Chapter 4

That night three men sat in a hotel room. Two well dressed were plying the one not so well dressed for information.

"C'mon, we let it slide last night, but now we want details. Was she a pro?" asked one of the inquisitors.

"Yeah, she WAS a pro. She's a stone cold bitch," said the uncouth man.

"You didn't have any money. How did you pay her?" asked the other.

"The bitch owed me, so I came to collect, but I wasn't looking for money, if you know what I mean," he laughed at his own clever deceit.

"Yeah, so you did her instead?" asked man one.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," smirked the evil man.

"Hello Lieutenant Whitaker? It's Susan Sundeen."

"Hi, but please call me Whit. I'd like to think we got to know each other well enough to avoid such formalities."

"Yeah," she said wistfully before continuing. "I don't think we could have solved the 'Red Monday case' without your help. Besides, I really enjoyed working with you."

"Same here Susan. You and Jim were an absolute pleasure to work with."

"I noticed you didn't mention my roommate."

"I know you have feelings for her, but she nearly ruined my life."

"Well you can't blame her for being attracted to you and you did save her life."

"I know. I guess it's not such a big deal now as my wife and I are divorced."

"I know. God, how many times we talked about what to do about Rachel." sighed Susan.

"Yeah. I hated to act the way I did, but she really left me no choice."

"You know, Whit ... I didn't blame you in the end. You were so kind to me about the whole thing."

"I wasn't the only victim of your roommate's behavior," said Whit.

"Yeah." she said with a deep breath, before continuing. "Jim told me about your girl, Whit. I'm so sorry!"

"Thanks Susan. That means a lot coming from a special person like you," he said sincerely.

"I'm not so special."

"Susan, if I were in a different position and sensed that you had been half way interested..."

Susan laughed. "Yeah, right. Are you telling me I'm the one who needs a restraining order now?"

"No. I know when to stop."

"Touché. Sometimes Rachel doesn't get the hint."

"And you should know. Susan..."

"I know, I know. It's nothing that Jim hasn't told me."

"We only say it because we care."

"I know. Sometimes I have no idea why I stay."

"Love can make you crazy."

"Yeah. Hey, I can't tell you much, but I can tell you that name you gave Jim is on the witness list," said Susan.

"We were told that he's still in prison in solitary confinement."

"That's possible. It's a good way of keeping a prospective witness safe."

"But if he were offered a deal to testify..."

"I'm sorry Whit. I'm only helping with the prosecution, not running it. I'm not the one cutting the deals. I'll probably know eventually, but for now all I can tell you is that he's on the list. Why do you want to know so much about him?"

"I believe that he killed Anna."

"That's virtually impossible. He is either in prison or in FBI or Federal Marshall custody."

"So all roads lead back to Rachel," groaned Whit.

"Yeah, and she's not exactly your biggest fan these days. You know, hell hath no fury ... you really embarrassed her."

"Don't you mean she embarrassed herself?"

"That's the way we see it. Not the way she does. Whit, may I offer you some advice?"

"Sure. I'm not getting a great deal that is particularly helpful," he smiled, as he talked into the receiver.

"Bury the hatchet. I can tell Rachel is still hung up on you. If you make nice with her, she may at least confirm where your man is."

"I guess I could do that. I mean as long as she's on her best behavior."

"I'm sure she'll be. I have an idea."

"What?"

"Why don't you come for supper tomorrow? Is six OK?" offered Susan

"That would be nice. I'd really like to see you again. Can I bring a date?" asked Whit.

"You can't tell me that you are already..."

"No, she's just a friend I work with ... her name is Shannon. I think I might need somebody to run interference for me," he laughed.

"What? I'm not enough," she laughed.

"I think we've already established that you're not interested."

"If only I could be," sighed Susan with a laugh.

"Yeah..." started Whit before quickly changing the subject to spare Susan's possible embarrassment. "Anyway, Shannon is pretty and you'll like her, but I have to warn you. I think she's straight."

"Well, a little more eye candy never hurt."

Yeah, that's what his Shannon was "eye candy, though she was a hell of a lot more than that." he thought before saying, "Susan, it will be great to see you again."

"Same here. I'll upload my address and directions to your cell. We'll see you tomorrow." she said as they exchanged goodbyes and disconnected.

Susan Sundeen was grinning. She had no idea why, but she always thought Whit to be a wonderful guy. She didn't seem all that interested in guys sexually, but Whit was handsome and good company. Besides, if he and Rachel became friendly again, maybe she'd be in a better mood. "Our lovemaking is always better when she's happy," she thought. Susan hated the situation she was in. Rachel was seeing a securities broker, though they were not exclusive. Susan loved her roommate, but Rachel just seemed to use her for tenderness and sexual gratification. If Whit entered the picture maybe this would be just the shakeup of Rachel's life she needed. Then maybe Susan would be clear of her male rival. For some reason, she didn't mind the idea of sharing Rachel with Whit. She knew the man cared for her sensed he was attracted to her. "He's sweet and handsome. Who knows? He might be interested in all of them sharing their bed," she thought. He wasn't anything like her pig ex-husband and most of his gender. Susan had decided not to acknowledge the fact that she knew some very nice men who cared about her including Jim and several of her colleagues. "It's more fun just to rail on the male gender," she laughed to herself, while already admitting that she really didn't feel that way.

"Damn, chica!"

"What?" asked Rachel Rivera.

The felon was stunned. Rachel looked a fair amount like Anna Ortiz. She was not quite as pretty, but certainly pretty enough. Her features were quite similar. Her breasts were a lot bigger and she had an ass that would not quit to go along with a little more height. "You just remind me of someone I knew."

"OK, cut the crap! I'm just to let you know if you pull any more shit like you pulled yesterday, I'll personally deliver you back to where we found you!"

"We both know that is not going to happen. You need me..."

"Let's get one thing straight. The DEA and DOJ need you. Personally, I don't care if someone puts a couple of fucking rounds in your head. Hell, I might even do it, if you piss me off!" she threatened.

"Damn this chica is tough. A real bad-ass," he thought. Well, I just need to stall for a couple of days. When the time comes I'll break the bitch by driving my cock into her," he smirked to himself, but his expression showed.

"What are you so happy about?"

"I can't wait until I can be a good citizen and do my civic duty," he smiled more visibly.

Whit lay on his bed, watching Shannon brush her teeth, through the open master bathroom door. By the way she was doing it, she could tell that it was her and not Anna. He and Anna had a very passionate love making session, but something about seeing Shannon doing something as mundane as brushing her teeth was actually turning him on. He was broken out of his thoughts by Shannon's voice as she approached the bed and climbed in. "Do you want to snuggle with me or Anna, Master?"

"Remember, I asked you not to call me 'master'?"

"It is what you are."

"Maybe, but I have decided that you are not my slave."

Shannon looked panicked. "Did I do something wrong ... I promise I can do better!" she cried.

"No Shannon. You're perfect, he smiled as he pulled her into his arms."

"Then how can I not be your slave?"

"Because I choose not to look at you that way."

"But Master..."

"Shhhhhh," said Whit putting his finger to her lips before continuing. "I love you Shannon and I hope that we'll be married..."

"But you'll be marrying Anna..."

"No. I want you to be giving the vows. I want you."

Shannon was confused. She was happy to be Whit's slave, but her mind hearkened back to how she felt after the long talk they had a month into her academy training. He sat there and listened to her fears, her broken ego and lack of self-worth. Whit had built her up. He both had hugged her verbally with his kind words and physically with his strong arms. She had been hot for him before. She realized that she had fallen in love with him that night. Still, there was Anna. "Won't that hurt Anna?"