The Stuntman

by Maggie Carpenter

  “Oh, yes, I’m going to touch you,” he promised, “but you must keep your eyes closed.”

  Almost holding her breath she felt him slide down her body, and when his fingers began tickling her inner thighs, she felt her body grow taut with anticipation. His fingers kept tickling, then with a feather touch, they brushed across her sex.

  “Blake, please, please, I can’t stand it.”

  “Spread your pussy lips.”

  “What?”

  “Bring your hands down and spread your lips for me.”

  Feeling a surge of wetness she followed his instruction, expecting his fingers or his mouth to begin an exploration, but something else began moving over her clit. It was soft, but had a prickling to it, and then a warmth permeated her pussy.

  “What is that?” she whispered.

  “Shush, never mind what it is, just focus on how it’s making you feel.”

  The warmth was deepening, almost becoming hot, and the soft prickling was becoming more intense as it swirled around her clit. Whatever it was, it was consuming her, and as the minutes ticked by she felt it taking her higher and higher. She was whimpering as the yearning grew, her body wriggling with the delicious torment, and when he unexpectedly thrust a finger into her depths and started stroking her, she knew she was going to explode.

  “Come for me,” he growled, “but you must control your cries. Come for me, come for me now.”

  His frigging finger, and the twirling, prickling heat that was electrifying her clit, united with his command to send her over the edge. Fighting back her squeals amplified her orgasm, and unable to hold them back she jerked her head around and buried her mouth into a pillow, staying there until they began to peter out.

  Still breathless with her eyes closed, she felt him pull the towel from under her, wipe her pussy, then leave the bed. When he returned she opened her eyes, gazing up at him as he climbed back in the bed and brought her into his arms.

  “Are you going to tell me what that was?” she asked her breathing still ragged.

  “Maybe one day, if you’re an especially good girl.”

  “It was unbelievable. I feel as if all the stress has left my body.”

  “That was the plan. A good spanking in the afternoon clears the way for an outstanding release in the evening,” he declared.

  “Says who?”

  “Says me.”

  “At the moment I’m not sure I can argue with that,” she sighed.

  “Shall we watch a little TV before we go to sleep?”

  “Yes, please. It will help wake me up so I can take care of that dressing.”

  “Rest if you want. I’m sure it will keep until morning,” he said smoothing her hair.

  “Maybe I will. I do feel incredibly tired.”

  “I’ll keep it on low. Let the sound send you to sleep. I just want to catch the local news and the weather.”

  “Okay,” she yawned.

  As she let herself drift, idly hearing the talking heads report on a house fire, then an overturned truck on the highway, it occurred to her that for millions of people across Los Angeles life was normal, and yet there was a man, a virtual stranger, who was depending on her to rescue him from the depths of a living hell. By a strange and totally unexpected twist of fate, she had fallen into something dangerous and dark.

  “Blake,” she whispered.

  “What is it?” he asked muting the television.

  “This is all going to be okay, right? This whole thing with George Barrett?”

  “Of course.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I know because one of the smartest guys in the FBI is walking in my door tomorrow morning, and because we just found each other, and I refuse to let anything mess that up.”

  “Good answer,” she sighed, and allowing his last words to shroud her in peace, she let herself drift off to sleep.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Belinda, Blake and Josh were in the bar setting out the muffins, tea and coffee for their expected guests when they heard the sound of approaching cars. Excitedly Josh bolted to the front door and Blake and Belinda followed.

  “Cool,” Josh muttered, staring at the two black SUV’s with tinted windows.

  The comment made them both smile. Josh was like a kid looking at a new, red fire truck on Christmas morning.

  There were two men in each vehicle, and as they climbed out and marched forward, Belinda was struck by how average they looked. One was carrying a briefcase, but otherwise they were empty handed.

  I don’t know what I was expecting. Suits? Ties? Dark aviator sunglasses? Huh. I guess that’s the media stereotype. These guys look like they could be out playing golf.

  Brian stepped forward and introduced his fellow agents, Blake introduced Belinda and Josh, and the group walked inside with Josh leading the way.

  “The bar, I remember many fun times in here,” Brian remarked as they entered. “It’s a perfect room for a meeting like this.”

  “I thought so,” Blake replied. “Please, make yourselves at home.”

  Brian and another agent named Dean, made it a point to sit next to each other on the couch, while the other two agents stayed in the background.

  “Brian has brought me up to speed,” Dean began as Belinda sat next to Blake on the sofa opposite them. “I’ve headed up the task force assigned to Brovinski for the last two years. He and his men are shockingly gifted at staying under the radar. Belinda, you are very lucky Brovinski didn’t catch on when you were taking that picture. He is totally paranoid about having his photograph taken, and for good reason. Having said that, we’re very grateful that you managed it. It’s extraordinary that you did. The last picture we have of him is three years old, and he had hair down to his shoulders.”

  “I can’t imagine him like that. He looks so conservative, or at least that’s how he came across to me. Like an uptight businessman.”

  “From everything Blake told me it appears he sees you as a complete innocent. I’m surprised he even let you have a phone in your hand while you were around him.”

  “Do you think it’s true he offered me this job because he’s worried George might have said something to me when he came into the trauma center?”

  “It’s possible, but with these guys there could be any number of reasons. They’ve been watching you and know you live alone, and they’ve probably checked on your family and are aware they’re out of state. Those two things alone would make you a good candidate.”

  “Because if they needed to get rid of me it would be easier?” she muttered.

  “Sorry, but yes,” Dean nodded.

  “Where do we go from here?” Blake asked.

  “The boys and I have been considering our options and there are a few, but the best one would involve you, Belinda. You’d be in a unique position, one that doesn’t happen very often. You’d be inside the house brought in by them. You can tell us how many men he has, what their routine is, and which room Barrett is in. All of this is key information, but if you’d rather not—”

  “I want to,” she interrupted. “Call me crazy, but I do.”

  “Belinda, are you absolutely sure about this?” Blake pressed.

  “Yes, I am. I don’t know why, but I am.”

  “Once we have the operation underway it needs to go forward,” Dean said solemnly. “We will have a Plan B, we always do, but shifting gears at the last minute can result in less then great results, so after I lay out what we have in mind, if you want to think about it for a while, please do.”

  “I understand,” she nodded.

  “Let’s start with the things we must assume. Every room in the house will be monitored, and I don’t just mean bugs, I mean hidden cameras.”

  “Good grief,” she mumbled. “Uh, will that include the bathroom? Will they be watching me shower?”

  “Possibly. If they’ve put a two-way mirror against a solid wall there’s nothing you can do, but I don’t think they’d go to that much troubl
e for a nurse who will be there for only a few days. Otherwise, look for a clock, or ornaments, an object that could conceal a tiny lens. Once you find it, you can casually toss a towel over it, or your sweater, whatever you might be wearing.”

  “This is so creepy,” she mumbled.

  “Also, at some point they’ll find a way to get to your phone and clone it, or at the very least download whatever is on it.”

  “NO!”

  “Don’t worry, there’s a way around that. When you go in you’ll be taking another phone with you. Whatever bags you take will be searched, but your secret phone will be well hidden. There are a couple of ways to do that, but the easiest will be to put it in a jar of cream. It’s an old trick but it still works, especially if that jar appears to have come from the hospital. I assume you will be using medicated creams of some kind?”

  “Um, yes. He has dozens of lacerations, and I’ll be cleaning them and applying an antibiotic cream every day.”

  “Does the hospital have its own labels, or do you use the jars straight from the manufacturer?”

  “Um, that cream would be the manufacturer’s jar. I’ll be picking up all the supplies tomorrow morning.”

  “Excellent,” Dean nodded, then turning around he signaled to one of the agents behind him.

  The agent moved forward, and reaching into his pocket he withdrew a small phone, along with a tiny plastic packet containing a white button.

  “Is there a jar large enough to insert this?” Dean asked taking the items and handing the phone to Belinda.

  “Definitely,” she said nodding her head. “This is really small.”

  “It’s extremely sensitive and it has some remarkable features, but I’ll explain those later.”

  “If they’re watching me how do I get it out of the jar once I’m inside?”

  “You might be able to do it while you’re dressing his wounds. Take your time, let everyone get bored with what you’re doing. Use tissues, lots of them, and we’ll teach you how to slip it out so you won’t be seen. Put all the tissues in a plastic bag for the garbage, but slip the tissues with the phone into your pocket.”

  “That sounds incredibly risky,” Blake declared.

  “Everything she does in that house will be risky,” Dean replied, “but she’s going in as a citizen. They won’t expect her to be carrying contraband. There’s another option. A shampoo bottle. We can put it in a false bottom that unscrews.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t like the sound of any of that,” Blake piped up. “I have another idea. I’m surprised you guys don’t have it in your arsenal. We used it in a film last year.”

  “What?” Dean asked.

  “A potted plant.”

  “A potted plant?” Dean repeated raising his eyebrows.

  “Yep. She’ll ask permission to bring her favorite plants, but not just one. The key is that the dirt contains rocks, supposedly for drainage. The phone will be inside a fake rock. She lines them up on the window ledge with her back to the room, and that’s where she’ll stand when she’s playing with them. She can pretend to be aerating the soil, or watering, whatever, and she can easily remove the phone when she needs to, and slip it back in.”

  “I like it,” Brian remarked speaking for the first time.

  “I do too,” Belinda declared. “I like that a lot, but how do I use the phone once I have it.”

  “You need to curl under the bedcovers as though that’s how you sleep. In the early hours of the morning you’ll text us and give us whatever information you’ve been able to gather.”

  “Wait, no,” Blake interrupted. “I want her to text us way before then. I need to know she’s there and everything’s okay.”

  “You will,” Dean smiled holding up the button in the small plastic bag. “This is a transmitter. We’ll have lab coats for you, and one of them will have a button just like this. To make it live just press the center. That’s how you turn it off as well, so be careful when you’re buttoning and unbuttoning it. Try not to get it wet, and wear it as often as you can. We’ll be able to hear everything going on around you. This one I’m holding I want you to leave in Barrett’s room so we can hear what’s happening when you’re not in there.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to jump the gun,” Blake apologized.

  “It’s okay, I know you’re worried,” Dean replied. “There will be a helicopter moving across the property, he’ll make a few passes throughout the afternoon, starting with her arrival. The paparazzi use them all the time in Malibu so it won’t seem out of place. We’ll also have men using high-powered binoculars and cameras taking note of everything happening around the house. If at any time you run into a problem, say the word, lonely in a sentence. That will trigger a response.”

  “That’s easy,” she said.

  “If there is a problem?” Blake asked.

  “If there is a problem we’ll wait for confirmation. Belinda, if the problem continues and you’re worried, repeat the word. The second time you say it we’ll take action.”

  “What kind of action?” Blake pressed.

  “That depends on what we’ve been able to determine. I can’t tell you more than that, but our foremost concern will be keeping Belinda and George Barrett safe.”

  “The whole thing sounds so dangerous?” Blake said grimly.

  “The danger will be controlled,” Dean said lifting his briefcase and placing it on his lap. “Could you please clear me some space on the table?”

  Blake and Belinda moved the plates, coffee thermos, and teapot out of the way, and Dean laid out a large, detailed map of Malibu, with George Barrett’s house circled in red.

  “It was a good choice by Brovinski, but that doesn’t surprise me. As you can see it sits behind gates on its own knoll, has a panoramic view, and can monitor any traffic driving towards it. Underneath this map I have plans of his house. The layout works to our advantage.”

  “How the hell are you going to do this?” Blake asked as he stared at the access to the house. “It looks like an eagle’s nest perched up there.”

  “Let me explain.”

  Josh, who had been standing politely behind Blake and Belinda, moved closer, crouching down by the coffee table, and along with Brian, Blake and Belinda, listened intently. It took over an hour, but by the time Dean had finished, for the first time that morning Blake almost had a smile on his face, and Belinda was breathing easier.

  “So,” Dean asked studying Belinda’s face, “are you in?”

  “I’m definitely in,” she nodded.

  “Thank you,” Dean said sincerely. “That’s it for now. We’ll be back later tonight with your lab coats, and to go over any last-minute details. I’ll also teach you how to use the phone, but feel free to play with it until then.”

  “Do you guys want anything else to eat or drink?” Belinda asked.

  “We would but we need to make tracks,” Dean said putting away his map and closing his briefcase. “We have a ton of work to do before tomorrow morning. Oh, we need the keys to your place. We have to assume it’s being watched so we’ll have to sneak those plants in.”

  “There’s a hide-a-key behind the first extinguisher in the hallway,” she volunteered.

  “That’s easy,” he replied. “Any alarms, nosey neighbors?”

  “No alarms. My neighbors don’t pay much attention to anything that happens there. It’s a good thing and a bad thing.”

  “Let me walk you out,” Blake said standing up.

  As Dean caught his eye, he saw Blake give him a look that said, ‘I want to talk to you alone,’ and as the group started to head out, Dean dawdled, then coughed, as though embarrassed.

  “This is a bit awkward,” he began. “Blake, can I trouble you for an autographed picture for my nephew. He wants to be a stuntman and he’s a huge fan of yours.”

  “Of course,” Blake grinned. “Come into my study.”

  Belinda caught the exchange, and her instinct told her there was something going on. Excusing hers
elf she followed them, and as she approached the study she heard Dean speaking to Blake in a hushed whisper.

  “No, I can’t allow it. It’s too dangerous, and besides, you’re injured.”

  “Well, I’m not going to let Belinda go ahead if I can’t, This scrape on my cheek, it’s nothing, and my vision is fine.”

  “What’s going on?” she demanded walking in the door.

  The two men turned and stared, both startled to see her.

  “I’m not leaving until you tell me. What’s too dangerous?” she demanded.

  “When the agents go into the house, I want to be the one to handle the situation with you.”

  She felt a flutter in her heart, and gazed across at the man who wanted to protect her at all costs.

  “Absolutely. I won’t have it any other way,” she exclaimed.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Josh left for a jog, and Blake insisted that Belinda sit down with him and talk at length about the operation Dean had laid out. After dissecting each segment in detail, Blake was satisfied.

  “This is like the all-time, biggest stunt I’ve ever done,” he declared. “It’s in my nature to look at every angle, consider anything that might go wrong, and with you involved I wouldn’t have been able to let it happen if I hadn’t gone through this again.”

  “I’m glad you did,” Belinda said putting her arms around his neck and hugging him. “It’s made the whole thing clearer in my head too, and it’s helped to reassure me. It’s a well thought-out operation, but I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. This is the FBI we’re talking about, but tell me, how are you holding up? You seem to be much better, even with all this going on.”

  “I feel almost normal. This wound hurts a bit, but other than that I feel fine.”

  “It looked amazingly good when I changed the dressing this morning. It’s healing up well. There’s still some swelling though. You should ice it again.”

  “How would you feel about jumping on the bike and heading down to The Grotto?”

  “With that injury still healing, I don’t think so, but I’d love it if we could take the car.”

  “Let’s do it,” he smiled. “I’m getting cabin fever. I need to get out of here.”