Meena Mehra

Alex and Robert were on a plane just under two hours after receiving the urgent call from West Virginia, a private charter because a commercial flight was not quick enough, and could not be made directly. And there was another reason, no baggage screening in Civil Aviation, which was essential for the two private security operatives right now, considering that most of their luggage contained firearms and ammunition, plus a few other odds and ends of their profession. The flight was bumpy for most of the way, a fact that didn’t bother Alex at all as she had always loved flying since she was a little girl, and was licensed pilot herself. Robert, on the other hand, never a tease off the ground, despite flying as much as his wife did, felt a lurch in his stomach every time the plane hit a pocket of unstable air. They were sitting side by side in the third set of seats in the passenger compartment of the Cessna Citation Business Jet and Alex reached over and squeezed his hand, not saying anything, just offering comfort and support. Robert took a deep breath, held it for a few moments, released it slowly, then went back To checking the action on the Heckler and Koch submachine gun he ad extracted from the duffel at his feet. Just over two hours ago he and Alex had been on the sofa in the living room of their small apartment in Alexandria, Virginia contemplating the rest of their Saturday afternoon. Robert was lying on his back, Alex on top of him, his right hand under her blouse, her right hand unzipping his jeans, and then the business phone and buzzed. Not answering it was not an option, even on the weekend. Their business, while established, was still in the early stages of growth, so they did not turn down work when it was something they could do. Therefore, with great reluctance, Alex withdrew her tongue from her husband’s mouth and her hand from his groin, leaned over to the coffee table where the phone set. Robert did not withdraw his hand from under her blouse, one finger inside her bra. At least not until he knew how serious the call was, and who was calling. Now Alex closed the slide on a Glock pistol and set it on the lowered tray table in front of her, then took three loaded. 40 caliber magazines out of her duffel and put them next to the weapon. The flight was only an hour long, and they spent most of the time checking weapons and saying very little. They didn’t have a whole lot of information, just knew there was a problem and that they would most likely be riding into a storm of trouble when they arrived. Whatever the situation, they were confident they could handle it. They were trained, experienced, and very dam good at what they did. Uncle Sam had seen to that, and now that they were in the private sector, they made sure they stayed that way. It was dark when they landed at Charleston’s Yeager Airport, and raining as they taxied over to Civil Aviation. They were both wearing dark business suits and Robert had on a blue striped tie. When the plane came to its final stopping point and the copilot came aft to open the cabin door, they were standing in the aisle, their jackets on, and their duffels and backpacks hoisted and ready for immediate deplaning. A dark green Suburban had been reserved for them and they picked the keys up at the Avis counter, then found the behemoth in the parking garage ten minutes later. Very hard to miss. Alex grinned as she went around to the driver’s side, and Robert’s stomach lurched once more. “Oh shit,” he muttered. “I heard that,” Alex said cheerily, opening the door and climbing aboard. “Don’t worry, babe, promise not to push past a hundred on the curves this time.” Robert finished stowing their gear in the back, then came around to the passenger’s side and climbed in, seeing his small wife behind the wheel of the large machine, the gleeful expression in her brown eyes. Well, at least their insurance was paid up, he thought, securing his seatbelt. “You know, right now you have that same naughty little impression on your face that you do when you know we’re going to have sex,” he told her. Alex stroked the gear shift, watching her husband checking his seatbelt again. “That should tell you something,” she said, revving the engine then slipping the selector into reverse. “This might sting a little,“ she continued, and before Robert could utter another curse, Alex roared out of the parking space, laying rubber in their wake. Robert simply closed his eyes. He didn’t pray because that would be silly, but he did spend a lot of time thinking of England… And when that didn’t work he thought about what he and his wife would be doing back in their apartment in Virginia right now had Billy Rendale not called and messed up everything. Chapter 2 Alex and Robert had first met William “Billy” Rendale two years ago when they were hired by ZOW Chemical Company to covertly protect their CEO when he came to Charleston just after ZOW’s takeover of Reunion Borax, a former Competitor that was headquartered in Charleston. A lot of people had been unhappy about the merger/takeover and the fear was there might be trouble, and that fear turned out to be well founded [#]. Billy Rendale was already in place as part of another outside security vendor team brought in to deal with any problems that arose during the transition. The three operators got on great during their first meeting and quickly formed a good working relationship that served them well during this assignment and kept them in touch in the two years that followed. Alex and Robert returned to their home in Alexandria where they continued to run their two-agent investigations and security service from their apartment, and Billy stayed on in Charleston until the contract with ZOW ended eight months later. After that, he decided to move there, having established good contacts and some new clients of his own while he was still contracting for Nine Forests, the Michi gan- based firm that had sent him to Charleston in the first place. Three times Billy had jobs that required assistance in the Northern Virginia area and he called Robert and Alex (ChanWell) every time. Twice during that period ChanWell had jobs in the Charleston area and they called Billy. Today, Billy had called them and asked that they drop whatever they were doing, if at all possible, and fly to Charleston as quickly as they could. So here they were, Alex behind the wheel of the Suburban roaring up I-64 West in the middle of a light snow storm. Robert considered that every time they came to Charleston it was snowing. And they weren’t really going to Charleston, but through it, heading out to a city about half an hour away called Hurricane, where Billy had bought some land a year ago and recently built a cabin. He had plans to expand and turn the place into a security training school one day when he was more established, bur for right now it was his home and office. Robert was looking in a road atlas as Alex maneuvered the SUV around slower moving traffic, mindful of ice patches, although the temperature was currently above freezing. “What do you think Bill’s got going on this time?” Alex said after they were on the road for ten minutes. “No clue,” Robert said, glancing up, studying the road. “But if he called us from out of town, it’s probably not something routine. Never is.” “True,” Alex said. “And for anybody but Billy I would have finished molesting you on the couch before calling to book a charter.” Robert grinned, closed the atlas. “We want Exit 34, and then head north,” he said. “And not to worry, once this is wrapped up, no matter how long or short, you’re gonna get your chance to finish, dear heart. And so will I.” Alex smiled switched lances again, barely missing the front bumper of another vehicle. “There was plenty of room, didn’t even come close,” she attempted to forestall what she knew her husband was going to say. “That why the driver in the car back there is still giving you the finger?” he said. Alex shook her head and didn’t say anything. Robert slid the atlas into the side pocket of his door, then started another equipment check, his and hers. They had no idea what they were about to walk in to and it would be really embarrassing to show up unprepared. And perhaps fatal. THE CABIN WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TEN acres of land that was presently covered in a light dusting of fresh snow and some sludge. Alex took the turn off slowly as Robert surveyed the surroundings. “Lot of trees around,” he mused. “And a lot of places to hide, if you were of a mind.” Alex nodded, glancing to her left as she accelerated, passing what appeared to be the entrance to Billy’s property. “Beautiful in the snow and at dusk, too,” she said. “Cabin’s visible from the road, can you see any vehicles?” “Not from this point,” Robert said. “But we can’t see the north and east sides of the property yet. Keep driving down the road for a while and then turn back.” She nodded. Ten minutes later Alex turned around at a gas station and went back the way they had come, then taking a right at the turn off for Billy Rendale’s property. There wasn’t a fence or formal demarcation point, but they assumed that now they were officially on their friend’s private property, following a worn path through the snow and mud toward the cabin still a ways away. “Wonder what the real estate market is like around here,” Alex said. “Probably better than in Alexandria, but still, Billy either got incredibly lucky or has rich relatives somewhere that we don’t know about.” “Or murdered the original owner and hid the body,” Robert offered with a smile. His wife smirked his way as they dropped into a rut jostling them. “My little ray of sunshine,” Alex said, pressing harder on the gas to clear the rut. “Realism, darling, “ he said. “Just keeping it real, as the kids are saying these days.” “Right. I’m sure that if he’s inside, he knows we’re here now.” “Yeah, “Robert said. “And he’s in there, even though we can’t see any lights. Smoke coming out of the chimney, and I can see a pickup around the left side of the cabin now, along with a lot of muddy snow covered tire tracks.” “Could be bad guys,” Alex pointed out. “Whoever Billy was worried about got here first and now they’re lying in wait for us.” Robert cast a smirk her way in the darkened front seat of the Suburban. “Now who’s the ray of sunshine?” he said. “Hey, babe, just keeping it real.” “Uh-huh. Park on the side there, but I’m getting out right here,” he said, opening the door as she slowed. A Heckler & Koch MP5-SD3 si lenced submachine gun was held low in his right hand as his feet hit the ground and slipped a bit in the snow. Alex continued on around to the side of the house and parked. Robet stood in front watching the cabin windows, eyes slowly moving across every inchof the building, weapon still held by his side. A few moments later, Alex joined him, a matching SD3 at her right side. “We probably should have put on warmer clothing and left the suits,” she said, obviously uncomfortable with the cold. “We do have a reputation for skill and style to maintain, luv,” Robert quipped. “Can’t just show up dressed in any old rags.” Alex snickered, about to reply, when the front door of the cabin opened on a darkened entrance. No light came from inside the cabin and there was no one visible. “Did you leave the flash bangs in the truck?” Robert said. “No,” Alex said matter-of-factly. “Got one tucked into my waistband at the back.” Robert stole a quick glance at his wife. “You know I was joking, rith?” he said. “But I wasn’t,” she replied. “Guess that’s why I love you,” he said. “And I always knew you had a hot little ass, but if you fall with that grenade stuck back there…” Despite herself, Alex grinned, and then Robet started for the open cabin door. “FRIEND NOT FOE!” ROBERT ANNOUNCED ON the threshold, coming to a halt as Alex moved in from his left, about seven feet back, covering. “But I forgot the Merlot!” After a few seconds they heard a distinct chuckle coming from inside the cabin, then a dark form filled the entryway, what appeared to be shotgun held but its right side. “One of us must have been drunk when we came up with that recognition signal,” Billy Rendale said, stepping into what little light there was available outside the cabin. “And I think it was me,” he added, finishing the sequence. “Mr. Rendale,” Robert said. “Mr. Chandler,” Billy said, then glanced over the other man’s shoulder. “Or should I call you Mr. Wells?” “Only if you start calling her Mrs. Chandler,” Robert said, glancing back over his shoulder at Alex’s smirk. She came up on the porch. “it’s cold as fuck out here,” she said, pushing past Robert and Billy and into the cabin. “That it is,” Billy agreed, and they followed her inside and secured the cabin door. INSIDE WAS BIGGER THAN THEY THOUGHT IT would be, and rustic but practical, and obviously still a work in progress. “You didn’t do all of this yourself?” Alex said as she settled on the front room sofa with the steaming cup of tea that Billy had prepared. “No,” he admitted, sitting on the chair opposite the coffee table, a cup of strong black coffee on a saucer in his hands. “I’m pretty handy but I had other work to do so I hired a good contractor. Did most of the work, some stuff they left for me to take care of, as I had asked. A bit cheaper that way, plus I could make sure some things had my touch, and only I knew about them.” “Like secret passages and hidden doorways?” Robert smiled, sitting down next to Alex on the sofa, blowing on the surface of his hot tea. “Now you know I’ll never divulge that, Robert,” he smiled. “Can’t give up all my secrets, not even to the two of you. “Robert said nothing, testing his tea. “Well it is a nice place, even in-progress,” Alex said to Billy. “So suppose you tell us why you answered the door with a Remington shotgun, why the Beretta on your hip, and most importantly, why you called and wanted us to fly out here immediately on this lovely Satrurday evening?” Suddenly Bill’s bearded face became serious, and he leaned forward and set his cup and saucer down. At that same moment, a door opened from somewhere in back of the cabin and all eyes went in that direction. A few seconds later a thin Asian female in her late thirties appeared wearing blue jeans and a gray sweater, her long, dark hair loose around her small shoulders. Billy stood at once and moved around the coffee table, going to the woman. Alex and Robert sat and watched as he put a hand on her shoulder, leaned down and said something that they could not make out. The woman nodded and then they came fully into the front room. Robert and Alex stood, setting their cups down as well. “Alex, Robert,” Billy said. now standing behind the much shorter woman with his hands resting on her shoulders. “This is Mei-Wen Lee. Actually, Dr. Mei-Wen Lee. Mei, this is Alexandra Wells and Robert Chandler, the people I told you about.” Dr. Lee nodded, glanced back at Billy, then took a step forward and extended her hand, first to Alex, then to Robet. “A pleasure to meet you both,” she said in a surprising west coast accent, likely Southern California. “And thank you for coming so quickly.” Now Robert and Alex looked at Billy with even more curiosity. Billy nodded, guided Mei-Wen over to the chair next to his and beckoned Alex and Robert to return to their seats on the sofa, which they did. “Okay, I guess I’ve got some explaining to do, and I need to do it fast because the reason I needed the two of you here is urgent, and likely dangerous.” Alex glanced at Robert, smiled. “You know we really need to get some friends who call us sometime just because they miss us and not because of the urgent and the dangerous.” Robert smiled. “Got that right, hon,” he said, glancing over at Billy Rendale. Billy grinned, took a breath, and started to explain. His explanation was quickly interrupted by the gunfire coming from outside the cabin. Chapter 3 Alex and Robert were trained by the CIA, Billy by a most excellent private security academy out west, so at the first sound of gunshots, all three of them went into action, going low, drawing weapons, and in Billy’s case, pulling Mei-Wen Lee out of her chair and onto the floor, covering her body with his. Billy yelled to Robert the location of the switch to douse the lights and he was there a second later, plunging everything into darkness. There weren’t any street lights nearby which meant almost everything was pitched black in an instant. Robert was to the left of the front door, glancing around the thick curtains. Alex was on the right, her SD-3 submachine gun held across her chest, right index finger along the trigger guard. “Can’t see anything,” Robert said. “And nothing hit the cabin.” “Well this is west Virginia, “Billy said from a few feet away, still covering Dr. Lee, but the Beretta now in his right hand. “People hunt, and sometimes just shoot for the hell of it. Might be nothing but coincidence.” And that’s exactly what it was, however, it took the better part of a half for them to be sure. This included a perimeter check of the property by Robert and Alex, once they donned the heavy jackets and gloves they had left in their vehicle, along with night vision goggles. When they returned to the cabin, Billy still had the lights out, his shotgun once again held at the ready. “It’s clear out there,” Robert announced, locking the cabin door behind him, shrugging out of his jacket. “Those shots sounded kind of close, but maybe that was because it’s a clear night and the wind isn’t too strong right now. Sound traveled better. Four shots, sounded like a rifle, maybe it was somebody hunting dinner. Like you said, West Virginia…” Billy went into the back to check o Mei-Wen Lee, then returned alone. He offered to refresh their tea, but they declined, then everyone returned to their seats, but the mood was suddenly more intense. “Okay,” Billy said, leaning forward, elbows on his knees, his hands folded together. “A bunch of things I need to tell you. First, MeiWen isn’t the only other person here with us now, and it’s actually that other person that I brought you here to help me with. Another woman, Name’s Janet Fairdale, thirty-five years old, born in West Virginia but the family moved to Ohio when she was two. Has spent the last thirty-three years living in Union Township, about thirty miles west of here. Janet got permission to come see her aunt in Huntington last month-you heard me right, she got permission. Janet’s family is very old school, as in pre-Enlightenment. Is the patriarch and has absolute say about how everything in his family goes, in particular with regards to the women folk of the clan. He even approved the spouses for his children, the two that are married anyway, which includes Janet. Janet’s husband is a guy named Reuben Fairdale, age forty-three, native of Union Township. He works for the father. In addition to being the patriarch, Conrad Henderson is also a major back woods criminal in Ohio and west Virginia, meth, guns, illegal booze, a few other things, too. Anyway, and this is going to piss you off a lot, Alex, in the Henderson clan, women are little more than the property of their men.” Alex actually smiled and patted her husband’s thigh as she sat next to him on the sofa. “In our family it’s the reverse,” she said. Robert smiled but said nothing. Billy continued. “That explains a lot,” he said. “But there is more. Janet’s families are white supremacists.” “Oh, how nice for them,” Alex said, her expression turning sour. “Guns, meth, and racism, what a perfect combination. And this woman, Janet Fairdale, is your client, Billy?” He nodded. “Yes, but you’ll be happy to know that she has always rejected her family’s beliefs, even if they didn’t know it at first. Told me that when she was six she realized that her family was wrong about a lot of things, especially their feeling that all races except theirs were inferior in the eyes of god. Unfortunately for her, she’s been trapped with them for the last three and a half decades, and was forced to marry a man who believed the same things, raised the same way.” “You’re trying to extricate her from that, Billy?” Robert said. “In a manner of speaking,” he said. “She’s in trouble, and not solely because she’s renounced her family. You see, the real reason she came to West Virginia last month was not to see her sick aunt, but to see Mei-Wen. Mei-Wen works one town over in a place called Culloden. She’s the permanent attending physician at the Culloden Women’s Health Center.” “Oh shit,” Alex said. “Yep,” Billy said. “She came to town to have an abortion?” Robert said. “Actually her second,” Billy confirmed. “The first was three years ago, but she managed to keep that a secret, not so lucky with this one. The aunt is close to her brother, Conrad Henderson. She said something that made him suspicious during a phone call. When Janet returned home from her trip, they were on to her, beat her all to hell, all the men in the family, especially her father and husband, but the brothers, too. She’s got two of them, Jimmy and Todd.” Alex and Robert wore identical expressions of disgust. “And the charm just keeps on coming,” Robert said. “Doesn’t it?” Alex said derisively. “Let me guess the reason for the abortions. She didn’t want to bring children into that world?” “Got it in one, ma’am,” Billy confirmed. “She wasn’t allowed to use birth control, and of course, her husband never would. She’d been trying everything she could to keep from getting pregnant, but twice she couldn’t stop it. Mei-Lee’s been at the clinic five years and preformed both procedures. She’s tried to stay in touch with Janet over the years because she knew what kind of life she was leading back in Ohio, and when she needed a second abortion, Mei-Wen was the only person who could help her.” “How’d she get away?” Alex asked suddenly. “I mean after they found out what she had done they had to have her locked down.” “They did,” Billy told them. “And exactly how she was able to get away is still somewhat of a mystery. She’s still traumatized, as you can imagine, and I didn’t want to push her too much. All I really know is that she saw an opportunity and took it, ran, literally, for miles in flip flops, a nightgown, and bathrobe in freezing temperatures. They didn’t let her have money before this, none of the women in the family are allowed that. But over the years Janet has squirreled some away, managed to keep it hidden from everybody. Not much, but enough to help. When she reached a phone she called Mei-Wen. Mei-Wen drove to Ohio last night and picked her up. When they were back in Culloden, she called me. I was a little pissed at her that, told her she should have called me beforehand so I could have gone with her. After all, it is one of the things I do for a living.” Billy paused, taking a breath, and in that moment Alex saw something, leaned forward. “You and the doc are more than acquaintances, right?” The pause became longer, and just a tiny bit uncomfortable, but then Billy nodded. “We’ve been dating casually for about three months now. Five months ago the owner of the clinic contracted me about upgrading their security systems, that’s when we met, then one thing led to another…” “Doesn’t it always,” Robert said. “So to recap, you’ve got a terrified woman in the other room, who has every reason to be terrified, running from her family of hillbilly meth making, gun running, racist assholes. And the doctor who performed both of her abortions, thus reducing the possibility of spreading this gene line. So naturally you thought of us.” Billy grinned, leaned back. “What are friends for?” Everyone began to laugh. BILLY WENT TO CHECK ON THE WOMEN in the other room while Alex and Robert went into the small kitchen up front to make more tea. They were back on the sofa again when Billy returned and retook his seat. “Janet is sleeping, but fitfully. Thankfully she didn’t hear the shots from earlier because Mei-Wen gave her something to help her rest. Mei-Wen doesn’t want to leave her right now so she’s sitting with her.” “Understandable,” Alex said, sipping her tea. “So what are you thinking here, Billy? What’s the strategy?” “Oh that’s easy,” he said with a sly smile. “I took out my phone and called the two of you.” Alex smirked, Robert snickered, testing his tea, finding it was almost cool enough to sip without burning his tongue. “Didn’t have any friends closer that you didn’t like?” Alex quipped. “Didn’t have any half as qualified as the two of you. There are some locals that I’ve been working with over the past year since I moved here permanently, but I’m not sure I can vouch for their trust worthy ness just yet. Not with something like this. I’m sorry to say that even in 2003 there are still a lot of redneck types around, some who would sympathize with the Henderson-Fairdale clan. And some who even if they didn’t subscribe to the racism would surely oppose her because of the two abortions she had behind her husband’s back. The two of you seem more progressive than most folks I know, and I’m pretty sure you aren’t going to narc us out to a gang of white supremacists.” Alex sipped her tea. “Well I’d say my credentials in this area are pretty well established,” she responded wryly, glancing sideways as her husband raised his cup to his lips again. “But I can’t say the same for him. After all, we know he’s a honkie lover.” She’d timed it just right. Robert had just taken in a mouthful of tea when she said what she said. He quickly moved the cup away from his mouth, fought his gag response, and finally expelled the liquid across the room in one huge wave. Billy and Alex were laughing as Robert coughed, shaking his head and patting his chest. Alex leaned over and tapped him on the back a few times and he turned and glared at her. Billy went and got some paper towels and returned, finding Alex still smiling and Robert wiping the front of his shirt with his hands. He gave Robert some of the paper towels then used the remainder to clean up the mess on the coffee table and floor. “Oh, I’m gonna get you for that, missy,” Robert said to his wife. “You did that on purpose.” “I surely did,” she said without a hint of regret. She leaned is close when Billy went to throw the wet paper towels away. “And I guess we know the answer now.” Robert frowned, patting his wet shirt again. “To what question?” he said “Whether you swallow or spit,” she said, and again they both burst into laughter just as Billy returned. Billy sat and stared across at them. “Send the cleaning bill to Ms. Wells, please,” Robert said. “As I’m going to do regarding my dry cleaning.” Billy smiled, held up his hands. “Oh that was so worth the mess,” he assured them. “Funny as hell, too.” Robert shook his head, glanced at his wife. “Well my credentials might not be as impeccable as here, but I’m reasonably certain that neither the Hendersons nor the Fairdales would welcome me with open arms at the next family mixer. If they ever had one. So Alex-before playing her cruel joke on the man who has loved her to all exclusion since she was eighteen-, asked what your strategy was. What’s the end game?” Before Billy could respond, his cell phone began to ring. He held up a finger as he reached into his pocket to retrieve it. “Give me just a minute,” he said, standing. “I was expecting this call.” He moved off toward the kitchen once more and Robert turned to his wife. Alex turned and smiled at him sweetly. “I would never think of you as my property, Lady Wells, but when we get back home, be prepared to spend a lot of time in Remedial Disciplinary Training.” Alex smirked, leaned close. “That mean you gonna put me over your knee and spank me?” she said. He leaned closer. “Exactly. For starters…” Alex touched his face, and then Billy came back, closing his phone, his expression urgent. Something was wrong, Alex thought. A few seconds later, Billy confirmed her supposition. Chapter Alex and Robert hastily changed into more appropriate clothing, blue jeans and sweaters, plus water and cold-proof hikers. When Billy came out of the back this time he was accompanied by Dr. Lee and a small redhead that they assumed was Janet Fairdale. Additionally, Billy had put on a heavy jacket and black backpack. The shotgun was slung across his left shoulder and he was helping Dr. Lee slip into an overcoat as they walked. Janet Fairdale was wearing a heavy coat that looked too big for her, jeans, and winter boots. She looked frightened and cold, hugging her arms around her chest as Dr. Lee turned and leaned close, saying something. Billy had been cryptic about the person who had called him, saying only that it was a source, and that trouble was headed their way so they had to book out fast. Alex had gone out and brought the Suburban around front, the engine idling. Now she was keeping an eye out the cabin’s front window, not liking the direction the weather was taking. “Even with the extra traction of the snow tires and the weight on that thing, it’s still gonna be tricky going in some spots at night,” she said as Billy came over and stood at her shoulder. “Yeah, but I have every faith in your driving abilities,” he said. Robert chuckled from near the sofa, checking the strap on his subgun. “Spoken like a man who has never had the pleasure of experiencing her driving first-hand,” he said. “Oh don’t mind him,” Alex extolled. “He’s just jealous.” “I’m sure.” Billy said, turning back to Dr. Lee and Janet Fairdale, making the introduction. Fairdale did not offer a hand, simply stared at Robert and Alex with fearful eyes, one of which was black. She had been crying a lot, and was still teary eyed. Dr. Lee had a steadying hand on her shoulder, offering as much comfort and support as she could. “Janet, Alex and Robert are two people I absolutely trust with my life, and you can do the same. They’re the best two operators I know, that’s why I called them even though they live in another state. They dropped everything and flew here as quickly as they could. You can trust them like you trust Mei-Wen and me.” The jury was still out as to whether or not Janet Faordale believed him, but they didn’t have a lot of time to build trust, so she would have to take it on faith, or not at all. Given the life she had been leading for the past thirty-five years, she didn’t have a lot of faith left, but she also knew that right now, if she wanted a chance at living through the next few hours, she had to summon up the courage from somewhere deep inside. There was little doubt that the woman was brave, had been for a very long time, so even if now she was near her breaking point, she might just have enough left to endure this. “Robert, you and Alex will take Janet and Mei-wen in your vehicle,” Billy said. “I’ll follow and cover in my Tahoe.” Robert glanced at Alex. “What Tahoe?” Alex said. “Didn’t see another vehicle besides that old pickup outside when we pulled up, or when I went out to move the Suburban.” Billy smiled at her. “Of course you didn’t,” he told her. “But believe me, it’s out there. Just give me a few minutes to get to it and get it started. Got a block heater connected so the engine is nice and warm already. Five minutes, tops.” Alex and Robert nodded. “And we’re going?” said Robert. For an answer Billy reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a map, handing it to Robert. “Spot is already marked,” he said, checking his watch. “Twenty three miles miles away. I can’t go into too much detail because the people we’re meeting do all they can to keep their organization a secret, it’s essential for the safety of the folks they help. People like Janet. All we have to do is get her there safely and them the job is over.” Robert looked at the map then walked over and handed it to Alex who studied it between glances out the front window. Their eyes met. while working as protective agents in the CIA they had been given plenty of cryptic assignments, some of which even today they had no clue as to the reason or outcome because they hadn’t had a need to know. They were simply required to do their part and move on, so in that light, this job was not all that unusual. And they trusted Billy Rendale, a lot more than some of the people they used to work with back then, so they would do as requested. Because they had worked together several times before, they already had communications gear that was linked to the same encrypted network. They turned that gear on now and tested it, found it was working perfectly. Alex went out and got into the Suburban and Billy disappeared out the back. Robert stood in the living room with Mei-Wen Lee and Janet Fairdale, one holding the other in her arms, the other convulsing with sobs. Robert had loved Alex since the moment he met her in college and would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. Absolutely anyone. And he could not imagine ever hurting her himself, it just wasn’t possible (remedial discipline aside). He could not truly imagine what kind of life Janet Fairdale had to endure over the years, but guessed it had been unpleasant, to say the least. But then to marry a man who would abuse her, who would stand by and watch as her family abused her… Robert would dearly love to meet Reuben Fairdale one day. For about an hour. Unarmed. He didn’t care if Fairdale was armed or not, very shortly after they met he wouldn’t be, and soon after that, he wouldn’t have the use of him arms. Not to mention his legs, his bladder, and every other major organ in his body. Chapter They headed north after leaving Billy’s place, taking I-19, also known as Hurricane Creek Road. Not much traffic due to the weather and the time of night, and visibility was poor, but they kept the speed down (not an easy task for Alex) and Robert watched for problems farther ahead while Alex focused on the immediate. Every two minutes Billy would check in from his dark blue Tahoe half a block back, letting them know that everything was still clear, They were headed toward I-35 North, their final destination an address marked on the map in the town of Buffalo. What awaited them there was known only to Billy, perhaps Dr. Lee, maybe even Janet Fairdale, but Robert and Alex were unconcerned with the destination so much as getting their charge there safely. Something that suddenly became a lot more uncertain as Billy’s voice boomed over the net, followed by the distinctive booming of a semi automatic rifle somewhere in the darkness. Robert turned in is seat and ordered the two people in the back to get low and stay low! Alex was already pressing down on the accelerator, checking the rearview mirror. “I didn’t see too many turn off on the map,” she said, her voice calm, almost casual. “The first is about three miles up,” Robert said, seeing the image of the map in his mind, already committed to memory. “And that road appears to lead into a small suburb, don’t want to get trapped there. Keep going straight; hopefully Billy can hold them off. If they get too close and don’t wreck on this icy road, we’ll have to see how heavy your lead foot is.” Alex smirked. “Keep that up, Mr. Chandler, and after this is over you’re gonna get kicked where the sun don’t shine with my lead foot.” Robert was about to chuckle, then more gunfire sounded, and Billy Rendale’s voice came back over the net. “Two vehicles! An old jeep, dark colored, and an even older pickup truck, also dark. At least two people in each vehicle, one is firing out of the window of the pickup. Sounds like an AR-15. Don’t know if I can hold them both off but…” More gunfire and the net went dead. Both Alex and Robert were wearing earpieces so their passengers in back had heard none of Billy’s report, which was good because they need not be any more alarmed than they already were by the gunfire in the distance. Alex glanced at Robert. He glanced back and nodded. Lead foot pressed down even harder. THREE MINUTES LATER, BILLY CAME back to announce that the jeep had gotten by him but he still had the pickup behind him and would do everything he could, including wreck, to keep that one from getting past. Robert gave a cryptic acknowledgment, not wanting to say too much for fear of frightening their passengers more. He stole a quick glance at Alex, knew what she was already thinking: keep running or find a place to stop and fight. Of course, they both knew there was another option, and Alex was afraid Robert was going to choose it. Before he could say anything, in a whispered tone she beat him to it. “I really don’t like what you’re thinking, baby.” “I know, AJ,” he replied in like tone, using the nickname that only he was allowed to use. “But it’s the most viable option. And keeping those two in back safe is the priority. Besides, you know how indestructible I am. And we still have to finish what we started on our sofa back home before Billy called this afternoon.” That made her smile, as Robert intended, and then a few seconds later she nodded, taking the upcoming curve fast. She slowed briefly, getting down to thirty miles per hour as quickly as she could knowing Robert was already set. He didn’t say anything, didn’t look at her, simply opened the passenger’s door and was away into the darkness. Alex accelerated as soon as the door slammed shut. She held her breath for what felt like a year, but was only a few seconds, then Robert’s voice came over the net. “Nothing bruised or broken,” he reported. “And I’ll see you soon, luv.” Alex sighed, shaking her head, then whispered, “You damn well better, Mister. If you know what’s good for you.” REMEMBERING HIS TRAINING FROM A DECADE ago, Robert hit the ground in a low crouch and quickly shoulder rolled into a kneeling position on the snow, covered pavement, exhaling the air he’d been holding in his lungs. The SD3 was cradled to his chest and as he reasserted his balance, he lowered the weapon to the ready position and flicked off the safety, opting for the three-round burst setting. Headlights were already approaching at a rapid rate of speed and there was just enough visibility for him to see it was a dark colored jeep. Robert came to his feet, moved to the side of the road, raised the submachine gun to his right shoulder, squeezed the trigger twice, sending six high-speed hollow points into the bodywork of the jeep, low enough to hopefully miss anyone riding inside. The jeep swerved in the opposite direction, the driver fighting for control, barely managing to keep it out of the ditch. Robert shifted his position just as the jeep righted itself and the tires caught. He fired two more bursts at the passenger side tires and the jeep swerved again, this time in his direction. Robert was already prepared for this, started running before he finished firing, the damaged jeep sailing past him with mere inches to spare as he slipped in the snow and went down hard. He glanced up a few seconds late, slightly dazed, glancing over and seeing the jeep down in the ditch behind him, smoke rising from the engine, the back tires off the ground and still spinning. He heard a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction, turned just in time to see more headlights. “Shit!” he swore, scrambling to a kneeling position, weapon back in his hands, mind racing to remember how many rounds he had fired so far. ALEX WAS, ACCORDING TO SIGNAGE THREE miles south of Buffalo and still on I-35 north. Lee and Fairdale were still hunkered down in the backseat and Alex didn’t really have time to check and see how they were doing, she had to concentrate on the road, and keep her mind off what might have happened to Robert as she hadn’t heard anything in more than ten minutes. She didn’t dare risk trying to get in touch with him for fear of distracting him at an inopportune moment. She also didn’t know what had become of Billy and this bothered her, too, however, as the highly skilled professional that Agent Wells had been trained to be, Alex knew that her top priority was to make sure that the people in the backseat got to where they were supposed to intact. So she would do this, complete her mission. Then she would find out about Robert and Billy. If they were okay all would be right with the world, but if not, very shortly, a lot of people would be leaving this world by way of extremely violent and painful means. Two miles outside of Buffalo a late model dark colored pickup raced up the ramp onto the interstate and immediately came after the Suburban. Alex saw it approach and quickly took evasive action, switching lanes, the tires slipping a little, but she managed to maintain control. The pickup kept coming fast, seeming not to care about the hazardous road conditions. Alex shouted a hang on to her passengers in back and immediately swerved to her right, skidding again, then back to the left, keeping the pickup behind her. She figured she had more horsepower than her pursuer but was more concerned with not wrecking than they were. Meaning that it was unlikely that she could safely outrun them. Then she heard shots behind her. “Fuck!” she swore. Alex had scored top marks on the Agency’s Crash-Bang course, correctly known as the Countering Terrorist Tactics (or CTT) Course, which is why she didn’t really take Robert’s cracks about her driving all that seriously. In fact, on the same course Robert had actually beaten her scores but most often still chose to drive like a little old lady. Thoughts for another time. Right now she had to dosomething about the idiots in the truck behind her, and before the wild shots they were firing did some actual damage or killed someone. The Suburban was a rental and fully insured. Alex checked the security of her seatbelt and then told the two in back to make sure they were tightly braced, likely a big impact was coming. She took a deep breath, released it slowly, even as more shots rang out, one clanging off her rear body work of the SUV. She counted from three to one, keeping the pickup perfectly centered in her rearview about thirty feet behind. Then, without warning she slammed on the brakes and the Suburban started to slide but she fought to keep it moving in a straight line. Behind her the pickup suddenly started to slide as the driver realized he was about to slam into the back of the larger vehicle. He, too, fought to control the wheel but was not as skilled as Alex and the pickup continued to slide sideways, then spin around like a top. Alex was already moving forward again, slow at first, but as the wheels began to catch, she accelerated rapidly, eating up the open road as the pickup spun off to the side of the road into a thicket of snow covered trees. She reached Buffalo a few minutes later, but drove north for two more miles before exiting, then working her way back to the place she was supposed to go, getting lost a few times, but eventually making it to the destination shortly after midnight. She parked a block away, checked on her passengers. Both were scared shitless, Fairdale nearly catatonic from fright, but at least they were alive. Alex turned in her seat and looked at Dr. Lee. “You’re supposed to make a call?” she said. The doctor nodded a little shakily and reached into her coat pocket, fumbled around for a few seconds, then extracted a cellular phone. It took her maybe a minute to get it open and dial the number. She spoke for only a few seconds, using what was obviously a prearranged code, then closed the phone and sighed heavily. “We’re good to go,” she told Alex.” You can proceed up the road and we’ll be met. I’ll get out with Jamet, please remain in the car. The people we are meeting are completely trustworthy but have to be concerned with keeping their identities a secret. They don’t know you and despite all you have done to keep us safe, they will be highly suspicious. Even though you are a woman.” Alex was already in gear and moving, glancing at the other woman in the rearview mirror. She was curious, but completely understood as well. There were a lot of secret organizations out there that helped get women away from their abusers, and the best way for them to stay secret and able to continue helping was for their people to stay anonymous. All it took was for one person who knew too much too slip up and a lot of lives could be at risk. Alex understood this all too well after eight years as a CIA protective security officer. There were two vehicles parked outside the entrance to the local city park which was closed now. A black van and a green Mazda. There were two warmly dressed women standing outside the Mazda, one black, the other white, neither looked to be forty yet. Dr. Lee climbed out of the back of the Suburban and greeted both women with hugs, said a few quick words, one time indicating Alex, then came over to the Suburban and got Janet Fairdale out. She and the white female escorted her to the van’s sliding door and helped in while the black female maintained watch. After a minute she walked over to the Suburban’s driver’s window. Alex had noticed that she kept both hands inside her jacket pockets and wondered which one held the firearm. Perhaps both did. Alex rolled the window down and the cold night air hit her, but she maintained a straight face as the woman approached, nodding. “Mei-Wen says you and your husband came a long way to help get the lady to safety. We appreciate your help. “Alex nodded. “Glad to do it,” she said. “Lady looks like she could use a break, and a lot of care.” “She’ll get it,” the black woman assured her. “We’ll make sure she gets some place safe where nobody in her family will ever find or hurt her again.” “Good to know,” Alex said, checking her mirrors. “I take it you do this sort of thing a lot, when you aren’t working your regular job?” The black woman stared at her curiously for a few moments, then smiled. “You don’t miss much, do you?” “Get killed if I did.” The black woman considered Alex for a few moments more, both still watching the surroundings and seeing the door slide close on the van, Mei-Wen Lee and the white female having a quick conversation. “We’re all volunteers, mostly women, but there are some men, too. Men like the guy Doc Lee is seeing, Billy Rendale, and I suppose like your husband. Lot of us been victims ourselves. We all have day jobs. Me. I’m a state cop now, but back in high school I dated this prick who used to like to use me as his punching bag. Had a couple more like him before I got help. Now I try to give back and help when I can. Can’t always do it through the right channels though, sol do stuff like this in the freezing cold in the middle of the night for no pay.” Alex nodded. “I’m glad you do,” she said sincerely. “ And I know Janet Fairdale is as well.” The black woman stared at Alex for a few moments, nodded, then pulled her right hand out of her pocket. There was no weapon, which probably meant it was in her left hand. “I’m Beth,” she said. “Just Beth.” Alex nodded, reached out to shake Beth’s hand. “Alex Wells,” she said, also handing her a business card. “You guys ever need anymore help, my husband and I live in Virginia, but from time to time…” Beth took the card, glanced at it in the low lighting available, then slipped it and her hand back into her pocket. “Keep it in mind,” she said as Dr. Lee returned to the Suburban, climbing in the front passenger’s seat next to Alex. “Stay safe, ladies.” “You, too, “Alex said as Beth rejoined her friend and they got into the Mazda. A few moments later it and the van started up and drove away. Alex waited until they were out of sight before pulling off in the opposite direction. As she made her way toward the interstate, she fished for her cell phone in her coat pocket about to flip it open when it began to buzz. She had to pull over again to steady herself so she could open it, and was never happier in her life than the moment when she heard the voice of the love of her life. “It’s about goddamn time you called!” she demanded. “I was about ready to start looking for a new boy toy!” Robert chuckled in her ear and it warmed her to her core. She sat back and took a deep breath, releasing it slowly as she listened to her husband continue to laugh. Next to her, Mei-Wen Lee sat anxiously. Alex glanced at her, then asked about Billy. A moment later she turned and told her companion that Mr. Rendale was just fine as well, and in another minute Billy’s Tahoe took the exit ramp for Buffalo. Three minutes after that there was a joyous reunion. All right with the world. Chapter 6 Three days later Alex and Robert returned to their home in Virginia, but before that, one night after helping Billy and Mei-Wen get Janet Fairdale to safety, Robert, Alex, and Billy made a surreptitious sojourn to Union Township. Ohio to the family compound of the Henderson-Fairdale clan. Before they departed, the methamphetamine processing operation had gone up in smoke, no pun intended, and a large cache of illegally modified weapons along with it. No one was injured directly, although the same could not be said for every personal vehicle on the property. When the fire department responded to fight the blaze it quickly became clear what had been going on at the property, likely for some time, this prompted a quick call to the local sheriff, who in turned called the nearest DEA office. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was called in the next day. Billy said that he and Mei-Wen Weren’t all that worried about reprisals from Ohio because for the time being, the Hendersons and the Fairdales had bigger problems. He explained that they had known who he was through his association with Dr. Lee and because of the work he did, it wasn’t all that hard to find out where he lived and to try to reacquire Janet Fairdale at his place if they couldn’t find her at Mei-Wen’s. He’d keep an eye out in the future, but for now he wouldn’t worry about it too much. He had other things to work on, and he and Mei-Wen were thinking about a vacation. Back home, Robert reminded Alex of her honkie lover comment and the damage done to his wardrobe as a result. As she struggled playfully, he pulled her jeans down and tanned her hide food… with his tongue! Later, they lay in bed in the darkness, Alex cradling Robert’s head against her chest as he listened to her heartbeat. Neither felt the need to say anything so they didn’t, but they were both thinking a lot about a lot of things, primarily the nature of human relationships and why they all couldn’t be like theirs, a partnership of equals, respect, love, passion, mutual wellbeing. Oh, and of course, lots of extremely unconventional sex. In other words, why were so many people such assholes to one another? Perhaps a question that would never be answered, and this probably meant they would be in the profession they had chosen for themselves for a long time to come. That thought could be interpreted multiple ways, and not all of them pleasant. Alex was stroking the side of Robert’s neck when he suddenly raised his head and looked down at her in the moonlight. She smiled up at him and his heart sang, making him smile. “Want to fool around?” she said. “Thought you’d never ask,” he said, leaning down and kissing her The next morning they sat at the breakfast took in their bathrobes and over eggs, turkey sausage, and orange juice, planned their future after the Agency. “Well if you aren’t going to let me sell my body for cash,” Robert said as he sipped his juice, “then I suppose your suggestion is the next best thing.” Alex shook her head, failing to suppress the smile. “Well who’s gonna want to buy a second hand, very used thirty-three year old anyway?” she said, also sipping her juice. “I mean, who would want it? Other than a thirty-one year old with really low standards. Maybe.” Robert chuckled. “And a hell of a pair of legs. But okay, so we get the licenses and hang out the shingle, so to speak. Problem is, in this area there are a lot of large firms that do this kind of work, and the money is going to go to them. Word of mouth in the beginning isn’t going to mean that much, and we can’t rely on our credentials either because in this town there are a bunch of ex-Agency, Bureau, and every other government type out there for –hire. Kind of a dime a dozen. What’s going to make potential clients want us?” To wit Alex simply smiled, and ate her eggs. Robert stared at his wife for a few confused moments, then shook his head. Alex always had something up her sleeve and Robert had complete faith in her. So he shut up and ate his breakfast as well. When they were done, the dishes washed and put away, Alex turned from the cabinet as Robert hung the dishtowel through the refrigerator door handle. She had that look in her eyes and Robert grinned, then sighed exaggeratedly. “God, don’t I at least get a cigarette break first?” Alex shook her head, grinned wickedly, then undid the belt on his robe. Underneath he was naked. Another wicked smile. Then she dropped her robe. “Oh my,” Robert said as she came into his arms. Alex put her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. “First we fuck,” she said to him matter-of-factly. “Then we start making lists of the things we need to do. The next few weeks are going to be very busy and trying, but we’ll get through them as long as it’s you and me together.” Robert kissed her. “Always,” he said, then lifted her into the air and her legs encircled his waist. They didn’t quite make it as far as the bedroom, but the recliner in the front room was more than adequate in a pinch. Alex grinned as she pushed Robert down onto the chair and climbed on top o him, leaning in close and whispering, “Just like they did it in Risky Business.” Before Robert could respond, Alex mounted his erection and all train of thought was lost. And neither one of them cared. Chapter 3 In addition t her undergraduate degree in international relations from the University of Miami, Alex also had both a law degree (doctorate in jurisprudence-JD) and an MBA from George Washington University. She also spoke Russian like a native and had an excellent command of both French and German by this time in her life. So in addition to applying for a license to do contract security work in the states of Maryland and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, she also qualified for a private and more hoops to jump through, but she and Robert looked at it as a sound investment for the future. Robert got the security license, and he would have qualified to become a licensed personal defense instructor if he could have provided paperwork detailing his training at he Agency, but getting that would be more of a hassle than it was worth. And the truth was, who was going to know if the security services he provided included training in personal defense? Or cookie baking for that matte? Alex and Robert had worked in the Office of Security at the Agency, officially 1810 series special agents/investigators, meaning they did not possess arrest powers, which was understandable considering that the CIA was not a law enforcement agency and no one employed there actually had arrest powers. Curious thing though, the uniformed protection officers, referred to as SPOs by insiders, did attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center- FLETC-in Glynco, Georgia the same as nearly every other federal law enforcement officer in the national bureaucracy, but even they were not entitled to arrest anyone, although they could detain people on Agency property, pending the arrival of actual law enforcement personnel with the power to arrest. However, special agents in the Office of Security did not attend FLETC, but rather OS’s own internal security academy, from which both Robert and Alex had graduated with the highest of marks. They were trained as investigators-personnel security and counterintelligence- and protective agents-personnel and asset-, with additional specialized training in weapons and unarmed personal combat. Alex also receive a private pilot’s license and Robert a full course in surreptitious access by convert means (breaking and entering without leaving traces), and a whole host of other very useful skills in their respective eight and ten years service to the Agency. So, they were quite marketable in the right market of the private sector. The name they chose for their little two-person venture was obvious, Chan Well Investigations and Security, and both were listed as principal officers, with Alex primarily handling the investigative side while Robert concentrated on the protective. They ran the operation out of their apartment, using a dedicated cell phone and an internet connection. Far from the super high speed networks of today, but good enough for the turn of the century. Within three days of getting their name out there through various internet sites, and after securing the necessary licenses, ChanWell got their first client, and wouldn’t you know it, a personnel vetting job. A new upstart was putting together a small team to do subcontracting work for a well-connected U.S. government contractor, they needed five people who could pass the rigorous kind of background check that Uncle Sam would conduct and they wanted to make sure they had the right people before submitting the names to their client. As this was how both Robert and Alex started out in OS, as field investigators primarily handling background investigations related to secret and top secret security clearances, the assignment presented no problems. However, there was a problem for the client. Instead of five names, they needed eleven to get to the five. The things you don’t know about a person until someone starts poking around in their backgrounds. More of this work continued at a steady clip, with some occasional surveillance work thrown in. And then, three months into their new life, the first official protection job came their way. Nothing much to it really, one of their earlier clients had someone from overseas coming into D.C. for a few days and wanted to make sure they were looked after. Robert relished this assignment as it gave him a chance to do more than sit at a desk and work on a computer or sit in a car and watch through binoculars. That job went off without a hitch and the client’s business associate was very pleased with the service. So much so that he requested Robert and Alex be retained each time he came to town every other month. That job led to others, including some that were out of the D.C. area. Again, with each assignment, the clients were pleased with the service that the dynamic young interracial couple provided and were eager to sing their praises to their friends and colleagues, all of whom might one day require similar professional services. By late 2000, ChanWell was actually starting to show a small profit and Alex and Robert no longer had to rely on their savings to fund it as well as their personal living expenses. To celebrate, Alex took Robert to Colorado for Christmas that year and they spent a wonderful week skiing, eating, and making love at a reasonably priced budget hotel just outside of Vail. Then it was back home to Virginia and the business. In late January 2001 Alex took a call from someone purporting to be a representative for the head of corporate security at the ZOW Chemical Company. ZOW had recently announced a merger/takeover of competitor Reunion Borax and over the coming months a lot of activity would be taking place at many facilities around the country that would require top-level security assistance. Another vendor had been secured to oversee that aspect of the operation, a Mirchi gan-based firm that ZOW already had a relationship with. The rep told Alex that word of the merger had leaked prior to the announcement, as these things often do, and there were some hard feelings among the Borax employees, many of whom were concerned with whether or not they would have a job in the near future. Unofficial and unconfirmed word was that at least fifty percent of their number would be let go. The recently ascended CEO, Parker Michaels, was determined to make the transition from the old ZOW to the New ZOW as smooth as possible, taking a hands-on approach with employee relations, despite the warnings from some members of his Mergers and Acquisitions Support Team and the board of directors. It was his intention to visit all of the affected sites to talk with all the employees before any personnel decisions were officially announced, to explain to them the process and the reasons behind the decisions that would be made over the next year, as well as the generous compensation packages that would be offered to employees who would lose their jobs. Needless to say, a lot of people were upset, especially those in heavy labor union states. The loudest protests were coming from the Borax operation in Charleston, West Virginia, a site many suspected (correctly) was in line for some major overhauling and realignment. To that end, Mr. Michaels wanted to go there first. He was scheduled to arrive on 7 February, a Wednesday, and depart that Friday the 9th. many in executive leadership and the board at ZOW were concerned for Mr. Michaels’ safety in this environment, asked that he consider hiring a bodyguard team to accompany him. However, hailing from the UK where they tend to frown on the ostentatious when it comes to personal security, feeling that less is more, and sometimes none is best, Michaels nixed that idea, saying that whatever local security arrangements there were should be sufficient, he had no need of an entourage. He was used to travelling alone on business, or with just a singly personal assistant. This was not something that the board was comfortable with and Corporate Security had been asked for suggestions. The rep talking to Alex said that he had been in touch with another client of theirs who talked about how ChanWell offered a specialized service called covert protective surveillance…Chapter 4 Right before the first weekend of February 2001, Alex wrapped up a series of Class-2 (secret level) background checks for a client in Maryland and Robert finished a two-day close- protection gig with a diamond merchant from Antwerp. They spent the weekend making preparations, putting a hold on new business, and then enjoying a fun afternoon of a movie and an early meal at a favorite Greek place not far from their apartment in Alexandria. At seven-thirty Monday morning, with Robert at the helm and Alex navigating from the passenger’s seat, they set off on the nearly seven hour trek to Charleston, West Virginia. If Alex had been driving they would have arrived before they left, but then there would be the added expense of speeding tickets in several jurisdictions and the recovery time necessary for Robert to regain his equilibrium while he waited for his stomach to drop out of his throat. “You’ve jumped out of helicopters and airplanes before,” Alex once commented regarding this subject, “even one plane that had been hit by an RPG and was going down in the Balkans, and you never got sick. But a few minutes with your loving wife behind the wheel of a car…” Robert had chuckled. “Funny you should mention that, because you were the pilot of that plane in the Balkans. And you probably couldn’t hear my retching over the noise of the wind rushing in through the jagged hole in the fuselage.” They arrived in Charleston in mid-afternoon in the middle of a light snowstorm, the temperature about ten degrees colder than it had been back at home. After a little reconnoitering to get an on the-ground feel for the terrain, they found the Marriott Hotel downtown across from the Civic Center where Parker Michaels would be staying, and where a room had been reserved for them as well. They stopped for luch at a nearby McDonald’s, then drove out to the former Reunion Borax, now ZOW Chemical site in South Charleston. They were expected, given a parking pass, told where to go. It wasn’t hard, the onsite security office was nearly a straight shot up from the main gate. They parked, glanced around for a little while, running over some last minute details, then climbed out and walked over to the brick two-story building. Inside was a reception desk with another uniformed security officer. She greeted them with a smile, took their names, then said that Mr. Rendale was expecting them. She picked up the phone on her desk and made a quick call. When she hung up she told them to wait just a minute. It was actually thirty seconds, and a door behind them opened and a white mate of medium build, brown hair, neatly trimmed graying beard, and very hard to read eyes stepped into the reception area. He smiled, extended his has, first to Alex, then to Robert. “William Rendale,” he introduced himself. “Everybody calls me Billy, though.” Robert and Alex introduced themselves and Rendale used his access card to open the door he had come through moments ago, beckoning them to follow him, which they did. He had a small office around the corner from the entrance and showed them in. “Kind of cramped,” he said, shutting the door behind him and squeezing around behind the desk while Alex and Robert took the two folding chairs in front of it. “Just a loaner while I’m here, some place to set up my computer and use the phone in private when I need to.” “So you work for Nine Forests Corporation?” Alex said, setting her laptop backpack on the floor beside her chair, “the security provider out of Michigan?” Rendale nodded. “Yeah. I’m a contractor with them, actually, not a full- time member of the staff. Their actual employee number is fairly low but they have hundreds of contractors like me they use when jobs ramp up. Officially I’m a field manager in the Special Projects Branch at Nine Forests. I go out on jobs and head up the teams onsite, generally all contractors as well. I’ve got four here with me, others are spread throughout the country where other Borax operations are being merged with ZOW. Lot of work for us right now. And I guess for you, too. You guys out of D.C.?” “Virginia, actually,” Robert said. “How long has your team been in place?” “Two weeks,” Rendale confirmed. “Officially we have been telling folks that we’re outside merger consultants hired by ZOW to make sure things go smoothly, and to some extent that’s true. All my personnel are plainclothes, although one does kind of look like the cop he use to be, and they’ve been put in empty offices around this site and an additional offsite facility not far away. They haven’t started the layoffs yet, want to wait till the big cheese comes in and works his magic, but everybody knows it’s coming. Right now my people are mainly gathering intelligence and making plans. The fun probably won’t start until people start getting their pink slips.” Alex and Robert nodded, and then she said, “Any read on how the locals feel about Michaels?” Rendale looked into her intelligent brown eyes for a few moments, then smiled. “Not too many folks will be looking to buy him a beer. Least of all in the union. By the way, the VP who is the site leader here is an old friend of Michaels’ from college days. They started out at ZOW together, worked in Latin America and were roommates there. So he ain’t all that well-loved locally either. He just moved to town and bought a house two months ago in preparation for his takeover here at the beginning of the year.” “Well any intelligence you can provide about the potential dangers our client will face while he’s here will be gratefully appreciated,” Alex told him. “I’m sure you want things to go as smoothly while he’s here as Robert and I do.” “You got that right,” Rendale said. “One less headache for me. Local security managers are pretty good guys, only problem is, they figure that they could be on the chopping block, too. Took some doing to convince them that my team is only here to deal with any workplace violence issues that might arise as a result of the upcoming layoffs. We are not here to replace local security staff. Of course, I have no idea if ZOW is planning on doing that and it has them worried. But like I said, they’re pretty good guys. Been a lot of help to me and the team. And since they’re local, they have pretty good sources. We got most of the troublemakers already marked down. Be happy to share the Intel file we’ve complied.” “We’d really appreciate thet, Billy,” Robert told him. “This job is going to be complicated enough with our client being in the dark asto the fact that he’s even being protected, but that’s how the job was requested, protective surveillance only, and the principal was not to know about it, lest he be really upset.” Rendale chuckled, leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. “You know I’ve been in this business for almost a couple decades now, managed to make it to forty a few months ago with no major hitches, and believe me when I say that clients really are the worst part about close-protection operations.”Alex and Robert glanced at one another, then smiled and agreed. Rendale offered to show them the facility, take them to the auditorium where Michaels would be speaking on Thursday morning and afternoon, and the cafeteria one floor above where he would be eating with the rest of the site leadership. It was past dark when they finished, and the snow and wind had picked up. He asked if they were hungry and then suggested they go out for dinner and discuss the intelligence file together over a good meal. There was a Bob Evans close by and he said their cheese biscuits were simply the best. Being native southerners, Alex and Robert smiled at this prospect and accepted. Dinner was very good, the conversation quite stimulating, and most impressive of all was the thoroughness of the intelligence file put together by Billy Rendale’s team and the detailed briefing the man himself provided over dessert. Later in their hotel room, Alex again commented on Rendale. “I checked him out when the ZOW security rep gave me his name. He’s never been a cop, federal or local, no military time either. Did attend that school out in Colorado, Executive Security International. Been a private sector operator ever since. Mainly on his own back in his home state of Louisiana. Same as us actually, he’s a licensed PI, too. Hooked up with this Nine Forests outfit about four years ago, done all kinds of jobs for them, seems a solid practitioner.” “That he is,” Robert confirmed, removing his jacket and taking it and Alex’s and hanging them up. “Doesn’t take himself too seriously either. Serious about the job but doesn’t spend a lot of time marking his territory or thumping his chest. He understands his job and knows why we’re here. Sees no downside to helping us because it makes his job easier. We need to keep in touch with him after this assignment is done, in case we have a future need.” Alex smiled, turning to Robert. “Already had that idea, babe. I’ll make sure we have all his contact information in our operator database before we leave. I get the feeling that this won’t be the last time we work with Billy Rendale.” They embraced, staring into one another’s eyes. “Route advances tomorrow,” Robert said. “Trauma center check, law enforcement notification,” Alex confirmed. “Then a more complete tour of the facility and a meeting with the site leader and the onsite security staff. Busy day.” “Michaels is not scheduled to get here until three on Wednesday afternoon, not coming to the site till Thursday, but wanna bet he meets with the local VP, and maybe some others, before then?” Alex nodded, starting to undo the buttons on the front of Robert’s shirt. “Probably. Billy said the guy just bought a house. We need to find out where it is and while we’re running routes tomorrow, we can scope it out. Just in case Michaels goes there. Although they could just meet in the restaurant here at the hotel.” “Yeah,” Robert said as his wife undid his belt. “But that would be just too easy for us.” She grinned and leaned her head back as he leaned down, their lips pressing together. “Yeah, and who wants that? Not when you can have things hard.” Alex was snickering now as she unzipped him. Robert shook his head, sighed deeply. “Woman, I just don’t know what I’m gonna do with you. First…” Soon, however, the answer came to him. Chapter 5 “Name is Charles Pane, and believe me, he is an absolute pure pain in the ass. Worked here nearly twenty-five years and there are so many complaints in his jacket that there’s hardly any room for anything else. Why he hasn’t been canned before now is the greatest mystery, although when you consider how close he is to the union, maybe not.” It was two p.m. on Tuesday afternoon and Alex and Robert were in the office of Charleston’s VP/Site Leader, a distinguished looking gentleman in his mid-fifties with thinning, once black, now salt and pepper hair, and the still detectable Swiss accent that he would never lose. The person speaking was the senior onsite Security manger from the Borax operation, now in limbo regarding his future. He was probably in his mid-fifties, too, but his hair was completely white, including his mustache. “He’s generally expected to get the axe, and even if he doesn’t, he’s gonna raise a stink regardless. He’s the creature of the local union boss, the knuckle-dragger, the thug. Does some of the dirty work that the union doesn’t want to officially associate with, even though everybody knows they’re involved if Pane has something to do with it. Lot of folks are afraid of him. And I gotta be honest, that includes most of my security people. Hell, even more honest, me, too, a little. “Alex and Robert sat across from the VP/SL’s desk studying the photograph of a large brutish man with a cruel mouth and hard eyes, his upper lip completely covered by a bushy black mustache. “What time is he scheduled to be in the auditorium?” Robert asked. “Second group,” the security manager confirmed. “The one that starts at ten and runs through lunch. Gonna have additional security personnel in the area then, and somebody ready to call the cops if we need ‘em to respond. Plus Billy Rendale and some of his people will be covering the place, too. And unlike my folks, his are all armed.” Alex glanced at Robert, then leaned forward and put the photo back on the front edge of the site leader’s desk. “If there is an issue with Mr. Pane on Thursday,” Robert explained. “Alex and I will only have one concern getting Mr. Michaels out of the auditorium and into a safe location, locked down until whatever crisis arises is over. I understand you have a place in the building in mind?” This was directed at the security manager, who nodded and told them about it. Robert said it sounded good but they would need to see it first to verify. And maybe discuss backup options. They continued on for ten more minutes, and right as they were wrapping up, almost as an afterthought, Alex asked if the site leader would be meeting with the CEO privately before he came to the site. Seemingly with no reservations, the man answered in the affirmative, saying that his old roommate would be dining at his home Wednesday evening, his wife and a few others in attendance. And that confirmed that. The rest of the day was taken up with all the things required to ensure a flawless, incident-free protection operation. Thus far in his career, advanced prep not withstanding, Robert had yet to work on one of those, but he was ever hopeful. They had dinner with Billy Rendale again Tuesday night, this time treating him in the restaurant at their hotel. Billy told them he was staying in a pretty nice hotel out by the airport not all that far away, the Residence Inn, but they didn’t have an onsite restaurant. More intelligence was shared, as well as general impressions of key site personnel, and the three of them got to know one another better, Alex and Robert revealing more about their background in service at the CIA. Billy was intrigued by this but not awestruck as some people become when they find themselves in the presence of genuine ex-CIA types. Alex and Robert, or ChanWell, as Billy had started referring to them, found this a welcomed change. They said goodnight a little after ten, they’d see one another sometime tomorrow, and the main event would be Thursday. Up in their room, Alex and Robert discussed their action plan from memory, each contributing different modules, until they were done. Most of this discussion took place in the shower and just about the time they finished the briefing, they finished their lovemaking, Robert standing behind Alex, his hands covering hers on the sidewall of the shower, their fingers interlaced, his hips moving slowly and intently as she pushed back against him. Alex banged her forehead against the wall, moaned deeply as she started to shudder. Robert’s hips began to move faster, a low growl starting in the middle of his throat as he felt the end rapidly approaching. No matter how many times they did this, since Robert was twenty and Alex was nineteen, each time was more incredible than the last, and tonight was no exception. Alex squeezed him tightly and Robert exploded inside of her. With the right side of her face pressed into the wall, her eyes and mouth open, Alex rose up on her toes, screamed in ecstasy as she felt her husband fill her, and squeezed him even tighter. Robert continued moving his hips, now more rapidly, held firmly in place by his wife as he continued to ejaculate, his body now completely beyond his control, his love-lust spending of its own accord. Somewhere along the line Alex had managed five orgasms, the first right before Robert’s, and then four in rapid succession just after his release began. Now they stood on wobbly legs, her back to his front, her front pressed into the shower wall, their bodies still connected. Alex loved the feeling of having her small body compressed by Robert’s large one, of being cocooned by his presence, by his love, merging with him, becoming one with him. A little later she stood smiling up at him, holding his penis with one hand, rubbing a soapy washcloth across it and his testicles with the other. Robert stared down at her, smiling as well. They didn’t say anything, there was no need. So they continued to stand and stare and Alex washed him. When she was done, Robert did the same for her, and again, they stood and stared and said not one thing. Chapter 6 Yeager Airport is not the largest at which Alex and Robert had worked, or even the tenth or fifteenth largest, and this was an advantage today as it made their job much easier. When Parker D. Michaels’ private charter set down just before three p.m. Wednesday afternoon, again to light falling snow, Alex and Robert were positioned just outside the airport gate along a private access road with a perfect view of the touchdown. A few month from now, when passenger jets would crash into the twin towers in New York and the pentagon in Virginia, roads like this would become restricted access and anyone attempting to sit there and watch planes take off and land would fall under immediate law enforcement scrutiny. But that was still months off. The assistant security manager from the site had been dispatched to pick up the CEO in an unmarked but perfectly clean white van. Today Michaels was traveling alone, carried his single suitcase and briefcase himself, climbed into the van’s front passenger seat. “Man likes to do for himself,” Alex commented from the front passenger’s seat of the dark blue SUV they had rented from the airport this morning for the job. Rule Number One for the close-protection operator, never use your own vehicle for work! “His background is working-class,” Robert said, sliding the vehicle into gear, preparing to follow the white van. “Humble beginning in Liverpool, England, worked to put himself through school, smart enough to get scholarships for advanced degrees, starts out at the bottom rung as a lowly chemist in South America, now thirty years late he’s at the top of the heap. Local boy made good.” Alex snickered as they pulled out. “Somebody’s been reading my intelligence briefings,“ she said. “Well somebody has to check them for spelling errors,” Robert quipped, and they were away for the short trek to the Marriott, which took just over ten minutes. THE VP/SITE LEADER CAME TO THE MARRIOTT himself at seven p.m. to collect Mr. Michaels, driving a new model Jaguar, English racing green in color. He drove it like he was used to driving in Europe, and Robert considered that perhaps he should have let Alex drive, but he had scored top marks on the Agency’s Crash Bang [e] course and survived more than one high-speed vehicular incident in the real world, and was determined not to let a Swiss born chemical company executive get the better of him. They drove t a suburb of Charleston called Oakwood, south off Highway 119. Robert and Alex already knew this, had advanced the location yesterday, were not happy with it either. Not strictly from a security standpoint, that was an issue, too, if there was an armed assault. No the main problem was there was no place for them to park and be unobtrusive, at least not anywhere they could see the house where their protectee would be spending several hours. Then there was the issue of law enforcement patrolling the area. They did meet with the local chief that morning and explained the situation but she did not appear to be that helpful, saying she’d alert her patrol units, but they were still bound to stop and question anyone lingering for too long in any of their neighborhoods, regardless of what she said. Didn’t sound like the chief had too great a handle on her department. An issue which really didn’t concern them. So the best they could do was spot surveillance once Michaels was inside the residence. The VP/SL had parked his Jag in the attached garage so if they were out driving around when he departed to take Michaels back to the hotel, they might not know it for some time. The good news was there were three other vehicles parked on the street and one in the side drive next to the garage, probably other guests. Hopefully Michaels would leave around the same time they did and their departure would be an indication. “As you said before, baby,” Alex spoke as they began their first long circle of the neighborhood, “protection work is rarely simple.” Robert nodded, taking a left at the cross street, and passing a local police cruiser in the process. “And ninety-nine percent boring,” he said. Alex watched the street, checking parked cars, looking for any that were occupied, making a mental note of locations. If anything changed on their next pass through she would make a note of that, too. Nothing much did change that night, and as luck had it, everyone at the gathering departed at the same time, stood out on the front lawn, despite the cold and light falling snow, and talked for several minutes. “A night scope and a long rifle right about now,” Alex said as they were idling down the block, their lights out. “And ZOW would be in a bit of a leadership quandary,” Robert finished. “Get in your fucking cars, people. It’s nearly eleven o’clock and you all have to be at work early in the morning.” At eleven-fifteen everyone headed for the cars, and they noticed Michaels climbing into the back of a gray BMW with another couple. “Guess he’s catching a ride back with someone else,” Alex said, noting the vehicle’s license plate through a pair of compact high resolution binoculars specially designed for night work. “Yeah,” Robert said, hanging back long enough for the other cars to clear the area, then speeding out and heading for 119 North. In a couple of minutes he had caught up to the Beamer. This time of night, the ride back to the Marriott was quick. They watched Michaels say goodnight to the couple who had given him a ride, then head back into the hotel. Alex climbed out of their vehicle and walked inside the lobby, taking the stairs to the fourth floor where Michaels’ room was located as he took the elevator up. When Robert reached the fourth floor, not coincidentally the same floor where their room was located, Alex confirmed that their protectee had reached his room safely and she had even heard him put the deadbolt on. Satisfied that they had done all they could do for this day, they went into their room for a good night’s sleep. An early day for them in the morning, and a very busy one. Hopefully, uneventful, too. Chapter 7 The assistant security manager and his trusty white van picked Mr. Michaels up in front of the Marriott at precisely seven-fifteen Thursday morning. It was blustery today, forecast to be cloudy throughout the morning, high temperature somewhere just south of twenty degrees. In addition to the navy blue suit he had on, the CEO of ZOW Chemical Company also wore a tan trench coat and felt cap over his receding, once blond, now fifty percent gray, hairline. In his left hand was a brown leather briefcase. He climbed into the van and it was off on the short drive to the South Charleston facility. Robert and Alex were right with them, about half a block behind. When the were a few minutes out from the site, Alex called Billy Rendale on his cell phone to let him know. He told her that one of his people was already in place in the parking lot outside the Administration Building where the VP/SL’s office was located, and he was on his way into the building himself, just to bolster coverage. “The rest of my folks are already at the auditorium getting set up,” he said. Alex thanked him for the update and hung up. “They’re going to Admin first,” Alex said. “To meet with the site leader. First gathering starts promptly at 0800. Billy has one of his people at Admin now, outside, the rest are at the auditorium, and he’s personally inside Admin himself.” Robert nodded as he barely made it through a light in pursuit of the white van. “Good, means that should be pretty well covered. I’m gonna drop you off and then wander over to the auditorium and have a look. Since it’s not that far and he’s dressed for it, what you wanna bet Michaels decides to walk over?” Alex shook her head. “No bet. He is British, which makes him kind of an odd duck anyway.” “Wasn’t your great grandfather on your dad’s side British?” Robert pointed out. Alex smirked. “And from everything I ever heard about him, he was a very odd duck,” she told him. The van turned onto the entrance road for the main gate at ZOW, as did two of the three cars between them. Robert turned as well, pulling the contractor ID badge he’d been issued from his shirt pocket as Alex passed hers to him as well. Once the guard at the gate checked their badges, he smiled and nodded them through as he had done with the others ahead of them, a line of other vehicles already starting to form behind. The van pulled into the lot outside the Admin Building up the long hill from the main gate in the center of the property and the CEO exited alone, saying something to the assistant security manager before closing the door. Robert pulled into the lot slowly, coasting up as the van pulled away and Michaels ascended the five steps to the double glass doors out front. “Have a nice day at work, honey,” Robert said as he braked in the same spot the van had. Alex turned and smirked again. he was wearing chinos and a pullover sweater under his heavy blue jacket, Alex, on the other hand, had on a navy blue pantsuit and blue button-down blouse under her gray cashmere overcoat, looking , more the part of someone who should be hanging around Admin and in close orbit to senior management, perhaps an administrative aide, maybe a junior executive in-training. She hefted her laptop backpack and leaned over toward Robert. “Smartass don’t forget to turn on your radio and put in your earpiece,” she said, then kissed him on the mouth. Robert smiled and watched her climb out and go inside the building, then he pulled off, pausing briefly at the exit to put in his earpiece and turn on his radio. Just then Alex was doing a radio check and he acknowledged it as he turned right behind another vehicle and headed over to the auditorium. Chapter 8 Robert had no idea how they decided to stagger the shifts in order to give everyone an opportunity to attend one of the CEO’s three meetings being held that Thursday in the campus auditorium, but the logistics of that were not his concern and for that he was extremely grateful. What was his concern and what he had to plan for was how to respond in the event of an attack on his principal. He and Alex had spent the better part of yesterday considering all the angles of attack and what their responses would be depending on the type of incident. Of course, there was no way to plan for everything, so flexibility would be key. And, of course, this was made even more difficult than it needed to be because the principal had no idea that he was in fact the principal. Alex signaled that Robert had been right, Michaels was walking over from Admin with the site leader and three other members of the local management team. This was at fifteen minutes to eight. By that time the auditorium was mostly full. Robert had taken a seat on the left end of a middle row, far enough back so that he could keep an eye on everything and hopefully respond quickly if the need arose. Alex would take one of the reserved seats in the first row, this having already been worked out with Billy Rendale and onsite security, which is why she was dressed as she was. If something happened, her job would be to get to Michaels, get him down, and get him the hell out of harm’s way while Robert either neutralized the threat or at least drew its fire away from the principal. And, if he were able, to join up with Alex later. They had mapped out several evacuation routes and safe locations where the principal. And, if he were able, to join up with Alex later. They had mapped out several evacuation routes and safe locations where the principal could be held for short durations, depending, of course, on the nature and direction of an attack. So much was really left up to improvisation in the protective security game, and those who were experts at it were masters of thinking and acting on the fly, often times not even thinking, just doing, and hoping like hell that in the end their protectee was still alive. Not to mention, themselves. Alex was in the second seat from the right end on the front row, about three feet from the small stage and eight from the podium where Parker Michaels would be spending most of his time once things got going. At present he was seated in one of the chairs onstage as the site leader made some remarks, including telling a couple of funny stories about his time in South America with the man who would one day become his boss. To somewhat lackluster applause following the end of the introduction, Parker Michaels rose and smiled at his friend of thirty years, now his subordinate, and they shook hands. Then it was the CEO’s show. Chapter 9 Parker Michaels, despite his dour appearance, was quite an engaging public speaker, and perhaps his Liverpool accent had something to do with it, may be bringing forth a bit of nostalgia for those who remembered the Liverpool Four. He spent the first ten minutes telling the audience how much he appreciated the hard work of everyone from Reunion borax and that they should be proud of everything they accomplished during their long run. He then welcomed them to the first day of the New ZOW… Alex sat in her seat and gave the outward appearance of being totally engaged in listening t the words coming out of her secret client’s mouth, but was in reality checking every angle in her direct visual and peripheral ranges for potential threats. One of the things she didn’t like was the fact that the audi torium was not large enough to accommodate all the attendees and there were several standing lined up along the walls on both sides. This gave them an excellent unobstructed view of the stage and Michaels, and if one of them had a gun… Well Alex knew that Robert was further back and seeing the same problems she was and she had absolute faith that he would respond quickly if something unexpected happened. As would she. In her mind she already saw herself dashing up onto the stage, grabbing a startled Parker Michaels, knocking several of the others aside as she covered her principal and evacuated him from the threat zone. Just as they had drilled into her over and over again in close-protection training at the Agency nearly a decade ago. Alex reflected that in the years she and Robert had done this kind of work there had only been a handful of incidents where such action had been required, always overseas and in high-risk environments, the threat quite real, however, the hostile not always the most competent. But there had been a few times… The question and answer portion of the gathering was, to say the least, intense, as had been expected. Michaels did not provide the critical answers to some of the questions that most wanted to know, but he assured them that within the coming days all would be revealed. He spent a great deal of time explaining the compensation packages for those who would not be retained in the New ZOW, including two full months of severance pay and up to two years of paid educational assistance to help them find new employment elsewhere. Even so, there were many unhappy faces and voices in the crowd, and Robert surreptitiously committed as many of them as he could to memory. At nine thirty-five, five minutes late, the first meeting ended and everyone started to depart the auditorium, many still grumbling. Michaels and the site leader huddled on the stage for a few minutes, then left by the back stairs. Robert saw Alex stand casually and follow them. They were probably headed to the bathroom and she would not be able to follow them in there, however, at the slightest hint of trouble, Alex would not stand on gender formalities. Robert noticed Billy Rendale standing at the back of the auditorium talking to another member of his team. Robert approached him as the other man nodded and stepped away. “This as exciting for you as it is for me?” Rendale grinned as Robert came and leaned his back against the wall next to him. “More,” Robert said, listening over his earpiece as Alex reported that their client had indeed gone to the bathroom. He acknowledged the signal then turned to glance at Rendale. “Any problems?” Rendale shook his head. “Not a one. At least so far. Lot of folks are bitching, but that’s to be expected. Got my folks out keeping close to them, low-profiling it. In-house security has circulated an updated list of known troublemakers scheduled for each meeting, but I think it’s a little biased. You and Alex have the background info we already complied. Not much has changed. Any of these people could be a ticking time bomb, or none of them.” “That’s what I really love about security work,” Robert commended ironically. “The certainty.” Billy Rendale chuckled, checking his watch. “Next show scheduled to start in ten at ten. Don’t know if I’ll be able to contain my excitement.” “Me, either,” Robert said, pushing off the wall as he noticed Michaels and the site leader return to the stage, talking animatedly. Alex was not too far behind them and she moved over to her reserved seat, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back, casually glancing around as the second group of attendees were filling into the auditorium. He smiled as he watched her, then noticed a couple of the newcomers noticing her as well, in particular the way her small breasts pressed against the front of her blouse as her jacket parted. Well they can look, he thought, but only he could touch. The second meeting was underway by three after ten and Robert settled in again, checking out the new crowd, looking for that onething out of place that would alert him to trouble before it happened, hoping, if it was there, that he would spot it in time. Chapter 10 Things deteriorated somewhat during the second meeting’s Q&A session, so much so that uniformed in-house security had to escort two of the questioners from the room when it became clear that they only wanted to start trouble, not allowing Michaels to finish his answers, cajoling others in the crowd to anger. At first the CEO tried for patient reason, but when this failed the second time, the site leader motioned to the site security manager who was just off stage and the officers moved in to remove the troublemakers, which didn’t go over so well with many in the audience. Neither Robert nor Alex had been too worried during these exchanges. Rarely did people who shot off their mouths during these types of gatherings do any actual shooting. They were venting, making their feelings known, and maybe even enjoying a bit of notoriety, figuring that nation list anyway so why not go for broke and try to embarrass the limey bastard who was coming here to take their jobs away from them. Even so, Robert would remember their faces, just in case things changed because sometimes those who shot off their mouths at gatherings such as these got so worked up later that they did some actual shooting. And this being West Virginia, no doubt there were a lot of guns in a lot of vehicles parked all over the property. This meeting ended at a quarter to noon and this crowd broke up much faster than the last because it was lunchtime. And the cafeteria was just one floor above. The CEO and site leader were still on stage talking with a group of other executives during this time and Alex was milling about waiting. Robert went upstairs to check out the cafeteria, finding Billy Rendale already there, as well as the assistant site security manager. Billy broke away when Robert walked in. “The two guys who acted up down there earlier,” Billy said by way of greeting. “Matt Thompson and Kaiser Bellamy. Both been here for nearly twenty years, both heavily union. Got bad disciplinary records, too, surprise, surprise, and they figure, probably correctly, that their days around here are numbered. Jon thinks they were both acting with the tacit blessing of the shop steward, but there’s no way to ever prove that. Not that it really matters either.” Robert nodded, glancing around. Over in the far corner was the table that had been reserved for Michaels and the rest of his lunch party, empty for now, but roped off. There was a staircase over there that led up from below and it had been agreed that Michaels would come up from there, a uniformed security officer already in place to keep people away. And then Alex reported that they were on their way up. “They’re coming,” Robert told Billy, who nodded. “Two of my people are in here right now.” he said. “And Jon has somebody on all the entrances, so hopefully…” The first gunshot froze everyone. At least everyone who was not Robert Chandler or William Rendale, both expertly trained and no strangers to gunshots in unexpected places. By the time the other five shots sounded, both men had drawn weapons and were quickly moving through the stunned crowd in the cafeteria, knocking some of them out of the way. The guard at the top of the stairs by the reserved table was looking down toward the lower level, frozen in place. He was not armed and clueless as to what he should do. He should have gotten out of the way, and his hesitation cost him dearly as someone from the lower level fired two times, striking him in the stomach and throat, ending his life just seconds later. As the body began to fall down the steps, Robert arrived first, dropped low. Billy was a second behind him dropping low on the other side of the staircase. In his right ear Robert listened as Alexa gave a calm description of what was going on, proud of the way his partner kept her cool while literally under fire, “Two shooters, both white males, handguns, semi automatics, dressed in blue jean coveralls, heavyset. Three people down so far, one is the site leader. Have principal in tow and…” Her communication broke off as more gunshots echoed up from below. “There are two of them, white males,”Robert told Billy, rising to a crouch. “Semi automatic handguns. Dressed in blue jean coveralls, big guys. Several people shot, including the site leader. Alex has Michaels. I’m going after them, get medics and coordinate the emergency response. Don’t know if there are additional shooters, but warn your people. Onsite security isn’t armed so they should be told to stay the hell back.” And he was gone the next instant, moving quickly but cautiously down the stairs, stepping over the body of the dead security officer, barely giving the man a second glance. Billy Rendale stood, too, glancing after Robert for just a second, then turning back toward the cafeteria full of frightened and uncertain people, many of whom were now cowering under tables. He spotted two of his people coming his way fast, their weapons also drawn. Billy rushed toward them and started issuing instructions. Chapter 11 Alex had been at the very bottom of the staircase, a few steps behind Parker Michaels and the others when the two large men stepped out onto the second landing and blocked the path. As soon as she saw them she saw trouble, pushing her way up the steps and just getting a hand on the back of Michaels’ suit jacket when the man on the right raised a pistol and shot the site leader pointblank in the face. While everyone else was reeling in shock and horror, Parker Michaels included, Alex was yanking the man backwards out of the line of fire and turning him in the opposite direction as more shots rang out and bodies started to fall. She got Michaels down to the lower level, bent at the waist and covered by her body just as two shots shattered the glass exit door ten feet away. Michaels flinched, but Alex shoved him sideways and then forward, and sideways in the opposite direction, but still moving forward toward the door. Then they were through it, out in the cold as more shots and more screaming from inside the building told the story of violent death. “Stay down, Mr. Michaels,“ Alex told her left hand. They had stopped about ten feet from the door, on the other side of a large empty flower planter. “You’ll be safe as long as you do as I say. “Michaels looked up at her, obviously terrified, shaken by what had just happened in front of him, a close friend shot, most likely killed right before his very eyes. And the others… “Who… Who are you?” he managed to stammer. “ Questions later,” Alex told him, pressing her communicator’s transmit button with here left hand, speaking quickly and precisely, giving Robert as much information as she could, knowing that he was already coming. She was just about to give her precise location when one of the two shooters emerged from the shattered exit door, glanced around hurriedly. then turned their way. His pistol was held in his right hand and he had to shift his entire body to the left in order to aim. That gave Alex a slight advantage and she took it. During most of their Agency careers, Alex and Robert had carried SIG-Sauer pistols while working protective assignments. However, in mid-1999 Robert developed a fasci nation for Glocks, with which he infected Alex. So when they became freelance operators, they chose to buy Glock handguns for themselves, and Alex’s first choice was the Model-27 submpact .40 calibers. Lightweight and concealable on her small frame, but still packed a hell of a punch, more than a nine millimeter, less than a forty-five, but no less lethal in her expert hands. Alex fired two rounds at the shooter, one-handed, still pressing the transmit button on her communicator. It had been her shots that Robert heard when her transmission abruptly ended, however, she had missed her target because just as she was about to fire, Michaels shifted against her leg, knocking her off balance. Even so, the shooter ducked down and back against the building for cover, giving Alex a chance to grab Michaels by the arm and start him running in the opposite direction. The shooter recovered quickly and fired twice, but both of his shots missed as well. He swore and then started after them. AS ROBERT REACHED THE MIDDLE LANDING he saw carnage, several bodies strewn about, all bleeding. He didn’t know if any were still alive and right now he didn’t have time to find out. His only responsibility was getting to and making sure that Parker Michaels was safe. He would have been lying to himself if he said that Alex’s safety was not also on his mind, but that was serendipitous. If he got to Michaels, he would get to Alex, too. He had absolute faith in Alex’s abilities as a close-protector, knew she’d get the job done. Right now he had to do his. Robert stopped briefly, checking the landing, was about to head down to the lower level when another gunshot rang out. He crouched, took to the right wall, peered down the steps carefully. A large man in blue jean coveralls was standing over the body of a blond woman who would later be identified as the head of Human Resources. The man in the coveralls had an almost gleeful smile on his face as he glanced down at the woman he had just shot. Robert eased onto the top step, aiming at the man down below. “Drop the weapon!” Robert commanded. The coverall man glanced up at Robert, almost casually, then his smile became wider. He shook his head. “Nope,” the man said simply, then raised his weapon. Robert had opted for the Glock-30, a subcompact. 45 caliber pistol. With no one to spoil his aim, both of the 230 grain hollow points hit dead center in the middle of this shooter’s chest, staggering him backwards before he could point his weapon at Robert. Even so, he did discharge it twice, both shots going wide as he stumbled backend dropped to one knee. Then with a bull-like roar, he made a superhuman effort to raise the gun again. This time Robert shot him through the left eye and turned him off just like a light switch. The body had barely hit the ground before Robert was dashing past and out through the shattered exit door. The cold air hit him immediately but Robert barely noticed as he searched around frantically for traces of the direction in which Alex had gone, most likely with the other shooter in pursuit. He saw shell casing on the ground near the exit, recognized them as coming from a 9mm, not Alex’s weapon. From the direction they were likely ejected… Then he saw fresh footprints in the snow. He took off on the run. ALEX COULD HEAR SIRENS IN THE distance and imagined paramedics and cops were racing to the campus to assist. That was great, but would do her no good in the immediate moment as she tried to keep her client alive while being pursued by a determined killer who had to know that his life was already over. Even if he survived today, West Virginia was a death penalty stare. She had dragged her charge around the side of the building as the two shots rang out behind them, then darted toward the back of the building right next door, eschewing the temptation to run inside seeking shelter because she didn’t want to put any other lives at risk, and she didn’t have time to take out her cardkey to run through the reader. So behind it and across to another parking lot, behind rows of cars, dragging the much larger and heavier man behind her, moving him ahead and shoving from the rear when he tried to slow down. Another gunshot and Michaels flinched, but Alex did not, nor did she look behind her, just kept moving her client and herself. From their time in college, Robert and Alex had trained together, building their bodies into finely honed machines capable of pushing past normal endurance levels in times of stress. When they were in the Agency, this honing continued and expanded as they learned new techniques and developed new skills. So now Alex had a confidence in her physical abilities that few others would ever possess. She knew what she was capable of, what she could accomplish, and if she had to drag Parker Michaels across every square inch of this complex, or pick his ass up and carry him in order to keep him alive, then that’s precisely what she would do “One hostile down, heading west in pursuit.” Robert’s voice in her right ear. This gave her a little lift, the voice and the message. He had taken out the second shooter and had correctly surmised the direction in which she had fled with their principal. Probably wasn’t all that hard. Footprints in the snow and spent shell chasings were nearly as good as a signal flare, and Robert was very good at tracking. Among many other things. But now was not the time to think about… The shooter in pursuit was in sight now as she stole a quick glance backward. He had just rounded the corner and slipped in the snow. Good, Alex thought, and then her client stumbled and went down on one knee. “Fuck!” she swore, moving to the opposite side of him, forcing him down low as she aimed her weapon behind them. The shooter had regained his footing and was coming faster. When he saw them stop, he smiled, but then he saw Alex point her weapon in his direction. He had good reflexes for a guy his size, managed to dive right and out of the line of fire. That suited Alex’s purposes just fine, as long as he was distracted. She hoisted her client up and dragged him along behind her, across another snow covered parking lot, and now she realized that they were back at the Admin Building. After a quick assessment she decided to take the risk of going inside, they had security in the lobby, unarmed, but that wasn’t her problem right now, keeping her principal safe was. She had just managed to get Michaels to the top of the small stairway when shots rang out behind her, one round impacting off the stone wall to her left. Again, Michaels flinched, but Alex did not. She shoved her protectee down, spun around and fired as soon as her target was acquired, two shots in quick succession. She did not wait to see the results, had her cardkey in her left hand, used it to swipe the reader, waited for what seemed like an eternity for the green light to come up, then the electronic click as the lock released. “Move!” she shouted at Parker Michaels as she wrenched open the door. There were more shots behind her, the glass to her right shattering, something stinging the right side of her face. Alex did not pause, rushed through the doorway and pulled her client out of the line of fire as still more rounds blasted into the reception area and people scrambled for cover. ROBERT NO LONGER NEEDED TO FOLLOW the tracks, he could follow the sound of the gunshots, knew they were coming from the direction of the Admin Building, figured Alex might risk taking Michaels inside there because it housed one of the offices they had designated as a safe area, although if the shooter was still in pursuit when they went