[Author's Note: Spoiler alert! Please read Jack of All Trades before this story. -- AuP]

Jack Was Nimble –

Malcolm ‘Tesseract’ Hallard was a math genius in a family of grifters. He had been banned from casinos for card counting in his sleep. His cousin Jack called him Tess for short. A Tesseract was a mathematical and geometrical concept that Malcolm enjoyed contemplating. Jack and Tess had grown up like brothers. They loved and trusted each other deeply. Tess also knew what Jack was never able to admit to the rest of the family. He would slide from his mark dressed as a woman not because he knew he wouldn’t be recognized, but because he wanted to be a woman, would linger as a woman. And Jack knew Tess let him and encouraged it.

Tess had his VOIP headset on and was talking to Dr. Travis’ office in a very official sounding voice. “Karen, we are so embarrassed too. Oscar Simon has told us that she, now Jackie Simon, has agreed not to sue you. We have reached a private settlement on your behalf. No one wants this hitting the news. She just thought you were going to have her look like her uncle Terry, not turn him into a her. She didn’t know that the other Oscar had an Aunt Terry. We are sending the money for the expenses. Don’t say anything to the real Jackie, I mean, Oscar when he comes in. We are going to bury the paperwork on this one. I thought you would agree. So does Jackie Simon.” He clicked the exit button on his computer screen and hung up.

He thought about what he had pulled on Jackie. Arranging for Jack to have SRS surgery with out his knowing and approving was a bold gamble on Tess’ part. He loved his cousin. He cared about him, now her. And, he didn’t want to betray him. Jack’s friendship meant too much to him too. In the end, it came down to the fact that Jack was living a total lie and Tess knew it. And if Jack lied to himself any longer, Jack wouldn’t be around which scared Tess. Jack needed to have his options cut off in retirement and have it so the family thought it was a screw up. And that is why he did what he did to him.

On past stings, Jack didn’t rush out of the female role he escaped in no matter how far he was away from the dupe. So, when the two hooked up for their celebratory dinner after a couple of weeks, Tess slowed it down by window shopping with Jack still in his dress. Along the way, Tess would stop at a window to look at a dress on a mannequin and would notice how Jack would look at the dress in the window. He saw how he admired himself in the dress he wore by the way he looked at it in the window’s reflection. Soon, his gaze would fall upon some other outfit in the display and Tess would see him bite his lip. He knew he was dressing himself in the outfit that caught his attention. The other thing was that he didn’t act faux sexy in a dress. He acted natural. He slipped into the role of being a girl as easily as putting on comfy slippers and having coffee and toast in the morning.

When Jack told Tess of his plans for his final scam and that he wanted to get plastic surgery so no one would ever find him, Tess helped him make the arrangements and hacked into the National Health Alchamey Insurance Company’s database to find someone who was going to get plastic surgery. He didn’t tell Jack Hallard that no one gets plastic surgery using health insurance. He didn’t tell him the company did cover GRS and SRS surgeries and that he found someone who was getting the surgery in a few weeks. He told him it was all taken care of and not to worry.

The deed was done now. Jack had gone into the hospital and been changed into a woman named Jackie. Tess threw the dice and knew he won. He hoped his gamble worked with family too. Jackie left that hospital a woman. How would he take it? Tess would monitor what happened next.

As Jackie left in her Mazda 3 after her surgery, she didn’t know that the car had a tracer on it and someone following her. She drove to the long drive to White Settlement, TX, stopping in Louisville, Memphis, Little Rock, and finally settled in back in her private retreat. She didn’t contact family yet. She began to use the monies Tess gave her to get laser hair treatments and to buy clothes. She made appointments with doctors. Jackie picked up prescriptions and Tess was told Jackie was getting hormone injections. The report said that Jackie seemed to hide out for the first week, but started to come out of the house. She would go to a particular Taco Bueno for Tex-Mex. She also heard that she spent time speaking to the female help, but avoided the men.

Most importantly, Interpol, the FBI, U.S. Marshalls, and other law enforcement agencies weren’t looking for Jack or Jackie. Tess made sure of that. After all, that was his job. So, none of them would get caught.

After a month, Jackie became bolder and would go out to bars in downtown Fort Worth. Guys would try to pick her up and she would say no. She liked going to concerts at Bass hall. She would dress to the nines and would walk around sundance square. She spent time at the Huelen Mall buying clothes. And then something even better happened. The report said that she went into Ulta and got a cute hair style and her toes and nails done. She also had her ears pierced too. She also was spending time at Dillard’s getting nice jewelry. By the third month, she was elegant and even wearing perfume. But, still, she spurned the advances of men away and avoided family.

Tess called her spy via VOIP. “Does Jackie seem happy?”

Melinda responded, “Yes. Extremely. I have been keeping a huge distance. She isn’t even aware that I am there tailing her because I park so far away and observe her. She is so into being Jackie that I don’t think she cares. So, one day, in the mall, I went in to use the bathroom. She came in and was whistling. I asked her where she bought her cute dress. She spent a good deal of time talking to me about where she shops and where the best prices were. But that is not all.”

“Well, tell me. I am curious?”

“She asked me where the best place was to meet nice men. She asked if I was into girls first, though. I said no, but if I were, she would be at the top of the list because she was so beautiful.”

Tess smiled, “Thanks for sending me her sizes and detailed measurements. You just earned a bonus. Stop following her. But, make sure she doesn’t leave town.”

Arriving at Love Field, Tess picked up a rental. He headed out east to the North Park Mall in Dallas. He hired a clothing coordinator to help him shop. He let her shop until she dropped. Then Tess had the clothes altered to specific measurements. He paid a $5,000 bonus if the changes could be made by the morning. The little oriental girl and her elderly dad were very co-operative and got to work right away.

After the clothes were ready, he disguised himself and then had two SMU students pack up the clothes and hired them to drive out to White Settlement.

“Hello Ms. Roper? We have a delivery for you. May we bring it in?” A surprised Jackie let them into her little 1930’s bungalow. In the living room, she watched as they unpacked each dress and hung it up on a rack for her. Every one was gorgeous and so beautiful. “Who sent this?”

“Some man who says he knows you. He said also to give you this.” the young stud said. He handed her a bag filled with jewelry boxes making sure he brushed her hand in a seductive way. She didn’t even notice at first and then smiled realizing what his caress was for. Jackie tore into the bag and found the most exquisite bracelets, rings, necklaces, and ear rings.

Jackie was thrilled with all this new stuff. As the boys left, the other boy handed her a cell phone. “It is from your benefactor. He says you will know what to do.”

After the door closed, Jackie opened the phone and brought up the messaging app. There was only one name in the list, ‘Mr. X.’ She texted, “Where do you want us to meet and when.”

A text came back and said, ‘Joe T. Garcia’s. Two O’clock. Next to the outdoor fountain. Get a table for two. Order Margaritas. I am sending an Uber driver for you so you don’t have to worry about getting drunk.’

Jackie spent the next two hours looking through the clothes. She loved them all. She finally settled on a strapless red dress that hugged her curves and made her chest look good even though it needed a little more growth. She did her hair. She got made up, put on perfume, put her purse together and waited for the knock on the door. Jackie was picked up and taken to Garcia’s, which is a couple of blocks away from the famous stockyards where the bar scenes in Walker, Texas Ranger, were filmed. She asked for a table outside near the fountain. The waiter sat her down and brought her a margarita.

The men around her were taking her in. Their poor wives and girlfriends were annoyed. She looked around at the adobe walls and red brick patio. The air was warm and the fountain painted a picture of relaxation that enveloped her. She closed her eyes taking in the pleasant sound of the fountain. When she opened them, Tess was sitting there. Tess smiled.

“Thank you, Tess. You knew this is what I really wanted, but was too afraid to do, didn’t you?” she confessed.

Tess chuckled, “Yep, I told you before that it wouldn’t kill you to be a woman for the rest of your life..”

Jackie fondly patted Tess on the leg. “I loved that phony picture of you as a woman. That was so funny. Thank you for the flowers and chocolate. You were right. I love being a woman. I just never wanted to admit you were right, you know.”

Tess took Jackie’s now dainty hand and squeezed it. “I know. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do was to trick you. I knew you wouldn’t do it because of our family. But, a clerical error they could accept. Forgive me?”

“Of course.” She leaned over an gave him a kiss on the cheek. He blushed. “I had time to think and I know I let you con me into the operation subconsciously.”

Tess hugged Jackie. “I know you did. I could hear it in the way we made plans for your final scam. You sounded so hollow with your descriptions of retirement. Everybody else heard you were going to miss the game but looked forward to starting a family. I heard something else. Settling down and finding a girl just to please family while never be able to dress up and be a woman again. No, I couldn’t let that happen to you. Not to someone whom I loved like a sister. You made it too easy for me to be there for you. But, I knew you trusted me too. You put your life into my hands.” Tess wiped away a tear.

“I did. I still do. I knew I needed to have the ‘man’ conned out of me. But, will the family be able to accept me as a woman? I haven’t see them yet. They think I am off in Tahiti celebrating.” Tess shook his head emphatically yes.

Jackie glanced at him as she sipped her margarita, and asked “How about the money?”

“Oh, is safe and waiting for you. You knew that already. That old ploy to let you know all is well. Give you access to ten per cent in case you have to fend off the mark is a good plan. When things go wrong, the mark always believes there is no honor among thieves. I found that picture of the chick on the beach I included with the flowers I sent in a magazine and took a picture of it with my cell phone. Let’s have a good lunch before we tell the family, okay?”

“Oh, Tess.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you really think I look beautiful?”

“Oh yeah! You always did. But now, well, there is a glow about you. A joy that was never there before.”

“You aren’t trying to con me now, are you?” Jackie said with a wry chuckle.

Tess turned serious. “No way. Never try to con a con woman. They are nastier than the con men.”

Jackie hugged and kissed Tess. “You got that one right! Let’s eat. By the way, who is paying for the meal?"

"I am! In cash too. Seems they only accept cash here. No credit cards or bank cards. They don't want to be defrauded or want their clients defrauded."

Too bad someone wasn't filming Jackie when Tess told her that or there would have been a really funny spit take posted on Youtube.

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

Hugh Don’t Know Jack! Chapter 1 The First Meeting –

Detective Hugh Horner sat in front a very angry precinct captain. “You can’t do three things to a policeman. One, kill him and get away with it. Two, hurt his family and get away it. And lastly, steal his money and get away with it.” fumed Capt. Connolly. “This … man is going to be caught. Do you hear me! He has stolen $15 million from our boys in blue and he needs to pay it back and then some.”

“Yes, Sir!” agreed Hugh. “But, the Feds haven’t found him, we have no clues, and no leads.”

“Not true! We have one. One of the bills we happened to have left over was found to have been minted at the Fort Worth Mint and was registered by a Where’s George website user by the name of TxGypsyLover. It had shown up in two locations. One was at a bar here where we know the officer went after work. Two, in a bookstore in Fort Worth. The time difference between the two events was a mere two months.”

“So, what does that tell you, Sir?”

“Have you heard of the town of White Settlement, TX?”

“No, sound’s like a racist name for a town if you ask me.”

“Actually, it isn’t. It was named after a man named White. It is attached to Fort Worth, much like Brooklyn and Queens are. I saw a news report on it years ago. It is a community noted for a small group of gypsies that are scam artists and con artists. They are called Travellers or Irish Travellers. It is a secretive community. Once I heard about where the twenty came from, it hit me that the people there would be just the kind of scam artists to have pulled this off.”

“Sounds like what was done to us, Sir! But, do you know it was them? And, since that is a secretive community and they would remain silent I would think, how can I find out any thing? Any more information about who it might be that hit us?”

“Well, we have the description of the woman who hired the men to install the ATM in the first place. Her name, she said, was Catherine Cooke. She paid them in cash. She was about five-foot-eight, maybe nine, brunette, in her late twenties. She apparently spoke with a mild southern accent.”

“That is not a whole lot to go on. Do you have anything else about her?”

“She mentioned that she was using a good accountant who was a genius with numbers in a phone conversation they overheard.”

“How does that help us?”

“Rumor has it in the White Settlement community that Macolm Hallard is the go to man for laundering money. Nobody has every been able to get close to him to find out if that is true. He has a weakness. She is Jackie Hallard who used to be Jack Hallard. He loves and protects his transgendered cousin. He won’t spend any money on himself, but will buy her clothes, jewelry, and, rumor has it, her operation.”

Capt. Connolly handed Hugh a photo of Jackie Hallard. “Wow, this was a man? You have got to be kidding me! Is she a suspect?”

“No, she was getting the surgery during the time of the scam. We think it was in Thailand because we can find no record of it being done. We aren’t sure. But, when Malcolm was investigated as the possible bag man for this scam, nothing showed up. He was no where to be found. Months later, he shows up and he is helping his cousin adjust to her new status. Here is a before photo of Jack.”

Hugh studied the photo for a moment and then compared the two. “What a huge difference! They are hardly the same person. So, the game plan is for me to get close to her. How is that possible?”

“She has a weakness or two. She loves to study the civil war. She has become a docent for a civil war museum just north of White Settlement. I have looked at their website. Actually, it looks to be a very nice museum. And, she has another weakness, which is where you come in. Jackie loves blown glass. She apparently picked it up when one of her uncles took her to a carny and she saw it for the first time.”

“I like to blow glass as a hobby. I am not very good at it, but I like it.”

“We know. We have teased you about it. But, it turns out that in Grapevine, she has signed up for a class in glass blowing. We have a spot for you. We are going to send you in under cover. You are have a few oil wells you inherited and you have moved from the east coast to the area to escape the harsh winters. You want to be a cowboy too.”

"Anyway, here is your ticket, your cover, etc. Go find out what you can. We want our money back and the people who did it in prison."

Hugh settled into his seat going on a redeye to Dallas-Fort Worth. Capt. Connolly knew he picked wisely. Hugh, who coincidentally was named after his mother’s favorite actor, Hugh O’Brian, looked like Hugh O’Brian. He stood six-foot-two, had amazing deep brown puppy dog eyes, a cleft chin, and a chiseled face like an Adonis. If that weren’t enough, his body was like that of Atlas. He had a ripping six pack and a strong physique. In a neighborhood of immigrants from Mexico, the senoritas started calling him Senior Dos Equis because of walking through the spray one day of a fire hydrant, his shirt clung tightly to him so they could see his six pack.

His work in the Hispanic areas gave him the ability to speak a little Spanish too when he had too. Hugh had been on the force for eight years and rose quickly in the ranks to Detective and plain clothes man. He hadn’t married yet. Although, having just turned thirty, he was beginning to think about it. He had a driver’s license, but no car. He lived with his brother’s family in Hicksville saving money for his home. He understood family.

“Sir, Sir, wake up please!” the attendant shook him by the shoulder to let him know that they were landing at DFW airport. He got out of Terminal A and took a cab to his hotel and checked in. After getting into a hotel room, he made a call to CarMax and arranged to buy a car using the phony ID and credentials that the Captain gave him. He purchased a nice used Mercedes E they happened to have on the lot and drove it back to the hotel. He perused the choices he had for a furnished corporate home that the Captain had found for him. He called the owner and made arrangements to see it the next day.

“Hello, Mr. Tolson?” The two men shook hands. “Can I see the home now, please?”

They looked through the home in the Texas Christian University section of Fort Worth and it met with Hugh’s liking. “I can have a check for you for the whole year provided you give me a deal on it.” Mr. Tolson gratefully agreed and now he had a place to stay. He checked out of the hotel and moved everything in right away. Then, he headed over to the DMV and got tags for his car. That was important since he would have to make sure he didn’t have temporary plates on the car when he met Jackie. Last thing he did was to get a toll tag for driving around what they called the Metroplex. He was surprised to find that Texas had tolls.

On Monday, he went to his first glass blowing class in old Grapevine. It was a nice little historic area that had the feel of the old west. He sat down to listen to the instructor when he saw her walk in. She was dressed for doing glass blowing. Jackie had cowgirl boots on, jeans, a nice belt, and a good honky tonk button down shirt that she filled out nicely. Oh, and her smile. When she saw him, he could tell the attraction they felt for each other. He was surprised that he felt this way. There was no way she could have been a she. Not looking like that, he thought.

To his delight, Jackie sat next to him. “I am surprised a nice looking gentlemen like you is here taking a glass blowing class. You look like you should be playing football or wrestling a bear.” she cooed.

“Thank you. This is a hobby of mine, really. I did some reenacting in college at Williamsburg in Virgina while I went to college there at Williams and Mary. I don’t know why, it just fascinates me to see something so beautiful come from sand. How about you?”

“I like to see the transformation process too. I don’t want to do glass blowing, but I like to see things remade and recycled to become something they were meant to be all along, but weren’t.” Jackie looked away longingly as if she was thinking about something. Then she caught herself, “Where are you from, I think I hear a little New York accent.” She smiled at him inviting him to reveal more about himself.

“Good ear. I live here now, but grew up in the Bronx. My uncle had a bunch of oil leases he left me when he died and I moved here recently to learn about them and decide what to do with them. I have a lot of number crunching I need to do in order to understand them. Classic rich uncle story.” Hugh tried not to sound too business like, but he knew he needed to have cover. She seemed disinterested in that which was unusual.

“Oh, oil is a messy business. I prefer house flipping, which is what I do.” Then with a wry smile she said, “When I am not blowing it.” She looked him in the eyes and the attraction returned to Hugh. He was being enticed into her web.

Hugh laughed, “Oh, I don’t think you could blow anything.”

“Oh, you would be surprised.” she suggestively flirted back and slowly licked her lips.

At the end of the class, Hugh escorted her out of the building. “All this just so you can restore door knobs. Amazing.” He laughed.

“Yeah, well, I like to restore old Victorians to their original condition.” She lingered in the parking lot. Hugh spied a dining establishment across the street.

“Mind if I buy you dinner, Jackie, so I can learn more? That seems like a nice restaurant there.”

“Sure, I would love to take advantage of a handsome man’s chivalry.” Jackie put out her arm for him to take and he did. Hugh wasn’t sure what to make of the whole thing. He was falling for this Pygmalion creature and her charms. After they crossed the street, they were seated at a nice table.

“Do we have a limit? I don’t like taking advantage of a gentleman too much.” she asked politely.

“Yeah, how very long I hope we both shall live.” he retorted. But, he was also pleased with her innate frugality.

“Oh, that sounds nice. Break out the expensive champagne.”

“Not yet, lets leave that for the second date.”

“How do you know there is going to be a second date, then?”

Hugh confidently said, “Because that is when I will feel like celebrating the best dinner of my life.”

“I wonder what our third date will bring?” Jackie buried her face in the menu because she was blushing so much.

“Certainly not disappointment on my part.” Hugh responded.

At the end of the dinner, Hugh escorted her back to her car. “You know Jackie, what do you get when you take away the last letter in my first name?”

Jackie blushed and looked down. She began to smile. “That’s easy, a hug.”

Hugh gave her a hug and said, “I knew you were a smart girl!”

She acted a little haughty and nice. “All because I can spell?”

“And you know how to cast spells too.” Hugh winked.

“Okay, you got your second date.” Jackie reached into her purse and wrote down her cell number and her address. “Speaking of spelling, you do know how to read, don’t you?” she playfully teased.

“If I don’t, I will if it means another date with you.” Hugh was falling for her. He could tell. She was delightful. How could she have been a man?! He opened her car door and she got in behind the wheel.

“Thank you, I had a wonderful evening I didn’t expect.” Jackie finished with her southern charm.

“You are welcome. Maybe Texas manners will rub off on me and I will forget my New York ways.” Hugh put one hand behind him and another on his stomach and politely bowed.

As she turned on her car, she looked into her mirror as she prepared to back up and then she turned to him and said, “I think you have made an excellent start. I think I am going to enjoy driving that New Yorker out of you.” And then she drove off. Hugh stood there weak at the knee. No woman had ever made him feel like this. This was unreal.

Hugh watched her tail lights turn on to the main street.

He raised his arm to his nose and drank in the lingering traces of her intoxicating perfume.

Hugh knew he was lost. He didn't care about being a cop because his being a man was inflamed with passion.

He did the only thing he could do at that point. He went home and took a long, shivering, cold shower.

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

[Author's Note: In this series, all the chapters are going to be short. Enjoy! -- AuP]

Chapter 2 – A Very Civil War

The next day, after sending a report into the chief, he read the intelligence report. It said she would be working the one o’clock docent shift at the museum. Hugh timed it so he would be there by 12:30. He paid the fee and went in. The docent told him there would be a film at 1:00 and to be sure and see that. He said he would.

He wandered around the museum first. It was a very interesting layout. Displays on the north of the building were for the Union. Those on the south were for the South. It was surprisingly well done. He had expected it to be all about the south and the vile north, but this was a really good museum. He found himself studying a uniform when someone touched his arm. It was Jackie.

So enraptured by the display case, he reacted genuinely and said, “Oh, hi. What are you doing here? I mean ...”

She laughed and couldn’t resist smiling. “Startled you, didn’t I? What a small world. I saw your car in the parking lot and couldn’t believe it was you until I found you here. What a small world! Are you into the civil war?”

“Yes and no. I was headed down the highway back to my home after dinner last night after this incredible dinner with this ravishing creature and took a wrong turn on the highway. I decided to go with what my phone said and return to I-30 and then back home. Along the way, I saw this place. I decided to see what it was all about today. They don’t have anything like this back home in the Bronx.”

With a little pride in her voice, she asked, “And, what do you think?”

“Excellent. I really expected it to be all about the south because this is Texas, but this is really well thought out and informative. But, what are you doing here, Jackie?” Then he added with a smile and a hint of hope in his voice, “Maybe following me?”

She blushed. “I am a docent. I volunteer in the gift shop. I am about to start my shift.”

“Well, when are you off?”

“Five. So, are we doing that second date tonight?”

“You bet! Now that I have a southern bell to court.”

Jackie said in her best southern drawl, “Why don’t you think you should get my Daddy’s approval first before you all start a courting me?”

“Why, no! I am nothing but a damn Yankee, Ma’am. And I aim to conquer the south.” Jackie giggled.

“There is a film about Texas in the civil war at one, why don’t you go there first and then talk to me.” She led him to the room and sent him in. He went in. The film was actually pretty good. He didn’t know much about Texas. Upon exiting, he had a surprise.

As he approached Jackie, the man she was talking to turned and said, “Hi, my name is Malcom. I am Jackie’s cousin. And you must be Hugh.” He put out his hand for Hugh to shake. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. The second day out and he had already met his target. His next report was going to be a good one.

He caught himself and made sure he sounded sincere. “Hugh, Hugh Thomas Jackson at your service, Sir.” Just as Hugh politely bowed and then tried to take his hand to shake it, a tourist in the gift shop bumped into Hugh and forced him forward into Malcolm. He fell off balance catching himself by grabbing a hold of Malcom. He said to Malcolm, “Sorry” and then turned and said to the patron. “Hey watch it, please!”

The woman said, “Oh, I am terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you. Please forgive me.”

“All right, you are forgiven.” He turned to Malcolm and said, “Well I tried to be nice and southern for you.”

“Not a bad attempt.” Malcolm smiled. “We’ll give you credit for trying. Well, I have to run Jackie. I will see you later.”

“I hope I didn’t interrupt anything?” Hugh said as he watched him go out the front door.

Jackie got his attention off of Malcolm by caressing Hugh’s cheek. “Oh no, he was just picking up something from me. When you are done with your tour of the museum, go home and get dressed into something casual. You are taking me where I want to go tonight. Pick me up after my shift, at five.” she said in a sultry voice that could weaken the resolve of a stone statue to remain stone and not become flesh.

He smiled at her teasing and felt a stirring in his loins. “Where are we going?” he asked inquisitively.

“To get some gas. I figured your car needs a fill up.” Jackie said enigmatically and playfully poked him in the ribs.

Hugh laughed. “Okay. Can’t wait!”

He left and returned at five on the dot. He poked his head in the door and told Jackie he would wait on the front portico for her. A few minutes later, she emerged. She looked radiant. She had taken her time to go in and freshen up. He didn’t know how she did it, she made the little dress she wore and the cute little cowgirl boots look like a million bucks. Her fresh face belied the hours she had just spent helping out in the gift shop. He found himself slipping into her grasp and under her dainty control.

He opened the door to his Mercedes and held her hand as she smoothed out her little dress and sat in the car. He went around to the front door and asked, “Well, you are the tour guide, where are we going?”

“Watauga. To a gas station.” He looked at her like she was joking. “Trust me, you will understand when we get there.”

About twenty minutes later, they pulled into a Conoco gas station. “Park in front of the sign that says Chef Point Cafe, please.” He parked, came around and took her hand as she came out of the car. “Thank you, Sir.”

“My pleasure, Ma’am.” The went into the door.

“Reservation for Hallard, please?” He looked at her surprised. “They allow you to reserve a table online.”

After they were seated, he said, “But this is a gas station!?”

She was enjoying his confusion. “I know, but the food here rivals anything you will eat in Manhattan.”

“Okay, you order, I pay. You know the place and menu.” Hugh said shaking his head.

“You trust me, don’t you?”

“At this point, yes!” he said confidently.

A few minutes later, they clinked glasses filled with Bloody Marys. “Cheers!” Then they dove into a ‘Better than Sex Chicken’ appetizer and moaned with delight. “This is great!” He looked around. “But, this is a gas station. I am so confused. I am almost expecting us to get dessert at a Dentist’s office at this point.” Jackie giggled.

“Not exactly. This is Texas. Rule books are for New Yorkers.” she teased.

After a dinner of Maple Leaf Duck and Chicken Scampi, with a bottle of pinot noir, Hugh soon found himself flabbergasted by her next suggestion.

“Billy Bob’s”

“Who is he? What?”

She giggled. “Not who, where.”

“You are confusing me again. I am just a poor city boy. Have pity on me!” He batted his eyelashes.

“Yeah, I like doing that, confusing you city boys.” she said with a wide grin. “Billy Bob’s is a bar with country line dancing. That is why I asked you to dress casual. I am going to see how well you do urban cowboy.” She winked.

That is how it went for the rest of the evening. While walking out of Billy Bob’s into the cool Texas air, a woman bumped into Jackie and said, “Watch it pop tart!” Jackie looked angrily at the woman, picked up her purse that had been knocked down, and grabbed Hugh’s arm.

They went up the street to a late night McDonald's and had coffee. “My cousin will pick up my car for me. Why don’t you take me home.” Jackie said softly to him. “After all, you need to know where I live if we are to date again.”

Hugh smiled, “You bet.” He couldn’t believe his luck.

A few minutes later, he pulled into her driveway and walked her to her door. The light was on in the inside and he was confused once again. She walked straight in and said, “Hi Malcolm.”

Malcolm was relaxed and sitting on the couch. “Hello Hugh, I just wanted to talk to you man to man first.” He waved to him to sit down. Hugh resisted.

Jackie excused herself and went into the kitchen.

“My cousin Jackie is interested in you and you are interested in her. I am not here to stop that. I just wanted to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind. Then I will leave and let you both choose how you want to end the evening. Please, sit down, make yourself comfortable.” He waved at him again to sit down.

Hugh sat down this time and leaned back. The alcohol he had that evening was making him very relaxed. He even wondered if he was technically drunk.

All Hugh heard was, “I grew up with Jackie and I want to make sure she dating someone who will ...” and he was out like a light.

Jackie came back in the room. “Is he out? That was fast. Too fast. I must be losing my touch.”

“Yeah. Work on it. He could have been driving when it happened. He will wake up with one hell of a headache with what you put in his coffee.” Tess shook his head and laughed. “So, obviously, you got my message about him.”

“That he is a cop and you were here waiting. Yes, I got the message, ‘pop tart.’ Who is he?” She went over to a table and pulled out an iPod and Bose noise canceling headset. Then she carefully put the headset on him and set it to playing Alice Cooper at full volume so he didn’t hear their conversation, even in his sleep.

After seeing her place the headset on him, Tess said, “After checking the information in the wallet you lifted from him at the museum, I found out from my sources that he is a cop assigned to the 130th precinct in New York City. He is here undercover. All that stuff Mandy returned to him when she bumped into him was phony. He didn’t notice he had been picked or had it returned, did he?”

“No, she did a good job. Damn! Do you think he suspects it was us?”

“No. From the look of things my contact gave me, the rogue Captain thinks he can get close to me via getting close to you. And, he thinks I did the money laundering in some caper.” He made a grifter sign to Jackie and then looked at Hugh. “Even a broken clock can be right twice a day and that is what he is hoping he is.”

“What should we do?” Jackie sat down and looked pensive.

Tess leaned forward and patted her on the knee. “That depends on you. He looks like he could be a good first fling. You do think he is sexy and he shows all the signs of being your play thing. Plus, he will be a cheap fling. The city of New York will pick up the tab.” Tess winked at her and chuckled.

“Seriously? I am a girl now. We don’t talk about certain things now.” she looked a little embarrassed that he talked about her sex life.

“You’re right. Sorry. Look, you need experience dating. He will pay for it. What a deal! And, you do find him attractive.” He tried to reassure her.

She looked at him and thought about it. “He is cute. And, he makes a good boy toy. And, I do need practice in the bedroom at some point I have to admit.” She looked back to see if Tess would blush. He did. She got him back.

Tess changed the subject. “Sounds good. By the way, your car is out back.”

Tess left and Jackie removed the headset and put a blanket over Hugh. She sat there and brushed his hair. He was a handsome man. She was drawn to him. A few hours later, she woke him up. “Hugh, Hugh, wake up darling. Come on, you can do it.”

Hugh stirred, “What, where am I? What happened?” He looked at her with concern.

“You are still at my place silly. You fell asleep talking to my cousin about me. You can’t handle your liquor, can you? It was rather sweet to see you asleep.” She lightly stroked his arm letting him know that she wasn’t bothered.

“No, I guess not. I’m sorry. I ruined your evening.” he said apologetically.

“It’s okay. You have been a gentleman. I had a real nice evening. Go home.” She handed him her business card with some writing on it. “Here is my personal ‘you get through no matter what’ number. Give me a call. I would love to go out with you again and maybe next time, have you stay awake when you take me home.” She kissed him on the forehead and lingered for him long enough to moan a little.

“That was nice.” he said.

“But you need to go home. I have business to do in the morning on one of my house flips.” Jackie then walked him to his car, reached up, took him by the collar and gave him a big wet French kiss. “There, that really ought to wake you up. You will have to see me again and treat me to another wonderful evening to get another.”

Hugh caught his breath. The kiss was very nice. Her tongue felt incredible. He still couldn’t believe she was once on a man. “Oh yeah. I am most definitely up now. Thanks.” Keeping his composure as best he could, he smiled at her and got in the car to drive off.

As Hugh drove home, he found himself singing, “Schools out for summer!”

Chapter 3 – The Art of Negotiation

After a tiring night, even though he had slept for part of it, Hugh pulled into his place, went in, kicked off his shoes, and fell into bed. He was exhausted. He might have begun to ask why, but the doorbell rang thirty seconds after his head hit the pillow.

“All right, all right! Who hell is ringing the doorbell at this time of morning?” He jerked the door open. There, standing in front of him was a tall man in a suit who stood eye to eye with him. Looking down, there was a lady in her fifties, about five-five, with more than a scowl looking him up and down shaking her head. “You are New York’s finest!?” She said sarcastically, “We need to come in and talk, Officer Horner. Now!” She flashed an F.B.I badge. His head pounding, he waved them into the living room where he planted himself so hard that the chair almost broke. Agent Polk and her assistant pulled up a couple of chairs from the dining room table and sat in front of him. Their comportment was Federal and devastatingly precise.

“I am agent Dana Polk. What the hell are you doing here?” The words echoed in his head because he had a terrible hangover. Funny thing was, he hadn’t had that much to drink the night before. Of course, the Bloody Mary could have been loaded and he won’t have known. Maybe that is where he made his mistake.

“I am trying to find our retirement accounts. I was sent here to see if a few con artists had anything to do with it.”

Agent Polk pulled a phone out of her pocket, swiped a few things, and then he heard ...

After checking the information in the wallet you lifted from him at the museum, I found out from my sources that he is a cop assigned to the 130th precinct in New York City. He is here undercover. All that stuff Mandy returned to him when she bumped into him was phony. He didn’t notice he had been picked or had it returned, did he? No, she did a good job. Damn! Do you think he suspects it was us? No. From the look of things my contact gave me, the rogue Captain thinks he can get close to me via getting close to you. And, he thinks I did the money laundering in some caper. Even a broken clock can be right twice a day and that is what he is hoping he is.

She stopped the recording. Agent Polk went on to say, “They know you are fishing for something here. She clearly was only worried if you figured out that your wallet had been taken. Malcolm sweeps the house for bugs every time he goes over there to visit her. Little does he know we shoot the window with a laser listening device.”

Hugh leaned forward and put his head in his hands. “Excuse me, do you mind if take some aspirin. I have a pounding headache.”

“That’s from the drug she gave you. Here, take some of these.” She handed some pills to him. “Doyle, go get him some water, please.” She turned back to him. “Look, we know that you guys were scammed out of your retirement funds. That is the reason why we are here. You were about to blow the whole operation, but, I think we can use you.”

“How?”

“Jackie Hallard is insecure about her sex change operation. She feels that no man will ever fall for her or treat her like a lady. And, clearly she has the hots for you. And I sense you have the hots for her too. But, what is more telling is that Malcolm found out about you. And in such a short time, a matter of hours. It makes me believe that he really is involved in money laundering for the Irish Travellers. And, if that is the case, then your idiot boss may be on to something.”

Doyle brought Hugh a glass of water and he swished down some pain pills. He leaned back in the chair he was in and said, “Well, if my cover is blown, maybe I should just go home. I am not a gigolo.”

“You lost that argument when she kissed you goodnight. I saw the whole thing. You liked it. A woman can tell.”

“Yeah, I guess I did. But, they will be on their guard now, won’t they?”

“You don’t get it, do you? Think about what you just said. Because he has his guard up, he will be watching you! Did it occur to you that is what we want?”

The pain in his head made it hard for him to think. She was speaking in hopeless riddles to him. He looked at her like she was from another planet. She went on, “Okay, because Malcolm will be watching you, we can figure out who the watchers are. And by watching them, we can figure out who they work for. And if we can figure out who they work for, then they can lead us to the one who might have stolen your money.”

She shook her head. It was obvious that she thought Hugh was dumb as a rubber ducky. “Does that make sense now?” she said. Just then, her phone chirped. “They have put a watcher on the house now. We will have to leave by the back door. Anyway, here is the deal. You can’t report any of this to your boss. We already know there is a leak there, don’t we?”

“Huh?”

“You know there is a mole in your office, right? You know anything you report will go straight back to Malcolm. Right?”

“Oh, yeah, I see what you mean.”

“So, you can’t tell Captain Connolly you are now working for us either. Can you?” She pressed the point home by jabbing him in the chest with her finger.

“I guess not.”

“You have to know so. If you let on, even one errant word, I will have you both in for obstruction of justice charges. Yours is the rogue operation. Interstate is F.B.I., not N.Y.P.D., got it!?”

“Yeah, I got it. So, how should I make my reports?”

“Use your brain for once. Report like you would if you hadn’t known. That way she will be as comfortable as can be. Give her what she wants, a good time. The longer you haunt her carcass, the more tails we will find following you and the more Travellers we will be able to tie into Malcolm’s operation.”

“All right, but how do you know she won’t dump me now?”

She picked up her phone, swiped a few times, and let her phone answer the question ...

Look, you need experience dating. He will pay for it. What a deal! And, you do find him attractive. He is cute. And, he makes a good boy toy. And, I do need practice in the bedroom at some point I have to admit.

Hugh was tempted to smile but her gaze was ugly and intimidating. He covered his real feeling by saying, “I don’t have to do the bedroom part do I?”

“No. What the hell did they teach you at the academy. She was a guy! I find the whole thing creepy, but, if you do, it isn’t like you can get her pregnant. She doesn’t have female organs.”

“Oh, okay. You aren’t going to record us or anything.”

“No, I have been creeped out by you enough already. No, we just want the tails. But, I want you to think about something.”

“What?”

“What happens when a confidence man loses his confidence?”

“I don’t know.”

“Okay, I will spell it out for you again. If you build up her confidence, she will trust you more and Malcolm less.”

“Oh. I see what you mean. She will need me more than him.”

“Yes, and we can use that against Malcolm when the time is right. Wine her, dine her, and make her feel like a queen.”

“How will I contact you?”

Put a letter in the blue mailbox at the end of your street to your real aunt Josephine in Nebraska. We know they can’t get into it. When we see you go mail it, it will be a signal. The letter isn’t important. We will contact you soon afterwards. Also, should someone introduce himself to you as your cousin Joseph from Stockton, California, he is one of us. He knows to be lead away by you.”

Hugh led them to the back door and said his goodbyes. After he closed the door, he heard Doyle say, “Do you think he will blow it?” She answered, “Probably, these are the idiots who let a con man put an ATM in their break room.” Hugh went to his room and crashed. As he felt sleep overtaking him, he realized that he was the F.B.I.’s boy toy now. He soon was dreaming of making love to Jackie. He woke up with a start when her face turned into agent Polk’s face.

He called the Captain. “Exciting news Sir, I have met Malcolm. Yes, he is very protective. You called that one right. I figure as I get closer to her, he will appear more and more. Last night, he gave me the brother lecture. Oh yes, I was able to set up an accidental run in at the museum. It worked perfectly. She has even given me a super secret number that can get her anytime. What is it? Yes, umm, here it is. 682-555-3239. Yes, I plan to call her this afternoon. I need to get some rest first. She is hard to keep up with. Okay, I will just keep you up to date via email. Thank you Sir.”

After taking a shower, he slept for another hour on the chair in his bedroom. This time, he dreamed that she was taking him to a restaurant and for dessert, they brought out a stranger drink. It was sweet. Then he felt funny and suddenly, he looked into the mirror and he had changed into a girl. He started crying because he couldn’t date her anymore. He woke up feeling a bit more rested. But, at the same time, Jackie had begun to invade his sleep. He got up, took a hot shower, and shaved. He had a thought. Checking online, he found tickets for a concert at Bass Hall and readied to purchase them.

“Hello, Jackie? I am feeling a little homesick. I found tickets for Beethoven and Ravel at the symphony for tonight. Should I buy them?”

“Oh yes. Thank you. I would love that. What time will you pick me up?”

“Five-Thirty on the dot. That will allow us to dine nearby.”

“Oh yes, I will make the reservation for that. You just pick me up.”

He purchased the tickets and had them left for him at Will Call. He then took his car to have it detailed nearby. Coming home, Hugh went to his closet and pulled out a tux he had. It was classic and stylish. He quickly put in on and then headed to her place. She came out and he almost fainted.

To say that Jackie looked ravishing was an understatement, he thought. Her hair was exquisitely coiffed and her blonde hair was held back by a silver comb pin inlaid with diamonds and pearls. She wore a silver necklace dotted with diamonds and delicate rubies that gave her an elegance and radiance. Her dress was red and flowing coming down to her mid-calf. The dress didn’t hug her curves as much as it flowed with them making each of her movements sublime to behold. Her stocking were nude and showed off her shapely legs. Her four inch red pumps were beautiful and showed off her feet as well. As he guided her to the car, he almost wished he could take a cold shower. Her dress plunged in the back and showed off beautiful creamy skin with an inviting tie that kept the dress together just below her shoulder blades. It was all he could do to not untie it and see if the dress would fall from her. She was braless but the front of the dress showed no cleavage since it came up to her neck. She delicately smoothed her dress and pivoted into his clean car. He reached down and helped bring in the last of her dress which allowed him to look up into her blue eyes. He responded to her gentle smile of approval with a sincere softly spoken, “I don’t deserve someone like you Jackie. You are amazingly beautiful!” She blushed at hearing it. “Thank you Hugh. I gather I dress up nicely for a country girl.”

“Oh, yeah!” He closed her door gently and went around to get in. The drive into downtown only took minutes and he had the valet park the car at Bass Hall. “Stay here for a moment. I am going to grab the tickets now so we can relax.” After he grabbed the tickets, he led her across the street to the The Cheesecake Factory. They had a light meal and he paid for the dinner refusing to let her split the check. He then led her to the hall and they enjoyed an evening of Beethoven and Ravel.

“Would you like to come in for a drink?” She cooed and caressed his face. He closed his eyes enjoying the sensuous touch of her hand. He then took her hand and kissed it with a lingering kiss finally answering, “Oh yes, I would love that.” Her giggle in response was a welcome invitation to drink her as well. The two walked slowly to the door arm in arm and she unlocked her door. She reached in and turned on the light. He looked her up and down for a moment and said, “You dress up so nicely for a country girl.” She smiled back up at him and reached up with her arms placing them around his strong neck. She titled her head in submission to his coming attractions as he bent his head to receive her. Their lips melted in to each other. Their eyes closed and they explored each other passionately. Her right leg was slowly coming up as she leaned against her manly pillar of strength.

Neither of them noticed in their enthusiastic embrace the mature and nicely dressed man in the shadows of her porch come out to address her. “So, Jack, when were you going to let the family know about this change of yours?”

Startled, she pushed Hugh back and gulped. She smoothed out her dress frantically and tried to look into the man’s eyes, but couldn't hold his gaze more than a split second. Confused, Hugh looked at the man and then at Jackie. It was clear she knew him and that she was at a loss for words as well as surprised. There was no fear in her eyes except that of fearful respect and fervent reverence.

She finally looked at him, tried smiling, and nervously giggled as she tightened her grip on Hugh’s arm almost digging into him with her expertly done nails and sputtered out, “Uh, uh, Dad, w-what are you doing here so late?”

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

Chapter 4 – Win One for the Grifter

Malcolm paced back and forth while Hugh paced back and forth in the opposite direction. They were in front of her home. Both of them exchanged worried glances with each other as they passed each other. The waning moon had risen high enough that they were able to look at each other in the moonlight to see exactly how the other was feeling at the moment about the woman they cared about who was inside with her Dad.

“So, what you are telling me is that Jackie used to be Jack?”

“Yeah, I would have told you last night, but you fell asleep just as I was beginning to talk to you.” Hugh knew otherwise, but let it slide. He was beginning to feel that Malcolm would have told him soon anyway.

Hugh stopped to look at her house to see what was going on. Malcolm stopped and looked along with him. “Have you explained it to her Dad yet?” They resumed their pacing.

“Yes. I broke the news to them this morning. I told him that we both would come over tomorrow morning. But, my uncle had to see for himself and interrupt your date. Sorry about that. I got here as fast as I could once I heard he was on the way. I didn’t expect him to frustrate your … um … you know, interlude.” The moonlight couldn’t show either man blushing, but both knew they were.

“When and where did she get the surgery?”

“About five months back. I won’t tell you where. That is classified in order to protect the doctor. I secreted her away to a doctor I found who would do it for cash only and no records. I didn’t want her to suffer the indignity of having to get referral after referral or dressing up as woman for a year. When family wasn’t around us, she was almost always dressed as a woman. Their interference would have destroyed her. I take full responsibility for helping her the way I did.”

“So she couldn’t have … “ Hugh’s voice trailed off. He realized that he was starting to talk about the ATM scam and cut himself off from revealing his ruminations to Malcolm. He figured that Jackie was getting the surgery and didn’t have time for pulling a heist. Nor would Malcolm who was clearly planning her transformation have time either. They were off the suspect list of having done it.

“Couldn’t have what?” Malcolm asked.

“Oh nothing, I was just thinking she couldn’t have done … you know … with a man yet.” Hugh said awkwardly.

Malcolm read between the lines. “Oh, yes. I see what you are saying. Yes, she is very much a … you know … in that department as a woman. I don’t know if Jack ever did it. I get the feeling he didn’t want to do it. I never wanted to know. She had enough pressure on her to be a dutiful son by the family. Recently, they had begun to pressure her to settle down and get married. I knew that would crush her.”

“You care that much for her?” Hugh was fascinated with this man. He had only seen him as a criminal. Never as someone who could care for others.

“Yeah, we were born a day apart. We were literally raised as fraternal twins. I protected her from bullies who thought she was a sissy at school. As kids, I let her dress as a girl and kept quiet about it.” Hugh gave him a glance as if he wanted to know more. Malcolm obliged, “We would play in a fort I built as kids near our two houses alone for hours. I let her be a girl there and play with dolls because she insisted it was a home and needed a woman’s touch and since there was no woman nearby to play with us, she would have to do. It made her so happy. So, I let her. I even pilfered clothes so she could look the part. I pretended it was a game and didn’t mean anything. But, I could tell it meant everything to her.”

Hugh found himself admiring Malcolm more and more. The way he talked about her wasn’t like even a boy friend. It was a deep relationship he had with her. A bond that went beyond just friendship or family. It was love. Pure love.

The door finally opened and they watched her Dad climb into his car and drive off. They came into the house finding her sitting in a chair quietly crying.

“Well?” The two men said in unison.

Jackie looked up them. “I am on probation. The family will have a meeting to discuss whether or not to accept me. They didn’t accept the lie that I was in Tahiti the whole time. They believe I was really in Thailand and came home early so I could adjust here.”

Hugh shot a glance to Malcolm who just shrugged his shoulders and looked up and rolled his eyes. This cinched it for Hugh. They couldn’t known anything about the theft in his mind. Thailand was on the opposite side of the world from New York and the intelligence reports said that about the time of the heist, she was getting the surgery.

Hugh went up and put his hand tenderly on her shoulder. He asked worriedly. “Do they mind us dating or am I yesterday’s news?” His look reassured her that he was genuine in his concern.

As she looked into his eyes, she couldn’t help but smiling at his gentle touch. She asked hopeful of a positive response, “You mean, you still want me?

“Yeah, I don’t see anything but a beautiful woman who brings out the man in me.” he said with a big grin on his face.

She put her hand on his and said, “Thank you for sticking with me.” Then she added the worrisome comment, “I think I will know after they grill me tomorrow if you are yesterday’s news or not, to be frank.”

Malcolm added, “Yes, and a big thank you from me. And, I am sorry you had to learn about Jackie this way.”

She reached out to take Malcolm’s hand. “Thank you Malcolm. But, Dad said your helping me would cost us big. You will have to help him with that special finance project he wants.”

“Yeah, I figured it would cost us in the end. We will discuss it later.” he said. Jackie looked away and sniffed. Her reaction encouraged Malcolm’s heart. “Guess we will have to do it now for your sake. I don’t mind. I love my cousin.” She returned her gaze back to her cousin’s eyes and smiled as if to say thank you once again.

“Look, I will call you tomorrow morning. You need to talk things over with Malcolm and I feel like I am a fifth wheel right now.”

Jackie got up and hugged him. She whispered in his ear, “I really appreciate you staying. I didn’t know how much I needed you and your support.” She gave him a sweet kiss on the lips. He moaned. She leaned back and ventured, “Well, maybe next time we won’t get interrupted again and I can pay you back.” She giggled and remarked, “It has become a habit, hasn’t it?”

Hugh hugged her, “No problem. You are worth it.”

As Hugh drove home, he began to realize that the finance project must be laundering the money for the family. Fifteen million was pretty hard to hide and he knew that it would something difficult to handle. And he was now in the perfect position to be there. As soon as he got home, he eagerly wrote out a letter to his aunt in Nebraska and walked down the street to mail it. He then went to bed.

Early in the morning, he heard knocking at his back door. He let Agent Polk in and he recounted all that happened the night before. “I think you are right. They need him to launder the fifteen million. This is the biggest haul they have ever handled. The family usually handles ten to hundred thousand dollars. This is over the top. I can see why he didn’t want to handle it. And, they are using Jackie as the means to force him to handle it. With you guys out front last night, we couldn’t shoot a laser at their window and listen in. So, we don’t know what was said in that room.”

“How about after I left? Did you hear anything?”

“They brought in talent to guard her place last night. We couldn’t get close enough to eavesdrop with our laser. The family has put her in ‘protective custody.’ The are really putting the screws on Malcolm. He didn’t look happy when he left. This means they need him to launder the money. And you are in the thick of it, right where we need you to be.”

“So, what do I report to Captain Connolly?”

“That is tough. I think you should just say that circumstances are causing you to get closer to Malcolm and the prospects look good.”

After sending a message to his Captain, Hugh took a nap. About ten in the morning, he called Jackie.

“Hey beautiful, I am all out of ideas for a special date for the moment. How about lunch?”

“Yeah, I am under a kind of house arrest by my Dad. Why don’t you grab something and bring it for lunch.”

“Sorry to hear that. What would the beautiful prisoner like?”

“I feel like a Whataburger. Sorry, I am a Texan. It is comfort food.” She gave him the details of what she wanted and they soon were sitting at her dinning room table having lunch.

Hugh passed her the ketchup. “How can your Dad put you under house arrest?”

“He is afraid I will go off again. It is not real house arrest like I am in jail. He just wants me to stay home and be available again for family to come talk to me about what I have done. He isn’t too happy to lose his son, naturally.” She cried a little and blew her nose. “I have been dreading this day. I owe Malcolm a lot. He knew without him, I wouldn’t be who I was meant to be.”

“So, you didn’t tell your Dad? He never knew you wanted to do this?”

“No, only Malcolm really knew. Well, he knew that I lived as a woman. It was unspoken that I wanted to be one too. Although, he would have had to been a complete dunce not to know. Over the last three years, I was living as a woman about two thirds of the time. And I was a real jerk when I wasn’t being my real self. But, I can’t go into it more than that. I had a great job done on me by the surgeon. But, the doctor wishes to remain anonymous since he broke a few rules to do my surgery. Nothing illegal mind you. Just not ethically kosher. We have a contract with him not to divulge anything.”

“Well, I love the result. You look beautiful and if I had never been told, I would have never known.” Hugh gave her a big grin.

“Thanks. And thank you for not leaving me. You pleasantly surprised me.” She smiled and stroked his arm. A knock came at the door. Jackie looked apprehensive. She got up and went to her front door. Hugh turned around to see who was there. Jackie opened the door. A woman stood there with her arms folded. Hugh stood up. She was shorter than Jackie. “Are you going to invite me in, Jack?”

“Yes, Mom. Please come in. It is good to see you.” Her mother looked at Hugh as she came in.

“So, this is your boyfriend?” Hugh gave a little wave and a slight bow.

“Hi, Mrs. Hallard, my name is Hugh.” Hugh pulled out a chair for her and she came in and sat down. Hugh then pulled out another chair for Jackie and she sat back down too, only closer to her mother.

Before Hugh could sit down, Mrs. Hallard said, “Do you mind if I talk to my ...” she looked at Jackie for a moment, “… daughter alone for a few minutes.” Jackie looked at Hugh and he could tell she was hopeful he would say yes.

He grabbed his soda and said, “Of course. I’ll wait out on the front porch. Let me know when to come back in.” He went on to the front porch and sat down on the front porch swing. While waiting, another car drove up. A very young man came out and came up the walkway. Hugh looked at him. He resembled Malcolm, but didn’t, so he knew he was family.

“Hi, you must be the boyfriend. I’m Mark. Jack’s younger brother. What’s your name.”

“Hugh. You know her name is Jackie now.”

“Yeah, I know. Sorry. I really am cool with it. My parents’, maybe not so much. It will take my folks a while. I am now the oldest man in our family which makes me the new boss. That is the way my family rolls. You will have to get my approval to date my sister if my Dad isn’t around.” He chuckled. “But, don’t worry. I hear you are a nice guy. My Dad says you took it well last night that Jackie was originally Jack and didn’t disrespect him, I mean her, by getting all macho and mean.”

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen. How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine.”

Mark went into the house. A moment later, another car came up and a bunch of people came out. Two women and two men. They didn’t bother to introduce themselves to Hugh but went straight in. Finally, a car showed up and Mr. Hallard stepped out and came up. Instead of going in, he came up to Hugh.

“I think we need to talk young man.”

“Yes, Sir.” Hugh said politely.

“Malcolm says he vetted you already and checked you out. He says you are okay and worthy of my daughter. I trust him. It may be a cliché, but I have to know. What are your intentions with my daughter?” He was clearly having trouble saying the word daughter.

“I think she is beautiful. I enjoy her company. And, I am falling for her obviously. She is a charming and lovely woman.”

“Even though you know what she once was a man?”

“Only you know her as she once was. I have only known her. And I find her to be awesome.”

“Good point.” He sat down on a chair.

“Bet you think I am an awful dad?”

“I wouldn’t say that. Sounds like you love her. And, I can understand since she didn’t tell you right away. Must be a lot to absorb.”

“I do love her. And it is a lot to absorb. But I loved Jack too. He was a good son. I am going to miss him terribly.” He was starting to get emotional, so he changed the subject. “So, are you a Yankee’s fan?”

“No. New York Met’s, all the way!”

“Well, at least you aren’t a Yankee’s fan. Giant’s fan?”

“No. I prefer the New England Patriot’s. And I could care less about basketball or hockey.”

The door swung open. “Go talk to her, John. It’s my turn with him.” Mrs. Hallard came out. He stood up to greet her again. She smiled at Hugh warmly. “Very good to meet you. Hugh, is it?”

“Yes.” Hugh pulled up the chair once more and offered it to her.

“Thank you. Nice to see a New Yorker with manners. I must say, you are the one that has changed our impressions of Jackie. Or, rather, my husband’s mind.”

Hugh sat down on the swing feeling confused by what she said. “How is that?”

Mrs. Hallard smiled and relaxed. “John’s first encounter with Jackie, the woman, our daughter, was seeing you kiss her passionately on her doorstep. It isn’t what he expected as he waited for her to come home. He was thinking he was going to come here and find her alone and miserable. He said to me before he came last night that he was certain coming over here he was going to be picking up the pieces of a damaged child’s foolishness. He said he was going to give it to her for what she had done with her life and then see how we could fix her awful mistake. But, you changed all that by kissing her like you meant it, accepting her like we should have, and holding her like she was a real woman. It opened his eyes. And then he saw her as you saw her. Beautifully dressed, charming, fetching, and invitingly sophisticated. What my husband saw was all woman and no hint of boy or man. I agree. Frankly, he didn’t know whether to kill you for man handling his gorgeous daughter lustfully like you were or hug you for showing him how beautiful she could be to a real man.” Hugh blushed.

“Thank you. I like discovering her charms.”

“Do it again, Mister, and I’ll use a cattle prod on you myself. But, I am pleased to hear you think of her like that. And yes, that sounds contradictory too.” she said firmly. The door opened and the two women and men came out. Mrs. Hallard continued, “These are Jackie’s two sisters. Alison, with her husband Alan, and Rebekah with her husband, Nick.” Hugh stood up and shook all their hands. The sisters were blond like Jackie, but facially like their father. They said a brief hello and goodbye while Mrs. Hallard remained.

Soon, Mr. Hallard came out and announced, “Well, the house arrest is over. She has been accepted by the family officially. Just so you know, this is Texas.” He tossed Hugh a .357 bullet and he caught it and looked at Mr. Hallard with surprise. “These fly faster at you if you harm one little hair of my daughter. Got it?”

Hugh looked down at the bullet, smiled at the implication, and said, “Yes, Sir. I understand.”

“Good!” Mr. Hallard said. "You may date her then."

Mrs. Hallard got up and joined her husband. After they left earshot, as Hugh came in line with the door, he could see Jackie standing inside the doorway watching him and her parents. She had a big smile on her face. Mark, her little brother came up next to her. “I am to be your chaperon.”

Jackie rolled her eyes. Mark said, “Don’t worry, Sis. You let me get away with stuff too many times for me to stop you two from having fun.” She leaned over and kissed Mark on the cheek, “Sorry, I know you aren’t used to it. But, thank you Mark.” Mark smiled and went off to play on her Xbox.

Coming back into the house, Hugh took her into his arms and said, “Now where were we when we were so rudely interrupted?”

She looked up at him and playfully said, “Are you saying my father is rude?”

Before she could continue her teasing, he bent down and kissed her and they resumed melting into each other where they left off the night before.

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

Chapter 5 – Amid the Hugh and Cry

Jackie held onto a sheet to cover up her exposed body. Hugh sat at the side of the bed with a big grin. “Wow! Simply wow!” he said. She giggled. He added, “Mind if I rinse off first and then you can get dressed. We’ll go out and get something to eat with Mark.”

“Sure.” she sighed and stretched out. She watched him walk into her bathroom and take a shower. She ogled his body as he soaped up. “Nice six pack!” she said to no one listening. He looked back at her and winked. He grabbed a towel and began to dry off. He folded up the towel neatly and put it on the counter. Then he came over and picked up his boxers lying next to the bed and put them on. Then he put on his pants from way over there. She snickered. Then a sock off a lamp. She crowed. Then another sock off her dresser. She chuckled. Next, he put his undershirt from the foot of her bed. She said, “I loved removing that.” And lastly, he grabbed his shirt from near her bedroom door. She said, “Ah well, had to go back on sooner or later.”

“Did I get it all?” he asked rhetorically as he looked around the room.

“Well, if you haven’t, I am pretty sure I’ll let you come back for more. Thanks for a great first time.” she proudly announced. He responded by coming over and then kissed her probing her essence with his tongue and letting her do the same back to him. He released her at last into a heap of pleased woman.

“Did you ever as a guy?” he asked whimsically.

“No, you really did pop my cherry.” she crowed.

“Well, glad to be of service, Ma’am.”

“I’ll be out in a few. Make sure Mark isn’t robbing me blind.” She stood up letting him take in her loveliness as she slowly started to head to the bathroom strutting her stuff.

“Do that again sweet cheeks and we’ll never get out of the bedroom.” She smiled, blew him a kiss, and went in to get cleaned up. He carefully left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. For some reason, he thought, he was dehydrated. Mark was busy playing Assassin's Creed. In the back of his mind, Hugh thought it was an appropriate game for him. Back home, he didn’t have much money to go out and enjoy himself. So, he too spent too much time on the Xbox. This being able to date and live it up was intoxicating. He knew it would be a shock to his love life when he finished his assignment here.

Mark looked over at him and winked. Hugh knew that even with the headset he was wearing, he probably heard what was going on in the bedroom. Hugh also knew that Mark understood there was no way he was going to be able to knock up his sister, so why worry about it. He felt a little worn out, so Hugh sat down and closed his eyes. He felt good. Real good. A moment later, delicate arms reached from behind him and embraced him. He felt a kiss on the head and a moan of delight. He looked up and she kissed him. “So, where to go for something to eat? I have worked up an appetite.” he asked as she kissed him on the cheek again.

"How about some good Texas BBQ?"

Hugh opened the door for her to get into his car. Mark would follow in his car since Hugh only had two seats in his car. They headed to Railhead BBQ, south of downtown Fort Worth, a restaurant known for its t-shirt that says ‘Life is too short to live in Dallas.’ They were having a good time having BBQ when Jackie got a phone call from Malcolm. In the din of the restaurant, all heard her say was, “So they talked to Travis directly?” She looked pensive and worried. She stood up and went outside. Hugh watched her pace back and forth outside the window. She started to cry. After about five minutes, she came back in.

“What’s the matter?” Hugh whispered into her ear.

“Malcolm. We’ll talk about it later.” She tried vainly to smile but couldn’t. Hugh noticed the change in her mood, but didn’t know what to do about it. He tried flirting. She took it well, but didn’t respond as freely as before.

After having some great BBQ, they sent Mark on his way. “Why don’t you go back home Mark. I think she needs to go shopping. I am sure that will bore you to death.” Hugh said.

After Mark left, Jackie turned to Hugh and said, “Let’s go to the Amon Carter museum. I don’t feel like shopping. They have a Degas exhibition I have been wanting to see.” The two of them drove over and wandered through the museum. It was nice to be in a place where it was all free, he thought. Makes his expense report all the easier. In fact, he had noticed over the last few days, she was quite frugal. Whataburger and Railhead didn’t cost all that much.

“What is it you like about Degas?” he asked.

“His color palette. It gives me ideas for my home renovations.”

“You know, I haven’t see what you work on.”

“Would you like to see an example?” she asked sounding like she wanted to show it off to him.

After they left the Amon Carter, they headed to an old neighborhood south of the freeway. The homes were large and had beautiful front yards. Jackie said proudly, “You try to find something like this in Dallas, you are looking at millions. Here, they are about a quarter of the cost. One day that will change.” They pulled into a two story home with a large front porch facing north. The walls were grey and thick. “Back in the day these homes were built, they didn’t have air conditioning or refrigerators. They used ice boxes. They had ice brought in from near the train station. It would keep their food cold. They also have basements here because they would store some food in there to keep it during the summer. They also had a maid’s room where they housed live in help.”

“Would you like live in help helping you sweet cheeks?” Hugh asked without thinking. She blushed at the appellation being used on her again.

“Best say that when we are alone, Stud Muffin. My folks won’t take it well. I suppose it would be nice to have live in help. But, these days, these rooms are used for a relative like a single elderly parent or as a guest room. Most of the restoration I do in this kind of home is to redo the electrical and add modern HVAC that will keep the house. Then I insulate the walls. I have to be careful since some of the homes in the area have asbestos. That is a real pain to remove. Then there is the pain of removing lead paint.”

“It is more like you are bringing the home up to code than doing any real demo then?”

“Yes and no. I do remove some walls and add others. I do redecorate and update kitchens too. But, more importantly, I have an engineer come in and mark the load bearing walls after I buy one of these homes. Once I am done, I sell them to a family. I do quality work, which, given some of what my relatives do, is rather rare.” She looked away hiding her shame at their scams.

“Why do you say that?”

“No reason. Just some of them do home renovations and do shoddy work. My cousin and I built a real nice fort when we kids. I turned it into a home.” She stopped and smiled at the memory.

“So, what do you think of my project?”

“I like it. But there is more work you should look at doing. Like the floors. These are nice hardwood floors.”

She giggled. “Oh, I do that after the modernization is done. I can’t allow them to be contaminated. And, if they are during the initial demo, a good sanding gets the asbestos out of the wood.”

“So, do you think I would find anything like this in New York City to do?”

“Why? You thinking of moving there?”

“Only if you move back home.” she said presenting herself in front of him asking for a kiss. He responded by kissing her.

He heard her phone beep. “You going to check your phone?”

“In a moment.” Then she embraced him and kissed him even more passionately. They were clearly headed for another assignation, but the phone beeped again. This time the tone was unique. She looked back up at him and said, “That’s Malcolm.”

She looked at the phone and her expression became worried and she was almost teary eyed.

She stammered out, “Hugh, do you mind taking me home. Something has come up. I am so sorry.”

“Sure, I understand.” On the drive home, she looked out the window and hardly talked. She was upset, but he could tell that it wasn’t with him.

Upon dropping her off, she said, “Thank you Hugh. I know it’s me. I am just distracted. Maybe a good night’s sleep will help.”

Hugh walked her to the door, they kissed. She gave him a hug and softly cried. Jackie went inside and he went back home himself. He took the time to write a postcard to his aunt and walk down to mail it. He then hit the sack. About six in the morning, he heard a tap on the back door. He let agents Doyle and Polk in.

“I think Malcolm is in too deep. Something has gone wrong. Jackie seems terribly worried about him. I am wondering if this is the time to strike. What do you think I should do?”

Polk quietly considered what Hugh said. “The only thing we have been able to do is to watch their movements. Malcolm went over to the Hallard’s place while you two were spending time together yesterday afternoon. I won’t ask what you were doing. But, we were restricted from being able to shoot a laser at the window and hear things.”

Hugh blushed and said, “We didn’t discuss anything important. Just talked about clothes and her family’s reaction to me. I heard her say something about someone named Travis.”

“I’ll accept that on face value and not pursue it that you two were discussing things.” Doyle interjected with a smirk. Polk looked at him as though she was about to give it to him and then she chuckled. The two winked at each other. It was clear that they knew the two had been in the bedroom but didn’t want to talk about it.

“Look, at this point, we have a plan to turn Malcolm. That they mentioned Travis is significant. They have a cousin named Travis which is the more likely use of the name. After all, there is a Travis county in the state. Travis settles disputes in the family. He is kind of a judge. His real name is George. But, they call him Travis because of his special function. It is too common a name in Texas to mean anything yet other than that the location of the state capitol. But, I feel you will need to get your Captain to fly out. Can you do that?”

“Sure. But how?”

“Call him, before he goes to work. Right now would be best.”

Hugh picked up his special cell phone and called the captain. “Sir, I cannot explain. Assume someone is listening at work. Just come. ASAP. Trust me! Okay? Text me with the information when you know you are coming.”

“Okay Hugh, but it had better be worth it.”

“I believe it is critical, Sir.” Hugh said confidently. Hugh hung up.

Agent Polk said, “We will watch the flights and see when he is coming. Don’t worry. I think we can intercept him. Now, here comes the hard part. We have to find a way of getting them into a place where they won’t know what is going on.”

He turned to the two F.B.I. agents and said, “So, you think Malcolm is ready to turn?”

“Yes. While you were in the BBQ restaurant yesterday, one of our agents tailing you overheard her say on the phone, ‘What do you mean they want it all. Everything? Not even a commission for handling it?’ The other phrase she heard was ‘What are you going to do, you are taking all the risks?’”

“So, what is your plan to turn him?”

Before she could answer, a knock came at the back door. Hugh was surprised to find it was Jackie. Agents Polk and Doyle looked at each other and then motioned to Hugh in sign language showing they would hide and they quickly hid in an adjacent bedroom and listened in.

After they hid themselves, Hugh opened the door and in a sexy voice said, “Hello Beautiful, what’s up? Why the back door?”

Jackie came in crying to his astonishment. Following her closely was Malcolm, who didn’t look terribly happy. Malcolm looked very scared too. Hugh’s jaw dropped when she called him by his real name and said, “We need your help Officer Hugh Horner.” She fell into his arms sobbing.

Chapter 6 – See Hugh Later, Jackie & Epilogue

Jackie sat in front of Hugh in the kitchen while she dabbed away her tears with a handkerchief. Malcolm stood behind her rubbing her shoulders. “We are so used to our family getting investigated because of their shady activities, I wasn’t shocked to find out about you. So, when you showed up undercover, Malcolm had someone lift your wallet briefly to confirm who you were, and then warned me to be on my guard because you could be using me to get to them. But, he also knew I was attracted to you and would enjoy being wined and dined by you. He encouraged me to date you. So, I decided not to blow you off.” She blew her nose.

“So, you knew I was a cop all along?” He feigned surprise.

“Pretty much, and a pretty damn cute and sexy one too.” she added. He smiled back. “I really enjoyed the time we spent together. I really wanted it to continue. I needed to know I was attractive as a woman. And you were bringing it out in me. And I so appreciate it. Thank you! I wasn’t going to lie to you forever. Just long enough for us to get to know each other. Maybe have you fall in love with me.”

Hugh’s voice was sympathetic. “You are very attractive. I want you to know, you mean a lot to me too. But, now, how can I help you? You just blew my cover. I am useless. I was sent here to find out about your family. Now I have to return and that hurts too since I think I have fallen for you.” Hugh didn’t want to let on that he knew that they knew. This was getting awkward. But since she was being honest about her feelings towards him, so was he.

Malcolm interjected, “We knew that you would have to leave if we told you which was our other option. We were just going to let you spin your wheels dating Jackie. However, the family had other plans. As a result of my helping change Jack into Jackie, the family has been pressuring me into doing something I don’t want to do which means I may know things that I ought not to know. And it may involve you. Or, rather, it involves your precinct which is why I suspect you were sent here.”

Hugh sighed and nodded silently in agreement. Malcolm continued. “I have a narrow window to help you help us. And right now, the family doesn’t know you are a cop yet. They soon will once they figure out I lied to them and kept a report from them. So, you have to help me or I will be forced to do something I would rather not. And once I do it, no one will ever be happy again on your side. I think you know what I am talking about. I don’t want to say anything more because I want to leave Jackie out of this.”

“Yes, I want to help too. I just don’t know how I can help.” Hugh said with frustration.

A voice came from behind them. Agent Polk said, “I do. We can make you a deal Malcolm. In fact, I have the paperwork right here to show we mean business.” She held out an envelope.

Malcolm turned and looked totally shocked. “Who the hell are you? Where did you come from? And how can you help?”

“Take it easy, please. Relax, the both of you. My name is special agent Dana Polk. I am with the F.B.I. and I have been authorized to offer you a deal. And I think you can guess the nature of the deal already.”

“Okay, I can, but can you allow Jackie to go home, please? I don’t want her involved or to hear any of this, okay? You are right, I think I know what you are going to offer me and I don’t want her to hear the rest of this or even your offer until she leaves.”

Jackie looked up at Malcolm with a worried expression. “Trust me Jackie. The less you know, the better. You wouldn’t have seen me anyway. They would have sent me away for several years. This way, I can get off the hook and the family can’t take revenge on you. I don’t think they fully accepted you. It was all for show just to make me feel good. So, if I go with them, you will be safe and not mistreated.” Malcolm began to tear up. It was clear he knew he was saying goodbye to someone like a sister to him.

Agent Polk bent down and took Jackie’s hands. With a woman to woman’s gentle touch, she pronounced, “We promise, we will let you see him. We will arrange for you to have irregular visits. You will see him more than you would have if we pursued this to another conclusion where he would be incarcerated. He will be safe and sound. And happy too.”

Jackie began to cry. Tears flowed down her cheek. She clearly looked scarred to everyone there. “Are you sure Malcolm?”

“I can’t see any other way, Jackie. That was the risk I took in helping you and I knew it.”

Jackie got up, turned around, and just held Malcolm. He calmed her down. “It is okay Cos, I will be fine. You dry those tears. You go home and look like nothing has happened. I will take it from here. Trust me. You have to put on your best performance when you leave here. Do it for me!”

Jackie let go and turned to hold on to Hugh, “Hugh, please tell me I will see you again too? I don’t care if you are a cop. I never did. You have come to mean so much to me.”

He melted in her embrace. “I will do my best sweetie.” he looked at Agent Polk for direction. But, he felt good that his being a cop didn’t really matter to her, so he hugged her even harder.

Agent Polk’s voice was filled with compassion as she approached Jackie. Hugh let go and turned her around to face agent Polk, but kept his arms around her in a reassuring embrace. “I don’t see why not Jackie? I think the two of you found romance in a bad circumstance. I think it would be sweet if you two continued.”

Polk changed the subject. “Anyway, I don’t think it would be wise for to be hiding out with Malcolm anyway in witness protection. Your prescriptions for your hormones are too easily traced. There is no way we can protect Malcolm as well if you go with him. It is best if you stay here and not go with him. You are somebody that should never go into witness protection if at all possible. It would kill you.” Malcolm nodded in agreement.

Jackie looked pensive as she thought for a moment and then announced, “All right. Under one condition.”

“What’s that?” asked Hugh.

“That I am included as well as Mom and Dad on whatever offer you have.”

Agent Polk resisted and said, “We shouldn’t need to really. You three aren’t involved.”

Malcolm looked as though a light switch turned on. He spoke up, “No, wait. Hold on. She is right. If you include them, then you taint the link to me and protect her and me. It is the rest of the family that I need to worry about. By including her and her parents, you create a bubble around me and her. Don’t you get it!?”

Doyle, who had been closely listening, for the first time, spoke up with authority. “He is right. Wow! That will create a hell of a firewall!”

“My folks are retiring anyway.” Jackie pleaded. “It means I can be there for them knowing they won’t hold sway with the rest of the family and be forced to be a part of their planning sessions. It is a win win. Please agent Polk?”

Agent Polk thought for a moment and then said, “Okay, Hugh, your boss will need to get on the horn. Arrange for it with the boys at the state’s AG department. I think that is the only way it will work.”

“You get us the paperwork before the deal goes down tomorrow and you have my utmost cooperation.” Malcolm said. “But, that only takes care of state, how about Federal?” he looked at Hugh.

“My captain is on the way here, he can arrange it with the state’s AG. We can get you all covered too. Maybe he can arrange for Federal too.” Hugh proudly and confidently said.

“Okay, I will go then. I just want to make sure that I can live my life in peace without having to worry about my family.” Jackie said.

As Hugh held Jackie, he whispered into her ear, “I love you. I will make sure everything works out.” He then bent down and kissed her full on the lips. She responded and drew his ear to her lips and said, “I know you will. I trust you and Malcolm. I am sorry I lied to you and didn’t tell you I knew you were a cop. I was just so attracted to you. I wanted you.”

Hugh was pleased that he was so handsome to her. “That is okay. I was attracted to you from the start too.” Hugh felt proud that he had such a profound effect on her.

After she had left, Malcolm said, “I am not going to say anything more until you captain gets here and I get official word on both sides. I am sure you understand my situation?”

Agent Doyle commented, “That sound very reasonable. Especially as it will be a big help to those officers in the 130th precinct.” Hugh nodded in agreement. He knew what was at stake.

Later in the day, Hugh was assigned to pick up Captain Connolly at the Airport. Hugh came into terminal C at DFW Airport and parked. He went into baggage claim and found Captain Connolly picking up his bag. On the way back to Fort Worth, Connolly asked, “Does it really look like we can get all the funds back?”

“Yes. But, I think you should talk to the Feds first. They asked me to let them do the talking, if it is okay. They have taken Malcolm to a safe house which is where we are going.” They turned off on a dirt road and took a bend and he stopped for a moment. Hugh waited and a green light shown in the bushes to indicate they hadn’t been followed. He traveled down several houses until they got to a single story ranch. He pulled in and he could seen agent Doyle come out to greet them.

“Keep your stuff in the car, Captain. We’ll sit down with Malcolm first.”

Agent Polk sat at a table. “Before we begin, Capt. Connolly, I want to do something first. Please just don’t say anything. Just observe.” He turned to Malcolm who was sitting there. “Malcolm, I am going to show you a photo line up of people whom you should have never have met. I want you to pull out any photo of someone you may have met and talked to at some time. Doing this doesn’t establish anything other than you know the person and I can’t use it against you in a court of law. Do you understand?”

Malcolm nodded. Agent Polk placed about ten photos on the table. He looked them over and pulled one of them out and handed it agent Polk. “Thank you Malcolm. We will call you back in a few minutes. Your cooperation has been noted.”

An agent led Malcolm out of the room. Agent Polk handed Capt. Connolly the photo. “Do you know this person?”

Capt. Connolly looked up at agent Polk with a surprised expression. Then he showed the photo to Hugh whose face turned equally surprised. Agent Polk spoke, “I am sure that you both recognize the F.B.I. liaison, agent Fielder, who has been helping assist you find your lost funds. This was your mole. And for this reason, I am going to ask you both to never divulge any of the information we develop over the next day or so in this investigation. I am sure you understand now that we have found a mole in our department, we plan to exploit him and use him for quite some time. You just tell him that he is a confidential informant and is a trade secret.”

“Oh yes, I can see that now.” said a rather smug Capt. Connolly. “I am sure that it wasn’t pleasant to find out one of your own is on the take.” It was obvious the Captain was enjoying finding out the F.B.I. can be corrupted too.

“No it wasn’t. And that is why we have to do this right. Can I call you Robert? My name is Dana.”

Feeling befriended, Connolly quickly agreed. “Yes, by all means Dana.”

“Here is our situation, Robert. You need to originate the request for immunity with the DOJ so it looks like you went over agent Fielder’s head. You have officially developed an informant who can help you get the funds back. You need to get immunity for Federal banking fraud for four individuals. Then, you need to contact your AG for the same thing at the state level. It looks like after you get the four immunity, you will be seeing the funds returned within hours. Otherwise, the funds will be lost forever. The situation is desperate. How does that sound, Robert?”

“Magical. Who will take the credit? Us or you?”

“You will, of course. Our names have to stay out of this for obvious reasons. However, we will be doubly blessed. On the one hand, we will be able to track the movements of agent Fielder and use him without his knowledge. Two, Malcolm will be neutralized as a money launder for the Irish Travellers. A third blessing will be over time Malcolm may disclose certain aspects of the Travellers business dealings in exchange for seeing his cousin more frequently. So, frankly, you can have all the credit. I would rather collar the bastards.”

Feeling generous, Connolly agreed. For the next two hours, he was on the phone with the New York AG and the D.O.J. with superb results. They were Fed-exing him the paperwork. It would be here tomorrow at 10:00.

“Okay, my attorney will be here at 10:00 tomorrow. Once he takes it and leaves, we will get to work. Thank you Captain. I think you will be happy by noontime.” Malcolm said. He was very pleased.

“You mean that I can take tomorrow’s last flight to JFK at six and receive a hero’s welcome.”

“Yes. But, you are going to have to let me meet with Jackie’s parents for lunch at Joe T. Garcia’s. They are going to give me something. I will then meet you in the parking lot. We will have to do some quick work in order to make this work.”

About ten in the morning the next day, a courier arrived at the safe house. Malcolm’s two attorney’s looked it over. Forms were signed by Captain Connolly and Hugh witnessing their transfer to the main attorney.

Once they left, Malcolm began to speak. “I can now confirm that the photo you showed me yesterday agent Polk is the family’s mole in the F.B.I. He is a main reason my family often outsmarts you. Capt. Connolly, in a few hours, my uncle will be giving me a series of bank account numbers he has received from the family. With them, I will have access to about $15 million that has been in those accounts for a while. As soon as I get them, I will be doing some banking using a laptop. I will reroute the money through a specific bank and through a particular individual who has agreed to turn traitor. Now, where is the list of accounts that need to be refilled?”

Connolly looked shocked. “Um, no. Nobody told me to have that.”

“We have a problem then. I need to send the money to the guy who will refill the accounts before I initiate the transfers or you won’t get the money back. Get on the phone and get those accounts right away.”

In the panic of the next hour and a half, Connolly secured the accounts and confirmed them. As he got them, Malcolm entered them into a spreadsheet with a dollar amount needed for each account. As soon as he got the last one, he created an CSV file and then a batch script while they were driving him to Garcia’s and emailed it to the Cayman Islands.

He went in with his laptop and they saw the Hallard’s go in for lunch. They were there for about forty minutes. Malcolm came out and got into the car. The Hallards saw him get in a car that wasn’t his and started to run after them. They pulled out of the parking lot quickly and headed up to I-820.

“Whew, have your friends at the 130th check their accounts, Captain.”

He called. “Fred, how does your account look?”

“Nothing yet, eh. Try again. Maybe it takes a moment.” Connolly was looking at Malcolm with concern.

“What? Really! How much? Check the other accounts. Yes, I’ll wait. Yes, yes, uh uh, all of them look like they should?” Capt. Connolly smiled and looked at Malcolm.

“You won.” said Malcolm. He turned to look out the window with a sad look. “And I’ve lost.”

Agent Polk piped up. “Malcolm, before you go off, we have arranged a quick meeting with Jackie. Is that okay? We made sure she wasn’t followed.”

“Thank you. That is very kind of you.” Malcolm seemed teary eyed at the news.

They pulled into a building near Alliance. It was museum for aircraft. Old aircraft. As they pulled around to the hanger, Jackie was standing there with a strange woman. When they pulled to a stop, Malcolm jumped out and ran to her. They embraced.

“I love you Malcolm. You take care of yourself. I am going to miss you very much.” Jackie said. Hugh quietly joined them along with the rest of the agents.

“You too Jackie. I got Federal and state immunity for you and your parents in addition to me. They can’t interview you or them according to the agreement. That way you all can stay out of witness protection. I don’t have the same exact agreement. But, you won’t know where I am.”

Jackie cried. “I understand. I just didn’t want to see you pay for my mistake.” She motioned to indicate her body.

“You didn’t make a mistake Jackie. You were meant to be a woman. And a beautiful one at that.” Hugh added hoping it would make her feel better. She smiled weakly at him and mouthed ‘Thank you.’

Capt. Connolly walked up to Jackie and offered her his hand. “Beautiful lady, I wish to thank you. If it hadn’t been for Hugh’s love of you, my fellow officer’s would have lost their retirement. You are welcome to visit him anytime.” He leaned into her ear and whispered, “I hear that Hugh is madly in love with you.” She blushed.

“I am with him too.” she said sweetly brushing away more tears.

After a final hug, Malcolm left with the agents. “Can we drive you home Jackie?” said Hugh.

“No, my car is here. I will meet you at the airport before you go in. I heard you are going out on the last flight of the day. I am going to miss you Hugh. Captain, can I have a few minutes alone with him, please?”

“By all means. Knock yourselves out you two.” He winked at the both of them.

They wandered into a room that was a mock up of a flight room for a fighter squadron. “Hugh, I love you. Can’t you stay?”

“I wish I could. I have a job back there waiting for me. I could look for a job closer to you if you would like?”

“Yes, I would like you too. I just never thought I would feel this way about someone before.”

“Nor I. You mean the world to me Jackie.”

“Can I see you off at the airport somehow? I know it is last minute.”

“You can’t go in, but you could help us get to the gate at the Terminal A ticket counter for flight 725. Our flight leaves at six something and we need to get there around four thirty. We need to get rid of the Mercedes first.”

They headed down the road to the airport. Jackie was with Hugh while the Captain dropped off the Mercedes at Carmax for resale. Then Jackie took them to the airport which wasn’t far away.

At Terminal A, the Captain went into the terminal and left the two of them alone.

“I heard from my folks while you two were doing the paperwork for the Mercedes. They are pissed. But, Malcolm’s lawyers gave them the immunity papers. They look bad to the family now. They can’t do business with them anymore. Nor will the family want anything to do with them because of the return of the funds. They understand that if they retaliate against us, Malcolm will divulge even more family secrets.”

“How does it feel to be out of the family now.”

“Good and bad. I love them all. I grew up with them. But, I don’t want to be around all that fraud. You couldn’t say anything.” Just then, the two of them saw Mark come into the Terminal.

“Hey Sis, Hugh. Mom and Dad insisted that I keep being your chaperon and dropped me off. Sorry guys. I will look away.”

Hugh and Jackie looked at each other and laughed.

“I have to go in now, Jackie. See you soon, I hope?”

“What do you think?” She reached up and pulled his head down and gave him a passionate kiss.

Mark made a grifting sign to her and walked away towards baggage claim. The sign meant, “I see nothing, I hear nothing, and I say nothing.”

Epilogue –

Through the large window from baggage claim at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, Terminal A, Jackie looked at Hugh standing in the queue to board his flight home. It was one of the few places in the Terminal that one could see a departing passenger leave. Captain Connolly had already gone in as a first class passenger. Hugh was in group 4. He turned to her to wave goodbye. He smiled. He clearly loved her. She wiped away tears, smiled, and waved back. Mark came along side her and put his arm around his sister and waved at him too. Hugh turned after his boarding pass was scanned and blew her a kiss. She blew one back at him and waved enthusiastically at him while tears flowed down her cheek until he disappeared from view.

Back in the car, Mark could ask to be filled in. “What did Malcolm do and how and why did he do it?”

Jackie said, “You will find out anyway from Mom and Dad. Through someone Malcolm helped at Lockeed-Martin last year at the Joint Base near us, he gained access to the General Accounting Office, GAO’s, mainframe and figured out how to redirect small amounts of money to a central account. The problem is that it was too traceable and someone might notice that the money siphoned off was going to a civilian account.”

“What was the solution?" asked Mark.

“It was best if it went to a governmental account. Then it hit Malcolm, if he had the funds moved to a government account that didn’t have to report back to the GAO, they wouldn’t notice the actual final destination was to us.”

“I assume he figured out a way around it?”

“Oh yes, after he figured out accounts he could raid discretely, he found it would be around $15 million at least that he could get without raising any warning bells. Then it occurred to him that if he could find accounts that people were desperate to keep on the other side of where the final destination was, they wouldn’t be interested in tracing it back if they felt the thief was under witness protection.”

“So, why did he select the NYPD?”

“The only governmental agency which didn’t have to report to the GAO that could handle a $15 million dollar swap was a city police agency known for getting large amounts of Federal Dollars. NYPD gets billions of Federal dollars to protect the U.N. among other things. After some thought, Malcolm deduced all he had to do was find a typical precinct to rob of their retirement accounts. And then fill it back up with Federal dollars some months later and make them stop from tracing the funds.”

“How did he insure you would be chased by Hugh?”

“He didn’t exactly. He bugged Captain Connolly’s office so we would know where to go. We also knew they were stupid enough to think the job would be better done by them and not the Feds. It just happened that we did something equally as stupid in leaving a bill in the ATM that directed him to Forth Worth and possibly us. So, Malcolm had to get even more drastic than his original plan to keep them in the dark and use my accidental sex change as a means of deflecting suspicion from us for good and use it to disrupt their plans too. We had to make them believe they caught the thieves while at the same time thinking we were innocent.”

“Then how about the mole?”

“He is being framed as it were. He has been for months. Agent Fielder is terrible with money, so we are funneling money into his bank accounts a little at a time. Should it be needed, a review of his bank accounts will cause him some grief. That will keep the Feds away from the NYPD.”

“Brilliant plan. Brilliant recovery. And very sneaky. Witness protection? That isn’t where Malcolm really is now, is he?”

“No, of course not, he is getting plastic surgery and getting his identity changed thanks to a Doctor Travis who did my surgery. We will see the new Malcolm in a couple of months. But, for now, Hugh and the captain believe he is in witness protection and we plan to keep it that way.”

“How did you convince them that you guys didn’t do it?

“Luckily, just as Hugh was on his way, Malcolm found someone who could pose as an F.B.I. agent in exchange for Malcolm’s talents. Mom and Dad worked with Malcolm plus the faux agents to make sure things were chaotic for me and Hugh. Now, Hugh and the captain are heroes back home for getting the money back but have been ordered to keep it a secret as to how they did it. The Captain and Hugh are just going to tell their fellow cops that a bank in the Cayman’s intercepted the money and returned it thanks to an informant telling them where and when to look thanks to an immunity agreement.”

“What prevents the clients from telling on you?”

“Malcolm helped his clients, the phony F.B.I. agents, launder two times what we gained. So, if they rat on us, they lose far more than we will. And frankly, she and her partner enjoyed convincing Hugh and his captain that Malcolm would betray the family, would become ‘an informant’ and the family would lose their best money launder ever to witness protection who, down the road, might reveal more information. As a result, Tess gets a third and still works for the family in secret now. I get a third and get to retire. And Mom and Dad get a third and their retirement is secure too. We all win, so to speak. And by the time the GAO figures out what happened, in about twenty or more years, the statue of limitations will have long run out and we will be safe to keep the money anyway.”

“So, Mom and Dad really aren’t mad at him or you? That is a relief.”

“Oh no. Far from it. They are very happy, except, of course, for my so called accidental sex change. Malcolm told them there was a way it could be used to our advantage if they let him. So, the whole ‘will the family accept me’ ploy was birthed which helped me with the family and create a plausible reason for Malcolm to turn. It also helped me come out in a way that helped me be accepted.”

Mark was bowled over. “Wow! Malcolm’s plan worked brilliantly. Except for your accidental change.” Mark looked at her and winked. “Will you see Hugh again?”

“I hope so. Thanks for not telling the family I wanted the change all along. But, now that I am in retirement, I don’t believe our relationship will be over for a long time. Maybe never. I would enjoy starting a family with Hugh. He is a lovely man.”

“How do you know I won’t rat you out?” Mark said playfully.

As they pulled into her place, she turned to Mark and said, “Because you found me one night crying my eyes out and learned of my terrible secret. You told me that you would help and you did. You helped Mom and Dad accept my transition when they found out about it. I am so grateful to my little brother.”

Mark reached over and hugged her. “Yeah, I knew once you made the transition, your days as a grifter were over. You were a good brother to me when I needed you the most and you looked out for me growing up like a second mother.”

“Thank you. I love you kiddo. You study hard at school. Malcolm plans on using you as a front man for his special talents.”

They got out of the car and walked up to her door with their arms around each other.

“I get the Xbox, right?”

“Is that really all you want?”

“It’s all I want. I love you too much to ask for more.” Mark said. “I want you to have a good life.”

She hugged and kissed him on the cheek. He hugged her back.

“Come on Mark. I have to go in and pack quickly. I think I hear New York City calling me urgently.”

(To be continued in other stories …)

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

[Author’s note: Years ago, as a young lad, a friend of my brother said that the movie The Sting was so clever that he knew of very few people who could do what that movie did in either prose or on the movie screen, which is fool the audience and surprise them with a sting that was controlled from beginning to end. When I said I thought I could, he told me that I didn’t have that in me. I have lived with that challenge for years. I was watching The Sting a couple of weeks ago when it hit me. I said to myself, ‘Maybe I am ready to take on that challenge now!’ So, like Captain Ahab, I have attacked the beast of creating my own ‘The Sting’ in writing this story. I hope I have done the movie justice that inspired me and met the challenge rather than letting myself be drowned by my own hubris in attacking the big white whale.

I pray I have done a good job and entertained you. Let me know if I have given you a decent, or good, or great, or excellent ride in the comment section below.

Stand by for the further adventures of Jackie Hallard. I plan to have fun with her. – AuP]

H & J Mysteries

Hugh met Jackie, formerly Jack, a con man, while on an undercover assignment in Fort Worth. She now helps him solve crimes. Follow their continuing adventures in this series. If you want to know the story of how they met, then read Jack of All Trades, Jack Be Nimble, and Hugh Don’t Know Jack, chps 1-6.

Episode #1:

Hugh Better Be Good –

After a four and a half hour flight, Jackie thought for sure her prince charming would meet her at the airport and transport her to a splendid assignation in the Big Apple. As she sat in baggage claim at JFK, she pouted reading her email on her phone. Hugh, her love struck detective, couldn’t come for her as he had promised before the flight.

Instead, she was forced to take a grungy ride in a dirty cab to a filthy door she had been to before in another life. Walking into the 130th precinct was much different this time. Last time, she was four or five inches taller and muscular build with fat fingers coming to rob the place. Last time, she was here, she looked like a burly man with tattoos, a scruffy beard, wiry black shaggy hair, dark brown eyes thanks to colored contacts, and a mono-brow thanks to heavy makeup. She spoke with a mid-west accent with a malformed set of teeth and, through some throat lozenge added trickery, sounded like a gravely baritone.

Today, she walked in as a winsome and elegant lady whose seductive gams turned many a gaze into a slap from a jealous girlfriend as she approached an appreciative but bored middle aged desk sergeant.

“Excuse me, sir, I am here to see Detective Hugh Horner.” She cooed nicely to the drooling officer who was undressing her with his eyes. He stopped himself as he considered answering by suggesting a personal and intimate interrogation of her to wipe his face with a napkin and put his glazed donut down and get his mind right first.

With a stutter, he replied, “S-sorry, Ma’am. He is participating in a city wide video conference. You will have to wait out here.” She looked around the grungy waiting room with a scowl on her face that implied, ‘Do I have to sit here?’ The desk sergeant took pity on her if only because lust outweighed his judgment and he hoped his helping her might be in his best interests. “But, we do have a waiting area for V.I.P.’s and I assume you are one?”

“Oh yes, Detective Horner won me in a raffle in Fort Worth just the other day and simply ran out on me. And, I mean to be collected. Nobody that handsome jilts this lady!” she said sternly and in her best southern drawl.

The desk sergeant laughed, but was disappointed that he wasn’t the object of her desire. “Well, we can’t have him run out on you, Ma’am.” He made a quick phone call for an escort. “Can I have some I.D. please, I will make a visitor’s pass out for you.” She produced her driver’s license, which had been updated to read female instead of male, as well as her new name, Jackie Fiene Hallard. “I see you are from White Settlement, Texas. He was just out there on assignment.”

“I know. I liked how he interrogated me for hours. He asked me to come here for further interrogations. What can I say? It is my civic duty.” She shrugged her shoulders and winked at the officer whose jealousy was growing.

He grinned and motioned to an officer to come over. “Officer O’Malley, take this poor creature to the waiting room for V.I.P.’s and tell Detective Hugh Horner a Ms. Hallard is waiting for him.” The young officer took her luggage and she presented him her arm. He took it and led her down the hallway to a very nice room she had walked by before in her earlier life. She smoothed out her skirt and sat down picking up a Guns and Ammo magazine and thumbed through it.

About thirty minutes later, a handsome figure stood in the doorway and looked at her with hungry eyes. “Hey Sweetie, I missed you. See anything interesting?”

“Of course. I never knew center-fire rifles could be so sexy.” she giggled. He walked over to embrace her. She put the magazine down and they embraced which turned into a passionate kiss.

Capt. Connolly came in and said, “Hey you two, find a hotel room!”

She reluctantly let go of their locked lips and said, “Hello, Sir!” Jackie shook his hand and smiled pretty at him. It seemed to work.

“Nice you to see you again Jackie. Couldn’t stay away from our boy, eh?”

“No,” she put her arm around Hugh, “I couldn’t resist being interrogated by him.”

After the pleasantries, Hugh asked, “Late lunch?”

“Sure, just no donuts and coffee. It doesn’t help me keep my girlish figure.” she winked and swayed her hips.

Eating at a Subway sandwich fast food place, Hugh lamented, “They have put me on this jewel thief detail. There is a thief who has been striking at random the homes of victims. In most cases, the theft isn’t detected for days. The lady goes to put on some jewelry from her safe and finds her safe has been emptied. Funny thing is, that she has an alarm, which often times she forgets to set. There are no signs of forced entry. No neighbors reporting anyone strange. And no common denominator between any of the victims.”

“Common denominator? As in what?”

“Health club, insurance company, or anything else like that which could tie them together.”

Hugh took her bag and brought her to his place. “I assume we are staying in the same room.” he said.

“Unless I kick you out for not paying attention to me, yes.” she giggled.

“Sadly, I just may. So many of the women who were robbed have connections that all the detectives assigned to the investigation are to give it their top priority. I have no idea of what I can do to help. I have been given a list of ten women, each of whom have been robbed.”

“Well then, let’s talk about it.” She took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom. The next morning, after a good nights fun, Hugh was dressed in boxers and a tank top at the breakfast table in his small apartment looking at crime scene photos on his laptop when Jackie came in wearing one of his dress shirts.

She grabbed a cop of coffee and looked at the screen as his flipped from one image to another. “I don’t see a damn thing in common in these images either. Nothing stands out.” he said. He got up and said, “Would you like some eggs, bacon, and toast my love?”

“Yes, please. You are so sweet.” she said. He grinned and went into his small kitchen. She reached over and turned the laptop to her. She kept flipping through the photos and her eyes grew wider and her smile wider as something hit her. “Hugh, does this assignment let you drop everything else and focus just on following leads and solving it first?”

“Yes, but it also means I won’t have time for you as much?” he lamented.

“Is there anything against my going along with you if you need to talk to one of these women?”

“You will have to stay away from them, but you could wait in the car?”

“Get dressed after breakfast then, we have to visit the morgue as soon as possible.” she announced and got up to got take a shower and get dressed first. She got a quick shower and cleaned up nicely. She didn’t look as glamorous as before in jeans and a blouse, but that wasn’t her purpose. “Thanks for cooking me breakfast. Hurry up. I have an idea.”

“Want to share it?”

“Not yet. It is just a hunch.”

Hugh went in and got cleaned up. He found she was as neat as a pin in his bathroom. If only he knew that as a grifter, cleaning up was integral to her former profession. Cleaning up hid clues and prevented someone from knowing too much about Jack. He came out with his gun holster, checked his gun, hooked on his badge, and put his gun in its place. She smiled at him and gave him a big wet kiss.

“Hmm, you make that badge look sexy!” she said in her sultry way.

“Say that again and we will never get out of here.” Hugh grinned and kissed her back. “So, you need to talk to the coroner. I don’t see how she can help?”

“No, not that morgue, goofy. The newspaper morgue at the library.” They headed down to the local branch of the New York City library. “Do you have a list of those names?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to call each of the last ten victims and find out if they were in the paper at anytime over the last few months. Get the dates. Then we need to find the articles that cite them.”

Hugh nodded. He knew that she saw something in the photos had caught her attention. He made the phone calls and came back into the library and gave her a list. “How did you know?” he said.

“You’ll find out. Just trust me. Let’s track down those articles and see what they are.”

A couple were in obituaries, several were wedding announcements, and the rest were some sort of charity function. “None of these are the same thing. There is nothing in common.” Hugh lamented.

“Quite the contrary,” she said, “they all are in the paper. And if I am right, that is the first thing to look for in solving this crime.” Hugh looked at her. It was like she was on a mission.

“Call your boss. Ask him if you solve it if he will give you a few days off with me?” She winked at Hugh. “I am going to see if I can get a library card, okay?”

Hugh called Capt. Connolly agreed to the terms and he found her at the counter discussing library cards with the librarian. She said, “Of course, I am out of town. This is Detective Horner. Show him your badge Honey. Detective Horner needs to know who manages your software for maintaining your library database.” Hugh looked at her, but realized she was up to something.

The clerk gave him the contact info and the two returned to his car. “Okay Jackie, clue me in on what you saw in those photos.”

“None of the photos showed a bookcase filled with lots of books or things like that. But, in the photos of each victims place there was at some point a book being read on a coffee table, or side table, or somewhere in the room where someone would place a book or sit down and read a book. And they all were hard backs.”

“Hard backs?”

“Yes, hard backs books. Which means that it was either purchased brand new or were on loan from a library. And since there doesn’t appear to be a lot of books in most of the places, I figured out that they were library books. You need to be careful at this point. Call the ladies you just talked to and find out when they visited the library last and which library. If they all went to the same one, which I doubt, your thief works at that library. If they went to different libraries, then your potential thief works in IT and would know we are on to him or her.”

“Okay, but why the newspaper articles?”

“That is how the librarian determines his or her victims. They know anyone in those articles would tend to have wealth they just inherited because of a death, a distraction because of a recent wedding, or is working on a charity. They can easily look up that person’s name in the database. If they are there and check out books on a regular basis, then they have a profile of when they can attack the victim.”

For the next hour, Hugh called victim after victim on the list of victims he was to work with given to him by the captain. Each one confirmed that they did check out books and yes, the crime did happen around the time they checked out a book from the library. He also found that each one of them had a habit of using the library’s software online to check out the book and would head over to the library when they had been given a time frame on which to pick it up. Sadly, he thought, they all went to different branches.

“All the better!” said Jackie. “That narrows down the list considerably.

Hugh was confused. “How?”

“Simple. In talking to the librarian at the branch, I overheard another librarian talking to a patron. The ability to see if another library had a book on hold for her wasn’t granted the employee. In other words, she couldn’t see the Will Call queue at another library. Which means that our thief has to have administrative rights.”

“What do you suggest then?” Hugh was impressed.

“The librarian told me the company that created their software. I pulled up their information on the web from my phone. It turns out that Dewey Stark Library Systems is a subsidiary of Chelsea Haltham Books, which is located here in NYC. I think a visit to their software department would be of great benefit.”

“Let’s go.”

Hugh opened the car door for her and received his reward of a kiss. “My gallant Yankee!” He blushed.

Entering the company, Hugh and Jackie found only about five people in the place. They were directed to talk to a Phyllis Carlton who is the software liaison to the NYC library system. Ms. Carlton was a bit overweight and clearly had been a looker when younger. She was about fifty and didn’t mind the grey in her hair. Her office was pretty plain. She had the normal bevy of family photos on her desk. Around the room were posters for Broadway plays. Some old. Some new. Hugh was admiring the Phantom of the Opera poster when Jackie took control of the conversation.

“Ms. Carlton, I am assisting Detective Horner here as an informant. I have some knowledge of how the criminal mind works from some nefarious acquaintances of mine. I believe that someone in the library system is using you software to identify victims for larceny. The problem is that in order to prove that, we might tip them off.”

Hugh turned his attention back to the ladies. Ms. Carlton was intrigued to be included in a police matter. “How can we help? And, please, call me Phyllis.”

Jackie’s knowledge of the working of business impressed Hugh. He smiled at her giving her a nod to continue her control of the conversation. “I assume you help backup their system, Phyllis?”

“Yes, we do.”

“I also assume you keep a test system here for determining flaws in your software.”

“Oh, yes.” Ms. Carlson said proudly.

“Can we access the test system with the backup data from the NYC library system to test our theory.”

“Well, I assume you would need a search warrant for that.”

Hugh interjected showing his acumen this time, “Normally yes, Phyllis. But, this is a city owned system and I am a duly authorized representative of the city. I could do it at the library with no warrant at all, but that would alert a potential criminal if we were to go there. Jackie suggested to me that your company could be of great assistance in helping us not alert the criminals. Oh, and please call me Hugh.” Hugh caught on to why they were there.

“Understood, Hugh. I guess that makes things available to you.” She lead them down a hallway to a room with an analyst by the name of Stewart Granger. After being told what the problem was, he set up the system with the last backup from the library and turned to Hugh and Jackie to let them know he was ready.

Hugh said, “Okay, what I need to do is to check to see if ten women checked out a book on the day they were robbed.” For the next ten minutes, they found each woman in the system. She had reserved a book and checked it out during the likely period she was robbed. After thirty minutes, Hugh had proof that the library system was part of the criminal assault on the women all neatly printed up and ready to show Capt. Connolly.

While sitting patiently as they worked, Jackie had an idea. “Do you have access to their log files?”

“Yes. What do you need to know? It won’t show me who was doing what. Just that someone was online.”

“Who was logged in on those days during the times the ladies were in the library?”

Stewart quickly compiled a list for each day and then started to eliminate names until he had a common set. “We need more names to further limit the list.” Hugh said.

“Not really. Stewart, how many of those logged in are using a terminal versus a computer?”

Stewart thought for a moment. “I can see by isolating their login to their IP address. If it is DHCP owned, then it isn’t a static machine.” He filtered the list down. “Now there are five names.”

“Of those five, who has unfiltered Internet access?” Jackie asked.

“Three names. Here they are.” Stewart passed a piece of paper to Hugh.

“Okay Stewart,” Jackie stroked his shoulder and smiled at him, “we need a little help. Putting a key logger on these three will be impossible. But, could we sniff their traffic instead? What have you got that can check to see if they are running a VNC server or an SSH server?” Hugh looked at Jackie with surprise. She turned to smile at Hugh and winked.

She turned back to Stewart. “Whoever is doing this needs to run a remote terminal from their work station. They are either using a remote desktop or a remote terminal. Do you have a network sniffer?” Stewart nodded and grinned at her like a Cheshire cat who swallowed the canary.

“I have a Raspberry Pi. With it, I can plant it on the network and sniff it. It can sniff their IP addresses and send me a text if it detects outbound traffic using ports 22 or in the 5800 or 5900 range. I can even have it disguise itself as a existing printer by attaching a USB cable to it and being the interface for the printer, so if your criminal is looking for network changes, he or she won’t see any.”

“When can you get the sniffer on the network?”

Stewart said, “Looking at these users, since they are using the same neighborhood NID and therefore the same router, I can do it this afternoon. It will take a bit to program it to be part of the library system’s VPN first. Luckily, I have to run a quick diagnostic once a month. They are due this week. I will just go in now and say that I am headed out of town for a vacation and came in a few days earlier.”

Satisfied that all was proceeding well, they said their goodbyes and headed out. “Well, that will identify the villain, that is for sure.” Hugh said to Jackie on the way out.

Jackie warned, “No, it won’t. It will only identify the machine being used. Not who is using it. Once you find the machine, then you need to know who has access to it. You are not out of the woods yet. Best to collect all the information you can before you show up and blow it. Someone this sharp will only let you have one chance. They likely likely use someone’s machine to cover their tracks.”

“Then why let Stewart do anything?”

“Because he will do it right. Stewart is a CISSP*, in case you didn’t notice his certificate on the wall. He has been trained to disguise his investigations of corporate espionage. Case in point, he knew to hid his device on the network as an existing device. He will spoof the MAC address of the printer and no one will be the wiser. He is as good as a lead detective with twenty years of experience on stakeouts.”

Hugh was impressed. “Where did you learn all of this?”

“From my little brother, Mark. He is a total nerd and loves to talk tech. I indulged the clever twerp by listening to him describe how he networks gaming machines and how his friends bypass parental firewalls during his high school days. I won’t tell you what he did to the school computer either, but his grades improved.” Jackie giggled.

Several hours later, they were in a private conference with Capt. Connolly. “Once we find out the machine, you can determine who has access to the machine and take it from there.” Jackie said.

“Surely, it has to be one of these three people?!” Connolly said.

“No, social engineering, one of the three could have been duped. I found out from Stewart, the system requires them to change their passwords every forty-five days. Which means that the person who is using the system has to get that password from one of these three people by some means. Often, older workers will write their password down and keep it in a drawer.”

“Then what what do we do when we get this information?”

“You could put a tail on the staff when a rich lady comes in. There is a pattern of that. However, the thefts occur within three months of their having been published in the newspaper, but no earlier than two months. Hugh and I are going back down and sifting through the papers at the morgue. We will then compare the list with the test system and get a list of ladies who check out books. I hope the list is small. Then we can see if you can use that lady and you can tail the staff and stake out the house too.”

“So, you two are headed off to the morgue again?”

“Yes.” Hugh said.

“Nice work Jackie.” Hugh looked at him and sniffed.

“Really, Hugh, you know her extended family is a bunch of scam artists. She really is a good informant and you are the one getting the credit anyway. But behind closed doors, and when we are alone, she gets all the credit.” Connolly chuckled. “Now get along you kids before I have someone change your diapers.”

Jackie took Hugh’s arm, “Well. I need a special escort since I am an awesome informant.”

Hugh sighed, took her arm, and said, “That you are!”

When they got to the car and drove off, Hugh’s bluetooth car phone rang. “Hello, Stewart, that was fast.”

“I ran the diagnostic and placed the appliance on the network. Its initial sweep produced an SSH challenge on port 465 on a Mr. Snodgrass’ machine. Whoever is doing this is smart enough to spoof an email encrypted port so that no one will notice. So, I have identified the computer. I will let you know when it is used.”

“Thanks Stewart for putting your CISSP* to work for us.” Hugh said.

“Wow, I didn’t even think you noticed. Do you cops even know what one is?” Jackie looked at Hugh and winked.

“Well, when you become a detective, you notice these things. You should have been a cop, Stewart.” Hugh rolled his eyes, which, of course, Stewart couldn’t see. Jackie scrunched her nose and stuck her tongue out at Hugh. He grinned. She bit her lip to keep from giggling. After Hugh hung up, he conceded, “I know it is all you, but if the big boss finds out ...”

“You’ll be out of a job. I understand. You’ll just pay me back in bed.”

“Nooo problem!” He grinned. “So, what is the plan now?”

“Get to the morgue and create a list of potential victims.”

For the next several hours, they poured through the newspaper and found about twenty names. Hugh took them along with Jackie to the precinct and did research on each individual. He then sent an email to Stewart with the names he determined still lived in the area and met the criteria. Stewart then emailed back that eight of them were patrons of the library.

“Sir?” Hugh knocked on the captain’s door. “Come in Hugh. What do you have?”

“We think that these eight women are the next targets. Stewart is monitoring the network and will let us know when Snodgrass’ computer gets used. According to his email, he expects what he calls the SSH pipe to become active once the thief has chosen a victim. He anticipates he will see it access the computer about every fifteen minutes during library hours and once ever two hours when it is closed. He expects the three names at the top of the list to be the most likely to be targeted since they use the library frequently.”

“Can he trace where the computer accessing Snodgrass’ computer is?”

“He figures that the thief is using hot spots throughout Manhattan to disguise his true location. He would rather see when one of the woman reserves a book if there is increased activity to let us know we are on the right track and a theft is about to occur.”

Connolly said with a big smirk on his face, “Good. You have earned some time off for good behavior. Go home with Jackie. Go have some fun. And tell her thanks. And be sure to get a good night’s sleep too.”

Back at the small apartment. She grabbed her medical bag. “You have to do that now.” Hugh whined.

“Well, yes, and for the rest of my life.” She pulled out her medications and took them. Then she grabbed her dilator and said, “I need to take an hour’s nap while this does its work.”

Hugh looked at the dilator and said, “Would the real thing work better?” Jackie dropped the dilator and then her dress. She came over and gave him a long and sensual French kiss. For the next two hours, she was dilated again and again by one of NYPD’s finest.

After cleaning up, Stewart called Hugh who put it on speakerphone. “I have the list and there are three women who show up as potential marks, if that is what you call them.” Stewart rattled off the list and Hugh wrote down their names.

“Thanks Stewart, you have been a valuable asset to this investigation. I will be sure to get you a letter for your files since Jackie tells me it would help you with your CISSP*.”

“Thanks Hugh. That means a lot to someone in my profession.”

After they hung up, Hugh asked, “What do you think we should do now?”

“I would suggest that the three ladies check out a book online. Then we watch their homes.”

“Why not the people at the library?”

“It still could be one that works in the library. No, best to do it right. Have them each come in and discuss it as a group. We will do it all at once and get it over with.”

“You are up to something Jackie, I can sense it.”

“Yes, but trust me. I have my reasons for suggesting you do it this way.”

In a meeting room at the 120th precinct, Jackie, Hugh, Capt. Connolly, and Capt. Hernandez of the 120th precinct, sat at a table with the three women. Jackie had a list in front of her and had told Hugh earlier that she would indicate which one of the three he was to do a stake out on. She wanted him to be there for the arrest so he would get the credit. But, she kept that one close to her cute and sexy vest.

Mrs. James, Mrs. Holston, and Mrs. Addison sat there transfixed by what they heard. “You mean that someone is targeting library patrons?” Mrs. James said.

“Yes. We need to stop this for the whole city’s sake.” Capt. Connolly said. “We believe with a high degree of probability that one of you three will be next. We want the three of you to go online at different times today and tomorrow and put a book on hold. Then we want you to got to the library as you normally do on Friday and pick up your book. Do you all have your library cards?” The three held up their library cards. On a pad, Jackie put a check mark next to Mrs. Holston and pushed the pad to Hugh who looked at it.

Hugh, bolstered by Jackie’s note, said, “Mrs. Holston, I will be in charge of watching your place. We will have two other detectives watching the rest of you ladies. You will be introduced to them shortly before you leave here. We already know that the standard pattern of the thief is that they wait for you to check in to pick up your book. All of you generally spend about an hour at the library, so we ask you to do the same as you usually do. You don’t need to worry about the employees. We are convinced that someone is hacking our system and isn’t an employee. Before we shut down his or her access, we want to try and catch them first. If this doesn’t work, we will remove their access anyway.”

The ladies agreed to the mission and it went according to plan. That night, Hugh asked, “Why Mrs. Holston?”

“Because her library card was on her keychain. The other ladies used a tradition card instead of the key chain type.”

“Why does that make a difference?”

“Because, when she checks out a book, your high resolution monitors capture her keys. From that, a copy of a key could be made. You mentioned that none of the homes show signs of forced entry. That means the criminal has a key.”

“You missed your calling. You should have been a cop.”

“No thank you. I would rather be interviewed by a handsome one.” She caressed his arm. “Care to help me dilate again?”

Hugh took her in his arms and began to take off her dress. She kissed him as he was doing it. As her dress fell to the ground, he said, “The things I have to do to get a confession out of you!”

The Friday stakeout was timed to be around two o’clock in the afternoon for Mrs. Holston. She went out as planned. Hugh and an officer had been secreted in the house since the late morning hours. Jackie and a few officers were across the street with cameras pointed at the building. Shortly before she checked into the library, Stewart called and said there was increased activity on the SSH tunnel into the library computer that day. About half an hour after she had checked into the library, a woman came slowly up the steps of Mrs. Holston’s brownstone. She was in a London Fog and wore a hat in an obvious attempt to hid her identity from prying eyes. The officer in the room with Jackie radioed Hugh to let him know she was at the door. The woman looked around and then put a key in the door, turned it, and opened the door and went in. The door shut. A few minutes later, Hugh led the woman, now in handcuffs, across the street to the lookout room with Jackie.

Jackie acted quickly. She went up to Hugh and said, “Honey, she is the accomplice, not the employee. We need to act quickly or you will lose the big fish.”

“What do you mean? The thief is going to run if she doesn’t show up soon or call in soon. In all likelihood, he is in the library with our victim watching her.”

“What do you suggest?”

“I need to put on her clothes and go to the library as soon as possible. Get some men there to watch Mrs. Holston.”

Hugh turned to the thief and said, “Come on Missy, the lady officer and our special officer here are going to do a quick strip search of you.” Officer Longstreet and Jackie went into the room with the thief. Ten minutes later, Jackie emerged wearing her clothes. She carefully pulled up the London Fog’s collar and then put on her hat. From a distance, she looked just like the thief. Hugh and Jackie then headed down to Hugh’s car and drove down to the library. Hugh went in first and sat down to read a paper observing in the distance Mrs. Holston who was reading her book. A moment later, on cue, Jackie walked into the library looking down.

A man nearby Mrs. Holston looked startled. Hugh watched him. Somehow, he knew that Jackie caught his body language too. She continued at an angle to the man so he couldn’t see her face and headed to a corner of the library. With her gloved hand, Jackie gave a casual wave and then put the hand back in her London Fog. The man, looking confused, got up to go after Jackie. Hugh spoke into his jacket mic to the men guarding Mrs. Holston. “Follow the man who just got up. He is our mastermind.”

Hugh and three cops converged on the man who began to run once he saw Hugh. Fortuitously, he ran right into one of the undercover men who had him on the floor and cuffed in a moment.

Epilogue –

Over dinner that night, Hugh gave Jackie the low down. Charles Cranford was a recent hire as a janitor at the library administrative office. He cleaned it at night which gave him access during the day to the library. He found in Snodgrass’ office the notepad he used to write down his passwords. Being a computer geek, he set up Snodgrass’ computer to give him access to the library computer. He would find a victim in the paper, check the security videos from the day the victim last checked out a book, and see if he could see her keys. Then, he would put a sniffer on their alarm system and get the code if it was needed. Once that was done, his accomplice, his sister Brandy, would go in and steal the ladies’ jewelry from the safe. She had special equipment that could open the safe in about fifteen minutes. If it didn’t, she would leave and they would wait for another chance or set up a means of cracking the safe.

Hugh said, “Bottom line was, they thought they would never be caught. And I get the credit for solving it thanks to you.”

“And my payment? Do I get a few days with you?”

“I get a few days off. I am the hero of the hour.”

“You are my hero. And you know, that was a lot of fun working with you!”

Poor Hugh. He had to go to Broadway plays, classy restaurants, and dilate Jackie every night.

Jackie returned to Fort Worth with a big smile on her face. But, before she left, Hugh announced that he was putting in applications to work closer to her. Apparently, he liked working with her too.

Copyright © 2017 by AuP reviner

* CISSP is an isc2.org certification meaning Certified Information Systems Security Professional