“The girls are in bed.” Kelly comes walking back into the living room where Nora and Circe were sitting.

“You have a nice family, Nora.” Circe watches as Kelly sits down on the sofa next to Nora.

“Thank you. So, are you visiting Memphis or are you living here, now?” Nora was curious.

“Living here. I bought the old Winchester Mansion over on Shady Groove Lane.” Circe couldn’t wait to see their expressions.

“That place is rumored to be haunted.” Nora knew about the place and the history behind it.

“It also sits at a nexus point. That’s why I bought the place.” Circe used a map of nexus points that she found at an old estate sale in
Europe. The book was written in ancient Latin, but she was able to decipher it.

“So, you’re saying the nexus point is making the place haunted?” Kelly was curious.

“Yes, and no. a nexus point is where several ley lines intersect each other. The energies in the current ley lines are extremely weak. However, if you are at a point where a large battle took place or there is a violent storm going on. Then the energies will be extremely strong. Because of
where the Winchester house sits. The energies in that area are stronger. However, because the energies are stronger in that area, it has weakened the barrier between the normal world, with the spirit world. Which allows spirits in that area or the surrounding area to appear here.” Circe was still learning about ley line energies and the effects it has on the normal world.

“So, why did you choose Memphis to live in? There are a lot better places to live than here?” Nora was curious about that.

“I think that it's better if you come to my place tomorrow, Nora. No offense to you Kelly, but what I need to show and explain to Nora is more in her field, than yours.” Circe liked Kelly, but what she has to show Nora, is just for Nora.

“No offense taken.” Kelly knew Nora did a lot of things that would kill her.

Nora looks at Kelly “are you sure sweetie?”

“I’m sure.” Kelly smiles at Nora.

“Good, I have to be going now.” Circe stands up and looks at Nora and Kelly.

Kelly and Nora stand up as well. Both women walk Circe to the front door.

“What time would you like for me to stop by?”

“Why don’t you stop by around noon time? We can have lunch.” Circe watches Kelly’s reaction.

“Okay.” Nora didn’t think Kelly would approve.

Nora watches as Circe walks out of the front door. A cloud appears out of nowhere and surrounds Circe. When it disperses, Circe is nowhere to be seen.

“How did she do that?” Kelly had stepped outside to look around for Circe.

Nora watches her wife as she looks around for Circe. She had to admit that Circe has changed since she had her run-in with her.

“Come on sweetie. Let’s go back inside and get some sleep.” Nora watches as Kelly stops and walks towards the front door.

Circe’s Place, Winchester Mansion, Shady Groove Lane:
A cloud of mist appears just outside the front of the mansion in the courtyard. She lets out a sigh as the magical energies she used from the charm around her wrist fades. It was going to take her a week to restore the magical energies in that charm.

As Circe walks into the mansion “Anastasia, I’m home.”

A young girl with long silver hair, gray eyes, and fair skin wearing a white flowing dress and silver color ballet shoes comes walking into the foyer. She looked like the Princess from Frozen named Elsa. She looks at Circe “como dice el dicho?”

“Me encontré con un viejo conocido.”

Anastasia raises an eyebrow when she hears Circe’s response. She wonders who Circe ran into it.

“Ellas intentaron matarte?” Anastasia knew Circe’s past and knew people have tried to kill her in the past.

"Hace mucho tiempo, pero ella es la razón por la que cambié" It was a good thing, Circe spoke Spanish.

Anastasia tilt’s her head to the side and looks at Circe. She brushes her hair aside exposing her pointed ears. When they were living in Denmark. A person tried to kill Circe.

“Anastasia, would you mind speaking in English or Russian, please?” Circe knew Anastasia spoke several different languages fluently.

“Fine! So, what is this person’s name that caused you to change?” Anastasia walks over to her friend.

“Nora Midnight. She’s a former DSS agent who was trained by a very talented person.” Circe knew Nora had been trained by the cat herself.
There were rumors in Russia that she took out several Russian generals and Gru officials in their sleep in two days.

The way the rumors went. She had already selected who she was going to kill and killed them in different ways. Her methods vary from slitting their throats to using unique poisons or arranging some sort of accident. She was very skillful in disguising herself. If she didn’t want you to find her, you wouldn’t find her. She was also one of the CIA’s top agents and had a partner she worked with, every so often.

“Why did she let you live?’ Anastasia was curious.

“That is a question you can ask her, tomorrow. I invited her over for lunch and to talk to her about why we are here.”

Anastasia stands there and gets a far-away look on her face. After a few seconds, she blinks her eyes.

“What did you see?” Circe knew Anastasia possessed the ability to see into the future. She could only see a few minutes, but it was enough to save them.

“What did you see?”

Anastasia looks at Circe “I saw that she will be able to help us with your current problem.”

“Let’s hope. Did you have dinner?” Circe was always motherly towards Anastasia.

“I went out and had dinner at the barbecue place up on Dickerson and Wills. I think I made a mistake ordering one of their hot wings dinners. It was too spicy for me.” Anastasia loved spicy foods, but the wings she ordered were too spicy for her.

A smirk appears on Circe’s face. She knew Anastasia loved spicy foods. “I’ll be in my work room for a while.”

“Okay. I’m going to bed.”

“Pleasant dreams, Anastasia.”

Anastasia waves at Circe as she heads to bed. She walks up the old wooden staircase to the second floor, where her bedroom was located.
Circe heads downstairs to her workroom to recharge her charm and to check something in one of her books.

In the first part of the morning, Nora and Kelly spend with the girls. There were chores around the house that each girl was assigned. Nora worked outside trimming the bushes and edging the sidewalk and walkway.

Since the weather was still nice outside, Nora wore shorts that looked like they belonged to a Hooter’s girl. For a woman nearing her fifties, she kept her body in tip-top condition. She wasn’t as developed in the chest area as her wife, but she still had a well-toned body.

She was wearing a dark tank top, and her bra straps were showing. They wouldn’t stay under the tank top straps.

“Hi, Mrs. Midnight.” Joey rides by on his mountain bike and waves to Nora.

A smile appears on Nora’s face as she waves back to him. He would be in high school soon and taking her government class. Nora goes back to work edging the sidewalk. After she finishes edging, she grabs the air blower and blows the dirt she removed back into the grass.

Out of all the lawns on her block. She has the nicest one. She puts much work into maintaining her lawn and keeping the scrubs and bushes trimmed.

“I got iced tea for your sweetie.” Kelly comes walking out of the house in a pair of shorts, saddles, and a tank top.

Her breasts bounced when she walked, even though she wore a nice underwire bra. Where Nora was slim, fit, and trimmed. Kelly was on the small end of plus size. She had wide hips and big breasts. She still had some curves in her figure, but she was more significant than Nora.

“Thanks, sweetie.” Nora kisses Kelly on the lips.

Kelly returns the kiss. Neither one of them cared if their neighbors saw them kissing each other. The last person complained ended with Nora
grabbing his testes and squeezing very hard. She let him see the coldness in her eyes and what she would do to him.

Most of Nora’s neighbors knew Nora was a school teacher. However, those that have been over to her house and invited in. They learned that she used to be a DSS agent as well. She’s retired from that profession, but she still has her skills.

“You’re welcome. So, are you still planning on going to Circe’s place?” Kelly knew nothing spooked Nora.

“Yes. I’m willing to trust her and see what she has gotten herself into.” Nora takes a sip from the plastic cup.

“Just be careful, sweetie.”

“Aren’t I always?” A smile appears on Nora’s face.

“No, you’re a trouble magnet.” Kelly knew trouble always managed to find Nora.

“I promise, no trouble today.”

“Better not.” Kelly gives Nora one more kiss before heading back into the house.

Nora watches as Kelly walks away from her. She loved how her ass moved in the shorts she was wearing. Nora gets back to work finishing her yard work. She was going to take a shower before heading over to Circe’s house.

Nora puts her tools and equipment away before going inside the house to get ready. She takes a nice hot shower and washes her hair. She knew Kelly was going to take the girls out for lunch. They deserve a treat for everything they have done.

It takes Nora about an hour to get ready. She waves goodbye to Kelly and the girls as she takes her mustang over to Circe’s place. She had her weapon with her, just in case, this wasn’t on the up and up.

The drive over to Circe’s place was uneventful. She pulls up to the wreath iron gate blocking the driveway. She presses the button on the small box, and a few seconds later, the gates open. As Nora pulls up the long driveway, she notices some people in the vast yard trimming and sculpting it as well.

She pulls her mustang on the other side of the truck that belonged to the lawn business. She gets out of the mustang and walks up to the front door of the mansion. Just as she reached to use the knocker on the door, it opened, and a big man with reddish blonde hair stood before her.

The man stood at least six foot seven inches tall and was well built. He looked like he was right out of one of her history books. He looked like he was of Scandinavian descent.

“Hi, I’m Nora Midnight. Circe invited me over for lunch.” Nora had to look up at the guy. She was five foot seven inches tall. Even if she wore her heels, she would still have to look up at this vast well-developed man.

Eric looks at the Hispanic woman standing before him. He could tell she was a dangerous woman. Death clung to her, but when he looked at her aura. It was a solid golden color with a few other colors thrown in. There were at least six cords attached to her aura as well. He knew from experience that she was a mother and the cords were her children. There was a silver color one that meant she had a mate.

He could tell she was pure Hispanic, and her ancient had a southern charm. He steps aside to let her into the house. He watches as she walks into the mansion. There was a grace to how she walked. It was like she was on the prowl for something.

Eric closes the door behind her. He looks at her ‘if you’ll follow me, please.”

“You first.” Nora could tell that this guy had military training from how he carried himself.

She wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t have special forces training. He didn’t carry himself like a mafia person or like some of the Russian soldiers she had met. She follows behind him, but not too close. She wanted to be prepared for anything.

The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end when they passed by several huge paintings that were images of the former occupants of the house. He leads her throughout the house until they appear outside. She spots Circe, sitting in an old fashion wrought iron chair from long ago.

Sitting near her was a woman that looked like Princess Elsa from the Disney anime Frozen. She could pass as a twin of the female cartoon. She had long ice blonde hair.

Circe spots Eric and Nora walking towards her from inside the house. The fountain behind her was bubbling and shooting water up into the air and falling back into the pool. She stands up to greet Nora.

“Nora, I’m glad you could make it. I hope you don’t mind eating outside.” Circe reaches for Nora’s hand.

Nora accepts Circe’s hand. She gives it a gentle shake.

“Let me introduce everyone to you. This is Eric. He’s my boyfriend and magical partner. The young lady sitting on the other side of the table is my
companion, Anastasia. She’s my understudy and helper.” Circe smiles at Nora. But also tried to get across that Anastasia meant more to her.

A smile appears on Anastasia’s face as she waves at Nora. She could tell that there was more to Nora than meets the eyes. She takes a sip from her teacup.

“Please, let us sit down and eat first. Afterward, I’ll tell you why I need your help with our problem.” Circe escorts Nora over to the wrought iron table.

Eric pulls a chair out for Nora to sit in.

“Thank you.’ As Nora sits down. She notices she has Circe to her left and Anastasia to her right.

She watches as Eric walks around and sits directly across from her. She hears Circe ring a bell, and a few seconds later, two maids come walking out of the house. Both women wore outfits similar to the ones Melody had chosen for her company.

They didn’t expose any part of the body that they shouldn’t. But they did show off the women’s figures. Both women had shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes. One was a little bit more developed than the other one. They both were young and looked to be in their late teens or early twenties.

“Thank you, Misty.” Circe looks at the one who isn’t as developed as her partner.

Misty just smiles at Circe as everything is laid out. The two women make sure everything is placed within reach of each person. The glasses sitting at each place setting are filled with tea.

“Thank you, Misty and Beverly.” Circe looks at both women.

“You’re welcome, Mistress.” Both women turn and head back into the house.

Nora looks at Circe. “Mistress?”

“I don’t insist that they call me that Nora. It’s the way they were trained. I rescued them from a very bad person who did a lot more to them than you could imagine.”

“Oh, I can imagine a lot.” Nora has had her share of people like that.

“You sound like you have had to deal with some people like that, Mrs. Midnight?” Anastasia looks at Nora.

“Let’s just say I have met and dealt with people like that.” Nora glances back towards Anastasia.

“Let me guess, they are no longer among the living?” Eric looks at Nora for an answer.

“You could say that. I don’t take kindly to people who make slaves or sex slaves out of people.” Nora knew her mentor had her ways of dealing with people like that.

“Neither do I, Nora. Misty and Beverly serve me out of loyalty and love. I would protect them with my life, and I have told them I would help them if they chose to leave.” Circe looked at Nora, so she could see it in her eyes.

“I believe you, Circe. Otherwise, I would have taken your life a long time ago.”

“Why didn’t you take her life, Mrs. Midnight?” Anastasia looks at Nora for an answer.

“Because Circe was never given the choice to be trained like she was. The program trained her, and several other girls like her, took them from their families or out of the orphanages, and turned them into killers. Circe was only doing what she was trained to do. They programmed her and treated her like a robot. I knew she was more and spare her life.” Nora takes a sip of her tea.

“But some can say the same was done to you.”

“No, because I chose to do what I do. I can stop any day and not suffer a death warrant put on me or have to look over my shoulder for an attack.” Nora looks at Circe and is glad she hasn’t been killed yet.

“Thanks for the second chance, Nora. Why don’t I tell you why I need your help?” Circe looks at Nora to inform her of the mission she has.

One Month Ago, At An Abandon Warehouse Near The Waterfront:
Piper slowly comes around and finds himself bent over a table and being fucked from behind. He could feel that his mouth was stuffed with a ball gag. Whoever was fucking him from behind, was banging him hard each time. He could feel his anal opening hurting and he didn’t know what he was feeling from the hole the person was using.

“Boss, turning Piper into a huge tit woman was a good idea.” Bruce was balls deep into Piper.

He couldn’t believe that the beautiful woman he was currently fucking, use to be a male. Piper shouldn’t have stuck his nose into their business. Now, he’ll be making money as one of the boss's fuck toys and with the huge breasts, he had been given. He’ll bring in top dollar.

He slaps the brand that has been burned into Piper’s left shoulder, showing she now belongs to his boss. He erupts inside Piper and leans down to whisper into her ear “you better get used to this bitch, because you’ll be spending your life like this.”

Tears were sliding down Piper’s cheeks from the pain she felt from Bruce slapping the brand on her shoulder. Somehow he has been turned into a woman with huge breasts. She knew the voice that spoke to him. It belonged to Bruce Woods and she knew how abusive Bruce could be to women.

After Bruce pulled out of Piper’s body, another person takes his place. Piper feels her head pulled back by her hair as she was forced to look up at the ceiling. Whoever was using her now wasn’t being gentle at all.

Piper passes out and wakes up hours later. She couldn’t feel anything below her waist. She was completely numb below her waist. She notices, instead of laying on her stomach, she was laying on her back and had two huge basketball size breasts on her chest. There was blood covering the top of them and metal barbells going through her thick medium size nipples.

Her jaw was hurting because of the ballgag that was still strapped inside her mouth. She could feel that she was being held by ropes on her wrist and ankles. She knew if she didn’t escape now, she’ll be used again by the men and maybe killed.

She starts trying to loosen the ropes tied around her wrist. Whoever retied her, didn’t do a very good job. She manages to get her right wrist free. After freeing her right wrist, she works on getting her left wrist free. When she sits up on the table, she feels intense pain between her legs. She reaches down between her legs and feels around.

Tears start forming as she realizes, whatever Vito did to her. She was no longer a male at all, but a woman. A woman that had been used like a piece of meat. She manages to untie the ropes securing her ankles and crawl out of the warehouse.

The numbness she had been feeling was slowly fading and she was feeling intense pain from what they did to her groin area. She could feel the blood, dripping out of her as she crawled out of the warehouse. She had no idea where everyone went, All she wanted to do now, was get somewhere safe.

Piper has no idea, how long it took her to make it to her car. She had parked a block or two away from the warehouse and walked to the warehouse. She was glad she did it now. Once she gets to her Nissan 280Z car. She climbs into it and removes the spear car key from its hidden spot.

She knew she needed to get to a doctor and she knew the perfect one to see. She removes the ball gag from her mouth and drives to Dr. Leason’s residence. If there was one doctor in all of Memphis, Tenn. She could trust, it would be her.

One Month Later:
Piper sights in on Bruce from her sniper position. She has been tracking this asshole and all the other men who had fucked her that night. That included Vito Underwood. He had been the one who turned her into a big-breasted woman with some sort of drug. From what she found out from the first guy she tracked down and interrogated. Vito ordered his men to train bang her. There had been at least thirty of them that did as he ordered.

She watches as Bruce walks toward one of his favorite hidden brothels. She knew the women inside the brothel Bruce was walking to, which was privately run and operated by a woman named Betty Marlowe. She took runaway females and women off the street and gave them a place to live. After a while, once she earned the women's trust. She turned them into prostitutes.

Some of the women that worked for her enjoyed selling their bodies. Some of them even specialized in certain kinds of kinky sex. She knew what type of kinky sex Bruce was into and there were only a handful of brothels that allowed it. This place happened to be one of those places and it was also his favorite place as well.

Just as Bruce reached the front door to press the hidden doorbell. She pulls the trigger on her sniping rifle and shoots his groin area. Her second shot, goes straight through his head, leaving a big gaping hole where the bullet enters and exits.

She secures her rifle and drives away from where she took the shot. She knew the police were going to have a hard time finding out where she took the shot from. She still had Vito to deal with, but no one knew where he went. The last any of his men knew. Vito had some sort of meeting with Alex Crowley.

Vito never returned from the meeting he had with the man. No one is sure if he either joined the man or if Mr. Crowley had him killed. She was planning on investigating this Alex Crowley because she was hearing rumors about strange things going on in the mansion he was living at.

When she arrives home. She parks the van in the garage and starts up the pressure washer to remove the fake paint from it. She got the idea from watching the movies Cannonball and The Jackal. She removes the license plates and puts new ones on the van.

Once Piper was done, with the van. She carries her sniper rifle into the house and secures it in her hidden armory.

“Did you get the person you were after?” Brandy watches Piper as she exits from the armory.

Piper looks at Brandy as she leaned up against the wall. Brandy had been turned into a woman by Vito as well. Vito had been in the process of turning Brandy into a bimbo for a client. The worst thing about it was. Brandy was the son of the client. The only thing left to be done to Brandy was brain washing her into being submissive to her father.

“He’s dead. How are you doing?” Piper knew Brandy worked at a strip club called Headlights.

Both she and Brandy were identical in build. The same drug Vito used on her had been used on Brandy. The only difference between them was the fact that she had facial surgery done on her face. She had the work done while she was recovering from what was done to her. Also, Brandy had platinum blonde hair that came down to her ass and Piper had reddish color hair that came down to her ass. Both had blue eyes as well.

Both of them had thick silver barbells that went through their nipples and were solder shut and couldn’t be removed from their nipples. They also had the same branding on their left shoulder. Vito wanted everyone to know, they were his property.

“Good! That just leaves Vito to be killed.”

“Oh, I’m not going to kill him. I have something special planned for him.” Piper had something special she wanted to do to him. She wanted him to experience what it felt like to be turned into a girl and raped.

“As long as he gets what is due to him. I want him to suffer, just like my perverted father did.” Brandy knew her father was experiencing what it was like to be a girl and molested by older men.

She and Brandy had captured her father and injected him with the same drug used on them. Instead of turning her father into a grown woman. It turned her father into a teenage girl and they gave her to a bunch of men who liked young women. A video had been sent to them, showing what the men did to Brandy’s father.

“He will, I promise. Now, let’s go to bed.” Piper wraps her arm around Brandy’s waist and leads her upstairs to their bedroom.

Nora’s Home Office:
Nora looks through the pictures and records Circe gave her about a person named Alex Crowley. According to the file, Alex Crowley was the direct descendent of Aleister Crowley. She had no idea who Aleister Crowley was and did a google search on him.

According to what she found on the internet about Aleister Crowley. He was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He was also the founder of a religion called Thelema. When she googled Thelema, she finds out that the religion was created by Aleister Crowley's system of Thelema and began with writings from The Book of the Law written by Aleister and his wife Rose while they were in Egypt on their honeymoon. The book was only three chapters long, but it acted as the bases of the religion.

According to what Circe had gathered about Alex Crowley, he was continuing his secret work within the religion. He was offering rich elder people immortality. According to Circe’s research, Alex Crowley had found a way to give immortality to these people.

The reason Circe, Anastasia, or Eric couldn’t get close to Mr. Crowley’s place. One, he knew about them, since Circe has been chasing after him since England. Two, he was familiar with Anastasia and protected against her magical abilities. As for Eric, Alex hired a bunch of bodyguards that protected him. The thing was, the security consultant Alex hired. He knew Eric and how he operated. The two of them had been in the same unit together. They both went to the same boot camp and served in the same unit together.

Recently, it seemed that Alex Crowley has been surrounding himself with extremely beautiful big-busted women. He also added a new person to his security team. Circe didn’t know who the person was, but he was well-built and looked like he could be a football player.

Nora scans the image into her computer system and accesses the criminal database. Cheshire had one of her people come by and upgrade her computer system. Not only did they upgrade her computer system, but gave her access to the national criminal base that the police and FBI use.

While her computer was searching through the criminal database. Nora looks at the photos Circe managed to take of everyone coming and going from the mansion that Alex Crowley was using as his base of operation. She makes notes on a legal pad on her desk. She brings up the location of the mansion and the surrounding area around the mansion.

The computer beeps, letting her know it found a match. Nora looks at the information displayed. The name of the guy was Vito Hauptmann. He was a local gang leader that specialized in drugs, illegal weapons, and prostitution. According to his file, he mostly worked in the south side area of Memphis. She knew that there were three other gangs around Memphis. Drugs and weapons were big business.

The thing was, the picture Circe took and the picture the criminal database had on file, didn’t match. The picture Circe took made Vito appear very healthy and well-developed. The picture the criminal database had, made him look like a typical male you wouldn’t remember seeing.

“I wonder what has changed between then and now.” Nora puts the two images next to each other. She wanted to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her.

She needed to know more about Alex Crowley and what she was going to be dealing with. Nora knew this was way outside her wheelhouse, but Circe did come to her for help. She hopes the one person she knew who was knowledgeable about the occult, might be able to help her.

Nora prints out what she needs and puts it in a folder. She hopes Julia Scott down at Smoke and Mirrors can help her. She knew Julia had several degrees in the occult and she was the daughter of a Voodoo Priestess. Julia’s mother lived in New Orleans and taught Julia what she knew about voodoo.

Nora closes the folder and put it inside her desk. She turns her computer off and heads into the kitchen. Kelly and the girls had gone to the hair salon for Daiyu to find her hairstyle. So, she had the house to herself, which was very rare. She fixes herself a small salad for lunch.

Secret Operating Room in Crowley Mansion:
Alex looks down at the newest addition to his bimbo collection. The drug that Mr. Vito had used to transform an ordinary wimpy teenage boy into a big-chested petite woman was remarkable. He looks at Vito “you weren’t kidding about that drug, Mr. Vito.”

“I thought you would enjoy seeing the transformation for yourself, Mr. Crowley.” Vito was indebted to Mr. Crowley for what he did to him. He has never been as healthy and developed as he was now.

“Where did you find this drug?” Alex picks the test tube that had a white liquid substance in it. He was amazed at how well it worked.

The white substance inside was responsible for turning whoever took it into big-chested, small-waisted women. If a woman takes it, it made her waist smaller, her feet smaller, her hips and ass become bigger and her breasts enlarge to huge cup sizes. Those were just some of the physical changes. The drug also softens and made the person’s facial features more feminine and desirable.

That included their hair as well. Sometimes it just made the hair thicker, silkier, and longer. In other cases, it changed the person’s hair color and style. It even made the person’s voice sound sweeter and softer.

If a male is given the drug, it physically changes his body to that of a woman. His testicles are sucked up into his body and change into ovaries. His penis shrinks and becomes the vaginal lining and a small uterus forms inside his body. The rest of his body undergoes the same physical development as a woman does under the drug. He also loses muscle mass, as well.

After the physical changes are done, Mr. Vito developed a technique for turning these people into total bimbos. Their whole purpose in life would be to please whoever they are given to and to crave sex. The brainwashing was so permeant, that no one has ever wanted to stop using their new bodies to please the opposite sex. Sometimes, the desire to please the same gender would surface as well.

“It was inside an old suitcase sealed up in a wall at one of the places I own. One of my workers found it and noticed how someone had taken extreme measures to seal it up. When I managed to open the suitcase. I found a journal inside written by Dr. Antione Sanger describing how he made this stuff and what it was supposed to have been. However, he found out when he tested this stuff, that it didn’t do what he thought it would do, but the opposite.”

“What was he trying to do?” Alex was curious.

“He was trying to develop a serum that would enhance the human body. It was supposed to make a weak person stronger and healthier. In this case, it turned women and men into total bimbos who only craved sex.” An evil smile appears on Vito’s face when he says that.

“Can you make more of this stuff?” Alex was already getting ideas on how he could use this stuff.

“It’s a little complex for my people, but I think I know a few chemists that might be able to recreate this stuff.” Vito was thinking about a person he knew.

“No need. I think I know the perfect person.” Alex knew the perfect chemist to recreate the drug.

“Cool, so what do you want to do with this person?” Vito looks down at the young woman laying on the operating bed.

“Start the next step. I have a client already picked out for this one.” Alex knew Federal court Judge Andrew Thomas Green and his wife were looking for a new plaything.

“Will do. Is there anything special I should program this one for?” Vito has done some special orders.

“Yes, make sure this one enjoys having pain inflicted. The judge and his wife enjoy inflicting pain and humiliating their play toys. So, make sure she enjoys it and is sexually turned on by it.”

“Oh, I can do that.”

“Good. Oh, by the way. I have two more special orders. One is turning a client’s wife into a human cow and the other client is turning his human pony girls, into actual pony girls with huge breasts. You’ll need my help with both of them.”

“That should be fun. I have never done a human cow before. I wonder why the client wants to turn his wife into one?” Vito looks at Alex for an answer.

“Who knows, I don’t ask because they are going to make a huge contribution to my organization.” All Alex cared about was money.

“Sounds good to me. I’ll get this one ready to be shipped to the bimbo facilities.” Vito leaves with Alex to get some men to prepare the girl in the other room ready for transport.

Molly digs through the dumpsters, looking for aluminum, brass, bronze, cast iron, copper, steel, and tin. Her stomach growls as she hopes to find enough recyclable metals to turn into the recycling center. She pulls the wooden wagon behind her and loads it with items she finds in the dumpster.

She couldn’t believe her luck when she found enough empty cans to fill several trash bags. She fills the trash bags she has on her and secures them on the wagon. She walks around towards the back of the building and notices lights on inside the place. Her curiosity gets the best of her as she locates a window she can look inside.

She finds an old five-gallon bucket she could use to stand on to look inside the window. She carefully looks into the place and notices a group of people talking. They were wearing white lab coats and drinking coffee. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but she wondered what they were doing inside.

She climbs down off the bucket and starts looking around the place. She spots a place where she can enter the building. Someone left the door propped open some. She cautiously enters the building, not letting the door shut behind her. She knows she shouldn’t do this, but she is hungry and is hoping maybe she could find something of value to sell.

Molly carefully walks out of some sort of storage area. The room was filled with all sorts of boxes and barrels. She moves along the hallway quietly and carefully. She heard some noise coming from one room she was near. She opens the slightly and spots a naked big-breasted woman strapped into some sort of strange chair. The chair looked like it had multiple arms and was doing all sorts of things to the woman’s body. Her head was covered by some sort of helmet, and there was a bag with some sort of fluid in it hanging nearby. The tube from the bag went into a metal armband that encircled the woman’s upper arm.

Molly heard the muffled moans of the woman as it did its business to her body. It looked like some sort of sex machine because the arms of the device were entering her ass, mouth, and vaginal opening. She couldn’t believe what it was doing to her.

Molly quickly exits that room and finds a few more rooms with women in the same type of chairs. In a few rooms, she finds multiple chairs or beds doing the same thing she saw in one room. Some of the rooms had multiple women and men. Some men looked like they were being milked and had several Iv bags connected to their bodies.

Molly heard someone coming towards her location. She finds a place to hide inside the room. She watches two men enter the room. They were wearing white lab coats and dress shoes. She watched as they went over to the machines the suction hose was connected to and turned it off.

“What do you think, Juan? Do you think we got all he can produce?” An evil smile appears on James’s face.

“I think we can reuse him. Take him to room number six and let him recover.” Juan looked into the guy’s eyes and noticed how glazed over they were.

Molly noticed how huge and stiff the guy’s cock was. She figures it had to be the size of a horse. She watches as the guy is escorted out of the room by doctor James.

While James is gone, Dr. Juan goes about cleaning the machine and changing out the bags with fresh ones. He makes sure the machines are recalibrated and prepped for the next person. He turns around when he hears the door open again. He spots James pushing a young woman strapped down to some sort of stand-up chair.

“What are we doing to this runt?” Juan couldn’t believe homely the girl looked.

“The works. It might do this girl some good. Afterward, we’ll take her to room three and have her wiped and programmed.” James loved wiping a person’s mind and leaving them blank.

Juan starts connecting tubes and bags to the young woman. He shoves two hoses inside each of her openings and one down her throat. An evil smile appears on his face as he looks at the woman. “You’re going to enjoy this, sweetheart.” As he flips a switch and the machine starts doing its job to her.

Just as Juan is walking out of the room, his cell phone starts ringing. He pulls it out of his coat pocket and answers it. “Yeah, we have a room accessible to begin programming. All right, I’ll see you in twenty minutes.”

Molly wonders who the person Juan is talking to is. She watches as he ends the phone call.

“Was that the boss?” James looks at Juan for an answer.

“Yeah, he’s sending another volunteer to be turned into a complete bimbo. He wants this one dumber than the last one and craving sex all the time.”

“I think we can accommodate that request. Oh, when the boss gets here. We need more Asians and Mexican bimbos. There have been many requests for them.”

“I’ll let him know.”

Molly watches as the two men leave the room. She looked at the girl James brought in, and she was trashing around as the machine did its job to her body. Molly didn’t know what she could do to help the girl.

She opens the door slightly to check the hallway. She doesn’t spot anyone in the hallway. She slips out of the room and quietly goes down the hallway back to the room she entered. Just as she enters the room, she spots two security guards.

“Hey you, stop.” Sam spots a homeless person walking into the loading dock area.

The other guard turns around as well. He pulls his gun and fires at her. The bullets hit a container near her.

“Careful where you shoot, stupid. Some of those containers contain the special dust.” Sam didn’t want to experience what it did.

Molly uses the containers and barrels to hide behind as she tries to avoid getting shot at. She moves to a nearby barrel. A bullet rips through it, and a white dust cloud engulfs her. She makes it to the open loading dock and jumps down. She was finding it hard to breathe and was coughing.

Another bullet hits near her but misses her. Her eyesight started to blur as she nearly avoided being run over by a box truck. She was finding it harder to breathe. She manages to keep running for a while before finally collapsing. Her lungs were hurting, and her body didn’t want to respond to her at all.

Nora pulls into the parking lot of Smoke and Mirrors. She spotted Julia’s Range Rover parked in front of the store. She parks her mustang next to Julia’s car. She gets out and adjusts her sunglasses. After adjusting her sunglasses, she walks into the store. When she opens the door, she is hit in the face by the scent of sage burning.

She shakes her head as she walks further into the store. The place hasn’t changed much since the last time she visited Julia. She notices two tables have been added. One she knew was used for a tarot card reading. The second one had a large quartz crystal ball sitting in the middle of it.

“Julia, are you here?” Nora stops at the counter and looks behind it.

Nora hears the rustling of the bead curtain that blocks the doorway towards the back. She watches as her friend comes walking towards her.

“It’s taken you long enough to come and see me, Nora.” Julia walks up to Nora and hugs her.

Nora was surprised by that statement. She returns the hug “you knew I would be coming to see you?”

“Of course I did, ma chère. The spirits have been restless, and a few have dropped by to warn me.” Julia had her mother’s gift of speaking with the dead.

“What have they been telling you?” Nora was skeptical about Julia’s ability to speak to the dead.

“That, you shouldn’t be sticking your nose into this mess, Nora.” Julia knew Nora was better at sending people to the afterlife than dealing with them.

“I can’t back out now, Julia. I gave my word that I would help.”

“I know. Your friend has already been here asking about you.” Julia has met Circe.

“I take it, you were careful about what you told her about me?” Nora watches Julia’s body language.

“That I was. I could sense she was into some heavy mystical stuff.”

“Do you think I should trust her?” Nora knew Julia was good at trusting people.

Julia had to think about the question for a minute. She did feel that she had taken several lives, but she did feel that she had changed.

“Let’s say I would trust her now, but keep your guard up.”

“Thanks. I need to ask you some questions about Alex Crowley.” Nora had a bunch of questions about him.

“You want to know what you are dealing with?” Julia already knew Nora’s first question.

“Yes.” Nora didn’t seem shaken at what Julia did.

“He’s dealing in some very dangerous magic. He is messing with forces that go against nature.”

“How so?” Nora was curious.

Julia had to think about the best way to explain what Alex was doing. Then she remembers that Nora is a movie buff.

“Have you seen the movie Freejack?” Julia watches Nora’s eyes.

“You mean the movie with Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger, and Rene Russo? Yeah, it’s one of my favorite scifi movies. Why?”

“Remember in the movie that they took a race car driver from the past to transfer the essence of a billionaire from the future into the race car driver’s body?”

“Yeah, I remember that. Is that what Alex Crawley is doing? Transferring people’s essences into different bodies?”

“Worst, he’s draining their life essence and giving it to whoever pays him the most money. He has an ancient artifact from Eygpt that allows the transference of a person’s essence from one body to another. He can take years from you to give to another.”

“Okay, now that is strange. I can see how many rich people afraid of dying would want years back. However, I do have another question for you. Can you explain this to me?” Nora takes the two pictures out and sets them on the counter.

Julia looks at the pictures and then back up to Nora. Her eyes rolled up into her head, and in a weird-sounding voice, “look for Dr. Sarkov!” afterward, Julia’s eyes and the voice went back to normal.

“I hate it when the spirits do that.” Julia shivers as the spirit that had borrowed her body leaves it.

“Okay, I am officially freaked out now.” Nora has never seen anything like it except on television in a movie.

“I can’t believe a big bad assassin like you would get freaked out.” A smirk forms on Julia’s face.

“I’m not an assassin. And yes, that isn’t something you encounter all the time.” Nora still had chills from watching what happened to Julia.

Julia shakes her head and wonders what Dr. Sarkov had to do with Alex Crawley. She looks up at Nora “you’re going to need some protection against Mr. Crawley and his magics.” She removes a necklace from around her neck. There was a silver disk imprinted with strange words on it.
She hands it to Nora “here. Wear at all times. It will protect you from evil spirits and whatever magic Mr. Crawley uses.”

“Won’t you need it?” As Nora accepts it and looks at it.

“I’m fine. I can always make another one. You’re going to need it. I don’t know why, but you will.”

“Thanks. Now, why don’t you tell me what religion Mr. Crawley is involved in and where I can go to investigate for myself.” Nora takes a legal pad out from her purse.

Julia comes from behind the counter and goes down the shelves of books. She starts pulling several books off the shelves and stack them up in her arms. Afterwards, she goes back to where Nora was standing and set the stack on the counter. She lloks at Nora “here is everything I have on him. I would suggest you go through these before confronting him.”

Nora looked at the books and then at Julia “you don’t play fair.”

“I know.” Julia walks back behind the counter.

“How much do I owe you?” Nora pulls her wallet out of her purse.

“Eighty dollars. I’m giving you the family discount.” Julia starts ringing each book up.

Nora shakes her head as she pulls her credit card out and pays for them.

St. Angelos, Church of The Mighty Oak, Memphis, Tenn.:
Molly wakes up and finds herself lying on a bed. She was covered up by a black sheet and a red quilt. She looks around the room and notices she is in a tan painted room. On the wall were pictures of Christ doing a nun bent over a rock with her robes gathered around her waist.

As she continued to look around the room. She discovered several pictures of either Christ or his disciples having sex with women dressed as nuns in different sexual positions. The crucifix on the wall was of a woman with her breasts tied and hanging by them while straddling a huge dildo.

She noticed there weren’t any windows in the room or a clock. She felt weak as a kitten as she lifts the covers, covering her. She is naked underneath the covers and notices her body has changed. The scar that had been on her tummy was gone. The tattoo she had gotten when she was drunk was no longer on her shoulder.

She also noticed that the tooth bothering her wasn’t hurting her anymore. She notices the quilt and silky black top sheet covering her smell like lavender. After a while, her body started feeling better. She was no longer feeling weak. If nothing else, she was feeling energized.

She stays in bed and falls back asleep. She loved how the bed felt and the smell of the linen covering her body. After living on the streets for the past two years, she would enjoy her stay where ever she is.

Room 6, Residence Floor:
Sister Mary Kathryn carries a tray with a bowl of corn beef soup, apple cobbler, and a cold glass of milk. She hoped the young girl they found behind the church was awake. She stops at the door of the room she was in and knocks on the door.

She opens the door and walks into the room. She noticed that the young girl is slowly waking up. She walks over to the bed with the tray.

Molly woke up from someone knocking on the door to the room she was in. She sits up in the bed and watches as the door to the room opens, and a nun comes walking into the room. She was carrying a wooden tray with dishes on it.

Mary Kathryn looks at the young girl that she and Sister Mary Francis brought into the church and tended to. A smile appears on her young face “how are you feeling?”

“Refreshed. Where am I sister?” Molly looks at the nun in the room.

“Well, how about I put this tray on your lap first? While you eat, I’ll answer all your questions.”

“Okay.” Molly was feeling hungry. She straightens out the quilt and top sheet.

Sister Mary Kathryn sets the tray down on the girl’s lap. She slowly stands back up and walks over to the desk and chair in the room, and moves the chair over to the side of the bed. She sits down on the chair.

Molly looks at the food on the tray and notices that the bowl is filled with potato soup of some sort. She notices that there is a cobbler as well. When she looked up to see what sister Mary Kathryn was doing, she noticed that the back of sister Mary Kathryn’s robes was black and sheer. She could make out a fist size silver ball sticking out of the sister’s cute ass.

Molly shakes her head to make sure she doesn’t see things. She looked again and saw the fist size silver ball sticking out of sister Mary Kathryn’s ass. She wonders why a nun would wear something so unusual. She watches as Mary Kathryn sits down in the chair by her bed.

“Go ahead and eat. We can talk after you eat.” Mary Kathryn wonders what this girl’s name was and how she ended up at the back door of the church.

Molly spoons some of the soup and tastes it. She was right that it was a potato soup of some kind. It was flavorful and tasted pretty good. Once the soup hit her mouth, she couldn’t stop shoveling it into her mouth.

A smile appears on Sister Mary’s face as the girl eats the soup. She figures the poor thing was hungry. The clothes she and Mary Francis removed off the girl stunk to high heaven.

“Now, let me see if I can answer your questions. My name is Sister Mary Kathryn, and you are inside the church of The Mighty Oak. My fellow sister and I found out passed out behind the church. Can you tell me how you got there, considering there is a ten-foot chain link fence that protects our property?”

“I don’t remember how I got there, sister. The last thing I remember was running for my life. Some men were firing guns at me.” Molly remembers going into the warehouse looking for some food and seeing things that had to be out of an adult porn movie.

“Well, somehow, you managed to get past a ten-foot chain link fence and behind the church.” Mary Kathryn was curious about the young girl.

“Sister Mary Kathryn, I have a question for you. Why is there a silver ball sticking out of your ass?” Molly was curious about that.

“It’s my chastity plug.” A playful smile appears on Mary Kathryn’s face.

“A what?” Molly looked confused.

“Never mind, just finished your meal.” Sister Mary Kathryn watches as the young girl starts eating.

Molly finishes the soup and starts on the cobbler. She finishes the cobbler and looks at Sister Mary Kathryn “that cobbler was good, Sister Mary Kathryn.

“Thanks. By the way, what do I call you?” Sister Mary Kathryn wonders what the young girl’s name is.

“It’s Molly, Molly Warnock.”

“How long have you been living on the streets, Molly?” Mary Kathryn was curious.

Molly didn’t know if she trusted Sister Mary Kathryn. She thinks about it and decides she’ll trust Sister Mary Kathryn.

“For two years.”

“Well, Molly. You’re welcome to stay here for a while. However, I would stay on this floor unless you want to be mistaken for a recruit.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Sister Mary Kathryn picks the tray up and leaves the room.

Molly gets up and walks around the small room. The only light she had came from a ceiling fan above her. She should have asked Sister Mary Kathryn where her clothes were.

Nora walks out to her car and gets into it. The stack of books she ended up buying, sat on the floor on the passenger side. She had the address of where Crowley Mansion was located and decides to drive by and do some snooping around.

It takes her about twenty minutes to drive by the mansion. She could tell some modifications had been done to the grounds to allow visitors. She finds an area where she could park her car without it sticking out. She walks around to the back of her car and opens a secret compartment. She changes her shoes from the heels she was wearing, to a pair of sneakers. She pulls out a small pair of binoculars. She loved these things because they sent a signal back to her car, where she could print the pictures out.

She switches out her sunglasses for the new specialty pair that took recorded everything. She links it to her cell phone and tucks her cell phone in her pocket. She leaves her purse locked up in the trunk of her car, before leaving.

Nora walks around the block, pretending she was just out for a walk but was doing recon of the property. She spotted where there were hidden security cameras. Her cell phone sends a signal to her Hitech sunglasses and shows that there was a wifi signal, but encrypted.

She pulls her cell phone out and dials Hex’s number. If there was one person she knew, who could crack the wifi signal, it would be Hex. He was good at cracking any signal.

Hex’s Place:
Hex was cleaning his grill for tonight's dinner when his cell phone rang. He presses the side of his earbuds “hello?”

“Hey Hex, it's Nora. I need your help with a case.” Nora stays hidden, so the security cameras didn’t pick her up.

“Do I want to know what you are doing?” Hex stands up and looks at Jade’s nude body as she laid out on the lounge chair.

Hex decided that she was going to become a guy. She didn’t have any breasts or reproductive organs to worry about. Hell, she didn’t have a vaginal opening. As for Jade, she has been taking experimental estrogen and progesterone pills. Jade had her testicles removed a month after moving in with him.

“Not really. So, do you think you can help me?” Nora knew Hex was trying to be good.

“Sure, let me head upstairs to my equipment. I’ll link in through your cell phone.” Hex walks into his house and heads upstairs to his workroom.

He sits down at his desk and links in through Nora’s cell phone. He knew Nora didn’t use a standard cell phone. It was custom-made and allowed her to link to a private government satellite.

Hex brings up the wifi signal Nora’s cell phone was picking up and run it through his handwritten software. After a few minutes, the software cracks the encryption and notices it was a security feed.

“There you go, Nora. I’m uploading an app that will allow you to crack most encryptions.” Hex has been working on the app for a while.

“Thanks.” Nora looks at the security feed. Now she knew where all the security cameras were.

“That should do you, Nora. If you need any more help, let me know.”

“Thanks, Hex.” Nora ends the call.

Nora looks through the security footage. She can peek in and access all the security cameras in the place. She couldn’t believe how well-
protected this place was. She spots Mr. Crowley talking to someone else. She takes a snapshot of the person and runs their face through the database and comes back with a name.

His name was Adam Vito and was a known human trafficker. He specialized in trafficking young men and teenage girls. He had been arrested several times, but always managed to get off. He either cut a deal or the high-priced lawyer got him off.

She looked the name of his lawyer up. His name was Guy Higgins and he operated out of New York. According to some of the cases he has worked on, he either gets reduced sentences or has the cases against his clients thrown out. She notices that he normally represented murders, sexual predators, and child molesters.

While she is observing the security video, she notices a young woman storm into the mansion. She watches as the woman confronts Mr. Crawley. It looked like she had a major problem with him and after a few seconds two security guards show up to subdue her. A smile appears on Nora’s face when she observed one of the security guards being tossed into Mr. Vito.

When the other security guard goes to grab the woman, she sends him sliding across the floor. She spots Mr. Crawley step away from the woman as more security guards come running into the room. She manages to take several more guards down before she is taken down by a stun gun.

She watches as the security guards carry her out of the mansion and tosses her out onto the parking lot. She wants to go over and help the woman, but she didn’t want to expose herself yet. She does take a snapshot of the woman to look her up later.

She watches as Mr. Crawley chews out the two security guards and the person who must be the chief security supervisor. She watches as everyone goes their separate ways. She switches to the camera that covers the parking lot and watches as the woman gets up off the asphalt and limps towards a black Honda car.

Nora makes her way back to her car and follows the black Honda. She was curious about the person she saw. She watches as the person gets out of their car and walks into a one-story house. The neighborhood the woman lived in, was upper middle class and well-maintained. She takes a few pictures of the house with her binoculars and heads home afterward.

Nora’s Bedroom:
Kelly walks into the bedroom from the bathroom and notices Nora reading a book. She couldn’t determine the book’s title because of how Nora held it.

“Watch you reading, sweetie?” Kelly unwraps the towel from around her body and lays it at the end of the bed.

She walks to the dresser and pulls out a pair of sexy sleeveless black lace short nightgowns. She slips it on and closes the drawer she opened. She picks her brush up and brushes her hair. She looks at Nora’s reflection in the mirror.

“Sweetie, you didn’t answer me.” Kelly knew how Nora got when she was researching things.

Nora looked up and over toward Kelly as she brushed her hair. Even after all these years, the two of them have been married, and she still finds Kelly beautiful. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m reading about this religion that Alex Crowley’s father created and how it centers around self-enlightenment. It also deals in mysticism and rituals.”

Kelly walks over to the bed and slides in next to Nora. She looks at the stack of books and the notepad sitting on Nora’s lap with some notes written on it in the shorthand Nora uses. It took her two years to learn how to read Nora’s shorthand.

“Do you believe in anything written or discussed in the book?” Kelly knew Nora was a practical woman. It took a lot to convince her that something existed.

“You know it takes a lot to convince me of anything. I know true magic isn’t real like Circe pretends to do.” Nora knew true magic was a myth.

“Are you sure it’s fake? You saw how Circe seemed to disappear in a cloud of fog. Even with your specialized training, you can’t do that.”

“Sweetie, there are many ways a person can do what Circe did. But you might be right about how she did it. Those clouds tend to have a smell, or if you use dry ice to do that trick. There would be bits and pieces left over.” Nora didn’t smell anything or spot anything on the walkway.

“So, how do you explain what she did?” Kelly watches Nora’s expression.

“I don’t know.” Nora was perplexed about how Circe disappeared.

“So, what she did, might be considered magic, right?” A smile appears on Kelly’s face.

Nora was about to say something but decided not to. Her wife’s argument was making sense.

“I hate it when you are right.”

The smile on Kelly’s face gets bigger. She knew she had just proved her point to her wife. She leans over and kisses Nora on the cheek.

Pamela’s House:
Pam looked towards Piper and Brandy as they sat on the sofa in her den. She had finally found Vito. She looks at Piper and Brandy. “I found Vito, and you wouldn’t believe how he looks now.”

“What does he look like, and where is he hiding?” Piper wanted to know where the bastard had been hiding.

“He’s working for a fellow by the name of Alex Crawley as head of his security. As for Vito himself, you better see this.” Pam presses a button on her remote and shows the images she took inside the building.

When they get to Vito’s image, Pam and Brandy let out a whistle. They couldn’t believe how fit and trimmed Vito looked. Piper has known Vito for a long time and has never seen him so well-built.

“How did Vito become so well-muscled and trim?” Piper was amazed and could feel her vagina getting wet.

“Don’t know, but I bet it has something to do with this guy.” Pam shows them an image of Alex Crawley.

“Who is he?” Piper was curious about him.

“His name is Alex Crawley, and he is the leader of some strange religious cult. He is responsible for my sister being turned into an elderly bimbo.” Pam shows a picture of her sister.

The image showed an old woman with huge and sagging breasts bent over a walker. The woman in the picture had to be at least eighty years old.

“What happened to your sister to make her look like that?” Brandy wanted to know more.

“Alex Crawley sucked the life force out of her and transferred it to this woman.” Pam shows a picture of a naked forty-year-old woman with
breasts as big as the ones her sister had tied to a chair.

The woman looked physically well-built and very luscious. Her hair was long and full, covering her shoulders and back like a cloak.

“Why is she secured to a chair?” Brandy noticed that.

“According to what I found out. She turned everything she owned over to Alex Crawley and has become one of his bimbo sex slaves. She’s bringing in lots of money from some high-dollar players.”

“So, the woman gave everything she owned to Alex Crawley to look that. Which, caused your sister to look like she does now?” Piper didn’t know this was what had been going on.

“Yes, I don’t know how he did it, but he stole my sister’s life force. I want to kill the pick for what he did.”

“Can he give your sister back her life force?” Piper wonders if Alex Crawley could give the life force he stole back to Pam’s sister.

“I don’t know. Suppose we can capture him alive and force him to restore my sister’s life force. I won’t kill him.” Pam wanted her sister back.

St. Angelos, Church of The Mighty Oak, Memphis, Tenn.:
Mother Superior Caoimhe looks at the surveillance video recording of the young woman’s appearance. She watches as the young girl named Molly runs right through the chainlink fence and afterward falls down. She rewinds the video, plays it again, and watches as she runs through the fence.

“How did she do that, Mother?” Sister Mary Kathryn was watching the video as Mother Superior Caoimhe replayed it.

“I don’t know, but maybe we should send her to Sister Monique to see why.” Mother Superior Caoimhe figures that Sister Monique might be able to help the young woman upstairs.

“Are you sure about this, Mother?” Sister Mary Kathryn liked the young woman.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll talk with her later this evening. Now, don’t you have some men you should accept donations from, child?”

“Yes, mother.” A playful smile appears on Sister Mary Kathryn’s face.

Crowley Mansion:
Ellie comes walking out of her bedroom, with her head wrapped up in a towel. Her massive breasts were barely supported by the string bra she was wearing. The dental floss thong she was wearing barely covered her vaginal opening. A pink vibrator handle was sticking out of her opening.

She was hungry after having sex with five guys. She loved feeling the huge butt plug in her anal opening. It was holding in all the gifts the guys gave her. A smile appears on her face when she spots Victor standing guard at the elevator “hey Victor, how’s it hanging?”

Victor looks at Ellie as she walks towards him. He knew she was the mansion’s bimbo. She was ready for sex all the time.

“How are you feeling?” Victor knew Ellie loved having sex all the time.

“Horny as always.” Ellis was always horny.

“I don’t know how you do it.” He starts kissing her and activates the remote to her vibrator.

Ellis returns the kiss and clinches her vaginal muscles when she feels the vibrator in her vagina start to vibrate. She moans into the kiss as she enjoys the vibration inside her body. She feels Victor as he grabs her huge nipple and frees it from the string bra. She shivers as he rubs it between his fingers and tweaks it.

Victor felt Ellis moan from when he activated the vibrator in her vagina. He also felt her moan when he started playing with her huge nipple. He squeezes it between his fingers. He pushes down on her shoulders. He wanted to stuff that pretty little mouth of hers with his manhood.

Ellis kneels before Victor and frees his manhood from his pants. She licks her lips when she sees how thick and long he was. She feels his hands on the back of her head as he thrust into her mouth.

By the time Ellis gets to the kitchen, her mouth is sore and she is dripping from between her legs. After pleasing Victor, she had three other guards that wanted to use her mouth and vagina. She makes herself a ham sandwich and adds some potato chips to the plate. She also pours herself a large wine glass of Absinthe with water and a sugar cube.

She has come to enjoy drinking the strong drink. She takes a few more sips and heads back to her bedroom. The guards she pleased coming down to the kitchen, lightly slap her on her ass or activate the vibrator in her vagina.

She doesn’t regret begging Alex to turn her into a bimbo. She loved having massive tits, and a shapely body. She also enjoyed being used as a sex toy. He didn’t use her like the other women and men he turned into bimbos. She was special and was used to please some unique clients.

She takes small bites from her sandwich. Because of what was done to her lips, she couldn’t open her mouth very much. Her lips were formed to form a tight suction around man's manhood. Sometimes her mouth was stretched from some of the men she pleased. Victor and Zack had thick manhood and stretched her lips. She finishes her light dinner and notices she had three appointments that just popped up on her computer screen. A smile appears on her face, as she changes out of the garments she was currently wearing into something skimpier.

Once she brushed her hair and apply some light makeup to her face and lips. She leaves her bedroom and heads towards the room the men would be waiting for her. She wonders who the men were and if they will like her.

The Whorehouse:
Vito looks at the young chubby gothic girl his men took off the streets. She was naked and secured to a BDSM horse with her ass and vagina pointing toward them. He loved the fact she had piercings on her nipples and clit. She also had several more in her nose, eyelids, and her ears.

Vito looks towards Henry “where did you get her?”

“A head hunter we hired found her.” Henry paid the head hunter some good money for this girl and several others.

Vito walks into the room and over to the gothic girl. He runs his hand on her butt cheeks and smacks them. He watches as her butt cheeks absorb the shock. He smacks it again and spreads her labia lips.

He walks around her and examines her whole body. He takes a marker out and makes notes on different parts of her body. He grabs her chin and forces her to open her mouth. He notices her tongue was pierced.

He makes some marks on her face. He stands back and looks at her “I think that will do her. Now, show me the other girls and the tranny you found.”

“Yes sir.” Henry escorts Vito to another room, leaving the goth girl alone in the room.

Henry and Vito examine the other girls and the tranny. Vito makes notes on each person of what he wants to be done to them. Once he was done, they come to a young tranny that was tossed up like the women were.

“Where did you find this thing?” Vito was looking at the skinny tranny.

“Would you believe he was down on Green street selling himself?” The head hunter Henry used found the guy dressed as a girl wearing a short miniskirt and tube top.

“Well, we can’t turn this one like this.” Vito pulls out a syringe and a small vial.

He sticks the syringe into the vial and fills the syringe with the liquid. He pulls the syringe out and gets rid of the air bubble.

“Let’s see if this stuff is as good as the old version of it.” Vito takes the syringe and plunges it into a vein on the person's neck.

He pushes the plunger down and empties the whole contents into the person. He waits for a few seconds and watches as the serum takes effect.
He turns to look at Henry “let’s go.”

“Okay.” Henry knew what his boss just did to the tranny.

Crowley Mansion, Late At Night:
Nora slips in through an attic window that isn’t protected. According to the security blueprints, she managed to get her hands on. The security system upgrades that had been made to the mansion were top-notch, but there were gaps. One of them happened to be the attic. No one thought anyone would come in through the two attic windows. She did a thermal scan of the house and didn’t spot anyone using the attic as a living quarter.

She easily slips in through the window and makes her way to the door that leads up to the attic. She slowly opens the door and peeks out to see if there is anyone. The thermal imager built into her new suit wasn’t picking up any heat sources.

She carefully moves down the flight of stairs that lead to the attic. She comes to another door that was closed. She slipped the borescope under the gap under the door to see who was out on the floor. She moves it around but notices the hallway is cleared.

Nora opens the door quietly and slips out onto the floor. She noticed that the stairwell was at the end of the left corner of the building. She steps into the hallway, and the optics adjust to the lighting conditions. She slowly and quietly moves down the corridor. She stops when she hears some moaning sounds coming from the room next to her.

She takes the borescope and feeds it under the door. She watches as the camera adjusts to the lighting in the room and spots several men having sex with four large-breasted women. She doesn’t recognize who the men are, but she records their activities for a few minutes. She’ll get
Hex to clean the footage up later.

She moves from that room to another and sticks the borescope under the door. And sees a repeat of what was going on in the other room. She records their activities and moves on. She gets footage from all four rooms on the third floor. Before she moves down to the second floor, she sends a mini-drone down and scans ahead.

She was glad that the new sneak suit she received from Cheshire allowed her to blend in. Not even the security cameras that scan the floors would pick her up as she slowly moves. She moves down the stairs to the second floor and spots two guards guarding the door to Alex Crowley’s bedroom. The two men looked like they could lift serious weights or put someone in the hospital.

She moves slowly toward them. She figured if they were standing there, Alex Crowley had to be inside the room. She doesn’t want to kill them, so she uses a technique Cheshire showed her. The two men drop after she hits them in certain areas of their bodies.

She quietly helps them down to the floor and secures their wrist with zip strips. She figures they could flex and break them without any problems. She slowly opened the door to the master bedroom and noticed that Alex was in the middle of getting a blowjob. The young woman giving him the blow job was sitting on another woman’s head.

As she steps slowly into the room, something slams into her chest, just as the protective charm Julia gave her flares up. A bright blinding light protects her when she gets hit. The force of the impact sends her flying backward out of the room and into the wall behind her.

The protective charm flares again as something invisible hits her again. She could feel the impact against her chest, but the material of the suit resisted the attack. She looks up and notices Alex standing in the door way. He was nude and his manhood was standing at attention.

Alex felt the guardian that protected his bedroom, come to life. He had turned around in time to watch it attack something in the doorway to his bedroom. He heard it growl as a bright white light blinded him. He manages to walk to the doorway and spots the guardian attack a figure covered head to toe in some black suit. He could tell it was a woman from the way the suit hugged the wearer’s body.

He had to shield his eyes as another bright white light flashed. He knew whatever the guardian was trying to do to the person was being deflected away. The bright light was the result of a protective charm and a potent one.

Nora didn’t know what was attacking her, but she wasn’t going to give it a third chance. She extended the blade from the suit’s right arm and attacked at the same time as whatever it was. She hears a howling sound as the blade makes contact with whatever it was. She slices at it again and hits something.

Alex watches as his guardian gets hit twice by the unknown woman. He raises his fist and mumbles a few words. A glowing yellow ball of light appears, and he throws it at the person.

Nora watches as Alex tosses some bright yellow energy ball at her. It hits her body but is repelled as the protective charm she is wearing counters it. She’ll have to remember to thank Julia for the charm.

She manages to stand up and pull her gun. She fires at Alex but watches as the bullet stops in midair. She fires again at him, and the shots stop. He waves his hand, and they fly back toward her.

She turns her body just as the bullets hit the wall behind her. Whatever had been attacking her was lying on the floor between her and Alex and visible this time. She looks at it and notices it is some ugly, mutated dog.

Alex looks at the woman standing before him. “I don’t know who you are, but you just made a powerful enemy.”

Nora was tempted to give Alex the middle finger, but she was also visible, and all the electronics built into the suit were offline. Not that she needed them to defeat this person. She puts her gun away. She tries to strike him with the extended blade and scratch him with it.

Alex watched as the woman put the gun she held away. He figures she knew there was nothing she could do to him. He was surprised when she struck him with the extended blade on her arm. He felt it as it scraped his skin. It didn’t cut deep, but he felt it. He grabs his side where she cut him.

When she cut him, Nora saw a surprised look on Alex’s face. She was about to strike him again when she felt an impact on her left shoulder. The bullet didn’t penetrate the suit, but it hit the same spot she got hit last year. She feels a sharp pain from the site. She could feel her arm going numb.

She tosses down a smoke bomb and uses it to escape. The black cloud of smoke will make it hard for them to see her. She uses an explosive disk to blow a window open and jump out of it. The alarms in the house go off, and all the security lights outside light the yard and surrounding area up.

She manages to avoid the security personnel looking for her. Just as she jumped the wrought iron fence surrounding the place, a bullet flew by her and struck a guy behind her in the yard. She looked in the direction the shot came from but couldn’t see anyone.

Across the street:
Piper was sighting in on Vito when all hell broke loose at the Mansion. She watched as a second-story window exploded outwards, and a figure dressed all in black avoided the security guards like they were children. She watched as the figure ran toward the old-style wrought iron fence surrounding the property and climbed it. She spotted a security guard behind the person spot the figure and was about to fire at them.

“Shit!” Piper takes aim and fires at the security personnel.

She hoped that whoever the other person was. They appreciated her helping them. She watches as the person looks in her direction, but she knows they can’t see her because she is well camouflage and hidden in the shadows.

She’ll have to follow this person to see who they are. She leaves her hiding spot and gets on her motorcycle. She manages to spot the other person and follow them.

Nora spotted a person following her on a motorcycle behind her. Her motorcycle was quiet, and she was weaving in and out of traffic. She wonders who the person is following her, so she turns the light off on her motorcycle and turns down a dark alleyway. She pulls close to a dumpster and watches the entrance to the alleyway.

Piper couldn’t believe how talented the person riding the motorcycle she was following was. The person was weaving in and out of traffic. She manages to match the person but loses them when they turn down a dark alleyway. She enters slowly, ready for anything.

Just as she passes a huge dumpster, she stops all of sudden and is blinded by a bright flash of light exploding in front of her. She feels a tapping against her helmet.

“Who are you, and why are you following me?” Nora had surprised the other rider with a small flash bomb that exploded in front of their motorcycle.

She noticed the other person was a woman in a black motorcycle suit. The front of the suit stuck out some in the chest area. She held her handgun against the helmet of the rider.

“We have a common enemy, and is that your way of thanking the person who saved your ass back there?” Piper raises the visor of her motorcycle helmet.

Piper slowly turned her head to look at Nora, who still had her visor down. She was surprised that this woman could easily get the drop on her. She noticed the woman was wearing a form-fitting bodysuit that hugged her curves.

Nora looks at the woman and doesn’t recognize her. She did see the woman one time, but that was it.

“What’s your beef with Alex Crowley?” Nora wonders why this person was there at the mansion.

“I don’t know whom you are talking about. I’m after his chief of security Vito Underwood.”

Nora knew Mr. Underwood was in charge of security and protecting Alex Crowley. She wonders why this woman, who had some training, was after Vito. She puts her gun back in its holster “follow me.”

“I think I was already doing that.” A smirk appears on Piper’s face. She closes the visor on her helmet.

Nora doesn’t say anything as she mounts her motorcycle. She turns her lights back on and rides by the other woman. She was going to trust this woman. She wants to know why she was involved in this mess.

Piper follows Nora as she leads her toward a storage container yard. They enter from a private entrance in the back of the yard. They zig in and out among a bunch of stacked storage units.

Piper knew she would be confused if she returned to this place. She doesn’t know if the other woman was doing this on purpose or if it was this difficult to get to where they were going. They finally arrive at a faded orange storage container with HYUNDAI painted on the side of it.

She parks next to the other woman’s motorcycle. She could tell the woman was familiar with this place.

“Is this your secret hiding place?” As Piper dismounts her motorcycle.

“You could say something like that.” Nora walks to the container door and places her palm on the door.

The ground vibrates as the motorcycles are lowered down into the ground. Nora opens a smaller door and holds it open for the other woman. She looks at the woman, wondering if she is going to enter.

Piper walks towards the open door and inside the container. As soon as she walks into the container, the lights come on. As she looks around, it appears to look like a garage. The wall on the other side of her had two more motorcycles that looked identical to the one the woman had been riding.

She spots a ladder at the end of the storage unit that goes up and down. She hears the door behind her close.

“You’re not going to shoot me, are you?” Piper had turned around to look at the other woman.

“If I were going to shoot you, I would have done it by now.” Nora takes her helmet off and sets it on the workbench.

Piper takes her helmet off and looks at the black-haired woman. She could tell she was of Latino ancestry. She was also a little taller than she was.

Nora looks at the red hair woman standing before her. She was a little shorter than her, and the woman’s chest was bigger than her wife’s. The woman looked to be Irish. She didn’t have an accent to her speech, but she could easily pass for being Irish or Scottish.

“Follow me.” Nora walks over to the ladder and climbs up it.

Piper was about to climb the ladder when Nora stopped and looked down at her.

“You can leave the sniping rifle down here on the bench. No one will bother it.” As Nora starts climbing back up the ladder.

Piper unslings the sniping rifle and leaves it on the workbench. She goes back over to the ladder and starts climbing up it. The ladder goes up a way before stopping at another floor. The whole time she was climbing, it looked like the wall in front of her was metal.

“Are we inside a stack of containers?” Piper looks around the huge room.

“Yes.” Nora had walked over to a small kitchen.

Piper noticed the kitchen had a small refrigerator, an old fashion gas stove, a microwave, and a sink. She walks over to the counter, separating the kitchen from the rest of the room. She noticed Nora was making some coffee. Once the coffee is brewing, she watches as Nora turns around to face her.

“So, what is your business with this Vito Underwood person, and how does it relate to Mr. Crowley?”

“Revenge and I used to work for Mr. Underwood before he turned me into what you see now.” Piper watches Nora’s reaction.

“Why did he turn you into a busty woman?” Nora could see how the woman’s breasts were stretching her motorcycle suit.

“For finally seeing what he was for the first time in my life. Normally, I didn’t care what he did. I was there to protect him and kill anyone who interfered with his business. But when he started kidnapping young women and men off the street and turning them into bimbos and selling them off. I knew this wasn’t for me. So, when I confronted him about it and told him, I couldn’t participate in what he was doing. He got the drop on me and turned me into what you see now.”

“Do you know how he is doing this?” Nora hadn’t heard about this.

“Yeah, he found some old formula that had been sealed up in a wall. It was meant to enhance a male’s vitals, but when a male took it. He was turned into a huge-breasted woman.”

“What is the relationship between Mr. Underwood and Alex Crowley?” Nora wondered if the drug was similar to the Blue Lace drug.

“It would seem that Mr. Underwood is acting as head of security for Mr. Crowley. Also, it seems that this Crowley fellow gave Mr. Underwood something to make him look so buff.” Piper had gotten wet from looking at Vito.

Piper looks at the other woman “now that I have answered your questions. Maybe you can answer some of mine.”

“Ask away. By the way, my name is Nora.”

“Piper.”

“So, Piper. What is your question?” Nora hears the coffee machine finish brewing.

“Why were you at Crowley Mansion tonight?” Piper was curious why Nora was there.

“Before I answer your question, Piper. Would you like a cup of coffee?” Nora watches Piper’s facial expression.

“Yes, please, and I take it black.” Piper wasn’t into sugar and crème in her coffee.

“Black it is, then. Now, to answer your question. I was there to kill Alex Crowley because of some nasty stuff he is into. Unfortunately, getting to him will be a little more difficult.” Nora’s stomach is still smarting from that claw attack from that animal.

“Can you hold off on killing Crowley, please?” Piper wanted to keep him alive to undo what was done to Pamela’s sister.

“Why do you need Mr. Crowley alive?” Nora pours a coffee mug for Piper and hands it to her.

“Thanks. Because I need him to undo what he did to a friend’s sisters.” Piper takes a sip from the coffee.

“That might be a little bit more difficult. Why not tell me why you need him.” Nora sits down on a bar stool.

“Okay.” Piper starts explaining why she needed Alex alive.

Circe’s Mansion:
Piper covers up a yawn as she leans against her corvette. After spending it with Nora Midnight last night, she didn’t get home until early in the morning. They had exchanged information about Alex and Vito and felt that this job was a little more than either one of them figured. Nora had given her the address of the person she was working for.

She had arrived early after stopping at her favorite coffee shop to buy a large coffee. As she takes a sip from the coffee cup, she spots an old mustang convertible approaching. She could tell from the design that it was an antique that had been restored to factory standards.

The driver-side window rolls down, and Piper spots Nora motioning to her to follow her through the wrought iron gates. She returns to her corvette and follows Nora through the gate and onto the property. She parks her Vette next to Nora’s Mustang.

Nora spotted Piper standing by a dark-colored corvette. She could tell the car had a custom paint job because it changed color depending on how the sunlight hit it. She waves to Piper to follow her through the gate. She had called Circe to let her know she was bringing someone she was working with.

She also noticed how Piper was dressed. Piper hadn’t been kidding about what Vito had done to her. Piper looked like she was out of some porn magazine with the way her body was. If the two of them walked into a room full of men, Piper would draw all their attention to how her body was. The blouse Piper was wearing was barely containing her big breasts.

“How long have you been waiting?” Nora left her purse in the car.

“Not long. I stopped at my favorite coffee shop on the way here.” Piper wasn’t going to leave her coffee cup in the car.

“You might want to look for a new one. Someone from Vito’s crew might get wised to you.” Nora knew the best way to learn about someone was to learn their habits.

“Thanks, I’ll do that. Is this person expecting us?” Piper was curious as she walked with Nora toward the front door.

“Yes, and a little piece of advice next time. When visiting someone for the first time, don’t bring a cup of coffee unless you brought one for your guest.”

“Sorry, I’ll remember that.” Piper is about to pour the coffee out, but Nora stops her.

“It’s all right, this time. However, in the future, remember what I said.” Nora knocks on the door, and a few seconds later, the door opens.

Misty opened the front door and smiled after checking to see who it was. She spotted Mrs. Midnight and another woman with her.

“Good morning, Mrs. Midnight. Mistress Circe is expecting you. She is waiting for you in the Den. If you and your friend will follow me, please.”

“Misty, this is Piper Moore. She is an associate of mine.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Moore. Mistress Circe is waiting for you two.” Misty smiles sweetly at Piper.

Piper and Nora follow Misty to the den, where Circe is waiting for them. Piper noticed Misty had a sexy walk to her as her butt jiggled. Piper leans close to Nora, “if I weren’t already in a relationship, I would be tempted.”

A smile appears on Nora’s face. Misty did have a cute little butt that jiggled. She wonders if Misty did it on purpose or if she was trained that way.

A smile appears on Misty’s face when she hears Mrs. Moore’s comment. She had good hearing and put a little more swig into her hips. She knew Mistress Circe liked looking at her ass when she walked in front of her or near her.

Circe watches as Misty leads Nora and another lady Nora had told her about over the phone. The other lady seemed to need Alex alive to restore her friend’s health. She stands up to greet her guest.

“Ah, Nora, I’m so glad you made it. This must be the young lady you told me about.” Circe smiles at Piper.

“Circe Blackwood, I would like you to meet Piper Moore. Circe is an old friend of mine, and she deals in the supernatural or mystical. I’m still a little fuzzy on that.”

“Nora is trying to say I’m a witch, and I deal with people like Alex Crowley, my dear.” Circe knew Nora didn’t believe in the supernatural or magic. It was Nora’s one weakness.

“Well, I don’t know if I believe in it, Mrs. Blackwood. However, I might reconsider my belief after what has been happening over at Crowley
Mansion.” Piper had seen some sick stuff recently.

Circe looked at Piper and noticed how she looked. She knew no natural-born woman would have Piper’s body measurements without a lot of plastic surgery.

“Mrs. Moore, if you don’t mind me asking. Did Alex Crowley modify you?” Circe wasn’t detecting any magical residue from Piper.

“No, Mrs. Blackwood. Unfortunately, the way I am currently is all Vito Underwood is doing. I used to work for him as an enforcer, and when I informed him, I wasn’t going to work for him anymore. He ambushed me and turned me into what you see before you with some drug. He also has used that same drug on another young man and several others.”

“I’m sorry, I’m late. Did I miss anything?” Eric sits down next to Circe.

Piper looks at Eric. “I’ll be damned. I haven’t seen you in years.”

Eric looks at the red hair woman sitting next to Nora Midnight. He had a puzzled look on his face.

“Do I know you?” Eric was confused.

A smirk appears on Piper’s face “not like this, Eric. We did a job together for the Colbert Family back in Chicago.”

Eric leans forward towards Piper and can’t recall ever working with this woman. He leans back and thinks about all the people he worked with on that job.

“You might have to explain yourself, Mrs. Moore.” Circe noticed how confused Eric was.

“Moore? The only Moore I have ever worked with was Piper Moore, and he was from here.” Eric knew Piper Moore well.

“Do you happen to know a Vito Underwood?”

“Yeah, he runs a local prostitution ring here in Memphis. He’s a low-life because he isn’t above pimping out little children.”

“Well, You’re right about that. He is a low life, and I used to work for him.” Piper had heard rumors about Vito pimping out little children.

“No way, you can’t be the same person.” Eric couldn’t believe the woman in front of him was Piper Moore.

“I am. Vito Underwood turned me into what you see before you. He did it out of spite because I was going to leave his employment.” Piper knew there were other reasons, but he’ll tell Eric those later.

“Damn man! He turned you into a woman?”

“Yes, and he was going to pimp my ass out to every john out there.”

“This man sounds like he needs to be removed.” Circe has been listening to Eric and Piper.

“That might be a problem, Circe. As well as Alex Crowley. It seems Alex is working with Mr. Underwood.” Nora figures they might as well get everything out in the opening.

“How?” Circe was curious.

“He turns women and sometimes men into women like Piper to either sell for sex or to suck their life energies out and give it to another person.” Nora was only repeating what Piper told her last night.

“Damn! I didn’t know that.”

“There’s also another snag as well. Last night, when I tried to kill Mr. Crowley, he had some creature protecting him. I didn’t see it, and it didn’t show up on my gear either. If it hadn’t been for the protection charm I was wearing, I would be either dead right now or seriously injured.” Nora watches Circe’s expression.

“I didn’t know anything of that, Nora. He must have summoned a creature to protect him or transformed an ordinary animal into a creature of darkness. Does he know what you look like?” Circe was hoping that Nora being an unknown, Crowley might not be able to protect himself.

“No, he never got a glimpse of who I am.”

“This complicates things.” Eric was hoping, like Circe was, that Nora might be able to take Crowley out.

“I need Crowley alive to restore my friend’s sister’s health.” Piper needed to make sure they knew that.

“I think we need to come up with a better plan. It needs to be so we keep Crowley alive long enough to help your friend and get revenge on this Vito Underwood fellow.”

“I agree. He needs to pay for what he is doing.” Eric didn’t like what happened to his friend, or that little kids were being pimped out.

“It’s going to be a long day.” Piper finishes off her coffee.

“Let’s get to work and figure out a plan of attack.” Circe summons Misty.

When Misty appears, Circe gives her a list of items they would need. She looks at Piper “would you like a refill?”

“Please.” Piper hands over her coffee cup to Misty.

“Black, right?” Misty had detected the smell of the coffee.

“Yes.” Piper was surprised that Misty knew how she liked her coffee.

A smile appears on Misty’s face as she walks away.

Piper watches as the limo-carrying Vito and Alex leave the mansion grounds. Nora had learned that Alex had the local grocery store deliver groceries to Mr. Crowley’s mansion. However, Alex had a young woman on the side that he liked to visit.

According to what they had learned about the woman. She was older than she appeared. Alex had used his magic to make her younger. When the limo stops at a traffic light, she attaches a tracking device to the limo.

“It’s done.” Piper radios Nora, who is only a few blocks away.

“Okay, take a position at the secondary location.” Nora was using a restored Chevy Nova she had kept in storage from one of her past jobs.

“On my way.” Piper heads towards her second position.

Nora and Piper trail Alex’s limo for the next half an hour. Between their trailing and the tracking device, Piper managed to attach to the limo. They managed to keep track of the limo, especially when they were up on the interstate and got cut off by a guy in an older pickup truck with a confederate flag flying in the truck’s bed and a sticker read Rednecks For Trump.

They follow the limo to a nice mansion. Piper had arrived a few minutes before Alex and Vito to set up. Piper sights in on Alex and Vito as they exit the limo.

“Gotcha, you son of a bitch.” Piper pulls the trigger and drops Vito just as Vito drops. She pulls the trigger and drops Alex before he can do anything.

Before the driver can get out of the limo, Nora appears and drops the driver. Piper covers Nora as she secures Vito and Alex. She puts both men in the trunk of the chevy nova and drives back to Circe’s place. Hopefully, she can force Alex to undo what was done to Piper’s friend.

Piper was impressed with the plan Nora came up with. She could get used to doing this type of work with her. She wonders how Nora could afford everything she has seen so far.

Circe and Eric were waiting for them when they showed up. Eric was there, just in case the knockout drug wore off before they arrived. Nora didn’t know how much of an improvement Alex did to Vito.

“Looks like you managed to capture your prey, guys.” Circe looks at Piper and Nora.

“Will you be able to restore my friend’s sister back to how she was?” Piper was concerned about Pam’s sister.

“I don’t know. What Alex did to her is something I haven’t seen before, but I should be able to compel Mr. Crowley to restore your friend’s sister.” Circe was going to have to use magic to compel Alex to undo what he did.

“What will you do to Mr. Crowley afterward, Circe?” Nora has been wondering about that.

“Unfortunately, that’s not for me to decide, Nora. He must stand before the council to answer for his crimes. They will determine what his punishment will be.” Circe had been scared when she appeared before them. When she was just an assassin, she didn’t fear anyone. However, when she became a witch and met the council. She realized that there were beings far more deadly than she was.

Eric picks up Vito like he weighs nothing. Circe and Nora pick Alex up, with Piper following them. They take both men downstairs to a room Circe had set up. Inside was a silver pentagram inscribed into a black marble floor with candles at the four quarters. Sitting in the middle of the circle was Pam’s older sister.

“Nora, you and Piper will have to wait outside this room.” Circe looks at Nora and Piper when she says that.

“Why?” Piper wanted to know why?

“Because you aren’t purified, I don’t need the negative energies you give off to interfere with this ritual.” Circe knew she couldn’t intimidate Nora. She was a force of nature and very stubborn.

Piper turns to look at Nora “do you trust her?”

Nora looks at Circe and lets her see her eyes. The look she was giving Circe was one of trust and truth. “Yes, you can trust her.”

Piper looks at the two women and back at Pam’s sister. She didn’t know if she should trust Circe, but if Mrs. Midnight trusted her, she was willing to.

“All right.” Piper turns to walk out of the room.

Nora looks at Circe before she walks out and leans towards Circe “don’t make me regret this.”

Circe has never heard Nora sound so serious before. She saw death in Nora’s eyes and knew what that meant.

“I won’t.” Circe watches as Nora leaves.

Eric looked at Circe and noticed she was a little upset. He walks over to her and hugs her. “I’ll protect you from her, sweetie.”

Circe looks up into Eric’s hazel eyes and caresses his right cheek. She kisses his lips “sweetie, that is very sweet. But, when Nora sets her mind on something, you better get out of her way. She’s like the other top killers I know; one of them was her instructor.”

Circe locks the door to her ritual room and removes her clothes. She looks at Eric “are you coming?”

“Yes,” Eric removes his clothes and starts to help Circe with the circle.

Piper looks at Nora while they wait “do you honestly think Circe will be able to do what needs to be done to restore my friends, sister?”

“If Circe says she can do it, I believe her.” Nora feels the tiny hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand on end.

Piper feels the hairs on her arms and neck stand up. She turns towards the door and notices it glowing.

“Is that supposed to do that?” Piper stares at the door.

“I don’t know.” Nora was puzzled at the glowing surrounding the door as well.

“Would you ladies like something to eat or drink?” Misty had come downstairs to check on Mrs. Midnight and Mrs. Moore.

“I’m fine, Misty.” Nora wasn’t thirsty or hungry.

“I could use a cup of coffee, Misty.” Piper could use a cup of coffee.

“One coffee coming up.” Misty smiles at Piper. She turns and walks away to head upstairs.

For the next five hours, Piper and Nora waited outside the room. In the fifth hour, the glow disappeared, and Circe came stumbling out of the
room. She looked like death warmed over her. She had circles under her eyes, and her skin was paler than normal.

She looks at Piper “your friend’s sister’s health has been restored to where it was before.”

“Thank you.” Piper walks past Circe into the room.

“Here, let me help you, Circe.” Nora goes to touch Circe.

Circe pulls away from Nora’s reach. She looks at Nora. “I’ll be all right. I’m a little sensitive right now and don’t want to be touched.”

“Okay. So, what are you going to do now with Alex Crowley?” Nora wanted to know what his punishment was going to be.

“I sent Alex to the council for what he did to that poor girl. As for Vito, he will experience everything he has done to those women. He will be the plaything for a bunch of demons.” Circe hopes the demons torture Vito to the point that he is no longer human.

“Now, we just got to clean up their mess.” Nora knew there would be a mess.

“You’ll have to do that without me, Nora. It’s going to take me days to recover.” Circe knew she would need a lot of rest.

“No problem. I know a few people.”

Afterward, Nora helps Piper with her friend’s sister. After they get the young lady in the car. Nora looks at Piper “come and see me when you have time. I have a proposal for you.”

“I’ll do that.” Piper gets into the car and drives Pam’s sister home.

Nora heads home herself after making a few phone calls. She knew the persons she contacted would take care of everything.

Starbucks, Downtown Memphis, Tenn.:
Piper had helped Nora with the women who had been taken to the whorehouse to be changed into bimbos. They had gotten there just in time to prevent six women from being brainwashed. One of the women that had been rescued, had been the Gothic girl that had been changed by the drugs Vito had used on her.

Vito and his people didn’t stop there either. They had modified her body to the point where she couldn’t step out into the sunlight, without either being completely covered up or wearing sunscreen. They pulled her canines and replaced them with ceramic teeth shaped like vampire's teeth.

The records they found, showed she had been sold to some guy overseas and wanted these modifications done to her. They even dyed her eyes to glow in the dark. Somehow they enhanced her G-spot to be more sensitive, so when she wore a thong and even a string in the vaginal area, she would be constantly stimulated.

As for the other women, they were in various stages of being brainwashed. None of them had completely been brainwashed. Thanks to the police and medical personnel arriving.

Piper looks at Nora as she sat across from her. They were sitting outside in a corner of the patio enjoying large cups of coffee.

“So, what is on your mind, Nora?” Piper takes a sip from her coffee cup.

Nora looks at Piper and has been putting a lot of thought into this. She takes a sip from her coffee cup.

“I’m getting too old to continue chasing after bad guys and I’m thinking about maybe applying to become a school principal.” Nora knew the current principal at her high school was thinking about moving and applying for an open position at the school administration office.

“And, you’re thinking about me replacing you?” Piper could see where Nora was going with this.

“Yes, you seem to possess the skills that will be needed and have a strong sense of right and wrong. I was wondering until I know more about the application I submitted if you wouldn’t mind working with me for a while and afterward, just give you the reins.”

“Does it pay anything, because right now I’m unemployed?” Piper was living off her saving, which was substantial.

“No, but you could use any money that you recovered to keep your operation going.” Nora has done that.

“Isn’t that stealing?” Piper takes a sip of her coffee.

“No, because where do you think the bad guys get their money? Especially, drug dealers, weapon dealers, and sex traffickers. As long as you use the money you recover for your operation, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Can I think about your offer, before I give you my answer? Because as you know, what you are asking me, won’t affect just me.”

“I know. My wife has been understanding about my extra activities.”

“Has your wife ever been targeted because of your extra activities?” Piper knew her wife would want to work with her.

“No, but she has been targeted by a bunch of criminals to stop her and the law firm she works for,” Nora remembered that case.

“I still need to talk with her first before I give you my answer.” Piper wanted to talk with Brandy first.

“That’s fine.”

Epilogue:
Mother Superior talked with Molly and told her that she was going to send Molly to a special convent. They will teach her how to use her unique acquired abilities. Molly agreed to Mother Superiors' suggestion since she didn’t have anything else going on in her life. Plus, she wanted to know more about her ability.

Chris’s House:
Chris had delayed going home after school if she could. She stayed late and missed the school bus she would have taken to go home. She knew as soon as she walked into the house, her stepmother would have chores for her to do. So, she waited till it was almost nine at night and headed home.

She spent most of that time digging through trash cans and dumpsters looking for soda cans and such. She knew her supply of crackers was going to run out soon and her stepmother wasn’t going to give her any money for lunch at school. She hated her stepmother and her stepbrother.

Her stepbrother always got money for anything he wanted. She had to either beg her stepmother for money, so she could get lunches at school or take money from her stepbrother’s hidden stash. Once she has several bags full of beer and soda cans, she cashes them in and gets about thirty dollars.

She heads towards the nearest grocery store her stepmother wouldn’t be caught dead in. She shops for food items she could hide in her closet, without her mother finding them. She hides some of the money in her backpack, so she’ll have lunch money.

By the time she arrives at the house. Chris notices the front door was locked. She takes her house key out and tries to unlock the front door. She manages to open the front door, as she walks in. She shuts the door behind her and heads towards her closet. She noticed her stepbrother was playing some computer game. The door to her stepmother’s bedroom was closed, which meant she was either asleep or watching tv in her bedroom.

Once Chris is in the closet, she shuts the door and turns the overhead light on. She removes the cover to the crawl space that she has been using to store her foodstuff and such. She puts everything away and places the cover back over the crawl space opening.

The rest of the night, she works on her homework. She didn’t have a lot to do, but she didn’t have anything else to do. She couldn’t surf the internet and she didn’t have a cellphone. She was planning on buying a pay as you go one, soon.

By midnight, she finishes her schoolwork. She yawns as she gathers her shower stuff. She had to keep her shampoo and conditioner in the closet with her. Because her stepbrother has in the past, either jerked off into her conditioner or added bleach to her shampoo.

While she is in the bathroom, she locks the door. Her stepbrother has come in while she was in the shower and stolen her clothes and towel. She had to run to her closet in the nude and soaking wet.

She relaxes in the shower and takes her time. Once she was finish showering and drying her hair. She puts her nightclothes on and heads back to her closet. She hated how her life was and wishes her father or even her birth mother were alive.

Chris lays down on her rags of blankets and closes her eyes. She needs to do something about her situation. She knew one of her friends had an aunt that worked at a law firm. Maybe, she could suggest something to her.

Chris closes her eyes and lets sleep claim her.

Nora Midnight Residence:
Nora had watched as Chris hung around the school until she was forced to leave. She wonders what her family life was like. She packs up all her stuff and heads down towards her new mustang. She still had her other one, but she wasn’t using it as a daily driver anymore.

She tries to recall from memory what they had back at the house and whose turn it was to cook dinner. A smirk appears on her face when she realizes it was Carol’s turn. Carol loved some of the Spanish dishes her mother taught Carol.

Carol spent the summer with her mother just recently and learned how to cook from her. She loved it so much, that she wanted to follow in her footsteps. So, she signed Carol up for cooking lessons.

Nora stops at the grocery store near her house and pick-up a few items for the house. After buying a few items, she heads home. She parks in the driveway and carries everything inside the house.

She noticed Tiffany was folding laundry. Little Maria was in the bassinet next to her. Carol and Melody were sitting at the dining room table doing their homework.

“Hi, mom.” Carol smiles at Nora.

“Hey, sweetie. So, what are you going to make tonight? Also, do you have everything you need to make it?”

“I was thinking about making Pisto and we have everything to make it.” Carol went through the refrigerator and the cabinets to make sure they had what was needed.

“Good, be careful using the knives. Don’t cut yourself, like last time.” Nora remembers the first few times Carol chopped some meat and vegetables.

“I’ll be careful, mom.” A smile appears on her face.

“Mom, how do you pronounce this word in German?” Melody walks over to show Nora the word.

Nora looks at the word/phrase “Vielen Dank”

Melody listens to how her mother pronounced the word “V-Vielen-n D-Dank-k?”

“Take your time, sweetie.” Nora knew Melody still stutters some.

Melody takes a deep breath and centers her thoughts. She hates that she still stutters, all because of the blow to her head from her father.

“Vielen Dank.”

“Very good, sweetie.” Nora hugs Melody. She knew it bothered Melody that she stills stutter.

Melody was happy that she got the word right. She also liked it when Nora and Kelly praised her when she did things right. Her father never did that.

Melody goes back to the dining room table and continues her homework. Nora heads towards her home office and put her school totes in there. She’ll work on grading the test she gave recently, later. She had a policy about spending time with her family.

Nora walks over to check on little Maria. She was sound asleep “how long has she been asleep, Tiffany?”

“Not long. She’s been kind of fussy today.” Tiffany looks at her sleeping daughter.

She was a little concerned about her. She checked her temperature and it was normal. She was just glad that little Maria was asleep.

Nora noticed that Tiffany was concerned. She puts her hand on Tiffany’s shoulder “let me know if you notice anything out of the ordinary.”

Tiffany looks up at Nora “I will.”

Around six in the evening, Carol gets started on dinner. Kelly shows up fifteen minutes later. She looked tired as she walks into the house.

“Rough day?” Nora walks over to her wife and hugs her.

Kelly lets Nora hold her. She felt better being in Nora’s arms.

“We just got a new case and it's going to be a rough one.” Kelly wasn’t a lawyer, but a paralegal. The law firm she worked for did all sorts of cases.

Nora just holds Kelly. If Kelly was this upset already then, the case must be really bad.

“Come on, let’s get you into something more comfortable.” Nora escorts Kelly to their bedroom.

“You need to get out of the house for the whole day and don’t come back, until late.” Clare looks at her stepdaughter.

“Can I have some money to buy some lunch and dinner while I am out, please?” Chris couldn’t figure out why her stepmother needed her out of the house all day.

“Money? You want money? Your fat and can stand to lose some weight.” Clare wasn’t about to give her useless stepdaughter any money.

“I’m not fat. All I’m asking for is just a few bucks. Just enough to buy some soda and maybe some crackers or hamburgers.”

“Fine! Here is five dollars. You don’t deserve it anymore. Now, get out of the house and don’t come back until late.” Clare turns and walks away.

Chris heads back to her closet and grabs her backpack. She figures she could spend some time at the library and work on her schoolwork. She also grabs a few cans of food to take with her. She buries them deep in her backpack.

“Hurry up and get out of here.” Clare was getting impatient and wanted her stepdaughter out of the house before her guest arrived.

Chris shuts her closet door and hurries out of the house. She starts walking towards the public library to finish her assignment for Mrs. Midnights' class. The first report she had worked on for Mrs. Midnight’s class had been turned in on Thursday.

Mrs. Midnight gave them another report she wanted them to turn in on Monday. Since it was the weekend, she had several days to work on it.
She tried to talk with her friend Jessica, but she didn’t come to school on Friday.

After walking for twenty minutes to the library. She goes in and sits at one of the computer stations. She pulls out some paper and a pencil and set them near the keyboard. She pulls the assignment sheet out and starts researching the assignment.

Chris spends the next four hours working on the assignment. By the time she finishes, her fingers were hurting her. She leans back in her computer chair and looks at the word document. She had everything typed up and all her references were listed and in order. She saves her work on the only thumb drive she had.

She glances up at the clock mounted on the wall and notices it was around two in the afternoon. Her stomach starts growling from hunger. She picks her backpack up and logs off the computer. There was a McDonald’s two blocks up from the library and a dollar store nearby.

Chris heads towards the dollar store first and buys a two-liter of their off-brand sodas. Afterward, she heads over to McDonald’s and buys two hamburgers. Instead of eating inside McDonald’s she walks over to a nearby park and sits on a park bench to eat her lunch.

While she is eating her lunch, she watches the people around her. Some of them were families out enjoying a nice day. Some of them were just out enjoying the sunshine and jogging. She spots a little girl walking with her parents as they walk past her. Tears form in her eyes as she wishes her birth parents were still alive.

She misses her mother and the fun they used to have. Her stepmother was mean to her and didn’t care about her. The only person her stepmother cared about was her son. She wipes the tears away from her eyes, as she tries to get her emotions under control. She saves what is left of her soda and put the bottle in her backpack.

She wishes she knew what time it was as she gets up and starts walking home. She wonders why her stepmother wanted her out of the house so badly. She thinks about it as she gets closer to her house. She notices there were a lot of cars, trucks, and some motorcycles parked at the house. She could hear music coming from inside and from the backyard.

The smell of barbecue being cooked drifted by her nose. She stops in her tracks, as she observes the fun people were having. She even notices her stepbrother, hanging with some of his friends from school.

Tears form in her eyes again as she turns around and walks away from the house as fast as she could. She didn’t know what she was going to do, about her situation. But she needed to do something.

She ends up staying at a women’s shelter for the night. She wasn’t going to go back tonight. Instead, she’ll think about going back tomorrow, instead.

As Chris laid on the cot she was assigned too. She looks around the room and notices that there were at least twenty to thirty women surrounding her. Some had daughters and young children sleeping with them. She wonders why these people were out on the streets.

She finally falls asleep like three in the morning, if the clock on the wall was right. She is woken up at six in the morning, the next day. She grabs some cheese toast and juice before she leaves.

Chris didn’t want to go back home, but what other choice did she have right now. The walk back to the house seemed long to her. When she opens the front door and walk-in. She notices the house was a mess. She heads towards her closet and put her backpack away.

Afterward, Chris heads into the kitchen to get the cleaning supplies she was going to need. She goes about cleaning the place, before her stepmother and whatever men she slept with wakes up. She starts in the kitchen and goes to the main bathroom next. The stench near the
toilet was overwhelming. She wonders how many drunks couldn’t aim right.

Once the kitchen and main bathroom were done, she picks up all the trash, empty bottles, and cans. She puts the cans in a separate bag and hides them in the shed. She peeks in on her stepbrother and notices he slept with some blonde hair girl.

She closes his bedroom door quietly and goes about finishing up cleaning the house. Once the house is cleaned, she goes outside and starts picking stuff up. It starts drizzling while she is outside.

She spots her stepmother standing in the door frame of the sliding glass doors. She was drinking a cup of coffee. She slides the glass door close.

When Chris is done cleaning the backyard up and picking up the front yard. She heads back to the shed and put the yard tools away. As she walks into the house “go to your room and stay there.”

Clare didn’t want the man she slept with last night to know about Chris.

“Yes ma’am.”

Chris covers up a yawn as she heads towards her closet. Once she closes the door, she secures the door and dries off.

Nora, Kelly, Carol, Melody, Tiffany, and her daughter were out enjoying the day out as a family. Nora shared the letter she received from Ginger with the family, just before they left. They were walking through the park, just enjoying the day together.

Tiffany had the day off from the restaurant she worked at. She was pushing the baby stroller with little Maria laying inside. There was a crowd gathering just ahead of their path.

“I wonder what is going on, up ahead?” Kelly was curious.

“Let’s find out.” Nora was curious as well.

They walk up to the group and notice there was a teenage girl, dressed in a flashy leotard sitting on a unicycle. She was juggling six batons that were on fire. The crowd was amazed at how she didn’t miss the batons and the tricks she was performing with them.

There was a battered suitcase that looked like it held the batons set up with a sign that said Donations are welcome. The teenage girl looked like she was enjoying what she was doing.

“Mom, can we donate to her?” Carol looks at Nora and Kelly.

“That’s up to you, Carol. If you want to, go ahead.” Kelly was thinking about donating as well.

“I want it too.” Carol opens her purse and pulls out a ten-dollar bill and toss it into the case.

Melody does the same thing. She liked what the performer was doing.

“Melody, toss this in there for me, please.” Kelly hands Melody a twenty-dollar bill for her and Nora.

“Okay, mom.” Melody accepts the bill and tosses it into the case.

They watch the teenage girl perform several more tricks before she stops and bow from the applause. Nora noticed that she was around Carol’s age and had several scars on her face. One scar went across her face, just above her mouth. The second scar started just above her right eyebrow and went all the way down the corner of her eye and onto her cheek. It stopped just above the other scar that went across her face.

Diane watches as the crowd that gathered to watch her, drop money into the baton case. Just from what she could quickly count, she figures there are about three hundred dollars. That was just counting the big bills she could see right away. She also noticed that a Hispanic woman was looking at her.

She recognized the other woman standing next to the Hispanic woman. Her name was Kelly, and she uses to work as a waitress up at Union Sixty-Nine club. She had heard that she got married several years back to a Hispanic woman. Standing with the two women, were three teenage girls and one was pushing a baby stroller.

Kelly spotted their entertainer looking towards them. The girl looked familiar, but she couldn’t put her finger on where she knew her from.

“Do you know her?” Nora noticed her wife looking at the teenage girl.

“I think so. I can’t remember where I have seen her before.” Kelly normally could remember people she knew, but this time she couldn’t.

“Do you want to go and speak to her?” Nora looks at her wife.

“Yes. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Kelly walks towards Diane.

Diane notices Kelly walking towards her. She wonders what she wants.

“Excuse me, but do I know you?” Kelly stops in front of the baton case.

“No ma’am, but you do know my older sister. The two of you use to work together up at Union Sixty-Nine club.”

“Who is your sister?”

“Evelyn Brown.” A smile appears on Diane’s face.

“Now I remember you. You’re Evelyn’s younger sibling. I remember you coming up to the club and staying in the office doing your homework. How is your sister?” Kelly always liked Evelyn.

“She’s fine. She’s a police officer now and has a wife.” Diane likes her sister’s wife.

Her sister-in-law is the owner of a florist shop over off Peach Street. Sometimes, she helps out around the shop.

“Does your sister know you perform in the park?”

“Yes ma’am. She made me get a performer's permit.” Diane gathers all her stuff up.

“Well, tell your sister hello for me.”

“I will and it was nice seeing you again.” Diane starts walking towards the parking lot.

Kelly joins Nora and their children. She looks towards Nora “that was Diane Brown. I worked with her sister up at the club me and Christina worked at.”

“Do you know how she got those scars on her face?” Nora was curious.

“I didn’t ask her. I know she didn’t have them when she was younger, and when I worked with her sister.” Kelly now wonders where she got them.

“They don’t look very old.” Nora figures they were only one year or two old.

“Next time I see her. I’ll ask. Let’s go and get some lunch for our children.”

“Can we go to Van’s for lunch, mom?” Carol likes Van’s.

“I don’t see why not.” Nora didn’t mind Van’s.

Chris’s House:
Chris sits in her closet with the overhead light on, providing light for her. Occasionally, she could hear her stepmother’s voice talking to the man she slept with. She also heard her stepbrother and the woman he slept with as well.

She heard the man ask how the house and yard had gotten so clean. When her stepmother said that she had the maid and yard person come in and pick the place up. She got very upset, as tears leaked from her eyes. She hated what has become of her life.

She listens some more to the conversation going on between her stepmother and the guy. Since she was going to be stuck in her closet for most of the day. She grabs her schoolbooks and starts reading the next few chapters.

When she starts getting hungry, she pulls out a ramen noodle bowl and adds some cold water to it. She kept two gallons of water hidden in the same space as the food. She knows, she needs to microwave the noodles, but she didn’t have access to the microwave.

She eats the noodles cold. Chris knew she had other can foods she could eat, but she didn’t want to open them. An hour later, she hears the doorbell ring. She wonders who it could be.

“Mom! The pizza delivery person is here.”

Chris heard her stepbrother yell for their stepmother. She just cries as she puts her trash away. She falls asleep from all the crying she does.

Seven hours later Chris wakes up from her bladder waking her. She had to pee very badly. She gets up and opens her door slowly and listen. She doesn’t hear anything as she opens the door a little more and steps out of her closet.

Chris walks to the nearest window and notices her stepmother’s car was gone. She rushes from the window to the bathroom, just as her bladder decided to let go. She sits on the toilet seat and empties her bladder. She wonders where her stepmother and brother went.

Once Chris is done and has cleaned her hands. She walks into the kitchen to see if her stepmother left her anything. She looks in the refrigerator, but there wasn’t anything leftover from the party or from what they ordered for lunch.

She goes back to her closet and grabs her trash and put it in the outside trash can. She walks into her stepbrother’s bedroom and over to where he hides his money. She knew he never counted what he had. She removes a twenty-dollar from his stash and put it in her pocket.

She puts the rest of the money back and leaves her stepbrother’s room. Since no one was home, she sits in the living room and watches a movie. She does keep an eye out for her stepmother to return. The last thing she needed was being caught watching the television.

She spots the Sunday newspaper and starts looking through the job section, seeing who was hiring. Maybe if she could get a job and hide the money she made from her stepmother. She could move out and get a place of her own. It would be rough on her, but anything was better than being treated like a nobody in her own home.

Circle K Convenience Store:
Chris hands the completed application she had picked up on her way to school early that morning to the clerk on duty. She had inquired on her way to school if they were hiring. As it happened, they were looking for a part-time afternoon person to come in during the week and every other weekend.

She had filled the application out, while at school. She wasn’t worried about her stepmother finding out she was working here. Her stepmother hated Circle K and avoided them as much as possible.

“Excuse me, Mrs. How soon should I hear back about my application?” Chris wanted to know.

“Within a couple of days. The store manager will call you in for an interview.”

“Okay, thank you.” Chris turns and walks out of the store.

Chris starts walking, towards her friend’s place. Their place was nearby, and she hasn’t visited them in a while. She starts walking towards their place. As she is walking towards her friend’s house, she examines the prepaid cellphone she managed to purchase. She combined the money she got for the cans she took to the recycle center and the money she lifted from her stepbrother’s hidden stash.

She slips it back into her backpack. She’ll have to keep it hidden from her stepmother. After twenty minutes of walking, she spots her friend's house. Chris walks up to the house and knocks on the door.

Amy was getting ready to play a game on her Play Station 4 when she hears a knocking sound coming from her front door. She gets up and heads towards the door. She looks through the peephole to see who was on the other side. She spots Chris standing in front of the door. She opens the door “hey, Chris. What brings you to my neck of the woods?” As she stands aside to let Chris in.

“I was just wondering how things have been with you and I hope you don’t mind me hanging out with you.” Chris walks past Amy.

“I don’t mind. My mom should be home in a little while and I know she has been concerned about you.” Amy shuts the front door.

“I always liked your mother. She reminds me a lot of my mother.” Chris has known Amy’s mother since they were in elementary school.

Amy’s mother was a lawyer and was very good. She thinks about talking with her about getting emancipated from her stepmother.

“Would you like anything to drink?” Amy leads Chris to the den.

“I’m fine, but thanks. So what game were you about to play?” Chris sits her backpack on the floor, near the sofa.

“Burnout Paradise Remastered. I just got it yesterday. It was on sale at Game Stop.” Amy had been out window shopping with her mother when she spotted the game.

“Cool, how do you play it?” Chris sits down next to Amy and pick-up the second gamepad.

“Let’s find out.” Amy picks up her controller and starts the game.

Nora and Kelly:
“One, two, three, four walking like a man
Hitting like a hammer
She's a juvenile scam
Never was a quitter
Tasty like a raindrop
She's got the look
Heavenly bound
Cause heaven's got a number
When she's spinning me around
Kissing is a color
Her loving is a wild dog
She's got the look…”

Kelly sings along with the song as she heads home. She couldn’t wait to get home and take a nice relaxing soak. The client the firm was representing had a history that was a mile long. Normally, they wouldn’t take a client that had a record so bad. However, her bosses felt what the detectives on the case did, to apprehend the person went too far. They broke every law to arrest the person. They wanted to put the client in jail.

As she sits at the stoplight still singing in time with the song. An old fashion muscle car pulls up next to her. The windows of the car were blacked out, so you couldn’t see the occupants of the car. She just ignores the car, as she continues to sing along with the song.

When the lights turn green, she steps on the accelerator and proceeds down the road. The muscle car that had been beside her. It speeds past her and pulls right in front of her, without turning it turn signals on, and taps it brakes. She steps on her brakes to keep from hitting the ass end of the car.

“You son of a bitch.” She was glad that Nora made her take the defensive driving course. A few years ago.

She tries to go around the person, but every move she makes, he counters. Not only that, he had a more powerful car. When a turn comes up, that would allow her to get from behind the guy, she takes it. She knew all the streets around the house that Nora and her shared. After a few more turns, she pulls into her driveway.

She sits there in the car for a few minutes, to calm her nerves. She knew Nora would have given that person a taste of his own medicine. She wonders should she inform Nora about this incident. She grabs her purse, briefcase, and head inside the house.

Nora covers up a yawn as she leaves school. Today had been a long and eventful day. She had to suspend several students for bullying a young girl. The bullies had torn open her blouse, exposing her flat chest to several students in the hallway.

Nora knew the student and felt protective of her. She reminded her of Ginger when she first met her. She walks to her car and put her school bags in and get in herself.

Nora starts the car up and starts heading home. As she is driving, she notices that someone was following her. A sly smile appears on her face. Old habits were hard to break and her DSS training was a big part of her.

She decides to see who the person was and how good they were. She steps on the gas pedal and zig and zags out of traffic. She watches as the other car tries to keep her in their sights. She speeds past a box truck and manages to get on the other side of it before the car trailing her caught up with her. She stays next to the truck and manages to get behind the people trailing her.

She plays a little aggressive with them. She wanted to know who they were and why they were trailing her. She matches their moves without any problems. When she gets the opportunity, she speeds past them and pulls directly in front of them. She slams on her brakes, causing them to avoid hitting her.

Nora watches as the other car avoids her and takes off. She couldn’t see who they were, because the windows of the car being tinted extremely dark. Even the license plate had a tinted cover on it. She wonders who they were and why did they come after her, as she drives home.

“You thieving, stealing little slut. How dare you steal money from my son.” Clare grabs Chris by her hair and pulls her down to the floor hard.

Chris tries to pry her stepmother’s hand off her hair, as she is slammed down to the floor. She was hoping to enter the house, without being noticed. She braces herself as she hits the floor.

Clare kicks Chris a few times in her stomach while she is down on the floor. She looks down at her “go and get everything in your closet. You’re going to be sleeping in your father’s old workshop from now on. As for the money you took from your brother. I know how you are going to make it up to him. Now get up you little tramp.”

Chris gets up off the floor hurting from being kicked and slammed down on the floor. She moves slowly to her closet and gathers everything up. She makes sure she hides the food she has been buying.

Once she has everything, she goes out the back door and towards her father’s old workshop. No one has been in her father’s workshop, since he died. She heads back towards a back room, where her father used to store lumber and other items he bought.

Clare follows Chris into her husbands’ old workshop. She hated the place and use to hate to come out to it.

“You’ll be living in here from now on.”

“But it doesn’t have any heat or A/C.” Chris looks over at Clare.

“Well, you should have thought about that, before you stole from your brother.” She was lucky her father put a toilet in his workshop.

“Oh, by the way. You will be working off what you took from your brother.” An evil smirk appears on Clare’s face as she leaves the workshop.

Chris wonders how her stepbrother knew she was stealing from him. She goes about rearranging the storage area her father used. She could build a bed frame inside of it and maybe get a mattress as well.

It takes her half the night to get the place into livable conditions. She spots the space heater her father use to use. It would come in handy during the winter months. She could buy a fan or something to cool the place. She gets undress, after locking the door to her father’s
workshop. That was going to be the first thing she changes tomorrow when she comes home from school.

Chris lays down on her makeshift bed and slowly fall asleep. At least she had a decent dinner at her friend’s place. She hopes the manager up at the Circle K calls her.

Nora’s House:
Nora pulls into the driveway of her home. She made sure she wasn’t followed. It still puzzled her on who it was that tried to run her down. She picks up her school totes and head inside the house.

She saw that instead of cooking, Kelly had ordered pizza and subs. She knew the girls could eat two whole pizzas themselves. She spots the girls in the living room watching a movie and enjoying the pizza.

“You three look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“We are mom. Are you going to join us?” Carol watches Nora.

“Where’s Kelly at, Carol?”

“She’s in your guy's bedroom. She looked like she was upset when she came home.” Carol noticed Kelly looked a little upset when she came in.

“I’ll go and see what’s bothering her.” Nora heads towards her and Kelly’s bedroom.

As she walks in, she notices Kelly was sitting on their bed. She walks over and sits down next to her.

“Do you want to tell me what is bothering you?”

Kelly looks at Nora when she spoke to her “someone tried to cause me to have an accident today on the way home.”

“Did they happen to be driving a dark muscle car with blacked-out windows?” Nora wonders if it was the same person that tried the same thing with her.

Kelly looks at Nora “yes. How did you know?”

“Because a car similar to the one that came after you, also came after me as well.”

“Could you tell me what the car was?” Kelly was curious as, why anyone would go after Nora.

“I think it was a Chevy Nova or Impala. It had the body style of them. Is there anything that the law firm you work for, is involved in?”

“We just took on a client that the police railroaded and broke all sorts of laws to apprehend.” Kelly knew Nora sometimes worked outside of the law and took matters into her own hands. But what these cops did, weren’t justified.

“Hhhmm, I wonder if someone is trying to stop your law firm and is coming after everyone involved.” Nora knew sometimes strong arms tactics would be used to make people back off.

“But I’m just a paralegal. I’m not the lawyer handling the case.” Kelly wonders why someone would come after her.

“And I’m married to you.”

“So, coming after you was a warning.”

“Maybe. Who is the lawyer handling the case?”

“Ellen Helmer. She’s been given the case. She has a daughter named Amy that goes to a private girl school.” Kelly has met Amy and thought very nicely of her.

“Are you helping her with the case?”

“Actually, yes. I have been doing some research into the statements and notes the detectives used to get search warrants and such.”

“Are they on the up and up?”

“Not really. There are statements wrong with what was given and what was said at the trail.” Kelly had found a lot of things wrong.

“That might explain why someone came after us today. You might want to call your boss and see if she had any problems.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Good, I’m going to change out of my work clothes and hope our girls left us something to eat.” Nora stands up and starts undressing.

Kelly stands up as well and start changing out of her work clothes as well. She hands Nora her favorite slumming clothes to wear. She also grabs her favorite clothes as well.

Once they are changed, they head into the dining room to see what was left of the pizzas.

“Thanks for coming to the Circle K.” Chris watches as the customer leaves the store.

She couldn’t believe she got the job a day after she turned her application in. The store manager had called her while she was at school and asked if she could come in for an interview after school. She had said yes and as soon as school ended, she practically ran to the store.

The interview didn’t last more than twenty minutes. Just as she was about to leave the store. The manager offered her the job and she started that night. Her shift ended at midnight and by the time she arrived back at her father’s workshop, she was dead tired.

She found out the next day, that the locks on the house doors had been changed. A note had been tacked to the door of her father’s workshop telling her that she was no longer allowed in the house for any reason. She was also informed that when her mother through a backyard barbecue or party. She was to remain in the workshop and hidden.

This was fine with Chris because most of her stepmother’s friends scared her. She was lucky her father had installed a toilet and a sink in the workshop. The workshop had a small water heater that provided hot water to the sink. So, she could take a sponge bath or build a makeshift camper’s shower like they use to use when she went camping with her father.

She had to rearrange the way the workshop was set up. Her makeshift bed was supported on nine cinder blocks she found stack behind the workshop. She was lucky her father had bought several sheets of three-quarter plywood. She trimmed one down and used it as the base on top of the cinder blocks. When she was moving things around in the workshop, she found the tote that had the camping gear in it. Inside was the blowup air mattress they used when they went camping. She placed that on top of the plywood and spread her collection of old blankets out on it.

If her stepmother could only see what favor she did her by moving her from the closet to the workshop. The camping tote had the two-burner gas stove they used while camping in it. She could now have hot meals. There were a few other items in the tote that would make it easier for her.

However, she was going to need to buy a heater soon. The temperature was slowly changing, and she woke up the other morning cold. Chris also had to figure out where she could wash her school and work clothes. She was down to her last pair of clean panties and one outfit. She knew some of her teachers have noticed that she has worn the same clothes three days in a roll.

Especially, Mrs. Midnight. Chris noticed that she has been keeping a closer eye on her. Just the other day, Mrs. Midnight, asked her to stay after class. Once all the students had left the classroom, Mrs. Midnight had asked if everything at home was okay.

She wanted to tell Mrs. Midnight the truth, but she didn’t want to feel the wraith from her stepmother again. The last time she had told a teacher what had been going on. Her stepmother accused her of being a lair and even had her stepbrother back up what she said.

Later, after the people from Childcare services left. She received a beating and was locked up in her closet for five days. The only time she was permitted to come out was to go to school. If she didn’t come home when she was supposed to, she received another beating.

So, she lied to Mrs. Midnight, but she got the feeling that Mrs. Midnight didn’t believe her. Mrs. Midnight had said if she ever needed help, to call her and she would come and help her. Mrs. Midnight had handed her a black business card with her number on it.

“Chris, have you restock the coolers yet?” George looks over towards Chris.

“Not yet. I was just finishing up fronting and restocking what we got in.” Chris puts the last item that was in the tote on the shelf.

“Alright, why don’t you watch the front of the store and I’ll handle the cooler.” George heads towards the coolers.

“Okay, George.” Chris hated the cooler because she didn’t have a coat that kept her warm when she was inside it.

The rest of the night, she tends to customers and refills the coffee containers. She at least got a free meal or discount buying food at the store. As for her laundry problem, she could use a laundry mat. There was one not far from where she was living. Chris figures she could use the old wagon she found in the workshop to carry her laundry back and forth.

The lawyer she spoke too, about getting emancipated from her stepmother. She said that she must show that she can support herself without any help from her stepmother. Also, her stepmother would have to be okay with it.

The last part would be a blessing to her stepmother. She would be thrilled not to have to support her, even though she hasn’t done anything for her since her father died. Technically, she has been supporting herself since his death.

At midnight, her shift ends. Chris takes home some hot dogs she made for herself. She puts the milk, juice, and soda she bought in the basket on her bicycle. She was glad her father had restored the old refrigerator he bought when she was younger. She shivers as she mounts her bicycle and starts peddling home.

Nora’s and Kelly’s House:
Nora and Kelly had talked about what happened several days ago. The car that had followed Kelly and tried to intimidate her wasn’t the same car that came after her. However, the car that came after Kelly, did come after her a few days later. The car that had originally came after her, it joined the second one.

They had tried to run her off the road, but they didn’t know how powerful her mustang was. When she bought her new mustang, she had the Shelby upgrade done to it. She never knew when the extra speed and power would come in handy. She was glad that she had the extra performance to outrun the other two muscle cars.

She did try to follow them, but an eighteen-wheeler had cut her off. By the time he moved out of the way, the two muscle cars had disappeared. She thought about contacting Hex to see if he could somehow track them.

Another concern she had was about one of her students named Chris Sumner. She has been showing up at school wearing the same outfit three days in a row. She also noticed that Chris has been falling asleep in her class lately.

When she asked Chris if things were alright at home. Chris lied to her and said things were fine at home. She spotted the lie right away and wonder why Chris would lie to her.

She checked with Chris’s other teachers and they said that they have noticed a difference in Chris as well. In some of their classes, Chris’s grades were starting to slip. They also noticed she wore the same outfits three days in a row as well.

Nora wonders what was happening with Chris? She’ll have to follow her after school and find out. Her thoughts are interrupted by the ringing of Kelly’s cellphone. She watches as Kelly reaches for her cellphone.

“Hello?” Kelly was still half to sleep.

“What do you mean the office is on fire?” Kelly sits up in bed with the cellphone next to her ear.

“I mean that the fire department is down here right now, putting the flames out.” Shelly couldn’t believe her office was on fire.

She had received a phone call from the security company that monitored the office. They had let her know the fire alarm had gone off and that the fire department was on their way to her office. When the fire department arrived, the office was in full blaze.

“Do you need me to come down?” Kelly was getting ready to get out of bed.

“No, just don’t come in tomorrow, until we find out what caused the blaze and be careful.”

“I will.” Kelly wonders who could have burned the office down.

Shelly ends the call and walks over to the Fire Marshal.

Nora looks at Kelly “what happened?”

“Someone set the office on fire.” Kelly looks into Nora's eyes.

“I wonder if this has anything to do with your current case?” Nora had a puzzled look on her face.

“Maybe.” Kelly puts her cellphone back on the charger.

She snuggles back down under the blankets and just looks at Nora as she puts her book down. When Nora was laying down next to her, she snuggles closer against Nora.

Nora wraps her arms around Kelly’s body and just holds her.

“Burr!” Chris was soak to the bone from the rain coming down.

She had to work a double shift at the Circle K, and it had started raining before she left. The thin jacket she wore to work, was soak. She kicks her tennis shoes off and runs over to the portable heater she bought at the thrift store with her first paycheck.

She hangs the clothes she had on, out to dry out on the laundry rack. That included the tennis shoes she just took off. She was lucky to find the clothes rack and were lucky it was on sale.

Once her clothes were drying, she puts on her flannel nightgown and slippers. She walks over to her father’s workbench and fire up the camping stove and empty a jar of spaghetti into it. She fills a pot of water and add a little oil to it and boils the water to cook some noodles.

She liked the fact that she could have a hot meal now. She turns her father’s old shop radio on and listens to a local station, while she cooks herself some dinner. The portable heater was warming the workshop up.

She stirs the sauce, so it doesn’t burn. She keeps the flame turned down on it. She had been looking around her father’s workshop and found his blow torch. She has used that to heat some toast.

Chris dips a spoon into the sauce to see how it tasted. She reaches for some spices she bought at the dollar store and added them to the sauce. She couldn’t afford a metal strainer but bought a plastic bowl at the dollar store and made herself one. She used her father’s drill to put drain holes in it. Once the noodles were cooked, she drains them and adds them to the sauce. She stirs them together. Chris scoops some out and put it in a bowl to eat.

She sits down on an upside-down five-gallon bucket to eat. Her insides start to warm up once the hot food goes down her throat and into her stomach. She takes a couple of slices of bread and uses it to scoop some of the sauce in the bowl.

She glances over towards one of the windows in the workshop. She covered it up with some plastic her father had in the workshop. She did the same to all the other windows, so she would have some privacy. She spotted her stepbrother looking through the window one morning when she took a shower in the camping shower. She was lucky, that he couldn’t see anything, because the camping shower had a shower curtain blocking her.

She was glad her father stocked up on things for the house or for whatever he was working on. The camping shower was connected to a wash dishpan that she could attach a hose to and run it outside to drain. Once she finishes her dinner, she puts the leftovers into a dish she could either take to school or have the next day.

She cleans her mess up and lays down on her bed. She found a nice warm quilt at the thrift store. She snuggles underneath it as she listens to the radio.

Nora’s House:
Nora was looking at the photos she took of Chris. She managed to follow her after school. She followed Chris to a Circle K that wasn’t too far from the school. She sat the whole time watching Chris see where she went after work.

Nora followed Chris back to the address that was on file at school but instead of going inside the main house. She watched as Chris went further back on to the property to a 10 x 20 wooden shed. That piqued her curiosity, as she left her motorcycle and sneaked up to the wooden shed.

She noticed through one of the windows, that it looked to be filled with woodworking tools. She spotted Chris over in one corner, which looked like it had been set up for someone to live. She watched as Chris went about undressing and slipping her nightclothes on. She also watched as Chris cooked some food on a two-burner camping stove.

She walks back towards the main house and notices that Chris’s stepmother and brother were enjoying a nice take-out meal. There were also several other people inside with them as well.

“So, that’s how things work around here? You treat yourself and your son to nice food and such and make your daughter live in a workshop.” Nora controls her anger as she sneaks back to her motorcycle.

Nora thinks about everything, as she headed back to her place. The other problem was identifying the cars that had come after her and her wife. She had some of her students who were into muscle cars and such keeping an eye for them.

She told her students that one of them had hit her other car and her wife’s car and wanted to find them. She would pay them for information if it turned out to be the cars she was looking for. She pulls her motorcycle into the garage and dismounts. She makes sure the garage door is shut, before heading into the house.

“You’re home late. Did something happened?” Kelly looks at Nora with a questionable look on her face.

“No, everything is fine. I was concerned about a student in my class.” Nora walks over and places a kiss on Kelly’s cheek.

“Oh? Is everything okay with that student?” Kelly knew her wife took an interest in her students.

“Yes and no. She has a roof over her head and is safe so far, but she is forced to live on the money she is making working part-time at a
convenience store.” Nora grabs a couple of hot dogs to heat up.

“That’s not much money. How bad is it?” Kelly knew how much money convenience store employees make.

When she separated from her husband. She had to work three jobs to survive. She lost the house she and her husband had bought when they first got married. She had to move into a cheap studio apartment.

“Well, she’s heating her meals on a two-burner, gas camping stove. She’s sleeping on an air mattress and living inside a 10 x 20 wooden shed, that looked like it had been set up to do woodwork in.”

“Does she have access to a toilet and such?”

“I think so. I couldn’t see much, because she had some sort of plastic sheeting covering the windows in the place.” Nora heats the hot dogs in the microwave.

“Are you going to talk to her about why she is living in the shed?” Kelly wanted to know herself.

“I will. As for finding out who those muscle cars belong to. I have several students in my class who are into the car scene looking for them.” Nora figures the student she asked, will have something for her.

“Do you think that is wise?” Kelly was concerned about the students.

“Yeah, because they have contacts in the muscle car and ten-second car scenes here in Memphis.”

“Well, I hope they are careful.” Kelly didn’t want anything to happen to Nora’s students.

Friday Afternoon, Nora’s Government Class:
April knocks on the classroom door before entering. She walks in and spots Nora sitting at her desk checking over papers.

“Mrs. Midnight, can I speak with you, please?” April hopes the information she has for Mrs. Midnight was right.

Nora looks up when she hears April’s voice. She knew April was one of the girls in school that got bullied because she came from a poor family.

“What’s on your mind, April?” Nora puts her grading pen down.

“I have some information for you on those cars you asked some of us about.” April had gone with her father to a car show and spotted the cars.

“Oh? What did you find out, April?” Nora pulls her note pad over to her.

“They belong to the Ionita brothers. One of the cars was at the antique car show over on Plum And fifth at Big Roy’s burger restaurant.”

“You said one of the cars was there?” Nora looks at April.

“Yes ma’am, I took a picture of it.” April pulls her cellphone out of her backpack and shows it to Nora.

Nora looks at it and it was the car that chased her down. She saw that April managed to snap a picture of the license plate. She writes the number down. She hopes it belongs to the car and not a stolen license plate.

“Thank you, April.” Nora smiles at April. She liked April.

“You’re welcome Mrs. Midnight.”

“April, how have things been going for you in school? Are you still being picked on?” Nora was concerned about her.

“Sometimes, Mrs. Midnight. Some of the older girls keep making snide remarks about my clothes and the fact I don’t wear any of the brand names like everyone else.”

“Don’t let those girls get to you, April. You’re a beautiful young woman and smart. If they keep bothering you, come and tell me.” Nora would hug April, but she couldn’t.

“Thank you, Mrs. Midnight.”

“Any time, April. Here, is the money I promise for finding out the information.” Nora pulls the money out of her wallet that she promised.

“Thank you, Mrs. Midnight.” April accepts the money. It was enough to buy the new dress she has been wanting and the shoes to go with it.

“If you ever need anything, April. Come and see me, okay?” Nora looks sternly at April.

“Yes ma’am.” April tucks the money away, before leaving the classroom.

Nora waits until April has left the classroom, before calling her friend, Lieutenant Hardcastle at the Memphis police department.

Memphis Police Department, Special Investigations:
Detective Hardcastle leans back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. He just got finished solving a cold case that has been sitting on the shelf for the past twenty years. Every cold case he has worked on, he has solved. It also helped, that he possesses a unique skill that gave him an advantage over his other co-workers.

As he is enjoying his victory of closing the case. His cellphone starts ringing. He pulls it out of his pants pocket and notices it was Nora Midnight’s number. He presses accept “Nora, what’s on your mind?”

“I need a favor from you, Tim.” Nora has known Tim for a long time.

“The last favor I did for you, almost got me killed. Remember, those two Iranian spies you needed to find?”

“Yeah, and I did say I was sorry, but that was a very important case. This one is important but safer, I hope.” A sly smile appears on Nora’s face.

“You hope?” Tim raises an eyebrow.

“Yes, I hope. I need for you to run a name, license plate, and a car.”

“Alright, send me the information. Is there anything else?”

“Yes, there’s a student in my class that is being treated like a redneck stepchild. I was wondering if you could talk with her and find out what is going on, please. She won’t tell me, but I know how good you are with teenage girls.” Nora knew Tim has a daughter and how well the two of them got together.

“You’re asking a lot, my old friend.”

“Hey, what are friends for?” Nora had a playful smile on her face.

“Moving furniture, painting my house and helping out in the garden and so on.”

“Well, next time you need something like that done. I’ll bring my children and wife to help out.” Nora knew Tim didn’t know she got married or had children either.

“You got married? Who’s the unfortunate woman?” Tim knew Nora was a lesbian, ever since she was a teenager.

“Ha! Ha! Very funny. Her name is Kelly and she’s a paralegal. She’s working on the Hamlet case.”

“Oh, boy! That is a big can of worms and there is a lot of important people that can get burned from it.” Tim felt sorry for Nora’s wife.

“Speaking of burn, someone set fire to the law office my wife works at. Any ideas who might scoop that low?”

“No, but if it was done by a professional, you're going to have a hard time proving it. Let me do some snooping around.” Tim figures with his gift he might be able to help.

“Okay, well I have to go. I’m sending you the information now. Let me know what you find out.”

“Will do, Nora. You keep yourself safe.”

“I will.” Nora ends the call.

She finishes the papers and grades she was working on, before calling it an evening. She puts all her school stuff into the tote bags she keeps them in and heads towards her car. Nora hears the engine of a motorcycle coming towards her. She turns around while dropping her totes and her purse. She spots a figure coming towards her and raising its arm. She jumps out of the way, as a bunch of bullets flies by her, striking the ground right where she had been.

She reaches for her gun that she normally keeps on her hip concealed, but realizes, she left it in her purse. She waits for the shooter to come back around again. She reaches for one of her totes and grabs her government book.

Bullets strike the ground near her. She takes the government book and throws it like a frisbee towards the shooter. The book hits the rider but doesn’t do anything to them.

“DAMN!” Nora moves out of the way again as the rider shoots where she is.

Nora spots April and she was directly in the path of the rider. She starts running towards April and tackles her to the ground. Just as she was tackling April, the rider fired one more time at her. Several bullets hit Nora in her back, near her left shoulder.

April looks up into Mrs. Midnight's face as she laid on top of her. She hadn’t realized that she had walked directly in front of the motorcycle rider.

“Mrs. Midnight, are you alright?” April was worried about one of her favorite teachers.

Nora felt that she had gotten hit but didn’t want to move yet. She looks down into April’s face “I’m not sure, April.”

Several teachers and students come running over to Nora and April. One of the teachers saw that Nora had been shot “don’t move Nora, you’ve been shot twice.”

The teacher looks at April “are you okay, April?”

“Yes ma’am. How is Mrs. Midnight?”

“She’s been shot, April. So, you’re going to be stuck under her, until the ambulance arrives.”

“Okay, Mr. Lewis.”

Several minutes later, the ambulance arrives and move Nora off of April. The bullets were still lodged inside her body. They move Nora carefully and put her in the ambulance.

“Nora, I’ll gather your things and brings them to the hospital.”

“Okay.”

The ambulance leaves and takes Nora to the hospital.

Nika looks at the pictures of the cars she had been hired to steal. The two muscle cars were parked inside a garage that belonged to the Ionita brothers. They should have paid what they owed to Big Al. She checks to make sure there weren’t any alarms on the garage side door as she picks the locks. She brushes aside a lock of her rusty red hair out of her eyes as she works on the lock.

After a few seconds of working on the lock, she manages to unlock the door and sneak inside. She looks towards the house to make sure the brothers were still asleep. She had watched them drink themselves to unconsciousness. She closes the door behind her and walks over to the two muscle cars she had been sent to retrieve tonight.

Nika checks them for kill switches. If she had two beautiful muscle cars like these, she would have a kill switch. She doesn’t find any kill switches or trackers either. The Ionita brothers were stupid to leave these cars unprotected. She walks over to the garage door and quietly opens it.

She pulls her lock picks out and unlocks the steering. She didn’t like destroying the locking mechanism on any car she steals. She pushes the first car out of the garage and down the street. She walks back towards the Ionita brother's house and pushes the second car down the street, after locking their garage.

Nika pulls her cellphone out and dials her friend Freddy’s number.

Freddy’s Apartment:
“Take that, sucker.” Freddy snipes the enemy in the game he was playing.

He shoots another player in the game that has been giving him a hard time, during the game. He rushes forward in the game and kills a few more people. Just as he was about to kill another player, his cellphone starts ringing. He picks his cellphone up and takes a look at it and notices it was Nika. He presses accept “Nika, what can I do for you tonight?”

“How would you like to make a quick hundred dollars?” Nika was keeping an eye out for the brothers.

“What do I have to do?” Freddy didn’t mind making a quick hundred dollars.

“Drive a car for me. Think you can do that, without drawing attention to yourself?” Nika knew how much of a showoff Freddy can be.

“Where are we taking the car?” Freddy logs off from his game.

“Big Al’s chop shop.” Nika knew Al wasn’t going to chop them, but he was going to store them there until the brothers pay what they owed.

“Alright, give me fifteen minutes.” Freddy heads towards his bedroom to change.

“Okay, hurry up. I’ll text you the address.” Nika text the address she was at.

Twenty minutes later, Freddy comes walking up to Nika. She was easy to spot with her rusty color-looking hair and her teenage looks.

“Took you long enough.” Nika looks at Freddy.

If anyone fit the type description of a geeky white boy, it was Freddy. He had wide brim glasses, short messy black hair, youthful looks, and a little overweight. The reason he was overweight, was because he managed to convince the government, that he had a disability. Which he didn’t, but he was good at lying and conning people.

“I had to finish my game.” Freddy looks at the cars she was standing near.

“Do these cars belong to who I think they do?” Freddy looks at the two identical cars.

“If you mean the Ionita brothers, yes. They owe Big Al and you know what happens if you don’t pay him.” Nika never wants to get on Big Al’s bad side.

“Yeah, he either sends Jake or Clint after you to remind you or he takes something of value until you pay him.” Freddy knew Big Al’s reputation.

“Well, let’s get these cars to him before he wonders what I am doing with them.” Nika starts one for Freddy to drive and she takes the other one.

Nika drives towards the warehouse district. The old warehouse that Big Al used for his chop shop uses to be used for used tires. Nika pulls up to the warehouse door and honks the horn.

The warehouse door opens wide enough for Nika and Freddy to enter. Once they are inside, the door closes behind them. Nika exists from the car and looks around for Big Al. When she spots him “here you go, Al. The brothers didn’t even know I was there.”

“Good! I’ll put this job towards your father’s debt. That means you’ll owe me one more job after this.” Al spots Freddy by the second car.

“Then we are even, and I don’t owe you anything else.” Nika didn’t mind pulling jobs for Al, but it meant she didn’t get paid for doing it.

“That was the deal unless you want to renegotiate the deal.” Big Al looks at Nika and wouldn’t mind having sex with her. She had a nice body and a beautiful face.

“No thanks. I’m happy with the current deal.” Nika knew what Big Al thought about her.

“Well, keep your cellphone nearby. I might have another job for you in a few days.” Big Al figures Nika would be perfect for the job.

“Okay, well see you later.” Nika walks over to her motorcycle and grabs a spare helmet for Freddy.

Nika hands the helmet to Freddy along with a hundred-dollar bill. She pushes her motorcycle out of the warehouse and once she is outside “thanks for helping.”

“Hey, I just made hundred dollars for twenty minutes of work. Where else can you do that?” Freddy mounts the motorcycle behind Nika.

He holds onto her small waist as he feels the motorcycle startup. Once they start moving, Freddy tightens his grip on Nika’s waist.

“Hey, easy on the waist.” Nika felt Freddy tighten his grip on her.

Nika will be glad when she finishes settling her father’s debt to Big Al. The only reason she was doing it, was because he was in jail. He got caught on the last job he did for Big Al and he still owed Big Al the money he borrowed. Since her father trained her, she was willing to settle his debt by doing jobs for Big Al.

After twenty-five minutes Nika pulls up in front of Freddy’s apartment complex. She turns to look behind her “here’s your stop.”

“Thanks, Nika.” Freddy dismounts and takes his helmet off.

“You’re welcome. Don’t spend the money all in one place.” A mischievous smile appears on Nika’s face, behind her helmet.

“I won’t.” Freddy turns and starts heading towards his apartment, after securing Nika’s spare helmet to her motorcycle.

Nika heads towards her place. It was an old gas station that has been in her family for generations. The front was still used as a repair garage, but one of the huge bays was converted into a small apartment. She pulls her motorcycle into the second bay, after opening the old fashion garage door.

Nika takes her helmet off and leaves it on her motorcycle. She unlocks a side door and walks into the small apartment in the next bay. She hangs her keys on the Harley Davidson key badge mounted next to the door. She covers up a yawn, as she strips out of her clothes and slip-on her favorite nightshirt. She still had a few cars that she needed to get done tomorrow.

She lays down on the sofa and slowly falls asleep.

“What do you mean, you missed?” Jordan looks at the two local assassins he hired to take Nora Midnight out.

“Look, I managed to wound her. Why do you have such a hard-on for a stupid high school teacher?” Ping looks at Jordan with a puzzled look on his face.

“Because she isn’t just some stupid high school teacher. She’s a trained killer and the people who hired us to take her and her wife out want her dead. Her wife knows too much about the case and Mrs. Midnight is sticking her nose into a matter that should remain private.” Jordan couldn’t believe how messed up this job was getting.

If the Ionita brothers had done their job like they were supposed to. They wouldn’t be in this mess right now. As for the other matter with his sister and her stupid stepdaughter. That matter will be handled soon, hopefully.

Jordan looks at Ping and Wong “I’m giving you two guys one more chance to end that bitch’s life. She has children, use one of them to lure her to you. When she comes to rescue them, kill her.”

Jordan hands a photograph of Nora’s children to the two of them. It had Ginger, Christina, Melody, Carol, and Tiffany with her newborn. It looked like a family picture.

“Which one do you want us to kidnap and trap her with?” Wong looks at Jordan.

“Choose, for yourself. It shouldn’t be that hard. At least four of them go to the school she teaches at. So, it shouldn’t be too hard to trap one of them.”

“Alright.” Wong figures the red hair one or the younger blonde one should be easy to grab.

Ping and Wong turn and leave Jordan’s office to scout out their prey. They wanted to get paid for this job and get the hell out of town for a while. They knew the longer they stayed, the greater the chances they would be caught.

D&M Garage:
Nika was underneath a car changing the oil in it when she feels her legs grabbed. Whoever grabbed her ankles was squeezing them hard, as she is yanked out from under the car. A huge foot is pressed against her chest as she looks at the two men standing and kneeling near her.
She recognized them right away, as being the Ionita brothers, Owen and Lucas.

“Bitch! Where are our cars?” Lucas had his big size thirteen boot pressing against Nika’s chest.

“They aren’t in my coveralls, you stupid gorilla. Where do you think they are?” Nika was trying to get her pocketknife from her pocket.

“You must be one dumb bitch, to think we wouldn’t figure out that you were responsible for stealing our cars.” Owen kicks Nika’s side.

Nika screams from Owen’s steel-toed boot, hitting her side. She manages to grab her pocketknife, from her side pocket.

“Don’t you just love it, when they scream, Lucas?” Owen looks down at the painful expression on Nika’s face.

“Yeah, it sounds so wonderful.” As he presses harder onto Nika’s rib cage.

Nika pops open the knife and stabs Owen in the side of his right leg. She feels Lucas lifting his leg to stomp on her chest, she slices across the front of his leg, as she rolls out of the way.

Owen and Lucas were caught off guard by Nika’s attack. Lucas falls backward from being cut and caught off guard. Owen looks down at his leg to see how serious the cut was. He tries to grab Nika as she rolls out of the way.

Nika hurries to get up on her feet. Her chest was hurting from Lucas pressing against it and her side hurt like hell, from Owen kicking it. She looks at the two of them “you dumb bastards, should have paid what you owed to Big Al, you dumb ass red necks!”

Nika was pissed as she watched both men. She knew problems like this arose, but she was hoping that they would have gone to Big Al to make some sort of arrangements with him.

“You are one dumb bitch, bring a knife to a gunfight.” Owen pulls out the concealed 9mm Glock he had and shoots Nika twice with it.

Nika feels two bullets enter her body. One hits her in the chest and the second one hits her in the left shoulder, shattering her collar bone. She drops to the ground onto her knees, dropping her pocketknife.

Owen walks over to Nika and looks down at her “I’m not going to kill you bitch, but I want you to remember what happens when you steal from us.” He shoots her in the upper right thigh.

Sirens could be heard coming their way. Owen walks over and helps his brother up off the ground. They walk over towards a black jacked up 4x4 pick-up truck they came in and get in. They leave before the police could arrive.

Nika watches as Owen and Lucas drive off. She could hear the police sirens as they got closer to her place. She vows that if she lives through being shot. She will get her revenge on the brothers.

Officer Hicks and Officer Swan arrive at the location they received sounds of possible gunfire. When they pull up to the old D&M gas station.
They spot a young girl in mechanics coveralls bleeding on the ground. They knew who the girl was right away. She was a known car thief and the owner of D&M repairs.

“Dispatch, we need a rush on an ambulance to D&M repairs. We have the owner Nika Sweetflower with several gunshot wounds. She has one to her chest, upper left shoulder, and upper right thigh.”

“Ambulance is on route, car 125.”

Swan looks at Nika and Officer Hicks “is she going to be okay?”

“If I can stop the bleeding. Grab my paramedic bag from the trunk of my patrol car.”

Swan runs towards Hicks patrol car and grabs his paramedic bag from the trunk. She knew Hicks had paramedic training from his time in the
Army. He and Officer King were the only two licensed paramedics on the police force.

She rushes back towards Hicks with his bag and drops it next to him. She watches as he grabs items out of it and goes to work, trying to stop the bleeding from the wounds on Nika’s body. The gunshot to her chest came close to puncturing the main artery going to her heart. If it had been a millimeter more to the right, it would have severed the artery.

“Where is that ambulance?” Hicks looks up at Swan.

“Dispatched, what’s the location of the ambulance?”

“It’s four minutes away, car 126.”

Swan looks down at Hicks “it's four minutes out.”

Hicks keeps working on Nika and manages to stabilize her, just as the ambulance pulls up. He looks up at the EMTs as they come rushing over to Nika’s body.

“I’ve managed to stabilize her. She has three gunshot wounds. One to the chest, one to her left shoulder, and the last to her right thigh.”

The EMTs noticed that Officer Hicks managed to stabilize the woman. The two EMTs get the stretcher and put her on it and load her into the ambulance. They leave and head towards the hospital.

Officer Swan looks at Officer Hicks “you’re going to need to change your uniform. There’s blood on it.”

“Yeah, I see that.”

Nora’s Hospital Room:
Detective Hopkins looks at Nora as she lays in the hospital bed. He couldn’t believe she had been shot in the parking lot where she taught at.

“Nora, who’s after you now?”

“I have no idea, Dennis. I’m not involved in anything important.” Nora looks at her friend.

“Come on Nora, I know you better than that. What are you involved in?” Dennis looks at Nora with a skeptical look on his face.

“Honestly, I’m not involved with anything. Here’s what has been happening to me and my wife lately. We’ve been followed and almost ran off the road by two green muscle cars belonging to the Ionita brothers. I and Kelly think it has something to do with the Hamlet case. Ever since her law firm got the case, things have been happening to her and me. The other thing I’m concerned about is a student in my class that is being treated as a red-neck stepchild. I asked Detective Hardcastle to look in on her and see if he can get her to tell us about why she is living in a 10 x 20 shed in the back yard of where she lives. I doubt that the person who came after me, had anything to do with that.”

“So, you think it has something to do with the Hamlet case?”

“Yes, I do. Everything that has been going on lately, has been because Kelly’s law firm accepted that damn case.” Nora was a little pissed.

“Well, until your shoulder heals. I’m going to ask you to sit this job out.” Detective Hopkins knew she wouldn’t listen.

Nora just looks at Dennis “you have to be kidding me. I’m not sitting anything out. The bastards shot me.”

“Nora, you don’t even know who they are. How are you going to go after them?”

“Tik Tok know who they are. There isn’t a deal or contract in this city he doesn’t know something about.” Nora knew Tik Tok had his fingers in everything in Memphis.

“You know Tik Tok? He doesn’t talk to anyone unless he knows you and can get something from you.” Dennis has tried several times to see
him.

An evil smile appears on Nora’s face as she looks at Dennis. She knew him, because of Cheshire and Jack Bounty.

“You have to know the right people, Dennis. He fears four people and I am one of them.”

“Well, if you are going to go and see him, I’m coming with you. Because right now you’re in no shape to be scary.” Detective Hopkins wants to ask Tik Tok a few questions about a former case he worked on.

“Fine, I’m not going to argue with you.” Nora figures having Detective Hopkins with her, might be an advantage.

“Come back here you prick!” Alex chases after the six-foot-tall white male she has been looking for.

He was wanted for jumping bail from her friend Jason at Six Shooter Bail Bound. She jumps over the trash can that Jason throws in her way. She slowly catches up to him and yanks on the back of his shirt. She steps aside as he falls backward onto the asphalt.

Jason reaches out to try and stop himself from falling backward. He hits the asphalt on his back and spots the bounty hunter he has been running fun looking at him. He can’t believe a five-foot girl with short white hair, streak with black highlights had taken him down.

“Why in the hell did you have to be a butt head and try to outrun from me? You must have realized I was going to apprehend you. Now, turn onto your stomach before I kick you in your balls.” Alex removes her handcuffs from their case.

Jason does as the young bounty hunter says. He hated the fact that she managed to take him down. He thinks about trying to overpower her, but as soon as she grabs his arm. He feels how strong she is.

“Alright, I’m going to help you up off the ground. If you try anything stupid, I will break your arms and legs. Do you understand me?”

“Yes. For a girl, you have a lot of anger.” Jason couldn’t believe how mean this woman was.

“That’s because I have a recital I’m late for and you are the cause of it.” Alex helps Jason up off the ground and forcefully walks him back to her SUV.

Her little sister’s dance class was putting on their recital today and she was missing it. She tries to never miss her little sister’s recital. They only had each other, ever since their mother ran off with her boyfriend. Their father had left earlier, because of their mother.

She heads to the nearest police precinct to drop Jason off at. Once she drops him off, she speeds towards the center hosting the recital and sneaks in. The recital was already in progress. She sneaks down to a seat that had been reserved for her.

Her sister’s dance class comes out dancing. She was so proud of her little sister as she watches her dance. Everything she did was for her little sister. She takes her cellphone out and records her sister.

When the recital is over, Lexis seeks her older sister out. She had spotted her when her dance class came out to dance.

“You made it!” Lexis was excited her older sister had managed to make it.

“Didn’t I promise, I would be here for your recital?” Alex hugs Lexis and holds her tight.

Lexis returns the hug and holds onto her older sister. She knew her big sister would do anything for her.

“Yes, you did promise.”

Alex just holds her little sister for a while. She had to grow up fast and become the responsible one.

“Come on, let's go and celebrate your success.”

“Okay, are we going to the Golden Peacock?” Lewis holds her sisters’ hand as they walk towards the SUV.

“Is that, where you want to go?” Alex presses the remote as they get closer.

“Yes!” Lewis gets in on the passenger side, after tossing her gym bag into the back.

“Okay, maybe Narika will be working.” Lewis liked Alex’s new girlfriend.

“I think she is.” Alex liked Narika a lot and wouldn’t mind settling down with her.

As Alex is about to pull into the parking lot of the Golden Peacock. Her cellphone starts ringing. She glances at the name appearing on the screen and saw it was detective Hopkins. She presses accept as she pulls into a parking space.

“Hello Detective, what can I do for you?” Alex wonders what Detective Hopkins wanted now.

“I need you for a job. I’m helping a friend out, and she has been injured. I need for you to act as our backup.”

“You do know, I’m only a bounty hunter, don’t you?”

“Yes, but where we are going. I’m going to need someone who they don’t know. So, can you do the job for me or not?”

“Yes, I’ll do the job. I’m charging you my standard cost.”

“How about we put it, towards what you owe me.” Detective Hopkins kept Alex from going to jail when she was younger.

“Fine, but no more favors without paying me.” Alex was getting tired of not getting paid by Detective Hopkins.

“Fine, no more freebies. Next time I need you, I’ll pay you. Meet me at this address tomorrow.”

Alex’s cellphone beeps, letting her know a text message has arrived. She glances at it and knew where it was and who stayed there.

“Alright.” Alex ends the call.

She glances over towards her sister “let’s go celebrate.”

Nora’s House:
Kelly couldn’t believe Nora had gotten shoot at school. She helps her wife into the house, after pulling into the driveway and parking. Their children come out to help carry in the flowers, balloons, and plants she had received.

“Are you okay, mom?” Carol looks at her mother.

“I’m fine, sweetie.” Nora looks at carol with a smile on her face. She knew her family was concerned about her.

They had never seen her injured before. She walks inside the house with Kelly.

“Let me guess, you’re going after the people who did this to you?”

“Yes, but I don’t know who they are.” Kelly helps Nora over to their bed.

“So, how are you going to find out?” Kelly looks at her wife.

“I know who might know. So, I’m going to visit them tomorrow with Detective Hopkins going with me.” Nora looks at her wife.

“You must be crazy. You’re in no shape to be demanding information from people.” Kelly knew Nora could make a priest confess to any crime she wanted to.

“That’s why Detective Hopkins is going with me. He can be my bodyguard and my muscle as well.” Nora had to give Detective Hopkins credit for insisting that he comes along.

“Well, at least you’ll have some backup.” Kelly still didn’t like the idea of Nora going out by herself.

Kelly helps Nora get comfortable on the bed. Once Nora was comfortable, she goes about checking on the children. Melody and the others come in and check on their mother.

Nora reassures her children that she is fine and that nothing is going to happen to her. She could tell they were worried about her. Once Kelly shoos them out of the bedroom, she opens a letter from Ginger and reads it.

Chris’s Storage Shed:
Chris covers up a yawn as she walks into the storage shed. She covered her shift and the person who was supposed to come in and relieve her. She changes out of her work clothes and pulls her backpack up onto her mattress and takes her homework out to work on it.

Lately, her stepmother has been ignoring her, but she knew that wasn’t going to last. Her stepbrother played a dirty trick on her, just the other day. He had arranged for several of his friends to ambush her as she walked into the backyard.

One guy sprayed her with a water hose, while another grabbed her from behind. Once she was grabbed and secured. The water hose was cut off and another fellow came up and tore her shirt off, exposing her breasts and bra. She tried to fight back, but the guy holding her increased the pressure from his arms.

The guy who tore her shirt, pulled her pants down, including her panties. They noticed she was having her period, from the bloody maxi pad in her underwear.

Her stepbrother came up to her and ripped her maxi-pad from her underwear. He rubbed her face with it. Afterward, they took her and bent her over a lawn chair, and spanked her with a badminton racket. She managed to escape, after being smacked eight times on her bare ass. The guys just laughed at her as she made her way to the storage shed and locked the door.

She didn’t sleep at all last night, because of the pain. When she left to go to work, earlier in the day. She sneaked out, avoiding the path she normally took.

She tries to concentrate on her homework, but her ass was still hurting her from being spanked yesterday. She reaches into her backpack and pulls out a Goody’s aspirin powder and takes it. She couldn’t wait until she was old enough to move away from her stepmother.

She starts her homework and listens to some music while she works.

Nika’s Hospital Room:
The medical equipment hooked up to Nika beep as it monitor’s her vitals. Freddy looks down at Nika as she laid there on the hospital bed. He knew what she did was dangerous, but there was no reason for what the brothers did to her. She only did what Big Al hired her to do.

The door opens and a middle-aged man comes walking into the room. He was wearing a black cowboy hat, black tailored suit jacket covering a blue dress shirt. The shirt was tucked into a pair of black dress slacks. There was a lasso tie hanging from his neck and he was wearing a pair of black boots with a high gloss shine to them. The belt buckle he was wearing had a pair of small pistols on it.

Ted had gotten a call from the Memphis police department that his niece was in critical condition. He had been informed which hospital she had been taken to. When he walks into her hospital room, he notices a young man wearing a batman t-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of cheap-looking tennis shoes, standing near his niece’s bed.

Freddy turned around to see who was coming into Nika’s hospital room. He spotted the gentleman and wonders who he was.

“Are you related to Nika?” Freddy was concerned about his friend.

“I’m her Uncle. How did this happen to her?” Ted walks over and stands next to Nika’s hospital bed.

“Some gorillas she repos some cars from.” Freddy had gone to Nika’s garage and looked at the security footage from her hidden security cameras.

Ted looks at Freddy “do you know who they are?”

Freddy looks at Ted’s face and into his eyes. He saw that Ted was observing him and that he wanted an answer.

“They are called the Ionita brothers. She was sent to repo their cars by her employer Big Al.” Freddy figures if this fellow was going to get
revenge for Nika. He should know who sent her as well.

“You said the Ionita brothers? Do you happened to know where they live?” Ted was planning on visiting them for what they did to his niece.

“Yes sir. I know where they live.”

“Good. Also, where does this Big Al operate from?” Ted was planning on vising him as well.

“I’ll give you that information as well, sir.” Freddy figures Al should pay for what happened to Nika.

Circle K:
Chris couldn’t believe how messy some of the customers could be. She mops up a mess near the soda machine some customer had made. They had walked off, while the machine was filling their cup and it overflowed from the cup and counter onto the floor.

She puts the wet floor sign out, so no one would slip. After she was done cleaning that mess, she had to go into the women’s bathroom and clean. Since she has been working at Circle K, the women’s bathroom has turned out to be the messiest to clean.

She goes into the bathroom and starts cleaning it. It takes her a while to clean, because of how dirty it was. By the time she is done cleaning it. She was ready to take a break. Just as she gets all the cleaning supply put away.

“Chris, I’m stepping outside to take a smoke break. Can you watch the cash register for me please?”

“Sure.” Chris watches as her co-worker steps outside.

Chris steps behind the counter and starts straightening up things. Her co-worker was lazy and always wanted till her shift was almost over before she refilled the cigarettes and such. As she is restocking the cigarettes, the bell on the door goes off.

“Welcome to Circle K.” She turns around to look at the person who walked in.

The person was standing in front of the counter and had a gun pointed at her. She couldn’t tell who it was, because the person was wearing a mask, that hid their looks.

“Give me all the money in the register or you’re dead.”

Outside the Circle K, parked across the street:
Detective Hardcastle has been keeping an eye on Chris lately. He was planning on going inside to talk with her when he spots something suspicious. Her co-worker had stepped out of the store and was over near the side of the building smoking. That wasn’t what had gotten his attention all sudden. It was the beat-up, rusty-looking van that had.

He spotted the person getting out and saw a gun tucked in the waistband behind the person. He pulls his gun and gets out of his car and move quickly towards the building. Before he goes into the store, he spots the person pointing their gun at Chris. He knew the store had a bell that went off when you opened the doors. He looks at the van the person came in. He takes his knife out and puncher the front tire.

Inside the Circle K:
Chris opens the register and starts taking all the money out. She places it in a plastic bag and goes to hand it to the robber. She presses the panic button under the counter. She tries to move slowly, to stall the robber.

“Hurry up bitch!”

“I’m hurrying.” Chris takes a handful of loose pennies and tosses them towards the robber.

The robber’s gun goes off. He miss Chris because she dropped to the floor behind the counter.

Detective Hardcastle rushes inside and fires his gun at the robber. He hits him in the arm.

“Chris!”

“I’m alright.” Chris stands up and looks at a rather large man pointing a gun at the robber.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Detective Hardcastle. Your teacher, Mrs. Midnight asked me to check up on you. She was concerned about you.” Hardcastle looks at
Chris, as he kept the robber in his sight.

Chris couldn’t believe that Mrs. Midnight, was looking after her. She wonders if Mrs. Midnight knew what was going on with her.

“Well, I’m glad she sent you.” Chris was happy Detective Hardcastle took down the robber.

Chris was tired by the time she and Detective Hardcastle left the store. Her co-worker had left earlier since they weren’t of any help. They hadn’t noticed the robber coming into the store, because they were too busy socializing on their cellphone.

Detective Hardcastle looks over towards Chris as he drove her home. He put her bicycle in the trunk of his car.

“How are you feeling, Chris?”

“I’m still freaked out.” Chris didn’t know how she should feel after what happened.

“Well, you’ll be safe at my place. I have a feeling there is more going on and your life might be in danger.” Something about that robbery didn’t feel right to him.

“Why would anyone want to kill me?” Chris looks at Detective Hardcastle with a puzzled look on her face.

“That is the million-dollar question. Who would benefit from your death?”

“I guess my stepmother would. My father would have taken a life insurance policy out on me and my stepmother.” Chris knew her father would make sure she was taken care of. Ever since his death, her stepmother has been treating her like a housemaid.

“How have things been between you and your stepmother? Are you two getting along?” Detective Hardcastle already knew the answer to that question.

“To be honest with you, Detective. I, my stepmother and brother don’t get along at all.” Chris couldn’t count how many times her stepbrother has abused her.

That’s not counting what he and his friends did to her just a few days ago. She still had the marks on her body from what they did to her.

“We’ll go by your place so you can get a change of clothes and your schoolbooks. Then, I’ll take you back to my place, where you’ll be safe.”

“Thank you, Detective.”

“Turn here, Detective.” Chris points to an overgrown path her father used when he brought lumber to the workshop.

“Okay.” Detective Hardcastle follows the path to a 10x20 storage shed.

Chris waits until Detective Hardcastle comes to a stop, before getting out. She walks to the storage shed and takes her key out and unlocks the place. She could hear Detective Hardcastle following behind her.

“Is this where you are living?” Detective Hardcastle looks at the place as he walks into the place.

“Yes, my stepmother put me out here, after she caught me stealing money from my stepbrother. She figured I didn’t deserve to live in the main house.”

The place looked like it had been set up to do woodwork. There were all sorts of tools and machinery in the place.

“Was your father a woodworker?”

“It was his hobby. He loved building cabinets, furniture and restoring old antiques. He was talented at it. He talked about quitting his full-time
job, to take up making and fixing furniture full time.” Chris knew how happy her father was working with wood.

Chris goes about packing an overnight bag with what little clothes she had. She makes sure she has everything she needed for school as well. Chris takes her favorite teddy bear with her as well.

While Chris was packing her clothes and what she needed for school. Detective Hardcastle looks around the place. He noticed Chris had done some work to make the place livable. She had managed to make herself a camper-style shower.

She had a small kitchen setup, to cook some food. She had taken several milk crates to make cabinets to store canned food and such. He had to give Chris credit for making the place nice.

“I’m all done.” Chris looks towards Detective Hardcastle.

“Good. Does your stepmother ever come out here?” Detective Hardcastle walks over to help Chris with her bags.

They head back out to his vehicle and put her bags in the back seat. Once Chris was inside the car, Detective Hardcastle turns around and heads back the way they came. He spots Chris's stepmother’s car in the driveway.

“Seems your stepmother is home.”

“She won’t notice me gone.” Chris covers up a yawn.

“Maybe.” Hardcastle’s gut was telling him other wised.

Tik Tok’s Place:
Nora and Detective Hopkins show up together at a three-story brick building. The place used to be an old hardware store but was converted into a local food mart.

“Which floor is Tic Tok on?” Detective Hopkins has never been this close before.

“Third floor.” Nora notices that cameras have been added to the building.

“So, how do we get there?” Hopkins gets out of the car.

“Why, through the front door.” An evil smile appears on Nora’s face.

The two of them walk towards the front of the store. Nora gets some strange looks, because of the way she is dressed. Her black skintight bodysuit and gun holster stick out.

They walk through the front door towards the back of the place. People move out of their way until they come to an elevator. Standing on either side of the elevator entrance were two Latino males.

“Move or I’ll put you two in the hospital.” Nora looks at the two men.

The two men look at each other and open the elevator door. One sweeps his hand forward when the door opens.

“I guess he wants us to come up and see him.” Hopkins starts walking towards the elevator.

Nora follows behind him. She stands next to detective Hopkins as the elevator door closes.

“So far, so good.” Nora had a smile on her face.

“Maybe.” Hopkins was wondering why no one was stopping them.

After a few seconds, the elevator stops, and the door opens. Standing on the other side was a huge Latino guy.

“Give me your weapons.” He had his gun pointed at the two of them.

“I don’t think so.” Nora moves fast and strikes the guy directly on his chest, palm first.

Mateo goes flying backward from the palm strike to his chest. He didn’t expect the Spanish-looking woman to be so damn fast. Another guy moves towards Nora, but Hopkins intercepts him and knocks him out.

Nora pulls her gun with her uninjured arm and points it at the first guy. She looks at him “now where is Tik Tok?”

“I’m over here.” Tic Tok looks at Nora Midnight and the man with her.

“Good, because you know why I am here then?” Nora doesn’t put her gun away.

“I know and I’ll tell you what you want to know.” Tic Tok looks at Nora and knows if she wanted to, she could kill all his men.

Ionita Brothers Residence:
Ted watches the address he had been given to him by Nika’s friend. He was going to punish the brothers first and then go to see the person who hired his niece. Afterward, he was going to have a talk with his niece and try to get her to stop stealing cars. She was a good mechanic and she shouldn’t be wasting her life and skills, doing something so illegal.

He takes a sip of his coffee and watches the monitor. The high-power camera he had aimed at the address recorded everything. He glances at his watch as he sat away down from the address. He was going to make these brothers pay for hurting his niece. He wasn’t going to kill them, but he was going to make them wish he had killed them.

After a few hours of waiting, he spots two similar cars pull into a garage. A few minutes after that, two men come walking out with some women carrying cubes of beer. A sly smile appears on Ted’s face as he watches them walk into the house.

He waits till it starts getting dark before he stealthily moves towards the house. He peeks in and notices that the brothers were treating the women roughly. One brother was holding the head of one woman against the groin area of the other brother. It looked like the woman was having a hard time breathing.

The other woman that had enter the house was hanging by her breasts on her tiptoes in the middle of the room. As Ted continued to watch, her body would shake every few minutes. He could tell the woman was in pain each time she was shocked. All he could see from his vantage point were wires going to her crotch area.

When he turned his attention back to the other woman. He noticed she was being held by her long black hair by one of the brothers who held her head. He starts raping her and when he was done with her. His brother would take over.

“Well, that changes things.” Ted was going to be easy on them to a certain degree, but after seeing what he just saw. All gloves were off.

He waits until they pass out from drinking too much. The woman that was hanging in the middle of the room, they had fun with as well. After both of them had used her body. One brother plugged both her holes with butt plugs. They moved the wires attached to her groin area to the butt plug he put in her anal opening.

After the brothers pass out from drinking the two cubes and several bottles of Jack Daniels. Ted breaks into the house and checks the women first. The woman that had been raped by both brothers was going to need medical attention. The other woman he noticed had black and blue marks all over her body. It looked like she had been whipped by a cane or something.

He noticed that the wires connected to the butt plug were connected to a shock box. There was a timer on that could be set to deliver a shock. He disconnects the wires, after turning the shock box off.

He finds some rope and ties both brother's hands behind their backs. He finds the keys to their car and carries them out to their car and dumps both bodies in the trunks. He noticed they put a kill switch in their car, to keep it from being stolen again.

Ted knew if he could spot it, his niece could as well. He starts the car up and heads to a location he had already scouted and set up to teach these men a lesson.

Melody and Carol, Mall:
“I can’t believe mom got shot.” Carol looks at Melody as they walked from one store to another.

“Mom does seem to m-m-make enemies real e-e-easily.” Melody has been working on her speech.

She still stutters, but she has been seeing a speech specialist to overcome it. She knew Kelly and Nora were very proud of her.

“Only when someone is dumb enough to come after her or us. I would hate to see when mom is pissed.”

“I wonder how momma Nora became so dangerous?” Melody knew her mom was a former DSS agent, but she has proven to be more than that.

“Aunt Cheshire trained her.” Carol liked Cheshire and her cousin Tizzy.

They haven’t met Cheshire’s newest children yet. They continue to shop and enjoy the day. Carol has been dressing more and more like
Melody because she liked her big breasts. She was trying a new estrogen pill that would increase her breasts.

“Let’s go over to Applebee's and get some lunch?” Carol figured they could enjoy a nice meal.

“Okay.” Melody didn’t mind. Applebee’s was just across the street from the outside mall.

As they are crossing the huge parking lot. A black van starts coming towards them.

“We better move it, Melody.” Carol grabs Melody and starts running towards the edge of the parking lot.

Ping and Wong have been looking for the red hair girl, but they never saw her leave the house. However, they did see the blonde hair girl, along with another girl. They had watched as the two girls visited different stores. When the girls started walking across the parking lot, they figured they could grab them.

As Wong speeds up to cut the girls off. Ping opens the side door and manages to grab Melody. He tries to pull her into the van.

“Let my sister, GO!” Carol punches the guy holding Melody.

Melody grabs the guy that had her and falls backward out of the van with him. She had her fingernails dug into his arm. She lands on her back with him on top of her.

Carol pulls the taser out of her purse that Nora gave all her children to use and taught them how to use it. She uses it on a patch of exposed skin on the back of the guy's neck. Melody was getting out from under the guy.

Wong stops the van and jumps out to go and help Ping. He wraps his arms around the blonde hair girl and tries to pull her off of Ping. He manages to pull her off of Ping.

Carol felt grabbed from behind and pulled back. She raises her foot and brings it down hard on the person holding her. She elbows the person as hard as she could with her elbow.

Wong felt the wind knocked out of him, as he let go of the blonde-haired girl. His foot was hurting from her stomping on it. Then he had the wind knocked out of him, as her elbow connected with his abdomen.

“Take this, you creep!” Carol sprays the attacker in the eyes with the pepper spray she grabbed out of her purse.

The strength of the spray was a police-issued. Carol made sure to spray right in his eyes with the spray. After spraying, she hits the guy right in his throat as hard as she could.

Melody looks at the guy on the ground and stomp as hard as she could on his groin area. She was going to make sure he never got up. Her mother taught both of them to hurt their attacker as much as they could, so they couldn’t chase after them.

Several huge guys go running over to them. They had spotted the girls being attacked and started running over to them. When they get to them, they had to pull the teenage girls off their attackers.

Tik Tok’s Office:
“Hello, Tik Tok.” Nora walks into Tik Tok’s office with Detective Hopkins right behind her.

Nora had an evil smile on her face as she looked at Tik Tok. He had a bald head with several tattoos covering his head and face. A black magnum-style mustache covered the upper portion of his lips.

She knew he came from Argentina and grew up in the gangs down there. His father and uncle were important people in the Argentina government. She met them once during a conference in Germany. They both had young wives that couldn’t have been his mother.

“What do you want, Nora?” Tik Tok hated Nora Midnight and cops. He hated cops more than he hated Nora Midnight.

“Information.” Nora knew if there was a hit that has been put out, Tik Tok would know about it.

“What type of information and why did you bring the pig with you?” Tik Tok looks at Detective Hopkins as he stood next to Nora.

Nora looks at Tik Tok like a mother does when a child is being rude “you’ll be nice to Detective Hopkins, or I’ll put your favorite collar back on you.”

Tik Tok just looks at Nora and knew what collar she was talking about. The last time he lied to her and tried to play it tough. She subdued him and slapped a collar on him, which shocked him. He nearly died from her shocking him.

“What type of information do you want?”

“Who put a hit out on me and my wife?” Nora wanted answers.

“A guy named Jordan Kling. He hired a bunch of local assassins to take you out.”

“Why?” Nora wanted to know what she was targeted for.

“Why do you think? You stick your nose to matters that don’t concern you. First, your wife is handling that lawsuit against the corrupted cops and secondly, you are sticking your nose into a family matter that you shouldn’t be.”

“Are you talking about the Hamlet case?” Detective Hopkins looks at Tik Tok for an answer.

“What else would I be talking about, Detective?” Tik Tok hated cops.

“So, someone wants to kill me because I’m trying to help a student of mine? Why? What is so special about Chris?”

“Don’t know, but you’re sticking your nose into family business. A family with connections to some dangerous people.”

Detective Hopkins looks at Nora “do you know who he is talking about?”

“Yes, he’s talking about a student in my class by the name of Chris Sumner. From what I have observed about her, she’s being mistreated and being made to live out of a shed.” Nora cared about all her students.

“And someone is trying to kill you for helping a student?” Hopkins couldn’t believe that.

“Give me the names of the assassins who were dumb enough to take the contract on me and where I can find the person who hired them.”

“What’s in it for me?” Tik Tok looks at Nora.

“How about I let you continue what you are doing and stay out of your business?” Nora smiles evilly at Tik Tok.

“And you?” As Tik Tok looks at detective Hopkins.

“How about I don’t arrest you or your friends there for some of the illegal substances I spotted walking in?” Hopkins had spotted a few bricks of cocaine.

“Fine.” Tik Tok writes down the names of the assassins and where they could find Jordan Kling.

He hands the paper to Nora “I hope I don’t see you ever again.”

“Behave yourself and you’ll never see me. However, I can’t make the same promise about Detective Hopkins or the Cheshire herself.”

Tik Tok goes pale at the mention of Cheshire’s name. He knows if she or her partner ever came to Memphis. Someone was going to die.

Detective Hopkins saw Tik Tok go pale at the mention of a person named Cheshire. He wonders who the person was and why the name alone caused such a reaction.

“Is there anything you want to ask Tik Tok detective?” Nora looks at Hopkins.

“There is.”

Detective Hardcastle Resident:
Chris covers up a yawn as she gets out of the car and follows Detective Hardcastle into his place. She could tell that the place was warm and welcoming. She spotted pictures of his daughter throughout the ages. She looked like she was an active person and enjoyed sports and such.

“Detective, where is your daughter?”

“She’s attending college in another state.” Hardcastle was proud of his daughter.

She was attending college on a sports scholarship. She worked very hard to impress the recruiters. All her sacrifice and training paid off.

“You must be very proud of her.” Chris looks at Hardcastle.

“I am. Now, let’s get you situated.” Hardcastle escorts Chris to a spare bedroom.

Chris follows behind Hardcastle to the spare bedroom. When she walks into the room, she noticed that it had a nice king-size bed in it.

“Oh, I can’t wait to sleep on that.”

A smile appears on Hardcastle’s face “why don’t you put your things away and I’ll order us some dinner.”

Chris hugs Hardcastle “thank you for everything.”

Hardcastle returns the hug “you’re welcome.”

Nora and Detective Hopkins were walking out of Tik Tok’s place when her cellphone starts playing the ring tone assigned to Kelly. Nora pulls the cellphone out of her pouch and answers it.

“What’s wrong, Kelly?”

“Melody and Carol were almost kidnapped this morning.” Kelly was down at the police station with the girls.

“Are the girls alright?” Nora was worried about her girls.

“They are fine. They did you proud and you should see what they did to the kidnappers.” Kelly saw the two men that tried to kidnap her girls.

They were all beaten up and red face from Carol using the pepper spray. She used the whole bottle on the kidnappers.

“What did the kidnappers look like?” Nora wonders if it were the same ones that shoot her.

“Asian and dressed in black leather and were traveling in a van. Officer Hayden down here at the Fifteenth Precinct is handling the case.” Kelly was watching Officer Hayden as he talked with the girls.

“Alright, tell the girls I’ll be home soon and that I love them and you.” Nora was pissed that the assassins went after her girls.

“I will. You be careful and I love you too.” Kelly ends the call.

Detective Hopkins saw how pissed Nora got from talking with her wife. He waits until she is done talking before asking what was wrong.

“What’s wrong, Nora?”

“The assassins that went after me, tried to kidnapped my girls.” Nora was ready to kill someone.

“Are your girls okay?” Detective Hopkins could see that Nora was upset.

“Yes, they beat the assassins up. Still, you don’t go after another person’s family.”

“Not everyone follows your code, Nora.”

“I know, but a message needs to be sent to Jordan Kling. I want the fear of god to be put into him.” Nora knew she could call Cheshire or Jack, but she had someone else in mind.

“Well, you aren’t in any shape to deliver that type of message, Nora.” Detective Hopkins knew Nora wasn’t in any shape to be her normal vicious self.

“No, but I know who can.” Nora pulls her cellphone out again and sends a text message to Sasha.

“Nora, you know you can’t take the law into your hands.” Detective Hopkins spots Alex parked down the street from Tik Tok’s place.

Nora just looks at her friend “I won’t allow him to threaten my family. Me, yes. I accept that fact. However, you go after my family, that is declaring war with me. I won’t allow anyone to do that.”

“I understand that. Who did you just text?”

“It’s better that you don’t know.” Nora didn’t think Sasha wanted it to be known about what she does.

“I hope this person isn’t this Cheshire person that you mention.” Detective Hopkins had a feeling he didn’t want to meet this person.

“Detective, if I called Cheshire or even her partner, you wouldn’t know it. They are people that don’t leave evidence that they were ever in town.” Nora knew Jack and Cheshire would come in and do what is necessary and leave.

“How do you know people like that?” Detective Hopkins knew Nora was a former DSS agent, how does she know the underworld so well.

“Because one of them trained me. I was more than your standard DSS agent.” Nora has never told her friend about what she did.

“Oh! That answers a lot of my unspoken, questions.”

“Wait here, I see someone I know.” Detective Hopkins walks down the street towards Alex’s vehicle.

Alex has been quietly watching the vehicle that Detective Hopkins and his friend came in. She didn’t know who the other person was, but she looked dangerous. She glances at her dash clock to see what time it was and timed them.

Several people came and went while Detective Hopkins and his friend were inside. No one approached Detective Hopkins's car while they were gone. No one noticed her either. That was her major concern while waiting for Detective Hopkins to come out.

When Detective Hopkins came out of the building, they went in. Something didn’t seem right. The woman had her cellphone out and was talking to someone. She noticed her facial expression changed several times.

She noticed that Detective Hopkins had spotted her. She continued to watch him and his friend. After a few minutes, he started walking towards her location. When he got close to her vehicle, she rolls the window down.

“What can I do for you, Detective?”

“How did things go while we were inside?”

“No one approached your vehicle, Detective. I do have a question for you. Who’s the Spanish-looking lady dressed in the skintight jumpsuit?”
Alex was still watching the woman.

“A very dangerous friend of mine. She knows Tik Tok very well.”

“Well, if she is so dangerous. Why did you need me here?” Alex wanted an answer to that question.

“Because she’s been injured.”

Alex noticed she was watching them. She also was texting someone from the look of it.

“So, does this mean we are even?” Alex wanted to make sure.

“Let’s just say, you are close. Any job after this, I’ll pay you half your rate.”

“You don’t play fair, Detective.” Alex hated being in debt to Detective Hopkins.

“I know.” Detective Hopkins turns around and walks back to his vehicle.

Detective Hardcastle’s Residence:
Chris stretches as she slowly wakes up. The alarm on her prepaid cellphone had gone off, even though today was a no-school day. She stares up at the ceiling and slowly recalls everything that happened yesterday at work.

Most robberies she has heard about, the robber only wanted the money in the cash register and anything else they took off the shelves.
However, the guy that robbed the store she worked at, tried to kill her. She shivers just from thinking about it. If that wasn’t bad enough,

Detective Hardcastle had seen the bruises on her body where her stepbrother and his friends had abused her.

Hardcastle had asked her to tell him everything that happened that day. He also had taken pictures of her body as evidence with her
permission. After she had soaked for a while, he helped her make the bed in the room she was currently in.

Chris gets out of bed and slips on her slippers and robe. She heads to the bathroom first to take care of her morning business. Afterward, she heads towards the kitchen and notices Detective Hardcastle was cooking breakfast.

The smell of hickory-smoked bacon was drifting in the air. She noticed a mixing bowl full of batter was sitting on the counter next to the stove. There was also a bowl of cinnamon caramel apple slices sitting in a clear bowl and a clear bowl of freshly cut strawberries.

Hardcastle notices Chris as she walks into the kitchen. He had just gotten done mixing the batter for his famous pancakes.

“Morning, Chris. I hope you slept well last night?” He had checked on Chris, before turning in himself.

“I was in dreamland last night. What are you about to make?” Chris was curious what the batter was for.

“My famous pancakes. How many would you like?”

“If it's no problem, how about six?” Chris loved pancakes. She used to make them all the time with her father before he died.

“Six it is then.” Hardcastle ladles six pancakes onto the hot buttered griddle on the stove.

While the pancakes sizzled, he takes the cookie tray of bacon out of the oven and set it on a hot plate. He scoops the bacon off the cookie tray and lays them on a plate.

“Do you like apples or strawberries on your pancakes?” Hardcastle turns to look at Chris.

“Apples pleases.” Chris had pulled a stool out and sat down at the counter to watch Hardcastle cook.

“Apples, it is then.” Hardcastle scoops up some caramel apple slices and through them on the griddle to reheat.

He flips the pancakes into the air and catches them. He used to do that trick all the time for his little girl when he made breakfast for her. When the pancakes were ready, he scoops them up and lays them on a plate. He then tops them off with the caramel apple slices. He adds a couple of strips of bacon to the plate.

“Here you go, Chris.” He hands the plate to her. Along with some silverware as well.

Chris accepts the plate “thank you.”

Chris cuts into the stack of pancakes and takes a bite. It tasted so good as she ate it.

“Your daughter must have been one of the luckiest girls around.” As she stuffs another bite into her mouth.

“She was more of an omelet person.” A smile appears on Hardcastle’s weathered face.

“Well, I love pancakes, and these are the best I have ever had.” Chris picks up a strip of bacon and folds it into the pieces of pancake.

“So, tell me, Chris. Why do your stepbrother and mother hate you so much?” Hardcastle was curious about that.

“My brother that’s easy. He’s a spoiled brat. His mother always doted on him when he was growing up. As for me, I think it's because I remind her so much of my father. I have a lot of his looks and traits. When he died, she inherited the house along with whatever money there was in the bank account. The problem is, she doesn’t have access to the account my mother left me.”

“Your birth, mother?” Hardcastle stacks some pancakes on his plate.

“Yes sir. I can’t access it until I turn twenty-one years of age. My mother’s side of the family is filthy rich. My birth mother inherited a lot of money from her father and gave half of it to my father. She set up a college fund for me and a trust fund as well. When she died of cancer, whatever money she had left in her account, I inherited.”

“What was your mother’s maiden name?”

“Moroun, I think. Mary Ann Moroun. My grandfather was very strict with her, but he loved all his grandkids.”

“What happens to you, if you should up and die or disappear?” Hardcastle was starting to see why Chris was treated the way she was.

“I don’t know. I would guess it would go to my stepmother or any children I may have at the time.” Chris has never been informed by the family lawyer about what happens to the money, should something happen to her.

“Does your stepbrother get any of the money?” Hardcastle takes a bite of his pancakes.

“Nope! He only gets whatever his mother gives him. Which is normally the child support she gets from his father.” Chris knew her stepmother still got child support for her brother.

Her stepmother didn’t get alimony anymore because she got married. Since her father never adopted her stepbrother as his child, his mother still got child support.

“Interesting.”

Somewhere on The Mississippi River:
Jordan Kling slowly wakes up and finds himself naked and hanging from a crane over a body of water. It was nighttime and there was no moon out.

“Well, it's about time you woke up.” Keith looks at Jordan Kling as he hung over the Mississippi River.

“Who the fuck are you and why I’m naked and hanging here?” The last thing Jordan remembered, was walking to his car and after that nothing.

“Well, to answer your question, Mr. Kling. You went after a certain person’s family and tried to kidnap her daughters.”

“So, you’re working for that bitch, Nora Midnight?” Jordan looks at the well-built muscular, tall guy with dirty blonde hair.

The rope that was holding Jordan loosens and he drops some towards the water. His feet were inches away from the surface.

“I would be careful with what you say, or I might loosen my grip.” An evil smile appears on Keith’s face.

“I’ll double whatever she is paying you.” Jordan didn’t know who this man was, but he didn’t want to die.

“That’s a tempting offer, but unfortunately, it goes against my code. Also, you don’t have enough money to pay me off for what you attempted.” Keith loosens his grip and lets Jordan drop into the river.

After a few minutes, Keith pulls Jordan out of the river. He lets him hang about two feet above the surface.

“Now, you’re going to tell me everything you know and why you tried to kill Mrs. Midnight and one of her students. If I don’t like what you say, I’ll let you drop into the river, until your dead.”

“What makes you think I’ll tell you anything?” Jordan didn’t think the man before him was serious.

“Because you value your life and I’m betting you won’t disappoint me.” Keith lets go of the rope one more time.

Keith watches as Jordan squirms around in the water. He looks at his watch and after a few minutes, he hauls him up out of the water.

“Start talking or you’re going for another dip.” Keith makes sure he has the recorder on. This way he can give the information to Mrs. Midnight and let her decide what to do with it.

Warehouse:
The Ionita brothers wake up and find themselves stripped naked. Lucas finds himself bound to a wooden sawhorse, sitting on top of the angle of it. His hands were bound behind his back and the metal angle was cutting into his ass and scrotum. Standing across from him was his brother Owen, and he had a noose around his neck standing on two wooden crates.

“Hello, boys. I hope you are enjoying your accommodations.” Ted looks at both men.

“You made a mistake going after my cousin, Nika. You also broke the rules when you tried to murder her. So, I’m going to make you pay for trying to kill her. Since you like to inflict pain on women. I have arranged for you to experience what it is like for you to experience the pain.
First, Mr. Lucas. You are going to be slowly shocked to death. The electrical current is going to be administered to a device hooked up to that metal plate you’re sitting on. The device is hooked up to a timer. The timer is set for five minutes intervals. So, every five minutes, an electrical charge is going to travel into your body. Each time, the charge will get more intense. It will raise in power level until you are dead. As for your brother here.” Ted turns to face Owen.

“You are going to experience the same thing. Except, you are going to try and keep yourself from falling off the crates. If you fall off, well you die. Simple as that. So, let the fun begin.” Ted presses a remote to start everything.

Nora’s House:
Keith pulls up in front of an old house in downtown Memphis. The house looks like it dated back to the early 1900's. The address his cousin Sasha had given him matched the address on the mail post. He looks at the house and couldn’t believe it was one of the historic houses on the street.

According to the information he had looked up, there were three more historic homes on this street. He gets out of his rental and walks up the beautifully decorated walkway towards the front door. The house itself looked nice. It was single story style design and had a lot of large windows and a two-car garage.

He walks up to the front door and rings the doorbell. He notices Nora had one of those Ring camera units mounted on the outside. As he waits for her to answer the door, he hopes the information he got from Jordan Kling helps her.

Tiffany was walking by the front door with a basket full of dirty laundry when she hears the doorbell ring. She puts the basket down and checks the monitor near the door. There was a tall well-built man with short dirty blonde hair. She didn’t recognize the person.

She slowly opens the front door “can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m here to speak with Mrs. Nora Midnight. Is she around?” Keith looks at the dark hair teenage girl who had opened the front door.

“Yes, my I ask who you are?” Tiffany didn’t know who this guy was.

“I’m Keith Wolfhart and I’m Sasha Wolfhart’s cousin. She asked me to do a favor for your mother.”

“Hold on, let me get my mother.” Tiffany closes the front door and heads towards her mother’s bedroom.

The door to her mother’s bedroom was closed, so Tiffany knocks on it.

“Enter!” Nora was getting dressed with Kelly’s help when she heard the knocking on their bedroom door.

Tiffany walks into her mother’s bedroom and notices Kelly helping Nora putting her bra on. Nora already a pair of faded blue jeans on “sorry for bothering you mom, but there’s a Keith Wolfhart at the front door that wants to talk with you.”

Nora and Kelly look at Tiffany as she entered. Kelly was helping her get dress since her shoulder was still injured.

“Did he say what he wanted to talk to me about, Tiffany?” Nora looks at Tiffany as she stood nearby.

“No ma’am, but he did say he was related to a Sasha Wolfhart. Does that mean anything to you?”

“Isn’t she the one that helped you stop who was going after Carol?” Kelly looks at Nora for an answer.

“Yes, she was. I called her to see if she could find Jordan Kling and make him talk.” Nora would have done it.

“Well, maybe this person has some info for you, sweetie.” Kelly wonders who the guy was as well.

“Go ahead and invite him in, Tiffany. Take him to my office and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

“Okay, mom.” Tiffany turns around and leaves her mother’s bedroom.

She walks back to the front door and opens it. She looks at Mr. Wolfhart “if you’ll follow me, Mr. Wolfhart.”

“Please, just call me Keith.” Keith walks into the house.

“Okay, Keith.” Tiffany closes the front door behind him.

She leads Keith towards her mother’s home office. It wasn’t often that Tiffany went into her mother’s office.

“If you’ll wait in here, Mr. Wolfhart.” Tiffany steps aside to let Keith into the office.

Keith walks into the office and notices that it was a home office. There were pictures mounted up on the wall of some Spanish looking woman, mingling with foreign people. There were pictures of kids as well, plus certificates and awards. He walks over and sits down in a nice leather chair.

Keith was impressed by the awards and other pictures he saw in the office. There were several bookcases in the room filled with all sorts of books. On one shelf was nothing but law books and such on it.

After a few minutes, a Hispanic-looking woman dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans, a light blue blouse, and wearing a pair of the new slip-on sneakers come walking into the office. Her dark black hair came down to her shoulder.

Nora spots a well-built gentleman with dirty blonde hair, dark tanned skin, and dressed semi-casual sitting in the chair in front of her desk. She walks up to him and holds her good hand out “hi, I’m Nora Midnight. My daughter told me you were related to Sasha Wolfhart?”

Keith shakes Nora’s hand “Keith Wolfhart and she’s my cousin on her father’s side.”

Keith notices Nora had a nice grip for a lady. She also had a nice figure as well. He could tell she was a little older than he was.

“So, Mr. Wolfhart. What brings you to my house this morning?” Nora walks around the desk and sits down in her chair across from him.

“Well, to tell you my cousin is sorry she couldn’t personally handle what you called her about. She was busy with a performance in Los Vegas
and couldn’t leave. So, she called me since I was working nearby.”

“Do you do the same type of work as Sasha?” Nora was curious.

“Let’s just say, it’s a family business type of thing. Normally, I’m out at sea on my scallop boat.”

“So, you’re the captain of a scallop boat?”

“Not only the captain but the owner as well. I did this job as a favor to her.”

“Thank you for doing this for me. What did you find out?” Nora was curious about the information he learned.

“Well, for one thing. Mr. Kling doesn’t like you at all. He also said that you were sticking your nose into a family matter.”

“So, he sent assassins to try to kill me?”

“Yes. He also worked for the cops that are trying to stop you on whatever case your wife is working on.”

“Does he know the people involved?”

“He gave me one name. Also, you might want to remove Chris from her stepmother’s care.”

“Why’s that?” Nora wonders what danger Chris was going to be in.

“Because her stepmother has offered her up to one of the members of the motorcycle gang to become his wife.”

“WHAT? She’s underage and it's illegal.”

“Not if they cross the state line. Mississippi will allow her to get married at a young age with parent’s consent.”

“Why would Chris’s stepmother do something like that?” Nora wanted to know why Chris’s stepmother would do that to Chris.

“Because one she doesn’t like her stepdaughter. Secondly, then she can claim Chris is dead and have access to the inheritance left for Chris.” Keith couldn’t believe the scheme Chris’s stepmother and boyfriend came up with.

“Let me guess, once she gets the money, they would kill Chris off?”

“Or pimp her out to make money for the motorcycle club. Either way, she’s in danger.”

“She’s safe right now. She’s with my friend Detective Hardcastle.” Nora was glad she asked Hardcastle to look after her.

Keith watches Nora and could see she was concerned about her student.

“And you have all this?” Nora looks at Keith with a questionable look on her face.

“Oh, I have all this.” Keith reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a thumb drive. He slides it across the desk to Nora.

Nora catches the black and red thumb drive. She could tell it was one you could buy anywhere.

“What did you do with Mr. Kling?”

“He’s been turned over to a friend of mine in the US Marshal service. It seems he had a bunch of outstanding Federal warrants. So, he’s going to be serving time for a while.” Keith loved that Kling was going to go to jail for a while.

“I better call Hardcastle and tell him what is going on. Thank you for everything you did.”

“You’re welcome.” Keith stands up.

Nora stands up and esorts Keith to the front door.

Nora watches and listens to the confession Keith managed to extract from Jordan Kling. She had to admit that his way of extracting information, was a lot different than hers or his cousin. She had the evidence she needed to put Chris into protective custody. She picks the headset up from the phone on her desk and dials Detective Hardcastle’s cellphone number.

Hardcastle’s Residence:
Detective Hardcastle and Chris were outside tending to the lawn. Hardcastle had informed Chris that she didn’t need to help him with the yard work, but she wanted to help him. He watches as she walks up and down the yard mowing the grass.

He goes back to edging when he feels his cellphone vibrate in his pocket. He pulls his cellphone out of his pocket and checks who it is. He notices it was Nora’s home phone. He accepts the call.

“Hey Nora, what’s on your mind?”

Nora’s Home Office:
“I have some information about Chris’s situation and was wondering if you and her can come to my house?”

Hardcastle’s House:
“We have some yard work to finish before we come.”

Nora’s Office:
“That’s fine. I have one more person to call as well.”

Hardcastle’s Yard:
“Alright, let’s make it a lunch meeting.”

Nora’s Place:
“I’ll supply the lunch.”

Hardcastle’s Yard:
“Alright, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Nora’s place:
Nora ends the call to Hardcastle. She dials the number to her friend at Children Protective Services. She hopes Brenda wasn’t too busy and could come to her house.

Children Protective Services:
Brenda Lacey finishes the adoption file she has been working on. There was a smile on her face as she closes the file. The couple that adopted the Jefferson children were happy and so were the kids as well.

She gets up and files away from the folder. She was happy that the Jefferson children were happy. As Brenda is walking back to her desk. Her office phone starts ringing. She picks it up “hello?”

“Brenda, it’s Nora. Do you have any lunch plans?”

“Not really, why?” Brenda has been friends with Nora since college.

“How about if you could drop by for some lunch?” Nora figures Brenda could help them with Chris’s problem.

“Lunch sounds good, but I bet there’s something else you want to talk to me about?” Brenda knew her old friend Nora pretty well.

“There is because I need some advice from you about a matter.”

“Let me guess, you want to adopt another child?” Brenda knew Nora has already adopted several children and has guardianship of another child.

“Nope, I’m good on that. It’s about one of my students and some trouble she is in with her family.”

Brenda knew there was a catch. She knew Nora too well “alright, what time do you want me there?”

“Let’s say two o’clock.” Nora figures it would give Hardcastle enough time to finish whatever yard work he was doing.

“I can do two. I’ll see you then.”

“Thanks, Brenda.” Nora ends the call and hangs the receiver back on the cradle.

She pockets the thumb drive and heads into the living room. She spots Kelly and Tiffany in the living room folding laundry.
Little Marie was sound asleep by Tiffany’s side. A smile appears on her face as she watches her wife and Tiffany “I’ve invited Detective Hardcastle and Brenda to come over for lunch. Are you two okay, with having barbeque for lunch?”

“Sounds good to me, sweetie.” Kelly looks over towards, Nora.

“Sounds good, mom.” Tiffany looks at Nora as well.

“I’m glad to hear it. So, who wants to help me on the grill?”

“I’ll help you.” Kelly stands up and smiles at Nora.

“I was hoping you would say that.”

Nora smiles at Kelly as she walks over and places a kiss on her cheek. She looks into Kelly’s eyes.

Kelly looks into Nora’s eyes “did Sasha’s friend learn anything?”

“He learned a lot. I’m going to share it with Detective Hardcastle and Brenda when they come over for lunch.”

“Are we adopting another child?” Kelly knew her wife and how much of a soft-hearted person she is.

“Nope, I’m hoping Detective Hardcastle might adopt her. He’s good with children.” Nora hopes Hardcastle might adopt Chris or become her legal guardian.

“Let’s go and get lunch ready.” Kelly takes Nora’s hand and leads her into the kitchen.

Nora’s House:
Hardcastle pulls his car up in front of Nora’s place. He notices another car was parked in front of the house as well. He looks at Chris and could tell she was a little curious as to why they were in front of her teacher’s house.

“Why are we in front of Mrs. Midnight’s place?” Chris looks at Hardcastle for an answer.

“Because she has some information, she wants to share with me about your situation.”

“Is it really bad?” Chris wonders what Mrs. Midnight found out.

“I don’t know yet. She wants to talk with us about the information.”

“I wonder what she found out.” Chris opens her car door and gets out.

“Me too, Kiddo. Me too.” Hardcastle opens his car door and gets out as well.

Hardcastle and Chris walks up the well-trimmed and manicured walk wall. Hardcastle looks at the flowers and lights that decorated the path. He wonders how long it takes Nora to maintain the yard and sidewalk. They stop at the front door and presses the doorbell.

Kelly had just walked into the house from the patio into the kitchen. When she hears the doorbell ring. She walks up to the door and looks through the peephole. A smile appears on her face when she sees who it was.

Kelly opens the front door “Detective Hardcastle, it’s so nice to see you again.”

Chris watches as the front door opens and standing on the other side of the door was a middle-aged woman with black shoulder length hair. She was wearing a nice light color tunic patchwork summer dress. She also had on minimum make-up.

“Kelly, it has been a while since I’ve seen you. Let me introduce you to Chris, here.” Hardcastle steps aside to let Chris come forward.

Kelly smiles at Chris “my wife has told me so much about you.”

Chris was surprised at Kelly saying that Mrs. Midnight was married to this woman. She had heard rumors in school that Mrs. Midnight was a lesbian, but she didn’t believe it. She knew Mrs. Midnight had two children that went to the same high school as her.

“I hope it wasn’t all bad, ma’am.” Chris was curious about what Mrs. Midnight said about her.

“It was all nice. Please come inside.” Kelly steps aside to let Chris and Detective Hardcastle enter.

Chris steps inside the house first, followed by Detective Hardcastle. They wait for Kelly to close the front door behind them.

“So, where’s Nora?” Detective Hardcastle was curious.

“She’s out back tending to the ribs. Here, let me show you to her.” Kelly escorts Chris and Detective Hardcastle towards the patio doors.

Chris looks around and saw that Mrs. Midnight had a nice place. She also saw pictures of Mrs. Midnight's children. There were pictures of Nora’s children dressed in Halloween costumes and of Kelly as well.

Hardcastle noticed Chris looking at the pictures on display of Nora’s children and wife. He knew she kept the pictures of herself in the DSS in her home office.

“Nora is all about family, Chris. There’s nothing she won’t do for her family and friends.”

“I wish I had a mother like that.” Chris felt a tear starting to slide down her cheek.

“I think things are about to change for you, Chris.” Kelly heard Chris's statement.

Kelly opens the patio door and steps outside. She saw Tiffany still in the pool with her daughter. Nora’s friend Brenda was sitting at the table enjoying a virgin Pina colada.

“Would you like something cold to drink, Detective?”

“A beer if you have any.”

“I think I can find something. How about you, Chris?” Kelly looks at Chris.

“A soda would be fine.” She noticed the teenage girl out in the pool with a baby.

“I know we have plenty of them. Just have a seat at the table and I’ll bring them to you.”

“Okay.” Hardcastle walks over to the table.

He noticed an older woman in her late forties, early fifties sitting at the table. From the way she was dressed, he figures she worked for the government. Detective Hardcastle walks over to the table “Hi, I’m Detective Hardcastle and this is Chris Winter.”

Brenda looks at the older man and teenage girl in front of her. Nora had already given her some background on Chris Winter when she arrived.

“It’s nice meeting you, detective and Mrs. Winter. I’m Brenda Doxon.” Brenda extends her hand to Detective Hardcastle to shake.

Detective Hardcastle shakes Brenda’s extended hand. After Detective Hardcastle lets go of Brenda’s hand. Chris shakes Brenda’s hand.

Nora watches as Hardcastle, Chris and Brenda interact with each other. She hopes that the information she is about to share with the three of them. Helps protect Chris and put Chris’s stepmother and brother in jail.

“Tiffany, lunch is ready.” Nora looks over towards Tiffany in the pool.

“Okay, mom.” Tiffany gets out of the pool, along with little Marie, and heads towards Nora.

Kelly takes the drinks for Hardcastle and Chris to them. She grabbed an extra one for Tiffany “Tiffany, I have a drink for you.”

“Thanks, momma Kelly.” Tiffany accepts the soda.

Nora walks over to the table with the side items on it with a serving tray loaded with ribs and barbeque chicken. She looks at her friends and daughter “I hope you guys are hungry because I have a lot here.”

“I think we can help make some of that disappear.” Hardcastle could smell the ribs.

“Well, come and serve yourself. We have Amish potato salad, homemade macaroni and cheese, baked beans, Southern string beans, and chef salad as well.”

“You didn’t need to make all of this food.” Brenda looks at Nora.

“She didn’t, I did.” Kelly had a smirk on her face.

“I helped as well.” Tiffany walks over with a plate.

“Yes, you did sweetie and I appreciate it.” Nora looks at Tiffany with a proud look on her face.

Chris knew Mrs. Midnight was a nice person and just watching her with her daughter. She wishes her stepmother was like Mrs. Midnight. She walks over to the table with the food to hide how she felt.

Tiffany looks at Chris and could tell she was upset. She knew a little bit of what was going on, but not everything. She puts her hand on Chris’s “everything will get better.”

Chris looks at Tiffany “thanks.”

Once everyone has gotten their food and was sitting around the picnic table. Nora looks at everyone “I have some information I need to share with you. Chris, this is going to be hard for you to hear.”

Chris wonders what Mrs. Midnight has uncovered. She watches as Nora pulls out a slim black Chromebook. She brings the file up and plays it for Brenda and Detective Hardcastle.

Nora’s House:
“I think the meeting went fine, yesterday.” Kelly changes the bandages covering Nora’s wound.

“I’m just hoping judge Jay will approve the paperwork.” Nora was concerned if he would approve for Detective Hardcastle to have custody of Chris.

There was enough evidence to warrant the removal of Chris from her stepmother’s care. Judge Jay has approved every custody paperwork she has asked him for. Including the guardianship of Tiffany and her baby.

“He likes you and we’re talking about Detective Hardcastle here. The man is a boy scout and has a daughter. I think Judge Jay will approve the paperwork.” Kelly applies the dressing to Nora’s wound.

“I’m just glad that Hardcastle is willing to take Chris in. I don’t think we have any more room here at our new house.” Kelly remembers their last house. The one Nora bought way back when she was in the DSS.

She loved old historic houses. That’s why she bought the one they were currently living in because they needed more room with all the children they have been adopting lately. If they adopted Chris, she would have to share a bedroom with Tiffany and little Maria.

“Maybe we shouldn’t adopt any more children.” Nora turns to look at Kelly.

“You would never stop doing that, Nora. You have a big heart, and you don’t like seeing children hurt.” Kelly knew her wife too well.

“You’re right.” Nora stands up so Kelly could help her with her blouse.

“I do have another question, for you sweetie. What are we going to do about Carol and Melody?” Kelly has been keeping an eye on them.

“What do you mean?” Nora was curious.

“Carol’s been doing some research online and she wants to have a body like Melody.” Kelly has been monitoring their children’s computer activity.

“I’ll talk with her and ask her why she wants Melody’s body shape.”

“Thank you.” Kelly places a kiss on Nora’s cheek.

Hardcastle’s Residence:
Hardcastle checks in on Chris and finds her still asleep. Yesterday, when they got back from Nora’s place. Chris broke down and cried herself to sleep after learning what her stepmother had planned for her.

He quietly shuts her bedroom door and walks outside to call his daughter. He hopes she doesn’t mind having a younger sister. He and his wife had wanted another child, but a perp he was investigating came after his wife.

After Hardcastle talks with his daughter for a while. He heads back inside the house and waits for Chris to wake up. While he is waiting, he pulls some meat out of the freezer to defrost. He was thinking about cooking on the grill later in the evening.

His daughter was doing good at college, and she was supportive about him adopting Chris. She said she wouldn’t mind having a little sister either. That had pleased him to no end.

Hardcastle goes outside and starts preparing a new flower bed. He had planned on decorating the yard, the way his wife would have done it. He plays some music from his cellphone through the outdoor blue tooth speakers.

Two hours later, Chris finally wakes up. She goes to the bathroom and splashes some water on her eyes. After all the crying she did last night, she still felt tired.

Chris heads towards the kitchen and fixes herself something to eat. While she is cooking herself something to eat, she hears music coming in from outside. She looks out through the kitchen window and spots Hardcastle working on the new flower bed. A smile appears on her face as she watches him.

Chris takes her lunch outside and eats at the table. She watches as Hardcastle glances over his shoulder and looks at her.

“Afternoon, sleepyhead.”

“Having fun?” Chris takes a bite of her sandwich.

“Yes.”

The rest of the day Chris and Hardcastle spend outside. Chris enjoys working with Hardcastle. She helps him with dinner, and they talk for a while.

Judge Jay’s Courtroom, One week later:
Judge Jay looks out at Detective Hardcastle and Chris Winter’s parents. He also spotted Brenda Lacey and Nora Midnight as well. He had looked at the report that had been filed and listen to the recording.

He wanted to speak to the agent that recorded the information. He looks towards Nora “Mrs. Midnight, have you heard back from your friend that retrieved the information?”

Nora looks at Judge Jay “no sir, I haven’t.”

Just as Nora says those words, the courtroom doors open. A rather attractive blonde-haired woman wearing an expensive dark blue business suit walks into the courtroom.

“Sorry for being late your honor.” She spots Nora and walks over to her.

“And who are you, Mrs.?” Judge Jay looks at the woman.

“I’m Sabrina Blake, your honor. And I’m representing Keith Wolfhart.” Sabrina looks at Judge Jay as he sat up at the bench.

“And why are you representing Mr. Wolfhart, Mrs. Blake?” Judge Jay was curious.

“Well, your honor. Mr. Wolfhart is unable to be here today because of a case he is working on. He informed me, of what occurred. If you have any questions that need clearing up, I will do my best to answer them.”

Nora wonders who Mrs. Blake was, besides a lawyer. She could contact Sasha and ask, but she’ll do that afterward. She glances over towards Chris’s parents. The stepmother didn’t look happy.

Judge Jay listens to the arguments from Mrs. Winters. She tried to paint Chris as a disturbed child and as a thief and such. The judge wasn’t buying it.

By the time the court hearing was over, Hardcastle ended up getting custody of Chris. Her stepmother and stepbrother are arrested. As for her stepmother’s associates, arrest warrants are issued for them.

Sabrina meets with Hardcastle and Chris after court. She looks at them with a pleasant smile on her face “if you ever need anything or legal representation, feel free to contact me.” She hands Hardcastle a business card.

“Thank you.” Hardcastle accepts it.

Chris looks at Sabrina “are you a friend of Mrs. Midnight?”

“You could say that. I’m an associate of Mrs. Midnight’s friend, Sasha Wolfhart.”

“Thee, Sasha Wolfhart? The guitar player from Wildfire?” Chris has heard of her and has some of her music.

“Yes, the rock star. She’s my cousin” Sabrina loved when people hear her cousin's name.

“And she’s your cousin?”

“Yes. So, just let her or me know if you ever need anything.”

“Thank you.”

Sabrina walks towards her car.

Hardcastle looks at Chris “at least you don’t have to worry about your safety anymore.”

Chris hugs Hardcastle.

Hardcastle returns the hug. He looks down at her “let’s go home.”

Nora looks out into the neighborhood and watched as people got ready for work. She had on her robe and was enjoying her freshly brewed coffee. She loved that she was finally home for good now. She was enjoying her retirement. She liked the peace and quietness of her place and neighborhood. It’s not like she didn’t enjoy her oversea assignments, but it was always nice to come home.

As she is sitting on her back deck enjoying her coffee, her cellphone starts ring. She looks at the number and notices it was blocked. She pushes the accept button.”

“Hello?”

“Hello Midnight. I have a job offer for you.” Cheshire knew Marin Jones might go after Christine for saving everyone’s life.

“Hello Cheshire. You do know I’m retired, don’t you?” Nora knew if Cheshire was calling her, something must be up.

“I know you are retired from the DSS, but the job I have for you. It won’t take you away from your home.” Since, Christine lived in Memphis and so did Midnight. Cheshire felt it might be a good idea to have her watch over her. She could train Christine in self-defense.

“How important is the job, Cheshire?” Nora takes a sip of her coffee.

“It’s a long-term babysitting job, Nora. The person in question is a college student by the name of Christine Pyle. Jack and I owe her for pulling our daughters from a burning building.” Cheshire knew no matter what, her and Jack was going to make sure Christine stayed safe. They owed her that much.

“Were your daughters part of the group that was pulled out of the burning warehouse?” Nora had seen a news cast last night of the fire and the people that had been rescued.

“Yes, the Montana Police Officer is Jacks oldest daughter and the Honolulu Police Officer is my daughter. The other young lady. The Private Security Contractor is Jack’s youngest daughter. The rest of the people were friends of our daughters.”

“So, whom am I guarding this college students from?”

“A burned CIA/Delta Force agent. He is responsible for the murder of six different government agents. “Cheshire had more, but Midnight didn’t need to know.

“Alright. Send me what you have on this Christine Pyle. I’m charging you my standard rate for this job, Cheshire.”

“Tack on an extra 20% percent, Nora. This is going to be a long-term assignment. Until, Jack and I catch Marin Jones. Christine is going to be valuable. So, until you hear from me or Jack. I’ll need you to be her shadow. There is one more thing, you need to know as well. Christine is transgender and likes to dress up in different cosplay costumes. So, be aware she likes to play hero while dressed up. Jack has already bugged her place with a micro-camera and mic. Any conversion that occurs there goes directly to a secure cloud account. I’ll send you the website login credentials.”

“Thanks.” Nora heads inside and over towards her desktop and check her email.

After going through several secure connections, the file Cheshire sent her shows up. She needed to use Cheshire’s decryption key to read the email. Before she starts, she refills her coffee and grab a banana nut muffin she picked up yesterday at Tasty Pastries.

She walks back over and looks at the file Cheshire sent her. The person was 18 years old and attended ITT Technical Institute for their associates degree in electrical engineering, was three months away from getting their Bachelor degree in movie production from The Art Institute. Was carrying a 3.62 grade point average, had 5,000 in their bank account. Owned the building she was living in and sold custom made costumes online. She brings up the website and saw it was nicely design and easy to place an order. Police record was cleaned. Bills were paid either on time or a few days behind the due date. Didn’t own any credit cards, except a bank card. Had a cousin in the army working at the Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland. There was some video and pictures included in the dossier.

She goes through them and notices how well Christine looked when she was all dressed up. For the next hour-n-half, she goes through everything Cheshire sent her on Christine. Her routine, where she worked, what she orders from different take out joints in her area. The file included who Christine’s friends were and who she was working on with the film she was making and their backgrounds. All the information she needed to keep Christine safe and sound.

She checks her clock and notices that Christine should be in school right now. She heads towards her bathroom and takes a shower. Since this was a simple recon, she dresses in non-descript clothes that allow her to blend in without a problem. She takes her motorcycle over to the school location and locate her motorcycle. Nora waits to see when she comes out and watches as she heads towards her motorcycle.

While she is waiting for Christine to come out, she spots someone else heading over to Christine’s motorcycle and messing with it. She watches from her vantage point and was about to go over and undo what had been done. When she spots Christine walking towards her motorcycle. She watches as the girl stopped and start searching her motorcycle and spots her pulling away a bomb that the person she had seen had planted on it.

“Smart girl.” Nora was impress, and her opinion of Christine went up.

She watches as Christine put her helmet on and head towards her job. Midnight notice a car pull out and follows behind Christine discreetly.
She smiles as she waits and follow them. Midnight pulls off and parks her motorcycle on the other side of The Rainbow Lounge. She works her way around swiftly and quietly to the car that had followed Christine and planted the bomb on her motorcycle.

She sneaks up to his car and opens the passenger side door and shoots him with a fast-acting tranquilizer dart and knock him out. She drives the car with her unconscious passenger to a junkyard where she keeps a container for holding people and for interrogating them. It came in handy a few times while she was overseas for extracting information in private. She knew the owner of the junkyard and had the container transported there. She brought it back home when she retired from the DSS.

She interrogated the guy and let him go after injecting him with a tracker. If he tries to remove it, it will burst and release the poison. She watches as he walks away. She had a smile on her face when she blew the car up. She heads back to the lounge to watch over Christine and to spend some time with the waitress she was dating.

The woman she was dating was recently divorce and had admitted to herself that she was a closeted lesbian. Her ex-husband had taken everything from her and just left her with the clothes on her back. The man was a douche bag and was very connected. She’s been dating this woman for two years now. She knew Kelly was happy she was home permanently now. She wanted Kelly to move in with her, but Kelly liked having her own place.

When Christine finishes her shift, she follows her home discreetly and watches as she pulls into the garage. Nora turns on the hidden cameras and mics Jack had placed and listen and watched Christine till she goes to bed.

She’ll have to find some way to worm her way into Christine’s life. Maybe have Kelly invite Christine over to her place for dinner one night. When she gets home, she notices Kelly’s car pulled into the driveway. She parks her motorcycle next to it and walks into her house. She had her gun ready, just in case it was an ambush. Kelly knew she didn’t like surprises, not after the setup where she was almost killed protecting the ambassador she had been assigned to.

She walks in cautiously and hears the shower going in her bedroom. She walks in and see Kelly in the shower. She had some soft music playing while she was washing her body. Nora leans against the door frame of the doorway and just watch her girlfriend lather her body. She loved how trimmed and curvy Kelly’s body was. Nora knew Kelly worked hard to keep her body trimmed and fit. Originally, she did it to keep her husband interested in her, but when she learned he was having an affair. That caused her to become depress and lazy about taking care of herself. Than the first time she had gone to a sex toy party with some friends. She had enjoyed being made love to by several of the women there and it stirred things inside of her.

It was at a banquet that her and Kelly had met. Kelly’s husband had gone off to bang his teenage girlfriend and left her at the banquet all by herself. Kelly had started hitting the drinks hard. She had to get Kelly a hotel room and one thing lead to another that they ended up in with each other. After that night, the two of them started seeing each other in secret and when Kelly finally got feed-up with her husband. She filed for divorce and her husband managed to get everything, including their house and only left her with her clothes, half the money in their joint account and her jewelry collection. She got a modest one-bedroom studio apartment and worked at the lounge as a waitress.

When she was out of the states, Kelly would take care of her place. She just keeps watching Kelly as she washes her hair. She takes her gun belt and holster off and put her gun in a hidden holster under her nightstand. She keeps listening while Kelly takes her shower and strips out of her body suit and thong panties. She didn’t wear a bra when she wore the bodysuit Cheshire had given her. She hears the water cut off and look towards the bathroom. Kelly comes out drying her hair.

“Hey good looking. How was your night?” Nora slips on a black lacey halter baby doll night gown.

Kelly jumps when she hears Nora’s voice “don’t do that to me. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Nora walks over and gives her a kiss.

“Sorry, about that.” Nora kisses her again.

Kelly returns the kiss and gaze into Nora’s sapphire color eyes.

“So, what case are you working on?” Kelly had her arms wrapped around Nora waist.

Nora just smirks “protection detail. What do you know about Christine Pyle?”

“Is she the one your protecting?” Kelly had seen the news with Christine all dressed up and how she had rescue some people from a burning warehouse.

“Yep, I can’t go into detail about the case, but I’ve been hired to protect her.” Nora moves Kelly towards the bed.

Kelly releases her and grabs her night gown and slip it on. She sits down on the mattress and pat the area next to her for Nora to sit down.

Nora sits down next to her girlfriend “those people she pulled out from that warehouse are children of people I know and have worked with in the past. Christine has walked into a problem, that the person who trapped them wants payback for saving them. So, the parents of those people want me to protect her, that’s it. Just a protection detail and maybe teach her how to defend herself.”

Kelly looks at her “will it be dangerous?”

“I’ll be lying if I said no. Someone already tried to kill Christine earlier today. I took care of him, but it doesn’t mean they won’t send someone else. I was wondering if maybe you could introduce me to Christine and invite her over for dinner one night? I’ll do the cooking.” Nora figures she could make a nice Spanish meal for the three of them.

“I have Friday off from work. Why don’t we do it that night?” Kelly knew she was lucky to get Friday off and loved the food Nora cooked. She knew Nora got her cooking skill from her mother, who was a famous chef and owned her own restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama.

“Cool, Friday will be nice.” Nora didn’t have anything planned, except watching Christine.

“Now, why don’t we enjoy each other.” Nora starts kissing Kelly and the two of them fall back onto the bed.

The Next Day:
Christine wakes up and takes the explosive device she found that had been attached to her motorcycle and examine it. She was surprised at the workmanship of it. Whoever made it did a good job, but did a terrible job hiding it on her motorcycle. She would had hidden it down near the battery or something.

She leaves it on her work bench as she heads into the kitchen and fixes herself some coffee. She didn’t have class this morning and didn’t have to be at work till 6:00pm. So, she could get some work done on the movie and pay some bills. She walks over to her computer and start working on the movie. As she is sitting there working, the power goes out. It was good thing she had her computer system on battery back-up as she starts shutting things down. As the computer shuts down. She takes her cellphone out to call the power company, but she wasn’t getting any signal. She checks her cellphone again and she still wasn’t getting a signal. As she is walking towards her bedroom, her front door blows inward and two armed guys carrying rifles come walking in.

There was the sound of two-gun shots as Midnight comes charging into the building with her gun out and pointed at the two men in front of her.
She hits the first one in the back, but he doesn’t go down.

The two guys turn around and fire at Midnight as she drops to the floor. She shots one guy in the knees, while sweeping the legs out of the other guy.

The other guy tries to get up, but Midnight is sitting on his chest and slams the butt of her gun into his throat. She points her gun at the other fellow lying nearby.

“Now, who the fuck sent you?” Midnight had her gun pointed at the head of the other fellow from where she was sitting.

The guy didn’t say anything to Midnight. She just shots him and look at the fellow she was still sitting on. He had choked from her slamming her gun butt into his throat. She stands up and looks around for Christine.

“Christine, are you alright?” Midnight just stays where she was.

“Who are you and yes.” Christine heard a female’s voice call for her. She had hidden in storage area she had.

“My name is Nora Midnight and I was hired by Cheshire And Mr. Bounty to protect you. If you don’t believe me, I can call Cheshire, or you can call her, and she’ll verify what I am telling you.” Nora wonders if Christine is going to trust her.

“How do you know Cheshire and Mr. Bounty?” Christine was standing in the doorway of his bedroom.

“I know Cheshire, because I was her body guard when she uses to be married to a US Senator. Her and her husband came to Germany and I was assigned as her body guard. I used to work for the Diplomatic Services.” Christine just looks at Midnight as she stood where the two men were.

They could hear sirens coming towards them.

“I wonder how much trouble I’m going to be in?” Christine felt that the police might accuse her for this.

“Don’t worry about the police. I’ll handle them. Go and get a bag together, you’re coming home with me.” Nora turns around and head outside to deal with the police.

She uses her special body guard license she was given a couple of years ago. It pretty much said she could carry her firearm while on duty.
She had a concealed carry permit as well.

Christine gets a bag together to take with her. She grabs her portable drive, so she could work on the movie her and her friends were working on. She grabs her laptop and once she has everything packed. She heads towards the front door where Nora was standing.

“Nora, will it be okay if I take my motorcycle with me?” Christine didn’t want to leave it behind.

“You can take it with you. I rode over on my own motorcycle. I know a handy man that can come over and fix your door.” Nora was going to call Jerry. He was the handyman she used.

“Thank you. How much will he charge me?” Christine was worried about the cost to fix her door.

“Don’t worry about it, Christine. Mr. Bounty will cover the cost.” Nora knew Jack would cover the cost.

“Okay.” Christine hops onto her motorcycle and follow behind Midnight as she headed towards her house.

When she arrives at Nora’s place, it was an older house that was listed as a historical house.

“Wow! You live here?” Christine had parked her motorcycle next to Nora’s.

“Yep, I live here. My girlfriend sometimes spends the night with me.” Nora leads Christine towards the front door of her place.

“Will your girlfriend be alright with you having another girl here?” Christine didn’t want to be a bother.

“She’s not going to mind. You work with her up at The Rainbow Lounge.” Nora puts her helmet up on a shelf.

“Who is she?” Christine was curious.

“You know Kelly, don’t you?” Nora escorts Christine to a spare bedroom.

“Yes ma’am. She normally works the afternoon shift down at the lounge.” Christine knew Kelly well. She was a nice person and gave her some suggestion about her appearance.

“You can use this room while you’re here. I don’t think it’s wise for you to go back to your place, until Cheshire and Jack catch the guy they are after.

“Nora, what are Jack and Cheshire?” Christine was curious and really wanted to know.

Nora looks at Christine “I can’t tell you really what they do, but I will say this. If you are ever in trouble and you need someone to rescue or bail your butt out. Those two would be the ones you call.”

Christine was still confused, but took Nora’s word for it. She drops her stuff in the bedroom that Nora pointed out. Afterwards, she joins Nora in the kitchen. She watches as Nora makes them some lunch.

“I don’t know if Cheshire told you or not, but she has asked me to start teaching you how to protect yourself. The question I have, are you willing to learn how to defend yourself?” Nora wanted to make sure Christine was committed to learning how to defend herself.

“I’m willing to learn whatever you are willing to teach me, Nora.” Christine couldn’t remember if Cheshire mention something to her or not, but if Nora is willing to teach her. Then she was willing to learn.

“You’re going to regret saying that, after I’m done training you. Do you own a leotard or any exercise clothes to wear? “

“I have an exercise outfit I can train in, if you don’t mind me wearing girl clothes.” Christine wonders what Nora thought about her.

“Christine, you could walk around this house dressed as a chicken and I wouldn’t care. All I care about is that if you’re going to be a girl, you act like one. If you want to be lady like. I will teach you how to be a proper lady.”

“Thank you.” Tears were sliding down from Christine’s eyes.

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s get you situated and we’ll start your first lesson.” Nora shows Christine where she’ll be staying.

Then she heads towards her bedroom and changes into her exercise clothing. She waits for Christine to changes into her exercise outfit and
show her where the exercise room is. Inside were several pieces of equipment for exercising. She had a total workout machine for lifting weights and building up a person’s muscles, an exercise bike, thread mill and an Elliptical machine. There were several mats on the floor and pull-up bars.

“Alright, let’s get you loosened up then start teaching you some hand-to-hand moves.” Nora hangs her towel up.

Christine follows Nora’s example and follows her out on the mat and assume a position that Nora shows her. For the next two hours, Nora takes it easy on Christine as she puts her through her paces. By the time they are done, Christine could barely move. She was so out of shape as she looks at Nora.

“You do that daily?” Christine drunk some water from her water bottle.

“Use too. When I was an active DSS agent. Now I do it every other day. This is just the first part of training you. Do you do any jogging or anything?” Nora takes a sip of her water.

“I used to when I was on the track team, but I don’t anymore.” Christine knew she shouldn’t had given it up, but she just had so much stuff
going on in her life.

“Well, I’m going to get you back into running every day.”

“Okay.” Christine takes another sip of her water.

“Go take a shower. We’ll go out for lunch today.” Nora heads towards her bedroom, while Christine heads towards the guest bathroom to take her shower.

Once, she is done with her shower. She heads into her new room and changes into a nice dress, a pair of matching 3-inch pumps. She puts on a nice silver necklace that had a crystal butterfly hanging from it. She brushes her long hair and tie it back into a pony tail. She looks at herself and apply light make-up to her face. She adds her favorite perfume. It had a light sandalwood scent to it.

Nora meets her in the living room “ready to go?”

“Yep” She was surprised at how pretty Nora looked cleaned up.

Her short brown hair framed her face nicely. Christine could see some Hispanic features in Nora’s face and was amazed at her sapphire eyes.

She has never seen anyone with eyes that color before.

“So, where are we going for lunch?” Christine was curious.

Nora leas Christine to the garage and opens the door. She unlocks the doors on a black Shelby convertible mustang.

“Get in.” As Nora climbs into the driver seat.

“Nice car.” Christine swipes her hand under her dress and slides into the passenger seat.

“Thanks. I’ve owned it since I was in High School.” Nora had bought it directly from the factory with zero miles on it when she was sixteen years old.

Christine notices there was another car parked in the garage. It was a nice 2015 Mercedes S600.

“Is that car armored?” Christine looks towards Nora.

“Yep, one of the Germany officials I use to guard gave it to me as a departing gift. He just bought a brand new one and gave me that one. I use it every so often when I do protection jobs.” Nora was surprised when the German government gave it to her.

Normally, she wouldn’t had been able to accept it, but since she was retiring. It didn’t matter anymore. Nora backs the mustang out of the garage and watch as the door closes before driving off. She takes Christine to a high-class restaurant for lunch.

Christine notices where they were going “Wow! This place is very upscale.”

Nora just smiles “I know the head chef. He uses to work for my mother, before he came here to Memphis and opened his own place. I fill in every once in awhile for him.”

Nora parks the Mustang and her and Christine heads inside. The place was already busy with Lunch traffic. A black hair young hostess greets them as they walk in.

“Ah, Ms. Midnight, it’s so nice to see you again. Do you want your usual table?”

“Yes please, if it is available.” Nora looks around to see if her preferred table was available and saw that no one was sitting at it.

“Please follow me, then.” Brenda escorts Midnight and her companion over to her preferred table.

Nora and Christine follow behind her. Christine looks around as they walk towards the table. She was impress with what she was seeing.
The hostess seats them and their waitress comes over and gives them their menu. Nora doesn’t even open hers. She already knows what she wanted. Christine looks at the selection and the prices. She couldn’t believe how expensive the place was. Christine spots a nice dish and orders that.

After lunch they go and pick Kelly up from work.

Kelly was surprised to see Christine with Nora.

Christine moves to the back seat, so Kelly could sit in the passenger seat.

“Hey Christy, is everything okay?” Kelly looks at Christine and then towards her girlfriend.

“We had a little problem earlier today, but everything is fine. Christine is going to be staying with me for a while, till I hear from Cheshire.” Nora glances toward Kelly.

Kelly looks at Nora “that bad?”

“Yep, that bad.” Nora figures she would explain later if Kelly stayed the night.

“Can you take me by my place, please?” Kelly knew she needed to check her mail.

“Sure can.” Nora takes Kelly to her place.

Christine and Nora follow Kelly up to her apartment. After spending some time there, they all leave and head back to the mustang and back to Nora’s place. Nora fixes dinner for everyone. Kelly and Christine help with setting the table and with cutting up ingredients for the meal.

After dinner, Christine heads to bed. Kelly and Nora stay up for awhile talking about what happened with Christine and that she had been thinking about taking Nora up on her offer to move in.

It wasn’t because of Christine being there, but because her landlord was going to raise her rent. She would have to take on a second job just to pay for her place.

“Well you know, I know you like feeling independent and having your own place. But, I would love to have you here living with me. Besides, we can spend time exploring each other.” Nora leans over and gives Kelly a kiss on the lips.

Kelly returns the kiss.

The two of them head towards Nora’s bedroom and retire for the night.

“Come on slow pokes. Move it.” Nora was running behind Kelly and Christina to motivate them to pick the pace up some.

They were out jogging down the street first thing in the morning. Nora was whipping Christina and Kelly into shape. Christina because she was asked by Cheshire to train her and Kelly, because her girlfriend wanted to lose a few pounds. She was already in good shape, but she wanted to learn how to defend herself like Nora was teaching Christina.

Christina glances over towards Kelly “why do I get the feeling she is enjoying this?”

“Because she is such a task master.” Kelly smirks when she says that.

“I can hear you two. Just for those remarks, I’m adding on an extra quarter mile. Now move it.” Nora was enjoying watching her lover’s ass move as she jogged.

By the time they get back to the house. Kelly and Christina were exhausted. Both haven’t jogged in years. Even though Christina tried to walk as much as possible. Nora had them eat a light breakfast, because she was going to teach them some basic hand-to-hand moves. Nora demonstrates with Kelly first as she explains what she wants them to do. Then she pairs up Kelly and Christina and have them practice the move against each other. She has them repeat the move several times, correcting any flaws or mistakes she spots. She stops around noon, so
Kelly could get ready for work and so Christina could meet up with her study partners, so they could do some more work on their project. They were going to meet at the campus computer lab.

Nora drops Kelly off at work first and gives her a kiss. She’ll be back later in the evening to pick her up. She takes Christina to the school and drops her off.

“I’ll be around. Don’t worry, okay?” Nora just smiles at Christina and watches as she exists from the Mustang.

“Okay.” Christina gets out and heads towards the computer lab to meet up with her friends and work on their project.

Nora makes her way inside the building and pretended that she was a student. She blended in with the rest of the students and instructors there. She spends the day blending in and watching over Christina as she worked with her partners, finally getting the project completed. So, far nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. By the time Christina calls her and tells her she was ready to go. She had already made it out to the car and was waiting on her.

Christina comes walking out with a spring in her step. She was so happy that her and her friends had finally gotten the movie they were making done and ready to submit for grading. She spots Nora’s mustang and walks over towards it. She makes sure no one is taking aim at her or coming towards her. Nora had taught her what to look for, to protect herself.

“You look like the cat that ate the canary.” Nora watches as Christina gets in the car.

“I finally finished the movie me and my partners were working on. All the special effects, credits, editing and everything has finally been done.
All we have to do, is submit it for our final grade.” Christina puts the seat belt on as she looks over towards Nora.

“Well, I wish you all the luck in the world for your project. Where would you like to go for lunch?” Nora turns the mustang’s engine over.

“How about Kooky Canuck? They have the best burgers around town?” Christina was in the mood for a good burger.

“Bad choice. Christina, if you want to have a nice figure. You need to lay off the burgers and a lot of other junk foods you like. However, I will allow it this once.” Nora knew where the place was and drove over towards there.

Nora orders a Boston Burger with onion rings and Christina orders the bacon monster burger with onion rings as well. Christina adds a French Vanilla milkshake to her order. Nora enjoys a nice diet Pepsi.

Their server brings their drinks over and place them in front of them. Christina waits till their server leaves their table, before asking the question on her mind.

“Nora, how dangerous is this Jones person?” Christina takes a sip of her drink.

“He’s extremely dangerous. He has killed six agents and assumed their identities. He normally, targets agents that are single and don’t have any relationships with any one. He’s also an ex-Delta Force member and is CIA trained. He was one of the CIA’s trouble shooters.” Nora did some background check with a few DSS agents she knew that served overseas with her.

“So, the team that went to apprehend him, walked into a trap?” Christina saw what he had done to the two teams in the warehouse.

“Yep, from what I have been told. He knew they were coming after him and had the place rigged. He wanted them out of the picture because they cost him and the people he was working for money. Plus, they arrested the person he had been sent to bring back to Russia.” Cheshire had shared the details about the case with her.

“Does Cheshire and Jack know where he is, and can they capture him?” Christina takes another sip of her milkshake.

“If there were two people I would be afraid of, it would be the two of them. I can’t tell you much about them or what they do for a living, but what I can tell you is this. If the two of them are coming for you. That means you cross some line that you shouldn’t had cross. It’s bad enough when one of them come after you, but to have both come after you. That’s a death wish I wouldn’t want on me or my worse enemy.” Nora knew how dangerous Cheshire was.

She had wonder why she had been assigned to the woman when she was a Senator’s wife. Most of the old timers in the DSS knew Cheshire from her days as a CIA black-ops agent. When she first met her, she could tell she wasn’t what she appeared to be. She couldn’t believe Cheshire’s actual name was Cheshire. She always thought the name was a code name or nickname. Until, she learned that it was her real name.

She knew Cheshire went by another name because she was an author and an expert on big cats. Her other name was well known and respected in the academic field. There were very few professors that taught zoology that did know her or used her research to teach their students. She has gone to colleges to give lectures and to show off her Liger.

“Do you think it will take her and Mr. Bounty long to capture Mr. Jones?”

“Nope, it shouldn’t take them long to hunt him down. It’s what they are good at.” Nora knew they were close to capturing him.

Cheshire had a few contacts here in Memphis that knew approximately where he was hiding. It still amazed her how connected Jack and
Cheshire were. It seemed that they had people in every part of the country. She knew they had an extensive network of people and suppliers.

Their meals finally arrive as they sit and eat in quiet. As they are eating and looking out the window of the place. They see a long copper hair kid run by being chased by a group of burly teenage boys.

“Excuse me Christina.” Nora gets up from the table and step outside.

As she is looking around, she hears a bunch of kids chanting.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!” It was coming from just down the street in an abandon parking lot.

Nora walks down to where the kids were fighting. She noticed the long copper hair girl had blood coming from her nose, but one of the burly guys that chased after her. He was on the ground holding his crotch and moaning. Another one laid nearby and he looked like he had a broken leg. There was another guy standing in front of the girl trying to punch her. While another one was trying to circle behind the girl to grab her.
She kept moving to keep the guy from getting behind her.

The guy in front of her charged towards her, while the one that has been trying to get behind her. He manages to grab her and wrap his arms around her. The one that charged her, he punches her in the stomach. Nora could tell that it had hurt her.

The girl brings her leg up and kicks the guy in front of her in the groin. She plants her feet and flips the guy holding her into the guy she just kicked. She follows up by punching the guy that held her in the face. The young girl looks up and at everyone watching her.

“Do any of you jerks have a problem with me being a t-girl?” The copper hair girl looks at all the teenagers gather around her.

Now that Nora could get a better look at her. She could tell the girl had bruises going around her neck and a black eye. She had bruising on her arms. The shirt she had on was thorn and the knees of her jeans were torn.

“Alright, fights over. All you kids go home.” She pulls her cell out and call for the paramedics and the police.

When the police show up, one of them recognize the girl.

“Fighting again, Ginger?” Officer Green notices his son had a broken leg.

“They started it. I was only defending myself.” Ginger looks at Officer Green and knew he was going to arrest her, like he did last time.

He walks over to put handcuffs on Ginger. He pulls his cuffs out and was about to slap them on Ginger.

“I would stop, before you make a fool of yourself Officer. She fought back in self-defense. I saw it.” Nora stood near Ginger.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s a known trouble maker and her foster parents said she stole from them.” He went to slap the cuffs on Ginger.

“They’re lying. My mother gave me that necklace before she died.” Ginger moves her arm out of the way.

Officer Green went to grab her again, but was grabbed by Nora instead.

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” Nora had a good grip on his wrist.

“You better let me go, before I charge you with interfering with a police officer and assault fo a police officer.” Green looks directly at Nora.

“You mean you’ll try to charge me. I have friends on the Memphis police department, Officer Green. Once I tell them what you did. I don’t think you’ll be an officer much longer.” Nora had friends in high places on the Memphis police force.

She helped the police department out a few times when she was in the states. They also knew she was a DSS officer. She just looks at him
with her serious face on.

“Your lucky you freak. Get out of here.” Officer Green put his handcuffs away.

Nora just gives the Police Officer a dirty look and make sure she remembers his badge number. She holds her hand out to Ginger.

“Let’s get your nose looked at, Ginger.”

Ginger takes the woman’s hand and walks with her over to the paramedics. Her nose wasn’t too bad. Once the paramedics were done checking her over.

“Why don’t you come with me.” Nora looks down at Ginger.

Ginger looks up at the black hair lady “thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Nora takes Ginger back to the restaurant where Christina was waiting for her.

“Looks like you have a new friend.” Christina smiles at Ginger.

She could tell the poor girl had been beaten a few times from all the bruises on her.

“Ginger, this is my friend Christina.”

“Nice to meet you Ginger.” Christina holds her hand out.

“It’s nice to meet you as well.” Ginger shakes Christina’s hand.

“Are you hungry?” Nora had a feeling that Ginger didn’t get feed on a regular basis.

“Yes ma’am.” She was wondering who this woman was and why she was helping her.

Nora flags their waitress down and ask her for a menu.

“Order whatever you want, Ginger.” A smile appears on Nora’s face.

Ginger looks at the menu. She orders a nice ¾ pound Texas burger, onion rings and a nice chocolate milkshake with whip cream. She hands the waitress the menu back.

“Thank you?” Ginger had a puzzled look on her face.

“Nora Midnight and your welcome, Ginger. Now, why don’t you tell me why those boys were chasing you and why Officer Green doesn’t like you?” Nora had forgotten to tell Ginger her name.

“It’s because I reported them to the principal for bullying some kids in school. Our school doesn’t allow bullying. They got kicked off the football team because of me reporting them. So, him and his friends have been making my life hard while at school. The coach is my gym teacher and he has been rough on me. My foster parents are friends with the parents of the boys I got kicked off the football team. They accused me of stealing their things, which they took a necklace that was given to me by my mother before she died. So, I stole it back and hid it form them. My foster parents hate the fact I refuse to dress and act as a boy.” Tears were starting to leak from Ginger’s eyes. She wipes them away.

“Do you know who your case worker is?” Nora takes a pad out from her purse.

“Yes ma’am.” Ginger gives her the information.

Ginger’s food arrives and as she is sitting there eating. Her foster mother comes storming in and grabs her by the hair. She pulls Ginger out of the chair and causes her to fall to the floor.

“Begging for food again, you little brat.” Heather couldn’t believe what Officer Green had told her that her foster child had said and did.

“Take your hand off that child.” Christina stood up and got right in the face of the woman.

Nora slowly got up and walked around to where Christina and Ginger was.

“Back down Christina. I’ll handle this.” Nora helps Ginger up off the floor and mover her behind her.

“Now, why don’t we act like reasonable adults here. My name is Nora Midnight and I take it that you are Ginger’s foster mother?” Nora was looking at the woman.

She had her professional look on her face. She was also ready to protect Ginger as well. She kept Ginger safely behind her.

Heather looks at the woman standing in front of her. She was protecting her good for nothing foster child behind her.

“Yes, I’m that brat’s foster mother and I don’t know what lies he has been telling you.” Heather wasn’t going to let that brat get away with whatever he did.

“Actually, she hasn’t been telling me anything. We were having a nice lunch, before you came in here. Now, do you mind telling me why you felt it was necessary to grab her by her hair?” Nora kept her eyes on the woman.

“That brat isn’t a she, it’s a he and he is my foster child. I can treat him any way I like.” Heather was fuming.

“Actually, you can’t treat her any way you like. Now, why don’t you tell me why you came in acting the way you did?”

“I don’t have to tell you anything. That’s my foster child and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Heather was starting to get pissed at this woman.

Christina had pulled Ginger near her. She was going to make sure Ginger was protected. Her parents may not like her decision to become a girl, but they never acted like this woman.

“Actually, you do if I am going to allow Ginger to go with you. If you don’t I’m going to call the police, and have you arrested for child abuse.” Nora had her friend on speed dial.

Heather knew she couldn’t afford to have the police investigate her again. She looks over towards Ginger. She notices he was being protected by the girl who got in her face.

“Why don’t you keep the stupid brat then.” Heather looks over towards Ginger.

“Don’t come back to the house you brat. I’m going to throw your things in the trash.” She turns around about to leave.

“Actually, your going to pack her things up and have it ready for me to pick-up. If I found any of her things in the trash or littering the lawn. I am going to press charges for child abuse, child neglect and first-degree assault. You have one hour to have it done.” Nora gives her a sweet smile.

Heather just turns and storms out of the restaurant.

Nora follows behind her till she gets outside. She watches as she walks towards her car and drive off. She takes a snap shot of the license plate and heads back inside the restaurant. She spots her waitress.

“Can I have a replacement order please?”

“Yes ma’am.” The waitress just smiles at her and place the same order for Ginger again.

Nora walks over and helps clean the mess up on the floor from Ginger being manhandled. She places the mess she picks up off the floor on their dirty plates. She stands up and looks at Ginger.

“Please sit down, Ginger. I have a replacement lunch coming for you.” Nora sits down in the chair Ginger had been sitting in.

“Yes, ma’am and Thank you.” Ginger sits down in the chair Nora had been sitting in and rubs the spot where her hair had been pulled.

After a few minutes, her replacement order shows up and slices of pie are given to all of them, compliments of the manager. She clears the dirty dishes away.

When Ginger is done with her lunch. They head over towards the house to pick-up her things.

“Christina, stay here with Ginger. Keep the door lock and your phone ready.” Nora checks her gun as she locks her door and walk towards the house to retrieve to Gingers stuff.

She walks up to the door and knocks gently.

“Who is it?” Heather had gotten the last of the brat’s stuff downstairs and packed.

She had tried to call Officer Green to come over and help her, but he was unavailable. Her husband wouldn’t be home for another few hours. She was sick of that dam kid and she didn’t know who that woman was that interfered. She was startled when she heard the knock on the door.

“Nora Midnight. I’m here to pick-up Ginger’s belongings.” Nora stood back and a little to the right.

Heather walks over and opens the door.

“Here’s all his stuff.” Heather aside to show three trash bags.

“If you’ll bring them outside please.” Nora noticed the bags.

Heather goes and grabs all the bags and leave them at Nora’s feet.

“There! I hope the brat dies.” Heather slams the door afterwards.

Nora just shakes her head as she carries the bags to her car and pop the trunk and put them inside. Once they were carefully stowed away.
She gets in the driver seat and heads back towards her house. She makes a mental note to call Ginger's case worker later.

Ginger slowly rub the sleep from her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep last night. They had come back to Nora’s house and unloaded her stuff. Nora had given her, her own bedroom. It was next to Christina’s bedroom. Nora had told her what the house rules were and that she was going to talk with her case worker. She was going to see how Ginger felt living here with her and Kelly. If she felt comfortable around herself and Kelly. Then they would talk about taking the next step of adopting Ginger as her own daughter.

It takes Ginger a few minutes to remember where she was. The nightgown she had own, was one she hid from her other foster mother. It made her look like a little girl. She had put her long hair into pigtails. She gets out of bed and head towards the kitchen. When she walks in, she notices Nora, Kelly and Christina out on the back porch in their nightgowns. She walks outside to join them.

Nora glances over at Ginger as she comes walking outside. She looked so cute dressed like she was. They had taken pictures of her body last night to show the case worker all the bruises she had on her body.

“Well good morning sleepy head.” Nora had a smile on her face when she saw Ginger.

Ginger just waves hello as she sits down in a nearby chair. She notices that the patio table had orange juice, milk, coffee and two baskets of muffins.

“Help yourself to some breakfast.” Kelly grabs a muffin and breaks it open.

“Thank you.” Ginger pours herself some milk and grabs a muffin as well.

Ginger notices it was an apple cinnamon muffin. She saw that Nora was wearing a silky full length black night gown and Kelly had a matching
cream color one on. Christina was wearing one that stopped mid-thigh and was aqua blue.

“I called your school and told them you weren’t coming in today. We’ll drop by later this afternoon to get your assignments, Ginger. We also have a meeting with your case worker this afternoon as well. So, I want you to dress as if we are going to church.” Nora figures if Ginger
looked like a church girl, that the case worker might be easier on her.

“I don’t have any dresses or shoes that would go with them. My foster mother gave all my dresses, skirts, swimsuit and such to the Good Will.” Ginger misses wearing dresses and skirts. Her mother had bought her a lot of nice ones before she died.

“We’ll go out and get you some nice dresses and skirts with matching shoes after breakfast. So, eat some breakfast and get dress.” Nora knew a couple of nice places that she thinks Ginger and Christina will like.

“You’re coming too Christina. I want to get you fitted for a couple of business suits for a couple of interviews I know are coming your way.” Nora had a talk with Cheshire this morning. She had arranged for Christina to meet with a special effects company.

Christina looks at Nora “does that mean they caught the guy?”

“Yes, they have caught him. You’re still welcome to stay here as long as you like.” Nora felt that Christina’s presence would be beneficial to Ginger.

Ginger just looks from Nora to Christina wondering who they were talking about.

Nora notices Ginger’s confused look “I’ll explain later Ginger.”

“Okay.” Ginger finishes her muffin and heads towards the bathroom to take a shower.

There was a knock at the bathroom door and it opens just a little bit “here’s a robe for you Ginger. I’m just going to hang it here on the door knob.” Kelly puts the robe on the door knob.

“Thank you.” Ginger notices it was a nice white one.

She steps into the shower and takes a nice shower. She wonders where Nora was taking her and Christina. She uses the shampoo and conditioner that is in the bathroom. She loved the smell of the body wash.

She finishes her shower and heads into the bedroom. She gets dress in a nice pair of jeans and a blouse. They were clean, and she kept them in her backpack. That way, if her clothes get damage like it seemed to do every time she went to school. She would have some clean clothes to change into for school. She hears the shower and guess Christina must be taking her shower.

After everyone has had their showers and gotten dress. Nora and Kelly take the girls shopping. Nora takes Christina to her favorite suit shop, where she bought all her suits for her job. She orders four suits and two special suits from Elaine’s suit shop. The two-specials had bullet proof lining and protected the wearer from low caliber bullets.

While Nora was having Christina fitted for her suits. Kelly was taking Ginger shopping and getting some nice dress, skirts, blouses and undergarments to go with them. She gets Gingers ears pierce and let her pick out any she wanted. Afterwards they meet up with Nora and Christina and go to the hair salon and have their hair and nails done.

Nora and Ginger meet with her case worker. Nora explain things to her about what happened. Ginger’s case worker informs her that this wasn’t the first time they had gotten complaints about the foster parents. The case worker makes Nora her temporary guardian. She will have to come by and inspect Nora’s place out and Nora herself However, with the references Nora gives and the fact that Nora is a retired DSS agent. The case worker doesn’t see any problems with Nora becoming Ginger’s full time foster parent.

Once all of that was taken care of and she had the papers she would need to have items on Ginger’s file changed. She visits Ginger’s school and meet with each of her teachers. Ginger herself was a little nervous visiting her teachers dress the way she was, but after a few minutes and with some encouraging words from Nora. She calms down and relaxes.

“Well, it sounds like you are a good student.” Nora looks down at Ginger as they walk back to the mustang.

“I try to be.” Ginger tried to carry an A average or a B average in school. She had some AP classes she took.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you. Where did you learn to defend yourself like you did?” Nora had been impressed.

“My mom was a drill instructor for the Marines and she taught me. When I told her, I should had been born a girl. She decided that I should
learn how to protect myself. So, my mother taught me how to fight, just before she died.” Ginger was a little choked up talking about her mother.

“How did your father feel about you wanting to be a girl?” Nora reaches into her purse and pull out a tissue and hands it to Ginger.

Ginger accepts it “he never knew. He was killed in a car accident, coming home from the airport. He just got back from Afghanistan and a drunk driver plowed right into him. His car went off the road and he bleed to death. The police didn’t get to him in time to stop the bleeding.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. If you want to keep on training like your mother taught you. I can continue your training.” Nora thought it might be a good idea.

“I would like that.” Ginger holds Nora’s hand as they head to the car and get in.

Nora treats everyone to a nice dinner and afterwards they go to a Dairy Queen for desert. When they get home, Nora and Kelly help put Ginger’s clothes away and help Christina as well. Nora has Christina dress up like she was going to an interview and have her come into her office and does a mock interview on Christina.

Afterwards she tells Christina what she did wrong and how to correct it. She’ll do another interview in a few days to see if Christina corrects the mistakes. She knew Cheshire was talking to a special effects company located here in Memphis that was looking for talent. She was arranging for Christina to be interviewed.

Nora calls her friends at the Memphis police department and report Officer Green. She knows if the department doesn’t do anything, she’ll handle the problem.

“Alright girls, go get ready for bed.” Nora and Kelly give each girl a hug before they head towards their bedroom.

Once the girls had left the living room.

Kelly looks towards Nora “you’re enjoying being a mother, aren’t you?”

Nora just smiles and takes Kelly’s hand and lead her to their bedroom.

“Alright Ginger, let’s see what you know.” Nora and Ginger were dressed in their exercise leotards in the practice room in the garage.

Ginger and Nora were facing off against each other, while Kelly and Christina watched from the side lines. Ginger attacks first trying to us her small size to her advantage, but Nora was expecting it. Nora counters and tosses Ginger onto the mats.

“Not bad Ginger, but your opponent might expect you to use your small size to your advantage. You need to take that into account.” Nora was watching Ginger to see what she was going to do.

Ginger tries a series of punches and kicks her mother taught her against Nora. They were quick and fast for someone her size. Ginger tries to sweep Nora’s legs out from under her, but Nora dodges at the last minute.

“Dam! Ginger is quick. I wonder who taught her how to fight. She’s giving Nora a workout.” Christina was amazed as she watched Nora and Ginger spar.

Kelly just smirks. She has seen Nora fight before. She wiped the floor with the person she fought. Ginger was good, but still reckless and undisciplined. Fighting against children and some adults, she will be able to hold her own, but against someone like Nora. She will lose all the time.

Nora and Ginger continue for a little while longer. They stop when Nora notices Ginger was getting tired. She was impress with Ginger. She had talent and she was good. With a little bit more growing up, practice and a little refinement. Ginger could give a first year DSS agent a run for their money.

Ginger sits down on the mats and watched as Nora showed Kelly and Christina a few moves. She watches Nora step back and watch as Kelly and Christina spar, like she and Nora had done. She was enjoying living with Nora and how Nora didn’t find her strange wanting to be a girl.

After about an hour, Nora puts an end to everything.

“Go take a shower people.” Nora wipes the sweat from her face.

Nora watches as the three women leave, while she cleans up and wipes down the exercise room and mats they had practiced on. She had to admit that Ginger was taught well. Which, reminded her that she needed to contact her friend about the life insurance policies that Ginger’s parents should had, had.

Once the exercise room was cleaned. She heads inside the house and grabs a bottle water form the refrigerator. She pops it opens as she heads into her bedroom and strip out of her exercise outfit and join Kelly in the shower.

The two of them just wash each other’s bodies. They do spend a few minutes on certain parts a little longer then they should. Afterwards, they exit from the shower, after drying each other off. Kelly had the day off and so did Christina. Her interviewed wasn’t till Monday around eleven o’clock.

Once Nora and Kelly were dressed. They step out into the living room and find Ginger all dressed and waiting for everyone. A few minutes later, Christina joins them.

“Grab your purses ladies. I’m treating everyone to breakfast this morning.” Nora grabs her purse and the keys to Mercedes S600.

She hasn’t driven it, since she has been back in the states. Normally, she drives her Mustang or take her motorcycle. She heads towards the car and unlocks the door.

“Wow! We’re riding around in style today.” Christina couldn’t believe Nora was taking the Mercedes today.

Ginger looks at Christina with a puzzled look on her face “what’s so special about this car?”

“Well, first it’s armored. Second, it’s a nice comfortable Mercedes’s” Christina sits behind Kelly, while Ginger sits behind Nora.

Ginger looks the rearview mirror towards Nora “is this car really armored?”

“Yep, kiddo. It is. I used to use it to transport the German ambassador and his family back and forth to where ever they needed to go.” Nora doubles checks everything before backing out of the garage.

“Is that what your job was? To protect the German ambassador?” Ginger was curious.

“When he came to the United States. Sometimes, I would investigate criminal activities overseas or chased down criminals that left the United
States. In a since I was like our US Marshals. Where the US Marshal’s track down criminals here in the United States, I chased them down in foreign countries when they left the United States. I also was the body guard to diplomats and such when they visited the United States or when Senators or Congressmen from here came to visit a foreign country.” Nora backs the car out of the drive way and heads towards the interstate.

“Could they call you back into service if they want too?” Ginger was worried about that.

“Nope, I’m too old for that and I am permanently out of the service. I gave them twenty years and spent most of my career overseas.” Nora
remembers joining the DSS days before she graduated from college. She had a Master’s degree in Law Enforcement and joined as soon as she turned twenty-one years old.

“Did you regret spending so much time overseas?” Ginger was curious.

“Yes and no. I missed the time I lost with my family and friends. However, I did learn a lot about different cultures and some of their leaders.
Would I do it all over again if I had the choice, yes I would.” Nora had enjoyed her time with the DSS.

“What made you want to become a DSS Agent?”

“I guess it had to be Agent Emily Conklin who piqued my interest in wanting to join them. She visited our school on career day and told us swhat the DSS agents did. There’s a lot of different thing we do, but mostly our job is acting as Law Enforcement in foreign countries, protecting what belong to the United States and guarding our embassy’s and ambassadors. When we are stationed here in the United States, our job is to protect ambassadors from other countries while they are here.” Nora takes the exit she was looking for.

She pulls the Mercedes into the parking lot of a plain looking building. It had Jerry’s Diner in blue and red neon. She turns the engine off and gets out.

Everyone follows Nora into the place. It was setup like an old fashion diner. One of the waitresses greet them.

“How many in your party?”

“Just four, Sara.” Nora had spotted Sara’s name on her name badge.

Sara escorts them to a booth and leaves four menus for them. Kelly sits next to Nora and Ginger sits next to Christina. They look over the
menus as Sara returns with four glasses of water.

“Would you like anything to drink, while you look over the menu?” Sara had her pad out.

“Yes, three coffees’ and one orange juice, please.” Nora had looked at Sara when she placed their drink order.

Sara writes the order down and heads off to fill their order.

Nora looks at Ginger “So, what type of work are you going to do when you graduate from High School?”

“I’m going to join the Marines like my mother and father did. I want to be a drill instructor like my mother was. Both my parents loved the military. Mom, liked being a drill instructor and dad enjoyed deactivating bombs and such. Mom said dad was good at handling explosives. There wasn’t a bomb or explosive he couldn’t deactivate or build from spare parts.” Tears start to slide form Ginger’s eyes as she thought about her father.

Nora hands Ginger a napkin from her purse to wipe the tears away.

“Thank you.” Ginger takes the napkin and wipes the tears away.

Sara comes back with their drinks. She takes their orders and the menu’s. Christina watches her as she walks behind the counter and place their order.

Kelly looks at the girls “I was thinking we might go and see a movie today. Is there a particular movie you would like to see?”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing the new Star Wars movie.” Christina wanted to see what special effects they used and the movie itself.

“I don’t mind the new Star Wars movie, either.” Ginger liked Star Wars and wouldn’t mind seeing it.

“How about you Nora?” Kelly looks at her girlfriend.

“I’m easy. Whatever movie you guys choose is fine with me. I’ll spring for the refreshments.” Nora didn’t really have a movie in mind she
wanted to see.

Their breakfast arrives. Sara refills their coffee and Ginger’s orange juice. Nora was impress with the food. A friend of hers had suggested the
diner. She had gotten a Western omelet, while Ginger got pancakes, Kelly got waffles and Christina got a Spanish omelet.

When everyone was done. Nora pays the bill and they head towards the nearest mall. They split up so the girls could go look at a few places. Nora and Kelly could check out a few places while the girls were off exploring. They agreed to meet at the movie theater in time to catch the movie they agreed on.

Kelly purchases the tickets for everyone, while Nora buys the refreshments for everyone.

Nora drops Ginger off at school “okay, Ginger. Play nice and have a nice day.”

“Thanks Nora.” Ginger leans over and hugs Nora.

Ginger gets out of the Mustang like she was taught by Nora. She was wearing one of her new dresses to school. She turns around and shut the mustang’s door and watches as her foster mother drives off. She adjusts her backpack and her purse as she walks into school. This was the first time she every wore a dress to school.

She heads towards her first class and takes her normal seat. She had completed all her missed assignments. She takes them out of her backpack and puts them on her teacher’s desk. She had her note book out and was sitting like she has been taught.

Her teacher walks in and notices she was wearing a dress.

“You look nice today Ginger.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Bell.” Ginger smiles at her.

She was one of her favorite teachers. She was always willing to help a student. There were times she wished Mrs. Bell would become her parent, but she knew that was impossible. That was before she met Nora. Now, she liked that Nora and Kelly had taken her in and have become her foster parents. When the bell rings, she starts writing down what Mrs. Bell puts up on the board.

For next few hours, her classes go well. She could tell her teachers were surprised to see her wearing a dress and heels to school.
It was during lunch when the bullies made their move. Ginger was eating a lunch she made last night before going to bed. Kelly had helped her make it.

“Well, Well, well isn’t it our little faggot.” Joseph hated Ginger.

He had been on the football team. Him and his friends were kicked off because she told on them.

“Walk away, Joseph.” Ginger looks at Joseph and the two other guys that were with him.

They had been on the football team as well and got kicked off for bullying. She had turned them in at the same time she reported Joseph. They had been bullying and taking money from some of the kids. They had tried to force her to pay them, but she kicked their butts. The problem was, her former foster mother went along with what Officer Green said. She took the money Mr. Pierce gave her to go along with calling her a liar.

“Why, what are you going to do, faggot?” He pushes on Ginger’s right shoulder.

“Hey, why don’t you morons leave the girl alone?” William was getting tired of Joseph and his crew.

Ginger looks over towards William. She didn’t know much about him, but she knew he was a nice person. She glances at her cellphone to see if it was still recording. Nora had told her to start recording any encounter she has with the bullies at school.

“Stay out of this William. This is none of your business.” The last thing Joseph needed was Williams sticking his nose into his business.

It was bad enough he took his spot on the football team, but now he was interfering with his turf.

“It is my business, when you and your goons are bulling people. Now, why don’t you stop harassing Ginger and take your wannabe hoodlums
out of here.” William use to be a gang member in Merced, California.

He knew what real gang bangers were. The chumps he has met since coming to this school were a joke. His old gang would make mince meat of these wannabes. The only reason he was here, was because his father got a job out here in Memphis.

Ginger had packed up what was left of her lunch and just sat there waiting to see what was going to happen.

Joseph looks down at Ginger “you’re lucky, you faggot.”

“I rather be a faggot, then a jackass.” Ginger gives him her best sweet smile.

He clenches his hands and walks away with his two guys.

Williams comes walking over to Ginger. He knew she was transgender and that lately she had been getting a lot of crap from Joseph. He was trying to stay out of trouble. So, far he has managed to behave himself.

“Thanks for helping.”

“You’re welcome. Why doesn’t the principal suspend him and his cronies?” Williams was curious.

“Because his uncle has a lot pull downtown and his father is on the police force, but I don’t think he’ll be a police officer much longer.” Ginger let a smile appear on her face.

She knew Nora had called and complained to the chief of police. If he didn’t do anything about officer Green. She would handle him herself.
She knew Nora had a lot of connections with people.

“Why you say that?” William was curious.

“My foster mother called and complained about him to the Chief. If Officer Green isn’t kicked off the force. There is going to be hell to pay.”
Ginger picks her trash up and start walking towards the exit.

Williams follows behind her. He liked how her butt sway back and forth as she walked. He follows her up to the second floor and then to his next class. His next class was directly across from hers.

Ginger knew he was behind her. It made her feel warm and fuzzy to be admired by a guy. Someone tries to trip her as she moved down the aisle towards her seat. She looks at the student who tried to trip her. She just smiles at him and then kick him in his leg.

“Oops! Did I just kick you? I’m so sorry for that. Maybe, next time you won’t have your leg sticking out.” Ginger walks to her seat with an evil grin on her face.

Her Government teacher comes in and starts the class. Ginger didn’t care for him very much. He was a religious nutcase that gave her a hard time for being trans. Plus, she corrected him several times about certain items in the Constitution.

She tries to refrain from saying anything during his preaching, but everything he was saying was horse crap.

“Excuse me, Mr. Talbot, but that’s not how our government works. It says...” Ginger reads off the passage he skipped.

She also reads another section, that he skipped over. She looks up at him to see what he was going to do.

“Ms. Summers, please see me after class.” Mr. Talbot looks over towards Ginger.

He didn’t get a chance to meet her new foster mother when she came up to visit her teachers. If he had meet her, he would had told her how she tends to be disruptive and rude towards him. He continues the class and gives them their reading assignment and an essay they must write and turn in by the end of the week.

Ginger waits till all the students left, before heading up to Mr. Talbot’s desk. She walks up to his desk and stands before it.

Mr. Talbot looks up at Ginger “I would like to meet with your new foster mother. Can you have her meet me here tomorrow afternoon?”

Ginger just smirks “I think she will be happy to meet you Mr. Talbot.”

Mr. Talbot lets Ginger go to her next class.

By the time school is over. Nora is waiting for her.

Ginger spots Nora’s mustang and heads over towards it.

“How was your day?” Ginger climbs in the proper way with sweeping her dress under her legs and keeping them closed.

“It was good. My government teacher wants to meet you tomorrow afternoon, if your available.” Ginger knew Nora wasn’t going to listen to his BS.

“Did he say why?” Nora was curious. She thought she meet all of Ginger’s teachers.

“I think it’s because I corrected him several times today during class.” Ginger had a smile on her face.

“Why don’t you tell me what you did today.” Nora listens while Ginger tells her what happened in school.

Christina walks into the house “I got the job!”

Ginger looks up from doing her homework. Nora pokes her head out of the kitchen when she hears Christina’s announcement.

She comes walking out of the kitchen wiping drying her hands on a towel “congratulations, Christina.”

“Congratulations, as well.” Ginger liked Christina and saw some of her work she did.

“Thank you.” Christina takes a bow.

When she stands back up. She has a smile on her face. She was on cloud nine right now. Her instructor at the Art Institute gave her and the team she had high praised for the work they did on their final project. They were the only ones to get a high score for their work.

“When do you start?” Nora figures Christina should be safe now.

Cheshire had informed her, that Jack and she had captured Marin Jones. They were torturing him for all the information he had. She would still pay her to look after Christina. Nora had told her not to worry about it anymore. She would look after Christina as if she was her own daughter, which now she may have one of her own.

She sent pictures of Ginger to Cheshire. Also, all the information she had gather on Ginger. She ran into a road block finding out what happened to the death benefits that Ginger was supposed to get for the death of her parents. According to the department who handles the benefits. They had been sent to her.

Cheshire told her not to worry about it. She’ll have an investigator friend of hers to research the matter and get back with her. As for the girl, she looked cute and she would make a good mother, along with her girlfriend. They talked for a little while longer, till Cheshire had to go.

“Tomorrow. I’m to show-up at 7:00 am. and report to Rob Fulton. He’s the head special effects manager at the company. They said I might have to go to Hollywood, California to help out on a television series they might start filming.” Christina couldn’t believe her luck.

“I’m happy to hear that Christina. Why don’t you go and change? Once your changed, why don’t you come in the kitchen and give me a hand
with dinner, please?” Nora was proud of Christina.

“Yes ma’am.” Christina skips to the bedroom she was staying in.

Ginger just shakes her head and goes back to work on her homework. She was trying to get everything done tonight. That way she could spend time with the new game coming out tomorrow. Nora, had already given her permission to spend a few hours learning the game, if her school work was completed.

She wasn’t worried about the meeting between her history teacher or Nora tomorrow afternoon. She looks up when Christina comes walking through the living room towards the kitchen. She had changed into a pair of shorts and a short sleeve black t-shirt that had a polar bear
drinking a coca cola bottle with her cubs playing nearby.

Christina had glanced at the homework Ginger was doing when she walked by. She saw she was doing a history assignment. Ah, the days where she had done the same thing.

“Do you need anything from the kitchen, Ginger?”

“A bottle tea would be nice.” Ginger looks up from the report she was writing.

“Okay, I’ll grab you one.” Christina heads into the kitchen and grabs one from the refrigerator.

She takes it back into the living room where, Ginger was working.

“Here you go, Ginger.” Christina hands the drink to Ginger.

“Thank you.” As she accepts the bottle tea.

“You’re welcome.” Christina heads towards the kitchen to help Nora with dinner.

Nora was preparing Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts. Christina follows Nora instruction with her helping ever so often. Christina notices she was doing most of the cooking. She gives Nora a knowing look, once she realizes what Nora was doing.

“Hey, your going to need the experience for yourself or any guest you have over, Christina. I know you know how to cook simple dinners. This is just expending your talents.” Nora takes a sip of wine she had poured for herself while she was cooking.

While Christina was doing the chicken, Nora worked on the vegetables to go with it. She had stopped by the store on the way home from picking Ginger up from school. She had picked up fresh vegetables and cheese cake for desert. While the vegetables steamed in the steamer, she looks towards Christina.

“So, tell me about the position you got.” Nora was curious.

“I’ll be the assistant to the head special effects artist. He is going to teach me stuff I didn’t learn in school and I’ll be working on projects of my own, with him supervising me. I’ll need to go by my place sometime time this week to grab some stuff I’ll need from it.” Christina had most of the tools she’ll need, but there were a few other items still at her place she’ll need.

“How about your part-time job at the bar? Are you still going to work there?”

“I’m going to keep working the bar, until I managed to save some checks up or till this job interferes with that job. If I go to Hollywood to work on that new television show, I’ll have to quit the bar job.” Christina didn’t want to, because they had taken a chance with her and she liked the job.

“Maybe you might be able to do both.” Nora knew how much Christina liked the bar job.

“Maybe. I hope Jerry and Frank will work with me.”

“I think they will.” Nora knew if she had a talked with them they would be a little flexible with Christina and her new job.

Nora gathers the plates and silverware and start setting table. Since, Ginger was doing her homework, she was exempt. Nora set the table and when the food is ready. She sets a plate for Kelly aside so when she comes home. She’ll have something to eat.

“Dinner, Ginger.” Nora had walked into the living room.

“Okay, mom.” Ginger stops herself and looks at Nora to see if she was offended.

Nora walks over and extends her hand down to Ginger.

Ginger takes her hand and is lifted from the floor. Nora pulls Ginger to her body and hug her.

“You can call me mom anytime, Ginger.” Nora places a kiss on her forehead.

Ginger wraps her arms around Nora’s waist and just hugs her. There’s only been one other person she has ever held like this and that was her birth mother. Nora just holds her for a while.

Ginger releases her grip and wipes the tears from her eyes.

“Come on pumpkin. Let’s get some food in you.” Nora had a loving looking on her face as she escorts Ginger tot eh dining room table.

Christina serves up the stuff chicken. Everyone takes how much veggies they want. Desert is served up, after the dinner table is cleared and the left overs are put away. Nora finds out that both girls love cheese cakes. She has to set aside a slice for Kelly or she wouldn’t get any.

Once desert is done. Ginger goes back to finishing her homework and Christina takes a bath and gets ready for bed. Nora sits down and reads a German novel she brought back from Germany with her. She watches Ginger as she works on her homework. She also keeps an eye on the clock. She wasn’t going to let Ginger stay up past 10:00pm.

At 10:00pm “okay, time for you to head to bed young lady.” Nora looks over towards Ginger as she finishes typing a paragraph she was working on.

“One second, mom.” Ginger just wanted to finish the paragraph.

She scans it to make sure she didn’t misspell any words and that her grammar was right. She list her references and sources.

“There, all done.” Ginger backs the file up and then prints a copy to give her teacher tomorrow.

Nora just smiles “okay young lady. You can take your bath now or a shower in the morning?”

“Bath.” Ginger closes her laptop up and heads towards her bedroom with her backpack.

Nora could hear the water in the bathroom running. She listens as Ginger takes a bath. Ginger normally plays music when she is in the bathroom taking her bath.

Nora glances up at the clock. She knew Kelly would be home by 11:30 hopefully. She looks up when Ginger comes walking into the living room. She closes her book and looks at Ginger.

“Ready for bed, sweetie?”

“Yes ma’am.” She walks over and gives Nora a hug.

Nora returns the hug “slept tight, sweetie.”

Nora follows her back to the bedroom and tuck her. She knows Ginger didn’t need to be treated like a child, but she couldn’t help it. She places a kiss on Gingers cheek.

Ginger snuggles deep under the blankets. She watches as Nora leaves the bedroom. She knew Nora was going to wait up till Kelly got home.

Nora woke Christina up and got her ready for work. She also, got Ginger up and ready for school. Kelly had gotten up and fixed breakfast for everyone. Once everyone was ready to go. They left the house. Nora’s meeting with Ginger’s history teacher wasn’t till the afternoon.

They dropped Ginger off first at school. Then they took Christina by her place to grab what tools and supplies she needed for her new job.
Once Christina had what she needed. They drop her off at work

They had talked about what to do with Christina’s place. What Nora, Kelly and Christina had agreed was to turn her place into a work studio.
She could stay with Nora and help with the bills. Nora didn’t need finical help. Her retirement paid the bills and gave her spending money. Plus, she had investments that she received money from. Her house was already paid for.

Once Christina was at work and Ginger was in school. Nora went down to social services to meet with Ginger’s case worker. Since, Kelly was living at the house with her. The case worker wanted to meet her and do a background check on her.

Kelly didn’t mind. She had a clean police record and her credit was so-so right now after the divorce she went through. She was in the process of rebuilding it. After she and Nora met with Ginger’s caseworker.

They leave and stop for lunch at a nice German restaurant. Kelly knew that Nora loved German food.

“Did Ginger tell you why her teacher wanted to talk to you?” Kelly was enjoying a nice Schnitzel and apple strudel dish Nora had ordered for her.

Nora was enjoying a nice goulash dish. The two of them had ordered wine to go with their lunch.

“Ginger’s history teacher tends to tell his class only half the truth or let his beliefs cloud the subject matter. When Ginger corrects him. He makes her stay after to lecture her and some of the test she has been given, he nicked picks them apart.” Nora couldn’t wait to meet this teacher.

After they finish eating, Nora and Kelly do some shopping. While they are shopping, Nora spots a teenage girl that should be in school shoplifting. She had spotted the girl opening a package of socks and stuffing them into her purse. She continued to watch the girl as she stole some panties and a few other items.

Nora nudges Kelly and motions to the young girl, who couldn’t be no taller then 4’5”. They watch as she steals a few more items and once she was done. They follow her out of the store. Nora and Kelly follow her discretely while she pedals away on a beaten-up bicycle. The bicycle looked like it had been rescued from a junkyard.

They follow the girl to a nice house and tended manicure lawn. The place was extremely nice and well care fore.

“I wonder why she was stealing with a place as nice as this?” Kelly couldn’t figure it out.

They watch as the girl hides the bicycle. They watch as she makes sure the bicycle is hidden well. She walks inside the house through the back door.

“Kelly, stay here and be my lookout please.” Nora grabs her gun from it’s hiding spot and tuck it behind her back.

She sneaks up to the house. As she gets closer, she could already hear raised voices coming from inside.

Inside the House:
“You stupid, ignorant girl. What do you mean you didn’t make any money? You weren’t supposed to come home till you made $300 selling yourself. That’s all your good for. Your nothing but a stupid cow.” He back hands her hard across the mouth.

Nora watches as the girl is smacked across the mouth by an older tall white guy. He looked like he was in his late forties and was bald. He had tattoos showing on his shoulders and down his left arm. He had on a pair of faded blue jeans and was wearing a black t-shirt that was tight across his chest.

When he smacked the girl on her mouth. The girl was lifted off the floor and sent flying across the kitchen. She hit the back of her head on the door frame and was bleeding.

“Get up you, lazy cow.” The man was walking towards the girl laying slump against the door frame.

Nora couldn’t stand it anymore and busted through the back door. She punches the guy in his face.

“You like beating on a child. Let’s see how you like being beaten on by me.” Nora follows through with a kick to the guy chest, sending him flying backwards.

The guy was caught off guard by a Hispanic woman that had come through his back door. He picks himself up off the floor.

“Lady, I don’t know who you are, but you just made a big mistake.” He charges towards Nora.

Nora jumps up on the counter and kicks him in the face with her foot. The guy tries to block her kick but is struck directly in his face. He feels his nose break and blood seeps from his broken nose.

He reaches out and tries to grab Nora’s leg, but he misses. He manages to hit her in her left thigh. He tries to hit Nora again, but she had jumped down off the counter and landed on the other side of him.

As he goes to punch Nora. He feels his arm grabbed and twisted behind him. Then he feels another arm wrapped around his throat and squeezed.

Nora holds on tight as she cuts the guys air off. She had him by his one arm behind his back and her other arm wrapped around his neck, cutting off his air supply. She feels him slowly relaxing and finally, he passes out from lack of air.

She taps her ear piece to call Kelly.

Kelly hears her cellphone ringing. She looks at the caller Id and notices it was Nora.

“Are you okay?”

“Yay, I’m fine. I’m going to need you to call the police and have them come here. Also, tell the operator we need any ambulance as well.” Nora
was kneeling by the young girl checking her out.

She notices she had bruises on her body and her fingers were crooked. She checks her pulse and detected a slow pulse. She stands up and walks over to the guy she knocked out and tear his t-shirt. She finds a bowl and fill it with warm water. She walks back over to the girl and kneel by her side. She tends to her wound. She could tell that this wasn’t the first time he had done this to her. She spots another scar on her head.

Kelly had gotten out of the car. She came around to the back door where she saw Nora and the girl went. As she walks in, she spots Nora kneeling by the girl they had followed just inside the house. She was tending to a head wound on the girl's head.

When she kneels to see if she could help. She notices a pool of blood under the girl’s head.

“Is she going to be okay?” Kelly looks towards Nora.

Nora looks up at Kelly “I hope so, Kelly. She hit her head against the door frame pretty hard.”

They hear the sirens approaching their location. When the police show-up. Nora gives her account of events and why she had followed the girl. She tells them everything and shows her DSS badge.

Kelly ends up going with the girl. Nora calls her lawyer and sees what needs to be done to get temporary custody of the girl. Afterwards, she shows up at Ginger’s school to meet with her history teacher.

Ginger's High School:
Ginger had stayed and waited for Nora to show-up. Her teacher had been smug towards her today in class. Nora was escorted to Gingers class by one of the school security officers.

Nora knocks on the door frame before she walks into the classroom.

Mr. Talbot looks up form his grade book when he heard someone knock on the door frame. He notices a slender Hispanic woman standing in
the doorway. She had straight black hair that had been tied back in a ponytail. She had on an expensive short sleeve charcoal gray blouse that seemed to be custom fitted to her. It went with the black dress slacks she was wearing and the two inch black heels. The slacks looked to be custom made, just for her.

“Hi, I’m Nora Midnight. I’m Ginger’s foster mother.” She holds her hand out to him.

Mr. Talbot shakes Nora’s hand. “I’m Harry Talbot, Ginger’s history teacher. Please come in and have a seat.” Mr. Talbot shows Nora to one of the desk in front of his desk.

Ginger moves to sit next to Nora.

Mr. Talbot looks towards Ginger “I would like to talk with your foster mother in private.”

Ginger was about to stand up to step outside. When she is stopped by Nora placing her hand on her arm.

“Mr. Talbot, whatever you have to say to me about Ginger in private. Can be said to me in front of Ginger.” Nora wanted to hear both sides.

“Very well Miss. Midnight. Ginger is a very disrupted in class and tends to speak out while I am teaching class.”

“That’s because you give us the wrong information and say what is written is wrong. You also don’t tell us the whole truth, but what you believe is the truth.” Ginger was made when she heard what he was telling Nora.

Nora just places her hand on Ginger’s arm. She looked directly at Mr. Talbot.

“Do you mean just like she did just now?” Nora just smiles.

“Exactly, like that. She tends to speak out during my lectures.” Mr. Talbot looked smugly at Nora.

He was going to make sure Ginger was kicked out of his class. If he was lucky, maybe out of the school as well.

“I do agree she gets excited when she feels someone is doing her wrong, but is what she told me true about you? That you inject your own belief and leave out important information when you teach your lessons?” Nora was watching his facial expression.

“Well no, not exactly. I mean everything is up to interpretation. Some of the information in the book is out of date or goes against what the truth is.” Mr. Talbot could see that Miss. Midnight was very intelligent.

“Ginger, can I see your book please?” Nora looks towards Ginger.

“Yes ma’am.” Ginger hands her book to her.

Nora accepts the book and flips to the copyright and printing page. The current edition they were using in class was only two years behind.
She flips through the book and finds a question and answer section she knew the students did for homework.

“Can you answer this question for me?” Nora reads off the question and then looks towards Mr. Talbot.

Mr. Talbot tries to remember what that question was asking, but he couldn’t recall anything on it. He just watches Miss. Midnight.

“Let’s try an easier one that I know Ginger has just recently answered.” Nora goes to the page that she saw Ginger working on last night and ask the question.

Mr. Talbot couldn’t remember the question or answer it either. He just looks at Nora.

A smile appears on Nora’s face “maybe I should get permission to sit in on your class and check out how you teach, Mr. Talbot. Because I have asked you two questions from this book that you assigned, and you seemed to be unable to answer the question.”

Mr. Talbot couldn’t believe how she made him look like a fool. Now she was talking about coming into his class and seeing how he teaches.

“That won’t be necessary, Miss. Midnight. There’s no need for you to be bothered.”

“Oh, it’s no bother. I’ll speak with the Principal about coming and observing your class.” Nora stands up and hands Ginger her book back.

Mr. Talbot couldn’t believe this lady was going to come and observer him. He watches as Miss. Midnight and Ginger leaves his classroom. He saw the smirk on Ginger’s face.

Nora just smile as she heads down to the Principal office and arrange to come up and observe Mr. Talbot teach history. The Principal didn’t have a problem with her coming up and observing. He wishes more parents would take an interest in their kid’s educations.

Ginger couldn’t believe the way her mother handled Mr. Talbot. She did notice that Nora’s knuckles were red and puffy. She waits to ask her
mother what happened till they get out to the car.

Once they were in the car “mom, why are your knuckles red and puffy?”

“Because I had to hurt a man for hurting his daughter.” Nora starts the car up and heads towards the hospital where Kelly was with the girl.

Christina wasn’t due to get off work for another hour or so. She’ll go and pick her up after she checks on the girl and pick Kelly up as well. She was still waiting to hear back from her lawyer.

Nora goes back to the girl’s house later that night after Christina and Ginger were in bed asleep. Kelly was in Nora’s car keeping watch for her.
Nora managed to pick the lock of the back door and walks inside. She scans the place but, doesn’t find any type of security system.

She moves quietly throughout the house. She finds the master bedroom and looks inside. The bedroom was messy. There were empty beer cans and Jack Bean whiskey bottles littering the floor. The room stunk of spilled booze and unwashed socks. The guy that was the girl’s father was a slob.

There were hooks in the ceiling and on the back of the bedroom door were leather whips of different styles and shape. There were several sets of leather cuffs that could be hung from the hooks in the ceiling. She looks around some more and finds bricks of marijuana and cocaine hidden underneath the bed stuffed up in the box mattress. She leaves it alone and searches the rest of the house.

She finds the girl's bedroom and couldn't believe what she was seeing. All the girl had for a bed was a bunch of tatter smelly blankets for a bed. There were deadbolts on her bedroom door and a five-gallon bucket in one corner of the room. She checks the windows and noticed they were nailed shut.

She looks in the closet and there were only two pairs of blue jeans, blouses and two dresses. The clothes smelled nice and clean. She looks around the closet some more and discovered some books, a jar of peanut butter that was halfway gone and half a bag of bread.

Nora couldn’t believe that the man kept his daughter locked up in the room. She leaves the girls room and looks around some more. All the cabinets had locks, including the refrigerator. She finds two more bedrooms. The doors were locked. She picks the locks and walks in. In one room had a bunch of money and guns in it. There were crates of hand grenades, AK’s and other assorted weapons. As for the money. There had to be at least a couple of millions all bundled up and ready to be transported. She was going to grab a few for the girl before she leaves.
She leaves that bedroom and goes to check out the other room and couldn’t believe what she found inside the room. There were ten white plastic five gallons buckets that were sealed. She unscrews the cap off one and smelled the contents. It smelled like alcohol to her and nearly burned her nostrils. She finds a large stack of cocaine bricks, several bags of Ice and over thirty blocks of heroin.

She finds several unopened boxes of cellphones of different brands. She grabs a few of them. You can never have too many burn phones. She knew this was what the guy was using them for.

She pulls her cellphone out and starts taking pictures of everything. She makes sure she had several clear pictures of everything.

She locates a gym bag and heads back into the bedroom that had the money and fills the bag up with the money for the girl. She adds the unopened burn phones she found too. She’ll go to the bank tomorrow and start an account for the girl.

Ginger’s case worker was working with her lawyer to get custody of the girl that was in the hospital. The report she got from the doctor that was tending to her wasn’t good. This wasn’t the first time she has been hit in the head. He found several scars on top of her head. She had several STD’s that they had to give her shots for. She was malnourished, underweight and had needle marks on each arm.

All her fingers had been broken and healed incorrectly. He had to rebreak her fingers and reset them. They did a cat scan and MRI of the girl.
The doctor did discover she had a few cracked ribs and her arm had been broken before.

Nora relocks the back door and heads back outside to Kelly; who had been waiting in the car for her.

“What did you find out?” Kelly starts the car and put it in gear.

“The guy is a drug dealer and treats his daughter more like a slave than anything else. You should have seen the condition in which he makes her live. She didn’t even have a bed to sleep on. He makes her sleep on the floor on a pile of tatter worn out blankets.” Nora couldn’t believe how he treated his own daughter.

Kelly could tell Nora was mad. She has known Nora for several years and knew she donated to National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Saint Jude’s Hospital and Make a Wish foundation. If it had something to do with kids, she donated to it.

“What’s in the gym bag you brought back?”

“Money, I took it for the girl and several unopen cellphones. The guy was going to use them as burn phones.” Nora figures she would do the same.

Kelly drives them home and pulls into the garage. Once they were parked. Nora takes the gym bag and stuffs it in a hiding spot she uses in the garage. She takes the burn phones into the house with her and put them in a secret cabinet she stores a few she owns in.

Once that was done, she heads towards her bedroom and strips out of her clothes. She walks into the bathroom and takes a shower with Kelly. They fool around in the shower some and finally make it to bed. Nora had her black nightgown on and Kelly had her cream white one on. Nora was spooned against her from behind with her arm draped over her.

Five hours later, Nora’s cellphone goes off. She touches the snooze button and goes back to sleep. The Alarm goes off a second time. She gets up out of bed and heads into the kitchen to make breakfast for Ginger and Christina. She prepares a bag lunch for Ginger and a lunch box for Christina. She knew Christina could go out to lunch if she wanted to, but she figures she’ll eat lunch at her work. She fixes a quick breakfast for both girls. The coffee was already brewing.

Christina comes walking in first and waves good morning as she grabs a cup of coffee for herself and some breakfast. Ginger comes in next and grabs an orange juice and breakfast as well. Once they had finished their breakfast. Nora changes while they put thier dirty dishes in the dish washer and grab their lunches to takes them to school and work.

Just before Ginger steps out to the car. She looks towards Nora.

“Are you coming this afternoon to my class, mom?”

“I’ll be there Ginger. I want to see how Mr. Talbot teaches the class. I went through your Government book yesterday before you went to bed
and read the chapters he required of you. I also review the homework he assigned as well.” Nora covers up a yawn.

“Tired mom?” Ginger just smiles.

She knew Kelly and her mom tends to make love to each other. She didn’t mind if they did. Neither one of them were forcing her to be like them. She didn’t know which way she really swung.

Ginger grabs her school bag and lunch. She follows Christina out to the car. She sits in the back seat by herself. Kelly wasn’t coming with them this morning.

Nora takes Christina to work first and drops her off. She then heads towards Ginger’s school to drop her off. As she pulls up to drop Ginger off.

“Do you need anything, Ginger?”

“I’m fine mom.” Ginger leans in the middle of the seats and gives Nora a hug.

Nora returns the hug “be careful and have fun sweetie.”

Ginger gets out and heads inside the school. As she walks in, she notices William was waiting for her. She wonders what he wanted as she walks up to him.

“Morning William, what can I do for you?” Ginger stops near him.

“Oh, hi Ginger. I was told you sometimes tutor students. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind helping me?” William was having a hard time in Trigonometry and needed some tutoring.

“Sure, what subject do you need help with?”

“Trig. I’m failing the class and if I don’t pick my grade up. I’ll be kicked off the football team and we can’t afford that right now.”

“No problem. What day is good for you?” Ginger adjust her backpack.

“Would tomorrow be okay? I have football practice on Thursday and Friday, plus this weekend.”

“Tomorrow will be fine. Do you want to come over to my house or me over at yours?” William didn’t mind going over to her house.

“Why don’t we meet at mine. My mom will be up here this afternoon and I’ll let her know.” Ginger didn’t think Nora would mind.

“Thanks, Ginger.” William gives her a smile and heads off towards his first class.

Ginger heads towards her first bell class. She’ll inform Nora when she comes up to the school this afternoon for Mr. Talbot’s class. She walks into class and over to the desk she has claimed as hers.

Hospital:
Nora heads towards the hospital after stopping at a toy store to buy the girl a teddy bear. She didn’t see one in the girl’s bedroom last night.
She heads up to the floor she was staying on.

She waves to the nurses as she walks into the room.

She notices that the young girl was still out for the count. She hadn’t moved since they put her in the room. Nora walks over and tucks the teddy bear next to her. She brushes some of the girl’s hair out of her eyes.

“Your father should be ashamed by the way he has taken care of you and treated you.” Nora wonders who her mother was and what she ever saw in the man.

The doctor walks in “Ms. Midnight, how are you doing?”

“I’m doing good doctor. I’m just concerned about this girl. How much longer do you think she’ll remain in a coma?” Nora was concern about her.

“I don’t know. Hopefully, she’ll wake-up in a few days.” Doctor Goodman checks her vitals and blood pressure.

Nora just stands nearby and watches the young girl. As the doctor was about to leave. The young girl opens her eyes and looks at the room she was in. She notices she had a few machines connected to her.

Nora was about to walk out when she notices the girl awake “Doctor, she’s awake.”

Doctor Goodman quickly moves to her side. He starts checking her responses. He was surprised that she woke-up.

Nora stands back and watches. She hopes the girl can answer some question for her. She wants to know who her mother was.

The information she collected last night. She sent to a friend of hers with the DEA. They had worked together for five years before he left the DSS and went to the DEA. He informed her he would investigate the person. The judge wasn’t allowing the girl's father bail. He already had domestic assault charges and assault with a firearm charge against him. She placed charges against with assault, attempted murder, and child abuse.

Melody didn’t know what to make of the Doctor or the well dress Hispanic looking woman observing her. She was confused on how she got her. The last thing she remember was getting backhanded by her father and hitting her head against the door. She notices all her fingers were bandaged up.

“W-Where am I-I?” Melody was looking towards the Doctor and the woman.

She was looking towards the Hispanic looking woman.

“You’re in the hospital. I saw your father backhand you and you hit your head on the door frame.” Nora notices that the girl was nervous.

Melody notices the teddy bear lying next to her. She picks it up and hugs it tightly. The last one she had was thrown into a fire barrel by her father. He did it to punish her. When she went to try and pull it out, she burned her hand.

“What is your name and how old are you?” Nora was curious and could see how much the young girl loved the teddy bear she bought her.

“M-My name is M-Melody W-Wolcott and I-I am 13 y-years old.” She looks directly at Nora.

“Well Melody, I’m Nora Midnight and this is your Doctor. His name is Doctor Richard Goodman. I have been given temporary custody of you till the courts decide what to do about your father. Do you know who your mother is or where she might be?” Nora was curious about her mother.
“M-My mother d-died of an o-overdose.” Tears leak from her eyes as memories of that day surface.

“Melody, has your father always abused you and sold you out to other men?” Nora moves closer and records their conversation on her phone.

“Y-Yes! I-I'm supposed to make three hundred d-dollars every night for h-him.” She shivers as she squeezes the teddy bear tighter against her body.

Nora notices she has a stutter to her speech. She could see that she was a little cautious and scared as well.

“Melody, does your father shoot you up with the drugs he sells?” Nora had seen the track marks on her arms.

“Y-Yes.” She shakes again.

“Doctor Goodman, did your blood test show any drugs in her systems?” Nora looks over at him.

“Yes, we found traces of cocaine and heroin in her system and when we tested her hair. It came back positive for history of drug use. We have given her an injection of Naltrexone to help her. She only needs to take it once a month.” Dr. Goodman figures Naltrexone should help her.

“How long will she need to take it?” Nora knew kicking a drug habit, especially one forced upon you was going to be hard to kick.

Nora turns her attention back to Melody. She walks over and sits on the edge of her bed.

“I’m going to need to leave and take care of some business Melody. However, I will return later to check on you. I have a cellphone for you with my number already programmed into it. All you need to do is press 1 for me. If you press 2, you’ll get my wife Kelly. If you press 9, you’ll get some friends of mine. Please, only use that one if I and Kelly don’t call you in twenty-four hours. It’s for emergencies only” She pulls a flip phone cellphone out and hands it to Melody. Nora had programmed the number Cheshire had given her into the phone. Nora knew if Cheshire or Jack came, they would protect Melody, Ginger and Christina should something happen to her and Kelly.

Melody looks at Nora “y-you promise to r-return?”

“I promise.” Nora gives her a hug and place a kiss on her forehead.

Nora gets up and steps outside Melody’s room to speak with Dr. Goodman.

“Dr. Goodman, if there is anything that Melody needs to be done or needs. Let me know, please. I have to leave to handle some business, but I will be back.” Nora knew she needed to be at Ginger’s school for her Government class.

“Don’t worry Ms. Midnight. She’s in good hands.”

Nora walks out of the school office after checking in with them. She had asked permission to sit in on Ginger’s government class. She had explained her reasoning to the principal and vice principal. They had granted her permission to attend. She had brought a notepad and pens with her to take notes during class. She also had a copy of the same Government Book Ginger had been given for the class.

Nora takes a seat in the back of the class. She watches as the students in the class enter and take their seats. She spots Ginger as she comes in and takes her seat.

Ginger spotted Nora in the back of the class as she entered the room. A smile appears on her face as she heads towards her favorite seat and prepare to take notes. She was going to enjoy this class. She wanted to see if Mr. Talbot was going to screw-up while her mother was here.

Mr. Talbot looks towards the back of the class towards Ms. Midnight’s direction. The objections he raised with principal Kramer and vice principal Bones had fallen on deaf ears. He had said that there was no reason for Ms. Midnight to observe his class.

Principal Kramer had said he should be trilled that one of his student’s parents were taking an interest in their child’s education. He starts writing information up on the smart boards while he waited for the bell to ring. Once the bell ring, he shuts the classroom door and turns around to face his students.

“Today we have a special guest class, so please be on your best behavior. Now, today we are going to learn about the US Constitution. Who knows why the founding fathers wrote the Constitution?” Mr. Talbot looks out at everyone.

“No one?” He looks around at all his students.

Ginger wanted to answer his question, but she wanted him to make a mistake.

“Well, since no one bother to read the section I assigned last night. It’s because Locke argued that the government should have absolute power over the people. His argument was that the government should have total say over the rights that the people should have.”

Nora looks at him and couldn’t believe she just heard what she heard. That wasn’t what Locke and the founding fathers believed. Locke and
the founding fathers believed that people had unalienable rights and that there should be limited government control. It was Thomas Hobbes who suggested that the government have absolute power over its subjects.

“Sir, that wasn’t what the book said. I believe you have your facts wrong.” Ginger looks towards her teacher with a smile on her face.

“Your wrong, Ms. Summers, that isn’t what the book says.” He looks directly at her with a red face.

“Sir, it says so, right here on page 157, paragraph 2, third line in.” Ginger had highlighted the paragraph to prove what she was saying.

Nora stands up and walks up to Ginger’s desk. She looks over her shoulder at the section she highlighted. It was the same paragraph in her book as well. She glances over towards the student sitting next to Ginger to look at their book and it said the same thing.

“Mr. Talbot, for my curiosity. Could you show me where it says this in your book please?” Nora looks directly at him.

“Ms. Midnight, must I remind you that you are a guest in my classroom? As such, I don’t have to show you or explain to you anything at all?”

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem, showing me where in your book it says what you told the class. I mean, maybe your book might be an
older version that had mistakes that were never corrected.” Nora was trying to be diplomatic about the situation.

Some of the class were trying not to snigger at Mr. Talbot. All their books said the same thing as their classmates. They watch Ms. Midnight as she heads towards the front of the class.

Mr. Talbot could see that Ms. Midnight wanted him to answer her. He watches as she stops on the other side of his desk and holds out her hand. He spots several of his students taking out their cellphones and videoing them. He hands his book over towards Ms. Midnight.

“Thank you.” As she opens the book.

Nora looks at the page and notices it said the same thing that hers, Ginger’s and the other student she checked had said. She double checks the edition and printing. She makes sure to leave a mark on the page with her initials in very small lettering.

“Here you go Mr. Talbot. You may continue with your class.” Nora holds the book out to him.

Mr. Talbot doesn’t accept the book. Instead he gathers his things up and walks out of class. He heads down towards the Principals office.
Nora turns around and looks at the class. She opens the book back up and turns towards the page they were on.

“Now, who can tell me why our founding fathers believe in the protection of unalienable rights and limited government in the Declaration of
Independence and Constitution?” Nora continues teaching the class till the bell rings.

Principal Kramer and Vice Principal Bones had been surprised when Mr. Talbot stormed into their office and turned in his resignation. He had told them to go and fuck themselves as he stormed out of the school. They both watched as Mr. Talbot almost hit a couple of people as he drove out of the schools parking lot. Afterwards, both headed up to Mr. Talbot’s former classroom and listen as Ms. Midnight taught his class. They went inside the classroom and watched as she taught the class. The students seemed to pay attention as she read and wrote things on the board. By the time the class bell rang. They watched as the students pack up and left the room.

Ginger stayed behind to act as a witness for her mother. She recorded the whole encounter. She watches as the Principal and Vice Principal walked over towards her mother.

“Ms. Midnight, would you mind explaining what happened?” Principal Kramer looks at Ms. Midnight.

“I asked Mr. Talbot a question to show me what he told the students after checking in my book, Ginger’s book and the student next to her school book to make sure all of us were on the same page. I thought maybe, he had a different version or an older book that had errors. He refused to show me at first. So, I went up to the front of the class to confront him.”

“Sir, I have the whole thing recorded.” Ginger plays the whole thing back for Mr. Kramer and Mr. Bones.

Both men watched the video and could tell that Ms. Midnight had been very diplomatic during the whole time. They couldn’t believe what Mr. Talbot had said to the students. They look at Ms. Midnight.

“Maybe we should hire you to teach his class.” Both men were impress by what they saw of Ms. Midnight.

“I’m flatter you would offer me the job, but my Master’s degree is in Law Enforcement. I would have to go back to school to get a teaching degree in the state of Tennessee.” Nora hadn’t consider being a teacher.

Hell, she hadn’t consider coming out of retirement either. She just wanted to enjoy life for once.

“Ms. Midnight. What did you use to do?” Mr. Kramer might know a loop hole and a friend on the school board that could help.

“I was a US DSS agent. I worked mostly overseas. I just recently retired.”

“Well, let me make some calls and get back with you.” Principal Kramer wouldn’t mind having her on staff here.

She could help him with another problem that was going on here at school as well.

Nora reaches into her purse and pull one of her business cards out and hands it to him.

“You can reach me at this number.” As she hands the card to Mr. Kramer.

“Thank you.” He accepts the card and tuck it into his shirt pocket.

Afterwards, Ginger and Nora leave the school. They head towards the hospital to check on the girl Nora had rescued.

“Mom, I can’t believe Mr. Talbot walked out of class. I thought for sure he would have done more to fight you.” Ginger looks over at Nora.

“The fight isn’t over yet sweetie. He might try to say I attacked or provoked him.” Nora felt the matter wasn’t over yet.

“How? There’s no way he can. You have over twenty different students that can testify on your behalf. We also have video to prove it.” Ginger
made sure to save a copy to her cloud account.

“So, who are we visiting at the hospital mom?” Ginger watches as her mother pulls into the parking lot of the hospital.

“Melody Wolcott. She was the young girl me and Kelly rescued from an abusive father. Her father almost succeeded in killing her. If we hadn’t
intervened when we did. She might be dead right now.” Nora parks the car and turns to face Ginger.

“Why did her father try to kill her?”

“Because she didn’t bring home any money for selling herself. He was sending her out to sell herself for sex.” Nora was going to be open with
Ginger about Melody.

Ginger couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Melody’s father was making her sell herself for sex. She couldn’t believe a parent would do that to their child.

“Is there anything I can do to help her?”

“Just be supportive and be her friend. That’s all you can do right now Ginger. Just show her you care for her. She’s had a hard life. Do you think you can do that?” Nora watches Ginger to see if she can.

“I’ll try, mom.” Ginger wipes a tear from her cheek.

“That all I can ask of you.” Nora gives Ginger a hug as they get out of the car and head inside the hospital to see Melody Wolcott.

Nora and Ginger walks into the hospital room where Melody was. She was watching cartoons.

“N-Nora, y-you returned.” Melody was so happy that Nora had returned.

“I told you I would, Melody.” Nora gives her a hug.

Ginger looks at the girl her mother told her about and notices all her fingers were in splits. She also had her head wrapped up. There were a few tubes connected to her.

“Hi, Melody. I’m Ginger, Nora’s daughter.” Ginger holds out her hand for Melody to shake.

“I-It’s n-nice to m-meet you.” Melody shakes Ginger’s hand.

She could tell Ginger had some pretty nails. They had little kitty faces on them. She looks back towards Nora.

“W-Will I b-be able to go with y-you?” Melody was concern that Nora wouldn’t want her.

“As soon as the doctor gives the okay, you’ll be coming home with me. You and Ginger will be sharing a bedroom. I hope you don’t mind.” Nora hadn’t told Ginger yet.

“I-I don’t mind. I-It will be nice to h-have a s-sister.” Melody looks at Ginger to see if she minded.

Ginger didn’t mind sharing a room. She could see the abuse in Melody’s eyes. She wouldn’t mind helping this girl.

“Why don’t you two girls get to know each other, while I go and speak with Dr. Goodman.” Nora leaves the hospital room and goes looking for Dr. Goodman.

She finds him at one of the nurse’s station.

“Dr. Goodman, when can Melody come home with me?” Nora was still waiting to hear from Ginger’s social worker about handling Melody’s case.

“She’s doing better, Ms. Midnight. I would say she can be release tomorrow, afternoon. I just need to perform one more test and if the test comes back negative. I’ll discharge her to your custody.” Dr. Goodman didn’t see why Melody couldn’t be discharged to Ms. Midnight’s care.

“Thank you, Dr. Goodman.” Nora glances at her wrist watch and notices it was getting close to when Christina would be getting off.

She pulls her cell phone out and dial Kelly’s phone number.

Kelly was in the kitchen gathering what she was going to need to make dinner tonight, when her cell phone rings. She notices it was Nora calling her. She picks the cell phone up.

“Hey sweetie. What can I do for you?” Kelly walks over to the cabinets to pull down some spices.

“Can you pick Christina up from work for me please?” Nora wanted to give Ginger and Melody sometime to learn a little about each other.

“Sure, let me get dinner going and I’ll fetch Christina. How is the girl we rescued doing?” Kelly figures the items can cook in the crock pot while they were gone.

“She is doing fine. Dr. Goodman wants to do one more test and if it comes back negative. She’ll be able to be discharge to my custody tomorrow evening.” Nora was still getting used to being, a mother.

She hadn’t planned on becoming a mother when she retired from the DSS. Nor, had she thought about becoming a teacher either. Now, she has become a mother and if she understood Principal Kramer right. He would like for her to come and be a teacher at Ginger’s school.

“That’s good. Well, let me get things going and I’ll go and get Christina from her job. See you later, sweetie.” Kelly ends the call.

Nora puts her cell phone back in her purse and heads back to Melody’s room. She peeks in and notices that Ginger and Melody was getting along well. Ginger was showing Melody a music video on her cell phone. She just stands and observe them for a while.

She was proud of Ginger in accepting Melody. After the video she was showing Melody ended, Midnight walks in.

“Well, how are you two girls getting along?” Nora looks at both girls.

“G-Ginger w-was showing me some v-video’s. I-I was n-never allowed to own a p-phone.” Melody felt so stupid being around Ginger.

“It’s going to be okay, Melody.” Ginger gives Melody a hug.

She felt sorry for the poor girl. She won’t mind being her older sister. She’s never had a sister before, so this will be new for her.

Nora just smiles at the two of them “I got some good news for you Melody. Dr. Goodman said he had one more test to perform on you tomorrow and if the result come back good. You’ll be able to come home with me.”

“Y-You’ll let me come and l-live with you and G-Ginger?” Melody couldn’t believe that someone would take her.

Her father said she was a worthless, stupid and moronic cow. That the only thing she was good for, was being used like a female dog in heat.
He also told her that her mother should had aborted her, once she found out that she was pregnant with her.

“I believe thats what mom said, sis.” Ginger gives her a sisterly smile and hug.

“Melody, we’re going to leave you now, but I promise to be back tomorrow morning after dropping Ginger off at school.” Nora wouldn’t mind taking Melody home tonight, but Dr. Goodman said he needed to perform one more test, before he would release her.

Nora walks over and gives Melody a hug “I promise I’ll be back tomorrow, Melody.”

“O-Okay.” Melody didn’t want Nora or Ginger to leave, but Nora always kept her word to her.

Ginger gives her a hug as well “I can’t wait till you come home tomorrow. You’ll like meeting Kelly and Christina.”

Melody watches as Nora and Ginger leave. She snuggles under the blanket and hold her teddy bear to her. She can’t wait to leave the hospital.

Nora and Ginger head down to Nora’s car. Ginger looks at Nora just as they reach the mustang.

“Mom, is it alright if I have a person over to help them? The new quarterback of our football team needs help with Trig and asked me to tutor him.”

“I don’t see why you can’t. Kelly will be picking you and your friend up, unless you want to take the bus?” Nora starts the mustang up.

“Kelly will be fine mom. I hope I’ll be a good big sister to Melody. She seems to need someone who cares about her.” Ginger had seen how other foster kids had been treated like Melody.

“I think you’ll make a very good big sister. Just remember, she’s going to need some help. According to what Doctor Goodman has told me about her medical condition. There are signs that she has survived several injuries to her head. He believes that is why she seems a little slow and has a stutter to her speech. You might need to help her sometimes.”

“I don’t mind, mom. What is going to happen to her father?” Ginger was concern about that.

“Let’s just say that he isn’t going to last long in prison. I made a call to a family friend in the District Attorney’s office and he is going to be sent to general population. The men in that part of the prison don’t like child abusers or pedophiles.” Nora hopes he gets what is due to him.

When they walk into the house. They saw Christina in an extremely good mood.

“Okay, why are you so happy?” Nora was curious.

“I’m going to Hollywood to work on a movie set. Rob wants me to come along and help. He said that our hotel room and meals are being paid
for by the production company. He doesn’t know how long we are going to be there, but it shouldn’t be longer than a week and a half.”
Christina couldn’t believe she was going to Hollywood.

Nora looked concerned. If Christina goes to Hollywood, she couldn’t protect her or look after her.

“Christina, come with me to my bedroom please.” Nora heads towards her bedroom.

Christina follows behind her into the bedroom. She watches as Nora goes over to her closet and reach up on her top self. She pulls down a slim box.

“This is my back-up bullet proof vest, Christina. I’ve never worn it and it’s lighter then my normal one. I know you might not be expecting any trouble while you’re there, but I rather you be prepared for any trouble that might pop up. Also, you won’t be able to take any weapons with you on the plane. I have a brief case that you can hide your weapon in that the x-ray machines can’t pick-up. It was given to me while I was station over in Europe. It has a metal foam lining inside a tungsten case. Even if you look inside the case, you can’t spot it.” Nora shows Christina how the case work.

She removes the panels on the inside of the case. Behind the panel, Christina could see where a gun and two magazines could be stored and replace the panel.

“You can also use the case to block bullets.” Nora hands the brief case over to Christina.

“Thank you, Nora.” Christina accepts the case.

“Just do me a favor of not getting into any trouble while you’re in Hollywood please.” Nora just smiles at Christina. She was very proud of her.

"I promise not to get into any trouble, while I'm gone." Rescuing Jack's daughter and her friends had put her on some nasty persons radar, not to mention when she stopped the robbery at the convenience store as well.

Christina drops the brief case in her bedroom, before heading towards the dining room to have dinner.

Nora and Kelly help Christina pack for the trip. She made sure she had enough clothes for a two-week stay. They made sure she had some nice clothes to go out and enjoy the nightlife but made sure she understood the dangers as well.

“Here’s the number of a friend of mine, Christina. If you get into trouble or need help, call this number. Ask for Fredrick Martian. He was one of my instructors when I became a DSS agent. He’s retired, but he has a private bodyguard business.” Nora slips the sticky note to Christina.

“Thanks, Nora.” Christina gives Nora and Kelly a hug.

She may be 18yrs old and living on her own, but Nora and Kelly have been like mothers to her. Her own parents didn’t want to have anything to do with her and her sister tolerated her, just like her cousin Wolf did. However, Nora and Kelly didn’t judge her. Cheshire had said she would pay for the final operation. All she had to do was let her or Jack know when she wanted to do it.

Since Christina was going to have an early flight, she helps with dinner and heads to bed afterward.

Nora checks Ginger’s homework and finds several mistakes in her math.

“You need to fix these six, Ginger. Your math is wrong.” Nora points out her mistakes.

“God, I hate Algebra.” Ginger may be smart and good in math, but she hated Algebra and Trig.

“So, did I when I went through it in high school and college. However, I managed to pass it with straight A’s. Let me know if you want me to help you.” Nora watches as Ginger goes back to fixing her math problems.

Kelly looks towards Nora “are you planning on becoming a teacher?” She had seen Nora looking up the qualifications she would need for Tennessee.

“It’s not a bad idea. I have a master’s degree in Justice and Law Enforcement. Plus, twenty years of being a DSS agent and knowledge of our government. Plus, knowledge of other countries from my relationships with ambassadors of other countries.” Nora figures her work experience would cover most of the requirements.

She reads the site to get a license to teach. There were two ways she could go. She already had a master’s degree. Even if it was in Law Enforcement, she could transfer some of her credits over to see what she would need to get an educators license, or she could take several different Praxis test to get a license and teach that way.

She decided that she would take the test to get her license to teach. There were at least six test she could take to get her license to teach in different subjects. She goes ahead and orders the study material for the ones she knew she needed to study for. The languages ones she could take right now. She'll set a day to take test for those after, she gets the other one she needs. As for the others, she’ll take Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Tests. She’ll take all three tests at the same time in that category and the Principles of Learning and Teaching afterward. She orders the study material and once it all downloads. She’ll look at it in the morning.

“Done.” Ginger comes back with the corrections she made.

Nora looks at it and discovers she still had one wrong.

She looks at Ginger “would you like for me to show you the proper answer on this one?”

Ginger looks at the one Nora was pointing at and couldn’t believe she got it wrong again.

“Yes please.” Ginger sits down next to Nora’s legs on the floor.

Nora takes her pencil and erases what Ginger had written down. Step-by-step, she explains what she is doing to Ginger and let her finish the
rest. Nora watches and when she had the correct answer. A smile appears on her face.

“There you go. Now, why don’t you go and take your bath? It's pass your bedtime.”

Ginger stands up and hugs Nora and Kelly. Afterward, she heads towards the bedroom to drop her school bag off and then into the bathroom to fill the tub up.

Kelly just leans against Nora’s shoulder and smiles. She was proud of Nora and what she was doing. Tomorrow, she was going to go with Nora to pick out a dresser and bed for Melody. She’ll take Melody out to personalize her side of the bedroom.

“You think Principal Kramer is going to hire you to be a teacher?” Kelly glances at Nora.

“Yes, I think he would like for me to work there at the school. The first reason is, he just lost a teacher. So, he needs a replacement. The
second reason I think he’ll hire me. He will have someone who is experienced in spotting problems and things a normal security personnel can’t spot. I noticed a few things when I walked through the hallways from Ginger’s Government class.” Nora saw a few things that she knew weren’t permitted in school, not to mention she smelled the scent of marijuana on a few students as they passed her.

“Isn’t that common in school? I know my school had a few reefer heads at my high school when I went.” Kelly’s best friend was one.

“I know, we had a few in my high school along with a few drug pushers. However, the teenagers at Ginger’s school shouldn’t have to worry about that.” Nora was thinking about what she had observed.

“You know, Ginger might be teased and attack if you come down hard.” Kelly was worried about Ginger and Melody.

“I know, but Ginger can handle herself pretty well. I’ll make sure she is protected as best as I can. Melody might end up taking special classes. I’ll give her a test to see what she knows and what she doesn’t know. We can help her catch up with students that are her age." Nora knows Melody might need some help in her education and social skills.

Once Ginger was ready for bed. Nora goes in to speak with her. She walks over and tucks her in and then sits on the side of her bed.

“You don’t mind sharing your room with Melody, do you?” Nora brushes some of Ginger’s hair out of her eyes.

“No, ma’am. I don’t mind sharing my room with her. Is she going to be okay with me not being a physical girl?” Ginger was on hormones and getting her curves and her own breast.

“We’ll talk about it, but I wouldn’t worry too much. I think she will like you, for you.” Nora looks down at Ginger and could see she was a little worried.

“I hope so. I want to be a good big sister to her.” Ginger felt sorry for Melody.

“You will, just take it slow and let her get to know you. Now, close your eyes and get some sleep.” Nora kisses Ginger’s forehead and turns her lamp off on her nightstand.

Nora walks out of the bedroom and checks on Christina. She could see Christina having a hard time falling asleep.

“You know when I have a hard time sleeping. I listen to sounds of nature to relax me.”

“It’s more like I’m excited, than anything else.” Christina had a giant teddy bear dressed as Darth Vader sleeping with her.

“Well, let me know if you want a sleeping pill. Also, try to get some sleep.” Nora walks over and tucks Christina in and gives her a kiss on the forehead as well.

She finally heads back into the living room to spend some time with Kelly. After a few hours, they head to bed with Kelly snuggling up to her. Nora just holds her and finally fall asleep.

In the morning time, she and Kelly drop Christina off at her workplace, so she can help load things into their van to take with them on the flight. Then, drop Ginger off at school and Kelly informs Ginger she’ll be by after school to pick her and her friend up.

Nora and Kelly go bed shopping for Melody. Nora buys her a canopy bed and matching bedroom furniture to go with it. She also picks her up a few things she might like. The nurse had given her Melody’s size and Kelly picks out some clothes for Melody to wear home and to bed.

Nora’s lawyer and Ginger’s caseworker is handling Melody’s case. She was given custody of Melody and charges were filed against Melody’s father. There was no way he was going to get off hurting Melody. Nora and Kelly spend the day buying things for Melody, so she will feel welcome and at home.

While Nora is running around taking care of things for Melody to come home later. Her phone starts ringing. She checks it and notices it was the High School number. She hopes that Ginger hasn’t been hurt.

She answers the call “hello?”

“Ah, Ms. Midnight this is Principal Kramer. I was wondering if you could by the school, so we could speak?” Principal Kramer had spoken to
superintendent Mary Hodges about hiring Nora Midnight.

He had informed her that she was a retired DSS agent and had a master’s degree in Law Enforcement. He told her about everything that had happened in Harry Talbot’s classroom. She had given him some suggestions on how he could hire Ms. Midnight, but she did want to see an application for her before they do anything.

“I can be there in a few minutes Principal Kramer.” Nora figures it wouldn’t hurt meeting him. She had her resume on a thumb drive she carried around.

“That will be fine. I’ll be expecting you.” Mr. Kramer ends the call.

“Drop me off at the restaurant and I’ll get us some lunch.” Kelly figures while Nora was being interviewed. She’ll get them some lunch.

“Okay.” Nora drops Kelly at the diner and then heads over to the High School to meet with Principal Kramer.

An hour later, Nora comes walking out of the High School. Her meeting with Principal Kramer had gone well. He said that he would get back to her. Once he talked with the superintendent again. He did agree that the route she was going, would allow her to be able to teach in
Tennessee.

She heads over to the restaurant and has a nice lunch with Kelly. Afterward, she swings by the house for Kelly to grab her car to pick-up Ginger. She heads to the hospital to get Melody and bring her home.

Melody wakes-up when she hears movement in the room with her. She notices Ginger getting dress. She sits up still clinching the teddy bear Nora gave her when she was in the hospital.

Ginger turns around and spots Melody sitting up watching her “well good morning. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“N-No I’m a light s-sleeper.” Melody never allowed herself to fall into a deep sleep.

She never knew when her father would come into her bedroom. Even when she was in the hospital, she never let her guard down. She just hugs her teddy bear tighter.

Ginger had woken-up early, so she wouldn’t wake Melody up. She was getting ready for school and was trying to be as quiet as she could. She had laid everything out last night before turning in.

Melody just watches as Ginger got dress. She had been told last night while getting ready for bed. That Ginger was transgender. Melody didn’t care, that her new sister was trans. Melody gets out of bed and follows Ginger out of the bedroom. She had on a nice pink nightgown Nora had given her last night. She also had on a pair of bunny slippers.

She notices when she follows Ginger into the kitchen that Nora and Kelly were up. Kelly was fixing breakfast.

“Good morning, Melody. Are you hungry?” Karen had a stack of pancakes she made for breakfast for everyone.

Melody shakes her head yes.

“Do you like pancakes?”

“I’ve never had them before.” Her father never fed her anything nice before.

She was lucky to even get fed most days. Sometimes, she would have sex with her johns to get a burger or something. There were times she would hold some money back to buy herself something to eat.

“Well, today is your lucky day.” Karen puts four on a plate and pours maple syrup on them. She adds some sausage links to the plate.

“Here you go, Melody.” Kelly sets the plate down in front of her and adds a glass of milk.

“T-Thank you.” Melody picks up the fork and knife. She cuts into the pancakes and tries apiece.

“You’re welcome.” Kelly gives her a warm smile.

She loved the sugary taste of the syrup. She couldn’t believe the texture of the pancake. It was fluffy and airy.

Nora was watching while she drunk her coffee. She had heard from Christina last night when she landed and when she arrived at her hotel room. Today, Christina was going to be on set with her boss and fellow special effects artist.

“Melody, would you like to ride with us as I take Ginger to school?” Kelly was going to drop Ginger off.

Melody looks towards Nora to see if she would allow her.

“You can go if you want to, Melody. However, if you’re going to go with them. You’ll need to get dress first.” She gives Melody a warm smile.

After Melody finishes her breakfast. She goes with Nora back to her bedroom. Nora lets her choose what she wants to wear. Since her fingers were still splinted, Nora helps her get dress.

“I thought you might like having your own purse.” Nora hands her a purse she had picked out for her.

“T-Thank you.” Melody could tell it had some weight to it.

She opens it and discovers inside that she had a wallet, a new cellphone, brush, make-up mirror, lip gloss and a package of tissue. She looks up at Nora with tears in her eyes.

“T-Thank you.” She hugs Nora.

Nora wraps her arms around her and hugs her tight “you’re welcome.”

Nora watches as Kelly and the two girls head towards her car. Once everyone was in the car. Nora watches as Kelly backs the car out of the driveway and drives off. she turns around and heads back to the kitchen to refresh her coffee. She had an appointment tomorrow to go and take the test. If she passes the test she signed up for, she can have the results sent to Principle Kramer or the Super Attendant of schools.
She heads into her home office after cleaning the kitchen up and getting dress. She goes through the training material she had downloaded for the tests. The material covered what she would need to know about each test she was going to take. She makes notes of the material. She knows, she won’t be allowed to take her notes when she takes the test, but it doesn’t mean she couldn’t study them.

“Nora, we’re back.” Kelly walks into the house with Melody following her.

“I’m in here.” Nora glances at the clock hanging on her office wall and notices they have been gone for almost an hour.

Kelly sticks her head into Nora’s office “Ginger said she wants to take the school bus home today.”

“That’s fine.” She spots Melody standing behind Kelly.

“Come on in Melody.”

Melody walks pass Kelly and further into the office. She was amazed at how it looked. There were paintings, trophy’s, art pieces and plagues
on the walls. There were even pictures of Nora with some friends of her. She walks over and sits down in a high back leather chair. She watches as Kelly sits down in the chair next to her.

“So, what would you like to do today, Melody?” Nora wanted to let Melody do whatever she wanted to do.

“C-Could we go to the movies, p-please?” Melody hasn’t been to the movies in years.

She had one john that took her to the movies. He made her suck him while they were there. She doesn’t remember the movie, but she liked going.

“Sure, is there a movie you would like to see?” Nora brings up a list of movies on her computer.

“I-It has a y-young boy in it with a bunch of s-skeletons and he plays a g-guitar.” Melody saw a commercial for the movie.

“Okay, but before we go Melody. I’ve would like for you to read something for me, please.” Nora had seen the books she found in Melody’s closet and most of them were picture books.

Melody looks at Nora. She had a sad look on her face.

“I-I c-can’t read very w-well. E-Everything is b-blurry to m-me.” Melody knew she could only make out shapes and certain colors.

“Before we go to the movies Melody, why don’t we have your eyes checked first. Okay?”

“O-okay.” Melody has never been to the eye doctor before.

Nora shuts her computer down and they head off to see the eye doctor. The eye doctor Nora takes Melody too gives her all sorts of the eye test. What they find out, startles Nora. The eye doctor informs her that Melody is color blind and has astigmatism. Melody couldn’t see things that are red and green.

Nora looks towards Melody as she walked around with Kelly looking at the different frames while waiting for her. She wonders what else Melody has that her poor excuse of a father didn’t take care of. She walks over towards Melody.

“So, did you find any you like?” Nora stands behind Kelly and Melody.

“Y-Yes m-ma’am. I-I w-would like t-these.” Melody shows the pair her and Kelly had found that she liked.

“They are lovely a gold pair that would look great on her. Why don’t you pick out a second pair as well?” A smile forms on Nora’s face.

“Okay.” Melody goes over to a pair she had turned down for the pair they had chosen.

Once Melody picks her second pair. They head towards the movie theater and watch the movie, Coco. Afterward, they stop at a nice Italian
restaurant for lunch. They let Melody pick out whatever she wanted to try. They get an extra-large pizza to take home for dinner.

By the time they get home. Ginger was home and was relaxing.

“How was school today?”

“It was fine. We had a substitute teacher for my government class. Everyone still can’t get over that Mr. Talbot walked out and quit after you
confronted him, mom.” Ginger couldn’t believe Mr. Talbot would be so stupid to do what he did with a parent observing him.

“Well, hopefully, your class won’t have a substitute teacher for long.” Nora hopes she’ll be able to pass the test.

Kelly could see the concern on Nora’s face “you’ll be able to pass it.”

She walks over and gives Nora a hug. She holds her close to her body. Kelly knows Nora has never fallen at anything she did and has faith in her.

“Thanks.” Nora places a kiss on Kelly’s cheek.

Ginger and Melody spend some time together for the rest of the night, while Nora studies the prep material for the test she needs to take. Kelly reheats the pizza they brought home for dinner for everyone.

Nora looks at herself in her full-length mirror on the back of her closet door. Today was her first day of being a teacher. She couldn’t believe that it had taken two weeks for her test results and background check to clear. She should have done her own background check and handed it to Principal Kramer. She still held a Top-Secret clearance, but it took a security company almost two weeks to clear her.

Christina was back from Hollywood and was working on another project. Kelly had gotten a job as a receptionist with an insurance company. She met the manager one night at the bar where she worked. She had just come out of the closet about her sexuality and divorced her husband. He had been seeing another much younger woman behind her back.

She ran an insurance company and their former receptionist had moved with her husband to South Carolina. So, she needed a new receptionist. Kelly had always been nice to her and helped her through her divorced. She also got along with the customers extremely well. So, she offered the receptionist job to Kelly and she accepted.

Melody was in school and was taking special classes. Nora had her seeing a therapist about her abuse. So, she could overcome the nightmares and self-doubt about herself. Ginger and Melody were getting along like they had grown-up together. During the two weeks since Melody came to live with Nora. She has come to find out what a true parent is. She knew that Nora and Kelly would always be there for her. She was becoming close to Ginger and loved the fact she had an older sister.

Kelly walks up behind Nora as she stood feeling nervous before the mirror. She knew Nora was nervous because today was her first day as a teacher. She had seen Nora work hard last night putting together her lesson plan for her classes she was teaching. Not only was Nora teaching the government class that Mr. Talbot had walked out on, but she was teaching an advanced Spanish class.

“I have never seen you this nervous before. You, have always had a calmness about you. Why, are you so nervous?”

Nora just looks at Kelly’s reflection as she stood behind her. She was nervous because she was dealing with teenagers, not grown-ups.

“Because this is a new experience for me. Adults, I can deal with. Teenagers, on the other hand, are something that is going to be new for me.” Nora couldn’t just pull her gun out and shoot them or punch them if they got in her face.

She was going to have to use a different set of skills to handle hormonal teenagers. She knew they were going to test and push her to see what they could get away with. However, she knew how she was going to handle them. As for Ginger being in her class. She was going to treat her like she does other students.

“Well, I know you can handle those students. Just be yourself and trust your instincts. I know those students will learn you are a teacher that they don’t want to be on the bad side of.” She places a kiss on Nora’s cheek.

“Thanks.” Nora goes and grabs her bag and purse.

“You ready to go Ginger?” Nora looks over towards her older daughter.

“Yes, ma’am.” Ginger was just finishing up her breakfast.

Melody had already left for school. She felt comfortable enough to take the school bus to her school. She knew she didn’t have too because
either Kelly would take her, or Nora would take her. Sometimes, Christina would take her as well. She had made a friend in school and wanted to spend time with her on the bus.

Nora and Ginger take the Mustang to school. Kelly took her car to work. Christina was taking her truck to work when the weather wasn’t nice outside. Normally, she took her motorcycle to work.

“You’ll be fine mom.” Ginger saw how nervous her mother was.

“Thanks, sweetie.” Nora drives them directly to the school.

She parks her mustang in the teachers parking lot and walks inside the school. Nora checks in at the office and pulls any mail that was in her box. She heads towards the classroom assigned to her and start writing her name on the board. She also put the pages they were going to review today. Plus, their homework and chapters they needed to read before coming to class tomorrow.

While she waits for the students to show up for class. She reviews the student’s names in her first class and their grades. Some of them were doing okay, but the others weren’t so bad. She did read the letter left by the substitute teacher that had been teaching her class. She said that a lot of the students that were failing because they weren’t reading the assigned pages. When she called on them. They had no idea what was going on.

Nora makes a list by class of which students had been called on and weren’t understanding the material. She was going to call on them and have them read the book in class. When the first bell rings, Nora stands outside by her door and watch as the students come walking in. She was also watching the hallway for any problems.

Once the students were inside the classroom. Nora closes the door behind her and heads towards the front of the class. She notices some students were already writing down everything wrote on the board, but others weren’t writing anything down.

She takes a deep breath and slips into her professional personality. The same one she uses when she is giving instructions to a bunch of new recruit’s.

“Good morning class. My name is Nora Midnight and I will be your new government teacher. Each day when you come to class. I will have our agenda up on the blackboard, along with any announcements you need to know about. When I start writing on the board, I suggest you do too. If you need help in this class. I have a free period on periods 4 and periods 7. I am also here early in the morning and an hour after period 8. My door is always open for you and if you need help or have me explain something to you. Then feel free to ask me at any time. I’m here for you and to help you succeed. When I take roll, please say here and raise your hand so I know where you are sitting.” Nora looks down at her grade book and starts calling names.

She looks up each time she calls a name and makes sure she memorizes their face. Out of the twenty-five students she has in her class. Two students were missing.

Once she is done with calling each person. She looks at the student directly in front of her desk.

“Mr. Mckenzie, will you please read the first paragraph to us on page 185.” Nora had her book opened to follow along.

“Yes, ma’am.” Jack couldn’t believe Ms. Midnight had called on him to read to the class.

He turns to the page and starts reading the first paragraph to the class. He stumbles at first but recovers and continues. He finishes the first paragraph.

“Your turn Ms. Taylor, if you’ll read the second paragraph, please.” Nora looked directly at the young lady who had been texting during class, instead of following along in her book.

“Before Miss. Taylor start. All of you who are texting or surfing during. Please put your cell phones away. If you continue to use your cell phones during my class. I will take measures, so you can’t use them.” Nora looks at each student when she says that.

“You can’t do that Ms. Midnight. We have responsibilities and the right to have our cell phones out.” Clair needed to stay contact with her girlfriends all day long.

Nora just smirks “Ms. Roth, not only can I do it, but this my classroom. You are here to learn so you can become productive members of society. If you’re on your cell phone, you aren’t learning.”

She was going to bring a cell phone jammer to class. That way they couldn’t text or surf the web during class. Cell phones have become a distraction now a day.

“Now, Miss. Taylor. Please start the second paragraph.”

Clair just glares at Nora for a while. She wasn’t going to let a teacher tell her what she could and couldn’t do with her cell phone. She had every right to use her cell phone when she wanted to.

Nora notices Clair Roth glaring at her. A smile appears on her face as she looks directly back at her and letting her see how dominant she is. She has had the best trying to stare her down and they never succeed.

Clair diverts her eyes after she notices that staring down Ms. Midnight wasn’t going to work. She and her friends were going to have to think of a way to get rid of Ms. Midnight. She listens to the next student after Sera Taylor, which was Jackie Dickerson read the third paragraph.

When the last person finishes reading the chapter they were studying and came to the Q&A questions at the end. She glances at her list of students who weren’t doing so well in each class and ask them to answer the question. If they were following along, they should be able to answer the question.

Five minutes before the bell rings, Nora looks at the class “remember to do the Q&A questions for the next chapter and for extra credit points. I want you to find an article about what our government is doing now and tell me why you chose that article. Also, print it out and put your name on it.” She watches as they leave the room.

Her next class was homeroom. She reviews those student names and waits for them to come in. Once the bell rings letting everyone know they should be in their homeroom. She goes over the roll and notices that none of the students assigned to her homeroom were missing. She goes over the announcements that had been left in her mailbox to inform the students about. She also introduces herself to the students and gives them the same speech she gave her first period.

For the rest of the school day. Nora does what she did during her first-period class and during her advanced Spanish class. She insists that the students, speak, think and write in Spanish.

During her free periods, she patrols the halls making sure there weren’t any students roaming. When she spots a few students “excuse me, but why aren’t you in class?”

The students look at the new teacher. They never had any teacher ask them before.

“Well?” Nora was in her agent mood.

“We don’t have class during this period.” Jake answers for him and his friends.

“Do you have a hall pass?”

“No ma’am.” Jake and his knew they didn’t.

“Then get to your class and make sure I don’t catch you roaming the hall again without a pass.” Nora takes a picture of them.

“Yes, ma’am.” Jake and his friends run off to their class.

Nora checks the stairwells, where she knew students use to hang out when she was in school. When she comes across the security people patrolling the hallways, she gives them a copy of the students she found and where they had been. Once that was done, she heads back to her classroom and prepares for her next class.

At the end of the day, she stays an extra hour as Ginger meets her, in her classroom. She has been hearing rumors about her mother all day long. She heard how the students that, had her for class either liked the way she did things or hated how she didn’t do things.

She knew the popular kids didn’t like the fact she didn’t allow the use of cell phones in her class. There were a few students that really liked her and hopes she is staying permanently.

“So, what is the word around school about me, Ginger?” Nora looks towards her daughter.

“You are stirring things up, mom. There are students that like how you do things and ones that don’t.” Ginger had been working on her homework while waiting for her mother.

“Good.” Nora closes her things up and put everything back in her bag.

“So, how are going to stop students from using their cell phones, mom?” Ginger had heard what she told one student.

“I have a cell phone jammer at home. I’m going to bring that in and turn it on during class.” Nora had checked the regulations and there was
nothing in there that said she couldn’t do it.

“Oh, you really are going to make some students mad, mom.” Ginger never used her cell phone during class.

They head down to the parking lot, after letting the office know she was leaving and head home.

Nora had a free period and was correcting papers when she heard a crash out in the hallway near her classroom. She gets up and sticks her head out. She notices Ginger standing over a large boy. The blouse she had worn to school was torn and you could see her neon pink bra.

Nora walks over to her older daughter “what happened Ginger?”

“He tried to grab me from behind, while I was getting a book from my locker. When I yanked away from his grip. He tore my blouse. He tried again to put me in an arm lock and I smashed my head against his nose and elbowed him as hard as I could in his chest. Once I managed to turn around. I swept his legs out from under him and punched him in his nose.” Ginger was glaring down at Joseph.

If her mother hadn’t shown up when she did, she would have stumped on his groin.

Nora notices that Joseph had a bloody nose and was having a hard time breathing. She kneels and checks his chest to see if Ginger used a little too much force when she elbowed him. He had no broken ribs, but they might be bruised. She helps Joseph up off the floor, as a security officer comes around the corner.

Nora tells him what Ginger told her. Since Joseph wasn’t talking right now. They would take him to the nurse’s office and have him look at and have an incident report filed. Everyone in school by now has learned that Ginger is her daughter.

The adoption papers for Ginger and Melody had been approved for her and Kelly to be their legal parents. So, she had Ginger’s last name and Melody’s last name changed to hers. Nora goes to the nurse’s office and makes sure Joseph is okay, before heading back to her classroom.
She writes a note for Ginger.

“Thanks, mom.” Ginger heads off to her classroom.

“You’re welcome.” Nora just watches her daughter head towards her classroom.

Some of the students had complained to the principal about them not being able to use their devices in her classroom. She found out the rule was that she could take their cellphones from them and have their parents come up to reclaim it. Her way was better, but she was willing to give the other way a try. Because she could deal with the parents.

She did have one parent threaten her until she gave him a certain look that meant pain was coming next. That shut him up fast. Her students learned she wasn’t a teacher you could pull tricks on or try to con. She was tough and fair to her students. If they needed help, she helped them.

William was waiting for Ginger by the front door. She was coming over to his house today to help him with his math. He knew Mrs. Midnight had met his mother and the two of them had gotten along. He spots her walking towards him in her gym shirt. She had worn a nice baby blue blouse this morning to go with her blue jeans.

“What happened?” He was curious.

“Joseph tried to grab me, while I was at my locker. I defended myself and bloody his nose after he ripped my new blouse. He’s in the nurse’s office right now.” Ginger wishes they would suspend Joseph for a year or more.

“He should know by now, not to mess with you. If he only got a bloody nose from you, then he got off easy this time around.” They walk towards his bus.

Ginger already cleared it with her mother’s. Christina was going to pick her up when she got off work. She was working on another project. This time her boss had put her in charge of the project from start to finish.

“How’s Melody doing?” William had met Melody and liked her. They had gone to the movies together and hung out at the mall.

“She is doing better. She has put on some weight and mom has taught her some basic moves to protect herself. Her grades have gotten better, and she might be transferring from the school she is at now, to ours. If she keeps improving like she has, that is.” Ginger has been helping her sister learn.

When Ginger arrives at Williams place “hi Mrs. Saller.”

“Hi Ginger, are you helping my poor son again?” Betty looks over towards William.

“Yes, ma’am. He needs all the help he can get.” Ginger looks at William with a playful smile on her face.

“Ha, Ha.” He leads her over to the dining room table and starts on their homework.

Around 7’o clock. There is a knock at the front door “I got it, kids.”

When Mrs. Saller opens the door, she sees Christina standing there “Hi Christina, why don’t you come in and I’ll let Ginger know you’re here.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Saller.” Christina walks in and heads into the living room to wait for Ginger.

After a few minutes, Ginger comes walking out with William following her.

“Hey, Christy.” William gave Christina the nick-name Christy.

“All bronze, no brains.” A playful smile appears on Christina’s face.

“That’s why I am tutoring him, sis.” Ginger has come to think of Christina as her older sister, just like Melody has.

Ginger and Christina finally leave to head home. Christina was driving when she spotted a car coming up behind them being chased by police cars.

“Hold on Ginger.” Just as she says those words, she turns her car right into the path of the speeding car.

Her car takes a direct hit and stops the car that was trying to escape from the cops. Ginger looks over towards the guys that hit them, and one was raising his gun at Christina. Ginger grabs Christina’s gun from its hiding spot.

“Gun!” Ginger pushes Christina down as she fires Christina’s gun right above her head.

Nora has been taking her to the gun range and teaching her how to properly fire a gun. Her shots hit the guy that was getting ready to shoot at Christina. She was stun that she had shot someone.

Christina sits back up and notices Ginger holding her concealed handgun.

“Here, give me the gun, Ginger.” Christina takes the gun out of Ginger’s hand. She was still stunned she had shot someone.

A few seconds later “are you girls okay?”

Officer David Flick had seen the car pull out to stop the car they had been chasing. He then saw gunfire coming from the car that had been struck.

Christina could hear again. Ginger had fired her 9mm right above her head. She still had some ringing, but it was slowly fading.

“We’re fine, officer. My sister is stun that she shot someone.” Christina looks at Ginger and could tell she was still stunned.

“When the paramedics get here, I’ll have them check you out. Can you get out?”

“Yes, sir.” Christina turns towards Ginger.

“Come on Ginger, we need to get out.”

“Okay.” Ginger turns around and gets out on the passenger side.

Christina follows behind Ginger. She has both their purses. She tells Officer Flick what happened. The police weren’t going to give them a ticket for stopping the carjacker or for Ginger shooting the guy.

Christina was afraid to explain everything to Nora. She had to call her to come and pick them up and tell her what happened. Ginger was still in shock.

When they get home. Nora holds Ginger in her arms and understood how she felt. After a while, Ginger starts crying as she holds onto Nora. She didn’t think she would feel the way she did. After a while she cries herself to sleep.

Nora carries her into her bedroom and with Melody’s help. She undresses her and tucks her into bed.

“W-Will-l G-Ginge-er be a-alright-t?” Melody was concern about Ginger.

“She’ll be alright Melody. We all experience our first kill in different ways.” Nora looks down at Ginger and had wished she didn’t have to experience what she did.

Sometime during the night, Ginger ends up crawling into bed with Kelly and Nora. She cries against Nora from the memory of shooting the guy. Nora just holds her during the night.

Nora looks up from some papers she was grading when she hears someone knock on the door frame of her classroom. She spots one of her students that has been failing her class standing at her door.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Thompson?”

Darin walks in and over towards Nora’s desk. He knew if he didn’t pass her class, that he would be kicked off the football team. Normally, he would get one of the smart kids in class to do his homework, but Mrs. Midnight had found out and put an end to it.

“I was wondering if your offer to help, still stood?” He felt nervous standing before Mrs. Midnight.

He couldn’t figure out why she made him nervous. Most of his classmates felt the same way with her. She was different than most teachers here at the school. It was like when she spoke, you did what she said.

“Yes, my offer still stands. However, Mr. Thompson, your grades are so bad. That you will need to get an A on all your test and turn in all your homework, until the end of the quarter. If you want me to help you with your school work, I’m normally here early in the morning and two hours after school.”

“Can’t I do a special project or something to help my grades out?”

Nora looks at him and could tell that Darin was worried about his grades. She thinks of a project he could do, that might be acceptable to improve his grades.

“I’ll tell you what. If you can put together a report showing how our government has advance or decline in the past five years. I will grade it and add the grade to your grades. You’ll need to cite all your sources and research. You’ll need to turn it in by the end of the quarter. That’s on top of bringing your grades up as well.”

Darin thinks about it. He really needed the grade, but he was lousy at reading. He found his Government class boring. He looks at Mrs. Midnight and could tell she was serious.

“How many pages does it have to be?”

“Including title page, index, and sources? Let’s say five pages long, double space. This way I can put any corrections in. So, altogether eight pages.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Midnight. I’ll be here this afternoon if that is okay?”

“I’ll be here Mr. Thompson.” Nora watches as Darin walks out of her classroom.

A few minutes later, Ginger knocks on the door frame and walks in.

“Hi, mom.”

Nora looks at her daughter. She had taken Ginger to a counselor she knew to talk about what she did a week ago. Ginger still had some nightmares, but she was doing better.

“What brings you up here? I thought you were with Williams?”

“I was. His mother invited me to go with them to the park this weekend if it is okay with you. Melody can come along if she wants too.” Ginger knew Mr. and Mrs. Morton liked Melody.

“Are you up to being around people?” Nora knew Ginger was still a little jumpy around loud noises.

Ginger looks at her mother “I’ll be fine mom.”

“Alright, you can tell Mrs. Morton that you can join them this weekend. Melody has dance class on Saturday.”

Melody had expressed interest in dancing. So, Kelly had signed Melody up with a dance studio run by a famous drag queen named Lady Bimbi. Kelly knew her from her days as a waitress at the bar.

“I didn’t know Melody liked to dance?” Ginger was surprised that Melody didn’t share it with her.

She thought they were growing close as sisters.

“She doesn’t know yet, Ginger. Kelly just heard back from Lady Bimbi a few minutes ago. She sent me an email telling me.”

“Oh, I won’t say anything, mom.”

“Thanks. So, which park are you going to with the Morton’s?”

“To the Botanic Gardens,” Ginger knew Mrs. Morton liked flowers.

“That sounds nice. Let me know what flowers are blooming and we’ll go as a family.” Nora knew Kelly loved flowers. She was already planting flower beds around the front of the house.

“I will mom and thanks.” Ginger places a kiss on Nora’s cheek and heads for her first bell class.

Nora’s first bell shows up.

She waits till everyone is seated and has taken roll. She goes and stands before the board and points towards a saying she had put up on the board.

“Alright class, what does Franklin D. Roosevelt mean by this statement?”

“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.”

Ginger was walking into her first bell class when her teacher stops her at the door.

“What’s wrong Mrs. Sanders?”

“The clothes you are wearing today, Ms. Midnight. They are against the school code and a distraction to the male students.”

Ginger just looks at Mrs. Sanders like she was nuts.

“Are you serious? Do you think my mother would let me walk out of the house looking like a slut? Think about my last name?”

“Your mother isn’t the teacher of this classroom, I am. I interrupt what the dress code is.”

“Just because you interrupt it, doesn’t mean you are right, first off. Secondly, by insulting me. You're insulting my mother and she’s one woman you don’t want to insult. I think maybe I should go and get her. Excuse me please.” Ginger turns around and walks back down to Nora’s
classroom. She knocks on the door.

Nora hears the knock and spots Ginger standing on the other side.

“Excuse me, class.” Nora walks over and steps outside her classroom.

“What’s wrong, Ginger.”

“Mrs. Sanders said what I am wearing is a distraction to the boys in my class and against the school’s dress code.”

Nora steps back and couldn’t see anything wrong with the way Ginger was dressed. She knew Mrs. Sanders was an old fashion type of teacher.

“Go to the office and get Vice Principle Bones please.” Nora makes sure to give Ginger a hall pass, so she doesn’t get in trouble.

Vice Principle Bones was talking to a student who had arrived late to school when Ginger walks up to him. She waits till he writes a hall pass for the student, before approaching him.

“Hi Ginger, what can I do for you?” VP Bones had spotted Ginger waiting for him.

“Mrs. Midnight sent me to get you Mr. Bones.”

“Did your mother say why, Ginger?” He knew Nora could handle any problems that might come up.

He wonders why she needed him. He follows Ginger back to Nora’s classroom. As she got closer to the door, he could hear Mrs. Midnight teaching her class. Ginger knocks gently to get her mother’s attention.

Nora spots her daughter and VP Bones.

“Class, your assignment and homework are up here on the board.” Nora steps outside in the hallway.

“What’s the problem, Nora?” VP Bones was curious.

“You’ll find out in a few minutes, Mr. Bones.” Nora walks down to Mrs. Sanders classroom and doesn’t even bother to knock before entering.

Mrs. Sander was in the middle of talking to her class when she noticed her door open and Mrs. Midnight comes walking in. She also notices that Nora wasn’t in a pleasant mood either.

“How dare you come in my classroom, so rudely.” Mrs. Sanders stood looking at Nora with an angry look on her face.

“I have yet to be rude to you, Mrs. Sanders. Now, tell your students what they need to read and do and step out in the hallway please.”

“You can’t tell me what to do Mrs. Midnight in my own classroom.”

Bones heard the tone of voice from Mrs. Sanders. He steps into the classroom “I think you should do what Mrs. Midnight suggest, Mrs. Sanders.”

Mrs. Sanders looks at VP Bones. She didn’t know he was outside in the hallway. She looks at her class “read chapters 9 & 12 and answer the questions on page 35.

Mrs. Sanders steps out into the hallway and shuts the door behind her. She cast a death glare at Ginger.

“She’s not the one you have to worry about Mrs. Sanders. It’s me. “Nora slipped back into her agent personality.

“Now, why don’t you ladies explain to me what is going on?” VP Bones looks towards Nora and Mrs. Sanders.

“Mrs. Sanders said that the clothes I am wearing are a distraction to the male students around here, Mr. Bones. I told her my mother would never let me out of the house looking like a slut.”

Ginger looks at Mrs. Sanders when she says that.

Mr. Bones looks at what ginger had on and there was nothing that was breaking the school's dress code or would cause a distraction to male students.

“Then she came down to me and told me what Mrs. Sanders had said. I told her to go and get you Mr. Bones. That way no one could say I’m favoring my daughter.” Nora looks at Mrs. Sanders.

If looks could kill, Mrs. Sanders would be dead. Nora knew that this wasn’t the first time she had picked on a female student about the way they were dressed. She knew Principle Kramer had spoken to her a few times.

“Now, Mrs. Sanders. What part of Ginger’s outfit causes distractions to young boys or goes against the school dress code?”

Nora looks at her daughter.

“She’s not wearing a bra.” Mrs. Sanders couldn’t see any bra straps.

“Ginger, step over here to me please.”

Ginger does as her mother request.

Nora lifts one corner on Ginger’s blouse, so she could see only.

“I think your wrong Mrs. Sanders. Ginger is wearing one of her favorite bras, would you like to check?” Nora looks at Mrs. Sanders for an answer.

Mrs. Sanders just ignores Nora’s request.

“Are you questioning my judgment?”

“In this matter, I am. I think maybe you should consider retiring.” Nora felt that it was time for Mrs. Sanders to retire before a lawsuit was brought against the school.

“I have to agree with Mrs. Midnight's judgment here, Judy. Maybe it’s time for you to submit your paperwork for retirement.”

“Fine, I will.”

“Oh, one more thing as well, Mrs. Sanders. You’ll mark my daughter as present and give her the school work you caused her to miss as well.”

Mr. Bones just smile as he listens to Nora boss around Mrs. Sanders. Maybe Nora should think about running for city school Board. He’ll have to suggest it to her next time she has lunch with him and Principle Kramer.

The school bell rings letting students know that class has ended and to go to their next class.

“I’ll be in the office if either of you two needs me.” Mr. Bones heads towards the front office.

Ginger heads to her next class.

Nora gives Mrs. Sanders a look before heading back to her classroom.

“Hey faggot, were you just looking at my body?” Jesse walks over to Kalvin and gets right up in his face.

“Leave me along Jesse.” Kalvin just wanted to get dress and head to his next class.

“You know something faggot. Maybe I should teach you some manners. I know faggots like you can’t fight.”

Kalvin reaches for his shirt and pulls it out of the locker.

Jesse pushes him hard against the locker “I’m talking to you faggot.”

“Get away from me.” Kalvin tries elbowing Jesse in his chest.

Jesse steps aside and pushes harder against Kalvin’s back. He presses hard against Kalvin, till he was pressing against the locker leaving marks on his bare chest.

“There should be a law about allowing gays in the same locker room as normal guys. Maybe, I should beat the gayness out of you.”

“Or maybe you should beat some common sense in that melon you call your head. You’re the only one that is having a problem with me and pressing their body against mine.”

Jesse steps back away from Kalvin, as he punches him in his back. Jesse disliked Kalvin. Heck, he really dislikes any gay person male or female. Jesse heads back towards his locker to finish getting dressed.

Kalvin just looks at Jesse as he walks away. He’ll make sure that he was the first person he got his revenge on. He finishes getting dressed and heads towards Mrs. Midnight’s class. He enjoys her class and liked how she taught.

“Morning Mrs. Midnight.” As Kalvin heads towards his seat.

“Morning Kalvin how has your morning been?” Nora like Kalvin because he asked her very intelligent question when the rest of his classmates
just sat like a frog on a log.

“That’s good, so did you read that book about James Madison how he constructed our constitution?”

“Yes, ma’am. It was a good book. Mrs. Midnight, if you don’t mind me asking. What were you before you started teaching?”

“I used to work for the Diplomatic Security Service. I protected our diplomats and foreign diplomats. I also went after criminals that tried to escape overseas.”

“Did you ever have people trying to bully you because you were a woman?”

“Yes, and they found out what I am capable of. Sometimes the best way to confront a bully is to show them you're not scared of them. Don’t give them power over you. Are you having trouble with bullies Kalvin?”

“Yes, ma’am. There’s a guy in my gym class that seems to have it in for me. I try to avoid him, but I can’t.”

“Have you told coach Jones who he is?”

“No, ma’am. I don’t think coach Jones cares. He’s from the old school or if you’re a boy, you should like girls and if you’re a girl, you're inferior to boys. I’ve seen him watch the girls in his classes like he is shopping for meat.”

Nora wonders if what Kalvin was telling her was true. She’ll have to ask her daughter later about it. She knew Ginger had Mrs. Henderson for gym class.

“This is what you do Kalvin. Next time he confronts you. Record what he says. If he gets physical with you, defend yourself. Bring what you recorded to me and I'll make sure he is punished for his actions okay?”

Kalvin looks at Mrs. Midnight and knew she had a daughter. He wonders if Ginger has had any problems. He knew she was transgender because he has seen her come up to the LGBT center a few times.

“Okay, Mrs. Midnight, I’ll try it your way.”

Kalvin was willing to give Mrs. Midnight's way a try. He knew she would do anything she could to help him.

“That’s all I could ask of you Kalvin.”

Later in the evening as Ginger and Melody are helping Nora fix dinner. Nora looks at her oldest.

“Ginger, have you ever had any problems with Coach Jones during gym class?”

“What do you mean mom? Are you asking me if he has ever touched me or anything like that?”

“No, what I want to know is. Does he ever watch you, girls, like he has lust in his eyes?”

“Not me personally mom, but I have seen him look at some of the girls in my class that have big breast and nicely shaped hips. I know he pays extra attention to us when we do jumping jacks and running around.”

“T-That sounds like h-he’s a p-pervert.” Melody had stopped to listen to her mother and sister.

“That it does Melody. However, until he touches one of the girls or one complains about him ogling them. There’s nothing that can be done.
There’s no law that says he can’t look at the female body.”

“Well, I know there is a rumor that he fooled around with the head Cheerleader two years ago, but it's just a rumor.”

“We’ll let me know if he touches or does anything that makes you uncomfortable. While we are on the subject. What do you know about a kid named Jesse? He has third bell gym class.”

Ginger thinks about it for a few minutes “he’s one of the bullies at school mom. However, he knows how to make sure none of the teachers know he is bullying someone. He knows where all the blind spots are in the school and the routine of the security officers that patrol the hallways.”

“Does he now? I think I’ll have to talk with Mr. Hannity tomorrow about changing up their routines. Thanks, Ginger.”

“Any time mom.”

Nora carries a dish into the dining room. Kelly and Christina weren’t back from work yet.

“Melody, did you like your first day of dance class?”

“Y-Yes m-ma’am. I-I have a n-nice t-teacher.” Melody loved her dance class.

She loved feeling the music as it enters her body and made her move to the rhythm. She never knew how much she enjoyed music or how it made her feel. She was discovering things about herself now that she was living with Nora.

“We’re home mom.” Christina comes walking into the dining room.

Following behind her was Kelly. She had just gotten off work and arrived at the same time Christina had. She was glad to be home. She was helping one of the lawyers at the firm she worked at on a nasty divorce. The husband had a lot of money and connections.

He had beaten his wife in an attempt to take their daughter away from her. However, the woman had managed to call the police and have him arrested. Now she was in a private hospital with her daughter being protected by some bodyguards of her company.

Christina looks at the food on the table. They were having Mexican and she knew Nora had made a lot of fajitas for her and tacos for everyone.

“Oh, I am in heaven.” Christina heads towards the kitchen to wash her hands.

“Mom made sure to make a lot for you sis.” Ginger takes her place at the table.

Melody just grins. She likes Christina and loved the bantering that went on between the three of them. Christina made her a nice costume to wear for the Comic-con coming to Memphis next month. Christina was going to take her and Ginger.

The light conversation goes on at dinner as everyone enjoys the meal that was prepared. After dinner, those that weren’t home like Christina and Kelly helped put everything away. Nora normally retreated to her home office to grade papers and record grades. Kelly oversaw Ginger and Melody’s homework, while Christina either tinker with something in her workshop in the backyard or soak in the tub for awhile.

Nora had allowed Christina to put a pre-built shed in the backyard to use as her workshop. Power had been run to it and soundproof material had been added as well, so Christina wouldn’t disturb their neighbors with her work. A camera system had been added so Nora could check in on Christina as she worked.

Jack had covered the cost. He had one of his trusted contracting companies come out and do the job. Christina still used her old garage for very special projects for the company she worked for.

“M-Mom, can you h-help me w-with t-this p-please?” Melody shows Kelly the problem she was working on. She understands the question but didn’t know how they wanted her to write the answer.

Kelly looks at the question and even she was stump about it. She looks for Ginger to ask her, but she was already in the bathroom taking her bath.

“Let’s go ask your other mother.” Kelly escorts Melody into Nora’s home office.

Nora was on her last paper. She couldn’t believe that Chris Hoosier had copied word for word off the internet. He didn’t cite his sources and he didn’t cite the parts he stole from the sites he got his information. She couldn’t understand why he was being so lazy. He was a smart child.

“Nora, can you make heads or tails of this math question?” Kelly sets the book down on Nora’s desk.

Nora looks at it. She reads the instruction and what it was asking. She looks back up to Kelly and Melody.

“Do you understand what the question is asking, Melody?”

“Y-Yes ma’am, b-but I-I don’t understand how to w-write i-it.”

Nora take s another looks at it and she could see how the question didn’t clarify how the answer was supposed to be written out for it.

“I believe it is supposed to be written like this, sweetie.” Nora writes it out for Melody and Kelly.

“T-Thank you M-Mom.” Melody hugs Nora.

“You’re welcome.” Nora returns the hug.

Melody takes her math book and heads back into the living room to finish her assignment.

“How did you figure that question out? It was so badly written?”

“I went back a few pages and saw an example like it. I do agree it was written poorly and unless the students looked closely and have Ginger’s math talent. They won’t figure it out as well.”

Nora records the page number and math book.

She had a copy of it in her library, so she could help her students and her children.

“So, are you done for the night?” Kelly sits on Nora’s lap with her arms wrapped around her.

“Yes.” Nora leans in and kisses Kelly on the lips.

Kelly returns the kiss and before she passes out. She stops and leans back. She felt Nora wrap her arms around her torso.

“How are things going for that one case?” Nora knew about the case that Kelly has been helping on.

“The douche bag is in jail, but he’ll make bail. He has a friend or two that are judges. I informed my boss about what I found while digging through his financial records. There’s enough evidence in his wife’s medical records that will put him away for a long time for spousal abuse.”

“Is she safe where she is?”

“As far as I know. Why? Do you think we should add more bodyguards?”

“How many do you have now?”

“We have two highly trained retired marines protecting her.”

“Being ex-military doesn’t always prove they are better than a person who never had military training. I proved that.”

“I know, but you’re not normal. You’re a whole lot deadlier than most DSS agents. I saw a picture of you with a bunch of special forces guys. Can you tell me about it?”

“Sure, there’s nothing classified about it. There was a special training course offered by a unit sponsor by Germany and the British government. The ambassador I was protecting at the time recommended me for it. It was in the middle of summer and the course was designed to make you fail. Me and six others managed to pass the course. Once I finish the training, I started getting special assignments. I did that for a few years and then went back to just doing protection details.”

“So, does that mean you're like a secret agent or something?” Kelly caresses Nora’s cheek.

“You could say that. Let’s just say, I’m happier not to be doing that type of work anymore.”

Kelly leans forward and kisses Nora “there are a few things I wouldn’t mind doing again.”

As she takes Nora’s hand and leads her to their bedroom.

Ginger was walking around outside of school, waiting for the bell to ring. It was a nice day and she wanted to enjoy it. As she turns the corner, she spots Jesse and his gang picking on a trans-student that wasn’t out yet. She has seen him up at the LGBTQ center a few times.

Troy looked at the group of guys who had him pinned up against the wall. They had seen the outline of the bra he was wearing under his t-shirt. He thought he had on one of the bra’s that didn’t show.

“You touch me Jesse, and I’ll tell the Principal and Vice Principal.”

“You go to the Principal or the Vice Principal, and I’ll beat you so bad that they won’t know who you are a faggot. I’ll spread the word around school that I caught you sucking Jerry’s cock here.” Jesse points to one of his guys.

Ginger had taken her cell phone out and recorded what was going on. She was going to make sure the Principal and her mother saw this video. She continues to watch.

“Go ahead. You are a moron anyway and your whole family are religious nuts that need to be locked up.” Troy knew Jesse’s parents. His father was a preacher at one the new churches that opened up downtown and his mother was just as brainwashed as his father.

“Why you little faggot.” Jesse goes to punch Troy.

“I wouldn’t do that unless you want me to turn this video in?” Ginger waves her cell phone at them.

“I don’t think you’ll do it, bitch. Because if you do, I’ll shoot you.” Dean pulls the 9mm he took from his brother.

Ginger looks at the gun and then up at Dean. She presses the call video app on her phone to call her mother.

Nora’s Classroom:
Nora was writing the assignment she had planned today on the blackboard. When she hears her cell phone chirped at her. The chirp was the one she assigned to Ginger. She accepts the call and notices it was a video from Ginger. She saw one of the kids that hung around with Jesse pointing a gun at her. She grabs her gun from inside her purse hidden pocket and runs towards where Ginger was.

As she is running towards where Ginger was talking with the guys. She spots two of the security personnel walking around making sure the kids were safe.

“Thomas, Fred come with me right now. We have a possible shooting situation.” Nora kept running towards Ginger’s location.

Thomas and Fred follow behind Nora as she ran down the back stairs and out the fire door. Just as they entered outdoors and was almost on Ginger. They hear a gun go off.

Ginger and Troy:
Troy wasn’t going to let Dean shoot Ginger. He rushes past Jesse and his goons. He tackles Dean causing the gun to fire.

Ginger feels the bullet hit her right leg when the gun goes off. She falls to the ground, dropping her cell phone.

Jesse and his gang were getting ready to run when Nora, Thomas, and Fred turn the corner. Jesse and the rest of his people stop from running into them.

“GINGER!” Nora runs over towards Ginger leaving Thomas and Fred to deal with the boys.

Troy was punching Dean in the face. He stops when he sees Nora running pass him and over to a down Ginger. She kneels by her baby and checks her out.

Ginger spots her mother kneeling by her. Her leg was hurting like hell.

“Leg.”

Nora spots the wound and notices it had gone completely through. Nora takes her belt off put a tourniquet just above the wound to slow the flow of blood.

“Sorry baby, this is going to hurt.” As she tightens the belt.

Ginger screams out in pain as her mother tighten the belt. She grabs her mother’s arm and squeezes.

“I’m so sorry Ginger.” Troy had gotten off Dean and moved to Ginger’s side.

Ginger looks at him “it wasn’t your fault, Troy.”

More guards had shown up to take the boys into custody. Sirens could be heard coming towards the school. Some of the teachers, the Principal, and Vice Principal had arrived and saw what was going on.

Melody was with her friends comparing notes before class started. When several teachers and security guards ran from the school and around back. She was curious like a few other students and followed behind them. As she got closer to where everyone was crowding. She saw her mother holding Ginger.

“MOM!” Melody tries to get past the teachers keeping the students from getting closer. The teacher stops her from passing, so she kicks him in his knee like Ginger taught her. She runs towards her sister and mother.

Nora had looked up when she heard Melody’s voice and watched as she kicked Mr. Stone in his knee and run pass him and over to her and Ginger.

“M-Mom, what h-happened?” she kneels by Ginger.

“Your sister was shot, Melody.”

Melody looks at her sister and notices the blood on her right thigh. She grabs Ginger’s hand and holds it. She didn’t want to lose her big sister.

The paramedics show up and Ginger is put on the gurney. Melody goes with Ginger to the ambulance and holds her hand.

Principal Kramer walks over towards Nora “go with your daughter, Nora.”

“Take this Mr. Kramer. It’s Ginger's cell phone. I believe she recorded the whole encounter.” Nora hands Mr. Kramer Ginger’s cell phone and
heads back upstairs to get her purse. Once she has her purse, she heads towards the hospital Ginger had been taken too.

Mr. Kramer looks at Troy, Jesse, his friends and Dean, whose face was bloody from Troy beating him up.

“Does someone want to tell me what happened?” Principal Kramer looks at all the boys.

“Troy, you tell me what happened.”

Troy looks at all the guys present “Jesse and his gang surrounded me and was treating me when Dean pulled a gun when I said I would tell
you and Mr. Bones what they were doing. Ginger must have seen what was going on and had threatened to show you and her mother the video she took of the encounter. Dean turned around and pointed a gun he had in his hand at her and I thought he was going to shoot her, so I tackled him, and the gun went off, hitting Ginger. I started punching Dean in his face.”

“We weren’t threatening him, sir.” Jesse was going to try and lie about the matter.

“Really, let's move this to my office.” The police that showed up along with Mr. Bones all head towards Mr. Kramer’s office.

Once they were in the office. Mr. Kramer plays the recording on Ginger’s cell phone. He looks up at the boys and police gathered in his office.

“Officers take Dean Shawn with you and Jesse Phelps. As for the rest of you boys. You’re being suspended from school for bullying for the rest of the school year. As for you Mr. Pecker. Since you were trying to save Ms. Midnight’s life and only defending yourself. No charges will be brought against you.”

The parents for each student show-up and everything is explained to them about what happened. However, when it came to Jesse’s parents.
Mr. Kramer had to call the police back into his office to remove them from school grounds. They were pissed that he wouldn’t do anything against Troy and that he is was letting someone like him among civilized students.

Regency Hospital:
Nora stayed by Ginger’s side as she was taken to the emergency room. They wouldn’t let her or Melody in the operating room as they fixed Ginger’s leg. The bullet had gone completely through her thigh muscles. They were going to keep her overnight, but Nora felt it wasn’t necessary.

They get home late in the evening. Christina and Kelly had been made aware of what happened. They had prepared Ginger’s favorite foods.
Nora was calm the whole entire time, but now that Ginger was home and safe. She was pissed and wanted to make the boy who shot her daughter pay for his crime. She tries to relax during dinner and once Ginger was in bed with Melody’s help. She retreats out to the garage and starts punching the bag.

Kelly just stands and watch Nora. There were only a few times where she has seen her wife this upset. Even though Nora was trained for this.
She knew Nora took her responsibility to their daughters serious.

“Hey, there was nothing you could do. You can’t protect our girls all the time.”

“I should have been there to protect her. Ginger has already experienced things no teenager should have to experience. So, has Melody.” Nora hits the bag hard.

The protective nature of her personality was coming out. She takes her anger out on the punching bag. She stops when she feels Kelly wrap her arms around her.

Kelly wraps her arms around Nora and holds her. She was scared when she was told Ginger had been shot. Nora had called her while the doctor operated on Ginger's leg. They were lucky it was a through and through. If the bullet had hit just a little more to the right, it would have hit her femoral artery.

“I know, I’m just mad that I wasn’t there.” Nora takes her gloves off.

“Come on, let’s go and take a nice shower and then to bed.” Kelly escorts Nora back to their bedroom.

Nora had met with Principal Kramer and Vice Principal Bones to asked permission to have a few people she knew to come in and speak to the school about bullying. After she got their permission, she made a few phone calls. The call was to some hard-hitting people she knew and to some ex-gang members. She asked them if they could come and speak at the High school she teaches out.

There was one more person she knew would need to make an impression on the students. Someone who dealt in cyber-forensic. She takes her phone out and dials a number she hasn’t used in years.

“Hot sun beating down
Burning my feet just walking around.
Hot sun making me sweat
'Gators getting close, hasn't got me yet
I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything.
Blue jeans sitting on the beach,
Her dog's talking to me, but she's out of reach.
She's got a body under that shirt,
But all she wants to do is rub my face in the dirt.
Cause, I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
No, I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling.
And checking everything is in place,
You never know who's looking on.
Young punk spilling beer on my shoes,
Fat guy's talking to me trying to steal my blues.
Thick smoke, see her smiling through.
I never thought so much could happen just shooting pool.
But I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling”

Sharon Baker was listening to her favorite artist when her cell phone rings. She looks at the caller Id and notices it was Nora’s. She hasn’t spoken with Nora since she had gone to Germany to do a job for the ambassador she was protecting.

“Black Bird Forensics, what can I do for you, Nora?”

“Hi Sharon, are you busy right now?”

“Not really. I’m waiting for the program I’m running to finish.” Sharon takes a sip of her drink. She had several computers she was looking through to find images or anything that the person had, on child pornography. The person was arrested for selling and making pornography of children. The problem was, before the crime scene could be secure, he had activated an erase program. Which meant she was trying to retrieve information still left on the hard drives and hidden in places most law enforcement didn't look.

Nora could hear music in the background playing “hey, I got a favor to ask. Would you mind coming to the High school I teach at and explain to students how you can backtrack or find out who is cyberbullying people?”

“Hm, I don’t see why not. Does your school have a bullying problem?” Sharon knew what it was like to be bullied for being gay. She and Nora had been each other’s, first lovers.

“Yes, and I felt that maybe by scaring these teenagers letting them know we can track them, even if they used a false name and such. That they will be punished for their actions.”

“Let me guess, you called Big Tony, didn’t you?” Sharon knew Big Tony could make anyone wish they were dead after he got done with them.

“Yep, he had agreed to come in and speak. Also, I called Coreno 'The Shadow' Reo, Bradley 'The Snitch' Peddicord and Stefania 'Diamond' Leatherbury.”

“Dam, I didn't know you knew those people.” Sharon had heard about them.

Coreno was a mob enforcer, Bradley was a snitch for most of the law enforcement officers knew about and Stefania, she uses to belong to an
all-female gang. They called her Diamond, because of her love of diamonds.

“Yea, I knew them before I joined the DSS and kept in touch with them throughout the years. All of them have straightened out their lives and run successful businesses. I figure they could tell the teenagers at my school that a life of crime isn’t something they want to get caught up in.” Nora hopes the people she called in will help.

“Well, you can count me in. Are you still living in Memphis?”

“Yep, still living in Memphis. I just recently got married and adopted two teenage girls.”

“I would have never imagined you the domestic type of person.”

“Me neither, but these girls came along and my heart went out to them. Hey, did you and Debbie Connors ever tie the knot?” Nora remembers Debbie, she was the head cheerleader at their high school and came out being a lesbian after graduation.

“Yep, she’s an Accountant and has her own business. Who would ever imagine a former cheerleader being an accountant.” Sharon still thought it was weird.

“I thought she was going to be a professional Cheerleader with a football team and such.” Nora knew how much Debbie liked cheerleading.

“She did for about ten years, but she got tired of all the traveling and low pay she was getting. So, she went back to school and got her CPA degree. She started building up a client base and started her own business.”

“Well, I’m happy that you and she are still together. I know me, and you didn’t work out, but it was for the best.”

“I know, and you’ll always have a special spot in my heart, Nora. I’ll tell Debbie you said hi.”

“Thanks, Oh, the assembly is going to be in two days. Will that be okay for you?”

“That will be fine. Well, I have work to finish. I’ll see you in two days.”

“Okay.” Nora ends the call.

That was eight people she knew that have agreed to come in and speak to the students. The school had hired a few counselors to come in and speak with the students. Those who needed help could go and get help.

Ginger was talking to her counselor about what happened. Melody was seeing her counselor as well. She had come a long way since she came to live with them. She was proud of both her girls.

She was also proud of Darin Thompson. He has been showing up every day before and after school to bring his grades up in her class. So, far he was carrying a B average in her class and she checked with his other teachers. In his other classes, he was carrying B’s and A’s in a few of them. She figures if he keeps doing as well as he is, he’ll have a B average from her on his report card.

Nora finishes up grading the papers she had and head into the living room. Just as she walks in, Ginger, Kelly, and Melody coming walking in through the front door. Kelly stopped at Taco Bell and bought dinner for everyone.

Melody and Ginger were wearing their leotards. Even though Ginger got shot, she still took dance class with her sister. Melody loved taking dance class and liked her teacher as well. She looks over towards Nora with a big smile on her face.

“I take it you had fun this afternoon?”

“Melody has a solo part during our recital, mom.” Ginger looks at her younger sister.

Melody was happy as a clam. Their teacher was letting her do a solo part in the recital. She couldn't believe it when her teacher told her she was doing a solo.

“That is great news. When is your first recital?” Nora looks at both her daughters.

“In about a month. It’s going to be held at Chester Elementary school.” Ginger hands the paperwork she had been given to her mother. Kelly had already given them permission.

Nora looks over the paperwork, while the girls set the table. She noticed that Kelly has already given them permission to take part in it. There was a $40.00 fee for their costumes, which Nora would make out a check for tonight before going to bed.

Once the table was set, she sits down with her family and enjoys dinner.

*Song lyrics by Phil Collins, I Can't Dance

Nora sent email messages to all the teachers and student council. Principal Kramer and Vice Principal Bones had been briefed on Nora’s plan for the assembly that they were going to have on the bullying issues and harassment going on in school. The parents of all the students have been asked to come to the school on the day of the assembly.

She got in touch with some of her law enforcement friends and some of her friends at the local NAS office. The student council members on the day of the assembly. They are going to be dress as security officers and checking students bags as they pass through the metal detectors.
The NAS agents were going to be standing by and double checking the council members. Also, they had a list of names taken from the teachers that caused trouble in their classes. They were going to be taken aside and held till the assembly.

The people that Nora asked to come in and with the Principal’s permission we're going to give these trouble students a taste of what it is like to be treated like a convict. The students were lined up and marched to the auditorium. The parents were lead, but the students were treated as if they were in the military.

Once the parents and students were lead to the auditorium and seated. Principal Kramer gets up from his seat and walks up to the podium and look out towards the students and parents. A huge screen had been set-up on the stage behind him and it had the school logo on it.

“Good morning everyone. You have probably notice that some changes have been made over the weekend. The changes we made is in response to what happened last week. There is going to be a zero policy of bullying in this school and for those of you who think you can continue to bully your fellow students and teachers online. That will come to a stop as well. We have ways of finding out what accounts belong to who. Before we get into the cyber portion of our assembly. I want you to meet some people who have been where you kids are and how they turned their life around.”

Coreno gets up and walks up to the podium after Principal Kramer introduces him. He looks out towards all the young men and women wondering why they were here.

“How many of you think you are tough?” He watches them see who will raise their hands.

He doesn’t see notice anyone raise their hands. “Oh, come on, someone out there thinks they are tough and better than the rest of his classmates. We wouldn’t be here today if you didn’t. Well, since you’re not going, to be honest, I’m going to tell you a little of myself.”

Coreno takes a sip from his water bottle. He looks out towards the crowd and his face becomes really serious.

“When I was your age, I and my gang ruled the High School I attended. You paid me to come to school and if you didn’t like it, well let’s just say you ended leaving the school broken.” He looks at the students and he spotted the ones he was interested.

“I spent a lot of time in juvenile hall, where I had to defend myself from kids a lot bigger than me. Sometimes I won and sometimes I didn’t and was sent to the hospital. I was recruited by the Mafia and became an enforcer for them. Yes, the money was good, and it was great being recognized by them. However, there were drawbacks to that life. Being hounded by the police and under investigation by the FBI. If you think you can commit the perfect murder, think again. Everything you do comes back to haunt you. If not from your so call friends, but from your enemies. This type of life turned out to be more then I bargained for, so I left that life. The thing is, no one ever leaves the mob. Once you’re in, you’re in for life.” He looks out and notices several kids that had a regret look on their face.

He takes a sip of his water before beginning again. “Now, I bet your wondering how I got out? Here’s is how it happened. I was sent to prison for some crimes I committed, and I didn’t snitch on the organization I served. In return for keeping my mouth shut, they let me leave to restart my life. However, should I ever reveal what I know, they will come and give me a pine box burial? Is that how you kids want to be? Always wondering if someone is looking for you and watching you?”

Several students were moving their heads back and forth in a no fashion. He stays silent for a few seconds. He was letting what he said to soak in.

“If you don’t like that life, then straighten your life up. Because if you don’t, you’re going to have people like him watching your every move.” Coreno points towards Big Tony.

Several students saw the biggest State Trooper they had ever seen sitting next to Principal Kramer and Vice Principal Bones.

“Now, I’m going to turn you over to Bradley 'The Snitch' Peddicord.” He walks away, as a short man with black hair wearing a nice blue business suit steps up to the podium.

“Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Where my friend Coreno worked for the Mafia, I was independent. I find out your dirty little secrets and sold that information to whomever I can. Some of you I already know a lot about. You see when my good friend Mrs. Midnight asked me to come up here and talk with you because of the bullying some of you have been doing. I decided to see who the troublemakers are and find their dark secrets.” Bradley looks over towards the group of kids standing with the student council members and the NSA agents.

Bradley pulls out his notepad “let’s see, Samuel Harrison, you have the habit of seducing girls and talking bad about them if they don’t put out for you., Tony Johnson, you like taking pictures of the girls without them knowing., Chris Summers, you talk girls into sending you pictures they have taken of themselves either in the nude or their underwear and reposting them some where else., Sara Christen, you talk about your friends and some of the other girls that don’t do as you say. You also talk bad about some of the kids who are handicap.” He stops and looks at the people he named.

“Now, do you see how this type of information can be valuable to people to use against you?”

The people he named looked surprised and ashamed at what he said. Some of them didn’t care what he said.

“Now you know why I do what I did. I feel no shame snitching on people. I make money doing that and sometimes its needed. Why do you ask? Would you want what is going on keep going on? How would you like it if one of those kids I named, post pictures of your sister or mother? Talking about people doesn’t prove you are better, it just proves your jealous of what they are able to do and such. Now, I’m going to turn this microphone over to a very good friend of mine. She was one of the toughest girls I knew when I went to school.”

Stefania 'Diamond' Leatherbury steps up to the podium after giving Bradley a hug. She turns around and faces the audience “I’m not going to repeat what my friends said. All I’m going to say is this. You are young men and women that are going to be out in the real world, where you don’t have mommy or daddy protecting you. Where your actions will tell people who you are. Some of them don’t give a damn that you think you are tough. They are going to beat the crap out of you or kill you. You need to decide now, what type of person you want to me. Bullying others for fun or because they are weaker than you don’t cut the mustard and will ruin your life. There are people out in the world that are bigger and tougher than you. Here is one of the guys that made a difference in my life.”

Tony stands up and walks up to the podium. He hugs Stefania. The two of them were really close. After hugging her he turns to face the audience.

“Good morning, my name is Tony Rhodes or as the people on the street call me Big Tony. I’m here to talk to you because my dear friend Mrs.
Midnight, told me this school has a bullying problem. You children should know better. I’m not going to call you young adults because you’re acting like spoiled rotten children. Adults don’t act like you do. Adults take responsibility for what they do. Adults know that it's not right to bully other people. So, the word children fit you better. You need to start acting like responsible adults and do the right thing. These people you are going to school with now, could one day be your bosses or control your mortgage. If you make an enemy of them now, you may regret it later.”

He turns to face the kids that were still being surrounded “as for all of you. For you to make amends for your actions, you will be required to do a hundred hours of volunteer work, from an approved list and all your electronics and such will be fortified till you complete the hundred hours. You’ll also be on probation here at school till the hundred hours are complete. Any infractions or rules you occur or break will cause you to be expelled from school for the rest of the year. Your parents have already approved this agreement.” Big Tony spoke to the parents about the kid’s actions earlier.

Big Tony turns the podium over to Sharon and she shows the audience how she can track down all their Facebook post, twitter accounts and other Social accounts they use. She shows several students their recent post.

“Now, if you don’t think I can’t track you down or find out about your post, think again. I have offered my services to your parents and the school with your parent’s permission. I do have a question for all of you though, how many of you liked what went on this morning?” she looks around and didn’t see any hands raised.

“The only way what you experience today coming to school is going to stop, is for all of you to start acting like responsible adults and put a stop to all the harassment and bullying going on here. If this school keeps heading down this path, you’ll be seeing more security in this school as you have today.” Sharon walks away and back towards her seat.

Nora stands up and walks up to the podium “a lot of you don’t know what I use to do before I became a teacher. I was with the Diplomatic
Security Service protecting our interest overseas and our diplomats. so, I know how to spot and take care of troublemakers. Some of you have me for your classes and some of you don’t. Because of some of your fellow schoolmate’s actions, we had a shooting last week. It happened because all of you allowed the bullying in this school to escalate. It needs to come to a stop. My classroom door is always open and most of your other teacher’s door are always open as well. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to us, then go to your student council members, thats why they are here. They can bring the problem to us or Mr. Kramer or Mr. Bones to handle. The security personnel here at the school are here to protect you. Tell us if you have a problem, or if someone is bullying you. Now, I going to give you to Vice Principal Bones.”

Vice Principal Bones steps up to the podium “for the rest of week, the metal detectors and searches will continue to be a presence in our school. You will see the student council working with the security guards walking the halls, along with me and Principal Kramer.”

One of the students raises his arm.

“Go ahead, Mr. Warren.”

“Sir, you said the metal detectors and searches will be going on for the rest of the week. Are you and Mr. Kramer going to keep them after that?”

“Let me ask you this Mr. Warren, do we need to? Is there someone here bullying you?”

“No, we don’t Mr. Bones and Yes, Eric Jackson is bullying me and several other members of the chess club.”

Eric Johnson jumps up from his seat “you’re a liar Paul.” Eric was mad that Paul was telling on him.

“Keith, James, please escort Mr. Johnson over to the group.”

Two huge council members walk over to where Eric was sitting with his friends. Keith looks down at him.

“Don’t make us carry you over there, Eric.”

Eric knew Keith was on the Wrestling team, while James was on the football team. James was a huge African American, while Keith was of Irish descent.

Eric stands ups and is escorted over with the rest of the people that had been stopped earlier. Keith and James stood nearby guarding the group of students whose punishment had already been announced.

“Now is there any more question? Then, I’ll meet with the parents in my office, while the rest of you go ahead and go to your fourth bell class.”
Everyone watches as the students leave.

Christine couldn’t believe she could finally get the operation to finally fix her birth defect. She wonders if Cheshire offer, to pay for the operation still stood and meant it. She figures she’ll ask Nora if Cheshire meant what she offered to do. She could smell the scent of cooking food drifting from the backyard.

She heads back towards the backyard and could hear splashing going on. She steps outside and notices Ginger and Melody in the pool splashing each other. Kelly was in her skimpiest bikini and so was Nora. Nora had an apron on protecting her as she stood at the barbecue unit fixing dinner. The unit had everything Nora needed to cook outside. It was like a second kitchen in her backyard.

“Christy, put your swimsuit on and join us.” Ginger was moving some of her wet hair out of her eyes.

“P-Please-e C-Christy-y?” Melody swims over and stands next to Ginger.

Christine notices Ginger was wearing her emerald green bikini and Melody was wearing her sapphire color bikini. She was doing better since
she came to live with them.

“Alright, I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Christine loved Melody and Ginger as if they were her younger sisters. She wishes she had sisters like them when she was younger.

Christine heads back into the house and changes into her swimsuit. After she changes, she fixes drinks for everyone. She knew Kelly like Long Island Ice Tea, she fixes Nora a Margarita, and for Melody and Ginger, she fixes virgin Margarita’s for them. She fixes herself a Long Island as well. She may not be twenty-one yet, but Nora didn’t mind her having a drink at the house. Since she uses to be a bartender at the restaurant.

Christine walks back outside with a tray filled with drinks. She walks over towards Kelly first “one long island ice tea for you.”
Kelly sits up and takes the offered drink “Thank you, Christine.”

“You’re welcome.” Christine moves over towards Nora.

“The Margarita with the salt and lime is yours, Nora.”

“Thank you, Christine.” Nora takes the Margarita with the lime and salt on the rim.

“Ginger, Melody I have drinks up here for you.” Christine takes the tray and sets it on the outside table.

“Thanks, Sis.” Ginger gets out of the pool with Melody following behind her.

“It’s Margarita time!” Ginger and Melody starts singing the Margarita song by Jimmy Buffet.

Nora just shakes her head at their antics. She loved watching the two of them dance and sing. She was proud of Melody as she overcame the things that were done to her.

“How long have the two of you been working on that?” Kelly was proud of both girls as well.

“We didn’t.” Ginger takes a sip of her Margarita.

“Well, you two did a wonderful job performing it.” Christine liked it.

“Thanks, Sis.” Ginger and Melody hug Christine.

“Girls, could you come over here and grab the food, please?” Nora was both happy and proud of the girls.

“C-Coming-g m-mom-m.” Melody heads over towards Nora.

Ginger was right behind her. She gooses Melody.

Melody jumps forward when she gets goosed. She turns around and notices a smile on Ginger’s face. She just wiggles her butt as she grabs a tray of meats Nora cooked.

Ginger just laughs as she grabs the next tray of food. She follows Melody over to the table and set it down. Christine carries a tray as well.
Kelly comes over to the table and takes a seat. Melody and Ginger sit across from Christine, while Nora and Kelly sit across from each other.

“Dig in.” Nora takes some meat and passes the tray around.

Once Christine ha her plate like she wants, she looks towards Nora “mom, I finally got my letters from my doctors saying I can get the surgery
to fix my birth defect. I was wondering if Cheshire meant what she said about paying for it?”

“Who’s Cheshire?” Ginger and Melody were both curious about this Cheshire person.

“She’s a friend of the family. She teaches and raise big game cats.” Kelly knew who Cheshire was. She had asked Nora once when she came
across her picture in Nora’s phone and a few books in her library.

“She’s a school teacher?” Ginger was curious.

“Nope, she’s a zoologist that specializes in big game cats, like Tigers, Lion, Panthers, Cheetahs, Leopards, and Ligers. She owns a Liger that
is named Shur Khan.”

Christine looks confused at Nora. She thought Cheshire was a special agent or something. Then she thinks about what Cheshire told her when she visited her. She said she was a zoologist, but something told her that wasn’t true.

“W-What’s a liger-r?” Melody was curious.

“It’s an offspring between a Lion and a Tiger. It’s extremely rare for one to be produced from a mating.” Nora knew what a Liger was. She met
Shur Khan once.

“Awesome! I would love to meet one.” Ginger was excited.

“W-What is-s an offspring-g of a Tiger-r and Lion-n called-d?” Melody was curious.

“That’s a Tigon. I don’t think Cheshire has ever raised one.”

Nora wasn’t sure, but as far as she knew, Cheshire has never raised one.

“If Cheshire has offered to pay for your surgery, then she means it. Did she say where you would be having it done?”

“She said she was going to call the doctor that operated on her oldest daughter. Was she the one I pulled from the burning building?”

“Yep, she is a police officer with the HPD special division. Which means you’ll be having the operation in Hawaii and more than likely staying with Cheshire at her place.”

“Hawaii? Dang, sis. That’s the most beautiful place to go. You can go down to the beach to surf and relax. I’m also jealous you can have your
operation.” Ginger wouldn’t mind having her birth defect removed. She and William were getting serious in their relationship. She had been
honest about being trans to him and he had been stunned at first when she told him, but he got over it.

“She won’t be doing much surfing after her operation, Ginger. It takes about two whole months to recover from the surgery.” Kelly knew a few trannies’s that had the operation and they told her what it felt like.

“Still I want my birth defect fixed and if that means I have to be down for two months, I’ll do it.” Ginger knew she was going to have to wait till she turned 18yrs. old before she could get her surgery.

Melody places her hand on Gingers and gives it a little squeeze. She knew how much Ginger hated that she couldn’t experience everything Melody did.

“It takes two months to recover?” Christine looks over towards Kelly.

“About that. The first month is the worse. Have you talked to your boss yet about taking the time off for the operation?”

“I just got my letters today, but you are right Kelly. I don’t know if I can take the time off.” Christine knew she was still new at the company she worked for.

“Talk with your boss and tell him that the operation is necessary. I don’t think he’ll mind. When do you plan on doing it?” Nora was curious.

“I was thinking about over the summer vacation. I know you, Ginger and Melody will be starting summer vacation next week.” Christine wanted to be home and knew Nora, Ginger, and Melody would be home for summer vacation.

“Hawaii does sound like a nice honeymoon place, Nora.” Kelly looks towards her wife.

“We could see if Cheshire will show us, Shur Khan.” Ginger wanted to meet him.

“Alright, let me talk with Cheshire and arrange things. Do you want to talk to her Christine?” Nora looks towards Christine.

“Yes, ma’am. I just want to make sure I didn’t hear her wrong.”

“Knowing Cheshire, I doubt you heard her wrong.” Nora knew when Cheshire spoke to you and told you something. You can bet she meant every word of it.

After dinner, the girls and Christine help clean everything up. They have a water fight in the pool. Melody team up with Nora, Ginger teams up with Kelly and Christine was the judge. Ginger accidentally causes Kelly’s top to come off when she falls from her shoulder.

“Sorry, momma Kelly.” Ginger hands her top back to her.

“That’s alright sweetie.” Kelly puts her top back on.

Ginger couldn't help but stare at Kelly’s breasts and how big they were. She wanted her breast to be as big as Kelly’s.

“Momma Kelly are your breasts natural or enhanced?”

Kelly was a little taken back by the question, she knew Ginger was just curious. She was bigger than Nora in the breast department. She also knew that her breasts was one of the features Nora liked.

“Mine are natural Ginger. Why, do you ask?”

“I want mine to be as big as yours.”

Kelly looks at Ginger’s frame and tries to imagine what her breast size would be on her. Ginger was slim and petite.

“If you really want to be as big as mine, I would get a D cup, Ginger. Anything bigger, you’ll have back problems with your frame.”

“T-Trust me sis-s. H-Having b-big breast-t isn’t-t fun-n.” Melody knew what she was talking about because she was a 38DD cup and was only 13 years old. She was only 5’5” tall.

“Can I get that as a birthday present?” Ginger looks at Nora and Kelly.

Nora just shakes her head at Ginger “I won’t make any promises, but if you can wait till your 18 years old, I’ll pay for you to have your operation and get a breast increase.”

“Thanks, mom.” Ginger hugs Nora.

Nora knew the money Ginger was supposed to get from her parents dying. It had been recovered and put in an account Ginger couldn’t touch till she was twenty-one years old. Nora tickles Melody as she holds her against her body.

Melody just giggles as she is being tickled by Nora. She never thought she would ever have a loving mother again. She felt loved being held in Nora’s arms.

Nora glances over towards Kelly and she had Ginger in her arms and was tickling her. A smile appears on her face as the laughter of the two girls filled the air.

Afterward, the girls and Christine head inside leaving Nora and Kelly outside in the pool. Kelly slips her bikini off and undoes Nora’s.

“You know, we don’t have to wait for the girls to go to bed, to do this.” Nora holds Kelly in her arms.

“I know, but I do like it when it is just you and me in the nude out here under the moon in the pool.” Kelly kisses Nora.

“This is so cool!” Ginger was sitting up in the cockpit, while Patricia flew the Lear.

She was on her way back from South America picking up the Lear, Jack kept down there. When she was contacted by Cheshire to fly to Memphis International Airport to pick some people up. She was informed that Jack had approved the change in the flight plan.

When she landed and refueled in Memphis, she picked up three adults and two teenage girls. According to the information she received from Cheshire, these were friends of hers and Jack’s. She was given pictures of each person and their names.

The first-person Patricia met was Nora Midnight. She looked like a younger version of Cheshire herself, except she was Hispanic. Then there was another lady standing next Nora, with short dark brown hair and an ample chest. She was a little shorter then Nora. She looked like she had some Irish in her. Standing next to Nora and Kelly was a woman who looked to be in her late teens and early twenties and she had blonde hair and was about Nora’s height.

Then there were two teenagers. One had red hair and was dressed in a nice dress that showed her figure off. The other girl had short dark brown hair as well and was shorter than the one named Ginger. Patricia notices she stayed near Nora’s side. She wasn’t very tall, and she was the opposite of the one named Ginger. Instead of wearing a nice dress and such. She wore tight blue jeans and a nice camisole. She had on
very little makeup, where ginger looked like she was going on a date.

“Hi, I’m Patricia O’Hare and I will be your pilot.” Patricia had a pleasant smile on her face.

“Hi Patricia, I’m Nora Midnight and this is my wife, Kelly Midnight. These are our daughters Christina, Ginger, and Melody.” Nora motions to the girls.

“It’s nice to meet you. Mrs. Cheshire that I’m to take you to Hawaii, where she will meet us. The Lear doesn’t have any snacks, so if you would like to go and grab some snacks. We can wait for a while, before taking off.” Patricia tries to keep the Lear’s stack with snacks, but since she just came from South America, picking this one up.

She hasn’t had time to stock it up. It was going to be taken directly to Jack’s ranch for Gina to use. Gina was planning on spending a week with Arnold and her adopted daughter. She hasn’t met the girl yet, but if Gina was taking on the responsibilities of being a mother. Then the girl must be special.

“How long is the flight to Hawaii?” Nora and Kelly were curious.

“It’s an 8-hour flight, but I will be landing in California to refuel before heading to Honolulu.” Patricia always made sure the tanks were full before crossing the Pacific Ocean.

“Why don’t we get something in California, while the plane is being refueled?” Kelly didn’t mind waiting.

“Okay, well, in that case, let’s get you luggage stow away and up in the air.” Patricia starts loading the luggage they had brought with them.

Once they were loaded and had taken off into the skies, Patricia had offered to let the girls come up and sit in the co-pilot seat. Ginger had taken her up on her offer. Melody was scared and didn’t want to leave Nora’s and Kelly’s side.

Nora notices how scared Melody was “everything is going to be okay, Melody. I have flown lots of times, Melody.”

Christina was reading the letters she had been given for her hospital stay and what to expect. She didn’t mind flying. She has already flew once, but not in a private plane.

When they land in California to refuel, Nora and Ginger leave to grab some snacks and lunches for everyone. Once they were back aboard the plane and up into the air. It didn’t take them long to land in Honolulu. When the plane comes to a complete stop. Nora notices Cheshire, Tizzy and a younger teenage girl was waiting for them. They had brought an SUV and a silver Dodge Challenger.

Patricia comes and opens the door. She stands aside as Nora goes first followed by Kelly. Christina and the girls go last. Patricia follows the girls.

Cheshire watches as her friend Nora and her family follow her out of the plane. Tizzy was standing next to her mother with her little sister on the other side of Cheshire. Krisha watches as her mother’s friends disembark the black Lear. She knew it belonged to her uncle Jack.

“Nora, its good to see you.” Cheshire gives Nora a hug.

Nora returns the hug “let me introduce my family to you, Cheshire. You already know Kelly. We finally got married.” Nora holds up her ring finger to show Cheshire.

“Congratulations. I see Christina has changed some.” Cheshire spotted Christina standing with Ginger and Melody.

“Yep, I’ve managed to keep her from playing hero.” Nora smiled at Christina.

“Well, I want to thank you again, Christina, for saving my daughter and my niece's life.” Cheshire gives her a hug.

Tizzy walks over towards Christina “so, I owe you my life?”

“No, I did what you would have done.” Christina knew what she did was right, and she wasn’t looking for any repayment.

“If there is anything I can ever do for you, Christina. Feel free to call on me and my cousins. I know they would like to repay you for what you did.” Tizzy gives Christina hug.

“Thank you.” Christina was blushing.

Nora had been watching “this is our oldest daughter Ginger and our youngest daughter Melody.”

Cheshire looks at both girls and could tell right away that Ginger was the more adventures of the two. She could tell from Melody’s body language that Melody didn’t like to far form Nora or Kelly.

“Allow me to introduce my youngest daughter.” She motions for Krisha to step forward.

Krisha steps next to her mother.

“This is my daughter Krisha.” Cheshire had her in a loving embrace.

“It's nice to meet you, Krisha.” Nora notices that the girl was from some Middle Eastern country.

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Midnight. Mom has told me so much about you.” Krisha had told her about Midnight being a school teacher
and a former DSS agent.

“Oh? I hope it was all good.” Nora glances towards her friend.

Cheshire just gives her that smile of hers. After all, she was named Cheshire. Cheshire looks at Christina “so, you have finally decided to have the operation?”

“Yes, ma’am. Ginger is jealous.” Christina looks at her little sister.

“Well, I am.” Ginger wanted to get rid of her birth defect.

“I know how you feel Ginger. I used to be where you are now.” Tizzy walks over to Ginger.

Melody looks at Tizzy and couldn’t believe the beautiful woman before her use to be a boy. She examines her but couldn’t find any signs she uses to be a boy.

“Y-You use to be l-like-e my s-sister-r?” Melody looks at Tizzy.

“Yep, I use to be exactly like your sister. I was so depressed about not having a girl’s body, that I had thought about killing myself. If my mother
hadn’t come along when she did. I might have gone through with my plan. I worked hard to get the body I have now and the husband I have as well.”

“Y-Your-r m-married-d?” Melody was surprised.

“Yep. I have been married for the past five months since we finished that case Christina saved me and my cousins.” Tizzy and Ikaika had gotten married in a secret ceremony. The only people there was her mother and Ikaika’s parents.

She knew her cousins were disappointed about not being there, but after she went through what she did. She didn’t want to die without marrying Ikaika. She knew Julia had married her childhood friend and the only one who wasn’t married yet was Gina. She Gina was planning an October wedding. Arnold will be done with law school and be a full fledged lawyer.

“Well, let's go and get you to get settle in. That goes for you as well Patricia. You are required to take two days off to relax, Jack’s orders.”
Cheshire looks towards Patricia when she says that.

“Hey, I’m not going to argue. You guys pay and treat me too good.” Patricia taxi the plane to a hangar Jack keeps in Honolulu and secure the Lear.

“Till you have your operation Christina, you’ll be staying at my condo in Honolulu. Once you go through the operation, you’ll be staying with me at my house.” Cheshire figures she could look after Christina like she did Tizzy while she recovers.

“Patricia, Jack has made arrangements with the hotel near my condo for you to relax and enjoy yourself. He’s picking up the tab for your stay. So, feel free to enjoy yourself.”

“Oh, I will.” She had a company card Jack gave her to use.

As they are heading towards the condo “Mrs. Cheshire, mom said you raise large cats and that you have a Liger as a pet?”

A sly smile appears on her face “I do have a Liger and so does Tizzy. I’ll introduce you to them tomorrow. We also have a pair of clouded leopards that a friend of mine rescued from a poacher that I’m teaching Krisha to raise.”

“Are they native to China and the Himalayan foothills?” Nora was curious about how she managed to get a pair.

“Yep, they are, and my friend knew I was the foremost authority on endangering cats. Plus, he also knew I would kill anyone who came for them.” Cheshire was known by a few people as a very protective person when it came to endangered animals.

“Remind me not to ever get on your bad side.” Ginger couldn’t believe that this small oriental woman was so deadly. She was about the same height as her mother, but twenty years older.

Tizzy was following her mother with Krisha riding with her. She looks at her younger sister “so, what do you think of mom’s friends so far?”

Krisha thinks about Tizzy’s question “you and mom said that the blonde hair girl rescued you and cousin Julia and Gina from a burning building?”

“Yep, she risked her life to pull us, the wolves and US Marshal’s out of a burning building. If she hadn’t done that. I would be dead right now along with Julia and Gina.” Tizzy just shivers thinking about that day.

“Mom is paying for her SRS surgery?”

“Yep, she said she would. Hell, Uncle Jack would pay for her surgery for what she did. Mom and Uncle Jack take honor and debt seriously.
That’s what makes them so deadly. They live by a code. That code of theirs says that they owe that young lady for saving our lives. Also, that woman that has become Christina’s mother, is as deadly as mom. Mom taught Nora when she was with the CIA. Mom said that she was her star pupil. She thought for sure Nora would stay in Black Op’s, but Nora got tired of all the assignments and killing. She decided to go back to be an ordinary DSS agent.”

“What was uncle Jack?” Krisha knew a little about her uncle.

“He was MI 6 and had SAS training. He carried a license to kill. Most MI 6 agents weren’t allowed to kill unless it was self-defense. Uncle Jack
was like mom, he did black op’s assignment for the British government.” If Nora is like mom, why did she become a school teacher?” Krisha was curious why someone with her skill set would change.

“I’m betting it’s because of the two young girls she has now. Mom got out of the game because she was tired of it. Uncle Jack got out because
of our cousins. He wanted to spend his time raising them and taking a more active role in the business he was building.” Krisha thinks about what her sister told her.

Ginger and Melody were watching where they were going. They were loving the sights they were seeing so far.

“Cheshire does the building your condo is at have a pool and can you go down to the beach as well?” Ginger was curious.

Cheshire looks at Ginger in the rear-view mirror “you can call me auntie Cheshire if you like, Ginger. I consider your mom and her family as part of my family now. Also, to answer your question, it has a beach and a swimming pool you can use.”

“Mom, watch!” Ginger was out on a surfboard.

Melody and Krisha were next to her. Tizzy was nearby to help should the girls have problems. All four girls were in bikinis. Tizzy and Krisha had taught Melody and Ginger how to surf. They came over early in the morning, after dropping Christina off at her doctor’s office for her per-examination.

Nora, Kelly, and Patricia watch all four girls from the beach. Cheshire had a meeting she had to attend too but would be coming by later after picking Christina up from the Doctor’s office.

Ginger waits for the right wave to come to ride in. The wave she was waiting for comes and Ginger rides it in. She does pretty good on it but wipes out once she gets close to the beach.

“You did good Ginger.” Nora and Kelly were proud of their daughter.

Melody tries the next wave. She makes it as close as her sister did. She looks up towards the beach.

“You did good Melody.” Nora and Kelly were proud of Melody as well.

Tizzy and Krisha mount their boards and surf towards the beach. Krisha learned how to surf from her sister and mother. Tizzy use to compete when she was younger, but now surf for fun.

They were having dinner at Cheshire’s place tonight. Patricia has never been and couldn’t wait to see how a dangerous assassin lived.

Nora could surf, but not as well as Tizzy and Krisha. Kelly couldn’t surf at all. Tizzy was showing her how. Around lunchtime, all the girls head to a nearby restaurant and have lunch. Ginger and Melody were loving the attention they were getting from the guys.

Nora and Kelly spotted how the two were loving the attention. She couldn’t blame them, they were in Hawaii. Nora looks at Kelly to see if she was enjoying their semi-honeymoon as well. Kelly just gives her a smile as she runs towards the incoming waves. Once she is in the water, she swims out towards the girls on their surfboards. She treads water as the girls catch a wave and ride it in.

Nora chases after her. The two of them normally don’t have much time to spend with each other during the week. The weekend’s they were busy doing family things.

“Gotcha!” Nora wraps her arms around Kelly’s waist.

“What are you planning on doing with me, now that you have caught me?” Kelly speaks in a sexy voice.

“Oh, I think I can think of something.” Nora leans in and kisses her.

The rest of the afternoon, Nora, Kelly and the girls spend down on the beach. Cheshire picks Christina up from the doctor’s office.

“So, how did things go with Dr. Bowers, Christina?” Cheshire watches as she gets into the car.

“She said I’m ready for the surgery. I went ahead and schedule for next Monday.” Christina fastens her seatbelt. She was ready for the operation.

“That’s understandable. We’ll move your items from the condo to the house on Sunday. That way when you get out of the hospital. I can take
you straight to my place to recover.” Cheshire knew what to expect from when Tizzy got her surgery.

Nora, Kelly and the girls end up over at Cheshire’s house for dinner. Ginger and Melody was kind of disappointed. They were expecting a house a spy would live in, but instead, it was a normal house in a normal neighborhood.

When they walk into the house, they are pounced on by two clouded leopard cubs. Kit pounces on Melody when she walks through the door.

Melody jumps when something attacks her legs. She backs into her mother Kelly. She looks down and spots a small dark grey cub.

“Kit, SÚil!” Krisha looks down at the little-clouded leopard cub.

It stops and looks at Krisha. His sister Kat was about to attack Ginger’s foot. The two cubs just stay where they were.

Ginger kneels and picks up Kat “she’s so cute.” As she starts scratching under her chin.

Melody looks at her sister as she held one of the cubs and then back up at Krisha “i-is it okay t-to pick them u-up?”

“Yes, Melody you can pick him up. He won’t bite you. He’s just very playful.” Krisha watches as Melody picks Kit up off the floor.

Melody scratches him under his chin like Ginger was doing with his sister. She follows her sister towards the den, where the sliding glass door was opened.

“A-Are-e the L-Ligers-s outside?” Melody was holding kit and petting him while looking outside.

“Yep, Shur-Khan and Simba are outside somewhere. I can call them if you would like.” Tizzy was looking towards Melody.

“M-Maybe-e l-later-r.” Melody was enjoying Kit in her arms.

Nora and Kelly had gone to the kitchen to see what Cheshire was cooking. Nora loved learning new recipes and what she smelled in the air tickle her nose.

“Watch you cooking, Cheshire?” Nora watches as Cheshire uses a blade like a surgeon to cut up some vegetables.

Cheshire flips the knife one handed after cutting the vegetables “I’m making Poke. I hope none of you are allergic to tuna.”

Cheshire finishes the Poke and sets it aside. She starts with another dish that could be made while everyone was at her house.

“Hi, mom.” Ikaika had dropped in after work. Tizzy told him they were having a guest at her mother’s place.

“Ikaika, it's so good to see you. Let me introduce you to a woman I consider my daughter. This is Nora Midnight and her wife Kelly Midnight.
The blonde hair girl in the other room is Christina. She’s the one responsible for saving Tizzy and her cousins. Along with the Bounty Hunter’s
and the Marshal’s that day. The two teenage girls over there with Krisha and the cubs are Nora and Kelly’s, daughter. The red hair one is named Ginger and the brown hair girl holding Kit is Melody.” Cheshire knew that Ikaika felt indebted to Christina for saving his wife.

Ikaika looks at Nora and could tell she was Hispanic. She looked like a younger version of Cheshire. Especially, when you looked into her eyes. The shorter woman standing near her was the opposite of Nora. She looked to be of some European descent, maybe Irish or something from that region. She had a nice shape to her body.

“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Midnight. I’m Ikaika Kahue, Tizzy’s husband.” He shakes her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Kahue. This is my wife Kelly Midnight.” Nora motions to Kelly.

“It’s nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Midnight.” He gives her a pleasant smile.

“Now that the three of you have introduced yourself, out of my kitchen.” Cheshire normally didn’t like people in her kitchen when she was
cooking. She knew Nora loved to cook and her mother was a professional chef.

“Would it be okay if I stay and help you, Cheshire?” Kelly wouldn’t mind helping her.

“That will be okay. The rest of you out of my kitchen.” Cheshire goes back to cooking. She notices that Tizzy and Krisha were outside with
Ginger, Melody, and Christina.

Ginger, Melody, and Christina stood close to Tizzy and Krisha when Tizzy called Shur-khan and Simba. The cubs were in the house. They watch as two huge cats come walking out of the woods behind Cheshire.

Neither of the girls has ever seen cats this big before or this close either. Tizzy calls Simba directly to her and scratches him where he loved.
She turns towards everyone “this is Simba. He’s my kitty cat.”

“That’s not a kitty cat, that’s a horse.” Ginger couldn’t believe how big he was.

“You think he’s big. You see the wolves, my uncle, Jack raises. They are huge as well.” Tizzy wishes she could show them, Cadmus and
Sphinx. If Chaos was still alive, she would show them him. He was the biggest wolf Jack had.

“Who does Shur-khan belong too?” Christina was brave enough to pet him like Tizzy was doing Simba.

“He’s my mom's kitty cat.” Tizzy had to regain her balance, because Simba rubbed against her, almost knocking her over.

“A-Are they R-Related-d?” Melody was curious. She reaches forwards to scratch Simba.

“Nope. Simba is from a different tiger, lion mating.” Tizzy knew her mother never bred the Ligers from one another.

Ikaika steps outside and is almost knocked down from Shur-Khan rubbing against him. He regains his balance and scratches the big cat.

“How you are doing boy?” Ikaika loved being around big cats.

He plays with Shur-Khan till everyone is called inside for dinner. They are warned not to feed Kit and Kat. The cubs pester them while they are eating.

Nora and Kelly volunteer to clean the dishes, but Cheshire wouldn’t let them. The girls went back outside and helped Tizzy, Krisha and Ikaika feed the big cats. The cubs were easy and fun to feed.

Christina pulls Tizzy aside to talk with her. She knew Tizzy had the surgery.

“Tizzy, how bad I the surgery?” Christina watches Tizzy’s emotions.

“Let me put it this way, Christina. You're going to wish you never went through it. It’s going to take at least a week at the hospital and then they
will let you go home. About 4-6 weeks, you’ll be able to go back to work, no strenuous lifting or activity. Then after that, you’ll be able to return to your normal activity levels. I suggest once you’re feeling better. That you start to get your body in better shape. You’ll have to get used to having a vagina and working muscles you haven’t worked in a while. Trust me, as soon as I was able to move. My mother started whipping me into shape. She may or may not do that to you.” Tizzy wasn’t sure what her mother had planned for Christina.

“Whatever your mother wants me to do, I’ll do.” Christina liked Cheshire.

“Remember those words.” Tizzy smile as she directs them back to everyone else.

The Day of The Operation:
Cheshire, Nora, and Kelly help prepare Christina for her operation. All her stuff has been moved to Cheshire’s house. Nora and family were leaving to go back home at the end of the week.

Nora could tell Christina was nervous “relax baby. Everything is going to be okay.”

Nora squeezes Christina’s hand. Keely held her other hand and gives it a little squeeze. Nurse Kellye walks in to transport Christina to the operating room.

Christina is in surgery for four hours. There were a few things she wanted to get done to her body. Cheshire and Jack were splitting the cost for the best plastic surgeon to come out and give Christina anything she wanted. It was the least they could do for saving their children.

Five Hours Later:
Christina is rolled out of the operating room and back to her room. Everyone was waiting for her. She was so out of it.

Ginger looks at her older sister “is she okay Mrs. Cheshire?”

“She’s fine, Ginger. Christina is just filled with painkillers right now.” Cheshire went through this with Tizzy.

When Christina comes a little aware of her surroundings, she is greeted by Nora, Kelly, and Cheshire.

She looks at them and a goofy smile appears on her face. She felt so happy right now.

“So pretty.” Christina looked so goofy.

“Yep, she’s out of it.” Kelly was smiling at the goofy look on Christina’s face.

“I think she’s going to be out of it for a while.” Cheshire was even smiling.

“Let’s, let her sleep and we’ll talk with her later?” Nora figures Christina won’t remember that they were here with her.

“Okay, I’m going to stay and watch over her.” Nora considers Christina her daughter.

“Alright, sweetie.” Kelly kisses Nora’s cheek.

Cheshire and Kelly leave to join up with the girls and tell them Christina’s condition.