Chapter 56

The deal was struck for the shooting to begin immediately. Actually the Pros from Dover filmed the conference. They used a small camera, which each of them carried at all times. As I said before, the funky image quality was part of the show's make up. In my mind Pros was the new abbreviation for producers, and the 'from Dover' was a line from the MASH movie I remembered from my childhood.

So the two of them operating together, became the Pros from Dover. All they needed were loud Hawaiian shirts, and golf clubs to complete the image. Oh yeah, they could use a better sense of humor as well. Even so, they were humorous. Well they were, if I stood on one foot and closed one eye. Everything is funny if you find the right angle to view it.

"So what exactly does 24/7 mean?" I asked

"We have access to the security camera in your house, so that we don't have to be there. If we need to, we can install our own higher definition camera."

"I already agreed to that provided, you don't show my old, naked ass online."

"We agree to keep it PG rated this first time." Jen's paralegal was writing like hell.

"When you go out to work, one of us rides with you and one with Lucas. We will want to get some before action, and post action interviews."

"You do know this is not combat, we are talking about. We go in disguise to serve court orders, so we can only take one vehicle. You are just going to have to live with that. You must stay in the car while we serve the court orders. If you can rig some kind of hidden camera on Lucas, or me that is acceptable." I suggested.

"You can either get releases after the fact, or distort the face of the subjects of the orders." Jennifer suggested.

"We can rig up something," Mike admitted.

"On the bail jumpers, you can film anything that doesn't get me in deep shit. The releases or distortion is the same, I would suppose. They most likely will sign the release for money, if you give them a day to cool off."

"Right, this isn't our first dance you know." Mike said.

"It might not be your first dance, but it is your first dance with me. So you listen to the rules and you play nice, or else you pack your shit and go home." I wasn't angry. I just wanted the terms clear to all.

"How about your body guard work?"

"If I do any, you need to get releases from everybody involved."

"If anyone says no, then you stay away from everyone except when they are in public." Jennifer demanded. "You will just be paparazzi, if they refuse to sign on."

"Fair enough," Mike said.

"Jen, I suppose you are going to act as mediator."

"Yes, you have me on speed dial and I will give these two my numbers. Call me if you get to an impasse, but please try hard to work it out amongst yourselves first."

"Of course," I replied, smiling my best wicked smile.

Back at the office Lucas got on the phone to make some calls. He was canvassing our lawyer clients. We did that whenever things got slow. They usually had something they could throw our way. What he got was three more papers to pick up in Tryon.

When added to the other four that came in too late to pickup, and the two we couldn't locate on Friday, we had a full day. We usually picked up something else as the day went on as well.

"So here is how it is really going to work." I said. "I will drive the van with Lucas in the front seat beside me as usual. One of you, but not both, can come along and ride in back. It isn't real comfortable, but it should do. Besides you need to suffer for your art. If you feel you need your partner, feel free to both drive up in your rental car."

"Why don't I go along, and Gwen can get some background shots. Maybe she can do interviews with some of the locals, who want their half minute of fame." Mike suggested.

"Suits me," I replied. I noticed the look Lucas gave Mike. I wasn't sure what it was about, but I wouldn't have been surprised, if a pissing contest was somehow involved.

"Gwen, you need to go to the Cop Out sometime today. See if you can get permission to film inside. I really want to get some shots of Maxine and her friends,"

"Now listen up Mike. If you film my friends, get their permission first. Don't you dare ambush any of them."

"I understand," he answered much too casually.

"Don't just say I understand, make me believe that you really do understand."

"I got it Max. Geeze lighten up."

"Sweetie this is me light. Don't make me show you my heavy side."

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"Then we are ready to leave. Pee now if you need to, we will not be taking any breaks for a while."

Lucas and I wore a hidden mike and a really awful, low definition hidden camera. Mostly we always got the same people. They were dressed different and with different hair, otherwise they were all pretty much cookie cutter images. Women who couldn't believe that bastard could do, whatever he was doing. Then there were the men, who couldn't believe that bitch was doing, whatever it was that she was doing.

We had one 'Dissolution of business partnership' asset freeze order to serve. Usually they went well, since it was just a formality. However now and then it came as a shock to one of the partners. The latter was the case with The Ivy and Rose hair design studio.

From our fact sheet we knew that Ivy St James no longer worked at the salon. We were to serve the court orders advising Rose O' Flynn that the fixtures were to be auctioned off to the highest bidder on a Saturday morning two weeks in the future.

"Why don't you handle this one?" I suggested to Lucas.

"Sure boss, the usual? I have a delivery for Rose?" he asked.

"Since we know Ivy isn't there, ask for either owner but no one else will do. Put the order in one of our boxes. They probably get a lot of deliveries." We had been carrying small white packing boxes for a while. It was easy to put a label on them inside the van. Usually we didn't even bother with that. The clipboard and box were usually enough to get a signature. When the mooch opened the box, they found the court order covered with the blue paper.

Lucas went inside the shop, I sat in the van with Mike. While we waited, I listened to Lucas's microphone, as I always did. Mike watched the action from the low resolution camera.

"You know, you never did ask who shot the man holding the hostages."

"I figured it was you, to be honest." I replied.

"Really why?" Mike asked.

"The Reverend's only experience with guns is with pistols and gangster movies on TV. You did a tour in the army. No combat, but you were in combat arms."

"When did you know?" he asked.

"A couple of days after, I did some checking. I figured if you didn't mention it, you had a reason, so I didn't either."

"I didn't want to get tied up in some investigation, or have the Russians looking at me."

"Good reasoning, I figured the Reverend wanted the glory and you wanted to stay behind the camera."

"Yeah that was pretty much it. Have you heard anymore from the Russians?"

"No, I don't think I'm worth the resources. In spite of what the FBI says, it is business with them, not personal. At least I hope that's the case," I replied.

"Me too for all our sakes. I don't figure the Preacher is going to give up a finger to protect me."

"No, I wouldn't put a lot of faith in the Reverend."

I turned away from Mike abruptly. Lucas was holding a first class cussin'. Fortunately he had some experience in it. I paid very close attention to see, if I needed to go in and rescue him.

"You God Damn parasite. What kind of man makes a living off other people misfortune." Rose said in a shrill voice.

"Come on Lucas throw some water on the fire and get out of there." I said aloud but for myself not the camera.