Babs’ New Year’s Resolution 77 © Copyright to Beverly Guinevere Taff 2021.

List of Characters.

Lola Smith Bab’s adopted trans daughter.
Callista Denton (Callie). Transgendered Duchess of Denton.
Margaret Denton (Maggie). Callie’s wife.
Molly Denton Callie’s grandmother
Ellie Denton Callie’s mother.
Bab’s Barbara Smith. Lola’s adoptive ‘Nana’
Olivia Smith Bab’s adopted daughter. (Excellent Artist.)
Angela Smith Bab’s newly adopted daughter
Erica Bab’s foster daughter.
Sergeant Bridie Davies Lady Police detective protecting the girls.
Sergeant Brian Davies. Bridie’s twin brother.
Inspector John, Heading up the anti-rape-gang operation.
Gareth Jenkins, Police office trained in firearms and protection.
Belinda Harrington Lola’s university girlfriend.
Aaron Talbot Surgical registrar – married to –
Shirley Talbot Lecturer at Local university.
Mickey Talbot Aaron and Shirley’s oldest son.
Jessica Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s middle daughter.
Bianca Talbot Aaron & Shirley’s youngest daughter.
Henry Denton Callie’s only son.
Charlotte Denton Callie’s only daughter.
Beverly Callie’s maternal great aunt (Ellie’s paternal aunt)
Wendy Smith Beverly’s Operations Manager for Hull
Louisa Wendy’s Daughter
Griselda & Mia Wendy’s younger twin daughters.
Susan Harvey Prosecution counsel advocating for Erica in court.
Han’s The German policeman’s son whom Erica really fancies.
Uncle Phillip CIA Agent.

Chapter 77

“Well! That’s that.” Lola concluded as she closed her phone. “ ‘Cross the pond we go.”

She called down the hall to Babs’ who was showing Erica some cooking tips.

“It’s a definite Nana!”

“What is?” Babs asked.

“The American thing. They want Erica to bear witness in some court in Texas.”

“Why Texas?” Erica called as she mixed the flour and butter.

“I suppose it ties up with the Mexican connection.” Lola surmised.

“What? All those drug cartels and things.”

“Well Callie hasn’t confirmed everything with her uncle yet. It’s the FBI mostly dealing with it except where some of the high-up mid-eastern politicians were involved. It creeps into the CIA thing then. Anyway, Uncle Phil and his Yank associates are really up for it.”

“What about the oriental stuff?” Erica probed. “There were Chinese people there as well.”

“I don’t know,” Lola defended herself. “Callie’s keeping stuff close to her chest.”

“Why’s that?” Erica protested. “I’d have thought they would want me to identify any suspects.”

“They do babes; but they are not prepared to send stuff via t’ internet. Apparently there’s a lot of clever hackers working for those politicians. Especially in China.”

“Is ‘deep throat’ Chinese?” Erica asked point blank.

“I dunno,” Lola lied. “Whoever he is, I’ll bet every agency on the planet is trying to catch him.”

Erica sighed and returned to her baking. Lola did not see her until Lunch time. Over the dining table Erica pumped Lola about the risks from shootings.

“I don’t know,” Lola replied, “It’s got to be riskier than England or Germany.”

“Especially so close to Mexico and the cartels. There’s hundreds of South American girls trafficked north into Texas; and the murder rate is astronomical.”

“I’m sure the authorities will make sure you’re protected.” Babs tried to reassure Erica.

“Will we all be going?” Olivia wondered.

“It’s not a holiday,” Babs replied somewhat acidly. “Don’t forget, you girls are still in witness protection.”

The mood darkened around the table as the girls reflected that the canal boat behind the house, still housed Sergeants Bridie and Brian as armed protection. Things had been so quiet since the trial; they had not seen much to remind them of the danger. Both the police sergeants kept a low profile and only socialised in the evenings when the canal and river lock was quiet and denuded of visitors.

Once the girls had listed their questions, Lola promised to ask Callie what she knew and that evening as they gathered around Lola’s ‘puter, most of the questions were put to bed.

After the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the four girls and Babs’ found themselves sharing a USAF jet with Callie and bound for a military airfield in Texas. This event only served to increase the girl’s fears as it served to emphasise the seriousness of the case in the USA.

“I hope it doesn’t go on too long,” Olivia lamented, “I don’t want to miss my mock exams in February.”

Babs chuckled at this.

“I never thought I’d hear that from a girl who endured all the deprivations of care. You make me feel proud darling. The effort’s been worthwhile.”

“It has Nana,” Lola replied knowing she’d spoken for all the girls. “We owe it to you and no mistake.”

The murmur of agreement from the row of seats gave Babs’ a warm thrill as she sensed her own fulfilment. She settled into the comfortable cushions and slowly fell asleep.

ooo000ooo

Three hours later Babs’s slumber was disturbed by an agitated Erica who was tugging her sleeve as she stared through the aircraft window.

“Uhgg. Wha- What is it?” Babs spluttered as she came to her senses.

“That’s not Texas! It’s covered in rock and snow!” Erica squealed. “Where are they taking us?”

Babs loosened her seatbelt and leaned across Erica’s seat to stare down at the earth below.
“Of course it isn’t America. That’s Greenland.”

“I thought we were going to Texas!”

Disturbed by the kerfuffle behind her Lola piped up.

“We are going to Texas, but we fly over Greenland. Not quite over the North Pole.”

“How’s that?” Erica demanded.

Lola let out a slow sigh as Babs chuckled with amusement.

“The shortest way from Britain to Texas is over Greenland, and Labrador then south-west through the Mid-western states.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” Erica protested as she reached for a booklet illustrating air-routes.

“It does look.” Lola persisted as she turned to the page of transatlantic routes.

Erica stared at the curved red lines and frowned.

“That’s weird.” Erica persisted as the single air-force stewardess approached to see what the argument was about.

Lola grinned at the stewardess as she explained.

“Erica doesn’t understand great-circles on this Mercator projection.”

“Don’t worry miss. We often have this confusion among younger flyers. I’ll go and get our educational toy.”

So saying, she went into a small galley and returned with a proper globe displaying the same routes as the booklet.

“There young lady, study that. Here’s some cotton to prove it for yourself. Stretch the cotton between St Athan airbase in South Wales, to Ellington Field in Houston.”

Erica did so and the picture became clear. To reinforce the simple lesson, the air-force stewardess then stretched the cotton between London and Sydney and Erica was surprised to see it passing over Denmark. She looked up and grinned as she waved the booklet.

“This maps fucked then.”

“Really Miss! We don’t use language like that in the air-force.”

“I’ll bet you do,” Erica riposted, but thank you anyway.

The stewardess frowned and looked questioningly at Babs’ who explained simply.

“The kid’s had a bad start, what Americans call ‘Juvenile hall’ and all that.”

“Oh. I see. Is this some sort of vacation then.”

“Gosh no. She’s an important witness in the Lansdown trafficking trials.”

The stewardesses fixed smile dropped momentarily as she quickly grasped the story. The Lansdown child trafficking cases had become big news in the USA.

“Hence she flies courtesy of Uncle Sam and I’ll respectfully ask you to keep shtum.”

“Dammit! Of course. I was warned of the importance of this passenger but they didn’t fully explain. Sorry to have embarrassed you.”

“Thought you didn’t swear in the air-force?” Erica riposted with amusement.

“Okay girl. Touché! D’you want a drink?”

“Oooh yes please. Black coffee but very sweet.”

“Coffee!?” The stewardess glanced questioningly at Babs.

“Yes. English kids often drink coffee.” Babs explained further. “English instant coffee is pretty mild stuff. Lots of kids drink it, especially teenagers.”

Having made their acquaintances. The stewardess indulged the girls and by the time they landed, the girls had invitations to visit the stewardesses’ family ranch.

ooo000ooo

Erica gasped as the cabin door opened and a wave of warm air swept into the jet.

“Bloody hell! Coats off girls.”

“It’s not that hot.” Lola scoffed. “seventy degrees.”

“What’s that in new money?” Angie asked.

“Bout twenty or so I’m guessing. Come on, there’s Callie and I suppose that’s her uncle.”

Down on the tarmac greetings and friendships were renewed as they were bussed to a large hangar and decanted into a conventional minibus. Once ensconced in an isolated accommodation unit on a military facility, the girls were fed and reminded that the questioning would follow in the morning.

Callie's uncle Phillip explained.

“There will be several agents showing you mugshots. If you think you recognise any of them, don’t hesitate to say.”

“How long before the trial?” Babs’ asked.

“Hopefully about a month.”

“What!! Were going to be in lockdown here for a month!” Erica squealed.

“Not at all, young lady. There are several police forces all over who have some mugshots for you to check.”

After a string of questions and answers, Phillip the CIA agent turned to Olivia.

“You’re very quiet Miss. Don’t you have any questions?”

“Not yet but can I make a suggestion?”

Phillip paused thoughtfully before nodding assent.

“Go on.”

“It might be quicker if I made sketches of the bastards and your people could check them out.”

“Sketches?”

Angie suddenly interrupted.

“Oooh shit! Of course! She’s a brilliant artist Mr Phillip. Just watch her; and she can draw from memory.”

“Can you?” Phillip turned to Olivia.

She nodded before asking for a sketch-pad and pencil. These were quickly produced and Olivia took a couple of minutes to produce a perfect likeness of the kindly air-stewardess from the flight over.

“Good god!” Philip exclaimed. “And you can do that from memory?”

“Pretty much,” Olivia nodded. “Watch.”

She dashed off another sketch of a heavily jawed, bearded man then presented it to Phillip.

“He was in Nottingham but not at the trial in Germany. I think he was middle eastern.”

“As Phillip studied the image Olivia produced another much lewder sketch of a penis then added a peculiar wart at the base partially buried by pubic hair.”

“That’s his dick. He made me suck it.”

Phillip’s jaw sagged at the detail.

“And you can do this from memory?”

“Pretty much. Who needs a camera?”

“Right young lady, this is brilliant. Can I ask you to try and sketch as many of your abusers as you can remember?”

Olivia nodded as Phillip continued.

“I’ll have our people run them against our data-bases. This is incredible.”

“We can check them over too.” Angie and Erica chorused.

“You never know, it might jolt our memories.” Erica continued.

“Certainly. This is pure gold!” Phillip enthused. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Here. If you see that stewardess you can give her this to say thank you.” Olivia offered the portrait.

“I will indeed. You seem to have hit it off with her. Would you like her to chaperone you during your stay?”

“I thought she was an air-stewardess.” Lola remarked.

“Yes. She’s a USAF lieutenant but transferred to special forces. She can be your escort in the USA. You’ll be visiting a lot of places while you’re here. Especially with this sort of evidence. Welcome to America young ladies!”

~ooo000ooo~