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Featured Free Story of the Week: Flash 06: The Temporary Wife, Pt. 03
Flash 06: The Temporary Wife, Part 03
By Saddletramp1956
Copyright ©2026 Saddletramp1956
That evening, after dinner, we heard the doorbell, and I knew it was Smith and Jones. I took a deep breath and opened the door to invite our guests inside.
“Is that Smith and Jones?” Denise asked.
“Probably,” I told her.
“Then I’ll excuse myself and go up to my room,” she said quietly before leaving.
The two tall men wore the same type of dark suits and sunglasses they had apparently worn since that first day I met them, after being struck by what they called a “modulator” beam that had completely altered my DNA.
“Uncle Smith! Uncle Jones!” the children excitedly screamed when they walked in. The kids ran to them, threw their arms around their legs, and hugged them tightly.
“Jeff! Jennifer! It is… pleasing to see you again,” Smith said hesitantly before picking Jennifer up in his arms. They were slowly becoming used to the outpouring of affection from the children, although I could tell it unnerved them somewhat. I gathered that their society and family structures were a bit different from those on Earth.
“You are looking… good,” Smith said as he flashed a well-practiced smile. “Is that the correct response?” he asked me.
I chuckled before answering. “Yes, that’s perfect,” I told him. “Let Mr. Smith set you down so he can check you out,” I told Jennifer.
“Okay,” she replied sweetly.
I motioned for us to go into my office and watched as Smith and Jones ran their devices over the children. They transferred the data to their tablet, and then “examined” Ginger and me the same way. They huddled over the collected data for a few moments before speaking.
“We are very pleased with your progress, Cameron,” Smith finally reported. “And we are impressed with the way you have integrated your changes into your routines. You appear to have acclimated yourselves quite satisfactorily. Have you followed the training regime we established for the children?”
“Yes, we have,” Ginger told them. “And they appear to enjoy the challenges you have provided them. In fact, they are quite excited to learn as much as they can.”
“Excellent,” Jones exclaimed. “We provided a basic tutorial that covers quantum mechanics and elementary physics that we believe would stimulate their minds even more,” he added, giving Ginger a thumb drive.
“All of that is on this?” she asked.
“Yes,” Smith replied. “Once they complete this introductory course, they will have received the equivalent of a doctorate in quantum mechanics. Then we can begin teaching them the basics of interstellar travel.”
“Wow,” I said. “That is impressive.”
“For humans, yes. H’tq’uiy children their age would have already completed this course,” Smith said. “That is not intended to be derogatory, Ginger,” he quickly added, seeing her stricken expression. “It is simply a statement of fact. Your civilization has yet to reach that level of scientific advancement.”
We spent the next hour going through their mental exercises, which were designed to help us focus and better integrate our abilities into our daily lives. When we finished, Smith looked at me closely.
“You have a question that weighs heavily on your mind, Cameron,” he said.
“Yes, I do,” I told him.
“It is about your guest, is it not?” Smith asked.
“It is,” I said before explaining as much as I could about Denise’s condition.
They looked at each other and muttered in their language quietly for several moments before turning back to me.
“What happened to you was an accident, Cameron,” Smith said. “It’s one thing to alter a complete working genome. It’s another thing to attempt a repair of what nature messed up.”
“Surely with all of your advanced technology, you can do something,” I replied. “Hell, if you can teach kids interstellar travel before they’re legally old enough to operate a motor vehicle…”
“We understand, Cameron,” Jones interjected. “But you must understand. It’s true that the H’tq’uiy are advanced technologically. It’s just that…”
“What?” I asked firmly.
“Historically, our kind did not repair genetic anomalies. We usually… recycled… them,” Jones said reluctantly.
I looked at Ginger and saw that she was as shocked as I was. I had a mental image of bodies wrapped in gauze and set adrift in a vat of goo to be turned into… something else. “Recycled?” I asked Jones in a perfectly dead tone.
“Yes,” Smith said. “It was the cost we paid for our technological and physiological advances. We focused on scientific advancement, but at the cost of what your species would call our humanity.”
“I take it you didn’t approve?” I suggested.
“Some of us did not,” Jones agreed, glancing at Smith. “And we paid the price, personally. Ultimately, our entire society paid a very heavy price.”
“So, here’s a challenge for you, then,” I replied, setting aside my thoughts about our benefactors’ society.
“It is not that simple, Cameron,” Smith argued. “One simply does not just replace a chromosome like it were a spare part. And it would have to be replaced in every single DNA strand in her body; roughly 30 trillion cells.”
“Possibly not,” Jones interrupted. “Humans are less optimized than our own species. And they cannot yet clone replacement organs. However, they can receive blood and organs from other humans of the same tissue type.”
“But they still need lifelong pharmaceutical intervention, at least for organs.”
“If the chromosomes were just replaced in the reproductive system, the chromosome difference would be minimal.” That statement was hesitantly thoughtful.
“I understand our request isn’t a simple thing. But you can try. Right?” I urged. I could feel Ginger’s encouraging presence in my mind.
“You don’t understand,” Ginger interjected. “It’s not just the physical act or the inability to conceive a child. There’s more to it. Right now, she doesn’t feel like a complete woman, and that’s very difficult for her to deal with.”
Smith and Jones looked at each other momentarily, and I could tell by their flashing yellow eyes that they were hotly debating the issue. Finally, they stopped, and Smith turned to me.
“Bring her down, Cameron. We will need to take samples of her blood,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said as Ginger went upstairs to get Denise.
“Do not thank us just yet, Cameron. We may not be able to help her,” Smith said cautiously.
“At least you’re trying,” I replied. “That’s something.”
Just then, Ginger escorted Denise into the office. She looked at the two strange men, then at me. I could tell she was scared.
“Please rest easy, Mrs. Walker,” Smith said. “Cameron and Ginger have told us of your condition, and we would like to see if perhaps we can help.”
“Are you doctors?” Denise asked hesitantly, obviously concerned that they didn’t look like doctors.
“We are scientists,” Jones told her.
“What have your doctors done so far?” Smith asked.
“They’ve had me on all kinds of hormones and medicines,” Denise said sadly.
“And have they helped?” Smith asked.
Denise shrugged her shoulders before replying. “Sometimes. But not so much anymore.”
“Let us examine you,” Jones said.
Denise backed away slightly when Jones approached with a scanner. “Will it hurt?”
“Of course not,” Smith said. “You won’t feel a thing. Just relax and breathe normally.”
Denise did as she was asked while Jones ran his scanner over her body. Afterward, he attached the scanner to a tablet, and the two men murmured in their native language as they read the tablet.
“What is it?” a trembling Denise asked.
“We found several anomalies in your anatomy,” Smith said. “They do not appear to be detrimental to your health at this point, but they could be of concern later. Has anyone mentioned this to you before?”
“Once or twice. The doctors said that was due to the Turners, and there’s nothing they can do.”
“Hmm,” Jones muttered as he continued looking at the tablet. “And you are unable to conceive, correct?”
“That’s correct,” Denise said, embarrassed.
“I take it normal sexual relations are also quite difficult,” Smith observed.
“Yes, they are. Sometimes impossible,” she replied with a blush.
“I see,” Smith uttered.
The two men conferred for a few moments before turning to Denise. “We will need a sample of your blood. Is that okay?” Jones asked.
“Uh, yeah. I guess,” Denise said, glancing quickly to Ginger, who nodded reassuringly.
“Do not fear. We have a device for that. You won’t feel a thing,” Smith said, pulling something from his bag.
“Okay,” Denise said quietly.
Smith put the device on her arm and pressed a button. A few seconds later, he pulled a small bag with blood and placed it inside his case.
“Wow. I didn’t feel anything,” Denise said when Smith removed the device.
“When will you know something?” I asked.
“Soon. We must analyze all of our data,” Smith said. “We will be in touch.”
“Do you think you can fix this?” Denise asked quietly, as if she didn’t dare sound hopeful.
“I do not know. We will do our best,” Smith told her. That tone caught Ginger’s and my attention; it sounded like the beginnings of genuine emotional engagement.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to pay for all of this…”
“Pay?” Jones asked, plainly puzzled.
“Their society requires payment, a rendering of something considered valuable in exchange for medical and scientific services,” Smith informed him. “Payment is not necessary,” he told a relieved Denise.
“Thank you. And thank you for trying,” she told him.
“You are, uhm, welcome,” Smith said as he struggled to remember the correct response.
I walked Smith and Jones to the door, thanked them, and watched as they quickly disappeared from sight, hoping no one in the neighborhood saw them. Ginger and Denise were still in the office when I returned.
“Do you think they can really help me?” Denise asked, hopefully, but like she didn’t really dare to hope.
“They’ll do their best,” I assured her.
“What now?” Ginger asked mentally.
“I think I’ll check in on Colin and Daisy and see what they’ve got up their sleeve. Maybe mess with their minds a little bit.”
“You’re such a brat,” Ginger teased with a knowing smile, as Denise, unable to hear our mental exchange, stood with a deep sigh. “We’ll get out of your hair. Try not to be too long, okay?”
“Got it,” I said before kissing her. After they left the office, I closed the door and connected with Colin’s mind.
…
“Oh, jeez, babe, you feel so damn good,” Colin moaned as he finished pumping his semen into Daisy.
“Better than Miss Priss, huh?” Daisy purred.
“A thousand times better,” Colin groaned as he rolled over. “She’s usually so dry and tight that I can’t even get inside her. Sometimes I wonder if she’s a real woman.”
Daisy chuckled as she stroked his chest. “You don’t ever have to wonder about that with me.”
“No, I don’t,” Colin agreed with a lusty chuckle.
“Yeah,” I muttered in his mind. “A real woman ready, willing, and able to have you murdered in cold blood. That’s as real as it gets.”
“What’s the matter?” Daisy asked when she saw Colin’s eyes suddenly go wide. “Are you okay?”
“Uh, yeah,” Colin mumbled uncertainly as he shook his head. “Just a headache. Or something.”
“Let me get you something to help you relax,” Daisy said before climbing out of the bed.
“Heh, heh. Relax to death,” I whispered in his mind. “You do know that when it comes to homicide, men are usually violent, while women are far more prone to use poison? You’d better make sure she’s not slipping you a mickey.”
“Uh, I think I’ll be okay,” a suddenly trembling Colin said as Daisy reached the bathroom.
“You don’t look okay,” Daisy said, sounding concerned. “I’ll get you a headache pill and some water. You’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Get some rest. You’ll feel better tomorrow. I promise.”
“That assumes you wake up tomorrow,” I hissed in Colin’s mind. Sensing the growing turmoil in his mind, I disconnected. Realizing, with disgust, that Colin and Daisy were in the bed he had shared with Denise, I fired up my computer and checked my cloud storage.
Sure enough, there were several video files from earlier in the day. Most of the video showed Colin, Daisy, and the boys going from room to room, either doing mundane daily tasks, playing, or sitting on the couch with their faces buried in their devices.
There was one piece of video, however, that captured Daisy talking quietly to someone on her smartphone. I turned the volume all the way up, but could only make out a few snippets. What I did hear, however, chilled me to the bone.
“Has to look like an accident,” I heard. I could also hear, “North side,” “as soon as possible,” and “no witnesses.”
“Sonofabitch,” I gasped as I realized that I had captured Daisy putting out a hit – not just on Denise, but on all of us as well. Digging deeper into the recordings, I saw another piece featuring Colin and Daisy that confirmed my earlier realization.
“It’s done,” Daisy told Colin as they sat at the kitchen table.
Colin nodded as the realization sank in. “How much?” he asked.
“Fifteen grand. Cash. Half up front, the rest when the job is done,” Daisy said.
“FIFTEEN GRAND? Are you freaking serious?” a shocked Colin gasped.
“Yes. You still have a lot of that money you got from what’s-her-name, right?”
“Carol. Yes. But fifteen grand isn’t exactly chicken feed. And I’ll get flagged by the bank if I pull that much cash out at once. What’s the plan?” Colin asked.
“You don’t need to know that,” Daisy replied calmly. She slid a small piece of paper toward him. “Here are your instructions. I’ve written them down in detail for you. Follow them. To. The. Letter. No deviations. Understand?”
“Yeah. I got it,” Colin said, frowning as he opened the paper and read.
“See to it first thing in the morning. He’ll be watching to make sure you follow directions,” Daisy said. “Now, take me upstairs and fuck me. In the bed you shared with Little Miss Priss.”
“And the boys?” Colin asked. “What if they hear or see us?”
“Look at them,” Daisy snorted, nodding toward the couch. “They’re so engrossed in their gadgets we could do it in front of them, and they’d never know.”
Colin looked at the boys, who, as Daisy said, were completely engrossed in their own online worlds.
“Okay,” Colin said, smiling slowly.
“Boys, we’re going upstairs. Don’t disturb us,” Daisy instructed as she walked to the stairs.
“Yeah, whatever,” Mike mumbled, not taking his eyes off his phone.
“See?” Daisy asked Colin.
I stopped the video, pulled out the card Harrison had given me earlier, and called him. He answered on the second ring.
“Detective, this is Cameron Drake. Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I just reviewed video surveillance from the Walker residence. I think you need to see this. Can you come to my place?”
“Of course, Mr. Drake. I can be there in about 45 minutes,” he said.
“Thank you,” I replied before ending the call. Then I connected with Daisy’s mind and looked through her memories of that day from her perspective. I saw her dial the number, then write down the directions, and heard both sides of the conversation she had with the assassin, someone she called Mr. Doe. How original is that?
She had made it clear that all of us were to be eliminated, and it was to look like an accident. Worse yet, she had given the man our address. Digging through her thoughts, I realized that she had also hinted that he take out Colin and the boys once he had been paid in full for Denise and changed his will to make her the beneficiary of his estate. What a cold-hearted bitch, I thought.
But I needed information on this Doe character. I disconnected from Daisy’s mind and heard the doorbell. A few moments later, I heard Ginger calling for me. Had it already been 45 minutes? Damn. I wrote the number Daisy had dialed on a slip of paper, put it in my pocket, and went to the front room to meet Harrison.
“Thank you for coming out, Detective,” I said as we shook hands.
“Of course,” he said. “Thank you for calling. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I led him to my office and showed him the video. He listened intently and asked me to replay it, which I did.
“We’ll have to enhance and analyze that video, but I think you’ve got enough here to show probable cause, Mr. Drake.”
“Please, call me Cameron,” I told him. I pulled out the slip of paper in my pocket and handed it to him. “I believe this is the number she called. Probably a burner phone. Have you ever heard of anyone named Doe?”
Harrison looked at me in shock as he digested what I said. “You managed to get the number and the name of the person she called from… that?” he asked, motioning to the video.
“I put headphones on and turned it up real loud,” I said. “But, yeah.”
“Apparently, what I’ve heard about you is true,” Harrison said, looking at the paper I gave him. “And you’re right. I believe this is most likely a burner phone, but that doesn’t mean that cell tower records can’t give us a general idea of location. As for the name, I’ve never heard of a hit man going by Doe. I don’t suppose you know where Walker banks…”
“As a matter of fact, I do,” I told him. “He normally uses that bank branch down on 5th and Elm Street. The one with the big tree on their sign. Doe wants fifteen grand. Half of it tomorrow. Daisy gave him instructions.”
“And if we tail him…”
“You might be able to catch him making the exchange with Doe,” I said, finishing his sentence. “Or whoever might be working with him.”
“Yeah,” Harrison sighed. “We’ll take care of that. You probably should stay here and look after your family. Are you armed?” he asked me.
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “But that’s never been an issue before.”
Harrison studied me silently for a few moments – long enough for me to quickly scan his mind. I saw that he had read the memoir published by Thomas Hammer, the private investigator who was sent to tail me while Ginger was in the hospital, and that explained a lot. The last time I saw Hammer was before the children were born. He was in a long-term care facility by then, thanks in large part to me.
“No, I suppose it hasn’t,” Harrison replied quietly. “Nevertheless, I’ll talk to dispatch and make sure they increase their patrols in this area.”
“I’d appreciate that,” I said.
“Why don’t you give me a copy of all the video you’ve gotten so far? We’ll take it from there.”
“Sure,” I replied, handing him a USB drive. “I figured you’d want a copy.”
Harrison smiled as he took the drive and placed it in his pocket. “Let me know if you get any more info, okay?”
“Will do,” I told him.
Ginger and I went to bed after Harrison left. She lay satisfied in my arms after we coupled. This wasn’t a wild and crazy one; it was a reassuring, us against the world, joining with us resting, safe and secure, in each other’s minds as well as bodies.
“What’s on your mind, Cam?” she asked, as though she couldn’t tell from my thoughts.
“That was a pretty passionate defense you gave of Denise today. What brought that on?” I asked.
Ginger sighed before answering. I could feel the sadness in her mind. “I spent a few moments in Denise’s mind earlier. Cam, you have no idea what that poor woman has been through all her life. Before Colin came along, she never had a serious relationship with anyone.” She turned over and looked at me while resting on one elbow.
“Honestly, Cam. I don’t know how she’s done it without killing herself. It’s bad enough not being able to have kids or even have a real relationship with a man. The desire is there, in her mind. Is it ever! But it’s like her body has been robbed of everything it means to be a woman. I only experienced it for a few seconds when I was in her mind, and that was all I could take. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s been like for her to live that reality.”
“We’ll push Smith and Jones to do everything they can for her,” I promised. I looked her in the eyes, and I could see the empathy she had for Denise. I kissed her and held her closely. “We’ve got another problem, and I’ve been keeping that to myself,” I said quietly.
“I know,” Ginger replied just as quietly. “But I deserve to know. I’m your partner as well as your wife.”
“You’re right,” I told her. “But we need to protect the kids.” I informed her of Daisy’s plot to kill us along with Denise. “Are you okay?” I asked when I finished.
“I’m scared,” she admitted. “We’re powerful; but we’re not invulnerable or immortal. And we can’t hover over the kids every second, at least for a long period of time, without driving them and us crazy.”
“I know. Me too. Hopefully, Harrison and his officers will be able to nab Colin and the person Daisy hired.”
“What are we going to do?” Ginger asked.
“I’ll monitor Colin and Daisy. You keep a close eye on the kids. Bill will be here, so he can help watch the perimeter. Harrison said he would increase the patrols in our area. Let’s hope they can wrap this up tomorrow.”
“Hold me,” Ginger begged as she burrowed herself closer to me. I wrapped an arm around her and held her close, body and soul, as we fell asleep.
…
After breakfast the following day, Ginger took the kids upstairs, and I updated Denise and Bill on the situation. They were both shocked that Daisy wanted all of us killed.
“What do you want me to do?” Denise asked, visibly shaken.
“I’d like you to stay upstairs with Ginger and the children,” I told her before turning to Bill. “I want you to keep a close eye on the security system, especially around the perimeter. I’m going to monitor Colin and Daisy. Any questions?”
“No, none,” Bill replied crisply. Denise echoed Bill’s sentiments.
“Alright, let’s go,” I said. Denise shot upstairs, and Bill went into his office, booted up his computer, and connected to the security system. I went into my office, where I concentrated on connecting to Colin’s mind.
As planned, he was at the bank and had been in line since the branch opened. I sensed his trepidation and noticed his hands were shaking. The teller noticed as well.
“Are you okay, sir?” the attractive blonde teller asked.
“Uh, yeah,” Colin replied nervously. “I need to make a withdrawal, please.”
“Of course,” the teller said. “Do you have your ATM card?”
“Yes, I do,” Colin replied, pulling the card from his wallet.
“Good. Just slide the card into the machine there and enter the amount you would like to withdraw,” she said with a smile.
She remained calm and smiled as Colin followed her instructions, but I noticed a distinct change in her expression when she saw the amount he requested.
“How would you like that withdrawal, sir?” she asked. “Would you like those to be all one hundred dollar bills?”
“Uh, yeah, that would be fine, please,” Colin stammered.
“One moment, please,” she told him before conferring with another woman, who I assumed was the branch manager. I saw the manager tell her to file a report after the transaction was complete. From there, the teller went into the vault and returned with a stack of bills, which she counted in front of Colin before placing them into an envelope.
“We normally require a 24- to 48-hour notice on withdrawals of this size to make sure we have the cash on hand, but we’re waiving that requirement for you today, sir. In the future, though, please give us advance notice if you require another withdrawal like this,” she said, professionally, but with an edge to her tone.
“Uhm, yeah, sure. Thanks. I didn’t know that, but I’ll keep it in mind,” Colin said nervously.
“Will that be all, sir?” she asked sweetly.
“Yeah, that’s it,” Colin told her. “Thanks again,” he said as he pocketed the envelope. I saw the teller close her window as she blandly watched Colin leave. She immediately turned to her computer, and I knew she would be filing a suspicious activity report.
From there, Colin drove to a bus station on Main Street. He went inside and headed for the men’s room. Once inside, he looked around to make sure he was alone, then popped the trash can lid and placed the envelope between the liner and the can’s metal wall. After replacing the lid, he washed his hands and walked back into the main part of the bus station.
After buying an overpriced cup of coffee, Colin sat down on a bench across the terminal from the restroom. I counted five young men entering the room, wondering which one of them was “Doe.” A few moments later, Harrison sat down on the bench with a newspaper and a cup of coffee.
“Coffee tastes like shit,” he grumbled.
“Yeah,” Colin agreed absently.
Harrison’s phone buzzed, indicating he had a message. He read it quickly, then looked at Colin for a few moments before responding. “You waiting for someone? You’ve been here a while.”
“Uh, no. Just taking a break,” Colin shot back defensively. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“Yeah. You,” Harrison said as he stood up.
Just then, two men exited the men’s room with another man between them. Shocked, Colin looked at Harrison, who opened his jacket enough so Colin could see his badge and gun.
“Colin Walker?” Harrison asked.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Colin stammered, eyes huge and face draining with the realization that he had been caught.
“Detective Harrison Baker. Stand up and turn around, hands behind your back. You’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder for hire.”
“Son of a bitch,” Colin sighed through gritted teeth as he realized their plan to take Denise out was finished. In short, he was royally screwed.
“Do you understand your rights as I’ve explained them?” Harrison asked after he had read Colin his Miranda rights.
“Yeah, I understand,” Colin groused.
“Don’t worry. Officers are picking up your ex-wife right about now,” Harrison said, hand firmly gripping Colin’s elbow as he escorted him to the patrol car.
I quickly disconnected from Colin’s mind and reconnected to Daisy’s. As Harrison declared, four uniformed police officers were at Colin’s house. Two female officers were cuffing an irate, cursing Daisy while the two male officers stood by, alert. The boys weren’t very happy.
“Where are you taking my Mom?” Mike demanded.
“Your mother is coming with us,” a female police officer explained calmly.
“NO! You can’t take her! I won’t let you!” Mike declared, raising his fist. “Turn her loose, or I’ll…” The officer calmly turned Daisy over to her partner, then turned to the boys.
“Young man, don’t even think of it. Social services will be here in a few minutes and they can sort this out. If you continue to interfere in the performance of official duties and threaten law enforcement personnel, I’ll have no choice but to have you arrested as well,” she said calmly but firmly. “I don’t want to, but I will if you force me.”
“Then arrest me! I dare you! I double-dog dare you!” Mike screamed. “I’ll tell them you beat me with your stick and threatened to shoot me!”
The officer sighed heavily and turned to the two male officers. After a brief confab, the male officers subdued the shouting, struggling boys and placed them in their cruiser to be turned over to the social workers.
From the back seat of a police cruiser, Daisy watched her sons being placed into another police cruiser as a tear escaped her eye. For the first time, she realized that her actions would affect her children, perhaps for the rest of their lives. She turned to the female officers who arrested her.
“What will happen to my children?” she asked, strained.
“That depends,” one of the officers replied, with professional detachment. “If there’s no immediate family in the area, they’ll be placed in protective custody while CPS arranges for emergency placement.”
“They’ll be in jail?” Daisy asked in a hollow voice.
“No. It’s a shelter, not a jail. They’ll be with other children. Don’t worry. They’ll be well-cared for.”
“What have I done?” Daisy thought as tears fell down her face. She hadn’t cried in years, and it compounded her misery.
I disconnected from Daisy’s mind right as my phone buzzed. I looked and saw that it was Hamilton, so I answered the call.
“Drake,” I said.
“We got the Walkers,” Hamilton said. “And one other person.”
“Doe?” I asked, anxiously.
“No,” Hamilton replied with a heavy sigh. “Someone Doe hired to pick up the cash.”
“So he’s still out there,” I said, suddenly feeling like “Captain Obvious.”
“Yeah,” Hamilton said, confirming what we both already knew.
“And we have no idea what this Doe character even looks like,” I added.
“That’s about it,” Hamilton admitted. “Ordinarily, I’d say you’re safe since he didn’t get his down payment. But until we have him in custody, I think you should keep your head on a swivel, Cameron,” he added.
“I will,” I told him before we ended the call. Shit, I thought.
“Language, Dad,” Ginger whispered in my mind. “There are children listening.”
“Yeah, well, we have a problem,” I informed her.
“I know. We’ll watch the kids. You and Bill do what you need to do.”
“Thanks. I love you guys.”
“We love you too, Dad,” Jenn whispered in my mind, raising my spirits.
I went to Bill’s office and found him poring through Daisy’s brain feed, looking for anything we could use as a clue. He looked up as I entered.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“It may be a long shot, but I get the impression Daisy has spoken with this Doe character before. Can you search her feed to see if you can find anyone with that name, or anyone with a name similar to that?” I asked.
“Sure. How far back should I go?”
“I’d say start from the beginning. I know that’s a lot to dig through. I’ll work on it as well. Between the two of us, we should be able to find something.”
“Got it,” Bill said before starting a new search.
I went to my office and began searching. An frustrating hour and a half later, I had hit a brick wall, as nothing matched “Doe” in her feed. I went to Bill’s office and found him holding his head in his hands.
“No luck, huh?” I asked.
He shook his head before responding. “No, none.” A few moments later, his face lit up. “What if the guy’s name isn’t Doe, but maybe starts with something that sounds like Doe. You know, like a nickname or something?”
“You may be onto something,” I told him. “Work up a query and send it to me, okay?”
“Got it, boss,” Bill said, turning back to his computer with renewed determination. He cobbled a query and sent it to me about half an hour later. We both started the search, then took a break for lunch. It was still cranking away when we returned an hour later. I watched it work for a few moments, then saw a notification pop up on my screen.
I opened the notification and saw it was a message from Smith. He rarely communicates through the Internet, so I figured it was important. “We need Denise,” it said. “Coming… now.”
There was a brief flash of light, and Smith was standing in my office in his usual dark blazer and sunglasses.
“Have you come up with a cure? So soon?” I asked.
“A cure? Not yet. Perhaps in ten or fifteen years. But we have developed a workaround we believe will help her live a more normal life. Is she available?”
“Yeah. She’s with Ginger. I’ll go get her.”
“No need,” Ginger said in my mind. “I’ll bring her down.”
“Never mind,” I told Smith. “Ginger is bringing her down.” Just then, Ginger and Denise walked into my office.
“What’s going on?” Denise asked, puzzled.
“We want you to come with us for a few hours,” Smith said. “We believe we have found a way to help you.”
“You have a cure?” Denise asked hopefully.
“Not a complete cure, but something to help you live a more… normal… life,” Smith told her.
“Okay. I’ll do it,” Denise declared. “Do I need to bring anything with me?”
“No, we have everything you will need. Are you ready?”
“Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do it.”
“We should be back by this time tomorrow,” Smith told me. Before I could say anything, he took Denise’s hand, pressed a button on his wristband, and the two of them disappeared instantly. We stared at the vacant spot, startled by the abruptness of the departure.
“Oh, shit,” Ginger said.
“Language, Mom,” I heard myself say, automatically. Then I shook my head. “You and the kids didn’t explain about Smith and Jones while I was gone, did you?”
“No. I was just a sympathetic ear.”
I winced, thinking about what Denise might be experiencing right now. I hoped it worked out well. I looked at Ginger and shrugged helplessly. “Nothing we can do about it now.”
“I suppose not. That was fast.”
“Yeah, it was,” I replied. Just then, we heard my computer ding. I looked and saw the search had found something. Just as I was about to look, Bill rushed into my office.
“Got a hit,” he said excitedly. “An old boyfriend named Jack Dolansky. She called him Doe for short. And there’s something else. She had an affair with him shortly after she married Colin. And you’re going to love this. He’s Mike’s biological father. I printed out an image from her memories.”
“Good work,” I said, looking at the photo Bill had printed out.
“I’m getting everything I can on this guy, and I’m digging deeper into her feed. I’d better get back to it.”
“That explains a lot,” I said. “Check this out. He does bear an uncanny resemblance to Mike, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, he does,” Ginger said. “I wonder if Colin knows he’s been raising another man’s child all these years?”
I suddenly had a wicked thought. I grabbed Ginger’s shoulders and planted a juicy kiss on her lips. “You’re a genius, you know that?” I asked with a huge grin.
“Of course,” Ginger replied sarcastically. “You’re just now figuring that out? Wait. What do you mean?”
“I’ll bet anything Colin has no clue that Mike’s not his son. I can use that to turn him against her.”
“Oh, that is wicked,” Ginger said with glee. “Serves them both right, though. Go for it.”
I connected to Colin’s mind. At that moment, he was sitting alone in an interrogation room. From his recent memories, I knew that he had been there for quite a while and was getting frustrated.
“Hey, Colin,” I whispered in his mind. “Did you know you’ve been raising another man’s child all these years?”
“Huh?” Colin asked, looking around the room to see who was whispering in his ear.
“Yeah. Do you know a Jack Dolansky? Daisy sure knows him. Very well, as a matter of fact. That’s the same Mr. Doe who was supposed to get the money to kill Denise. Guess what? He’s Mike’s real father. Daisy got pregnant with his child after you two were married. Then he left. Take a look,” I whispered as I implanted the photo of Dolansky in his mind. “Recognize him?”
He was frightened and bewildered. “Wait. Wh… what’s going on here? Is this a trick?”
“No trick, Colin. This is real life. He made you a cuckold in every way. Even got you to raise his child. I’ll bet Rick isn’t your child, either,” I whispered. “Do you know what that means?”
“What?” Colin asked quietly, suddenly very still as his brain caught up.
“That means Daisy has been using you all these years. Leading you around by the dick. She not only made you a cuckold, but she’s also been using you and plotting to kill you. I’ll bet she’s even working a deal with the cops right now to frame you for murder. You know what that means, don’t you? You get the needle while she vacations in the tropics with her boyfriends.”
Of course, I knew Colin wouldn’t get the death penalty for a conspiracy charge, not even a conspiracy to murder his wife and my family, but my goal was to strike the fear of God into Colin, not present facts.
“No,” Colin gasped, glancing around wildly. “She wouldn’t do that.”
“She’s been doing it, you knucklehead,” I whispered, severely. “For years. If you want to get out of this alive, you’d better come clean with the cops.”
Just then, the door opened, and Hamilton walked into the room with a large cup of coffee. He sat at the table across from Colin and opened his folder before looking at him.
“You okay, Walker?” he asked. “You don’t look too well.”
“I’m, uh, fine,” Colin stammered, anything but.
“You say so. Let’s get started, shall we?” Hamilton asked before going through the legal introduction to the interrogation for the audio and video recording.
“Tell him,” I goaded.
“Would you like to have an attorney present before we begin?” Harrison asked.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Colin replied. “There’s no law against withdrawing cash. I don’t need an attorney.”
“Very well. Let the record show that Mr. Walker does not want an attorney present.” Harrison began his interrogation, telling Colin that they had solid evidence of his attempt to kill Denise by sabotaging her brakes, and video evidence of him conspiring with Daisy to finish the job. I continued goading Colin.
“Tell him it was Dolansky.”
Colin’s mind was a jumble as Harrison kept pressing.
“Tell. Him.”
“What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Walker?” Harrison asked as he placed photos of the damaged brake line on the table.
“TELL! HIM!”
“Dolansky!” Colin blurted. “Jack Dolansky!”
“What?” Harrison pressed, surprised. “Are you saying this Dolansky person damaged your wife’s brake line?”
“No, that was someone else Daisy had me pay. Dolansky is the person she hired to kill Denise.”
“Really?” Harrison asked, shocked. “And how do you know this?”
“It… It just came to me,” a flustered Colin offered.
Harrison studied Colin’s face as he absorbed the information. Something about the man was off. Moreover, he didn’t look very stable. He wanted a conviction, but he wanted it done right. Having an unhinged suspect wouldn’t impress any DA or go over well with any judge. Collecting the files and photos, Harrison replaced them in the folder.
“Mr. Walker, I don’t think you fully appreciate the gravity of your situation. I’m going to pause this interview and arrange for a public defense attorney to represent you. Unless, of course, you have an attorney you would rather use.”
“No, I don’t have an attorney,” Colin nervously said. At that moment, he felt as if his head was about to fly apart with all of the conflicting emotions. And that voice. He fought to not turn around, fearful of actually not seeing anybody there.
“Okay,” Harrison said as he stood. “Don’t go anywhere,” he added with a smirk. Stepping out of the room, he spoke to the sergeant at the main desk. “We need to get an attorney for Walker. And a shrink. I don’t think this man’s bread is quite done, if you know what I mean.”
The sergeant snorted as he nodded his head. “No problem, Detective. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks,” Harrison said before heading to another interrogation room, where Daisy sat waiting. I disconnected from Colin and reconnected with Daisy’s mind.
“Your ass is cooked,” I whispered in her mind. “Colin is ratting you out. He knows about Dolansky. And he knows that Dolansky is Mike’s real father. He wants revenge.”
Daisy’s eyes grew wide. She had been careful to keep that from Colin all these years. She had dismissed him all these years, partly for being totally oblivious to Mike’s lack of resemblance. She looked around cautiously to see who was whispering in her mind, but saw nothing. Just then, the door opened, and Harrison walked inside with a folder and a cup of coffee.
He sat down across the table from Daisy and repeated the introduction he used with Colin.
“I know you’ve been Mirandized, Mrs. Walker. Would you like to have an attorney present before we begin?”
“Tell me the truth, Detective. What’s my situation?” Daisy asked coldly in response.
Harrison considered her momentarily before answering. It was clear to him – and me – that she was the brains of this operation, and she wasn’t weak-minded like Colin.
“Well, we have you dead to rights on multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. And we have solid evidence of conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Knowing the DA as I do, I’d say he’s looking to put you and your ex-husband away for life.”
Daisy nodded as she thought. “I want to make a deal,” she calmly announced.
“I’ll mention that to the DA. What can you tell me about Jack Dolansky?” Harrison asked. “He is your Mr. Doe, isn’t he?”
Daisy sighed heavily, knowing, immediately, that for her, the game was over. “Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “We’ve known each other for years.”
“Oh? How do you know each other? Are you co-workers? Classmates? Lovers?”
“Lovers,” Daisy said. “Have been for years, off and on. And, I suppose you could say, co-workers. He’s, uh, connected, if you know what I mean.”
“I think so. Murder for hire? Is that his game?”
“Among other things,” Daisy said. “Right now, he’s in between jobs.”
“I see,” Harrison murmured. “So, he needs this money. Is that right?”
“He’s got bills to pay.”
“And this arrest…”
“Puts him in a bad position,” Daisy said.
“Which means he’ll be looking to get his payday one way or another. Is that what you’re telling me?”
“You didn’t hear anything from me, Detective. But, yeah. He’ll most likely be desperate and looking to recover what he can. So, can we make a deal?”
Harrison eyed her carefully. She was definitely the brains – and the pants – of this operation. And she was shrewd. “Let me talk to the DA. Meanwhile, we’re gonna keep you and your ex-husband here with us for a few days.” He stood to leave and looked down at her with a smirk. “I hope you didn’t have any plans for this week.”
I disconnected from Daisy’s mind just as my phone buzzed. I saw it was Harrison, so I took the call.
“I just spoke with the former Mrs. Walker,” Harrison said. “She indicated that Doe may still come after you, so be extra careful. I’ll speak with dispatch and see if we can get a few more patrols in your area.”
“Thanks, Detective,” I said. “I appreciate that. We’ll be on the lookout.”
“For God’s sake, Cameron, don’t try to be a hero. Call 911 if you see anything suspicious. Got it?”
“Got it, Detective. I’ll call straight away,” I told him before we ended the call. From there, I went to Bill’s office.
“Did you find anything else?” I asked.
“Oh yeah,” Bill said, looking up from his computer. “Daisy and Dolansky go back a long ways. They were lovers years before she met Walker.”
“So, why didn’t she marry him instead of Colin?” I asked.
“Money, mostly. Colin may be a wuss, but he’s a whiz with financial planning. She saw him as a good provider for her children and barely tolerated him. She and Dolansky had been planning for him to have an ‘accident’ so she could inherit his estate after the boys were out on their own.”
“I don’t get it. He divorced her for adultery, didn’t he?” I asked.
“Yes, he did. But she and Dolansky had caught him cheating as well, and had it on video. She confronted Colin and threatened to report him for securities fraud and money laundering. It was all bogus, but it scared Colin enough to go along with her scheme.”
“So, she’s the one who got him to marry his second wife?”
“Yeah,” Bill said. “He didn’t want to initially, but Daisy kept threatening him, so he went along with it. The same thing happened again before he married Denise.”
“Damn,” I gasped. “Well, they’re out of business now.”
Just then, I heard the doorbell ring and went to the front room. Ginger and the kids had entered from the kitchen, and I motioned for them to stay back.
“Were you expecting anyone?” Ginger asked.
“No, I wasn’t. Were you?”
She shook her head, and I looked through the window. A man in a dark green jacket and hat, wearing dark sunglasses, stood on the porch. Even with his disguise, I knew it was Dolansky. The anaglyph effect was strong with him, and I knew he was up to no good. I saw a dark green panel truck on the street in front of our house. I pressed the button on the Ring camera.
“Yes? What can we do for you?” I asked.
“Is this the Drake residence?” the man responded, almost indifferently.
“Yes, it is. Who are you and what do you want?”
“Gas company, sir. We got a report of a leak in the neighborhood, and we’d like to come in and check out your connections.”
“Show me your ID,” I demanded. I sent Bill a text: “Dolansky is here. Call 911, then call Harrison.” He replied quickly: “Will do.”
“Sir, I really don’t have time for this. It is a matter of public safety. I need to come inside and inspect your gas connections,” Dolansky persisted, and there was now an edge to his voice.
“Then I’ll need to call the gas company and verify that they sent you. What is your truck number?”
“Dammit, Drake. I don’t have time for this shit. Let me inside right fucking now!”
“We’ve called 911, and the police are on their way, Dolansky. You can leave now or my next call will be for an ambulance,” I told him.
He was startled to hear me call him by name. “To hell with this, Drake. You cost me 15 grand, and I’m gonna take it outta your hide,” Dolansky growled before pulling a semiautomatic pistol from under his jacket. “You’re ALL gonna pay for this!”
I concentrated on his head, imagining his brain in a tightening vise, and as I did, Dolansky dropped his pistol and fell to his knees as he howled in pain. I maintained the pressure as I opened the door to look him in the face.
As he looked up at me, I forced my eyes to flash a deep blood red. His face was twisted in agony, and I saw the immediate, sheer terror etched in his eyes.
“Please,” he wailed. “Make it stop!” His hands clutching the sides of his head, like he was desperately trying to pry open the vise squeezing
“You bastard,” I growled. “How dare you come to my house and threaten my family?”
“Vaporize him, Dad!” Jenn declared loud enough for Dolansky to hear. I could feel the fear and revulsion in her tone.
Dolansky trembled in fear and pain as he looked behind me to see three more sets of blood-red eyes boring deep into his skull. I knew that to him, we all would appear as red-eyed nightmares incarnate. He struggled in vain to escape us, and as he did, I saw a tiny trickle of blood dripping from his ears.
“No! Please! I beg you!” Dolansky cried. “Stop it!”
At that point, I heard sirens and eased the pressure, knowing that Dolansky was incapacitated and no longer a threat. I kicked the pistol away, pushed him over, and put a foot on his throat.
“Don’t move,” I growled venomously. I let tones creep into my voice, making it sound borderline inhuman.
Three police cruisers and an unmarked sedan screeched to a stop in front of our house. I saw six officers running toward us with Hamilton close behind them.
“He’ll need an ambulance,” I said, coldly, when they approached, taking my foot off Dolansky’s throat.
Dolansky reached out to the officers with trembling hands and begged them to take him away.
“Please! Take me away! The monsters… Don’t let them vaporize me,” he sobbed hysterically.
“Monsters? Vaporize? What the hell happened here, Cameron?” Harrison asked as the uniformed officers examined him. “I distinctly remember telling you no heroics.”
I nodded, not taking my eyes off the wretch. “He came to the door, claimed to be with the gas company, then demanded we let him inside. Said we cost him 15 grand and threatened to take it out on us. I asked my associate to call 911. He pulled out his gun, then collapsed and started writhing around on the ground. He dropped his weapon here, and I kicked it away. It’s all on my Ring doorbell camera if you want to check it out,” I said.
“Yes, I’d like to see that,” Harrison said, carefully.
Mentally crossing my fingers, I pulled up the camera app on my phone and found the video. Harrison watched the video with me and saw Dolansky approach the door, claiming to be with the gas company. The video then showed the exchange between Dolansky and me, then showed Dolansky pulling his weapon and almost instantly dropping it as he collapsed to his knees in pain. Fortunately, it never showed my face – or my eyes.
“I’d like a copy of that video. You took quite a chance opening the door when you did, Cameron,” Harrison said when the video ended.
“I didn’t think he presented a danger at that point,” I explained, improvising. “And with him having an attack like that, I was concerned that he’d snatch up the gun as fast as he had dropped it and start firing randomly. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“What do you think happened to him?” he asked me, looking at the still-shaking man being cuffed.
“No telling,” I replied. “I’m just glad you guys showed up when you did.”
“I am too. Is everyone here okay?”
“We’re all fine, Detective,” Ginger called to him from behind me.
“What about Mrs. Walker?” Harrison asked.
“She’s gone for the day, visiting with some friends.”
“Uh-huh,” Harrison muttered. “Alright, then. It looks like we have this just about wrapped up. I’ll be in touch if I have any questions. And thank you for your cooperation in this matter, Cameron,” he said as he shook my hand.
“No, Detective. Thank you,” I replied with a smile. I watched the officers practically carry Dolansky to the ambulance that had just pulled up, and waited until everyone was gone before going back inside.
I closed the door and breathed a giant sigh of relief. Ginger and the kids wrapped their arms around me, and I felt the soothing effect of their unconditional love, like a warm blanket on a chilly night.
“Why didn’t you vaporize him, Dad?” Jenn asked after a few moments, her brows furrowed.
“It was tempting, sweetheart. It really was. No one threatens my family and gets away with it. But if I had vaporized him, it would’ve been me taken away instead of him. Does that make sense?”
Jenn thought about it for a few moments, then nodded. “Yes, it does, Dad,” she said soberly.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand for a 24-hour period,” I said.
“Me too,” Bill replied.
“Let’s call it a day, shall we?” I asked and received a rousing response.
“Chinese door dash and movie and games; just the distraction we need,” I heard Ginger say in my mind.
…
We were in my office the next day, reviewing the Walker case, when I received a notification on my phone that Smith and Jones were preparing to arrive with Denise. They warned me that she was still sedated and requested that I send a signal from the bed she used so they could transport her there directly.
I called Ginger mentally as I rushed upstairs to the guest room. Ginger met me, and I sent a reply holding the phone over the middle of the bed. I had just retracted my arm when we saw a light over the bed and two more on the side.
When the light faded, Denise was lying in bed, asleep and nude. Something about her seemed more… feminine, more alluring. I quickly averted my gaze.
“I… apologize… for her appearance. We understand your society’s mores regarding nudity, but it was necessary to complete the procedures,” Smith explained, handing her clothing to me.
“How is she?” Ginger asked after covering Denise with the sheet and bedspread.
“She responded quite well,” Jones said. “We used a heavily modified version of the modulator beam that was used on you, Cameron. We were able to correct the anomalies in her anatomy, and we implanted some micro devices to better regulate her hormones and facilitate the long-term internal repairs.”
“We will monitor the devices and may need to adjust them once a month. We will continue to research ways to correct her damaged genome, and we may need to install more devices, but the units we have installed should allow her to function… normally,” Smith said. “Keep in mind that rebuilding damaged chromosomes is something that not even our people have attempted before.”
“While we understand the physiological aspect of her condition, we lack the necessary input to provide, er, emotional support,” Jones added. “We were hoping that you could help in that regard, Ginger.”
“Of course,” Ginger agreed.
“I have also devised something that may help her… transition. Her body is being flooded with hormonal changes that normally take place during what you call puberty. Which means…”
“Yes, I understand,” Ginger said, dryly. “All too well.”
“Good,” Jones replied. “I have fabricated this based on some of the videos on your Internet. It should help her until she is able to fully function with a male counterpart,” he added, handing Ginger a rather large phallus.
“Um, okay,” Ginger said, reluctantly taking the rubberized dildo.
“I trust you can instruct her on its use,” Jones suggested.
“Sure,” Ginger said nervously. “I… think… I can manage that.”
“Excellent. We have provided some subliminal instruction on human sexual activity, but she will no doubt require assistance. She is very fortunate to have friends like you,” Jones said.
“Does she know?” I began.
“That we are not of your planet?” Smith asked, finishing my question.
“Yes. Is she aware of that?”
“No,” Smith said. “She has been in stasis from the moment I transported her. She should sleep for about another hour.”
“Good,” I replied, knowing that we would eventually have to inform her, and relieved that ‘having a medical procedure under anesthesia’ was a good excuse for memory gaps. “Is there anything else we should know?”
“Two things that are very important,” Smith said. “First, we recommend that she engage in sexual relations as soon as possible. Second, she is not to consume any more of the pharmaceuticals she had been given, since we have corrected the anomalies that required those drugs. I have put together a list of instructions along with a QR code she can use to contact us with any questions she might have.”
I briefly reviewed the instruction sheet he gave me, then handed it to Ginger without comment.
“One last thing,” Jones said. “If she asks, please inform her that we had to remove her pubic hair to keep the area sterile. We have done all we could to ensure it does not grow back and irritate her.”
“I’ll let you tell her that,” I instantly told Ginger.
“Thanks,” Ginger replied. “I’ll get you for this,” she said in my mind.
“If there is nothing else, we shall take our leave,” Smith said.
“No, that’s it for now. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done,” I said.
“You are welcome,” Smith replied before they both disappeared in a flash of light.
After they left, we looked at Denise sleeping peacefully in the bed, then at each other.
“She does seem better, doesn’t she?” Ginger asked.
“Yes, she does,” I agreed.
“I felt your reaction when they first showed up,” she said.
“I’m sure it’s just a normal male reaction to the sight of an attractive, naked woman. You know I only have eyes for you.”
“Damn well better, mister,” Ginger teased, half serious, half playful. “Now, I get to tell her how to use a dildo. Wonderful.”
“According to these instructions, she needs to experience an orgasm as soon as possible after she wakes up,” I said.
“What about Bill? He’s not dating anyone in particular, is he?” Ginger asked.
“You’re not thinking about playing matchmaker, are you?” I asked.
“Why not? Bill’s a good man, and he’s still single.”
“True. But that should be their choice, shouldn’t it?”
“Yes, it should. But I already know that Bill finds her attractive. He’s held back only because she’s our client.”
“As well he should,” I told her firmly.
“But the case has been solved. Colin and Daisy are in jail. Dolansky is in custody, and Drew is working on her annulment. What’s left to do?”
“Nothing, really,” I conceded. “Just the after-action. Alright, I’ll talk to him. But it has to be their choice and their decision. Deal?”
“Deal,” Ginger said. “You go talk to Bill, and I’ll stay here until she wakes up.”
I went downstairs to Bill’s office and saw him working on the case wrap-up. He looked up as I came inside.
“Hey, boss. What’s up?” he asked.
“Got time for a personal question?” I asked, as casually as I could.
“Sure. What’s on your mind?”
“Denise. She’s back.”
“Good. How is she?” Bill asked.
“A lot better. How do you feel about her?”
That startled him, and his body language was instantly a little defensive. “That is personal.”
“Yes, it is. So?”
“She’s a nice girl. Pretty. Nice figure. Smart. Been through a lot.”
“But do you like her?” I insisted.
“Yeah, I guess. Wait a minute. Are you and Ginger trying to set us up or something?”
“I’m sorry. It was Ginger’s idea. I told her I’d talk to you. You know, Denise isn’t quite the same woman she was when Smith took her yesterday.”
He looked at me strangely. “What do you mean, not quite the same woman?”
I considered my words carefully before responding. “Let’s just say, Smith and Jones have helped her out – a lot.”
“Hold on a minute. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but…”
“But nothing, Bill. We know things have been dry in your love life for the last year or so, and we just thought you might be a good fit for Denise. That’s all. But it has to be your decision.”
“Yeah, it has been a little dry lately. And I do miss having some female companionship. It’s just been me and the boys. We get along okay, but it’s not quite the same thing, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. And your boys are nothing like Mike and Rick.”
“Oh hell no. I’d never put up with what those two did to Denise.”
“So, would it hurt to talk to her? Maybe get to know her as something other than a client?” I asked, and then added hastily, “Since she isn’t, anymore, now that the case is closed.”
“Maybe you’re right,” he said, thoughtfully. “I’ll talk to her, see what she says.”
“Thanks. She’s upstairs asleep right now, but should be waking up any time now. Ginger is with her.”
Bill got the hint, nodded, then signed off of his computer and went upstairs. I warned Ginger, and she smiled, then invited me to watch through her eyes.
Bill tapped on the door before looking inside.
“Hi, Bill. Come on in. She should be waking up any time now,” Ginger said.
Bill stepped in quietly and gazed speculatively at Denise.
“She’s… beautiful,” he gasped. “I never saw that before.”
“Yes, she is,” Ginger said. Both of us could tell that Denise was obviously affecting another part of Bill, and it was making him a bit uncomfortable; and that was just from the shoulders up. Ginger smiled knowingly before saying anything. “Feel free to pull up a chair and have a seat. She’s been through a lot, and I’m sure she’d like to see a friendly face when she wakes up.”
“Uh, yeah. Thanks,” Bill said awkwardly as he sat.
Denise began to stir a few minutes later. She stretched, yawned, and looked at Ginger and Bill, confused.
“What happened? The last thing I remember was being in your office,” she said groggily.
“Smith and Jones took you to their, uh, office, and brought you back,” Ginger said. “They gave you something to rest so they could work on you. I’m sure you’ll feel more clear-headed in a few minutes. How do you feel?”
“Like I need to pee,” Denise said, fuzzily.
“Okay. I’ll help you. Bill, would you excuse us for a few minutes, please?”
“Sure,” Bill said as he quickly left the room.
Ginger helped Denise get out of bed and walked her to the bathroom.
“Why am I naked?” Denise asked, more puzzled than alarmed.
“Smith and Jones operated on you. How do you feel?”
“Different. Better. A little… aroused. Did Bill see me naked?”
“No, you were already in bed when he came in,” Ginger told her.
“Oh,” Denise replied. After she finished cleaning, she examined herself in the mirror, running her hands over her exposed flesh, pausing as she examined her breasts and crotch. “Do I look… different… to you? I feel different.”
“You look beautiful,” Ginger assured her. “You look… sexy. How do you feel?”
“I feel… sexy,” Denise said, wonderingly, fondling her breasts. Then she looked down. “Did they shave me, too?”
“Yes. They wanted to keep you as sterile as possible for the operation.”
Denise nodded in understanding. “I kinda like it,” she said. “I think I’ll keep it like this. Do you think it makes me look sexy?”
“You’re a sexy woman, period. Shaved or not. But I can’t imagine any man that wouldn’t love it,” Ginger replied with a wry smile.
“Do you really think that?” Denise asked.
“Of course,” Ginger said.
“Maybe if I had done something like this earlier, Colin wouldn’t have cheated on me.”
“Colin would’ve cheated on you no matter what you did,” Ginger told her, kindly. “Daisy had him completely under her thumb. All he wanted was your money.”
She sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. I just wish I could find a man who loves me just for myself. Know what I mean?”
“I know exactly what you mean,” Ginger assured her. “I’m certain you’ll find someone.”
“Is that why you had Bill come up to my room?” Denise asked, her newly sculpted lips twitching into a slight smile.
“Was it that obvious?” Ginger asked, embarrassed.
Denise chuckled before responding. “I know I have some issues, but I’m not stupid. I know you mean well, Ginger, and I really do appreciate everything you guys have done for me, but…”
“But nothing. I just thought that, well, maybe you and Bill could… connect,” Ginger stammered nervously.
“And maybe we can. But after what I’ve been through with Colin, I’m a little gun-shy when it comes to men. Know what I mean?”
“I absolutely know what you mean,” Ginger told her. “But it wouldn’t hurt to talk to Bill, would it?”
“No, I suppose not,” Denise replied, giving herself a last little survey in the mirror.
Ginger walked Denise back into the bedroom and covered her up when she got back into the bed. Then she called for Bill.
“Is it safe?” Bill asked tentatively as he popped his head through the door.
“Of course, it’s safe. Come on in,” Ginger said.
Bill entered the room and sat back down in the chair before addressing Denise.
“How are you feeling?” Bill asked.
“I’m feeling… better,” Denise said. “Thank you for asking.”
“You’re welcome. I, uh, wanted you to know that the police arrested Colin and Daisy, and the guy they hired to, you know…”
“That’s good to hear,” Denise said. “So, it’s all over?”
“Basically. Everything except for the court hearings. All the bad guys have been rounded up and are in custody.”
“Thank goodness,” Denise gasped with relief. “What about the boys?”
“The last I heard, they were being placed into temporary foster care by CPS,” Bill said.
“At least they’re off the streets,” Denise said, sourly. “I feel sorry for the poor people who have to deal with them, though.”
“Speaking of children, I’d better get downstairs and take care of mine before they decide to nuke something,” Ginger said with a wry smile before leaving the room.
With her leaving, I didn’t know what Bill and Denise talked about, but I figured they deserved some privacy, so I let it go.
“Still think it was a good idea, putting them together?” I asked when Ginger came into my office.
“I do,” she said firmly. “Denise is a bit leery, right now, and I don’t blame her. But she needs to learn that not all men are like Colin.”
“No, they’re not,” I agreed. “Let’s just see how things work out, okay?”
“Okay,” Ginger said. She kissed me, then left to tend to the kids.
An hour later, Bill strode into my office. I looked up and could tell he wanted to ask me something.
“Uh, are we finished with the Walker case?” he asked.
“Yeah, pretty much,” I said, picking up on his changed attitude and trying not to smile. “I’m just doing the after-action reports. Why?”
“Would you mind if I call it a day? I’d like to have Denise over for dinner and let her meet the boys.”
“Ah. Sure. Go for it,” I told him. “I take it you had a good discussion.”
“Yeah, we did. She has quite a sense of humor,” Bill said, his cheeks pinking up slightly. “And we even like a lot of the same music and movies.”
“Good. Is she spending the night?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“She’s planning to. That’s why she’s getting some things together,” Bill replied, his blush deepening.
“Okay. Well, I hope you guys have a good evening. Will we see you tomorrow?”
“Maybe,” Bill replied with a wink.
A beaming Denise came downstairs holding an overnight bag. She hugged Ginger after saying her goodbyes, then came into the office.
“Thank you so much for everything, Cameron. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” she said.
“It’s our pleasure,” I told her. “I’m just glad we could help. Will you be back tomorrow?”
“I think so,” she said. “The rest of my things are here, and I have to go get my car.”
“That’s right. It’s still at the shop. Well, you two have a good evening, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow,” I said.
“Thanks, boss. This means a lot,” Bill said with a wide smile. It had been a while since I’d seen him so happy, and I truly hoped this would work.
Ginger sauntered to my side, and we watched them load Bill’s car and head out.
“Well? What do you have to say for yourself now?” Ginger teased.
“Let’s see what they look like tomorrow morning,” I replied, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close to me.
And we pulled each other a lot closer, later.
…
Bill and Denise did return the next morning. Both of them looked happy – worn out, but happy, nevertheless. We couldn’t help but notice they were holding hands and acting like lovers.
Ginger sounded perfectly smug in my mind as she said, “Told you.”
Denise grabbed Ginger and went upstairs as Bill waltzed into the office.
“I take it you had a good evening,” I said.
“The best,” Bill replied, sheepishly. “She didn’t stay in the guest room, very long.” He got a silly grin on his face. “You know that Colin really is a stupid sonofabitch.”
“I noticed. Everything go okay?”
“More than just okay. I think I may have found the next Mrs. Bill Collins. And the boys love her. They got along really well. Uh, would you mind if she stayed at the condo with me?”
“Not at all,” I said, with an amused nod.
“Thanks, Cam. That means a lot,” Bill suddenly gushed. “I guess I’d better get to work.”
“That would be nice,” I joked.
That evening, we watched Bill and Denise drive away. It was easy to see they had made a real connection, emotionally as well as physically.
“Well?” Ginger asked.
“Well, what, dear?” I replied.
“Did you see the difference in them?”
“Yeah, I did. What did Denise tell you?”
“She said they got along really well. And she loves Bill’s boys. They were so kind and sweet to her, and she even played some video games with them.”
“And,” I prompted.
Ginger actually giggled, like a teenager passing along gossip between classes. “She didn’t go into specifics, and I wouldn’t expect her to, but she told me that Bill rocked her world. Those are her words, by the way.”
“Rocked her world, huh?” I asked.
“Yup. She told me that was the first time she had ever experienced an orgasm.”
“So, you think it’ll work out between them?”
“I think so,” Ginger said.
“I hope so. They both deserve some happiness in their lives.”
…
Epilogue (Three months later):
Thanks to the charges against Colin, Denise’s annulment sailed through the court system. We celebrated with a dinner at a steakhouse that left us all more than full. By then, she and Bill had become inseparable.
That night, in front of all the patrons and our families, Bill dropped to one knee and proposed to Denise. She gasped in surprise and smothered Bill in kisses as everyone applauded.
“I take it that’s a yes,” Bill stammered.
“Oh, yes,” Denise exclaimed. “You’ve made me the happiest woman alive, and I promise to be the best wife any man could want.”
“Welcome to the family… Mom,” Bill’s boys declared as they hugged her. “We love you.” We all saw the tears in Denise’s eyes as she hugged them back.
“I love you, too,” she said as tears of joy streamed down her face.
Colin and Daisy didn’t fare so well. Both of them were convicted on all charges against them and were sentenced to life in prison. Dolansky was still screaming about red-eyed monsters trying to vaporize him and was examined by a court-ordered team of psychologists. Based on their recommendations, and the evidence which was found in his apartment and car, he was placed in a mental institution for the criminally insane.
“Strangest thing I ever saw,” Harrison told me after the hearing. “Almost as if his brain turned into jello or something.”
“At least he won’t be on the street anymore,” I replied blandly.
“Reckon not. By the way, I want to thank you for your help on this case.”
“Any time, Detective,” I replied. We shook hands and went our separate ways. Seeing the future was not among our abilities, but something told me our paths would cross again.
…
Fade to black. For now…