Outlaw #3
Jessie shoved Victor hard, sitting him down with a bounce on the couch.
“She is beautiful and high-class looking, yes?” Victor nodded.
“Her furniture is very expensive, yes?” More nodding.
“Ever wonder why such a high-class woman has an apartment in this shitty neighborhood?” Victor shook his head.
Jessie sighed. “You men, always thinking with the wrong head. Think about it for a minute.” Jessie crossed her arms and stared at Victor.
He looked away as he thought it through for a moment.
“She’s a prostitute?”
“Now you are using the right damn head.”
“Oh, God… No!”
“Thinking it through?”
Victor paled, and stuttered his reply. “I—I think I know why you have to kill me now.”
“You probably only have part of it… but I think you are on the right track.”
Then the shock of realization hit Victor hard. If there were any less color in his face, it would have drained out and left him transparent. “You are going to make it look like I did it…”
“That is an option.” Jessie grinned at him as she pointed to the binoculars.
“Is there more than one option?”
“Maybe…”
“What do you mean by maybe?”
“I like you, Victor, but you are weak. You have no confidence. You dress to scare decent women away. Hell, when was the last time you got laid?” She watched him hang his head. “Hey! Stop feeling sorry for what you created for yourself and answer me! Have you ever been laid?”
With a heavy sigh, Victor looked up and met Jessie’s eyes. “Yes, I have… it, it’s been a while since I’ve slept with a woman.”
“How long?”
“Years…” He hung his head.
“But you had some hopes when I darkened your doorstep last night… right?”
“Well… yeah. It crossed my mind, but I saw you were afraid… I didn’t want to scare you... or think I was weird.”
“A weirdo who would rather beat off to other people fucking. Too afraid to offend a woman to pursue her, eh? Good excuse to not ever fail…”
Victor glared at Jessie. “Like you would ever sleep with me…” She watched as Victor unconsciously tried to cover his privates.
“In a different time… if you had some confidence and didn’t dress like a weirdo, maybe. Besides…” Jessie paused, waiting for him to look at her. Eventually, he did, and she pointed at his crotch. “Where I trained, I’ve seen smaller dicks on bigger men, Victor. Drop that hang-up, already.”
“Like that is going to help me now…” he shot back, red-faced.
“Keep your ass planted and think about it while I make us some breakfast. Do not get up.” She watched his confused look and set off to make breakfast in his minuscule kitchen, never taking her eyes off him.
Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the living room bearing two platefuls of scrambled eggs with toast and coffee. She sat down next to Victor and began feeding him.
“I’ve never been fed by a woman… oh, except my mom.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah…”
“Then fight for it.”
“What? You mean fight you for it?”
Jessie laughed. “Oh, Victor. I do like you. I’m sorry, but you would have zero chance. Not saying that to put you down…”
“I know. I can tell you are a… I’m sorry.”
“Stop being sorry. Say what the hell you mean.”
“Fine. I can tell you are a killer.”
“Trust your instincts.” Jessie eyed him and kept staring at him as she ate her breakfast.
Victor waited until the gorgeous, deadly redhead was done eating. He took her advice and spoke his mind. “Why do I feel like I would do anything to help you?”
“Go on…”
“Because I don’t want to die?”
“Good enough reason.”
“You want me to help you…”
Jessie sighed a real sigh. “Against protocol, I’m going to level with you…
Victor, you are my ‘mark’. I could manipulate you into falling in love with me, and help me, one way or another.
You would have done anything for me in time, because what I told you about myself was the truth.
Your ‘type’ is a man that needs to help people… especially women.”
Victor thought about it for a long moment, rolled his eyes, and nodded his absolute agreement. “So now what? Patsy or accomplice, yes?”
“Exactly. But of your own volition.”
“So if I go running to the cops, one day I end up in an accident kind of thing?”
“Exactly.”
Victor eyed Jessie, swallowed hard, and spoke his mind. “I want you.”
Jessie smiled kindly back at him. “Oh, Victor… good for you.” She sighed. “Honestly, I would at least think about it, but… I love another man.”
Victor nodded and, rather than look away from the gorgeous girl’s sad green eyes, he looked deeper and listened to his intuition. “The man who saved you…” He watched her blink and knew. “Well, he’s one lucky bastard. Crash and burn… it was worth a shot.” He smiled.
“See, wasn’t so bad.”
Victor laughed and nodded. “Veronica… I can’t kill anyone. I just can’t do that.”
“That is my job. You, my friend, get to sleep with Miss Sexy Tatianna across the way.” Jessie grinned at a shocked Victor.
“Wha? What?”
“Tonight. It’s all set up. She will be the most expensive fuck in your life… oh, well until you get married and have kids… if you make it that far. Make it good, have fun, because what happens tomorrow means life or death for you, my friend.”
“Oh… uh, how much for one night?”
“Ten thousand… in cash.”
“Fuck me…”
Jessie went over to her bag and pulled out a bundle of clothing. Walking back to the couch, she tossed the bundle on Victor’s naked lap. “Armani. If you survive what’s coming, it’s yours to keep.”
Victor blinked at the black folded suit, then looked up at Jessie. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Months… now listen very carefully to what you are going to do…”
Simo watched Chen tip the bellman, then looked about the room.
It was the McLean Hilton’s best suite. He peered out of the window and looked at his watch.
It would be dark soon. Looking to the northeast, he guessed Jessie would be at Langley, CIA headquarters, getting ready for tomorrow’s odd event.
He reached up to rub his nose and stopped halfway there.
He glanced at Chen, who appeared to be studying his every move.
“That is the third time…” Chen said.
“Something is up. I don’t know what, but something is up.”
“Call her. I have her home number. Here, use my cell; it’s untraceable.” Chen handed Simo his phone and set about organizing their overnight bags, leaving Simo to his thoughts.
Simo stared at the small phone in his hand, wondering what to say. Chen said something and he looked up.
“I said, just be cordial. Let her know you will be there for her.”
“Good idea.” Simo took a deep breath and touched the phone’s screen.
It rang three times, then he froze. It was Jessie’s voice…
sounding like an angel. Then he realized it was her voicemail.
“Jessie… uh, this is, uh, Simo. Sorry to call… I wanted to let you know I will be at your graduation tomorrow… uh, to support you. I am, uh… proud of you. I hope that is ok. Ok… bye.”
Simo hung up and sat down hard on the nearest chair.
“See? That wasn’t so bad.” Chen chuckled.
Simo nodded, though he felt that was one of the hardest things he had ever done in his life. “Yeah…”
“Will you call Eleni and let her know we arrived, or shall I?”
“Uh… you can.”
Chen nodded once and left Simo to his thoughts.
Jessie brushed off Victor’s lapels, stepped back, and gave him the once-over. “You clean up very, very well, Mr. O’Sullivan.”
Victor stared at himself in the mirror and was utterly floored by his reflection.
He rubbed his hand over his now completely bald head.
He had his contacts in and liked how the shoes Veronica gave him made him at least three inches taller.
The suit was incredible and fit like a glove, and the new white silk shirt felt wonderful against his skin.
“I can’t believe that is me…” he pointed at the mirror.
“Confidence does much for a man. Remember that when you meet her. And remember she is there to please you. Not you, her. If she asks you what you want, you tell her… with the exception of hurting her. Absolutely NO hurting her. Am I clear?”
“I wouldn’t…” He saw her glare at him. “Clear.”
“No need to tip her, but why don’t you pick up a red rose at the shop downstairs for her? You understand everything you have to do, or shall we go over it again?”
“No. I got this.”
She adjusted his open shirt collar and met his blue eyes. “Act normal. Relax… she is there for you for three hours. Do it as many times as you can!” She grinned at Victor. “Now, go!” She gave him a gentle nudge toward his door. He gave her a nervous wave and left his apartment.
Victor stared at Tatiana’s door for a long moment. He looked down at the red rose, took a deep breath, and pressed the doorbell button. A soft chime sounded, and then the door opened.
She was gorgeous… stunning even. Her smile was big, her lips a deep red, and all that dark, sexy hair cascaded down her red silk camisole. Her voice bore a heavy Russian accent as she spoke.
“Victor! It is pleasure meeting you. I am Tatiana. Come, come!” She ushered him inside.
Victor complied and smiled at Tatiana. “The pleasure is mine. This is for you.” He handed her the rose, and she looked genuinely pleased with the small gift.
“I love red roses. Thank you, Victor.”
He watched her perfect nose as she buried it into the fragrant flower and inhaled. For the slightest moment, it looked as if she were transported somewhere else. He waited, and with an embarrassed smile, she met his eyes.
“I do not get flowers much. It is a nice… gesture.”
Victor smiled again and casually looked around. Indeed, the apartment’s interior looked as though it belonged in some Fifth Avenue penthouse.
“Please sit.” Tatiana gestured to the white leather couch. Victor complied and sat down as casually as he could. “Victor, would you like a drink?” Tatiana asked as she approached the small bar.
“Yes. Vodka would be nice.”