by Carol Jean
She must be the girl that made him too tired to spar with her. He mentioned to her once that Deidre saw the video footage of when she waved her gun at the security guard on You Tube.
Steven was her first and only kiss. He was so tuned to her and she can still remember how it felt to melt into him. When the memories of that kiss and all the others she wanted from him but would never get overpower her, she has to get out of bed and run until she can’t anymore.
Those few hours with Steven were the best of her life. Steven told her once to go to work. Work is good for you he said. He knew her better than she knew herself. She didn’t know him at all. She still feels the hot blush of embarrassment that she told him all about Simon and her family that day she cried so hard into his chest until his shirt was wet.
Steven didn’t say anything about knowing Simon, or the fact that they talk about her behind her back. Let it go. Men are who they are, but she’ll never be thrown away in a garbage-filled alley because she wasn’t wanted or useful anymore.
Jose is her private trainer and they use the athletic facility in her condo building. Jose brings in sparing partners from time to time and she always has a good time, even if they aren’t particularly challenging. At least they don’t get personal.
After opening their third shooting range and training facility, Gerry wants to retire and focus solely on his Olympic hopefuls. His son, Brandon has possibilities for taking over the management, but twice she walked in and found him more than flirting with giggling female customers.
She’s been looking for a professional weapons expert and is supposed to meet a good candidate this weekend at the racetrack in Southwest Virginia. She’s promised BB for months that she’d take him to the track so he can blow the city kinks out.
“Miss Mason, your package has arrived. I can’t wait to see what he sent this time.”
Every Thursday, right on schedule a box of chocolates arrive from Simon. She heard that he was getting pretty tight with the heiress of a financial firm, but the chocolates keep coming. With each box is a note, asking her for a date to dinner or a play or let’s see what it is today. Not bad, a walk in the park during the first snow of the season.
A promise is a promise and she never breaks a promise. Anyway she knows he just likes the chase. They never talked much, but each and every time it was all fluff and sexual innuendos. She knows he can’t be trusted, like the rest of them. From what she knows of him, Simon is intelligent, a hell of a businessman, charming and absolutely gorgeous, but he lacks substance and soul.
She hands the box to her P.A. who takes it gratefully.
“If you don’t want this guy, Miss Mason, can I have him?”
“Sure, Candace, his contact information is in our database.” If anyone could handle Simon’s crap, she feels comfortable that Candace could.
Chapter 20. Treating BB
It’s a beautiful fall day. Clear blue skies, cool breeze and bright sun. She and BB drove straight from work to the track and he’s getting a complete tune up and tires for the track. Three top notch mechanics are giving him their all.
“Miss Mason?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Stan Renick it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Tall, handsome, with twinkling eyes that remind her of Simon, he’s forty-five and has been in the military, worked for Colt, Glock and owns several Olympic gold medals and a bunch of silver and bronze.
“Thank you for coming, Mr. Renick.”
“That’s yours?” He points to BB.
“Yes. He’s my best friend. I treat him to the track here a couple times a year so he can cut loose.”
Stan laughs. “I’ve always believed that women were meant to be racecar drivers. You gals are so in tune with your cars.”
“Well, what can I say, people can be unreliable. He fires up each and every time I want to go somewhere. He never complains if he has to wait for me or hold my purse.”
He laughs again. It’s very pleasant.
“Are you staying at the track Miss Mason?”
“Yes. I’m at Hanson House. You?”
“The lodge.”
“BB is in good hands and I could use some lunch. Will you join me?”
“BB?”
“Big Boy. I called him that the first day I got him. It stuck.”
“I had a Shelly once. Dark green 1964 Mustang with red and white racing stripes and a Shelby engine, she was the light of my dark teenage years.”
Stan is very pleasant to be with. She’s given him the business plan for the ranges and he’s asked the questions she hoped he would. Three hours later and they’re still at lunch.
“I’m impressed with you, but I must ask why you want this job. It demands a hands-on approach to management. There are so many variables it’s like twenty full-time businesses rolled into one job. The pubic and member ranges, gun sales with regulations make lawyers weep, military groups, law enforcement . . . well you know, it all in the business plan.”
“Challenge, Miss Mills, and stability, I’m forty-five and have never settled down. I’m ready and the diversity of your ranges doesn’t scare me it excites me. I’m a good manager and value efficiency and accountability. It’s the nature of someone who’s spent his life pulling the trigger on lethal weapons.”
He laughs and it’s so pleasant she can’t help but be drawn in to join him.
“Do you shoot, Miss Mason?”
“Gerry still growls at me for not competing. I practice at least three times a week, every week. I really enjoy the combat courses and I’ve never failed one.”
He’s staring at her.
“What?”
“But you’re so beautiful, what you’re saying doesn’t seem to fit what I see in front of me. Beauty, class and sophistication and a gun, it’s hard to picture.”
“Well if you think that’s difficult to picture, besides shooting I’m a damn good boxer and a fifth level black belt in Kempo-Karate. When I can’t sleep, I get out of bed at two o’clock in the morning and run five to ten miles without breaking a sweat and I’m still in my office by six.”
“So you are a lethal weapon?”
Steven’s face flies in front of her and she misses him hard for a few seconds. “Yes. I’ve been called that by some of the most exciting people I’ve known.”
“Wait! It can’t be. You’re the woman in red! Oh my God, I’m so pleased to meet you. I never imagined that I would meet you. I was in Afghanistan training militia when the video and news carried the story. By the end of the week posters of you were all over the military bases with the words. She’s what you’re staying alive for and she’s fighting for you to come home. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you immediately. I went to sleep for six months looking at your poster.”
She doesn’t know what to say or how to feel. She’s tried so hard to put that evening out of her mind. She told Charles it would never go away and it would follow her for the rest of her life. Sometimes being right sucks.
“Have I upset you? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Did you know how much you mean to so many people? How inspiring you are? When we were headed out on patrol and we knew some of wouldn’t make it back. It was our thing to say: ‘Don’t let her down’. It was you we were talking about.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Well Miss Mason, you must have been hiding for the past few years, because everyone else in the world knows you.”
Hiding, no she’s not hiding. The person she was that evening is dead. She’s glad to know that maybe she’s helped someone to survive, but it didn’t save her.
“So, I think this interview has gone very well Mr. Renick. What do you think?”
“I so excited I can hardly sit still.”
“Do you run?”
“Only when chased, this body isn’t really made for running. I’m six-five and two hundred and forty pounds. Hiking, mountain climbing and hunting, that’s where I shine along with rowing, kayaking and long board surfing is mighty
fun too.”
“I’ve never done any of those things.”
“If you let me, I’d love to teach you. They’re all very challenging and especially rewarding.”
“I’ve decided, Mr. Renick, welcome to Stalwart Companies. Unless you would like to discuss terms further, I’d like to shake on it.” She holds out her hand and looks at his twinkling eyes. His hand is warm and engulfs hers in a gentle shake. Her hand would tingle when Steven held it, sparks burned through her when she Simon held her hand and they danced. Stan Renick’s hand feels warm and pleasant.
“Yes, I think we’ll work well together.”
She loves it here and is talking to the real estate company that manages the property. She just might buy a place here for her and BB. She jogged to where BB is and checked on him and then took off over the dirt roads and paths through the woods and jumped a couple fences. She ran beside the track, checking out the curves and turns for when she and BB get their chance to stretch their legs tomorrow. They only had a few laps available for her this trip. She has to make them count. Time has no meaning here. She runs until her mind and body are in synch.
“I’ve seen you running all evening. You’d be over there and then you were behind me and then pop out jumping over and fence. We were placing bets on where you’d show up next. I think you ran the entire property.” Stan Renick is sitting on her porch with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
“We?”
“A couple of off-duty mechanics and I shared burgers and beer on the patio.”
Oh.
“The moon is coming up and it’s a beautiful evening, I thought it would be nice to have a celebratory toast to our association and listen to the crickets hunt for a mate.” He smiles at her.
“That’s a lovely idea, Mr. Renick, but to be honest I’m exhausted. I’ve been up since about four, worked all day, drove the length of Virginia and I am too tired to have fun.” She laughs lightly and watches his face fall.
“Don’t forget that you probably ran ten miles. I do understand and I hope you don’t think I was being forward. I enjoy being with you and I’m happy that I get to work with you. I wanted to share how I feel.”
“Open the bottle, Mr. Renick. One drink and then I’m going to kick your ass off this porch, so I can get some sleep for tomorrow. She holds it, but, of course, doesn’t drink any of it. She has her Dad’s blood in her veins. A drunk and a murderer, that isn’t who she wants to be.
“Now that’s a plan!” His eyes twinkle like Simon’s.
Chapter 21. Dead for Real
She’s as excited as BB. Jarrod, the head mechanic is on the track with BB, checking to see if everything is working properly. When he get’s back, she and BB get to take the track together.
Mr. Renick surprised her this morning with a gray driving suit and helmet that matches BB and he’s scrounged a professional photographer to take some stills and a video of our time on the track. She’s never had a photo of her and BB. It would be nice to have.
“Purring like a cat,” Jarrod says as he gets out of BB.
“He is a Jaguar, Jarrod, I’m glad you didn’t make him bark like a dog.”
Several people laugh and then the photographer takes a series of shots with her and BB, then with the mechanics, and Jarrod and then one with Mr. Renick. “I hope you don’t mind, I’m honored to be photographed with you, Miss Mason.”
“So you’re going to show it to all your military buddies?”
“Of course! And everyone else I know.” She’s surprised so many people came out to watch her, that’s never happened before. She figures Stan Renick told everyone she was the woman in red. Ugh.
Jarrod tucks her into BB with the harness he installed for the track run. “Take the preliminary lap slow and memorize the turns. The track has changed some since you were here last. I’ll be watching for any problems. Don’t hit it until you pass the start on your first run and only if you see a green.”
“Thanks Jarrod, you remember I’ve done this before.”
“Just a reminder Miss Mason. Have fun.”
She’s so excited, of all the things she does this time on the track is more special than anything else. It feels so natural and the speed doesn’t frighten her, its more like the faster she goes the slower it is. She has more than enough time to plan and maneuver how is best for BB. It’s her photographic memory Jarrod explained, the first time she came here. It’s perfect for a race driver he said.
Joy, pure joy and she and BB are nearly through their first lap. BB is driving like crazy, smooth, quick, firm on the steering. He’s isn’t so good on tight turns, so she goes wider and backs off just a tad.
Fast is good, but she wants to drive him home this afternoon. She’d love to stay, but she’s meeting with the new company she just bought and there are some problems to work through. But now it’s her and BB on the track and nothing else is on her mind but this time.
She lives each second, each turn, feeling the speed and the purr of BB’s engine. The light is green and she and BB are flying. Easy as sliding into a bubble bath she’s come to love, she and BB work together like one piece of machinery. She watches BB's RPMs carefully to save the best for last and max him out for a run across the finish line.
This run is as perfect as the others, but time is running out. She’ll have to exit after she crosses the finish and then it will be over.
“We’ll come again BB, don’t you fret.”
On the last turn before the straight to the finish and for some reason BB glides through the long turn better than he has all day. She wants to pat him, but holds firm and then sees the light flashing red, but she’s already there, and a modified is in front of her on the track, stopped.
She brings BB down as fast as she can but it’s too short to stop, if she stays to the track she’ll hit head on. Her best chance is to swing to the left and spin out in the grass. She hits the brakes and the gas angles BB wide, she’ll make big circles but at least they’ll take her and BB away from the stopped vehicle.
It’s working smooth as cake batter, two more spins and she’ll be clear. A loud pop like a .45 caliber but different and she and BB are airborne. It feels like minutes, there’s really nothing for her to do but hold on. Tires don’t grip air and steering has no effect, she’s going to crash. She straightens BB’s wheels and hope they don’t roll too many times. BB is a street car with none of the reinforcement of true racing cars.
The crash comes hard and she blanks out for a millisecond, and then she sees they’re rolling, launching and crashing again . . . roll, launch, crash . . . roll, launch, crash . . . and she can see people running and lights flashing when the windshield crosses in front of their path and then she’s whirling and facing the sky. Now they’re flipping front to rear and she knows it’s over. She and BB will not survive. Her last thought is of Steven and then Simon. “I love you Steven. I love you Simon, I always have.” She yells because no one can hear her. No one will ever know.
Chapter 22. Heaven and Simon
White lights too bright. It hurts to look at it. Whispers, “She’s coming out of it” and the lights go out.
“Judy. Judy can you hear me? It’s all right, Judy. You’re going to be all right. I’m here. You’re safe.”
She knows that voice and she knows she’s dead. He was her last thought alive.
“Simon?”
“Yes, baby, I’m here. I’m not going to leave you. I’m here. Please say my name again. I can’t believe you said it. I love you Judy, I always have.”
“Simon . . . dead too?”
He laughs. It sounds wonderful. They must be in heaven where everything is love and fun and “Chocolate”.
He laughs again. “I’ll get you some chocolate Judy, as much as you want.”
“Heaven . . . Simon . . . chocolate” . . . black.
Whispers . . . low voices like they’re far away. She can’t concentrate for more than a few seconds. Voices, mechanical sounds over here and then over there .
. . the only thing that doesn’t move is her hand because there’s a hand that isn’t hers holding it. It feels hot like Simon’s hand when she was in a red dress dancing with Simon.
“Simon?”
Soft lips on her hand “I’m here Judy. I’m taking care of you. I love you Judy, I always have.”
And then she remembers that she’s dead and Simon’s in Heaven with her. “Heaven . . . dancing.”
The hand squeezes hers tighter and it feels good and she hears a laugh that sounds like Simon’s laugh. “Simon?”
“Yes, Judy, it’s Simon. I’m here with you. Hold onto me and we’ll dance together.”
“In Heaven?”
“Yes, Judy.”
Heaven’s soft and warm and she’s feels heavy except for her hand because Simon’s holding it and taking care of it so she doesn’t have to.
Whispers . . . she’s feels like she’s moving . . . driving . . . she can’t see where she’s going . . . she’s going to crash . . . she tries to scream but nothing comes out . . . she tries to move.
“Shhhh . . .
Simon’s voice.
“Shhhh you’re okay Judy. You feel like you’re moving . . . its okay you are. I’m taking you home Judy . . . We’re moving you to the plane. I’m taking you home Judy that’s why you’re moving . . .
Lips soft and warm on her forehead and cheeks . . . Simon’s lips . . . she’s confused that there are planes in Heaven and dead people fly in them? She’s scared and hears her whimper . . . like crying. She’s never been on a plane before “Scared.”
“Oh baby everyone is taking good care of you . . . I’m here and I’m won’t leave you . . . squeeze my hand if you’re scared.”
She squeezes. She feels him squeeze back. “That’s good. You’re doing great. We’re almost there.”
“Leaving . . . Heaven?”
“Yes. You are special you get to leave Heaven and go home.”
She feels like she’s panting and she hears a beeping and loud noises and something inside her hurts. She squeezes Simon as hard as she can . . . “Hurts!”