"Protection"

[WildBill2015]

(closed)

Martin Howard leaned casually back against the rock wall at the edge of the park. Before him, teens and twenty-somethings tossed Frisbees, tanned on blankets, navigated the heavily tagged swells and jumps of the skate park, and more. While there was a great deal of activity, his full attention was on one particular young woman, sitting fifty feet away on a blanket with who -- based upon their books and college colors -- he assumed were fellow classmates.

He recalled the first time he saw her, or at least saw an image of her.

"It's from her Facebook page," his current employer had told Martin. Referring to the rest of the file Martin had been given, the man had added, "Everything you need to know is in there."

Martin had skimmed over the personal information only to realize that the file left a lot of unanswered questions. So much for everything I need to know, he'd thought to himself. Since that meeting six days earlier, he'd learned more on his own.

For instance, she was on a full ride scholarship that had seemingly come out of no where half way through her senior year. His employer had wanted to ensure she continued her education, but since she hadn't qualified for much in the way of academic or athletic scholarships, he'd had a fake scholarship created that would ensure she could go to any college or university of choice. As far as she knew, she'd gotten the award based upon an essay she wrote, and essay which -- of course -- his employer had never known existed.

Getting her education paid in full wasn't the only assistance she'd gotten over the years. Repeatedly through her life -- going all the way back to her childhood -- her and her family's luck must have seemed almost mystical. When her father's small business had been in danger of closing its doors, a financial advisor had presented a generous infusion of cash from an anonymous investor. When her mother had been diagnosed with an ailment that typically bankrupted families, an as-of-yet unheard of medical study fully paid for the woman's treatment, saving both her life and the family's finances.

As Martin watched the pretty blonde, he reflected on what he'd read and/or learned about her in particular. She'd gotten everything she ever wanted as a child, teen, and young adult: entry into exclusive clubs and camps, top of the line braces, educational lessons and tutors, even a brand new car. And any time she'd questioned her parents about how the hell they could afford all of this, she'd simply been told some story about how daddy had gotten a new contract or client or an investment had paid off.

Of course, her parents hadn't been able to afford it all and had secretly been getting money from an outside source, Martin's new client. They hadn't told her that, of course. It was their little secret. Of course, it wasn't their only secret. That was why Martin was here in the park today, watching her as she packed up her books, bid her farewells, and headed for her car. The biggest of the family's secrets was secret no more.

Martin took a different trail through the park toward the parking lot as to hide that he was following her. He timed his approach perfectly, reaching the vicinity of her car just seconds after her. When she glanced up at him, he said with a smile, "Beautiful day."

She responded and returned to unlocking her car, and just as she opened the door, Martin was on her with a rag soaked in chloroform. She went limp in seconds with barely a whimper...



When she came to, she was laying across the back seat of her car. The doors were wide open, letting in some fresh air to ward off the abnormally high heat of the late April afternoon. When she rose, it would be obvious to her that they were no longer in or near the city park. In fact, they weren't in the city at all. The mountains to one side and the desert to the other -- as well as the fact that at least four hours had passed since the park -- would tell her that they were at least a hundred miles from where her little adventure had begun. Beyond the car was an endless ribbon of rural highway with not a single other car driving upon it. They were most definitely in the middle of no where.

Martin detected her moving about and leaned to look into the car with a smile. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. Actually ... I'm here to keep you from getting hurt."

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

Callista Faust stretched her body along the picnic blanket she and her girlfriends were sunning on. It was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in April, and everyone seemed to be outside, taking advantage of the early summer weather. She sighed in contentment as she soaked in the sun’s rays.

In the back of her mind, she knew she should have been using this time to study for finals. However, on a day like this, given the choice of studying in her dorm or relaxing (procrastinating) outside, there was absolutely no contest. She did bring some books with her to appease her nagging conscience. Whether she was actually going to open them or not, was a different story. Besides, pointing out a “cat chasing a mouse” amongst the clouds, in the company of friends, was much more entertaining than reviewing the work of René Descartes.

Linking her fingers behind her head, she continued to gaze at the fluffy clouds against the bright blue sky, and contemplated her situation in life. Her family wasn’t rich per se, but luck seemed to always be on their side. Any time a situation would arise (financial or otherwise), the stars seemed to align themselves just right, and things would work themselves out. As a child, she never questioned anything; just blindly accepted things as her parents presented them to her. But, as a teen and now a young adult, she seemed to find herself pondering more about her “family luck”, and if it was ever going to come to a screeching halt.

The young woman’s thoughts were swiftly interrupted by a red frisbee hitting her foot, followed by a voice calling, “Callie!! Over here!!” She sat up with a huff, and decided to glance at her phone first. Shit, she thought to herself as she realized the time, then hurriedly flung the disc back. Callista suddenly remembered that she had promised to meet up with a few friends at the library, for study group. Much as she hated putting an end to her tanning session, she hated the idea of going back on her word more. If she left now, she would still have time to shower and grab a bite to eat before hitting the books.

“I’ve gotta head back,” the blonde teen groused as she slipped her tube top and shorts over her bikini. “Promised some friends I’d meet them at the library in a bit.”

Her announcement was met with pouting requests to “stay longer,” and “fuck studying.” She couldn’t help but laugh when her roommates lazily grabbed at her ankles to prevent her departure. After a few minutes of back and forth banter, she bid her farewells and strode towards her car.

With each step Callista took, she tried to remind herself the importance of her education - a desperate effort to get her brain to switch gears from “summertime fun (in April)” to “semi-diligent student.” She began to wonder if her scholarship was dependent on her maintaining a certain GPA…

Just as she was about to place her hand on her car door’s handle, she heard the gravel give way behind her, and turned slightly to notice a man with striking dark features. “Beautiful day,” he said with a charismatic smile.

“Yeah, it is,” she replied with a smile of her own, before opening the door.

Within seconds there was only the smell of something sickeningly sweet, and her world turning completely black.
———
The young blonde slowly woke up to the sound of rushing wind, and a headache that simultaneously throbbed at her temples and behind her eyes. Confusion set in as she slowly sat up in the the back seat of her car. Which meant, someone was driving…

As if beckoned, the driver turned back to face her and smiled, “Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you. Actually…I’m here to keep you from being hurt.”

With every word the stranger said, details and memories began to slowly surface. The park. Walking to her car. A man commenting on the weather…the same man driving her car! A feeling of dread came over her as she took in the environmental surroundings. Mountains and desert?! How long had she been out? Panic struck hard, as her mind began considering worst case scenarios. She was certain her heart was going to pound right out of her chest; her breathing shallow and quick.

Callista swallowed hard, as she met his eyes, trying to gather some anger in an effort to hide her more than apparent fear, “W-who the fuck are you, and what do you want with me?”

 

[WildBill2015]

They parked in a wide spot on the shoulder and, after he invited Callista out onto the loose gravel, said simply, "My name is Martin, and I've been hired to keep you safe."

It was obvious that that wasn't going to be enough for her, particularly when she began looking about her surroundings as if wanting a route for fleeing. She could have simply been wondering where she was, but Martin couldn't take the chance.

"There's no where to run," he said in a tone that was more informative than threatening. "We're a hundred miles from campus ... forty from the nearest town. Ain't gonna get a ride from anyone but maybe a trucker, and trust me, you're safer with me than them."

That wasn't true, of course, but Martin had Hollywood on his side. He couldn't remember the last movie in which a pretty young girl hitched a ride from a trucker and didn't end up either getting raped, buried in a shallow hole, or both.

"Listen, I really am here to protect you, but--"

Suddenly, Martin heard the sound of a fast moving car in the distance, obviously coming their same direction they had. He stepped up quickly to Callista, grasped her by the arm, and pulled a small semi-automatic pistol from his hip. He pressed it to her belly in such a way that it was hidden from the direction of the road.

"I need you to do as I say," he said in a quieter but harsher tone. "I need you to believe that I am here to protect you."

The fast moving convertible came flying over the top of the hill and instantly began to slow at the sight of Callista's own car sitting on the white line. As it continued to slow, Martin heard the loud music and off key singing of both the driver and passenger cease until finally the car, the music, and the accompaniment were all stopped in the lane just fifteen feet away.

"Y'all alright?" the driver asked with an obvious touch of concern, even as his passenger was still seat dancing to the now almost inaudible music as she herself asked, "Broke down?"

"Please," Martin whispered to Callista as he smiled politely to the couple. As he pressed the gun harder into Callista's side to remind her it was there, he continued whispering, "Don't make me do something I don't want to do ... to them."

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

"My name is Martin, and I've been hired to keep you safe.”

As Callie stepped out of the parked vehicle, her eyes darted about, trying to find a means of escape. His calm tone, doing nothing to calm her nerves. “Safe?” she asked skeptically, “From what, exactly?”

The young blonde carefully eyed him, along with her surroundings. Maybe there was a way to knock him out, grab her keys back and drive off. Or maybe, if she could somehow create some distance, she could flag another driver down to help her get away.

As if reading her thoughts, Martin went on to explain that there was “no where to run,” and she was safer with him, than any trucker passing by. She had seen enough B-type horror flicks to agree that may be the case, but there was no way in hell she was going to trust Martin, simply because he was asking politely.

Just as he was about to explain his role of protecting her, Callie heard the sounds of a fast moving vehicle coming their way. Maybe Lady Luck was on her side, after all? Without thinking, she attempted to beeline towards her potential savior, only to be abruptly pulled back with the muzzle of a pistol pressed into her side.

Her breath caught, somewhere in her throat, as she saw the weapon pressed into her body. Alarms were going off in her head, while the harsh reality of her possibly dying out here, with no one knowing, slammed home.

"I need you to do as I say," he said in a quieter but harsher tone. "I need you to believe that I am here to protect you."

Tears began to sting her eyes, as panic threatened to swallow her whole. Was this guy crazy? He kept saying he was here to protect her, and now he held her at gunpoint. “Fine, ok. Ok, just please. Don’t kill me. I’ll do whatever you want.”

As the convertible came into view, and slowed to a complete stop beside them, Callista turned her head to blink away tears. The muzzle at her belly, a brutal reminder that screaming for help was futile.

”Please, don’t make me do something I don’t want to do…to them,” Martin whispered gravely.

“Y’all alright?”
“Broke down?” the passersby sincerely asked.

Callie cleared her throat, and did her best to paste on a believable smile, “Um, yeah…yeah, we’re just, enjoying the view!” Please call 911 or tell someone I’m here, please, she silently prayed.

The young blonde turned her head again, to feign looking across the desert landscape, speaking softly so that only Martin could hear, “I don’t know, what you’re supposedly protecting me from, but if it’s money you want, my parents can pay you, they’re rich,” she lied. “Just, please. Let me go, and don’t hurt these people.”

 

[WildBill2015]

After Callista finished, Martin smiled to the other couple and said, "Thanks for stopping, though. Most people would have just shot by. I envy the ride."

His gaze swept over the convertible, and a moment later the couple waved, cranked up the music again, and sped off into the sunset, literally and figuratively both.

Martin turned Callista to face him, then slowly returned the pistol to the holster on his hip. "In response to your questions ... What I am supposedly protecting you from is a danger I am not at liberty to explain to you just yet. But, as soon as I am authorized to do so, I will. I promise. As far as money goes, this isn't a kidnapping. And even if it were, your parents don't have the kind of money you think they have. They are anything but rich.”

Martin wasn't entirely sure just how much Callista knew about her family's true financial situation, but he was sure that she eventually would find out. So he didn't feel as though he was telling her any information wasn't allowed to disseminate.

He turned her back to the car, this time putting her in the front passenger seat. As he closed the back doors and circled around to the driver's seat, he explained, "Callista, I need you to just go with me ... do as I say, when I say it, just for today. One day. That's all I ask. Tomorrow morning, after I've been able to talk to my employer, I'll tell you what I'm allowed to tell you and tell you what's going to happen to you."

He started the car, put it in gear, then looked over to her. "Trust me when I say this is the best thing for you."

Martin could see in Callista's eyes that she didn't believe him in the least. He drew a deep breath, released it, then snatched the pistol off his right hip. He ejected the clip and stuffed it into his left jacket pocket, then ejected the round in the chamber and did the same with it. He opened the glove box and tossed the weapon into it.

"Better?" he asked. "I need you to trust that I'm not going to hurt you."

With that, he checked his mirrors and shot Callista's car out onto and down the road.

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

Callista sulked as she sat in her passenger seat. Arms crossed, gaze staring out the window, she wasn't quite sure how to take this situation. She had so many questions, and Martin proved uncooperative in sharing any more details than he already had.

At least he unloaded the pistol and placed it out of immediate reach. Thankfully, that helped drop her amount of panic to manageable levels.

Aside from jumping out of a moving car, Callie felt her options for escape were slim to none. All she could do was be patient, and wait for the next opportunity to flee.

The young blonde broke the silence of the car, still keeping her eyes on the passing desert scape. "If this isn't a kidnapping, what is it?" Before he could answer, she barreled on, "Could you at least tell me where we're going? I'll need to use the bathroom soon."

 

[WildBill2015]

Coincidentally, as Callista spoke, Martin glanced at the gas gauge which read nearly empty. He recalled a sign they'd recently passed and told her, "There's a gas station up ahead, couple of miles."

He was going to leave her other question alone, but after a moment knew that she wouldn't let it go for long. He might as well answer her and, at the same time, tell her something about himself.

"I've been hired to protect you by a man whose identity I can't divulge at this point in time," he began, speaking slowly as he selected his words carefully. "This man has enemies. Dangerous enemies, who would like to hurt him in very serious ways. You, Callista, have a connection to this man. A connection that puts you in danger. That's why I'm here. To keep you out of danger."

They passed another road side billboard for the gas station. This one also included an advertisement for a café. "I'm hungry. You?"

He listened to her response, about both food and what he'd told her. As she finished, they crested a hill and found their immediate destination. It was a bleak little community, with a gas station and café on one side and a bunch of tiny log cabins on the other that, as they got closer, turned out to be cabins for rent.

"I'll make you a deal," he told her as he slowed and headed toward the gas station's pumps. "Sort of an extension of what we've already discussed. I'll fill the tank while you use the bathroom. Then, we'll go across to the café to eat, and I'll tell you what I can."

He put the car in park, then opened the glove box and pulled the weapon out again. As he reached into his jacket pocket for the loose round and clip, he reassured her, "This isn't for keeping you with me. You wanna run, run. I won't stop you. But if you try to get help that threatens to put me in danger..."

He let that comment die as he stepped out to pump...

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

“A grilled cheese with fries, and an old fashioned cherry soda, please,” Callista said to the waitress.

“Alrighty, I’ll have your food out to you in a jiff. My name’s Jana if you need anything,” the waitress looked pointedly at Martin and winked, before taking their menus away and heading back towards the kitchen.

Callista rolled her eyes, as she glanced at the girl’s retreating back. Originally, she had no intention of eating, but as her stomach growled in protest, and she considered the fact that she didn’t know when she would eat next, she figured she’d take advantage. Martin was paying anyhow.

She stared at the man, across from her, who seemed to be busying himself with his smartphone. This was the first time she had the opportunity to truly look at him: dark hair, dark eyes, sensual lips, and a stubbled, chiseled jaw. He was hot in every sense of the word.

Still didn’t change the fact that he was her captor. One that had drugged her, and held her at gun point within the last few hours.

You wanna run, run. I won’t stop you. But if you try to get help that threatens to put me in danger…

Callista thought back on his words at the gas station. It didn’t take a rocket surgeon to read between the lines: “If you run, I’ll still find you, and I’ll eliminate anything that gets in my way.”

The young blonde shivered at that, and began to absently twirl a strand of her hair about her finger; anything to distract herself. Seeing as how the bastard probably confiscated her phone while she was passed out.

She nearly jumped out of her skin, when the waitress just about slammed her old fashioned cherry soda on the table, before rushing off to take another order. Jesus, she muttered, under her breath, as the ice cream mixture spilled along the sides of the glass. Callista caught a running rivulet of the pink sweetness on her finger, then licked it off, before turning the glass to repeat the process.

“So, when exactly can you divulge this man’s identity? And, why should I trust him, or you, for that matter?” she asked, between finger licks. Callista slid the glass closer to herself, and brought her lips to the scalloped rim, slurping the excess soda and whipped cream. Her tongue snaking out to gather the remnants of white foam around her mouth.

“I mean, this whole story of yours…” she continued, as she plucked the maraschino cherry away. “Who’s to say you’re not some psychopath, getting ready to cut me up in itty bitty pieces, over there in those cabins?” She popped the cherry, stem and all, into her mouth, and looked at Martin expectantly.

 

[WildBill2015]

“So, when exactly can you divulge this man’s identity?"

Martin was entranced as Callista gathered soda onto her fingers and licked at them. He didn't know whether she was intentionally doing so, but the way she was using her fingers, tongue, and lips was somehow very erotic, and down below, he quickly realized he was beginning to harden.

"Why should I trust him, or you, for that matter?”

She slurped soda and whipped cream from the tall glass's rim, running the tip of her tongue all about her foamed decorated mouth. A chill literally ran up his Martin's spine, and he found himself having to change his sitting position to cover the fact that he'd shivered at the sight.

Martin Howard hadn't been with a woman in quite a while. And he hadn't been with as young and beautiful a woman as Callista Faust in ... well, he couldn't even remember the last time he'd been with a woman the age of the sexy, young blond.

Sex for sex sake was something in which Martin only indulged in between jobs. And it had been a long time since he hadn't gone immediately from one job to the next, so even recalling the last time he'd fucked would take some time to ponder.

As far as relationships went, he didn't even need to bother thinking about that. It had been almost a decade since he'd cared for a woman and at least twice that since he'd truly been in love.

Although he might be described as being alone, Martin never considered himself lonely. His work kept his mind occupied, and an occupied mind prevented him from realizing that his heart wasn't. He could see himself fucking Callista, of course. Hell, any man could see himself fucking the young beauty. As he'd watched her twisting her locks, then toy with the soda, Martin could even see himself caring for -- maybe even falling in love with -- Callista. Despite the situation, she seemed to be an interesting, head strong woman, both here in person and on paper in the file he'd read thoroughly before shredding.

Of course, that was just fantasy. He was working, and just as with any bodyguard worth the name, he wasn't about to get involved with his Charge. Yearn for her all you want, he thought. You can have her, too ... in your fantasies while showering.

“I mean, this whole story of yours…” she continued, snapping him out of his reverie. “Who’s to say you’re not some psychopath, getting ready to cut me up in itty bitty pieces, over there in those cabins?”

"If I was planning on cutting you up into itty bitty pieces," he repeated, hesitating while the waitress dropped their plates and ogled him once more. Once she'd asked if they needed anymore, then departed, Martin continued, "I would have done it before I brought you to a public place to be seen with me."

He picked a cherry tomato from the top of his Chef Salad and popped it into his mouth, still eying Callista as she, too, dug into her dinner. As they ate, he looked off to the desert expanse and the sun about to slip down behind the distant mountains. He turned his attention to the cabins across the road, then looked to Callista. Again his cock twitched and swelled a bit at the thoughts passing about inside his sex-starved mind.

"We'll stay across the road tonight," he said, nodding his head toward the rentals. He touched his hand to the smart phone, explaining, "I haven't gotten a call back yet, and any farther west from here we might not get any coverage, so ... we need to stick around here a bit longer."

He continued eating, studying Callista for her reaction to being told by a strange man -- her kidnapper, essentially -- that the two of them would be spending the night together in what amounted to a cheap motel room.

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

If I was planning on cutting you up into itty bitty pieces, I would have done it before I brought you to a public place to be seen with me.

Callista frowned as Martin's reasoning began to lend him some credibility. The young blonde pulled the cherry stem from her mouth, tied in a perfect knot. Their eyes meeting as she placed it on the napkin. Though his expression seemed neutral, the energy about him seemed, tense? Whatever. She bit into her grilled cheese sandwich before she could dwell on it.

As the two ate their dinners in relative silence, Callista began to wonder how long it would take for people at school to realize she was gone. How will her parents react? Would she ever see them again? How was she connected to Martin's boss? How were her parents connected to all of this?

Just as she was about to unleash another barrage of questions upon Martin, his voice beat her to the punch. "We'll stay across the road tonight. I haven't gotten a call back yet, and any farther west from here we might not get any coverage, so ... we need to stick around here a bit longer."

The teen's eyebrows shot to her hairline, as she laughed in disbelief, "Oh, hell no! I am not sleeping with you!" Callista hadn't realized that her voice was loud enough to carry, until almost every patron in the small café, was glancing in their direction. As she looked around to acknowledge this, she slumped in her seat - a vain attempt to make herself smaller, in hopes to disappear. Her cheeks burning crimson.

She shot him the brattiest look before staring at the cabins across the road. Part of her thought about screaming. Creating a huge scene, and running off. Surely someone here would be willing to help her. And yet, another part of her considered the other side of the coin: sharing close quarters with the stranger across from her. It was one thing to be in a car together, with an end destination in mind. A completely other thing, however, to be sharing space within the proximity of a bed, or a couch, or a table…Callista’s mind wandered straight down the gutter.

At nineteen, she could count the number of guys she’d had sex with on one hand. All of whom were around her age, at the time, and usually brought lackluster or underwhelming performances. One look at Martin, and she had a feeling sex with him would be anything but.

Damn her libido right now! What the hell was wrong with her?

“Whenever, you’re ready,” their waitress announced, as she dropped off the check. Her eyes lingering a little longer on Martin before she checked in with her other tables.

 

[WildBill2015]

"Oh, hell no!" Callista burst out. "I am not sleeping with you!"

As Martin stared in silence, the teen's face exploded in a crimson blush that he was certain she could literally feel burning her up. His lips widened in a tight grin as she sank down into the booth and faces all about her turned to look their way. His grin turned into a toothy smile as he caught the wide eyed waitress looking at him from over Callista's shoulder.

"I guess that third date rule is more of a guideline, huh?" he joked, shrugging his shoulders playfully at the pretty country server.

Her smile widened, too, and she took the few steps separating her and the pair to set the check on the edge of the table. “Whenever, you’re ready.”

"Thanks," Martin said, returning her flirtatious smile. After she departed, Martin pulled out a folded bundle of bills and whispered as he stood, "Relax. I'll take the chair. Rooms like this always got one of those deep, comfy chairs. Let's go."

He dropped an impressive tip on the table, gave the waitress a wink as he passed by her, and waited at the café's door for Callista to catch up. He'd separated off a twenty dollar bill while his bundle had been out and now pressed it into the blonde's palm as he nodded to the little convenience store that was part of the gas station.

"Toothbrush, shampoo ... what ever you need," he said, heading for the car. He thought about repeating his run if you want line but didn't. Instead, he simply said, "Take your time. I'll get a room, but I don't want the manager seeing us checking in together."

He looked to Callista, then back to the café. Beyond the windows, half a dozen faces were looking directly at them. He looked back to Callista again with a smile. "Not that it matters at this point, I guess. I couldn't've attracted more attention if I'd laid you over the table and did you right there."

 

[TheOneThatGotAway]

Callista was still so keyed up from her earlier thoughts, that she nearly flinched when she felt Martin press money into her hand, for personal necessities. She muttered a quick, "Fine. Thanks," before hustling inside the convenience store.

If the teen's mind wasn't already in the gutter, Martin's parting words basically cemented it there. The mental images of him fucking her on one of the café tables, proceeded to play on 'repeat' in her head. Ugh.

She gave herself a mental shake, as she went on to focus on the task at hand. Thankfully, this place had one of those quick travel packs that had everything she needed in one bag. Now that she thought about it, a hot shower was starting to sound really nice. Once she paid for her items, she stepped outside, and hugged her bare arms; the evening chill bringing immediate goose bumps to her exposed skin. Taking a breath, she made her way across the road.

Callista was beginning to trust him, and she wasn't sure if that was a good thing. Hopefully he'd be able to answer more of her questions, tonight.

As she approached the vicinity of the 'Reservations' cabin, she hoped like hell Martin would hurry up. Between freezing and hitchhiking, she was starting to take the latter into consideration.

 

[WildBill2015]

"Three-two-one," the Lodge Clerk said when Martin asked about a key to the little cabin. "No keys. Key pad on the door. Just enter three-two-one. It'll open."

"I'm assuming you change those between guests?" Martin asked doubtfully as he scooped up his receipt and change.

"There's a lock on the inside, too," the Clerk answered, understanding Martin's concern. He gave Martin a quick explanation about how to change the combination should he need to leave and want his possession inside to remain inside. Then the man caught sight of Callista crossing the road toward them. His lips quickly widened in a leering smile at the sight of what the chilled late afternoon's wind was doing to the blonde's nipples. He looked to Martin and said, "But I guess you won't be going out, will ya?"

He laughed as he slid the window shut, then made a lewd fist pumping gesture as he turned back toward his television and his laughter became almost hysterical. Martin turned to see Callista and couldn't help but ogle her wonderful firm breasts and their obvious decorations. He pulled his gaze from her body as quickly as he could, then headed for the room, conspicuously gesturing her to follow seeing how there was no need to hide their association anymore.

"Bed's yours, as I said," he said over his shoulder after he'd opened the door and entered. He checked the closet, then the bathroom, then ensured the windows were locked before he said, "I'm going to move the car over."

He headed out and crossed to the car, pulling his phone out and sending yet another short text, wanting to hear answers about the answers Callista wanted to hear. Parking the car, he went to the trunk and retrieved a trio of bags. He'd picked them up from the rental car he'd left behind after anesthetizing the blonde back at the park so many miles and hours ago.

One of them was a typical book bag, not unlike the one that belonged to Callista, which he also retrieved. The second was just a standard business briefcase. The third, though, was larger and longer, about the size of an electric bass guitar case.

In the room, he set Callista's bag at the foot of the bathroom door, beyond which he could hear the shower running. He thought he had time, so he laid the two cases out on the bed and opened them. The smaller one had a protective foam insert in it, with cutouts that contained a second pistol, several clips for each of his pistols, a pair of sound suppressors, a Taser, and some electronics, including burner phones, a tracking device, and more.

He listened again for the running water before he opened the larger case. It, too, had protective foam and weapons in it. But this weapon was a bit larger and much more serious looking. The sniper rifle had a large night vision scope on it, and housed next to it was a tripod for steady shooting from a prone position.

Martin's phone buzzed in his jacket pocket, and he quickly answered it. As he listened, he lost track of whether or not the water was running still...