Missy suddenly let her cat energy come flooding in and her eyes changed from the deep green they normally were and began filling up with gold speckles so they were flashing yellow to green to yellow. Then, she pushed some of her energy at him. And, with a playful smile she actually growled. The sound was definitely an animal sound and not something that would ever be coming from any girl.
Robert felt her energy and realized she was letting him see her, the real Missy, probably for the first time. “Wow. You do know about all this energy you’re giving off, right? That’s incredible, Missy. I was not briefed about any of that.” He shook his head as he stared across the table at this incredible person. Her eyes were wild and mesmerizing. He was very glad she considered him to be her friend.
Laughing, Missy pulled back, tamping her feline nature back down, and her eyes now showed only a few specs of yellow. “I told you I’m still trying to figure things out as I go along. Is that anything your crazy “P” Branch can help me out with?”
Robert said, “Maybe. They have been monitoring a few of you werecats. And, there really are only a very, very few. That’s why you can’t find anything. Some have more abilities than others. You seem to have even more than anyone they’ve ever studied or learned about. That rapid healing you do? And, wait until I tell them about this energy push thing you just did. Then again, I don’t really have to share that with anyone just yet. Maybe I’ll keep that secret for now.” He smiled at her.
“Interesting. I can only say that my various abilities all seem to be getting stronger, now that I’m older and now that I’ve managed to really meld my two natures into one. I actually have been going very slowly, since I do not want to lose control. I work the hardest on my controls, believe it or not.” Missy felt as though she was sharing a burden, just being able to discuss this stuff.
“Well, I’m in your corner, Missy. Believe me when I say I’m only trying to help. That’s why this warning about Carlos. He’s a serious gangster and we don’t trust him at all. It’s really unfortunate that he’s now up here in East Boston. If he ever learns about you? We don’t have any way of knowing what he’d do.” Robert looked around, once again making sure no one was listening in.
Missy said, “I was going to ask about that. Why is this Carlos a threat for me?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Missy? You’re a female. And, as far as we know, you’re the only female werecat alive today. We’re concerned this Carlos could not ignore you and since we’ve no way of predicting just what that might mean, we wanted to warn you. We don’t think it would be anything good.”
Chapter Five
Feb 2018
“He did it! He won!” Missy was jumping up and down and her excitement was contagious. Her best friend Alice Morris was with her and had brought her boyfriend, Mark Mathews. Mark was also a good friend of Missy’s brother John and Missy had known him all her life. They were watching Mike compete at his college varsity swim meet and he’d just won the 200 meter butterfly event. Missy loved coming to these swim meets but it was difficult to schedule being there and even more difficult to have her friends join her. Alice and Mark were both at the same university in Boston and Mike’s university was nearby in Medford where he was studying pre-med courses. She, of course, was still in high school. They were always going in different directions with all the many activities and commitments each of them had.
But, today was Saturday and they were all going out after the meet, as a foursome. Date night. Wow! Missy hadn’t seen Alice since Christmas although they talked several times each week. She knew Alice’s relationship with Mark had continued getting better and better and that really made her happy. Especially since she’d helped with that. Mark had been the one who originally had confided in Missy, asking her to help with his girlfriend Alice, who wasn’t comfortable with his advances. She would say she wanted him to touch her but her physical reactions were clearly saying no. Could Missy maybe find out what might be the problem?
That had led to Missy confronting Alice’s stepfather Tony Gonzales, of course, with all the events after that. Tony was now dead, Frank McCarthy was in prison, the New York mobsters were being monitored and now this guy Carlos had moved into the area. But, the progress Alice had made over the past two and a half years made everything worthwhile. Her sexual healing had been slow but steady, with assistance from her therapist Dr. Susan Thomas. Missy’s constant support and unconditional love had also really helped. Alice had never told her mother and probably never would. But, she’d finally been able to tell Mark. They were now a real couple and really enjoyed a very healthy sex life, which Alice was very open about with Missy. She continued to tell Missy everything since being able to do that, back when she had no one else she could talk to, had made all the difference.
“Congratulations, Missy, your boyfriend is a super star!” Alice was thrilled with the way Missy now seemed so into Mike and this was actually the first time the four of them had gone out together. She turned to Mark and said, “Tell her, Mark. You’re impressed with that performance too, right?” Mark was not a huge guy and had not been an athlete. But, he was handsome and smart and perfect for Alice, who was only five feet, five inches and had not been an athlete either although she had a very nice figure. They really were soulmates and looked great together. They both had blue eyes but Alice was a blond while Mark had dark brown hair.
“Of course I’m impressed. But, where are all the girl swimmers? You and Missy are getting to ogle all those guys out there, standing around in their little Speedo swimsuits with, you know, their big packages all bulging out. Where’s the eye candy for me? That’s the performance I’m interested in.” Mark had provided elaborate gestures to go along with his comments, which made the girls really break up laughing.
“Now, Mark! Behave yourself and just sit there. This is a men’s swim meet, remember? You’re not getting any eye candy tonight … until we get home. Now, let Missy enjoy herself and don’t embarrass her.” Alice looked at Missy and suddenly broke out in further laughter. “Damn, look what you’ve done now, Mark. Missy’s eyes are getting all those yellow specs in them and I know what that means. You had to go and mention those big packages on display out there, right?”
Missy had actually been noticing how spectacular her Mike looked, with solid muscles rippling everywhere. A real swimmer’s build, with fantastic muscle tone but not a lot of bulk. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, great abs, powerful legs. Long arms with those big hands … just thinking about all the places she’d like to experience having him touch her with those hands... Mmmm. That always got her so wet, feeling slick and slippery between her thighs. Ever since that night with him last Thanksgiving, when his hands had indeed touched many of those places … she shivered as a little sexual thrill went zinging through her. Yeah. She knew her eyes were doing that thing she did when she was aroused. She inhaled deeply, to let the heavy chlorine scent help clear her mind.
“Guys, we’re not going to discuss eyes or eye candy or big bulges, we’re going to watch the wonderful performance my man is giving us inside the pool, not standing around outside the pool. Right?” Missy laughed and, suddenly feeling extra playful, she pushed out one of those energy pulses of hers, right at them, just as she’d done at Robert the other day. Mark had no idea what had just happened but Alice immediately broke out laughing like crazy. She’d actually seen Missy Change a few times and she knew what that energy pulse had felt like. She hadn’t realized Missy could do that without the shimmer of light and the Shifting that went with it.
“Oh, you’re being naughty tonight, Missy! We are still all going out to eat dinner together, right? My treat, okay?” Alice knew talking about food would probably distract Missy and she was right. Meanwhile, Mark was still looking around with that “What just happened?” expression on his face.
“Your rich girlfriend just agreed to buying me some lobster tonight,” exclaimed Missy, looking at Mark with a huge laugh. Alice’s Mom had insisted on giving Alice one milli
on dollars and Missy delighted in teasing her “rich heiress” friend about that, every change she got. This was after the five million her Mom had inherited from Tony, which had caused her to give up her job at Walmart and make a lot of adjustments in her life. “Of course, you know I always have two lobsters for my poor starving body, to keep up my strength and everything. But, she can afford it. Thanks, Alice!”
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Missy and Mike were walking into the parking garage after seeing Alice and Mark off at the subway station. Earlier, Missy had picked Mike up at his dorm and driven them into Boston for the swim meet and the meal afterwards. The meal had ended up being very special. What had made it special wasn’t just that Alice had treated everyone or even that Mike’s team had dominated at the swim meet. It was the news about Alice and Mark getting engaged. They’d taken turns explaining all about it right after placing their order and while everyone was waiting for their lobsters to be served.
Three days earlier, on Valentine’s Day, Mark had surprised Alice. When she’d shown up at his off campus apartment, he’d insisted she go on a little scavenger hunt that he’d arranged. He’d obviously gone to a great deal of trouble and she was thrilled to comply. He’d left clues in a half dozen places, each leading to the next place, and at each of those places he’d hidden a gift box as well. It had taken her a good half hour to find each of his little gifts, which were all special and meaningful. Flowers, earrings, tickets to a play, a box of chocolates, a lovely bottle of wine and finally a candle light dinner for two all arranged right there in his apartment. He’d explained the wine was the reason for having the dinner right there at his place since they weren’t twenty one yet. Then, when it was time for dessert? He’d gotten down on his knee, pulled out the little velvet box, opened it in front of her to reveal the engagement ring and popped the question.
Alice had been so overcome with her emotions that it had taken several minutes before she’d been able to say yes. Of course, the way she’d been hugging and squeezing him, with those tears of happiness making mascara tracks down her face, had made her feelings pretty clear. They’d been pretty much exclusive for years and had always loved each other. Once Alice had escaped from Tony’s abuse, had realized being a victim had not diminished her and had started to highly value her own self worth, her love for Mark had allowed them to gradually get more and more physical. If anything, because of all the communication between them, their sex life was extra special. Alice was now very adventurous and really enjoyed all their lovemaking.
“Will being a Maid of Honor be something you can do? You know, if you’re accepted to West Point?” Mike knew she’d submitted everything for this, done great on her interviews and was now just waiting to hear if she’d be accepted. She’d already explained how, if accepted, she’d be going there in late June and her trips home would be few and far between for that first year.
Missy said, “Yeah, Alice knows all about my plans. So, she and Mark are planning their wedding for Thanksgiving weekend, my first real opportunity to get back home. John’s the best man and that’ll work for him as well.” Six months. Wow. She felt a little bad she’d not be there for all the typical Maid of Honor stuff leading up to the wedding. But, Alice wouldn’t consider having her wedding without Missy and had pulled her aside right after their dinner to confirm this timing would work. When Missy had agreed it was definite and Alice could go ahead and send out the “Save the Date” notices, they’d both gotten really excited.
“I’m happy for you,” Mike told her. He was thinking about how happy the two girls had been when Alice had put on her ring. She’d waited until they’d announced the engagement at dinner and then she couldn’t wait to show Missy. They’d only heard the cute story that went along with that as part of the show and tell. Since the two girls had been so ecstatic during the show part, it had taken quite a while before getting around to the tell part. “I know Alice is really special for you. I mean … you even told her about being a cat before you told me, right?” He laughed a little at this, but when he looked at her his eyes were really asking her to explain that.
Missy could not only see by his eyes but she could actually feel his asking her about this. “Actually, I didn’t tell her, exactly. I was forced to show her. She was kidnapped last year and I managed to find out where she was being held. To minimize any risk the guys might hurt Alice, I broke in there … as a cat. After … when it was safe … she saw me Change back.” They’d just gotten off the elevator at the floor where her car was parked but Missy stopped walking and turned to study Mike’s reaction. She didn’t really want to explain all the sordid details that had led up to that night. She definitely wouldn’t be telling him details about how Tony had abused Alice for three years. Mark was the only other person who knew about that, aside from Missy and Alice’s therapist.
Mike stopped when she did and looked back at her. “That sounds pretty serious, Missy. I guess I hadn’t thought that much about what secrets you might be keeping as far as after … you know … after you came down from those mountains.” They’d had several long talks since coming home from the ski trip. She’d explained all about her life as a cat for two years in the mountains.
And, he’d already met the Stratton family that she’d rescued on her way out of those mountains. Their car had gone over a cliff and dropped down a hundred feet. She’d noticed the smell of leaking gasoline and had gone down and pulled the three of them out of the car. When it had exploded, she’d been holding the five year old girl, Emily, and had been badly injured when her head hit a rock. He’d read all about that. Now he was realizing she had some more secrets. Alice had been kidnapped?
Missy was about to ask him to be patient with her and that she’d tell him more stuff later. But, suddenly she recognized a familiar scent. Marco. She never forgot a scent; her scent memories were even stronger than her visual memories. Why would Marco be here in this parking garage? She instantly went on the alert and pulled Mike over so they were between two cars, close to the elevator.
When she’d rescued Alice from those kidnappers it was by confronting Frank McCarthy. Either he told her where Alice was being held or she’d send her video tape to Salvatore D’Amato. She’d shown him her video containing Tony’s confession along with confessions by Sal’s two guys, Billy and Donny. Since this evidence clearly was implicating Frank and Sal in the murders of Tony’s wife and daughter, Frank would be in big trouble with Sal. After all, it was Frank and Tony who’d messed up, right?
To confront Frank, she’d walked into his favorite nightclub and had met two of Frank’s guys at the door: Ramon and Marco. Ramon was one of the eight guys that had been arrested by the FBI, along with Frank, but not Marco. This couldn’t be a coincidence; Marco had to have followed her here. And, he probably wasn’t alone. She inhaled deeply and could scent three other guys who were also up ahead, somewhere. Somewhere near her car which was on this level but at the opposite end of the garage.
“Mike, we’re going to get back on that elevator and go downstairs. Right now.” She pulled him back with her while her mind raced with all the possible scenarios they might be facing. If they’d followed her here, they had to know Mike would be with her. Was this a hit? An abduction? Would Frank risk that? Whatever it was, she wasn’t going to have Mike exposed.
Both the sounds and the smells she could sense from Marco and the three others were far enough away that she and Mike could get back on the elevator. When the doors opened, they went in and she pushed the down button. She took off her gloves, her hat and her coat and handed them to Mike along with her purse. “There are some guys waiting up there for me, Mike. For us, actually. Down by my car. Please just trust me about this, okay? I promise I’ll explain things later.”
When they got to the bottom level, she was wary. Surely there had been someone acting as lookout who’d have called up to the guys above, alerting them. Where was that guy now? When the doors opened, she and Mike remained inside, out of sight. She began parsing sce
nts over her tongue and across the roof of her mouth. There. A man was out there, somewhere on the street, but nearby. Near enough to have watched them go in. Breathing deeply, she couldn’t sense anyone else.
Mike was very concerned but she was holding a finger to her mouth for him to be quiet and signaling with her other hand that he stay there with the elevator locked open. She took off her boots and socks and was now standing there barefoot in her dark jeans and navy blue sweater. The New England Patriots lettering across her chest was white but otherwise, her outfit would look pretty dark. Especially since it was not that well lit outside. After a final check, she slipped out of the elevator and approached the entryway to the street. If this guy was only an innocent bystander, too bad. Missy wasn’t about to take any chances.
She rushed out and went straight to the man standing out there next to a lamppost. He was definitely surprised and before he could react, she grabbed him by the neck with her right hand. She was fast and she was also very strong, especially when she allowed her cat abilities to come surging into her body. She’d learned to control this and, at times of danger or great need or under extreme conditions like right now, she was indeed superhuman.
Inhaling his scent, so there would be one more person she’d never forget, she demanded, “Who are you? Let me see your cell phone.”
Missy Goes to West Point Page 5