Plans Change A Story 5

It was as I left the office by the back door, I spotted one of my old agency handlers.  She was sitting on the veranda with Christina.  This I did not think would go well.  As I walked up to see if Christina was ready to go back they spotted me.  Christina gave me that look I ignored it and asked who her girlfriend was and she told me quietly she was about to ask the same of me.  I told her it should be apparent I did not have any girlfriends. My old handler pretended to look hurt but told Christina I was telling the truth.  Christina looked at me and nodded leaning over I informed her I was not this woman's type and when Christina came back with what type was her type I put my finger on Christina's nose and turned to talk away.  My ex handler asked if I was not even curious and I shook my head no.  I did not find Christopher in the resort Bungalow so I headed up the two blocks to the other bungalow making use of the back gate to the property I found him sitting by the pool with not just the lawyer but the rest of the seven and their families.  Christopher was talking to a couple of teens his own age and seeing me he jumped up and ran over and threw his arm around my shoulders and said I was his dad a super secret agent.  I looked down albeit not that far and told him he watched way too many movies. The fact I recognized two of the men as one was congressman for this state rather than a state congressman as I had been told and the other was a media mogul of sorts as he produced several shows which dealt with the intrigue which made up our government system.

The petite blond walked over and told her brother I was the man who saved the family from shame.  I already knew he was not a native from this state as the family came from the south and had only transplanted after the last war when the congressman's dad retired from the Marines and went to work as an adviser to the entertainment industry.  Our file on him was more or less clean but in my opinion he was not a major player just another yes man for whoever could help bring home the most bacon which when I thought about it that moment was about all any man could do for those who were counting on him for a meal and a paycheck.  I also knew he turned a profit from the current rule system.  As i shook his hand he asked if we may have met and I nodded saying it was possible as we did live in a small world.  Nodding he said he was sure we had met and asked if I had ever testified before a committee.  Shaking my head I told him not since I was a kid being reprimanded by some church committee bent on saving me from myself.  The truth was I had been in hundreds of those meetings but strictly as an adviser to those higher up the food chain which technically I was not a part of.  The man was persistent and said I had been there and he remembered I did not actually testify but would confer with some director level figure and then he would pass on whatever I said.  Chuckling I said that sounded more like something I would definitely loath doing.  His sister laughed at that statement and he looked at her sideways; she told him it was funny.  To change the subject the producer with whom I was on speaking terms asked what I was doing in town and I said to be honest currently I was in town because of the trouble I got into when I allowed myself to being talked into escorting the lovely young lady back to her sleeping establishment.  Smiling she looked over her shoulder at me and said she was forever in my debt for my generosity in the manner.  Christina who I did not realize had showed up was standing beside me and whispered that one was in love.  Shrugging I ignored the comment but made sure to avoid corners as I noticed the petite blond watching me.  Standing near her whenever I looked was my ex-handler.

I did not do well at these functions though over the years I had attended my share; I looked for the first available opportunity to remove myself from this little party and thanks to Christopher who carried my name I got the opportunity when he asked if he could borrow the jeep.  I told him I would be glad to go with him as he practiced for his driving test.  I do not think that was planned by him; but he took the offer and I found myself doing most of the driving until we got out onto an old jeep trail which I had found while exploring the desert.  When he asked where we were going I smiled and told him his girlfriend would be impressed if he could actually get them up to Joshua Tree in one piece.  More than once all four passengers which included me had to get out and I had to show Christopher how to use the recently installed hand clutch and gas pedal.  Twice I had to take over and get the jeep through some of the more extreme terrain.  When we reached the top of the canyon we had drove up I pointed to a small peak which he offered to let on of the others drive to.  Never before had I heard such squealing come out of a group of teens who all had a chance to drive and learn how to use a hand clutch.  When we finally were through with our middle of the nights sight seeing tour which included tracking a pack of coyotes to their den where there were four pups and also the discovery of a rattlesnake nest I drove; Christopher agreed to the suggestion actually given by one of the girls for him to ride up front with me.  I stopped at one of the spots I camped so we could look out over the desert communities.  As I stood looking I watched as a hand went into Christopher's hand.  I lingered longer than I planned but not long enough to let them think I was comfortable with anything goes.  Back at the estate of the lawyer who was married to the producer, parents were waiting up and were surprised at the tales their children told.  Christina told me thanks for not telling her but she was glad I took the time to include Christopher and I told her it was the other way around as he let me chaperon this first date.

Christina not withstanding her wild streak in her youth and her dalliance which I knew about into the affairs of the heart was more like her mom than her dad in raising her children and she informed me that the rule was no dating until sixteen and with a smile I whispered it was a good thing I did not let them kiss after they started holding hands.  Amazingly she held her composure this time.  When the teens were done telling their stories the adults looked at me; I told Christopher it was time for us to go catch some shut eye as we had a long drive ahead of us.  The petite blond, asked me where I was going and I told her when I was asked formerly I would be there barring unforeseen complications.  Another on of the seven friends husbands asked if I knew those two men were going to suit me. I told him that was their right to do so, when he asked why I was not worried I told him to think about why people suit others and when he said it was to gain back some dignity I shook my head and said actually it was to get some sort of compensation and since he would be suiting them as well it would be interesting who comes out on top.  Looking at the petite blond I told her if I were in her shoes I would also bring suit and not rely on the justice system as from what I had heard they were supposed to be some sort of amazing athletes and could use that notoriety for their benefit.  She looked around and I told her in spite of what her brother or anyone else might think it was not her fault that those over sized hormone factories did not know how to treat a woman and if he was her council he would suggest finding every woman they had ever assaulted and turning it into a class action law suit.

Looking around at the faces staring at me I told her I was not a lawyer so I would if I were her take an advice of a perfect stranger with a grain of salt and ask the opinion of an attorney.  I heard an all too familiar voice ask me and if she needed advice on other subjects where could she find me.  I told her to call the office as they would be able to find me.  With that I left and walked back to the small resort to find several reporters had also taken up residence.  Wanting to find out what was actually going on I walked into the restaurant through the back door.  I did not get far when my wife and Christopher joined me.  I asked what they were doing and Christina said they were following me and she could ask the same thing.  The misses half of the couple walked in from the dining room and seeing me she asked what I wanted; shrugging I said nothing much just wanted to know what the talking heads were talking about.  Smiling she said right at the moment nothing much as most were buried into whatever passed as a computer for the individual.  She had started to turn around and then stopped and shaking her head she told me I should learn to use the front door like everyone else or I might make her husband jealous and just so there would be no surprises she rented out my room since my assistant came and cleared what little stuff we had left.  I looked at Christina who shook her head and I was told the really cute one who used to use my room when I would walk up to talk to the gods.  My wife looked at me and I shrugged.and pointed out the back door.  When we were outside I held my finger to my mouth and walked up to one of the trucks where several production crew members were congregating.  I asked them what the circus was all about.

One of the boy asked where I had been; pointing to my sling I told him I just got out of the hospital and had been out of it for a few days. One of the techies asked if I lived around here and of course I lied and said yes.  He told me a couple of up and comers in the NFL got their ass handed to them by some John Doe when he denied him the love of his life.  I looked confused and another fellow told me yes some guy had put a hurt down on two first rounders when one of them tried to have his way with the sister of a congressman.  One of the other guys added that they did not know he was doing anything more than chatting her up.  I told them I hope they both got what they deserved and if it was true he was trying to rape her they should pin his sack to a fire ant hill.  Christopher asked if that happened here and was told it happened down valley, they were here because some reclusive producer was reported to be shacked up with the ex wife of the John Doe.  Christina asked why would a woman want to let go of such a knight in shining armor.  Thankfully it was dark and she was in the shadow as one of the techs tried to get a better look at her; he told her he was not so sure Mr. Doe was such a man as he apparently resisted arrest and then had his ass handed to him by a detective.  Christina asked why would they arrest a man who stepped into help a woman; the fellow told her she should have seen the man's face and his partner in crime would not be having the career he had planned on having.  Christina said at least the agreed they were both criminals and now it was time for her to get home and check on her pot roast and she for one was glad those two neanderthals got what was coming.  As we were walking away one of the men whistled when she walked under a street light.  I told Christopher to please escort his mom home.  Christina told me to let it go.  I told her I just wanted to talk to them she told me she could do better and pulled out her phone.  Once back at the rented guest bungalow she went into the main house and came out twenty minutes later.

Christopher asked if that was how spies got their information.  I told him he definitely watched way too many movies.  His mom told him to go to bed; he started for the stairs and then stopped and asked when I was going to do some more spy stuff.  I raised and eyebrow and nodded and said okay when he got some sleep so he could drive me home in one piece I would show him some spy stuff.  When we heard the shower Christina told me I should not encourage him.  I told her when I found some grub worms and told him spies had to eat that he might change his mind.  Christina made a face; laughing I told her they were not bad mixed into a bowl of noodles or rice.  She asked where I had been living; looking out I told her lately I had been moving a lot not like when I first went into Bosnia.  She asked if I was allowed to talk about what I did, I looked out the window and said some of it was me being me.  Sitting down she asked and who was me.  Smiling I told her that same kid who at fifteen was able to take an old barn and follow dad's instructions and turn it into a house.  Grabbing my hand she told me dad had been proud of him.  Looking up I told her I was sorry I missed his funeral, Christina told me she could not force herself to go see him before he passed but she heard he did have a visitor that had lifted his spirits and let him know it was okay to let go accept no one seemed to know who visited him.  I looked down and said the good thing was he accepted what was coming.  Christina told me she knew it was me, but she wanted to know how I managed to get past both of our daughters, mom and his sister without being seen and out again.  I told her I had no idea what she was talking about.  After some time where she just held my hand while giving it a massage that had started to relax me enough to close my eyes she stood up walked around the table and told me as she leaned over me that she was going to bed so she could come along and learn that spy stuff.

I had followed her into the bathroom and after getting her help so that I could also shower, with only my right arm I rubbed her back for almost an hour as we stood in the shower.  I went back into jeans and she into her night wear which was very flattering to a figure that hid her age very well.  With my left arm in a sling most of the day and again now there was only a dull ache so I proceeded with the massage I had started in the shower, which I supposed if she knew I had given massages to other women she might call it cheating.  As she allowed herself to relax she told me that since it seemed I knew what I was doing I must have picked up masseuse training along the way.  Actually I had read books on the subject of massage therapy as playing a masseuse allowed me into some homes that I otherwise would have never gotten into or at least into the suites in the vacation spots.  Turning over onto her back she told me to finish the job and as I worked out the knots in her thighs and arms she said she was planning on opening a whole person medical center.  I nodded and she said there was no way I could know what she meant, as I just kept working on her she told me that it was like a holistic health center without all the weirdness but would also include modern medicine. I asked about her current practice and smiling as her eye lids closed she said she had gotten the other partners to agree to buy her out.  I told her her boyfriend Frederick did not like that and opening one eye she realized I was kidding and told me as she lifted a foot into my chest that Frederick was taking orders from his wife and since she was a senior partner he had no choice in the manner.

Figuring she might be open to another discussion I asked about what the neighbor up the way thought.  She pulled away and told me as she covered herself up that I knew how to ruin a moment.  I told her that was not my intentions, I was just curious how he would feel when he could no longer see his son.  She said fine and pulled one foot out from under the covers and after I needed it for awhile I lessened the pressure until it tickled.  I pressed my advantage or so I thought but found myself thrown onto the bed; when I asked where that came from she smiled and said she and her son had been going to the gym together for the last several years just in case her super spy's enemies found them.  When I told her to stop encouraging him she shook her head as she pinned me and said Christopher encouraged her to stand by her secret agent man.  As she showed me she could handle herself I finally called time out.  As I adjusted myself she looked down at my jeans and shaking her head went to yank them off.  I asked what if my arch enemies showed up and with that quirky grin she told me that I would definitely have the advantage as who would want to fight a one armed naked man.  She checked my sutures and changed the bandages and ignoring the ointment the doctor gave me, she used the balm her mom had always used.  As she looked down before climbing back into bed she told me what she missed most over the years was playing doctor.

Silence and darkness had taken over the room and with her soft breathing I thought she was asleep and had contemplated sneaking out to go for a swim until she told me not to think about leaving this bed and to answer my question she never told our neighbor she had gotten pregnant and she was not so sure she wanted him to know officially as it was true every in the community knew Christopher was his son so whatever I had been planning when I asked for a complete file to be worked up on him, I should consider how that would affect Christopher but as far as she was concerned she could care less as that man barely even noticed her after getting his wham, bam, thank you ma'am.  I told her I just figured he owed some child support, rolling over she asked if that was all I said yes and figured since it would be Christopher's money he should at least meet the guy; snuggling she told me he had on several occasions.  Sleep came difficultly as it usually did when I was sleeping in a place not of my choosing.  I was awake early and not sure why when I walked out to check the building I happened to look out and see me ex handler working out while the petite blond was lounging while painting her nails.  The fact of the matter was that like other men I was just affected by seeing beautiful women and I probably watched longer than I should.  I quickly walked back into the room we were using and heard Christopher coming down the stairs.  I got back into bed before he could come in to tell me he was ready when I was and to ask if I minded if he watched my girlfriend workout.  His mom asked from her pillows if she was clothed when neither of us answered she told me to hold that thought climbed out of bed and went outside when she came back in she told Christopher he could now go outside and play but he needed to stay in the yard. Yawning he said he would be taking a nap as he was still tired.  I was asleep in minutes.

When I awoke alone there were many more voices outside.  I struggled to put on my jeans and finally gave up and wrapped the sheet around me.  Walking out to a pool a pool area full of women sun bathing including my wife I had to stop.  My ex handler asked if I was okay and shaking it off I said needed help.  Both she and my wife went to get up.  Christina sat back down and my handler told me to sit down and tell me what I needed.  I told her a pair of jeans that were not too big.  Strutting over to me as bare as could be she told me to stand up and asked me to turn around.  She told me it looked like I lost weight in all the right places.  I heard several glasses chime as they were touched. The woman walked in and I told her she too had reorganized her weight.  When she came back out with a pair of jeans she told me she had to guess my size. As she had me step into the new jeans I had to let go of the sheet which brought a wolf whistle out of my wife's lips.  My old handler with practiced hands adjusted me and zipped me up.  Christina said she did that like a professional and my handler returning to her seat said she was sad to say that yes she had plenty of experience and on more than one occasion had to also help keep me bathed and fed.  Christina looked at me.  My handler said no worries that was all in the past from what she was hearing.  I finally asked why she was here and she pointed to the tiny brunette and said she had finished her law degree like he recommended and put that with her experience in personal security and hearing about this case she made a couple of calls.  I nodded and told her if the other team happened to capture photos of them sitting like this in the backyard it would not go well.  When she asked where someone could possibly get some photos of them from; I pointed up and behind her.  She looked back and seeing the mountain towering she asked how she could miss that.  I told her probably because it was not out of place.  Women began scrambling and came back out with cover ups.

Once everyone was more or less dressed my old handler asked if I knew my strategy yet.  Nodding I said I did but I did not want to appear rash so I was biding my time and letting the investigation unfold.  I was asked how that was coming along and I said to be honest I had not a clue but I had met some good detectives and suspected the sheriff was doing some spring cleaning.  My wife asked if I had thought about a lawyer and I told her yes and I knew where she was going and that was not a good idea and this was not a good place to discuss this for the same reasons it was not a good place for them to hang out as if nothing had happened.  Looking around I asked where Christopher was and my sweet wife told me his oldest sister had been out for a conference and wanted to wake him but per doctors orders he needed his sleep so she took him back to the house and just so they were on the same page he now owed his son a road trip.  I stood and said in that case I should get going.  The women looked at each other and then I was handed a subpoena which my wife had accepted on my behalf.  In simple laymen's terms I had to appear before the grand jury the following day.  My wife told me she had to go back that evening but had arranged for me to stay here.  Smiling I told her thanks but that would not be necessary.  When she stared at me for some time she asked where I would be.  Nodding I told her the valley was filled with many lodging establishments and after I cleared out my safety deposit box down the street I would be taking up residence closer to the county court house. The petite blond whose bubbly personality helped get us into this mess asked the lawyer question again.

Smiling I told her I knew where to find her and suspected she was damn good in front of a jury, but I had to go before the grand jury alone.  My handler looked at me sideways and I told her to relax but I had some idea how these little witch hunts worked but I promised I would make a phone call first to let the right authorities know what was happening, after thinking about it I paused and said I could always say nothing get thrown in jail for whatever statute I broke in my disrespectful attitudes. My wide asked if I would really go to jail over such a trivial matter and I told her if they took the wrong rabbit trail I would have no choice. To change the subject I looked around and pointed to the women I did recognize and then asked if the rest of them might be in the same boat as my good friend Blondie Locks.  When no one answered I told him I was not there enemy and if they wanted to make these guys pay they would need to get over their fears and retell their stories over and over.  Several of them looked like they were about to lose it and I said for times sake how many of them had been raped in that they were penetrated when they did not want to be and that included with a foreign object. Twelve out of fourteen women raised there hands.  The other two I asked if they had been assaulted physically as in did either of those men lay their hands on them.  The one girl put it out there that she had woken up one morning to find both of those men in her bed with her and she had never seen either of them before ever and ran out before they could wake up naked and bleeding.  I asked where and she told me last year in college and she had gone to the authorities and had the rape kit thing done and the campus police had even found both of them still in her bed and nothing was done to either of them and she had to drop out of school when it was turned back on her saying she had coerced them into having a threesome with her.  Leaning forward she told me she had carried the kid full term and put it up for adoption but what those two men did was not right.  My mind had already moved to the cover up and that was something I could help with.  At the end of the morning fourteen women roughly described what had happened and the worst of the cases it had not just been those two but a hole line of their friends.  I pointed to my wife and the bungalow; she took along with her one of the seven.  As the fourteen were inside having my wife doing quick medical exams I asked the lawyers in the bunch how they managed to get these girls to come forward.  My handler said that was her doing as she had anticipated and had gone to their university and did some checking.  She then leaned forward and told me that in exchange for this I had to put together portfolios for all fourteen.

My next question was where she was putting them up and she told me what I had told my wife that there were hundreds of lodging establishments throughout the valley.  I nodded and told her I was going to assume that most of the girls had promiscuous lifestyles or lifestyles that would be seen in that light.  She said they were college students at a school better known for its party life than its academics.  I told her she might want to find out where they went to school and start finding more from their early days and do not forget to look for not just the students but the grown women.  Smiling she told me she was already ahead of me on that and hoped I did not mind but she had called my office for some help in that matter.  Shaking my head I said that I supposed that meant she was my client.  She said yes and no as she was planning on taking this higher up the food chain and knew a couple of federal attorneys who would love this and would very much like to grow their careers.  I nodded and told her to remember these young woman had the rest of their lives ahead of them and they did not need to hear about even one becoming a statistic.  Nodding she said she agreed and was meeting with the assistant DA and the detective on this case.  I asked much was she willing to let me have when I walk into the Grand Jury tomorrow.  She said that was about that detective and I smiled and said yes and it appeared to me he was protecting serial rapists who may escalate to murdering their victims and whose to say they had not already done so.  She admitted she had not thought of that and would put out inquiries about missing young ladies; I told her that she should check every city those two had ever traveled to as well in their football playing careers.  Her mouth dropped and I told her let the DA's office handle that as right now they really would not want to be the ones who dropped this case or the DA might find himself before a federal grand jury.  The lone redhead among the bunch raised her hand.  I looked over at her and had to pause and breathe as he cover up was not actually covering what should have been covered.  Holding my finger up I said the next time we meet again they all had to be dressed professionally.  She looked down and apologized saying she had thought a little sun might help those girls relax.  I nodded and said now they were talking and getting mad they needed to dress them professionally, preferably in pant suits.

As the fourteen women came out my wife had a note pad or rather several of them which she handed to the lawyer and one time agency handler.  My wife went and got dressed and before I followed I asked who she had to play caretaker.  When she looked at me I told her to call the office back and order up some mothering types and their husbands and we would take our cut out of the settlements she was going to be getting from the various agencies.  I then told her to help expedite things there was a cute little reporter, smiling she said she had already arranged drinks with her later.  I told her to make sure she knows she wants to hold much of it back for the exclusive book deal which she could then sell the movie rights to.  I walked into the bungalow to find my wife dressed professionally for her flight home.  I had to have her help me finished getting dressed.  Why none of the reporters paid any attention to her jeep was beyond me.  On the way to the airport I made a decision.  I drove to the private terminal and had them put the jeep in a hangar and give us a ride back to the public terminal where I managed to get the last first class ticket on my wife's flight.