The bleeding edge of research is called experimental for a very good reason. No one knows exactly where it is going to lead. Ricky needed help with his research. The only one he trusted was his boyhood lifelong friend Tom. Little boys never grow up, they get older. Ricky played a Halloween joke on Tom inside that experimental machine.
The Mexicans thought the lab was a drug lab and destroyed the lab and machine in their efforts to acquire it. The Cartel, Mexican Gov, FBI, CIA, NSA and even the Russians want what they think that lab was and the man who built it. Ricky and Jessica are forced to flee for their lives. How long can one hate their best friend for turning one into every man's wet dream with no way back?

“SO NOT FUNNY!” Ricky was lucky he wasn’t within reach or I would have
smacked him. He had a lopsided grin as he stared. I don’t think he could
have wiped the smirk off his face even if I had a gun in my hands and
promised to shoot him.

“Says who? You remind yourself of anyone?” He pointed toward the
mirrored dressing booth on the other side of the room.

“SAYS ME YOU DUMB SHIT! YOU JUST HAD TO GO AND DO IT TO ME TO PROOVE YOU
COULD! DIDN’T YOU!” I didn’t need the mirrors to know Ricky had changed
my sex from a man into a woman. Those big melons I was sporting on my
chest were damn big.

“CHANGE ME BACK!” What Ricky had done might have been funny to him, but
personally…, I wasn’t amused.

“Chill Jessica. You know I can’t until the time limit has lapsed. Too
soon and I’ll be scooping a bloody mess up into a bucket. Now go look in
the mirrors. It was a hell of a job. I bet you will think it was funny
when you see what you look like.” He was turning off the power and
shutting down the hologram stabilizers.

“What did you call me??? Jessica? Oh shit, you turned me into someone
you know didn’t you? GREAT! And what happens if she walks in while I’m
in this condition?” I wondered what girlfriend of Ricky’s I was a carbon
copy of? Jessica? I couldn’t recall any girlfriend of his so named.

“Go look. You’ve seen her.” Ricky’s stupid grin got even bigger if
possible.

Stepping out of the crystalline booth I darn near fell. Only by grabbing
the door edge did I manage to save myself. I was up on my toes.

“What went wrong? I can’t put my feet down. You screw up my feet along
with my body?”

“Not exactly. It was the way she looked and walked. She always wore five
inch red heels.” He had finished closing down the equipment.

The crystalline booth went dark along with my mind.

“I honestly would have no trouble killing you right now. So I’m stuck
walking on my toes for the next forty eight hours? I want you to know I
have patience and a plan. Only because you are the only one who can run
that damn machine, I’m going to let you live for forty eight more hours.
When you change me back you will die.”

“Ah my Pretty Pet, you make threats now I may never allow you back into
my toy for fear of your reprisal which strangely includes my demise?”
Ricky laughed, as he shook his head.

“I’ll pretty pet you. This joke isn’t that damn funny.” I finally made
it to the dressing booth. I’m sure my eyes bugged out as I looked at the
reflection as my heart began racing a hundred miles an hour. “SHIT!”

Ricky had walked up behind me. “Good huh? You like?”

“Hell yes I like, but not me. Promise you will make a copy for my own
and I may let you live.” The woman I was looking at was nineteen to
twenty two years old. She…, or me, had a huge over abundance in the
upstairs department, hardly any waist, and whoo hoo hips. The two ultra
long shapely legs I was standing on weren’t running second to any of the
other equipment.

The fact I couldn’t stand like a normal woman didn’t escape me. My tush
hung way out. Those monsters I carried on my chest reached forward like
ballistic missiles. Changing me where I was over endowed wasn’t enough
for Ricky’s warped fantasy. Obviously this body was designed to flaunt
my over abundance in all departments, whether I wanted to or not.

The pose was an unnatural stance for a real women except when modeling.
I tried to straighten up. For me it was almost unnatural to straighten
up.

Ricky had copied Jessica too closely for me to stand like a real
respectable woman. I was going to be stuck with the pose models did for
photographers of the sleaze magazines until Ricky changed me back. The
overkill design didn’t quit there.

Ricky gave me a tall neck. He gave me enough thick wavy red hair hanging
down over my shoulders and down my back to share with two women. The
annoying part was the way some of my hair swept forward over the right
side of my face covering my right eye. I’d brush it back and it would
flop back over my face again. If I wanted it out of my face I had to
hold it back with my right hand.

I slid my hands up behind my neck and fluffed my hair out. It spread out
like a cape before softly settling back. “Kinda went overboard didn’t
we?”

Ricky rolled his eyes. “I feel under appreciated here. Do you have any
idea how much work went into programming this and bringing it all
together? And you are complaining when all you had to do was stand in a
booth?”

Looking at him out of the corner of my eye, murder came back to the top
of my mental processes. Problem, I was changed into someone’s wet dream.
Solution, change back into me. Problem, Ricky was the only one who could
operate the damn machine. Solution, murder him after he changes me back.

I managed a smile. “Oh thank you, your worshipfullness, for this
wonderful gift. How can I ever repay you?”

Ricky took a step back. “You ain’t fooling me. The only reason I’m not
dead is because you need me, your highness.

This sarcasm was getting me nowhere. I turned my attention back into the
mirror. “She reminds me of someone? Nah, there isn’t any woman alive who
looks like this. Yet…?” I couldn’t quite put my finger on who Ricky had
copied?

“Think Jessica. Who do you think you look like? I promise you aren’t
going to run into her in the real world.” Ricky was ogling his
handiwork. Which incidentally was me.

“You bet your boots I’m not going to run into her in the real wor…? Oh
poop, you didn’t!” I studied myself in the mirrors as I slowly turned to
look over the whole body.

“JESSICA RABBIT! I look like some damn over sexed cartoon babe? I’ll
slowly boil you in hot oil after you change me back.” I flashed Ricky an
evil grin.

“Ahh ahh, ah, threats will not be taken lightly. If you persist I will
never change you back hah, hah, hah.” He tried to cackle like an evil
scientist. It fell flat.

He pointed to the polished purple glitter dress and purple heels on the
bench. “Get dressed. You can’t run around naked for the next two days. I
have plans to go out for supper tonight. Besides, I paid good money for
those clothes. You know they had to be specially tailored to fit
Jessica’s body.”

“GO OUT! And I bet you think I will be going with you? Not in this body
I’m not.” I pointed to the dress. “And sure as hell not in that almost
dress.”

Ricky got a devious look as his eyes closed to slits. “You know what
today’s date is?”

“No, and frankly I could care less.” Where was he going with this?

“October thirty first. Halloween to many. Think about it. Everyone is in
costume. You’re in costume. You said yourself it really wasn’t you.
Perfect night to go out in your perfect costume. Besides, you’re my
date.” A sinister smile spread his lips thin.

Actually the idea didn’t sound that bad. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t
dressed as a girl for Halloween a couple of times when we were kids. “We
will see.”

Despite what I was telling Ricky, he was right. I couldn’t run around
naked for the next two days. I didn’t need to take a vote to see if
Ricky’s or my clothes would fit this body. Even if it wasn’t me, it
needed a covering of some kind. I took a deep breath. The two huge
monsters felt weighty as they bobbed on my chest. What was amazing was
the way they stuck way out instead of drooping.

I lifted the polished purple glitter dress off the hanger and studied
it. I wasn’t an almost engineer for nothing.

“There is no way this dress is going to stay on this body. I’m not an
expert in women’s dresses, but there isn’t enough support to keep it on
my breasts.”

“Been taken care of. The dress has tacky areas inside in strategic
places to hold it in place. There is a tube of boob glue there also. Put
the dress on and then rub some on the end of your breasts to keep the
dress where it needs to stay.” Ricky’s evil smile got bigger if
possible.

“As long as you are claiming it is Jessica’s body and not really me
stuck in here for the next forty eight hours.”

“Pantyhose first.” He reached over and picked up the panty hose, holding
it out in my direction.

“Does Dead Meat mean anything in your vocabulary?” I wasn’t innocent in
the way women put on their pantyhose. I sat down and rolled down one leg
to slip it on my right foot and then the left. I did it right as I stood
up and checked the results.

“So far so good.” The heels were next and then the purple glitter dress.
The short zipper in back was hung. I turned my back to Ricky. “Zip me.”

It took him a few tries to work it up. The top of the dress that was
supposed to cup my breasts wasn’t staying in place. He handed me a tube
of something. “Boob glue. Don’t get it on your hands. Think in terms of
super glue.”

I hesitated. “Oh no, I’m not staying in this dress for a week until the
glue turns loose. That is just so not happening.”

“Relax Doll. We start the reverse, the glue turns loose, you drop the
dress, and Tom is back.” He opened the tube and smeared the glue inside
the bustier top. He lifted the bustier up, aimed, and pushed it home
before running his hands down under my breasts, pushing the dress in
place.

“hhhhuuuuuuuuuu……” My breath escaped me as feelings and emotions rushed
through my body and my mind. My world went dark..

“You okay?” Ricky’s concerned eyes were inches from my eyes.

I was horizontal. “What happened?” My body was still tingling all over
with emotion. I had no idea what was going on.

Ricky rose up and gave me breathing room. “Unless I’m mistaken you
fainted. You ever done this before you need to clue me in. You scared
the shit out of me. I thought something had gone wrong with the
experiment.”

“Hell no I never fainted before. I have also never been a woman before.
Watch what you’re handling next time. I don’t know what is going on but
this body seems to have sensitive areas the same as a real woman.” Ricky
backed up as I pushed myself up off the floor. Curiosity was killing me
despite that fainting trick.

I stepped up to the mirrors. There was no doubt I was Jessica Rabbit. I
had the big, high gloss, ruby red lips and long red hair to go along
with everything else. Ricky hadn’t missed a single detail.

The dress did nothing to hide my assets. From its highly reflective
purple glitter, and body hugging design it screamed, look at me! It's
intended purpose was to accent the over abundance The bustier cupped the
ends of my breasts and most of my upper body was naked. It was slit
clear up to the side of my hip on the left side. Every time I took a
step the slit let the dress open up and expose my leg clear up to the
naughty zone. I stuck my left leg out.

The funny part was I was also so damn horny I wanted to jump his bones
and screw his brains out. I so wanted to try out the equipment. “Can you
program in emotions in that damn machine while you are changing the
physical characteristics?”

“No. The brain scans and all the tests are an exact pattern before and
after. Why? Why do you ask? You feeling something femaleish?” Ricky was
wondering why I was asking?

I cupped my breasts with my hands. I sucked air before I dropped my
hands. The emotional rush was almost impossible to handle. “Femaleish?
Is that a word? You mean besides fainting like a woman? Yeah, I think. I
mean I…, this body seems to be getting more sensitive as time goes by. I
can feel the lightest breath of air on my…, on its breasts.”

Ricky was studying my eyes. “Hyper sensitive? Hummm, interesting
results. The feelings coming back are to be expected. It is all the
cells realigning and slowing back down to normal. All your nerve endings
have been sending signals to your mind. It takes time for the mind to re
establish the data and process it.”

“I can feel the air currents in the room on my legs. It feels…, it
tingles and feels nice at the same time. I hope you left that program
in the machine because you get to try it out next.” I slid my hands up
under my hair and fluffed. What was it with these damn feminine actions
I seem to be doing? I wasn’t that sure Ricky hadn’t messed with my mind
at the same time he messed with my body.

He opened up a black velvet box and handed me sparkling chandelier
earrings. For pierced ears no less.

There was enough ice in those earrings to open my own jewelry store.
“Are these real?”

He was holding out a diamond choker as I studied the earrings. “On loan.
You may keep them as long as you’re Jessica.”

I had never put in earrings in my life. I held them back out to him. “A
little help would be nice.”

“Sure.” He slipped the choker around my neck as I held my hair back
away. The left earring and then the right earring was next. Long purple
satin gloves and then he snapped a diamond bracelet and a bracelet watch
onto my left wrist.

“How long have you been planning on doing this?” I found it not funny I
was enjoying the moment for some strange reason.

“Before I ever called you back in Dallas. It wasn’t exactly you I
planned on but the project was in my mind then. If we could bring it
this far then I knew I had accomplished what I was hoping for.”

His eyes were studying me. “Don’t you understand? If I could do this
then all the rest is a cakewalk. Broken bones? Please step into the
chamber and you will be as good as new in forty eight hours. Burnt all
over your body and the medical profession has no hope you will make it?
Place him or her into the chamber and you will be your old self in forty
eight hours.”

“But…”

His eyes grew distant in thought. “Yeah but. Can you imagine what some
psycho or government would do with such a machine?”

“Ha, ha, ha, you mean like you and me?” I was shaking my head. “Look at
what you did to me and say that again.”

Ricky frowned at me. “You know what I mean. This was a joke. You gotta
admit it is the best Halloween costume you will ever own. You will be
Tom again in two days and this will only be a Kodak Moment we shared at
the time.

===============================================================

Ricky Clawson was a best friend. We had grown up together in the same
little town, went to the same school, and the same college. He worked
for his Masters in electrical quantum physics. I was in mechanical
engineering. The third year I had to quit as my funds ran out and Uncle
Sam tagged me for Vietnam.

When I got back home both of us had changed. Ricky found a job as a
research engineer for Dynamic Locks. It was all top secret hush hush and
the once a year we got together was back home when we both visited our
parents for Christmas. Ricky lived in Virginia and I found a life
working construction in Dallas as a heavy equipment operator.

Life plowed on as our parents died over the years. Ricky and I had no
reason to return home so we stopped seeing each other, even for that one
time out of the year.

My phone was ringing. I checked the clock. Two AM? “Go away.” I pulled
the pillow down over my head.

It didn’t go away. Three or four minutes later I gave up and picked it
up. “This better be one damn important call or I’ll kill you next time
we meet.”

“Good to hear your voice too.” Was the response.

“Who the hell is this? Do you know what time it is?” I checked the clock
again just to make sure.

“You still working as a cat skinner?” It replied.

“Sometimes, among other things. You need an operator?” My curiosity had
been pricked and the voice sounded familiar.

“I need an assistant. You could call yourself an operator if you want.”

Something clicked in the back of my brain. “Ricky? Is that you? Where
you at? You in Dallas? Can I buy you breakfast? You passing through or…”

“No, I’m not in Dallas. I’m back home in Radon. I need an assistant.
Someone I can trust. More than that. Someone the world can trust. You
are the only one who fits that job description. I need you Tom.”

Ricky, I know nothing about the things you do. I’m afraid I can’t help.”
Ricky was so out of my league in his field of work I knew there was
nothing I could help him with.

“Tom, you are wrong. I don’t know where to begin. So let’s begin with
you coming to the lab and see what I’m offering. When can you take a
couple days off?”

“I can head your way tomorrow I guess. You back at your parents place? I
had heard via the grapevine Ricky never sold it after his parents died.

“Well that is where I am calling from. My lab is set up in Ft. Worth. I
went as far as I could by myself and needed a break. I came back home
for a breather. If you can drive over to Ft. Worth I would like to
discuss what I am doing.”

“Name the time? Tomorrow afternoon or the day after?” I was more than
curious what Ricky had got himself into by now.

“Today at six AM if you don’t mind. I had rather it was earlier but I
just looked at the clock. I’m sorry for calling you at such a late
hour.”

“That’s okay. Means I don’t need to go back to sleep. I need to bring
anything besides me? How long this going to take?” I was looking at the
clock making calculations when I would need to leave to make Ft Worth in
another three hours. It would depend on what part of the town his lab
was in. Honestly, Ricky was dreaming if he thought he could make the
drive from Radon, Oklahoma back to Ft. Worth in three hours.

“You know where Falcon Road goes toward Bridgewater from Hwy 81?”

“Not really but I can find it.” I had a good idea about where he was
talking about. It was about an hour drive at that time of the morning
with little traffic.

“I’ll be there at the Apex truck stop. I’ll be in a red Ferrari. And
Tom…,”

“Yes?” For whatever reason Ricky was being extra cautious with that
pregnant pause.

“Remember what you did for uncle? Bring something appropriate.” Click.

“Some…,” Damn he hung up on me. What did I do for what uncle? Did Ricky
mean Uncle Sam? I was a sniper. Not a good one nor a bad one but I
managed to survive so I was a lucky one. Could he possibly mean I should
be bringing a rifle? This got more curious as it went along. I was wide
awake by now. I had some toys I figured I needed to drag along just in
case it was The Uncle Ricky was talking about.

Thirty minutes later I had the old Ford Pickup loaded and was headed
toward the address Ricky gave me. There was no way I was going to be
late to that party if there was going to be something more than words
exchanged. Living long enough to make it back home from Vietnam meant
keeping one’s head down until everyone else had stuck their head up.

The truck stop wasn’t that hard to find. I was there in fifty one
minutes and twenty eight seconds. Time meant life the moment Ricky hung
up his phone. Every second was counting toward something. I had no idea
what but until I found out we count time down to the second. I clicked
the pad in the seat beside me. It would start a new count and store the
last one in memory.

There was a mechanic’s garage across the street north of the truck stop.
Wouldn’t do. An odd car or pickup there would be noticed. An auto parts
store was to the east of the truck stop. A real estate office was to
the west. I picked the auto parts parking lot. My pickup was old enough
to look like it had gone its last mile until it received resuscitation
of some part or another. Not a perfect choice to wait but it would have
to do.

I wasn’t waiting in the Apex Truck Stop parking lot. If anyone was
listening to Ricky’s conversation they would be looking for Ricky and me
there. Or not. Depended on how experienced and professional they were.

I pulled into the auto parts lot and pulled up where most of the store
was between the pickup and Apex. I clicked the pad on the seat beside
me. New count. Opening my duffel bag I lifted out a black ski mask and a
spotters scope and swept the area, pausing to check the dark areas
around the side of buildings and toward the back of buildings. Besides
the vehicles running up and down the highway and the activity at Apex I
didn’t find any movement. First check I pushed the pad in the seat. New
count.

I rolled black sticky paper across the back window to black it out.
Anyone looking my way wouldn’t see me silhouetted in the seat. I had on
a black shirt and black pants. I pulled the ski mask over my head. The
reflection of my face wouldn’t give me away if anyone was looking at my
pickup.

At five twenty one a red Ferrari pulled into Apex and parked off to the
west side of the parking lot. I watched as Ricky got out. He was looking
around before he slid a manikin up in the drivers seat. Ricky had missed
the black Chrysler that pulled in and parked over on the opposite side
of Apex parking. Ricky pulled a hoodie up over his head and walked into
the truck stop. A woman got out of the passenger side of the black
Chrysler and walked in one of the trucker’s entrances to Apex.

Ricky would have to take care of himself inside the truck stop. I
focused on the black Chrysler with my scope. There was a man in the
driver’s seat. His primary interest was the truck stop but the way he
was looking around he was also waiting for me to show up.

No need to disappoint him. The Desert Eagle went into the holster
strapped on my hip. The needle gun went into my waistband. The knife
went down my shirt behind my head. The 9 mm went into a shoulder holster
under my left arm. The 357 featherweight went up my left sleeve and
clicked into the wrist holster. I jammed the clip into the AR lying in
the seat in case I needed more help.

After pulling the paper off the back window I dropped my ski mask back
in my duffle bag and pushed the pad in the seat. New count down. And
made mental notes about the guy in the black Chrysler. He was alert but
obviously thinking the meeting was going to take place at six as he
wasn’t that careful checking coming and going traffic. He was expecting
someone, which was me, to drive up beside or behind Ricky’s red Ferrari.

When I saw him looking back at the truck stop I started the pickup and
waited as several trucks started slowing down to pull into Apex. His
view across the street toward me would be blocked for a minute or more.
I pulled out and then circled around behind Apex where all the big
trucks were parked and killed the pickup. I picked up some bags and
trash out of the back of the pickup. I was headed for the dumpsters
behind the black Chrysler.

As I walked past the driver I held the bags up so he couldn’t see my
face and tapped on his window. “Hey buddy, have you seen Sharon? She was
going to meet me here an hour ago for a ride to Nashville.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know any Sharon.”

“She said she would be in a black Ford. You sure she didn’t ride in with
you?” I was tapping really hard on his window to aggravate him. I wanted
to piss him off so he would open the door to beat the holy shit out of
me for knocking on his window.

He moved his hand under his left armpit as he shook his head. “I said I
don’t know any Sharon. This is a Chrysler not a Ford. Get the hell away
from my car before I make you regret it.”

I really started banging on his window. “I know you know Sharon. You
told her to not ride with me to Nashville didn’t you?”

It worked. He was pissed. He unsnapped his seatbelt and was opening his
door.

Dumb, dumb, dumb…, I nailed him with the needle gun in the carotid
artery in his neck as he was turning in the seat. He looked surprised
and then shocked and then mean like he was going to get even for
something that hadn’t registered on his mind yet. I hit him behind his
left ear with the butt of the 50 caliber. Now he was addled from the
blow. The drug needed time to work its magic even if I did hit a major
artery.

“uhhhhhhh…,” He slumped down in the seat.

Keeping an eye on the truck stop so the woman didn’t catch me the same
way I caught this character I went through all his pockets. He had a
nine millimeter in the shoulder holster, billfold in his left breast
pocket, an ear piece in his left ear. That got me on high alert. I was
really checking all points now. If she slipped out the side door she
could be anywhere. I put his ear piece in my ear to listen if she was
trying to contact him.

“Karl, you okay? You want me out there or should I stay here? Karl??”

She definitely knew something was wrong. If she wasn’t spoofing she was
still in the truck stop. “I’m peeing.” I halfway whispered back into
Karl’s sleeve. If she was normal she wouldn’t ask again. The voice
wouldn’t register in her mind as it was normally an embarrassing
pregnant moment between a man and woman. Not a topic for discussion.
Conversation over and out.

Lifting the transmitter out of his pocket I slid it into my pocket. His
weapon and billfold also went along. I checked her side of the car. She
was carrying a purse when she went in so what she owned wasn’t in the
seat. I didn’t find anything of value. Glove box didn’t yield anything
valuable. Car keys and I checked the trunk. Scoped rifles and thermal
imaging scanner along with flash bangs and percussion grenades. I
slipped the keys in my pocket. I wasn’t carrying all that across the
parking lot.

The truck stop was next. Ricky was setting in a booth where he could see
his car. The woman was slowly moving down the aisle where she could keep
an eye on Ricky. I walked up behind her and shot her in the neck with
the needle gun.

She slapped her neck before she realize she wasn’t stung by any insect.
“What the hell! She was turning toward me.

I grabbed her right arm before she could reach into her purse. “Welcome
to the big leagues. Who the hell you people working for?”

“Turn loose of me before I yell rape.” Her eyes were filled with fright.

“Try to yell and I’ll rip your throat out before you take that first
breath.” I put my left hand up on the side of her neck. “Not a pretty
way to die. Your mind wants more air and there isn’t any. Takes about
three minutes for your mind to die as you try and call for help.”

“Tom, please don’t kill me.” She was truly frightened now.

“We are on a first name basis now are we. Okay hon, I gave you something
to put you to sleep. In about one minute it is going to kick in. You
will wake up in a few hours and that headache is going to be a bitch.
What is your whole name and who are you working for?” I was walking her
toward the door. Her steps were becoming hesitant.

“I’m…, I’m…, I…,” She was out.

I swept her up in my arms and carried her out to the black Chrysler.
Setting her down in the passenger’s seat I took her purse and then her
communicator. Searching her for more weapons turned up nothing. She
didn’t have a backup weapon. Either not too professional or too
comfortable doing their jobs. They got sloppy.

Walking back into the truck stop I stopped by Ricky’s table. “I’m around
back. There is a black Chrysler on the other side of the parking lot.
Get your car and meet me there.”

“Tom…, “ He was rising from the table.

I didn’t wait for an answer. I was headed out the door. Pulling up
beside the Chrysler I tossed all the stuff from the trunk of the car
into my pickup before I picked up the woman’s purse and tossed it into
the seat. I put the guy’s billfold, gun, and communicator in the seat.

By this time Ricky was behind me. “Tom, what is going on?”

“You tell me. These were your shadows. They were waiting for me to show
up. So what is going on?” I turned to face him as I waited for an
answer.

He shook his head. “Not here. Can you check if they have bugged me?”

“No, that isn’t my department. Where do you want to leave your car and
clothes?” I wasn’t sure how good these two not so professionals were. If
they were connected then Ricky’s car and phone would be bugged for voice
or location. Possibly his clothes too. I wasn’t going to wait for a
hundred or more of their friends to show up on my doorstep.

“I don’t think they had a chance to bug the car but it is possible.”
Ricky turned to look at the two sleeping in the front seat of the
Chrysler.

“There’s a tracer someplace because they weren’t that close when you
pulled in. They were following a bug. I’m not taking any chances until I
know who or how many we are dealing with. What in the hell have you got
into anyway? Don’t answer that yet until we know you are clean.” I
glanced at the percussion grenades in the back of my pickup. Someone
with access to serious toys for sure.

He dialed his phone. “Hello Triple A? This is Ricky Clawson and my
Ferrari broke down at the Apex truck stop in Ft. Worth on highway 81. It
is a red Ferrari. I will leave the keys on the floorboard under the
passenger seat. Pick it up with a car hauler and take it to the Ferrari
Dealership in Dallas for repair.”

He listened for a minute. “Yes, yes, thank you.”

He walked back to his car, leaned across the seat and tossed his keys
under the passenger side. He pointed at the man in the Chrysler. Think
his clothes will fit me?”

“No, does it matter?” I could guess where this was headed.

“His pants and jacket then?” Ricky was stripping off his own clothes as
he stood beside my pickup.

“Not his, mine. They won’t fit you either but at least I’m not a louse
so you won’t get bugs.” I pulled pants and shirt out of a bag I had on
the floor of the pickup.

“I’m betting some people will disagree with that statement.” He reached
for the pants.

I held them back. “Shorts too. We aren’t taking any chances.”

Ricky slipped his briefs off before he slipped on my pants. “Feels
scratchy.”

“You been living the soft life too long. Get used to it.” I handed him a
shirt and some sneakers.

“So you say. And if you don’t mind, I don’t plan on getting used to it.
You ready?” He was buttoning up his shirt.

I pointed at his feet. “Lose the shoes and socks.”

“Feet hurt already.” He tossed his shoes and clothes into the Ferrari
before climbing into the passenger side of the pickup.

“Where we going?” I walked around to the driver’s side and slid under
the wheel before I pulled the knife out from between my shoulder blades.

Ricky shook his head as I laid the survival knife down in the seat.
“Were you sure you had enough weapons?”

I was pulling out of the parking lot after checking for traffic. “Never
sure when I don’t know who is expected for company. Which way? Where is
this lab you want me to look at?”

“Not here for sure. I have a plane. It is in my name. They probably
believe they can track it even if they haven’t bugged it. FAA will have
a flight record even if we fly visual flight rules. I can handle all of
that. He pointed south.

“How far south?” I pulled out on the highway.

“About twelve miles to a little airport without a control tower.”

“But your lab here in Ft. Worth?” I was curious where we were going?

“Nothing of importance. It was set up for exactly this kind of problem
although I really didn’t expect it to happen so soon. I was sure they
would wait until my preliminary research had been proven before they
came in to shut me down.”

“If you been working in another lab you can bet your last lucky dime
they will be hot on that trail also. You sure you want to go there?” I
checked my gas to make sure I wasn’t going to need to call for help
because I ran out of gas somewhere.

“Well, I’m hoping I didn’t lead them to this one. I’ve been working out
of the one in Ft. Worth. It is my own private lab not the government nor
some company I am working for. Everything I think I need was routed to
Panama.”

I checked my rear view mirror as I saw a Kroger parking lot ahead. “I’m
going to mute my cell phone in case you happened to steer those bird
dogs onto me after your call last night. I want your billfold and cell
phone and any other items you might have kept after tossing your
clothes.”

Ricky put his cell phone and billfold in the seat. “That’s it unless you
want my teeth and…”

“Smart ass! Not unless you have been to the dentist in the past year and
had a filling or a tooth replaced. Think you were that hot? What in the
hell is it you are working on that is so valuable to have someone want
to track you?” I pulled into the empty parking lot.

He pointed at his cell phone lying on the seat and shook his head.
“Nothing really and I’m not sure if it will turn out to be a realistic
concept for humans. If it works will we be smart enough to use it the
way I planned?”

“Someone is spending some bucks to have you under surveillance.”
Stopping the pickup I gathered up his phone, billfold, and my phone
along with the personal items from the two snoops in the black Chrysler.
I got out and reached over to a metal toolbox in the back of my pickup.
Lifting out a handful of wrenches I laid everything inside and then put
the wrenches back on top.

“That will kill any signals coming or going.” I closed the metal box
back up and locked it. We were soon headed south toward that airport. If
Ricky’s or my phone had been tracked or his had been bugged, whoever was
watching him would know we were headed to an airport. If the team I had
taken out was the only one in the area it would take them awhile to
reorganize and get on our trail again. If Ricky was right and they
hadn’t bugged his plane then we might be off their charts for awhile.

There were too damn many ifs in the equation. I didn’t survive by
believing ifs were to my advantage and not someone else’s.

Ricky guided me to a hanger at a little airstrip south of Ft. Worth.
“Plane is there. We fly from here. Let’s roll the plane out and put your
pickup in. Unless whoever was following me is into breaking locks,
provided they managed to track us this far, your pickup will be okay.”

Ricky unlocked the hanger doors before he opened up a side door, stepped
inside, and pushed a button on the wall. The door started folding up to
the roof of the hanger.

I was looking at a twin engine turbo prop. From what little I knew about
planes it wasn’t a bargain basement plane either. Two million might let
one sit in the seat and smell the air.

Ricky picked up a nose bar hooked to the front wheel. “A little help
here. This plane is a little heavy to be pulling around by hand.”

“Sure.” I grabbed the opposite handle and helped Ricky pull the plane
out of the hanger.

I popped the cargo panel on the side of the plane behind the cabin. “My
toolbox isn’t fitting in that cargo hold. You have a smaller metal box
we can put all the goodies in to keep the signals from coming and going
while we are in the air? I’m taking that stuff with us until I go
through it and figure out who was tailing you.”

Ricky unlocked the landing door and it dropped down. He stepped inside.
A minute later he was back with an index file box. “If it fits in here
it goes. If not do what you think is best.”

“Gotchu.” I pulled the cell phones out of the toolbox one at a time and
removed the battery from each before I pulled the sim cards. Unless they
had put a RIFD chip in them they were dead now with no chance of
tattling on where they were. Still, I wasn’t taking any chances. Dead
phones, communicators, and Ricky’s billfold went into the file box.

The guns, grenades, and all my equipment went into the cargo hold after
I quick checked them for RIFD chips. I couldn’t be a hundred percent
sure no trackers were on any of the stuff, but without a scanner it was
the best I could do. Fifteen minutes after we drove into the airport we
were sitting at the end of the runway with Ricky checking everything for
takeoff.

A dark van was turning into the airport. Ricky punched the throttles
forward. I studied the van as we raced down the runway. “I don’t think
it is one of your shadows.”

“I’m not going to stick around to ask.” The twin was quick and Ricky was
already lifting the landing gear. He was on the radio telling Houston
Air Traffic control we were visual flight rules and wouldn’t be filing a
flight plan.

“Houston? What about Ft. Worth?:” I was curious why he was talking to
Houston when we were in Ft. Worth.

“Houston directs most of the airspace over the southern United States. I
would talk to Ft. Worth or Dallas if I was intending to fly in or out of
one of their airports. He leveled off at five hundred feet.

“We aren’t flying any higher? An awful lot of towers sticking up into
the air and most are higher than we are.” I was busy scanning the
horizon ahead of us to make sure we didn’t find one ourselves.

Ricky shook his head as he pointed to the instruments in front of us.
“Every single thing taller than us is mapped in there. Even if they put
up a new one that isn’t, the radar in the nose will pick it up long
before we can see it. We are staying down here to stay under everyone’s
radar and away from air traffic. I could drop down to ten feet off the
ground and still be safe but the civilians start calling in and
complaining. That is as bad as flying higher. Too high and they track
us. Too low and the complaints tell them where we are. Relax, it’s a
long flight.”

He touched a couple panels and I felt cool air on my face. “Air
conditioning? That’s quite a luxury you have there.

Ricky laughed while he studied his screens. “Not really a luxury. It is
drawn from bleed air off the turbine. Might say it is almost free except
for the initial setup. It siphons off about three horsepower from a
sixteen hundred horse power turbine. Except we don’t talk about turbines
in horsepower. We talk about them in thrust.”

An hour and twenty six minutes later I was sure that was the Rio Grande
that passed under our wing. “Are we in Mexico? I don’t have a passport.
Is this legal? They going to shoot us down as drug smugglers?”

Ricky shook his head. “Drug smugglers don’t get shot down flying south
into Mexico. Yes we have been on the low level radar screens and their
satellite surveillance systems for the past thirty minutes.”

He pointed to a screen down by his right leg with some sort of garbage
scrolling across. “Planes have a squawk box in them to tell the radar
air traffic controller who the airplane is. We are Juan Quarro from
Chihuahua, Mexico. An industrialist returning from a business trip.
Ricky Clawson and his airplane went off the scopes at an airport we
passed over and Juan Quarro flew out. Air traffic knows an airplane is
in the sky which is us but they don’t know it’s us.”

“Okay, so far so good. Now how do we get back. I’m positive they aren’t
going to buy Juan flying across into the good ol USA without stopping
for customs.” I figured my only way of getting home was to become a wet
back like so many other illegals crossing the river.

“There is customs and customs. Ports of entry are scattered all over
because it wouldn’t do to have every plane flying back into the U.S.
landing at the same airport to be inspected. Juan or some other
industrialist will fly back into the U.S. after getting an okay from
customs.” Ricky banked to the left.

“And where are we headed may I ask?”

Ricky shook his head. “Let’s not clue anyone in if there is the remotest
possibility I messed up and they bugged this plane. Panama isn’t that
big of a place.”

That got my attention.

Ricky put his finger to his mouth and shook his head no. He picked up a
pad and wrote Acapulco on it.

=============================================================

Six hours and eighteen minutes later Ricky set us down on a little dusty
strip. He drove a car out before pushing the plane back into a metal
hanger. Ricky closed the hanger doors and flipped a switch. “Don’t touch
the walls. They are electrified now. Won’t kill you but it will bite.
Turned this hanger into a Faraday Cage. I can promise you there are no
signals coming or going from us or that plane no matter what they are
using for a tracking device.”

“Great. Good time to see who was tracking you.” I retrieved the contents
from the baggage compartment and checked the billfold I took off the
man. “James Hutch works for the CIA. Good grief I cocked a CIA agent.
Served him right for being sloppy.”

The woman’s purse was next. I pulled out her billfold. “Cathy
Blankenship. She is CIA and has a business card from Dynamic Locks. Your
old company wants you back?”

Ricky grimaced. “They want what I worked on the past few years after I
retired from the company.”

“And the CIA? What is the connection?”

“Dynamic Locks is all top secret military stuff. I can’t tell you
because I’m not allowed to. Although my loyalty is in question now they
have turned the dogs loose on me.” His eyes took on a distant stare as
his mind turned back the pages of life.

“Okay, what is it that you are working on they think belongs to them?”
My curiosity was killing me. Besides the fact I was headed for Federal
prison for roughing up a couple Federal agents. I deserved to know why
my life was now toast if I ever returned to the U.S.

“As far as they knew I was working on the Philadelphia Project. They…”

“You mean where time and matter are displaced and shifted in time? That
was a big joke wasn’t it?” I couldn’t believe Ricky was telling me he
had managed to time travel?

“The Philadelphia Project is what I hoped they thought I was working on.
Actually I was working on physical matter, molecular flow,
displacement.”

“Put that in English.” I had no idea if Ricky had shifted time or what
he had done?

“I can alter the physical form of living tissue. It is akin to molding
clay. It takes a high energy charge in a ultra sonic reverberation
chamber of crystal to make cellular structure release from each cell
surrounding it. Then…”

“Man that sounds sick. You stick living tissue into a blender and come
up with a…, a…, blob?”

Ricky laughed. “Kinda along that same thought train. Except each dynamic
wave of oscillation and frequency is controlled where the tissue is
molded to a desired shape.”

“You can make He Men? No wonder the government would kill to have you
back in their lab building your toys.”

Ricky shook his head. “No, I’m not interested in building an army of He
Men. I want to rebuild people’s lives that have been destroyed by an
accident such as losing a limb or a leg. Eyes are out of the picture
right now but maybe in time we can replace those also.”

He looked as sad as I had ever seen him, even after his parents died.
“With every good idea, evil men want to use that idea for evil purposes.
I do not want to turn the next atomic bomb loose on humanity for
destroying nations.”

“Okay, when are you going to start building this thing?” I wanted to
know where I fit in with Ricky’s plans?

“I’ve built it.”

“WHAT!” That shocked me. “And you tried it out already and it works?”

“I’ve gone as far as I can without someone I trust to help. And they
have to trust me.” He was studying me.

“You earned my trust a long time ago when we were kids. Where is this
gadget of yours?” I was eager to see what this future device looked
like.

“What you going to do with those?” Ricky pointed to the man and woman’s
personal things.

“Have a good mind to burn them. Serve them right. If you can Fed Ex it
back without the return address coming up here then I guess we might as
well try and make peace with the agents.” Except for the rifles and
grenades I laid everything in a pile on the floor.

“I can make that happen. Your fingerprints are all over everything. I’ll
have them scrubbed before they go back.” He opened the side door and
motioned for me to follow. “Let’s go see that lab.”

The lab wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when Ricky said he had a lab.
The building was adobe. It looked kinda old and tired. It started
getting interesting when Ricky opened the old weathered wooden door and
I was looking at a gleaming metal door five feet past that down a metal
hallway. When he unlocked and opened that door there was another metal
hallway and another metal door.

“Just what is it you are doing in this lab?”

Ricky opened the last door and stepped inside without answering.

Following him in I was in a metal room with a metal floor. My eyes were
drawn to a glass booth in the middle of the room. It was on a pedestal
surrounded by an array of wiring, tubes, and things pointed at it that
looked like ray guns. All of which was inside a huge round wire cage.

“Okay, I’m impressed. Even if it doesn’t do anything it took a lot of
time to put it all together.” When I could take my eyes off the
centerpiece I scanned the room. The whole darn room was filled with high
tech electronic, electrical equipment of some kind or another.

Ricky was busy at a console. It seemed the whole room started to hum.

“You fixing to microwave us? If you are, then count me out. I want to
live a few more years, even if I’m dodging the CIA while living in some
remote back water hole.” It wasn’t all said in jest.

“Relax. You’re safer in here with less radiation, electrical waves,
radio waves, radar waves, and that isn’t counting the solar burn on your
skin. You are standing in a dead zone so to speak. Everything around you
is balanced energy and that includes the light to a limited extent.”

He pointed toward the wire cage and glass chamber. “The light was the
problem. Even though I could neutralize all the electrical and radiation
one finds in our lives, I didn’t figure in the effect of light. It took
me a long time to understand why it wasn’t working because the physics
said it should.”

“We might as well start if you are ready. Take all your clothes off and
step into the crystaline chamber.” The chamber rose up in the air.

“Say what? You want me to strip naked and step into that thing? What in
the hell do you have in mind?” I wasn’t moving until I knew what was
going to happen to me.

“First I have to map you so I will know exactly what needs to be done to
put you back together when we adjust something.” He was waving me toward
the chamber.

“Put me back together? Now hold on a second and let’s discuss this. This
isn’t one of those damn star wars things where you are going to
transport me into another dimension or another room is it?” Honestly I
was ready to leave. Ricky’s choo choo might have jumped the tracks. I
didn’t intend to find out after I had been blasted into the ether.

“Tom, I am only going to map you. Every single cell in your body has a
purpose and a place it belongs. That is what we are going to do for now.
Nothing is moved or changed in the mapping process. Because the basic
cellular level is energized you can’t go back into the booth any sooner
than forty eight hours. It gives the living tissue time to normalize.
That is how it works. In two days if you agree then you will go back in
and I will remove that big mole or age spot on your left arm. Two days
after that we remap you to make sure everything is perfectly normal
which includes the area where the mole was.”

He turned his attention toward me. “Trust is earned over time. As kids I
trusted you with my life and I strongly believed you trusted me. Have I
done anything to lose that trust?”

I took a deep breath as I gave it some thought. “Everything?” I was
shedding my clothes.

“Everything. Anything that is not living tissue can not be in the
chamber with you.” He was back to working his console.

I felt kinda funny as I opened the door to the wire cage, walked in, and
then stood under the glass chamber as it started coming down around me.
I checked to make sure my toes weren’t going to be under the edge as it
settled. I was standing on a glass floor. The chamber touched the floor
and everything lifted back up again. Great! I was encapsulated inside a
glass tube floating in space. Glass top, glass sides, glass floor. I was
hoping this job finished up before I ran out of oxygen.

The walls, ceiling, and floor glowed a pinkish white. I felt something
but couldn’t quite explain what it was. It wasn’t just on my skin but
all through me. I ran some memories through my mind when Ricky and I
were playing on the creek chasing squirrels to make sure I still had a
mind.

The tube settled back down on the floor and the top raised up off the
bottom. I was free again and I hadn't suffocated or lost anything that I
knew of.

“Got the data. Come on out and get dressed.” Ricky was studying his
console.

“That was quick.” I had made it back out and was slipping into my shorts
and pants.

“Yeah, didn’t take long. Eight hours and some.” Came across the room.

“Eight…, Yeah, really, couple minutes?” I pulled my shirt on.

“Really, total time eight hours twenty one minutes, thirty nine seconds,
fifty six milliseconds.” He glanced at the console as he was making some
notes by hand.

“You jest! There wasn’t enough air in there for eight hours of loafing.
What, you crack the seal every now and then?” I picked up my watch to
take a look at the time and my brain stopped.

He was looking in my direction when I picked up my watch. “Now do you
believe me? You were in stasis or hibernation after the first ten
seconds. Everything you think you were seeing and doing was REM mode or
dreaming although there is no actual rapid eye movement.”

“The hell you say!” My watch was lying to me the same as Ricky was. I
had been in that damn thing for over eight hours.

I felt me to make sure I was awake and this part wasn’t a dream. “That
thing could do some serious screwing with a person’s mind.”

“More ways than one. Now do you understand why you are the only one I
could trust to know about this project?” Parts of the room were becoming
quiet again.

“It will be forty eight hours before you can go back into the chamber.
Tom, when was the last time you saw a doctor?” Ricky was heading my
direction.

“I don’t know. Four or five years maybe. The mole bother you?” I slid up
my shirtsleeve to take a look. It looked the same as it always had for
the past twenty years. It couldn’t be melanoma.

He handed me a piece of paper with a name on it. “It’s time you saw a
doctor.”

“But…”

“No buts. You see a doctor or we are finished. I’ll take you back to
Dallas, It was nice visiting with you one last time.” His expression
said he was dead serious.

“Whatever!” I grouched. I didn’t need a doctor. Not unless that damn
machine Ricky had just run me through gave me some disease.

==============================================================

In the next three days I went from complacent where I had a life to pure
hell where I had no life. The day after Ricky ran me through his machine
I went to see that doctor he was mentioning. That doc ran me through so
many tests and x-rays I was positive I was going to glow in the dark if
Ricky’s machine hadn’t already made that a possibility.

The third day I was in the doctor’s clinic for the results of the tests.
He keep looking at the charts and wouldn’t look at me. “You have
cancer.”

That didn’t rock me. “So, zap it or whatever you guys do.”

“It has spread throughout your body. Your lungs, your kidneys, your
lymph nodes, your brain. Been feeling weak lately, having headaches,
eating and want to vomit? It is the cancer. You have a month more or
less to live. I’m sorry.” He closed up his folder.

That did rock me. Everything he described I had been experiencing. I put
it off to old age and a hard life. There wasn’t anything wrong with me.
He was wrong. He had picked up the wrong charts. I didn’t have cancer. I
wasn’t going to die. I was just getting older was all.

Ricky had drove me to the clinic since I didn’t know the town or the
streets. He didn’t want me to wander into any drug cartel area and lose
my life. HAH! That would have been the easy way to die.

“Ricky, you wasted your time. I don’t think I’ll be sticking around to
help you with your project.” I was studying the nothing out the side
window as Ricky drove past all the houses.

“You can’t bail out on me now. We just started. There isn’t a single
person in this world I would trust to know what I’m doing besides you.”
He slowed down and steered around some kids playing in the street.

“Nothing personal but I won’t be there for you. Sorry, you picked the
wrong friend to trust this time.” I honestly felt sick at my stomach.
Was it the cancer?

“It is personal. I’m not buying what you are selling. You want to go off
and die someplace all by yourself because you don’t want to be a burden.
That’s a real friend for you. Don’t you understand that is true
friendship? I know what the doctor told you. I have my sources. The
machine told me when it mapped you. I knew you wouldn’t believe me even
if we are the best of friends. This is all too new for you to take in
all at once. I’ll let you pick out your own doctors and you can go to as
many as you want but the answer is the same from all except one.”

That got my attention. “Who? You know a doctor that has a cure?”

He shook his head. “Not a doctor but a cure never the less.”

“Who?” I really wasn’t ready to die.

“Me. Do you trust me? I honestly didn’t plan this. I didn’t know you had
terminal cancer until the machine told me. What I do know is we can
remove all of it. Not all at once. That would kill you quicker than the
cancer is killing you. We will map out the most strategic areas and
start there. You can only get in the machine every forty eight hours so
it will be a long process. I’m not letting you die.” He turned down a
little side street leading to the lab.

Back in the lab Ricky brought up my body map on a monitor. Personally I
wasn’t that impressed. I looked like some alien of different colored
areas. He pointed to the healthy areas and then the mole. The mole was a
darker gray blob. I thought it would be flat like the top of my skin but
it had sunk its tentacles for its blood supply down into my arm.

Ricky was patient showing me all the information he had learned the past
twelve years as he built the lab and tested it on frogs, fish, birds,
and animals. I knew it was because he wanted me to understand why he
believed in his equipment and believed in me with unshakable faith.

“Ready?” Ricky was at the console and I was stark naked with the glass
chamber lowering down around me.

I nodded. It was time to see what Ricky’s machine was capable of. The
chamber touched the glass floor I was standing on and then everything
rose back up in the air. I was sealed in. The walls, ceiling, and floor
glowed a pinkish white. I felt a slight tingle inside and outside me.

Slowly, ever so slowly the mole floated off my arm as pieces of blood
and tissue passed out of my skin. Something floated past the top of my
eyes. I was sure it was my brain leaking out of my skull. No matter,
there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t move or scream. I was positive
Ricky’s machine had gone rogue and was tearing me apart. I didn’t care.
Hell, I was going to die anyway. Now was as good as time as any, before
the cancer made me so sick I couldn’t think, eat, or drink.

“You okay?” Ricky was leaning over me.

“Never felt better. You said I would be in stasis after five seconds. I
was watching as you pulled pieces of me off.” I was tingling all over, I
felt hot, my whole body felt like it was moving under the skin. I
managed to check my surroundings. I was curled up in a ball lying on the
floor of the chamber.

“Since this is all new ground I’m not sure you were cognitive during all
that. I believe it was more in your mind than real. I want you to record
what you were really feeling rather than some smart assed answer. As
soon as you can of course. Think you can stand up?” He had backed up to
give me some room as he offered his hand to help.

“Not sure.” I felt as weak as a kitten and as limp as a wet dishrag.

“Try and I’ll help. He put his hands under my armpits and lifted.

I was standing but wasn’t sure I would walk. Nothing felt right. I
didn’t know if I had any motor skills or not. I only wanted to lie down
and pass out. “How long? Eight hours?”

“No, took longer with all the manipulation and removing of rogue cells.
It isn’t like they are all on the surface and can be picked off. Even
when they are detached it takes moving healthy cells out of the way to
remove the cancer from the body. Then the good cells have to be put back
where they belong. Took over twenty hours this time.” Ricky was
basically carrying me to a bed beside a dressing room he had set up.

“Am I still me?” I had memories but was no longer sure they were my own.

“You are still you. You are going to be a lot thinner and weigh a whole
lot less when this is over. It will still be you. Your mind will still
be your mind.” He laid me down on the bed.

Ricky…,”

“Let it go Tom. We didn’t plan it this way but it happened. Get some
rest. If you don’t feel like giving it another try in forty eight hours
we can wait. I pulled a lot of the really bad stuff out of your vital
organs this time. Even if you never step inside that machine again I
think we gave you a two year advance on life.” He pulled a blanket up
over me and left.

===============================================================

“Who are you?” I was looking at a very nice looking Mexican lady.

“She doesn’t understand English.” Came from the other side of the room.

I looked around. There was a guy that belonged to the voice on the other
side of the room. I was lying in a bed with a needle stuck up in my
vein. “What is going on?”

“Your friend brought you in. Said you were dehydrated and had been
without food for several days. How long were you two out on the ocean?”
He had walked over to look down at me.

“Ocean? Uh, yeah, I guess I’m still a little groggy. I don’t remember.
The days kinda all blurred together after the first couple. Did he say
where he was going after he dropped me off?”

“No but he said he would be back to check on you every day.”

“Everyday? How long have I been here?” I was hoping what Ricky had done
to me didn’t escape the lab. How much did he have to tell these people
besides I was lost on the ocean?

“Your friend brought you in four days ago. Funny you were so sick and he
didn’t look harmed at all.”

He held up his hand in stop fashion before I could respond. “Do not
worry. Your friend paid us very well to make sure the story of getting
lost on the ocean was the one everyone heard. Many things go on in
Mexico that are not repeated. I leave you in the capable hands of Maria.
Your friend should be back to pick you up in an hour or two. When you
feel like it you can get dressed.” He pointed to old worn out jeans, a
tired poncho, and a well used sombrero in a chair against the wall.
“Best if gringos aren’t seen coming and going from the hospital.
Questions get asked by people who don’t need to know.”

When he walked out of the room I felt like getting dressed. I indicated
to the lady I wanted the IV out of my arm. She swabbed it with alcohol
and put a Band-Aid on it after removing the needle. Even with the
woman’s help it took me awhile to get dressed. I felt like I was beat
up, tossed out of the back of a truck, and run over by Dallas freeway
traffic at rush hour. Figuratively speaking. In plain simple English I
hurt like hell all over and was weak as a baby. Too tired to go on and
nowhere to go without a plan, I laid back down on the bed.

It was a couple hours later Ricky walked into the room. He had dressed
down to look local. He took a hard look and shook his head. “You look
like shit. How you feel?”

With huge effort I pushed myself up off the bed. “I feel like shit so
your diagnoses was straight on. Now what?”

“Well if you feel up to it we will go fishing again and see if you can
catch that big one that almost pulled you in."

“I guess I can make the boat but I don’t think I’ll be fishing for
awhile. Would you mind if we didn’t?” There was no doubt Ricky was
talking in code about the lab and me going back into that machine again.

“We will go out on the boat then and take some time off.” He moved over
to one side of me as I stood up to steady me.

With his help I managed to walk out to an old beat up seventy something
Chevy. “Nice ride.”

“Fits the budget and doesn’t draw attention. We aren’t worth kidnapping
to the local drug cartels. We don’t have enough money to be worth the
effort when there are bigger richer Americans at hand.” After easing me
into the seat he walked around to the driver’s side and slid in.

“Your AR is under the seat. The CIA’s nine millimeter is in the fold of
the seat by your right hand. Your 50 is in the fold of the seat by your
left hand. I have a SIAGA under my seat. The police and Federalies are
just as corrupt as the drug lords down here. Do not let them have the
first shot or we are both dead.” He was pulling away from the little
clinic.

Despite my pain and weakness that got my adrenaline pumping. “Expecting
a problem?”

“No but I don’t want to be laid out in the street with my head hacked
off by any of them either. Somebody points a gun at me I plan on
shooting first and disappearing.” He stayed off the main street and took
all the side streets back to the lab.

==============================================================

It was forty one days before I worked up the courage and strength to
step back into that machine of his. Ricky told me I could wait as long
as I wanted, or quit if that was what I wanted. I didn’t know what a
third trip through the machine would do to me. Didn’t make any
difference. Ricky had only extended my life not gave it back. The cancer
was still in me. It had returned with a vengeance according to the
clinic tests and x-rays.

One more time I was standing inside the chamber as it slowly dropped,
attached to the glass bottom, and rose up again. “Here we go.”

There were bees humming in the pasture. Ricky had picked up a cow pie
and gave it his best toss. He must have picked the perfect one because,
like a Frisbee, it sailed forever before landing back in the pasture and
busting into a hundred pieces. I had to give it a try. The one I picked
wasn’t that dry. I ended up with a handful of cow poop. Ricky was
laughing as he ran and I chased him with the intent of sharing. Finally
we both dropped at the peanut field. I was tired. Ricky turned and
looked worried. I laid down in the dirt. I was really tired. Ricky could
go on and play without me. My best friend came back and sat down beside
me. He wasn’t leaving me no matter what.

“Three more times. Five at the most.”

“What?” I was lying in bed with Ricky hovering over me.

“We aren’t working with any known factors here. From the percentage we
started with and what I have been able to remove each time. It will take
three more times. If it gets trickier as the amount gets less then it
may take five more times.” Ricky backed up to give me a little space.

“How long this time?”

“Sixteen hours, ten minutes, six seconds, and ninety milliseconds. How
you feel?”

“Probably about the same way I look. You can’t look much better. You
have been up for sixteen hours straight?” I tried to take a deep breath
and it hurt.

“Almost twenty but who’s counting? You feel like some soup or shall I
run you back to the clinic and have them drop an IV in you?” He waited
for an answer.

“Try that soup thing. I don’t feel like it. I don’t want to go back to
the clinic either. Every time we venture out we are risking someone
knowing about this place. I would suggest guards. The problem is the
more who know then the bigger the problem becomes. Guards share with
their friends and their wives they are guarding someplace and others
become interested in what is so valuable to be hiring guards.”

Ricky nodded in agreement. “Soup it is then. No clinic and no guards.”

Sleeping seemed to be my thing every time Ricky put me through that
chamber. This time I ate my soup and was out for two days. Ricky said it
was because my body was adjusting for everything that had been taken out
and rearranged.

I didn’t feel like going back into that chamber ever again but one more
time down to the clinic made me understand how much Ricky and his
machine were doing for me. The cancer was still there and hard to find.
No big tumors, no cancer in my liver, lungs, or my head. The tests and
x-rays were clearing up.

Day twenty nine after that last trip I stepped back into that chamber of
horrors on my own free will. Ricky was riding his bicycle ahead of me.
One of the kids on the sidewalk broke from the other two. He ran into
the street as Ricky was ridding past. He gave Ricky a hard push to the
side. Ricky tried to turn with the push but it was too hard and too
quick. He spilled. I ran my bicycle straight at the kid picking up speed
before I collided. He went down, I went ass end over teacup, and we were
all three sprawled out on the street.

The other two decided to join in and help their friend finish what he no
longer was capable of. I pushed up off the street rolling my backpack
off my back as I did. I was turning and the dumb bastards thought I was
running away. I kept turning with the backpack full of schoolbooks now
at arms length plus the length of the straps. It was a lethal ball and
chain except it was a backpack and schoolbooks. Not quite as lethal,
thank God, because I was swinging with all my might. It connected with
the first kid on his left shoulder and bounced into his head knocking
him over into the other kid on his right. The kid I hit was through.
With his two buddies out of the fight and himself not in that good of
shape now, the third kid didn’t want any more,

I either forgot or it never happened. I was wondering if Ricky’s machine
was messing with my mind?

“You’re looking better.” Ricky had halfway carried me to the bed after
that last trip.

“I don’t feel as rough as I did those other times. Think I’m getting use
to it or what?”

“Tom I really don’t know if one’s body adjusts to having things
rearranged. Or if we aren’t causing such a radical change in what we are
pulling out. Think you can eat some soup? You were in there for eleven
hours and change.”

“Taking less time or what is going on?” I really wasn’t hungry and I
didn’t feel that beat up this time.

“Less to remove and it was a lot easier to move your healthy parts out
of the way to carry out the trash. I’m not sure but I think it has
something to do with the health of the person. Stands to reason a
healthy person can stand a lot more things than a sick one. And you
gotta admit you were one sick puppy when we first started whether you
want to admit it or not.”

“Yeah, I guess. I think I’ll make me some soup to keep that health thing
going.” I pushed up off the bed looking for pants.

“You feel up to it?” Ricky looked concerned.

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it. I don’t want to go back to that
clinic either. I can manage. I’m feeling better by the minute.” I found
my pants and headed for the bar to find the soup and microwave. “Is it
safe to turn on the microwave?”

“Machine is turned off. You can plug in the microwave. Be sure and
unplug it when you are through. Messes with my machine.”

“Little machine messes with big machine? I can’t wait to tell this story
in twenty years.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to finish the job, but I wanted someone to
whip me to make me go back into that damn chamber. Ricky was
understanding and told me I could take as long as I wanted or I could
quit if I wanted.

==============================================================

Day thirty five after that third trip I was standing inside the chamber.
I met her at the Rodeo. She was with an older couple which I learned
later were her parents. She was a beautiful woman by anyone’s standards.
I think I spent as much time admiring her as I did watching the rodeo.
She was slim built and packed a whole lot of wow into those rodeo pants
she was wearing.

Tan cowgirl boots, big ol western cowboy belt buckle, red western cut
shirt, white cowboy hat was her attire. Her black eyes sparkled every
time she glanced in my direction. The smile on those ruby red lips was
tantalizing. It was impossible to ask her for a name without being so
blatantly forward it would be akin to the Titanic going down. So I
didn’t. I finally decided I was being crass staring at her so I made it
down to the refreshment stand behind the bleachers.

“Coke.” I held out a couple dollars for the drink.

“I’ll have one too.” Was the soft voice behind me.

I turned to check. It was the Rodeo Queen I had been admiring most of
the evening. “May I pay for it?”

“If you like.” She smiled.

My heart flash melted as I dug for a couple more dollars.

“I’m Tracy.” She held out her hand.

“uh…, uh…, I’m…, nice to meet you Tracy.”

She giggled, knowing she had fried my brain. She took the coke the guy
behind the counter was trying to hand her.

“You ridding the barrels tonight Tracy?” The guy asked, after she was
holding the coke.

“Sure am. You don’t expect me to miss out on being top barrel racer do
you Paul? You betting against me again?” She gave me a wink.

“Not tonight. I learned my lesson last week at El Dorado. You cost me a
hundred dollars last week when you beat Barbara Ann. I plan on making it
back tonight. You better be top dog tonight or I’m gonna lose another
hundred.” He turned toward some other customers who were waiting for
hotdogs.

“Barrel racer? That means you ride the rodeo circuit. Ft. Worth a short
cut to the next ride?” I knew I would never see the girl of my dreams
again after tonight.

Tracy turned and was walking behind the bleachers toward the trailers
and livestock area. “Found your voice did you? You want to try again on
who you are Mr. Uh?”

That caught me off guard. “It is hard to engage the mind and get the
thought processes connected with the speech processes when so much
stunning beauty is standing so close. My name is Tom now that I had time
to think what name my parents gave me when I was born.”

She laughed. “Nice save there Mr. Smooth Talker. Since you seem to be so
bashful I guess it is up to me to ask you if you would like to go get a
bite to eat after I race the barrels? I haven’t had anything since I
drove in from Bolder this morning.”

“Me? I mean sure. I mean I would…, Miss Tracy would you mind if a heavy
equipment operator asked you to have supper with him after you race the
barrels?” My mind was finally getting back in gear.

“Why, I would love to have supper with you Tom. I have to load up my
horse after I race. Do you mind if I bring Whistle? That’s my horse. We
won’t invite her in the restaurant to eat with us. She doesn’t have the
best table manners and would probably end up embarrassing us.” She
pointed at the horse standing behind one of the trailers. “Meet me at
Del Quincios at nine. I’m the one pulling the horse trailer.”

“I’ll be there.” I was in love with one of the prettiest, boldest girls
I had ever met in my whole life. She wasn’t any wilting violet for sure.
I headed back to the bleachers to watch the barrel racers before heading
to that restaurant.

I checked my watch one last time before I started up my old Ford to
leave the parking lot of Del Quincios. It was after midnight. She had
made a fool out of me. She set me up and then left me waiting. She had
my heart and soul in her hands and then broke it to pieces. The girl was
a rodeo tramp, a mean conniving bitch. She probably was sharing her
story with all her cowboy friends and laughing while thinking of me
sitting here by myself waiting for her to show.

I was pissed. My supper consisted of a six pack of Coors, a bottle of
apricot brandy, and only God knows how much Vodka before I passed out in
my apartment. Next morning at the convenience store I picked up a big
coffee and a paper, Ft. Worth Register. I tossed the paper on the seat
as I slid up into the seat. It flopped open to the front page. There was
a picture of a tangled mess of pickup and horse trailer with a big semi
on top of them. ‘Tracy Koth killed in accident’ Page two. My heart was
racing as I flipped open to page two.

‘Tracy Koth, the number one women’s barrel racer, was killed when a semi
ran a stoplight and broad sided her pickup. She was pronounced dead at
the scene. Her horse Whistle had to be put down as the vet said the
injuries were too great for her to survive. She had won top honors in
women’s barrel racing in the Ft. Worth Rodeo only an hour before she was
killed. Her parents said she was going to a restaurant to have dinner
with a man she called Tom.

Tracy will be sorely missed in the Rodeo Circuit as her thousands of
fans, and we suspect thousands of friends, all loved her. Tracy was Miss
Rodeo Queen two years earlier. More on when and where her services will
be held in tomorrows paper.’

My stomach was rolling. I was so ashamed of what I had been thinking
last night when she didn’t show. It was too late. I opened the door as
it all came up. I threw up all over the pavement beside the pickup.
Tracy had broken my heart and my life into a million pieces and it
wasn’t her fault. Would she ever forgive me? I hurled and hurled some
more until my stomach was as empty as my soul.

I opened my eyes. Ricky was hovering over me. I was on the floor of the
cage.

“You alright? Why are you crying? Did it hurt that bad?”

I stood up with Ricky’s help. “That damn booth of yours does more than
move things around. It screws with the mind also. Memories aren’t just
memories in there. They come back in full living color and are relived.
Memories stop being past tense and turn into present tense again.”

“The memory? Was it that bad? Did it hurt that much?” He helped me over
to the bed.

“Yes it hurt. She…,” I felt the tears trickle down my cheeks.

“You never talked about it. All you said was you knew a girl and that
was all you would tell me. Is it the same one you met in Ft. Worth?”
Ricky handed me a cup of water.

“Yeah, that one. Let it go. I can’t handle this any more.” I took a sip
and handed the cup back.

It was two weeks before Ricky said he wanted to map me again to see if
all the cancer had been removed. I was hesitant about walking back into
that thing. I didn’t think I could handle one more rerun of Tracy. The
heart can only be broken into a million pieces so many times. At some
point it doesn’t reassemble.

“You been having the same memories each time?” Ricky was setting the
controls as I stared at the chamber.

“No.” I still didn’t want inside that thing.

“Do you have any more that hurt as bad as the girl memory?” The glass
cylinder lifted up waiting for me to step in.

“Okay.” I walked up and stood on the glass floor. The chamber came down.

“You sorry son of a bitch! I told you to push the dirt over to the east
side of the lot not the west side.” The foreman was busy cussing me out
for his mistake.

“You said west side.” I pointed to the two laborers off to the side
holding onto their shovels. “Ask them. They will tell you.”

“Juan, Pedro, did I say push the dirt to the east side or not?” He
turned to glare at the two laborers.

“We did not hear. You must of said east side.” Juan shrugged his
shoulders, took a glance in my direction and then stared at the ground
at his feet.

“See, I did say east side.” The foreman growled at me. “You can pay for
the fuel and your time to move that dirt to the other side. And you can
pay for their time too since they will be waiting for you to move that
dirt before they can do their job.”

“I tell you what.” I climbed down off the D-9 cat. “You can run this cat
yourself and move that dirt and pay for their time because I quit.” I
couldn’t blame the laborers for not speaking up. They were desperate for
a job. Telling the foreman he screwed up isn’t a bridge builder to
future security.

“YOU CAN’T QUIT! You get your ass back up on that cat and do your job!
You walk off and you won’t get a paycheck.” He was fuming as I headed
for my pickup.

I didn’t answer. It wouldn’t do any good to get into a shouting match
with the idiot. He wasn’t going to admit he was wrong. And I wasn’t
going to pay for his mistake.

The chamber was rising and I was still standing as Tom was watching for
problems. “How was the ride?”

“Piece of cake. Second time I have left that thing without feeling I was
fighting with a cat.” I headed for my pants.

“The other time?” Ricky was curious.

“The first time everything felt all squiggly but it wasn’t really that
bad either in retrospect.” I was putting on my shirt.

“Another ride in forty eight hours then?” He had shut it all down.

“What is the plan? You going to vaporize me now that I have proven your
little project?” It was a sick joke.

Ricky knew I was pulling his leg. “But of course. Can’t leave any
witnesses and what better way than turn you into water vapor? No body,
no crime.”

“I’ve sent notes to those people who were following you. Remember them?
My letters are to be opened if they don’t hear from me every forty eight
hours. I squealed, but my silence can be bought. Keep in mind, I’m not
cheap.” I threw back my head and tried my villain laugh. It was wasted.
I sounded like a sick frog instead.

Ricky shook his head. “Tom you are one sick puppy and have an even worse
sick sense of humor. Mapping claims all the cancer is gone. No dark
spots showing up anywhere. As of this moment you are probably the
healthiest person on this screwed up planet. How you feel?”

“Actually, I feel like I’m the healthiest person on this screwed up
planet. So when do you take your turn inside that machine of yours and
map your own body?” I wanted Ricky to know what kind of ride I had been
experiencing. It seemed a shame the person who built the thing had not
experienced his own handiwork.

Ricky shook his head. “And I’m supposed to trust you to run the
controls? I think not. Not that I’m afraid to put my life in your hands,
but it isn’t that easy. Eventually I’ll have it artificial intelligently
controlled where I can step inside but that is down the road. And it
isn’t just for myself I need to make it self aware. IF…, if I ever let
this technology out then it must be self controlling. It would take ten
years or more of constant training to teach someone how to handle this
machine with a human operator.”

That last sentence got my attention. “You mean one little bobble and I
would be Tom No More? You can’t tell me you had this thing running for
the past ten years?”

“I built it. My training is more than standing here controlling
currents, eddy streams, harmonics, and gauss fields. I know exactly what
each one of those hundreds of different energy beams and fields do, what
strength and where they should be focused. Building something and
operating it after someone else built it are two different fields. A
design builder can be, and usually is, the first operator. A trained
operator is not, and never will be, a design builder.” He smiled and
patted the console as it was his pet.

I imagine it was just that. His pet.

==============================================================

“SO NOT FUNNY!” Ricky was lucky he wasn’t within reach or I would have
smacked him. He had a lopsided grin as he stared. I didn’t think he
could have wiped the smirk off his face even if I had a gun in my hands
and promised to shoot him.

“Says who? You remind yourself of anyone?” He pointed toward the
mirrored dressing booth on the other side of the room.

“SAYS ME, YOU DUMB SHIT! YOU JUST HAD TO GO AND DO IT TO ME TO PROVE YOU
COULD! DIDN’T YOU!” I didn’t need the mirrors to know Ricky had changed
my sex from a man into a woman. Those big melons I was sporting on my
chest were damn big.

“CHANGE ME BACK!” What Ricky had done might have been funny to him but
personally…, I wasn’t amused.

Why I let Ricky talk me into being his date for Halloween I blamed on
that damn machine of his manipulating my mind.

“The ladies at the salon will do a make over before the party tonight. I
have reservations for the two of us at the Del Rio Palacia . Usually for
the well connected, so security will be tight. The military will be all
over that place like fleas on a dog. No matter how big the drug cartel
they don’t send their men on suicide missions.

“Salon? How far is this joke going.” Even if it wasn’t my body I was
still the one inside it.

“Forty eight hours is all.” He was urging me toward the door.

“I am going to get so even you are going to regret the day you were
born.” I stepped through the doors as he held them open for me

Ricky even opened the car door for me.

“I’m not helpless you know.” I clutched my skirt as I slid into the seat
and pulled it in so it wouldn’t get caught in the car door.

“Didn’t say you were. That wasn’t the intention.” He closed the door.

He drove me to the Hotel Capri and walked me inside to a salon with the
name Rita over the door. “Play nice. They know what they are doing. They
have done this most of their lives.” I’ll be back in an hour.

“An hour?” I was ready to panic. Being left alone with strangers in the
condition I was in didn’t make me feel comfortable.

“Relax. You are a girl, they are girls. Your virginity is safe.” He
grinned before he turned and walked out the door.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be here planning your death.” I mumbled as
he disappeared out of the hotel.

One of the ladies took my hand as she studied me. “Speak English?”

“Yes.” I wondered why she asked?

“Good. Remove your gloves and your jewelry.” She pointed to a salon
chair.

It wasn’t that impossible to remove my gloves. The jewelry was a
different situation. I moved my hair off to the side. “Would you help
please.”

Ricky was back. He was wearing a nineteen twenties suit, hat, and spats
on his shoes in a twenties costume. He nodded as he stared. “You are
absolutely stunning.”

The girls had glossed my lips with the brightest red I had ever seen in
my life. They highlighted my cheekbones and painted my nails. They
placed a tiara on my head and wove some of my hair through it making it
non removable for the time being. My eyes only needed the eye shadow
treatment. Ricky gave me long, thick lashes and eyeliner in that machine
of his. He said black was a natural pigment of the body but he couldn’t
do blue.

“You better be enjoying this little joke of yours because it isn’t going
to last.” I held out my left wrist. “This your jewelry? The girls
removed it when they worked me over and put it back. I’m no expert. I
have no idea if it is the same stuff or not.”

A small crowd had gathered at the entrance of the salon. I didn’t have
to guess why they were staring. “This isn’t me, this isn’t me. I can do
this.”

Ricky snickered. “You have the best costume of anyone. They all know
it.” He checked his watch. “A little early to go to the party. Shall we
go to the dinning room and order a snack? It is going to be a long
night. Alcohol on an empty stomach isn’t what I recommend for tonight.
Your molecular structure is still settling down. I’m not sure what
effect alcohol will have on you at this stage of recovery.”

Shaking my head I could not believe he had done this to me without us
testing a body change with alcohol before now? “Anything else you want
to tell me before tonight? What happens if I pass out in this condition
and you can’t get me home?”

“Not to worry about getting you home. I’m not dressed in the roaring
twenties just for fun. Those guys always carried a heater in their
jacket.” He was behind me steering me though the crowd as they
reluctantly parted before us.

Most of what they were saying I was glad I didn’t understand. The two
guys speaking in English I did understand. “She’s real.” “Those aren’t
fake.” Can they make them like that?” “Wonder where she got hers?” “I’m
gonna buy my girlfriend ones like that.” “Any idea how much they cost?”

I couldn’t take it any longer even if it wasn’t me in this Jessica
costume. I turned around to look at the two motor mouths. “Children,
shouldn’t you be in school?”

At first, they both looked shocked. Instantly their faces got big happy
grins as they smiled from ear to ear. It took me a second to understand
why. The idea someone who looked like me would even acknowledge they
existed made their day. Sheesh, if I was going to keep this body I would
need a crash course in girl speak and act. It was something girls take a
lifetime learning from day one. Come on forty…? I looked at my watch.
Forty one hours.

The dinning room already had a crowd. A few patrons were in costume. The
maitre d’ was steering incoming traffic to the bar to wait for a table.
His eyes focused in on me. No doubt he undressed me in his mind as we
approached. I didn’t figure it took too much brain power to undress me.
I was already three quarters of the way there in this number I was
almost wearing.

“Two.” Ricky slipped his hand around my waist.

I wasn’t ready for that and almost bolted for the exit. “uhhh”

He felt me shiver and realized what he had done. It didn’t make him
change his mind or remove his hand. Just out of shear meanness he
dropped his hand a little lower to the top of my hip and pulled me in
closer.

“ssssss” Air escaped my lungs in a rush of emotions. I shivered even
more.

The maitre d’ looked like he was going to have an orgasm on the spot.
Obviously he thought I was putting on a shimmy show for him. If Ricky
hadn’t already staked out a prior claim with his hand on me, the maitre
d’ probably would have jumped me right then and there.

Ricky palmed the man a hundred dollars.

“Certainly sir, I have a table. If you will follow me.” He unsnapped the
chain separating us from the dinning room.

He led us to a table not in the back by the kitchen as I expected but
right up front by the stage. Was it to show off the catch of the night?
Everyone would be looking at us or past us if there was any action on
the stage.

Ricky received my evil eye stare after we were seated. “You do that
again and I won’t wait. I will murder you on the spot and claim it was
self defense.”

He chuckled as he gave me a wink. “Do what Jessica? I swear you are
getting weird on me. Anyway what shall we order? Hummm? Oysters on the
half shell are good for love making.”

“Ricky…, You better be teasing or you are really going to end up in the
drainage ditch someplace. Now behave yourself. You’re acting like a damn
guy.”

“And you are acting like a real woman.” Drifted quietly back across the
table.

“Say what! I…, okay, drop it. Be a gentleman and order me a chef salad…,
oh poop, did I just say that…, I am aren’t I.”

A waiter came up. Taking our order wasn’t on his mind as he stared down
my breasts. Hell, if I had been me I would have been doing the same
thing. It’s a guy thing, okay. Men can’t look a woman in the eyes if she
has big boobs. I not only had gargantuan ones, thanks to Ricky, I was
obscenely dressed to expose most of what I had. Good thing it was only a
costume and not really me!

Ricky laid his menu on the table. “The lady wishes a Chef Salad. I’ll
have the Ostriche, Insalata di barbabietoea e formaggio. The lady wishes
a la Paloma and I will have a White Spider.”

“Very good sir.” The water picked up the menus and left.

“What did you just order for me? Are you going to try and get me drunk?”
I was starting to suspect my best friend had forgot I wasn’t really
Jessica. “You do remember who is inside this costume don’t you?”

A wicked smile spread across his face. “I must say it’s a great costume
even if I did help design it.”

“In your dreams. And things better stay that way. In your dreams. Park
your testosterone drive and go take a cold shower because we are not
trying out the equipment.” The waiter set our drinks on the table. I
took a big swallow to steady my nerves. My drink was a fruit cocktail. I
partially forgave Ricky after thinking he was trying to ambush me.

My suspicions returned just as quickly as they had left when our food
arrived. Some of Ricky’s entrée was oyster on the half shell. I had two
more cocktails before we finished our meals. Fruit juice wasn’t going to
steady my nerves but I was beginning to feel mischievous myself.

After the meal Ricky asked if I would mind walking the three blocks to
the Halloween party?

Of course it was to show off his handiwork. Which was me. I knew why he
wanted to walk. Hell, after that dinner, I wanted to show off myself.
Walking in five inch heels wasn’t the problem I thought it could be. My
feet were designed especially for walking in five inch heels. Besides,
the car was already parked. Finding another parking space any closer
could be a problem.

As we rose from the table, Ricky walked around to my side and collected
me putting his arm around my waist. If he expected a response he got one
but it wasn’t the one he was expecting.

I moved in closer brushing my right hip up against him. I felt peaceful
and protected when he put his arm around me. I liked it. “Thank you for
the dinner. It was very kind of you.”

“You’re most certainly welcome. Thank you for coming with me tonight. It
was most gracious of you.” He returned the compliment as he steered me
for the exit. He let his left hand slid down to my left hip.

My hand automatically found the back of his. I pushed his hand a little
lower where it was on the slit of that silk dress I was almost in. I
held his hand on my hip as we walked knowing he could feel the fluid
motion of my hips with each step. Jessica had come out to play. And took
over!

As Ricky and I walked to the party I noticed there were more people in
costumes than normal dressed people. “I don’t recognize four fifths of
those costumes.”

“Mexico has a little different perspective on Halloween than Americans
do.” He moved me around in front of himself to thread us through a group
of soldiers and policia.

“Lots of hardware out tonight. Why?” I was trying to not stare at the
soldiers. I didn’t want them to stop us and question us for citizenship
papers or identifications. I certainly didn’t have any. I wasn’t too
sure Ricky had a legal right to be in Mexico either. We had been here
almost five months since first flying in.

“Two kinds of police and military in Mexico. Those who work for the drug
cartels and those who don’t. Tonight's a show of force to keep peace
between the two. This many from both sides and it would be a blood bath
neither side wants. Both sides want the tourists to enjoy the festivals
and come back again with more money. Tonight is one of the few nights we
don’t need to worry about the policia or the drug cartels.” We had made
it past the soldiers. Ricky pulled me back in beside him again.

It didn’t bother me. I preferred Ricky holding me close to stake out his
claim I was already spoken for. I did the same thing myself when I took
a date anywhere there was a crowd. It was a universal language. She’s
mine. You can look, but you can’t touch.

Ricky produced two tickets for the Halloween party when the guys at the
entrance looked like they might stop us. I gave Ricky the glassy eyed
stare. “You really had this all planed out didn’t you?”

He nodded in agreement. “It was a loose concept. If it happened it
happened and if it didn’t, it didn’t. Do you really mind that I tricked
you? After all it is the night for tricks. You look like you’re having
fun.”

“Well…, yeah, kinda. If you had asked I would have turned you down but
what the hell.” I held my arms out to show off. “Here I am. Cinderella
will turn back into a maid, the horses into mice, and the royal coach
back into a pumpkin. Although in this case not exactly at midnight. Next
year you can ask me to do it again and we will both laugh before I punch
you in the nose and tell you not again in this lifetime.”

Looking me over from head to toe he pulled me to the side. “Jessica, be
really careful. If I had known how much attention you were going to
attract I wouldn’t have made your assets as…,”

“Big. Go on say it. You went in for overkill. My breasts, my hips, my
butt are more than ample. Well, it was overkill and that is the word for
what you did. That’s before we even begin to discuss my next to nothing
waist. Enjoy it because all I am will soon be a memory and nothing more.
What pisses me off more than anything, isn’t you did this to me. I’m
getting used to it now. It is funny because I’m obviously your wet dream
and you can’t have me. Who has their hand on the controls now big boy?”
I licked my lips and brought my left hand up to cradle my left breast
for added emphasis. I was determined now to make Ricky regret he had
turned me into Jessica. I was going to be all over him like black on
ink. And he would never get to taste the forbidden fruit.

Ricky shook his head. “Jessica, behave. I’m not the only one who has
their eyes on you. You probably put every male in here in rut the moment
you walked in the door. Your little antics are sure to set the pot a
boiling.”

“You accuse me of being a flirt and a tease? Why dear me, how is that
possible? You know little ol me wouldn’t do anything like that.” I slid
my hands down my hips as I batted my eyelashes at Ricky.

“I’m going to go get a drink.” Ricky had enough.

“While you’re at it bring me back another one of them fruit drinks. I
gotta go pee.

Ricky stopped and turned his head to study me. “Fruit drinks? You mean
like you were drinking earlier?”

“Yeah, that’s the one. Like I was drinking earlier.” I was scanning for
the bathrooms.

“Okay. Jessica, remember you’re a woman not a guy. You use the ladies
room okay?” He waited to see if what he said about the restroom had sunk
in.

“Yeah, yeah…, girl, I got it. Think I’ll stand in front of the pot and
pee just for fun.” I still hadn’t seen any doors or signs leading to the
bathrooms.

Ricky pointed to the back of the room. “That way. Go down the hallway
and take a left. Left is ladies. Take a left.”

“Ah shucks, you been here before ain’t yuh? I’m not the first date you
brought to this place. Who was she? Anyone I know. She prettier than
me?” I was headed the direction Ricky had pointed. Those fruit drinks I
had at dinner needed a release.

Ricky waited until Jessica made the hallway and then followed. “She is
drunk. I wonder if she will remember any of this tomorrow?” He was going
to make sure she didn’t get lost or molested. He was feeling some regret
bringing her to the Halloween party. At first it seemed like a fun idea
but now…?

==============================================================

Marcella pushed Emilio away as he tried to kiss her. “Why don’t you give
me diamonds like that American does his mistress?”

“What are you talking about? What American and mistress?” Emilio made
another pass without getting a kiss.

“That Americano everyone talks about. They say he makes drugs in that
lab of his. If you had his drugs you could sell them for lots of money.
You would be rich too. You could buy me diamonds like he buys his
mistress.” Looking at the silver bracelet on her wrist, Marcella
imagined a diamond bracelet like the one she handled in Rita’s Salon an
hour earlier.

“The mistress is Jessica. She had a big diamond bracelet. And diamond
watch. And she had a big diamond necklace too. And she had long diamond
earrings. If you had the Americano’s secret drugs you would no longer be
a soldier in Ignacio’s cartel. I bet he would make you his top
lieutenant.” Marcella wrapped her hands around Emilio’s head and pulled
him in for a kiss to drive her point home.

Emilio didn’t need much help. He had been thinking of breaking into the
Americano’s lab and stealing all the drugs and secrets. He wanted those
designer drugs. He knew if he didn’t do it, one of the other drug
cartels would. It had become an open secret the Americanos were making
drugs in that lab they spent so much time in. Even some of the doctors
were saying the Americanos had made a drug to cure cancer when one of
them had become deathly sick.

He pushed Marcella back. He had a plan. He had friends who would help.
It had to be tonight before anyone else broke into the lab and made off
with all the secrets. Starting up his car he pulled out into the street
to go find the men he wanted helping him.

=============================================================

Ricky waited as Jessica came back out of the bathrooms. No earth
shattering screams had come from that direction while she was in there.
Obviously Jessica had behaved herself in the ladies room. Even if she
hadn’t the other women had taken everything in stride. And why shouldn’t
they? Jessica was a woman in virtually every single respect.

“You waited on me? You are a gentleman.” I closed in on Ricky. He put
his arm around my waist.

“Jess would you dance with me?” Ricky steered me toward the crowded
dance floor.

“I don’t…, well yes I do. I’m a girl. Girls come preloaded with dance
instructions don’t they. All girls can dance. Never met one that
couldn’t. I’m a girl. I can dance.” I pulled his hand up under my
breast.

Ricky’s eyes briefly closed to slits. I knew I was driving him to
distraction. Hell, I was a guy. I knew what feeling a woman’s body did
to a guy’s hormones. Or was I a girl. Hell no I wasn’t no damn girl! I
was a woman. I had a woman’s desire to be bedded! I rubbed my hip up
against Ricky. Take me. I’m hot.

He was having a hard time trying to figure her out. Had Jessica taken
over Tom’s mind as well as his body, or was it the alcohol causing her
to lose all inhibitions? Maybe it was Tom and payback for changing him
into a woman? Ricky decided it had to be Tom and payback. The machine
didn’t change the mind only the physical things. He wrapped her up in
his arms for the dance. Two could play this game. He would make Tom
sorry he had started it.

The only thing separating Ricky’s and my body was a little cloth. I
wasn’t going to let a little thing like that get in the way as I put my
hip up against his crouch as we danced across the floor. My mind was
demanding satisfaction for my body’s desires.

Ricky knew Tom was pushing the envelope to get even for changing him
into a beautiful, sensuous woman. Payback works both ways. He pulled
Jessica in tight and crushed her breasts against his chest.

“oooooh,” The moan was involuntary. My emotions went into overdrive and
achieved lift off.

“take me, I’m yours.” I whispered in his right ear.

The lights slowly came on in Ricky’s mind as Jessica leaned into him
pushing back even harder. She wasn’t faking it. Something had gone
wrong. Tom had lost control. Ricky was no longer looking at Tom in
Jessica’s body. He was looking at Jessica in Jessica’s body. Could have
been the alcohol? Whatever it was he needed to get Jessica back to the
lab before she lost it all and told the whole damn world who she was.

“Let’s go back to the lab. I’m tired of this party.” Ricky tried to push
Jessica away to give them both some breathing room.

She wasn’t having any of it as she pulled his hand away from her waist
and slid it down her hip. “Can’t we stay. I’m having fun. Do you love
me?”

“Jess…?” Ricky was caught off guard.

“If you don’t love me I bet I can find some real men in here who will.”
Jessica was scanning the room for a mate if Ricky didn’t love her.

“Yes, I love you Jess. Let’s go back to the lab okay?” Ricky was edging
her for the door before she lost all control.

“Oh, then you are going to make love to me and make me a real woman.”
Jessica was happy Ricky loved her.

“Yes, I love you and I will make you a real woman.” Ricky was wishing
the car wasn’t parked three blocks down the street. He wasn’t sure he
could control her for that long.

“I love you.” Jessica wrapped her arms around Ricky’s neck and pulled
him in for a long passionate kiss.

It shocked the devil out of him when she first pulled him in. And then
the kiss! His eyes grew as big as saucers as he watched her face. He
didn’t know if he should respond or not? She had her eyes closed in the
passion of the moment. He tried to return the kiss as best as he could
as he wrapped his arms around her tiny little waist. It wasn’t as hard
to kiss her as he thought it might be. She was, after all, all woman.

Jessica was all over him as he walked her the three blocks to the car.

=============================================================

Fireworks and rockets were going off around town. “Break it down.”
Emilio was waiting for Javier and Ramirez to bust the door to the lab of
the Americanos.

“What if one of them is still there? Marcella only saw one gringo with
his mistress. The other one could still be in the lab." Javier didn’t
mind killing. He didn’t want to be the one killed.

“Blow it then. He will stunned. We kill him, take the drugs and notes.
Ignacio will reward us all.” Emilio handed his two friends four sticks
of dynamite.

Ramirez stacked all four at the base of the door. He lit the two foot
fuse and ran to hide behind the van the other two had already taken
refuge behind.

The explosion rocked the neighborhood. The door was crumpled in. Emilio
was passing out more dynamite as he looked at the second door past the
first one that had folded. “Hurry. There will be an investigation as to
why so much noise.”

The second door was dispatched by another batch of dynamite. The lab was
smoldering. Electrical circuits were twisted and stripped of their
insulation. Small fires broke out throughout the lab as Emilio and his
accomplices searched for drugs or notes on how to make those drugs.
There was a problem as this lab didn’t have any of the equipment
normally used in the manufacture of designer drugs. There were no
beakers, no test tubes, no hoses, no condensers, no burners…, nothing in
the way of a drug making lab.

The fires were spreading and growing. “Let’s get out of here.” Javier
was headed for the door.

“You want to tell me what you are doing without my permission.” Ignacio
was standing in the doorway with two other men.

“We were looking for the Americanos drug making equipment. Marcella said
they were making drugs. We did it for you Padrone.” Emilio was trying to
explain to his boss why they had destroyed a building before asking
permission.

The fires and heat drove them all outside the lab. Ignacio was furious
one of his own men would go off on a tangent and do something like this
without asking him first. “Did you find the drugs you were looking for?”

Ignacio pulled a pistol from his belt. Emilio knew he was about to die.
Ignacio fired several shots into the lab. “That should have been you.”

Ricky stopped the car a few hundred feet from the lab as smoke and
flames poured from the doorway. There were six men standing at the
entrance.

“NOOOOOO!” He opened the door and ran toward the lab.

Ignacio turned toward the shouting and pulled the trigger again.

I was getting out of the car. Ricky spun around and hit the ground as
the gunshot rang out.

The adrenalin rush of watching my friend get shot cleared the fog out of
my brain in less than three seconds. Turning back to the car I was
reaching under the seat.

“SHE’S RUNNING. MAKE SURE SHE DOESN’T GET AWAY.” Ignacio pointed in the
direction of the woman trying to make an escape back into the car.

Emilio and his two friends were going to make sure the woman didn’t get
away. They would prove to Padrone they were valuable assets. They
started to sprint toward the car and the fleeing woman.

I came up holding the Desert Eagle in both hands. I reached forward over
the door hinge between the car body and the door. “YOU SON OF A BITCH!”

It was too late for the three men running at me to correct their error.
They split and dove for cover I nailed the middle one in the forehead.
His forward momentum stopped like he had hit a brick wall as his body
bent over backwards. The kick of that big ol fifty caliber was a lot
more than I remembered. It took a lot longer to re-acquire a new target
than what it should have. I took aim on the one running to the right.
The shot hit him in his right shoulder blade area. He went flying like a
truck had hit him.

The third one was firing back as he ran toward the first group for
protection. I took aim and hit him in the left shoulder blade. If he had
a heart it was no longer there. His body spun in a circle as he went
down. He skidded about eight feet as he plowed pavement face down.

The first group had got their wits together. They were peppering the car
with lead. They were squeezing off snapshots. Unless they were extremely
lucky they were never going to hit anything.

One, two, three and they were down in that order. Their vehicles now had
my attention. Tinted windows and I couldn’t see a darn thing inside
them. I slipped another clip into the fifty and shot holes in the doors
where someone could have been sitting in the seats. Nothing moved. That
didn’t mean someone couldn’t be lying down on the floor waiting.

“Ricky?” I took a glance in his direction.

“ooooooh” Was the soft reply.

Walking around to the driver’s side I started the car up and pulled up
beside Ricky. “Ricky, can you stand? I have to get you into the car. I
can’t do it by myself. I need you to help me. Ricky?”

I knelt down beside him and checked. He had blood coming out of his
side. “Ricky, please, I can’t do this without your help. Ricky, I don’t
have the strength to do this alone. You gotta help me get you in the
car. Ricky we can’t stay here. The lab is burning. I killed six men.
Ricky we can’t stay here.”

“Help me.” Ricky coughed. He was pushing himself up as I helped lift.

I got him in the car. He collapsed in the seat. I prayed that doctor
Ricky had taken me to wasn’t out celebrating with the rest of the crowd.
I found the little clinic and pulled up to the back entrance. The doc
was there.

“Patch him up doc. We were never here.” I took Ricky’s billfold and dug
out a thousand dollars.

“He needs medical attention. More than a few minutes worth.” The doc was
eying the thousand dollars.

“Not tonight doc. Pour enough antibiotics into him to make sure he
doesn’t get an infection. Make sure all of that damn bullet passed
though and didn’t leave any fragments behind. Wrap him in enough
bandages to make sure he doesn’t keep bleeding. We were never here.” I
kept checking the hallway to make sure no military or policia walked in
on us.

Thirty minutes later I had Ricky back in the car. He was a little more
lucid. “Where we going?”

“I have no idea. We are going to run. We have a full night ahead of us.
Car is full of gas. I will pick up some supplies at a grocery. Then we
head inland and north I guess. Ricky, the lab is gone.” I was pulling
out making sure I didn’t do anything to attract any more attention than
a bullet riddled car normally would. At least it was night and those
bullet holes weren’t noticeable unless one was looking.

“Go to the plane.” He nodded toward his left.

“Ricky I can’t fly. You don’t look like you are going to be in any
condition to fly either. Those pain killers are going to wear off in a
little bit. Hell is fixing to come and rest inside your body and your
mind. More pain killers and you won’t be in any condition to fly either.
There isn’t an upside to any of this.” For whatever reason I turned the
car toward the dirt field where he had parked that airplane.

“Trust me again. You trusted me with your life before. Trust me again.”
He closed his eyes as the ride was hurting him.

“Trust you! Have you taken a good look at me lately? Trust you? I’m a
damn girl. The lab is burned to the ground and I’m still a damn girl.
Trust you? Unless you have some black magic tricks I don’t know about,
you used up all that ‘trust me business’. Trust you…? Damn you all to
hell Ricky, I’m stuck as a girl. The only thing stopping me from blowing
my damn brains out right now is I’m hoping I will wake up when you turn
off the machine and this is one of those damn dreams.”

“Jessica…,”

“Okay, I put up with that Jessica shit about as long as I can stand. I’m
Tom. When you start calling me Tom this dream will end. I will step out
of that machine and I will cheerfully strangle you to death with my own
two little hands.”

Ricky snorted before I glanced in his direction. “Tom? That sure ain’t
gonna fit is it? Tell you what Jessica. Until you step out of the
machine and throttle me to death you’re right. You’re stuck as Jessica.
While you’re still dreaming all this trust me. Okay?”

For the first time I saw the humor in this situation. “Okay. Get ready
because when you turn that machine off I’m going to kill you.”

Nineteen minutes later I was parked beside the hanger. Ricky was feeling
the pain. I wasn’t sure what to do next?

He looked over at the side door. “Keypad, use JESSICA for access. Flip
the two black switches off when you are inside. That will close down the
electrical field on the walls. Big red switch by the overhead doors
raises the hanger door.”

A pained look crossed his face. He took a shallow breath. “Come get me.
You can’t roll that plane out by yourself. I can’t help pull but I can
start it up and move it out. Put the car in. Lock everything back up.
They will be here looking for us shortly. I don’t want to make it too
easy. Give a few of them a nasty shock before they figure out to kill
the power to the building.”

Six minutes latter I had the rifles and grenades I liberated from the
CIA agents loaded into the baggage compartment. Two minutes after that I
had Ricky standing by the landing steps. “Ricky, I can’t carry you up
into that plane. You have to do this yourself.”

“Let me lean on you. You push the best you can.” He put his right arm
around my shoulders and made the first step as I pushed. The second step
was harder. The third step was more painful. He made the forth step and
I figured we were finished. Ricky would never make that fifth step.
Whoever was coming was going to find Ricky sprawled out on the steps.

I was thinking about getting the rifles out of the cargo hold. I was in
the worse defensive position I had ever been in my military career.
However, the AR 15 would make anyone coming at us pay a dear price
before we were taken out ourselves.

Ricky took a lunge forward and lay on the cabin floor. “jessica?”

I rushed up the steps and took his left hand. “I’m here Ricky.”

“Give me a minute. Get me into that pilot’s seat.” He was breathing hard
with his eyes closed. His side was bleeding.

I retrieved that AR from the cargo hold while he rested. We were wasting
time.

“I’m ready. Get me into the cockpit.” Ricky held up his hand.

With him pushing and me pulling he was back on his feet. He had his arms
wrapped around my neck as I supported him and walked backwards into the
cockpit. He fell more than sat in the pilot’s seat.

“Pull the chocks from the wheels. I’ll fire this bird up and drive it
out. You pull the car in and lock up.”

“Got it.” I was headed for the exit.

The right turbine started spooling up as I pulled the second set of
wheel chocks. I tossed them over against the wall as I headed for the
car. A minute later the left turbine started spooling up and lit. The
aircraft rolled out of the hanger and stopped. Four minutes after that
the hanger was closed up, electrified, and I was in the cockpit.

Ricky had his eyes closed. He was slumped over the control wheel.

“ricky? I can’t do this without you.” I felt for a pulse in his neck to
see if he was still alive.

He straightened up and blinked a couple times. “jessica, you can do this
by yourself. Trust me. I programmed the flight into the navigation
system. Take the plane to the end of the runway. Easy on the throttles.
A lot of turbine thrust in your hands. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

My heels had to go. I pulled them off and worked the rudder pedals with
the pads of my feet. Okay that wasn’t bad. I pushed on the top of them
like I had seen Ricky and other pilots do. I wasn’t rolling so I didn’t
know if I had brakes or not. It was time to go. I inched the throttles
forward and the plane leapt forward. I pushed on the brakes with all my
might as I yanked the throttles back. The plane nosed down and squatted
like a frog on a lily pad.

“Easy jessica.” Drifted across from Ricky who still had his eyes closed.

I tried again. With the slightest touch I moved the throttles. The plane
rolled forward and was picking up speed quickly. I started riding the
brakes. The plane slowed. I was on the runway and needed to turn. I
pushed hard with my right foot. The plane whipped around pointed back to
the hanger. I yanked the throttles back. The landing lights had swept
the horizon and sky like spotlights. If anyone didn’t know where we were
at before, they sure would now.

“SHIT!”

“You’re doing good. Now point it down the runway. One throttle when you
want to turn.” Ricky managed an almost smile.

I took a deep breath and slightly moved the left throttle. The turbine
increased its whine and the plane was rolling forward. Gingerly I pushed
right pedal. The plane started turning. Instinctively I turned the
control wheel like a steering wheel. I wobbled all over the runway to
the other end. Finally I was there and had the plane turned again. It
was then I noticed a couple dozen headlights coming down the road toward
the hanger.

“Ricky, company is coming.” I had no idea what to do. I needed Ricky to
fly us off.

“Okay, turn loose of everything. The naviaid is going to take over from
here. He reached down with his right hand to the center console and
flipped four switches.

The throttles slid full forward. The turbines roared to life. I was
shoved back into the seat as the plane leapt forward. Five seconds later
we were airborne. I felt the bump as the wheels retracted home. The
throttles moved slightly back. The turbines lost some of their roar. The
landing lights switched off. The little plane leveled off at two
thousand feet and the throttles slid back to about midway. The turbines
quieted down to a whisper.

I leaned over to check on Ricky. “Damn! What did I need you for? I
should have left you there to slow them down. You are dead weight.”

Looking out the window the car lights were receding in the distance.
There were little lights twinkling around most of the vehicles. It was
the flash flare from their guns shooting at us. I wanted to laugh. We
were already out of range even if there had been someone in the group
who knew how to shoot a moving target.

“Where we going.” I was curious if we were headed to Brazil or Chile
or...?

“Ft. Worth. I need back into the lab.”

“Ricky, we can’t just fly back into the states. You're going to change
me back? I thought you said that was a dummy lab for the government guys
to keep an eye on. In case that bullet messed up your mind, there is
customs and border patrol. I sure as hell can’t explain me.” I was
positive Ricky was delirious.

“We never left that little airport we parked at in south Texas. Trust
me.” He programmed some data into a screen on the panel.

“Ricky, I need to look at that wound. You opened it up again when you
climbed into the plane. I need you in back or over in this seat so I can
dress that wound.” I stood up and moved back out of the way.

“Your seat. The naviaid is almost perfect as a pilot. It needs a little
help from time to time if something comes up it doesn’t understand.” He
was pushing himself up out of his seat.

I helped him move over to the co-pilot seat before I removed his
bandages and repacked the wound. I had the blood stopped for now. If
Ricky would stop moving it wouldn’t bleed again.

The twin made a course correction. I sit down in the pilot’s seat Ricky
had vacated. “How does it know where to go and how to get there?”

Ricky took a shallow breath. “Got any of those pain pills handy?
Multiple systems are feeding data into the computer. Satnav is the same
as the GPS in your truck. More accurate. Ground mapping is watching the
terrain below to make sure we are on course. Loran is triangulating the
homing beacons from five or more navigational signals from airports…,

He sucked in his breath. “Radar is checking for planes, mountains,
towers, ahead, to the side, above, and below us. If the target is moving
it tells the naviaid the flight path and how fast the target is moving.
The naviaid adjusts our flight path and height accordingly to keep a
clear distance from the target.”

The doc gave me a bag full of pills at the clinic. I found a couple for
Ricky along with a bottle of warm water from the cooler inside the
plane. I hadn’t stopped for ice and refreshments when we left the docs
office. If I had stopped we both would be dead or enjoying having our
fingers and toes sliced off one at a time. Those cars were way too close
when we left the airport. One minute later and we wouldn’t have left.

Ricky downed a couple pills. “I’m going to rest for a little while.
Don’t touch anything. There will be lights blinking at you or little
beeps every now and then. They are only a heads up warning. The system
will auto correct itself. If it really wants our attention you will know
it and so will I.”

What a hell of a mess I had got into! Now we were flying back into the
Lion’s Den and I was no longer me. I wasn’t even a US citizen. I was
nobody. Well not quite. I was every male’s dream even if I wasn’t really
Jessica. Try and explain that one to the CIA when they got their clammy
little hands on me. “damn”

I think Ricky was sleeping for most of the two hours we had been in the
air when an eeep, eeep started screeching from the plane. “Ricky, what
do I do?”

“Nothing.” He reached over to the console, pushed a button, and the
screeching stopped. Slipping on a set of headphones he adjusted his
voice mike and played with the keys and knobs on the radio. “Negras
tower, this is N74682, altitude two thousand, on a northbound approach.
We are ten miles out. Airspeed three seventy requesting permission to
land and check some equipment.”

I slipped on the headphones to listen as the tower replied. “N745682
permission granted. You are cleared for a straight in approach. Runway
18. Winds are two to three from the north west. You have a Cessna one
seven two fifteen miles to your west approaching the pattern. Altitude
one thousand six hundred.”

Ricky pushed some buttons on the console. “Roger Negras tower.
Understand we are cleared for a straight in approach on runway 18. We
are painting the Cessna one seven two on our radar and confirm we have a
visual.”

“Jess, don’t touch anything. The plane will land itself. I need you to
taxi us off the runway after it is down. Hand me the computer on the
left side of your seat please.”

I found the laptop and handed it to Ricky. He opened it up and started
playing with the keyboard. My curiosity was killing me. “Now what?”

“Wireless at this airport. I’m looking for a plane that's already
cleared customs and is flying into the states.”

I felt a bump as the landing doors opened up and the landing gear came
down. The throttles eased back. The whine from the turbines got even
quieter. More levers moved and the flaps started dropping as landing
lights came on. I was looking at a runway straight ahead of us. The
plane was actually going to land itself without Ricky’s help.

As the wheels greased the runway two more levers moved. It felt like we
had hit a brick wall. I was ready to panic. Ricky slightly shook his
head. “Reverse thrust. The plane is slowing down without wearing out the
brakes.”

In less than two minutes we had touched down and came to a stop in the
middle of the runway. “Jess, your turn. Taxi down to the first off ramp
you come to. Pull onto the taxi ramp and go back to the end of the
runway. We aren’t staying for breakfast. Put your right hand down beside
your seat. You will feel a tee handle. Pull up. It locks your nose wheel
to your control wheel. You can steer where you want to go without riding
the brakes and rudder so much.”

I did as he told me before I touched the throttles. I slightly wiggled
them forward. We started rolling.

“N745682 bring your plane to the tower.” Came over the radio.

Ricky tapped a key on his computer and static hissed into my headphones.
“Say again tower, you are breaking up. Jess, don’t stop. Go straight to
the other end of the runway.”

Guiding the plane was a thousand times easier with the nose wheel
steering us like a tricycle. I made sure we didn’t go too fast as I kept
it on the taxiway headed back to the end of the runway.

“N745&$% you are $@%^^# tower.” Came across the headphones

“Tow^$%#@&* brea#@$#$ up.” Ricky responded

A yellow truck with yellow, blue, red lights flashing started up at the
tower.

“Jess get us lined up on the runway now.”

I was watching lights approaching from the air. “Ricky there is a plane
coming in.”

“We will be gone by the time he gets here if you will get us on that
runway. Otherwise we will be here for a long long really long time. That
welcome wagon coming from the tower isn’t bringing welcoming gifts.”

I moved out to the runway and lined it up knowing that airplane
approaching was going to land on top of us.

“Jess, reach down and push that T handle down to unlock the nose wheel.”

I did as Ricky asked while waiting for the crunch of a plane landing on
us. I wasn’t counting that truck racing down the taxiway toward us with
all the lights flashing. Our headsets were crackling and all I heard was
garbled words mixed in with static.

“Hands and feet off everything.” Ricky reached down to the center
console.

The throttles slipped forward and the turbines roared to life. I was
pushed back into the seat. The driver of the truck realized we weren’t
going to wait on him. He turned across the grass to put his truck on the
runway ahead of us and block our takeoff.

I was looking at a driver in a truck who knew he had signed the death
warrant for himself, along with those in the plane. His eyes were big as
dinner plates. I honestly thought I could reach out and touch him. I
felt a whump as the pickup and driver disappeared under the nose of the
plane. I knew we had crashed. I waited for the smack down back into the
runway which was to be our death. The lights of the runway were fast
disappearing below and behind us. I didn’t believe it when I felt the
bump of the wheels as they retracted and the throttles eased back.

“The best I could do on short notice was a Cessna one fifty that had
cleared customs, headed to McAllen.” He was busy flipping switches and
dials.

“Did we hit that truck?” I didn’t care about a plane cleared from
customs. I wanted to know if we still had a plane ourselves?

“Wheel did. Didn’t you feel your side rock up? Naviaid took it in stride
and corrected. The cab of that truck is in the truck seat. We will pick
up the Cessna in twenty one minutes and over fly it. We will steal his
transponder signal and become a Cessna one fifty ourselves. We will have
to keep a course to McAllen or the Border Patrol will be all over us.
From there we will become whatever is flying north toward Dallas or Ft.
Worth. Hopefully it won’t be a single engine prop.” Ricky closed up his
laptop and rested.

Watching Ricky rest I felt so damn helpless. I was completely out of my
element and totally useless to him. Some people complain when their
lives get turned around. Holding up my hands and looking at them before
I cupped my breasts; my life wasn’t only turned upside down, it had been
completely turned inside out. Ricky’s machine was destroyed. Unless he
had another hidden away someplace I was stuck as Jessica, every male’s
fantasy girl. Feeling sorry for myself and wishing Ricky had let me die
of cancer wasn’t helping. Wishing Ricky hadn’t wanted Jessica for a
girlfriend for one night wasn’t helping either. Wishing wasn’t changing
the past nor building a future. Provided I didn’t slit my own throat
first, I needed decent clothes.

Running around half dressed in a glitter dress until I shot myself was
not going to happen. The bracelet and watch was the first to go. The
gloves had to go. Working by feel it took me a long time to get the
clasp and safety chain lose on the necklace. The earrings were next. The
tiara was last as I had to work my hair out of it before I could remove
it. Everything went into a pile beside the seat. Ricky could return it
to the rightful owner if he survived.

The plane started beeping. Ricky opened his eyes and took a short look
in my direction. “Sorry Jess. Okay, the Cessna is ahead and below us.
Let’s steal his transponder signal in four three two… We are now a
Cessna one fifty. Better slow down so the guys watching their radar
don’t get suspicious. That Cessna does good to push a hundred and fifty
miles per hour.” Ricky throttled back. The airspeed dropped from three
fifty to one hundred and sixty.

Approximately nineteen minutes later Ricky crossed back into the US and
turned northwest. “Gotchu. Citation close enough to steal their
transponder signal.”

“Citation? What is that?” I was looking for another plane.

“Jet. He is lifting off from McAllen now.” Ricky shoved the throttles
forward. The turbines picked up a deep roar as we started climbing.

“Can we keep up with a jet?” I didn’t believe Ricky would want to try
and ghost along with a jet.

“Long enough to be out of reach of the Border Patrol when we become a
separate plane from them.”

I could see a civilian twin engine jet ahead of us climbing for blue
sky. Ricky was in hot pursuit and closing. Ricky’s turbo prop had more
climb power than the jet. The jet would be faster once it leveled out.
Ricky kept the jet several hundred yards ahead as it kept climbing.

Ricky passed twenty two thousand, pulled the throttles back, and then
went into a dive. “Back on the deck to stay under their radar.”

“Ricky, this is insane. Why are we going back to your lab if nothing
works there? You know they will have bugs all over that place even if
they don’t have live bodies watching it.” I was getting excited as the
ground came rushing up to great us. It looked to me like we were getting
darn close. Too close.

Ricky leveled off at two hundred feet.

Looking over at him I realized he had used up everything he had to get
us this far. He was slumped over the wheel. He looked finished. “Ricky?”

“Give me a minute Jess. Take the controls would you? I don’t have our
route programmed in. Hold this heading. Don’t fly us into any towers.”
He turned lose of the wheel and leaned back.

I put my hands on the wheel and started scanning the horizon like a
birddog on point. How would I know? The sun hadn’t come up yet. It was
still dark. “Ricky???”

“fly the plane jess.” Came softly from the other side of the cockpit.

“Ricky, I can’t do this.” I was scared out of my every loving mind.

“Yes you can”

A quick look told me Ricky was either asleep or passed out. “We are
gonna die”

A beep beep was coming from the panel. I tried to figure out what it was
telling me. It keep beeping. “Bank left.” Was a female voice.

Experience told me the plane was sensitive to the controls. I slightly
turned left. The plane banked and the beeping stopped. I leveled out.
Was I supposed to keep this heading or go back on course? While I was
trying to decide, a tower a lot taller than us went by a half mile to
our right.

“Damn plane is a lot smarter than me. It is going to guide me around
those things if I don’t do it myself. Maybe we aren’t going to die? This
plane doesn’t want to. How smart can they make these things?” My nerves
were starting to calm just a little. If I didn’t have Ricky guiding me
the next best thing was this plane of his.

Thirty minutes later Ricky was stirring as he moaned. The plane had
steered me clear of two more towers. Nothing was a near miss. We had
plenty of distance when the plane told me to bank. “Ricky?”

He opened his eyes. “I got it Jess. Think you can find some more of
those pain pills while I program in our destination?”

“Sure.” I slid out of the seat and went to find the pills and water. Off
to our right the morning was starting to break on the horizon. We had
lived to see one more day. I was hoping this day wasn’t our last. I
really didn’t want to die.

===========================================================

It wasn’t that long before Ricky slopped the little twin in on the
runway we had left a lifetime ago. I managed to get my heels back on,
open the hanger, and get my pickup out. Helping Ricky out and into my
pickup was tough enough. I could tell it took everything out of Ricky.
He was looking rough again.

“Ricky, what do I do? I can’t move that plane by myself.” There was no
way I was going to push that big plane back into the hanger by myself.

“Leave it for now. Find us a payphone. I need to make a call.” He was
slumped in the seat.

The problem with that is all payphones are inside the stores now.
Telephone companies got tired of repairing phones and phone booths
because someone wanted to rob the phones. I parked in front of Super Sak
and walked around the pickup to help Ricky out. Everyone within a block
of that place went to high alert as I stepped out of the truck.

Wolf whistles came across the parking lot from some guys in a truck.

“Yeah, yeah, eat your heart out kiddies. I’m all show and no go.” Ricky
was leaning on me as I helped him into the store and the phone.

Ricky handed me five dollars. “I need lots of quarters. Long distance.”

Ricky started feeding the payphone when I returned with a handful of
quarters.

Looking around there were a dozen or more people in that store. All of
them were staring. I knew why. I was almost in that purple glitter dress
I was wearing. I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Thanks Sergie. I owe you big time.” Ricky hung up.

“Jess, get me in the truck. I’m tired.” His side was all bloody again
with blood leaking through his shirt.

“Don’t you quit on me now.” I pulled his arm around my shoulder and
halfway carried him back to the truck. It was a chore getting him up in
the seat but we managed.

“Get something to eat while we are here and then find us a motel.” Ricky
handed me his billfold.

I headed back inside the store to find some juice, milk, and some of
those ready made sandwiches. One of the employees was picking up the
phone. I stopped as she punched nine one one. “Miss, hang it up or I’ll
break your head. My friend and I don’t need any police.”

Her eyes got big as she slammed it back down before it had rang.

Keeping an eye on everyone to make sure no one pulled a cell phone or
the lady didn’t make another try for her phone I collected what I needed
from the coolers. People parted as I walked back up to the counter with
my loot. As she rang up my total some cell phones came out from those
around me. They weren’t dialing. They were taking pictures.

My groceries were bagged. As I paid for them I looked the cashier in the
eye. “Please don’t call the police. There is nothing you can tell them
that will help.” I walked out hoping she had a heart.

There was no way I was going park at a motel close to that convenience
store in case the lady didn’t have a heart. Getting tangled up with the
police was not in my play book now. I drove ten or twelve miles before I
saw what I wanted. It was a motel off the main thoroughfare.

It had a kitchenette in some of the rooms. The desk clerk wouldn’t
forget me but it couldn’t be helped. I probably looked like a hooker
helping her john to a room. Make that a very, very expensive hooker. The
kind who didn’t patronize the kind of low rent motels this guy was
running.

Ricky was quickly running out of steam. It took even more effort to get
him to bed and rebandage his wound. I managed to get some liquids,
pills, and a couple bites of food down him before he was out.

“Be back shortly.” I knew he wouldn’t hear me as I headed for the
pickup.

As bad as I hated this I needed to find clothes other than what I was
wearing. The neighborhood was upscale. The little thrift store wasn’t
one of those low end places although the prices were. It wasn’t as if I
hadn’t shopped at these kind of stores for clothes and other goodies. I
just hadn’t shopped for women’s goodies. People were staring before I
ever walked into the store. Those inside seemed to lose all interest in
what they had stopped for.

Trying clothes out in the dressing room I found a three piece brown
western pants suit in a size fourteen that could handle my abundance.
There was a soft green dress in a fourteen I dropped into the cart. I
found pants, blouses, and a couple more jackets before I headed to the
shoes. After trying on several different sizes I found a seven worked
for me. There was a problem. Ricky had designed this body for five inch
heels. I found only one pair with a five inch heel and settled for one
four and a half inch in a cowgirl boot and a five inch in a fashion
boot. There were a couple big western shoulder purses I liked. They
could hold my fifty caliber without any problem. I picked out the one
with the tooling on it. A woman’s leather billfold had western tooling I
liked. I found lipstick, blush, and a whole lot of other girl items that
had never been used. After I gathered up a suit, a couple pants, and a
couple shirts for Ricky, I checked out using Ricky’s money.

A mile up the street there was a Walmart but I needed help for my next
stop. I wasn’t ready to guess at this next job. Brenda’s was in a
shopping mall I passed. I circled around and made the stop way out in
the parking lot naturally as there was no close in parking. There was
the now expected chatter around me as I walked across the parking lot to
the boutique. Inside the store was no different. Two ladies moved up
like wingmen as I walked over to the brassieres.

“May we help you?” The perky blond on my left had already sized me up.

My embarrassment was way past tense after everything Ricky and I had
been through. I pointed at the bras. “I need one of those.”

“Yes ma’am. Which style would you like? What is your size?” The brunet
had closed in for the kill.

“I honestly don’t know the answer to your questions. That is the reason
I’m here.” Of course it was evil of me. Maybe it was a little payback
for them staring at me. It was a totally honest answer. I had no idea.
If I did I would have gone to Wally World.

The blonde I was looking at had a moment of panic on her face like she
was ready to flee. Maybe those who looked like me were supposed to know
virtually every single inch of bragging rights their body had. Maybe
Ricky knew since he designed this body. I didn’t have the slightest
clue. What are your measurements ma’am? Well let’s see, too much, too
little, too much. Next question.

The blonde coughed. “Ma’am?”

“If I knew I would be able to help myself. I’m new at this so a little
help please.” That should make the girls panic or give me some help. I
waited to see what it would be.

“Uh, yes ma’am. Joan, do you have your tape with you?” The blonde held
out her hand toward the other girl.

There were three other patrons in the store. They had stopped to watch
and listen.

“Would you like to step into the dressing room and remove your dress or
do you want us to measure you…, uh…, here?” Joan passed the end of the
measuring tape to the blonde.

I made a couple more stops and headed back to the motel. If the people
at the convenience store called the police with a description of my
pickup I was pushing my luck by driving it.

Ricky was asleep. I took the scissors and cut off the bottom of the
dress turning it into a mini dress. If Ricky was right that glue we used
to attach it to me would make sure I wore this little number for another
nine days before it finally released. I pulled on the brown pants and
jacket I had purchased. I checked the mirror. My hips were pushing the
limits in those pants and the waist needed a belt. The jacket didn’t
hide the fact I was over endowed. At least it wasn’t all hanging out for
the world to see. The western boots were next. I was wishing I could do
something with all that red hair. Taking the scissors to it myself
wasn’t something I was going to do. I plopped the cowboy hat on my head,
picked up my purse, and headed back out to the truck. I was going after
soup and broth for Ricky.

===============================================================

It was the second day and he was sitting up in bed. “I’m better.” Ricky
was sipping some of the soup I had heated up.

“You look a lot better. Yesterday I picked up a change of clothes for
you. Those you are wearing have blood all over them. You are probably
through bleeding over everything unless you strain something. Why don’t
you change.” I tossed the pants and shirt I had picked up at the thrift
store on his bed.

He handed the soup can back to me and started taking off his clothes. “I
noticed you picked up a change of clothes yourself. You did a very good
job. You look really nice.”

Yeah? Don’t get used to the view. I plan on slitting my own throat when
you get where you can get back up and running again.” I rinsed the can
and tossed it into the trash.

“Jess, I’m sorry. I wish I could take it all back. I wish I had never
done it. I can’t. The lab in Mexico was the only one.” He stopped
dressing and was looking at me with sorrow or pity in his eyes.

“I wish you hadn’t either but let’s get real. You did and I am. We will
make the best of a bad situation as long as we have to. This body isn’t
Tom. That fifty bruised my wrists with the kick. I am not going to be
playing any more He Man games. I tried holding the AR. It is too heavy
for me to be accurate with it unless I have it in a bipod position.”

Raising my foot I held it out. “A woman doesn’t lift a whole lot when
she is wearing heels. She doesn’t run worth a crap. She looks damn good
wiggling her ass as she walks. I always loved watching a woman in heels.
Now that I’m the one wearing heels I think it sucks big time.”

“Jess…,”

I held up my hand. “You say I’m sorry one more time and I’ll shoot you
myself. What is the plan for getting back into that lab of yours here in
Ft. Worth. And what is so important we are going to risk going back in
the CIA lion’s den to do such a stupid thing?”

“All my notes and data are on a drive in a computer in that lab.
Everything I did in the other lab is all there.” He had his pants on and
was finding his shoes.

“What makes you think it is still there? Have you forgot the CIA and
that company you used to work for? Those people keep computer geeks on a
leash digging through other people’s trash looking for hidden goodies.
I’m surprised they didn’t show up in Mexico if you were transmitting
data.”

For the first time in a couple days Ricky grinned. “I routed the data
through Russia and a blind server. Let’s say it got routed to several
blind servers before being sent to the lab here. They couldn’t trace it
and some of those places the long arm of the US Law isn’t able to reach
into. It is all encrypted data. The encrypted data is encrypted twice
over.

I know for a fact they have been capturing the download as it goes into
the lab. I know they have been feeding it through a super computer to
unscramble it since day one. Maybe in a thousand years at the current
rate they might get the data unlocked but I doubt it. My information is
so scrambled it would be akin to trying to reassemble a scrambled egg
back into what came out of the chicken.”

“Okay, you have all your lab notes in this lab. Even if we get the
information how long will it take you to rebuild your lab and put me
back together? A couple months? A year?” Ricky’s face gave me the answer
I didn’t want. “Years? Damn Ricky, how long?”

“Jess, I’m sorry…,”

“CUT THE CRAP! HOW LONG!”

Ricky shrugged his shoulders. “Fifteen or ten if problems don’t have to
be worked out.”

“FIFTEEN! YOU ALREADY BUILT ONE! HOW DIFFICULT CAN IT BE TO DO IT AGAIN?
WHAT PROBLEMS? YOU ALREADY WORKED ALL THE BUGS OUT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN
PROBLEMS?” To say I wasn’t hearing what I wanted to hear and I was
pissed was an understatement.

“Jess…,”

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. I’ll beat you to death right here and
now without a drop of remorse.” I was more than mad at Ricky. It was all
his fault. Everything was his fault. The fire was his fault. Getting
shot was his fault. The guys I killed were his fault.

The tears came unexpectedly. “Damn you” I tried wiping them away. “Damn
you all to hell”

Ricky started toward me. “Jess…”

I held up my hand as I cried and screamed at him. “GET THE HELL AWAY
FROM ME! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! JUST STAY THE HELL AWAY!”

I stormed out of the room crying my heart out. I climbed up into the
pickup and thought about driving away and never looking back. Where
would I go? What could I do to support myself? I thought about that
fifty caliber under the seat. I could blow my brains out and it would
all be over. And I cried and cried until there were no more tears or
self pity left inside me.

It really wasn’t Ricky’s fault. He saved my life. And this? He didn’t
plan on it going terribly wrong or he would have never done it. I knew
Ricky better than that. I trusted him with my life. I wiped my eyes and
looked at a couple dozen faces looking at me from their rooms. That got
me tickled. Probably thought it was a lover’s quarrel. Lovers? If those
people only knew. Never happen.

I wiped away the last of the tears before I walked back into the room.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t your fault.”

A smile touched Ricky’s lips. “We had enough sorry to go around for
awhile don’t you think? Would you mind driving if an old friend asked
you out for something besides soup?”

“We are still friends?” I pushed my hair back over my shoulders before I
plopped that western hat down on my head and picked up my purse.

“We’ll always be friends Jess. I promise I’ll bring Tom back as quickly
as I can. Think he will still be my friend after this?” Ricky opened the
door and waited for me.

“I believe I can speak for Tom. He will always be your friend no matter
what. A word of caution though. He may punch you in the face for what
you did next time you see him.”

“Sounds fair.” Ricky closed the door behind us.

“Do you think he will mind if I take his girl out to eat?” Ricky was
getting into the pickup.

“As long as you behave. He won’t mind.” I found it funny we were talking
about me in the past tense as if I wasn’t here. Well…?

Ricky mentioned several places he would like to go. I deep sixed all of
them. If Ricky had gone there before, those CIA bloodhounds might have
bribed some of the staff to give a call if Ricky showed back up. It was
a sure bet the CIA canvassed everything with in a ten mile radius of
Ricky’s lab for such an opportunity.

The meal was light even if we were in a real restaurant. I didn’t let
Ricky order anything heavy. He might not have been gut shot but it made
little difference. Ricky paid for everything with cash. No credit cards.
The CIA birddogs would be on those for sure.

We received a lot of looks. It wasn’t anything compared to when I was
wearing that almost dress. The pants and jacket couldn’t hide
everything. They did cover most of me.

We were walking out when I reached behind my head and fluffed my hair
hanging down my back. “Ricky, I need a haircut.”

He brushed down my back before his arm went around my waist as we walked
to the pickup. “Jess, would you mind if you didn’t? It’s part of you.”

“There is no way to hide it. There is too much to bunch up under my hat.
You can bet your last lucky dime people talk about the bimbo with the
big tits and long red hair. If I get a haircut they would only have half
as much to talk about.” Ricky had opened my door for me. I slid up in
the driver’s seat.

“Give it some time to grow on you Jess. I would rather you didn’t cut
it.” He walked around and got into the passenger side.

I don’t know why Ricky’s opinion mattered to me but it did. “I’ll think
about it.”

On the way back to the motel I pumped Ricky for information on what his
plans were since he was feeling better. “How you plan on getting back
into your lab to pick up the information you stored there?”

“I’m hoping you will drive over there and pick up the storage vault.”

That got my attention. “Say what! You think I want to walk into the arms
of the CIA? You have toxic poison of the brain or something? I smacked
their people around pretty good and embarrassed the hell out of a couple
of their agents. Welcoming me back wouldn’t exactly be a homecoming
party.”

“Jess have you looked in the mirror today? Have you forgot you and Tom
weren’t twins? They wouldn’t stop you. Although we know they will be
monitoring the place why would they stop and question you? Torturing you
to find out who you are and what you know wouldn’t be in their handbook.

You are a new face on the scene. New faces are like pieces in a puzzle.
They wait to see where those faces fit in the picture before they boil
you in oil for all your secrets.” Ricky waited for that to sink in.

I could only shake my head in disbelief. “New face? That’s not what I
want to become. Right now I am not even a zero in anyone’s files. As far
as anyone besides you and me and the few people who have seen me in
their store, I don’t even exist. I would like to keep it that way until
I figure out how I am going to support myself for the next fifteen years
until you bring Tom back.”

“Give me a couple more days Jess. I have resources coming to help.”

The pickup was a problem. It had registration and tags in Tom’s name. If
the police ran those plates the CIA would be all over us like stink on a
skunk. We couldn’t get a rental. That took an ID even if Ricky had
enough money to pay cash for one. Again, flagged and the CIA would be
hot on our tails. I pulled into a grocery store to pick up more food
besides soup. If it was going to be a couple more days before help
arrived I didn’t want to be driving the pickup more than necessary.

With me showering with what was left of the dress still glued to my
breasts, the water helped it to come unglued. It was the fifth day after
Ricky had reshaped my body. I was toweling off when the bustier peeled
off the left breast. I worked at the right one until it too peeled off.
Ricky had seen everything before so being modest wasn’t in my mental
calculations. I walked into the room with the towel in my hands.

Ricky looked up from where he had been working on some notes he had
started. His eyes were moving back toward his tablet when they snapped
back in my direction a shocked look on his face. “cough, Jess…, uh…,
um…, you need to cover up.”

“Why? You have seen this before. Probably a couple thousand times while
you were designing it in that system of yours.” I was digging through my
stash looking for that bra I had purchased for this occasion.

“uh…, well…, ah…, it isn’t quite the same thing. And the circumstances
have changed. From now on it would probably be best if you kept your
body covered up. Please?”

I held the bra up and studied it. “Getting into that rig is gonna be a
trick.”

I slipped into it before I walked over to stand in front of Ricky. I
turned my back to him. “Hook me up.”

Ricky clutzed it before he finally managed to get it fastened. The bra
wasn’t comfortable and was pinching me. Although I didn’t have a
lifetime learning how to be a girl, I hadn’t got this old as a virgin.
Some of the girls with the bigger ones, like myself, wiggled things
around after corralling their puppies. It took some doing but I finally
got comfortable inside that get up.

“What a pain in the ass. The sales ladies told me I needed something
called a long line bra or corset to support my size. They didn’t carry
them. They told me LeParis Carrousel would have my size. If we have time
before we are hauled off to the Rubber Romper Room by the CIA I’d like
to pick up another bra.” I found panties and pulled them on before I
turned around to look at Rick.

“If you think you can spare the money that is. I imagine we will be
thinking more about food before this plays too long. When I borrowed
your billfold I noticed you carried quite a bit of money. I didn’t count
it. No matter how much you have, the well is going to run dry sooner
rather than later.

When I got sick in Mexico and figured I was done for. I stopped paying
rent on my apartment. They would have sold or trashed everything to try
and recoup their rent. That included the title on the truck. Everything
else I owned burned up in that lab. You can’t use any of your credit
cards or we will be greeted by the CIA or whoever else wants what you
designed.” I picked up my pants and was pulling them on. The western
shirt was next. And then socks and cowboy boots.

Ricky shook his head. “Would you be offended if I told you I had the
pleasure of watching the sexiest stripper act I have ever witnessed in
my whole life?”

“What are you babbling about? I wasn’t getting undressed. I was getting
dressed.” I fluffed my hair out over my shoulders and down my back.

“Un huh and you do it better than any woman I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re one sick puppy. You know that? I’m going for a walk. I need out
of this cage for some air.” I picked up my purse, pushed my hair back,
and slid the strap up on my shoulder.

“I’ll walk with you.” He was rising up from the chair.

“Ricky, I’d rather be alone for a little bit. Please, if you don’t
mind.” I waited for an answer.

“Jess…, You’re a woman. A damn beautiful woman. We have been in this
room for three days. You can bet your beautiful ass, word has spread
about the woman with the big boobs and long red hair who is staying in
room forty three. I had rather you didn’t walk alone. What I want you to
do is pack your things. Let’s move to another motel. We have overstayed
our time limit at this one. If you still feel like that walk you can do
it at the next one where no one will be waiting for you to step out of
the room even if a look is all they want.” He was putting his notes
away.

I stopped before I opened the door and gave it some thought. Ricky was
right. We had overstayed our visit for two people on the list of whoever
wanted to pull us in. I headed back across the room to gather up
everything. It doesn’t take long if one doesn’t have a lot of things to
pack. Five minutes later I had circled the room making sure nothing was
left before Ricky and I headed to the pickup.

===========================================================

Three days after leaving that first motel Ricky told me to load up
again. We weren’t coming back to the second motel.

“Jess, drive up to the Will Rogers Memorial Center.” Ricky climbed into
the pickup as I started it up.

“We are going to a show or something?” I was curious why we were headed
toward a convention center.

“Something. I want you to go into the main entrance. There is a
multicultural exhibit in building two. Find the Finnish exhibit booth.
You will purchase a magazine with the name Finland Today. Make sure the
lady with the nametag Helga is in the booth and you purchase it from
her. Pay for it with this. Wait for a receipt.” He was clutching
something as he held out his left hand

I stuck out my right hand for whatever it was. Something heavy dropped
into my palm along with a ten dollar bill. It was a silver dollar. I
took a quick look at Ricky. “Do I want to know?”

“I had rather you didn’t.” Ricky was holding out two twenties. “Cost
money to park and more to get in so they can sell you something. And
Jess.”

“Yes?”

Ricky grinned. “You’ll be lucky to find parking with in two or three
blocks of that place.”

“Oh swell. Ah what the hell. At least I’m not having to walk it in a
glitter dress slit clear up to my hip.”

After I parked Ricky wouldn’t let me drop my fifty cal in my shoulder
purse. “Jess, last time I was here they didn’t scan everyone. However
they do pull people aside for a spot check. I can almost guarantee you
will be pulled for a spot check. Not because they think you are carrying
but because they just want to look at you for a little bit.”

I was ready to panic. ”Pull me aside! I don’t have any identification.
What happens then? You want me to get arrested?”

Ricky got to laughing until his side hurt. He put his hands over his
wound as he shook his head. “It isn’t illegal to walk around in Texas
without an identification. They will ask so they can get your name and
address for their own personal interest. Jess they are guys, you’re a
beautiful woman. You might as well get used to being treated like one.
Guys will roust you just to put their hands on you if they think they
can get away with it.”

“Oh swell, just damn peachy keen! Now you tell me I can expect to be
fondled by every red blooded male within line of sight. I can’t wait to
see their faces when they ask me what my name is. Oh sir, my name is
Jessica Rabbit. Didn’t you see my movie and I’ve been in all the
magazines.” I gave Ricky my most disdainful look.

Ricky was laughing again. “Stop, stop, you’re killing me. Use Jessica
Rabbi. Now go. The sooner you go the sooner you get back and the less
time I spend sitting in this pickup with my side hurting. You have any
more of those pain pills? Ridding across town has brought the pain back
to the surface.”

Twenty dollars to park, ten dollars to get into the building, Ricky’s
funds had to be getting short. The pickup was needing gas. The gas I
bought in Dallas a lifetime ago smelled bad and was about used up
driving around Fort Worth. I wonder if anyone would hire me as a heavy
equipment operator? Miss Rabbit do you have any experience? Sure, I have
forty years running heavy equipment. Could I name the companies I worked
for? Sure, but they probably wouldn’t know me now.

“Miss would you step over here please.” One of the guards was motioning
for me as I walked into the building.

Okay, I’ll give Ricky a plus for his take on the guards pulling me
aside. I walked over where the three guards were standing watching the
people traffic. Or they were until I stopped in front of them. The other
people coming in had become invisible. I was all the guards were
concentrating on now.

“Would you open your purse please.” The guy with Cain on his name tag
was pointing at my purse.

“Sure.” Sliding my purse strap off my shoulder I placed my purse on the
table and opened it up for them.

Cain and then Harrelson looked down inside my purse. Harrelson looked up
at me. It wasn’t my face he was looking at. “Miss do you have some
identification on you?”

Ricky just won his second gold star. He knew these guys better than they
knew themselves. I dug around inside my purse for a second. “I’m sorry,
I must have left my billfold in my other purse when I changed this
morning.”

“Yes ma’am, what’s your name?” The guy with Rihter on his name tag also
couldn’t look up high enough to look me in the eyes.

“Jessica Rabbi.”

“Spell it please.” Cain was back in the loop.

“J E S S I C A…, R A B B I” I started to laugh. If they only knew.

“Yes ma’am. Where do you live Miss Rabbi?” Rihter wasn’t to be left out.

“Tucson Arizona. I was headed to…, Clackston, Arkansas to…, look over
some…, equipment. I heard there was a trade show here at the memorial
and decided to…, stop and look.” I was thinking of why I had said
equipment? What kind of equipment would someone who looked like me be
looking for? I knew why Arizona and Arkansas jumped into my mind for an
address. Too far out of state for these guys to possibly know the truth
if they had asked me to cough up some phony address.

“You staying in town long?” Harrelson was a birddog on the prowl. If
Jessica was staying for a night or two she might consider him as a date
tonight.

“No. This tradeshow was my last stop in Fort Worth. I’ll be back on the
road in a couple hours. I love driving in the evenings. The sun isn’t so
hot and the scenery is a lot prettier to look at with the longer
shadows.” I closed up my purse, pushed my hair back off my shoulder, and
slid the purse strap up on my right shoulder.

“Yes ma’am, enjoy the trade show.” Cain was looking disappointed along
with Harrelson and Rihter.

It was involuntary as I smiled and nodded at the guards before I turned
and headed to find that Finnish booth. I wasn’t smiling at them, I darn
near giggled out loud. They were too predictable. Men! Show them a pair
of big boobs and they become boobs themselves.

OH MY GOD! DID I JUST THINK THAT? I was starting to think like a woman!
I’m going to kill Ricky when I get back to the pickup.

It took a little bit of wandering the aisles before I found the Finish
Booth. Sure enough a lady with Helga on her nametag was manning the
booth. I walked up and looked at several of the brochures before I
picked up the magazine Finland Today.

“We have many beautiful places for visitors to enjoy. Our fjords are the
deepest blue water one has ever seen or swam in. We have many ski
resorts. Our cuisine reflects many cultures over the time of history.”
She stepped up to give me the tourist pitch.

“Maybe. I think I will take the magazine and read about it.” I reached
in my purse and wrapped my hand around the ten dollars and the silver
dollar Ricky gave me.

“The magazine lists many resorts and scenic areas of interest. Three
dollars for the magazine.” She held out her hand for money.

I palmed what I had into her hand and pushed her fingers around it.

One had to be looking really hard at her face to see it happen. A
flicker of surprise in her eyes was the only indicator she knew what the
money was for. She reached out and took the magazine. “Here let me put
it in a bag for you.”

She walked to the back of her booth and slid the magazine into a plastic
bag imprinted with Visit Finland on it. She returned and handed me the
bag. “It’s such a beautiful bag. I hope you don’t throw it away.”

“Thank you.” I was headed for the exit and the pickup. What I handed her
wasn’t a payoff. It was only a signal I was a messenger. Don’t trash the
bag? Maybe what I was carrying back to Ricky was the bag rather than the
magazine? I hoped he knew because I sure didn’t.

A block away from the pickup I was looking for Ricky. I didn’t see him.
It was only when I walked up to the drivers side and started to open the
door I saw him crammed down into the floorboard as much as possible.
“What’s up?”

“You are being followed. Don’t look like you are looking. There is a man
in a gray shirt, casual jacket. He is probably standing by a vehicle
about one hundred feet away. He followed you out. He will act like he is
searching for his car keys to get into the car he is standing next to.
He is waiting for you to leave so he can flag his ride. They will tail
you.”

“Open up your magazine and act like you are reading it. We can out wait
him. He can only look like he is fumbling for car keys for so long
before he looks out of place.”

Climbing up into the pickup I pulled the magazine out of the bag .
Laying the bag down on the seat I pushed it toward Ricky before I opened
up the magazine. “She said I shouldn’t throw the bag away.”

“Smart girl.” He pulled it in, turned it inside out, and was holding it
to look at it up against the light.

“He isn’t walking away. He is headed this way.” Looking over the top of
the magazine I was watching the man.

“He is going to read your license plate. Go stand in front of it. Check
your engine. Or something.” Ricky tried to look even smaller in the
floorboard of the pickup.

The fifty was under the seat. I slipped it into my purse before I opened
the door and walked around to the back of the pickup. I placed my purse
on the bumper in front of the tag.

The man stopped when he was where he could read the tag if my purse and
myself hadn’t been in front of it. “Got problems?”

I shook my head. “Not yet.”

From the flicker in his eyes he wasn’t quite sure how to read that one.
“Planning on problems coming along later, maybe?”

“In play.”

That was all he needed. He knew, I knew the reason he was there. “Lots
of luck then.”

“Luck always helps.” I couldn’t help myself as I had to smile over that
one. And sometimes a change of life helps a whole lot more. If he only
knew I was Thomas Baker he probably would have whipped out that Glock he
had in his shoulder holster and arrested me.

“You know, all I have to do is make a call. I could have fifty Rangers
here in a couple minutes.” He was studying me to see if that chased any
secret bugs out of the conversation.

I figured he was over stating the numbers but it didn’t make a whole lot
of difference. Two agents or fifty the situation could get ugly in a
hurry. I wasn’t going to let them have Ricky. He was my ticket back to
being me. And I wasn’t going to any interrogation room. I shrugged it
off.

“Not scaring you am I? How big is that pistol you’re carrying I’m not
seeing?” He gave me a full body scan looking for bumps that didn’t
belong.

“Bigger than that Glock you’re carrying.” There wasn’t any need of
denying I was carrying. At this point he didn’t seem interested in
hauling me in other than a male hormone thing or desire to get his hands
on my body. I had to smile over that one. I was one step ahead of men. I
had been one. And I planned on being one again when Ricky fixed me.

“Must be in your purse than. Your clothes are too tight to conceal a gun
that big. You military or ex military? That kind of knock down power
isn’t something civilians choose. I have never seen a woman carry one.”

“It’s possible.” He was digging without hauling me in. I didn’t think it
was the idea I was carrying that stopped him. He was playing nice.

He nodded. “Probably you mean. You ever kill anyone?”

That one took a bite. We never forget the ones we kill. “I did what I
was told to do.”

“You mean trained to do. How many?” He knew he had touched a nerve. He
was pursuing the thread.

“One was too many. If I had been trained as you suggest.” I didn’t need
to count them. I remembered every single one.

He hesitated as he studied my eyes. “Sniper, you were a damn sniper. A
woman sniper…, I’ll be damned. You were. I can see it in your face. You
guys…, people never go any place without that toy once you have used it.
In your pickup isn’t it? No wonder I don’t scare you or why you picked
up on me. Iraq? Afghanistan? ”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say Nam. My brain kicked in before it
left my mouth. Too long ago. Actually it wasn’t me that first homed in
on him. Ricky spotted him first. If he wanted to see my rifle it wasn’t
going to happen. It would mean he would also see Ricky. I put my hand in
the opening of my purse. “I’m not going to give you permission to search
my pickup.”

“Fair enough. As a professional courtesy I’m not going to ask. Curiosity
is killing me though. Do you believe you can pull your gun out of your
purse faster than I can get mine? Not that I want to test it for real.”
He was smiling as his eyes danced with amusement.

“Let’s not find out if you don’t mind. Sometimes things go terribly
wrong when people start playing with loaded guns…, I never pointed a gun
at anything I didn’t intend to kill.” My fingers were wrapped around the
fifty as I waited.

“Sounds like good advice. I’m going back inside to look at the trade
show. Hope those troubles you thought might be coming don’t happen. I
have a real strong feeling we will meet again Red. I’ll be the one
carrying a white flag if there are a bunch of guys who think you should
be brought in. Play nice and don’t kill the guy with the white flag.” He
turned and walked off toward the Coliseum

There was no adrenaline rush. Some of the guys would pump up full
overload as they searched for their target. The kill shot was another
rush. I never received any of that. It was a job. I didn’t hate it, I
didn’t like it. I treated it as a job I was told to do. I was positive
this agent would have treated me differently if I had been Tom. Lead
probably would have been flying. I was beginning to figure out there
were advantages to being the over endowed sex bimbo Ricky had turned me
into. I was still gonna kill him after he changed me back.

He walked into the building before I climbed back into the pickup. “He’s
gone.”

Ricky was still down on the floor. “Drive out of here. I’ll stay where
I’m at until you put some distance between him and us.”

“Your pain. Springs are heavy duty and shocks are super struts. It rides
like a truck for a reason.” I pulled out and headed for the street.

“How much gas you got?”

“Eighth of a tank. About two gallons or twenty miles town driving.” I
was wondering how far we were going?”

“You need gas. Take some side streets for awhile to make sure we aren’t
being followed. Get gas before jumping back up on the interstate. Go
south and pick up thirty five south. Drop off on twenty west. About
thirty miles west you will see some signs pointing toward Weatherford
Lake. Take it.”

“How long you plan on staying down on the floor?” I couldn’t imagine
Ricky’s gunshot wound getting any better in the position he was in.

“Eight or ten blocks if you are sure we aren’t being followed. Try and
not hit all the pot holes in the road would you?” He winced as we
bounced over a big one.

“Floor board driver. Everyone wants to be the pilot in command.” I was
going to make sure we weren’t being followed before I stopped for gas.
Ricky needed off the floorboard.

With all the zig zaging we did to make sure we weren’t followed it took
a couple hours to make it to that lake road. Ricky guided me to a little
off road back in the mesquite where it seemed we drove for another mile
or so. I was looking at a small tan car pulled back into the mesquite.
Well hidden unless someone drove upon it like we did.

“What’s the story?” I pulled the fifty out of my purse and laid it on
the seat by my right hip. I stopped about fifty feet from the car not
knowing what to expect.

“Hopefully help if things didn’t get crossed up in the timing.” Ricky
slid out of the seat after I stopped.

The car door opened. One of the finest examples of female I had seen
since I last laid eyes on Tracy that fateful night, rose out of that
car. She did it gracefully and eloquently. She had all the right curves
in all the right places in perfect proportions. I was jealous. I was
wondering if she was a product of God or if she had made a trip through
Ricky’s machine?

Ricky glanced in my direction and laughed. “Close your mouth Jess. She’s
a girl, you’re a girl.”

“Yeah, but not forever. Get her name and phone number would you?” I
wanted my first date to be with this girl when I was Tom again.

“Nice to see you again Linda.” Ricky gave her a hug after she walked
over to our pickup.

“You too Ricky.” She hugged him back before placing the briefcase she
was carrying up on the hood of the pickup. “Everything is in the case.
New identity, new passport, money.”

She pointed at me. “Your girlfriend Ricky? No one knows who you are hon.
There aren’t any records. The way you stand you are out of place. The
crew has been trying to figure out if you are some dumb bimbo Ricky
picked up on the fly? I have no idea where Ricky found you.”

I was mulling that one over. Being called a dumb bimbo was new territory
for me. I honestly was thinking about beating the holy shit out of the
woman. What didn’t register was when and where she or her crew looked me
over? Probably at the trade show booth?

Ricky looked at me, back to Linda, and back at me. “Claws in Jess. I
need what Linda brought.

Linda opened up the briefcase and was showing the papers. “You are Ricky
Ronald Chavenski, Russian, American, Peruvian. Your government can run a
check on the papers. They are legit. You exist in the system. Credit
cards, money in US, Swiss, Rubles, every thing all good business
managers would carry. Your plane is designated as a Peruvian diplomatic
courier.”

Looking at Ricky she shook her head. “I wouldn’t get too deep into
diplomatic immunity if the situation gets iffy. Those papers won’t hold
up to any scrutiny. Bluff your way out before they have a chance to run
the papers.”

“When are you going to share all your ideas with us. You know my
government would take good care of you. The finest wine, live anywhere
you want, all the help you could desire…,”

She gave me a careful examination before turning her attention back to
Ricky. “Dimitry said he would even promise me as your mistress. The cad
has no loyalty. I am seriously thinking about shooting him next time I
see him.”

Ricky laughed as he leaned up, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed
her on the cheek. “An offer I almost can’t refuse. But alas, I must
because when you got mad at me what would stop you from shooting me? I
love you my sweet temptress but I would live in fear for my life.”

Linda pushed back and looked him in the eyes. “No different than what
you are doing now is it? Ricky, the FBI, CIA, NSA, and every damn bounty
hunter your government can buy is trying to find you. Your burned out
lab in Acapulco with six dead bodies strung around it put everyone on
high alert.”

“How…” Ricky looked surprised.

“Know? Everything can be burned to a crisp, the basic idea still lies
intact. Someone with unusual skills in the paranormal had assembled
something. Did you get the Philadelphia Project working? Is that what
burned up your lab?” She waited for an answer.

Ricky shook his head. “You and I have never lied to one another. That is
the reason I’m not going to answer your questions. If you know the lab
went up in smoke then you know every thing I was working on is past
tense now. Don’t ask me again because I can’t tell you.”

“Money…”

“Linda, I don’t have need of money. Your government paid me quite well
for the White Out schematics. Hon, let it go. If you need to tell
Dimitri or Sergie something, tell them it is what they think it is.”

She stepped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed Ricky on
the lips before she looked him in the eyes. “My government wants you as
bad as your own government. If they think you are going to fall into the
hands of some US agency they will do every thing they can to get their
hands on you first. If that isn’t possible they will kill you to keep
your knowledge from your government.”

Ricky held onto her hand to stop her from leaving. “Another favor?”

“Name it.”

Ricky nodded in my direction. “She needs an identity.”

Linda was taking a good hard look. “How soon?”

“ASAP”

“I need pictures. Is this how you want her to look? I have a camera in
the car.” She walked back to her car. A second later she pulled out one
big high end camera with a long telephoto lens on it.

“Always prepared are we?” Ricky was being sarcastic.

Linda snapped the lens off and replaced it with a shorter lens. “In my
line of work? You are pulling my leg my sweet.”

She took several pictures before she walked up in front of me and
pointed the camera at my face. “Smile, snarl, growl, whatever it is
cowgirls do.”

A smile was the last thing I felt like doing. I brought up what I
thought was a happy face.

“Lose the hat, bring your hair up over your shoulder, turn slightly away
from the camera, and look off into the distance showgirl.” She was
steadily clicking the camera.

Doing as she suggested I was thinking about that camera. There wasn’t
any whirl as the film wound with each shot. It had to be a digital
camera.

“Remove your shirt.”

“WHAT! I will not.” I wasn’t going to start showing skin for some stupid
identification card or whatever.

Linda’s eyes were dancing as she glanced at Ricky.

Ricky shook his head. “Jess, take off your shirt. The guys will put
clothes back on you when they touch up your pictures.”

“This better not be a joke.” I unsnapped the shirt and laid it on the
hood of the pickup.

Linda hadn’t stopped taking pictures even when I was undressing. “Move
some so there will be different poses. And then take off your pants.”

I rolled my eyes at Ricky. “I’m going to kill you when this is over.”

Linda backed up as she was taking pictures.

She finally stopped and snapped the cover back on the camera. “The lab
can find something to work with in there. What is your name?”

“uh…,” I vapor locked. My name or the name Ricky had hung on me?

“Jessica Sarah Rabbit.” Ricky answered for me.

I gave Ricky my ‘you’re road kill’ stare.

Linda picked it up. She laughed. “Okay, Ricky even putting a rush on it
they will need six days. I need to send them the pictures, they will
have to work on her attire, and then they will need to route it through
government channels to make it official. Where do we meet?”

“Never the same place twice. Where do you suggest?” He was watching me
as I pulled my clothes back on.

“That little airport where you parked your plane? From the turn in at
the airport go south of that thirty point four miles. There is a ranch
road leading to the west. Follow that for about six miles and you will
find me. Be there sometime between oh five hundred and oh six hundred.”

“Until next time Miss Vegas.” She walked back over to her car.

She held the door open, shook her head, and turned toward Ricky. “You
need to ditch the bitch. She stands out like the headliner for a Vegas
show opener. Everyone who sees her will remember her unless they are
already juiced up in a mental ward.”

A smile spread across Ricky’s face from ear to ear. “Linda, play nice.
Those six dead bodies back in Mexico…? Jess tapped them. What did I do
to help? I got shot. I wouldn’t have made it if Jess hadn’t dragged my
ass out of there.”

Linda took a slow measured look in my direction. “My man said a fifty
caliber put em all down. Everyone a single bullet kill shot. You’re a
damn sleeper. Gives a whole new meaning to looks to kill by. I have
picked up on some of the best in the business. Your looks sure fooled
me. I’m not going to apologize for calling you a bimbo. I will apologize
for telling Ricky to toss you out with the trash. Next time show me why
Ricky puts so much faith in you.”

“Ricky, get rid of the pickup. I don’t know how you have managed to run
around this long without getting stopped by the law. That pickup is
registered and licensed to your friend Thomas Baker. It has been on the
hot list from that time your friend took out two CIA agents. Mailing
back their personals from Santa Cruz, Bolivia pissed them off even more.
Six agents flew down to Bolivia to find you and your friend. If you see
him tell him to keep his head down.

Ricky took a couple steps in her direction. “Linda, wait. Who sells good
rides and doesn’t ask too many questions?”

“Dallas…? Try Diamond Imports. Tell Hernandez you know Dimitri. Tell him
the pickup is on the hot list.”

She slid into the driver’s seat and was gone almost as quickly.

“Next time?” I was watching the dust settle back down on the road as the
car disappeared around a turn in the road.

“Linda meant for you to keep your gun handy. She wants to see how good
you are.”

“Ricky, I’m not going to get into any showdown with somebody who wants
to see if I can shoot or not.” I couldn’t believe Linda would suggest
such a thing.

The pickup wasn’t the last of our identification. Ricky still had his
plane and his car was in storage. We sure weren’t going to go get his
car. An old pickup in Texas is one of a couple million other old beat up
trucks. Every rancher, farmer, wannbe cowboy drove one along with all
the construction guys. It was the only reason we didn’t get stopped the
two weeks we spent driving the thing. There is safety in numbers. Old
pickups in Texas meant a big herd of vehicles to look at if one wanted
to pick out just one from that mass of motors.

=============================================================

We drove over to Dallas and found Diamond Imports although imports
wasn’t all the vehicles Hernandez sold. The guy’s name was Jimmy
Hernandez.

“Looking for an older dependable ride in a don’t look at me style and
color.” Ricky was explaining what he was looking for.

“I have a few of those on the lot. Why don’t we go see if any of them is
what you want?” Jimmy pointed out to the cars scattered across two
blocks of car lot.

Ricky never turned around to see as he watched Jimmy. “Dimitri said you
would have what I was looking for. Something you would drive yourself.”

Jimmy’s eyes flickered. “You have a trade in?”

Ricky pointed at the pickup. “No title and it’s on the hot list. Don’t
send it back out.”

“Get in your truck and follow me.” He headed for a Mercedes sports.

We followed Jimmy for a couple miles before he pulled up to a big
warehouse as the overhead door went up. He drove in and motioned us to
follow.

He was standing by an older Lincoln when we pulled into the warehouse.
The door closed behind us.

Ricky slid out and headed over where Jimmy was standing.

I could smell paint, oil, and a mix of chemicals. My hand went into my
purse. I had my fingers wrapped around the fifty. I opened the door and
stepped out. The AR was behind the seat. I unzipped the soft jacket it
was in and waited. Scanning the warehouse I didn’t see anyone else but
it was a big hole with six vehicles parked in there. Ricky could take
care of business. I wasn’t moving away from the pickup.

“Jess, come mere.” Ricky was waving me over.

I shook my head as I tried to keep an eye on all the corners of the
warehouse.

“Your friend, she careful. Jess your friend Ricky wants you to look at
the car. He says you know your vehicles and he doesn’t. He wants your
opinion.” Jimmy motioned me over.

“Okay.” I pulled the AR out and slipped the strap on my shoulder with
the rifle in the ready position. The clip was already in it. With a
scope on top and a laser cradled up against the scope it not only looked
lethal it was.

Jimmy wasn’t the only one who looked shocked.

Ricky didn’t do any better. “Jess…”

“Cork it. We are in a warehouse full of worked over vehicles. Those who
work on these vehicles to put back out on the street aren’t your usual
law abiding citizens.” I walked over where I would be facing the same
direction Jimmy had been and stood behind him.

Jimmy laughed as his eyes danced in amusement. “Senorita, I assure even
though you are right about the cars were worked on and painted, they are
all legal. This Lincoln is older yes? The engine, transmission, running
gear, and all electrical components were replaced with new. The car was
driven five hundred miles after leaving the shop to make sure nothing
was left undone and to test it. It will do a hundred and eighty for
sure. The tires are run flat. The doors have bullet proof armor plating.
The glass not so much but would still keep out most pistol slugs. There
is a police radio and scanner in the vehicle. It can also double as a
police car with flashing lights hidden behind the grill and in the
sunroof.”

He ran his hands down the side. “It looks old…, no? The man who
repainted this car is an artist. It takes talent to make new paint look
sun faded and old. My macho redid the engine. He should be building race
car engines. The engine is blueprinted and balanced. The intake and
exhaust ported and tuned. The blower is belt driven. He told me this
engine can easily put out eight hundred horsepower and not be breathing
hard. It has a Dodge truck rear end to handle all that horsepower. Heavy
duty shocks and springs for the weight.”

Jimmy swept his hand out at all the other vehicles. “Each one is my
baby, designed for a purpose and a special client. This Lincoln was
built for Mr. Dimitri. Not for him personally but one of his clients. I
don’t believe Mr.Ricky Ronald Chavenski was that client, but for Mr.
Dimitri I build another.”

“Who?” Ricky rolled his head and his eyes. “Oh.”

Jimmy laughed. “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Listen, I don’t care who you
are or what problems you two are facing as long as you don’t bring the
wolves to my door. I sell vehicles which in a sense are like the assault
rifle she is holding. They serve a purpose to the people who buy them.
How that person uses their vehicle is not my responsibility. You drive
it out of here and it never existed in my inventory. The title and
registration is legal.”

He got serious. “You want the car? The warranty is my word. No paper
work. You have problems I’ll take care of them as long as you didn’t
drive it off a cliff or get hit by a missile. Some things the verbal
warranty doesn’t cover. There are three different sets of plates come
with the deal. Legal for the year and model. They will hold up for the
plate scanners. Far as the police eyeballing the car? Older family cars
don’t attract a second look the same way high performance wheels do.”

“Shall we talk price or is there something else you had in mind?” He
wasn’t looking at Ricky when he asked.

I never had a chance to ask Ricky before he pulled out a credit card. He
held it out to Jimmy. “How much?”

”Seventy two thousand.” Jimmy took the credit card.

Ricky nodded. “Don’t pull out more than nine thousand at a time.”

“Is it good for the total amount?” Jimmy hesitated.

“Provided you don’t try to get it all in one day.” Ricky glanced over at
me. “Get all your gear and put it in the car.”

Jimmy put his hand in his pocket and came back up with a cell phone and
four sets of keys. He held the keys out to me. “People in the line of
work we know nothing about and don’t talk about seem to have a problem
with keys. I don’t keep a set if you lose yours. Don’t call me if things
go terribly wrong and someone kept your keys. Inside the driver’s side
about three inches up under the dash with your left hand is a life
switch. It has a five second delay relay. Pull it out and hold. It will
try to reset, count to five, the car will start, the steering will
unlock, and you can drive it. And of course you can let go of the life
switch. Beside that pull switch is a toggle switch. It will kill your
taillights, brake lights and turn signals. Comes in handy if someone is
hot on your tail. You are no longer telling them when to brake or slow
down by watching your taillights.”

I was curious why Ricky thought he might need a tank tuff car? “Rick..,
why do you need this kind of car? Damn expensive for a set of wheels.
You could…,”

Ricky shook his head. “I hope we don’t need it. I hope it is a waste of
money. I hope ten years from now you are berating me for buying it. What
I don’t want is to need it and wish I had. Until then, it is wheels not
on the hot sheet and nothing more. Move your gear into the trunk. You
aren’t coming back for the pickup.”

“My tools are in the toolbox. That won’t fit in the trunk.” I opened the
toolbox in the bed of my pickup and took out the rifles we had liberated
from the CIA agents a lifetime ago.

“Leave it.” Ricky turned his attention to Jimmy. “The toolbox and
everything in it belongs to Jessica. Make sure it stays safe and nothing
disappears out of it. If she wants it back tomorrow or fifty years from
now it is hers.”

“As you wish.” Jimmy watched as I put the rifles back into the toolbox.

There was not a whole lot in that toolbox I felt would serve our
purpose. If the toolbox wasn’t going on the auction block and other
people weren’t snooping around in it; then the grenades, rifles, and
flash bangs the CIA donated were nothing more than dead weight. A person
could only carry so much weight. Rifles and ammo were heavy. My AR and
fifty was my limit. I needed a vest and backpack for my extra clips and
ammo. The timer had to come with us. I lifted the tool pouch and clips
out of the toolbox. The canned food I carried in there I tossed into the
bed of the pickup in case it was a really really long time before I came
back.

On second thought. “Ricky, can you shoot?” I was wondering if one of
those rifles would serve Ricky?

“Sure. Pull the trigger, right?” Came from behind me.

I turned to look at a dumb grin on his face. “Have you ever shot a gun
since we were kids?” This didn’t bode well.

“What is there too know? Point it at what you want to kill and pull the
trigger. Okay?” His stupid grin didn’t change.

“Geeks!” I sighed. A high powered assault rifle was the last thing
someone like Ricky needed in their hands. If he figured out how to
release the safety and put it on full auto, anything and everyone around
him would be in mortal danger The rifles stayed in the toolbox. I had a
death wish but not that way.

“I didn’t get the chance to install White Out on the vehicle. Dimitri
hadn’t shipped it yet.” Jimmy was watching as I slid into the driver’s
seat and Ricky got in the passenger seat.

“What?” I couldn’t imagine what Jimmy was talking about.

“Dimitri wanted one of his gadgets installed. I’ll put it on the next
one we build up if it ever comes in.” Jimmy pulled a remote out of his
pocket and the overhead door started lifting.

“Uh, okay. Thanks.” It was the second time I had heard white out
mentioned. Both times seemed to be by people who dealt with Russians.

===============================================================

I had the car out in the street headed east. If we parked at another
motel I didn’t want to be any closer to Fort Worth than we already were.
“What’s the plan?”

I still had Tom’s driver’s license. My pickup was the last thing I
really owned and could sell if things went south. Whether I liked it or
not my life had became dependent on Ricky. I might not be dying from
cancer now. My future was still just as dark if Ricky decided I was dead
weight. I had no idea how to support myself. With no identification I
would be competing with the illegal aliens for bottom wages. The problem
there was they knew how to work the system and I didn’t.

“Find a discount store or super store. I need a throw a way phone.”
Ricky was going through his billfold looking at the identifications
Linda gave to him.

Turning into the first shopping mall I saw, I stopped in front of a
dollar store. “Not high end. I bet they won’t ask questions if they have
disposable phones. No cameras either.”

“If they have phones it’s perfect.” Ricky was in the store less than
five minutes before he came back out carrying a bag.

“Okay, stay put a minute Jess and let me find someone to help.” He
opened up the phone and talked for a few minutes. “Linda, sorry to
bother you again. I need clothes for Jess. Nice, up scale. Uh huh,
okay…, yes…, probably…,”

He was looking at me. “Okay…, Dallas or one of the burbs…, LINDA! She’s
not a hooker. I have known her all her life and I can swear on a stack
of bibles she’s not into that. No she didn’t…, She’s all natural.
Nothing artificial. LINDA…! No I’m not swapping her for you or anyone
else…, Hon I love you too. I strongly suggest you remember those six
men who thought the same thing. No one keeps count. There are probably a
couple hundred more…, No I’m not lying. Okay, you call them and explain
what I want. I want her to look classy, maybe a tad sassy, but not
cheap. A woman who has seen the world and owns it. Okay?

The Liberty Bank credit card I left with Hernandez. Jimmy is going to
pull seventy two thousand out of it. After he gets his money, burn the
card and all traces…., You’re a doll. You know I love you…., Of course
with all my heart but I’m still not trading in Jess…, And Linda, on that
thing earlier. I want her to be a woman from the upper class. Okay.
Bye.”

He pointed to the northeast. “Jump up on 75 and go to Richardson. On
East Main a few blocks from the police station is Marcela’s. The lady
you need to see is Joyce Thurman. Linda is going to arrange for them to
clean you up.”

“Clean me up? What ever for? Ricky, I’m comfortable in pants and jacket.
Is this necessary?” I couldn’t imagine what two people on the run from
damn near every bureau in the US Government would want with a change of
clothes?

“Jess, I need those drives out of that lab in Fort Worth. I’m guessing
they have a dozen cameras looking at that place even if agents aren’t
staked out on it. They would be all over me or Tom in a heart beat if
either one of us got within a mile of it. There is not one single person
in the world I would trust besides you to retrieve those drives. Linda
or any of her cohorts?

They have all the data on the drives already and so does our government.
The energy they are burning up to break the codes would probably light
up a city. I can’t begin to imagine what they would do if they thought
they had the only copies I possessed. There wouldn’t be getting them
back. They would let me have the information piece meal at a time as
they made me build what they believe is the Philadelphia Project.”

Begging me with his eyes he looked at me. “Jess, you could walk up to
the lab the way you are dressed now and it could be a toss up if they
pulled you in or not. If you walk up to that lab looking like a million
dollars they won’t touch you. Image means everything in some situations.
Look like a rancher’s wife and they will probably think they can out
lawyer you and bleed you dry causing you to cough up everything you
know. Look like a billionaires wife and they will be burning down the
lines trying to get an ID on you but they won’t touch you. Sophisticated
society has political and legal connections. All at the touch of a phone
call. They can’t burn you with lawyers because for everyone of theirs
you have two. They can’t pull you in and give you the third degree. It
would be all over front page news before they booked you into jail.”

He smiled. “Class has its perks. Looking like class does the same thing.
It scares the sharks away before they bite.”

Funny... in an odd way I could relate to what Ricky was telling me. When
anyone started looking like they wanted a piece of me all I had to do
was accidentally raise my shirt and expose a gun handle. Fist fights
were one thing some guys wouldn’t hesitate to start. Getting in a gun
fight took it to a whole new level they didn’t want to try.

Dallas traffic was a killer. Making our way across town took forever. It
was an hour later when I finally found the little mall Linda had told
Ricky about.

Ricky pointed at the store with MARCELA'S in gold leaf scroll on the
plate glass. I’m going to find a computer store. I lost a lot of jump
drives in that fire. I’ll be in the store when they are finished with
you.”

“Okay.” I had no idea what was going on. Give me a backhoe and a
construction job I was in my own element. This was a whole new world to
me.

“Jess, play nice and do what they ask. And don’t pull that gun out of
your purse. I know everyone in Texas carries one. That one you carry
will surely get the attention of everybody.” He motioned me toward the
boutique.

I gave him my seriously dead stare. “Ricky, I’m not into shooting
everyone who pisses me off. In your case I’m giving serious
consideration to breaking the rules.”

Ricky was laughing as he turned and walked off in the other direction.

A hour later I walked out looking exactly the same as I had when I
walked in. I had no idea what was going on? I couldn’t imagine Ricky
being in a computer store for an hour. I was wrong as that was where I
found him. I walked up behind him as he was talking to a salesman. “I’m
back.”

The salesman looked up. His eyes grew two sizes as he scoped me out.

Ricky looked at the salesman and a smile spread across his face before
he turned around to look. “Okay.”

“Thanks.” He nodded to the salesman as he picked up a laptop and a bag.
Ricky steered me toward a restaurant inside the mall.

“Now what?” It wasn’t the food I was asking about.

“Time Jess. Everything takes time to unfold at its own pace. Push and
things can go wrong in a hurry. You asking about what the ladies did in
the store?”

“Un huh. I thought I was going to try on a dress. Well I did. Lots of
dresses but all they did was take measurements and notes.”

“I know you haven’t had experience at this girl thing and I’m…”

“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. I’ll shoot you right here and now. We
are way past that sorry bit. It happened, I got screwed…, I guess we
both did. You lost your lab and a lifetime of work. Back isn’t an option
for either of us at the moment. You don’t have a lab and I can’t step
back into Tom. When retreat isn’t an option there are only two
possibilities. We either hold our position praying for someone to come
and save our asses before we are over run and killed. Or we push up and
out, praying we bust through before enough forces can be rallied in our
path to stop us.”

The tears came unexpectedly. “No one is coming to our rescue. There
isn’t anyone smart enough, intelligent enough to help even if they knew
what happened.”

“Jessica…,” Ricky was reaching for me.

I pushed his hand away. “I’m okay. Let me enjoy my own pity party for a
few minutes. Sometimes it helps to wallow in pity and get disgusted
enough with yourself to climb back up and start fighting again.”

=============================================================

Six days later it was long before dawn. We were sitting in a pasture
with a whole lot of mesquite around us. Ricky scanned the area again
with his binoculars. “Herd of Angus about a half mile to the southwest.
Otherwise I don’t see any thing moving.”

“And you won’t. If there is someone out there watching and wanted us
dead we would already be there. There are only two ways to wait on a
target. You either get there before they do, be still, and wait for them
to show up or you stealth up to the target. The common denominator is
time. If I was staking us out I would have been out there two days ago.
I regret not finding a computer and downloading aerial photos of this
place. Let's pray we both don't die because I got careless.”

Ricky slowly lowered his binoculars and turned to look at me. “You're
joking of course?”

“No joke. The surest way to die is to think you will be safe showing up
an hour or two before the meeting to stake out your position. The longer
the time lead before the meeting the better the odds are in the sniper's
favor.” The fifty wasn’t in my purse it was holstered on my hip. Ricky
and I had stopped by a gun auction a couple days earlier. I had talked
him into carrying a twenty two magnum with a laser sight. It was
something that was lethal, not heavy. It wouldn’t take a lot of skill to
point and shoot.

It was a couple hours later when the sun was up past the horizon. “I
hear a motor in the distance. You can wait by the car if you want. Any
vehicle is a magnet for attention out here in the open like this.”

I pulled the AR out of the backseat and slung it on my shoulder as I
headed out into the mesquite.

A small nondescript gray sedan pulled up and stopped beside the Lincoln.
Watching from a couple hundred yards out, I recognized the legs as the
door opened and they swung out. I waited to see if there were other
people in the car.

She walked over, wrapped her arms around Ricky and gave him a great big
kiss on the lips. Her eyes were dancing as Ricky backed up from her.
“She’s watching isn’t she.”

Ricky nodded. “She is.”

“Am I a painted target or she only have her pistol?” Linda looked past
Ricky to see if she could pick Jess out of the growth.

Ricky rolled his eyes as he shook his head. “We are both being painted
if that is the term for it. She’s good Linda. Damn good. I would put her
up against anyone.”

“Tell her not to shoot me. I want to see if I can pick her out.” Linda
reached back into the car and pulled out a rifle with big ass scope. She
put it on the roof of the car.

At two hundred yards I didn’t have a bit of trouble making out it was a
custom made scope and rifle. Bolt action in the three oh eight range
with a custom six by forty two scope or thereabouts. Nice piece of
hardware. I was betting it would have an accurate kill range up to eight
hundred yards.

Linda took a short telescope out of the car and switched it on. I knew
what it was. There wasn’t any escape. When she swept the landscape
everything with a heat signature was going to show up like a neon
flashing sign. The only way to not show up was to drop down in a foxhole
which I had neglected. I sighted her in and pointed the rifle straight
at her scope. It wasn’t a game of chicken. It was one marksman to
another. You lost. Game over.

She was sweeping the landscape. When she stopped she was looking
straight down the barrel of a rifle. Her eyes were dancing as the
lowered the infrared scope and switched it off. “She is good. Call her
in and let’s pass out some identification. Tell her not to shoot me if
she doesn’t like them.”

Ricky waved me in. “Linda is alone unless there is an invisible man in
the car with her.”

In the Texas drivers license I actually looked good. It was the first
time I had ever seen a picture on a license where I didn’t look like an
escaped convict. I looked for restrictions. There weren’t any. It was a
commercial license and I was qualified to drive anything with wheels. I
was curious. “This pass the highway patrol test?”

Nodding Linda handed me a passport.

“Nice.” Miss Jessica Sarah Rabbit and the picture was quite flattering.
I was wearing a beautiful teal colored dress with matching bolero
jacket. I loved the multi strand diamond necklace and long dangle
earrings. My hair stylishly pulled over my left shoulder. Her photo shop
guys had done a bang up job.

“Norwegian and American dual citizenship. I don’t need to tell you how
hard our team worked to dig up your history. You are one of the
cleanest spooks I have ever run across in this business. Everyone
always shows up someplace sometime even if it is only ghosting. The
guys are going crazy trying to find where you popped up out of the
woodwork. They went overboard in giving you an identity. You are an
heir to the royal blood. Christian Frederick was part of your lineage.
The Norwegian royalty was such a mess no one will ever be able to trace
back whether you really are or not. The important part is, the royalty
slants in your favor rather than against.”

She handed me a folder. “It’s all in there including your ancestry, your
coat of arms, your birthplace and your parents names. I don’t need to
tell you to get to know them. It could save your life. Oh yes, your
parents are alive and they will swear you are their only daughter if
anyone questions them.”

To say I was in shock was an understatement. Could they really fabricate
a life for someone out of thin air? “I hope they know what kind of
daughter I am.”

“To be sure. They have pictures of you and your many romances around the
world all over their home. They love you with all their heart. They wish
you would settle down and marry Olaf Gustaff and stop flitting around
the world like a gadfly.”

“You’re pulling my leg!” I couldn’t believe it.

Linda’s eyes were dancing with laughter. “You should meet him sometime.
He really is quite handsome and who knows. You might decide to marry him
for real.”

“Mar…, marry…” I managed to choke it up.

“You say that like it was a dirty word. Sure, you marry Olaf, I marry
Ricky and we both live happily ever after. Problem solved.” Linda had to
roll in her lips to keep from laughing.

I gave her my you are gonna die stare. “You marry Olaf, I don’t marry
anyone and we are all happy.”

She was laughing as she handed me three credit cards. “Ricky didn’t say
to limit them so they aren’t. Keep in mind before you decide to buy
Monte Carlo, even Ricky has limited funds.”

She handed Ricky a cell phone. “New numbers love. You wore out the old
number. The agency finds me they find you and visa versa. The old number
goes and so do I. I’m flying down to Mexico to look over a burned out
lab. See if I can find anything useful the Federalies haven’t already
picked over. I can feel your government breathing down my neck. It is
time to go. Your new handler is Serena. You met her in Berlin at the
Germany trade show six years ago.”

Ricky was in deep thought for a few seconds. “The kid? She’s only a
kid!”

Linda laughed as she shook her head. “Ricky, she was twenty two when you
met her. She is more than a kid. Serena has a lot of experience. She has
proven several times she can adapt on the fly. Don’t underestimate her
skills.”

Linda turned her attention to me. “Okay Mystery Woman, how about a shoot
off?”

“My AR isn’t that accurate at one hundred yards. At two hundred I’m
working on a four inch pattern. It is an off the shelf weapon.”

She nodded. “Use mine then. We take turns.”

“How far?” I was curious to where it had been scoped in at.

“Right conditions it will be in a twelve inch group at two thousand
meters. Let’s do eight hundred meters. It is a one inch pattern at that
range.”

Ricky was looking at me with a question in his eyes. I pointed at her
rifle still on top of the car.” Linda’s gun was specifically made as a
sniper rifle. Heavy barrel and bolt action so all the energy of the
powder is transferred to the bullet and not wasted kicking out the empty
cartridge. It had to go through several annealings to temper it to the
perfect hardness. The boring was done on a high end laser mill to within
one one thousandth tolerance. She said it can hit a man’s chest at one
mile or put his heart out at a tad under a half mile range. Cost between
twenty to thirty thousand for her rifle. Cheap if one’s life depends on
accuracy.”

Linda lifted the rifle off the roof and handed it to me. “Eight
thousand. It was made in Poland. Better quality than I can get in my
homeland and the price is better.”

I immediately loved the rifle. It felt perfect in my now much smaller
hands. It was designed and made for a woman not a man. Sighting some
cactus pears a quarter of a mile away the optics in the scope were
perfect. The scope alone would have cost six or eight thousand. The
rifle belonged in someone’s hands. It wasn’t a killing machine like my
AR. It was a loving piece of equipment designed to serve a master.
“Nice, very, very nice.”

Linda took a spotter scope out of the back seat.

Now it was my turn to look surprised. A smile spread across her face. “I
was hoping we might get a chance this morning so I was ready.”

I handed the rifle back to her. “You first.”

Linda pointed off out in the distance. “That cactus with the pears on
it. That’s about seven hundred meters.”

I took the scope and found the cactus focusing it in. “Six hundred and
thirty one meters.”

Linda looked the bullets over in the clip before sliding it home in the
rifle. She flipped down the bipod and stretched out on the ground. She
adjusted the distance in on the scope. “The pear on the far left side.”

It wasn’t the cactus I was watching. Linda stopped breathing. Some say
their heart stops beating just before they pull the trigger as their
whole body goes into the zone and they become one with the target. I
would almost believe it as I watched Linda. There was a bark. I looked
and the left pear was gone.

“Linda chambered another round. “One on the far right.”

Seconds later there was another bark. I looked and half the pear on the
right was gone.

In all six shots she never missed. The pear was either completely
vaporized or torn to pieces.

“Damn nice shooting.” I was glad she wasn’t on the other side when I had
been in the field.”

She stood up, brushed the sand off her clothes and handed me the rifle.
“Thanks. Your turn.” She reached into the rifle case and handed me a
clip full of bullets.”

“You didn’t leave anything.” I was only half kidding.

“Cactus two meters to the right and approximately three meters further
out.” She was looking through the spotter scope.

After chambering a round I laid down on the ground and picked out the
cactus. “Top pear in the middle.”

I don’t know if she answered or not. The world ceased to exist, no
sound, no anything besides that one pear that filled my whole vision and
my life. There was no trigger pull. It was smoother than grease on a
board. The bullet raced over an invisible hill in an arc as it sped to
its target. The pear exploded. Five more were dispatched before I stood
up.

Reluctantly I handed the rifle back to Linda. If I had been Tom it
wouldn’t have felt right. As Jess it was the ultimate sniper rifle as
far as I was concerned. I probably was drooling when I gave it up.

Linda wasn’t looking amused as she took the rifle. “Who the hell are
you? You didn’t learn to shoot like that overnight.”

I shrugged my shoulders. I didn’t have an answer.

“Are you as good with a pistol?” She retrieved a nine millimeter out of
her purse.

I carried the AR over to the Lincoln and pulled the fifty out of my
holster..

“Damn!” Linda was looking at the Desert Eagle. She pointed to a cactus
about thirty feet away. “One shot and then pick another ten feet past
that and so on until one of us misses.”

She turned slightly to the side, brought the pistol up and took a two
handed hold. There was a bark and a cactus pear had a hole in the
middle. She looked at me waiting.

Two handed hold was what the military tried to teach me. I never liked
it. There was a new problem now. The fifty was ten times as heavy now
than when I was Tom. I couldn’t hold it up that long. I brought it up.
When the sights and the target matched, I squeezed the trigger. A pear
evaporated into a misty cloud.

“Uh…, that is the kind of hole they found in those six men alright.”
Linda took aim on a cactus about forty feet out. A sharp bark and a pear
had a hole off center in it.

I brought the fifty up and another pear on the same cactus evaporated.

Fifty feet out we did the same thing. I was thanking God Linda hadn’t
been with the men in Mexico. It wouldn’t have turned out so well. Ricky
and I both would have been among the dead.

Approximately sixty feet she clipped the pear. She was nearing the
maximum accurate range for her four inch barrel. I dusted another pear.

At close to eighty or ninety feet she hit the cactus but missed the
pear. I was nearing my range now for a small target. Luck was with me. I
evaporated the pear.

Linda turned her full attention on me as she studied me from head to
toe. “You are the best damn spook I have ever met in my life. I have met
some of the best. It won’t happen, but if my government ever pointed me
in your direction I would figure I had two options. Either quit or die.”

I held out my hand for a handshake. “Let’s pray it never happens. You’re
one of the best I’ve ever seen. I wouldn’t play nice. There are no
gentlemen or ladies in that situation.”

She took my hand. “Everyone I have ever met in this business, I
remember. I won’t forget you Jessica. You need a job besides guarding
Ricky’s back you give me a call. If my government doesn’t want you I
know several agencies who would kill to have you on their team. But then
you probably know the same people. To say you could walk anywhere in the
world and have a job is understating the fact. The rifle and package is
yours. Ricky didn’t ask but I can tell. If I go back out into the field
I’ll order another one.”

No one ever gave me an expensive gift like that. Much less someone I
really didn’t know. “Linda, I can’t afford it. I’m more broke than a
church mouse. I thank you for the thought though. It was terribly kind.”

“Surely you jest? Ricky isn’t paying you? Hon, I don’t recall asking for
money. It really isn’t that much of a gift. I’ll make it back off Ricky.
He’ll call me wanting a favor and I’ll charge him dearly for it.” She
held the rifle and hard case out in my direction.

Looking around at Ricky he nodded yes. “Take it as a token from one of
the finest ladies you will ever meet in this business. Linda wouldn’t
have offered if she didn’t mean it.”

“I don’t know what to say.” I was holding a rife I never thought I would
ever be able to afford or own.

“Say thanks, is the usual response.” Linda’s eyes were dancing.

“But of course. Many, many thanks. I’ll treasure it forever. If you ever
want it back it’s yours.”

Linda looked me in the eyes. “Don’t send it back bullets first.”

“That is a promise I can keep.” If Linda was ever ordered to kill me I
would never use her rifle against her.

===============================================================

“Pack it up.” Ricky was carrying his suitcase out to the car.

It was eight days after we last saw Linda. The days wore on. They were
beginning to become redundant and monotonous as Ricky and I changed
motels every couple nights. How long can one do nothing? I was starting
to look forward to the challenge of getting into Ricky’s lab. At least I
would be doing something. And maybe, just maybe, Ricky could start
another lab someplace to change Jessica back into Tom.

“Someplace in particular?” It didn’t take long to pick up and follow
Ricky out the door.

“We are going shopping.” He tossed his suitcase in the trunk before he
opened the driver’s door and slid in under the wheel.

My suitcase followed his before I shut the trunk and slid into the
passenger side. “You’re driving? You feel up to it?”

“I want to give it a try. If it hurts anything I’ll quit and let you
chauffeur me again.” He started up the Lincoln and pulled away from the
motel.

It was forty minutes later he pulled up and stopped at the little
shopping mall in Richardson. “I haven’t always had my nose stuck in a
lab building circuits. They will have your dresses ready by now. You
will try them on while the ladies make sure each one is tailored
perfectly for you.”

“But first things first. The beauty parlor.” He pointed to a store
several stores away from Marcela’s.

I was looking at what was obviously women’s territory. “I’m doing this
for the storage drive, right?”

When Ricky didn’t answer I turned to look at him. He had a strange look
on his face. “This is so I can walk in and get that data out of your lab
isn’t it?”

“…yeah…”

“Okay, I can do this. You coming?” I opened the door and slid out while
waiting for an answer.

He shook his head as he started up the car. “I am going to look at some
equipment. You go ahead. I’ll be back before you are finished.”

I took a quick look at the beauty shop and then back at Ricky. “Oh
swell! I’m dumped into a female estrogen environment without any
training wheels and you’re ducking out. Just like a man!”

Ricky closed his eyes and shook his head as he snickered. He got his
giggles under control enough to look up at me. “Promise me you won’t
pull your gun and shoot them if they piss you off.”

“No deal. My fifty is the only vestige of manhood you left me with. I’m
going to use it if I feel a desperate need for a little testosterone
fix.” I didn’t wait for an answer as I turned and headed for the beauty
parlor.

“Jess, your credit cards. Use them to pay for their services.” Followed
me across the sidewalk.

“yeah, yeah. When they turn up empty and I’m hauled off to prison, we
all have a place to call home.” I muttered under my breath.

“May we help you?” The attractive brunette with Brenda on her name tag
looked up when I walked in.

“uh…” I wasn’t sure how to go about this? “I think I need some help.”

“Yes ma’am. Do you have an appointment?” She picked up a ledger off the
counter behind her.

“No. I’m sorry. I…, uh…,” Obviously I should have made an appointment.
How was I to know? I’m new at this girl stuff.

“That is okay. We accept walk ins if you don’t mind waiting. Might be an
hour before we can get to you. What is your name?” She was ready to
write a name in the appointment book.

“uh…, my name…? I…, I’m…? uh…, Jess…” Could I possibly klutz this any
more than I already had?

She was writing. “Jess? You Ms. Rabbit?”

“…uh…, yes…, I am.” Was it Ricky or Linda who called it in? Probably
Linda. Ricky was a guy. He wouldn’t have thought of it any more than I
did.

“I’m sorry Ms. Rabbit. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. Please?” She
motioned to the chair in front of her.

Looking at the chair I nodded in agreement. “Ma’am, we will get along a
whole lot better if you call me Jess.”

“Okay, Jess. Put your purse under the counter and please take a seat.”

Should I or shouldn’t I? Too many things were screwed up in my life. I
didn’t care what they thought as I pulled the fifty out of my purse
before sliding the purse under the counter. I sit down in the chair and
laid the fifty in my lap.

“Jess, in twelve years no one has tried to rob us. The odds are pretty
good no one will try while you are here for the next hour. Do you want
to hold that gun or put it back in your purse?” She waited holding a
sheet to cover me.

“I’ll hang onto it.” No matter what I wasn’t going to be out of arms
reach of a defensive weapon. I was positive if Linda made the
appointment, her guys were watching. If the CIA or FBI followed her guys
then they would be close by too. If they carried my body to prison it
was going to be cold and dead. My life wasn’t going to be forfeited
easily or come cheap.

“You have the prettiest hair and it is so natural. Do you want it long
or short?”

“Ricky said he liked it long. Let’s leave it at that for now.”

She pulled my hair up and laid my head back over the sink. “Long it is.”

Less than an hour later I stepped out of Wanda's Beauty Parlor. I now
knew what a car felt like after an immaculate detail job. The girls gave
me the total make over. They also lightened Ricky’s credit account by
two hundred and fifty dollars. I hoped he thought it was worth it.

It was time to give Marcela's a call and see what Linda had in mind
there? If it was anything like the beauty parlor Ricky was paying a
chunk of change to get me ready to retrieve his data from the lab.

A couple big, rough looking, guys got out of a car and stepped up on the
sidewalk in front of me as I headed to Marcela's. “Hey bitch. How much
you charge?”

That stopped me cold. “What?”

They walked up in front of me. “Damn fine looking bitch. Not all worn
out like a lot of scabs. Get in the car and we will drive around back.”

“You…, think I’m a prostitute?” I was finally wrapping my mind around
where they were coming from.

“You can claim you ain’t but you can’t deny you’re advertising it bitch.
Now come on and stop playing coy.”

My mind was running a hundred miles an hour. I couldn’t out fight them.
I pretty well knew what this body was or wasn’t capable of. Getting into
a fight with two guys who outweighed me by twice or more wasn’t going to
happen. “And what gave me away?”

“The way you walk bitch. You flaunt it to the world.” He looked down at
my boots with the almost six inch heel.

“So if a girl walks like a girl she’s gotta be a hooker? Is that the
idea?” I was watching his eyes.

“Yeah, but you really swing your ass. Come on. You will want to pay me
for the service after I show you what I got.” He rubbed between his legs
with his left hand as he was reaching for my arm with his right.

I gave him a warm smile. “Sure thing.” As I brought my right foot up and
kicked him in the knee. I heard a satisfying pop. He looked shocked
before he went down falling over into his buddy knocking him off
balance.

His friend stumbled and stupidly still had one thought on his mind. ME!
He was reaching.

I brought the fifty up out of my purse and came down with all my
strength on the top of his right wrist. I had no idea if I broke it or
not. Even if it wasn't broke it would be so bruised it wouldn’t be
working for days afterwards.

“SHIT BITCH!” He was pulling away from me.

I pointed the fifty at his right eye. I knew what looking straight into
the barrel of a gun at close range did to the mind and nerves. “I may be
a bitch but I’m not a prostitute. I ever see either of you again, you
won’t live to tell about it. Gather up your friend and take him to the
hospital. His leg is broken and I imagine so is your wrist. If you have
a gun in that car of yours and you are thinking about using it…, Give it
some thought before you point it at me. Everyone who had that same idea
is past tense. I don’t hesitate and I don’t miss. The only reason you
two idiots aren’t bleeding out on the sidewalk right now is I’m feeling
kind and generous.”

“You fucking whore. You’re gonna pay.” He was glaring at me.

I shook my head. “I’ve seen stupid before. You are moving to the top of
the class. You want the other wrist broken keep running that mouth of
yours making threats. I can turn you and your friend into hamburger
right here if you want a demonstration. I can make you into a
quadriplegic where the rest of your life is sipping soup through a
straw. You want to push your luck?”

He stared at me for six seconds trying to decide whether to challenge me
or not. His friend moaning as he held his leg was the deciding factor.
He helped his friend up and supported him as the guy hopped back to the
car. He tried to open the car door with his right hand and couldn’t. He
turned loose of his friend, opened the door and helped him into the car.

He hesitated.

“Don’t even think it. You come up with a gun and you will be dead before
you get turned around. Take your buddy to the hospital while you still
can.”

He backed up and walked around to the driver’s side empty handed. “I’m
gonna get even. You’re dead bitch.”

I watched him drive off as I slipped the fifty back into my purse. Yeah,
as if I cared. You would be doing me a favor. But you ain’t man enough
to do the job. If he had called me bitch one more time I probably would
have lost it. What was it with guys and their potty mouth language?

It hadn’t escaped my attention there were dozens of people, in the
stores, parking lot, and further away on the sidewalk, stopped to look
and stare. Some had out the cell phones which I imagined were picture
taking. Everyone who was remotely close had backed off when the two guys
approached me and called me bitch and a whore. They either believed it
was true or didn’t want to get involved. If anyone called the police it
was going to get ugly. I wasn’t going to jail and I couldn’t run. I
didn’t have a car. I strolled off down to Marcela's.

Those inside Marcela's who had been looking backed away as I walked in.
Jennie was one of the sales ladies I had met that first visit. She
motioned me toward the back. “Ms. Rabbit your attire is ready for
fitting.”

“It’s Jess.” I headed toward the back of the store as a police car
pulled up into the parking lot.

I saw them out of the corner of my eye. “Jennie, I imagine it is me they
want. I’ll wait on them.”

“Ladies.” Jennie waved several of the ladies over as she walked up
beside me. “We watched the whole thing. It wasn’t your fault. Everyone
of us will swear the two men attacked you.”

Five women crowded around me. Jennie was smiling as her eyes danced. She
pointed to a well dressed woman. “Marsha is an attorney and the wife of
Harold Fortner. He is the attorney for Richardson.”

Marsha nodded in my direction. “The policemen are Rodney Golby and Mike
Patterson. I know them well. This won’t take long. I am dying to see
those dresses you ordered. Jennie has described them to us. She also
described you. I’m sure not a single one of us believed that part until
you walked out of Wanda’s Beauty Parlor. You’re even more beautiful than
Jennie described and she gave you rave reviews.”

I had no idea what to say. I was flattered and embarrassed. I know my
face turned red to match my hair. “Thank you. That was very kind.”

The officers talked to several people on the sidewalk before coming into
Marcela’s. They both homed in on me like bird dogs on point.

Marsha cut them off at the pass before they had a chance to close in.
“Patterson, Golby, good to see our cities finest. You making the
employee picnic next Friday?”

The one with Patterson on his name tag stepped up. “Mrs. Fortner, an
unexpected surprise. We received a call about a woman beating up two
men. The red headed lady beside you matches that description. She needs
to come with us to the station to answer some questions.”

“I’m sorry Mike, Ms. Rabbit is my client. If you have any questions to
ask her you may ask them now. If you believe you have any charges to
press against her you can read them to her now. I and all these ladies
saw the whole thing. Ms. Rabbit was defending herself when two men tried
to engage her. Have the two men filed charges?” Marsha waited for an
answer.

“Marsha…, Mrs Fortner you know they haven’t. We haven’t had time to talk
to them yet. We don’t know where they are.” Patterson was looking less
certain by the second.

“On a story told by a few people who were supposedly watching, you are
claiming my client did or didn’t attack someone or some ones which you
haven’t talked to? These ladies will tell you, Ms. Rabbit was approached
first by two men. Provided you wish to take depositions from those who
supposedly witnessed, but didn’t participate in the alleged attack. Mike
I’ll see you at the employee picnic Friday unless you are buried in
paperwork.”

That wasn't the most subtle hint I had ever heard. She told them to go
find two men and get a sworn statement before they pushed this issue.

Patterson stared at me for a few seconds. “Would you care to fill out a
complaint against the two men you didn’t have a fight with?”

Marsha turned to look waiting for me to respond. “I’m sorry officer. It
was nothing more than a misunderstanding. Words were said that shouldn’t
have been and they left. I’m positive they are wishing they had
apologized before they left. Let’s forget it happened.”

Patterson looked disappointed. I was certain they wanted me in that
police car and down at the station. Filing a complaint would give them
that opportunity.

“Fine then.” They left and minutes later pulled out of the parking lot.

Marsha turned and held out her hand. “As a client you owe me. Make it
legal. Pay me a dollar for representing you as my client.”

“A dollar? I mean are you sure? I appreciate your help but only a
dollar?” I was digging in my purse. I had some change left over when
Ricky gave me cash to buy groceries and things. I wasn’t completely
without money.

She laughed as she waited for her dollar. “If those two men press
charges and it ends in court it will cost you a whole lot more. I’m
expensive but I’m worth it. You can file counter charges if it comes to
that. I promise it would be a waste of money. They didn’t look like the
kind who had money.”

The dresses were exquisite. The soft blue dress draped on my body like
moss on a tree. The daring neckline made me wonder if it was going to
slip down off my breasts. The matching jacket only came to the sides of
my breasts emphasizing them rather than covering anything. The five inch
heels were matching.

“Walk to the front of the store and back so I can make sure the hem and
the dress addresses your figure correctly.” Jennie was urging me out of
the dressing room.

I didn’t think for a second it was to size up the drape of the dress. It
was to give the ladies a chance to look. They stood by me to keep me
from going to jail so they deserved it. I did the walk in the blue
dress, the peach dress, and the red dress. That black dress I was poured
into. I didn’t believe there was enough extra room in that dress for two
fleas to have a fight. The scalloped neckline was cut really low. The
hem was above the knee. I didn’t think that glitter gown I wore that
first time and this black dress were that much different. There was a
lot of sinful exposure with both of them.

Several women and a few men with their wives came into Marcela’s and no
one was leaving. I was wearing the black dress and made the stroll to
the front when I noticed a new red Lincoln pull into the parking lot.
Ricky got out and headed my way. He was dressed in a suit and tie and
looked darn handsome.

I waited as he walked into the store. He carefully looked me over. I
slowly turned around for him. “You like?”

“I do like. You forgot something.” He pulled the diamond necklace,
bracelet, chandelier earrings, and diamond watch out of his pockets.
Ricky didn’t have time to make it back to the plane. He had help. I was
wondering if it was Linda or someone else?

There were several, “ohhhhs” from the ladies as Ricky stepped up, had me
turn my back to him and slipped the necklace around my neck. The diamond
earrings were next and then the bracelet and watch. He slipped a diamond
ring on my left ring finger.

Marsha walked up for a closer look. “You can afford me. I know the real
thing when I see it. You are absolutely stunning Jessica. I have no idea
where you are going this evening. If it isn’t the governors ball they
don’t deserve you.”

Stepping up, I gave her a hug. “Thanks Marsha. I needed that. You have
no idea how much that helps my confidence.”

She backed up and held my hands. “I want you and your boyfriend to come
to the picnic Friday as my guests.”

I figured Ricky and I would be in that plane of his high tailing it
after I picked up his files. I shook my head. “I’m not going to say no
but I’m not saying yes either. Our schedule is pretty tight.”

“I understand. Come if you get a chance. If not Friday then you might
consider making one of our social parties next month?”

“We will have to wait and see.” I was positive I wasn’t making any
social parties. A month from now I wanted Ricky working to rebuild a lab
so I could become Tom.

=============================================================

Okay I blame my lack of forethought on not having girl experience. If
all we were going to do was dress up, pick up the data, and run for our
lives why would I need four exquisite dresses and accessories? One
dress, one make over, one lab data grab, and run. Right? The other thing
that got lost was, Ricky didn’t have time to drive back to the plane. I
was missing the small important things as I focused on the lab. For
those in what was my former job, missing details always ended up badly
if not deadly.

Jennie ran one of those credit cards Linda gave to me. Linda said not to
buy Monte Carlo. Looking at the total for the dresses and accessories I
think I did. I was positive Ricky and I were going to be fleeing for a
second reason. Credit card fraud came up in my mind. If Ricky and I were
lucky we would be long gone before that credit card bounced back as
worthless. I was not looking forward to spending the rest of my life in
a woman’s prison.

Ricky was headed back toward Dallas. I was thinking of what I was going
to do if anyone showed up while I was breaking into or coming out of
the lab. “Where did you get the car?”

He pulled up on the interstate. “I borrowed it. You look damn nice Jess.
Thanks for not pulling that gun of yours and shooting me for doing this
to you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. It is still on my mind. How quick do you think we
can be in and out of that lab? You shouldn’t park too close or this car
will show up on the cameras and it isn’t an easy car to hide in
traffic.”

He glanced in my direction. “The plan for getting into the lab is still
developing. I’m waiting on some equipment from Sergie. It will be a week
or two before it arrives.”

“A week or two? Then what is all this for?” I motioned down the front of
me to the black dress. “I’m not going to be able to redo the makeup
tricks by myself in a week or two. This was a waste of time and money if
I’m supposed to be wow as I walk into that lab.

Ricky shook his head and chuckled. “Jess, when the time comes you can go
back to a beauty parlor and have them spruce you up again. In the mean
time you need to learn to look and act like the princess your birth
certificate and passport claims you are.”

“Oh swell! This sounds like so damn much fun. I can’t wait to get
started.” I responded in my most snarky voice as I glared daggers at
him.

“Well then while your enthusiasm is overflowing why don’t we start now.
Drop the cuss words and the attitude. Neither one will gain you a place
in the social circle. Do you remember who your parents are and what your
claim to royal lineage is?” He pointed to a folder on the floorboard
under my feet.

“But of course. My daddy was a handsome frog prince and my mother was a
beautiful frog princess. I was their only loving daughter. I’m going to
turn back into a frog any minute now.” I stuck my nose up in the air as
I gave him my disdainful look.

“Nice, very very nice your highness. If you feel like frog coming on,
come to me and I will give you my magical kiss making sure you don’t
turn back.” He was smiling from ear to ear.

“Yuck! I’ve already experienced one of your kisses and this is what
happened.” I waved my hands down in front of my body. “Don’t expect me
to come back for seconds.”

“Oh by the way, my favorite outlaw buddy. Have you forgot yours and my
pictures and our names are probably plastered in every law office and
post office in the country? I’m positive my disguise would keep me from
being instantly recognized but you aren’t as cleverly camouflaged. Do
you honestly believe it is wise to keep running around in the lion’s
den?

There are a million of those government guys. It would surprise me if
they haven’t already located your plane. If they have they will have
Dallas swarming with agents trying to sniff us out. They will also put
men out to watch on that lab with their eyes.” I waited for that to sink
in. I was positive we should make a grab for the data files and flee if
it wasn’t already too late.

Ricky headed toward down town Dallas on the interstate. “The plane was
moved and renumbered by my Russian friends. In case you weren’t
listening to Linda it is supposedly now a diplomatic plane. It was moved
to Sycamore Strip Airport in Fort Worth. I’m not going to be running any
road races if you are right and the Feds are watching the lab. We head
straight to the airport from the lab, which is only a couple miles, and
go.”

“Jess, if I honestly thought we couldn’t pull this off without getting
caught we wouldn’t do it. The Feds are good at what they do. I’m better
than good at what I do. I wish…”

“You say you’re sorry and I’ll shoot you right here. It happened. You
didn’t mean for it to turn out this way. I didn’t either. You didn’t
toss me in the ditch and forget me. Friends don’t leave friends even if
their life is on the line. We adjust when our plan goes off the charts
and make do.”

I looked out the window and shook my head. “A couple of weeks huh? I’ll
shoot you later. Possibly when we are in the air. That plane can fly
itself. I’ll tell it where I want to go after I toss your body out the
window.”

Ricky curled up the corner of his mouth as he chuckled. “That’s a plan I
can accept. Jess I have tickets for the live performance at the Music
Hall. We are going to dine at Ricardo’s and then go to the theater.
Please don’t order more than one drink.”

“I’m not sure what happened in Mexico. You could have told me that fruit
drink was loaded. I’m not touching alcohol again until I find out what
my tolerance is. I vaguely remember making a fool of myself. What I
don’t remember is when it started. I’ll stick to water or Coke or
something.”

Ricky and I received more than our fair share of admiring looks during
the evening. I was turning into a ham. I liked it. Being admired for
more than my skills at operating a piece of heavy equipment was a new
experience for me. The rodeo queen Tracy, was the only girl who didn’t
look doubtful when I told her what I did for a living. It was late when
Ricky and I were headed back to where ever we were camping for the
night. When he pulled into the driveway of a home in an upscale
neighborhood I was doubting his ability to understand how doggedly our
government would be in trying to find him. The older Lincoln was parked
in the driveway. He drove the red Lincoln into the garage after the door
raised up.

I slid my hand down inside my purse and clutched the fifty. “Ricky, if
you knew the people who live here or had any contact with them in the
past. Or even if they are friends of friends then you can bet your last
lucky dime the government bird dogs know them too. Let’s start adding up
the numbers. If they found your plane they probably have a good idea you
are back in Dallas. They will pull in extra agents to beat the bushes
even if they have already done it the day before. I don’t have to
imagine how scared they are if they believe you completed the
Philadelphia Project and that was your project down in Mexico. If Linda
and the Russians know about the Mexican lab there isn’t a government
agency in the world who doesn’t know it also.”

“Linda gave you three official options from her government. You can go
to work for the Russians or you can stay out of the clutches of our own
government. If either of those first two options are breached then the
third option automatically kicks in. They will do everything in their
power to kill you.”

“Ricky, as much as you think of Linda and as much as she thinks of you,
her government will use that against you if it comes down to it. They
will send Linda in to kill you because she knows you so well. I will be
her primary target. To get to you she has to go through me. We will lose
the game. A sniper can pick the time and the place. There isn’t anyway
the target can prepare for something like that.”

Ricky had focused his attention on me while I was giving my spiel. “You
through?”

He held up his hand when I started to speak. “My turn. I don’t have your
experience. You don’t have mine. I’ve been dealing with some government
agency sticking their nose into my business and my life long before I
quit Dynamic Locks. Nothing life threatening, but more like a game of
cat and mouse. They wanted to know my every move, know all my friends,
and dictate my life. It was a real learning curve for me. Because of the
technology I dealt with, I no longer had a life of my own. They kept me
on a leash.”

Ricky sighed as he shook his head. “I learned our government doesn’t
belong to the people, but we belong to the government. I also learned a
lot of tricks for losing the watchers. Don’t go to friends or people
you’ve met. Don’t have a routine or become a creature of habit. Become
paranoid about everyone and everything because most of it is probably
true. Have the feeling you’re being followed? Probably are. Have the
feeling your phone, your car, your apartment has been bugged? They
probably have.”

“This house and car are leased. I didn’t go through any of my old
Russian contacts, any old friends, or any business associates. My new
handler, Serena set it up for us. Mr. Ricky Ronald Chavenski a
diplomatic aid to a very well known and respected princess leased the
house and car while she is staying in the area for a short time. All
done on the QT and of course no paper trail. The agency didn’t even
request up front money. There were inquiries made about the authenticity
of said royalty which no doubt alerted our old Russian friends as to the
purpose. Unless Sergie has a leak we will be safe for awhile. I’m
betting Linda is reading the report and laughing knowing she was part of
the charade.”

He opened his car door and stood up. “We don’t have to accept the
Russians as our friends. You’re right. They would kill us in a heartbeat
if they thought I was going to fall into US government hands. At some
point they might think killing us would be better than spending money
watching us. Our own government would do the same thing if they knew
where we were and thought I was dealing with the Russians or any other
foreign government.

The only thing keeping us alive is, both sides believe I have built the
Philadelphia Project. I’m positive the lab in Mexico was the icing on
the cake for both governments. The other thing you are right about is,
if Linda knew about Mexico then our own government also knows. I'm
betting some heads rolled after they found the lab. Supposedly I was on
a short leash when I built a lab they didn't know about. Letting
something like that happen on one's watch isn't a career builder.”

He motioned me to follow as he opened the garage door leading into the
house. “Jess, I don’t speak fluent Russian and I’m not crazy about
moving there. My Russian friends don’t have infinite patience. In time
when they realize I haven’t built the Philadelphia Project and have no
concept of how to make it happen, they will turn on me. We can go to any
country in the world but we can’t hide from the Russians and US
Government both. The equipment and parts I need to rebuild the capsule
are not off the shelf items. After the respective governments went
though that lab in Mexico they will be bird dogging the manufacturers
for anyone ordering like parts and materials.”

That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. “You mean you can’t rebuild the lab?”

Ricky shook his head. “That isn’t what I said. I said both governments
will be following the parts trail. I will have to get in bed with one or
the other to get those parts. The Russians will give me free reign. Our
government will put me on a very short leash with a guard looking over
my shoulder every second of the day. I can get the parts to rebuild my
lab but they will have to be routed through the Russians to keep our
government from knowing where I…, we are.”

Inside the house Ricky pointed down a hallway. “There are three
bedrooms. Take your pick. Your rough and tough stuff is still in the
Lincoln. I didn’t have a chance to bring our vagabond clothes in. I was
running really short on time this afternoon before I picked you up at
Marcela’s. The master bedroom has an attached bath. You can have that
one if you like. Tomorrow we will go clothes shopping. You can’t keep
sleeping in the buff. Even if you are okay with it, I’m not.”

I was looking down the hall and that got my attention. I turned to look
at Ricky. “Just what do you mean by that?”

“Jess, you might be my best friend but as of now you are a woman. We
don’t go skinny dipping in the crick like we did when we were kids. You
have got to start thinking like a woman. The number one rule besides all
those other rules about staying out of the government’s hands and
staying alive is…, You no longer run through the room naked.

Apologies and a million sorrys later isn’t going to change the fact I
screwed up and you are paying for my mistake. You’re a woman, I’m a guy.
The longer this mess goes along the less I think of you as Tom and the
more I think of you as Jessica.”

He pointed at my purse. “If you want to shoot me now I won’t blame you.
The only thing I ask is don’t make me suffer for the wrong I did. Make
it a quick kill shot.”

I shook my head as an evil grin spread across my face at what I was
thinking. “Sorry, you’re out of luck if you expect me to end your misery
this soon. You’re going to have to suffer through this the same as me.
Shooting you now would be an act of kindness. Right now I don’t have a
single drop of kindness in my…, this female body. I may not be a woman
scorned but you will figure out what a woman’s wrath is before you
change me back. You’re gonna pay and pay and pay and…”

I headed off down the hall. “I gotta figure out the girl necessities. My
mother never taught me all the things girls should know about applying
makeup and what to do before bed. Or all them other things girls learn
growing up. Are you sure running though the house stark naked is a no
no? Ricky sweetheart dearest?”

Ricky closed his eyes and shook his head as he watched Jess walk into
the master bedroom and close the door behind her. Payback had already
started. He was positive Jess was going to drive it home before she was
satisfied she had evened the score.

=============================================================

The days slowly crawled by and turned into weeks. Ricky seemed to have a
schedule of him and me making the rounds of the social set every
evening. I was betting Serena and Linda were behind the planning unless
Ricky had changed over the years. Ricky had his nose stuck into circuits
and schematics building that machine of his for too many years for him
to be a social swinger. My pictures as a Norwegian princess were popping
up in the society pages as the weeks rolled by. By design or luck Ricky
always seemed to be able to stay out of range when someone wanted to
take my picture. I kinda guessed some of it was do to the information
put out that Ricky was a diplomatic aide rather than a boyfriend or
lover. The photo hounds probably weren't that interested in taking
pictures of someone who was no more than an aide.

We were at the breakfast table. I had opened the Dallas Morning News to
the society page and was looking at me. I pointed to the picture.
“Ricky, is there a purpose to this? There have been too many of these
lately to be a coincidence.”

He looked at the picture after taking a drink of his orange juice.
“You're very photogenic. Nice picture.”

“Not what I asked. This is more than circumstance. Give.” I slid the
paper over in front of his plate.

“Well..., a meeting of the minds decided the best way to keep you off
the radar of the government acronyms was to make you so visible you
would be invisible.” He folded the paper so my picture was all that was
on top.

“Oh just great! When we pick up your data and my face is splashed all
over their cameras focused on your lab they will know exactly who they
are looking for. Nice move there Mister. And after that my picture will
be with an orange jumpsuit and leg shackles.” I couldn't believe Ricky
would out me to the world like this.

“Plans are developing Jess. If I thought there was any risk to you we
would abandon the lab and forget the whole thing. The data banks aren't
worth you going to prison. Linda and Serena know I want the data out of
that lab. You can bet your last lucky dime Dimitri knows along with the
rest of the Russian intelligence team. They are waiting to see how this
works out.

They have the same encrypted data as does the CIA. They wouldn't hand it
over without making sure they were in on the next build. Thus we have
all the alphabet soup names of our own government waiting the
information along with the Russians. It got twice as complicated as it
was when we first returned but it couldn't be helped.

You needed an identity, I needed a new identity and funds. At the time I
thought I needed to heal up before we made a run at the lab. It was an
error in judgment on my part. I wish now we had picked up the data, got
back into that plane, and left the country.”

“Where do we go from here?” I was curious as to what his plans were now?

Ricky took a deep breath. “White Out is supposed to be delivered today.
I need to test it to make sure we aren't left hanging out to dry and it
covers all signals. I trust our Russian friends up to a point but I
don't trust my life to them any more than I'd trust our own government.”

There was that white out thing again. “I take it this is something you
sold the Russians and they are loaning it back?”

Ricky shrugged his shoulders. “Not a thing Jess but an application. It
blanks out all electronics within a specific radius. Television, radio,
phone, wireless signals and even most equipment that is directly wired
if it hasn't been shielded. When you walk into court rooms, hospitals,
or government offices there are dead zones in them where cell phones no
longer work. That was the premise behind White Out. It goes several
steps further. It blanks all electronics.”

“I'm guessing you think it may work on the monitors around your lab? If
that is the idea then why am I still dressing up? If they can't see me
then jeans and a denim jacket would work.” I couldn't help but think
Ricky had wasted time and money on trying to turn me from a toad into
something halfway presentable as a debutant.

“By the way. Since it comes to my mind. How long before the bill
collectors start pounding on the door wanting to be paid? You have been
shelling out some damn serious coins from the time we returned to
Dallas. I figure I better find a job before you need to sell your plane
and car to pay the bills.”

Ricky laughed as he shook his head. “We sell the plane and we might as
well give up to the goons. It is our ticket out of here once we get the
information I need. I'm not sharing a whole lot of information with you
Jess. It isn't because I don't trust you. I trust you with my life. But
the fact is the less you know the less likely you will be harmed if
anything goes wrong.

Let me play the devils advocate. Say they did manage to get their hands
on you. What can you tell them besides there was a lab in Mexico and it
wasn't the Philadelphia Project? The White Out? They already have a good
idea there is a system out there that is screwing with their electronics
from time to time. So you tell them I designed it which is irrelevant.
They are already pissed off at me. The idea I sold years of hard work to
the Russians rather than give it to our government is not going to keep
me awake at night.”

He gave me a wink. “I have money Jess. I was paid very well for several
projects I designed. I invested it in a lot of companies around the
world. China, Russia, Israel, Canada, Brazil, and the US are a few of
the places where my money is working. You don't need to worry about the
bill collectors. It was only after we lost the lab in Mexico I realized
I should have diversified my identity. Linda pulled my chestnuts out of
the fire on that one. From now on you and I will have three different
identities in case we ever end up in that type of situation again. I
trust Linda, Dimitri not so much.”

He pushed the paper back over in my direction. “Marsha and her husband
Harold Fortner are holding a party Friday night. She is the lady you met
at the beauty parlor three weeks ago. Since your picture has been
showing up on the society page Mrs. Fortner wants you to come to her
party as a favor to her. It's a social thing Jess. People in the upper
class like to discuss or brag about the people they know on a first name
basis. The general public has their movie stars. These people have
royalty as friends.”

He smiled. “While you are socializing see what you can learn if there
are any rumors about the government watching a certain part of town.
Don't get specific about an address nor push the conversation in that
direction. Be discreet.”

I shook my head. “You know me. I'm about as discreet as a sledge hammer.
I'll try is all I can promise. What am I supposed to do at some social
party? You know I don't have any idea how to act around women in that
respect. You think they are going to be interested in how to field strip
an M Sixteen or how to lay out the string lines for a foundation?”

Ricky laughed as he looked me in the eye. “That would probably get their
attention. Linda is going as your aide. Since she is no longer my
handler it won't draw any undue attention to her from her Russian
bosses. She can help guide you through the evening as necessary.”

That shocked me. “I thought she went back home after making a stop at
the lab in Mexico?”

He rose up from the table. “She did and now she's back. She came back on
her own this time. She wasn't sent back. I think you impressed her. She
probably wants to know where you came from? Linda is very methodical in
her work. She crosses all the T's and dots all the I's and leaves no
unexplained or unexpected behind. You popped up on her radar from
nowhere. She's going to put some time in finding out where you came from
and who you worked with before you and I joined up. She will be subtle
about it but expect a full court press from her.”

“And if she finds out?” I couldn't believe Ricky would invite her to get
this close to us if that was her intentions.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I didn't answer her when she asked me about
the lab in Mexico. She knows it wasn't the Philadelphia Project. A non
answer is as good as an answer when she has to report to Dimitri. If she
figures out what we really were doing in Mexico then what she does with
that information will be up to her.”

He turned and was headed for the garage. “Don't ever lie to her. She
will never trust you again. If she asks a question you don't want to
answer then don't. She can ask, it doesn't mean you have to answer.”

===============================================================

It didn't take much prodding from Ricky to get me headed back over to
the beauty parlor. I was learning but I wasn't an expert in the makeup
department. I guess I was finally learning to walk and act like a woman
because no one hassled me on the walk from Wanda's Beauty Parlor to
Marcela's Boutique. Or maybe there were a few there who remembered the
first time I made that walk? Who knows?

Jennie the lady who had waited on me the first time met me as I walked
into Marcela's. “Miss Rabbit it is good to see you again.”

“I thought we cleared this up last time. It is Jess. Good to see you too
Jennie. I'm supposed to go to Marsha's party Friday night. Ricky said a
dress had been ordered for the occasion.” I smiled as I gave her a wink.

She laughed. “Jess it is then. Yes we have the dress. Try it on for me
if you will to make sure it accents your figure properly. Although I
can't imagine any dress not doing so.”

It was my turn to laugh as I knew exactly what this body had been
designed for in Ricky's mind. At first I hated him for putting so much
wow into his design. Over the past few weeks I started to appreciate
just how much this body could easily manipulate men. When I was a guy I
should have realized beautiful women almost automatically own men's
minds. The rodeo queen Tracy captured mine. Like all men I didn't have
a clue at the time when it happened. I was too infatuated with her
beauty and her charm. My mind didn't believe at the time that someone
like her would even talk to someone like me. For the past few weeks I
had been studying the interactions between men and women and between
women themselves.

All the things girls learned by instinct as they grow from adolescence
into adults I was experiencing in weeks. I was on a serious learning
curve. And from the price of that gown for Marsha’s party Jennie had me
try on at Marcela's, Ricky was on a serious money drain train. I hoped
Ricky's plans worked out for retrieving the data drives. It was costing
him a ton of money the way we were going at it.

Ricky and the red Lincoln were gone when I got back home. I was slowly
learning another thing about a woman's life. A woman's work is never
done. I washed the dishes, made the beds, vacuumed the carpets. The
clothes were a different matter.

Those Ricky and I had been wearing weren't the kind that goes into the
washing machine. They go to the cleaners. I sighed as I headed for the
laundry room with a handful of underclothes and socks. I yearned for the
days when it was jeans and denim shirts as the style of the day. As I
was hand washing nylons in the laundry sink I begin thinking this
Scandinavian princess stuff really sucked. It was about that time I
decided enough was enough. I headed for the bedroom and a change of
clothes.
================================================================

“Ma'am you need some help with that?” He was giving me the once over
several times over.

“I'll manage. What's your furtherest range?” I rolled the pistol belt up
on my left shoulder before I set the rifle case on the bench between us.

“Uh.., four hundred yards here. The targets can be set at any distance
you want. If this is your first time you might want to try fifty yards
for your rifle and ten yards for your pistol. Are you sure you want to
shoot that pistol? That's a damn big gun for a woman. Your husband or
boyfriend send you out here with that? That will probably hurt you.” He
gave me his pathetic 'girls can't shoot' look.

“I'll try and manage if it's okay with you. Set me up two targets. One
at fifty yards...”

“For the rifle of course.” He finished my sentence for me.

“And another at four hundred yards. Think you can manage that?” His
condescending attitude was driving my desire to put some holes
downrange.

He snickered. “uh..., but of course. I'll have one of the guys run those
targets out for you.”

“Thank you. Which booth do I get?” I looked at a dozen shooters boxes.
Eight of them were already occupied.

He handed me a tag from the pegboard beside his left hand. “Maybe number
seven will be your lucky number.”

I took the tag before I picked up my rifle case. I adjusted my purse
strap on my right shoulder and my gun belt on my left shoulder. I didn't
remember things being this complicated when I was a guy. I headed for
the booth determined to not look like a chick in distress with this much
gear.

As I laid everything on the bench and settled into the seat I was
seriously considering heading home and shooting Ricky for changing me
into this female hell. Way down range a target stood up. The gun guys
were going to make me realize I could never hit anything at four hundred
yards and I should have stuck with the fifty yard target.

Bite me! I unlocked the gun case and lifted the 308 out. The bipod
snapped onto the barrel. I took a clip out of a case and checked to make
sure all the noses were clean. Any kind of contamination can drag a
bullet off its target at that range.

“May I?”

I looked up to my right. A rugged looking character about two forty and
about sixty five years old was standing there with a monsterous spotter
scope.

Nodding to the spotter's bench beside me I shrugged. “Help yourself.”

“Thanks.” He settle in and adjusted his scope. “Their range isn't
perfect. You can't feel it sitting here but you have a ten mile an hour
wind coming from your left to your right. They didn't get the field
level when they graded this place for a range. There is a fourteen inch
rise from here to that target you are looking at.”

Now it was my turn to take a good look at the guy. “Thanks.”

He smiled back. “For most people that information wouldn't mean
anything. That rifle you unpacked tells me you ain't most people.”

Sliding on my ear protection and shooters glasses, I checked to make
sure he had on his. “Let's see if you're right.” I slid the lens covers
off the scope and focused in on the target. “We're going hot.” There was
a loud bark.

“Lower right hand corner. Just outside the bulls eye.” He raised away
from his scope and looked at me.

“K. Again.” I racked a bullet into the chamber. There was another loud
bark.

“Dead center.” His eyes were dancing as he looked at me.'

“Again.” Another bullet into the chamber and another loud bark.

“You made the center hole a little wider.”

I put twelve bullets down range before I quit. “I'm getting sloppy.”

“Yeah, that last one almost didn't make it through the same hole. You
cut the heart out of that bulls eye.” That's the damnest shooting I have
ever seen in my entire life.

Pointing to the clips still in the case I looked him over. “You want to
try?”

He shook his head. “Thanks but I'm not going to try and impress anyone
with my talents after what I just witnessed.”

Finally! I was starting to feel not so..., so damn female hopeless after
the big guy's compliments. Hearing voices behind me I turned around to
look. There were eight men crowded around staring at me or the rifle.
Most of them had a look of disbelief as they talked among themselves.

I was starting to doubt my reason for this testosterone test. I wanted
to vent my frustrations, not tell the gun set I could shoot.

Keying the intercom I looked over toward the guy in the booth. “I’m
through with the rifle. Have them set up the fifty yard target please.”

Downrange the target disappeared and the fifty yard target rose up. Do I
or don't I? Ahh what the hell. I wasn't coming back. I didn't give that
guy at the check in station the name I was using.

I stood up and pulled the fifty from the holster. Before I could bring
it up I heard someone behind me. “Oh shit.”

“Going hot.” I put seven bullets down range. The clip was empty and my
wrist hurt. It took a long time to reacquire my target after each shot.

“I'm through.” I didn't enjoy that like I use to or thought I would.
That shoot off with Linda was still fun. This wasn't. The fifty was too
big of a gun for me now. I needed something smaller with less recoil.
Using this gun if I missed that first shot it would take too long to
send another bullet after the first. Ricky and I were damn lucky at that
lab of his I hadn't missed.

The big guy shook his head as he stood up and snapped the caps closed on
his spotter scope. “I can cover all the holes with a dollar bill. How's
your wrist?”

“Bruised.” It wasn't hurting yet but it would pretty soon. I wanted to
get home and soak it in hot water and Epsom salts before it started
swelling.

He nodded in agreement. “I can understand why. I'm not going to pretend
to understand why you want to carry that thing. I saw something today
I'll be telling my grandkids until the day I die. Appreciate you letting
me watch.”

I held out my hand. “Thanks for spotting for me. It was kind of you.”

He took my hand and shook it. “I'd like to help you carry your gear back
out to your car if you will let me.”

“uh...,” It was a kind offer but was he wanting to read my car tag? “I
think I can manage.”

I thought I could but when it was time to pick up that rifle case I
couldn't do it after what the fifty had done to my right wrist. I was
klutzing it.

He watched me as I picked it up and set it down twice before he reached
over and hefted it. “Yeah. I'll help.”

Things were packed into the trunk of the car when he held out his hand.
“It was a privilege.”

I took his hand. “Thanks. I really did need some help. That fifty worked
me over.”

He grinned and nodded. “It's not the first time you shot that monster or
you wouldn't have been knocking them down like that. Take my advice for
what it's worth. I wouldn't punish my body like that if I were you. The
308 you did okay with. The fifty..., you did okay with it too. Was it
worth it? Buffalo are gone. What do you need a fifty for in this day and
age? I have a collection of sorts that might work for you. I'm thinking
FN five seven would be one of them.”

He pulled a card from his pocket and held it out to me. “Call me if you
would like to see what I have. Bring your husband, boyfriend or
girlfriend if you feel the need to have them look too.”

I took his card. “Thanks.”

I was in the kitchen soaking my wrist in a dishpan full of hot water and
Epsom salts. The fifty was in a dozen pieces scattered across the table
on a towel. I had cleaned it but not reassembled it. The rifle was
across the table still needing to be cleaned when I heard the garage
door open. I picked up the rifle, racked one into the chamber, and
waited.

Ricky walked in. His eyebrows went up as he looked from me to the table.
“You giving your toys a bath now?”

I opened the bolt and laid the rifle down before I put my hand back into
the water. “Just cleaning them.”

“What did you do Jess? Do I need to look for dead bodies in the back
yard?” He was looking out the patio doors toward the back.

I had to laugh over that one. “Not yet. I went out to a gun range to
work out a little of my frustrations. Ricky, the fifty is too big and
too heavy. I don't feel like carrying that much iron in my purse any
more. It takes too long to bring it around and get it into position for
defense. I don't have the muscles I had when I was Tom working
construction. I am deluding myself thinking things can stay the same
until you bring Tom back. I'm not giving up my defensive weapons though.
If anything I need one now more than I ever did before. I'm going to
pick up something light, powerful, but not as heavy or have as much kick
as the fifty if your finances can stand it.”

Picking up the fifty frame I started reassembling it. “I love the fifty
because it scares the fight out of anyone as soon as I pull it. It has
deadly serious stamped all over it. Even those with drug or alcohol
brain damage know not to challenge it. It is a put down weapon. One
bullet and the target is down no matter if they have a vest or not.”

Ricky nodded in agreement as he watched me put the Eagle back together.
“But…, it isn’t a ladies gun. Find something more agreeable Jess. We can
afford it. You have something in mind?”

Holding the fifty in my hands I felt like I was betraying a friend. It
had served me well as Tom and even saved my life as Jessica. I think so.
A guy mentioned a FN five seven. Doesn’t have the kick or the knock down
of the fifty. I can get armor piercing bullets that have the same or
even more penetration than the fifty even though they are illegal. I’ll
have to make sure each one hits a vital spot if it comes to that.”

Ricky pulled his cell phone. “Linda knows her guns. Why don’t I let her
find one for you? No name, no registration, and how many of them bullets
did you think you might want?”

Reaching over I closed up his phone before he had a chance to make the
call. “Don’t make any calls from this location unless it is necessary. I
may be paranoid but I’m beginning to get that same feeling Linda said
she had. I feel the feds breathing down our necks. They get their hands
on us and it is all over. I don’t know if the government guys place you
and Linda together or not. If they have, they will scrutinize anyone she
gets close to.”

Ricky nodded as he slid his phone back into his pocket. “Good advice
even though Linda is no longer Linda. I need to stop referring to her as
Linda. She is Maria Martinez, from Brazil now.”

That stopped me cold. “Say what!”

Ricky chuckled. “Linda has used three different names since I first met
her. I have no idea what her real name is. In her line of work it is a
benefit to have one’s own government behind them. Makes it easy to
change identities. Even if our government had a double agent in Russia
it would be hard to keep up with the Russian agents identities. I’m
betting Linda…, Maria’s new identity came straight out of Brazil rather
than some Russian agency.”

He turned and was headed out the door. “Don’t think about it too much
Jess. It will give you a headache trying to keep up with what the
Russian and American spy spooks do now days.”

==============================================================

Later is always too late to be wishing we had done something different.
Something didn’t feel right after I made the trip to Wanda’s Beauty
Parlor Friday evening.

When I walked out of her salon my gut feeling I was being watched went
off the charts. Not the usual kind of looks from people but the kind
that says you’re being painted. My hand went inside my purse to the
fifty. I didn’t pull it out in the open. I took a quick step to my right
away from Ricky’s red Lincoln like I was going to walk to Marcela’s for
the gown. I was wishing I had drove the bullet proof car. He had parked
his red Lincoln behind the other car so when it was time to go I drove
this one.

Then I spun on my heel and stepped up beside the car keeping my head
down below the roof line. I checked the parking lot on the side of the
car I was on, looking for someone or something out of place. I was
thinking about the two guys who had hassled me weeks earlier wondering
if they had come back to finish the job?

A car with a high performance engine started up behind me on the other
side of the parking lot. Taking a quick glance over the roof of the
Lincoln I saw a black sedan with heavy tinted windows turning my way.
The passenger windows were half way down. I had no doubt this was a car
full of friends of the six dead people we had left behind in Mexico.
Drug dealers have resources our own law can only dream about. They don’t
have any restrictions about being legal since everything they do is
illegal. I was betting I showed up in someone’s pictures that fateful
night. Maybe they even found the doctor I had taken Ricky to? It didn’t
take a genius to figure out Ricky and the bimbo he was with that night
disappeared supposedly in a US registered airplane. Was every red headed
bimbo now on their death list or…?

The beauty parlor was going to be in the line of fire. Brenda was still
by the counter watching as I crouched beside the car. I lifted the fifty
out of my purse and waved it at her motioning for her to get back and
down. Texas must have smarter people than most because she turned and
was screaming and waving for everyone to get back and down as she hit
the floor.

As the front of the black sedan slowly pulled past the rear of the
Lincoln I eased around to the front of the Lincoln. Gun barrels were
sticking out the windows. They expected to find me crouched down beside
the car. They opened up with their automatics shredding the Lincoln’s
driver’s side and all the windows. The black sedan leapt forward with
the rear tires burning rubber and the shooting stopped.

I should have let them go. It wasn’t part of my training. I stood up and
put a round through the rear passengers side window while it was still
down. The angle of the shot was perfect. The driver’s blood was
splattered all over the inside of the car. The car swerved and crashed
into a parked car. The two on my side opened their doors and bailed. The
one that had been in front was bringing his rifle up when he was slammed
back up against the door and dropped with a fifty slug in him. The one
that had been in back was trying to make it around behind the car. He
didn’t make it. The fourth man that had been sitting behind the driver
rose up over the trunk of the car with his rifle pointed up in the air
ahead of him. He was bringing the rifle down to take aim in my
direction. It was his last mistake.

Looking at the red Lincoln I hoped Ricky was telling the truth when he
said it was a lease. All the windows were gone. From the tail light to
the front bumper that whole side of the car looked like a cheese grater.
That wasn’t counting the two flat tires. I wasn’t going to be driving it
home. Now what? This whole mess was going to lead the police straight to
our doorstep. That identity Linda set up for me better be bullet proof
or it was going to be curtains for Ricky and me if the feds got
involved.

Looking back at the beauty shop, the women were slowly starting to get
up off the floor as they stared at me. There wasn’t any glass left
anyplace in the front of the store. Several of the mirrors inside were
broken along with some of the beauty chairs looking worse for the wear
and tear.

Back across the parking lot where the black sedan had come from were the
two guys who had accosted me that first day. One had his wrist in a cast
and the other had a leg cast. I wasn’t sure but I would make a bet it
was those two who sic the Mexicans onto me. I made a slicing motion
across my throat. Besides shooting them in cold blooded murder, it was
the best I could do at the moment. If I ever saw them when there weren’t
any witnesses around I would remedy the situation.

They scrambled for their car and burned rubber out of the parking lot.

Reaching into the car I held my gun over the seat and ejected the
cartridge. Under the seat was a second clip. I slid it home. If the
Mexicans had a backup team I wasn’t starting the second act with a half
empty clip. I could hear the sirens of several cars in the distance.
Walking back up to the beauty parlor I swept the glass aside with my
foot. I sat down in front of the shop with my back to the wall, put my
fifty out to the side out of arms reach so the cops could see I couldn’t
pick it up without leaning over for it. With this much damage and dead
bodies their adrenalin was going to be in overload. They would shoot
first and decide what went wrong later. Anyone holding a gun when they
arrived would end up dead.

I pulled Marsha Fortner’s card out of my purse and made the call.

“Attorney Fortner’s office.” Was the bright cherry voice on the other
end.

“This is Jessica Rabbit, may I speak to Mrs. Fortner please. It is very
urgent.”

“Jessica, tell me you aren’t backing out of coming tonight?” Was the
familiar voice on the phone.

“Marsha, I’m in the shopping mall where we first met. I shot four men.
I’m going to need an attorney. Can you help?”

The phone was silent for a few seconds before she answered. “Did you
kill them?”

“Yes.”

“Do NOT answer any questions the police may ask. The only response is
you will not answer without your attorney present. I’ll be there in
twenty minutes. Don’t say anything to the police. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” There was a click as my phone went dead. I watched as nine police
cars pulled into the shopping mall.

Of course I was put in a face down position on the sidewalk amid glass
shards before I was handcuffed. To say the police were pissed because I
wasn’t talking to them was an understatement.

“Officer you don’t understand. Jessica was defending herself.” Brenda
was trying to get them to release me. The police started taking
statements from the ladies in the salon.

He shook his head. “Two of them were shot in the back.”

I nodded as I listened. I was thinking to myself. Uh huh, the driver and
the guy trying to run around behind the car. I guess I should have
waited for a repeat performance when they were coming at me?

Marsha walked up and looked at me. “Did you say anything?”

“Only that I wasn’t speaking without an attorney.”

“Good girl. Give me a chance to find out what happened and you stay
put.” She looked at the Lincoln turned into hamburger before she turned
and was walking toward the black sedan.

I almost laughed. Stay put? I was handcuffed and a big policeman was
standing over me. Sure, you can count on me. I’ll be right here when you
come back.

Marsha walked around the black sedan stopping to talk to the officers
and look over the bodies. Ten minutes or so she was headed back in my
direction with an officer in tow. She was shaking her head. “Jesus
Christ Jess, what do they teach young girls in that country you’re
from?”

She looked at the officer she had brought back with her. “David?”

He got a lopsided grin on his face. “Release her. By all accounts she
was defending herself. Mrs Fortner said she would be responsible for her
until the information is taken to the DA.”

The policeman motioned for me to stand up so he could remove the
handcuffs.

Brenda stepped out of the salon and gave me a hug after the cuffs had
been removed. “Thanks Jess. If you hadn’t warned us we could be dead
too.”

David looked at her curiously. “Warned you?”

Brenda held my hand as she nodded in agreement. “Jess motioned for us to
get down before they started shooting.”

Someone was coming across the parking lot I really didn’t want to see.
He was grinning as he walked up and stopped beside David. He looked over
the Lincoln before turning his attention back toward me. “Hello Red.
Damn nice shooting.”

He looked at the gun the officer was still holding. “I was thinking it
had to be a fifty you were carrying since you said it was bigger than
mine. These guys were the muscle for a drug dealer. Nice of you to take
care of them for us. Be warned there are ten more waiting to take their
place for everyone you remove. I don’t know what you did to piss them
off but they will be doubly so now. Watch your back.”

He was the guy that had followed me from the trade show several weeks
back. He was part of the alphabet soup companies the US kept on hand.
CIA, FBI, NSA or maybe an un named black ops. “Thanks for the advice.
I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Give her gun back. She’s going to need it.” He looked at the policeman
who was holding my fifty. He walked over to the Lincoln, reached inside
and pushed the button to pop the trunk.

I knew what he was doing and didn’t like it. I had no idea how far he
was going with his snooping.

Lifting the rifle case out of the trunk, he walked up, laid it on the
hood of the car, and opened it up. He let out a low whistle. “Damn
serious sniper rifle. Custom made. Accurate at a thousand yards?”

“seventeen” There was no sense in lying now. He knew what he was looking
at. I was praying to God he didn’t say anything about the silencer in
the case. I didn’t have a permit for it. Hell…, Jessica didn’t have a
permit for the fifty I was carrying. That was issued for Tom not Jess.
Please God don’t let the others think of asking. If they did I was going
to prison.

He let out another low whistle as he shut the case and snapped the locks
back. His eyes were smiling when he looked over at me. “I knew you
wouldn’t let it be out of reach. It’s in your blood. I never was that
good.”

I knew without a doubt he recognized the silencer and didn’t ask.

He looked at David and Marsha. “She can put someone down a mile away.
That’s for those who don’t realize it isn’t only her looks that can
kill.”

He gave me a come on motion with his hand. “I’ll drive you home since
your car seems to be non compliant for the laws of the Texas Highway
Division.”

This was getting worse by the second. “uh…, I’ll call a cab.” I didn’t
want him to know where I lived.

He could see my hesitation. “I know where you are staying. You have been
all over the society pages. It’s part of my job to be nosey.”

Marsha shook her head. “I don’t want my client talking to any
reporters.”

He laughed as he moved his coattail to the side. He pulled a Texas
Rangers badge off his belt. “Mrs. Fortner, I’m not going to question
your client as a reporter nor am I going to question her in any capacity
as a law officer. Because I said it, I can no longer be called to
testify as to anything she may or may not say in my presence.

Officer David was protesting. “She hasn’t filled out a statement yet.”

The Ranger laughed again as he rolled his eyes. “That’s because you had
her cooling her ass on the sidewalk for the past forty minutes. I was
listening to the calls on the radio. When a red headed woman was
mentioned I had a good idea who they were talking about. I had to come
over and see for myself. You’re damn lucky a second crew didn’t come in
and try to finish what the first one couldn’t. The only reason it didn’t
happen is no one figured one woman would stand a chance against four men
with automatics.”

He pointed toward the Lincoln. “I’m betting she is the only one here who
isn’t part of the spray and pray crowd. Spray enough lead downwind and
pray you hit something. What you carrying Lieutenant? A nineteen shot
Glock? Don’t be embarrassed, I’m carrying the same thing. We would shoot
the car full of holes as we watched them drive off.”

He reached inside the Lincoln and picked up the magazine I ejected on
the seat. “This was on top of all the glass on the seat not under it.
She changed clips already.”

Thumbing bullets out on the car hood he ejected two. “One will still be
in the chamber of her gun. She carries a seven shot clip. She used four
bullets. Want to count the bodies again? Go look that car over and count
the bullet holes in the car.”

“I have a great admiration for the police department. The truth is you
guys spend most of your time writing tickets for speeders and accidents.
You look for who to blame. I look for who not to blame. Five minutes
after you arrived you should have figured out Red did all of us a
favor.”

His eyes were dancing as he studied me. “Fill out your report
Lieutenant. Have Mrs. Fortner look it over. You can ask Red to sign off
on it. In the mean time I’m going to be doing everything I can to talk
her into joining the Rangers so she can embarrass the hell out of all
the rest of us on the gun range. I have a friend who works at the Four
Aces gun club. He called me the other day and said he saw some of the
damnest shooting he had ever seen in his life. Then he went on to say it
was by a woman no less. I knew exactly whom he was talking about when he
described her. I already met her.”

He turned his attention toward Marsha. “Mrs. Fortner, you have a party
tonight. If I may impose I would like to be invited too. Call it extra
security you aren’t going to pay for. Red has proved she can take care
of herself. It’s going to be impossible to hide that fifty in an evening
gown.”

He motioned back over his shoulder with his thumb. “Those guys have
friends and those friends have friends. It’s one of the reasons I’d like
to see Red join the Rangers. Even drug dealers know not to mess with us.
If she was a Ranger they would let this be a learning lesson. They would
back off, hoping they never run into her again.”

Marsha mulled that one over for a few seconds. “Okay Mister…?”

“James Daniels, Texas Ranger, at your service ma’am.”

How was I going to explain all this to Ricky? Hey Ricky all those
government guys looking for us? Why don’t I invite one home just for
giggles? Oh yes, I almost forgot I had the red Lincoln customized. They
added a lot of lead to the body and removed the windows.

The Lieutenant shook his head. “Now just a minute Ranger. You can’t stop
by in the middle of a crime scene and take the only suspect that is
still alive. I’m going to take her back to the station and…”

James sighed as he looked over at me and then at the Lieutenant. “Don’t
make me pull rank on you. You call your captain and have him call my
captain. I promise if you search the Texas Constitution you will find
the Texas Rangers have the authority above any other agency to take over
any crime scene.

A smirk spread across James face. “So far Red has played nice as you
made her park her ass. How high do you want this to go? The lady is
Norwegian Royalty.”

He waved a hand across the horizon. “Dallas police harass and book
Norwegian Princess for defending herself in a Drug Gang shoot out. Will
be the headline spread on all the papers around the world by tomorrow.
Her government, our government, their ambassadors, our ambassadors, and
our governor will be in your station for a week or more asking what in
the hell were you thinking! You will meet some of the most powerful
people in our state and wish to god you hadn’t when they are through.”

I looked over at Marsha. Her eyes were dancing as a smile spread across
her face. I thought she was going to giggle as she looked at James and
then over to Lt. David.

She nodded in agreement. “Wish I had said that. It’s true. You arrest
Jessica and you might as well plan on answering why to every politician
looking for a photo opportunity for the next two weeks. They will
crucify you for arresting a princess because she defended herself in our
wild and lawless state. You will become famous as every supermarket
tabloid prints their own version of the story.”

Lt. David swallowed as he looked me over. “Okay Ranger, I release her in
your custody. She’s your responsibility.”

James motioned for me to follow as he picked up my rifle case, the fifty
clip, and bullets off the hood of the car. “Let’s go Red.”

I held out my hand to the policeman still holding my fifty. “If you
don’t mind.”

He didn’t look too happy. “Just because you’re some damn princess.”

Lt. David’s head snapped around. “Glen!”

The policeman was glaring at me as he handed me the gun. “Yes sir.”

The Lieutenant was looking at the gun. “We will need it for ballistics
after the coroner finishes digging your bullets out of the bodies. Your
attorney can tell you when and where to bring it for a test.”

Picking up my purse off the hood of the car I shoved all the contents
back in the police had poured out when they searched it. I pulled my
hair out of the way as I slid the strap up on my shoulder and dropped
the fifty in it. “Thank you Lieutenant.”

James was still waiting as I gathered up my things. I pointed off toward
Marcela’s. “The dress I am going to wear to the party tonight is there.
Do you mind if I pick it up now?”

James turned and looked at where I was pointing. “Sure thing.” He took a
few slow steps in that direction waiting for me to catch up with him.

“Damn…,” Lt. David watched as Jessica entered the dress shop. “The lady
has ice in her veins. She kills four men and goes shopping for a dress.”

“Which reminds me, I have to get ready for a party. Thanks for your
understanding David.” Marsha smiled at him.

Lt. David looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. “Uh huh,
riiiight”

Fifty minutes later we were in James Ford pickup headed toward the
house. He glanced over in my direction for a sec. “Who are you Red?”

“Uh…, I’m Jessica.” He knew my name. Why was he asking?

“Yes and I’m the President. You’re no more a Norwegian Princess than I’m
a Norwegian Prince. You’re Texas born and raised through and through.
You talk Texan, walk Texan, and act Texan.

To say I was scared silly was an understatement. I ran a dozen options
through my mind and none of them looked good. If I pulled my gun out I
might have to kill him. Would he follow orders if I was holding a gun on
him? He was a Texas Ranger.

He took a quick look in my direction. “Miss who ever you are. What I’m
about to say isn’t to be repeated. If you tell anyone nothing good will
come out of it. A couple days ago I saw an interesting topic on a
friends desk. He is good about scanning all the incoming data from
problems all over the world. The data was about a drug lord and several
others killed at what seemed to be a lab of some sort in Mexico. No big
deal. They are killing one another all the time. No one could figure out
what the purpose of the lab was. It wasn’t a drug making lab. What
interest could the drug dealers have in it? The six men who were killed
had the same problem as the men in the mall we just left. Single bullet
kill shot from a fifty caliber.

He glanced in my direction. I didn’t have anything to say. I was waiting
for him to tell me I was under arrest. Which meant things were going to
get terribly ugly. I wasn’t going to prison.

“The article listed a man whom they thought owned the lab. They didn’t
have a name. He was with a woman that same night. Someone took pictures
of them together at a party earlier that evening. Both of them are
wanted for questioning.”

He pulled into our driveway and killed his pickup before turning in the
seat to focus on me. “The man in the picture is Ricky Clawson. He is
wanted by the CIA, along with Thomas Baker, on an outstanding warrant. I
tried to find out what the warrant was for. It is classified. Means the
feds are fishing, hoping to build a case after they pull him in. The
woman in the picture is the Norwegian Princess.”

James sighed as he turned to look down the street. “You are living on
borrowed time. I have no idea what you are into. I’m not going to ask if
you are an undercover agent.”

He turned his attention back toward me. “I managed to bring all the
pieces together because I had met you. You can bet your ruby slippers it
won’t take too long for others to figure out the same thing if they
haven’t already. If you aren’t government you better be getting ready
for some big time hassle from the guys wanting your friends. Mrs.
Fortner is a good attorney. She isn’t a big league player for the kind
of people who are going to pull you in.”

I nodded. “You’re not going to arrest me?”

“For what? There aren’t any warrants on you.”

“What about Ricky? You going to arrest him?” I was hoping Ricky didn’t
come out of the house if he saw us sitting in the driveway.

“My job. Unless you’re going to pull that damn gun you’re so deadly
with. Then I would carefully consider all my options and leave providing
I could.”

“Then you would come back with those fifty Rangers you threatened me
with weeks back.”

His eyes danced in amusement. “No, I’d send fifty Rangers while I worked
on the arrest warrant.”

I knew it was his way of joking. Live or die, a Ranger would never be
left behind when a job needed to be done. I opened my door, slid out and
retrieved my dress. “I’ll see you at the party tonight?”

He got out and picked up my rifle case, and extra cartridge before
walking around to my side of the pickup. “I’ll be there.”

“I appreciate the ride. Leave my things on the hood of the car.” I
motioned toward the older Lincoln parked in the driveway.

He looked toward the house. “You’re not inviting me in?”

“No.”

“Ricky and Thomas home?” He focused in on my eyes.

I didn’t answer as I waited to see what he was going to do.

“Damn Red, you’re in deep. I’ll see you at the party tonight.” He put my
rifle case on the hood of the car before getting in his pickup and
leaving.

Until then I didn’t know how much this conversation had bothered me. I
was shaking all over as I watched James turn at the end of the block and
disappear. I was prepared to do whatever it took to defend Ricky and the
adrenalin rush was used up. The Mexicans were trying to kill me. That
was self preservation. To think it would be necessary to shoot a Texas
Ranger wasn’t in my mental makeup.

Ricky was waiting when I walked into the house. He looked serious. “The
guy who brought you home is the same one who followed you out at the
trade show. Have they surrounded us yet?”

I laid the party dress across the back of one of the chairs. “He knows
most…, some of the story. His name is James Daniels. He is a Texas
Ranger. Said there is a warrant out on you and me…,”

Ricky cut me off. “He didn’t pull you in and wait for backup to search
the house?”

I would have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so serious. Pointing
down at the front of myself I shook my head. “My disguise is foolproof.
Yours not so much. He had no idea he was talking to Thomas Baker. The
party is still on for tonight at Marsha’s. He is going to be there…,
Ricky we can’t go. He will try and arrest you and I will try and stop
him.”

Ricky was silent for many long pregnant seconds before he sighed. “You
still need to go. If you don’t he will know he struck pay dirt and will
be back with a search warrant for the house.”

“By the way, not that it makes any difference but what did you do with
the Lincoln?”

“It’s in the mall shot full of holes…,”

“SAY WHAT? OH SWELL!” Ricky gave me a full body scan. “At least you
don’t seem to have any holes. Cars are replaceable. You not so much. I
could care less about the car. How did it happen Jess?”

Linda walked in from the hallway. My hand immediately went to my purse
and the fifty. She was holding a phone up to her ear.

“Okay.” She closed it up. “Jess ran into your Mexican friends. Four of
them won’t ever bother anyone again.”

She stared at me and shook her head. “All my man could talk about was
the way Jess took care of them. He had never seen anything like it. She
pulled them in like mice to cheese and then took them out.”

It wasn’t the idea Linda had someone following me that bothered me. It
was the idea I hadn’t picked him out that worried me.

Ricky’s eyes closed to slits as he stared at me. “Okay, this has got out
of control. I’m going to the lab to pick up my research. You and Maria
go to the plane and wait.”

I shook my head. “The hell you say. I’m going with you. And I’m the one
walking into that lab, not you.”

“Jess, I know exactly where everything is at and what I want. It will
take me seconds to walk in and out of that lab while it will take you
minutes. I’m not going to debate this with you.”

As bad as I hated to admit it Ricky was right. Seconds might mean the
difference between life and death or prison. “I drive.”

Linda, Maria or whatever name she was going by shook her head no. “Jess,
I think in your country they call the person who protected the
strongbox, ridding shotgun. That was because he could shoot better than
the driver. We’re going to follow Ricky. Any problems arise they will be
caught between you and me.”

Ricky nodded. “Grab your suitcase Jess. We aren’t coming back.”

I headed to the bedroom as I mulled the plans over. I didn’t like it but
waiting for lots of government agents to close in was worse.

I tossed Ricky’s jewelry in a bag and put underclothes, jeans, and a
blouse in another bag. I slipped off my dress and into jeans, tan satin
blouse, cowboy boots, and cowboy hat.

Ricky was in the kitchen waiting when I walked in carrying a couple
bags. He looked surprised. “Where’s your suitcases?”

“Ricky, I’m not running with a suitcase in my hand. I have your jewelry
in the bag. The dresses stay. They along with the rest of my clothes are
too bulky to be carrying. I have a change in my bag. That’s it. You
ready?”

Linda came in behind me. “Jeeze Vegas, even when you dress down you look
damn hot.”

I turned to look. Linda was wearing black pants and a black blouse with
a new rifle slung over her shoulder. It was a match to the one she gave
me. “Speak for yourself hon.”

Another woman came out of the bedroom wearing black pants, black blouse,
and she had a rifle slung over her shoulder. It was an automatic with
clips taped together. She could probably put a hundred rounds downwind
with what she was carrying.

“Serena?” I was guessing the lady was Ricky’s new handler Linda had
mentioned weeks back. I looked her over. She was a beauty that would
turn any mans head.

“We going, or do we need to discuss the plans again that aren’t really
plans?” Linda waited for a response.

“Load up.” Ricky opened the garage door.

I noticed a brown Mustang in the garage. “Linda’s car?”

Ricky headed to the Lincoln. “Uh huh. One of Jimmy’s specials. She said
it would do over two hundred without even gasping for air.”

After tossing the bags into the rear seat I took the rifle out of the
case and slid a clip home before putting the case in the rear seat.
Ricky was pulling out of the driveway as I was reloading the fifty clip
I had used earlier. I slid it down between my belt and waist hoping I
didn’t need it or the rifle.

==============================================================

Two hours and seventeen minutes later we were parked on a side street in
an industrial complex in Ft. Worth. Ricky flipped a switch leading to
some wires going under the seat. “Try your cell phone Jess. It should be
dead.”

I flipped it open. There was no signal. “It is.”

He nodded. “Okay, here goes nothing.” The Lincoln started rolling
forward.

Minutes later Ricky stopped in front of a non descript brown metal
building. “Wish me luck. If things go wrong you hightail it out of here
and don’t look back or wait on me.”

He opened his door and headed for the building. I chambered a round up
into the rifle and my fifty. Looking at the buildings around us I saw
security cameras up on the corners. They weren’t all pointed to protect
the buildings they were on. I counted six that were focused on the
building Ricky had just walked into.

A black car was hitting the high spots in the pavement headed down the
street toward us. I opened my door stood up and pointed the rifle at the
car. The sound of squealing tires echoed between the buildings. The
driver’s door and passenger door flew open. Guns were pointed in my
direction.

“RICKY, WE HAVE COMPANY! Keep your ass down.” I prayed he didn’t come
running out of the building.

“FEDERAL AGENTS, PUT YOUR WEAPON DOWN!” Came from the direction of the
car.

“Ah hell” I had no doubt they had rifles in the trunk of the car. They
probably called for help when they hit the brakes. This situation was
going to get bad in a hurry if I didn’t get Ricky in the car and leave.
Trying to hold a position when a hundred agents are closing in is not
winnable under any circumstances.

Two blocks behind the black car a brown car pulled into the street and
then behind one of the buildings. Linda ran across the street to the
other side.

And then all Hell broke lose. Serena let lose with her automatic as she
hosed down the rear of the black sedan. Linda was putting holes in the
doors beside the two agents. They should have dove back into the car.
They bailed to the side. The driver fell flat on the pavement losing his
grip on his weapon in the process. His gun was on the pavement ahead of
him. I took care of his gun. The passenger sprinted toward one of the
buildings. Serena churned the ground in front of him. He stopped and
turned toward me. I put a bullet in front of him. He held up his hands.
Linda took the gun out of his hand. I was doubly glad she wasn’t aiming
at me. The girl was deadly accurate.

After all the gunfire it was deathly quiet. “RICKY, GET YOUR ASS OUT
HERE BECAUSE THIS RIDE IS LEAVING!”

I put a bullet into the front of the car where I thought the battery
might be and three more into the radiator.

Linda took the tires out from under it.

Ricky ran from the building and into the driver’s seat in less than five
seconds. He burned rubber leaving. By the time he got to the main road
he slowed down and pulled into traffic as if he was on a Sunday drive.

“Did you get it?” I wanted to know if Ricky was going to be able to
rebuild his lab.

“Yes. We get to the plane and the states will be past tense for me. I
won’t be back.”

I was reloading the rifle. “Linda is good Ricky. Damn good. Better than
me. She has been trained in this business. I was trained to kill. There
is a huge difference. If it had been only me, there would be two dead
agents back there. Linda and Serena scared the piss out of them. They
didn’t kill them because they didn’t need to.”

Ricky nodded. “Are you trying to tell me I need to hire them and fire
you?”

“That’s kinda cold. But yeah since you put it like that.” I looked up to
see if I could see any choppers in the sky. I was positive we were part
of a massive manhunt by now.

Nineteen minutes later Ricky pulled the car into a hanger. The brown
Mustang pulled in behind us. Ricky and Linda were like a well oiled team
as they snapped the towbar onto the plane and pulled it from the hanger.
It surprised me when Linda and Serena loaded their gear into the plane
as I was loading ours.

“Everyone settled?” Ricky glanced in back. He and Linda were up front in
the pilot and copilot seats. The turbines were starting to spool up.
Linda was on the radio asking for permission to taxi to the end of the
runway for takeoff. It was obvious the two women were going with us. Had
Ricky sold his idea to the Russians?

Minutes later we were airborne I felt the wheels retract. Ricky came to
the back as Serena walked up and took his place. “What’s the deal
Ricky?”

He sat down in the seat beside me and took my left hand before sliding
an engagement band and wedding ring on my finger.

I didn’t think anything Ricky could do would shock me by now but that
did. I was looking from the rings to his eyes, to the rings, to…,

“Marry me Jess.”

“MARRY YOU? HAVE YOU FORGOT WHO I AM? WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN
THINKING?” I know my eyes were big, as I was shocked out of my mind.

“Marry me. Everything I own will be yours if something happens to me. It
will be legal. We will get married in Stalingrad. I am the reason you
are who you are. I’m sorry…,”

“I thought we put that sorry bit behind us. Let it go. It’s past tense.
I don’t want your money, nor your apology. You saved my life. I wouldn’t
have picked this one for a substitute, but it’s growing on me. You don’t
owe me anything. I owe you my life. Let’s let it go at that.” I started
to pull the rings off to give them back.

He put his hand over mind and stopped me. “Then do me a favor if you
think you owe me. Marry me Jess. I have investments all over the world.
You won’t need to worry about looking after anything as they will take
care of themselves. I will put everything I own in your name if you
won’t marry me.

My emotions took a tumble. “Ricky, we’ve always been the best of
friends. I don’t want your money. I’m not even sure I want Tom to come
back.”

“One more favor than?”

“What?”

“Kiss me?” He waited.

I mulled that one over. From that first night I liked it every time
Ricky touched me or I got to put my hands on him. It wasn’t just to get
even for him doing this to me like I first thought. I actually felt a
soft desire for more than a touch. I leaned over and pulled him in. And
loved every blissful second of that kiss as he returned it.

My heart and my emotions were racing as we broke apart. I was positive
Ricky had put that in my mind when he turned me into a woman. I was a
guy. Guys don’t kiss guys unless they are gay. Despite how much I was
trying to deny it, I had been wanting to bed Ricky and try out the
equipment from day one. Tom was gone and Jess had taken his place.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“I’ll marry you. Gonna get pretty damn awkward when you bring Tom back.”

He was studying my eyes. ”Does Tom want to come back?”

I shook my head. “No. You still going to rebuild the machine?”

“Yes. There is something else. Linda wants to be my best man and Serena
wants to be your bridesmaid.”

I think I was a little disappointed but not much. “You already discussed
this with them?”

“They are going to help us rebuild the machine. We will set up a lab in
Russia. I’m not giving my ideas to our government. They would confiscate
it and lock all of us up so we couldn’t talk about it.”

“How long will it take to rebuild it?”

He put his fingers on the rings. “Two years max with all the help.”

Looking at the rings I thought of what an unforeseeable future we were
headed into. “I’m not giving up Jessica.”

Ricky leaned over and gave me another long kiss. “And neither am I.”

============================================================= There was
a reason the Ranger put on his uniform for the party. The uniform was a
deterrent as most people, even the dumb ones, didn’t want to go up
against a Texas Ranger. Red needed protection and this was the best way
of providing it. If he stayed close to her the gossip mill would spread
the word she was friends with the Texas Rangers.

“Two agents are down.” Came across on his radio and got his attention.

“Multiple shots fired. One of the shooters was a red headed woman. APB
on a tan car believed to be a Lincoln. Requesting assistance at
Blackwelder and Crooks Road. Woman was with a man. They had help. May be
as many as ten shooters. Armed and extremely dangerous.”

“Oh no Red. What have you gone and done now?” James shook his head as
he remembered the woman he was talking to shortly before. He knew where
the address was. It was in Ft Worth. James kicked the pickup in gear as
he turned on his emergency lights.

Reports kept coming in as James sped toward the shooting scene. Police
and highway patrol had set up rolling roadblocks across half the city
stopping every tan car on the roads searching for a red headed woman.

There were so many police cars and federal agent cars at the scene James
had to park two blocks away. Crime scene tape was strung around like
spider web. He was looking at almost sixty little flags planted in the
ground marking all the empty shell casings. “That wasn’t my girl.”

He walked across the street and looked at the empty shell casings with
little flags planted around them. Eighteen of them. He shook his head.
Same caliber as her rifle but…, “No not her.”

He walked up behind the black sedan and studied the bullet holes in the
trunk before circling the car looking at the bullet holes. He stopped
when he was looking at the equally spaced bullet holes in the front.
“Now that’s my girl.”

James stepped over where the two agents were sitting in the back of an
ambulance. Like little kids who had got the bejeebers scared out of
them, they were repeating their story to anyone who would listen.

“She tried to kill us.” Ted had bandages on his right hand where the gun
had been yanked out by Linda’s bullet.

“She ran before we could get back to the car.” Larry had bandages on his
hand and knees where he skinned himself up on the pavement.

James was laughing as he shook his head. “If Red wanted to kill you then
you would be very dead. She was playing nice. I don’t know who she had
backing her. They also were playing nice. Every hole I looked at was not
to kill you but to scare you. If Red missed it was on purpose. A word of
advice to the wise. Next time you see a redheaded woman carrying a gun,
try and not tick her off. She puts a definite end to the debate when
she’s pissed.”

He walked over to the building with all the tape strung around it. There
were little flags by bullet casings on the pavement. He counted six.
“Four in the front of the car. What did she do with the other two?”

He walked into the building. Computers, scopes, and electronic equipment
were on shelves stacked to the ceiling. He leaned over to look behind
one of the computers.

“Don’t touch anything.” Came from a guy in a black suit.

“Surely.” James straightened up and circled the room looking behind the
equipment. He stopped when he got to the east wall. Two computers had
their sides off and wires hanging out. James was looking at the APU
battery array behind them. The computers weren’t plugged into a monitor.
He slipped the plug from the monitor into the computer.

DOWNLOAD ERROR…….. RESET………..DOWNLOAD ERROR……….RESET

Kept scrolling across the screen.

The guy in the black suit stormed across the room. “What in the hell did
you do! I told you to not touch anything.”

James looked at the guy and shook his head. “Did you notice nothing in
here is plugged in except these two computers. They are on and running
without hard drives and the indicator lights have been removed. I’m no
genius but this place is a joke. Someone mentioned the Philadelphia
Project. If that’s what this was supposed to be then someone was a fool.

The guy glared at James. “This is federal business.”

James was headed for the door. “Be my guest. You smart fed boys have
been played by someone a whole lot smarter than you. Red, what were you
after?”

Walking out into the street he stopped by the six casings again and
looked down the street. James nodded as he looked at the gun still in
the street. The gun was pushed away from where he was standing. That was
her fifth shot. He was chuckling as he looked at the two agents still
repeating their story about her trying to kill them. “You guys have no
idea.”

For six weeks James had to put up with razzing from his fellow Rangers
about giving Jessica a ride home so she could go out and shoot up a
couple federal agents. It was all done in a half joking manner but the
fact was, the woman he had drove home quickly ended up on the FBI most
wanted list.

James was called into his captain’s office. Frank was a no nonsense man
with a lot of years as a Ranger behind him. He could have retired
fourteen years earlier. James knew it was because Frank felt he was
making a difference in holding the line between the good guys and bad
ones.

Frank held out a couple bulletins to James. “Thought you might like to
know about your girl. The FBI aren’t the only ones wanting to get their
hands on her.”

It kinda rubbed James a little both ways as everyone kept referring to
Red as “his girl”. The joke had been carried a little too long to be
funny any longer. “They catch her?”

“No. Those four men she killed in the shopping mall? They were working
for a Colombian drug cartel. Ernesto Escobedo put a two hundred thousand
dollar price on bringing her back to him. He gets his hands on her it
won’t be for hugs and kisses.”

James was looking at the bulletins Frank had handed him. “The Mexicans
too?”

Frank looked about as serious as James had ever seen him. “That lab down
in Acapulco? It seems they have figured out she was there too. Ignacio
was the drug lord she took out along with all his lieutenants. His
brother Raul inherited the business and wants payback. He put a three
hundred thousand dollar bounty on her head.”

James shook his head as he looked at the bulletins. “She does seem to
have a knack for poking at the hornets nest. It’s a shame she isn’t
wearing a Ranger badge. We would have bragging rights she was one of us.
She would have the rest of us guarding her back.”

Frank nodded in agreement.

James looked up at Frank. “Captain…”

Frank shook his head. “NO! We are not recruiting someone on the FBI most
wanted list.”

===============================================================

We were on a yacht in the Mediterranean. Ricky’s head was in my lap. I
was massaging his shoulders. “You ever get homesick?”

He opened his eyes and looked up at me. “Not as long as you are by my
side. Why? You want to go back to Oklahoma?”

Looking off across the waters I thought of how both of us land locked
Okies had come to be on a ship in the Med. “Kinda. I’d like to see what
the old place looks like now after five years.”

Ricky sit up and turned to look at me. “Tom…,”

I reached out and put my hands on his lips as I shook my head. “Tom is
happy and so am I. If you are tired of me I will sign everything you
gave me back into your name, give you a divorce, and never look back.”

“Are you tired of me? I mean look at you Jess. You haven’t aged a day
since that fateful night. I know how men look at you. You could have
your choice of any young stud. I’m older, a few more gray hairs, a few
more winkles, I don’t move as fast as I use to.”

Leaning over I gave Ricky a kiss. “Maybe, but you still make love the
same way you use to. I’ll never leave you as long as you want me. I love
you with all my heart. God gave me a life. You saved it and rebuilt it.
I’m not sure there are guy angels and girl angels. Maybe they just are
angels and when God makes a new life and puts one of His angels in that
body we accept whatever it turns out to be, whether it’s a boy or a
girl. I received the greatest gift of all. I got to try out both. I like
the girl side best.”

“Okay, when we go back would you mind if your grandmother took you?” His
eyes were dancing.

“Grandmother?” Where was Ricky going with this? My grandparents were
over forty years past tense.

“Linda said I would make a great someone’s grandmother if I needed to go
back to the states.”

“In your machine?” Ricky wasn’t the only one who could run that machine
since Linda and Serena had helped rebuild it.

“Nah…, makeup. I’m not stepping inside that damn contraption. Too much
can go wrong. Mexicans blow it up, get stuck in some damn exotic babe
body, and…,”

I gave him a light slap on the face. “You’re a sexist and a pervert.”

Then I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

His eyes were dancing. “Yeah, do that again. I think I like it.”

The End?

Jessica Reloads. A sequel to Jessica Rabbit

Author:

Barbie Lee

Caution:

CAUTION: Violence

Audience Rating:

Mature Subjects (pg15)

Publication:

Sequel or Series Episode

Genre:

Adventure

Character Age:

Mature / Thirty+

Permission:

Permission granted to post by author

Jessica and cast return with more adventure. The Texas Ranger returns as well. Five uneventful years later Jessica and Ricky thought they put their problems with the law and the drug cartels behind them. The business of drugs and murder never stops and never forgives no matter how far one moves away. Jessica's friend was killed by those people. As Jess was holding Linda, who was covered in blood, the trained sniper inside her returned. Maybe he had never left!

Jessica Reloads

by Barbie Lee
Copyright 2013

Edited by Catherine Linda Michel, posted with permission from the Author, Barbie Lee.

My name is Jessica Sarah Rabbit. My husband is Ricky Daniel Clawson. Although Ricky isn’t a plastic surgeon you might say he made me the woman I am today... and I love him with all my heart for who I am.

I knew he was feeling remorse for what he had built. “It isn’t your fault.” Ricky was lying in bed beside me. I was running my fingers through his chest hair drawing circles.

He turned his head to look at me. “It is my fault. I shouldn’t have ever designed the damn thing. I said I never wanted to turn the next atomic bomb lose on humanity. I think I have.”

I leaned over and kissed him on the brow. “If you designed a gun would you blame yourself for those who are killed, or would you be thankful for those whose lives are saved by the same weapon?”

He stopped frowning as he studied my eyes. “I love you Jess. You always seem to know what to say to keep me from beating myself up.”

“Then prove how much you love me.” I leaned over and bit him on his left nipple. At the same time I slipped my left hand down between his legs. And received instant results. I knew exactly how to turn my man on and get satisfaction.

“You’re gonna pay for that.” Ricky wrapped me up in his arms and rolled over on top of me.

I dug my long fingernails into his butt and raked up his back. Not deep enough to break the skin but he would be wearing red streaks up his backside the rest of the morning.

“YOW! YOU BITCH!” Ricky’s eyes closed to squints as he closed in for the kill.
==========

Texas Ranger James Daniels was looking at the poster on the inside of his locker. She was a beautiful long legged red head, almost wearing a purple glitter dress. The picture was one of several that had been sent from Acapulco, Mexico when an APB had been put out on her. That was five years ago when she made the FBI most wanted list for getting into a gunfight with two Federal agents. That day was still as fresh in his mind as if it happened yesterday. He gave her a ride home only an hour before the gunfight.

Two agents tried to engage and stop her as she and Ricky Clawson were picking up something from an industrial building. It turned into a one sided gun battle. The agents didn’t get a single round off. Their bodies might not have been shot up but their egos certainly were. Egos aside, they lived to tell the tale of doing something very few people managed. They pointed their guns at Jess and lived.

Rumor claimed it was the Philadelphia Project where time travel was possible. James had no idea what Jess had retrieved but it sure wasn’t the Philadelphia Project unless it could be done on a computer storage drive. James looked the building over after the shoot out. It was a dummy lab.

Jessica, Ricky, their car, the two who helped them and their car all disappeared within minutes after that. It was as if the earth opened up and swallowed them. James glanced at the pictures of the two who had helped Jess that day. The pictures were from security cameras in the industrial complex where the firefight took place.
The two figures were wearing black and had black ski masks. There was no mistaking they were women.

He knew Jessica had been trained as a sniper and was better than just good with a gun. She proved that by killing four men in a shootout when they tried to kill her. That wasn’t counting the six men in Mexico who James knew without a doubt had met the same fate. Although they didn’t have her gun for ballistics tests, the rifling matched on the bullets they dug out of all ten men. Those two mystery women had to be in the same league as Jess. Yet searching through military discharge records showed no women snipers coming out of Afghanistan or Iraq. Where had they come from?

“Captain wants to see you.” A hand was laid on James shoulder before the man turned and walked off.

As James walked into Henry Millman’s office he was thinking of his old captain, Frank Nordstom, who at one time occupied this same office. Frank had finally retired three years earlier. Said he was going fishing the rest of his life. He died six months later.

Henry held out several bulletins. “Someone said you were still looking for your girl.”

“Uh” James took the bulletins and leafed through them. Even though it had been five years since that eventful day, everyone in the Ranger station still referred to Jessica as ‘his girl’.

What James was holding were suspected sightings of Jessica and or Ricky Clawson. The locations varied, but most were in Russia and the Ukraine. Several were obviously in more moderate climate taken with a telephoto lens. The couple were on a boat. Then there was a really close up of Jess standing up looking back at the photographer. She was wearing, if one could call it that, a string bikini. She was pointing a rifle with a big telescopic sight on it at the photographer.

James shook his head as he laughed at that last picture. He could just imagine the photographer peeing in his pants when that picture was taken. There was no doubt it was Jess in the picture. They had to make her an honorary Ranger. That girl had more Texas grit than any person he had ever met.

============

“They killed him.” Tears were leaking out of the corners of her blue eyes. She was wiping them away with the back of her fists.

I pulled Linda in and held her as she struggled to contain her tears and her emotions. “I wish I had been there.”

“Oh Jess, they killed him…, there was nothing I could do…, I’m going to make them pay.” She hugged me in a death grip, trying to make life go away as she cried on my shoulder.

“No you won’t. We will make them pay.” I stroked her hair and rubbed her back as I let her cry out her pain on my shoulder.

Linda and I, along with so many others, were trained as killers by our various governments. I had no idea what others felt. To me it was a job. I didn’t like it, I didn’t hate it. Trained killers or not, we still had emotions and feelings and tried to live a normal everyday life after we quit the killing.

Many like us didn’t make the transition back. They carried their guilt or whatever with them until it ate them up. They usually died from trying to drown their memories in alcohol and drugs. Others simply pulled the trigger when the end of that gun was pointed at their own head.

Linda made the good transition and married Dimitri. For the past three years I don’t think I had ever seen a happier couple. They both had been to the edge of life and returned, determined to take everything in stride. Some old enemies never forget nor forgive. Linda and Dimitri had left the yacht an hour earlier to go shopping. They were ambushed by four men in a little wine store. Dimitri saw them coming and shoved Linda out the backdoor as he shielded her with his own body.

I pieced the story together after Linda had made her way back to the boat. After shooting Dimitri the men ran. Linda hadn’t run after Dimitri shoved her out the door.

Those like us never stop carrying a gun. We know death is always stalking us too once one becomes a killer. By the time Linda pulled hers out of her purse and got to the front of the store the four men had disappeared. She held Dimitri as he died in her arms before she made it back to the boat. She was covered in his blood. I held her as she cried. I had no idea who the men were or who had sent them. I was determined they would all pay. The sniper had come back. Maybe he had never left!
==========
“WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?” The man threw the paper down on the table. “I send you to kill the bitch and you shoot a guy instead?”

He turned to look at the man across the room. “Are you a fucking idiot? Now she will be ready!”

“My men tried Padrone. The man got in the way.” Javier didn’t dare look up as he studied the floor in front of his feet.

Raul glared at Javier. “You follow the woman off the boat and shoot the man. Why didn’t you blow up the boat and kill them all? That way you would have known the bitch was fucking dead!”

Raul stood up and looked out at the forest. “If you weren’t my cousin I’d have you shot. Where are the men?”

“They have already returned Padrone.”

“Make sure that bitch doesn’t follow them back. If any of our men at the airport or docks lets her slip in I’ll have them shot. Is that understood?” Raul turned to study the man across the room.

“Yes Padrone.”

“Get out of my sight. You make me sick.” Raul turned his back on Javier.

==========
I didn’t put in the call to Serena expecting her to join us. I wanted her to know about Dimitri and be extra cautious. She was still very active as a government agent. I figured she would be busy on a case somewhere in the world. Serena showed up the next day with information she had already gleaned from her sources.

“Mexico” Serena was looking at Linda.

Linda’s eyes glazed over as she searched her memory. She shook her head. “Mexico? I don’t remember Dimitri doing any work there. They move there?”

“Wasn’t Dimitri they were after. Word in the underworld is they were after a woman.”

Her eyes were misting up again before she wiped them away. “I didn’t do any work there either.”

“They claim the woman killed a drug lord and five of his lieutenants. The man’s brother took over the business and put out the hit.” Serena turned her attention toward me.

My emotions went to high alert. “Where did this happen?”

“Acapulco.”

“The six men I killed in Acapulco. Oh Linda, I’m so sorry. It wasn’t you and Dimitri they wanted. It was me.” My heart sank as I knew I was responsible for Dimitri’s death and Linda’s pain.

Linda looked up with sheer hatred in her eyes. It wasn’t me it was directed at as she looked off across the water. “It matters, but it doesn’t. I’m not blaming you. It is the business we are in. Not your fault. They never quit. There are too many. Forget it.”

I knew better. Linda wasn’t going to forgive nor forget. “When do we start?”

She looked at her watch. “I have to get resources and men in place. Fourteen days.”

Serena nodded. “I’m in. I know some of the guys working in Mexico.”
=========
I was wearing a red, blue, and yellow pokadot dress with a really low cut neckline. The hem of a full skirt was cheerleader short. A bright yellow scarf was draped around my neck and hung loosely across my left breast. I had it pinned in place with a big gaudy, silver and gold broach. My long red hair was pulled over my right shoulder and draped suggestively across my right breast.

I had half a dozen flashy bracelets on my left wrist and that many more on my right. My ears were sporting silver and gold big ol dangle earrings. Brightest red high gloss lipstick and overdone glitter blue eye shadow. My eyes were outlined with enough eyeliner to make me look like a raccoon. My long lush lashes didn’t need help but I added false ones to extend them even more.

I had dark smoky nylons with a seam up the back. My stiletto five inch red heels finished my ensemble. If anyone looked they could tell I was wearing a black lacy corset under the dress and the nylons were held up with garter straps. The girls along the pickup strip would look like also-rans compared to me.

People going and coming through the terminal were giving us a wide berth. Ricky was holding me in his arms. “I don’t want you to go. Please don’t do this.”

I kissed him on the lips. “You know I have to. This isn’t Linda’s fight. It’s mine. Dimitri happened to get in the way. Linda was always there for us when we needed her. You know we wouldn’t have made it without her help. Friends don’t leave friends behind.”

Ricky took a quick breath as his lips quivered before he got his emotions under control again. “I know.”

He pulled me in and gave me a life squeezing hug. “God do I know. I have two happy instances in my life. One when we were growing up together. The other has been the last five years.”

He held me back to look into my eyes. “I’m not going on without my bestest friend. Anything happens to you, I will call it quits also.”

Reaching up I cupped his chin with my right hand and kissed him on the lips. “Don’t you even think like that. The world needs you to finish what you started.”

The water works welled up in the corners of Ricky’s eyes before he pulled me in. “I need you. Bring yourself home in one piece.”

“I promise. My flight is going to leave without me.” I turned and walked to the Paris Air boarding desk.

Two older women were looking me over in disgust. One of them rolled her eyes. “Well I never. We don’t have such trollops in America.”

Giggling I couldn’t help myself as I gave her a wink. “You probably won’t ever either because you don’t have the body for it. But as sure as there are Black Eyed Susans and little colts born in the spring, I’m from Texas.”

Both women looked shocked clear down to the souls of their feet. The one who had mouthed off was sputtering. “well!”

I reached up and touched the side of my face in a salute. “Howdy ma’am. Yuh’all ever get to Texas look me up. I’ll introduce you to some of my friends.”

They both turned and scurried away as fast as they could.

Looking back I blew Ricky one last kiss.

He was laughing and shaking his head.. ‘I love you’ was whispered in silence.

After deboarding Paris Air I headed to the baggage claim area to wait on luggage. Heads from both sexes were turning as I sashayed across the terminal, letting my hips roll with each step. Chewing my gum and popping bubbles, I drummed my long red glitter nails on the wall as I waited for my big yellow suitcase.

A man reached over to lift a suitcase off the luggage carousel. He yanked it up and fell over backwards into me. He turned around and dropped his suitcase. He reached out to grab me for balance. “Por favor senorita.”

My hand went to that big ol' red patent leather glamour bag with all the bling on it. One of the curly designs on that bag was knife sharp. I waited for any hand tricks from the guy before I popped the ornament loose for a weapon. If his hands came up with a knife, needle, or a gun he was going to be very dead. Nothing was forthcoming. His eyes got big as saucers as he realized what he had grabbed for balance.

“I gave the guy a big ol' smile as I fluttered my eyes. “Watch where your going honey. If you want to cop a feel you got to pay for it.”

He backed up, his eyes rapidly blinking in shock. Pointing at a wedding ring, he was shaking his head before he grabbed his suitcase and scurried away.

Customs was fun, as the last thing they had on their mind was anything I might be carrying into Mexico. “Miss Lucenda Brown?” The guy was looking from my passport up at me and back at my passport and up and…,

“You got it sweety.” I gave him a wink and licked my lips.

“What is your intensions…, purpose of your visit/” He was still working on the name.

“A little R and R, sugar. You know a girl needs a break from work too. It isn’t all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Girls feel the same way. You know what I mean?” I looked down between my breasts.

The guy was beyond help after that trick. “Okay, do you have anything to declare?”

“Whyy’ yes. I do declare it looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. Don’t chu think?” I licked my left fingers and wiped an imaginary smudge off my right breast.

The guy was looking at my right breast. “How big…, How long are they…, you plan on staying.”

“Oh a week or two. I’m in no hurry to get back to my usual job.” I did a little shimmy as if to straighten up my skirt.

He never took his eyes off my breasts as he reached down picked up the stamp and stamped my passport... on the wrong page. He shoved my things to the side and never said another word.

I rolled my right wrist, all my bracelets jangled as I pointed my finger at him. “Oh aren’t you the one.” I gathered up my things and headed for the exit and a taxi.

A man in a business suit was walking into the terminal looking behind him as I was walking out. He bumped into me and my purse got heavier. His head snapped around. “Watch where you’re going you stupid whore.”

“Up yours asshole.” I didn’t hesitate as my hand went inside my purse. My fingers wrapped around an old friend. I headed for a taxi pulling my suitcase behind me. I knew they wouldn’t have time to gather their forces and come at me yet. It didn’t stop me from wishing they would. My friend and I would make them pay dearly from this point on. I slid into the taxi. “Holiday Inn”.
=========
“She tried to disguise herself as a prostitute.” Javier was standing in the doorway.

Raul turned to look. “You’re sure it’s her?”

“Si Padrone, there is no mistaking this one. She has long red hair.”

“Well this is a welcome surprise. Get six men and bring her to me. I am going to make that bitch pay for killing my brother.” Raul smiled as he thought of all the things he was going to do to the bitch. Maybe even keep her around as a pet.

Javier was smiling to himself. He was going to make up for the mistake they had made in Italy when they didn’t kill her. Maybe Padrone would let the men enjoy her before he killed her?
============
There was a double knock on my door. I stepped over with my back against the wall and reached out to my side to open the door with my left hand, my fifty in my right. Linda, Serena, and four men walked into the room carrying luggage.

Linda and Serena came into Mexico via a locally registered fishing boat. Normally no questions would be asked by the authorities as it came and went... hopefully our escape plan when this mess was finished. The authorities also had no interest in looking at ice chests of fresh fish carried in from the boat.

One of the men was the guy who had slipped me the gun when he bumped me before I got in the taxi. He was looking at the fifty in my right hand. “When Maria told me that was what you carried I thought she was lying.”

Maria was one of the several names Linda used. Nodding I walked across the room and laid it on the table as I finished removing all the bling off my body. “It’s my serious work tool. Think they will try tonight?”

“We will know if they do. The cameras in the hotel are now ours.” She watched as one of the men unsnapped a suitcase and set a monitor and computer up on the table.

He flipped it on. It came to life as views from different cameras rotated through the monitor even before he plugged it into the wall outlet.

Serena stepped up and started typing on the keyboard. “We will want only a few of those cameras. The ones at the front and back entrance will be on that list. The one in the parking garage watching who comes into the hotel will be a third one. The last two will be at each end of the hallway.”

She smiled as she brought up the parking garage camera. “Damn that was quick. Unless I’m mistaken they are already coming.”

She pointed toward seven men getting out of a dark van in the parking garage. “Carlos, you recognize any of them?”

One of the men stepped up for a closer look. “Javier is bringing six of his death squad with him. That’s him, second from the right.”

Linda opened up another suitcase and started handing out twenty two caliber handguns. Then she started passing around what looked like oil filters. Everyone was screwing them onto the end of the pistols. The four men left the room to take up positions at each end of the hallway.

She looked up at me with hate in her eyes. “That bastard Javier is mine. I recognize him. He was there when they killed Dimitri. He’s mine. You can have him if I miss.”

I almost laughed. “You... miss? Sure and there is no Santa Claus and Christmas.”

We watched the monitor as Javier stopped by the front desk. One of the clerks leaned over. He was talking to him as he handed him a card key. I’m no lip reader, but I don’t think Javier had to ask which room I checked into. I put that clerk on my list.

Linda’s crew waited until Javier slid the card and was pushing the door open. He was stepping into the room as his men dropped behind him. The thud of bodies hitting the floor came into the room along with Javier. They didn’t all go down. One pushed into the room behind Javier holding his side still not understanding what happened.

I heard a soft pooft as Serena nailed him in the head. He fell into the back of Javier pushing him off balance and finished up face down on the floor.

I heard a pooft, pooft from Linda’s gun. Javier grabbed his right arm with his left hand and tried to bring his gun up. There were two more pooft, poofts as Ignacio’s left hand turned bloody where he was holding his arm. His gun slipped from his fingers and dropped to the floor. His mind was finally starting to understand he wasn’t in control of the situation. “DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? YOU’RE DEAD YOU STUPID BITCH!”

Linda took a step closer. “I know who you are you bastard. You killed my husband, you piece of low life shit. I want you to apologize to him when you see him.”

There was a soft pooft. Javier fell where he stood.

The men were dragging bodies into the room. Serena headed to the bathroom She came back carrying two towels ringing wet and a handful of dry ones. I helped her wipe up blood off the carpet in the hallway. When we finished we had a dozen bloody white towels. The carpet wasn’t clean but no one would suspect it was more than wet unless they got down for a close look.

The attack had thrown my timing off. I headed for the bathroom.

Linda was the only one waiting as I stepped out of the bathroom. She nodded. “That will work.”

My hair was black, my skin a dark olive, my face, neck, arms and the back of my hands looked like aged wrinkles. The gel Linda had supplied shriveled up and wrinkled after it was applied to the skin.

“You ever put these in before?” She held up a case with contacts.

“No.”

“I’ll help. Sit down in the chair and tilt your head back.” She was fishing a contact out of the case.

“It feels rough.” She had slipped the contacts into my eyes.

“Blink a couple times and they will slide around until they are where they need to be.” She was holding out the little gun in my direction. “You want him, or is he mine?”

“I got this one.” I took her gun and slid it into the fold of the loose fitting ragged dress I was wearing. “Can you tell?”

She shook her head. “No. I’ll wait in the parking garage. Older beat up brown Chevy on your left as you walk into the garage.

I looked at the stains on the carpet where the bodies had been. “Room is a mess. Think they will charge me extra for cleaning?’

Linda laughed as she headed for the door. “Wouldn’t count on it.”

“Jess.”

I stopped as I followed her out. “What?”

“Old women shuffle when they walk.”

“Copy that. Thanks for the heads up.” Hunching over, I started taking smaller steps and dragging my feet as I shuffled to the elevator.

I got off the elevator at the second floor and took the stairs to the first floor. The guy behind the check in desk was watching me slowly shuffle across the lobby. As I passed in front of his desk I raised up my right hand. A scarf was covering my hand and the gun. There was a soft pooft, no louder than a soft sneeze. A dot appeared in the middle of the guy’s forehead. He went down like he was going to look for something under the desk.

I wiped my nose with my scarf and covered my face as if I didn’t want to share my germs with the rest of those around me. No one paid any attention except to give a filthy old woman a little room.

“We will never get all of you. Maybe the ones who are left will think twice next time?”

Linda was waiting by the car. “The men have left to take care of the cocaine labs. There is a warehouse at Municipio de Acapulco de Juá¡rez holding almost a half billion dollars worth of drugs. It will be last on our list as we leave.”

“Okay. You know this is my fault. You and Serena don’t have to go along.” Looking at the dark van I didn’t have to imagine the bodies piled up inside.

“Oh yes I do. Javier was only doing what Juan ordered. I still have a debt that needs to be paid back.” She opened up the car door.

It was then I started wondering when it would end? We kill them, they come back and kill us, so we kill them, and it repeats. It would never end as long as someone was standing. Were we making a difference? I decided thinking too much was what dragged others into the bottle and drugs after they finished. They tried to justify the killing in their minds where there wasn’t any. It was a job. Do the damn job and move on.

Serena was our driver. She was wrinkled and had a ragged scarf over her gray hair. Her brown dress was old faded and tattered. She was wearing granny glasses. Her automatic was by her right leg. The silent twenty two was in her lap. When Linda slid into the seat she had two rifles by her left leg. One was an automatic. The other was her sniper rifle with a night scope and sound suppressor.

I climbed into the back seat. My rifle was by my left leg. I pulled my fifty out of my purse and laid it on my lap. The pistol Linda loaned me was by my left hand. It was the perfect gun for close in discreet work. For knock down power I wanted the fifty in my hand. Only the highest class bullet proof vests with ceramic tile could withstand the fifty. Those vests were hot and heavy. Not that many wore them. Even those vests wouldn’t stop a second bullet after the tile had been shattered by the first bullet.

Several police cars and a military truck passed us as Serena drove out to the villa. With Serena hunched over the steering wheel driving like a little old lady, they didn’t even give us a second look.

It was past midnight as she pulled into a side street several blocks from the villa. There was a lot of open ground between the walls of that compound and the housing addition surrounding it.

Linda took a look with the infrared spotter scope. “Two men on the roof. I can take them out from here. Two men by the front gate. I’m guessing there will be more guarding the front of the house and only God knows how many around back or inside the house. There are two cameras by the front gate. I see one on the north wall and…, one on the south wall. There are two more by the front of the house looking down. Six cameras. I can handle those too.”

She turned around in the seat to look at me. “Are you sure Jess?”

Nodding I opened the car door, stood up, and picked up the bottle of tequila. I poured it on my left shoulder and down the front of me. Slinging my rifle under my left arm, I draped my ragged shawl over it. “How do I look?”

Serena shook her head as she smiled. “Terrible.”

I laughed. “Thanks, you know how to make a woman feel good inside. Wish me luck.”

I headed up the road toward the villa humming some off tune and swinging the vodka bottle in my left hand. “Yeah, granny will take care of you” I mumbled under my breath.

The two guards at the gate never even went to high alert as I stumbled up the road toward them, humming and swinging the bottle. Every now and then I’d stop and tip the bottle up as if I was going to take a sip, but it was empty. I’d look in the top shake my head and stumble toward the gate again, humming some little ditty.

“Go home grandma.” One of the guards shouted at me in Spanish as I closed in.

“He said go home grandma.” Serena translated to me in my earpiece.

I held the bottle up and shook it like I wanted more. The two guards laughed. There was a soft pooft pooft as I brought up my right hand. They crumpled where they stood.

The two guards on top the house disappeared, one, two. I knew Linda had taken them out. As I kneeled down I dropped the small caliber gun and brought my fifty up out of my bag hanging on my left shoulder. The two guys by the front door were starting to realize not all was well. They were both slammed back up against the house as the bark of my fifty woke the neighborhood.

Two more were coming across the roof of the house. Linda dropped them. The guy coming around the left side of the house looked like he ran into a truck. He fell over backwards as my fifty served him notice. I brought the fifty over to focus on the guy coming around the right side of the house. There were chips of rock flying as his bullets sprayed the wall beside me. He was slammed back into the house.

Glass was breaking as the security cameras died. I dropped the fifty and brought my rifle up. I didn’t have that long to wait as the guys at the back wall came running along on top of the wall. The one on my right showed first. He tumbled off the wall and plowed face first into the grass. The one on the left met the same fate.

Linda focused on the power line transformers. They arced and sparks flew everywhere as she put armor piercing bullets into them. The neighborhood went dark.

Serena backed the car up to the gate. Retrieving a chain from the trunk I hooked it into one side of the gate and the other to the trailer hitch on the Chevy. “Okay.”

Serena gunned it. The Chevy ran out the length of the chain, the rear end jumped up into the air as the chain was stretched out. The gate was pulled out of the wall hinges. It flopped over on the ground.

Lead was peppering the rear of the Chevy. Flash fire was coming from way back inside the dark house past the front door. Linda focused in on him and dropped him.

“Think that was him?” I was looking toward the house.

She shook her head. “Only the help. He’s still in there.”

There was a roar as a vehicle started up in the garage. He didn’t bother raising the garage door. He busted it down as he drove through it.

Linda put a bullet through the front window where the driver was setting. “Bullet proof glass, meet armor piercing bullet. You lose.”

The Humvee never turned as it ran straight into the wall. Rocks flew out of the opposite side of the wall as the front of the Humvee crumpled and the rear bounced up in the air. The rest of the wall collapsed down on top the Humvee.

It was going to be impossible to see who was driving unless we wanted to dig it out from under the rock. “Think that was him?”

Sliding out of the car Serena pointed a launcher at the open front door. I was thinking RPG. There was the whoosh as it launched inside the house. Then the inside of the house lit up as fire spread everywhere.

“Napalm grenade?” I didn’t believe it after I said it.

“Phosphorus. We better go. The Federalies are going to be swarming this place in minutes. We wore out our welcome.” Serena was motioning for us to get into the car.

Linda nodded. “She right. If it wasn’t him we will come back another time and finish the job. Grab your gear and let’s go.”
============
From four blocks away we were looking at a warehouse with a couple guards lounging around in front of it. Serena was looking through Linda’s night scope. “If they stop the car outside it won’t do the job. Get it inside before it blows up and all the chemicals and fumes in that place will finish up for us. The fire will be so hot they won’t be able to put it out or save anything.”

“I’ll take the car down there.” Linda grabbed the driver’s door and racked it back. It was sprung open and wouldn’t latch shut again. “Can’t be too careful.”

Serena laid down on the ground with Linda’s rifle. “I got the one on the right.”

“I guess that makes the one on the left mine.” I walked across the street. I didn’t want Linda and the car to get between me and my target.

The two guards went to high alert as the old Chevy came down the street toward them. Linda stopped about a block away. When they brought their guns up, Serena’s and my rifles barked at the same time. The guards went down.

Linda wedged the gas pedal. The engine was screaming as she slammed the lever down in drive and bailed. The car was burning rubber as it leapt forward headed straight for the warehouse. It crashed through the doors into the warehouse.

Linda flipped the switch and pushed the button on the remote at the same time. There was an explosion where the warehouse shook and then a secondary huge explosion where tin and sheet iron was flying everywhere as a huge fireball rolled up into the night sky. The buildings around the warehouse either collapsed or were blown off their foundations. Every window within a ten block radius was shattered.

I put my arms up above my head as I flattened out on the ground. I could feel the heat and blast as it blew past me carrying sheet iron along. “Linda?” I was praying to God she wasn’t hurt.

“Let’s go.” Serena was on her feet loaded down with weapons. Linda’s rifle and her own automatic rifle along with pistols.

I scrambled to my feet and grabbed up my gear. We headed for the warehouse that was no longer there. To get to the dock and the boat we had to go past the warehouse.

Linda was slowly struggling to her feet as we walked up beside her. I was looking her over for cuts. ”You okay?”

She nodded as she took her rifle and pistol from Serena.

“Can you talk?” She didn’t look in that good of shape.

She shook her head and motioned toward the dock.

Even though the dock was four blocks away from the blast, every boat there was missing all their windows. That included our own escape boat. It couldn’t be helped. We couldn’t stick around. I was dropping the bowlines as Serena started it up. Minutes later we were headed out to sea.

I got Linda down in the cabin and laid her down on one of the beds after pulling off the top blanket and dumping the glass off of it. She wasn’t okay. Her eyes weren’t really focusing. I suspected a concussion. She had burns on all her exposed skin on the back of her neck, legs, and arms. She had been lying face down or it could have been a lot worse. I treated her the best I could with the first aid kit. I covered her up with a blanket before heading up to the cockpit.

“Linda is in pretty bad shape. She needs a doctor.”

Serena glanced in my direction and then focused back out into the black ocean ahead of us. “We can’t go back. The Federalies and Policeia will be pulling everyone in. Their graft money went up in flames. Anyone not connected to either camp is going to be suspect. If Raul was in the truck back at the house a full blown turf war will already be heating up. Instead of going back let’s kill ourselves now. Be less painful than having pieces of our body cut off a little bit at a time. They go overboard when they get their hands on a woman to butcher. They will slice your breasts off while you watch.”

She focused in on me. “Linda knew the risks. We all did. Keep going out and the percentages will catch up with you sooner or later. Do what you can. It is a four day run up the coast to get to the states and a safe house.”

“She won’t make it for four days bouncing around in a boat.” I looked at the radio and turned it on. There was chatter coming across every now and then from other boats talking about the fireball in the sky.

I flipped channels until I found the one I wanted. I hoped things hadn’t changed since I was in service. “This is Betty One twenty two fishing boat calling for a land line.”

About a minute later the call was answered. “What do you need Betty One. We are the Silver Slipper out of Anchorage down here for a little sun and fishing. We have a satellite phone. Can we help?”

“You sure can Silver Slipper. Would you call Ricky Ronald Chavenski in Paris, France? He is staying at the De Gaul. Tell him Jess still loves him but could use a little help. Contact me back on channel 112 out of Acapulco.”

“You got it Betty One. Anything we can do to help?”

“Thanks Silver Slipper, it would be most helpful if you would contact Ricky.”

“Moments later our radio came alive again. “Betty One this is Equinox, we are a scientific trawler. Do you wish to declare an emergency?”

Serena nodded yes. “That’s one of ours.”

“That is an affirmative Equinox. We have one soul on board who is very sick. I wish to declare an emergency.”
===========

The Gulfstream G550 landed in Paris for fuel and a change of pilots. Ricky was one of those pilots who climbed onboard as soon as we stopped by the hangers. He wrapped me up in his arms and gave me a long kiss. “I can’t begin to tell you how worried I have been. What’s the prognosis with Linda?”

He looked at the stretcher on top of the cabin seats. Linda had IVs in her arm. She was leaking fluids out of her burns as fast as the IV was putting them in. Sterile pads were covering most of her body. The man beside her shook his head no. Serena was holding Linda’s hand, same as she had done for the past ten hours.

It was no longer possible to contain them. The tears were coming like summer rain. “She’s dying. She has a concussion. They have her in a medical coma. Ricky you got to save her. You saved me. She saved both of us. Please Ricky…, save her.”

Ricky stared at her for long seconds and took a deep breath. “Jess, she hasn’t been mapped. If we move something we won’t really know if it is going back where it belongs. Besides I’m not sure what messing around in the brain area will do. We both know they have been killing people inside that machine. They haven’t told us as much. Are you sure Jess?”

I cried as I pulled Ricky in and laid my head on his shoulder. “Try, for her sake. She would do the same for us if the tables were turned.”

Thirty minutes after touchdown we were airborne again. The copilot came into the back and motioned toward me. “Ricky wants to talk to you.”

Ricky turned to stare at me after I settled into the copilot’s seat. “Love your hair.”

Reaching up with my right hand I fluffed it. I hadn’t changed it since dying it. “Think I’ll leave it black.”

He nodded. “It sure changes your looks. Tell me how it went.”

Looking at the stars I took a deep breath. “The touchdown went as expected. I checked into a hotel. Raul sent his men to take me in or kill me. Whatever. We didn’t give them a chance to explain. Serena’s men took five of them out before they walked into the room. Serena and Linda took care of the other two. We paid Raul a visit at his villa. I think we got him, but not sure.”

“It was when we went to take out his warehouse things went wrong. Linda drove the car down and bailed before it went into building. There was an explosion from what was in the car and then hell erupted. Ether, acetone, gasoline, lacquer thinner, drugs, were all packed inside that building. Our sources told us that much. What we didn’t expect was the amount of flammable chemicals Raul had there. I strongly suspect there was also gunpowder, dynamite, ammo, and other explosives. Maybe some C four the way that thing went up.”

“Even lying on the ground Linda was too close. She received burns over most of her backside, along with a concussion. After that our escape plans had to be changed. I knew she wouldn’t make it to the safe house. I called for help on the marine channel. There was a Russian research, spy ship close to a hundred miles from us. They heard the call. They sent a chopper to pick us up and take us back to the ship.”

“The Equinox was there to track a US aircraft carrier fleet. It seems the Equinox received word to keep a watch on us. They couldn’t intervene if the Federalies had stopped us, but anything that didn’t expose them was permissible. It helps to have a government covering your back even if they aren’t allowed to do it openly.”

“That was when Linda received the first of real medical attention. Serena asked them to arrange to fly us home. The Federalies were going insane back in Acapulco, so our friends devised a plan. Because they are a research ship they had biohazard gear onboard. Six of us suited up in bio suits, Linda was put in a containment vessel. Which wasn’t really because they didn’t have one. It worked, as the Federalies didn’t want to get close to us as the word was, whatever our patient had was highly contagious. One of the crew rigged up a sprayer filled with water, green food dye, and Lysol. He walked along spraying everything after the chopper delivered us to the airport.”

“From the ship’s computer, Serena had logged into the airport registry and did a search of the aircraft listed at the airport. She found several, along with this one, with long enough legs to fly from Mexico to France. Two of the guys on the ship said they had flown similar aircraft so they joined our team. We walked over to the hanger where the plane was parked The police and Federalies couldn’t put enough distance between us as we carried Linda from the chopper to the hanger.”

“It helps to have the right friends. We topped the tanks off in Cuba before making that leg across the pond. The guys figured it would be slicing it pretty thin to try and make it all in one jump from Mexico to France.”

I had to smile as I got ready to tell Ricky the rest of it. “This plane? It belonged to Raul, our drug lord. No one at the airport questioned us when we rolled it out and took off. I guess they were still thinking about their cash cow going up in smoke. Mass hysteria works to one’s advantage, provided you aren’t part of the hysterical crowd. They might start putting the pieces together in a week. If questions start coming up about where his plane went, no one will know. The Equinox will claim none of their crew knew. They only gave us a lift from our boat to the airport.”

Ricky nodded. “Okay, get Serena up here on the radio. I need the lab scrubbed of all the extra equipment they put in there. The way they are using the machine it is killing people. The lab was designed for one person to operate the different fields as one person was held in stasis inside the capsule. They allow two or more people in there monitoring the controls and the harmonics which, along with the gauss fields, are disrupted. Each individual is a walking electrical field. One extra person or piece of equipment disrupts the whole system.”

“They keep trying to use it for something it was never designed for. I was afraid this would happen when I built the damn thing.”

We landed in Tuapse three hours later. Thirty minutes after touch down Ricky was standing at the controls of his machine. The glass cylinder was slowly dropping over Linda’s limp body. It was after it had closed and raised back up Ricky turned toward Serena and me. “I need you to leave now. There is nothing you can do in here. Your bodies disrupt the fields.”

Wiping the tears I gave Ricky a kiss. “You can do this Ricky. Linda has the best cure in the world taking care of her now. Someone told me as much so many years ago.”

Ricky wrapped his arms around me as he kissed me. “This is the reason I built this machine. Let’s pray it works. Give me time to see what I can do. Anyone tries to come through that door before I come out, you shoot them.”

Slipping out of his arms I backed up and headed for the door. “Come on Serena. She’s in good hands now. Ricky will fix her.”

Serena looked at Ricky. She tried to say something and it choked in her throat. Her lips were trembling as she gave Ricky a wink, turned and walked out.

I couldn’t help thinking we might be cold blooded killers in our profession. In a way it made us love and hang onto those we love even more passionately than normal people. We knew the value of life, even if we didn’t hesitate to take it when circumstances called for retribution. I guess we were in the same class as drug dealers who indiscriminately killed.

I pushed the thought aside. That kind of philosophical thinking would drive one to the bottle or looking down the wrong end of their own gun. I’ll just hang onto the idea we are the good guys and let it go at that.

I closed the door to the lab behind me. “No one goes into that lab until Ricky and Linda come out.”

Serena nodded. “Ten four, message received, understood”
============

“You pick up the latest coming up from Acapulco? Damn big bloody mess. Bodies scattered all over town. It wasn’t the civilians that got in the meat grinder this time. Seems as if Raul made the wrong people mad. He and several of his men made that one way trip to the morgue.” Henry was standing in front of James' desk. He laid a stack of bulletins in front of James.

James nodded as he picked up the papers and started scanning through them. They were pictures of bodies in different locations. Several were pictures of a vacant lot and damaged buildings around it. He let out a whistle. “That was one big blast.”

Henry frowned as he looked at the picture James was holding. “Knocked out all the windows for ten or twenty blocks around. They said the fireball could be seen fifty miles out at sea. Intel said it was one of Raul’s distribution warehouses. Estimates are a half billion dollars of merchandise went up in smoke. Those kind of loses would put most poor nations out of business. Hopefully it will do the same for the drug money cartel Raul and his brother had built.”

James flipped to the next picture. Charred ruins in the middle of rock walls. “I take it this was his house?”

“Was is the definitive word.”

The next picture was a Humvee buried under a pile of rock. “And this?”

“That is our drug lord Raul. When they finally dug him out from under the rock he was dead. Shot in the head through bullet resistant glass.” Henry waited for James to look at the next picture.

James turned the Humvee picture aside and stopped as he stared at the picture that was under it.

Henry reached down and put his finger on the picture. “Tell me that isn’t HER.”

James stared at the picture of a red headed prostitute taken from security cameras at the airport. “How many know?”

“So far? You and now me. I had my suspicions until you confirmed them. What do you think made her go after Raul after five years? Was it because he put her on his death list? I mean five years after the fact? That’s cold even by professional standards. Why now after all this time?”

Taking a deep breath, James looked to see if there were more pictures of her? Shuffling through dozens of other people pictures taken at the airport revealed nothing else. He was holding the only one sent. “Maybe she got tired of looking over her shoulder? Maybe Raul got sloppy in his life and let cracks appear in his guard? I really haven’t a clue. Any guess is just that, a guess.”

A smile crept across James face as he thought of it. “I bet that other drug lord, what’s his face, out of Columbia has his ass puckering up about now. He put a hit on her too. If he was smart he would bail and disappear. They aren’t smart though or they would never get into the drug business.”

Henry got a serious look on his face. “Don’t let her get to you. She’s a killer. I suggest you keep that uppermost in your mind.”

James held the picture up and turned it toward his captain. “She hasn’t killed anyone here in the states that wasn’t trying to kill her first. Those two FBI idiots? They don’t count. She gave them a spanking and bruised their egos. Those she killed in Mexico, and that includes this last batch, if she was in on it…? Out of our jurisdiction. If the Federalies put out a bulletin on her then you can start preaching to me about who is righteous and doesn’t have dirty laundry in their closet.”

“She’s only doing what we wish we could. Someone is sending drugs to our country and spreading murder and torture. We know who is doing it, but we can’t touch them because we might offend our neighbors.”

James stood up and tossed the papers down on the desk. “Hell if it was up to me I’d make her a Ranger. She would fit right in except she’s too damn good at what she does. While we wish we could, she goes out and cleans the shit hole. You know, as well as I, when the Rangers first formed half of them that signed on were cattle rustlers and horse thieves. Who better to catch horse thieves and cattle rustlers than the ones who were doing it first?”

Henry shook his head. “You get to have an opinion, I don’t. Off the record I agree with you. Officially, if she gets in our sights she is to be arrested and held for questioning. That warrant the FBI has out on her is to be honored no matter what we think. Do we understand each other?”

James nodded as he looked at her picture. “Perfectly. I want you to understand me. I will not arrest her under any circumstances. I know without a doubt she would never kill me no matter what, even if it meant she was going to die. That gal is Texas through and through. She is everything Texas has always stood for. I don’t know where she came from. I'd bet my life it was one of our own government agencies.”

Slowly a smile crept across Henry’s face. He turned and was walking away. “I’d fire you for insubordination except if she comes in our door, I want you between me and her.”

After his captain left, James was thumbing through the photographs from the hotel security cameras where the seven bodies of Raul’s men were found along with a desk clerk. He stopped when he came to the picture of Jessica checking in. He laughed as he studied the picture of a prostitute. Her checking into a motel and eight dead bodies wasn’t a coincidence. “Darn woman, eight more reasons I never want to piss you off.”

He almost missed the picture of the old black haired woman leaving the hotel. James studied it for several minutes. “That’s her. I’d bet a month’s salary that’s her.”

============

It was twenty nine hours and sixteen minutes later when Ricky opened the lab door. He looked used up. He nodded back over his shoulder. “She needs fluids and electrolytes put back in her body.”

“RICKY!” I grabbed him as he sagged in my arms.

Serena was headed into the lab. She pointed toward two medical assistants who had been on standby. “Come with me. Bring a stretcher.”

“Serena, careful how you handle her. I moved a lot of tissue around to replace the damaged tissue. Her skin is like a cheese cloth right now until it fills in the holes. It will tear real easy. Be gentle with her.” Ricky managed before he looked up at me, closed his eyes and…, We went to the floor with him in my arms.

“Oh Ricky..., MEDIC! I NEED A MEDIC AND A STRETCHER NOW!” I screamed back down the hall.
==========
Ricky opened his eyes. Across the room was a Mexican lady in a nurse’s uniform. “Uh…, Miss, where am I?”

“She doesn’t understand English.” Came from a Mexican doctor as he walked into the room.

“What thu hell…?” Ricky was staring at the doctor.

“Your friend brought you in, said you got sick on the boat. You were dehydrated and needed rest. Funny, but she didn’t look sick at all. If you’re feeling better you can leave any time you like.” He pointed at an old sombrero , poncho, and ragged pants.

Ricky got to laughing. “Oh shit, you scared the hell out of me there for a minute. I thought the Mexicans had captured us while I was out of it. JESS, YOU MINX! GET YOUR PRETTY LITTLE BUTT IN HERE!”

That got me to giggling so I gave up hiding in the hallway. I bounced into the room. “Had you there for a minute didn’t I? Admit it I had you.”

Leaning down I gave him a kiss. “How you feel?”

“Used up. How long was I out?” He was looking at the IV in his arm.

“A couple days. Linda is down the hall. I checked with Serena. She hasn’t come out of it yet. All the vitals are good. You did it Ricky. You and your machine did everything you wanted it to. You have to convince them to use it the right way, for healing people instead of trying to make a super race with it.”

He reached out for my hand and then squeezed it. “They won’t listen Jess. I told them as much when we were building the damn thing. They showed Linda and me the door when neither of us would experiment on people with it.”

He sighed as he looked at the IV. “Unplug me and get me out of this place. And I ain’t wearing no poncho when I leave either. Where’s my clothes?”

The grin was impossible to contain as I walked into the hall and brought it back. I held it up. “For you sweetheart.”

Ricky’s eyes closed to slits as he glared at me. “You better be insinuating you are going to be wearing it for me.”

“Oh no darling. I think turn about is fair play. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. You slip into this little number while I make sure we still have reservations at the club.” I dropped the dress across his bed. It was a copy of the dress Ricky had for me that eventful night. A purple glitter dress.

Ricky grabbed me when I laid the dress on his bed. He pulled me in and laid a big one on my lips. “You’re a vixen. You slip into that dress while I find some clothes. We’ll go out to The Garage and melt the place down.”

Shaking my head I laughed at him as I straightened up. “You are too weak to be nightclubbing. Next week when you have rested.”

He reached down and pulled the IV out of his arm. “Jess, please…, now. I worried myself sick when you headed off to Mexico. It made me realize how fragile life really is. If we are still around in five years let’s look back and remember tonight when we went out. I want to hold the woman of my dreams in my arms, knowing all the men are wishing they were me. If we don’t have one more night, we had this one.”

That brought the tears. Ricky was right. I was positive I was living on borrowed time. One doesn’t kill a drug lord and expect to live. Someone always wants to even the score. “Of course. I don’t have the jewelry. I’ll see if Serena has some or knows someone who has.”

My hair was black. I never found time to change it back after returning from Mexico. The long dangle earrings, necklace, and bracelet were rhinestone not diamond. I didn’t find a tiara. The five inch heels were white as I couldn’t find a pair to match the dress. There were no beauty parlor makeup tricks but I managed to do it right myself. I had five years of training to get it right and I did. There was no boob glue, so latex was the substitute for holding that dress in place on my breasts.

Walking out of the bathroom I stopped in the doorway, raised my right arm way up and put my hand on the doorframe, shifted my hips to the left, and dropped my left hand down on top my hip. “You like?”

Ricky stopped and stared for a half minute or more. “I love you Jess. More than words will ever be able to say. Not because…,”

“You designed me?” I finished, knowing what he was trying to say.

He nodded. “That too. I don’t know how you do it, but this is what you always were. Even as Tom you were a beautiful person, although I never thought of you in that sense. You can take any situation and not only accept it, but make it better as you make it yours. I don’t know how you do it. There is only one like you. As Tom you were my best friend. You never changed. You’re still my best friend.”

Walking over to him I put my arms around his head. I pulled him in for a kiss before I gave him some space. “As kids we always ordered two burgers and split the fries. Let’s go split whatever they are serving at that place.”

Ricky laughed as he pulled a franc from his pocket. “I thought we were going Dutch. I’m broke. You have any money?”

Looking him in the eyes I pointed down in front of myself. “Just where do you think I would be carrying it in this dress? Don’t bother trying to get any change out of the piggy bank either because it’s empty. If you’re so cheap I’m positive I can get some gentleman to buy me a burger.” I gave a little wiggle as I pushed down with my hands over my hips.

Ricky reached inside his coat and pulled out his billfold. “Wait, I came into unexpected funds. As long as it’s only a burger I think I might have enough.”

Picking up my clutch I reached out and took his hand. “Well then Mr. Money Bags, let’s go see if you have enough funds. If you don’t we will flip a coin to see who has to wash dishes to pay for the meal.”

Ricky reached around my waist, pulled me in and let his hand slid down to the top of my hip as he walked me to the car.
==========

Ernesto Escobedo was thumbing through photographs of dead bodies. “Why is that fucking bitch not dead? She walks in, kills Raul, and walks out. What the hell were his men doing? Screwing off some where?”

He pointed to the floor in front of him. “Five hundred thousand. I want that whore standing here, begging for her life. I’ll pay any man who brings her to me five hundred thousand. Before I’m though she will be begging me to kill her. BRING ME THAT BITCH!”

“Si Capitan.” The man bowed as he backed out the door.

Ernesto threw the photographs across the room. “Damn bitch wants to be a whore, I’ll make her a fucking whore.”

He picked up a shotgun. “I’ll jam this up her ass and make her beg for more.” Turning, he aimed and shot one of the photographs lying on the floor.

Seven men came running into the room, automatics at the ready. Ernesto nodded. “Good. Make sure that bitch is dragged in here without any weapons.”
===========

Lorrie was coming into the Ranger station as James was leaving. She held up some papers. “Thought you might be interested. They are turning up the heat on your girl.”

James took the papers. There was a fax from Sheriff Bradford in Gray county asking for help with cattle rustlers. “Business is picking back up with the price of beef going up.”

He flipped to the next sheet. A half million dollar bounty had been put out by the drug cartel for the capture of a woman known as Jessica Rabbit. One hundred thousand paid if she was killed.

“For that kind of money I’d bring her in myself.” He looked up at Lorrie. “They have any idea where she is?”

Shaking her head, Lorrie looked at the bulletin. “Who knows? James, it isn’t looking good for her. The FBI want her. The drug cartel want her. I heard by the gossip mill the CIA wants her for information she might have about the drug cartels. With that much pressure she isn’t going to last.”

James handed the papers back to Lorrie. “Yeah” He headed for his pickup. “Damn Red why couldn’t you be a Ranger like Lorrie. I’d guard your back.”
============

It wasn’t because we were waiting for Linda to heal up we stayed in Tuapse. Our friends wanted…, served notice, Ricky was to stay and run his equipment. Ricky had done something they only guessed at when they were running it. He rebuilt someone who was given a twenty percent chance of survival.

“No you can not be in the room with me while we use someone as a test case.” Ricky was explaining to them for the umpteenth time as a five women and six men crowded around the controls.

“Your bodies disrupt the fields. This isn’t rocket science. It is much more delicate than that. Here you make a mistake with someone in the chamber and they die. No cameras, no electrical equipment, not even battery operated ones. That is what human bodies are. You generate energy and mass by chemical reactions from the food you eat. That in tern changes into electrical fields every time you move a muscle, think, or even at rest.”

“We either discuss this with everything shut down or we talk about it in a class room. What we don’t do is put someone in the chamber and watch them die as pieces are helter skelter removed and replaced because the fields are disrupted.”

Ricky looked at each person as he put his left hand on the control panel. “This is NOT a miracle machine. It CAN NOT make something from nothing. It DOES move living cellular tissue around. It can remove tissue but it CAN NOT make new tissue. You CAN NOT make he men or wonder women in this machine. There is NO addition factor in this equipment, only subtraction. You want he men? Send them to a training camp because this equipment will never make one.”

He sighed as he turned his attention to the chamber. “Let me tell you what this machine can do, now that I have explained what it can’t do. It can remove lesions, moles, scars, birthmarks, skin cancer, even deep tissue cancer. It can remove bone cancer, diseases of all kinds, and reshape physical features to a limited extent. It is a go slow process. You must map each individual before doing anything to make sure you aren’t moving bone cells into tissue cells or the reverse. Stay away from the brain unless you are removing tumors or cancer. Every part of the brain is there for a purpose and it isn’t for us to be playing with. You want to play with the brain, go get your medical degree in brain surgery, but not here.”

Ricky turned his attention back to the men and women. “I believe everyone here has heard what my wife does for a living. You kill any more people inside that chamber and I’m going to start handing out names.”

Linda awoke after the forth day. Serena had returned to work after Linda came out of her coma. I took over for Serena in the hospital after she had left. Linda was looking at her arms. “I can see through my skin.”

“Yeah, Ricky took good tissue and moved it where you had been burnt. If you look in the mirror you will look like one of those see through models doctors use.”

She didn’t look amused. “That’s going to take some getting use to.”

“Boy do I know. Enjoy it now because your tissue will rebuild. You will be a new woman by this time four months from now. Ricky said you are going to have the smoothest, prettiest skin of any woman. Just don’t get close to anything rough or sharp in the meantime. Your skin is tissue thin right now and very delicate.”

Linda reached up and felt the back of her head where all her hair was gone. “Is this permanent or will it come back?”

I reached over and took her hand. “The fire from the blast singed all your hair off. Ricky said he can put it back if you will step back into the chamber. He really was exhausted after taking care of the worst problems you had. If you want to wait it will grow back naturally without any help.”

She turned her head and looked up at me. “Speaking of the blast. Did we do any good?”

I nodded. “That was him in the truck. Your sister’s sources said we took out a couple billion inventory counting everything. From the millions he had stashed in his house, the warehouse, his airplane, we ended one drug dealer’s cartel.”

Linda’s eyes got just a tad bigger. “She tell you?”

Shaking my head, I smiled. “No. The way she cared for you, the similar mannerisms you both have, becomes apparent after being around both of you as long as I have.”

She got more than serious. “Have you told anyone?”

“No. In the business you two are in that would be a death sentence. Leverage for those who would use that to draw the other into a trap.” I studied her eyes. “I’m guessing those you work for don’t know?”

“We were five and four when we were separated. Both parents were murdered. Years later we were recruited by the same agency since we were both orphans. We got to comparing notes on the jobs where we worked together and figured it out.”

Now was my turn to get serious. “Dimitri died because of me. I’ve become toxic poison to everyone who gets close. You can’t be near me from now on. I tried to explain this to Ricky and he isn’t having any of it. He said if I left him for that reason he would turn on his machine and step into it ending it all. I know him and he really would.”

“I think of you as the sister I never had. We must go our separate ways. Those that want me dead don’t care how many die in the process.”

Linda reached out, took my hand and squeezed it. “Hon, we are in the same business, you and I. You can’t push me away because you think I might get hurt. Five years ago I saw a woman who could take everything life throws at her and never flinch. I still haven’t figured out where she came from. My best guess is she was forged in the fires of hell and purified in God’s kingdom.”

“There is safety in numbers. Our business calls…, demands we don’t run away but meet them on our terms when possible. That bastard Raul received our message. We will keep on sending the same message as long as we are standing. My government wants you to come and work for the Ministry of Defense. I told them about you. I honestly think you have become the pinup poster in everyone’s locker in the arms storage building. “

That made me laugh. “I’m not Russian.”

Linda laughed with me. “Maybe not, but you’re still a woman. You think guys care what nationality you are? Did you forget what they use for thinking with when they are looking at a woman?”

Laughter rang down the hall as Linda and I gave it some thought.

Ricky and I spent months around Tuapse as he tried to teach the staff what to do and not do with the machine. His frustrations were plain enough as it was evident they wanted more out his equipment than it was capable of.

It was a little over six months after we had returned with Linda. He came into the house the government provided us and flopped down in the recliner. “I give up. They killed someone again last night. They don’t understand the machine can’t rearrange a whole body.”

Walking over, I sit down in his lap and put my arms around his neck. I gave him a kiss. “What do you mean it can’t rearrange a whole body? Are you telling me I’m not here?”

“Jess…,” He looked me in the eyes with as much seriousness as I had ever seen. “I…, we were working with an unknown. I think I figured out why you weren’t killed inside that thing. For months we moved your cells around as the cancer was stripped out. There was a time factor in between each event before you went back in. Think in terms of fluffing up... what? Uh... flour I guess. Or maybe you can relate to digging up the ground with some of that big equipment you used to operate. It takes awhile to settle back down and get firm again. I believe that was what happened. Because nothing was actually locked back down at the time, everything was allowed to shift without disruption of the cell walls.”

He put his arms around me and gave me a life squeezing hug. “Oh Jess, I’m so sorry. It seemed like a fun idea at the time. To think how close I came to killing you like they are doing now scares the snot out of me. We fools want to play God and someone ends up paying a price.”

“And if nothing had happened to the lab and you tried to change things back?” I was wondering if Ricky was thinking the same thing I was.

“Probably would have killed you. I strongly suspect molecular bonding would have been disrupted one too many times. Jess, please forgive me.” He lowered his head.

I put my hand under his chin and raised his head so he would have to look at me. “I did that five years ago.”

“Let’s go look at the home place. I think I’m homesick. When can we blow this place and make like a couple tourists in the states?” I slid off his lap to fix his dinner.

He stopped and grabbed me around the waist, pulling my back into his chest. Leaning down he nosed through my hair and nibbled along my neck, getting a mouthful of hair for his efforts. “Give me a week to notify Serena we want clean passports. What country do you want to claim on yours this time?”
===========
Miss Lucy Snider flew into Tacoma, Washington with her marketing manager Bryan Cross, of Cross Industries, to check lumber prices and deliveries with West Fraser. One of the top lumber mills in Canada. The purpose of Mr. Bryan Cross' visit was to get a firm delivery date for five million board feet for his client, China Limited. From there they flew to Oklahoma City.

He leased a Cessna 172 at the airport for the purpose of looking over Oklahoma for the prospect of setting up a manufacturing plant.

=========

James was scanning the horizon looking for any sign of rustlers. “This country is so up and down they could hide a couple thousand head a mile away and we would never find them.”

Matt took off his hat and wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Did that sheriff have any ideas? I mean he lives up here and we are guessing where those rustlers might be holding them.”

James wiped the sweat out of his eyes. “If he knew he wouldn’t have asked for help from the Rangers. Let’s go.”

They climbed back into James' pickup. “There is a place over in Oklahoma I want to look at. We can come back and try again after we find some place to eat a bite.”

“Oklahoma? You thinking of buying some land or what?” Matt turned the AC vents to blow on his face.

“Just want to look at a place. It isn’t for sale that I know of. Belongs to someone, a Ricky Clawson.”

“Ricky Clawson? Never heard of him. What does he do?” Matt was finally starting to cool down with the AC blowing in his face.

“He builds interesting things.” According to the feds. James silently thought to himself.
==========
Ricky landed the plane in the pasture a couple hundred feet from where he grew up, in his parents house.

“Do you think you could find one more gopher hole to bounce over?” I was still holding on for dear life after he had stopped.

“Everyone is a critic. You think you can do any better, you fly this thing.” He was already sliding out of the plane after shutting everything down.

“Tell Walter to drag a harrow across the pasture before next time and knock down the gopher mounds.” I climbed out and was walking with him toward the house.

It was older I remembered. “Looks smaller than I remembered. Think they will let us sleep in the barn like we used to?”

Ricky shook his head and laughed. “You forget how big those rats were? I’ll sleep in the plane if we are spending the night.”

“Hey that plane isn’t safe either. If memory serves me right they were big enough to carry that plane back to their den and serve you up on a wing for supper.” I was standing on the porch. The front door had a hasp and lock on it. It looked like it had been broken into several times.

Ricky looked at the lock. “I didn’t tell Walter we were coming. Best word wasn’t spread around. I doubt the government has taken us off their come and sit awhile invitation. I could kick it in. Looks like that is the normal way to get in.”

“Don’t bother. I doubt anything is left inside. Once the two legged rats start carrying things off they don’t quit until there is nothing left to carry. Think anything is in the barn?” I looked out across the field to the barn.

“Besides Walter storing his hay there? I doubt it. Let’s go look.” He took my hand as we headed toward the barn.

“I hear a motor.” I hesitated.

“Probably one of the neighbors saw the plane land and coming to check if it was engine trouble or something.” He stopped and looked down the driveway.

“Ricky it's a sheriff or law. I see lights behind the grill.” I slipped my hand inside my purse and wrapped my fingers around the .357, wishing it was the fifty.

“Easy Jess, remember who you are. If they ask questions we are only looking over the place, as it came up in a realtors listing. Relax. There is nothing here to steal and we certainly aren’t going to be hauling off hay in an airplane.” He put his arm around my waist and gave me a squeeze.

“Oh shit!” My heart went up in my throat as the driver got out of the pickup.

He smiled from ear to ear as he looked at me. “Hello Red.”

“James.” I nodded in agreement.

“Ricky, how you been? We haven’t been introduced but I would recognize you anywhere. What you two doing in this neck of the woods? You plan on fixing up the old place?” He looked over at the house.

“Ranger.” Ricky acknowledged.

Matt had climbed out and was standing there looking lost as he studied the two people James was talking to.

“Red, you still carrying one bigger than mine?” His smile got even bigger if that was possible.

“Not this time. Customs and all, you know how it is.” I waited to see what he was going to do. There was no way I was going to shoot a Ranger, I eased my hand out of my purse, knowing I was going to prison.

The other Ranger got a serious look on his face as he stared at me. “Red? Is that the woman? That’s her! Shit that’s her!”

His hand was going for his gun.

James looked over at him and shook his head. “If she didn’t like you we would already be dead. Keep your hand off that gun. If you pull it and she doesn’t shoot you, I will.”

I couldn’t believe it. I waited to see how this was going to work out.

James curled up the corner of his mouth as his eyes danced in amusement. “Expecting trouble?”

That pulled me back five years to a trade show. Was he wanting to reminisce that first time? “In play.”

“Hope those troubles don’t come along then.” He turned toward Matt. “Let’s go see if we can find those cattle rustlers.”

James reached up and tipped his hat. “Ma’am, Mr. Clawson, been a pleasure.”

He started to turn around and then hesitated. “Jessica, keep your powder dry. Ernesto Escobedo is a drug lord in Columbia. Those four men you killed in Dallas were his men. He put a half million dollar bounty on your head if they bring you in alive to him. A hundred thousand for proof of your death. I wish you would give some serious consideration to joining the Rangers. I know forty Rangers who wouldn’t hesitate to take you on as a partner.”

James turned and headed for his pickup.

Matt was standing there pointing at me and looking at James. “But, but, but…,”

“Matt, get your butt in this pickup or count on a really long walk home.” James slid up into the seat.

“Ranger?” Ricky was looking at James.

“Un huh?” James waited before he started his pickup.

“Thanks. Those rustlers you are looking for? About five miles north is a canyon. There are four semis, several pickups with stock trailers, temporary chutes and around two hundred head of mixed breed cows. Saw them when we flew in. I don’t think they all came from the same ranch. I didn’t count them but I would guess there are about ten or fifteen men.”

James nodded. “I’ll check it out. Matt let’s go.”

“James, how much back up do you have?” I had a hard time understanding him heading into a group of rustlers with only two of them.

“We are it. If the semis are there they are loading them up to ship them out. They will be gone in an hour or less.”

I gave Ricky a quick kiss. “I’m going too.”

“Jess?”

James needs all the help he can get. Two of them against ten or fifteen men is terrible odds. I’m going to even up those odds just a little.”

I waved at the pickup. “James wait.”

I opened the passenger door. “Move it over Ranger.”

He didn’t quite know what to do. “You can’t come. You aren’t…,”

James looked at Matt and laughed. “You’ll never know. Jessica hold up your right hand.”

I held up my right hand.

“I don’t remember all them words, but do you swear to uphold the law?”

“I do.”

He handed me his badge. “By the authority granted to me by the constitution of Texas I swear you are a Ranger. Get in.”

“But, but, but…,” Matt was sputtering as he slid over.

James shook his head as he started up the pickup. “He’s a little green yet. Hasn’t had to shoot or kill anyone either. Thanks for the support Jessica. I really was scared knowing Matt could freeze up when it counted.”

“A Ranger scared? Yeah, and there is no snow in Alaska. What is the plan? You have an extra gun? My .357 has a three inch barrel. Not that great in accuracy at anything over fifty feet.

James reached under the seat and pulled out a carbine. “This do?”

Looking it over after Matt hesitantly passed it to me I nodded. “Two Two Three”

He reached under the seat and came up with a clip. “Forty rounds.”

“Ricky said there were possibly fifteen of them.” I took the clip and slipped it home.

James took a quick glance in my direction. “You want Matt to remove twenty five bullets?”

“Well it is a lot of extra weight to be lugging around if there are only fifteen of them.”

Matt’s mouth was moving as he was silently adding and subtracting. He stopped and looked from me to James and back to me and back to James. “You’re putting me on. Fifteen men, fifteen bullets? Yeah right.”

James was laughing. “She killed four men with four bullets in a moving car at a deflection angle.”

Matt’s head snapped around to stare at me. “He’s joking isn’t he?”

I shook my head. “It was only one in the car. The others when they bailed.”

He looked down at the carbine and his eyes got bigger.

“Why don’t you tell Matt about that last bunch in Mexico a few months back?”

I glanced at James. “You heard?”

“Jessica you left dead bodies all over town. That kind of news gets spread round. Why you think Ernesto is pissing in his pants now? Half a million dollars for a hit is a lot of scared.”

The kid slid over and gave me a little more room. I guess he decided he was riding with the Grim Reaper. I didn’t know whether James was relating these stories to scare the kid or to give him courage he had backup?

When James drove over the rim and followed the road down into the canyon, everyone down there went to high alert. James drove up like he was on a Sunday drive and stopped a hundred feet from the cattle pens.

I gave James credit as I slid out of the pickup. They were loading livestock into the trucks.

I gave a nod towards Matt as he slid out. “Stay behind the door. It will stop most bullets unless they pull out rifles. Then I suggest you get behind the pickup.”

James slid out of the pickup. “Howdy. See you’re loading up. You moving them to another pasture?”

One of the men nodded. “Moving them up north. Had a rain up on the other place and better grass.”

James was looking at the cattle still in the pens. “Got papers? Who you working for?”

I was looking at the guy in the cab of the back truck. “If he reaches into that sleeper and comes back with a gun in his hand, he’s dead.”

“Now there’s no need for that. We got papers. I’ll get them.” The talker for the group was headed for one of the pickups.

“Mister, I’m going to give you the same warning I gave the other guy. You reach into that truck and come up with anything besides papers in your hand you won’t live to regret it.” The guy was looking and acting like he was ready to fight it out.

James gave a chuckle. “I’d listen if I were you. She killed four men a couple months back.”

I would have laughed if the situation hadn’t been so tense at the moment. Months? Okay, was James talking about Dallas or Mexico?

The guy in the truck decided to go for it. He ducked down and came back up with a glock in his hand. Blood splattered all over the cab of the truck as the carbine woke up the cattle. The other guy dove for his pickup. He was behind the door when he came up with an AR. I put two rounds through the door. The guy fell over backwards like he had been hit by a truck.

I shook my head. He was stupid. No pickup door was going to stop a two twenty three bullet unless one of the bullets hit the window roller mechanisms inside.

James focused on the others who looked like they were ready to run.

“Matt, it is time to pull your gun.” Out of the corner of my eye I could see it was still in his holster.

He was shaking as he pulled his gun out.

“Matt, take a deep breath. The others are scared to death of dying like their two friends just did. They gave up the fight. Don’t shoot anyone. It’s over. All you need to do is hold them here and call for help. Now get on the radio and call it in.”

James glanced over at me. “Glad I brought yuh. Okay, everyone line up over here against the bank. Anyone has any funny ideas, think about your friends who had that same stupid thought.”

It was more than forty minutes before the first sheriff car pulled in. Then slowly it turned into a flood of sheriffs, deputies, and highway patrol cars, pickups, vans. I dropped the clip, emptied the chamber, and put the carbine back under the seat after the first car showed up.

James walked up to the pickup. “Stay put in the seat. You happened to come along. Clue me in before we get tangled up in our own web. What name are you using now?”

“Lucy Snider. Ricky is Bryan Cross.”

“Lucy Snider, Bryan Cross. Okay, I’ll have a talk with Matt. After what you did saving his bacon I doubt he will give you up.” James got serious. “Jessica…, thanks. We would have been the ones lying there if you hadn’t come along. My job isn’t as black and white as everyone wants to believe. If I had called it in before checking if these cattle were stolen and they weren’t, it would have been a big waste of everyone’s time.”

I handed James badge back to him. “Glad you let me come along for the ride Ranger.”

I called Ricky up on the cell phone. The connection was terrible. Whether it was because of the remote location or the canyon I had no idea. “Ricky can you hear me?”

“sssss clik ssssssss Jess sssss” Came back.

“Be a little late. Everything is fine.”

“I ssssssssss clik sssssss late.” Was all I could make out.

“YES I WILL BE LATE I LOVE YOU.” I had to giggle after I hung up. If a connection is bad why is it human nature to want to shout as if that would make it better?
============

James was called into Henry Millman’s office. Henry was waving a piece of paper in his hand. “What is this?

“What do you mean what is this? I deputized her. It’s all there in the report.”

Henry turned and glared at James. “Do you have any idea the problems this is going to cause? It isn’t bad enough you had her. But then you make her a Ranger? What the hell was going through your mind? Had you been drinking?”

Henry looked over at Matt. “And what were you doing while all this was going on?”

Matt hung his head in shame knowing his career was finished before it started. “Sorry sir.”

“SORRY! YOU’RE SORRY! No you aren’t, but you will be before the butterfat is out of the cream. Do you two idiots have any idea how much hell this is causing me? I got a call from the governor. He congratulated me on hiring the Princess as a Ranger. I bet his wife told him after she remembered the name from the society pages. He has no idea what kind of convoluted mess this is. He will when it all boils to the top and he finds out she’s on the FBI’s most wanted list.”

Henry threw the paper down on his desk and pulled his hair straight up. “Rangers are recruiting from the feds most wanted list. Yeah, that is going to look great for the Dallas Morning News headline. I’m getting hell from HQ out of Austin over this already. Can you imagine what it is going to be like around here when the papers pick it up?”

He turned and glared at James. “Of course you brought her in and she is in one of the holding cells waiting for the FBI to come and pick her up. So why isn’t that piece of paper on my desk. Or did you conveniently forget to do the paper work on that part?”

James opened his mouth. Henry pointed at him. “Don’t you dare say one damn word. You’re both suspended until I figure out what to do with you.”

Matt started to pull his gun out of the holster to lay on the desk.

Henry glared at him. “What the hell you think you’re doing? I said you were suspended. I didn’t say for you to turn in your badge or gun. You’re still a Ranger. You’re required to carry your weapon at all times whether in uniform or not. Or didn’t you understand that part of your instructions when you signed on?

Henry waved toward the door. “Both of you get the hell out of my office. Go write some parking tickets, or play like crossing guards, or catch some more cattle thieves.”

“By the way, word is you two stopped one of the biggest operations in a twelve state ring. Good work. Now get out of my sight.”

“I can’t begin to wrap my mind around the fact there were over forty lawmen around her and no one brought her in.” Came from the office as James and Matt closed the door behind them.

Matt caught James by the sleeve after they left the Captain’s office. “What is going to happen to us?”

James turned to look back into the office. “Does it matter? Was she worth it?”

Matt nodded. “Yes. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. It was worth it.”

James smiled as he focused on Matt. “She’s probably the best person you will ever meet in this screwed up world of good guys and bad ones. I don’t know who she works for. She was a Texas Ranger for a little while. The brass will kick and scream and throw a hissy fit. They will finger point the blame at everyone but themselves. All said and done, in the still of the night when they tip up that drink, they will know it was the right thing to do.”

He put his arm on Matt’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go write some traffic tickets.”

Matt looked confused. “But we are suspended.”

“That was so the captain can cover his ass if the heat comes down too hard. We really aren’t officially... yet... and probably won’t be. Come on Ranger. I know where some guys usually hang out dealing drugs near a school.”

Jessica's Revenge

Author:

Barbie Lee

Caution:

Audience Rating:

Mature Subjects (pg15)

Publication:

Novel Chapter

Genre:

Character Age:

Permission:

Permission granted to post by author

Jessica’s Revenge

Edited by Catherine Linda Michel

It’s called synchronicity. It weaves lives and events together even when they don’t know one another. It is stronger when people have met, even if years earlier. We move or travel a hundred, thousands of miles from home and meet or cross paths with people we met before. Synchronicity is what the law uses to catch the bad people. It is interwoven with habit among many other things. People have a human nature to return to a place they have been before. People want to return to the same vacation spot. Fishermen want to go back to the same fishing pond. They want to shop at the same store. And crooks…? They go back to the same neighborhood, the same stores, the same friends.

Even those of us who understand that human nature makes us creatures of habit, do the stupid trick of returning to familiar places. Or else we let the odds of synchronicity find us with our guard down and old enemies show up.

I hurt like I had never hurt before. On a pain scale of one to ten, I would call it a twelve.

“You’re going to tell me, you stupid bitch. Who you working for?”

Licking the blood at the corners of my mouth, I tried to smile. I had no idea if I did or not because my face was like the rest of my body, beyond feeling. “muf aaf wov mif”

“What?” He leaned down and turned his head to put his ear closer to my mouth.

It was plain enough. I said fuck you. He must be hard of hearing. “mas ur gugg aff”

“Eddie, give it a rest. You beat her so bad she can’t even move her mouth. She has a mouth full of blood. You have no skills. When you want them to tell you their secrets you don’t beat their face off. You need to be more subtle.” The second man bent down to look me in the eyes. He opened up a pen knife and grabbed my left hand.

There was no doubt in my mind that he was going to start cutting off fingers. I was wrong. That wouldn’t have been painful enough. He held my index finger and rammed the blade up under the fingernail.

The air left my lungs and my mouth in one huge gasp of pain. The two men were sprayed with blood. I passed out.

“What if she has aids or one of them other contagious diseases?” Eddie looked at Doug in disgust. “I’m going to wash this shit off.” He walked out of the room.

Doug looked at the blood splatter on his hands and clothes. He pushed over the chair she was tied to with his foot before he left the room. “Stupid bitch.”

Ricky and I were in the second lab he built. Although it looked like the original lab that was destroyed in Mexico, it didn’t feel the same. I knew it was my imagination because the labs had to be the same or this one wouldn’t be working. There was no tolerance for error.

“You ready?” He never looked up as he worked at the control panel.

“I’ll never be ready.” I was shedding my clothes before I stepped into the chamber.

Ricky looked up and smiled as I stepped out onto the glass floor and walked into the middle of the chamber. “Relax, I promise nothing will go wrong.”

“Un huh, I’m betting that is the same line they told all those they killed inside this thing.” My absolute faith in Ricky not withstanding, his machine was like a brain surgeon’s knife. One little ‘uh oh’ and the patient becomes ‘sorry old boy’.

The glass chamber lowered down to the glass floor. It rose back up with me inside. I braced myself for any memories. Inside that chamber they stopped being memories and were relived. The walls, ceiling, and floor glowed a pinkish white.

Dad and I were stacking hay bales on the trailer as the hay loader picked them up off the ground and elevated them up to the trailer. I was tossing them up to dad as they came off the hay loader. He was stacking them. Momma was driving the pickup. Momma turned on a small ridge. A tire on the low side of the trailer blew and that side of the trailer dropped. Daddy went over the side and half the hay load followed.

“DADDY! MOMMA STOP! STOP!” Scrambling over the bales still on the trailer I jumped down on the ground and started tossing hay bales back.

Momma jumped out of the pickup and ran back to where I was tossing bales. “Lynn?”

“He’s under the hay, Momma!”

Mom started tossing hay bales with the strength that would match any man.

When we finally pulled the hay bales off daddy he was beat up and badly bruised. Thankfully nothing was broken. I unhitched the trailer as mom helped dad into the pickup. Once home she helped him into the house. I loaded up jacks, blocks, and a spare tire for the trailer before heading back to the field. I was glad daddy was okay. My biggest worry wasn’t him. All that hay was piled up. The loader wasn’t going to be able to get them, as it was designed to pick up one bale at a time as it was pulled through the field. When I replaced the tire on the trailer I was going to have to toss those bales up there one at a time. Because daddy wasn’t helping, I was going to have to climb up on the trailer and stack each bale in place. I was tired before the job started.

Before I got the lug nuts tightened after replacing the wheel I heard a pickup coming across the field. It was Yule, our neighbor to the north. Seconds later another pickup came into the field. I recognized the old rusty Chevy as Paul’s truck. He lived several farms north of Yule. It turned into a flood of pickups and trailers. Some were bringing their own hay loaders. There were several tractors with hay forks on the front as neighbors poured into the field.

An hour later the hay was either back on the trailer, stacked in the pickups, or on a neighbors trailer. The hay that had been scattered in the field was picked up too. When I pulled that load back to the house I received another surprise. Martin was there with his elevator backed up to the hayloft. He was one of our neighbors who hauled hay commercially. Bale after bale was dropped onto the elevator. They slowly trundled up the ramp into the barn loft where other men were stacking them..

Mom was busy bringing water and what tea and lemonade she had out to the neighbors as the hay bales disappeared into the barn. Several of the neighbors tracked into the house to check on dad as the unloading progressed. Less than three hours after they came, everyone was gone. What started out as a full week job for mama, daddy, and me was done.

Although I didn’t have to handle every bale I was bone tired when I walked into the kitchen. “How did they know?” I watched as momma fixed some fresh tea for daddy.

She dropped a teabag into a cup of boiling water. “I called Ellen to see if she had Watkins White Horse Liniment for your father’s bruises. She asked me what happened. I told her that Lynn was thrown off the trailer and buried under the hay. I guess she told Paul and then started calling all the neighbors.”

After checking on daddy I started out the door. It was time to milk the cows. Something wasn’t right. Looking down I was wearing a poodle skirt the same as some of the girls in my class.

The chamber was rising up. Ricky was standing at the console logging data. Stepping off the glass table I headed for my clothes wondering how much my mind was changing? My memories were getting mixed in with my dreams. That poodle skirt I borrowed from a girlfriend and wore on Halloween. Pulling on my jeans I looked over at Ricky. “You ever dream you were wearing a dress?”

His head slowly turned in my direction. “No why?”

“As a kid, when we were on the farm. I know you never wore one for Halloween. Did you ever dream you were wearing a dress?” I could see the answer on his face before he said anything.

He rolled in his lips. His eyes were darting away before he would look at me. “No”

I shook my head as I laughed. “Liar. You’re the worst liar I have ever met. It’s a good thing you don’t play poker. I wonder if every boy has dreamed at one time he was wearing a dress?”

“Well…, you know pants are a fairly recent item in the time line of mankind. Like everything else, men started wearing them and excluded women. Joan of Ark was burned at the stake for heresy because she wore pants.”

Ricky was shutting down the equipment. “Your cellular mapping has changed from the first time. That was to be expected. I wish I had thought to map you after we built this machine. Sadly it never crossed my mind. Jess, I’m not a genetic scientist nor am I a doctor. Everything we have done should have been performed in a college where hundreds, thousands of students put in their labor and time tracking every change for their thesis.”

He was watching as I slipped on my blouse and tucked the tail into my pants. He sighed as sadness showed in his eyes. “I’m sorry Jess. I have no idea what I did to you.”

Walking up to him I pulled Ricky in and kissed him. “You gave me years of life I wouldn’t had otherwise. Am I dying?”

He shook his head before he pulled me into his arms and hugged the life out of me. “I don’t think so. Your scan doesn’t show any abnormalities. No cancer, no blemishes, no anomalies, no diseases.”

He pointed toward the door. “Take anyone from the billions walking this planet and we all have something wrong with us. You’re different from the rest of us. I don’t mean in that old saying there are no two people alike. If there was a perfect normal where we all should start from I think you are it.”

He pushed me back and looked into my eyes. “Jess, is this hard for you? I mean, you act and have the mannerisms of a woman. As kids you were a guy in every respect. I don’t mean to pry where I don’t belong. You don’t have to answer.”

Picking up his hands I held them to my breasts. “What do you feel? Do you feel a man or do you feel a woman? When you make love are you making love to Tom or are you making love to Jessica? Why do you think it would be any different from my side? You think I’m looking at Tom in the mirror? Do you think Tom pulled on a pair of pants and slipped on a bra just now? Was that Tom’s naked body you were looking at in the chamber as you did your mapping?”

I cupped my hands around the back of his head and pulled Ricky in for a long kiss before I pulled back to study his eyes for the truth. “Did you kiss Jessica or did you kiss Tom?”

Pulling his arms around me and laying my head up against his chest, I listened to his heartbeat. “Tom was a friend we both grew up with. It isn’t hard to believe I’ve always been Jessica and Tom’s memories are borrowed. My emotions, my feelings, the things a woman feels when she makes love, are mine now. I can’t explain them to you because you’re a man and never experienced these things.”

“Linda is a beautiful woman. At one time I would have walked barefoot across broken glass to get her into my bed. Now…? She’s a beautiful woman and I’m jealous. There is no sexual attraction. I don’t want to kiss her or take her to my bedroom. I love her as a friend. It’s kinda the same way Tom loved you as a friend.”

I looked into his eyes to make sure he understood how serious I was. “If you are trying to say the bloom has gone off the flower and you are no longer interested because I’m no longer a novelty. You can have your freedom. I don’t want anything that belongs to you. I’ll walk out of your life and leave you alone if that is what you want.”

Ricky pulled me in and squeezed the life out of me again. “I like women. They smell nice, look nice, and are nice to hold because they are soft. You didn’t find me as a virgin. I’ve experienced the pleasures of several women. More than a couple tried every way possible to get me to marry them. I never loved any woman to the point where I thought I wanted to wake up and see her beside me every day.”

“Until you.” He nuzzled around my neck sending shivers down my spine. “In all honesty it wasn’t instant love. It grew on me as you saved my life and protected me at every turn.
Now, I don’t remember a day when you weren’t beside me. I was alive, but I wasn’t living before. I don’t want any more of those days before you came. I love you Jess. I pray I don’t ever make you want to leave me for something I said or did.”

Two days later we flew from Tupase, Russia down to a little island off the tip of Greece. Heraklion had a decent airport. I picked it because we hadn’t ever been there before. Staying away from a routine wouldn’t make us completely safe from those who wanted me dead. What it would do is make it harder for them to do their job. One could figure with a half million dollar bounty for my head the bounty hunters would be trying really hard.

Linda leased the yacht four days earlier. We tried to make sure the plane, the boat, any house and basically nothing was connected to Ricky and me. You might say we lived kinda like gypsies. Always on the move, never in same place twice if it could be helped. It was nothing different than the life I had as Tom when I moved from construction job to construction job, but now…, I think it was the female nesting instinct. I would have loved to have a home and not be on the move all the time.

The weather was perfect. Those usual Mediterranean storms were laying off. The sea was softly rolling with moderate waves. It was pretty relaxing as the waves rocked the boat. The engine wasn’t running. We were pulling a sea anchor, which is like a tiny parachute in the water, behind the boat. It kept the yacht drifting straight with the wind. Ricky was trolling from the stern. I had come up from the cabin after changing to a red bikini. Linda was still below.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” I walked up beside Ricky and wrapped my arm around his neck for a hug.

“No thanks. I think I have a nibble.” He was slowly reeling in his line.

Scanning the waters for any yachts that had moved in toward us the past couple hours I saw two closing in. They weren’t that far away now. One had some kind of activity on the forecastle. “Ricky…, Never mind. I’m probably being paranoid.”

I headed for the stairwell to get binoculars when there was a loud solid thud beside me. I looked and there was a hole in the cabin wall. “RICKY GET DOWN!”

I spun around running toward Ricky. “GET DOWN!”

Linda came boiling up from below with her rifle in hand as I plowed into Ricky, knocking him out of the chair and onto the deck. He lost his grip on his fishing tackle when I hit him. It slipped over the stern into the waters.

It took Linda less than a half second to focus in on the problem. “I got him.”

She slid down to a sitting position with her back to the cabin wall and braced her rifle on her knees. There was a thunk thunk as two holes appeared in the cabin wall beside her. “Amateurs. Eat this.” She squeezed the trigger.

There was a thunk as a fresh hole appeared above her head. Linda racked another shell home and squeezed again. “Jess, could use a little help here. I got two of them. There are more taking their place. That second boat has some on it gearing up.”

“Stay down. I pushed up off Ricky and ran for the stairs. It sounded like hail as holes were appearing in the cabin wall and boat hull.

Six seconds later I was coming back up on deck. I headed forward to make them have to shift their targets. Linda took out two more. I didn’t want both of us aiming for the same gunman. “Ones on the right are mine. I’ll work back toward the left.” Time wasn’t on our side. Send enough bullets and the percentages go way up whatever you’re shooting at is going to get shot. They were sending a lot of lead our way.

I dropped down on the deck and focused in on the guys on the far boat. I missed as the roll of our boat and theirs threw off my aim.

Linda took out another one. “Damn show off.” I muttered under my breath.

I focused again. “Just shoot the damn cactus and stop thinking.”

Their boat was coming up on a wave and we had bottomed out in a trough. I aimed at his head instead of his chest. And squeezed. He wasn’t wearing a bullet proof vest. With the 308 it didn’t make any difference. His insides disappeared. There were thunks around me now as splinters flew up from the decking. The ones on that boat decided Linda wasn’t their threat at the moment. I was.

I accidentally managed to take out another one while Linda finished up with the last two on the left boat. Both boats were doing a hard turn to port which threw the shooters off balance. One threw his arms up in the air trying to maintain his balance. Linda nailed him. He fell off the boat face first. I tried again. The glass in the cabin shattered. Linda took out another one before the boats finished turning to speed away.

Our targets were gone unless we wanted to throw bullets at the back of boats speeding away from us. It wasn’t what we were trained to do. We were trained to focus on one target, one bullet, one kill. It was what all good hunters did. They never shot at a flock of birds or a herd of animals. They picked one and focused. Shooting at a flock or a herd meant a ninety percent chance of a miss. There was an awful lot of air and space between each individual target.

Linda walked up to where I was getting up off the deck. She nodded. “Nice shooting.”

“Poor shooting you mean. Jeeze hon, I didn’t know our government let Russians train with the Navy Seals. That didn’t come from shooting at targets on land.”

Linda was smiling as she gave me a wink. “I’m surprised you didn’t learn about our Navy Seals. Spetsnaz Group Alfa was the group I trained with. Women don’t become one of them. Some of us are trained with and by them.”

Leaning down I was picking up shell casings off the deck so no one would step on them and slip. “You would think they would be smart enough to paint over the names on the boats before they try and kill someone. I saw Bad Break and Knot Yacht. Where do you think they were out of?”

Linda looked out across the sea in thought. “They didn’t plan on losing. Who is going to be alive to tell about the boats? Think about it. How many were there? Twelve, fourteen? If it had been only me they would have managed to board us because of the sheer numbers.”

She reached out with her left hand and brushed my hair away from my face as she looked into my eyes. “Jess they aren’t ever going to stop coming as long as that son of a bitch is alive that put a bounty on you. Drunk or sober, men get together and swap tales about bounty money. They start thinking they will be the ones to win the prize money. It isn’t the professionals that worry me. They think things through knowing they need an edge or they aren’t going to return for the money. They also understand the law of retribution. There isn’t a single professional who doesn’t understand Raul brought it on himself. They understand the unwritten law of murder for hire. You kill someone in the business, you make damn sure none of their friends are left. Because you signed your own death certificate.”

“It’s those idiots like we turned away that worry me. There are a lot of them who don’t have two working brain cells. They think all they have to do is get a couple of their buddies to go along, kill you, and collect the reward.”

She turned and headed for the stairs. “We can keep killing the idiot crowd until the world ends and there will always be more of them. It’s time to take care of the problem at the source. I’ll put in some calls and see what comes up in the boat registry along the north side of the Mediterranean. Right now I’m pissed off enough I want to finish cleaning out one rat hole, even if it won’t stop the others. I’ll put a notice out to my sources and ask Serena to find out everything she can about Ernesto’s habits and where he normally stays. He is going to get his final lesson in this business. He’s out of his league. Don’t ask the girls to dance when you don’t know the steps.”

I headed for the stairs to check the engine room. “I’m going to see if any of those bullets breeched the hull. If they did I hope the bilge pump can keep up. Check the map and plot in the nearest land just in case.”

Fifty minutes later I was stepping into the cockpit where Linda and Ricky were.
Ricky heard me coming and turned to look. “Are we sinking?”

“Not yet. We are taking on water. I couldn’t find where. The holes have to be pretty close to the water line because it isn’t that much. Think in terms of a garden hose and that would be pretty close to what is coming in. The bilge pump is handling it without any problem. Still need to make a decent port with a boat lift to get this boat out of the water to fix the holes. At least we won’t have to beach it unless the pump quits.”

I stepped up to look at the nautical maps. “Did you find one while I was checking?”

Linda pointed to the map. “Anissaras is closest. Nothing there to handle a boat this big. We would have to take the bus back to Heraklion. We couldn’t take our gear on the bus. Let’s see if we can make it back to Heraklion. If the bilge pump is taking care of the leak it is the best choice.”

“Heraklion it is then. Keep in mind that’s a long swim back if that pump quits.” I was plotting in the distance.

Looking across the sea, I was tired. Where would it end? “Linda, we thinned them out. They lost a lot of friends. If they didn’t dump the bodies overboard they are carrying a lot of pain back with them. If you are right about them being a bunch of guys getting together and drinking their courage, we gave them a wake up call. Being guys they will talk about what they did today in whispers and lament the loss of friends until the day they die. They will pick up their guns and talk about revenge and make a hundred excuses why that day isn’t a good day to try again. Their liquid courage will never be up to the task again as long as they live.”

I turned to look at her. “Forget them.”

She stared at me for the longest before she nodded in agreement. “Every time I think I have you figured out you throw me off balance again. I wondered for a long time why you never contact your sources for information. Even if your government threw you under the bus for one reason or another, your sources you built up over time would still be there. You don’t have any sources do you? Yet, you are one of the best I have ever met in this business. Even freelance bodyguards build up sources over time when they become as good as you.”

I waited to see where Linda was going with this. She was getting awfully close to the truth. Had she figured out I was an accident in Ricky’s lab?

She looked over at Ricky. “Jess never talks about guarding anyone. She doesn’t talk about you as if she was hired as a bodyguard. But then she has protected you time and time again better than any four men could. She has no past beyond five years ago when your lab went up in smoke. If I was speculating on the impossible I would say she came out of that lab.”

Ricky swallowed and gave a fake laugh. “Hah. We all know that’s impossible.”

There was no doubt Ricky was the worst liar in the world. I waited for the accusation from Linda that she had found the truth.

When she turned from Ricky to look at me, shock was plainly visible in her eyes. She gave me a full body scan. “Impossible…,”

She turned and headed for the stairs. “I’m going to check on the bilge pump.”

It was over an hour before Linda walked back into the cabin. I was looking ahead, scanning the horizon in a mindless nothing, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I felt her staring at me.

Ricky was off to the side, as quiet as a mouse watching both of us. I think he was scared to say anything, hoping against hope Linda hadn’t figured it out.

“Thomas Baker.” Came as softly as a whisper in the night. Yet it couldn’t have been any louder if she had shouted the name.

Slowly I turned around wondering what was going through her mind and how she was going to handle it. “Yes.”

Linda took me in from head to toe several times over. I was still wearing the red bikini so there wasn’t much to hide.

“I don’t believe it and I’m looking at it. Ricky said it was impossible. My government has killed more than a dozen people trying to do what I’m looking at. Yet the impossible is standing in front of me. Was it an accident or on purpose?” She was staring at my face trying hard to wrap her mind around what she had been working beside all these years wasn’t her imagination.

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. “A little bit of both. Ricky wanted a date for the Halloween party. He had been removing terminal cancer a little at a time from my body
for almost six months. Everything was going the way he envisioned it. His machine was doing what no doctor could. He saved my life.”

Looking over at Ricky I smiled and gave him a wink. “Finish the story Ricky. You can explain it better than me.”

“cough, cough” Ricky was taking quick glances from me to Linda, to me, to Linda, to me…, “It…, I…, uh…, joke…, ah, uh, Tom and I grew up together and were always playing jokes on one another. I thought…, funny…, best joke ever.”

He looked down at his feet before he got the courage to look at us again. He focused in on me for support. I nodded and smiled. Ricky got a weak smile and tried again. “Mistake…, it was a terrible mistake. Looking back, analyzing the problems they are having now with the machine. It was a miracle I didn’t kill my best friend in that damn infernal machine.”

He frowned and got more than serious as he looked at Linda. “You understand don’t you? Why I won’t tell them about Jessica? They would try to duplicate the process and kill hundreds, thousands because the margin of error is so minute it borders on being impossible.”

“It has everything to do with molecular bonding and surface tension. Have you ever floated a needle in a bowl of water? That sliver of metal will float on top the water because the water molecules are bonded together and are resisting the needle pushing down and separating them. Add the slightest vibration and the needle will break through the bond and sink.”

“Add one drop of soap to the bowl and the needle will sink. Soap breaks down the cohesion between water molecules. It makes water wetter as a surfactant. If you leave that needle floating on top the water and put a hand on each side of the bowl, it’s possible you may be one of the very few who can move that needle from side to side. Or you may make it turn in a circle just by thinking of doing it. You are creating energy in your hands the same as you do when you flex your fingers, bend an elbow.”

“One of your own researchers was able to show us this energy by using Kirlian photography. The activation by vibration of the living cells was done by one of ours, Royal Raymond Rife. Nicola Tesla was another of your research scientists who showed the world the invisible electromagnetic forces around us.”

“I brought them all together. The machine breaks the bonding between the cells in the human body. In simple terms each cell is moved by a magnetic field. It’s a lot more complicated than that because holding a magnet against the body wouldn’t work. It has to be focused on each cell or group of cells. Too much of a good thing and the whole body becomes a mass of cells on the floor of the chamber. Not enough disruption of the cellular bonding and the body is torn apart like shredded meat.”

Sadly he looked at me and shook his head. “Because we were removing cancer, Tom’s cellular structure had been shifted over a long period of time. His cells were allowed to form a cohesive bond only to a limited extent. They weren’t really locked down at the time. I had the program of Jessica mapped out in the machine. I thought it would be funny to turn my best friend into a woman after we had removed all his cancer. It was a joke and only going to be for a couple days.”

Linda was staring at me again. “And you choose to stay this way? Are you one of those who wanted to be a girl?”

I wanted to laugh. “You’re referring to transsexual. No, I was boy or male through and through. If you remember, the machine was destroyed. I was trapped at the time as Ricky had designed me. There was no turning back. By the time the new machine was built I had grown accustomed to being a woman. I love Ricky as a woman, not as a man. If I become Tom again that would be past tense. There was another factor stopping the switch back. Ricky said it would kill me. What you see is what you get until I die of old age.”

Linda still looked shocked. “That explains it then.”

“Explains what?” I was curious.

“You watching me or Serena when we dress or change. You don’t just look, you…, look. Are you bi now?”

That brought a smile. “No. I’m not interested in women in that respect. I watch and take notes because women are different from men. Men get dressed. Period. Women decorate instead of dressing. Each piece of clothing is to cover their canvas, their body, with reason and purpose. They dress with purpose, not because they need a covering on their body. They are artists in a sense. The better they bring it all together, the better the final portrait.”

Linda’s eyes danced in amusement. “Damn! I missed something being born a woman. I always took it for granted women and men got dressed. I’m going to have to take female lessons from you so I’ll know the rules to the game.”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “Hon, where do you think I’ve been getting all my lessons from? From that first day I saw you back at Dallas I thought you were the most beautiful, sexiest woman I had ever seen. I told Ricky to get your phone number because I wanted you to be my first date when Tom returned.”

Linda laughed and then got serious. “Let’s keep this conversation between the three of us. Ricky is right. My government would march men and women through that machine like dominoes to try and duplicate what you and Ricky did. I have no interest in watching hundreds, thousands of my countrymen die for no reason.”

She got more than serious. “Jess, live or die you stepped into the meat grinder when you took out a drug lord in Mexico that first time. You must develop contacts and resources if you plan on staying alive. So far you have been lucky. That only goes so far. I didn’t research Tomas Baker. There was no purpose. Obviously he was a sniper, trained by the military. You carried that much through to present tense. It explains a lot, including that damn big cannon you like to use as a gun.”

Linda shook her head and got a funny grin on her face. “Thomas Baker is wanted by the CIA, Jessica Rabbit is wanted by the FBI and the drug cartels. You seem to have an uncanny knack for making friends wherever you go no matter who you are. And you do it so easily and naturally too. I’m not going to tell you to try and make nice with your own government. Not because I’m Russian but because your government has become corrupted from the top down. It wouldn’t surprise me if you asked them for help they would alert Escobedo you were coming. My government wants you working for them Jess. They would always consider you a double agent, never fully trustworthy because you have no background more than six years ago. I promise with my own life they would never sacrifice you. Give it some thought.”

“I’ll share some of my contacts with you. You must develop others for your own preference. You are always talking about a Texas Ranger. You need to contact him to see if he will share intel with you. You can’t call him up or send him a letter or an email asking if he will share. You will need to arrange a meeting face to face. Go find a fishing pole. I’ll get my camera. We will take some pictures of you fishing off the fantail to send to him. Enclose a hand written note with the pictures. Something along the line of, 'fishing is great, weather is perfect, looking to take care of the big one. Might need help pulling him in.' If he is as sharp as you think he is he will get the message.”

Five guys gathered around James’ desk after he opened the manila envelope postmarked from Greece. The six pictures, twelve by fourteen glossies, he pulled out and laid on his desk brought wolf whistles from three of the guys. One of the others let out a yelp, “whoo hoo.”

“That who you deputized? Is that an official Ranger uniform?” Dale picked up the picture of Jessica wearing a red bikini. She was bent over forward looking up at the camera showing more than a fair amount of cleavage.

Lonnie reached past James and picked up the next one. Jessica was standing on tip toe, all stretched out reaching up for the end of a fishing pole. “Hell yeah! I’d deputize her in a heartbeat. Just one question. Where does she carry her pistol?”

James pushed the pictures back before anyone else could thumb through them. “Hands off you vultures. Your hot breath is wrinkling the photos. Your clammy little paws are leaving smudges.”

The bottom picture didn’t go all the way back into the envelope with the rest. James pulled it out to rearrange it. “Holy shit!” Came from one of the guys behind him. It was a picture of Jessica with black hair. She was wearing a purple almost dress standing in front of a band. She had her right arm and hand behind her. Her left was reaching out as if she had just spun out from a partner. Her head was turned slightly away from the camera. She was looking back at it out of the corner of her eyes. The slit of the dress was open all the way up to her hip showing nothing but long beautiful leg. Her crystal chandelier earrings, multi strand necklace, and bracelet accented her uncommon beauty.

Bobby picked up a piece of paper off the next desk. “I’m starting a petition. That girl has got to be made a full time Texas Ranger. None of that temporary deputy stuff. And we aren’t sharing her with no FBI either.” He held it up. “Who wants to be the first to sign?”

Lorrie was walking by. She stopped to see what the guys were looking at on James’ desk. Shaking her head she headed for the office talking to herself. “I can see anything productive from the guys is gone out the window this morning.”

It was two days after James received the manila envelope. “James Daniels?” The guy walked over to James pickup before James left the parking lot of the Ranger station.

James looked him over and nodded. The guy had Fed written all over him. What was it about them that they all looked and smelled like the same cookies in the cookie pan once they joined up?

“You received a packet from a Jessica Rabbit a couple days back. I’d like to have it.” He waited for the packet.

The corner of James mouth turned up before he sighed. One of the guys told someone else about the pictures and they told someone until somewhere along the story line someone in the FBI heard the story. And now they think they can walk up and demand it? “No problem. Let’s see your warrant.”

The look on the man’s face was a mixture of surprise and disapproval. “I thought, with a little inter agency co-operation, a warrant wouldn’t be necessary. What about that packet?”

James smiled and nodded. “Sure. Just as soon as you hand me that court order so we can keep this inter agency co-operation thing on the up and up.”

“You’re not denying you received a packet from a felon on the FBI list?” He wasn’t happy with the turn of events.

Now it was James turn to look disgusted. “You, I, and most anyone in law who is doing their job receives information or data from those outside the law from time to time. I’m not in the habit of disclosing my sources nor handing out information about same to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who comes along with their hand out. You may have a warrant out for her arrest, but as of yet Miss Rabbit has yet to be tried and convicted of anything. I strongly suggest you go back and review your lessons in criminology because the lady is not a felon. One can’t be a felon unless they have been tried and convicted in a court of law. Or that is the way our system used to work.”

James stared up his pickup. “You go get your court order to seize whatever you think I might have received. Until then, try and do a little more studying about what is or isn’t legal. Don’t bring your Washington law games to Texas. We still practice the constitutional law here.”

Bud watched as James drove off. “You have no idea who you’re playing with cowboy.”

Returning to headquarters at eight that night James walked in, pulled the manila envelope out of his desk, and headed right back out again.

Those who checked in the following morning found manila envelopes on their desks. Funny thing about the envelopes, they were all postmarked from Greece. Inside each one were six pictures of twelve by fourteen glossies of iconic scenic views from around the world and two pictures of Jessica. One was her pose on the boat and the other was the nightclub picture. There was a typewritten note included. ‘Having a wonderful time. Not missing you. Regards Jessica’

Not missing a beat, Bud arrived at the Ranger station around seven A.M. with a warrant for the packet James may have received from one Jessica Rabbit. Bud dropped it on the desk in front of James. “I have that formal request for a little inter agency co-operation wise guy.”

James opened up his desk drawer and pulled out several manila envelopes. He tossed them up on top the desk. “I’m not sure which one is it or maybe none of them are. The guys wanted copies for their inter office co-operation. The lab wasn’t sure which packet was the original when they finished. I’m sure your agency can figure it out.”

Bud’s face scrunched up as he glared at James. “Who’s your superior? I’m sure he isn’t going to be pleased with the way you are trying to make sure we don’t receive the original packet she sent.”

“Actually, what his superior really doesn’t care about is how you went about demanding James turn over any information he may or may not have received from Miss Rabbit. I put in a call to your boss, Leroy Appelton. I explained to him Miss Rabbit has worked with us as a Ranger. I have two Rangers still on the job because of her assistance. Any information she may or may not have for us is confidential. Next time you want any information Miss Rabbit may have sent to us I strongly suggest you ask politely. If it has anything to do with Miss Rabbit don’t expect to get it. In the interest of inter agency co-operation I’m sure you understand.”

Bud turned around to see who was verbally harassing him. “And you are?”

“Henry Millman, I’m the captain of this back woods organization. Your boss told me you were one of those who met Miss Rabbit a few years back. I suspect you made this a personal vendetta. For your information it’s personal for me too. I have two Rangers who are alive because of her particular skills. Our report when she worked as a Ranger is an open report. Pick it up and read it. I read the FBI report. I also read the police report and the report written by one of our rangers from that day. Seemed to be a difference of expert opinion in those reports. She showed a lot of skill and restraint that day. It would have been a lot easier for her to shoot you and leave. You’re not alive because she’s a bad shot. You’re alive because she’s a damn good shot.”

Bud was fuming as he grabbed up the three packets James offered. He stormed out of the Ranger station shouting, “HAYSEEDS!”

Every Ranger in the room stood up and clapped, as hoots and hollers rang across the room. “YAYYYY!”

Henry looked around. “Don’t let this go to your head. She’s still on the FBI most wanted list. Whether we like it or not, if she turns up we arrest and hold her for them.”

He stared at James and then Matt. “Do I make myself clear? Don’t make me tell you two again.”

Henry walked over to Lonnie’s desk and laid a sheet of paper down. “Absolutely not!”

Lonnie pointed over toward Bobby. “He started it not me.”

Henry shook his head as he turned and walked back toward his office. “I am NOT going to hire her as a Ranger no matter how many petitions you guys sign.”

“I bet she could pass the marksman qualifications without any problems.” Came from someone in the back of the room.

“I’d give her an A plus on all her exams just for showing up.” Came from the other side of the room.

“James would probably give her his badge…, again.” Lonnie was looking over at James.

James nodded in agreement. “Darn right I would. I’d take her over any of you losers. She’s a lot prettier and smells better than you clowns.”

The office broke down in chaos as paper wads started flying through the air.

It was after four in the morning when James dropped off Matt at his house and headed home. The past two weeks had been a series of bad intel, poor planning, and wasted labor. The gang of car jackers managed to steal twelve more high end models. It didn’t make James feel any better to know Buck and Paul, the other two Rangers assigned to the case weren’t having any better luck.

The Houston police had asked for assistance from the Rangers as they were not any closer to catching the thieves than what they had been for the past five months. The insurance companies, along with several prominent citizens, were beginning to question if the police weren’t accomplices themselves.

James and Matt called a time out after two weeks to rethink the case. When he pulled into his driveway there was a brown Mustang on his driveway. It wasn’t a car anyone he knew might be driving, unless one of the guys traded cars in the past two weeks while he was out of town. He looked inside as he walked toward his house. There wasn’t anyone in it. When he opened his front door he didn’t hesitate as he drew his pistol. The house didn’t smell right. There was a lingering scent of a woman in the air. His house alarm had been turned off.

James was turning on lights as checked the kitchen. There were dishes out he had put away. Pans were on the stove he hadn’t left. He checked the garage. It was empty. In the living room he found a black sequined bolero jacket on the back of the couch. Black patent leather heels were in front of it. He headed to the bedrooms.

The first one he checked was his own, the master bedroom. A black haired beauty, she was snuggled down under the blanket. When he flipped on the lights she looked over sleepily at him.

“Would you mind?” She looked over at the clock. “Four thirty? Go away. Call me anytime after eight when you have breakfast ready.” She rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head.

It was one of the few times in his life James was shocked. He looked at the black sequined dress draped across the back of the chair along with a black bra, black slip and black nylons. “Lady, do you have any idea whose house you are in? That’s MY bed in case you might want to know.”

She moved the pillow, rolled back over, and looked at him. “Yes it is and a very nice bed too. Jessica sends her regards. Now be a good little Ranger and go find another one because I was here first and I’m not sharing. James…, turn out the light on your way out.”

She rolled back over and pulled the pillow back over her head. James stood there mulling that one over in his mind. He had been in some weird situations before but this one definitely moved up to number one. He decided to make sure he was safe in his own house. “How big is that gun you’re carrying?”

“She said you would ask that question. The answer is, it’s bigger than yours. Mine really isn’t. I couldn’t handle her fifty. Now go away.” Came the muffled reply from under the pillow.

Shaking his head James turned out the lights and was about to pull the door shut behind him before he stopped and looked at the woman lying in his bed. “You were there with her six years ago weren’t you.”

“Yes. I’d love to swap old war stories with you, but not at this ungodly hour in the morning. Now be a sweetheart and go away.” Came from under the pillow.

“James?”

“Yeah?”

She pushed the pillow back and looked at him. “If it had been anyone but you they would have been dead before they got both feet inside the front door. Now go get some sleep.”

James stared at her before he pulled the door closed. Either the girl wasn’t asleep like she pretended or else she slept with one eye open. Everything about Jessica and those she associated with were high end black ops speed bumps. They banged into his life without even a hint of a notice. James headed to the spare bedroom. If the black haired beauty didn’t kill him in his sleep she would explain in the morning. He was too tired to care either way. He slid his Glock under his pillow and climbed into bed after dropping his clothes on the floor. He was sound asleep in minutes.

It was the smell of percolating coffee and frying bacon that brought him up out of his sleep. He pulled on the clothes he had dropped beside the bed last night before looking at his watch. It was after eleven. He headed for the kitchen.

She had set two places at the table and was pouring a cup of coffee. “Morning sleepy head. I thought you were supposed to fix breakfast. Since you decided to see who could stay in bed the longest this morning I finally gave in.”

James stared at the black haired beauty. She was wearing a tailored gray silk pantsuit and four inch gray stiletto heels. She had nice soft understated curves, and an angelic face with the prettiest black eyes he had ever seen. He didn’t miss the obvious gun laying on top of the table. “Going to shoot me or do I get to eat a last meal?”

“Ha ha, funny. You have a guilty conscience and think you need to be shot?” She dished up some eggs and bacon along with toast on a platter before putting it on the table. She took a seat. “You can stand there and look if you want. I’m going to eat. You can join me if you feel like it.”

James found his chair. “I think I’ll join you since this is my house. Or it was when I left it two weeks ago. It was nice of you to look after things while I was away Miss…?”

“Serena, I’m here for two reasons. Jessica needs you to find out everything you can about Ernesto Escobedo in Columbia.” She was buttering her toast.

“The drug lord. She’s going after him isn’t she?” James felt a dread deep down in his soul. People who go after drug lords usually didn’t live to tell about it.

Serena nodded. “Any information, no matter how small or seemingly unimportant, can mean the difference between making it in and out alive. Requests coming through the Texas Rangers won’t be that conspicuous. Routine research on drug traffic coming into Texas.”

James watched as she took a bite of toast and then focused on the eggs. “And the second reason?”

Serena took a bite of egg before answering. “Jess will be at the Red Dragon Inn at eight tonight. She has some information for you. I’m going to give it to you now so you don’t inadvertently lead anyone else to her. There is a bug in your head quarters. The FBI is listening in to everything said around your desk. They are waiting for you to say where Jess is or lead them to her.”

“They bugged my desk? How? When?” James was having a hard time believing her.

“From everything we have been able to pick up it was done when one of their guys visited you. Bud Martin is his name. It’s a short range bug and needs a repeater which is located on a power pole behind your head quarters.” She took a sip of her coffee. “You better eat before it gets cold. I hate cold eggs and coffee, don’t you?”

James looked at the eggs and toast on his plate. He took a bite of toast as he gathered his thoughts. “How do you know all this? Who do you people work for? Are you double crossing your own agency?”

“You mean the FBI? No, we don’t work for them or the CIA. We know about the bug because we have been listening to the same thing the FBI has.” She was eating the last of her eggs.

James laughed. “You have the FBI bugged don’t you? Oh this is too rich. They bug us and you bug them. Is nothing sacred any more? Everyone is listening into everyone else. Now we have to join the rat race and start scanning our own building for listening devices every couple days. How long has this been going on?”

Serena picked up her coffee and pushed back from the table. “We started listening to your office the day before you received an envelope from Jessica. The FBI, the day they planted a bug in your office. We try and cover all bases before the game starts. James, Jessica and I are going to meet you in Houston to catch those car thieves you have been looking for. We can lead you right to them because they have a piece of equipment that belongs to us. It was stolen from one of our vehicles. It cancels out all electronic signals within a five hundred meter range. We can pinpoint it because it is a dead zone in the middle of the signal blizzard Houston has become.

“Your equipment? I’m guessing you aren’t part of our government?” He was watching her eyes for an indication he had stumbled onto the truth.

She got more than serious. “Jessica is married to Ricky. I know they look like a May December couple, but the love they share is real. She also loves you. Jess is different from anyone I’ve ever known. Even if you led the wolves to her she would give up her life if it meant one of you was going to die. Jess lives in a black and white world with good guys on one side and bad guys on the other. She won’t cross that line herself.”

Serena took a sip of coffee as she focused in on James. “I’m not that careful about who is good or bad. Those FBI guys are alive because Jess didn’t want them hurt. If you lead anyone to Jess don’t make me decide whether to kill you or let you go. Jess would never hurt me even though she would never forgive me. Keep that in mind when you check in to the office this afternoon.”

James watched as she rinsed her dishes in the sink and then put them in the dishwasher. She picked up a gray purse from the top of the cabinet and slipped the gun into it. “The dishwasher has soap in it. Put your dishes in it when you get through.” She was headed for the door.

“Do I need to give you a house key in case you want to come back?” James was admiring the view as Serena walked to the front door.

She turned and winked at him. “Silly Ranger, why would I need a house key? I’ll see you tonight at the club. Don’t bring any friends or shadows who might want to bring in Jessica. It could…, will get ugly if you do.”

James was staring at the door as it closed behind her. “Damn Red, you have some really interesting friends.”

He put his dishes in the dishwasher and started it before he headed to the bedroom for a shower and a change of clothes. When he opened the bedroom door he stopped and stared. There was no way she forgot. She left it behind to play with his mind he was sure. The black sequined dress was laid out on top his bed along with the rest that went with it. Was it a hint she was coming back or was it a warning she could walk into his home anytime she felt like it?

I figured James would share any information about the drug cartel without a face to face meeting. Linda told me I needed to talk to him personally and firm up the agreement. I also needed to let him know I wasn’t going to be the one he would be passing information to. It would be one of Serena’s or Linda’s contacts instead. Someone home based in Texas or Oklahoma.

Every time I returned to the states there was a certain percentage I would be recognized and taken into custody. Even flying into Mexico and taking a private plane into the states so I missed the airport screening still had its risks. The meeting Serena had set up tonight, and helping James catch his car jackers in Houston would probably be the last time I would ever see James.

It was a little before seven when I made the Red Dragon Club. The idea is to always be way ahead of anyone else so you can check who is arriving for the party. Extra guests are never welcome. If anyone came in that door looking like any of the alphabet soup groups the government keeps on a leash I would do my best to fade out of the picture.

My hair was a soft auburn pulled back into a bun. I forewent my natural red as it was as conspicuous a hair color one can have, unless you included the punk colors like florescent pink or lime green. My soft brown dress suit and jacket were two sizes too big in order to hide rather than accent my body. My black shoes were more on the design of men’s oxford with a two inch heel. The big owl glasses along with toned down makeup completed the office secretary look. I was carrying a well worn brown leather shoulder purse with a couple notepads and even a pen and pencil sticking out of the top.

Even looking as Plain Jane as I was, heads turned as I walked into the club. Men…, you gotta love em. I walked up to the bouncer standing inside the door like he was the matre’d. “Emmily Dutton, I’d like a corner table please.”

He looked surprised and then he laughed. “Ma’am, we don’t have reservations here. You find an empty table it’s yours or you can sit at the bar. Your choice.”

“Oh! Okay then. Would you please escort me to a table? A couple of friends are supposed to join me here.” I looked down at my feet and then away like I had never done this before. A little office secretary on her first adventure into the night life.

“Uh…, sure, why not. Follow me.” He kept looking over his shoulder to make sure I didn’t get lost as he headed into the club.

He led me to the back of the room back in a corner. I could see why several of the tables there were empty. I couldn’t see the stage and it was almost like backing into a closet. PERFECT!

“Thank you.” I held out my hand to him to offer him a tip.

He took the money and looked. It was a dollar. He started laughing. “Yes ma’am. You and your friends enjoy yourself now.”

“Big spender” I heard him mutter as he walked away.

Doug nodded over his shoulder. “That’s her.”

Eddie looked around and failed to see anyone he recognized. “Her who?”

“The damn bitch who broke my leg and your wrist.”

Eddie took another look around the club. “I don’t see her.”

“Back in the corner. She’s got a lot more frumpier than when she was at the mall but that’s her. Don’t stare at her. You’ll get her attention. The drug dealers have a five hundred thousand dollar reward out for her. I aim to collect it after I pay back what she did to me.” Doug smiled as he thought of payback.

“I don’t know. It sure doesn’t look like her. She was a red head then. What if it isn’t?” Eddie kept taking glances in her direction trying to fit the picture of the woman they went up against in the mall with this one. The pictures didn’t match.

“Women can dye their hair. She may even be wearing a wig. I’m telling you that’s the bitch. If it isn’t we can have some fun with her anyway and then dump her when we are through. If she is still carrying that big gun, will that convince you? We gotta get close enough to take her out before she suspects anything.” Doug was trying to figure out how they were going to ambush her before she got wise. He didn’t want to face that big gun if she was still carrying it.

Doug felt though his pockets. “You got any of them roofies with you? I used mine a couple nights ago.”

“Yeah, those two bitches never saw it coming.” Eddie pulled a couple pills out of his shirt pocket.

Doug nodded. “Keep an eye on the waitress. When the waitress takes an order from her table we will get her to come over here and order one too. When she brings them back we will drop a pill into her drink.”

The cute little waitress was smiling as she walked up to my table. “What’ll you have honey?”

“uh…, what’s one of them drinks that doesn’t have too much alcohol in it? A Shirley Temple?”

Her smile kinda drooped. “That is one of them.”

I smiled real big like I had thrown off the bonds of office boredom. “Then that’s what I want.”

She was back in a couple minutes with the drink. “Three dollars.”

“Oh…, so much? I pulled out a clasp pocket book from my purse and started pulling out wadded up dollar bills. Unfolding them I laid out three on the table. I closed up my purse holding it close to my chest as if I didn’t want her to see how much I had.

She was shaking her head as picked up the money, turned and was walking off muttering, “This is going to be one of those nights I should have stayed home.”

Sipping my drink as I waited for Serena my mind started getting fuzzy. I needed to call…? I couldn’t remember. I picked up my phone and looked at it trying to remember. In frustration I dropped it back into my purse. Two men walked up to my table. They looked familiar. “Help me.”

“Sure hon, that’s what we are here for. Come with us and everything will be okay.” One of them took my arm and helped me up.

I didn’t want to, but they did offer to help. “You’re going to help me?”

“Sure hon. You come with us and we will help you.” Doug had his arm around her waist leading her out of the club.

Eddie picked up her purse and looked in it. “Damn that’s the bitch.” He was looking at a big handgun.

Serena walked into the club at seven thirty. She expected to see Jess since Jessica had told Serena she would be there before seven. After scanning the club a couple times and still no Jessica, Serena headed for the ladies room. Still no Jessica. Serena walked back into the club the same time James came in the front.

She motioned James over toward the bar. “Trouble, I need you to do a cell phone location for me.”

“Whose?” James was wondering what the problem was?

“Jessica. She’s not here. Something is wrong. Do a location trace, area code nine seven two, seven seven four six.”

James nodded. “My truck, let’s go.”

In the pickup James picked up the radio. “Brenda, I need a cell phone trace. The sooner the better.”

A couple minutes later his request was answered. “James, it seems to be stationary at Colby and Bryant.”

“Okay, tell me if it moves.” He looked over at Serena. That’s eight miles north east of here. You riding with me or you following in your car?”

I hurt like I had never hurt before. On a pain scale of one to ten I would call it a twelve.

“You’re going to tell me you stupid bitch. Who you working for?”

Licking the blood at the corners of my mouth, I tried to smile. I had no idea if I did or not because my face was like the rest of my body, beyond feeling. “muf aaf wov mif”

“What?” He leaned down, turned his head to put his ear closer to my mouth.

It was plain enough. I said fuck you. He must be hard of hearing. “mas ur gugg aff”

There was no doubt he was going to start cutting off fingers. I was wrong. That wouldn’t have been painful enough. He held my index finger and rammed the blade up under the fingernail.

The air left my lungs and my mouth in one huge gasp of pain. The two men were sprayed with blood. I passed out.

“What if she has aids or one of them other contagious diseases?” Eddie looked at Doug in disgust. I’m going to wash this shit off.” He walked out of the room.

Doug looked at the blood splatter on his hands and clothes. He pushed over the chair she was tied to before he left the room. “Stupid bitch.”

Fifteen minutes later James pulled into the parking lot of an apartment complex. Serena pulled in behind him. She got out and walked along in front of the parked cars holding her hand out until she felt heat from one. Walking up beside it she saw Jessica’s purse on the front seat. Everything had been poured out onto the seat. The cell phone was there, her gun was missing.

Four guys were on a landing leading up to the second story. “Hey babe, how about you and me going to my place?” Came from one of them, along with catcalls and encouragement from the others.

She turned to look. “The guy who drives this car. What apartment is he in?”

One of the guys stood up, straightened his collar and smiled. “Come to my place and I’ll tell you.”

James walked up behind Serena. The guys looked at James in disgust. The one who had been doing all the talking spit on the sidewalk. “Beat it Ranger, you have no business around here.”

Doug walked back into the room with a rifle. He set the woman and the chair back up. “You broke my wrist. Remember bitch?”

He brought the rifle barrel down on my arm.

I screamed in pain. “AAAAAHHHHHHHHH”

Serena looked up the stairs at the apartment where the scream came from. “Get out of my way.” She hissed at the four guys still blocking the stairs.

“Say pretty please.” The mouth for the group grinned.

Serena pulled her gun out of her purse and shot him in the left leg. He was tumbling off the stairs when she shot the next man in the leg. He was falling face first down the steps. The last two were jumping off the side of the stairs as Serena charged.

“You busted my leg.” Eddie took the rifle from Doug and swung it at the woman’s knee.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH” I passed out again.

James was up the stairs one step behind Serena. He put everything he had into it and then some as he brought his right foot up and plastered it against the door. The steel door held but the wood doorframe didn’t. It splintered into a hundred pieces as the door swung in.

Serena pushed James aside with her left hand as she charged into the room. She swept the room with her eyes and her mind in less than a hundredth of a second. She had her first target threat in her sights. She waited.

Eddie was turning to meet who ever had busted into the room. He was bringing his rifle up as pieces of the doorframe were still sliding across the floor.

Serena painted the wall with his brains.

Doug didn’t know the rule of a professional is to leave no threats. Not understanding Serena was waiting on him like a cat waiting for the mouse. He was pulling Jessica’s gun out of his waistband. When he had the gun free and was bringing it up Serena ended his life the same way she had the other one.

James made it into the room a second behind Serena with his gun drawn. One man was down and the second was going down. The second thing that caught his attention was the bloody mess tied to the chair. “My god, did they kill her?”

Serena was still at the ready. “Haven’t checked. Make sure these were the only two. Check the rest of the apartment.”

Taking a quick look at the two lying on the floor James headed for the kitchen. Less than a minute he had checked the rest of the apartment. He came back into the living room and stared at Jess as Serena finished cutting her bonds. “Jess?”

Serena shook her head. “She’s too beat up to understand anything. They broke several bones in her face, her left arm and her kneecap. Carry her to my car.”

Serena pulled a small hypodermic out of her purse and removed the needle guard. She noticed James staring with doubt in his eyes. Holding the needle in her right hand she measured halfway up the vial. “It’s kin to sodium pentothal. The whole batch will kill, half that will sedate her and keep her from feeling the pain any longer.

“I love you hon. Hang on.” She jabbed Jessica in the leg.

James slid his gun back into his holster. “Standard equipment for all field agents?”

Serena dropped the hypo back into her purse after slipping the cap back on. “A tool to kill if we don’t want to leave bullet holes. A heart attack is just as deadly and no one questions the death. If the situation gets bad enough we can use it on ourselves if we don’t want to eat a bullet.”

“I’ll call an ambulance.” James was positive they didn’t need to be moving Jessica.

“No! Jess was never here. You put a Jane Doe or whatever in your report when you fill it out. Jess can’t be treated in the hospital. Those like us live or die on our own. Hospitals mean pictures, fingerprints, blood samples, and arrest. I like you James. Jessica thinks the world of you, but I will kill you if you leave me no choice deciding between you or Jessica.”

James looked at the two dead men lying on the floor with a big chunk of their skulls missing. He looked over at Serena holding Jessica’s head up. “You’re right, the hospital would alert the authorities and Jessica would turn up on that FBI list. I’ll take her. Do you have someone who can treat her without any legal entanglements?”

“More than you need to know. Since you didn’t ask and I’m not saying, we will fly her out of the country.” Serena picked up Jessica’s fifty from the dead man’s hand. She walked over and checked outside the apartment to make sure they wouldn’t be ambushed carrying Jessica to the car.

James hated it as he carried Jessica down to Serena’s Mustang. Jessica’s broken arm and leg were flopping with every step he took. He took one last look as he placed her in the Mustang. “Red, I’m sorry. You saved my life and I wasn’t there for you.”

He watched Serena drive off before he walked over to his pickup and the radio. “This is unit nine two four. I have a ten seventy one and an eleven forty one. I have victims with gunshot wounds. I’m at Keletter Apartments at Colby and Bryant.”

“Ten four, nine two four. I have backup and ambulances on the way.” Brenda responded.

The four guys who had blocked the stairs earlier were gone. If they didn’t come back it would make it easier writing up the report. The coroner had to be called. The search for the four witnesses thankfully turned up nothing. The crime scene had to be cordoned off. The hardest part was explaining who shot whom and where the shooter and one of the victims went. Then the report had to be written up and filed at head quarters before he finally made it home…, again at two o’clock in the morning.

Her scent still lingered in the house as he walked in. He was too tired to really care as an unconscious smile crossed his face. James debated between a shower and bed before he headed to the shower to rinse off the evil he had gotten close to that evening. He had no idea why those two wanted to beat Jessica to a pulp. Maybe they were sick or maybe she said something to make them mad. He would ask Jessica if he ever saw her again, provided she could still remember anything. That was if she lived. She was in pretty bad shape.

He finished toweling off and headed back into the bedroom and stopped cold as he stared. She wasn’t there when he walked through the bedroom to take a shower.

She pulled the covers back. “I need some company.”

James blinked as he tried to gather his thoughts. What he was looking at was a lissome beauty second to none. “You have that gun?”

Serena slid her hand under the pillow. “Always.”

“You plan on killing me?” He was wondering if he was the fly invited into the spider’s bed?

She smiled and shook her head. “Not tonight.”

“Jessica?”

Serena looked over at the clock on the nightstand. “She’s headed home. She’s somewhere out over the Atlantic now. I would be with her except I have a job to finish up here. She’s in good hands. She will be okay. Ricky will make her well.”

She patted the bed beside her. “I need someone to cuddle up to tonight. Please. Hold me and make the world go away.”

It was an offer James couldn’t refuse. He slid in bed and pulled her up close as she snuggled up against him. Her head was on his left shoulder, her arm across his chest. He smelled her hair. She was different from any woman he had ever known. It was when he put his hand on her back he felt them. James slid his hand up and down her back counting the welts.

She took a deep breath. “I grew up raised by different people. The first couple, the man and woman beat me. I don’t remember how old I was. All I remember were the beatings. They passed me on to another couple when they adopted a boy. He was stronger, older than me and could do more work. They beat him too but not as often.”

She wiggled in closer as if it was possible. “I was six or seven when the first couple gave me to the second couple. The man beat me, the woman not as much but she made up for it by raping me with a broom handle when she felt extra mean.”

“I was eight or nine when one night the man forgot to lock up his gun after raping me. I killed them both and never felt so good. I walked the twenty kilometers over to the first couple’s house and killed them. For the first time in my life I felt clean.”

Her head moved around on James shoulder until it seemed she found the right spot and then she stopped. James wondered if she had gone to sleep as he felt along her back again.

She tried to snuggle in even closer, tighter. “The authorities found the first couple I killed and sent two men to check on the second couple. I was waiting as they walked in the door. Killing them didn’t make me feel good. I didn’t feel bad, but I didn’t feel good like the first four killings did. More men came and I killed three more. Why didn’t killing them make me feel good? I had no more bullets.”

“They were going to hang me. Someone in my government thought I might prove to be useful. They made me take many tests. They realized they could point me at anyone they wanted killed and I would do it. I don’t mind killing. Sometimes I feel really good when I kill someone like those two men I killed tonight. I know for everyone I kill there will be a thousand more taking their place tomorrow.”

She tilted her head back and looked up at him with those beautiful black eyes. “I know I’m a psycho. Your government would lock me up. My government points me at targets to kill. In time I will scare them too and they will kill me.”

She nestled back down in the curl of his arm again. “You understand don’t you? Normal people have a mental barrier like a wall to climb over before they kill anyone. For some it is too tall a barrier to cross. They can’t do it. For others it isn’t that big of a challenge. For me it isn’t even a bump. Sometimes there is a reward. I feel good afterwards.”

“I’m a psycho in a sane world where I don’t belong. At least there is one silver lining in being me. I’ll never grow old. Too many people are afraid of keeping me around too long.” She tried wiggling in tighter and then got real still.

James waited for several minutes as her breathing slowed down into light shallow breaths. She had gone to sleep, secure in his arm, hunting the comfort she never received as a child. What had they done to her? She was a broken spirit. Even as tired as he was it was a couple hours before he finally found sleep himself.

He could smell the coffee and bacon before he opened his eyes. She wasn’t in bed with him. He figured he was a light sleeper and yet she seemed to come and go without waking him. Quickly dressing in a fresh uniform he headed for the kitchen.

“Thought you were going to stay in bed until after I left. Figured I’d have to write you a note.” She dished up eggs and bacon onto a platter.

She had her back to him. He had walked into the room so quietly he didn’t even hear his own footsteps. How did she know? She was a beauty he could get used to looking at every morning and holding every night. She was wearing a pearlesent silver dress that hugged every soft curve of her beautiful body, along with four inch matching stiletto heels.

“Are you gone or do I leave the latch string out again tonight?”

She turned and set the platter on the table before pouring the coffee. “I have business to take care of today…,”

James eyes got two sizes too big as he knew what kind of business Serena claimed she was in.

She laughed as she looked up at him. “No not that kind. I’m going to meet someone for information. She’s lesbian and I’m bi. I’m very good at pleasing my…, clients. It’s only for the day. It is the reason I’m in Dallas. In two days I’ll be in Houston taking care of that little business we already discussed. If you want to come along we will let it play out however easy or hard they want to make it. Otherwise I’ll do what is necessary to secure our item and make sure no one is left to talk about it.”

Serena pulled out a chair and sat down, motioning for James to join her. “I haven’t asked to be invited into your house. It isn’t something I normally do. I take what I want when I want. If anyone doesn’t like it they can go to hell.”

She looked to study James eyes after he took a seat. “I’m not coming back unless you invite me.”

He didn’t quite know what to say. In her own way she was a beauty way past most of those he had ever known. Yet, getting close to her was like playing with fire. The girl was a true dyed in the wool, certified, psychotic killer. But then, Jessica killed just as easily. That day at the mall was still as fresh as if it was yesterday. She killed four men and went to pick up a dress. These women were unlike anyone, male or female, he had ever met before in his whole life.

James pushed back from the table and headed for the bedroom.

Serena figured that was as plain as it could get. She wasn’t welcome any longer. She was finishing up her coffee when James returned.

He tossed a couple keys down on the table. “Front door, back door, and garage door. Although you don’t seem to have a need for keys, you might try them. I’ve been too busy with my job to schedule any dates with any women. For the time you’re welcome to come and go as you like. In the future, seeing as how I’m a guy, I enjoy the company of a woman now and then. Call first before you check in to make sure I’m not entertaining someone of the fairer sex.”

She rose from the table, walked over to James and pulled him in for a hug and a long kiss. ”See you tonight. No soap in the dishwasher.”

He looked at the dishes still on the table and then watched as she walked toward the door. “Damn, this is just like being married. I’m already pressed into tidying up while the little woman goes off to work.”

Serena was shaking her head and laughing as she walked out the front door. She stopped and turned before she closed the door. “See you tonight dear. Don’t forget to pick up the kids at school. Make sure the dog isn’t left in the house.”

James was laughing as the door closed behind her. “Damn woman plays ping pong with the mind better than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Matt was leaving as James was walking into the Ranger station. “Captain wants to see you. I don’t know what you did, but I’m sure glad I wasn’t with you last night. He has been growling at everyone since he read your report this morning. What did you do?”

James shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe got myself fired.”

He headed straight into the captain’s office. “You wanted to see me?”

Henry was looking down at the papers on his desk. “Close the door.”

He waited until James closed the door before he pushed back from his desk and looked up at James. “I’m looking at the worst cockamamie piece of bullshit report I have ever read in my entire career. Tell me what really happened.”

James studied his captain for several seconds. “It might be best if you didn’t know.”

Henry stood up as he looked down at the report and then at James. “On that door you walked in is a name. Above that name is Captain. I’m paid to be responsible for every man and woman in this division. I know a fabricated report when I see one. You didn’t secure the woman who shot the two men. You let her leave with the victim. There is no hospital report. Tell me I’m wrong but I believe your girl was the shooter.”

“You’re wrong. She was the victim. They beat her to a bloody pulp.”

Henry gave it some thought. “She died then? No hospital, no records.”

James looked out at the couple guys still at their desk. “I was told they were going to deliver her back to Ricky Clawson. I’m guessing that Philadelphia Project is real. It’s only a guess. I have no idea where it is set up if it is real.”

Henry nodded. “And the shooter? Why didn’t you bring her in?”

“She said she could save Jessica. Jess saved my butt. I owed her that much.”

Henry picked up the report and sighed. “James, you’re going to give me an ulcer. You didn’t list a name for the woman. Does she have one?”

“Serena. I think she is KGB or something. She is the one who told me our office was bugged by the FBI. How did that work out?”

Henry looked off into the distance at nothing. “Austin flew in a tech team yesterday. We were bugged as you said. They cleaned the station.”

“Okay. I’m going to cover this one up because your other girl gave us the heads up. We didn’t have this conversation. Don’t get tangled up in her skirts and don’t compromise this department or the Rangers. More than one good man has lost his senses after getting close to a beautiful woman. I take it she’s pretty?”

James snorted. “Pretty deadly. I’m betting she is in the same class as Jessica. You read the report. It was headshots. The rest of us aim for the body because it’s a bigger target. If we could hire them on as Rangers…,”

Henry was shaking his head as he looked down at the floor. “Get out of my office and stay away from the skirts. I don’t want to see any more pictures of your girlfriends spread around this station either. One Jessica is one too many.”

James had his hand on the door and hesitated. “Captain?”

Henry looked up and waited.

“I’m going back to Houston tomorrow. Will you assign Matt as back up?”

“She give you another lead?” Henry had a strong hunch why James requested Matt instead of one of the other Rangers.

James gave a very slight nod.

“I think I feel that ulcer coming on now.” Henry motioned James out the door.

Serena called Ricky and told him what they were doing before Jessica was put on the plane. They flew Jessica from Dallas to Paris on Lufthansa Airlines as an ambulatory patient. He flew into Paris with Dr. Volkov to pick her up and transport her back to Tuapse in a private jet.

The lab was being used at the time. Ricky knew there was nothing he could do except wait. While Ricky waited the hospital team pored over Jessica. They took X Rays of everything and did a medical diagnoses of all the broken bones and tissue damage. They didn’t have a chance to study the before and after when Linda had been brought in. Now they did. They wanted to make sure they didn’t miss a single detail.

Six hours and forty one minutes after she arrived Jessica was carried into the lab and placed on the glass table. Ricky waited until everyone left before he pulled the sheet off her. He kneeled down and kissed her on the forehead. “I’m so sorry Jess. This is all my fault. I wish I had removed your cancer and sent you home. I wish I had destroyed the damn machine before…, before I did this to you. Please forgive me.”

He walked back to the console. “Stay with me Jess.”

The chamber was dropping as he plugged his key chain into a port. The mapping he had done of her weeks before was going to pay off. The machine would put her back together. “Damn Jess why do you girls go out and play these games? You’re going to end up like Dimitri. I can’t give life to dead people. You’re breaking my heart every time I have to repair a broken one.”

He had to build another machine. Jessica could have died while waiting when this one was already in use. Or if it quit? It was after all only a machine and, like people, machines wear out over time. Only there would never be enough machines or enough trained people to run them. The machines took too long to fix broken bodies. There was no way to speed up the process. It had to go slow or tissue was torn apart. And people died. Ricky never planned on his machine fixing wounded warriors only fixing sick people. He now understood he didn’t have a wide enough vision for the purpose of his machine. Mankind would never be ready for this kind of technology. Someone would always get to decide who lived or who died because they would determine who had access to the machine and who didn’t.

“Ricky?” He was holding my hand. I fought my way up out of a fog as I looked around at a full staff of nurses and doctors.

“What’s going on? Why are you here?” I hurt all over but couldn’t figure out why.

Ricky leaned down and gave me a kiss. “Welcome back Sunshine. I’m not there. You are here. Serena shipped you back to me. She didn’t enclose any information about what went wrong. What happened?”

Looking around as my mind cleared I realized Ricky was right. I was in the Russian hospital not an American one. I knew it well as I had spent enough time here holding Ricky’s and Linda’s hand while each recovered. “Why am I here and why do I hurt so much?”

Ricky kissed the back of my hand. “Pain is good. It means you’re still alive. Do you remember anything?”

The purple and black blotches on my left arm got my attention. “The last thing I remember is going into a club and ordering a drink. Why am I so bruised up?”

He brushed my hair away from my face. “Your arm, your knee cap, your jaw, your eye socket and several of your fingers on your right hand were broken. You looked like hell when we brought you in. Don’t you remember?”

I shook my head and that hurt. “No but if you will tell me who did it I’ll make damn sure they don’t live to regret it.”

“Too late. Serena already sent in a short report earlier. She wanted to know about you first of all. I told her you looked like shit. Told her she sent back the wrong one. It wasn’t the same girl I married. I told her to send back the real Jess and stop fooling around.”

I gave Ricky my best ‘you’re dead meat’ look, but it fell flat. I hurt too much to bring it off.

“Ha ha…,” Ricky shook his head. “Practice on it Jess. Your dead meat stare is not up to par. Anyway, to finish my story, Serena said there were two men. She used the word ‘were’ in a way which left no doubt they are past tense. You don’t remember?”

I didn’t shake my head because it hurt too much. “Last thing I remember is going into a club to wait on a meeting with James Daniels. It’s all blank from there until now.”

I looked at my arm again. “Obviously you put me back together again if I was broke up as bad as you say. I know I must look a fright. I’m sorry hon.”

He lifted up my hand and kissed the back of it. “You’ll always be a beautiful lady second to none in my eyes.”

I guess I had turned into a woman in more ways than looks because Ricky’s compliment warmed my heart. “Thanks Ricky, I love you too. How long have I been out of it?”

“Two days, why?” Ricky didn’t like where this was going. He knew Jessica too well. She wasn’t going to take a break before she was back in the meat grinder again.

“Find me some clothes. I need to be back in the states to work with Serena on a job she is going to help James with.” I pulled the IV out of my right arm along with the heart monitor off my chest.”

“Nyet!” Came from a nurse across the room.

“Yes.” I answered as I pushed everything off to the side and stood up beside the bed while wrapping the sheet around me. “Ricky, I need clothes.”

Ricky didn’t move. “Jess, I have never told you no. This time I’m telling you, NO! You can stay here in the hospital or you can go home with me. You are not going back to the states. Your body is bruised, beat up, and still healing. That machine can’t make new cells or heal damaged ones.”

He folded his arms across his chest as he frowned at me. “If the timeline you were working on is tomorrow it won’t make any difference. You won’t be able to fly back in time anyway. What are you going to do when you get there? I doubt you can hold a gun much less take aim at anything.”

“Ricky please, I promised Serena I’d be there.” For whatever reason I started to cry as tears trickled down my cheeks.

Ricky took me in his arms and held me as I cried on his shoulder. “No Jess. You’re too beat up to go out again. Give your body time to repair itself. I know you’re Wonder Woman, but even she needed a break now and then.

“Ricky…, I’m sorry. I’ve let everyone down. I’m so sorry.” I pulled him in and cried on his shoulder.

He stroked my hair as he held me. “You haven’t let anyone down. You’re the strongest person I know Jess. You’ve been on guard twenty four seven for the past six years. Linda gave me the name of someone who will give us a place to stay and no one will try to kill us. Nikolay Balakhnov is part of the Russian Intelligence Ministry. They want to talk to you.”

The tears finally stopped. I backed up to look at Ricky and watch his eyes. “I’m not joining the Russians, even if they have treated us better than our own government. I know why they play nice. They wanted your equipment.”

Ricky shrugged his shoulders before he pulled me back in against his chest. “The world is changing Jess. They want to talk. The place they offered was the trans Siberian Train. We will board in Moscow and in seven days arrive in Vladivostok.”

He pushed me back to look into my eyes. “It isn’t my equipment they want to discuss. It’s the equipment you carry that has them intrigued. Remember Sergie, the guy I called when we first returned to Dallas after the…, after I was shot? He’s part of the new KGB although it’s not called that. They call it the Foreign Intelligence Service. Nikolay Balakhnov cleared it for you to bring your toys. He said he will authorize it and give you a badge if you will talk to him. Serena still has your fifty and your rifle. She didn’t dare ship it back with you on a commercial flight.”

“Jess, please talk to them. It will give you government backing to carry your equipment anyplace in the world. You like that Texas Ranger? What if he decided to follow the exact letter of the law and arrest you after you helped him? This way the Russian government will be covering you. You won’t be leaving your Ranger friend hanging out to dry. Serena, Linda, and Dimitri worked hard to get their government to accept you as one of them.”

“Dimitri?” I pushed back and sat down on the bed. I was so tired. My strength was gone again.

Ricky eased me back into bed. “Linda confided in me after he was killed. It was one of the reasons he was on the yacht with us. He wanted to watch you on a day by day basis since Linda had bragged on you so much.”

Ricky smiled. “You know how smart a mouth Linda has. She said Dimitri had filed divorce papers and was going to marry you. It was her way of saying he approved.”

That brought a forced smile. “I thought at one time she said she was going to shoot him.”

Ricky hesitated. It was a comment too close to remembering the pain of Dimitri actually getting shot as he protected Linda. “Rest hon. In two days we will fly to Moscow and take a train ride. I’ll call Serena and let her know the situation. Linda is, or was, in Columbia doing recon. That’s the word when doing research of the kind you girls do, isn’t it?”

“That’s the word.”

He leaned down and gave me a light kiss. “I bet when Serena shipped you home she called in Linda as her backup. Wanna make a bet?”

“Not really. Neither one will miss a beat when a job needs to be done. They always have a secondary plan if the first one goes south on them. I wish I had them as my safety net when I was…,”

Ricky nodded. “Another time, another place, a long time ago Jess. Rest and I’ll find your clothes. I’ll take you home where I can take care of you.”

Four big men who could have played defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers walked into the room. Each one was wearing enough body armor and carrying enough weapons to start a war. “Miss Rabbit?” The big guy in front was seriously studying me.

“Yes?” They didn’t scare me. I wasn’t in any shape to be scared even if I was armed myself. Which I wasn’t.

He pulled a Desert Eagle and two extra loaded clips out of his vest and held it out. “She said she still had yours. She said you needed a backup. If she hadn’t told me herself this was your style I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“Serena?” I was sure but wanted to make double sure.

“That was the one.” He slowly gave me the once over. “Linda said they are ratcheting up the heat. Your parents were added to their death list.”

“Parents? I shook my head. “My parents are dead.”

James pulled up everything he could on the Houston car heists. There wasn’t anything new in the reports he and Matt hadn’t already learned from the previous trip. At nine that night he decided to call it quits. He headed home or what he liked to call home, even though it was only a stopping place every now and then along with a place to leave all the things he called his.

“James.”

He opened one eye to look, even though he was thinking he was still dreaming. She was standing in his doorway. “Serena?”

“Wanted to make sure you knew who it was and didn’t shoot me.” She walked over beside the bed. She slipped out of her jacket, reached up behind her back and unzipped her dress. Her satin slip and garter belt were next before she sat on the edge of the bed and removed her nylons. Her bra and panties went before she lifted the edge of the covers
and slipped in beside James. She cuddled up close.

James mind and emotions slipped into overdrive as her warm soft body snuggled up against his. Then she slid over on top of him, her hands beside his head pulling him in for a kiss. His emotions exploded right then and there. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled over on top of her.

James wasn’t a virgin. He had made love to beautiful women, but never a lisssome black haired beauty as beautiful as Serena. It was way into the wee hours of the night before she let his passion die down enough for him to fall asleep.

The light was coming in the bedroom window. He felt the bed beside him. It was still warm from her body even though she was gone. “We gotta stop meeting like this.”

He rolled out of bed and picked up the alarm to see why it hadn’t called him at six after he had set it. Did he forget to push the alarm button or did she turn it off? “She’s messing with my life and I’m not in control any more.”

Her dress and other things were in the chair on top of his uniform. He had to move them to get dressed. “More mind games. You don’t think I know what you’re doing?”

He smelled the coffee before he finished dressing and headed to the kitchen. That’s where he found her. She was dressed in a soft brown pants suit. He figured she was wearing boots although the stiletto heel added a nice feminine touch to her outfit. “Think you can run in those boots?”

She gave him a wink before turning to serve up French toast on a couple plates. “I don’t run from or for. When I tell them to stop they better stop, whether they are coming at me or running away from me.”

James sat down and took a bite of his toast. “I could get used to this.”

Serena looked at her plate for a couple seconds before looking up at James. “Don’t get too used to it. James, I have no future. I go where my government tells me. I do a job and then wait for the next assignment. I’m here because my government wanted me to take care of an equipment loss in Houston after I picked up some information from a client in Dallas. It meshed with Jessica wanting to get in touch with you to see if you would pass information about the Columbian drug dealer.”

She picked up her purse from the chair next to her, lifted out his keys and dropped them on the table. “Thank you for letting me stay. You weren’t a part of my job. I had forgotten what it was to be loved by someone when I wasn’t trying to pry information from them.”

She slid her chair back, stood up, and slid her purse strap up on her shoulder. “No soap in the dishwasher. I’ll call you when you get to Houston.”

James pushed back and wrapped her in a hug as she walked past him. He pulled her in and kissed her before he rubbed his cheek up against hers and whispered in her ear. “I hate being used as a one night stand. My relationships might not be permanent, but they usually last a little longer than one night.”

He moved back so he could look into her eyes. “Where you going after Houston?”

She studied his eyes, wondering if he was pumping her for information? “James, if I had an assignment I wouldn’t tell you. It so happens I don’t. I’ll head back home to check on Jessica.”

James pulled her back in and hugged her. It felt nice just to hold her. She was so different from any woman he had ever known. “Let’s call a truce or détente or whatever. I won’t pass you any information about my government and you don’t pass me any information about yours.”

Serena kissed him and then pushed back. “I’m going to recover our equipment. I’ll see you in Houston if you want those men.”

James watched as she walked out the door. Looking over at the table he picked up his coffee, took a sip, set it back down and headed for the door.

Matt looked at his watch as they left Dallas behind. “What’s the plan?”

James curled up his mouth as he smothered a chuckle. “Great plan…, there isn’t any. We are going to meet someone in Houston. She is going to lead us to the car thieves.”

Matt’s head snapped up. His eyes were dancing as he stared at James. “Jessica?”

“Sorry, no. I don’t think you will be too disappointed. She’s Jessica’s friend and I’d say in the same category. Did you read my report from the other night?”

Matts eyes became two balls of white. “Oh shit! The woman who killed two men? We are going to meet HER?”

James nodded. “That’s the one. She’s as ugly as sin. You won’t be able to forget her once you meet her. She has a long scar on her right cheek from her eye down to her neck and a big wart on the left side of her nose. Her left eye is glass and never moves. Try not to stare at it. She’s kinda self conscious about them things.”

Three and a half hours later James was coming into Houston. His phone was ringing. “James”

“Stay on I-45 to I-10. Meet me at Industrial Road and Greens Pipe Mill. Tell your young friend to not shoot everyone carrying a gun. There are two of us.”

James looked up into his mirror to see if he was being followed. “How…?”

“I dropped a tracker in the bed of your pickup this morning.” Came her recognizable voice on the phone.

“Serena…,” There was a click and the connection was lost.

An hour later James saw the brown Mustang parked off to the side. He pulled up in front of it and stopped. Matt got out the same time James did. He watched as the black haired beauty slid out of the driver’s side. He was thinking the passenger must be the girl James had described. That thought vanished the instant the auburn haired beauty slid out of the passenger’s side.

James was studying the other woman as Serena walked up to him. She stayed back by the car. The way she covered Serena there was no doubt in his mind she was the second woman who backed up Jessica that eventful day.

Serena pointed back the way James had come. “About a kilometer up the road is a container yard. They bring the vehicles into the yard, put them into containers, and ship them out. We aren’t interested in everyone who has been bringing in the cars. All we want is our equipment. The rest is up to you and Matt.”

Matt stood up a little taller as he grinned from ear to ear. She knew his name.

“Last night at two fifteen and two twenty they brought in a Cadillac and a Mercedes. From what we have learned they work on a specific time table and look for specific cars. They steal cars on customer’s requests. They use dealership car tags to slap on the vehicle at the time they steal it. Cars are stored in the yard until they have twenty of them. Then they are put on a ship and sent out.”

James nodded as he studied the woman by the car. “I’ll call for backup.”

Serena shook her head. “These people aren’t stupid. Too many unknown vehicles, too many unknown faces, they don’t bring in the cars. Either you and Matt are it or no go. What I’m waiting for is in the drop off vehicles. The drivers come in after the two stolen vehicles go into the yard. The other thing is, too many guys wearing badges show up and someone always wants to know why I’m carrying. James, I’m not Jessica. Anyone wants to question me or put handcuffs on me, bring the body bags.”

She focused in on James eyes. “We can track our own equipment. You’re here because of Jessica. She needs all the information she can get about Ernesto Escobedo. I do you a favor, you do her a favor. If this isn’t agreeable to you then we are out of here.

Serena waited for an answer.

“I’ll call for Rangers only, no local law. I trust the people I work with.” James knew the people he worked with wouldn’t push for information about Serena and the other woman if he asked them.

She shook her head. “You trust them, I don’t. The other thing is you can’t call anyone. Your radio? The locals monitor that frequency. Your telephone? National Security Agency monitors that.”

James rolled in his lips as he thought about it. He glanced over at Matt. “This is getting off the playbook. Do you want to pull out while you still have a job?”

Looking at James and then Serena a half hearted smile touched his lips. “You’re Jessica’s friend?”

“I like to think I am.” Serena gave a slight nod in agreement.

He pointed toward the other woman beside the car. “And her?”

Serena giggled. “Jess and Linda go back a few years.”

“Then I’m in. I hope you are as good as Jessica is. How many do you think are going to be there?”

“Four men are at the containers now. They open them up when the driver brings in a car. There will be two pickup vehicles with drivers. They come in to take the others back out again.”

“That’s eight men.” James looked over at Matt.

Serena focused in on James. “Our equipment is in one of the pickup vehicles. Most everyone is carrying automatic rifles except the drivers bringing in the stolen vehicles. We aren’t waiting for anyone to pick up a weapon and start throwing lead in our direction. No matter what, if they even sneeze wrong they are dead. We get our equipment and we are gone. Is everyone clear on how this is going down?”

James looked over at Matt who nodded yes before he looked back at Serena. “Now what?”

“We go find a place to eat. I’m starving. Haven’t had anything since breakfast. I don’t think Linda had even that much since she flew in this morning to cover Jessica’s spot. You pick a place and we’ll follow.” She turned and headed back to the Mustang.

A few minutes before ten James was parked back in one of the yards close to where they had met earlier. Serena was in the seat beside him. She was completely relaxed and looked half asleep.

He studied her for awhile wondering what she was thinking? “The waiting is always the hardest part isn’t it.”

“Do you fish?” Came back softly.

“What? Uh, no. Why? Do you?” He wondered how fishing got into the conversation.

“You need to try it. It’s a waiting game like this. Bait your hook, toss it into the water and wait to see if a fish might happen by and want the bait. Do you hunt?” Came just as softly.

“Not very often. Haven’t been in years.” Now it was hunting they were discussing?

“Pick a spot and wait for the game to come to you. You don’t go running through the forest to see if you can spot something to kill. You wait.”

She rolled her head over to look at him. “Instead of waiting for someone to bring in a couple cars. Wait on that fish to bite on your bait or that turkey to come strolling across the meadow. I never was any good at waiting on people to do something. Waiting on that animal or fish to show up never bothered me.”

He wondered if he would ever see her again after tonight? Problem with Jessica, Serena and the other lady is they made the rules. Thinking about that one he smiled. It was probably the reason they were still alive in the high stakes game they were living.

“How do you know so much about the men bringing in the cars? Houston has half a dozen detectives working on the car jacking gang. Counting the two in our office along with the ones in the field we have that same number trying to figure it out. We can’t even get a clue and yet you seem to have their schedule and play book.”

Serena closed her eyes as a slight smile crossed her face. “They are carrying our stolen equipment which gives us their complete movement same as a tracker. Ricky Clawson designed it. It kills all electronics in a given area. We follow the black out as it moves around the area. Every stop, every path they take is a beacon for us to check out. We could stop the vehicle and take our equipment back at any time. There wouldn’t be any witnesses left to tell any kind of story about what they thought they had.”

She looked over and studied James before she continued. “Gets complicated why you’re here. My government wants Jessica working for them. Jessica needs information about Ernesto Escobedo. Our intelligence will give her everything they have on the drug lord. They are willing to commit a dozen men along with equipment for support. There are always the small unknowns that get one killed. Maybe your government has some information we don’t. Maybe someone in your government is using Escobedo as a front in Columbia. There are Americans moving in and out. Are they dealers or government or both?”

She shook her head as she stared down the road ahead. “Jessica was supposed to be here, handing you what you were looking for. Hopefully in return you would give her everything you could find out about Escobedo. Requests coming from the Texas Rangers would be nothing more than seeking information about a drug lord and wouldn’t put him on the defensive.”

James shook his head as he studied her. “I would have done that for Jessica anyway. I have no reason to not share information with her as long as it isn’t government operations. There is something about her…, and you, that makes you different from the rest of us.”

They talked for hours until at exactly two fifteen Serena’s radio spoke. “Они идут”

James was curious. “What did she say?”

“They are coming.” Serena keyed the radio but didn’t say anything. “That was the first car. The second will be along in five minutes and the pickup vehicles five minutes behind that. They are precise. The headlights from any car not in their time sequence would be cause for alarm. You will have to drive without lights or we get out and walk.”

Five minutes later her radio came on again. “второй автомобиль”

“Now?” James was reaching for the ignition key to start his pickup.

“No. That was the second car. Five more minutes for the pickup vehicles.”

Finally it came. “два транспорта”

Serena lifted her gun from her purse, dropped the clip and pushed on the top bullet. When it depressed a little she knew she had a full clip. She slipped it home and racked the rail back slightly to make sure a bullet was in the chamber. “Let’s go.”

James started the pickup and was driving up the road with his lights off. “How often do you check?”

“First thing in the morning and again before I think I might get into a situation where I need it.” She picked up the radio with her left hand. “мы катимся”

The radio clicked twice. “They are rolling also.”

James stopped a couple blocks from where Serena told him they had the container yard. They got out and walked up to the yard entrance. There was a body lying on the ground. Linda came up carrying a rifle with a night scope, and a silencer. Matt was along side her. Linda put a finger to her lip and mouthed the word ‘guard’.

The two drivers for the transport vehicles were watching the others who were inside the container strapping down the last two stolen vehicles.

Linda looked over at James and gave a motion with her hand for him to close the door on the container. She crept up behind the driver furthest from the container. When she was nine or ten feet from him she brought her rifle up to her shoulder and aimed it at his head. “You move you die.”

The other driver was bringing up his gun and turning to see what was happening? The bark from Serena’s gun woke the others inside the container as the driver fell over.

James and Matt were pushing the doors shut as bullets started pouring out from inside the container. Even after the doors had been slammed shut the sound of gunfire from inside could still be heard as bullets rattled against the door.

Matt and James put the first driver up against the car and handcuffed him. When they frisked him they found two nine millimeter pistols. Matt was reading the driver his Miranda rights as Serena went through the car.

“I guess it’s okay to call for backup now?” James looked for Serena.

“Serena?” He was looking around.

“Where did they go?” James looked back at Matt.

Matt started looking around. “I don’t know. Did they leave?

Henry was looking at the report. On the other side of the desk Matt squirmed. He figured his career as a Ranger was washed up this time.

Shaking his head, Henry looked up at James. “You are really pushing the envelope. Your career, your retirement is headed for the trashcan. I don’t care if you lose everything you worked for the past thirty six years. What I do care about is you are dragging Matt into the toilet with you. Do you think this department makes rules for you to break?

He glanced at the report and was shaking his head again as he looked up at James. “These two women in this report, neither one was Jessica Rabbit. And you think they were foreign agents or something, but they didn’t say.”

James opened his mouth. Henry pointed his finger at him and wiggled it back and forth. “I’m not through with this fairy tale you turned in as an arrest report. Indulge me because I find this really fascinating.”

He cleared his throat. “hurrrumph, Now where was I? Ah yes…, One of the women shot and killed a man at the front gate before he had been warned you were Texas Rangers. The other one killed a man standing by a vehicle before he had been warned you were Texas Rangers.”

“I have no idea how much this is going to cost the state in attorney fees defending what you allowed to happen. The fact they were with twenty two stolen vehicles is your only saving grace.”

James took a glance over at Matt. “Twenty two?”

Henry looked from Matt to James. “Twenty inside the container. The two delivery vehicles were stolen also. The Russian ambassador contacted our governor this morning and thanked him for the cooperation of the Texas Rangers in closing down an embarrassing smuggling operation. This particular batch of vehicles was headed for Tajikistan. Interpol has been in touch with Washington this morning. The lead you sent them after interrogating the men who weren’t shot dead last night, helped them close in on the same organization in the UK. They were shipping stolen cars to Africa.”

Henry turned, looked out of the office window, and clasped his hands behind his back. “When I first read your report this morning I fully intended to place both of you on unpaid leave for a couple months. I wanted you to have time to think whether your way of flauting the rules would make you behave afterwards.”

He turned again to look at James. “The governor has told HQ in Austin you two are to be commended for your outstanding work. He wished all Texas Rangers could be as diligent in crime solving.”

Henry rubbed his stomach. “I think I have an ulcer thanks to you two. Next week there will be an awards ceremony where you will receive commendation medals for your efforts in breaking up the cattle rustling ring and the auto theft ring. The governor, the Russian ambassador, Houston's mayor, and Dallas' mayor will be there along with dozens of dignitaries and of course the press corp.”

He pointed to the report on his desk. “There is nothing in there about you interrogating anyone. Those women you were working with covered your ass in more ways than one. Don’t get tangled up in the skirts.”

James nodded. “Captain, they wanted something the car thieves had. Said it belonged to them. We were invited to ride along. They did it for Jessica. I don’t care what the FBI thinks, she isn’t the bad guy.”

“James…,” Henry shook his head. “You are playing with fire. I never thought I’d say this. Those women are out of your league. Probably out of everyone’s league. Make sure you remember which side you’re on.”

Butterflies as big as eagles were running around in my stomach as I pushed on the doorbell of a house I had only looked at in pictures. A young lady opened it and stared for several seconds before she gave slight curtsey. “Milady.”

“Uh..., is Mister or Misses Sorensen home?”

“Milady? Jessica?” She looked puzzled and then caught herself. “Please don’t stand outside. Your mother is in the greenhouse and your father is in the office.”

That stopped me cold. I gathered up what little courage I didn’t have and walked into the house with Ricky following. I stopped in the foyer. “Would you please tell Mister Sorensen, Jessica Rabbit would like to see him.”

She looked doubtful as she looked at me kind of funny. “As you wish.” She turned and left.

A minute later a tall distinguished looking gentleman came rushing into the room headed straight for me. “JESSICA! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US YOU WERE COMING HOME! I TOLD ANETTE TO FIND YOUR MOTHER!”

It shocked the living daylights out of me as he closed in and wrapped me up in his arms. “OH JESSICA THIS IS SUCH A SURPRISE! YOUR MOTHER WILL BE SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!”

I was too shocked to hug him back. I did manage to stand there like a complete limp doll.

As he turned loose of me, a very attractive woman grabbed me and pulled me in kissing me on my cheek. “Jessica, why didn’t you call? How long can you stay?”

She held my hands as she backed up and looked me up and down. Her eyes were dancing knowing she had shocked me. “Let me look at you. Where did you get all those bruises? Were you in a skiing accident? Please, you must be tired after your trip. You go up to your room and freshen up and rest. We can talk after you're rested.”

That pushed me back onto my game plan. I held her hands as I studied her face. “We talk now. I’ve put both of you in mortal danger. Can we find someplace to sit? This is going to take a little time to explain.”

The problem with waiting on a large patrol to attack, or waiting on an individual to attack, is they have the advantage of time and place. It was going on four days since I had gone to Norway to warn my make believe parents they were in mortal danger. The drug lord in Columbia decided to hurt me mentally before he killed me for real.

One week earlier Linda had gone to Columbia to do what recon she could on Ernesto Escobedo. He was the drug lord who put out a five hundred thousand dollar bounty on me after I killed four of his men in a shoot out in a Dallas shopping mall. While in Columbia Linda learned Ernesto had put a bounty on the parents the Russian Intelligence Agency had assigned me. They were fabricated parents but real people I was assigned when Ricky asked Linda to give me a new identity after we fled his burned out lab in Mexico.

I informed Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen that any normal routine was out until we took out the threat. Their normal Friday evenings when they went out for a meal were no longer an option. Visiting the friends they associated with had to be unplanned ahead. It had to be a drop in visit instead.

Ricky initially came with me. I sent him back with Linda and Serena. They flew in and stayed for two days. They played the part of the assassins as they looked for ways and places to ambush the Sorensens and make their getaway. They both knew the game well. The Sorensens, along with myself, were killed four different times in those two days before they flew out again. I hated to see them go. They both had a job and schedules to keep for the Russian Ministry of Intelligence. I knew that unless I was extremely lucky there was no way I was going to save the Sorensens or live past the assassination attempt myself.

“Mrs. Sorensen, stay away from the windows.” I walked into the kitchen where Eva was preparing breakfast.

She placed the skillet back on the stove before turning to look in my direction. “Jessica, I will not be intimidated by a thug and his hired assassins. This is our home. I refuse to be afraid.”

Sliding the rifle sling off my shoulder I propped the rifle up against the doorframe. “Mrs. Sorensen…,”

She held up her hand. “Stop right there. You have been calling me Mrs. Sorensen since you arrived. Real or not I am your mother. People have noticed you never address me as mom or mother. It is always Mrs. Sorrensen or Eva. Our relationship may have been fabricated. However you are our daughter. It would be more convincing if you acted and spoke like one.”

“Mrs Sorensen, I…,”

She pointed her finger at me and waved it back and forth. “Ah, ah.”

“Mama…,” I choked after that one. “uh, Mrs. Eva…, mom.”

She nodded. “Honey, work on it. I feel like I was called something unclean rather than your mother. You are a beautiful young woman. Johan and I didn’t expect you to be more than a name when we agreed you could be our daughter. Johan was curious to what kind of person we had accepted even if it was all for show. He started collecting the stories from the society pages when you were in Dallas. He even ordered the back issues. The more we learned the more he and I came to think of you as our very own daughter.”

After all I had been through the past six years I didn’t think a whole lot could shock me. Eva just did, I had nothing to say.

She walked over and took my hands in hers as she studied my face. “The bruises are disappearing quickly. Young bodies repair themselves easily, don’t they. I’m sure it is one or both of your friends who were here yesterday who have been sending us information about you. Lots of pictures of you on a ship. They don’t mention where or when they were taken. Looking at the background in some of those places, we have been there ourselves.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Your dad can’t decide which pictures he is most proud of. I think it is the one of you dancing in a nightclub.”

She got more than serious. “Jessica, we know you are in government espionage of some kind or another. We haven’t decided if you are working for the Americans or the Russians or maybe both.

Anette Ferrari, the young lady who had met me at the door that first day, walked into the kitchen. She shook her head as she stared at the pistol holstered on my hip. She glanced at my rifle leaning up against the doorframe. “Those are illegal you know. You aren’t allowed to carry weapons.”

As if I hadn’t heard that tired old debate before. It usually started in some beer joint when some young thing who never read history got a few beers in them. “You going to turn me in?”

She frowned as she gave that some thought. “I might.”

Eva picked up plates out of the cabinet and carried them to the table. “Anette, you are a guest in this house. Jessica is only doing what she thinks is best for all of us.”

Anette got a smirk on her face as she looked at me. “You ever shoot anyone?”

“Not a topic for discussion.” I shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t going there.

Johan came in carrying a stack of newspapers. “I was listening when the gun question first came up. I went back and got these from my office.”

He laid them down on the table. “Anette”

She stepped up beside Johan as he opened up the top one. I didn’t need a closer look. It was the Dallas Morning News. On the front page was a picture of a car with bodies beside it. ‘Norwegian Princess gives whole new meaning to Texas Justice.’

There was a second picture. It was me wearing a blue evening gown taken when Ricky and I attended the Dallas Orchestra for an evening. Certainly not what I was wearing when the Columbians tried to kill me.

Anette pulled the paper to the side and was busy speed reading about the mall shooting.

Johan opened up a tabloid, The Monthly Grinder. There was a picture of the burned out Acapulco lab with six bodies scattered out across the pavement. Unknown mystery woman linked to drug cartel deaths. There was a picture of me in that almost dress, obviously taken at the Halloween Party.

Anette quickly scanned the second paper. “You’re a killer, a murderer.”

“If that’s what you think.” I really didn’t feel like getting into a debate about what I had to do to survive.

Johan shook his head as he studied Anette. “Would you call a policeman a murderer if he killed someone who was trying to kill him?”

She looked mad the question was asked. “Of course not. That is his job, protecting us.”

Johan nodded in agreement as he opened up a Ft. Worth paper. “Norwegian Princess is working for the Texas Rangers. Miss Rabbit, along with two Texas Rangers, stopped a cattle rustling operation in Texas and Oklahoma. Texas Ranger Jessica Rabbit put down two of the rustlers. Fifteen others quickly gave up and were captured alive.

Anette looked doubtful as she kept switching from the papers to me and back again. “You’re a Texas Ranger?”

“I was then.” It was only for a few hours so it wasn’t a complete lie. Just not the complete truth either.

Through the kitchen window and out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow move across the back yard. My fifty was in my hand in less than three tenths of a second as I turned to cover the doorway and the window at the same time.

Anette shook her head. “Trying to frighten me isn’t working. Your theatrics need some polish.”

“Don’t shoot the guy in the yard. He’s one of ours.”

Anette jumped when a voice came from the dinning room.

Taking my hand off the trigger I slid the gun back into my holster. “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you too. Knock next time Serena.”

She had a rifle cradled in her arms and a big smile as she walked into the kitchen. “Trying to keep it down. No one needs to know. Вадим and his team are checking the perimeter. The Russian Ministry decided to put some men behind you. They asked for volunteers. A couple hundred men asked for the job. The ministry then checked arms lockers. They picked four out of the hundred or so who had a pinup of you in their locker. These men are Spetsnaz Group Alpha. They make the bad guys look like angels.”

I laughed over that one as Anette looked disgusted. My attention turned back to Serena. “I appreciate the thought, but there are two problems. One, the men are putting themselves in danger. And two, a show of force will scare off the killer. He or they won’t give up. They will wait for a better opportunity.”

Serena nodded in agreement. “We sweeten the honey pot. You and your parents are going on a hide a way vacation. A news reporter is going to happen to catch you with your parents as you arrive at the private chateau northeast of Runde.”

She got more than serious. “Jess, our intel received word there are six operatives with a team leader coming at you and your parents. They are here now setting up the strike plan. If we knew where, we would take them out, but we don’t so we can’t. No one can stop an assassin working on their time schedule. You know that better than anyone. We bait the trap and bring them to us when we know they are coming.”

Anette’s eyes kept getting bigger and bigger as she listened to Serena. “You plan on killing them!”

I’m betting I was the only one to see a hint of a smile cross Serena’s face. She nodded. “That’s the plan unless you want to wait and have them kill Johan, Eva, Jess, and you. You think because you aren’t blood kin they won’t kill you too? Stupid girl! You have a lot to learn about the give and take in the world between the wolves and the sheep. The only reason you are alive now is because Jess came here to protect Johan and Eva.”

Serena was still talking as she turned her attention toward me. “Johan and Eva were soft targets and Anette would have been collateral damage. Jess showed up and changed the game plan. A single assassin was no longer an option. Shooting someone like Jess becomes a life and death situation. If she isn’t brought down with the first bullet, she will kill those who targeted her. She won’t run away or back down like normal people would. To a professional assassin, Jess is the target assignment no one wants. There is a whispered phrase spreading in the underworld about Jess. mortem sibi consciscere. It is Latin. It means going up against Jess is death by suicide.”

She looked back at Anette. “Those like you are sheep who think if you don’t do anything your life will be okay. You never stop to understand that sheep need shepherds or the wolves would kill them all. The police can’t protect you twenty four seven. Their job is to draw a chalk outline around your cold dead body and assign blame. Jess is one of those who make sure the wolves never get that chance to kill. You get a chance to live your life safely as you demonize those like Jess.”

Anette wasn’t going to give up her idea that those like me were cold blooded killers as she looked at me and asked. “How many have you killed?”

“One was too many.” I responded, as I thought back to the answer I gave a Texas Ranger so many years ago.

She turned toward Serena. “I bet you have killed too.”

I noticed Serena’s eyes close slightly. I knew I wasn’t going to like the answer Anette had pushed for.

“Yes I have. I took great pleasure in most every one of them. If you’re going to ask me how many? Dozens, maybe hundreds, I don’t regret a single one. You might as well ask the wolf how many rabbits he ate and if he regrets having one for lunch.” Serena smiled and winked at Anette.

At that moment I think Anette thought she was being lied to. I didn’t make that error in judgment. I decided to change the conversation. “What’s the plan?”

Before we left, Linda had me change into a soft teal silk mandarin dress. It caressed every curve. There was no doubt I could not be packing heat of the leaded kind inside that little clinging number. The little matching clutch she gave me allowed me to carry the basic girl necessities and nothing else. It was to give the impression I wasn’t on guard nor expecting trouble.

Linda said the bases were covered as she sent the Sorensen’s and me to check on car rentals and or transportation tickets to Runde. I swear I felt naked without my fifty, or any weapon for that matter. Every now and then, as we stopped and checked at the different businesses, I would catch sight of her men covering us as they swept the area for trouble. Even though they were dressed to fit in like locals, they really didn’t blend in if one knew what to look for.

The purpose of our little sortie was to give the assassins the idea we were leaving town on a pleasure trip. There had to be a couple maybes in there. Hopefully they were already tracking our movements prior to setting up their ambush. Hopefully they were paying close enough attention to catch this outing, but not set up to take us out yet.

I certainly felt like a sitting duck all the time we were in the open like that. I prayed those six Serena said were coming didn’t take a chance, while thinking I wasn’t packing heat. Counter moves in chess or life only worked if the opponent didn’t guess what you were doing.

On the helicopter flight to the chateau at Runde, Serena and I discussed the pros and cons of her idea to pull in the killers. I couldn’t imagine this working unless they are complete idiots or raw amateurs. “This is going to feel like a set up to those Ernesto hired to kill Johan and Eva.”

She nodded in agreement. “Probably, but hopefully they will play the odds and believe this is an invited vacation for you and your parents. If they don’t know you came back to protect Johan and Eva they will be thinking they can kill them, get paid for that job, kill you and collect the reward. Half a million dollars dangling in front of them for taking you out too is going to be impossible to resist.”

Looking out the window I shook my head. “I wouldn’t take the bait and neither would you or Linda. We would wait for the target to move back into what are normal conditions and get a comfortable routine again.”

Serena leaned over and looked out the window too. “That is the reason we are still alive and those who are coming won’t be very much longer. They always want their blood money sooner rather than later.”

The chateau wasn’t some fishing cabin by the fjord. It was a mansion. After we landed Serena had all of us get into a couple cars, drive out the gate and come back in again as a photographer was busy taking pictures. We then waited as he drove off a kilometer or two and set up his camera and telephoto lens. Soon he called Serena to let her know he was ready. One by one we got out of the cars and stood up as if it had been a long trip. Then a distinguished older gentleman and a smartly attired woman came out of the house to greet us.

It was obvious that Johan and Eva already knew them as they greeted each other like old friends. Johan turned to introduce us. “Jessica, this is Anders and Inger Christensen.”

Inger took me in from head to toe. I didn’t think this was the first time she had heard about me from the way she looked me over. She smiled and then closed in and hugged me. “You are even more beautiful than your pictures and I thought they were stunning.”

As she turned loose I backed up and tried my best to return the compliment. “Thank you, that was very kind of you to say. I love your hair. That is such a beautiful dress. It accents your beauty.”

Inger turned her attention to Anette. “And you must be Anette, the exchange student Eva has told me so much about.”

Anette reached out and shook hands with Inger. “Yes ma’am.”

After formalities we were shown to our rooms and told to rest and freshen up. Although Linda wasn’t officially with us, she teamed up with me as a bunkmate. She was changing into military camouflage almost as soon as the door closed.

“Where’s mine?” I didn’t open my suitcase because I knew all that was in it were a few dresses and under things.

A smile spread across her face as she sat down to lace up her boots. “You’re the bait along with your parents. Dinner is formal. There are evening gowns in the closet. I think the sequined red one would be nice to start out with. It will look absolutely stunning with your long red hair.”

Her smile got even bigger if possible. “Hon, act like the princess you really are. The fabricated princess may be made up, but there is no doubt in any anyone’s mind who knows you, that you really are a princess, if not by birth, then by acts and deeds.”

That shocked the heck out of me as I tried to get a handle on my emotions. “But I’m not...,”

Serena closed in and wrapped me up in her arms as she hugged the life out of me. “Yes you are. You are everything all the rest of us wish we were. You’re soft and gentle, strong and courageous, kind and caring, tough as nails, soft as a kitten, strong as a warrior princess.”

I was blushing from the top of my red hair to the soles of my feet as Serena turned loose and backed up. “You and Linda are all those things too. I learned from the best and am still learning by watching and taking notes from two who are the best at everything.”

Serena’s eyes were dancing before she looked out the balcony doors. “Linda said you were one of a kind. She left that as a question and if I wanted an answer I’d have to ask you what she meant. She also told me to never ever, not in this lifetime, was I to ever underestimate you or what you were capable of. The way she said it I’m thinking you are going to pull a cape and mask out of your suitcase.”

She turned her attention back in my direction before I could respond. “The guys will arrive with all their gear in a couple hours. I’m going to go scout locations for perimeter defense. The pictures our lucky photographer happened to catch as the princess and her parents arrived at the chateau are being researched. The team will decide which ones look like coincidence and luck. Tonight and tomorrow the pictures along with a story about the Princess on an extended hide a way will hit the papers society pages and all the tabloids. The story will hint at the news coming from gossip to the locals, from the maid, butler, and grounds keeper at the chateau.”

“Tonight belongs to you. There is no way they can track you this far, this fast. Enjoy the evening. Tomorrow, and until things are settled, becomes high alert time twenty four seven. I’ll be coming and going most of the night as the team sets perimeters. I know you sleep with that gun of yours like most girls sleep with their dolls. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shoot me in the dark.”

I shook my head. “ if you think I’m sleeping while the guys are settling in position, you’re crazy. After socials are tended to for the evening there better be some proper gear laying on that bed or I’m going to be following you around in a dress and heels.”

Serena snickered as she rolled her eyes before she turned and headed for the door. “I bet you would too. I’ll be back around twenty four hundred hours.”

I was beginning to think the trap wasn’t going to work. It was going on day four. Everyone was tired and getting cranky. Even the ones who weren’t on watch were feeling the stress of waiting. I knew they wanted a quick resolve to the situation but killers set the pace and the place, not the victims. Hell if the events had been turned around I wouldn’t be coming in to kill anyone. I’d be dug in several miles away watching for movement and an ambush.

Anette was the most vocal and the most difficult. After the first day and the new wore off she acted like it was all a game. She wanted to go home, be entertained.

We had sit down to dinner when Serena walked into the dining room. “Two coming up the driveway. They look like photographers. Everyone act normal.” She turned and left.

“Think she is still there?” He leaned out from behind the bushes he was hiding behind to take a look at the house.

“If she is I plan on getting some pictures.” The other guy was locking a three hundred millimeter telephoto lens onto his camera.

“And if you don’t get off this property I’m going to call the police.” Came from behind them.

They both jumped and turned at the same time. There was a maid glaring at them. She had her fists resting on her hips.

“Is the Princess still here? We’ll pay you a week’s wages to forget you saw us. Let us get some pictures.” One of the guys got a great big disarming grin on his face.

She didn’t change position. “What you are going to get is a ride back to town in a police van if you don’t leave now.”

“We only want some pictures and then we’ll go. You go back to the house and get the Princess to come out front. We will take our pictures and leave.” The other guy chimed in.

“Two coming in the front, four from the back. They have weapons and launchers.” Came in to her earpiece.

“Shit!” She pointed at the two men. “You two idiots stay put. You move from here and I’ll shoot you myself.” She headed for the house moving at a fast pace but hopefully not fast enough to arouse suspicion.

Serena was shouting as she made it in the front door. “WE HAVE COMPANY. EVERYONE INTO THE SHELTER NOW.”

As everyone else headed to the safety vault, Serena and I were running up the stairs to our room. “How many?”

She was pulling off her maid uniform before she made to the bedroom door. “Two in front and four in back. They are carrying launchers. Going to blow the place up, chase everyone out, and kill us as we expose ourselves.”

Serena changed into camouflage as I pulled on jeans and a blouse. I was strapping my gun on my hip. “How much time do we have?”

“What, repeat…, Roger that. Take down if possible. All targets are hostile. Do not let the launchers acquire a firing option.”

I knew she was busy with the guys covering the perimeters. She turned toward me shaking her head. “No time. We are in a hot zone now. The targets are not open.”

Pulling my rifle out of the case, I headed for the balcony. “If they can see us, I can see them. Give me a location.”

“Vadim says he has you on the balcony. Three hundred meters out, seven degrees to your left.” Serena laid down on the balcony as she scanned in the opposite direction.

“I got him.” The bark from my rifle echoed back from the hills.

Bullets started peppering the house as the other three gunmen realized they had been spotted. I focused in on the one bringing up a large tube and pointing it at us. My rifle barked, he fell backwards at the same time he pulled the trigger. The rocket went up over the top of the house.

Serena’s rifle barked and then I heard the distant bark of a rifle way off in the distance. There was an explosion off in the distance. “I hope that rocket that went over the house didn’t kill anyone.”

The fourth one decided he had enough. He was turning to run when I nailed him.

Serena nodded “Area clear. Let’s try and get that guy out front with the launcher before he lets loose.” She was already on her feet headed toward the front bedrooms.

She stepped out on the front balcony and scanned. “Four hundred, sixty meters out, twenty meters to the north side of the driveway is the one with the launcher. He’s under cover from the guys. They can’t get a fix on him. The good news is he can’t get a fix on the house either from where he’s at.”

Every now and then bullets were smacking around us. “The other one isn’t having that problem. Where’s he at?’ I was scanning for flash fire from his rifle.

“I think I see him. Down the driveway approximately eight hundred meters, up the hill to your left about sixty meters. Look at the big pine with two little ones to the side. Isn’t that a gun barrel I see beside that tree trunk?” I adjusted my scope to focus in on the rifle barrel.

Serena focused in. “That’s him. He’s not giving anything away, is he? He’s too far back in the woods for the guys to see him. They will have to work their way down to him.”

“Tell them to hold steady and don’t let that rocket launcher get a fix.” I laid down on the balcony and concentrated on the sniper. There was a smack as wood shredded around the door. I honestly thought I felt that one part my hair. He was ranging in his scope and getting better with each shot. Obviously he didn’t count on being that far out before the fireworks started.

I adjusted the range on my scope. “What’s the wind? You need to take cover. He’s about through adjusting for distance.”

Serena backed through the doors and laid down. “Six to ten out of the north.”

“Okay.” I let go of my breath and watched as he leaned out from behind the trunk to take another shot. My three o eight answered first. Tree bark and splinters flew everywhere in front of his face. He screamed as he rolled out to the other side of the tree trunk his face full of splinters. I racked another round home and ended his pain.

“Rocket launcher is the last one. Don’t let him get a firing position. Tell the guys to hose down his cover. Maybe they can drive him out.”

“Лейте это на” As she focused in on where the guy was hiding.

Rifles started barking way back up in the hills as the little patch of brush in front looked like invisible angry mosquitoes were ripping it apart. Bullets were ricocheting off the rocks. The guy popped up with the launcher. I think Serena’s and my rifle barked at the same time, along with every one of the men’s.

The guy was stupid. He should have stayed down and given up. The problem with those who work for drug lords is they never think they will be on the receiving end of punishment. They deal out death and pain while thinking association with a drug lord will protect them from retaliation.

“Доклад о состоянии” Serena was still checking for movement.

After several seconds she looked at me. “Двух фотографов пить травы на передней дверцы.”

She giggled when I looked blank and shook my head. “I’m sorry. I asked the guys for a status report. They said the only ones still alive were the two photographers. Provided they didn’t have a heart attack.”

“Maybe we should go tell them it’s over?” Looking off across the lawn I easily picked them out. Serena was right, they weren’t moving.

In the five or eight minutes Serena and I took to walk out to where the two guys were, they still hadn’t moved. They were lying face down, trying to become a part of the lawn. Obviously they were not war correspondents.

“Hey guys, it’s over. You can stop eating the grass now.”

Both of them slowly raised their heads, their eyes still showing absolute fear.

Serena slowly shook her head as she stared at them. “I told you to leave.”

The one on our right focused in on Serena, her military uniform and the rifle she was holding. He swallowed. “You’re the maid.”

She giggled. “Well, I was cleaning up, but actually it was Jessica who stopped the killers before anyone got hurt.”

That got my attention as I turned to look at Serena. “But…,”

The slightest shake of her head stopped me. I didn’t do it alone. Serena and the guys were the only reason I’m wasn't dead myself. If we were counting bodies Serena and the guys took out two, although that last one was anyone’s guess who made the kill shot.

They both stood up and started taking pictures. “My god it’s her. It’s the Princess. How many were there? Do you know if they were mercenaries or working for the drug lord?”

“Is that the rifle? Is that what you used? Those men in Texas think they are part of this bunch? It sounded like a war zone for a few minutes. Is it always over that fast? I heard an explosion. Did they have a cannon?”

I knew this was going to be a long evening as they kept throwing questions at me too fast to answer. Their adrenalin rush was still surging through their bodies and they had no concept of reality. I had watched the new guys in Viet Nam do the same after we had run into a fire fight. It would take hours for their minds and their body to calm back down. Some took as long as a couple days after that first real brush with looking death in the face.

Thirty seven minutes later, the police showed up. Serena, along with the four men, magically disappeared before the police arrived. Over five hours later, after answering questions and giving statements to the police, they seemed to be satisfied. It didn’t make me happy when my rifle and pistol left in their custody along with the veiled threat I might be brought up on charges of carrying, along with murder.

All of us, with the exception of Anette, discretely never brought up the fact that we had help. Anette was ready to tell all the first chance she got until they started carrying in bodies, guns, and rocket launchers before loading them into the ambulances. I think that was the first time reality struck her young mind. It could have been her they were carrying in if not for those who watched over us for the past four days, ready to kill before we were killed.

Our two young photographers were having a field day burning up data storage in their cameras. They left with the police, knowing they had front page news to sell.

Serena and the four guys showed back up once the police left. I felt safe again with that many guns around me. I looked at the men. “Thanks for saving my life. I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

One of them stepped up and held out his hand. “I guess I am second team leader since Serena was team leader. It was a pleasure.”

I took his hand. “And your name?”

“Vadim”

I closed in and gave him a hug around the neck. “Thanks Vadim.”

Turning loose I looked at the next man. “And you?”

He held out his hand. “Grigory”

I closed in on him and gave him a hug around the neck. “Thanks Grigory.”

The next two didn’t need prompting.

“Abram”

“Thanks Abram.” I gave him a hug too.

“Yegor”

“Yegor thanks.” I gave him a hug.

Vadim reached inside his pocket on his vest and pulled out a patch. “Serena said five of those were your kills. Officially and for the record, they are all yours and we were never here. I testify before these witnesses of the highest moral code you, Princess Jessica Sarah Rabbit, are now an official member of the Spetsnaz Group Alpha. An attack against you is an attack against every Spetsnaz Group Alpha member, past and present.”

He handed me a patch identical to the one he had on his shoulder. He smiled along with all the other guys as Serena snickered.

It brought back long buried fond and bitter memories of so many men I had bonded with and lost in a war from Hell. Tears came in a flood. I choked and the words caught in my throat as I tried to thank them for their friendship. I knew the price each member had to pay to be a part of that exclusive group. Each one had to be an over achiever giving more than most mortals could stand. I hadn’t paid that price. I wasn’t worthy of their honor. To tell them I didn’t deserve it would have been shaming them for offering. These men had a different set of codes and morals they lived by than what normal people have. I embarrassed them enough by crying. They didn’t cry, ever. They sucked it up and kept going, no matter what. Was that a tear I saw in Vadim’s eye???

Newspapers and tabloids kept dropping on James desk as the Rangers came to work that morning. He had to push a few out of his seat as he arrived. “Okay, okay, enough already! I can read. I know she is in the news…, again.”

Bobby threw his hands up in the air and shrugged his shoulders. “Six men…, snipers, killers, professionals, rocket launchers, tanks…, I’ve carried a gun for nineteen years and I haven’t ever shot anyone. What is it about that Princess of yours that makes her want to shoot people?”

Lonnie held up his hand and waved it around. “I know, I know. It’s called target practice. We go shoot paper targets and she works on…”

“Can it, you clowns.” James shook his head as he glared at the others.

“LORDY!” Dale was looking as three women walked into the room.

It got quiet enough to hear a pin drop as the others turned to see what Dale was looking at.

She was wearing skin tight jeans, western cut, tailored blue silk blouse, engraved belt with a big silver and gold belt buckle and long dangle diamond earrings. The big leather, engraved, shoulder purse rested on her right hip. Long red hair spilled out from underneath a blue cowgirl hat. She had the face and body the men had seen in pictures and dreamed of holding.

The auburn haired beauty beside her was similar dressed except her blouse was white, her earrings were silver spirals.

The black haired angel on the other side was dressed in a western tailored, silver pantsuit and stiletto heels.

Serena scanned the room and found him staring back. She walked up beside him, leaned down, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him before she backed up. “Hello James.”

He shook his head and laughed as he stood up. “You just don’t quit do you? Hello Serena.”

She laughed along with him. “Life is too short to play by the rules. Enjoy it while you can. Tomorrow may never be there for those like us.”

Ben was staring at Jessica. “Do we arrest her?”

Bobby shook his head. “Didn’t you read the newspaper? You want to try, be my guest. James had the right idea. Swear her in as a Texas Ranger first so she won’t shoot us. The drug dealers are calling her Beautiful Death, along with a few other choice names. She scares them more than the drug lords now. You want to test the gossip?”

Ben took a quick look at Jessica. “Think she managed to get in here with that gun?”

Bobby snickered. “You want to pull yours out and point it at her to find out? Give me a chance to move over to the other side of the room first.”

As Linda and I walked up beside Serena I noticed Matt hanging back. “Hello Matt.”

Matt blushed as he looked down and then back up. “Jess…, I mean Jessica…, Princess…”

I winked at him. “Jess will work. We are all people here. Royalty and snobs never went over in Texas.”

Henry walked out of the office. “Ladies, I think I should introduce you to the Rangers, although everyone already knows Miss Rabbit.”

He pointed at Serena. “This young lady is Serena.

He pointed to Linda. “This young lady is Linda. These are the two ladies who led the investigation in the capture of the auto theft ring in Houston.”

He pointed to me. “And of course everyone knows our own Texas Ranger, Princess Jessica Rabbit. She told me on the phone she prefers to be called Jess.”

“Governor Harrison called and informed us that the ladies would be visiting this morning for a conference on crime prevention co-operations between Russia and our government.

Ben leaned over and whispered in Bobby’s ear. “Weren’t two men killed in that theft ring?”

Bobby whispered back. “Yeah, so you want to try and arrest the other two women now?”

Ben shook his head. “I’m slow, not stupid. Hell walked in our door and they are wearing heels. Give the job of arresting them to those clowns over at the FBI. I’d pay good money to see them try that again since I missed it the first time.”

“Captain.” A big grin spread across Bobby’s face as a thought hit his brain.

Henry turned his attention toward Bobby. “Yes?”

“I’m sure every single one of us in this unit would appreciate the ladies giving us lessons down at the firing range. In the goal of inter-agency co-operation of course.” His grin got even bigger.

Ben leaned over to whisper in Bobby’s ear again. “I think James has that inter-agency co-operation down a little too well now.”

Bobby laughed out loud. “You’re jealous.”

“Hell yeah I am. You can’t deny you and every male in here is too, even the married ones.” Ben couldn’t take his eyes off the eye candy across the room.

“Captain, what about that FBI file? I mean what if they find out she is here?” Lonnie was staring at Jessica.

Henry held up a sheet of paper he was holding in his hand. “It was canceled as of yesterday. Miss Rabbit is no longer on their wanted list. She is officially listed as a good will ambassador with full diplomatic immunity.”

A smile spread across Matt’s face from ear to ear. “A US Ambassador. That’s great.”

Henry shook his head. “Not so fast. Russia claimed her as their ambassador. Norway disputed that and said she was one of their citizens and their ambassador. Our government claimed it was their idea first. I think the first inter agency co-operation will be deciding who Miss Rabbit represents.”

Even though Linda had clued me in about the ambassador thing it was still embarrassing. I was blushing from the top of my head to the souls of my feet.

Henry gave me a wink. I knew at that instant he was giving the Rangers a snow job of his own design. For one the US couldn’t be thinking of me as they had no record of a Jessica Rabbit besides that fabricated Texas drivers license Linda had made up six years back. Same for the Norwegian ambassador offer. I was sure if the authorities dug deep enough I didn’t exist in their citizen data base either. The Russian ambassador offer was tentative on the premise I became a Russian citizen.

James held up his hand. “Wait, there isn’t any debate on this. Jess is Texas through and through. As Texas Rangers we don’t take the back seat to nobody. Jess, Serena, and Linda belong to us, the Texas Rangers. It is time we made it official. Ladies hold up your right hand. Do you swear…”

“JAMES!” Henry was glaring at him.

Badges started dropping on James’ desk in front of the ladies. “She can have mine.” “Here’s mine.” “Wait I was first.”

Bobby put his arms around Linda and hugged her. “It is part of the indoctrination. All new Rangers get a hug from the team.”

Linda was laughing as Bobby turned loose of her. In her best thickest Russian accent. “I love America.”

That made Serena and me laugh. Linda didn’t have a drop of Russian accent in her English until now.

James moved over close to me. “Leave him alone.”

Looking into his eyes I could see he was worried. “I can’t. You know that. One of us has to die before it will be over. As long as he and I are alive he will keep hiring men and sending them to kill me. It won’t stop until one or both of us are dead. I won’t live my life looking over my shoulder wondering if that person is the one sent to kill me.”

James nodded. “I do know. Know this, the Texas Rangers are behind you one hundred percent.”

Ernesto was in a rage. “SIX MEN! I HIRE FOOLS! WE SEND FOUR MEN, SHE KILLS THEM! WE SEND SIX MEN SHE KILLS THEM!”

He pointed a finger at the man standing in front of him. “You fail me again I will skin you alive. You hire as many men as you need. You pay them as much as they ask. Only if they kill the bitch do they collect a paycheck. Not one dime before. Death will be their reward, and yours, if they fail me.”