidding. We both decided to save our money for the rest of the trip. Jeremy went to his locker first. The art work was mostly nice prints but prints none the less. There were a couple of civil war prints made from the original negatives according to the printing on the mats. I thought there might be some value there. There were a couple of oil type paintings. They were signed, by no one either of was knew or could find online. "You know I think these were in a restaurant," I said. "Maybe a country club remodel. Let's see what's in the boxes." The turned out to be a lot of fancy cloth napkins and table cloths. "Guess we will be trashing these," he said. "Let's not trash them. We have room in the big ole trailer. Lets take them to the Warren County Animal Shelter. We are going right by it on the to Dobson anyway. We can write off the tax bill," I said with a laugh. "Damn Sylvia, leave it to you to get every penny out of this stuff. I'm going to keep one napkin and frame it," Jeremy said. When we got to my locker. There were some books that were neither old, nor rare looking. There were a hell of a lot of books and some vinyl records. I knew I could make salad bowl or decorator pieces from them, but that required work. I was ready to toss them when Jeremy Intervened. "I'll tell you what. If you are going to throw them out? I'll take them." he said. "Suits me," I agreed. There was a box of cheap costume jewelry, which I kept. A box of handbags and one of shoes, neither of which appealed to me. Those went into the pile headed for the landfill. It began to look like I paid five hundred bucks for a ten bucks worth of cheap jewelry. Then I found a wooden presentation box. Inside it was a very old cap and ball pistol. It was probably a civil war era piece. I doubted it would save me, but what the hell it was the best thing in the locker. We drove the trash from both lockers to the dump and emptied it. We just had time for another fast food meal before the auction house in Abbottsville started to crank up their Friday night sale. The sale featured the contents of two estates and several walk in pieces. Their were some coins as well. I didn't feel that any of the silver coins was worth the prices they went for so I didn't bid. Then a collection of unmounted bus tokens from bus and trolley companies from all over the south came up. No one had any idea with the hundred plus bus tokens were worth. I decided to bid on them so that I could make jewelry from them. The bidding was slow, so I jumped in and bought the collection for under a dollar each. That made the trip to Abbottsville worthwhile for me. I hoped I could make a profit but even if I had to use the items to bring more gray money into the light it was worth it. Jeremy seemed to be excited about the artwork that crossed the block. He bid on several and won three. Then a photo album of baseball players shot by a fan. They were not professional players but the photography was old and excellent. I told Jeremy, "If you don't bid on that I will." "I thought I would make a couple of bids," he said. Since the photographer was unknown and the prints weren't of anybody spectacularly famous it sold for less than a hundred bucks. A couple of folk art paint on wood pieces rounded out our purchases. We delivered the dog bedding then on to a storage locker sale in Dobson. then it was a laste afternoon flea market in an old tobacco warehouse building. I spent a total of six hundred more dollars in Dobson all day. I got a heck of a lot of antique jewelry from the flea market. From the storage locker I got another Dremel type tool set. I could use it to make jewelry when mine broke. It would be good for Polishing and grinding more than anything else. I could always use one at home and one at Jeremy's place. I also got some more costume jewelry. Jeremy got some cheap artwork from the same locker. The second locker I acquired in Dobson was a really cheap locker. It was filled with household decorator junk. I went in with Jeremy to buy it. He took all the brass decorator items except an old electric wall clock. He told me I needed it for my box house, so I took it. I got some jewelry from the locker and a very big old camera with a leather bellows and black focusing cloth. It would look good in the store, so I gave it to Jeremy for the store with the understanding it not be sold. We drove late into the night to reach Capitol City for a Sunday walk around auction. It was one where the crowds followed the auctioneer around the parking lot area while placing bids on merchandise displayed there. I spent a a few hundred dollars on a big beautiful jewelry case filled with antique costume jewelry from the thirties. Jeremy bought some more paintings. We drove the half filled trailer home. Something strange had happened during the night before the walk around auction. We arrived in Capitol City late. The first motel in sight was an econo dump. It was run by a couple who between them knew maybe ten words of English. The point was we either stayed in the room with one bed or went looking for another motel in the middle of the night. I didn't want to go back on the road and neither did Jeremy. So we staying in the room which the clerk promised had 'big bed'. After my shower I fell into the bed naked. Okay that was a little for Jeremy and some because I didn't have anything clean to wear except the clothes I planned to wear to the auction the next day. Jeremy and I got very friendly that night without him doing anything he couldn't deny the next day. We both could hardly look at each other that days, but we did managed to make it through the walk around auction. We even worked together on some of the items. We put the few things we bought into the trailer and headed for County Seat. "Sylvia, do we need to talk?" Jeremy asked. "If you want to talk we can, but I don't really feel the need to do so. What I do feel the need to do, is to never share a bed with you again. You aren't quite the totally gay man you claim." I replied. "Because I got a hard on doesn't mean you turn me on," he said. "Oh what did it mean then," I asked. "It meant I found your smooth ass erotic somehow. It was just something than happened when I was asleep." Jeremy said. "Honey, you woke me up trying to stick that hard on up my ass," I said. "Please don't tell Allen," he said. "I don't suppose Allen would appreciate you and me doing the dirty. I am his best friend and you are his lover. He might feel that we took advantage of him in some strange way. Friends and lover wind up in all kinds of shit." I said. "Maybe we could all share a bed next time." I laughed and dropped it for the moment. ------- Chapter 227 I was pretty sure our days of shopping together had ended and I was just as glad. Jeremy had begun to get tiresome. I got my shit from the trailer and sent him off home dragging the trailer behind. The biggest thing I had was the antique pistol. Everything else was small, but the items did fill up four of the large plastic storage baskets, which I took from the locker. I wasn't sure whether Jeremy would take care of selling my stuff on line or not. I was absolutely sure I would go crazy trying to handle that end of the business. However I was prepared to do it until I could find someone else if necessary. I bought a lot of the auction things with gray money, so I could clean it up. I didn't need to explain that to Jeremy, that's the reason he was important to me. However he might need replacing, if he got a bad case of the guilts and confessed to The Brit. I had put and ad on Craig's List to sell the cruiser on Monday and it was sold the same day. Maybe I should sell used cars, I thought as the sun went down on Monday. I sat in the box drinking the moonshine, which I had made with red peppers in the mash. That shit really burned going down. Next thing I knew I was fall into bed. Before my next conscious though it was Tuesday. I sat in my box house after the morning ride, and the animal fat breakfast, to I asked myself what I was doing. After the latest buying trip I hadn't called Jeremy or The Brit. I cleaned the jewelry from the road trip, and was considering what I should do with it. It was a miserable feeling not to be in control of things. I really was a little depressed to be honest. I discovered that even though I could scheme a little, and maybe even make a profit in the trading business, my heart just wasn't in it. There was no excitement in buying stuff and reselling it. That was really more Jeremy's thing, than mine. I was ready to sell the trading company to Jeremy and stay home weekends and take up knitting. That was before the deputies with the search warrant showed up at my door. I saw them at the gate an hour before noon. I was on the phone to Rita immediately. They waited while I walked down to the gate. There were a half dozen of them standing there waiting for me to open the gate. There were three cars parked on the shoulder of the road. Two sheriff's cars and one unmarked car. When I arrived at the gate, the unmarked car door opened and Agent Morris stepped out. "Well I guess when the state cop makes it to the to the gate. the gang will truly all be here except for my lawyer. So you want to wait for her. She is on the way. Her ETA is about ten minutes. If I stand here with you, so that I can't be destroying evidence of my boring existence." "Miss Porter we are required to serve you with the warrant not your lawyer," Agent Morris replied. "Do you guys really want to listen to her and not wait the ten minutes in an election year. You know I am going to make an issue of this, if you do. If I were you, I would want to be sure it was all by the book," I said. "This operation is by the Warren County Sheriff's Department. I am the commanding officer and we will wait the ten minutes, but not a second longer," the sergeant said. "Good choice," I said. "I sure would like a cup of coffee. I don't suppose you would allow my lawyer time to go through the drive through at Hardee's on the way?" I asked. "I'll have her bring you some. "Afraid not Sylvia," the sergeant said. "Just for the hell of it what does that warrant say you are looking for?" I asked. "A moonshine still," the Sergeant said. I broke out laughing. "Unless you can brew shine in a coffee pot, you are really wasting your time," I replied. Rita arrived in eight minutes and Morris read her the warrant. "That's fine now listen up people, Rita said. "Unless you know more about making liquor than I do. You know you can not to look in furniture storage areas, which are obviously too small to house a liquor still. You can not search her vehicles nor open any drawers in any storage areas. Before you cut any locks, you must give her a chance to open them and I will make sure your warrant cover any other areas you wish to search. I think you can probably send half the deputies back to work other places, we are not going to resist." "They are here because it is well know that your client travels armed," Morris said. Rita turned to me. "Are you armed?" she asked. "Actually I am. Would you like to hold my firearms, since the warrant does not cover them. I am on my own property, so there is no question at all about how legal they are." I said even though I had carry permits, since I was a still private protection officer with the Swamp Dog. "If you would be so kind. Just have your lawyer hold them," Morris said. "Not a problem," I agreed. "Let's not make this a test of the elephant in the matchbox rule of law." "Don't worry, we will stick to the letter of the search warrant," Morris said. "Only because Rita is here," I mumbled. "Come on in," I said as I walked back up the drive with two of the deputies and Morris fuming. She just hated that she couldn't search inside my storage boxes. About all she could do was open the door of the storage building and look inside. A still is such a large thing it can't be in a small storage box. I did have a vodka bottle half full of shine, but it was not the green dragon, so I think they would have trouble making a case against me with it. Even if they could, it wasn't covered by the search warrant, so they couldn't seize it. It was not obviously shine. It was obviously vodka. From the box we went to the storage building. Along the way they passed The Brit's trailer. "That doesn't belong to me, but I do have a key if you would like to look," I said. "Open it up then," Morris demanded. The trailer was empty except for a folding tarp and a couple of tie down ropes. "Seen enough or should I unfold the tarps?" I asked. "That wont be necessary," Morris said. When we reached my storage building the only thing left from its still house days was the propane burner and tank. "What do you use that thing for," she asked. "I haven't used it for anything yet. Me and The Brit have talked about maybe having a fish fry at the pub. Those are better outdoors. It cuts down on the smell," I said. Rita was about to say something. Morris and I both noticed she had her smart phone out and was taking pictures. The deputies walked through the woods but the water lines had long ago been removed from the creek. There was just nothing to tie me to the liquor business. "Now I believe Sylvia has complied with your search warrant. I believe it is time for you and you storm troupers to leave my client in peace," Rita said with a real bite in her voice. "I know you are guilty of something," she said. "No Morris, for some reason you hope I am, but you are not sure of anything. Now if the fishing expedition is finished, I believe your fans await you. Did I forget to mention I called the press before I came down to meet you. I do believe they are here now," I said. Sure as hell the channel 8 news van was parked on the shoulder of the road. The crew was standing in the drive being held back by the lone deputy posted to prevent that kind of thing. I locked the storage area and went to meet the press. "It appears challenging the Sheriff is not without consequences. Half a dozen deputies showed up a half hour ago with a search warrant for a still, or other illegal alcohol related items. Of course they found nothing. It was a simple matter of wasting your tax money and their time, when they should be out doing real police work," I said. It was going to make a hell of a sound bite I knew. It also leads one to ask, why the hell a judge would issue such a frivolous warrant." I figured I might as well piss them all off while I was at it. For sure the cops were going to be pissed. I was going to have to be careful about driving home from the pub at night. Rita addressed the press next. "I am putting the Sheriff on notice. It will not be a good idea to harass my client again. He might not have heard of the 4th amendment to the constitution but I assure him I have. I would like nothing better than to file a civil rights action against him personally and his jack booted thugs." Now I thought she went a little far with that. "I don't think the sheriff's people are jack booted thugs. They are just doing their job, but then so is my lawyer," I explained. When they all had gone, including Rita, I decided it was time I rethink running for Sheriff. It took me till almost five to make the call. I called the board of elections to find out how I ran for sheriff as an independent. After the lady explained, I agreed to jump through the appropriate hoops the next day. What I expected to happen was for her to reach out to whoever was in charge of the different political factions, and let them all know my decision. I figured if anyone was interested in incorporating my run with their particular party. Maybe some faction of a party wanted to back me, if so they would contact me before I filed as an independent. Meaning I should be hearing from them sometime that same night. I managed to heat a frozen meat loaf dinner before the call came. The dinners were different than I remember as a child. They no longer had those inedible green peas. Instead there was a pretty good macaroni and cheese side dish or some not too awful mashed potatoes. The meat load tasted nothing like meatloaf, but it wasn't awful, especially with enough hot sauce on it. I finished it and was drinking a second glass of the only slightly chemical tasting iced tea, when the phone rang. I was think about how I learned how to make the tea, so I could at least stand the stuff, when I said, "Hello." "Miss Porter this is Randall Davis. I am involved with the Republican Party." the voice said. "Well Mr Davis, I have been expecting your call, or one like if from someone," I said. "Oh why is that?" he asked. "Well you are either going to suggest we join forces, or you are going to ask me not to run for Sheriff," I said. "Just for the sake of argument, why would I do either?" he asked. "If you have a weak candidate, I made a pretty good showing in the democratic primary. If I brought some of those votes to the base you can whip up, I just might pull it off. Now if you have a strong candidate, I just might dilute the vote, if I run as an independent. So how close am I?" I asked. "Frankly I was going to appeal to you not to run, but frankly that was exactly the answer that a good politician would give. We might should decide to back you, instead of the retired Dobson police chief." "You should decide quickly, since I am going to sign up as an independent tomorrow," I informed him. Nothing else of interest was said at the time. ------- Chapter 228 The well dressed business man walked into Hardee's just as I sat down to review my tape from the night before. More importantly to me was the last three hours. I was occupied so even though I noticed him walk in the place, I didn't keep track of him. When he sat down at the table I paid a lot more attention to him. "So are you Randal Davis king maker or one of his flunkies?" I asked. "You know, if I wasn't Randal you really would have pissed me off with the flunky comment," he said. "Well, if you were a funky, the political business pays way too good for a funky to have been dressed so nice," I explained. "Very good, so we have decided that you should run as a republican. We are withdrawing our support of the former chief of police of Dobson. We thought he had the best chance of beating Webster till I talked to you. Let us take over your campaign and I'm pretty sure we can get you elected," he said. "Oh and what do you get?" I asked. "Someone in the sheriff's office that listens to us, rather than the old power structure," he said. "I will listen to you like any other resident of this country, but I will do what is best for the people. I don't fit well into anyone's pocket." I informed him. "Good, you do the right thing and we won't have a problem," Randal said. "I could say the same to you. You do this and don't expect anything in return except what anyone else gets," I said. "There has to be more than that, or it isn't worth our involvement," he said. "Then go with the chief from Dobson, and I guarantee you will be looking at Sheriff Webster come next November." I said with a laugh. "Look it's too early for negotiations it 7am in April, the election isn't till November." He said. "Yeah, you have to take it one step at a time," I agreed. "Okay first step you don't register till June. If things don't change between now and then, you are the republican candidate. If they do, you run as an independent." he suggested. "That works unless someone else comes along and makes me an offer," I said. "Nobody is going to do that I assure you," he said. He was just a little too smug. "I'm expecting between now and June to hear from the libertarian party and the Tea Party. I would rather run as a libertarian, but as tea party bitch I would be okay." I said. "I think you would agree your best chance is with us," he said. "I think you would agree, that if I ran under either of those, I could take enough votes from you to guarantee we both lose. Would I do it, you bet your ass I would," I said. "I'm not a politician, I'm just an evil bitch at heart. So I will fuck you up and laugh about it, because it ain't personal is it?" I asked. "Okay I get it. I will meet with some people and let you know something by the weekend, if we want to wrap this up," "The weekend is two day away, so you better have your meeting soon," I said. "Well, Webster isn't going anywhere," he said. "To tell you the truth I'm surprised he is running at all. He has been out of the chief deputies chair for a while," I said. "Even so that is his claim to fame." "Yes but the current chief deputy has only been in his job a couple of years at most. Webster was there twenty plus years." Randal said. "That's why he is running. "He wasn't chief deputy all that time. But you are right, he was chief deputy a long time," I agreed. "How do you stay skinny eating this shit?" Randal asked looking at his sausage biscuit. "I'm may be skinny, but my arteries are fat," I said. "No doubt about that," he agreed. "I will call you before Saturday with our decision." "That's fair," I said. I was thinking that his most likely would be the only offer I got, if I got one from him. I would really like to run as a libertarian or even a tea party candidate. I no longer wanted to win. I just wanted to worry the shit out of them all. I didn't bother to ask how he knew where to find me, it seemed that everyone knew my schedule and habits. I had decided, when I thought the Miami Mafia was after me, that if they want you, the assassin will come down your chimney, so why bother to hide. That did not mean I went anywhere unarmed in those days. I went back to the house and showered. I decided after the shower and clean clothes to go do laundry and stop my Jeremy's studio. It took an hour and a half to do the laundry, but I didn't leave it the whole time it ran. I didn't want to find my panties gone when I got back from a trip to Jeremy's studio, so I waited and read the online news. I could piggy back the wifi on almost a dozen sources in the downtown. When I finally finished my laundry I folded it all, I put it back in the black cloth bags I recently acquired. Then I headed to Jeremy's studio. I couldn't believe that there were actually customers in the place. "My god kid you look busy as hell," I said. "I am. Seems the tourist finally started to move. Most everyone is from out of town. I have been selling shit like crazy, well like crazy for this place," he said showing his good humor. He actually made a sale while we were talking. He sold a very old framed print. It had to be from the 1940s. It had to be one of those estate pieces we bought. "So, you getting it rich or what?" I asked. "Mostly I do the online sales, and I'm not going to be a Rockefeller, but I'm doing okay. Maybe you should let me take care of your stuff. I don't mean take the money from your display sales. I mean to mount those prints you bought. You know they are more in my area of expertise than yours. You are more jewelry than art." It was bit of an insult, but I really didn't mind because I had pretty much come to the same conclusion. "Figure out what is fair and you have a deal," I said. "How about we take the cost of the purchase and the cost of the framing off the top and split the rest 50/50?" He asked. "That sounds fair. You can do the book keeping and I wont even ask what you are up to," I promised. "Are you sure?" Jeremy asked. "Jeremy I will sign anything you want in order to give you power of attorney or something like that." I said. "Just a management contract would be fine. Just to protect us both," he said. "Call Rita and get her on it. I'm good with anything," I said. "That sounds like a plan. I will have myself declared your retail sales manager and you give me the power to make all retail sales decisions for you." Jeremy said. "Well not all, just all I surrender to you. I will give you absolute control to sell the items I turn over to you for sale. Certain items I might want to sell to friends without going through a retail transaction," I said. "I'll have Rita make arrangements for that as well," Jeremy agreed. "Then it sounds perfect to me," I said. "Did you know that the local U haul dealer out in the plaza is having a sale on their trailers," Jeremy asked. "I didn't even know we had a U haul dealer here," I said. "It's that big service station at the plaza. The one with the BP gasoline. They rent U haul trailers. I think they are going out of the U haul business. Anyway they have some trailers for sale. I know you wanted a small one your little truck. You could haul stuff inside out of the weather. You might want to run down and take a look," he suggested. I left with a promise to do just that. I carried my newly clean clothes to the box house first, then I went to the BP station at the Plaza. It was just like Jeremy said. There were a half dozen trailer parked in a rear parking lot. But there was no signs about a sale. "Hey there," I said to the old man behind the counter. "Hi, what can I do for you?" he asked. "A friend said you guys were selling the used U haul trailers," I suggested. "Yeah, I'm giving up the franchise. If you buy one I'm going to spray paint the U haul name over," he said. "That sounds reasonable. I would have to have it painted anyway. I really am only interested in the smallest one you have." I said. "Well I sold some so go back and take a look. You can buy anything that's left for a price," he said. "Fair enough," I replied. Then I walked around back and took a good look at the two small trailers there. One of them was tall like a horse trailer and the other was about the height of my pickup's cab. It had a little damage in the front, but it was to the enclosure not the frame. I went back inside. "Tell you what I'm interested in that smallest one, but it's damaged." "Yeah got a bad spot on the corner where the last guy to rent it made a turn to short." he said. "Well my guess is the insurance has already settled. That is the kind of thing that takes a lot off the value so how much you asking?" I asked. "Five hundred," he said. "You are kidding right," I asked. I have to have it repaired and painted on that corner, not to mention it needs tires and God only knows what else," I said. "Five hundred is fair," he suggested. "Tell you what home depot sells that size for 1000 bucks when it is on sale. If I start there and deduct two tires, that brings it down to 800. The paint and repair is going to run another five hundred so now we are at 300. Tell you what I'll give you 300 in cash right this minute," I said pulling the three one hundred dollar bills out of my wallet. "Make it four and you got a deal," he said. "I will do 350 and not a penny more," I said removing two twenties and a ten from the money pouch. "Alright it's a deal. Let me get you the title," he said. I already had a trailer hitch so he spray painted the U out with a can of orange spray paint. It must have been a touch up paint from the company because it matched pretty good. He did leave the word haul on each side of the trailer. There was a orange globe and a square that had once been his dealer name and address. I was tickled to know that I wouldn't need a camper shell for the truck. I really wanted to keep the back of the truck open. I drove the truck to the box house and parked it. I admit I am terrible for turning my phone off for hours at a time then catching up all at once. That is why I had three messages. One was from the Brit to let me know that the pub was serving the hamburger pie I loved so much. The second message was from Colonel Martin giving me the GPS coordinates for the camp. It was also a request that I go up and see, if the construction had begun. The third message was just a hangup after letting it go to voice mail I noticed it was a blocked number. My guess was the Miami Mafia. ------- Chapter 229 I went out and unhitched the trailer. The changes to it could wait, I had decided to drive to the camp. I had been curious about it for months. I had filled the gas tank on the Ford before I left with the trailer. so I was good to go. The drive was only twenty minutes or so, but it seemed like a journey in time. When I entered the campground road and any trace of modern civilization was gone. There was no modern conveniences at the camp. That had always been the appeal of a church camp. It was the old camp meeting kind of thing. You know let us gather by the river and all that. Once I negotiated the almost mile long dirt drive, I entered a large grassed assembly area. Since there were no cars allowed at the camp, a real parking lot had not been needed. The campers and staff arrived by bus, so the drive just ended in the grass field. I expected that any supplies were brought to the assembly area and carried to the main building by campers recruited for the task. The contractors hadn't been as kind as the campers had been. They had obviously parked several car and truck in the field and even driven them up to the cabins. I loaded my cell phone pictures of the contractor's abuses, then called the colonel. "I thought I would send you some pictures of the contractors work so far," I said when I got him on the phone. I sent pictures of the rutted field and ruts leading to the cabins. The walls of the cabins had been wood siding half up then screen wire to the roof. The cabins had been completely closed in except for the doorway. It had also been insulated and a wood heater included in the renovation. The cabins still held the wooden bunks from when it was a church camp. They were double deck bunks of course. Each cabin was designed for eight people. There were eight cabins in the compound. The small amount of renovations were complete on the all. I walked into the main lodge. It was the administration building and a meeting room/dining room. It was my guess that there would be new kitchen equipment in keeping with Melody's new chef status. I took more pictures and called the Colonel and sent them through. "It looks good so far. How about shooting the bathhouse and the boat dock, then call me again," He said. I Went into the bathhouse and found it insulated and new plumbing fixtures. The old ones were probably beyond repair or not suitable for grownups. I had no idea what they planned to do for a septic system and I didn't care. The contractor had built a floating dock. I had no idea what was under the floorboard to supply the buoyancy to the dock. When I walked on it, it seemed to be stable enough. I had noted the electric fixture and wires around the site. My guess was that there would be a generator which would run a few hours a day but all the time. I though that, because there were also gas light provisions. I sent the final report to the Swamp Dog commander. He seemed to be satisfied. He even joked that I should pick out my cabin and write my name on it. I had forgotten how much satisfaction I got from working for the Swamp Dog guys. It always felt strange to enjoy the little things I did for those people. My mind set changed as soon as I got back to my own house. It was then that I remembered that I had a date with a hamburger pie and a cold dark daft beer. I took the Christmas candy red truck to the pub. The night the temperature finally started to stay warm past midnight. The night weren't as warm as they would be soon but a short sleeve tee under lightweight parka was in order. The parka was mostly to hide the .22 mag. Once I was seated at the end of the bar with my beer and hamburger pie I forgot all about everything else. I just concentrated on enjoying my food. "The Colonel called me today," The Brit said. "Really why was that?" I asked. "He wanted to know, if I would teach out at the camp once in a while. Maybe take a few guys on an overnight hike kind of thing," The Brit said. "You going to do it?" I asked. "I don't know the pub is a little boring to be honest," He replied. "Little, if this is all I did every day, I would shoot myself after the first month," I said in agreement. "It isn't that bad, but it's bad enough," he said. "So yeah, I will probably help out. He asked if you would mentor the new females, I told him I doubted it." "You were right. I don't want to be involved with those guys again," I said. "Well you know even if you run for sheriff and get elected, you still have to do something until January next year, when they swear in the new Sheriff. So why not be a role model for those chicks. You could even take on a few bodyguard jobs. Supplement that anemic pension of yours," He said. "I'm glad they offered, and I will think about it, but I just don't know what is next for me. I have to stay busy. I do know that. I just ain't sure that is what I want any more. I'm not sure any of this is what I want. I might get a boat and sail around the world." I laughed. Since the Brit got quiet, I finished off the beer and hamburger pie. Since The Brit would never give me a bill, I put a ten dollar bill on the bar, when I was ready to go. The phone rang before I got in the truck. "Hello," I said to the black number. "I saw your latest video and I just have to meet you," the voice from Miami said. "I'm running for sheriff, that would be a really bad idea for me." I said. "You think I care about you being a sheriff. I don't give a damn about that," he said. "Well you should, because it's who I am, not the video. I take my real life more serious than that," I said. "Someday," he said. I hung up without answering him. I got in the truck and drove home. It was only 10PM but it was a good time to visit an adult chatroom and get to bed early. So that is just what I did. 5AM was just a tiny bit on the chilly side. I didn't need anything more than the lightweight nylon parka to ride the bike. I didn't pay any attention to the asshole who ran me off the road in the dark. I probably should have paid more attention to him. I went head first off the bike, so it was a good thing I wore my helmet. I was thrown well clear of the bike, so I wasn't tangled up in the wreckage, when the two men came back to check their handy work. I managed to crawl behind some brush before they got the bike spotted with their light. I also had the eight shot revolver out and pointed at the lights. I didn't want to shoot because they might have been just idiots and not homicidal idiots. "Were the fuck is she," one of them said to the other. "You sure you hit her?" "Yes I'm sure I hit her. You see the bike down there don't you," the second man replied. "We need to go down and find her." "And do what? It has to look like an accident, you know what he said." One of them said to the other. I was beginning to get real curious about who had sent in the clowns. I figured I could make some noise. It should get them to shoot, then I could put a hole in one of them. That would make it a lot easier to track them. So I shook the busy and laid down very flat on the ground. "There she is let's get her." the first one said. Instead of shooting they came down the bank. Well they knew where I was so I needed to be somewhere else when they arrived. I moved to a different clump of brush while they were coming down the hill looking for me again. I also used the time to remove one of the bright orange shanks from my slacks. I removed the electrical tape from the sharp point and waited for them to come down the hill for me. The beauty of the .22 mag was that it had good penetration abilities with no recoil to speak of. So I held it in my left hand and the shank in my right and I waited for them to get closer. "Let's split up, you go that way and I'll go this one," the second thug suggested. "Do you think that is a good idea?" the first one asked. "She is a hundred pound woman for God's sake," The second one suggested. "and she just fell off a bike. She isn't going to be a threat. Now go find her." The were separated by about ten yards when the one I had designated thug two got the surprise of his life. He also felt a pretty good pain I'm sure, when I stuck the dagger about four inches deep into his gut. "I probably hit a major organ and an artery or two. "You are going to bleed out in a few minutes. I would keep that in mind before you decide to come after me." I said before I blended back into the woods. Thug one fired the first shot after he thought he saw me. I could see his light but I had no idea where he was so I aimed at the light and put two round on each side of it. "Let's get the hell out of here," Thug two suggested weakly. I waited until they were up the hill. Shortly there was the sound of a car motor staining as they pulled away. I waited for that sound before I checked my bike. The front wheel was missing and I couldn't see it anywhere. I didn't search for it since it wouldn't do me any good. The front fork was twisted. That pretty much meant I was going to be walking the mile or so home. It also meant I would be exposed all the way. The mile to my house was all woods and roadway, so I had no choice but to be visible. I damn sure wasn't going to flag down a stranger. When I began thinking clearly, I realized I was closer to the Plaza than I was to my home. So I walked toward the plaza. When I got there several minutes later, I went into the Hardee's restaurant. "What the hell happened to you Sylvia," A complete stranger asked. "Bike accident, why," I asked. "You are covered in blood," he said. "I need to call 911." "I don't think so. I walked about a mile to get here," I said. "I must be alright. I'll go in the bathroom and check." When I got in there I realized why he thought I needed an ambulance. I for sure had a hell of a scrape on my left cheek. There was blood on my parka. Some on the left side at the shoulder, as well as blood on my pants on the left side as well. It looked as though I landed on my left side and slide for a few feet on it. I felt no pain probably because I was in shock and I had a high tolerance as well. I was still dabbing at the blood with toilet paper when the girl in the paramedic uniform came in the bathroom. ------- Chapter 230 "What's your name ma'am?" the girl in the uniform asked. "Sylvia Porter and I'm rational and not in shock," I said. "No offense Sylvia, but you aren't in the best shape to make that decision. Take a look at yourself. Let me at least take a look at those cuts. Then if you need it, we can take you to the emergency room and they can clean you up at least." she waited a second then said,"I promise I won't let them keep you." "Sweetie, someone ran me off the road, then came down to try to finish me. I'm more worried that they will be looking for me at the hospital, than I am about my injuries." I said. "And yes I'm paranoid, but that doesn't mean they didn't try to kill me." "Okay, well let me see how bad you are hurt," she said. She did a real quick exam for broken bones. She pressed on my check. I felt a sharp pain and gasped. "You probably got some cracked ribs. Let me listen to your lungs. Your lungs sounds fine. Now listen to me you walked about a mile after that fall. It doesn't look as though you did any damage except you oozed a lot of blood. Your clothes are ruined for sure," she said. "Well they came from the army and navy discount store, so I don't really care all that much," I said. "I have heard a lot about you. It all points to you being a bad ass bitch and hard to kill. So why not call someone to meet us at the High Mountain Clinic. They can clean you up and get you ready to leave. You are going to need some clothes to wear out of there. You can have someone bring them to you. You will be there a couple of hours at least, so there is no rush but make the call now. The clinic isn't in Warren County, so you should have some wiggle room." "Okay, I'll go with that," I said. I made my call to The Brit. "Allen this is Sylvia. I know it's really early for you guys, but I need to ask a favor. I had a bike accident and I am headed to The High Mountain Medical Clinic to get a check up. I am going to need some clothes though. Can you run by the house and get a pair of those loose fitting cargo pants and a big sweat shirt. Take Jeremy with you, he will know what to get. I'm sorry to ask, but I didn't have anyone else." "If you ever call anyone else I will never speak to you again," he said. I'll be at the clinic when you get there. I'm going to give Jeremy your key and have him come up as well. So just relax, it's all taken care of." "Britt bring a tool or two," I said. "So you ready now?" the girl asked. "Yeah, you gonna hold this for me?" I asked reaching under the parka painfully to remove the .22 mag revolver. "I'll hold it for you no sweat," she said with a smile. "And this," I handed her the derringer. She helped me out to the gurney where she told me to lie down. I did as she said. I think she gave me anything, anyway I fell right asleep. I worked through the pain I guess. She might have given me something for it. The next thing I knew I was coming around in an examining room. "Well hell there Miss Porter. We don't get many celebrities in here." "Well you don't have one in me. I'm just your average bike rider who ran off the road." I said. "Funny I was told you were Madona. That's what we have on your chart. By the way you were lucky with paramedic you had. She did a tour in Iraq at the end of the war there. She is good and knows how to keep her mouth shut." "Okay," I said. "This clinic is run by Molly Merritt she is a nurse practitioner. She is more than qualified to take care of this. There are two Registered Nurses and a couple of technicians so we can handle most things. We will send you on to the hospital, if you really need it, but not if you don't." she said. "So which one are you? You all wear scrubs," I asked. "I'm Molly, so let's take a look at you. I would ask you to get out of those clothes but it looks like we are going to have to cut you out of them," she said. "Well Molly, like I told the paramedic, you can cut them off. I shop at the army navy store." "Is that were you got that cool pair of pants," She asked. "Yeah, and the Russian commando tee shirt," I said. "Okay this may hurt some," she said. "Why is it you say that like it might not, when you know it is going to hurt like hell?" I asked. "Good point, you have had a little pain killer, but it wasn't much so just bare with me." She said. She cut the top off first. "Good you don't have on a bra that will make it easier." "Not to mention that I have almost no breasts to worry about." I said. "Well believe it or not you have an abrasion on your left one," she said. "Next we are going to cut your slacks off, then get a chest picture of those ribs." That's exactly what she did. Of course she also cut my bikini panties off me. She left me to drift off to sleep while they got the x-ray developed. I was pretty out of it when The Brit came into the examining room. "Do you have any idea how many hoops I had to jump through to get in to see you?" he asked. "What," I asked. "They told me they didn't have you. I knew they were lying, now the question is why are they lying." He asked. "A couple of guys ran me off the road then came down looking for me and not to call me an ambulance. I put a shank in one's guts and fired a couple of rounds off to scare the other one," I explained. "That does explain it," The Brit said. "Is the paramedic still here?" I asked. "Yeah I think so," he said. "Tell her who you are, and that I called you. She has a package for you," I explained. "Okay you, out," Molly said looking very stern and looking around for a weapon. "Molly this is the love of my life, not to worry," I said. "Sylvia you are unbelievable, how do you make such friends," he said. "I was going to ask the same thing," she said. "I'm Molly her nurse." "Well Molly, she looks to be in good hand. Now I need to be sure she stays that way. So if you will excuse me, I will make a call or two." he said. "Don't do it Brit," I said. "If I don't, when the word filters down, and you know it will. There will be at least two men mad as hell at me. I would rather not have those two angry at me, thank you very much. There will be more trouble than even you can imagine. For the foreseeable future, I will try to keep them where they belong." he said and laughed. "I know who you are supposed to be, but who the hell are you," Molly asked. "Just a simple country girl trying to get by," I said. "Sure, well then this is going to hurt like hell, but it has to be done. I am going to clean and dress those scrapes." she said. "You better hope you don't make me scream. The Brit has great reaction, but unfortunately he acts in haste often." I said to her. "I'll try to take it easy," she said. It was a minute later that one of the techs came in with a pan of water and a bottle of surgical soap. I recognized the mild antibiotic soap. Molly scrubbed and I winced. "By the way your ribs are broken but the will heal if you don't put any pressure on them. So stay in bed when you get home for at least a week. It looks to me like you will have pretty good protection." she said. "Honey you don't know the half of it," I said. I couldn't sleep through the body wash, but I kept my eyes closed and winced often. Still it was done without my making any terrible screams. "Well why don't you stay here till we close at six tonight. We can keep and eye on you and be sure you don't slip into shock. You had a pretty good fall." Molly said. "Well I would rather leave, but you do have a point. I will sleep her till 6PM. So what time is it?" I asked. "It's just noon. We got you cleaned up pretty fast. Would you like to talk to your friends?" she asked. "Yes I certainly would," I said. "You are coming home with us tonight," The Brit said. "I have been thinking I probably don't need to go to my place. I need for you to find out, if a man checked into the hospital about the time I called you. He will have a puncture wound in the gut. There might be a second one with a gunshot wound somewhere. The Brit nodded and then left. He didn't come back. I slept fitfully till 6PM, when the clinic closed for the night. They slipped me into my clothes first then into the backseat of the SUV. Before I left I showed them my medical insurance card of course. Molly also kissed me on the cheek before I left. When we got to the pub Liam was standing in the alley waiting for the SUV. The helped me from the SUV while they also watch the area closely. Nothing seemed to move, so they led me into the pub and up the stairs. Now that was a real test of my ability to handle pain. Climbing those stairs brought tears to my eyes. Once I got up stairs I had to argue with them to force them to put me on the sofa. I managed to drop the cargo pants before I climbed in the sofa that Jeremy made into a bed for me. Liam sat down beside me with The Brit standing beside him. "Okay now Sylvia what happened exactly?" he asked. "I don't know exactly. I was headed from my house to the plaza on the bike. Somewhere along the way someone forced me off the road. I know there were at least two of them. They came down to finish me off, that was how they put it by the way. I shanked one of them in the gut and took a few shots at the other one. I think I scared the one I shanked into heading for the emergency room, which is why I didn't want to go there." "Okay we start calling in favors," Liam said taking his cell phone out. "Liam this in not a Swamp Dog operation. I will find them and take care of it," I said. "Of course, we will just find out what we can before they leave town," he said. With that he dialed a number then said into the phone. "She is scraped up a little, but you should see the other guy. No we are gonna see the other guy, she thinks he checked into the hospital emergency room this morning with a belly wound. Probably a John Doe or something like it." Liam said. "Okay call me when you know something. Yeah the homeland security ID." I had an idea Liam had at least one fake law enforcement ID. ------- To Be Continued... ------- Posted: 2012-07-16 Last Modified: 2013-03-02 / 09:17:57 am ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------