Jade

Spies and Gals - 1 3/6/06 13:21 “Come here.” He was standing on one side of their king-sized bed, she was on the other. “No.” She was light on her toes, planning her escape. He was on the side of the bed closest to the bedroom door, and she was close to the balcony, which was two stories up. And then there was the bathroom. “I said come here!” He was coming around the bed now, and her only escape would be across the bed or into the bathroom. She wasn’t going to jump down two stories to escape him, at least not this time. “NO!” Then she started laughing. “You’re too mad!” “I’m not mad. I thought it was funny.” He inched towards her and she backed up towards the bathroom. “Yeah? Well, you don’t look like you’re having a very good time!” She stepped back a little. “Oh, that’ll change in a minute!” and like a cat he was on her. She managed to escape his grip for the moment and climb on the bed, but he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up. She was now on her knees on the bed facing him. He pulled her tightly to him then grabbed her hands and placed them both behind her back and held them there. She couldn’t move if her life depended on it. So, she did the only thing she could think of. She laughed. “Oh, really? You think so?” He held her tighter and began to slowly untie the sarong she was wearing. So, she did the next best thing. She leaned forward, parted her moist lips slightly…and kissed him, first on his lips, running her tongue slowly over them for good measure, then on his cheek, then on his chin. Then she moved over to his ear and took his lobe into her mouth and flicked it lightly with her tongue. “Yes, really,” she whispered in his ear. “I think so.” Two days ago. He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the table while the kids ate their cereal. Another Monday! Sloan walked in and poured herself a cup of coffee, too, and sat at the table. Vince could tell something was up, and within seconds David looked up from his breakfast and muttered, “Sorry, mom.” Clearly something happened when he wasn’t looking. He looked from his step-son to his wife and back again, waiting for someone to fill him in. When no one did he said casually, “What’s up, guys?” Sloan looked over at her son and waited. “Mom, please. I said I was sorry.” Vince surmised that the offense was big because David did not want him to know about it. “We had a little disagreement, but it’s fine now.” And she reached down and took her husbands large hand in hers and gave it a squeeze, indicating that she’d tell him later. Two weeks ago he had come home from work and David asked him to play some basketball with him. Lately when David asked his step-father to play basketball it was because he had something on his mind. This time was no exception. Later that night, after Vince had made love to his wife and they lay spent in each others arms, Vince told Sloan that David had asked him to legally adopt him. “Did you know anything about this?” he’d asked her. “No, honey. He never said a word!” She was thrilled, of course, but she did not want to influence Vince on this in any way. “What did you tell him?” “I told him we’d have to sit down and discuss it as a family.” And of course, that had been the right answer. The kids finished their breakfast and gathered their things just as the bus pulled up. They said their goodbyes and were out the door. Sloan turned to Vince. “What do you have going on today?” she asked him as she refilled her cup. “Models.” “Excuse me?” Sloan blinked several times, not sure she heard him correctly. “I’m escorting a model to one of our safe houses. Apparently she was dating a mob guy out of Columbia, and she witnessed a murder. So, I’m escorting her to the safe house.” “Uh huh.” Sloan looked at her husband and smiled. Then she shook her head. “I don’t think so.” He laughed. “What?” “What?” she mimicked. “Is something wrong, sweetheart?” He was smiling at her. “Come here.” He stood his ground and his smile got wider. “Get over here!” She was smiling, too. He put his cup down and came to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, ran his hand over her beautiful bottom, his most favorite of her body parts. He softly kissed her cheek and she turned away. “Don’t you dare try to distract me with affection!” She was having trouble keeping a straight face. “Do you recall how we fell in love? Did it not have something to do with watching out for someone, keeping an eye out, that type of thing? A thing that wasn’t your job in the first place, but you did it anyway? Huh? And don’t you DARE caress my bottom in an affectionate manner when I’m trying to be angry at you!” He laughed. “Yeah, well look who I had to watch out for! I mean, my God, how could a man NOT fall in love with you? I have no interest in these empty-headed stick figures.” “Uh huh! Stick figures! You hit the nail on the head, brother! My ass has gotten decidedly bigger since we married, and now…and NOW! MODELS!!!” He threw his head back and laughed. “Your ass…your ass is perfection, bella donna.” He looked at his gorgeous wife and wondered if he had ever seen her jealous before, and decided he hadn’t. It wasn’t a good look on her, even though she was trying to keep it light. “Yes…well.” She smiled again at him and kissed him gently. He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head back gently and explored her mouth with his tongue. “In another minute,” she said breathlessly, “You won’t be going anywhere.” “I’ll see you tonight,” he whispered, and was out the door. She watched him get into his car and exit the driveway. When he was out of sight she picked up the phone. “Bonnie? We have a job to do!” …………………………………………………………………………………………… “MODELS! Oh, for Christ’s sake! Sloan, you can’t let this go on! You simply can’t!” Sloan was sitting with her best friend in an outdoor café overlooking the marina. Bonnie was having a Mimosa, and Sloan was having a Bloody Mary with a latte chaser. “Yes…well, that’s why I called you! I knew you’d know what to do.” She sipped her Bloody Mary then took a bite out of the stalk of celery that protruded out of her glass. “I mean, I love your husband as much as anybody,” Bonnie went on, “But…models? Oh, no! No, no, no! NO! We have to think of something! He must be watched at all times. Who else can we get to help?” “Well,” said Sloan, thinking. “I think we need to call in the whole gang for this one!” “The whole gang. YES!” And they clinked their glasses together. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Vince smiled as he thought of his wife this morning. Oh, my GOD! Was she funny! He looked on as the woman exited the limo and walked over to him. “Lieutenant Gerardi? Libby Addison. Thank you for this. I appreciate it.” She was a beautiful woman, no doubt about it. Her hair was auburn and hung down around her face like Veronica Lake. She was not your classic stick-figure model. She was curvy and feminine. Her eyes were hazel and set wide apart, and they were big and bright and deep. Her mouth was full, and her smile was honest and friendly. She took his hand when he offered it, and held on as little longer than was necessary…and Vince knew immediately that he was in trouble. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. As Sloan and Bonnie sat there the entourage began to arrive. First to arrive was Julie. Julie was a writer who grew up in New York. Sloan met her when Julie approached her about doing a story on Doctors Without Borders, right after Sloan joined the organization. They became instant friends. Julie had a cutting sense of humor and was not afraid of anything. She was close to fifty, but looked ten years younger. She was petite with light brown hair that came down in a blunt cut right at her shoulders. She smiled easily and she adored Sloan. She would do anything for her. Next to arrive was Sandy, who was an attorney for a small entertainment company. She was an African American woman, and she was one of the most beautiful women Sloan had ever laid eyes on. She was heavy-set and short in stature, but what she lacked in height she made up for in brawn. She plowed through like a freight train when she was advocating for someone, and if the day came where Sloan ever needed an advocate in court, she’d take Sandy in with her, no question. She was the toughest person, next to Vince, Sloan had ever met. The first thing she said when she sat down was, “What the hell has Vince done now?” Following Sandy was Diana, with Kelly on her heels. Diana was…well, she was a socialite, plain and simple. Her husband owned a string of businesses, his latest venture being in the night club industry. They owned four in Southern California alone. Diana was Sloan’s wildest friend. Worse, even than Bonnie. Even Bonnie bowed in reverence to her, for Diana would and could do anything. She had the money and the clout to get away with murder…almost. She had red hair that flew in every direction, with piercing blue eyes that bore into you, or looked passively through you, depending on her mood. Vince adored her, in spite of her wicked ways, and she loved him, too. So, when she arrived, all she could do was sigh and say, “Babe, I hope you know what you’re doing.” Kelly was a brunette, and built like a gazelle. She owned, along with her husband, one of Los Angeles’ most popular restaurants. She also ran track competitively in her spare time. Today she wore shorts and a tank top that someone must have painted on her. Sandy mumbled something about “Hootchie shorts”, and Kelly answered with an emphatic, “Fuck you, San!” and everyone laughed. Bonnie called the meeting to order. “Ladies, our gal has a problem.” As soon as Bonnie mentioned models, a roar went up in the group. “Oh, we can’t have that”, flowed by an “Oh, that’ll never do!” and a “What the fuck is he thinking”…that was Sandy. “OK,” Diana began. “As much as I love that hot-blooded Italian, this cannot and will not happen. He must be watched at all times.” Lots of yeses went up in the group. “So, how do we do it?” “Well, he knows all of us almost as well as he knows his own wife, so ‘come as you are’ is out,” commented Kelly. “Right,” offered Julie. “We’ll have to disguise ourselves.” She turned to Sloan. “What is his schedule?” “Well, I think he meets with her today, then he escorts her to the safe house either today or tomorrow.” Contempt dripped from her lips as she said ‘escorts’. All the girls laughed at that. The green-eyed monster was alive and well. “Well, look, girls.” Diana began. “As much as I espouse outrageousness, I think in this case less is more. We can’t disguise ourselves as crazy people. He’ll see it’s us in a minute.” She thought for a moment. “I’ve got it!” Sloan saw the gleam in Diana’s eyes, and immediately regretted involving her…any of them, for that matter. Sandy turned to Sloan. “He will have your ASS!” Then she took her friend’s hand. They all laughed, agreeing that, YES, he would. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. Vince led his charge into the hotel lobby. “Wait here,” He instructed her and he went up to the concierge. “Is Miss Addison’s room ready?” he asked. “Yes, sir. You can pick up the key at the desk.” He walked over to the front registration desk and retrieved her key, and one for himself. She would stay here tonight, then they would move her tomorrow to the safe house. He caught this detail because most of the drug and vice cops were known to the lowlifes who might be after her, so they needed new blood. Both Vince and Ryan were on this particular babysitting job. Ryan was thrilled, being a young, single guy. Vince was just worried. He walked back over to Libby with the key. “Here you go. Remember the rules?” She rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m not to leave the room or the hotel without someone with me.” She looked at her new friend, this sexy, dark cop, and said, “I need a drink. Let’s go to the bar.” “OK,” he answered. “But just one.” “My goodness, Lieutenant. You’re strict!” She smiled coyly. “You have no idea,” he muttered to himself. Vince didn’t notice, but standing behind a Grecian column in the hotel lobby was a woman wearing a tan trench coat and a Groucho Marx nose and moustache. And that woman was his wife. She gasped! That hideous woman smiled coyly! There will be no coyness, Vince Gerardi, goddammit! Then she saw them go into the bar together. She immediately opened her cell and pressed one button, which dialed them all in, all five of them. “That BITCH smiled coyly!” she said into the phone. “Oh, coyness won’t due! Not at all!” exclaimed Julie. “They just went into the bar,” Sloan announced. “That’s my cue,” said Bonnie. And in she went, in her tan trench coat and her Groucho Marx nose and moustache. She sat a few tables over from them and it was just dark enough so she wouldn’t be noticed…too much. The waitress came over and took her drink order, and as she walked away she suddenly turned around, not quite believing what she was seeing. “So, Lieutenant, this is not a detail you are used to, is it?” She was flirting with him now, or at least that’s what Bonnie thought. He laughed. “Actually,” he said, “This is how I met my wife…doing something…a job…I wasn’t really supposed to be doing.” “So you’re married then?” she asked. Bonnie gasped. “Yes, just. Less than a year.” “A newlywed. Very nice.” “It is. I was married once before and didn’t think I’d ever do it again.” “No regrets, then?” “None so far.” OH! No, no, no! She had to do something! She got up and walked by their table, and when she got just close enough she flipped up the hem of her coat and knocked the lovely model’s pretty pink Cosmo all down her white dress. “Oooops. Sorry,” Bonnie muttered as she skedaddled out of the bar. Vince immediately got up and started to clean her up instead of going after the culprit. Had he gone after her he would have caught her for sure, because Bonnie forgot to change out of her CFM pumps and into some flats so that skedaddling could be easier. “I didn’t know what else to do, Sloan! She asked him if he was MARRIED! I couldn’t let that go on another minute!” “Well, for God’s sake get the hell out of there before you get us all caught!” Sloan snapped her cell phone shut. I must be out of my mind! As Vince and the model exited the bar and headed for the elevators Kelly took her place, in her trench coat and Groucho Marx nose and moustache. She stood by the elevator with a newspaper in front of her face. The first thing Vince noticed, of course was that she was reading it upside down. But he was too concerned with getting his charge upstairs and changed to do anything other than shake his head. When they exited on the eighteenth floor there stood Sandy off to the side, pretending to look at the view in her get-up. Trench coats must be coming back, Vince thought to himself. It was the third one he’d seen in the last half-hour. Sandy turned around and watched them walk down the hall together, then got on her cell to announce to the group that they were now in their hotel room. Then she muttered, “Bitch” and all five ladies roared with laughter.