“I’ll have it ready in fifteen minutes,” the Press Secretary quickly replied.
“Heads will roll if there is a leak from anyone in this room,” the President threatened again.
“Yes, sir,” Banyon heard several people reply.
“Have we got the names of all of the girls yet?”
“I have a complete list, sent in from the medics in the van. By the way, all the girls are in good shape with only a few bruises, but scared out of their wits,” someone answered.
“I want an FBI team on each of the girl’s families immediately. There’s to be a complete blackout. Make sure the families understand we rescued their children, despite great risk, to the men who saved them and also to the United States. Have each of them sign documents saying they will never discuss anything about what happened in Cancun with anyone. Offer some compensation if necessary.”
“I’ll make the calls,” someone off screen offered.
The President was giving orders at break neck speed. Banyon liked his style. “Contact our ambassador in Mexico City. Have him visit with and notify the President of Mexico that Danta Lopez has escaped prison. Tell him he is seeking revenge on his old cartel buddies,” the President said, closing the final loophole in the rescue. Danta Lopez was actually still in maximum security federal prison, with no chance of ever seeing the light of day, but the Mexican President would never know that.
Banyon continued to watch the big monitor. The vans were quickly approaching the private airfield. He noted all the smaller side screens were blank except for his. He was the only one watching the escape. Suddenly, he saw a hand point at his screen. “Someone is still watching,” a voice said.
The President's face quickly filled the screen in front of Banyon. “Ah, Colt your work is done for today,” he smiled. “You did a great job. We would not have been successful without your help. I will send a message to Bart immediately to cut you a check for $500,000. It will be delivered to your office before the end of the day. I trust everything you heard and saw today will not be shared with anyone. Do you understand?”
“Of course Mr. President,” Banyon said as graciously as possible. His monitor suddenly went blank.
Chapter Thirteen
Banyon now leaned back in his chair and placed his feet on the edge of his desk. He could feel the tension drain from his body. As he looked around his monitor, he saw Mandy jogging in place, but staring intently at him. She quickly pulled out her earplugs and said. “Are you finally done?”
He nodded.
“Oh, goody,” she exclaimed and clapped her hands.
Mandy flew around the side of his desk and stood next to his chair. She was glistening with sweat. She leaned in towards him while her eyes searched his face for information. He finally realized she wanted to know about the money.
“Well, Mandy, it seems today is your lucky day, you will be receiving a check for $50,000.”
She squealed like a teenager and quickly started bouncing up and down with her arms stretched over her head in victory. Banyon was suddenly aroused, again.
“I'm going to give you a huge hug and then a big reward for choosing me,” she exclaimed.
Suddenly panicked, Banyon quickly stood up and put out his hands to stop her from jumping on him again. “Mandy you are all sweaty from your exercises. Your scent will get on my clothes. My girlfriend Loni will know immediately. She has an excellent sense of smell. I can't deal with that right now,” he said defensively.
“But don't you see,” she pleaded. I want the people in the office to believe I can seduce any man I choose, even you,” she countered. “I want to be like Heather and make more money.”
“You are very seductive,” Banyon quickly told her. It will be our little secret. Nobody else needs to know the details. Now towel off,” he ordered. He watched as she reluctantly grabbed the big white towel and sensuously rubbed it all over her body.
“Satisfied,” she said sarcastically, as she stood in front of him with a pained look on her face.
“Yes,” he replied in a husky voice. He was about to say more when a knock at the door broke the tension between them.
“Come in,” said an annoyed Banyon. The door flew open and Heather runway walked her way into his office and up to the front of his desk. She looked at Mandy and smiled, then looked at Banyon and frowned.
“Mandy you look excited and Colt you look scared. I think both of you need some lessons from me,” she grinned.
“What do you want Heather?”
“I'm here to deliver your Bluetooth connector,” she said as she dangled it from her manicured index finger. “Wear it inside the building. It is not to ever to leave the office,” she warned.
“That's it, that’s the only reason you are here?” Banyon was suddenly suspicious that someone could listen in and see everything that went on in his office. He decided to ask Wolf about that later.
“Unless there's something else I can do for either of you,” she offered while she batted her attractive eyelashes.
“I think I need your help Heather,” Mandy moaned like she was hurt. “I think you need to give me some more lessons,” she said as she looked at Banyon with sorrow.
“Well, I could do better than that,” Heather brightly said. “Why don't we head to the shower room and I will help with your current problem,” she looked at Banyon as she said it. “You’ll feel a lot better.”
“Okay,” Mandy replied brightly.
“Colt you can come and watch if you like. It's okay, men watch me shower all the time. Remember nothing is illegal or immoral in this office.” “Almost all men are voyeurs, you know,” she added.
I’m one too, he thought.
“You two go ahead and get started and maybe I'll catch up with you later,” Banyon promised. Mandy's face quickly brightened as Heather stepped near, wrapping a delicate arm around her waist. She guided Mandy towards the door and away from Colton Banyon.
He collapsed into his chair, realizing he was completely exhausted, drained, and very aroused himself. He couldn't wait for his check to be delivered so that he could run to the bank and make a beeline for Loni. She is in trouble today, he thought.
He didn't have to wait long. His door was still open when he heard the sound of cloth rubbing together coming down the hallway. Suddenly, a Catholic nun dressed in a complete nun’s habit of black and white, passed through his door. Her attire included a coif to cover her hair. She was older, maybe forty-five, but was still attractive, with high cheekbones, and a brilliant smile. She glided up to his desk and produced a check from inside her sleeve.
“Bart has sent me to deliver your check, Colt,” she announced. She then ceremoniously presented it to him over the desktop.
Banyon grabbed the check stared at it for a few seconds then turned his attention to the calmly standing nun. She had her hands steeped for prayer and a Mona Lisa smile covered her face. She stared straight ahead. She didn’t seem to know he was in the room. She made him feel very peaceful.
“Are you really a nun?”
“My name is Sister Teresa, and I am most certainly a nun in spirit and practice. I am very good at comforting people,” she replied without hesitation.
“But you must have some sort of special talent to be employed by this firm. What is your special talent?”
“Well actually I am fully trained nuclear scientist. But there isn’t much work for my talents, so I have adapted to a new persona,” she said as she spread her arms producing an angel like pose.
“That might be useful in dealing with people who are Catholic by religion,” Banyon, the born and raised Catholic, noted.
“I also have a photographic memory and am an expert at deciphering codes and puzzles,” she humbly admitted.
“I’ll remember that,” he said cheerfully.
“And, I have also completed all the training offered by Heather. Shall I demonstrate for you?” Sister Teresa asked as she tilted her head and looked into his eyes.
&nb
sp; “No,” Banyon yelled in a panicked voice.
Before Banyon could protest further, Sister Teresa stepped up on the chair in front of his desk and was suddenly standing over him with her legs apart on the desk. She began flipping her hips from side to side, while quickly raising the dress of our habit. Within seconds the bare thighs of her long legs were visible. Her Mona Lisa smile stayed plastered on her face.
“Stop. Please stop,” Banyon protested.
Part Two
More Stress
Chapter Fourteen
The trip home took way too long, but it gave Banyon time to think about his long day. He thought he did pretty well for his first day at Dewey & Beatem. He had been apprehensive as he had not worked in an office for over ten years. But in a nutshell, he had earned a net total of $440,000, after expenses for Mandy and the firm. He had already deposited the check in the bank. It was a good start.
Along the way, he helped rescue six innocent young women, helped destroy a white-slavery ring, put a corrupt police chief out of business, and pleased the President of United States. He had made some new acquaintances; even if they were a bit strange and extreme, and had developed new contacts he was sure could help him in the future. He also had lunch with, and was now on a first name basis with the Secretary of the Justice Department. The DOJ. Not a bad day at all.
He realized that he had quickly become somewhat of a celebrity at the Law firm. He knew this because, as he was leaving the building, doors opened and several heads peeked out at him as he walked down the hallways. People stared at him as he left the building. He understood, word had quickly spread of his immediate success. Many of the people were jealous. He knew that in an office environment, few secrets were kept hidden for long. He speculated the leak probably came from the highly-charged Mandy, and was probably coxed out of her by the intoxicating Heather.
He wondered how many people would visit his office tomorrow and what new talents they might have to offer. He reluctantly admitted to himself that he secretly enjoyed the sexual encounters as well. He wondered how long his celibacy policy would last in the sexually charged office. He also wondered what affect it would have on his relationship with Loni. He really didn’t want anything to change. She always seemed and ready to go, but today Banyon was sure he would be the aggressor.
He suddenly was thinking about Loni. Since she had walked into his life several years ago, his world had completely changed. Everything now revolved around her. She was his live-in companion, his business partner, his best friend, and without question the best lover he had ever encountered in his life. The women he had met today were definitely intriguing, but no one could quite measure up to the standard set by Loni. They had a near-perfect relationship. He never wanted to lose that.
He could not help but think about her on the seemingly endless trip home. Loni was a petite Asian woman, the only child of former main-land Chinese parents. They had expected to have a boy. She had been born in Hawaii and she was 100% American. She was 5’2”, less than 100 pounds soaking wet, with long, black, hair that reached the middle of her back. She possessed dark penetrating almond eyes, and the athleticism of a gymnast. She had keen intelligence, did everything at 100 miles an hour, but still believed in the ancient Chinese values for women and men It had been drummed into her by her parents. She was an exotic female, who sometimes acted like a man.
She was trained by the FBI and was a ferocious fighter when she needed to be. She also looked to be about 25 years old, even though, she was actually nearly double that age. Banyon understood that she felt he was her last chance at having a long term relationship with a man. He was very thankful for that. She always tried for him.
To be sure she had faults. Her major fault was, she was so impulsive that she often misread the situation and jumped in feet first without knowing the full story. This sometimes led to a variety of problems. Sometimes, they were comical, sometimes they were dangerous, and usually they created situations for Banyon to fix. She was also the most jealous woman in the world. She had gone so far as attacking a woman who had just looked at Colton Banyon the wrong way. In addition, she couldn't cook, didn't clean house, and was completely disorganized in her personal life. She thought money grew on trees. All of these things kept Banyon on his toes, but frankly he didn't want it to be any other way.
He did still have some long-term questions about her as well. Her background was very mysterious and she rarely would discuss it. All he really knew was that her mother had been some sort of magic-healer back in the old country and had passed on a green jade charm ring to Loni. The ring allowed Loni to produce any object Banyon asked for, at any time. It was truly magic.
Loni also never showed fear, even when bullets were flying all around her head. It was like she believed she was meant to have a very long life. These questions always bothered Banyon, but he was enjoying life so much, he had not pursued the answers. To him, she was that captivating.
Banyon now turned off the highway onto Barrington Road and headed to his home in the affluent Chicago suburb of South Barrington, Illinois. He bought the sprawling ranch just before he met Loni and had decorated it to be the home of a bachelor. Once Loni moved in he was surprised that she didn't attempt to change the style of the décor. Instead she complemented it and added only a few pieces of furniture. Of course, Elizabeth, Banyon’s long-time housekeeper, had gone from a part-time employee to full-time, just to keep up with Loni's whirlwind nature.
Banyon entered the large circular driveway and pulled straight into his five car garage. He was happy to see Loni’s small red Porsche parked in the slot next to his. This meant that she was home. He exited the garage through a door which opened inside the kitchen. He set his bag on the kitchen island and went off in search of Loni. He knew she was in the great room just off the kitchen, because he could hear sound coming from the new 80 inch flat-screen TV that she had purchased just last week.
He found her curled up on the big couch intently watching the news. She was dressed only in one of his white T-shirts. She had the TV volume up so loud she had not heard the alarm beep or the door slam, as he entered the kitchen. He was just about upon her when she suddenly turned her head and smiled at him. She then gracefully got up from the couch, hugged him, and then kissed him deeply on the mouth.
“Where have you been?” There was annoyance in her voice. “Elizabeth went home early today and I'm starving.”
“I’m home from my first day at the Law firm of Dewey & Beatem,” he beamed with spread arms.
“Make me something to eat,” she demanded. When Elizabeth was not there, Loni relied completely on Banyon to be fed.
“Don't you want to ask me how my first day went?”
“Tell me while you're making salad,” she countered as she rubbed her small stomach while continuing to watch the news.
“We made $440,000 today,” he proudly announced, expecting her to leap into his arms, so he could carry her into the bedroom.
“Should we have steak or pork chops?” Loni asked with a one track mind as she put her small finger to her lips in thought.
Banyon decided things were not going his way and changed tactics. Suddenly, he became serious. “Loni I need you to give me a back rub first. I have a couple of muscles that need stretching. It is been a long day,” he told her.
“Colt, are you hurt?” she blurted out with only modest concern. She seemed glued to the TV.
“No, but I feel some muscle strain.”
She quickly ran around behind him and started rubbing all the muscles in his back. “There, is that better?” She asked as she continued to watch the TV. She seemed only slightly interested in satisfying him.
“No, it’s not. I need to lie down on the bed with my clothes off.”
“Maybe later,” she said.
He grabbed her by the hand and began pulling her to the bedroom. At first she resisted, but when he said, “Loni please help me,” she became docile, following him into the bedroom. She acted li
ke he was asking her to do the laundry.
“Colt, what has come over you, you never act this way?” she stated with her hands on her narrow hips when they had reached the bedroom.
“Let's just say that I’m over-stimulated,” Banyon countered with an innuendo that seemed lost on Loni today. Normally, she picked up on everything he said. Today, she seemed to have other things on her mind. But Banyon didn’t care what she was thinking about at the moment. He needed action.
“Are you sure you need this right now? I’m hungry,” she pleaded.
“Yes, now, hurry up and start massaging.”
“Okay,” she said without enthusiasm. She climbed up on the bed and straddled his buttocks like she was riding a horse.
“I don’t feel much tension in your back muscles,” she soon announced as she stopped rubbing his back.
“Well, I have one muscle that is throbbing,” he confided.
“Oh,” she replied in her small singsong voice as she caught on. “I think I know which one.”
“You’re a smart girl,” he replied lecherously.
She was suddenly the Loni he knew and loved. She suddenly didn’t care about dinner.
Chapter Fifteen
It was an hour and half later, well after 7:30 P.M., when they decided to get out of bed. They both took a quick shower, dressed, and now stood in the kitchen preparing dinner. That meant, Banyon did all the work and Loni did all the talking. She had her usual list of a hundred questions about his new position.
They decided to have Caesar salad and an omelet for dinner. Banyon carefully cut the romaine lettuce and placed it in a wooden bowl. He then opened a can of rolled anchovies and began smashing them into a paste. He selected one of the anchovies, popping it into his mouth. It was part of the ritual he followed when making Caesar salad.
“How can you eat those things whole?” Loni protested.
“I have to make sure they are fresh,” he quickly replied. “Otherwise, the salad will be ruined and my reputation as a gourmet chef, as well.”
A Dubious Position (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 7) Page 6
