Sink or Swim

By Don R. Bay

From law and politics blogger Don Bay comes this eclectic collection of short stories, ranging from lesbian assassin Jo to the dystopia of a race war; the story of a journalist embedded in a combat unit in Afghanistan to a lawyer practicing draft law in the days of the Vietnam War. These provocative stories reflect Don's decades of experience in the TV industry and his days as a lawyer helping young men escape the draft.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Flying Tiger Press
• Release date: Sep 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393421238

Don R. Bay

Don Bay received his B.A. from UCLA and his J. D. degree from Loyola Law School. He is a member of the California and federal bar associations. In addition to practicing law he has been a manual laborer, a photographer, served in the U.S. Army, was a TV censor, an executive in cable television and, before his retirement, a VP in Rupert Murdoch’s empire. He is also an accomplished potter. Leisure activities have included skiing, hang gliding, flying sailplanes, reading and travel. He resides in Sweden. Read Don Bay's blog at debaytable.com

Book preview

to my readers

Lady Killer

Chapter 1

Lost in thought, Jo sat quietly, dressed in a white judoji providing only a glimpse of the narrow black belt at her waist. The early morning stillness was broken by bird-song and the barely audible musical sound of water trickling into a small koi pond in the courtyard. The petite young blonde had arrived early to wait for her trainer, the old Japanese man.

Jo used her judo skills only when necessary, preferring instead a small short-bladed knife or a real pistol to do the job.  In her less-experienced youth, she had relied on a compact Pug. The problem was that while the small pistol was adequate it didn’t pack the hitting power needed in some situations. It was the Pug that brought about the untimely departure of the egotistical lothario a few years ago. Jo recalled that he became enraged and called her an ungrateful bitch when she foiled his brutal rape attempt. He had attacked and injured her. She felt justified in defending herself. Well. Stud, it’s not going to turn out quite the way you expected, she’d said as the little Pug appeared in her hand. Three quick pops and three small holes blossomed in the threatening man's chest. He briefly looked surprised as he collapsed in death.  Bad people like him deserved what they got. Now, Jo wouldn’t use a small pistol. She’d learned. That’s why she was here practicing.

After the session, Jo exchanged bows with the old man and hurried to the changing room where she quickly showered, brushed her blonde hair and donned casual street clothes before stepping out into the California heat.  She walked the two blocks to the local juice bar. Just another day in paradise.

The cool Venice juice bar took the edge off the day’s warmth. Jo immediately saw her beloved Jules waiting on one of the grizzled Venice denizens. Jules’ lush body always whispered erotic messages, and the ensemble only enhanced her curves. More than one person had dreamed of Jules. As soon as Jules saw Jo, she rushed over and bestowed a soft kiss and hug that promised an evening of pleasure. Jules’ vanilla latte body and ardor were always a treat. 

Under Jo’s skillful guidance, the new blue Ninja smoothly handled the turns in the road up to Griffith observatory. The engine purred like a satisfied kitten. That’s why Jo called her Pussycat, Puss for short. Strange how a machine is thought of as an animate creature. Puss was Jo’s baby as surely as any mother loves her baby. Woe be to anybody who would attempt to injure that baby...or Jules.

Jo entered the cool marble observatory hall with its swinging pendulum as the late afternoon sun slowly slipped toward the hazy horizon. She was early. She would learn the identity of the target. She made a habit of being early for meetings like this. It never hurt to scope the people who might pose a threat. She saw only tourists and science junkies wandering about.

Fifteen minutes later while watching the huge pendulum knock down pegs, Jo was handed a manila envelope by a teenaged kid who left without a word. The messenger was different each time, but the envelopes always held information on the target and how the target was to be found. The messenger seemed to know that the woman in the blue motorcycle leathers was to get the envelope. As expected, her employer knew how Jo would be dressed.

The fat envelope revealed that this wasn’t the usual single target; there were three this time. The reason was obvious: young women who were destined to be slaves to the basest desires of the customers. This was going to be more difficult than past assignments, as the bundle of bills showed. Half now, the balance on completion. The reason explained the thick bundle of money. Clearly, her employer was as well-intended as usual. 

Jo smelled the delicious fragrance of chicken Marsala as soon as she entered. Thoughts of the assignment faded at the prospect of a delicious dinner, a glass of fine wine and the night with Jules. Dirty plates were all that was left of dinner. When the dishes were put away, they moved to the bedroom. Candle-filled colored glass tulips gave off a soft flickering light creating the perfect mood. Mellow jazz filled the apartment. A perfumed warm bath and gentle hands prepared the way.

A passing young couple stopped when they heard feminine moans coming from the window above. Brief silences hinted at more. After a moment of silence, the couple heard muffled cries. Gasps and moans suggested pleasure. Urgent cries could be heard. Embarrassed by eavesdropping and their arousal, the couple hurried off. The sounds continued until, finally, silence fell.

Jo and Jules slept the sleep of spent lovers. The assignment would come soon enough.

Chapter 2

Two days later, Jo reconnoitered the harbor noting where the container ships docked. Here were the empty containers adjacent to the docks. There, where the semi-trucks picked up their cargos. Light standards and warehouses became part of the map in Jo’s mind. She missed nothing. Everything was important and could mean the difference between success and failure...between life and death.

Jo read the instructions over and over again, memorizing the photos of the men: the boss, the henchmen who assisted him. These men were participants in a dirty business, but it was a lucrative business. More than lucrative. Traffickers made fortunes. Lies and violence were their tools. Innocent young women, girls even, were the pawns, but the money vastly outweighed human compassion. Money is, indeed, the root of this evil...and Jo was the instrument used to eliminate at least part of this evil.

When she had formulated a plan, Jo was