Missy Makes Mayhem (Missy the Werecat Book 5)

by P. G. Allison

  Drew replied, “Yes, another Black Hawk will be waiting at O’Hare Airport.” He paused and then asked, “Missy? Chicago is well beyond that five hundred mile radius of yours. How will you get out there once they need you?”

  “You’ll have to call me on my smartphone, since I won’t be in contact with Mike.” Missy laughed. “But, I’ve been all through the mountains in New York, back when I lived there as a cat. So, I can teleport myself to a place I know of up there and then I’ll be less than five hundred miles from Mike. No problem!”

  Chapter Thirty

  Nov 21, 2019

  Arvind Pancholi had watched the video Benedict had sent him. And, once he’d done an internet search for the Cancun Cancan Girl, he’d been able to download several more. Did he want to know her identity? And, was he interested in the FBI’s psychic, who left Mexico the same time she did? Three days later, the Axtell girl had somehow been rescued from wherever WIJO had been holding her. Maybe it was all a coincidence, but Benedict hinted he had lots more info which suggested this girl and the psychic may have played a role in that. What might WIJO be willing to pay?

  Pancholi was very confident WIJO would be willing to pay a great deal. Especially, if what he was suspicious about these two might be true. Although Benedict had no awareness of the supernatural, he certainly did. And, he’d quickly guessed the so-called psychic might actually be an air witch, a finder witch. If so, the U.S. was using witches. Yes, if he could provide WIJO with evidence of that, he’d be able to retire much, much sooner to that yacht he’d been dreaming about. His plans for someday cruising the Mediterranean had suddenly become very realistic, with someday being maybe just a few short months away.

  What really convinced him of all this was the girl. Watching her move in these videos, he just knew she wasn’t human. Whatever she was, he couldn’t say for certain, but she had to be a supernatural in order to perform the way she had. And, Benedict said he could identify her. If so, he could probably find out just what sort of supernatural she might be. And, once WIJO understood witches and supernaturals were not only real, but that the U.S. had used them to embarrass them?

  Oh, yes!

  The big question now was how much did Benedict want for these files of his? Because, rather than negotiate in behalf of his client, he intended to purchase all this for himself. He had accumulated a small fortune over the years and, if he could use that to pay Benedict? Then, he was positive he could turn around and parlay that investment into a very large fortune. A very large fortune, indeed!

  -----

  Tracy had just returned to her room after her morning shower and, moments later, she sensed Missy was suddenly there. Sure enough, with her characteristic energy pulse, her roommate reappeared in the next instant, over on own her bed and looking quite pleased with herself. Pleased and … very, very happy.

  “Are you glad to be back? Or, are you this happy because of all the fun you just had?”

  Missy giggled and said, “A little of both, I guess. Everything went really well; the good guys are now watching the bad guys in Philadelphia while our friends are on their way to Chicago where they’ll invite me for yet more fun and, hopefully … after that? We’ll get to finish things here in New York, keeping America safe, all before Thanksgiving vacation.”

  “And, while doing all your secret spy stuff, you’ll still somehow take all your mid-terms, play soccer on Saturday, yadda-yadda-yadda. Okay. What about Mike? Isn’t he missing exams?”

  “Yes, but he’ll be able to make them all up, no problem. He enjoys being part of all this secret spy stuff, you know. Besides …”

  Tracy laughed, saying, “Besides he’s getting all this extra time with you. You did manage some Missy and Mike time, right?”

  “Oh, well … he got to watch me eat three large steaks. Does that count?”

  “So that explains it! No wonder you look so happy. Mike scored a hat trick, giving you those three steaks, huh? I know how your voracious animal appetite must have needed that.” Joking aside, Tracy did know how hungry Missy would get after expending so much energy. Even though Missy could now draw a tremendous amount of energy from her surroundings, her Shifting still always required her to use some of her own unique energy as well.

  Missy giggled, realizing she was probably exuding all this happiness which Tracy had apparently noticed because of more than just Mike’s hat trick with the steaks. Mike had scored a different hat trick, satisfying yet another of her animal appetites in their bedroom, once he’d seen her in that bra and panties Connie had picked out for her. He’d been doing that a lot lately, as a matter of fact. Not that she was counting or keeping score or anything but … hey? Sometimes … having such an attentive lover made a girl feel really happy!

  -----

  Edward Collinsworth reported in down at the FBI’s field office in Philadelphia where he was joining several others who, like himself, had been brought there for this latest crisis. While he was from the FBI’s Organized Crime Division rather than Counterterrorism, this threat to the Thanksgiving Day parades had the highest priority and he’d been sent down from Boston to help.

  Due to the FBI having better facilities, their field office was being used. However, Homeland Security actually had the lead for this task force. The main conference room had been set up as a sort of war room, with several monitors in use all along two walls. On a third wall, a projector was displaying aerial photographs showing a section of the city with some warehouses on a big screen. And, next to that was a large whiteboard with several portrait photos attached.

  There were already at least two dozen task force members in the room, most sitting down at the end facing these photos. After grabbing a cup of coffee and taking a seat, Collinsworth watched as the room filled up with several more members while he waited for the briefing which was about to begin. He recognized the warehouses and the men in the photos from the files he’d been provided with the night before.

  Soon enough, two official looking men walked up front and, after a few preliminary words welcoming everyone, they got things started. The first to speak was Leonard Garman, the senior FBI representative at the Philly office. He explained the other man up there with him was Jonathan Pritchard from Homeland Security and that Jonathan would be the one in charge. Garman then quickly updated them on where things stood with all the surveillance teams, both those out at the target warehouse as well as those watching the men in the photos. Then he deferred to Pritchard for a further update.

  Pritchard explained how each of their suspects had now been quietly checked out and, except for the two known as Ahmad Sameer Parvis and Hiram Abdul-Washeed, very little had been learned. The others had apparently all arrived only recently, were not employed anywhere, paid cash for the rooms they’d rented and had been coming and going without anyone really noticing just what activities they were involved in. Since they were not there in accordance with the work visas which they’d used to gain entrance into the country, they could be picked up and deported at any time.

  Parvis, however, was quite a different story. He had somehow acquired several rental properties which were all located in the poorest areas, making him pretty much a slum landlord. And, he also managed the warehouse property for a corporation which was still being researched. It wasn’t yet clear where his money had originally come from for any of this.

  Abdul-Washeed was a cab driver but little else was known about his activities. He and Parvis both had valid green cards.

  They had learned, however, that both Parvis and Abdul-Washeed were members of the same mosque. Names for some possible associates of theirs had been identified, who also attended that mosque. These individuals would also be placed under surveillance but, so far, only two of them had been located. A lot had been accomplished but there was a lot more which still needed to be done; it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours yet since they’d obtained all this Intel concerning their suspect terrorist group.

  One member in the audience raised her hand a
nd asked, “What can you tell us about where all this Intel is coming from? I mean, having fifteen guys show up here who somehow got work visas to enter the U.S. but then aren’t where they’re supposed to be and aren’t working … that’s very suspicious. But, what do we have that says these guys are planning to bomb any parade?”

  Pritchard looked over at Garman and said, “Leonard, you probably should answer this one. After all, it was the FBI who brought all of this to our attention yesterday, right?” He had been placed in charge of this Philly task force with very little information concerning what evidence had led them there, but he didn’t want his agency to appear ignorant. His boss had emphasized how important it was for him to run a good show, making Homeland Security look good, especially after that recent traitor of theirs had caused them so much shame and embarrassment.

  Garman said, “That’s right. Robert Ulrey, who heads up one of our Divisions, was able to find this warehouse with members from his team. And, with help from one of our government’s special agencies, the presence of explosives was confirmed inside that warehouse along with a number of suicide vests. Based on the report provided by the CIA last week, it’s believed all these recent arrivals have come here to blow themselves up at our parade. Since that report says there are attacks planned at three parades, we’re holding off making any arrests here just yet.”

  Hearing Robert Ulrey’s name being mentioned, Collinsworth raised his hand. When Garman acknowledged him with a nod, he asked, “Isn’t Ulrey heading up that new Psychic Division? Is that how they found this warehouse?”

  “Well, it’s all pretty hush-hush. Robert didn’t say, exactly. And, he wouldn’t tell me how that government agency was able to confirm the explosives and the vests. That’s supposedly something which can’t be revealed due to National Security.” Garman had not been very happy when not only Ulrey, but others higher up in his chain of command had all said the same thing, quoting him the standard “need-to-know-only” bullshit.

  Pritchard was only now hearing this explanation about any Psychic Division being involved. “Wait, wait … say again how we know we’re watching the right guys?” He did not like being blindsided by this. His focus had been all about these seventeen suspects, who all certainly looked guilty as hell. He hadn’t realized the evidence they were running with might not be solid and ironclad. “What exactly does the FBI have showing explosives are in that warehouse?”

  Garman had not been pleased about Homeland Security being placed in charge and now, seeing Pritchard attempting to throw the FBI under the bus, he replied testily saying, “As I explained, that was confirmed by one of our government’s special agencies, not the FBI. Look, we’re only authorized to watch and investigate these guys, so it doesn’t really matter what evidence we have. We’re not supposed to make any arrests so we don’t need to draw any warrants just yet.”

  This lack of any unified leadership was quickly causing some obvious dissention amongst the rest of the task force members. Collinsworth was already regretting having said anything. With Robert Ulrey originally being from the Boston office, he was concerned his own Division up there might now catch some flak. He could already see how various sides were being taken, some by the FBI, some by Homeland Security, and some by representatives from other agencies.

  Pritchard also noticed how his task force was now starting to disintegrate, right there in front of him, and -- worried how that might make his agency look -- he made a decision which would later cause him some deep regret. He yelled for everyone to sit back down and listen up. Then he announced, “We’re not gonna just stand around with our thumbs up our ass, playing second fiddle while waiting for some psychics or special agencies to tell us how to do our jobs! We have the important task of protecting the City of Brotherly Love down here and that’s what we’re gonna do. Now, there’ll be no more pussyfooting around …” Glancing over at Garman and trying to be diplomatic, he continued, saying, “Leonard and I have assignments for each of you. Let’s get out there and get whatever we need in order to be ready to arrest these guys.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Nov 21, 2019

  Robert and Major Schermerhorn were pleased. Things were progressing very well. The Afghanistan items they’d brought -- their Chicago objects -- had indeed provided some directional signals, once Millie and Oliver had placed them in their circle; less than half had been discarded as having no value. They’d been able to begin their search in the borrowed Black Hawk about two hours after their arrival at O’Hare Airport.

  And, once again, they had isolated where they believed the strongest signals were coming from to a single building. This time, it was a barn rather than a warehouse. It was located on a small farm about twenty miles outside the city limits and, conveniently, there were also a number of small outbuildings plus a large farmhouse. They wanted to have Missy confirm things for them, of course, but it was very likely this farm was housing most of the terrorist cell members. That’s what they were sensing from their Chicago objects.

  They had returned to where they’d established a temporary headquarters, right at O’Hare, and had once again made some calls. As before, the FBI, Homeland Security, local police and fire departments, hospitals and other agencies as appropriate were all brought on board. They even alerted the local National Guard units to be on standby. Drew, Les and Marsha from “P” Branch were helping with this effort, as was Winword from the CIA and some of General Blake’s staff members whom Major Schermerhorn had called. Now, they were merely waiting for all their many resources to either get into position or else be prepared for further developments.

  Wes and Chris said they could fly back out there at night, since the National Guard unit had managed to provide them with night vision goggles. And, Mike had explained how, once Missy was able to visually see the farm, she then could teleport herself right in there, as she’d done for the warehouse in Philadelphia. They shouldn’t have any need for the helicopter after that but it would be good to keep it available on standby. Just in case.

  Meanwhile, they learned Team Twenty-Two had successfully hit the training camp near Herat and, as before, there was now a C-17 transport plane containing all the items they’d confiscated heading back to the U.S. It would be arriving sometime the next day at New Jersey’s Newark Airport, since that had a military hanger which they could use for whatever New York City operations they’d need to conduct.

  Thanksgiving was still a week away and, if their good luck continued, they’d be able to quietly and safely contain all the members from these three terrorist cells, avoiding any possible attacks or bombings.

  It had been an hour since finishing the evening meals they’d had brought in and they’d just gotten word there were enough task force members now out watching the farm and ready to go wherever needed. Cameras capable of providing clear images, even though at night, were in place. Using this equipment, a couple of individuals at the farm had already been identified as having recently entered the U.S. using a phony work visa, just like those fifteen others in Philadelphia.

  Ownership of the farm property was still being checked; apparently, there was some sort of shell corporation involved, similar to how the Philadelphia warehouse was owned. It would take some time to unravel just what group really owned these places but, based on the complexity of all the paperwork they were seeing, it was anticipated they’d find the money had all come from overseas.

  Robert looked at the major and said, “I think it’s time for our invisible supnat to go pay a visit out at this farm, just like she did in Philly. She’s the only one who can confirm whether we’ll have everyone accounted for.”

  “Because she can identify everybody by their scent, right? Those who are there right now and those who might not be there but who we’ll need to go find?” The major was still amazed Missy could do this. No wonder General Blake thought so highly of her.

  “Yeah, her naming everyone who might be involved, so we can get them all under surveillance, provides so
me assurance there won’t be anyone showing up wearing any vest to one of our parades. Our Philly office tells me they’re now tracking several more people known to have associated with that guy Parvis. Hopefully, that new group will include those four names she gave us who we haven’t ID’d yet.”

  “Dumbo, Felix, Goofy and Pluto?” Major Schermerhorn chuckled. “When I first heard Mike rattling off all the silly names she came up with? For people she had merely scented? I couldn’t understand why she was doing that instead of rushing to tell us who was in there and what they were doing. But, once I realized she really could come back later and give us a positive ID, it all made sense.”

  “Exactly. If she went rushing around, she might not remember each scent the way she does. It’s not just her ability to notice each unique scent but her ability to memorize them all so she can recognize them later.” Robert had once heard Missy describe how her mind had all these compartments where she stored things. She’d been trying to explain how she’d melded her two natures, why she could endure pain so well and how various other special gifts and abilities enabled her to do what she could do. All he’d really understood from all of that was how she really was only partly human.

  Since Missy could teleport to wherever Millie or Oliver were, it was decided to leave Mike back at the headquarters they’d set up, ready to go with his microphone and all the other telecommunications equipment they’d brought. Mike handed Millie the nice bathrobe he’d gotten for Missy to wear when she materialized; he’d purchased it from their hotel in Philly when he’d checked out that morning. He told Millie he’d call the helicopter when Missy was ready to make her appearance.

  Robert, Major Schermerhorn, Millie and Oliver then followed their pilots Wes and Chris back out to the aircraft and, a short while after that, they were airborne again and headed back out towards the farm.