Chapter Nineteen

Splinters exploded as the bullet hit the wood beam, two feet above the gymnasium doors as Sofia ran after the girls into the large empty space, the sound of the men’s running feet disappearing as the doors closed behind them. Four seconds she thought, four seconds to get these girls hidden, but where?

Sofia looked left and right at the white painted walls, shadows and bands of light shining off the glossy surface from the skylights above looking like demons clawing after them. The bleachers were stacked tightly against the walls leaving the highly polished wood floor exposed in all directions. Sofia noticed Coach Kramer’s desk light shining dully under the heavy door to her office. They would be safe if they could reach the office before the gunmen came through the gymnasium doors and the police could be summoned.

“Girls, Kramer’s office,” Sofia yelled, to the two athletes fleeing toward the rear of the gym, her voice and footsteps echoing in the large empty space.

Amanda and Melisa turned toward Coach Kramer’s office mid flight across the deserted basketball court, shoes squeaking with every step.

The light indicated the office door would be unlocked and if it wasn’t, Sofia would have to think of another alternative escape route. As luck would have it Coach Kramer was finishing some paperwork as the three girls crashed through the office door, Sofia following a second later than Amanda and Melisa.

“Girl’s what’s going on?” Coach asked, as her office door was being pushed shut by Sofia. Sofia pushed the lock mechanism in the handle to lock the door.

The door to the office is a heavy item, steel skin with a solid core to make it fire rated and quite heavy enough to stop most bullets fired from a pistol. The door opens out making it almost impossible to break in from the outside and secure enough from the inside to serve as a place for detention..

“Call the police, 911,” Sofia ordered.

“Amanda, what’s happening?” Coach Kramer asked, “What’s the meaning of this?”

The five seconds of conversation and action to lock the door brought the jarring answer to the Coach. The lock rattled followed by heavy kicking against the door when Ken and Carl tried to open the office door.

“Coach, hurry, call the police,” Sofia ordered, again.

Coach Kramer looked on in shock as the attack continued on her office door, not moving but watching with her mouth open as her brain tried to make sense of the commotion whirling around her.

“God,” Sofia swore as the coach froze in horror as the assault to the door continued..

Grabbing the phone next to the papers Coach was grading, accidently sweeping several to flutter across the floor, Sofia punched in the numbers.

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“This is Marion Hill School and we have two men with guns on the grounds. Please send help.”

“Are you in any danger?”

“Not right now, but shots have been fired.”

“Stay on the line and help will be there soon. There’s an officer two minutes away.”

“Please hurry, they’re trying to break into the room where we are”

The pounding on the door ceased after a half of a minute, only to be followed by the sound of gunfire and a loud crashing noise on the door, some more kicking, and then silence.

We couldn’t hear sirens or any other noise. The wall where the office had been built was designed with a very high fire rating. The walls were cement block and the door, was steel with a solid core and steel framing, painted grey. The hardware was of the highest quality and for the thugs to trying to enter, it presented a barrier they couldn’t overcome without heavy tools of some sort to break the door apart.

Another two minutes passed before we heard knocking on the door.

“That must be the police, get back into the corner of the room and I’ll let them in.”

Sofia found a baseball bat and took it in her hand before walking to the door. Coach, Melisa, and I crowded into the left front corner of the room, after Sofia explained she would be able to try to protect us with the bat and there would be no easy shot at us until they entered the office.

“Identify yourself,” Sofia yelled, hoping the sound of her voice would travel through the door.

“Deputy Sherriff Bob Atkins, Miss, please unlock the door.”

“Where are the guys that were shooting at us?”

“They’re gone, you’re safe now.”

Sofia stepped to the lock side of the door and stood against the wall, shielded from the door opening by the thick cement block wall. She reached slowly toward the door handle and pressed it down to unlock the door and quickly grabbing the bat with both hands and prepared to swing it at the intruder. The deputy eased himself slowly into the room enough to expose enough of his uniform so Sofia could see the voice was connected to a real Deputy Sherriff.

“Is everyone okay?” he asked.

“We’re fine,” Sofia answered.

“Deputy Atkins, Miss, and you’re?”

“Sofia Lorenz,” she answered, still gripping the baseball bat. His name plate confirmed he was who he said he was.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Lorenz. Can you tell me what happened?” Deputy Atkins asked.

Bob Atkins was a tall man and looked to be around twenty-five years old. His hair showing from under his Sherriff’s hat was dark brown with a military cut and his intense eyes were a deep blue. His nose was a little crooked, not enough to be ugly but the right amount to be sexy. He had a ready smile and very white teeth. I would have had to guess he was around six-three and very well put together. My thoughts were, ‘God he’s a fox’.

I could hear sirens coming from all directions. It wouldn’t be long before the SWAT Team arrived along with half the police in Placer County.

Sofia was her usual calm self as she answered the Deputy’s question, except I couldn’t help notice that she was blushing every time her eyes met his. OMG, Sofia was losing her composure, as it was evident she liked the deputy more than as someone who had just saved her. She was crushing on the guy.

“The girls had just finished their workouts for their team sports and we were walking toward the car when I spotted the two guys waiting for us. I knew what they wanted so I told the girls to run for the gym. I was hoping it was still unlocked and if it was we would be safe in there. All we had to do was hide, which we did. The tall guy shot at me, but missed badly, which I knew he would. Luckily the coach’s office was unlocked and we would be safe in there. They tried to get in, but there was no way they would be able to break through the door before you got here.”

“Do you know who they were?” he asked.

“I saw then yesterday and knew what they were doing, so as soon as I saw them I alerted the girls and here we are.”

“You saw them yesterday? Why didn’t you call the police, and how did you know what they wanted?”

“Do you know who this girl is?” Sofia asked, pointing at me.

“Umm, she looks kind of familiar, but I really can’t put a name to her face.”

“That’s understandable since guys don’t wear much makeup. She’s Amanda Flowers, a very famous model.”

“Amanda Flowers, yeah now I recognize her, hey weren’t you just at the awards show? My girlfriend and I watched it, yeah, now I remember.”

Sofia’s face turned to a scowl when Bob mentioned his girl friend. Sofia’s got a crush, I giggled to myself.

“Jeze, we broke up right after that.”

Sofia’s smile returned so fast that I thought her lips would get whiplash.

“Sorry, I got distracted, so, how did you know what these guys wanted? Have you been reading mystery novels and just guessed?”

Bob thought he was speaking to a high school senior who thought she had enough knowledge to know about abductions and what ever else she had talked about. Girls her age sure wouldn’t know about pistols and not being able to hit anything while you were running. Maybe he would cut her some slack because she was so darn cute. ‘Too bad she’s still in school or he’d be tempted to ask her to dinner’ he thought.

“Oh, I get it,” Sofia answered, with more than a little venom in her voice. “You think I’m some little airhead that doesn’t know the first thing about dangerous things. Well Mister Sherriff, I’m her bodyguard and this is what I’m trained to do. Those guys couldn’t have been more obvious if they tried. First they were driving a rented blue SUV and they circled across in front of the school and then back again. Two guys driving up and down in front of a high school, come on, they were either looking for someone or they were perverts looking to get laid. When we left school they fell right in behind us and I knew it was Amanda they were after, so I led them to the mall to prove my theory about them. They followed us and parked to watch us. I made them suffer a bit while we shopped. Nothing like three teen girls shopping, to drive a guy crazy.”

“You can say that again.”

Sofia raised one eyebrow.

“Anyway, I lost them driving home. It wasn’t too hard and we didn’t see them again until this morning. Apparently they have a general idea of where Amanda lives and waited off the freeway until we drove past. They knew where we were going so they didn’t care if they lost me or not. We didn’t see them until after practice and you know what happened since then.”

“You’re really a body guard?” Bob asked sheepishly. “Are you carrying?”

“No, my pistol is in the car locked in a safe, school rules you know,” Sofia answered sarcastically.

“Just how old are you Sofia?” he asked.

“I’m twenty-eight, is there a problem?”

From the smile on Bob’s face Sofia’s age was the farthest thing from being a problem. I guess he kind of liked her too.

Over the next half of an hour we were taken outside and questioned by the Chief of Detectives for Placer County and a detective for the Auburn City Police. Sofia was bored, I was having fun, and Melisa was beside herself with excitement. She was living one of her mystery novels. Coach Kramer didn’t know Sofia was my bodyguard and when she found out she knew why Sofia watched my practices every day. He thought Sofia was another student with a crush on me and was going to ask her to leave practice if she kept showing up to watch me. When we were finally able to leave, she thanked Sofia for being there and gave her a hug. Sofia being herself, tensed but allowed the show of affection. I love that girl. Oh, I almost forgot, Bob asked Sofia for her number, and she gave it to him, romance is in the air.

* * *

“Boss, I’m sorry, but the cops came before we could take the girl,” Ken said, into his mobile phone.

“Shit, how long does it take to grab the kid, just what in the Hell were you doing?”

“We were waiting right next to the girl’s car. We figured she would walk to us, no fuss, no muss, just grab her, throw her in the car and drive away. You know the broad with the legs; well she saw us and told the other two girls to run. How would she know we were waiting for them? I think she’s something more than a student. She knew right away who we were.”

“The chick’s got to be a body guard, the fucking kid’s a bodyguard, and she’s no student, why didn’t you spot that in the first place?”

“How should we know, she looked just like one of the other girl students.”

“What were you looking with, your dick? Don’t answer that question, I already know. Look this has to happen in the next few days and I don’t want another screw up. Fucking shoot the bodyguard and grab the kid, get it done.”

“Uh, Boss, we’ll need to rent another car. The girl knows what this one looks like.”

“I don’t care what you have to do, just get it done and next time you call, it had better be good news or I’ll be handing your balls to you myself.”

The phone went dead and Ken had an obvious look of concern on his face. He knew Marco was good for his word and wouldn’t think twice about cutting his balls off, if it even came to that. His neck would probably be first.

“Boss said we have to get it done and if we have to, shoot the bodyguard,” Ken relayed the message.

“Those legs belong to a bodyguard, damn, what a waste, I’d do her in a second.”

“I’m sure you would, and maybe you’ll get your chance. Let’s get rid of this car and get a different color so she won’t spot us so easily. She might not be all that tough and is here just for show. I wouldn’t mind getting a little of that myself.”

* * *

The next day things were different. We had a police escort all the way to school. A Sherriff’s car followed us from the time we left the house until we arrived at school. I guess you can guess who volunteered for that duty? Sofia had a smile on her face all the way to school.

The seriousness of the kidnap attempt made me think about what my life had become. Did I really have a life anymore, or was I just a product for someone else’s riches. There wasn’t a moment I could be myself, who ever that might be. I couldn’t eat what I wanted, “Remember fat models aren’t in demand”, Mrs. Meyer would remind me, when I’d pine for a big fat juicy burger. No, just a small salad and a bit of fruit would be perfect. “Amanda, what are you thinking, you could ruin your career,” she would say if I had a band-aid covering the slightest scratch from soccer. I know she means well, but I also realize that I’m her meal ticket, but on the other hand I’ve made a lot of money for myself. I wouldn’t be able to go to Stanford if I hadn’t earned that money.

My father might still be sitting in a chair at home because we wouldn’t have been able to afford the treatment he received after his accident. The trade off, I had become a girl and would remain one for the rest of my life. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a pity party, I love the person I’ve become. If I didn’t, I would have never wanted real curves and started my puberty as a woman. It seems I’m never alone to do what I want to do. I hardly see Cindy anymore even though we talk everyday on the phone. Sofia is with me everywhere I go, even to our special tree in the clearing. Weekends are reserved for modeling sessions as are several midweek days every month. I can’t just be me, and I don’t even know who me is anymore?

Amanda started as a part time job, be her, and then be Mark for the rest of the time. I was Mark through and through while Amanda was the outside person looking in. When I had to assume her personality full time it was very difficult to bury Mark in a little corner of my life. I loved being a boy and my father had taught me well. I love my father more than words can say and when he forgot his son, I thought I would die, and perhaps I did in a small way when I became Amanda full time. This isn’t to say I don’t like being Amanda, I do, and I love being the girl I portray, actually more than being a boy. I guess Cindy was right when she said I was really a girl inside, but it seems I’ve had no say in where my life is going ever since Cindy saw my mascara covered lashes. God I was only twelve and how was I supposed to make decisions like the ones I made. The Siren Song of money drew me to the flame as easily as a moth to light.

It was the accident that I blame for the big shift in my life, and not wanting to hurt my father by telling him he didn’t have a daughter and that he had a son. He was barely alive and a blow like that would kill him, maybe even literally. How hard would it be to try living as a girl all the time, I had wondered, and the trap was set. As time passed it became too easy, I became Amanda, a real girl and it was no wonder that I wanted to be just like the rest of the girls my age, curves and all. What I didn’t realize at the time was what those curve inducing hormones would do to my brain. I had always been a nice boy, not aggressive, but not one to back down from anyone either, I was that tough little Mark James. Now, I don’t feel so tough, maybe even a little needy, no, threatened would be a better word, as though my world was spinning out of control and I had no way to stop it.

I knew I didn’t want to become Mark James again, as much as I missed him, but I knew who Amanda Flowers had become was still a little bit of a boy named Mark. I still had a little of that devil may care attitude I had as a boy. It made Amanda Flowers who she was which made my fans love me just that much more for being myself.

There was one other thing I wanted. I wanted a boyfriend. I know it would be several months before I turned sixteen and would be able to date, but I missed the special attention from a boy after Kurt left for college. I wondered why boys hadn’t asked me out, but perhaps they knew the rule my mother had about not being able to date until I turned sixteen. Another reason could be the constant presence of Sofia. Having a bodyguard hanging around probably put a damper on any thoughts a boy might have for what he’d like to do with me. We would have to work something out. I don’t know how much longer I can put up with a constant companion.

The drive to school was uneventful and Sofia didn’t see our kidnappers. Having a Sherriff’s escort will dampen most people’s thoughts of trying anything bad.

Things changed after school. The Sherriff couldn’t escort us because of an accident on highway 49 and there wasn’t anyone available for us, as being an escort is very low priority. I think maybe Bob was just trying to impress Sofia, which worked by the way. The girl has it bad.

After practice Sofia was more than a little concerned walking to our car.

“I have a bad feeling,” she said, as we walked. Her head was constantly turning from side to side looking for any threat.

“There’s no one around,” I replied.

“There shouldn’t be, it’s just I feel different today.”

“Maybe you’re just not over yesterday,” Melisa said.

“Maybe, well let’s hurry, I don’t like being out in the open like this.”

We slowly ran to the SUV and Sofia unlocked the doors with the remote FOB on her keychain. We entered, Melisa in back, me riding shotgun, and Sofia driving of course. She opened the glove compartment and opened the gun safe, pulling her pistol from it and placing it on the seat between us. Sofia lowered the windows to let the hot stale air from the car.

She started the engine, put the car in gear and headed toward the exit.. She stopped at the stop sign next to the gate and before we could proceed a silver Nissan SUV blocked our path. The two guys from yesterday jumped from the car, pistols drawn.

“Down,” Sofia screamed, throwing the car in reverse and accelerated backward, into the lot. Melisa and I threw ourselves onto the floor of the car.

The two men ran after us and fired their pistols damaging the car but nothing else. Sofia turned the steering wheel and applied the brakes causing the car to turn ninety degrees before stopping. She grabbed her pistol, aimed through the open window of the car and fired. Ken, the leader went down, his pistol flying from his hand. The Asian guy stopped realizing that my bodyguard had a gun and wasn’t afraid to use it.

“Move and you’re dead,” Sofia yelled, pointing her pistol at the man’s head. Carl was staring down business end of a nine millimeter and after seeing Ken fall to the pavement knew he would be next if he didn’t do as asked.

Carl lowered his pistol and placed it on the pavement in front of him.

“Kick the gun over here and lay down,” Sofia ordered.

Carl did as asked, kicking his pistol under our SUV and lowered himself to the pavement.

“Girls, call the police while I watch this idiot,” Sofia said.

Sofia opened the car door and stepped from the car. Ken was bleeding from his chest and moaning softly. Carl didn’t move a muscle. Melisa and I sat quietly in the car. Watching someone get shot turned an adventure into real life and someone might die.

The police arrived a minute later and an ambulance was called. Luckily for Ken, Sofia’s bullet missed his heart but had punctured his lung, passing through his body and lodging in the rented Nissan. Ken would live but he wouldn’t be getting out of the hospital soon, and when he did there would be a jail cell waiting for him.

Carl decided he wanted to work out a deal and told the police everything Marco had asked them to do. Marco was arrested in New York and would stand trial with both Ken and Carl.

Marco was a weak man and it didn’t take long for him to spill his guts about Dan Fountain. Unfortunately for Dan, Marco’s confession came a day too late and he died a slow death at the hands of the loan shark who gave him two weeks to pay back his loan. Two weeks and one day found Dan missing his fingers and teeth, which lay next to his bruised and battered body. The threat against Amanda was gone.

The threat gone meant that Sofia was no longer needed to protect me. Mom and Dad decided to keep her on for two more months, just in case there were anymore guys, Dan Fountain had hired, but there were none. Sofia knew her time with me was coming to an end and Mom and Dad let her take time off just to relax. It didn’t take her long to start dating Bob during her free time.

“How’s Bob,” I would tease.

“He’s wonderful. I just hope you find someone as nice as him when you start dating,” she would reply.

“Maybe I would if my mom and dad would let me date,” I complained.

“You’re too young, maybe in a few years.”

“More like a few months, I’ll be sixteen in four months and then look out boys.”

“More like look out Amanda, girl, you have so much to learn.”

“I had a boy friend before.”

“Oh really, and what happened with that one?”

“He went off to college.”

“And what did you do with him?”

“We kissed a couple of times.”

“That’s it? God you’re going to be in such trouble when you finally meet someone you really like. I think it’s time for you and your mother to have a long talk about boys and then I’ll do the same or you’re going to have a broken heart.”

“I will, thanks Sofia.”

Mom and I had the talk a week later, but it went a little differently, after all I’m still a boy where it matters and even if I had surgery to change things, I still couldn’t get pregnant. The talk was more about feelings and knowing when to say no. I didn’t think it would matter, but it would when I finally went on a date.

“Mom, can I tell you something and not get mad at me?” I asked.

“I promise, sweetheart.”

“Remember when I went out with Kurt?”

“Yes of course, why?”

“Well, I kissed him.”

“I kind of figured you did, that’s what teens do on a date.”

“It didn’t do anything for me, feelings wise. It was just a wonderful kiss.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because I also kissed after I started my hormones and it was a different feeling and my body wanted so much more. Is that what you’re talking about, Mom?”

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, and when you start to date you have to be even more careful that most girls. If your date doesn’t know about you, you could be killed. All I’m asking is that you be careful.”

“I will be.”

That was the first of many talks with Mom, and then with Sofia. She told me about when she lost her virginity and I was in tears when she told me the boy broke up with her after taking what he wanted from her. I was just a naíve, fifteen year old girl trying to find my way along a path traveled by women older than me. I wondered if Mark would have had the same concerns. I think maybe I would have, because my father had been raising me to be the kind of man that cared for others.