Marsha added, “Even your birthday … am I the only one who thinks it remarkable you were born exactly at midnight on the summer solstice?”
Mike said, “Gosh, I didn’t even know that! What was that old TV Show from the 1950’s … Twilight Zone? Maybe Missy’s from there!” Everyone broke out laughing.
“Okay, okay … have your fun, guys!” Missy looked at everyone and smiled. “Since you all think it’s so interesting to keep track of me and everything … learning all my secrets … I guess this is as good a time as any for me to share a few more of them.” With a deep sigh, she looked at Mike. Then she looked at the others and told them all about Salvatore D’Amato and his two hit men, Billy and Donny. She didn’t hide the fact that she’d forced them to kill Tony Gonzales. Now that Mike had accepted what she’d done, she really wasn’t concerned about what the others might be thinking. She didn’t think she’d be arrested. And, her cat nature was very comfortable with the justice that had been meted out.
“Wow! We all had our suspicions, Missy. But, never in our wildest dreams did we imagine all that. Robert told us he thought you had to be using that FBI surveillance software for something related to Sal, and not just the Frank McCarthy organization.” Lester looked at his wife. They’d had many conversations, speculating about this. “We’ll be glad to take over monitoring those cameras for you. We might even be able to go in and change all the batteries on your video equipment, once the time comes.”
“You actually went back during Christmas vacation and did that?” Marsha was shaking her head. “With your sister and your friend Alice?”
“Oh, sure! Of course we did. But … please … just don’t start with the lame cat burglar jokes, okay? I got enough of those from Heather and Alice.” Missy was feeling very relieved that she had friends now who were willing to help. And, these “P” Branch friends had unlimited resources.
Marsha looked at her husband and started laughing. “Wait until we tell Drew. We have to change our name now. Instead of “P” Branch, we should call ourselves Nanny-Cams-R-US, right?”
Chapter Nine
Mar 2018
“Missy, it’s here! Come quick!” Missy’s Mom had just gone through the mail and there was a letter for Missy. From West Point. When Missy came down from her bedroom, her Mom handed her the letter and watched as her daughter tore open the envelope. Then she watched how Missy’s face lit up with joy and she knew, before Missy even said anything. Her daughter was going to West Point. It was a very proud moment.
An hour later, Missy was back in her room and had called dozens of people. Friends, relatives, Robert Ulrey, the Stratton’s in Washington D.C., even Senator Maxwell’s office. She was pretty excited and everyone was congratulating her and telling her how sure they were that she would do great. She’d told Mike, of course, sending him the message by pushing it directly into his mind. He’d called her back on her cell phone and they’d talked for several minutes. Then they’d agreed to get together that weekend, for sure, to celebrate.
They’d not been together since that weekend after Valentine’s Day when she’d not only enjoyed having such wonderful sex with him but had mysteriously bonded with him as well … he could easily get her words in his mind and she could feel him there, in Medford, about twenty miles from her home in Salem. Now she wanted to spend another full night with him. Waking up that morning in Mike’s arms had just been the nicest experience and she wanted to do that again. Making love in the morning, after having fully sated her needs the night before? Priceless! Since this would be day twenty one since her last Shift, her female cycle was cooperating; she wouldn’t be fertile now and didn’t need to Change, just to avoid the risk of getting pregnant.
At school, her basketball team had finished and her softball team had not started up yet. And, there were no conflicts with her karate and martial arts activities either. She was feeling really great and had put on about five pounds, lifting some extra weights at her gym just because she felt so good doing it. Even though this was solid muscle that she’d packed on, it made all her body’s curves somehow that much more noticeable. She felt sexy as hell and knew she looked really good right now also.
Now that she knew it was definite -- in late June she’d be starting at West Point -- she thought about how she wanted to manage her physical conditioning. Her focus now was to get in shape for Cadet Basic Training, two months of cadet preparation that is reportedly the most difficult experience of the whole four years -- emotionally, physically and psychologically. She wanted to arrive at her best for that. She probably wouldn’t be able to Shift during those months and she wasn’t sure how much food she’d be allowed to have. Trusting her instincts, she decided she’d continue to bulk up over the next three months. She’d lift heavier weights and gradually add more and more muscle mass until she was up around 150 pounds.
She’d be adding a lot of calories, mostly lean meat and some protein drinks. It was great to have some goals to strive for and the fact that this one would allow her to eat lots and exercise lots, both of which she loved doing, was all the better. She’d be faster and stronger than anyone else there, even without adding any of her supernatural cat powers which would always be there for her, if needed.
-----
Drew Martinson called Lester and Marsha into his office and gave them the good news. “Robert just called … Missy’s going to West Point. She’s really showing some great potential and I want you two to continue supporting her. Whatever is necessary; use the full resources available here. I like the way she handled that last incident. No one got killed and she took out four of those guys before she finally Changed. Only that guy Marco knows she’s a werecat, right?”
“Yeah, the others hardly know what hit them. Or, at least three of them don’t.” Lester looked at his wife and back at Drew. “That guy Hector is actually having worse problems. He claims she somehow messed up his head. He keeps seeing these flashes with her suddenly popping out completely naked. He knows that couldn’t have really happened and doesn’t understand how she got the drop on him, first stabbing him and then somehow knocking him out. That sedative I gave him while he was out probably helped, adding to his confusion when he finally came to.”
Marsha added, “She actually did that, of course. When I was talking to her afterwards, she even joked about it. She said it was her “shock and awe” time, a strategy she considers appropriate since she wants to go into the military. Since she figured she’d have to Change, she had started getting ready and had removed her clothes. But, she figured she could get Hector first before actually Changing and it worked. She actually said she was curious … wanted to see what time advantage it might give her. She seemed quite pleased. Apparently, it was even better than the old “deer in the headlights” look. She jumped out naked, he froze and she was able to throw that knife. He dropped his gun before getting to fire a single round.”
“Well, like I said, she’s showing great potential. Not everyone would have gone up against professional gangsters like that … and these were some big guys with knives and guns … even if they did have her supernatural abilities. That took some real courage. What kind of information have you been able to get from them? Will they make good witnesses?”
Lester said, “Except for Marco, we’ve turned them over to the FBI. Armando Sanchez up there is saying two of them don’t really know that much but Hector and Pedro were in McCarthy’s organization for years and are willing to talk. As long as they get immunity and are kept safe in witness protection, they’ll testify to several extortion incidents and a few murders. They’ve already given information about where three bodies were buried, which has proven to be accurate. Armando’s team was able to locate and identify the remains. Three mystery disappearances have now been solved and two additional arrests are being made. No one is rolling on McCarthy yet, but as Armando’s team grills everyone he has evidence against, someone may be willing to talk. We’ll see.”
“We’re closely watching the ne
w guy, Carlos Mancini. He’s in quite a panic and all this activity has him scrambling.” Marsha knew Drew was very concerned about Carlos, both because he was a werecat and also since he might be a problem for Missy someday. “He now knows these missing guys are in custody and are talking. While all the talking is not about him or the guys he brought up here, he can’t trust any of the old organization. Those not already in jail or missing are of no use to him now.”
Drew asked, “What about this guy Marco, who knows about Missy? Does he have any information that helps? I know he won’t be testifying but … anything?”
“Marco might be a problem. Now that he’s had time to think … and doesn’t have a huge cat chewing on his arm … he’s wondering if he might have some leverage.” Lester looked at his wife and then back at Drew. “Our threat to expose him as an informant isn’t all that strong, since he knows we’re trying to hide the fact that Missy’s a werecat. He also doesn’t think we’ll prosecute him for attacking her in that garage. Do we want him to stand up in court and tell everyone she’s this wild animal? While he knows that’s not very credible, he doesn’t think we’ll take any chances. And, he’s right.”
“He thinks his gangster buddies will believe the government’s framing him to protect supernatural creatures, huh?” asked Drew. “Maybe we should tell him about Carlos being a werecat. Then again, I guess that would only give him a different kind of leverage. He’ll know we want to avoid Carlos hearing about her.”
Lester said, “We are worried about that since Marco already told his buddy Ramon that he was going to get Missy. He and Ramon were doing a lot of talking about Missy, even before Frank got arrested. They figured she had some sort of hold over Frank. Then, with Frank in prison, his “hands off Missy or else” threat wasn’t a deterrent any more. Obviously, since all those other guys were with Marco, there had to have been a lot more talk. So, with all the talk, it’s quite likely that Carlos will eventually hear something about her.”
Marsha then pointed out the risks, saying, “Yes, and if he puts two and two together? Missy shows up and asks about Tony Gonzales, Frank won’t talk about her, Marco disappears after saying he would get her … Carlos will probably want to check her out. Even if he only learns what she did to Ramon? That alone is probably enough for him to go check her out.”
Drew nodded and added his own worry. “Even without all those concerns, once he hears about those two guys she actually killed? As a cat? We can’t hide all that info. It’ll definitely make him suspicious and the timing … Missy showed up that same day, kicked Ramon the way she did and then disappeared with Frank … Robert and I discussed this. Carlos will definitely want to check her out. That’s why we agreed to tell her everything the way we have, when we’ve never done that with any of the others. We’ll see. That’s why I’m asking you both to give her all the support she needs. I don’t know what else we can do, besides keeping Marco on ice, at least for right now.”
Chapter Ten
Apr 2018
Alice had been talking to Missy on the phone for several minutes, catching up on things and sharing things, as they’d been doing for the past two and a half years, ever since she’d opened up to Missy about Tony. The way Missy had rescued her back then had completely changed her whole life. When she later was kidnapped and Missy again rescued her -- as a cat -- her life changed even more. Having a werecat as her closest friend was pretty special. But, it was Missy’s human attributes and qualities that mattered most. Now that Missy was being as open with her as she’d been with Missy, they’d grown even closer.
Alice asked, “Are you at all worried about so many people now knowing you’re a cat?” Missy had explained about Robert Ulrey and had mentioned he was somehow a member of the government, in addition to his FBI role. Some mysterious branch that Missy wouldn’t talk more about, other than to say there were others in that organization who all knew. But, they were actually helping her, like the way they’d made those guys all disappear after that parking garage adventure. Missy called it an adventure; Alice thought it had to have been pretty scary.
“Well, they haven’t locked me up in any lab yet, so I’m getting more and more relaxed.” Missy giggled, thinking back to the many conversations she’d had with Alice when she’d actually been worried about that happening to her. “You can’t talk about this, of course, but there apparently are other supernaturals out there. They do think I’m sort of special though … apparently, I’m the only female werecat in at least two hundred years.”
“Well, I know you’re special, Missy!” Alice laughed. “Actually, that does bring up something I’ve been meaning to ask you about though. You know how you and Mike are … you share everything with each other, now that you’re bonded and everything.” Missy had told her all about that, of course, including how she’d revealed to Mike that Alice had been abused by Tony. He didn’t really know all the details but Missy had needed to include some of it, just so he could understand why those guys had wanted to attack the two of them that night. Alice was okay with that and was actually thrilled about Missy and Mike now being so close. And, the mysterious bonding? Only Missy could manage something like that. As though all the great sex hadn’t been enough? Jeez!
“Yeah, I know how we are … and no, I’m not sharing any more details about all the positions we’ve tried now. I’ve already told you far too much.” Missy giggled, thinking back to some of the things they’d talked about. She’d even joked how “her cat really liked it doggy style” and was determined to avoid any further conversations in that direction, if that’s where Alice was trying to go.
This broke Alice up and she howled with laughter. Finally, she said, “No, no, I wasn’t going to ask … but, now that you mention it? Oh, never mind. But, later for sure! Okay?” She was still laughing and it was hard to talk. She then managed a big sigh and said, “No, I was hoping you could relate to the problem that I’m having, keeping your secret from Mark.”
“Oh!” Missy paused and considered this issue. She was seeing why Alice had asked if she was nervous, now that so many knew about her. Mark was her soulmate and this secret was probably the only one she hadn’t shared with him. Her being so completely open with those she loved, after years of secrecy forced on her by Tony, had been very important to Alice. It had really helped her to heal and fully recover. Missy knew how beneficial that was, sharing and being open with loved ones, and she hadn’t suffered three years of abuse like her friend Alice had. She also knew she could trust Mark. “Okay.”
“Okay? Just like that?” Alice giggled. “Missy, you know he won’t actually believe me … not if I’m merely telling him about you. Can I … umm … can you show him?’
Missy had fully realized what she was agreeing to when she’d said okay, and now she added, “Yeah, you can bring him tomorrow morning. To the State Forest in Andover. I was already planning to spend the day out there. You know it’s my favorite place where I can run around for hours and hours and even indulge myself, find a deer, you know …”
Laughing, Alice said, “Yes, I know … raw meat. You’re so predictable, when it comes to eating. Thanks, we’ll be there. And, I really appreciate it. How’s the dieting going anyhow?” She knew Missy was actually bulking up for her summer training at West Point.
“That’s why I’m going to spend hours and hours out there. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been wild and furry, with all my other activities. I’ve plumped up to 150 pounds but now I need to run off about five pounds. My goal is to reach 150 pounds but with only eight percent body fat. I’ve still got two more months, so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Alice said, “Well, you could just stay with Mike a couple of nights. I bet he can help with that. Just be sure you tell me about any new positions you two might invent. Of course, I haven’t had a chance to ask Mark about that one, you know, where you and Mike …”
Missy quickly interrupted her and said, “Hey, quit while you’re ahead, Alice! I said you can bring Mark.
Be there at ten. And, bring a blanket, okay? I am not going to strip my clothes off and get naked in front of your boyfriend.”
-----
Missy sprang from the tree branch she’d been laying on, easily landing on the deer’s back. She quickly broke its neck with her powerful jaws and then dragged it over to some underbrush where she could conceal her kill, after she’d eaten her fill. She’d waited patiently for this one, an old doe, which she’d scented upwind of where she’d been prowling. Once she’d realized it was headed in her direction, she’d climbed the tree and had settled herself out on the branch. It was so great, just being a cat for awhile once again. She had two distinct natures which she’d now melded into one being, herself. She loved being a werecat.
Her Changing for Mark that morning, allowing yet another person in her life to know her secret, had gone well and been lots of fun. Alice had almost convinced him with her very detailed explanation. But, when Alice was holding up the blanket and Missy was taking her clothes off … which she tossed out for Mark to see … he was still equally as ready to believe the two of them were merely teasing him, pulling some new prank. He did remember that energy pulse she’d recently pushed at him at Mike’s swim meet. And, he had always wondered about Missy’s disappearance for two years, just as so many others had wondered. Just what had really happened?
So, now he knew. It still had been somewhat of a shock, which she and Alice had thoroughly enjoyed. Only after he’d watched Alice actually go up and scratch behind her ears … this giant mountain lion proudly standing right there in front of him … had he let himself really believe it was Missy. Of course, Missy’s eyes were Missy’s eyes and she even had those same scars on her left shoulder and back, just like he’d seen many times before on Missy.
Missy Goes to West Point Page 9
