by Estes, Danny
“How’s that?” she asked, trading clothes.
“You have a way of carrying yourself I could never emulate. Besides you’re far better trained in combat then I am.”
“Oh, so you’ve noticed, uh?” Jill smirked.
“Shut up and get dressed.”
“As you say, sweetie,” Jill said with a smile, receiving a glare in response.
Jill was zipping up the fly on the pants as Randolph contemplated this might not be a good idea, for Lieutenant Bran’s clothes were far larger than her body type could support. This little piece of news he should have considered when he was wearing the lieutenant’s clothes, but in a time where he was improvising like crazy, he was bound to make a few mistakes. The problem was they couldn’t afford them.
“Uh, I may have been wrong about this.”
“No, no, it’s all right. I’ll tuck them in here and there and if anybody asks, I’ll tell them I’m new and these were the only clothes they had on hand.”
“Will that work?” Randolph asked skeptically.
“Sure. You don’t really think the military has on hand all sizes of clothing for women, do you?” When he shrugged, Jill continued. “No. Besides every woman’s hips are different, if you hadn’t noticed, and the brass insists on crispness in the ranks.” So tucking the shirt in, she sized the belt by using the laser pen and cinched up the pants.
As she bent over to roll up the excess length in the pant legs, the couple were interrupted by a buzzer and a yellow light flashing on the board. Randolph turned to look over the console, worried-like, and found the screen above a readout as it dawned on him they had guests.
“Cripes, not now!”
“What do we do?” Jill asked, becoming very professional.
“We do nothing. You sit here and answer those two.” He pointed to the screen. “With these words,” he hastened to add. Jill did as asked, working her tie in place, and fumbled her way through the routine as best as Randolph’s memory remembered, till the group of men were about to come through the last door. After Randolph sat down at Jill’s feet so he wouldn’t be seen and yet could still direct her if she hit a snag, he heard the buzzer for the last door activate and saw Jill’s face set with a light but bored attitude. Randolph marveled on her control, somewhat envious, when he heard the room speaker pronounce, “Where’s Lieutenant Bran?”
“Went home sick. I’m covering while he’s out. So who’s this joker?” Jill said mildly, with no real interest implied.
“Tom Jenkers, ID 271712DC. You say you’re taking over for Bran, how come I’ve never seen you before?”
“I transferred in from Stockwell two days ago. Supposed to have a five-day leave to settle in when I was called in to cover.” She made up the lie without batting an eye, sounding irritated. “Disposition of prisoner?”
“Held over for trial. Here’s the plastic workup on him.”
Jill reached and collected the plastic card through the rotating container, dropping it next to Randolph as if by accident. “Sorry,” she said, looking annoyed at her own clumsiness, “hold on a moment.” She bent over to retrieve the card and asked in a whisper, “What do I do now?”
“You got me. I think I remember Bran using that slot by your elbow when I came in the second time,” Randolph suggested.
With a nod, Jill sat back up, examined the slot then flipped the card twice before sliding it in. “So,” the speaker began, “are you going to be permanent here?”
“I don’t know yet,” Jill answered, looking up at the screen, eying the information. “Damn, you’re my first customer and your system’s entry information is different then I’m use too.” Jill looked frustrated and apologized, “This may take a few minutes.”
“Don’t sweat it, uh…?” The speaker wanted her name. Jill gave him a fake one and he continued. “Linda. Bran keeps an instructional clipboard there on the wall.”
Jill swiveled her head, then pulled down the clipboard with step-by-step instructions. “Damn, I’d forgotten about that. How’d you know it was there?” she asked, easily following the instructions.
“Bran likes his baseball games. If there’s a good match up, he’ll play sick to stay home and watch it.”
“So you’ve helped out others I take it?” Jill asked, typing in the appropriate words in the empty boxes.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if they cancelled his card at this easy gig and put him back on a beat.”
Randolph heard the buzzer go off that allowed the new officers access to the hallway and frantically signaled Jill “NO,” pointing at the door lock which was no longer there. Jill gave it a quick glance before she pulled the card from its slot and met the men at the door to keep their attention off the obvious entry point into the control room. “I’ll just walk you back and forth to make certain I know the whole procedure, and if you ask me out after only being here a few hours,” she said, blocking the door with her body, “I’m going to be rather upset with you.”
“Um…all right, fine.” The officer agreed, then took note of Jill’s clothes and shoeless feet, gesturing. “Uh…”
At which Jill folded her arms in a huff and complained, “You try and get a set of fitting clothes when all yours are being altered for this district’s dress code.”
Randolph wished he could see how the situation was unfolding behind the door, but he dared not take a peek, even when he heard them start to move off with Jill leading the way. But then he felt a chill of apprehension, hearing one ask Jill who’d hired her on; for no one asked such questions unless they perceived something amiss.
As Jill knew no names they would recognize, Randolph stood and walked out. “Actually, no one hired us yet.”
Their reaction was every bit what Randolph was hoping for, turning as one to his voice. Jill shoved the prisoner into one officer and kicked the knee joint out of the second before either one knew what was happening. In the next seconds, Jill silenced the pain-riddled man while Randolph stormed down the hall, shoulder-blocking the prisoner and officer as one, felling both as he stumbled and hit the floor rolling on past. Back on his feet, Randolph found the other officer was far quicker then he and tried to block his oncoming fist. This failed, as the officer’s fist connected with his face, sending him back a step while Jill, a second or so late, swept the officer’s feet out from under him. Randolph and Jill separated themselves to either side of the downed officer while the prisoner, still having his hands cuffed behind him, stepped into the second recovering officer, resulting in distracting the man so Randolph and Jill could move.
Once the unconscious man hit the floor, Randolph ignored the griping of the prisoner, who objected severely to Jill’s insistence he get into his cell.
“Well, that went rather well,” Jill commented, closing the door, “and I didn’t kill either of them,” she finished, making sure Randolph knew she could have.
“And no one appreciates it more then I, save these two when they think about it.” Randolph remarked, stripping the one closest to his size. Jill checked out the size of the other man while Randolph went back to the console and assigned a room for their uninvited guests. As he was punching in the last codes, the buzzer on the console went off, indicating company coming. This time it was two men in black suits.
“Damn it all, when it rains it pours!”
Chapter Seventeen
“What is it now?” Jill asked, looking on the screen as Randolph tilted his head up with a silent plea of Stop already with the surprises. He rubbed his face in frustration, his mind ragged with all this improvising.
“Who are they after, me or you?” Jill asked.
“No way to tell until I ask,” Randolph shrugged. He pressed the intercom button and asked the men to explain their business.
“Special Agent Grant and Agent Dunn to take custody of Major Jill Wander,” the FBFC agent declared in a no-nonsense monotone.
“All right Special Agent Grant, please step into the hallway as I verify your request.” Randol
ph directed, watching the pair move in as he rubbed his neck, thinking furiously.
“Have you any ideas?” Jill asked. When he shook his head, signaling her to hush, Jill laid a hand on Randolph’s arm, saying with a quirky smile, “Well I do. Give me a few minutes then send them to my cell.” Randolph turned to eye Jill as she instructed, “Just make certain you’re behind them after you open the door.”
“What are you up to?”
Jill laid a gentle hand to his face. “You’ve been beautiful up to this point, but it’s time I started carrying my own weight. Now do as I say, as we have little time to pull this off.”
Jill left him there questioning, pulling off the tie. Somewhat perplexed by her touch and his own reaction to it, Randolph shook himself and pushed the button which would open her door and release Lieutenant Bran then opened the cell next to hers so she could stuff the officers into it before turning to adjust his mind for the new party crashers in the hallway.
After removing his video picture from the board and pinning on Bran’s name tag, Randolph opened the hallway door and waited as calmly as he could while the two men walked up to the window. With confident movements, the older of the two handed over the documentation giving them full custody of Jill, while the younger partner took in the room. Randolph took up the paperwork and read over the pages, noting a word placed here or there would make these documents invaluable in obtaining equipment he’d always wanted—that was if he and Jill got out of this alive.
After some minutes to give Jill time, Randolph nodded his acceptance, buzzed the door to allow them in the hallway, and stepped out to block the damaged door. He motioned with his hand. “This way, gentlemen.”
Once in front of her door, Randolph fumbled out the card-key trying to prepare himself for anything Jill might do while hoping his nervousness did not show. Tensing so he’d be prepared to aid in her scheme, he pulled open the door, but what he and they all saw inside the cell was nothing comparable to what he’d imagined in the short walk along the hallway.
Instead of being set to deck one of the two men upon the door opening, Jill sat astride Officer Bran’s hips facing them, wearing absolutely nothing, sounding as if she were coming near to a climax as she moaned and moved herself up and down on his uncovered lap. As with any male whose mind is never very far from thoughts of sexual pleasures, Randolph and the two agents stood a moment gaping on the scene till she lowered her head. Opening her eyes, noting the trio watching her, she commented, “Come on, guys, one at time, please!”
“All right, Lieutenant, what the hell’s going on here?” Special Agent Grant turned. His partner did likewise as Randolph stammered, trying to find an answer.
Jill leaped off of Bran’s lap, landing on her coveralls between the two men on bent legs, and rammed her right palm upward into Special Agent Grant’s family pride. The resulting blow even had Randolph wincing as she repeated the action to the other agent with her left hand. Not above capitalizing on any opportunity even as stunned as he was, Randolph lifted Agent Grant’s wallet and shoved him into the cell as Jill used the other agent as leverage in standing. She pulled him in further as she bolted out and grabbed the door, swinging it shut.
When metal hit the magnetic lock, sealing the door closed, Randolph couldn’t help himself. He grabbed Jill in a bone-crushing hug of relief and gratitude. Jill’s first reaction to his sudden affection was to tense up, but she soon melted in his arms after the first couple of seconds and returned the embrace.
After only a short time, Jill pushed herself away, but caressed his face with her hand and sought his eyes. “As much as I’m learning to enjoy being in your arms, I’d suggest you let go so I can get dressed before I pull your pants down and jump your bones.”
Jill gave Randolph a quirky smile as he backed off, coughed into his fist and nodded. “Yeah, I guess that would be wise.”
“Now if you’ll be so kind as to open your cell, I’ll get dressed.” Jill smiled up at him, patting his face.
Randolph nodded and returned to the control room, which was not doing its job, and explored the agent’s wallet. While he was engrossed in the many possibilities an FBFC’s credentials could contribute, Jill entered and donned a second pair of socks before trying on the smallest pair of shoes present.
“So what’s the plan now, sweetie?” Jill asked, tying the laces for a snugger fit.
“We get the hell out of here is the plan, and we’ll be doing it by walking out the front doors, as I’m tired of changing clothes.”
Jill eyed him speculatively, shrugged, and gave him a big kiss for good luck.
Thirty minutes later, Jill and Randolph were in deep discussion as they walked right out the front doors and continued their lively talk along the block, right into the first clothing store crossing their path. The pair picked out new clothes to replace the uniforms, and used Bran’s credit account to pay for their new wardrobe while Randolph refrained from waving at the video camera, sighing. It would be unprofessional of him to do so; however, he couldn’t resist giving a wink to the video camera as they left, just to let them know he knew they would find this video shortly after he left.
Each had purchased two sets of clothing, wearing one set upon leaving. Jill and Randolph sought out public bathrooms to change into the second set to make it harder for the computer technicians to use the clothing store’s video on the streets to locate them.
Using public conveyances till dusk, Randolph and Jill traveled all over town till he hot-wired a conveniently located car and sold it to a junk dealer for hard credits to rent out a hotel room, where the couple lay arm in arm for some hours, expressing their joy in being alive and free.
But once settled in with some rest under his belt, Randolph’s mind returned to reality and began wondering if they shouldn’t split up. “After all,” he explained, “By now my face will be—Ow! What’s that for?” he complained to her stinging slap.
“Now you just shut it!” Jill ordered, stabbing a finger into his chest, causing him to sit on the bed. “It’s my fault this happened, and you damn well knew what would happen when you bailed my worthless butt out of the slammer. So don’t you dare sit there and say you care nothing for me! That hug you gave me back in the station was not just out of gratitude for my actions—you feel something for me as I know my other self is in love with you. So you can trash those thoughts and tell me what are we going to do next?”
Randolph looked up on Jill’s stern stance of immovability, rubbed his cheek and admitted, “I’ve no idea what course to take now. I’ve been running on adrenalin for so long, I need a day of rest and time to clear my head.”
Jill closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. “This is all my fault, but I have to ask, are we safe here for a day or two?”
“Yeah, we're safe. The staff never saw my face and we’re paid up till next week,” Randolph assured her, breaking out into a yawn, his body no longer active.
“All right lover boy,” Jill said, taking up his robe and hauling him physically off the bed. “We both need a shower, after which you can sleep as long as you like.” With her body and voice giving out orders, Randolph knew it to be futile to argue with her, so he did as bidden and never felt his head hitting the pillow.
The body can only take so much, after which it needs a respite, and Randolph’s body had decided a full day was a good beginning before any nourishment was requested to continue replenishing itself. As for Jill, her body felt just as badly as Randolph’s, for when he finally stirred, she was deeply asleep, curled up as close to his body as she could get. Trying not to disturb her, Randolph slid out from under the warmth of the covers and sought out the bathroom. He then took a good hard look in the mirror on the face he’d chosen during his last facial change and ran his hand over the stubble, wondering if any crooked doctor would have anything to do with him, now that he had the city police and the FBFC after him. Randolph leaned his exposed butt up on the cold porcelain sink, folded his arms and wondered. For that matter, w
ould one even see Jill even if she allowed it? Still pondering after some minutes, Randolph heard movement in the next room moments before Jill walked in wearing a robe.
“Good morning, love,” Jill’s softer side greeted him, enveloping him in a tight embrace and a kiss before shifting her robe to sit on the toilet. The way she casually took care of private business while he stood inches away reminded Randolph so much of his parents, that is until his father ran off with his mother’s entire savings. Childhood feelings reemerged which left him uncomfortable. Guilt and blame followed on the heels of his mother’s tears. What if I’m like my father? Is this why I never settled down? Randolph tightened his arms about himself, for a fierce chill ran through him.
The sound of water thankfully ended his destructive feelings. This brought about awareness of his surroundings, and with it, why they had enveloped him so.
When Jill finished up, she stood and wrapped her robe around him. “The bed’s warm and much nicer with you in it. How about ordering breakfast in bed, then afterwards we could use up the newly-acquired energy?”
“Jill, we still have things to discuss,” Randolph said trying to be serious, but in answer she buried her face in his neck, nuzzling, pressing herself up against him so he could feel the warmth and pleasure she was very willing to give. When his arousal grew near her hips, she squeezed him even tighter, knowing he was capitulating, and affectionately kissed his neck before drawing away, pulling his hand to draw him back to bed.
Sometime later, after they’d caught their breath, Randolph sat up against the headboard while Jill lay besides him with a possessive arm and leg intertwined with his own. “As nice as this is, we really need to discuss events and how we wish to have them play out.”
Jill nuzzled his arm and kissed his elbow, murmuring, “Such are things that can wait till tomorrow. Today I wish to show you my appreciation for saving my life.”