by G. E. Stills
My god. She looks like a fricking goddess.
Ducking his head, he ran his thumb and finger down the length of his nose in nervous response. He had selected the clothes. She had requested he pick out an outfit more suitable to the way women dressed these days. He had not known she would look so fantastically pretty in them.
Damn it’s going to be very difficult to maintain a strictly platonic friendship with her. But maybe she isn’t attracted to me in a sexual way.
****
“I look bad?” Kat asked. “I’ve never seen that expression on you before when you’ve looked at me.” Panic raced through her.
Maybe I’ve misinterpreted. I’m still trying to process the huge amount of information Jar’san is obtaining from this thing he calls the Internet. Maybe what I’ve done, the way I’ve dressed, is part of the misinformation found there.
“It isn’t Kat. Trust me I can usually decipher what is factual and fiction in my research. Let’s see what he says,” her AI advised.
“Bad? Oh hell no. I think you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She quickly accessed the definition of beautiful. “Wow. You think I’m beautiful?”
“See,” Jar’san smirked.
“No. I know you are,” Nolan said.
“Wow. Thanks.” A strange feeling, one she never felt before, raced through her at the word he used to describe her.
“He likes you Kat. A lot. His eyes are about to bug out of his head. I won’t be surprised if he starts to drool” Jar’san gave a mental chuckle. “He likes you almost as much as you like him. Getting a little uncomfortable down below are you? Feeling a little lustful are you? I sense it’s similar to the way you felt when he touched you while applying the sun screen.”
“Shut up Jar’san. Stop reading my thoughts and making rude comments.” Quickly she raised her hand to her breastbone and pressed the spot used to cut off Jar’san’s ability to read her mind.
She sauntered across the deck, handed Nolan his Coke and then slipped into the seat beside him, tucking her legs underneath her.
“So tell me about Leah.”
He sighed. “Evidently, I shouldn’t have let you use my laptop.”
She smiled. With Jan’sar’s help your password was so simple to get around. “Maybe not, but you did. So?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Not much to tell. We met in college. Fell madly in love, or at least I did,” he added. “We moved into an apartment and lived together until a couple months ago.”
“Yes. Go on,” she prompted.
“She left right after I told her I was quitting my job. I came home and she’d moved out. When I called, she told me her feelings about me had changed and wouldn’t take my phone calls after that. I saw her a couple times with a new guy and…well I didn’t pursue it after that.”
“I looked at your photos. She’s pretty.”
“Not as pretty as you.” He blurted out and immediately averted his eyes. It was evident he hadn’t meant to speak out loud. The words had just slipped out.
Something she’d never felt before fluttered to life in her stomach.
“Gee thanks. You’re just full of compliments today aren’t you? I think you must approve of the way I’m dressed.”
Clearing his throat, he abruptly changed the topic. “I see you’re not wearing your weapons.”
“I’ve decided I won’t have to shoot you after all.” She grinned. “I put them in my …coffin. By the way, I put your pistol there with them,” she added and winked.
“You have no idea how relieved it makes me feel, knowing that you’ve decided you aren’t going to shoot me. That has been weighing very heavy on my mind,” he jested. “As for my gun. Well to be honest I had forgotten all about it until just now.”
She joked back. “Just make sure you mind you manners mister. I could always change my mind.”
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Trust me.”
“That’s too bad,” Jar’san thought and added a mental chuckle.
“Jar’san! Behave!”
“Maybe I can’t read your thoughts right now, but even so, I know what you’re thinking.”
“Jar’san! Damn you, shut up.”
“I put your gun with mine for safe keeping. We wouldn’t want it going of by accident if I should happen to anger you now would we?”
“No, no we wouldn’t.” He grinned, “But then there isn’t much chance of that happening and I’m sure you know that.”
The look in his eyes told her what he was not saying. He was infatuated with her and maybe something more than infatuation. “So are you getting hungry?” she asked, changing the topic.
“I could eat.”
“Then I’ll go down and fix us something. What would you like?”
“Surprise me. The freezer is chocked full of culinary delicacies.”
Uncurling her legs, she strolled to the ladder. “I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”
Just before her head disappeared down the ladder, she took one final look at him. She recalled the information she’d learned, both from Jar’san and from studying the Internet. Her thoughts moved on to what she’d learned about Nolan from his personal files. He’s a nice man and not half bad looking. Not bad looking at all. Leah, you were a fool to leave him. With a smile on her face, she climbed the rest of the way down the ladder and went into the galley.
CHAPTER SIX
“That’s Honolulu,” he said, when they approached the port. “Once I get docked, we have a lot of things to do.”
She gazed at the sprawling metropolis. It was the largest population center she had ever seen. “I can barely wait to begin exploring this city.”
“Remember what we discussed.”
“I know. I’ll be patient.”
After making arrangements, Nolan docked at the slip, while she remained below out of sight.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said. He strode down the dock into the city.
From inside the boat, she observed as much as possible. When she tired of looking out at the city, she settled down and opened the laptop to engage in what was fast becoming one of her favorite pastimes, searching and studying the Internet and learning more about Nolan.
Nolan paced down the dock a couple days later. When he boarded, he set several shopping bags, one of them very long, on the table. In his other hand, he held a manila envelope, which he handed to her.
“Well, Miss Katrina Taylor, you’re legal now.”
She opened the envelope and slid the credentials out into her hand. A birth certificate, driver’s license, social security card and passport.
“Did you have a lot of trouble getting these?”
“Not really. I just had to get the word out about what I was interested in, and a man contacted me. I spread some money his way and these are the result.”
“More of your money. Nolan, we need to sell that diamond and I’ll pay you back.”
“I’m not worried about that. I did find a man who would be interested in purchase though. These are for you too.” He pointed at the shopping bags.
“What are they?”
“I guess you should open them and see.”
She opened a small one and lifted out the contents. A brush, comb, some scented bath oil, other bathroom necessities. Next she opened the large bag and her breath caught. “Wow.” She held up the navy-blue pencil skirt with matching blazer and a white low cut silk blouse. “It’s beautiful.”
“I was going to get you black high heels, but thought better of it, and got you black sandals instead. I figure I shouldn’t torture you with high heels yet.” He grinned. “I’ll lay odds you’ve never even seen any, let alone worn them.”
“I’ve read about high heels, but you’re right, I’ve never worn any. And what’s that?”
she asked, pointing at a small box.
He opened it and inside was a hand crafted ponytail clasp, with a dark blue stone setting. “This is to put in your hair. When we’re negotiating for your ship, and the other things you need, I think you should look very professional, in addition to looking very beautiful. Since you will primarily be dealing with men, I think you should look sexy but not provocative.”
“Sexy? Provocative? I have learned a little about those terms on the Internet. Do you think I look sexy?”
Leaning in, she employed one of the things she learned on the Internet. She kissed him gently on the cheek. “Thanks. You’re a wonderful man, Nolan. I feel very fortunate to have you as a friend.”
Together, they gathered up the bags and took them to her room.
****
The next morning Nolan suppressed a chuckle when she walked out to the galley in her new outfit. Kat had figured out the blouse and blazer but the zipper for her skirt was in front rather than in back.
“Um… Kat. The zipper on your skirt goes in back.”
“Oh, I assumed that it was like my shorts. So skirts zip up in back?”
“Some do, some zip on the side and others in front. It depends on the skirt. Some don’t have a zipper at all but are held up by elastic.”
“That is confusing.”
He laughed. “Welcome to the world of ladies fashion.”
Unabashed, she unfastened the zipper and shifted the skirt so that it was positioned behind her. A look of consternation colored her face as her hands fumbled behind her.
“This would be much easier if the fastener was in front, or even on the side.”
“You won’t slap me if I help, will you?”
“Slap you?”
“Hit me with an open hand in the face.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Never mind. I’m going to touch you Kat but only to help you fasten the zipper.”
“Okay.” She turned her back.
He guided her hands to the zipper and pulled it up. The electric spark that passed between them when their hands touched had nothing to do with her abilities.
“So do I look okay now?” she asked when she faced him once more.
He was still thinking about touching her hands and his hammering heart. After a gulp he answered. “You look fantastic. I hope you’re ready for a big day.” He handed her a small pocketbook. “You need to carry this. It has your id in it and you can put the bag of diamonds in it.”
“Thank you.” She opened it and stuck the diamonds inside.
Side-by-side they walked along the pier and he helped her into the car he had rented. He pointed out things he thought would be of interest to her while he drove to the bank to open an account. Nolan hid his grimace when he pulled more money from his dwindling account. Studiously, she observed and followed his instructions to establish checking and savings accounts.
On the way to the diamond broker Nolan said, “This broker we’re going to see is in the same category as the man that furnished your fake ids. He’s not exactly… well known. He won’t give you their actual value. On the plus side he won’t bring attention to the transaction. You did say you wanted to stay out of the public eye.”
Kat opened the bag containing the diamonds removed from their settings. “I do not want attention. Perhaps we need to sell more than one?”
“Yes.”
Nolan parked in front of unmarked building set off by itself and together they went inside. The man who greeted them had an unsavory look that made Nolan’s sense of caution tingle. Nolan grimaced when Kat pulled the entire bag of diamonds from her pocketbook and emptied several of the stones into her hand. She reached out and placed them in the man’s hand.
“I would like to sell these,” she said.
The look of greed that flashed into the man’s eyes made Nolan’s sense of danger tingle more.
“Please excuse me. I need to examine these,” the man said. He returned moments later. “They’re genuine.” After a lengthy negotiation they agreed on a price. The broker picked up the phone and transferred the money into her account.
They left the building and drove away. Using procedures she had learned from watching him, she used her cell phone to transferred money to his account.
“Kat the extra is not necessary.”
“I think it is. I appreciate everything you have done and are doing for me.” She cocked her head and flashed him a disarming smile. “It makes me happy. Do you not wish me to be happy?”
You are leaning things far too fast. You’ve already figured out how to manipulate me with that smile of yours alone.
He shook his head and grinned. “What ever makes you happy.”
“So, do I have enough money to by another set of clothes now?”
He chuckled. “Yes Kat, you have more than enough. It’s getting late. Can we put off shopping until tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
When they returned to the boat, Nolan yawned. “I think I’ll turn in. We’ll get an early start in the morning.
“I want to look at the city lights one more time before I retire.”
“Stay on board and don’t be too long, we have a big day again tomorrow.”
“I won’t,” she promised and headed up on deck.
****
Kat stood on deck gazing out at the twinkling lights with her back to the pier.
“There has been a man following us since we left the diamond brokerage,” Jar’san said.
“I know.”
“He is approaching the boat. I can hear his footsteps.”
“Thank you for the warning.”
“Stay where you are and don’t turn around,” a gravelly voice said from the darkness behind her. “I have my gun trained on you.”
“Okay.”
The boat shifted slightly as he boarded. The next time he spoke he was closer. “Where’s your friend.”
“Sleeping below.”
“Good. Then we’ll wake him so he can join the party.”
“What do you want?”
“The rest of the diamonds of course but we’re not going to pay for these.”
“I see.”
“Turn around slowly so we can go below,” he said.
Kat turned slowly with her hands out to her sides. She faced the man with a rugged face and malevolent looking eyes.
“He has no intention for us to remain living once he has the jewels,” Jar’san said. “I can see it in his eyes.
“Very well.”
Kat held her hands out fingers splayed wide. “As you can see I’m not armed. I’m going below now.” She took two steps forward.
The bolts of lightning that jumped from her fingers took the man by complete surprise. He didn’t even get off a shot. The gun dropped from his nerveless fingers and clattered to the deck. His body danced like a puppet as the massive charge of current streaked from Kat’s outstretched fingers and ripped through him. Locked in paralysis, unable to even scream, he tumbled to the floor. His body twitched, shuddered and smoked. In a few heartbeats he began to melt.
Kat continued to bath him in electrical current until he was reduced to a pile of cinders. Calmly she went below and found a whiskbroom and dustpan. She returned to the deck and swept up the ashes. She dumped them overboard and went to her room.
“You know who sent this man don’t you?” Jar’san asked.
“I do.”
“And you know what must be done?”
“I do.” She removed her clothes, put on her panties and pasties then buckled on her weapons belt. Kat glanced in Nolan’s stateroom and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw he was sleeping. Stepping back on the deck she grew her wings and took to the air.
Kat flew to the building they had visited earlier in the day. Alighting i
n front of the building she went to the door. Electrical charge from her fingers quickly melted the locks. Kat tiptoed through the building exploring. She soon found the dealer’s living quarters and the man sleeping in his bed. Without waking him she pressed her finger to his chest. He jolted slightly and died as current surged into him. Gathering his body she went to the bathroom and placed him in the tub.
Electrical bolts stabbed out of her fingers again and played over him until he was reduced to embers. She turned on the water and washed the ashes down the drain. As she flew back to the boat she had a mental conversation with Jar’san.
“I have used my powers to bring death this night. I’m not feeling comfortable with that.”
“You did what you had to, they would have killed you and Nolan.”
“Still.”
“You must harden yourself. Anyone that stands in the way of our mission must die.”
Kat landed on the boat and crept into her room. She undressed crawled into bed. “I need to sleep, Nolan said tomorrow would be an eventful day.”
“Sleep Kat. I will keep watch.”
****
“I think maybe we should start there,” Nolan slowed down and pointed out a boutique.
“Fine.”
Inside the shop, she went up one aisle and down the other picking items out and placing them in Nolan’s arms to carry. “And these are called bras? Women these days consider them essential to wear?”
“Fraid so.” Nolan grinned.
She picked up a simple cotton one and added it to his filling arms.
“I would suggest you try these things on Kat.”
“If you think that would be wise.” Reaching up she began unbuttoning her blouse.
Jan’san’s warning came just seconds before Nolan’s
“Kat,” he screamed in her mind, “remember the view humans have on public nudity.”
