To Sever and Protect

By Al DesHôtel

Dan was casually dating. Enjoying life post-divorce. Then his after-hours ‘friend’ sucks him into into the high risk game of hiding witnesses from the criminal underworld.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Al DesHôtel
• Release date: Jan 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215608333

Al DesHôtel

Greetings! I started writing science fiction in the late 1980's because I always felt that most science fiction was missing a few things. The routine, every day life occurances always seemed to be glossed over or not mentioned at all in lieu of the high excitement items. While my writings have plenty of high excitement scenes there are also mention of routine things and how they apply from the every day life to the storyline.The Alaytion Archives series started out as an idea of an alien race and how an every day ordinary person with above average intelligence could end up far in the future with them. As it evolved I kept finding more and more of the story to write about and it now currently spans 5 novel length books.Another genre that I've taken up in recent years is action-adventure. From the basic shoot 'em up type scenes to complex interlocking plots of advanced spy novels.Like many authors I weave my every day real life experiences into my work so that it becomes more alive and exciting.-Al

Book preview

Book 1, Wired Assassins

© 2024 Al DesHôtel

Smashwords Edition License

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

Six months out of my first divorce and things were looking like the world wasn’t going to end at least. Guess I should backup and put that into context. Dated around in high school a bit and definitely hit it harder in university with the idea being it was all legal and all fair game. In university also didn’t have to worry as much about one of the girls lying to me saying she was on birth control and just trying to snag the golden ticket. Had a few scares like that my first year after high school when I was doing a two-year spin through community college to get the lower end courses out of the way.

You know how it goes, ‘of course baby, I’m on the pill’, to a month later getting, ‘what do you want to name the baby?’ because of course she was missing the monthly time. Yep, stopped dating women younger than me and went for older. As in a couple of years older. I had quickly figured out that playing the dating scene and going for a cougar was easier not only in terms of a hookup but that there was an underlying understanding that if an older woman wanted a younger man he wasn’t going to be the golden ticket. Got a few free meals out of it in addition to the other ‘benefits’ too.

I wouldn’t say I had gone exclusive like that for it did last for at least three years of school. From the community college right through graduation from the four-year college with a degree in mechanical engineering. After that though I entered the workforce with a shiny new degree and snagged a job working for a defense contractor building missiles. Cool job too. A good year into that though and I had decided on a nice girl I had been dating who was two years younger than me. She was about to graduate from university and we decided to get hitched. Saved her money on an apartment and away we went. Bought a house too. Was that ever a mistake.

One would think a new house in a ‘master planned’ community they would have thought of everything. Yeah. Everything except the mortgage, HOA fees, corrupt politics and nosy neighbors with drones. And my wife of course loved all of it. She graduated, got a decent enough job and we had a baby. That was the beginning of the end for us though. Somehow she expected that I would work ten hours a day and then come home and take care of the snotty poop machine while she sat on her ass watching TV. Oh the first three months of maternity leave she didn’t. When she went back to work though for some odd reason she seemed to think that I didn’t do anything for the kid and I was to spend my entire evening taking care of it, cooking, cleaning and other shit while she did her nails as she was too busy at ‘work’ to do it. What the hell? That wasn’t balanced and the fighting began. The ‘benefit’ of being married evaporated and we ended up divorced two years after the kid was born.

And I was saddled with child support.

So yeah, got visitation and the bills. And of course paying for a house I didn’t live in. by that point though I had decided it sucked anyway. Got a small apartment and set up bachelor living for myself a few miles away, actually closer to my work making missiles.

--**--

So finally had decided that since I was divorced to dip my toe into the dating pool. Didn’t really figure it would be that bad but soon figured out it was a cesspool more than the blue lagoon. Had some mediocre dates and then decided to change my approach.

I suppose I should at least introduce myself, please excuse me for that. My name is Daniel Wilken. Usually though I just went by Dan, shorter to write and what I was used to. So anyway, at work had this sales lady taking a few of the engineers out to lunch along with our boss. Can’t remember at the moment what it was she was selling but something we bought for a component. Pretty sure the boss guy, allegedly ‘happily’ married, was trying his best to look down her blouse. And sales girl, using her most obvious talent, was doing a poor imitation of a stripper right there at lunch. Almost amusing but definitely was making the one and only female engineer on the team a bit disgusted to see the two of them carrying on.

After sales lady paid the check, she invited everyone to see a local ball game. We were in Dallas, Texas, so had all the major sports franchises. Not that all that many hardcore engineering geeks would go but in a box with free food it was a bit more tempting. And she sweetened the pot to say that her company had hired one of the off-season American football cheerleaders to play hostess for the baseball game box. So cross sports thing in my mind but nevertheless would get at least a good photo op out of it. At least half of the group agreed to go and she jotted down a quick list of names and said she would send us invites. That was right before the awkward touchy feely goodbye hugs with the group and the obviously groping by the boss man.

So a week later I found myself paying premium coin for a parking spot blocks away from the baseball field. Still had my beater car, well my only car post-divorce, so not really worried about door dings. Yeah, the ex-wife had the newer wheels. Parking spot rental for the evening was likely more than the car was worth at auction. Made my way the couple of blocks though the not-so-great part of town with all the panhandlers and into the stadium. Flashing my QR code to get in I then followed signage up to the box, stopping for a squirt on the way.

Sales girl was there flirting with all the customers. Some high school girls, all giggly and dressed like cosplay sluts were greeters. My initial assessment had rape bait tagged in the floating box above their heads on my streaming video in my head. After a couple of quick photo shots with them in I went. Saw two of my co-workers already there, they had done as I had and eased out of the office a good two hours early to make the weeknight game. We all three hit the bar and were drinking the free beer. Food was still being wheeled in and under the mystery of the roll over covers on the chafing tubs.

Who are the other folks? I asked Michael, one of my team who handled the guidance discrimination software.

Oh. Yeah. Apparently one of JNT’s other customers. Well maybe several, are here. Michael said.

I think that crowd over by the cardboard ball players is from Jemesion Aero. Frank, the guy on the team in charge of aerodynamics announced.

Was that where you were before? I asked.

Nah. It was when I was with Boer Consolidated. The guy in the red shirt and the one in the Hawaiian print and I all worked at Boer. Frank motioned with his beer to the group.

Ah. And the eye candy? I asked, seeing that the three guys were all vying for attention of a short Hispanic female.

Don’t know. Definitely not with Jemesion or with JNT. Carole said she was the only one here when I got here from JNT and that girl was already here. Frank said stating his logic of elimination in trying to identify the target.

Why not with Jemesion? I asked.

If she worked with them they wouldn’t be hitting on her like that. He stated the obvious.

Gotcha. I said and took a sip of the free, and not great, beer.

As we stood there two more groups of people showed up. Box was starting to get crowded. I walked over to the sliding glass which was open and the two rows of seats facing the ball field. Just some milling about down on the field and the game wouldn’t officially start for another half an hour yet. Looked around the stadium, hadn’t been here before. Box was in a good location of course if you actually wanted to watch the game, which I suspected most of the people inside were not going to do much of. Free beer, food and socializing was more of the purpose. Mine too. Didn’t even know who the local team was going to play. Oh yeah. Looked around. Oh there. Yeah. Boston.

I sat and played with my phone for a bit, checking my dating apps to see if anything interesting was there. It wasn’t. Ditched almost all of the messages from the two different apps. Out of beer and time for a refill. So back inside. Definitely more crowded in there now.

Food was open! Yes. So go snag a plate and pick though that stuff which at least looked edible and like it was made sometime today. Grab a beer and then back out to the seating where only one guy was at yakking on his phone. I took a seat on the highest row and away from the door. Sensing a presence as I was half way though the finger food entrée of sliders I looked over by the door. I woman was standing there looking around. She smiled at me and then took a few steps over on my row.

Mind if I join you?

Not at all, have a seat. I said. I was seated and had my plate and beer on the seat next too me. She sat at the next one over and set down her beer too, next to mine. Same brand I had selected too, there were half a dozen in the ice bucket inside.

After placing her plate on the seat next to the beer she held out her hand. Sasha Jones

Oh. I’m Dan Wilken. I said and shook her hand. Firm grip for a woman. She was average height, maybe 170 cm was my guess. Had some boobage, not flat but also not inflated and from the angle I was at and the current view couldn’t tell if they were real or man-made. Slender hips and probably tipped the scale at no more than 50 kilos or so.

So guess this is it for nutritional choices tonight. She commented.

Yeah, wasn’t a fantastic selection. I had been to a vendor basketball thing a good two months ago with a far superior buffet. Guess JNT is keeping the budget in spec.

She smiled. Maybe so.

I’m assuming you are a customer for JNT too then. I work for Kleck Defense Systems.

Oh. I have heard of them. Big place north of town. She looked at me a moment and then took a bite of a thing that reminded me of an empanada only not as tasty. I could tell by the look on her face that she had a similar appreciation for it too.

Yeah. Want to avoid those things. A bit too greasy for my palate. So where do you work?

Oh. Yeah. Guess I didn’t say. I work for a company called Rook Consulting. More of a social presence advisor. Sasha said.

I laughed. Sounds like spin control.

She laughed too. You got it.

I puzzled that out for a moment with the vendor sponsoring the box. Couldn’t figure out the connection between what JNT was selling and why a soft-squishy type company would be buying anything from them. Sasha saw me trying to figure it out.

Karen and I went to school together. Sometimes she invites me if she needs an extra body to look better with the client. Sasha said referring to the hostess, who I still hadn’t seen yet, from the sponsor JNT.

Ah. Well looks like they have enough to fill the place. I motioned inside the box and it was starting to get very full and another pair of guys had come out and sat down on the opposite side.

Yeah, sort of one of those safety in numbers things. Her boss pays for the shit but doesn’t usually have enough sales people to work the crowd. If you have any questions about JNT I’m your girl. She snickered.

Um yeah. I nodded and took a sip of beer.

No worries, I get it. You’re an engineer obviously and just here for the booze and buns.

Booze and buns? Yeah the booze part was true enough, throw a kegger and most engineers would go. Buns? As in the sliders for food or as in … yeah, could be either way. Ah, so you’re the eye candy. I said.

Sasha laughed and had to quickly wipe her face with a napkin for the droplets of beer spurted out of her nose. After she recovered she smiled at me. You think I’m eye candy?

Sure. I said. Hey, divorced equaled single in my book and here was a real, live girl in front of me talking to me and it hadn’t cost me a dime to take her out yet. She definitely wasn’t dressed anything like provocatively though. In fact just the opposite. Had a large handbag, more or less business skirt and blouse. Business blazer over it. Skirt was knee length and had on shoes that while not being a track shoe certainly wasn’t a stiletto heel, more like maybe a sensible ladies shoe you could do some significant walking in without killing your feet.

We then chatted for a few minutes about JNT and their products, which she seemed at least fairly familiar with, more so than I was anyway. Our food done and napkins covering the corpses I got up and offered to take her trash too. She gratefully accepted and then agreed to get us both a beer. We both were seated again in the same spot a few minutes later only this time next to one another without the intervening seat between us. The seat design though had double cup holders between every seat. Pre-game bullshit was starting down on the field as Sasha and I continued our pointless small talk conversation. I was a bit surprised no one else came by us. Earlier I had seen Karen the sales rep inside earlier when I took out the trash.

Shit. Sasha said and held up her beer. Think this was yours.

No worries. I don’t have the coodies. I said as I sipped the other bottle. Both were the same brand we had been drinking earlier and apparently she had gotten mixed up. When I reached for the bottle for me seeing there was only one I picked it up before I realized that it wasn’t mine. She had taken a long draw off of hers before she arrived with mine as we were reseated.

Good. She smiled. Oh, saw that Karen made it finally.

Yeah. So just you and her here?

No, have a couple of sales dudes in there. Avoid the one with the buzz cut, he is a dick. Sasha said.

Noted. I held up my beer.

Dude has no clue how their products work or why you would use them. She commented and upended her beer, finishing it off.

More? I asked.

Nah. Think I’m about done. Don’t want to be too buzzed to drive. Going to at least earn my keep and mingle a bit. So good to meet you Dan. Sasha said.

Likewise. I told her and after watching her walk up the stairs I turned to look at the antics on the field below.

--**--

The dating landscape the next few weeks was horrible. Had at least half of them nothing but freeloaders. The other half were making baby names on the first date – a definite turn off. Did not need any more child support. Had one of my work buddies suggest maybe I needed to think if I wanted more family or not when I was grousing about the child support deduction on my check one day. That did get me to thinking about things. I wasn’t that old yet. Did I want more kids? Had one daughter. Was that enough? Was going to be paying out serious financing for the next sixteen years.

Had a new team member transfer in from another office though that clinched it for me. At least made my thoughts on more children solid after hearing him lamenting on how his take home pay wouldn’t even get him enough for new wheels on an easy five-year payment plan. Due to the fact he had dropped four kids in three states with three different women. Yeah. That sucked for him.

Me too the next week when my ex-wife announced she was moving and I got a notice from the state of Texas that I would still have to pay child support through them. Handed that off to my lawyer and he reminded me to be on the lookout for her trying to file in the other state, in this case Connecticut. Not only were my expenses going up from having to fly my daughter back and forth but I would be seeing less of her. He filed a motion with the state to force the ex-wife to stay in Texas. That was set for a few weeks out for a hearing. My lawyer didn’t think it would fly but said we needed to do it anyway.

After another baby name discussing first date I made an appointment for the next day with a urologist who specialized in same day vasectomies.

--**--

Three weeks later having cut back the dating scene I was just amusing myself with things I liked to do. One of them was going to the gun range. I only had two pistols and a rifle. Ammo cost being what it was I usually did about three boxes for pistol ammo and then would call it for the day. So after waiting the customary half an hour I got a lane, blew my hundred and fifty rounds and then cleaned up and went to pack it in. Out in the lobby though I got a surprise. I looked over and saw a woman taking off her ear muffs. Sasha? I asked in a voice loud enough to be heard but not so loud as to make everyone in the place turn around. There were half a dozen others in the lobby area waiting on a gun lane.

She turned around. Oh. She said and looked at me a moment before recognizing me. I could also read in her face she definitely didn’t remember my name.

Dan. I supplied as I picked up my range bag and stepped over closer to her.

Yeah. Dan. Sorry. Sometime I forget names. She looked at me as she then finally connected.

The baseball game last month with JNT. I added.

Yes! Oh yeah. So fancy seeing you here. She said and looked at me and tilted her head a bit.

More my thing than spectator sports. I said and patted my range bag.

Um. I guess me too. She said as she tucked her ear muffs into her bag. Meaning to me that she was also just finishing up shooting. Glancing at her hand I could also see a smudge on the web between her thumb and index finger so more than likely from the range.

Got time for a brew? I asked. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

She smiled. Why not.

Place across the parking lot there if you don’t have a preference. I said. It was Saturday and there was a bar although I had never been to it. Didn’t seem like a particularly busy bar either. Had glass windows out front and might have been doubling as a burger place.

Ok. Let’s dump the iron in the cars and will meet you there. She commented as we walked out of the gun range.

So weird to run across you here. I held the door for her.

Yes. Guess it is. Sasha pulled a key fob from her purse and hit the button and I heard a car alarm beep. I followed her to her car and it was a lot closer than mine. She dropped her bag in the trunk and shut it quickly.

My turn then and I hit the unlock on my trunk which was a row further. Just getting a bit of routine range time in. I haven’t been in a good two months. Sasha followed me. Dropping my bag in the trunk I shut it.

I try to go once a month at least. She smiled at me. Then we made our way towards the bar. It was just past one in the afternoon on a Saturday.

So how is biz at JNT? I asked for lack of something else to talk with her about at the moment.

Don’t know. Haven’t seen Karen since the ball game. She graciously allowed me to open the door to the bar for her.

Window ok? I asked her seeing the four tables by the windows empty and available.

Sure. She smiled at me. I held back a moment until she picked one. I studied her as she picked the table and chair she wanted. Pretty much the same as I would have picked. With a window table generally didn’t want to face the window unless you wanted to watch the parking lot. In this case I sort of did though since we may have been seen walking out of the gun range and depositing guns in the trunks of the vehicles. Not totally unheard of for someone to watch and break into a car.

The other choice though was to sit with your back to a wall which is something I did out of habit being a paranoid sort of guy. She had picked the table furthest from the door, by the window and the seat to where she had a view of the parking lot, view of the door and her back to a wall. Yes, the perfect place. I was left with a choice though. Sit with my back to the parking lot, my back to the door or back to the general seating area. Back to the parking area I couldn’t see my car or if someone was breaking in. Back to the door I wouldn’t be able to see people walking in and also not the bartender across the opposite wall. So that only left one other choice with my back to the general seating area. Being somewhat off-hours though my perception of the least likely threat vector as a bar fight between patrons armed with a gun was a lot less likely to happen than someone coming to rob the place or the much higher probability of someone breaking into cars out in the parking lot. So how is the consulting biz then?

She smiled at me. Then she looked around. Probably should fess up before I have too many lies to remember here. Not really in the consulting biz.

Oh?

She reached into her blazer pocket and pulled out a thin leatherette wallet and offered it to me. This was odd. I looked at her and then accepted it. I opened it up. Inside was an id card and a badge. A U.S. Marshall. Sasha Jones. The photo was at least a few years old. Well if that didn’t beat all. I closed the wallet and handed it back to her whereupon she put it into her blazer pocket again. I looked at her a moment. So. Yeah. Guess that explains a couple of things.

Oh? Like what?

I smirked at her. Saw the bar waitress walking towards us. She put down some coasters. I looked over at Sasha. Preference?

You pick. She said.

Two dark Becks™ I said.

Got it. The barmaid sauntered off.

I looked at Sasha. So you didn’t think I was a consultant?

Didn’t say that. However, guess you aren’t really.

Then what? She asked.

Oh the fact of you picking this table and that chair. I said.

What about it? She asked.

Exact spot I would have selected. Good view of the parking lot, the door and have somewhat of a wall at your back.

Sasha tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. That is a lot of analysis considering we just walked in here.

Just something I notice.

You have a concealed license too I’ll bet. She leaned over and patted me on my jacket pocket while trying to look like she was giving me an air kiss.

Of course. I looked at her and she had a twinkle in her eye.

We sat there for a couple of minutes just staring at one another. The barmaid came and set down the beers. I picked mine up. Cheers.

Yes. She picked hers up and clinked it with mine.

Another minute of staring and silence. Then another pair of sips of the beer. She broke the silence first. Why do I have the feeling I’m looking at the male version of myself?

I laughed. Probably because you are.

Want to split a burger? She asked picking up a menu.

Sure. I said, unsure why she wouldn’t want a full-on burger.

Good. Just something lighter. She motioned for the waitress to come over. After ordering Sasha put the menu back.

So I’m guessing you don’t live all that far from here?

Not really. Maybe six miles or so. You too right? Sasha asked me.

About that I guess. I looked at her. Then pulled up my phone and hit the enter in the phone book and handed it to her.

She inhaled and looked at me a second. Then smiled and entered her information. She pulled out her own phone halfway though, unlocked it and handed hers to me. Without a word I entered my phone, email and address to her. We did seem to connect non-verbally at some level it seemed. Certainly not any pretenses or anything and she had revealed she worked for the U.S. Marshalls service. I even put in my place of employment although at that point I was guessing she would likely run some sort of background check on me. If she knew I was conceal carry licensed though she knew I was in the system.

See that is one of the things. No games. Just trade digits. She put my phone on the table while I finished up on hers.

True. I finished and handed her phone back.

We then discussed where we went to school at and I found out she too was divorced. Had been married to a city cop apparently. Divorced, no kids. The burger arrived with two plates and she cut it in half and handed me my half. The basket of fries was huge too so good thing she only wanted half a burger. No way could I have finished a whole burger and a whole basket of fries. It was getting on about two-thirty by the time we were done and I paid the tab.

Ready to scoot?

Yeah. She smiled at me. See you at your place.

My place? What the hell? That was certainly jumping ahead a few moves. Wow. Didn’t see the half a burger after a gun range thing as a date but apparently Sasha did. Or did she just want to ‘hang out’ as many people on the dating sites called it. Whatever that was I suppose, in my mind it was always just a thin excuse to ‘make out’ somewhere. Sure. See you in twenty minutes. I said as we parted ways in the parking lot and went to our separate cars.

I got in my car and didn’t even waste time getting the advertisement flyer out from under the windshield wiper. Crank it off and drive. Home. Now. Without getting a speeding ticket. On the way home I thought about Sasha. Wasn’t like anything I would consider out of my league. She also didn’t seem to be playing any games. Second time we had met. At a gun range so at least no weird Democrat nonsense out of her. Shared half a burger and some beers. Apparently, she was seeing it as good enough for something else though if she was headed to my condo. I was glad too that it wasn’t gated.

Got home and parked. Inside and dropped off my range bag. Then the doorbell rang. I glanced though the peephole and saw Sasha and opened the door. She hesitated only a moment and then came in. After I locked the door she was full on embraced and swapping spit with me. Just like that. No preamble. No hesitation. Guns, shirts, shoes, socks and other things were falling to the floor quickly. Damn. Never had a girl like this before. Refreshingly simple. Naked in under five and on the carpet in the living room.

--**--

We needed that. She said looking into my eyes afterwards.

I smiled at her. Yeah, think we did.

She smirked. Probably should have used a condom. My period was last week.

Probably should have. No worries. I didn’t think telling her I had been fixed was the thing to do at the moment. Let there be a doubt for as long as that lasted.

We lay on the floor, a bit whiffy, for a good twenty minutes just looking at one another and doing the soft touch body groping thing.

So you’re not going to profess your undying love to me? She smiled.

Um. If we are mirrors of each other then no. I said.

Good. Don’t want all the mushy shit. Just drops your rags and shag. And now that you know I’m a good fuck and you can keep your end up that mystery is solved. So you good with like just whenever sort of thing? Sasha asked.

Sure. You really think a guy is going to turn down pussy?

She laughed. Not often. Does happen though. Just in case you get any ideas though I don’t like being ‘owned’.

So no hands on the back of your head. Check.

Definitely do not ever do that to me. I hate that shit! Sasha said.

So maybe we really are a mirror of each other.

Shower time. She got up and offered me a hand up.

Sasha went home just before ten that night. I was worn out. Had to admit though she was definitely the best date I had been on in years. If I could parley it into once a month I would have so much more free time and money not chasing tail.

--**--

Cincinnati, Ohio

Sasha had been in the office getting a briefing on a planned raid that was a joint task force thing. They spent the entire first day just bringing everyone up to speed on the case. The plan was to hit four different businesses at the same time with four different teams. Apparently, a husband and wife were behind the criminal enterprise that the FBI had been chasing and they had called in help where they could find it. Local law enforcement from city police, county police, sheriffs, the U.S. Marshall service since there was also some legal extradition thing crossing state lines.

Sasha’s phone buzzed. The team lead was answering a specific question and nodded to her when they made eye contact. She got up and went out of the room and called her sister.

What’s up Beth? Sasha asked.

Thank God you called me. I’m on the highway now. Had to shoot out of Austin in a hurry. Todd is on the warpath. Already told me when he found me he was going to blow my brains out. I’m coming your way. Elizabeth said.

Whoa! Wait up! I’m not home. Sasha said.

Oh shit.

Yeah. So what happened? Sasha asked. Elizabeth then launched into the fact that Todd was mixed up with some bad hombres and she had seen a couple of plastic wrapped packages of stuff in his gym bag a few days before.

Sorry, didn’t want to load you down with that and I knew you would just call in reinforcements. I really though I was going to be able to deal with it. I packed all my stuff and put it in storage while he was out of town. Said he was going to Corpus Christi for a few days to pick up some parts for the company. Even drove his company truck. Then I got to wondering why three days. It is like a day trip there and back. Elizabeth said.

Yeah, it is. Sasha commented.

So when I called him and told him I was leaving he went crazy. Been blowing up my phone constantly ever since. Elizabeth said.

Are you in your car?

Yeah, for now. Didn’t have time to think about it. Elizabeth admitted.

Switch cars as soon as you get somewhere that you can park yours and get a rental. Does he know where you are headed? Sasha asked.

Not sure. Didn’t tell him anything. He does know I have a sister in Dallas though. eventually he might figure that out. I didn’t want to go south though even though I have a friend in Corpus who said I could stay over a few days. Resigned from my job yesterday too. Elizabeth said.

Thought you liked that place?

I did. Only he knows where it is. Sent me flowers there a few times. So taking your advice and getting out now. Then after he told me what he planned on doing to me I knew for sure I have to get out. I can’t stay at your place? Elizabeth asked.

Told you. I’m not home. On an op out of town. Sasha said.

When you coming home? Elizabeth asked hopefully.

At least a couple of more days.

Shit. Guess I can get a hotel. Low on money though. I’ll hit an ATM somewhere. Elizabeth said.

Good. And make sure you get out of that car soon. He certainly knows what it looks like since it used to be his car. Sasha said.

Yeah. Elizabeth replied.

Sasha looked up and saw everyone in the conference room was exiting for a restroom break. Go ahead and go to my place. Lock box code is 4343 and it is in the planter on the patio. The one with the plastic rabbit in it.

Oh thank you! You are such a wonderful little sister! Elizabeth said.

Yeah. Just don’t skunk up my place! Look, gotta go. Sasha said and saw the lead guy headed over to her side of the break room.

Thanks sis. Elizabeth said and disconnected.

Everything ok? The lead asked.

Just family drama with my sister. Boyfriend troubles. Sasha said with a frown.

Ah. The man nodded and then headed to the restroom.

Sasha called Elizabeth later that night and got more details. Then she reminded Elizabeth that she needed to just stay put and was happy that Elizabeth had rented a car.

--**--

Two days later..

Sasha got back to the field op office and picked up her handbag out of the locker. Her cell phone was dead. That was odd. She tried turning it on and it said low battery. The operation had dragged into the prior night and most of the day the next day. She was tired and suffering from a lack of sleep. At least they were letting everyone remote go that was staying in hotels, including her. So she headed to the hotel in the rental car and plugged up her phone once she got into the room. Her flight wasn’t set to leave until noon the next day.

Around noon though she got up to pee and saw her cell phone showing that it was charged. Unplugging it and turning it on she was surprised to see the voice mail was full. The call log showed she had over two hundred calls. Mostly from her sister. As she starts listening to the voice mails she starts to piece together what happened. Then she got to a few numbers she didn’t recognize and one was from the Garland, Texas police department. Apparently her condo had been broken into. Jotting down the case number on the hotel note pad she continued to try to clear the voice mail backlog.

From what Sasha was putting together it sounded like Elizabeth had made it to Sasha’s condo two days prior and let herself in. Then during the night some whisper type voice mails like Elizabeth didn’t want to be heard and she was hearing strange noises. Shortly thereafter was the message about the break in. A long string of more than fifty calls from Elizabeth with short voice mails asking Sasha to call her as soon as she could. Sasha frowned deleting one after the other.

Another call from the police department asking for a call back. More calls from Elizabeth. Then the voicemail system declared all messages were marked for deletion. Well that didn’t help. Sasha called Elizabeth. Straight to voicemail. Getting the police number punched in she called the police department and gave them the case number. A series of holds later she had an investigator on the line.

Officer Charles Cunningham. Miss Sasha Jones? He asked.

Yes. This is Sasha.

Ah good. So are you up to speed on things? He asked.

Not exactly. Sounds like my place was broken into.

Yes it was. We got a call of a break in. From a pay phone. Front door kicked in. Place was sort of trashed. Someone was looking for something.

What did they steal?

Nothing from what we could tell. TV untouched. Even had some cash in a drawer by the bed so obviously whatever they were doing in there it wasn’t a burglary. Couple of hundred in there.

And my sister? Sasha asked.

Sister? No one there. Place was empty. Cunningham said.

My sister Elizabeth was supposed have been staying there. That is odd. Sasha said.

No one there. Just the anonymous call. Caller was female though.

Ok. Thanks. Is the place locked up? Sasha asked.

Yes, we screwed it shut and put police tape on the door. Have a couple of patrols a day driving by it. So if your sister was staying with you then any idea where she is at? The cop asked her.

Not yet. If she turns up call my number please. Sasha said.

Ok. And if you find her please let us know. Do we need to be looking for her?

Maybe. She was having a boyfriend problem in Austin. Think he may be on something though. Sasha commented.

Ah. Thanks. I’ll make a note of that. And her name?

Elizabeth Bryan.

Got it. The officer said.

I’ll call back if I get something. She told him.

Thanks. Likewise. Bye.

Sasha disconnected. So this was going from bad to worse. At least Elizabeth had switched vehicles. She was wondering if Todd had managed to track her to Dallas and if so how. Probably via his car or her cell phone. She tried calling Elizabeth again. Voicemail again.

Naturally her phone rang as soon as she got into the bathroom. Frowning she pulled up her panties and went to the bedroom and picked up her phone. Elizabeth. Figured. Where the fuck are you at?

Yeah. Um. Not good. Elizabeth said.

So Todd followed you to Dallas and busted up my place. Sasha said.

Yeah. Sorry. Elizabeth apologized.

How the hell did he follow you? Didn’t you change cars like I told you?

Yes! Even sold it at a used lot for cash. Elizabeth said.

So if he had a tracker in it then nothing. You need to check your purse and make sure he didn’t drop something in there. And you need to get a burner phone pronto just in case he put something on your phone. Call me back when you do that and change locations. Now! Sasha ordered her.

ok, ok. And the call disconnected.

Sasha went and peed. She was getting more and more upset with her stupid sister by the minute. Two hours later she gets a call from another number in Dallas.

Hello? Sasha answered.

Sis! Thank God you answered. Got me a cheapo phone. Elizabeth said.

Well at least you are listening to me now. Next thing you need to do is go to the Garland police and file a report on him for stalking. Sasha

Can’t. Oh shit. Please Sasha, I’m in seriously deep shit. Elizabeth said.

What the fuck do you mean you can’t file a police report. What the fuck did you do? Sasha was screaming at her sister.

Its… Todd. He told me he knew where I was on a voice mail. Said he knew I was in Dallas and if I went to the police he would know about it because he had friends on the force. Elizabeth broke down crying.

That gave Sasha pause. She wondered. If he really was a drug dealer he might have connections in Dallas. Then again maybe he was bluffing. Sasha knew she needed more information. Ok, ok. Let me think.

When are you getting back?

Tomorrow. Won’t do much good to try to get an earlier flight. Only three per day anyway and I’m on the first of the day. Where are you now? Sasha said.

In a rental car. Slept in the car last night. Right now parked behind a strip shopping center. Elizabeth said.

Anyone around?

No. Don’t see any cameras back here either. She said.

What about your cell phone? Sasha asked.

Um. I took it to the cell phone place here and they said it had a cell phone tracking program on it. So they deleted that off for me. It is turned off and they pulled the sim card out of it. Elizabeth said.

So that is how the turd knew where you were. Sasha said.

Yeah. I know, you told me so. Yes, I’m stupid. So there, save you the trouble of telling me. Elizabeth said.

Well at least you got that part right. You are a stupid sister. Now do not turn that phone back on. Did you check your purse?

Yeah. Nothing in there.

Good. Probably should ditch the purse anyway. Go get your hair cut off short, dye it at the first salon you can find. Pay cash. Check your clothes too to make sure he didn’t put something in there like one of those little tracker things. Sasha said.

So where can I go? I mean if he does have friends in the police department here as soon as they see me they will report it back to him. Elizabeth said.

Did you take any of his dope or his money? Sasha asked.

No. Elizabeth answered meekly.

Stay put then where you are for now. Sasha said.

I’m in a rental car behind a strip shopping center. Not even a restroom here. Elizabeth whined.

Go pee behind a dumpster or something. Seriously Elizabeth, quit being stupid. He apparently is out to kill you for some reason and you’re going to end up dead. You’re lucky you got out of my place in time. Sasha said.

Yeah. Heard him kicking in the front door and so I went over the fence in the patio. All I had time to get is my keys, purse and my phone. Elizabeth told her.

So now we need to keep you safe for a bit.

And somewhere besides my car. It is fucking cold out here. That weather front blew though and it is like thirty outside. Elizabeth said.

Sasha was quiet for a minute.

Sis?

Yeah.

Oh. Thought the call dropped. Elizabeth commented.

Thinking. Let me make a call and I’ll get back to you. Stay put for an hour or two. Sasha said.

--**--

My phone rang. It was Sasha. Guess her job was done. She had texted me last week saying she would be out of town for a bit. Hi.

Hey Dan!

So where are you? I asked her.

Can’t say.

Oh. Undercovers. I let that ‘s’ slip in as a clear insinuation.

You wish. No, just not in Dallas. Should be home tomorrow. Probably don’t need to ask a guy this question but I’ll do it anyway – need some pussy? Sasha chuckled.

Yea. You know the answer to that. Like any guy would say no? Only if it was dripping with something that a condom won’t handle. I said.

She laughed. Yeah. Flight may be late tomorrow. Maybe for Friday night then. Contrary to popular belief us girls do like some dick every once in a while, too, saves money on batteries and not nearly the work.

I laughed at that. Yeah.

So how is it going with you? Sasha asked.

Same o, same o. Just trying to kill people. I said joking with her about building missiles.

You know you are talking to a Marshall, right?

Yeah.

Any other conversation and that could certainly be taken the wrong way. Sasha said.

So you going to come arrest me?

Maybe I should. You would probably look good in handcuffs. Sasha snickered.

Uh huh. Bet you would too. Of course they probably trained you how to pick them already. I told her.

Of course they did. Yeah, maybe one day I might for you. Not today though. So besides shooting and putting handcuffs on people what do you think I really do? She asked me.

Probably way more paperwork than me. I told her.

You are likely very correct in that. I do far more bullshit overhead paper pushing than I should be doing. Even with the paperwork reduction act there is far more than any government needs. Sasha paused. I could hear the distinct tink of glass somewhere. Yeah, do a lot of usual, usual stuff with the service. Also move prisoners around. Collect up evidence. Witness movements and such. Sasha said.

So sitting in your hotel room waiting on your criminal that needs witness protection. Enjoying a cold one and bored out of your skull. I said.

Most of that is right yeah. Cold one is the mini-bar shit. Definitely not quality beer by any stretch. And waiting around for sure for my flight tomorrow. Shit hole I’m in only has a few flights a day back to Dallas. Sasha said.

"So back to the