by R. S. Smith
“You can't do that, asshole!” shouted Kristie.
“I can do anything I want to with you. Not only are we out in international waters, but I also have Diplomatic Immunity!” he claimed with a boisterous laugh. “You both are now my property!” He then gave Kris a swift swat on her bare butt.
One of his associates suggested it might be fun to see how long one of them could tread water. He agreed and threw the naked Kristie into the colorful sea.
“Help!” she shouted, struggling to stay afloat in the calm sea. “I hope those fins are dolphin fins coming this way,” she said anxiously.
The men set aside their fishing poles and gathered at the edge of the boat to jeer at her. Karlee threw her a life preserver.
“Here comes a boat!” one of them yelled. “It must be the Americans bringing our money.”
“Bring the girl back into the boat and take them all down below,” he ordered.
A few moments later, Janine and Alexei were climbing aboard with a silver case in-hand. They wore side-arms and several armed men accompanied them, but remained on the idling cigarette boat. Randolph had positioned himself, along with his sniper rifle and scope, unnoticed on one of the neighboring fishing yachts.
“Is that our money?” the leader inquired as his men lined up along side him, also armed.
“Where is the rest of the family? We need all four of them on board our boat before we hand over the case.” Alexei opened the container to show lined-up stacks of hundred dollar bills.
When the exchange had been made and the family was aboard his boat, Alexei said, “I believe I saw some young ladies depart the pier and come here this morning. Where are they?”
“They are busy. We are done. Go now!”
A scream and loud ruckus could be heard from down below. Seconds later both sisters emerged nude and disheveled. One of the kidnappers grabbed Kristie and put a gun to her head.
“Leave now or she dies, this other one, too!”
Just then a hole appeared in his forehead, no rifle fire had been heard. Randolph had taken the shot from a quarter-mile away. The man dropped dead, then another, and their associates promptly stepped back and took cover. Janine and Alexei pulled out their weapons and a fire-fight ensued. When several of the men on deck got away, Randolph picked them off one at a time. Janine went below deck to retrieve the other four girls, along with all their clothes and the silver case full of cash.
The group showed no mercy to the remaining terrorists. Being independent contractors in international waters and there in no official capacity, they proceeded to gather up and kill all the surviving men. Everyone was back on deck except for Janine.
“Bomb!” she shouted from down below. Seconds later she appeared on deck, out of breath. “That last one set-off a timer as I shot him. It says ninety seconds and it's counting down!”
They all scrambled for the idling go-fast boat and quickly crammed themselves into it. Alexei gunned the powerful diesel engines and the craft's response was instantaneous. The engines roared loudly as they sped away. Seconds later the luxury fishing yacht exploding into a million pieces. The concussion could be felt for hundreds of yards.
“I can never thank you people enough,” said the relieved diplomat as he exuded gratitude. “Anytime I can do anything for any of you, please do not hesitate to tell me!”
“He is a man of much influence,” added his adoring spouse. “When he says he can help you with anything, he means it!”
“Thank you. We're just glad we could save your whole family. We got lucky this time. Besides, we were well paid,” said Alexei.
At the end of the day, the diplomat and his family returned home. The others stayed to unwind and enjoy a sunset walk along one of the Florida beaches. A few lingering clouds made it even more scenic and memorable.
Shortly after returning to Chicago, the sisters got the call from Peter that they had been waiting for. Financing for the rogue agent movie had been secured and they both were needed in Hollywood as soon as possible.
A few days later as the pair sat together in their dressing area of the studio going over the script, several men in suits approached.
“Karlee Kingston, I'm FBI Special Agent Charles Tibbals. This is Special Agent Ibarreta.”
“How can I help you gentleman?”
“We're investigating the killing of Lieutenant Governor Wallace from Illinois,” he revealed in a menacing manner. “We've retrieved digital voice prints from the scene. Our computers routinely search the digital universe for matches in such cases.”
Kristie's face began to reveal a look of grave concern. Karlee's remained emotionless.
“And?” Karlee asked.
“And we have an eighty percent match on your audio track from the scene you two played together in that long-lost twin TV episode. You've become a person-of interest.”
“Eighty percent isn't a lot,” said her sister dismissively.
The agent continued, “We'd like you to come downtown with us, take a lie detector test and provide us details of your whereabouts that night.”
“No thank you, sir.”
“It's not a request, Miss Kingston.”
“First of all, I have no idea what night that was, and when you will tell me, I'll have no memory of my whereabouts on any given night from such a long time ago. Secondly, a lie detector test could pick up false indications from some childhood memory, erroneously implicating me. It could only serve to get an innocent girl like me into more trouble. Thirdly, an eighty percent correlation isn't enough for you to get a warrant, otherwise you'd have one. I'm sorry you wasted your time, gentlemen, but I must ask you to now leave us alone as we have lines to rehearse.”
“Don't leave town, miss. You'll be hearing from us again very soon!” The two agents were clearly agitated as they departed.
“Karlee, I like the way you handled those men. You certainly have no shortage of lawyers if you need them. There's Carlton, or any of your old classmates, or what about that guy who was one of the extras? Bob, wasn't it?”
“I'd kind of like to keep the chapter with Carlton a closed one, and I haven't kept touch with any classmates from law school. I don't know anything about Bob. Hopefully things won't even go that far.”
“Let's call that diplomat. Maybe he can help get them off our back!”
“I don't even know who he was, Kristie. I'm calling Alexei. With his connections, he can surely help.”
He got back to her the next morning.
“Karlee, that diplomat you helped save is actually a Director with the government agency that covertly handles black ops for our country. Such activity is never officially acknowledged as they want plausible deniability. That's why the government was willing to pay so much to get him and his family rescued.”
“I didn't even know it was the government who had contracted us, Alexei.”
“You've helped out Uncle Sam more than once, hon.”
“Wow, I had no idea.”
“The man was so impressed with how you handled yourself that day, and so appreciative of all that you did and risked, that his agency has elevated you to license-to-kill status.”
“I thought that just existed in the movies.”
“The best part for you is that it's retroactive. That means you can't be held accountable in Wallace's death.”
“Oh my God, that sounds too good to be true. That is so awesome!”
“As with most things in life, there is also a downside, Karlee.”
“What could possibly be bad about all that?”
“The agency likes to know the people to whom they grant such a privilege. They're going to look into your background most thoroughly.”
“Oh, let's not go there. I don't want to talk about it,” she said, tensing up. Her face began to turn an ashen color.
After that, the FBI matter ceased to be of any further concern. The film-shoot continued for the next six months and wrapped. The consensus was that it showed great promise. Kristi
e became envious of her sister's elevated status, and joined her on the next trip overseas to meet with Alexei and discuss getting the same classification.
“I can get you what you want, Kristie, but you will have to do something for me, too,” Alexei said. “Your sister limits herself to killing only the bad guys as she calls them. Many of my jobs are for good people who have merely been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but offer handsome payments. If I can use you for these things, I will get you what you want.”
“I don't know, Alexei. I generally follow my big sister's lead on such things. If something's not right for her, it's not for me either.”
“Well, think it over. I've just come into a very special list from a retiring U.S Marshal. In exchange for a seven figure payment into his retirement fund, he has provided me with the names of numerous people hiding in the Witness Protection Program. So far no Witness Security Program participant, who has followed security guidelines, has been harmed while under the active protection of the U.S. Marshals. With this list in my possession, that's about to change. Here, look it over.”
He eyed her with interest as she scanned the names. Her sister sat across the room working on an unrelated matter.
“Oh my God, Karlee!” she gasped in horror.
“What's the matter, sis?”
“Weren't you listening to what Alexei just said?”
“No, I was concentrating on this other stuff. What's going on?”
“This is a hit list of WITSEC people. Take a close look at it!”
Once again, her face turned pale. She looked up at Alexei with an expression of 'help us'.
“I knew something was awry when the NSA informed me their initial investigation showed no history on either of you much before your teenage years. Do you want to tell Uncle Alexei about it?”
“NO!” Karlee responded. “You're probably the last person we want to have know anything.”
“Maybe he's actually the first, Karlee,” Kristie perceived. “If anyone could resolve our family's horrible dilemma, I'm thinking it's Alexei!”
“Maybe you're right, sis. Shall we tell him?”
“I think we have nothing to lose at this point, Karlee.”
“Okay, I was fifteen when our folks and our aunt had an unfortunate encounter with some members of the Carboni crime family. They had information that could implicate them and the government persuaded our parents to help in what turned out to be a lengthy and well-publicized trial. Major criminals were incarcerated, and the family has been out for retribution ever since. After we all changed our last name to Kingston, Mom and Dad determined it would be safest for us if we both lived with our aunt as they were the major targets. They became estranged to us and WITSEC placed us with our aunt in a separate city. Our mom called it 'tough love' and said that we'd all be together again in a year or so when the Carbonis were all in jail. It's now been a lot longer than that and those people are still out there wreaking havoc on the world. Our aunt has been our surrogate mother ever since. We haven't had any contact with our parents in twenty years!” she said, as she began to cry for the first time in decades. Kristie teared-up, too. Even the insensitive Alexei got a bit choked up over the display.
“Well, a lot has changed since then, right? You're now part of a team of elite assassins yourselves. Who would dare take on such a situation?” he asked.
“The Carbonis!” the sisters answered in unison.
“Perhaps the best defense is an offense,” he pondered out loud.
“What do you mean?”
“Let's finish the government's job for them and wipe out the rest of the crime family. Maybe we can even get paid to do it,” he added with a wry smile. “If no one is left to pursue that retribution you mentioned, you and your parents can be reunited!”
“Count us in! Randolph can help us, too!” Kristie exclaimed, with the color coming back into both sisters' faces.
“Janine will help, too,” he said. “Plus, there are a few others I can count on for such an endeavor. I'll put the wheels in motion and start gathering information as to the family's habits and weaknesses. You two get in touch with Randolph and Janine and bring them up to date.”
A week later Alexei and the rest of the group met in Chicago for a final planning session.
“Here's what I have so far,” he informed the gathering. “There are four family members we need to focus on: Carboni's daughter Carlotta, her husband, her brother and her son. The brother has a gambling problem, the husband has a mistress, and the son is into drugs and loose women. Carlotta is the most vicious of them and is said to enjoy toying with her victims with various means of torture before she kills them. She is the one who runs the family and still uses the Carboni family name. Perhaps she married a cousin; I don't know the particulars there. She controls a drug cartel in Detroit and theirs is the only Italian family in the group. She's been losing her grip on power, as none of the other families either like her or trust her. The family's estate is very tight on security. How do you people think we should approach this?”
“I think her weakening power grip may be her most vulnerable point,” said Karlee. “Maybe we could make the other cartel members think that she's out to intimidate them into giving her more control and a bigger percentage of the business. With the proper motivation, they might take her out for us.”
“Oh, I like that plan,” said Kristie. The others were in agreement.
“That sounds good. The icing on the cake is that I've gotten us a contract on her, so we will be getting paid to bring her down,” said Alexei. They all marveled at the good news.
It was determined to start the intimidation ruse with the family that had the weakest security. Although the parents were away, the teenage son was known to be at home with his girlfriend. The sisters wore their usual hoods as they entered the home. The others stood guard outside. They found the young couple enjoying the parents' king-size bed.
“Get out of that bed, you two!” one of them ordered.
The pair looked up from their carnal activity in stunned disbelief.
Kristie tore off the blanket covering them. “We said get up!” she shouted, as the two black-clad and hooded sisters pointed their weapons at them.
The frightened twosome complied and cowered nude in front of them.
“Make your peace with God. Mrs. Carboni sends her regards.”
“My parents will double whatever she is paying you!” claimed the nervous lad.
“Carlotta is very generous.” Karlee made up a number and said, “She is paying us fifty grand a head.”
“We can double that, I promise,” he stated in a trembling voice.
“Get down on all fours, young man,” she ordered. She wanted him to feel humiliated in front of his lady to ensure the family's displeasure with Carlotta.
He complied.
“Now whinny like a horse!”
Again the scared kid obeyed.
“Sweet cheeks, get on his back and go for a ride.” She then ripped a cord from the drapery. “Here, wrap this around his neck while you ride the horsie around the room and while he tells us how he's going to make payment!”
The sisters enjoyed the show as he tried to speak while choking and giving his girlfriend a ride around the room.
“Okay, we believe you. We'll be in touch with you later about our money. Be smart and don't even think about disappointing us!”
From there the group went to another of the cartel's family households. This time there was a poker game in progress as they slipped in through a back window. Again, the hooded pair was totally unexpected.
“Everybody on the floor!” shouted one of the sisters.
This time they met with more resistance.
“Who the frig are YOU?”
“Carlotta sent us. She wants to remind you who's in charge. Now get down on your knees!”
“Well, well, well,” said Karlee. “Look who we have here.” They were careful to never use one another's names on missions.
“Oh my, oh my, oh my,” said Kristie with a clear tone of excitement in her voice. “I do believe it's Mr. Sinclair!”
As she moved toward Sonny, one of the other poker players pulled out a gun. Karlee promptly fired a silenced round into his chest. Kristie now routinely carried a serrated knife on her belt on all missions and began to reach for it.
“Drop your pants, Mr Sinclair.” she ordered, drawing the sharp weapon from its comfy home.
“Fuck you!” came the response.
Karlee fired a round into his leg. “You'd better do as my partner says mister.”
“To hell with you damn bitches!” he shouted as he reached for his own gun.
Pfft Pfft were the next sounds as Kristie merrily placed two rounds into his crotch.
The remaining men backed away and raised their hands into the air.
“We'll let the rest of you live and leave you with a message. Carlotta Carboni is to be obeyed without question from now on. She also wants a larger percentage of the profits. She feels this is fair. Do you agree?”
They all nodded in unison as the hooded pair made sure each was disarmed and then backed out of the room.
When the team regrouped outside the home, Karlee said “I think Carlotta Carboni is going to be in for some interesting times and very soon, too.”
They all laughed as they departed the scene.
A few days later, the Carboni family rode together to attend a family funeral. One of the guards had been paid off to look the other way as a bomb was planted under the car during the service. It was set to go off when its signal receiver came within a hundred feet of a radio transmitter which was placed at the cemetery exit. There would be four more funerals.
The movie that the sisters had both performed in turned out to be a bigger hit than anyone had expected. It soared to number one in the rankings. There was talk of a sequel. Kristie was offered a new job from the people who had released her earlier when she had gotten pregnant. She declined with a few choice words.
Soon both sisters were nominated for Oscars for their stellar performances as rogue government agents saving the little guys. The night of the awards ceremony, the popular pair sat with Randolph at a table with other members of the cast. Lots of fans stopped by the table to offer their support and congratulations.