“Oh, you know. I said you were sore in some special places and wanted to just stay in your room. Stuff like that.” He laughed, knowing she knew that was a huge lie.
“Very funny. After I showed her my bruises that time, from sparring? And explained how I heal up so quickly? Even if she believed that I did manage to get sore, from having monkey sex with you, she’d never believe I’d stay in my room because of them. Special places! Ha!”
“Monkey sex? Is that a cat thing?” Mike laughed. He was so enjoying having her back and being able to tease her was great fun. “Actually, I told them both at breakfast that you’d gone over to that Rescue Center. That we’d both gone there last night since you knew that EMT who was in the group and you’d wanted to be close to whatever was happening. Then, after a night when we did not have any sex, you’d gone back there this morning to check up on any developments. So, be sure to stick with that story when you see them. They’re out on the slopes again, waiting for the storm to blow over and hoping they can ski some more today. We are still planning to all drive back home late tonight, right?”
“Good story. And, I’ll stick with that, don’t worry.” Missy looked at him closely. She knew he’d love to have her suggest staying over another night. Maybe not for any actual monkey sex but he probably had some very specific thoughts along those lines. She could scent that he was now aroused and it was actually making her feel very horny. Sighing, she said, “And, yeah. We are driving back tonight. We all talked about this, remember? All those big commitments we each have for this week? We can’t stay.”
“What about the blizzard, though? Doesn’t that give us a good excuse?” Mike was kidding with her, since he could sense she really wanted to stay and spend the night with him, just as much as he wanted them to do that. She really was able to make him know how she felt, when she wanted to. And, her eyes were showing yellow specs again, so he knew she was getting aroused.
She looked at him and suddenly it was just the two of them sitting there with this pulse of energy happening between them. She felt her cat flooding her senses and knew her eyes were glowing with gold inside the green. She told him, “Mike, what we have is really special and I want our next time together to be really special too. But, it just can’t be tonight. Okay?” She knew he understood what she meant by next time and that she was actually telling him that she was ready for that. Sometime soon. She would make certain of that. Sometime very soon.
-----
Missy actually was still there later that afternoon when James and the others made it back, after being picked up by helicopter. She and Mike were in the lobby, waiting for Aaron and Michelle. Since they’d heard about the successful rescue they were not surprised when the hikers showed up. She smiled at them, giving a little wave and Joanne stopped and just stared at her, shaking her head.
Joanne had almost convinced herself that Missy had only been a dream, but now she could see that Missy was really there, in the lobby of their lodge, like it was no big deal. James and the other guys waved and the four of them were then greeted by several other people all crowding around to welcome them back. There were a few reporters in the group but none of the stories that went out about the rescue included any mention of Missy McCrae.
Michelle showed up shortly after that with Aaron and the four of them then checked out and drove back home. Missy insisted that Aaron drive so she could sit in the back with Mike. She then put her head on his lap and fell asleep for the whole ride back.
Chapter Four
Jan 2018
Missy walked into the coffee shop and waved to Robert Ulrey, sitting in the far corner, furthest booth from the entrance. They’d been meeting there every once in awhile and it had now been over a month since the FBI had arrested Frank McCarthy and eight of his associates. The arrests were for money laundering and tax evasion charges; the FBI had put together a very strong case after receiving a wealth of information all about one of Frank’s childhood buddies, Tony Gonzales, who’d successfully been laundering money for Frank during the past twenty five years. That had helped Frank rise to the top of the criminal organization in East Boston. And, the wealth of information had all been provided by Missy.
Robert had been the lead investigator for the FBI when Missy had disappeared and everyone had assumed she’d been kidnapped. When she’d reappeared two years later, she’d let Robert and everyone else just assume she’d been held by a sexual predator, under threat of something terrible happening to her family; a predator whom she’d eventually managed to kill. She didn’t actually admit to that but it was the only logical conclusion they could get from her evasive answers and her unwillingness to explain what she’d been through, plus all her assurances it was now safe and there was no one out there who needed to be brought in.
Robert had indeed actually believed just that, back then. He’d written it up that way in his report, along with his conclusion that whatever had happened to her unknown kidnapper, it must have been justified. The FBI was not going to bring any charges against Missy, a fifteen year old girl who’d been forced to live through some terrible experiences for two years. He’d then helped Missy and her family get through presenting her story to the media. At a news conference to announce her return, it was his participation that had prevented the media from learning any actual details concerning just what had happened during those two years. Things had quieted down and Robert had been very pleased. Few of his cases had ended as well as Missy’s case seemed to have ended.
Then, a year and a half later, she’d come to him with all that info she’d obtained from Tony Gonzales, asking for an audience with the FBI’s Organized Crime Division. That had led to the FBI making their big case and making all their arrests months later. But, there was a lot Missy had never explained concerning what she’d given the FBI and about how she’d obtained it. She’d kept her secrets, some of which Robert had now gained at least a partial understanding of. He had a secret now, too. A month earlier he’d joined the US Government’s Paranormal Branch, or “P” Branch, led by Drew Martinson. Drew had recruited him because of his special relationship with Missy. Drew knew she trusted Robert. Drew also knew Missy was a werecat and had explained all that to Robert.
“You’re looking lovelier and lovelier each time I see you, Missy.” Robert had often met with her right after she’d either been working out at the gym or else after one of her karate or martial arts sessions. For each of those meetings she’d still be wearing her karate gi with her hair all up on top of her head. Today, she was wearing a pair of dark green slacks and a matching green sweater, which he noted really made her figure look lush and curvy. He’d complemented her right after she’d removed the big jacket and scarf she’d worn when she came in. Her hair was in a loose pony tail and cascaded nicely over one of her shoulders. Since the dark green of her outfit was also a match to the color of her incredible eyes, his comment was in fact an understatement. She was looking like a model from some glamour magazine that didn’t need any airbrushing whatsoever.
“Thanks, Robert, you look nice today too. A girl loves to get compliments like that and you’re such a sweetheart for giving them to me.” Missy slid across from Robert and smiled at him. He really did look nice, with his close cropped grey hair and that military bearing he still managed having, even after leaving the Army’s Military Police and being in the FBI for over twenty years now. She knew he worked out at the gym and ran on weekends to keep in shape. Since she ran five miles almost every morning and worked out at her gym as much as she did, she could relate. She’d grown very fond of Robert. She not only liked him but also trusted him. He was a great friend.
“When the girl looks as fantastic as you do, Missy, the words are hardly a gift. Merely an acknowledgement.” Robert had let that just slip out and he saw that Missy was actually blushing now. He hadn’t really been quite so forthcoming before and realized he’d better watch his words with her. He didn’t intend to ever cross any lines. Especially today, when he planned to admi
t what he knew about her and reveal how the US Government had brought him on to handle her. Sort of.
“You know I have a boyfriend already, right?” She laughed and so did Robert. “Now, what’s the latest news about Frank and the boys? Are you keeping them all locked up for me, nice and safe? So, all of us peaceful citizens can relax in our beds at night and not be worried about bad things happening?” She’d actually used those same words with him years ago. From a fifteen year old, bad things happening had sounded a bit differently than how they did now from her at seventeen. Of course, a lot had happened over the past two years. She knew he’d finally figured out that she’d played him back then. And, he obviously knew she was playing him now.
“Yeah, they’re all safely tucked away. Their lawyers tried for bail but due to everyone having prior criminal records and being such a huge flight risk, having access to millions of dollars the way they do, the judge has denied any bail.” He looked at her and marveled at how she could be so playful about this. Sometimes, she was obviously a lot more mature than any teenager. “The court has tied up all the funds and assets the FBI knows about, but there are likely some offshore accounts we don’t know about. Hell, we’d never have found those funds of Tony’s you gave us, as you well know.”
When Missy had given the FBI that wealth of information she’d also given them over ten million dollars, free and clear, which Tony had managed to accumulate. That had been over and above the five million dollar estate his wife had inherited, which had just gone through probate. So, yeah, Missy understood about hidden assets.
She’d had to learn a lot of things about Tony after two guys had grabbed her, using a syringe to inject her with a knockout drug. When she’d awakened two hours later, she’d found herself lying on Tony’s bed in handcuffs. Naked. Tony had Missy kidnapped because she’d interfered and stopped him from raping his stepdaughter, Alice Morris. He’d been molesting Alice for three years, starting right after he’d married her mother, when Alice was just thirteen. That had ended once Missy had confronted him and he’d planned to get his revenge. She was going to be tortured -- raped and ravaged over several days -- and then murdered. She’d never be found.
But, Missy had escaped from Tony by Changing and then had completely terrorized him in her cat form. When she’d Changed back, he’d freely given her all the information she’d asked him for including all his passwords and codes. Although she hadn’t actually killed him herself, she’d blackmailed the two guys Tony had used to kidnap her and had forced them into disposing of Tony.
A month later, she’d had Robert arrange her meeting with the FBI and had traded all the info from Tony for some information she’d wanted. And for some surveillance software which she was now using to monitor those same two guys, Billy Martin and Donny Delgato. Just in case, as an early warning system, she was monitoring them with spy cameras she’d hidden in their apartments. She’d get a text message from that FBI software if her name came up and she then could watch the video to see what had changed and what had happened. Yes, she had her secrets.
“Robert, I really appreciate the way you FBI guys are continuing to look out for me and trusting me. I know I never explained about all that stuff from Tony but he had his mob buddies and there were things … things that I learned about those guys that I haven’t shared. I just can’t.” Missy looked at Robert and she thought about what she’d learned. She and Robert had talked about this before. Or, to be accurate, they had talked about her not telling him these things.
Yes, she’d learned it wasn’t just Tony and those two guys Billy and Donny. When Tony had wanted to arrange for things, like the murders of his first wife and then, later, his daughter, he’d asked his buddy Frank McCarthy and Frank had then called someone in New York who’d sent up these two hit men. The same arrangement had then led to these guys coming after her. But, she’d trapped them and shown them Tony’s confession about those earlier murders as well as her own kidnapping, all on video tape. And, she’d learned these guys actually worked for the head of one of the mob families in New York. To avoid exposure, they’d told her everything and had agreed to all her terms. In addition to disposing of Tony, they’d named their boss Salvatore and had implicated him in arranging for everything. All on tape, added to the same tape she’d recorded Tony on.
And it was information about this mob boss Salvatore D’Amato that she’d wanted from the FBI. She didn’t explain why but had insisted she needed this info to protect herself and her family. What had started out as her simply trying to help protect Alice had led to her being targeted by both the East Boston and New York criminal organizations. Hopefully, with the arrests of Frank and his gang, the East Boston organization would be leaving her alone. Her joking about bad things happening really wasn’t anything to joke about.
“Missy, I wish you would share some of those things. So, maybe I can help. And, as bad as those things might be for you? I’m afraid I have to give you some new information. And, this information might be just as bad as those things you’re not talking about.” He sighed as he studied her. He and Drew had discussed this new situation at great length and they’d both agreed. Missy needed to know this. Even if it meant he had to admit to her that her werecat secret wasn’t really a secret.
Missy could tell that Robert was serious. Crap! What now? “New information? Is it about Frank and his buddies?”
“Not exactly. But, it’s related in a way, since our arrests have created this vacuum for organized crime in East Boston.” Robert thought how best to present all this. “You see, I’ve been advised that an individual named Carlos has come up here and is taking over what’s left. Carlos has several aliases but we think he’s using the name Carlos Mancini up here. He’s originally from South America but has been operating in Miami for the past ten years.”
“Okay. But, why can’t Armando just take care of this Carlos? Why is this of any concern to me?” Armando was the head of the FBI’s Organized Crime Division in Boston and the one to whom she’d given all the information about Tony. And, the ten million. Robert had merely arranged for the meeting. And, Armando had provided the info she’d wanted about Sal.
“Oh, Armando will indeed have his team going after Carlos. Who knows? Maybe someday, he’ll be able to make a case. But, that’s going to probably take a few years, just as it did for the case against Frank. Without that info you provided, he’d still be trying to make a case.”
Missy nodded and said, “Yes, I get that. But, you haven’t explained why this affects me?”
“It’s because we’re pretty sure that Carlos is similar to you, Missy. We think he’s a werecat.”
Now Missy sat back, in shock. This was a lot to process. Robert knew about her? And, there were other werecats out there? She also picked up on his saying “we” and she decided to ask about that. “You know you’re saying some very shocking things to me. And, you’re saying we’re pretty sure and we think. Why would the FBI …?” She lifted one eyebrow to leave her question hanging at that.
“Ahh, it’s not the FBI, Missy. But, I’ve been asked to join another team. There’s a US Government agency … their Paranormal Branch or “P” Branch … I trust you will keep all this confidential, right? This is very secret. Just as secret as you being a werecat. If this guy Carlos hadn’t come up here? But, he did and we think you have a need to know.” Robert felt really bad about having to explain all this. But, it was necessary. Looking at her now, he could see she was very troubled. “Missy, did you think you were the only one? The only werecat?”
There were a lot of things racing through her mind as she continued processing this. Yes, she wondered about that. “I’m still trying to figure things out as I go along. Since you know my secret … and maybe a lot more … we really do need to talk.” She looked around but there was no one else in the coffee shop anywhere nearby. “One of my biggest fears is ending up in some government lab. Now you tell me this “P” Branch knows … do they have a lab? What’s my risk, here, Robert?
You’re my friend. Please. Help me understand.”
“No, they don’t want to put you in any lab. Drew Martinson, the head of this “P” Branch, is very excited about you. He brought me on to help with you, because I’m your friend. He’s thrilled you want to go to West Point and everything. I can’t tell you everything his organization knows, because they haven’t told me. But, if I can answer a few of your questions, and I know you have some, let me try.”
Missy thought for a minute. “How did he find out about me? Are there a lot of us werecats? Why hasn’t any information about us ever been published? I’ve been looking, you know. Lots. Nothing but obvious fiction.”
Robert said, “He heard about your saving that Stratton family and began investigating you because of that. You’d revealed your superhuman ability, right out there in plain sight. His “P” Branch has unlimited resources and was able to learn everything in our FBI files -- even what I’d only saved in my private file about you on my laptop. I hadn’t even put that on our FBI database. I’m actually embarrassed to admit that, but … at any rate, there’s really an awful lot of information available about you. Once he started looking, it was obvious that you were really enhanced. Superhuman powers, able to heal … plus all the articles, write-ups that I’m sure you know about. Being a great athlete in high school, second degree black belt in karate, amateur trophy in mixed martial arts at that Expo a year and a half ago? You know.”
Missy sighed. Yes, she knew. “But, how did he know I was a cat? When I Change? Or, is that the only kind of wereanimal?”
“Now you’re asking about some stuff that I don’t really know much about. That is, about other kinds of wereanimals. But about you? You left those cat tracks last October. You pretty much admitted you were responsible for killing those two guys … for kidnapping Alice? Remember? Drew read about that in my private file and it made it conclusive. He realized you’d more than just been responsible; you’d actually done that … you’d gone in there yourself and broke their necks as a cat. You’re a werecat.” Robert smiled, as he remembered how difficult it had been for him to accept everything, at first. But, once he’d accepted it, many of the mysteries about her had suddenly been all cleared up.
Missy Goes to West Point Page 4