by Finian Blake
“Rhonda he is just baiting you,” Cherry warned. “Do you remember what I told you about those Generals and their snuff club? They killed for entertainment. Take a seat and buckle up according to the GPS we are near our destination.” Dimitri’s bound feet were pointed toward the door. He could not see in the darkness, but he did not sense any land.
“So you are going to kill me here,” Dimitri said trying unsuccessfully to maintain the arrogance in his voice.
When the chopper arrived at the disposal site Rhonda opened the cabin door taking a seat buckling herself in tightly as Cherry did a slow three hundred and sixty degree turn one hundred feet off of the surface checking her radar for surface traffic finding none since it was dark and there was no line of sight. Rhonda was staring intently at Dimitri bound on the floor with his cinderblocks.
“What the fuck are you looking at bitch,” Dimitri asked defiantly.
“Fish food…” was all that Rhonda had time to say. Cherry executed an extreme four hundred fifty degree turn causing Dimitri to flip out of the helicopter with a scream. She headed north for fifty miles doing a ninety degree turn turning toward land popping up to two thousand feet as she crossed the coast. It had been almost an hour before Cherry broke the silence.
“Rhonda baby are you alright?” Cherry expressed her concern, “I didn’t think that getting rid of that piece of shit would bother you that much!”
“It wasn’t getting rid of him that bothers me,” Rhonda said desperately. “I just can’t believe that we almost let him in.”
“That’s a carryover from Alex. Unlike Sean Manworth he tried to avoid violence,” Cherry intentionally threw in the barb about Rhonda’s former boss as a reminder of the cost of unnecessary violence. “Alex always believed that a person’s true nature would come through as it did in your case. Victoria saw the real you, he took her word for it and he sent me out here to check you out.” Cherry, reached back to stroke Rhonda’s arm finding a breast instead of an arm causing Rhonda to move closer.
“I can’t argue that one, but it still makes my skin crawl. With the ‘Sweeper Teams’ it was supposed to be for the good of national security, not entertainment. It was wrong but at least there was some higher goal. I would have liked to have tied his balls to the helicopter before throwing him out, but that would have made me as bad as him.” Rhonda sighed deeply, “We took care of business and I can live with that. I wonder what he was thinking about when he flipped out of the chopper?”
“Gravity…,” Cherry said with her voice barely above a whisper.
Winnie awoke with the sound of the Helicopter landing, since Cherry used more power for night landings just in case she had to wave off. The surroundings were unfamiliar and the bedding was unfamiliar. The pillow was much firmer than usual and when she tried to fluff it, it moved. It dawned on her that her head was resting on Xavier’s bicep and the memory of last night came into focus. Winnie seductively bit the warm flesh as Xavier kissed the top of her head cupping a breast with a soft caress.
“I think that I screwed myself last night,” Xavier whispered almost inaudible.
“What do you mean,” Winnie whispered back.
“They believe that bodyguards should not have a personal relationship with the client and I think that we are at the top of the personal part of the relationship.” Xavier chuckled softly.
“I believe that the term is intimate,” Winnie said firmly fully surprised that she could turn so easily in his firm grip. “I didn’t realize that I was assigned a body guard.”
“Well not yet, but with four incursions in three days, Cherry will call for 24-hour protection for all of the key players.”
“So don’t tell Cherry,” Winnie paused, “I thought that Rhonda or Tom was in charge.”
“Tom runs Four Diamonds North America, but Cherry is number three at Four Diamonds International just below Nadia and Ted.” Xavier’s voice remained soft. “Cherry will tell Tom to make all of the assignments, since neither Nadia, Ted, nor Cherry will override him. Once a body guard is assigned he or she will make the decisions based on realities. Now, get some sleep six AM is just around the corner.”
5.
SETUP
At six AM sharp the doorbell rang and Winnie threw on a robe to answer the door. She was surprised to see Eden Bacchus standing in the doorway with a gold Mylar garment bag around the hanger.
“Good morning Senator,” Eden said handing her the garment bag. “Tamar sent you a change of clothes to evaluate. I fully expect that things will fit perfectly. I will be your body guard today.” Eden did not miss a beat pulling out her satellite phone and handing it to Senator Ransom.
“Senator this is Tom Thomas speaking. I have assigned Eden Bacchus as your bodyguard because of the unusual events that have happened over the last few days. Please introduce her as your personal assistant. We would also like you to be our guest for a few days until we understand if there is indeed a threat.”
“I would prefer Xavier as a bodyguard,” Winnie countered. “Would that be possible?”
“No, Eden is a capable body guard,” Tom said firmly. “She has certain abilities that would work better.”
“Is this because Xavier and I slept together last night,” Winnie asked boldly. Tom let out a loud cough to cover his laughter.
“No, Eden can do certain things that Xavier cannot do.”
“Such as…” Winnie pressed.
“Such as going into the lady’s room. She will blend in by helping around your office,” Tom offered. “Having a large burley gentleman sitting around your waiting room tends to shout that there is a problem. Winnie, do me a favor. Just try Eden for a day and if it doesn’t work I will adjust things. In the meantime, as a peace offering we will keep Xavier as your driver.” Winnie broke the connection with a warm smile handing the phone to Eden.
“You will be my bodyguard and Xavier will be our driver.” Winnie was surprised to see Eden beam brightly. “Have a seat I need to get dressed.”
Winnie walked in the bedroom carrying the garment bag that Eden had given her. She opened the bag finding a fashionable business suit and all of the undergarments that she would need. She was just holding the undergarments up for examination when Xavier walked out of the shower dressed in his white shirt and pants that he wore as a masseur’s uniform.
“Good Tamar is on the ball. Was that her at the door?”
“No, Eden stopped by to let me know that she would be my body guard. She put me on the phone with Tom, so I asked him if you could be my protector.” Winnie took a deep breath, “Tom said no and I asked him if it was because we had sex. He said no, and to prove it he said that you would be our driver.” Xavier rolled his eyes putting his head in his hands.
“Do you remember when I told you that whoever had the duty made the calls,” Xavier asked. Winnie nodded silently. “Well that call makes Eden my boss.”
“I’ll just…,” Winnie started to say as Xavier held up his hand shaking his head.
“Eden is a good kid and I can work with her. If you would be so kind, please ask her to have me drive you instead of taking the train and take Tom up on his offer of staying here.”
“How did you know that Tom made that offer,” Winnie asked suspiciously.
“This place is as secure as it gets, and this is where he would want you.” Winnie walked into the bath to dress trying to do her make up the way that Armand had done last night almost thinking that it was another woman in the mirror. When she walked out of the bath Winnie was relieved at Xavier’s appreciative look.
“The change suits you well,” he said with a sincere tone in his voice. Winnie had one more look in the mirror finding the well-tailored woman in the business attire more familiar.
Lloyd spent the weekend buying a new laptop and camera, spending Sunday afternoon dialing in the setup. Lloyd favored the Bluetooth setup so that he could download automatically to his laptop. He had called Steve, who had agreed to meet him, since he was only planning o
n shooting at the capital.
“I do not wish to even be in the same state as that asshole Boris,” Steve made his intentions clear. Steve and Lloyd like to work as a team because working alone invited trouble, since most people are sensitive about having their picture taken. Lloyd was working for low position on the Capitol steps while Steve took the high position on the opposite side. He used a cheap pair of kid’s walkie-talkies to stay in touch. They did not need a long range, so cheap proved to be perfect, since the various agencies did not cover the kiddie channels. It was just passed eight AM when a charcoal gray Bentley Mulsanne limousine pulled up in front of the steps. This attracted Lloyd’s attention because the car did not have government plates.
“Steve, check this out a high roller with Maryland plates at the bottom of the steps coming in a Bentley Mulsanne,” Lloyd said urgently watching a muscular chauffeur in a charcoal gray business suit get out and open the back door for the occupants. “This has to be something his suit is a perfect match for the paint on the car.” Steve switched to his 300 millimeter lens.
“Holy shit that’s Senator Ransom, she takes the train every day and the bus from the station,” Steve was doubly surprised. “If I am not mistaken that impeccably dressed young woman carrying the senator’s brief case looks familiar?”
“Yeah,” Lloyd acknowledged.
“When I last saw her she was dressed in a security guard’s uniform and zapped you with a Taser,” Lloyd winced when he saw Eden.
“As I remember you pissed yourself with that one.” Steve could see Lloyd’s posture change from his position at the top of the stairs instantly wishing that he could take the comment back. Lloyd started to walk past a television crew that was setting up for an interview. The producer told the camera man to use Lloyd for a focusing target.
“I’m going to teach that bitch a lesson,” Lloyd moved in with the camera held up.
“Stop absolutely still and do not move,” Xavier’s voice came over Eden’s ear bud. She looked straight at Lloyd coming on with a camera. “When he gets close enough with the camera give it a little head butt, a little blood would be nice.” Xavier looked up the steps noticing Steve taking pictures. Lloyd was looking through the view finder waiting for Eden to put up her hands defensively as a sign to stop. When the camera was just an inch away from her face Eden gave the camera a head butt causing Lloyd to miss step. He knocked her over backwards on the steps. Eden was thankful that her martial arts training had taught her how to fall. Eden moved her ring across her eyebrow starting a flow of blood before she hit the stair. Eden put her hand to her eye milking the flow of blood, so that it ran down her face and the sleeve of her jacket making an unholy mess. Xavier ran up the steps subduing Lloyd rubbing his hand in the blood and smearing it on the lens of the camera. When security ran to the mêlée Xavier pointed toward Steve.
“He is in on the whole thing and his camera is the evidence.” Steve’s camera had twenty pictures of Senator Ransom and Eden walking up the stairs and being knocked down by Lloyd. The final few pictures were of Eden lying head down on the stairs her legs in the air with blood on her face and clothes. Senator Ransom cradled Eden’s head in her arms with blood smeared on her clothes. A news crew that was setting up for interviews was on hand for live coverage. Winnie picked up her phone calling her secretary.
“Molly, cancel my appointments for this morning I need to take my assistant to the hospital.”
“You don’t…” Molly started to say when Winnie interrupted.
“Just cancel my morning and turn on the TV,” Winnie insisted as she climbed in the ambulance with Eden.
The second that he climbed behind the wheel to follow the ambulance Xavier was on the phone to Tom with a message for Doctor Patch.
“Tom, fly Doctor Patch to the hospital and bring a change of clothes for Eden and Winnie. Bring Rene out to replace Eden.” Once the helicopter was in the air Xavier called Doctor Patch back.
“I need a two-inch scar close over her eyebrow and cover it with a load of bandages, put Tom on,” Xavier insisted.
“Tom, it was those two asshole paparazzi that you had arrested a few days ago. Call whoever you know at the Capitol Police and have them both charged with assault. I had them confiscate both of their cameras as evidence. Have the police wait 24-hours before charging them and delay setting their bail as long as possible.”
“Xavier, I am landing at the hospital, I have Doctor Patch with me. Where are you?”
“I am five minutes out. Tamar made me wait for a change of clothes for Winnie Meet us at the emergency room. I will have Winnie insist on her personal physician.”
Steve and Lloyd were escorted down a row of cells by an extremely unfriendly jailer. One of the bunks in the cell was puked up from a drunk and the toilet appeared to be plugged up.
“Sorry about that we just had an opening. The janitor is overdue and we will get this cleaned up, as soon as possible,” The jailer said with a smile.
“We couldn’t possibly,” Steve started to say.
“You guys are getting locked up not checking in to a motel, but I can understand your position,” the jailer took them to a holding cell with ten other prisoners in it. “Your attorney will be in as soon as he can get through DC traffic.”
Their Attorney Jasper White showed at ten o’clock looking rushed. “I have to get back to Baltimore by noon I have a client being sentenced at one and I need time to confer.”
“What about us,” Lloyd demanded.
“They can’t set bail until they have an idea of what charges will be brought and she is still in surgery.”
“Surgery,” Steve howled.
“Yes surgery,” Jasper said quietly. “They claim that your real target was Senator Ransom. Lloyd you charged her with the camera while Steve took pictures. You ran at her full speed while she was standing still.” Jasper put his lap top on the table booting it up.
“She ran into me,” Lloyd insisted as Jasper started the video that he recorded off of U Tube.
“Not according to the news crew that was setting up for a nine AM press conference. They were focusing their cameras on Senator Ransom and her assistant Eden Bacchus while you rammed Eden with your camera. She has a two inch cut over her eye. Eden fell backwards hitting her head on the stairs. She is going to have a MRI to check for concussion.” Jasper pointed to the screen. “Her legs went up in the air, so she showed her powder blue lace panties to everyone in the world. The network didn’t catch it until they had shown it ten times and by then it went viral on U Tube with 20,000 views, over four countries in less than an hour.” Jasper pointed to the banner running across the bottom of the screen: SENATOR ATTACKED ON CAPITAL STEPS.
“That was the networks fault,” Lloyd whined.
“Asshole! It’s like basketball the person that is still moving at the time of the collision gets the penalty. You were still moving, so the reason that her legs were up in the air displaying her feminine charms is that you knocked her on her ass.” Jasper was red in the face and breathing heavily. “The good news is that you were recently in the hospital for psychiatric evaluation.”
“How is that good news,” Lloyd asked.
“We can claim that you were crazy, and didn’t know what you are doing which is the only decent explanation that I can come up with.” Jasper was still red in the face, “Just don’t let anyone know that it was for assaulting two, sixteen-year-old girls.”
“I was set up,” Lloyd protested.
“That’s what Felix Owens said, and he went from number three at Justice to doing real estate law in back state Maryland.” Jasper’s phone rang and he stepped out of the room before he could get into the meat of his lecture. After about half an hour Jasper reentered the room.
“Good news, the Senator got my number from the capitol police,” Jasper smiled broadly. “Senator Ransom asked to have the charges against you dropped Steve. She will drop the charges against Lloyd providing he does a minimum of three outpatient visits with a
Doctor Weiner who is a psychiatrist that the Feds use consistently. If at the end of three visits Doctor Weiner sees fit to release Lloyd, all the charges will be dropped.” Jasper handed Lloyd a slip of paper with Doctor Weiner’s information on it. “As soon as you make the appointment you will be released on your own recognizance and when you keep the third appointment the charges will be dropped.”
“Nobody sets me up,” Lloyd said with a scowl.
“SHIT,” Jasper roared in Lloyd’s face. “If they set you up they would have you detained, charged with assault and filed a civil suit. I would have been thrilled if they didn’t charge you with assault. Senator Ransom’s reaction is way past reasonable. From man to man, you could use a little couch time.” Jasper held his cell phone to Lloyd. “If you don’t take this deal we are done, and you can get yourself out of this mess.” Lloyd took the cell phone making the three appointments.
Jasper stood on the steps with Steve and Lloyd taking a deep breath. “Steve it was a pleasure call me any time.”
“Lloyd, I am holding your $5,000 retainer. Your fee for today is $1,000 dollars I will return $4,000 and ask you to never call me again for any reason.”
“Why…?” Lloyd protested, “I was innocent.”
“I don’t care if you are guilty or innocent,” Jason said not trying to hide his frustration. “You are too stupid to deal with. When are you going to cancel your appointments?”
“You don’t know me as well as you think you do,” Lloyd smiled brightly. “I am not going to show up.”
“Steve if you get thrown in jail again with this asshole, you are on your own,” Jason snarled. “This asshole is stupid all day long.” Jason stormed off not bothering to comment on Lloyd’s upraised middle finger. Jason knew that Senator Ransom would go to the opposite pole when she found out about Lloyd reneging on their deal. She had cleared the deal with the DA deferring the charges to give Lloyd a chance to prove up on his end.
