Chapter 35

Present – Samantha – Transporting Stacy

I impatiently tap my foot and wait for Stacy to finish her business in the bushes. She has been one annoying as hell bitch to interview. I thought by now I had learned all the tricks and had control of the interviews, but Stacy keeps throwing me curves and sending me off balance. My loving husband Frank takes my hand and whispers, "Honey, don't worry. You're doing fine and we can edit out the parts you don't like."

I complain back in a whisper, "Like hell I am fine! She's driving me crazy! It's almost like..." I stop and then a smile slowly creeps across my face.

Frank gives me a puzzled look, "Almost like what?"

I grin, "Honey, I can't believe I didn't see this the first time. Stacy is purposely delaying us."

Frank questions, "Why would she do that?"

I grin, "Because she's buying time for Ben to escape. I bet we just missed Ben at Bob's Country Bunker."

Frank returns my grin and offers, "Sam, I've got an idea..."

He just gets ready to describe his plan when all hell breaks loose in the bushes where Stacy is...

Present – Stacy – In the bushes

What a hell of a time for that damn fucking tiger to show up! I'm peeing and my pants are down around my ankles. Thank God Ben taught me about keeping my head on a swivel, about situational awareness, and keeping my weapons in my hand, otherwise I'd be this tiger's next meal. I stand up, raise Ben's golden rifle, cock the hammer, fire and yell, "AMF you sneaky bastard!" Then I operate the lever and continue to fire...

Present – Samantha – Transporting Stacy

We hear a gun fire and Stacy yells, "AMF you sneaky bastard." And it certainly lights a fire under everyone. We charge the bushes as the rifle fire continues. We break into a little clearing: There's Stacy with her pants down around her ankles and a beautiful tiger is ... Dead, right at her feet.

She hears us approaching, turns her rifle toward us and Emanuel yells, "Stacy don't fire it's the news team."

She lowers the rifle then we hear a hell of a noise behind us!

Present – Ben – Somewhere in Texas

I take care of the ambushing bastards, move the vehicles and bodies to the side of the road, head back to the semi and the driver says, "Damn it sounded like a war out there. Hop in and I'll gladly take you to the next town."

I grimace and answer, "I need a minute or two so I don't bleed in your nice truck."

He looks concerned and says, "What the hell? Did they shoot you?"

I'm taking off my tactical rig to get to the wound and explain, "One of the bastards got in a lucky shot and hit my body armor. I'm not sure what the hell he was firing but it shattered the ceramic plate and some of the pieces cut me up a little."

He jumps out of the truck with a first aid kit in his hand and offers, "Let me help."

Taking off tactical gear is like peeling an onion - there's layer after layer after layer. We take off the body armor, I look at the ceramic plate and swear, "Son of a bitch! That's the last good plate I have."

I take off my shirt, then my t-shirt, the driver shines a light on me and says, "Damn that must hurt."

I start pulling out the slivers of ceramic plate and say, "I've had worse." Then I chuckle and add, "Besides, chicks dig the scars."

He laughs and says, "You really are one crazy mother. By the way my name is Stinky Pete."

I ask, "Stinky Pete? How did you get that name?"

He lets out a belly laugh, "Well when I first started driving I drove a pig hauler. Those are filthy damn animals! To this day I can't stand to eat pork."

I laugh, "Not even bacon?"

He shakes his head, "No not even bacon ... And damn I miss it."

I'm done with the field dressing and start putting my gear back on. I leave off the carrier for the body armor so Stinky Pete asks, "You ain't gonna wear your carrier?"

I laugh, "There's no need to since that was my last plate. I guess I will need to just be more careful from now on."

He laughs and heads to the rear of the truck, "Well that might not be the case. Let me show you what I have in the back of my truck."

He has my curiosity up so I look at the truck as we walk past and it says 'Armored Mobility¹.' That's a name I've never heard of...

¹ http://www.armoredmobility.com/ Check out the videos, this stuff is fantastic.

We get to the back of the truck and I question what he's doing, "You're allowed to open the truck?"

He answers, "Hell yes! They have some demo models and told me to hand them out. I can't think of any one better than you to give them to."

Stinky Pete opens up the back and states, "This is one hell-of-a company! They're on the cutting edge of body armor. I'm hauling this load to Dallas for their police force."

He jumps in the trailer, rummages around, and comes out with six pieces of what looks like black plastic. He closes up the trailer door and tosses me a plate. I fumble around with it, drop it and ... It doesn't fucking break like a ceramic plate would!

I give him the evil eye and search for the truth, "You're telling me this fucking piece of plastic is better than a ceramic plate?"

He laughs, "Shit yes, it's polymer that's steel backed and will take multiple hits."

I don't know about this shit because it's so damn light; it must only weigh 6 or 7 pounds. I declare, "Well I'm going to shoot one of these to see what happens."

I lean one up against a rock, step back to fifty feet and fire twice, the damn plate is so light it takes off. I run over to where I thought it landed, finally find it, look at it and can see the bullet holes in the front but nothing in the back. Duh-ammmn! This shit just might make me invincible!

I slip one plate in the front of the carrier, one plate in the back and throw it back on as I walk toward Stinky Pete. He looks anxious so I question, "What's wrong."

He answers, "Well we really should get going before someone else shows up."

I agree and state, "I'm headed toward Austin so if you would drop me at a truck stop before Dallas I would appreciate it."

He answers, "Sure thing. How about I buy you dinner? There's a great truck stop at the exit just before Dallas."

I respond, "Pete, I did this for me and not for you..."

He interrupts, "That's Stinky Pete and we both know you saved my bacon." He chuckles and continues, "So the least I can do is buy you some bacon."

I wave my hand and say, "As you wish." We climb into the cab of the truck, I settle down and promptly fall asleep but they are back in my dreams...

Present – Maria – At the cabin

I dread telling my Princess Boss what has happened. I love working for her, but dammit she's as volatile as I am. I head to her room, knock on the door and ask, "Jens can I come in?"

I hear her reply, "Did you take care of the fricken situation?"

Damn her, she's in a bitchy mood again. I answer, "Well sort of."

She smart mouths, "Well then you can sort of come in."

Now what the hell does that mean? Can I come in or not? I decide two can be bitchy so I shout, "Well the hell with this, I'm going to catch some Z's."

Jens yells back, "Sounds damn fine to me!"