Fortunately, Missy didn’t hold grudges and the entire team was now really all on the same page. Even Barbara. Kristen smiled at the way the two were now getting along. Barbara was a fiery Latin American girl, born in New Orleans but her parents were both from Brazil. She was a big, powerful girl and very athletic -- almost as fast as Missy and a couple inches taller. She and Missy were always facing off during the first couple of weeks, mostly because Barbara had such a short fuse and would lash out at others in her frustration. Whenever that happened, Missy was immediately right there, even though she wasn’t the one Barbara had lashed out at.
Only once did Barbara ever attempt pushing Missy. She was used to always being able to cower others and when Missy objected to the way she was yelling at a teammate during practice for some mistake, she turned around and brought both hands up, preparing to shove Missy aside. Suddenly, Missy was holding both of Barbara’s wrists and Barbara couldn’t move. She was completely immobilized by the iron grip Missy had on each of her arms. Missy never said a word but her eyes were glowing and those standing around said later they could feel some sort of energy force.
Then, it started to become a team joke. Barbara would get pissed off, start yelling at someone else and Missy would be in her face. Missy never yelled and would let Barbara vent, streaming one expletive after another until running out of steam. These incidents happened less and less as Barbara herself began realizing how ridiculous her rants were becoming, with everyone else finding it amusing.
Kristen didn’t see what happened back in the barracks but apparently, there were incidents when some upperclass cadet was really making Barbara’s life miserable. Every time she turned around, she was getting demerits and with her short fuse, she was headed for some serious trouble. And, suddenly, that upperclass cadet was no longer bothering Barbara. Missy had some of her Combat Weapons Team buddies put the fear of god into that guy and he totally lost all interest in Barbara.
Missy never even acknowledged doing anything but everyone knew. She was making such a huge impression with those Combat Weapons Team upperclass cadets that clearly she was behind this. Barbara and Missy now seemed like they’d always been best friends and the rest of the team now joked about that.
While Missy loved playing soccer, it was her participation on the Combat Weapons Team that was really bringing her some fulfillment. She had quickly learned how to be both fast and accurate with both the M9 pistol and the M4 rifle and the others on the team were very excited to have her help at the competitions they’d gone to so far. She rarely missed any target and no one else could shoot as fast as Missy could. She loved competing and her performance was so outstanding that it didn’t take long for the whole academy to hear about her. Her reputation as one of West Point’s finest in marksmanship was something everyone became aware of.
The Combat Weapons Team was both men and women and all that mattered was how well you fired your weapon, not what sex you were. Life at the academy was difficult for everyone but at the firing range, Missy was able to focus solely on shooting and that really provided a fabulous release for her. Nothing else mattered. And, no one was concerned about whether she was a plebe or a firstie, a male or a female. As she practiced and her skill continued to improve, her satisfaction carried over into all areas of her life at West Point.
She not only loved shooting weapons, she loved learning about them. She studied everything available and her thirst for knowledge about pistols and rifles even carried over to field artillery pieces, both modern and those used in earlier times. If there was a gun that could fire a projectile, Missy wanted to know about it. After only a month of studying, she was hardly an expert but her ability to assimilate facts, figures and miscellaneous data about weaponry was amazing.
She told her friends she’d added a compartment to her mind just for weapons that could be fired. She claimed to have another compartment for other weapons, such as knives and swords and battle axes -- weapons that could be wielded. And, yet another compartment for bows and arrows, crossbows … even blowguns … primitive weapons. She’d actually started those mental compartments years earlier in her karate classes. She was not just knowledgeable about wielding and using such weapons but was also proficient as well, although she hadn’t trained herself in those the way she had in martial arts and was now doing at the firing range.
Her roommates Sharon and Kelsey were now close friends and part of a gradually increasing group of close friends that Missy had at West Point. Sharon never told anyone else how Missy had healed her ankle but continued to be grateful and feel indebted to Missy for that. Kelsey had indeed lost ten pounds and had passed her APFT with no problem. She no longer was having as much trouble keeping her uniform properly squared away. Her only problem was how all the guys now seemed to notice how great her ass looked and how perfect her boobs were. She was still insecure and unsure of herself with guys but Missy had promised to help her with that. Just knowing Missy was going to help somehow made Kelsey feel more at ease.
Kelly and Gary were now definitely a couple. They kept things strictly according to all the rules, which Gary was an expert with, but managed to still find many opportunities to be together. They really loved each other and just being together was often all they needed. Of course, as Kelly had explained earlier, Gary was indeed clever at finding times and places and he had continued way, way up the learning curve on how to give Kelly some rather spectacular orgasms. She was definitely now a very happy girl which had translated to her doing very well with all her studies and activities at the academy.
Not everyone was happy. Angel was really struggling and in spite of having a lot of friends, she was constantly finding herself getting demerits and into trouble. Her study habits were poor and her academic ability was not that good, resulting in her really floundering in most of her courses. Having a few upperclass cadets that seemed fond of picking on her didn’t help and wasn’t anything Missy could do much about. Angel just seemed to have a knack for messing up. She was now complaining how all this military shit wasn’t really her thing. Her friends reminded her how she was good at a lot of things -- she had no problem with all the physical stuff -- and to just keep her head down and try harder at her studies. So far, she was hanging in there.
Most of the others that had been in Missy’s squad during Beast Training were doing well enough. Marcus and Tony continued to stay in touch with Missy and Tracy. The four of them were looked up to as the natural leaders by all the others in their group of friends. Their combined knowledge and talents made them always the ones everyone else sought out for advice and help.
Life at West Point was difficult for everyone but those who took things in stride, one day at a time, and who had a real desire to become an officer in the Army were able to manage. Each week seemed to bring a new crisis but somehow, that hurdle would be gotten over and then it was a new week, and a new crisis. What happened last week was old news, quickly forgotten, and the focus was always on whatever new challenge was being presented.
Tracy was not having any problems and continued being Missy’s closest friend. She was actually very comfortable with all the “military shit” and being a good athlete and an excellent student, her progress as a cadet was going well. Her interacting with guys had really improved and that was the most noticeable change for her. She now had an inner confidence and self awareness that was special. She told Missy this was all due to her emails back and forth with John.
Missy had quizzed her right away, of course, upon returning after Labor Day. How had things gone with John? He had visited all three days and had spent every possible moment in her company. Tracy had enjoyed showing him around and had been amazed at how the time had just flown by, without their actually doing anything. They’d talked for hours and she simply had never had anything like that happen before. Being with a guy and just talking. John had wanted to know everything about her, going back to first grade; she couldn’t really remember much before that. Where she’d been, what she’d
done, what she liked and didn’t like, what did she get excited about.
No, she didn’t say anything about being a witch. No, she didn’t let on that she knew Missy was a werecat. And, yes -- he did kiss her. Not until the last day, but Tracy was ecstatic over how nice that had been. They’d been walking on Flirtation Walk, the rocky foot trail along the Hudson River that had so much history. It was inevitable that their conversation would finally bring them to would it be okay if he kissed her. Tracy had been anxiously waiting for that the whole three days and of course had said yes.
When John had taken her into his arms and began kissing her, she’d almost melted. He had been so sweet with her, somehow knowing just how to make her relax and enjoy being kissed. She told Missy that kiss made her feel willing to do anything he wanted and give him anything he wanted and she truly couldn’t believe it. She’d gone totally gonzo over him by that point and was definitely experiencing things she’d never known before.
Apparently, John had been fully aware of how vulnerable she was and was very careful not to take advantage. He’d kissed her and he’d made sure she knew she’d been kissed. But, he’d stopped and had explained how this visit with her had changed his life and he was not going to rush anything. Tracy of course was all the more ready to abandon everything and run away with him, if that’s what he wanted. Or, at least that’s how she’d felt at the time. She and Missy had had a lot of fun talking about all that.
Was John now her boyfriend? Oh, yes! Tracy explained that wasn’t the issue, as she’d never really had boyfriends before. A few dates, yes. Boyfriends? No. So her being serious about John was easy. The issue, of course, was whether John was serious about her. She really couldn’t believe he’d be willing to consider her as his girlfriend and not continue to date other girls out there “in the real world”. But, all of his emails since then had been very convincing. He was interested in her and in seeing where things with her might go. And, he was willing to go slow, and knew full well how difficult it would be trying to have a relationship with someone like her, a cadet at West Point.
Missy of course was thrilled and had promised she’d not interfere in any way. Whatever the two of them were telling each other in all those emails was definitely having a huge effect on Tracy. She was now much more open and comfortable with guys around and was not having any problems in class or out of class. She was even okay listening to all the talk about sex which was constantly going on all around her. Her inexperience didn’t matter now because she had this guy out there who was convincing her that she was his whole world. She wasn’t yet ready to believe that but it definitely was making her feel pretty good about herself.
Missy tried to stay in touch with her friends outside but it was difficult. So little time. She did exchange emails with Alice and Mike’s sister, Michelle, but she just couldn’t find time to respond to any of her other friends. She didn’t even send Mike all that many emails. He sent her wonderful messages almost every day, which she loved getting. She replied more with mental messages she’d send him at odd moments throughout her day. Since he always acknowledged them in his emails to her, she had no doubt about his getting them. She could feel his emotions also when she stopped and tuned in to him. She considered Mike to truly be a part of her and that was that.
She was getting updates from “P” Branch, and that was her only real worry item. She had no idea yet what to do about Sal, the New York mob organization and this Brunei harem girl venture thing they had going. She began considering a few options and decided she wanted more info on Sal’s home. She knew the address of course, along with all sorts of things about Sal and his entire organization. She’d traded for that info back when she’d given the FBI all those documents showing how Tony Gonzales had laundered money for Frank McCarthy. Sal had a nice estate just outside of New York City. She decided she needed to know a lot more about that estate. Just in case she ever needed to pay Sal a visit.
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It was the last Sunday in September, the football game the day before had been at home and Army had won, 35 to 16. Life for plebes was definitely a little better the week after any football win. Missy was relaxing in her room, lounging in her gym shorts and a tee shirt, when her phone rang. She learned there was a visitor who wished to see her. No, he was not a journalist and he didn’t think she knew him, but he had a private matter to discuss with her. It shouldn’t take long. His name probably wouldn’t mean anything to her. A Mr. Benjamin Marchitto. A lawyer. Was she willing to come out to the Visitor Center and maybe give him thirty minutes?
Wow! Missy knew exactly who Ben Marchitto was but she didn’t know anyone in Sal’s organization had ever heard anything about her. Billy and Donny hadn’t said anything or she’d have gotten an alert from Les and Marsha. Obviously, her name had finally come up somehow and it probably was that visit she’d made to Frank. She was pretty sure Frank hadn’t talked but maybe they were probing, now that Ramon had been killed. She said she’d come out to see Mr. Marchitto. Give her fifteen minutes.
She only needed ten minutes to get dressed and she used the other five minutes to check up on her internet storage site for the latest info on Marchitto. She had uploaded all her files on Sal and his organization. In addition to monitoring her surveillance system on Billy and Donny, she had asked Les and Marsha to keep updating all those files for her. Since they had access to all the FBI files and many other sources as well, the info she’d originally obtained on Sal was now a lot more detailed and complete.
There was some new info that she’d not seen before. And, they even listed Marchitto’s latest mistress with the address in the Bronx where he was keeping her. Missy smiled. Who called themselves Minerva these days, anyway? She was from Russia and that of course wasn’t her real name but Minnie, as she liked having Ben call her, had been going under the name Minerva Rollinson since coming to the US five years ago. There was even a photo showing a small, blond woman with a very nice figure and an interesting face. She had green eyes which Missy thought was ironic; maybe Ben had a thing for girls with green eyes.
Missy dressed in her full dress grey uniform, a grey wool coat with “swallowtail” coattails over grey pants. The coat had ball shaped brass buttons in three rows down the front plus three brass buttons on each sleeve, with more buttons on the back and even two buttons on the collar. There was black braid embroidery that went with the buttons but she was not wearing the starched white cross belts and polished brass breastplate she’d have also worn if this was for a parade. Even so, she was very impressive. This uniform was basically the same as that adopted for cadets at West Point back in 1816.
She wore her hair straight down in her pageboy style which reached to just above the collar, per regulation. She now had bangs over her eyes and their dark red color made those deep green eyes of hers that much more noticeable. With her natural coloring and glowing good health, she didn’t need any makeup to look really great -- she didn’t even bother with any lipstick.
When she entered the Visitor Center, she was directed to a small conference room where Marchitto was waiting. He stood up as soon as she entered and introduced himself. He was in his late forties, five-ten and about a hundred and eighty pounds. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes, which were checking her out and very clearly liked everything he was seeing; she could see he was very impressed seeing her in uniform like this. He was only average looking but had a pleasant enough smile. The smile seemed a bit forced, however, as though he wasn’t all that comfortable actually using it and it didn’t match what was happening behind his eyes. Missy didn’t trust him at all.
“Ms. McCrea … or, should I call you Cadet McCrea?” Marchitto looked around and gestured for her to take a seat, which she did on one of the lounge chairs. He seated himself on a similar chair with a small table next to it. The chairs were at about forty five degrees to one another and at the end of the room, beyond the small conference table. Missy could see the Hudson River out the window behind him.
�
�Cadet McCrea is good. I don’t know you, sir … what is this about?” Missy was seated with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap, knees together and feet side by side; very prim and proper. She smiled briefly and waited.
“Well, I’ve come here today on a rather delicate matter … allow me to show you a photo?” When Missy nodded her consent, he opened a small leather briefcase and pulled out an eight by ten glossy and handed it to her.
Missy wasn’t all that surprised. It was a still photo taken from the video footage of her being frisked by Ramon outside of Frank’s office. This photo clearly showed her face. She was holding her arms out to the sides and Ramon was behind her, with his hands merely touching her hips. He hadn’t yet reached up and grabbed her breasts, which she knew the video also clearly showed him doing. She looked at Marchitto and raising her eyebrows, she said, “This was taken outside of Mr. Frank McCarthy’s office about a year ago. Why are you showing me this?”
Marchitto nodded and said, “Ahh, yes … and, I’m sure you recognize that man behind you in the photo?”
Missy smiled sweetly and said, “Ramon? Oh, yes. I remember him. I’m quite sure he remembers me also. I heard he was arrested when Frank was arrested and is in prison now. Some sort of tax thingy, right?”
Marchitto stared at her, trying to size her up. He had no idea what she really knew and had decided this approach might be the best way to get some sense of how things were, sounding her out but being cautious. “Actually, Ramon was attacked last month in prison by another inmate. Unfortunately, he did not survive. That’s actually what brings me here to see you, Cadet McCrea. I work for the law firm handling his estate which is quite sizeable. There are several million dollars but, of course, the government has filed claims against that estate due to alleged tax evasion charges.”
Missy Goes to West Point Page 28