by Tom Holloway
Damn, Anthony thinks, life is good. He’s making big money. Now this Anna Summers thing. His father finally did something right. Who would think, him and Anna Summers? Wow, great bragging rights, and she is hot. He knows exactly what to do with her when his chance comes. She will never know what hit her until it is too late, and then she will know a real man. What a stroke of luck, a chance to get in Anna Summers’s pants. Life does not get much better.
Chapter 23
Day Five
I was up and ready to join Anna for her morning run on the farm. She insisted she needs it to clear her head, and she agreed I could run with her as long as I can keep up with her. Just no talking!
The events of yesterday are still on both of our minds. We came back to the farm after lunch and spent some time touring the place, checking the horses and looking at Anna’s favorite hunter-jumper, a large chestnut quarter horse called Misty. She shared many favorite stories about growing up on the farm, telling me about her friends, explaining about her sister and school, and then talking about her acting. I loved listening to her. I am glad I am here and that she feels the way she does about me, although neither of us brought this up. Too many minefields and issues about me leaving, not good to talk about this now. We agreed, later, after the farm visit, we will talk, before I head out on the Cyclone, back to where I came from.
Dinner with her parents last night was much better than lunch. The homemade dinner, prepared by Anna and her mother, was excellent. The senator was not drinking as much as he did at lunch. Then the evening was finished out with us playing bridge. I learned the game long ago, during my college years in Bloomington. It was a truly a delightful evening. This may be my best trip back ever; it’s truly a good life to be a human.
Then, two in the morning, the Cyclone’s report on the CIA activities came to me, including the CIA download of the senator’s conversation with Deforleo and a briefing on the Deforleo crime syndicate. Everything was thoroughly reported, including the Iran connection, which is, by the way, a real US security threat. How could Anna be related to the senator? He is such a cheat. Well, that’s not right, as I now remember what Anna said. She is his stepdaughter; although she is close like a daughter, they are not blood related.
Now I know what Deforleo is up to regarding me. His plans for Anna are disturbing and arouses an annoyance in me that reveals more about me than him. I am also a little surprised that I am a target and that the senator knows about it; so much for making a good impression on Anna’s stepfather. It is much easier to counter them knowing their plans. He has managed to put together a twenty-man team of professional killers, some Mafia but mostly an Iranian military hit squad. I am surprised he can do this so quickly. I am not anxious, just surprised I am a high-priority target. The Cyclone will be here as always, up above, close, maybe eight hundred feet, with all its killing power. It will know where every Iranian soldier or terrorist is positioned and every Mafia thug by their heat signatures. Yes, Iran’s military intelligence and Luca will be introduced to an enemy they have never experienced before: lethal, ruthless, accurate, and, even worse, completely unknown to them.
I am thinking Anna should not be in danger from the hit squad, as she is not the target. It would be better if I could talk her out of running this morning—better not to take chances with her life. I know they will try to use snipers against me, an easy hit, as they think I am not aware they are here. Regrettably for them, I will know exactly where they are, as the Cyclone will spot them and take them all out in the same second. They will be vaporized at fifteen thousand degrees, no bodies or weapons left, including hitting their command vehicle and three cargo vans parked two miles from here. I know they came in at night, set up at daybreak, and arranged eight snipers hidden in the trees. Six more are scattered behind trees as backup guys, heavily armed as a plan B, and four of them are stationed in a communications van, with two standing guard. It really is professionally done. It is remarkable Deforleo could put this together and find out about Anna running with me, or my running with her. I am an easy target. It had to be the senator tipping them off.
The farm is a beautiful place. Anna was accurate in every way when she first told me about it. First of all it is large, two thousand acres, with several streams running through it, many trees, and pastures with white fencing. The land is mostly rolling hills with a few meadows, full of wildflowers. The scent of it all is fantastic—the fragrance of freshly cut grass, the wildflowers, the bubbling creek, and the trees, even the wildlife. The sounds are comforting: the water trickling over rocks, songbirds singing, trees rustling in the breeze, and horses grazing on the grass, making munching sounds as they greedily work their way through the fields.
It is a working farm: breeding, raising and selling stock. There are eight full-time hands maintaining the grounds and horses. Two of them live on the farm, in small houses not far from the main house. Also, the main house, the senator’s home, is magnificent, right out of a movie about the South or Virginia. It was used in a film years ago, showing a huge Southern plantation home at the end of a long lane, with a big front porch with pillars and a circular driveway also connected to a back lane, with large well-kept horse barns plus a grand six-car garage.
Anna and I are going running on the farm and it is perfect. Horse trails through the woods make good running trails. The weather is just right, with blue skies and a cool morning breeze. Anna runs six miles most mornings, and as we run together today I stay close. Because of my benefactors, my running range is many miles more than a human’s range. Per my DNA enhancements, I also run with great speed, maybe hitting forty-five miles an hour and continuing day after day, stopping only for minimal nourishment and a little sleep. Yet it is still hard work to cover those long distances. My running with Anna is not work, just pure pleasure. Just seeing her run is wonderful. She pays no attention to me. She laughs at me when I mentioned her not running today, and she took off. She is graceful and an excellent athlete, and I pushed to catch her.
Jacobs knows the CIA and the FBI are also at the senator’s farm this morning with three four-man teams, all heavily armed yet no match for Luca’s hit squad, which is already in position there as well. Jacobs is heading up his team and can see most of the hit squad snipers in the trees, not that hidden and arrogant because of the high ground and there are so many of them. The number of Luca’s men, so many, shocks Jacobs. They look more like military black ops, really well armed: sniper rifles, grenades, RPLs, and large-caliber assault guns.
Jacobs thinks, I need to find another line of work. This is way too dangerous for a man with so many kids. At the moment he is also wondering if he will see his wife tonight. She will be lost without him. He is now frightened by the possibility of losing all his men, thinking they’re all good men with families to support. How could Luca put such a large, heavily armed hit squad together so quickly and position them here at the farm for an ambush? It looks like at least twenty heavily armed men with automatic military weapons, looking like real elite commandos. They set up their positions like military, not Mafia guys. Jacobs shouts at his guys, warns them to find cover. They run, spreading out and trying to find defensive positions. Unfortunately Luca’s men have high ground in the trees.
No way can we win this, thinks Jacobs. He knows he could lose his whole team. What a terrible way to end his career.
Each side has spotted the other. Jacobs’s men try to set up their positions. Neither party is sure what is going to happen. Jacobs guesses there will be an immediate attack from the other side before he can get more backups, thus preventing reinforcements. He has already called everyone he knows for immediate aid, and he needs some SWAT team guys fast, lots of them. Police, too, whomever he can get here as soon as possible.
How could I have been so stupid to end up like this? Jacobs wonders. In that instant he can see the snipers lining up their shots on his men. It all happens so fast. “Damn them. Damn Luca!”
Then, just as it looks like World War II
I will break out between them, in an instant the snipers are all gone. They disappear before Jacobs’s eyes! Even though it’s impossible, it happens, and it occurs instantaneously. It’s almost like individual explosions timed at the exact second, or maybe more like many strikes of lightning hitting at the same time yet much faster; then shock waves afterward like thunder. The trees even burn after the strike, black from the heat. Jacobs cannot believe his eyes. The snipers all just vaporize in a fraction of a second and all at the same time. Just gone! It looks like the killing strike turns all of them red hot, and then they are dust or more like smoke in the wind. Jacobs and his men run out, looking for some clue as to what happened. Nothing is left of the shooters—no weapons, nothing. The only evidence is the scorched leaves, a terrible smell, and darkened grass below the hit. Every one of them is gone in exactly the same second. It cannot be; it’s impossible, yet it happened.
Jacobs is speechless. His mind is in a state of disbelief as he tries to figure it all out. Then the state police arrive, sirens on. Then more backup from the FBI. The local police arrive, followed by the local sheriff. And then Anna and Henry come running up as the senator and his wife drive up behind them. The farm crew shows up. It is one big mess. Jacobs dares not mention the failed hit on Henry, yet he has to say why all this happened. Yes, the FBI and state police are here at the farm. What to tell them?
The total disappearance of the hit squad needs reasons, but that will have to wait for now, as there is no real evidence: no bodies, no anything, no explanation. Even though Jacobs and his men saw what happened, it would have to be kept in-house for now. A forensics team will be arriving soon. He will cover up what really happened. He will explain they were notified of an immediate terrorist threat to the senator and his family. One break is this is an excuse to meet the principals of his investigation, as they are all here. He would like to know a lot more about Henry, maybe even more at another time and place. Something is not right with him. Jacobs needs to find a reason to arrest him and get some answers. Close surveillance is needed for sure. For now he will just tell everyone it was a false alarm. They had notice of a plot, probably false, against the senator and came out to check it out. Nothing to it. No terrorists showed up. Sorry for the scare.
Henry and Anna have about ten minutes with John Jacobs. They tell him their names and say they know nothing about the threat. They are shocked that a terrorist group would threaten the senator and glad they have the government to protect them. Henry cannot help but like Jacobs. He likes his basic honesty; he’s a good man trying to do the right thing. Jacobs is tall, middle-aged, decent-looking although with some extra weight on him, balding with gray hair, and he takes his job seriously. Henry knows Jacobs is married with five children and is a good father, also living paycheck to paycheck. It is interesting that Jacobs is really curious about Anna and him. Henry knows Jacobs knows a lot more about the situation than he lets on, enough to be afraid. Henry is glad the Cyclone was able to save Jacobs and his men. Henry needs to continue to keep track of him, know what he is doing, and maybe even protect him. He already knows what Jacobs is thinking, as the Cyclone inserted a slip into his brain the previous day at the restaurant. Henry knows all about his family, too, including their problems.
Anna excuses both of us, telling Jacobs good-bye, thanking him, and we head back to the house. Walking slowly, Anna starts talking: “Henry, the last four days have been a roller-coaster ride—you and me, then my life turned just crazy, and then this. I think Mr. Jacobs is not telling the whole story. He brought a lot of armed men out here without calling us, and he looked spooked, like he’s seen a ghost. His hands were shaking. There’s a lot more to this. My father and mother are really upset, too. I have never seen Dad like this; he is not himself. He looks so old and tired and…afraid.”
She continues, “I wish I knew what’s going on. I know you don’t need to hear this family stuff, and it’s not usual stuff for me, either. I guess I’ve been sheltered. Dad has always provided me with security, has security guys here at the farm and pays for them even in LA. I have a security service there mostly because of the paparazzi. They drive me nuts! Of course with you around, I don’t need security. By the way, we have to come up with a better cover story than you being a grad student in political science at Indiana University. My friends will never buy it. Seriously, Henry, I never believed it. I doubted you right away. The ex-military story you told my dad is much better.”
I look at Anna walking beside me, still sweating, her blond hair a mess, wearing a sweatshirt and really short shorts, wedged a little into her bottom because of the running, looking great. She is just a gorgeous woman. Never underestimate human hormones. I feel like grabbing her.
Instead I smile at her, responding, “Anna, truly I thought it was a great cover story. I have used it for years, even have false records planted at IU admissions. The theory is I should not be a glamorous person but rather under the radar, nothing special to cause someone to think of who I might really be: an eccentric guy from outer space.”
Anna says, “Henry, it’s a good thing you have me to coach you. First of all, you do not look like a student, not even a little. Actually, you might scare the hell out of anybody when you don’t smile and use that stare. It’s scary even for me. You look all military, like Special Forces or a SEAL, or maybe a tough professional football player. It’s your eyes. Henry, you could kill with your eyes. I can’t explain it, and I figure it’s in your past. You have seen some really bad things. You are not much of an actor, either. Go for a story that is extreme military. Maybe you were in the French Foreign Legion. No one knows those guys; they’re just scary guys, too. Some truth helps make your story more plausible.
“By the way,” she continues, “you scared the hell out of my father, and he does not scare easily. He wants nothing to do with you. Mother likes you, thinks you’re sweet and good for me, will protect me from the bad guys in the world; she thinks you are very handsome, too.” Anna is blushing now. “My sister thinks you’re awesome and wants to know you much better. And what was the talk with my father about you being wealthy? Maybe you’re really a rich space pirate taking advantage of a little Earth girl.”
I laugh. “No, I am not a pirate. The money I have was gold originally, from one of the worlds we were on. Some worlds have lots of it, as common as dirt. Actually this planet is the only planet I know of that treasures gold. It’s easy for me to be rich here on Earth. I had a law firm handle selling the gold when I brought it here years ago. They work with my bank and oversee my holdings here on Earth. I wanted to mention them to you, too. They’re coming to see you next week, after I’m gone. They’ll call you. Please see them as a favor to me. The attorney’s name is Mark Beagle, and he will call you, will come to LA to see you. He and his firm represent me here. They may be able to help you when I am gone, and you will find the conversation interesting.”
Anna looks at me and says, “I don’t know why I’m surprised. It sounds like you. Like I said, it’s a crazy world we live in, and I will be happy to talk to him. Although I am not interested in you leaving so soon, and maybe I can change your mind. We will need to have a serious discussion.”
We head out at a fast run, and back at the house, we undress and shower together. We are doing most everything together now; we are inseparable. I am really dreading our parting. Next week is coming too quickly.
I smile at Anna, looking down at her, enjoying her being bare, both of us in the shower together, holding each other. We are enjoying the warm-water spray, looking at each other, locking eyes, taking it all in. I am loving all of it: her scent, her warmth, the intimate physical contact, her closeness, tasting her as I kiss her, feeling her breasts against me, her nipples stiff. It is hard not to become excited about human life. I love it, and Anna loves it, too. She is flushed, excited, and aroused, her arms around my neck, tenderly moving closer to make herself available. She has that look of submission on her face; she is mine to take. She closes her eyes a
nd bends her hips into me, spreading her legs wider and wider, arching up, then slowly moving her pelvic mound up and down. She presses harder against me, moving faster now. She is breathing heavily, wrapping her arms tighter around my neck. She then lifts her body with her arms, with my help, bringing her pelvis up to me higher, wrapping her legs around my hips. I have slipped into her before I can take another breath.
I am holding on to her bottom with both hands, controlling her, lifting her up and down for deeper penetration. She is all mine, her moans of pleasure motivating me further. I am feeling a wild, primitive lust, moving hard into her, and her submission is amazing to me. She matches me with her own hard thrusting, both of us now frantic, moaning. We also both mentally feel the fever, her mind to my mind. We are both as one, an intense fire building up, more now, then way beyond control, wild and hard, then her total surrender into an explosion of ecstasy. I hear and feel her crying my name in an emotional outburst of sheer delight. My mental and physical explosion happens in almost the same second, and I am in the world I want to be in. It is wonderful, beyond my wildest dreams. To be human is fantastic!
We dry each other off, and then I lift and carry the naked Anna to the bedroom sofa. She is totally spent, her submission to me a total turn-on. She is glad to be in my arms, smiling, humming my name lovingly, and saying how blessed we are. Then she falls asleep in my arms. We are like that for the next hour, covered with a blanket. I am the happiest I have ever been in my life.
Anna wakes up, still curled up in my lap like a little girl, and then looks at me with a big grin, jumping up, saying, “Starman, it’s probably time to get going. We both need to get dressed. Nikki is coming in; she’ll be at the airport soon. By the way, we’re all going out to dinner tonight with my father and mother and Nikki, too.”