"Stormy Winters"

[WildBill2015]

"Stormy Winters"

(closed)​

Martin Howard unzipped the canvas bag sitting atop the Goat's hood, dug through the bundles for a cursory inspection, then zipped it closed again. He said without emotion, "Looks good. Is it?"

"It's all there," Gregory said to him from across the hood. "Half a million, non sequential, mixed denominations, just as you requested. I, um..."

Gregory looked back over his shoulder to a pair of his goons standing near the van in which they'd arrived, then back to Martin. "Why don't you put that away. I have something else for you to take to Texas with you."

Martin didn't like the tone or mystery in the man's voice. He very often learned the details of his current job the moment Gregory handed over the money, but there was something in the man's body language that told him he was about to become very unhappy. He took the bag to the trunk, then returned, asking, "What's on your mind?"

Gregory turned to look at the pair of goons again, nodding. As he continued explaining, the pair helped a hooded and handcuffed woman out onto the pavement, then -- with each taking an elbow into their hands -- began leading her toward the Pontiac.

"What the fuck, Greggy?" Martin said with obvious dismay. "You're into kidnapping now?"

"Jesus Christ, Martin, I didn't kidnap her," Gregory said quickly. "She came to the Organization for help. She hasn't seen my face, and I intend to be back in the van and gone before the hood comes off, understand?"

"Who is she?" he asked, then emphasizing his unhappy tone, asked, "And what the fuck does she have to do with me?"

"I need you to take her with you to Texas," Gregory said. As his lips spread in a bit of a guilty smirk, he added, "Then on to California."

"I've shot people for making less ridiculous jokes at my expense," Martin said.

Gregory chuckled, short and soft. "Listen, I know you haven't had the best of luck with women lately--"

"The last one robbed me!" Martin cut in, adding, "And the one before that shot me!"

"I know, I know," Gregory said, "but ... I've been paid a lot of money to get her the fuck out of here. I need a professional, and you're the best, so..."

About then the approaching trio arrived, and without a word, Gregory turned and headed back for the van. Once he was inside and out of sight, one of the goons removed the woman's hood and cuffs, then the pair of them turned and left as well.

After the woman blinked her eyes a bit to clear them and made eye contact with Martin, it only took him a moment to identify her. He said with confidence, "Stormy Winters."

Taylor Winters had been all over the news for months. The latest headlines had been about her sudden disappearance from a Government safe house two weeks ago. Two dead Agents had been found there, but there hadn't been any conclusive evidence about Taylor's fate. Some thought she'd gotten a hold of a gun, killed the two unsuspecting agents, and escaped; while others thought that others had attacked the house, killed her protectors, and taken her away, either to freedom or a shallow grave.

Without another word, Martin moved around to the passenger side door of the GTO, opened it, and said, "Get in. We have a long ride ahead of us."