Assassin Affairs (25 page)

The Royal
Guard had been aware of their approach and had been lying in wait.
They promptly gathered up everyone's weapons, cell phones and
passports and handed them over to a petite Asian brunette woman.

“Well,
well, well, what do we have here?” she asked, looking through
the five passports. She pulled out a satellite phone and began
entering data from the documents. “This is a state-of-the-art
smartphone. In a moment I'll know everything there is to know about
each of you. My name is Pepper and I'm with the American CIA, on
special assignment to protect Princess Lei.”

“Well,
you guys need to get your act together then,” Laura said with a
tone of unwarranted arrogance. “It's the U. S. government that
sent us here. That's how we got access to all the satellite feed that
let us track you.”

“Really?
Any chance it might have been the Chinese, honey? They hack our
systems all the time, those bastards.” She toyed some more with
her satphone, then said “There, I've just reset the passwords.
I think you'll find that your access no longer works. So you had no
idea you were dealing with the Chinese?”

“No,”
she confessed, now using a more humble tone. “I assumed they
were Americans. I never actually saw anyone. Most of the
communication was not in-person and the money for jobs was always
paid promptly in cash. We weren't going to hurt her, just kidnap her
to prevent the marriage.”

“The
Chinese have been hell-bent on disrupting this union. It could affect
the balance of world power as strange as that may seem. It's
complicated.”

The
kneeling group anxiously looked up at Pepper with expressions of
guilt and apprehension, as she got close-up photos of each to update
the profiles.

“Oh
my! Maybe I should just open fire on all of you and be done with it.
Langley has just sanctioned your terminations. Not that I needed it;
I do have a license-to-kill. Oh, here comes that data I requested on
you five.”

“I
thought that was just in the movies,” said Julie.

“Who
are you, sweetheart? These four have files that don't stop, but I
have nothing on you.”

Julie
didn't respond, but felt a sense of relief that there were no murder
charges, at least not yet.

“Laura
and Renée, you're so bad, west coast and east coast assassins.
Ashley, nothing solid on you, but lots of incriminating stuff.
Jessie, I loved your mom in 'The Sinclair Affair'! Wow, no
outstanding wants or warrants on any of you, nothing more than
person-of-interest! How in the hell is that possible?”

“We're
pros,” said one.

“So
you say, but look who took you down, one little Asian-American woman.
Your five lives are at a fork in the road. Either I leave five
rotting corpses here in the jungle, or else we find another
resolution. I am judge, jury and executioner here, subject to the
approval of Princess Lei, but she and I are really tight!”

“I
may have New York mob affiliations, Miss Pepper, but there's no one
more patriotic than I am!” exclaimed Renée. “I
think I can speak for all of us in that regard, too. God bless the
USA! If there's anything we can do to make amends for our egregious
mistakes, we'll do whatever it takes!”

The other
four all nodded in agreement.

“Summa
cum laude I see, Renée, very impressive. You must be the
brains of the gang. Oh, now this is interesting,” said Pepper
as she continued to peruse the files on her satphone. “This
little tidbit of information just tilted the scales of justice in
your favor, ladies, and I do use that term loosely.”

“What's
that, ma'am?” asked Renée, patronizingly and perplexed.

“What's
your father's first name, hon?”

“Sanford.
Why?”

“Uh
huh. Hmmm.” Pepper continued reading.

“The
jerk abandoned her when she was just a little kid!” said
Jessie. “Because of him disappearing, she experienced a
childhood of sex-abuse.”

“Well,
normally I wouldn't share this information. It's classified,
need-to-know stuff, but considering the extraordinary situation here,
I guess there is a need-to-know.” Pepper paused and eyed the
group with clear disdain.

Princess
Lei, her Royal Guard, and rest of the entourage waited patiently in
the background, with weapons aimed at the group.

“It
seems your father is one of us, Renée. He's CIA. He didn't
abandon you. He was caught spying and spent twenty years in a
Cambodian prison. He was released last year and has been trying to
locate you.”

“Oh
my God; that explains so much! He never deserted us after all!
There's no way he could have ever found me. I've spent all my time
trying to remain elusive and invisible. Where is he now? Can I see
him?”

“One
thing at a time. I'm adding your photos to our new facial-recognition
software updates. From now on, anytime one of you enters an airport
or passes through an American traffic intersection with a camera, or
any other of a number of video locations, we'll know where you are.
You can run, but you can't hide anymore, at least not nearly as
easily.”

Pepper left
to confer with Princess Lei. She returned a moment later.

“I
informed Her Highness that it was the Prince's father who helped
secure the release of your dad. She has accepted my recommendation to
let you five live. Sanford is presently working undercover in the
same province as the wedding.”

“Holy
smokes! I'll get to see my dad?!”

“I
just sent him a secure text message regarding your capture. He'll be
anticipating your arrival. You'll travel with us as our prisoners
until we reach our destination. Do not speak unless spoken to. Do you
understand?”

All five
nodded yes.

Father and
daughter enjoyed a long overdue reunion the next day in the library
of the prince's Royal Palace. Two soldiers stood guard outside.

“Renée,
I've been reading over all these files on you. I had no idea your
life had been anything like this and that you used so many different
aliases. I'm so sorry for your troubles!”

“It's
not your fault, Daddy. I'm just so happy to finally learn the truth
and have a chance to be with you again!” The hardened assassin
began to cry as the pair hugged one another.

Soon they
were joined by Renée's four friends and introductions were
made.

“I
think it only appropriate that we all get better acquainted, and
there's no time like the present. The bar here is fully stocked. Each
of you feel free to help yourselves to your favorite poison, then we
can all share some of our various horror stories over drinks. I'm
going to have a brandy. What can I get for you, sweetie?”

“I
want a brandy, too, Dad.”

As everyone
made themselves comfortable with a drink in one of the big, cozy
library chairs, Pepper came into the room and joined them.

The next
six hours passed quickly. Drinks were refilled, liquor bottles were
emptied. Incriminating details were kept vague, but a clear essence
of the group was conveyed.

Pepper and
Sanford conferred quietly with one another at the bar, and then she
addressed the gathering.

“Okay,
guys, here's the deal. Do you remember that true story where the
criminal was so good at being bad, that after he was finally caught,
the government hired him?”

“Oh
yeah, that was the one who passed himself off as a doctor and an
airline pilot and cashed lots of fraudulent checks, right?”

“Right,
and that's similar to what we have here. You're all facing the
possibility of life in prison due to your attack on Royalty and past
criminal activity. Langley has authorized me, at my sole discretion
and with the concurrence of said Royalty, to make you each a one-time
offer if I feel that it is warranted. Your stories this evening,
combined with all the information in your files and a few other
things, have persuaded me to do so. You have skills that we can use
in the CIA. The way you have accomplished all that you have, and the
way you have done so with no incrimination, have impressed
management. I'm offering you the opportunity to avoid prison and join
the CIA with a one-year probationary period. If you decline the
offer, you will go to prison. If things don't work out, your CIA
records will be expunged and you will go to prison. If you ever piss
me off, you will go to prison. If you ever cause displeasure in the
Royal Family, you will go to prison. If things do work out, you'll
become field agents like me and lead lives of risk and adventure. The
choice seems obvious, but I do need your sincere, serious commitments
on this. Please talk amongst yourselves and let me know your
decision.”

The five
women huddled for about thirty seconds, then announced their
unanimous agreement and commitment. Sanford came over and proudly put
his arm around his daughter. There was a sense of both general relief
and delight in the room.

“Oh,
one more thing,” added Pepper. “To ensure that none of
you take flight during your probationary period, all of your assets
in the U.S. have been frozen, bank accounts, safe deposit boxes, real
estate and so forth.”

“Damn
it, that's not fair!” exclaimed Ashley.

“Then
you'll be even more upset to learn that there is some consideration
being made as to seizing all of your assets according to the RICO
Act. It's out of my hands, guys, I just wanted to make you aware of
it.”

Although
the women appeared to be upset, they weren't horribly so, as the bulk
of their liquid assets were held offshore in such places as The
Cayman Islands or Panama.

“Miss
Pepper, may I ask you something, ma'am?” Jessie inquired.

“It's
just Pepper, hon, and yes, ask me anything.”

“You
mentioned earlier that you and Princess Lei are really tight. Is it a
sexual thing, and how did you know we were there?”

“Sweetheart,
as we in the business say, I could tell you, but then I'd have to
kill you.”

Chapter 6

Lethal
Liaisons

A Tale of Two Sisters

This chapter
introduces new characters who will soon join up with the others.

The two sisters looked so much alike that they were often mistaken
for twins, although they were a few years apart in age. Kristie was
in her late twenties; Karlee around age thirty. Both were very smart,
blonde, tall and attractively slender. Despite their similarity in
appearance, the two of them were different in personality. Kristie,
mild-mannered and naive, was enjoying success as a model and gaining
popularity as an actress; Karlee, aggressive and worldly, was
evolving from a frustrated attorney into an accomplished assassin.
Their story begins during their years in an overcrowded high school,
in an average middle-size city in the North American heartland.

“Karlee,
what do you think of Jake the quarterback?”

“Is
he the reason you tried out for the cheer-leading squad, Kristie?”

“No,
but I do believe in cheer-leading-with-benefits,” she said with
a wink.

“Yeah,
he is cute. Are you going to ask him out?”

“No,
I don't ask guys out! If I get picked, he's sure to notice me though.
Will you come to the games and cheer me on, sis?”

“I
might come to a few games, but Friday nights are when I have my
martial arts class, Kristie.”

During the
rest of the year, the sisters worked hard to get good grades; Kristie
gained popularity as a cheerleader, while Karlee honed her already
first-rate fighting skills. For Karlee, grades were more important
than high school sports, as she planned on attending law school.
Kristie and Jake had been dating and progressing in a relationship.
One evening Kristie came home from a night out, crying and
disheveled.

“What
happened to you, sis?”

“That
horny Jake couldn't take 'no' for an answer, Karlee.”

“Oh?”

“We
were at a post-football game party and in one of the back bedrooms
drinking. Jake kept refilling my glass and we were both getting
pretty drunk. His kisses were so passionate I got lost in the moment
and before I knew what was happening, we were both half-naked. Jake
said that if I wanted to remain his girlfriend, I'd have to go down
on him.”

“Well,
I hope he offered to reciprocate,” she said half-joking.

“It's
not funny. I'm not that kind of girl! I've never done anything like
that
and don't ever plan to just to keep a guy!” Kristie
snapped back.

“You're
right, it's not funny and I'm sorry, sis. So what happened?”

“The
bastard pushed my head down into his lap and forced his thing into my
mouth!” she said, unable to stop her tears. “And that's
not the worst of it!”

“He
raped you?!” she asked, becoming so irate she could barely
contain herself.

“No,
but it was just as bad, I think.”

“What
do you mean, hon?”

“One
of the other guys knocked on the closed door to see if we needed more
beer. While Jake was holding my head down, he shouted out 'come in'!
The guy came in and saw me doing
that,
and then they both
laughed! Then several others came in to see what was so funny. He
kept my pink panties for a souvenir. I was never so humiliated before
in my life, Karlee!”

Karlee
spent the rest of the evening calming down her sister and put her to
bed. They decided it best not to tell their parents. She knew Jake as
they were both seniors, had shared a few classes, and had attended
some of the same parties over the years. Once Kristie was asleep,
Karlee drove over to his house and waited on the front steps for him
to return. Soon he came stumbling up the walkway.

“Hi,
honey,” she purred.

“Karlee,
what are you doing here?”

“I'm
afraid I’m kinda drunk, handsome, and you know how us girls get
when we're all liquored up. I thought you might want to party with
me. You don't mind my being so forward, do you?”