Parker's eyes met those of the woman sitting in front of her on the coffee table. Unbelievable... Dan had set her up with a complete scatterbrain. Her head throbbed, this was already turning out to be a disaster. Obviously Claudia's priorities were arranged in strange order, judging by the infrequent way she checked her mail. Her apartment looked as though a small tornado had passed through...and as for Claudia herself...well, her train of thought seemed to be the type that derailed often. Parker could sense that the other woman was nervous...about what she couldn't place. She wouldn't have been surprised to learn if it was her very presence that was making Claudia nervous...Parker had that affect on people. She stood up, rising to her full height of 5'10", and paced restlessly. Parker posed an intimidating figure, clad in all black from the trench coat she wore over her black t-shirt and jeans, down to the black leather boots on her feet. She had a predatory stride, like that of a jungle cat hunting its prey. Her body was long and lean from years of kick boxing classes and rigorous training schedules.
"I thought this was Dan's idea of a joke," she stated carefully, "but if the FBI filed this deposition, then it must be serious."
"The FBI?"
"Yes...apparently these guys have been receiving threats. No one can figure out where they're coming from...there have already been four attempts. They were shot at while leaving their hotel, in four different cities."
"And they want us to...what? Be bodyguards or something?," Claudia squeaked.
Parker sighed...there was no way this woman was going in there by herself. There goes my comfortable life, Parker thought. This little woman didn't look like she could hurt a fly...much less handle the gun she was supposedly trained to use. Her bright green eyes were filled with trepidation and skepticism, as well as doubt and a tiny hint of fear. Parker's perceptive gaze focused on the computer terminal again. Computers were all Greek to her, and unfortunately, that type of technology was required for the type of security method she planned to use in this case. Parker preferred the dirty work over the desk work any day.
"We are to provide security for them until the case is resolved," Parker answered stiffly. "Do you know how to use that thing?" She gestured towards the computer.
Claudia frowned...Parker's question had interrupted her thoughts. "Would I have it if I didn't?"
"I guess not," Parker replied coolly. Well, that was one question answered. She lit a cigarette, not bothering to ask if Claudia permitted smoking in her home. Parker never asked permission for anything. She noticed the grimace of distaste that flashed across Claudia's face, but she ignored it. Claudia recovered quickly, then flipped through the pages of the deposition again.
"So these guys are pretty popular I guess," she said quietly.
Parker shrugged, "I suppose...I've never heard of them." She flicked ashes into the palm of her hand.
"Well...somebody obviously thinks that they're important enough to try and murder them."
"Perhaps. Our job isn't to decipher the motive or to solve the crime," Parker answered.
"I get the feeling that you've already got a plan," Claudia said, her tone neutral.
"Some ideas...yes. I'd like to wait and see what their current security situation is, although whatever it is...it obviously isn't good enough. Will you accept the assignment?"
Claudia chewed her lower lip in thought, looking over the deposition yet again. Her unruly curls formed a fiery halo around her head...she looked almost child-like with her feet tucked beneath her. Parker once again asked herself why she was getting into this. Not only was the assignment ridiculous, but so was the mere thought of bringing Claudia along. Christ....she looked like she could be a grade school teacher.
Finally Claudia looked up from the papers in her hand, "Are you accepting it?"
Parker turned away without answering and strolled into the kitchenette. She turned on the cold water and extinguished her cigarette, tossing the butt and the ashes in the palm of her hand into the trash can. When she joined Claudia again, she resumed her seat in the armchair and stared at the other woman with intense scrutiny.
Did she dare take Claudia into the middle of this thing? Would Claudia prove to be an asset or a hindrance? Her knowledge of computer technology far surpassed Parker's...the terminal on the massive desk proved that. Parker's knowledge in that field was basic at best. She needed Claudia's help...Dan knew that, otherwise he wouldn't have placed them together.
"I'm accepting if you are," Parker challenged.
A clock chimed someone in the apartment. Claudia's eyes widened. "Oh! I...I have something I need to do...uh...could we do this later?"
Parker watched her leave her place on the table and scurry around the room in a hurry, gathering her sweater from the chair. Parker's instincts went wild...Claudia was up to something. She didn't question Claudia, it was none of her business. Instead she stood up and retrieved a business card from the inside pocket of her coat.
"My cell phone number is listed there," she said, passing the card to Claudia, "I can be reached at that number at all times, night or day."
"Okay...good...I'll call you," Claudia muttered, keeping her eyes on the clock handing on the wall. Parker passed her and tugged the apartment door open.
"Parker?" She stopped at the sound of Claudia's voice, one foot already out the door. She raised one dark eyebrow in question.
"Why us?," Claudia asked, her green eyes huge.
Parker gave her a sardonic half-smile, then answered, "We're the best."
As Parker left, leaving the door wide open, the room trembled in her wake. Claudia had never felt so disoriented in her life. The impact of the dark woman’s demeanor coupled with the knot of tension residing in Claudia’s stomach set her on edge....not exactly a good place to be. Especially not with the deal going down tonight. Of all days, Parker had to pick this one to walk into her life, bringing with her a shroud of complications.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Claudia pulled the black hooded shirt over her head for the last time that day. Before she could allow herself to become emersed in this new situation, there were important business matters to be taken care of. Slamming the door shut behind her, she exited the apartment, praying the dead bolt would hold out another day. She hated leaving the valuable terminal and all of it’s expensive commodities in the dingy old building with relatively little security. But that was the way it had to be. Besides, if the drop was successful, there would be plenty of cash to finally get her hands on the one piece of equipment that would make her collection complete.....there may even be enough left over to pay off the Mastercard bastards.
Slipping quietly from the rear entrance and into the alley, Claudia headed for the Chrysler, unconsciously patting the disk which resided in her hip pocket, tucked safely against her body. The battle wound ridden vehicle started on the first try, and it’s driver wasted no time pulling out onto the city street.
As she drove, Claudia’s thoughts wandered at a rapid pace, as usual. Her first consideration was the repercussions of the rendezvous that night. Her apartment had remained relatively safe; few knew it housed the best computer hacker in the city, quite possibly one of the best in the country. Having few friends and even fewer material acquaintances, Claudia found comfort in her reclusive habits. They insured her vulnerability was kept at a minimum. Once the drop was made, it would be important to stay out of sight for a few days at least. Meeting buyers face to face was dangerous, near lethal in some cases. But that was a risk she’d had to take: Fox wouldn’t have it any other way.
The buildings along the maze of streets passed in a blur as Claudia maneuvered her way to the pier on autopilot. Shifting a hand carefully beneath her seat, she groped for the piece she knew would be there. True to form, her hand came in contact with the cold metal of the .38 Chief’s Special. Finding solace in the protection it offered, Claudia made the final turn toward Pier 40. She slowed the pace of her car a bit, her eyes scanning the area thoroughly. Pulling to a stop, she parked the clunker in a strategic position, facing the direction she had mapped as an escape route if necessary. Inhaling deeply to brace herself, Claudia inconspicuously slid the gun from under her seat, tucking it in the waistband of her pants at her back. The feel of the frigid metal against her bare skin lent her a certain amount of confidence. Not bothering to raise the hood on her sweatshirt over her head to tame her recalcitrant flaming curls, Claudia stepped from the vehicle, leaving the door slightly ajar, though not noticeably so.
With each step she took bringing her closer to the pier itself, Claudia felt her instincts become increasingly more acute. The familiar tingling sensation ran up and down her spine, with the ever present knot in her stomach tightening. This is was it. Four months of careful planning, precise execution, and clever thinking were coming to a boil. Her footsteps sounded hollow to her own ears as they trod on the wooden planks of the dock. The sun over the Puget Sound was just beginning to sink, casting a curious glow on the surroundings.
Claudia caught sudden movement in her perephial vision, and she turned lithely in that direction. Two man stood near a tall grouping of crates clearly labeled with a local seafood company’s logo. They were both clad in business suits, one man with a long khaki dress coat hanging from his frame, nearly touching the ground. Hesitantly, she advanced toward them, stopping halfway. The man in the coat smirked a bit, then met her the rest of the distance.
“Black Cat, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” he greeted smoothly, his smirk widening as he took in her appearance beginning with the tousle of red locks and ending with the Keds on her feet.
“Fox.” Claudia replied shortly, giving him a curt nod. “I thought we said alone.”
“We did....change of plans. I couldn’t very well carry your retribution here myself, now could I? Since the price did raise considerably since the deal was made.....”
“Only five units. That’s not too much to ask. You’re getting a bargain, Fox, and you know it.” Claudia could feel herself begin to seethe inside. The man was even more arrogant in person. She grit her teeth as he shrugged nonchalantly. “You have it here, then?”
“Of course.” he smiled, gesturing for the second man to come forward. The man extended a leather bag, unzipping it to display several stacks of bills, each held together with a rubber band. Fox leaned nearer, blocking her view of the case.
“Do you have the disk?” he asked, his voice thick with intensity.
“Give me the money first.” she ordered, licking her lips nervously.
“Where’s the disk?” Fox persisted. Barely breathing, Claudia withdrew the valuable 3 1/2 inch wide flat piece of plastic from her pocket and watched as Fox’s eyes lit up with unmistakable greed. He reached for the key to his future.
“The money.” Claudia reminded him. Fox motioned absently to the man at his side, who tossed the bag her way. As it landed in her arms, Fox snatched the disk from her fingers. “Pleasure doing business with you.” she finished the exchange shortly, backing several paces away all the while keeping her eyes on the two figures. Fox continued to fondle the disk with gleaming eyes, not bothering to acknowledge her. Claudia turned to began her retreat.
“Not for you.” came the quietly sinister reply at her back. Claudia halted mid step and pivoted to face Fox questioningly. “Not a pleasure for you. It’s such a shame you’re going to drown,” he continued, “A pretty Black Cat like you....you could have been useful, but your unfriendly last minute demand ruined what would have most assuredly been a beautiful relationship. Tsk tsk.” he admonished, a smug smile slithering across his lips.
Claudia became aware of several pairs of heavy footsteps at her back, and whipped to face them. Two brawny men stepped from the shadows, moving toward her menacingly. “There’s no room for someone like you to slip up, telling the wrong people who you sold the disk to. Granted, it’s not much, but it’s definitely enough to go through the trouble of keeping you quiet.” With that, the man slipped the disk inside his coat, then folded his hands neatly in front of him. “Goodbye, Cat. How disappointing for you, indeed.” *****
It wasn't easy to tail Claudia through the streets of Seattle. Parker was unfamiliar with the city, as well as the little rented Toyota she was driving. She found herself longing for the comfort of her '88 Pontiac Firebird, parked safely in her garage back in Texas. It handled like a dream...it was sleek and fast, perfect for Parker.
As she followed Claudia's beat up Chrysler, she mentally cursed the compact car she was driving. It was a sickening turquoise color...a condition that forced Parker to hang back at a considerable distance. She was relieved when Claudia finally parked her car. Parker looked around, eying her new surroundings with the same precision that she looked at everything. She watched Claudia get out of her car and walk shakily down the wooden planks of the pier. Parker eased out of her rental car and followed at a safe distance...managing to slip into the shadows undetected. Two men appeared silently at Claudia's side.
Parker's instincts told her that there was big trouble brewing here. Those same instincts had urged her to follow Claudia here in the first place. She had been too skittish...too nervous. Parker's schooled intuition told her that Claudia was into something deep. As she listened to her conversation with the men...she knew she had been right. Good Lord...how much money was in that bag? Was Claudia involved in something illegal? Nice Dan, set me up with a criminal. She tuned her ears to their conversation... she watched Claudia produce a disk from the pocket at her hip. That much money in exchange for one computer disk.
Parker exhaled a whisper of breath...wondering what the disk contained. Yes...Claudia would definitely be an asset to her on this case. She looked so innocent...but here was the proof that she wasn't. Parker watched as two more men stepped from the shadows, her eyes darkened until they were nearly black, a sure sign of her anger. Two burly men against this one tiny female who obviously hadn't had the sense enough to not underestimate her contacts. Four if she counted Fox and the man with the money. She intended to even the odds.
Parker slipped easily through the shadows concealing her, moving with them. Darkness was her natural element...she could easily merge with it. She crept up behind the two big men like silent death.
"Goodbye Cat. How disappointing for you, indeed." The words belonged to the man who had taken the disk, Fox. Parker made her move, reaching for the ten inch blade strapped to her thigh. The metallic sound of the blade scraping against it's leather sheath was the only sound heard. It came just as the two men were descending on Claudia's trembling form. They froze immediately and turned slowly, coming face to face with Parker's imposing grin.
"Hello boys," she said, her voice low. The two thugs reached for her instantly, she dodged them effectively, slipping between them with feline grace. Claudia took that opportunity to reach for her gun, only to have it knocked out of her hand by the Fox. It hit the dock with a dull thud, then skidded away into the shadows.
Parker kept her eyes trained on the two men in front of her, lunging to the right as one rushed towards her. She ducked quickly, then swept one of her long legs out, taking him off his feet. The wood creaked in protest as he fell, his head smacking it with a loud crunch. She caught a flash of red as Claudia evaded Fox's grip, slipping behind a stack of crates. Fox gave chase...and with a quick flick of her left wrist, Parker sent four six inch blades through the air. They hit their mark effectively...pinning the man's coat to the crates...buying Claudia some time.
The other idiot barbarian had produced a gun...Parker saw the flash of metal out of the corner of her eye. She reacted quickly, still crouched on the ground. Her arm snaked out, she buried the blade in man's thigh muscle, just above his kneecap, then twisted her body upwards and kicked him square in the jaw. He acted on the instinct to free his hands, dropping the gun and falling back...clutching the his injured leg. She leapt to her feet and swung around...only to find herself staring into the barrel of a gun, and behind it, the leering face of the man she had tripped.
"What now bitch?," he snarled into her face.
She grinned and spit in his face. He flinched briefly and squinted his eyes shut. Parker took that opening by locking her hands around his wrist and pressing her thumbs into the pressure point there, forcing his fingers open. The gun clattered to the ground, but the man's free hand came up and tangled into her hair. He yanked down hard, jerking her head down. She increased the pressure on his wrist and in one swift gesture, she snapped it backwards. Tendons snapped with a long popping sound. Still, ignoring his yelps of pain, she did not release his wrist.
A loud crash sounded, breaking her concentration. She spared a brief glance to her right, seeing Claudia climbing to the top of a stack of crates, kicking them down as she climbed, sending them crashing around two men chasing her up. In that brief instant, the man released her hair and sent his fist into her face. Parker stumbled back, breaking the contact with his wrist, and landed on her backside. The man kicked her in the ribs.
"You bitch!," he screamed, "You broke my hand!"
She licked her split lip...the acidic taste of blood lingered in her mouth. The man she had stabbed had regained his footing, and was stumbling closer to her. With a movement so quick, her hand blurred, she rolled sideways and sprung her body up in front of him, jerking the blade free from his flesh as she went. Without another thought, without conscience...she plunged the blade into his chest, just below his ribcage and into his left lung. She twisted the blade once, then removed it...watching as he slumped to the ground.
The other man was retrieving his fallen gun from the ground. Her quick reflexes saved her life...she reached beneath her armpit and grabbed the gun holstered there. She shoved it in his face before he had a chance to get a good grip on his.
"What now bitch?," she taunted, a menacing smile dancing on her lips.
She didn't give him time to reply, she simply sent one booted foot into his face, breaking his nose with a hideous crack. He slumped back and lifted his hands to his face. Blood filtered through his fingers. Parker sent one more kick into his face, this time knocking him out cold.
With those two out of the way, she turned to where Claudia was scrambling down the other side of the crates. The other two men were in hot pursuit, with Fox climbing up after her, the other waiting behind her on the other side. He caught her from behind and Claudia turned into a wildcat in his arms.
She struggled and kicked and bit every available inch of his skin. Her teeth found the sensitive webbing between his thumb and his index finger. He let out a string of expletives and dropped her. She bit his ankle then scooted away from him as fast as she could. Parker watched as she crawled across the dock, her destination obvious. A stack of loose boards sat just within her reach. With a triumphant shout, her fingers closed over one of them. She swung in a wide arc, catching the man following her in the stomach with the end of the board.
Parker slipped up behind Fox and held the knife to his throat. He stilled immediately in his pursuit of Claudia. Parker plucked the disk from his pocket with her free hand and settled it into one of the many pockets of her trench coat. Claudia was running towards her, clutching the bag of money to her chest, her face pale with fright. The man had recovered from the shot with the board and was chasing her again...this time with a loaded gun. Gunfire exploded around them.
"Shit!," Parker hissed. She released her grip on Fox and shoved him forward, directly into the line of fire. She didn't stop to see the outcome... she took off running. Claudia was already holding the drivers side door of her Chrysler open when Parker reached her. She slid across the seat to the passenger side, Claudia was right on her heals. As Claudia started the old heap, Parker glanced back at the pier. Fox was dead. But the other three men were running towards an unmarked car parked a few feet away from her rental.
"Step on it Claudia," Parker mumbled.
Claudia wasted no time...she floored it. Parker held on for dear life as Claudia maneuvered the car through the streets of Seattle, weaving and turning sharply, the tires squealing against the asphalt. She glanced behind her...they were following closely.
"Damn! I thought I killed that guy!," Parker exclaimed. Claudia's eyes were focused on the road in front of her. Parker stared down at her hands...stained red by blood that was not hers.
"What the hell is on that disk anyway?" Parker demanded.
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