Chapter 74

I didn't really consider a stop at the drive thru window of Granny's donuts a stop at all. It was more a detour in my mind. So I arrived home with a new hair style, not just a cut, the man who did it insisted. Since my hair was very then, he also tried to convince me to buy a lot of crap to make it appear thicker. I knew better than to waste my money. I had been there before and as I told him it was my first shampoo and set.

Since it was so thin, I could just wash it and towel it pretty much dry for a styling. Again no special crap needed on it. Once in a while I might put a little mineral oil on my hands, wiped it off, then run those hands through my hair. I didn't even bother doing that often. Mostly it was wash it, when I showered, towel it dry and flatten it with my fingers. Even when it was long enough to brush, it hadn't been thick enough to bother. That's why I had chopped it all off and went back to the crew cut of my Air Force days.

This new hair cut was a compromise of sorts. It ended up being short on the sides with the top longer, so that the top would lay down. It looked like one of those hair styles the seen on cyborgs wore in those futuristic movies. Kind of a civilian take on a career Marine's haircut. Anyway I liked it just fine.

I spent the day in front of the computer with a coffee cup and a jelly donut in my hand. I decided that come hell or high water, I was going to bike the next day. I would give them that long to come up with something to protect their star witness. Yes my ribs still hurt, but the bike was downstairs which made it a hell of a lot easier. So the only thing left was to call my handler's super secret number and tell him.

"Hello machine this is agent Silvia Porter, aka death star 007, tomorrow morning I'm going to ride my bike around town in a random manner' You have some choices to make. You can have me arrested as a material witness, or you can use it as an opportunity to catch some more bad guys, or my personal choice, you can do nothing. Have a nice day machine." Then I hung the fuck up.

Since the threat wasn't immanent I didn't expect a call back anytime soon. It was a good thing because I would have been disappointed. The day passed with nothing happening. Then just before dark there was a visitor.

"Why agent Mission, I suppose this means I can put the pistol away," I said welcoming her into the apartment.

"Silvia I have to admit that this place would be hell to assault without ten men at least. You really do have a pretty easy place for only one person to defend. At least long enough to get the local sheriff's patrol to swing bye. " she said.

"Nice to see you looking so well to," I said sarcastically.

"Okay, it is good to see that your injuries aren't worse. It is also good to see that you want to get out and do things. The problem is you are too easy to find. What we need is to move you to a different place till the trials are all past, then you can come back here." she said.

"Yeah, we need to talk. I wouldn't be so easy to find if your agent in charge didn't want publicity. He fingered me. As for the coming back here I'm not so sure they want me back," I said.

"Hell Honey, I'm sure they don't want you back. I didn't say that by the way," she said.

"Wonderful and how do you know that?" I asked.

"The Sheriff called the A.G. and asked about that employment contract we all signed. Then he asked if we wouldn't just keep you on the state payroll as long as we needed you to testify." Mission said.

"And exactly how long would that be," I asked.

"No way to know exactly, but it could be a year or more realistically," she said. "You could offer me some coffee now that we are doing girl talk."

"Alright but you won't like it," I said. I microwaved her some coffee which I took from the refrigerator. "So what is the offer?"

"You take all the fun out of the pitch, you do know that?" she said.

"This is a no drama zone honey. Plenty of sexual tension, but no drama," I said.

"First of all, let me tell you that if you refuse this offer, the Sheriff can refuse to honor the contract, and it will fly. So it's our way or the highway." she said.

"Mission you know I don't like it up the ass," I said because she was making too strong a case for the plan.

"But I also note, you did say you that you don't take it up the ass," she said with a smile.

"Alright give it too me straight," I said.

"The A.G, is looking for cover, You did a hell of a job and got injured in the process. We have to protect you and we have to make it seem like a reasonable offer. The Sheriff hopes it sounds good enough to sell to the press and bad enough to make you say no. Remember that the duration is only for the length of the court case. It could end tomorrow, if the Greens cop a plea. Or it could go on forever, if there is a trial."

"Okay so get on with it. I get that this is a compromise offer," I said.

"We looked around for something outside of law enforcement, but still on the state payroll. Something we hoped you might not turn down out of hand. There is only one thing that we felt fit the bill. It's with the state wildlife department. Now don't get pissed before you hear me out." she said.