Aversion

* * *
Elena slept peacefully in Wade’s bed, and he decided it would be best if he sleep on the couch to let her collect her thoughts and sleep alone. He consoled her until she fell asleep, and he was totally fine with letting her stay in his bed. He has fallen asleep on his couch on many occasions, and he did not mind giving up his bed to her. She was still rather shaken up from the news that she would not be able to get naturalized in the United States, and he wanted to help her. The only problem was an ongoing problem, one that always persisted. She needed money, and as badly as he wanted to help her, he just could not assist her in this manner.


When Wade awoke the next morning, he tried to shower and dress as silently as possible, letting her sleep in for the first time in God knows how long. She was still weary from the stress of her experiences yesterday, and he figured it would be best if she was left alone to sleep as long as she needed to. He set up a pot of coffee for himself and made enough for her when she woke up. As he removed his keys from the hook by the front door, he heard the sheets rustle in the bedroom, and she sweetly called his name. He stood by the front door, listening again to ensure it was not his imagination. She called again, and he walked to the bedroom.

A white linen sheet cover her body, and she had her arm over the sheet, resting on her hip. She stood up and held the sheet over herself, and he knew that she was completely nude under the sheet. He awkwardly walked to her and asked, “You called?”

“Yes, I wanted to thank you before you left.”

“It’s no problem, I just wish there was something else I could do to help your situation.”

“Do not worry about that, Wade. I will figure something out, I just need a few days to work it out. Thank goodness today is Wednesday and Bridgett is not expecting me until Saturday morning. I need to figure out what to do between now and then and leave before she can find me.”

He scratched his head. “I can try to make a phone call to a few guys I know in Las Vegas that might be able to get you back to Russia, Elena.”

She curled herself even more under the sheets and yawned. “Thank you again, Wade. If you would let me, I can repay your kess ess for last night.” She stretched her leg under the sheet and then brought it over the sheet, her leg dangling over the side of the bed, exposed over the sheet as it hung underneath her soft skin.

“I… Elena, I could not. I, well, I like you and I do not want to take advantage of you.”

“You would not be taking advantage, I am letting you do this.”

He shook his head. “It would not mean anything, and when, I mean, if we, well, you know, I want it to be…”

She finished his statement for him, “Special? Yes, I understand. Well, at least do this for the future prospect.” She sat up and held the sheet over her chest. “Kiss me.”

He walked slowly to her and sat on the edge of the bed. She wrapped her arms around his head as he held himself away from her, careful not to be too rough with her. The truth is, he really, really wanted to ravage her right then and there, letting her body sit atop his and move to their mutual desire. How badly he wanted to fill her, please her and watch as she writhed in delight. How badly he wanted to hold her legs over her head and thrust himself inside of her, moving and grinding against her until he was completely spent. However, he had an inkling, a sensation he had only known several times before. He was beginning to care about her, and he did not want to rush anything with Elena. Plus, she had a huge issue that needed to be absolved. He also had issues, and if she left, he wanted to go with her. But he had a good job, a job that paid well and he did not want to abandon the pay. Wade was getting sick of Bridgett, so Elena was now a good excuse to back away from his employer. Bridgett paid well, very well actually, and that was something that he was way to reluctant to let go.

As he leaned into Elena, he let the emotions wash over him as he gently held her face in his hands, letting his thumb lightly trace the outline of her bottom lip. He nervously licked his lips and watched as she closed her eyes, ready for him to kiss her. Wade closed his own eyes as he leaned into her until their lips locked, and he gently brushed her lips with his own. Elena leaned her body into Wade’s, letting the sheet fall from her body and pressing herself againim. im. He felt the heat of her body against his. She tugged at his necktie, bringing him closer and pulling him tighter against her as she pressed herself against him, the weight of his body dropping on hers as he opened his mouth and tasted her sweet, soft lips. He lightly glided hinguengue against her mouth, eagerly wanting to taste more and more of her. She willingly obliged, slowly running her tongue over his as he lightly pushed his tongue in and out of her mouth, softly licking her lips as he pulled back. She lightly sucked on his bottom lips as he softly moaned, whispering, “Elena I have to go.”

She pulled back and straightened his necktie. “I know. But remember, I will be here when you get home, Wade. And when you get back, I want more.” She kissed him again, and against his will, he had to cut it short as he scrambled for his keys and exited the apartment.

He started the car with a huge grin on his face. Wade lowered his head before pulling out of his parking spot, trying to ignore the hardness in his pants before he drove to his employer’s mansion.

* * *
“Ashley dear, get your books ready, Wade is on his way to take you to school.” Bridgett paraded around the mansion in her long silk robe, gathering several of Ashley’s school things from the office as she awaited her daughter to come downstairs.

Ashley called for Luke and the dog obediently ran to her side as she called for him. The trotted downstairs together, her backpack strung over her shoulders as she hopped down the stairs, the dog following immediately after her. “Coming, mother.” As she walked to the kitchen, Ashley looked over to the piano, fondly recalling the last time she had sat there. Once again, she mastered one of the concertos given to her by Miss Mary Franklin, and she smiled as she thought how pleased Mary would be. Ashley had given up any hopes of satisfying her mother, for every time Ashley wanted to play for Bridgett, either Bridgett was not ‘in the mood’ or she just plain was not interested.

“Good morning, darling.” Bridgett put her cigarette down as she hugged her daughter. They sat at the table, Bridgett sipping on a cup of coffee as Carla brought over Ashley’s breakfast. Bridgett looked at the clock, slightly concerned. Wade was usually about twenty minutes early every morning, but now it was fifteen minutes to the hour and she wondered where Wade could possibly be. She watched her daughter eat breakfast and smoked another cigarette.

When the doorbell rang, Bridgett sighed in satisfaction as Carla went to the door and Wade walked through.

“Good morning, sorry I am late… there was a bit of traffic and…”

Carla nodded, “You are not late, Wade. You are still early.”

“I know, but well, I am usually about twenty minutes early and, alright well I am here now, everyone is having breakfast, everything is alright…”

Carla walked with him as they approached the kitchen. “Wade, are you okay? You seem a bit nervous.”

He shook his jacket off, the sprinkles of rain flying off of him. “Yes, yes I am fine. It is raining a bit today,” he looked into the kitchen, “Ashley I have the car parked right out front, but you might want to bring an umbrella in case it rains heavier once we get to your school.”

Ashley nodded to the driver. Bridgett smiled warmly to him and he simply bowed his head. “Good morning ladies, sorry I am late.”

“No Wade, you have never had a bad day, you are on time. Come, sit and relax with us, there is still time before Ashley needs to be taken to school.”

He sat down across from Bridgett and Ashley finished her breakfast. “Thank you.” Carla handed him a cup of coffee and he drank heartily.

When the women were done with their breakfasts, Wade grabbed his driver’s cap and Ashley followed him to the front door. For some reason, Ashley ran to her mother and gave her a huge hug, and told her that she d hed her. The child did not know why she hugged her mother so hard or why she wanted to tell her how much she loved her, but something overtook her and she did it anyway. Slightly taken aback, Bridgett leaned into her daughter and told her how much she loved her right back and wished her a good day at school.

Bridgett smiled widely as she watched her daughter follow the driver and tugged Wade’s arm before he exited the mansion. “Wade, there are some things I need to get done today. After you drop my daughter off at school, please come back for me – we will be taking another trip out to Rodeo Drive this afternoon.”

He tipped his had, “Yes ma’am, I will be back later.”

“Very good. Ashley dear, I will see you when you get back from school.”

The young girl waived and answered, “Okay mom!” She then opened her umbrella as she stepped out of the front door and ran to the car parked out in front, Wade immediately after her. He opened the door to the private car and when the young girl entered, Wade entered the driver’s seat. He started the engine and silently cursed himself for accepting Bridgett’s afternoon work. He knew she just wanted another day of him, another day of using him for sex. Wade then got an idea. He figured he might as well get something else out of his visit this afternoon. He smiled as he thought about his bag of clothes in the back of the car and he developed a plan. As soon as he was done with Bridgett, he would go home to Elena with a surprise; something that would help her, help the both of them, get out of their situation with Bridgett.


* * *
Wade parked the car out in front of the mansion again before knocking on the door. Carla smiled warmly as she opened the door for the driver and he took his familiar seat in the waiting room. A few minutes later, he heard Bridgett come from the stairs and walk into the waiting room. “Hello again, Wade.”

He stood. “Hello Bridgett. All ready for a great day of shopping?”

“Yes, I sure am. Tell me, has the rain subsided?”

“Not really, but there is a hint of a drizzle outside. I do not think it will affect the driving conditions all that much once we hit Beverly Hills.”

“Fabulous. I will grab my purse and we will be off.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Bridgett walked up the stairs into her bedroom and collected several items, along with her purse. She unlocked the safe under the carpet (which had a private stack of cash and several other necessities), and took a vial of cocaine with her. She joined the driver back downstairs and they both headed for the private car.

She sat in the backseat again, as usual. Once Wade started the engine, Bridgett carefully removed the vial of cocaine and measured out several lines for herself, and then she eagerly inhaled the contents up her nose. She rubbed her nose and then held her head back, letting the drug run its course through her system. “Wade, we’ve been doing this shit for over six months and you still shudder when I do that.”

He drove away from the mansion. With his hands on the wheel, he looked into the rear-view mirror and said, “It hurts my nose to even hear you do it, Bridgett. Doesn’t that shit fuckin’ hurt you?”

She answered, “The first few times. You develop an immunity to the pain; your body conditions itself.”

He nodded.

“Oh Wade, the good driver. Never drinks, does not smoke, no drugs – tell me boy, how did you get into so much shit a few years ago when you did not do anything, let’s say, uncivilized?”

He answered, “There is a difference between partaking in the substance and being involved in the substance, Bridgett. And I’ll leave it at that. We are not going to talk about this shit again.”

“Why, does it bother you?”

“The thing that bothers me is how you want to get to know me, and quite frankly I don’t want to let you, and I don’t wanna hear shit about you neither. Can’t we just stick to the original agreement?”

She laughed. “Wow you are quite touchy this morning, more so than usual. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

“No seriously, I want to know. Who blew you off before you came to work?”

He frowned. He shook his head, telling himself there was no way she could possibly know if Elena was staying with him. There was no way she could know that he had feelings for the Russian maid, and he was going to do everything he could to make sure that Bridgett never did find out about his new relationship with Elena. “It’s nothing, you are just getting on my nerves. Hell, maybe it is the rain.”

“Now Wade, you know I can soothe those nerves for you right now big boy.”

“Let’s just find a good spot, first.”

“Suit yourself.” She began to remove her blouse and slowly removed her panties from under her skirt.

“Damn woman, you waste no time.”

“You would know.”

“Which is unfortunate, I would hope your husband would be the one to make that assessment, you fucking whore.”

“That’s his problem, not yours. Do not be concerned with the issues my husband has.”

“Seriously Bridgett, you are attractive, smart and I think you’re okay. Why doesn’t he ever take care of you?”

She leaned back in the back seat. “He does take care of me on a certain level. But in other aspects, well, Bill is just, let’s say, incapable.”

He continued to watch the road and he added, “How so?”

“He doesn’t get the concept of affection. It’s just in, out and orgasm with him. To tell you the truth, we only go at it maybe twice a year, and that’s if I’m lucky. I don’t know, I seriously think the man is a robot when it comes to his job.” She laughed. “It would be appropriate for his line of work, no?”

Wade answered, “I suppose.”

“Oh you really don’t care, do you? You know what you want.”

He pulled the car to a safe location, a place he was sure no one would stumble upon them. “I know what I like. And you just happen to have the right equipment.”

“God, you’re predictable. As long as its got a hole, Wade will fuck it.”

He climbed into the back seat. “You never did know a goddamn thing about me and you still don’t. However,” his fingers slid along her inner thigh before resting before her entrance, “you sure do know how to make a nigga smile.”

She leaned back in the seat as he pleased her, eventually sliding inside of her and letting himself go.


* * *
Connor watched from his perch, atop a tall oak tree across the property of the mansion. He spent the day yesterday getting some equipment out of storage. He had contracts in Los Angeles in the past and he figured it would be best to keep some of his tools there, seeing how some of the richest people in the nation live L.A L.A., and where rich people lived there was always the opportunity to find a job.

He watched his prey from his spot, taking notes mentally as she would stride back and forth in her bedroom, removing several items from her room. She ducked down for a moment and when she stood, he noticed that she was admiring a small item in her hands. He zoomed into her hands as they gripped a vial, and he smiled when he saw what she was holding.

It was a vial of cocaine.

The idea hit him. That is what he was going to use to kill her – a hot dose of coke. The only other thing he needed to figure out was how he was going to plant it on someone else.

He observed as she exited the mansion with a tall black man. He watched them both intently and had to blink twice to make sure what he was seeing was real.

The woman smacked the driver on the ass as he held the door for her.

He thought to himself, “So, another rich wife cheating on the husband with one of the employees. This is almost too easy.”


* * *
After Wade finished with Bridgett in the back of the private town car, he drove around for a bit until she told him it was time to return to the mansion. The cool, wet weather made her decide she did not want to play her charade in Beverly Hills this afternoon – she just wanted to go home and have a proper go with her employee in the comfort of her bed.

Wade was only too happy to oblige. He drove her back to the mansion and pulled to the front of the house and dropped her off. He parked the town car in the garage and ran back up the house, trying to stay dry from the drizzling rain. Wade entered the mansion when Carla opened the door for him, his bag tucked under his jacket.

“Come Wade, let us settle our finances.”

Wade walked up the stairs to Bridgett’s bedroom and entered the door as she held it open for him. She closed the door and started to unbutton his jacket. “No, wait.”

“What is it?”

“I gotta take a piss.”

She rolled her eyes. “Wow you really now how to get a woman in the mood, don’t you, Wade?”

“Oh shut your fuckin’ hole, bitch.” Wade entered the bathroom and removed his coat, hiding the bag under the counter by the sink. When he came out, he had his clothes off, standing at the ready and set for his boss to do what she wanted with him.

“All ready for me I see?”

“Well it’s no mystery what I’m doing up here.”

“Fine.” She lifted the carpet for the safe under the floor, adding the combination until the box popped open. She removed several stacks of cash and placed them on the dresser. “You can collect when you are done.”

“Which won’t take too long.”

“I would have figured as much. Wade, you seem less dedicated to your duties.”

He stepped back. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I don’t know, you just seemed less interested in the car before.”

“What’s this ‘interest’ you speak of? You’re a piece of ass, bitch. You are paying me to fuck you. How ‘dedicated’ would you expect me to be?”

“Don’t rationalize it, Wade. Jesus, you’re starting to sound like Bill.”

“I ain’t your goddamn husband, get that shit straight in that fucked up, coked out little rich head of yours.”

“Thank God you’re not my husband. We wouldn’t survive for a week on your salary.”

“Yea no shit. I can’t be affordin’ all your fuckin’ drugs, bitch. Not to mention all the other gigolos you’d hire for times I’d be out, like hell, I don’t know, grocery or shopping. Damn woman, if you need a fuckin’ every ten seconds, why don’t you just plug a dildo up in there?”

“Speaking of which, where is that dildo?”

“What dildo?”

“Oh never mind, I never have to use it when I am with you. You have enough to keep me satisfied.” She stroked on his stiffened member.

He let her continue to pull on him, watching her intently. He said, “Bend over.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to fuck you like the bitch you are, that’s why.”

She immediately bent over, slapping his face before she assumed the familiar position. The truas tas they received mutual satisfaction from this position, but she liked for Wade to imagine that he was in charge, that he was in command.

When they were finished, Bridgett lit a cigarette and lay on the bedspread.

Wade looked at his watch and said, “Shit I gotta go get Ashley in ten minutes.” He stood and put on his clothes.

“Good idea. I want to take a shower anyway. You know the way out.” Bridgett stood nude and walked to the bathroom. As soon as she did, Wade ran over to the floorboard where her safe was and began thinking about combinations. Then it hit him. The combination was her measurements. He had shopped with her enough to know her measurements, now he just needed to figure out the order. As soon as he did, the safe popped open and he propped it with a pillow.

He quietly entered the bathroom, his silent footsteps muted by the jets of thowerower. He removed the bag from under the sink and ran back to the safe, filling his bag and closing the safe. Wade threw the pillow back on the bed and walked into the bathroom. He opened the sliding door on the shower as his boss stood soaking wet in front of him. “I’m going to pick Ashley up from school and then I have to head straight home. I’ll see you later.”

She smiled at him. “Care for another go tomorrow afternoon?”

“I think you’ve been fucked enough for a while, don’t ya think?” He meant that statement in more ways than one.

“Fine, whatever. Just bring my daughter back and come again when you are needed. I can take care of myself well enough.”

Wade closed the shower door and exited the bathroom. He ran down the stairs with the bag in his hands, quick and careful to run unnoticed by any of the staff members inside of the mansion.

He had a lot of money in that bag – he had emptied the contents of the safe. He figured he had enough money to get himself and Elena to Las Vegas, and enough to buy some security with Mac and the crew in Sin City.

After he picked Ashley up from school and dropped her off, he said goodbye and dropped the private car back off in the garage. A hint of guilt ran through him – he liked the young girl – she was smart and truly sweet, much unlike her mother. He silently prayed for the young girl’s future happiness and success.

He got inside of his own car, driving as fast as the vehicle would take him until he arrived home and reported the news to Elena.

She hugged him and they began to pack their bags, ready for a new life in Las Vegas. “Wade, aren’t you afraid you will be caught?”

“Believe me honey, they will not be able to find us. And if they do, well, we’ll just have to pick it up from there.”

* * *
Connor O’Flattery, disguised as Eduardo Galvez, approached the front door of the mansion when he noticed the town car leave again. He imagined Bridgett had finished with the driver and he was on his way to pick up the young girl from school. Bridgett was inside of the mansion – score. This was his opportunity.

He knocked on the door and a dark-haired maid answered. “Yes?”

“Red bird with golden tail feathers.” He learned the password from his trip to West Beverly Hills, where Bridgett ordered her drugs.

The maid opened the door for the Mexican man and he entered. “Should I just go and drop off the package for the mistress?”

Carla nodded, and Connor walked up the stairs. When he entered her bedroom, he noticed the shower was running and he placed the package down on her night table. When the shower stopped, he waited on the bed for her.

She came out in a towel and immediately looked upon the tall Mexican as he stood. “I don’t know you, who are you?”

He stood and shook her hand. “Antonio sent me, I am Eduardo from East Heights. He told me to bring the package for you.”

“Strange, Antonio never sent anyone.”

“This was a special case. He had to go to Columbia to gather refreshments of the current stock. We have been quite busy this year with all the new security measures set forth since the initiation of the new Macroware Technologies chips on the market. I am sure you understand, Missus Bradley.”

“Don’t call me that name.”

“Do you prefer Bridgett?”

“Yes.”

“Very well Bridgett. I suspect you will find this package to your liking, please open and give me confirmation.”

Bridgett took the box cutter from Connor’s hand and opened the package. Lots of papers surrounded another package, smaller and less obvious. She removed the smaller box and cut it open, and admired the small, tan vial in her hand. “Ah, it looks wonderful.”

Connor sat back on the bed as Bridgett drew out lines of the cocaine, not suspecting that it was a hot sample and that this was the last time she would ever enjoy the pleasures of the powdered drug. Hell, it was the last few moments of her life. Connor smiled as he sat back. This was too easy.

Bridgett sniffed several lines of the drugs and tilted her head back, and Connor sprung from the bed, his hands now wearing gloves, and he put his hand over her mouth as she began to scream. The excruciating pain ran though her, sinuses in her head were now being clogged with blood – the first sign of an overdose. She thrashed in his arms, and he maintained his grasp on her until the screaming subsided. He removed a towel from the back of his pants and held it over her convulsing form, her face now bleeding from the nose and mouth. She eventually went limp, foam escaping her mouth and the blood from her nose now beginning to get crusty and dry. Connor carried her dead body to the bed after he cleaned her off to ensure that it looked like she was not battered or had put up a fight. He removed her clothes and tucked her under the sheets of her extravagant bed, and he ripped up the box and put it in a bag, and then he tucked it in the back of his shirt, the remains of the box laying flat against him.

He left the empty vial on the dresser and thought twice about it. He did not recall holding it in his bare hands, but he took it anyway, just in case. He searched through her purse and found a half-empty vial of cocaine and smiled in satisfaction. This will look like she did it to herself. No problems on his end.

He stepped out of the window and climbed down the back of the house. Connor then made sure the coast was clear before he sped off in his car, toward the drop-off point where he could dispose of the box’s remains and collect his fifty thousand dollars. After he got his money, he was going to drive straight to the airport, return the rental car, and hit the light-strewn streets of Sin City – it was back to Las Vegas for Connor O’Flattery.


* * *
Ashley played outside with her dog until Carla called her inside for dinner. “Where is mommy?”

“I think she is sleeping upstairs.”

Ashley frowned. “Daddy is never home, Mommy is upstairs sleeping. What is going on here? It seems the only people who care about me are you and Luke.” She affectionately patted the dog’s head.

“Would you like me to go get her for you?”

Ashley pushed her chair away from the table and sighed. “No, I don’t want her getting upset with you for waking her up. I will go get her and tell her that dinner is ready.” Ashley walked up the stairs toward her mother’s bedroom.

She pushed the door open and called for her mother, her voice barely a a w a whisper. “Mommy?”

Ashley walked to her mother’s bed and watched her mother quietly sleep. She nudged her mother’s side. “Mommy?”

No movement.

The young girl looked at her mother’s form, still and pale on the bed. She took her mother’s hand in her own and dropped it immediately, sensing the cold and noticing no light in her mother’s opees. es. “MOMMY!”

Ashley screamed and shook her mother, noticing no reaction in the cold eyes of the stiff body beneath the sheets.

* * *
Wade and Elena arrived in Las Vegas, and immediately they took a limousine to Franco’s hotel and casino. When Wade approached the front desk, he booked a room for Mister and Missus Brad Williams. He was impressed with his own cleverness – hell, why not book the room under a version of his employer’s name? Once they got their keys, Wade sent a note to the executive offices of the hotel.

They put their bags down and within five minutes of checking in, the phone rang in the room. Elena answered it, and handed the phone to Wade. “It’s Franco.”

Wade took the phone. “Hey Frank, what’s up?”

“Wade, you need to get into the office as fast as possible. We gotta talk, man.”

Wade frowned. “What is it?”

“It’s all over the news, man. Get your ass down here and lock your doors.”

Wade hung up the phone and told Elena to lock the doors after he left. He did not know what the problem was – there was no way Bridgett could have informed the police of the robbery so soon. As far as he knew, she was still at home, resting after his long day with her.

He ran to the elevator and hit the button for the lobby level. Once he got downstairs, he approached the executive offices and knocked on the door. Mac himself answered and guided Wade to the back offices. Franco shook the black man’s hand and told him to sit down. Wade looked to his left and noticed a tall, dark Mexican man sittinwn. wn.

“Who is this?”

Mac answered, “we’ll get to that.”

The dark man nodded to Wade and continued to flip through the newspaper in his hands.

“Wade, what the hell happened in Los Angeles?”

Wade looked from Mac to Franco, expecting that they already knew. He decided to be truthful with his friend. Hell, he owed him that. “Well, I was driving this white woman around for a few months, and things got, well, personal with her.”

Franco sat behind the desk and listened to Wade. “Continue.”

“I was sleeping with her, Frank. She was paying me to.”

“What happened after that?”

Wade frowned. “What do you mean?”

Mac stepped in. “At what point did you kill her?”

Wade stood and raised his voice. “Did I do WHAT?”

The dark man answered. “She’s dead.”

Wade collapsed in his chair. “They’re pegging it on me, aren’t they?”

Franco handed him a copy of a telegram that was passed around their network. “They sure are man, and boy are you fucked. Listen, her husband, as you know, is William Bradley, of the Macroware Technologies fame. Wade, they’re implementing a program in their hardware chips and broadcasting a signal nationwide that has your blueprints all over it, man.”

The dark man spoke up. “You are in one hell of a bind, man. And we are willing to help you, but you have to help us in return.”

Wade turned to the man. “Pardon me for being so blunt, but who are you?”

Connor, dressed in disguise as Eduardo, responded, “I am your new best friend, pal. My name is Connor.”

Wade leaned back in his seat as he looked upon the man. “You don’t look like a Connor, pal.”

“Luckily for you, I am pretty fuckin’ good ad disguises.” Connor stood up and walked around the tall black man seated in the chair. “You’re going to have to lose some weight, Wade. It will be easier to take down a tall black man.”

Wade replied, “Mac, it’s complicated. Listen, I got this Russian woman I gotta look out for. The whole reason I’m here is because she’s trying to get the fuck outta the states and I don’t know what else to do.”

Franco answered, “No such luck, Wade. Macroware’s big man ordered a shut-down of all boarders and no one is getting in or out of the country. They’re pegging his wife’s murder on terrorists. Well, it’s down to terrorists and you.”

“Me? Why me?”

Connor answered, “They fouour our prints everywhere, Wade.”

Wade smacked his head. The last thing he did before leaving Bridgett’s house was damn near touch everything in her room. He asked, “how did she die, anyway?”

Mac answered. “She was whacked.”

“How?”

Franco leaned into Wa “Th “The fuckin’ coke head – she overdosed on a hot sample.”

Wade asked, “they did the autopsy already?”

Connor answered, “You’d be amazed how fast those Macroware systems can get shit done, man.”

Wade turned to Connor. “I’m in a bind here, fellas. What the hell do I do?”

Mac sat behind the desk as Franco stood and paced the room. He turned to Wade and Connor, saying, “We have a common enemy boys. Connor is here because he is an intelligence expert, an insider. He can break that code and set things straight for you, Wade. What we need from you is any information of Bridgett Bradley and her business dealings with her husband.”

Wade answered, “the only thing I can tell you is that she had the majority of the share in the company. That is about it.”

Connor rested his hands in his lap as he sat down again. “It figures. Look, when the majority-share partner dies, there is an insurance policy set up for the other shareholders. What’s going to happen is Macro’s executive partners will get an increase in their dividends and it’s equally shared among the partners. Of course, Bill receives his wife’s share in the business. No wonder he had her taken out.”

Wade turned to Connor, his face riddled with confusion. “I thought she overdosed. What do you mean she was taken out?”

Connor answered, “He put a contract on her. She O.D.’d on purpose.”

Wade asked, “How do you know that? Are you serious, William Bradley paid to have his wife murdered?”

Connor nodded.

“How do you know that?”

Connor placed his hands on the handles on the big chair he was sitting in. He answered, “Because I’m the one who took the contract.”

“YOU WHAT? Connor, she is dead and they’re blaming me! How the fuck do you expect me to trust you?”

“The same way we’re all expecting to trust you, Wade.”

He lowered his head. “I am so fucked guys.”

Connor answered, “We all are. Look Wade, here’s what we have to do.” He stood and began to pace the room. “I’ve done an extensive search across the entire Macroware Network. They are all routed to one single server, probproblem is that the server, as I have found, is all routed to one single wireless network, and according to my findings, it is a chip. Some hardware chip located on a single moving location. I have the coordinates as of right now, but the strange thing is that the chip is a singular network, and it is mobile.”

Mac added, “We can’t tell if it is in a pocket system or a cell phone. But this is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Wade asked, “What do you mean.”

Connor answered, “Well, this is going to sound like the most fucked-up thing you’ve ever heard. And believe me, it’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Wade said, “What is it, Connor?”

Connor sat down and said, “It seems to be… God this is so fucked up… it’s… guys, it seems to be organic.”

Wade coughed loudly.

“I don’t know what the hell it is, but we have to find it and take it out. In the meantime, we’ve gotta get you a new get-up, pal.”

Franco asked, “What did you have in mind?”

Connor answered, “Send him to Kansas City and have your crew turn him into a cowboy for now. Then send him back and have him pose as a hick here in the desert. We gotta get this, and get it fast. I’ll keep working on the chip, but we need to infiltrate Bradley’s mansion and get those files his wife has hidden.”

Wade said, “Elena is a maid there, she can get the folders and whatever else you need.”

Connor said, “She’s gotta make it look good.”

“Believe me, she will.”

A knock came on the door and Franco answered it. “Hello Heidi.”

A blonde woman walked in, her expensive silken jacket flowing after her. “I talked to Reba at the hospital and she’s going to get me Greg’s files.” She walked over to Wade. “Hey Wade, I am Heidi.”

He shook her hand.

She sat in Franco’s lap and kissed his cheek. “When I was in the hospital, Greg did a similar procedure to another patient – it was William Bradley, the president of Macroware Technologies.”

Connor scratched his head. “Alright, we need those medical files and Bridgett’s business information. We’ll put all that shit together and see what we can find. In the meantime, Wade we need to get you to K.C. and get you a new personality. I’ll go with you – Franco and Mac have lent us the private jet to get there and back as soon as possible.”

“Look, Mac, please take care of Elena. She’s on the fritz as it is and this extra duty is going to be a pain in the ass.”

Franco added, “The mortician will get Bridgett’s body and the funeral is getting set up soon. Immediately after the crew change in the mansion, that is when Elena needs to go in and get those goddamn files.”

Wade nodded and exited the office with Mac.

Heidi sat on Franco’s lap and asked, “Well Frankie, what’s it feel like to conspire to take down a multi-trillion dollar company?”

“I’ll tell ya when it’s all over.”

She smiled. “I fucking knew there was something wrong with that company. God, I hate Greg for being such an obnoxious asshole about it. Can Connor take him out when things are settled?”

Franco stroked her hair. “He’ll have to. He’s the only link between you and me, and you are linked to the business. We gotta take him out. The contract will be official as soon as we find that server and destroy it.”

“I should head to the airport. Reba is waiting for me, Frankie. As soon as I show up, we’ll ransack Greg’s files and hopefully get you some answers.”

“I’m counting on it, Heidi.”

She exited his office and went to the curb outside the casino, hailing a cab to the airport.


* * *
When Heidi arrived in Los Angeles, Rickey was waiting for her in the terminal entrance. She hugged him and walked with him to his car. “I have to get back to the hospital, Rick.”

“You got it.”

Once they arrived at the hospital, Heidi informed Rickey to drive around until she came out, she expected it should take no less than an hour.

She walked to the nurse’s station and found Reba there, just as she had promised. Heidi asked, “Where is he?”

“Last minute liposuction patient came in, courtesy of moi.”

“Very good. Come on, we have to be quick.”

The women arrived at Greg’s office, and Reba unlocked the door to his office. They approached the filing cabinet and Reba did not have the key. Heidi searched the office and found the key in a desk drawer and opened the cabinet. They could not find the file for William Bradley in the cabinet, and Heidi searched the office. She found a painting on the wall and moved it, finding a safe behind it. She asked Reba to fetch her a stethoscope so she could crack the combination of the safe. When Reba returned with the mechanism, Heidi quieted the nurse and clicked the safe, taking note of the distinct sounds as the correct numbers were hit. She opened the safe and several stacks of cash fell out. She reached in and found William Bradley’s file and opened it up.

Reba looked over her shoulder and said it first. “Oh my God.”

Heidi covered her mouth in amazement. “Well, they were right.”

Reba asked, “About what?”

“Nothing. Reba, I have to take this. You did not see me here, you do not know anything about what we just did.”

Reba nodded. “it’s bad enough that I can’t leave the country, you bet damn well I don’t want to lose my job over this.”

Heidi hugged the nurse and said, “In due time, Reba. You will be able to get back to see your family in Germany.”

The nurse asked, “how?”

“We’re gonna take it down, fuck up the whole goddamn system. That company is wrong, and my friend and I are going to make sure Macroware Technologies loses everything tonight.”

Reba walked out with Heidi and waived goodbye as Heidi ran down the hall to the stairwell. The nurse silently thanked Heidi and resumed her duties at the nurse’s station.

Heidi waived for Rickey as he sped toward her and she entered the car. “I got it babe, let’s get the hell outta here.”


* * *
A few days later, Elena had returned with Bridgett’s files, and Wade was back, dressed as a white cowboy. He laughed at his reflection in the mirror, laughing almost as hard as Elena when she looked at him. “I look like a fuckin’ hick.”

She hugged him. “Yes you do.”

Mac walked with them into the back offices where Connor was working diligently on a set of interlinked computers and Franco was watching behind him. Heidi opened the folders she got from Greg’s office and Elena combined Heidi’s information with what she collected from the Bradley’s mansion.

Connor glanced over the documents and said, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph.”

Mac leaned in. “What is it?”

Connor sighed and replied, “I can’t believe this shit. It is organic. According to Doctor Fox’s files, William Bradley had an implant approximately six months ago, the same day Heidi had her augmentation. Mac, you’re not going to believe this, but he had a goddamn chip implanted in his goddamn skull. He is the server, mate. William Bradley is Macroware’s mainframe.”
“Holy God, that’s just wrong.”

“We gotta get that chip. The thing is I don’t know if it will run if he is dead.”

“That poses a huge problem, Mickey.”

“We have to bring him back here and fix all this shit, Mac.”

“We’ll work something out.”

“After the system is down, we gotta get rid of ‘em. That won’t be hard, Frankie. You okay with the disposal?”

“Consider it done.”


* * *
Connor bypassed the security of Macroware Technologies and entered the Executive Offices of William Bradley. He found the man sitting at his desk and he quietly walked behind him and held a knife at his throat. “Don’t speak, don’t breathe, and don’t even fucking move, Bill.”

“My name is William, if you don’t mind.”

Connor remained still. “I don’t mind Bill. Now listen to me very carly. ly. We are going to get out of here and you are going to follow me.”

“Over my dead body.”

“In due time, Mister Bradley.” Connor cocked the man unconscious and called for the crew to come in and escort William to the car. They drove back to the airport and took Mac’s private jet back to Las Vegas.


* * *
Heidi stood over William Bradley’s unconscious form. “So this is him?”

Connor set up the routers to broadcast a signal to William’s network. “Yep.” He hit several buttons and a command prompt came up on his monitor.

Mac walked over and watched as Connor entered the commands, and they watched in awe as William’s eyes opened, yet no clear emotions were shown on his face.

Connor said, “He’s rebooting.”

Heidi shivered. “God that’s creepy.”

Connor initiated the system protocol and Mac opened the door to the offic ens ensure no one was watching them. In a flash, all the machines in the casino shut down and Mac slammed the door and ran to Connor who was sitting in the chair behind the desk. “The shut down is temporary until I can reprogram the chip. Heidi, grab that satellite console for me – it’s the one that looks like the laptop.”

Heidi ran across the room and carefully carried the computer over to Connor.

Connor spoke. “Right, all I have to do is set up a tempo net network until we can get the chip re-housed in that machine. It’s already set up with the router information, all it needs is the proper hardware.” He reached into his pocked and removed a switch knife. Once the blade was exposed, he closed William’s eyes and tilted his head forward, exposing the housing of the chip. He carefully cut along the nearly invisible stitching, the scars of William’s surgery. Connor removed the chip and immediately placed it inside the satellite console, and the bells and whistles inside of the casino rang again as the machine was booted.

The network was back and running.

Connor sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Get Franco in here, we gotta get rid of this body.”

Heidi asked, “is he…dead?”

“No, but I didn’t want you to see that part.”

As soon as Heidi left the room and ran to get Franco, Mac watched as Connor finished off Mister Bradley with precision.

“Mac, we gotta reroute the system, but in a few days, everything will be up and running. I’ll make sure it seems as if nothing has been disturbed.”

“Macroware is going to want to know where their president is.”

“Let them sort it out, Mac.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

Mac walked out of the office to let Connor finish with the network duties.

Franco called Wade and Elena over to him as he sat down in his booth at the hotel’s restaurant. Wade shook his hand and asked, “Are we all set?”

“Yea, but you gotta get the hell out of here, Wade.”

Elena held Wade’s hand. “They’re sending us to to ia aia as soon as the network is all cleared.”

Wade sighed. “I fucking hate snow.”

Franco responded, “It’s better than going back to prison, isn’t it?”

“Yea, no shit.”

* * *
Elena took care of Wade while they made their new lives in Russia. The Macroware Technologies system was in tact, even though the president had gone on hiatus. The news reported that William submitted a letter to the company, announcing his aspirations to finally bring their business abroad.

Connor was quite pleased with himself for that clever letter. He controlled the system and was well paid for it. He figured the best way to evade the United States government was behind his command console. He was now the chief of Macroware Technologies, and they’d never ever figure it out, pretty much since he was in control of their networks. There was no better place to hide than behind the command console.

Wade was never truthfully cleared for Bridgett’s murder, but the case closed with a simple overdose of cocaine, according to her medical files. Ashley was now the adopted daughter of Mary Franklin, and together they continued their piano lessons until Ashley went to college and became a world-renowned musician.

For the first time in her life, her mother (in this case, Mary her foster mother) was truly proud of Ashley. Ashley was especially happy because Mary truly loved their dog Luke, also.

Ashley rarely asked about her father. He never showed and interest in her music, and since she hadn’t heard anything about him since his extended leave from Macroware Technologies, she really didn’t care what he was up to. She was happy now.

She finally learned what love was, and she was finally happy.