Chapter 100

It was rough sleeping with every breath causing me pain. I managed to get enough sleep, a half hour at a time, by 10AM the next day. From there I went on auto pilot for the best part of a week. I didn't follow up with Mission, because I didn't want a job at that moment in time. By the sixth day I was beginning to fell less pain. Every time I swallowed I could still feel it, but it was only a minor discomfort. I should have been really pissed, but each time I swallowed there was a reminder of the whole experience. I stopped fighting it and decided to go with it. It hadn't all been bad. After six days, even the memories of the bad didn't seem so bad.

I'm not sure how many baths I took during those six days, but I am sure it was less than one a day. The only reason I mention that is when Mission finally got around to returning my call it, set things in motion to right myself.

Mission said, "I know it seems as though I have been ducking your calls. I feel awful but that shit at the safe house wasn't my call. Anyway, I have called around and found someone who is looking for someone just like you. I can't tell you about them, because I don't know a lot. We ran across his group in an investigation down east, One which got shut down quickly. So they have some serious juice," She said all that without letting me get a word into the conversation.

"Damn, I'm just fine how are you," I said making an issue of her terse manner.

"I'm sorry, they have me on edge around here. I'm not supposed to contact you. I shouldn't be calling around looking for a job for you, that's for sure. So anyway the guy is going to come talk to you sometime today. Make a good impression, these guys are a big deal in some circles, I have been told."

"Why all the mystery?" I asked.

"I don't think the company exists to tell you the truth. I mean I have never been shut down so fast. I figure the two of you might be a perfect fit. I mean the state attorney general wishes you didn't exist as well. Why I'm not quite sure. So make a good impression,"

"I guess in that case, I need to take a bath," I said.

"Yes you do for sure," Message said then hung up without saying goodbye.

I not only took a both and washed my short thin hair, I also ran a broom and then a damp towel over the hardwood floors. The apartment look nice by the time the big assed SUV pulled into the drive after lunch. Since I still wasn't up to eating my lunch was a slice of bread and a large glass of chocolate milk. That lunch was a non memorable event in my day. Only the SUV made it special. Two men got out of the SUV, they both walked as though they had broom handle up their asses. The driver looked around at the houses surrounding him, before the second man left the cover of the SUV to walk to the stairway which lead to my balcony. They had been in the drive a total of about five minutes before the knock on my door came.

"Hello," I said.

"Hello, I Colonel Martin." he said with the coldest smile I have ever seen. It was like staring into the face of a snake.

"I'm Sylvia Porter, Colonel Martin," I said not offering him my hand. "Would you like to come inside."

"Of course, I would hate doing business outside even though the weather has definitely take a turn for the better," he said. He took a seat on my DYI small sofa/bed.

"Yes it has," I said even though I hadn't really noticed. I had been inside the house most of the last six days. I guess I was licking my wounds. "So in what are you a colonel?" I asked.

"It's just what they call me at the office. I'm retired. Actually British SAS, Just so you dont need to ask." he said.

"I figured it was something British, The accent gives you away.," I said.

"So I'm told," he replied.

"So what kind of office are we talking here?" I asked.

"I run a branch of a private security company call Swamp Dog," he informed me.

"Holy shit, I have a mercenary in my living room," I said with a laugh.

"Well the branch I am in charge of doesn't do black ops type things. We are strictly body guards, a little more expensive than the usual body guards, but we are a bit better at it," He said.

"I don't think I have the qualifications you are looking for," I said,

"Oh you meet our needs quite well, or I wouldn't be here. I don't often waste my time. We have done some checking. You are one of those people who take your job seriously and do whatever is necessary do it well."

"Yeah, but I'm not a commando ninja assassin," I said. "And I have a hand that isn't healed yet."

"Well let me tell you what the job is, and then decide if you can do it." I nodded my agreement. "We have a client, who is a rock concert promoter. He has a huge rap music star headed out on tour this summer. He has a certain liability for his safety. Since he is liable, he has purchased insurance. He gets a much better rate, if he has a body guard travel with the performers. You see Sylvia, it just business. You can pass the insurance company qualification easily."

"So you don't give a crap whether I have any experience as a bodyguard or not. You just want someone, who can fill the client's needs on paper?" I asked

"Well it won't do our reputation any good, if we lose a client, but we aren't expecting any serious attacks on him. We see it more as a law enforcement type thing, than a commando type thing, as you put it," The colonel answered.

"Look for the single man with a gun, rather than a frontal assault," I said in agreement.

"Exactly," the Colonel replied. "So you in?"

"If you provide me with the right equipment and this so called rock singer cooperates," I replied.

"You didn't even ask what the job pays," he replied,

"Okay, whats the pay," I asked.

"Well the tour is three months and there will be two of you so we are thinking five thousand." he said.

"A week?" I asked.

"A month, but it isn't a forty hour a week gig," he said. "One of you will have to be with him at all times, At least when he is doing anything for the promoter. If he goes for a press conference, you will have to be there. If he goes to the theater to check equipment, you will have to be there." He said. "But not when he goes to the bathroom at home."

"So the promoter will have a representative along to inform us when we are needed?" I asked.

"Yeah, you are responsible only if you are called in, but let me warn you, they will be keeping you hopping I assure you. There are lots of promoter sponsored events on a rock tour. Lots of press parties all that sort of thing."

"When do we have to start?" I asked.

"Not tomorrow, but the next Thursday. You will show up at the first venue, and pick him up when he arrives at the airport."

"So, who is this rap star?" I asked.

"Coca cola or some such stupid name," he said. "He sings that chuga chuga kill whitey shit." It sounded strange in his British accent. I rather liked it. "So are you on board with it?"

"Sure, what do I need to do. Other than show up with my bad assed attitude?" I asked.

"My associate outside will drop off your equipment. Here is the number of the office. If you kill anyone, or anyone kills the subject you are protecting, call us otherwise handle it yourself." he said. At the door he stopped and handed me a thick brown envelop. "First months pay. Just in case you need anything. I will have the office call you with the names of the hotels and that sort of thing." He left me with the impression that he didn't know or care about the details of the operation.

When he got to the SUV he had a quick conversation with the driver who went to the read for a black canvas bag, which he delivered to my door. The bag was very much like the bag in which I carried my clothes for the road trip. It was some smaller though.

Inside the bag I found a Glock 10mm and a holster that went inside my pants. I also found the license and registration for it. Whether it was real, or not I didn't even want to know. I found a box containing a brand new stun gun with a note on top. Use this till your hand heals. Those things were good for one use, then I would need to recharge it. I figured that it should be enough, if there was more than one bad guy, I probably needed to shoot a couple of them first. There was one more item in the bag that convinced me they really did their homework. There was a plastic handle with a craft style snap blade inside it. I had its twin brother in my pocket. I had been there even as I spoke to Colonel Martin. If he had proved to be an assassin, I might not have been able to stop him, but I might mark him for the cops.

After he left I decided that it was time I stopped feeling sorry for myself and start acting like the tough bitch he thought I was. I had time to go shopping, so I did just that. I went to the department store at the plaza. It didn't have the biggest selection or the best prices but I thought it would have enough. I couldn't find the biker whore section of the department store, so I went to Mary Ellen's store. She had what I wanted, but even she had it behind the counter. I bought a top with about four inches of coverage and spaghetti straps to hold it up, and a very short skirt. Hey if I was going to be a biker whore, I ought to at least look the part. It wasn't like I hadn't seen one up close.

I had to explain to Mary Ellen what happened the last time I was out. She said, "My God, you should have called, so I could get that on film."

"Mary Ellen I am sure you would have been in the pit with me not filming it," I said.

"If these guys are as violent as you say, I'm glad I wasn't there, unless it was with a camera crew.

"Honey your camera crew might have been in the pit with you. These guys play rough." I said.

"Then why are you going back?" She asked.

"You know I'm crazy, that's why your customers love me," I said.

"So you are really going back to the club," Mary Ellen asked.

"Sometime between now and next week this time yes I am," I replied.

"Would you let me put a bug on you. The camera crew has some new technology they are dying to try out," she said.

"If they catch me with a camera, it will be me that will be dying for trying it out," I said.

You know you love the danger. You are a adrenaline junkie," she said. "You get off on the fear,"

"That's crazy," I said. I didn't believe what I said any more than Mary Ellen did. I could see her mind trying to find a way to cash in on my quirk.