Accidental Momma
By Tyrone Slothrop
Chapter 1: Sweet Home
Toby was crying again. Bobby knew he sounded hungry and he knew Momma
was passed out again. He had heard the clinking of glass during the
night which indicated she had been drinking again.
Bobby got up from his cot, pulled on his last clean T-shirt, tied his
hair back and went to get Toby. It was five am and the little guy
smiled as soon as he got into his sight. At six months old, Toby knew
his brother and always gave him a big grin, his dark eyes sparkling
with delight.
Bobby shuddered. Toby had been put to bed without being changed and
probably little to eat. Momma had been getting worse since Dad had gone
missing last month.
After patting Toby's tummy and smiling back, Bobby changed the diaper,
noticing the rash developing. Cleaning up at the kitchen sink he
noticed they were just about out of formula. And Momma had said they
were out of money until the next check came from Dad's company. She had
enough for bourbon and beer though, Bobby thought grimly.
Toby looked at Bobby while he was feeding him in that unique way that
babies have, the one that rivets your attention until they look away.
Bobby rocked him on his shoulder until Toby burped, and then held him
until he was asleep.
Bobby looked at Momma in the chair, her eyes shut, her mouth open and
her makeup smeared all over her face. Momma had never been a good
drunk. Bobby remembered the beatings he got whenever she was loaded,
which was whenever Dad was away on the oil rigs. He could take the
beatings, but the erratic behavior drove him crazy.
She would act fine, tell him she was sorry, and he would then have a
few days where he could almost stop watching his back at home. Then she
would begin again, usually when he got home from school. One time, when
he was eleven, he remembered opening the door to their house to see
Momma there with another man, her blouse all undone. The man saw him
and pushed Momma away, pulled up his pants and left, shoving Bobby
aside.
Momma was furious. "You little pest! You see what you've done! What are
you doing, coming in on me like that! Why aren't you in school?"
"School's over now, Momma. Who was that?" Bobby had said.
Momma staggered up on her feet and hit Bobby on the side of the head
with her hand holding a cocktail glass. The glass shattered, cutting
into his skull and upper neck, along with Momma's hand.
Bobby fell over and somehow stayed conscious. Momma loomed over him. He
knew she was drunk but still alert, the most dangerous time.
"You little shit; I wish I'd never had you. You've done nothing but tie
me down since you were born. Now look at you, with that long hair and
all, you look like a little fag."
"Dad's got long hair; he said I could have it how ever I wanted!" Bobby
spat back, knowing enough not to get up.
"Your Daddy has a beard and big muscles and looks like a man, at least
when he bothers to stay home. If you tell him about this, I'm gonna
tell him you were trying to give blowjobs for money. In fact I'll turn
you in myself. Sheriff Turner will back me up."
Bobby knew Momma spent time with the Sheriff. He also knew the Sheriff
was working for the Disciples, his Dad's old gang. Dad had left the
gang on not exactly friendly terms after he did some time in prison.
Momma left to go lie down. Bobby got up and cleaned his cuts, trying to
make sure he got all the glass out. When Momma was asleep, he washed
her cut hand and bandaged it.
Chapter 2: When Things Can't Get Any Worse, They Find A Way
Bobby was thirteen now, and Momma had made him pay dearly for catching
her that time. When your own mother spreads rumors about you having a
"problem liking boys", you end up being branded at school by the other
kids. Adults assume you are in denial if you tell them you are not gay.
Girls won't go near you, or if they do it's out of weird curiosity.
Even Dad, when he got home for his six months off, was not sure. Bobby
could tell Dad loved him and told him whatever he was, was fine with
him. Bobby idolized his father, who had turned his life around when
Bobby was born. He used to be a biker, running drugs and bashing heads.
Momma was his woman and they had Bobby when they were just twenty one.
Dad had been in prison shortly afterward, doing a two year sentence for
narcotics smuggling. When he got out he went straight and started
working the offshore rigs. He was away a lot, but came back for
extended stays. Those were the good times for Bobby. Momma never drank,
and they were like a real family.
Meanwhile Momma took out some marriage insurance by getting pregnant
with Toby. Just to make sure she kept her man in case Bobby somehow
convinced his father what she was doing while he was gone.
Toby was a joy to the family. Dad and Bobby did all they could to help
Momma and Bobby got to spend a lot of time with his new brother. Since
his life outside the home was questionable at best, Bobby spent a lot
of his spare time playing with and caring for the baby.
Dad had to go on another job, this time to the Philippines, when Toby
was just three months old. Bobby saw his father actually crying as he
said goodbye to little Toby.
"Bobby, I wouldn't be going if there was any other way to pay the
bills. This is the best I can do for the family and I need you to be
the one I can count on here. Take care of your Momma and Toby. I should
be back in about six months. Go to Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins if you have a
real problem, I've talked to them and they will help you. Goodbye,
son."
Steve Dunbar was not a demonstrative man, and he frankly looked
terrifying to most people at six four and two hundred sixty pounds, all
muscle. To Bobby, he was Dad, and gave his son all the love he knew
how. After they hugged, Momma drove Dad to the airport. Bobby could
hear the screaming match in the car as they drove away.
After two weeks Momma started drinking again. At first, Bobby thought
she was under control. Then he kept hearing about her mumbling "Post
Partum Depression" and the drinking got worse.
The day the man from the company came and told them that Steve Dunbar
was missing after an explosion on the oil platform in the South China
Sea, Momma broke down. Bobby took Toby to Mrs. Jenkins while the medics
took Momma to the hospital.
The Jenkins were an old couple that lived next door to the Dunbars. Mr.
Jenkins was a retired cop, still in good shape for seventy one and Mrs.
Jenkins had been a nurse. Mrs. Jenkins was devastated to hear the news.
She looked at Bobby.
"Bobby, you look like a skeleton? Aren't you eating anything?" She
asked.
Bobby was about five foot nine inches, having just had a growth spurt,
but was skinny in his arms and legs. His brown hair hung just past his
shoulders and hung limply. It was true, Momma had not left him much
money for food and he had to make sure Toby got fed first. When Steve
was gone, Momma stopped making any meals, preferring to be taken out by
her many gentleman friends. Bobby spent his summer cleaning the house
and caring for Toby.
"Not much. Mrs. Jenkins. I don't get hungry much."
"Toby will be fine. You sit down and I'll feed you. Then we'll go to
the hospital to see your Momma."
Bobby spent more time with Mrs. Jenkins over the next two months as the
summer progressed. She gave him some relief in the care of Toby.
Chapter 3: When Things Look Their Darkest, You Can Go Blind
Momma came home, with a pile of pills to keep her calm. They did not
mix well with bourbon.
Bobby knew never to enter the house when men were there, and he knew
the cars and motorcycles of the Disciple members who were Momma's new
friends.
One day, as he was approaching the house with some formula for Toby he
spotted a pickup he knew in the yard. He overheard Momma complaining to
Sean Cottrell, one of the new Disciple leaders.
"They won't pay his insurance, dammit! He's not declared dead yet, they
say. How am I supposed to get on with my life without that money and
two kids hanging around my neck?" Momma was just starting up the
bourbon, and probably was on some of the meth that Sean manufactured
and distributed.
"Just give me the word, babe. You'll have no problems anymore. Hell,
abortions legal up till age sixteen, right?" Sean grinned.
"I've got a better way. I've been planning it for a while. Bobby's
going to drown the baby, and you stop him after it's too late. He's
such a weird kid anyway. Sheriff Turner will be right here to lock him
up." Momma said, taking a pull off the Jim Beam fifth.
Bobby knew he had to get Toby out of the house. He was furious with
himself for leaving him with Momma for the hour it took to walk to the
store. He approached the back door as quietly as possible. Fortunately
for him, Sean was driving off as loudly as the pickup truck could make
it.
He heard the water running in the bathtub. Through the window, Momma
was putting on the dishwashing gloves, something she never did unless
Dad was home. Bobby waited until she left the kitchen and then slowly
opened the back door. He heard Toby begin to cry.
"I'm sorry baby, but I need to start clean. This is the best for you."
Momma said softly as she began to immerse Toby into the tub.
Bobby swung the baseball bat as hard as he could, catching Momma on the
shoulder. She screamed, but fell to the side, gripping her wounded
limb. Bobby dropped the bat and pulled Toby out of the water. The
infant sputtered and struggled to breathe.
"You leave him alone! You're not gonna kill my brother!" Bobby ran out
of the house, carrying Toby, water streaming off the baby.
Chapter 4: Showdown
Both of the Jenkins were home. Bobby ran inside their house, and looked
for a towel for Toby. He got out the story in between gasps for breath,
while he and Mrs. Jenkins wrapped Toby up.
They heard Sean's pickup truck pull up next door, with a couple of
Harleys trailing behind. Mr. Jenkins opened a drawer and pulled out his
handgun. He dialed the phone and began talking to someone at the state
police station.
"I know it's local jurisdiction, but the sheriff is in on this. I'll
hold these children until you can get someone out here. Now hurry,
goddammit!" Al Jenkins was still steady in a crisis. He grabbed a pump
shotgun and gave the pistol to his wife.
Bobby's mother was screaming and flailing around outside their house,
attempting to relay what had happened to Sean and the two with him.
Bobby saw Cottrell pull an automatic from behind his back and start
marching over to the Jenkins' house. Momma was hanging on his arm. Sean
pushed her off.
"Bitch, you're more trouble than you're worth. Since Steve is gone, I
guess I can clean up some loose ends." Sean said, firing two bullets
into Momma's head. He only stopped firing because of a misfire, jamming
the action of the 9mm.
The two other Disciples stormed the front and back doors of the Jenkins
house. The first one was almost cut in half by the shotgun blast from
Al, but the one at the back stitched Al Jenkins up with a burst from a
MAC 10. Bobby hid under the coffee table with Toby in his arms while
Mrs. Jenkins shot her husband's killer right in the ten ring.
Bobby heard more Harleys in the distance. Mrs. Jenkins scribbled a note
and thrust it into Bobby's hand.
"Try to get away, Bobby. I know you can drive, so get a car and go here
with Toby. It's a good friend. Tell them I sent you, tell them what
happened. You need to hide there. Now go! I'll keep them occupied. Be
careful, these gangs are everywhere. And they will want you dead."
Mrs. Jenkins fired three times at Sean, who had picked up another
handgun. Bobby went out the back door with Toby, who chose this time to
start crying. He heard another shot and then Mrs. Jenkins screamed. As
he circled around the house he was grabbed from behind.
Sean Cottrell looked at him.
"You little faggot. I only wish old Steve knew I was doing you in. But
I need some more bullets. So wait here, kid."
Cottrell threw Bobby down, the boy still clutching at the screaming
Toby. He stomped on Bobby's groin with his boots, and then kicked Bobby
in the ribs.
"That ought'a keep you here." Sean said as he walked away.
Bobby was in a haze of pain, but still holding Toby. He crawled to his
feet, just as he heard another shot. He saw Sean swivel and fall to the
ground, and Mrs. Jenkins, standing on her porch, holding the automatic.
Her housedress had a blood splotch spreading on her stomach. She fell
over.
Bobby got to his feet and carried Toby over to Sean. He was still alive
and would probably live so Bobby grabbed a rock and swung on Sean's
jaw. He heard teeth crack and saw blood pour from his mouth. Bobby
grabbed the truck keys in Sean's hand and got into the F 150 as fast as
his pain would allow. He settled Toby in, binding him with a seatbelt
and started the engine.
He could see the parked Harleys and saw two more coming down the road.
He put it into drive and first drove into the front wheels of the two
parked choppers. Satisfied they were out of commission, he began
driving up the road as fast as he could, swerving into one of the
oncoming bikes. The biker flew into the roadside ditch, with his
machine landing on top of him. The other bike stopped to help. Bobby
sped away and got onto the interstate.
Chapter 5: Crime Scene
Sheriff Turner was very upset. He was supposed to have been on the
scene first, like Cottrell had said. When he arrived, there was no
Cottrell, five dead bodies and State Police investigators all over the
place.
"Sheriff, we have a court order placing this crime scene under our
jurisdiction. You have been implicated as being compromised in this
investigation and you are to render only the assistance requested of
you. Consider this a formal notice." Max Atherton, a senior officer
with the Investigative Unit said, stuffing the paper in Turner's face.
Turner was still livid about that. When he ascertained that the bodies
were two Disciples, the Jenkins and the Dunbar whore, and Cottrell was
gone, he left.
He passed the ambulance as it was pulling away with the biker who ended
up in the ditch. The other biker had not been forthcoming about what
happened.
Turner assumed he was under surveillance and picked up his throw away
cell phone. After dialing a number, he left a message.
"This is T, I am being watched. Contact with care." He left the message
on the coded voicemail system.
Turner called in off shift and went straight to the Indian Casino. He
figured he was due for some time off.
Miles away, in a nondescript warehouse complex, Reed Cottrell, Sean's
younger brother was screaming into the phone.
"I need a doctor and a dentist, you asshole, ones who we control.
Sean's been shot and had his jaw all smashed up and we need to keep
this strictly off the books. Use the Nevada organization. He'll be
there in four hours."
Reed was the smarter and colder of the two, working the business end of
the Disciples while Sean was out front for show. While people feared
Sean's unpredictability, Reed terrified them in pure cold bloodedness.
He turned to the group around him in the warehouse offices. "I want the
Dunbar kid found and I want him dead. He saw too much and we lost
control of the evidence. The State is going to be on this one hot and
heavy and the two idiots who let a bunch of old farts take them down
are known members. Good for us the kid is running and we think he'll be
afraid to go to the cops. He knows Turner is ours and word has it he's
a smart kid.
"Find Sean's pickup, kill that kid and get back the cash that was in
it. Any cash missing better be made up however you can. Use all our
contacts and get someone in the State Police near this investigation.
"Do this one slow and quiet, people, we're gonna have a ton of heat on
our ass for at least a month. Now how hard will it be to find a
thirteen year old boy with a baby?"
The group looked down at the floor to avoid Reed's stare.
"Get fuckin' going, you assholes! Now!" Reed said in his normal
motivational; style.
Chapter 6: Runaway Into The Night
Bobby was drained. His groin was throbbing with intense pain, his ribs
were on fire whenever he took a breath and he knew Toby had wet the
towel. He couldn't stop; he had to follow Carol Jenkins last
instructions. He stayed in the right lane and drove five miles under
the speed limit, trying to get to his destination without getting
stopped by the cops. He assumed they could all be like Sheriff Turner.
He knew how hard it was to go up against the Disciples, and all the
people he trusted were dead. So he clung to the last guidance Mrs.
Jenkins had given him.
He finally gave up and pulled into an empty rest area, about sixty
miles from where he started. Toby was soaked, so he took him into the
men's room and was happy they had warm water. He washed the baby as
best he could, and then realized he needed some kind of blanket, since
the towel was soaked beyond hope.
A search of the truck provided a clean fleece blanket rolled into the
emergency kit. Toby thought this was fine after he was wrapped up.
Bobby had Toby drink some water fountain water out of a cupped hand,
getting a big smile from the little guy.
"Toby, we're in deep crap now. I hope the people Mrs. Jenkins told me
about will help us." Bobby said. Toby gurgled.
Searching the truck revealed a large duffel bag. Bobby was stunned when
he opened it, revealing a 9mm handgun sitting on top of a pile of
money. Stacks of twenties. Old but banded into stacks of fifty bills.
Bobby counted up to $55000.
"Toby, we may just have some help in this mess. Sean's already going to
try and kill us just like Momma and the Jenkins, so we can at least use
his money. But we gotta be careful."
Bobby stuffed the bag under the seat and drove back onto the northbound
interstate. He had another ninety miles to go. He started looking for a
convenience store off an exit.
Rolling up to the Circle K next to the gas pumps, Bobby grabbed a
twenty from the stack he had kept out, picked up Toby and went inside.
Toby kept pulling at his hair while he was looking for diapers, formula
and bottles, so Bobby undid the clip and let it fall freely. Toby loved
that, occasionally pulling when his little hand got a grip.
At the checkout, the girl fussed over Toby, cooing at him. She began
asking Bobby if Toby had been breast fed, and Bobby said no, Toby had
been on formula since he was born.
"Well I have my little girl at home and she just didn't want to give it
up. I guess it's all in whether you want to or not." The girl was
looking at Bobby's loose sweatshirt, thinking that Bobby was not very
well endowed for a mother. Oh well, he looked young too.
"Those bruises on your face don't look good, honey. Do you need some
help?" The cashier asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Bobby caught on that the girl thought Toby was his baby which meant she
thought Bobby was a girl. He decided that he'd rather this checkout
girl remembered a girl and baby rather than a boy and a baby. He held
Toby in such a way to cover his chest, smiled when she gave him change
for the twenty and left, carrying Toby on his hip like he had seen
Momma do.
"No thanks, I'm fine. I need to get my little one home now."
Bobby made a bottle for Toby on the front seat of the pickup, hoping
the room temperature bottled water was okay for him mixed with the
formula. He put a diaper on Toby and proceeded to feed him, scanning
the parking lot for anything suspicious.
Finishing up, Bobby took some aspirin and despite the wracking pain,
secured Toby with the seatbelt and drove off.
"We can buy you a real car seat now, buddy. It's much safer." He said.
Toby looked at him and smiled.
While sipping on his coffee, he saw the big "Sunny Serve" sign coming
up in the distance. He hoped Mrs. Jenkins' friends were able to help.
Chapter 7: Temporary Refuge
Bobby pulled into pumps of the truckstop. Mrs. Jenkins note had told
him to go to the Filler exit and ask for a man named Bobby Filler. He
would help him if he explained he was sent by the Jenkins. He was to
tell him everything.
A pretty young woman approached the pickup. Her nametag said 'Joelle'.
"Can I help you, honey? Do you need some gas?" Joelle asked, sweetly.
"Is there a Bobby Filler here? I need to see him." Bobby said, the pain
showing in his voice.
"Are you alright, Miss? You look like someone's been going over you. Is
that your baby?"
Bobby picked up Toby and got out of the truck. He staggered over to the
Sunny Serve office, tears running down his cheeks from the pain in his
groin. The swelling made it hard to walk.
Joelle chased after him, steering him to the chair at the desk.
"Bobby Filler. Hide the truck, can't let them find us. Get to Bobby
Filler." Bobby said as he was passing out. Joelle grabbed Toby before
Bobby collapsed.
She called the caf? and a minute later saw a pink waitress uniform run
over to the Sunny Serve office.
"Terri, this poor girl drove up, asked for Bobby and collapsed. It
looks like someone beat the crap out of her."
The waitress grabbed Toby, who seemed fascinated by the very large
breasts the waitress uniform displayed.
"We need to get this baby some clothes and you need to get Doc
Schlange. He and mom are at her house. Bobby's due back in an hour.
Maybe he knows who this kid is. It's slow over at the cafe and Thelma
can handle my shift for now. I'll get this little fella handled while
you stay with her until the Doc comes."
Joelle watched Terri walk away towards the town store, holding the baby
and calling on a cell phone, probably to warn Joelle's uncle to open
the front door. She always loved watching Terri walk away, with those
big hips moving back and forth. She was completely in love with Terri,
and had been since they were kids.
Bobby Dunbar was sleeping on a bed in Betty Springer's home, the one
she usually shared with Doc Schlange. Doc was talking to Betty, Terri,
Joelle and Bobby Filler, who had just arrived. Toby was sleeping in a
playpen Terri had set up, clothed in his new sleeper. Joelle had given
him a good bath, and with more food, he had fallen sound asleep.
"Well, someone beat our visitor up real bad. The baby seems fine, but
the young girl you called me here to look at has some surprises. First
of all, I doubt that they are mother and daughter." Doc spoke in his
normal deep tones.
"How do you know that, Doc?" Joelle asked.
"Well, because I'm a good doctor, and while I've handled some strange
cases before." He looked at Terri, who giggled, "I doubt that boy gave
birth."
The crowd gasped. A thin, long haired smooth skinned kid carrying a
baby led them to a lot of assumptions. Doc continued.
"He's had some ribs broken, but his biggest problem other than
borderline malnutrition is his testicles have been smashed pretty good.
It looked like he got stomped by a boot heel. The strange thing is the
baby is healthy and well fed, but this boy has not been eating well.
You say he came here asking for Bobby?"
Joelle nodded. "He also said to hide the truck. When I drove it into
the bays, I found a duffel bag with a pistol and over $50000 in
twenties. Do you think he's a robber?"
Bobby Filler, stood up, his wrinkled face and lanky body uncoiling from
the chair, and he limped over to the resting boy.
"I think he is on the run from someone who was trying to hurt him.
We'll know more when he wakes up. Call me, I'll have my phone on." With
that, he spun around and left.
"Doc, can you help him? How bad are the injuries?" Betty asked.
"We need to let the swelling go down for now, and then I need to bring
him in for an ultrasound to inspect the damage. The ribs will heal, but
will hurt like hell for a while. I fear he may be permanently affected.
I'll have to wait and see. Right now, let him sleep. I'm going to call
some friends for a consultation."
Chapter 8: Underground Railroad
Bobby Dunbar felt better than he had in months. He'd eaten food,
showered and was given clean jeans, a T-shirt and new sneakers. He
tried to pay but nobody would take his money.
Toby was having the time of his life, with at least five or six women
mothering him every second. He seemed to really like Terri, the
waitress with the really big boobs.
He and Bobby Filler were sitting together with Doc Schlange, in Bobby's
home. Charlene, Bobby's wife was running the businesses while Bobby
figured out what to do.
"Are you sure you've told us everything, Bobby? Every detail could be
important." Bobby Filler said. Bobby Dunbar sensed he was a man of few
words.
"All I can remember. I need to take care of Toby. He's all the family
I've got and he deserves better than what we had. And the Disciples
will never stop until they find us." Bobby said, stoically. For some
reason these two men reminded him of his Dad. Big, steady and caring.
"Al Jenkins was a Marine with me and Terri's dad. Then he was the best
cop this state ever saw. And Carol Jenkins was one of the best women I
knew. I'm not surprised they went out like they did, they were tough as
nails and really good people." Bobby Filler said.
He continued. "Carol asked me to help out a friend of hers, someone she
knew as a Navy nurse. The woman has a big mountain lodge way the heck
up in the Sierras and helps people. Usually not like you, but given
your situation, I think she'd do it for Carol's memory. They are sent
to me and I kind of filter them out and act as a go between to get them
to her. I've already called her and she wants you to bring Toby up
there and stay."
"What kind of people?" Bobby Dunbar asked.
"Usually women beaten up by their men, a lot with babies and nowhere to
go. It's gotten a little better, with some new laws, but the ones we
see now are a lot of migrants and others, who are afraid to go to the
law. If you go there, you follow her rules and do not do anything to
put those people at risk. Understand?"
Bobby shook his head.
"Bobby, I need to monitor his condition, and I'm going to need to take
him for some tests." Doc chimed in.
"I know Doc. That's why I'm bringing you into this. Plus I know you can
keep your mouth shut. Now Bobby, I've got a duffel bag of money which
is yours free and clear, and given your situation, I'm letting you keep
the 9mm. Can you use it?" Bobby Filler said.
"Yes, I can. My Dad taught me how to shoot when I was ten."
"Okay. The truck has been repainted and driven three hundred miles to
Arizona, Phoenix actually. The paint washed off in a car wash and we
hope it will be found abandoned. The Disciples probably have people in
every police station and we hope they think you are down south and east
of here. Now gather your things, both of you. You're going to meet Lady
Jean Thomas."
Chapter 9: Sanctuary
Bobby Filler drove the 6X6 up the logging road, taking care to avoid
the most jarring holes and rocks. Bobby Dunbar and Doc Schlange were
with him, and Toby seemed fine in his car seat.
After about an hour of twists and turns, Bobby drove off the road on
what looked like pure brush undergrowth. He stopped the truck, told the
two to get everything they were bringing.
A set of steps went up about twenty feet, cut into the rockface. Bobby
banged the stair rail with a rock and Doc saw a stair elevator platform
begin to descend. They boarded, Bobby banged the rock again and the
platform slowly lifted them up.
Bobby Dunbar saw the most beautiful house he had ever seen. Huge, it
must have twenty rooms or more. The wood finish blended in with the
surrounding pines, which towered overhead. Several decks ran along the
outside, at least three levels he could see. What was strange is that
it had been totally invisible from the road.
"Somebody was worried about defensive perimeters here." Doc muttered.
"When you meet Jean, you'll see." Bobby Filler said, chuckling.
They approached the house and two young women dressed in jeans and
workshirts met them. Bobby waved and it was clear they knew him.
"Is this our new arrival, Mr. Filler?" the tall one asked.
"Yes, Tracey. This is Bobby Dunbar and Toby. The other big guy is Doc
Schlange. He's a friend."
"Doctor, Lady Jean wants to meet you right away. Bobby, please bring
Toby and we'll get you two settled into your room. Mr. Filler, can you
take him to the library?"
Bobby nodded to Bobby Dunbar, who followed the two women to the left,
while he led Doc to the right. The interior was magnificent and Bobby
had to keep pulling Doc away from the paintings and artifacts strewn
through the lodge.
They entered the library which looked like something transplanted from
an English manor house. Dark wainscoting and books shelved to the
ceiling, with rolling ladders on the walls. A tall woman with long
brown hair strewn with gray rose from a stuffed chair. She was dressed
in a prim and proper sleeveless high neck dress which came to her
knees. She had a remarkable figure and moved with grace.
"Bobby I'm glad to see you. How is Charlene?" The woman said.
"She's going crazy, Lady Jean. She says she will quit smoking for sure
this time. I just stay out of her way, like everybody else." Bobby
said.
"I really doubt you can stay away from her that long, Bobby."
She turned to Doc. Doc Schlange stared at her, knowing she looked very
familiar, but could not place her.
"I'm Jean Thomas. The 'Lady' means I married lucky. Lucky until he
passed on. Haven't you placed me yet, Walter?" Lady Jean stood in front
of Doc, smiling.
Doc's face exploded. "Jean Koslowski? You were at FireBase Mary? I
haven't seen you in almost forty years! Goddamit, Bobby, why didn't you
tell me?" He hugged Lady Jean enough to pick her up off the floor.
"Didn't know until I gave Jean your name to see if she would allow you
up here. Then she told me to keep it a surprise." Bobby said, grinning
enough so his worn wrinkles moved around.
Doc, or Walter as Bobby now learned was his name, had served as Doctor
with Jean as chief nurse in a field hospital where a detachment of
Marines was reinforcing an Army position. Firebase Mary got nicknamed
"Bloody Mary" after it almost was overrun at least six times.
They sat down and Jean told her story. She knew Doc's history and had
been totally surprised when Bobby had told her he had been a frequent
visitor to Filler, just fifty miles away, and had married into the
Filler 'family'.
After falling in love with an Aussie officer she helped patch up, she
accepted his offer to return to Australia with him. It turned out he
was a British Lord, Knight of the Empire and all that, but also heir to
a reasonable fortune. They lived a wonderful, happy life until he his
heart gave out fifteen years ago. Lady Jean decided to return home to
the Sierras, and built the lodge on some property they owned. She
became involved in various causes, but settled on funding shelters for
battered women and children. As she got more involved, she found there
were cases in which the danger level was so high, she did not want them
in a regular shelter.
The 'Extreme Cases' as she called them she tended to personally, with a
small staff at her lodge. She knew Bobby Filler, Al and Carol Jenkins
from the war and enlisted them in being her go betweens. She also made
sure that her lodge would not be overrun like Firebase Mary.
"Walter, Bobby, right now I have only five girls in residence, two with
babies. I have the room for Bobby but we are not really set up for
young boys. How long will he have to stay here?" Lady Jean asked.
"Given the Disciples reputation, he and the baby have to disappear
forever. With Al gone, I have no way of knowing who to trust in the
police. I'm afraid to even try the one guy who was close to Al until
this thing cools off. We need Bobby to become someone else. Can you
trust your girls?" Bobby said.
"I hope so. I don't think any will be leaving in the next year,
anyway."
Doc spoke. "There is another complication. Bobby's injuries to his
groin are severe and probably permanent. He will almost certainly not
be producing enough testosterone to even trigger the rest of his
puberty. After he heals, I may need to begin supplements if he wants to
retain any normal function. I will need to take him for an ultrasound
exam soon."
"No need to remove him, Walter. I have two ultrasound machines here. We
have a very well equipped lab and a part time resident OB GYN. You may
want to confer with her, however, given she may be a bit out of her
specialty. Lord Harry left me more money than I can possibly spend."
Chapter 10: New Friends
Bobby Dunbar was walking Toby around on the deck, looking at the valley
below. Toby loved the sunlight and shadows through the trees.
Bobby felt a little better. His face was still bruised but not as
swollen. His ribs still ached but he felt it was lessening. His groin
was encased in a diaper like padded garment, with cold packs to try to
reduce the swelling. It still throbbed, despite the pain pills Doc and
the other Doc, Karen had given him. He felt a bit silly wearing the
loose fitting shift which came to his knees, but had to admit it was
the only thing he could wear outside over the diaper. Besides, he had
come to the conclusion he needed to look like someone else other than
Bobby, for his and Toby's sake.
The girls there had been great. They loved little Toby and made him
feel welcome. They all were here escaping from a brutal situation and
regarded Bobby as one of them.
He was the youngest. Dawn and Tracey were nineteen and Tracey's baby
was Toby's age.
Melinda was seventeen and her little boy was just nine months. Barbara
was sixteen and Madeline was fourteen.
Bobby found his room next to Madeline's, and she visited a lot when she
was not doing her studies or chores. Bobby had no chores while he
healed, which annoyed him since he had been running a household since
he was ten.
Lady Jean spent hours listening to Bobby talk. She was amazed at the
combination of adult maturity and responsibility and the child like
vulnerability in the young boy. His attachment to Toby was more than a
brother; Bobby admitted he felt more like Toby's Momma now that Momma
was gone.
"Bobby, your Momma had problems. You know that, don't you?" Jean asked
gently.
"Momma fell apart when Dad wasn't there. But even when he was, she was
mean and only really cared about herself. Mrs. Jenkins used to tell me
to be strong for her and Toby, 'cause Momma lost her way. So I did my
best, but I had to stop her from killing Toby. I didn't want to hurt
her." Bobby broke down and Lady Jean held him.
Jean could not believe what this child had been through. An abusive
mother. A father who seemed to care but was gone a lot. Being viewed as
gay by the whole town. Beaten up and humiliated. The people who were
supposed to help were either hurting him actively or absent. And then
watching his mother neglecting his brother, and then try to kill him
and blame him for it. The most violent criminal gang in the country
after him and wanting him dead.
And now he would have to be told he might never be a normal man. This
was not a problem child, this was a child that had problems dumped on
his head. And still, a core of incredible strength and character shown
through. He would not abandon his helpless brother at any cost to
himself. This child would be saved, cherished and protected, if she did
nothing else before she died. Lady Jean Thomas, the aloof, powerful
woman wept openly, holding the boy in a gentle embrace.
Chapter 11: New Identity
Jean was sitting in her office with Doc Schlange, Doctor Karen Peters,
her staff doctor and George Romany, a psychiatrist who specialized in
transgendered boys. George was part of a very shadowy group that Jean
could never seem to trace, but their purposes often coincided with hers
and she liked George. He was a bit of a fanatic if you wound him up,
but he really cared for the kids he treated.
"Jean, you are right not to trust the police. My contacts have told me
the Disciples have penetrated almost every force around. Not enough to
change things but enough so they know everything the cops know. You
tell the cops where Bobby is and he will be dead in two days. Along
with everyone near him. The group makes so much money from their meth
labs and other things they can afford to pay off or threaten their way
into anywhere." George said, glancing at the group's reaction.
"I read from your statement that Bobby needs to be prepared to assume
another identity for the foreseeable future, maybe permanently, George.
I have discussed this with him, as well as Walter's diagnosis. He has
expressed the desire to masquerade as a girl.. He is quite a mature boy
and he understands his injury. He also identifies as filling in for
Toby mother as a worthy life choice. I have never seen such a selfless
person, anywhere. Walter, Karen, what do you think?" Jean asked.
"I think appearing as a girl will be relatively harmless for now, if
the other girls never engage in humiliation of any kind. It should be
done lovingly and with his full consent. I assume Walter can address
the effect of holding off testosterone therapy, but we need to keep his
options open as long as possible." Karen said, nodding to Doc.
"Delaying Bobby's puberty will be helpful to the masquerade, and as
long as we monitor him, we can hold off a decision for a year. At that
time we either point him one way or another. If he wants to continue
the masquerade, then he needs to decide if it should become real." Doc
said, nodding to George.
"If we follow the normal process, which this does not, we would have
Bobby live as a woman for quite a while before we push this that way.
What's a problem here is the involuntary nature of the injury. Bobby
needs to come to grips with the decision, but the sooner he decides,
the better he will be growing up as his selected gender. I recommend we
wait no more than that year and then push for a choice. In the
meantime, I can provide some help with his appearance." George said,
tears welling up in his eyes. This case was personally difficult since
George believed in letting the person come to grips with their gender
gently and slowly, but Bobby's choice was thrust upon him.
"So be it. Bobby becomes Carol, the name he chose to honor Carol
Jenkins, who saved his life as her last act. It was his, or rather her
idea." Jean said, sharing George's tears.
Carol was beginning to get comfortable in his new role. Lady Jean had
explained the situation to all the household and they embraced Carol's
identity change as a group challenge. It had been a month and he was
finally getting the hang of hair styling, with coaching from Tracey and
Melinda. His hair was now jet black and his complexion was darker by a
combination of sun and makeup. He really wondered if sleeping in
rollers was necessary, but they assured him it was a necessary part of
his training.
Although they had only trimmed his hair, it was unrecognizable in the
curly style they had him practice. It floated off his shoulders, just
brushing them as he swung his head.
He had adapted to earrings and dresses, but found high heels really
uncomfortable. He made sure he did at least two hours a day practicing,
under Lady Jean's watchful eye, which included walking with a book on
his head in the library. Lady Jean and some of the staff who were also
teachers were patient but firm with Carol. If he lapsed on his
behavior, they were quick to settle him down and discuss why he was
doing it. There was a calm inevitability communicated to Carol that he
would become a feminine girl with help and support, and that he was
perfectly capable of doing it well.
Carol was treated like a special little sister by all of the girls.
They made sure he had help when he needed it, but including him into
their group as a full member was crucial to making Carol comfortable.
Gossip, jokes and general girl talk became easy for Carol, and seemed
normal after a short while. Carol had found a family again.
Mr. Romany was very helpful and seemed to know everything about
dressing like a girl. He confided in Carol that he often did it
himself, and one day showed up in a skirted suit and wig. Carol thought
he looked beautiful. Lady Jean just treated him as another woman. It
was amazing. Carol studied how George changed his hand gestures, and
body language when he dressed up. George had explained that attitude
and the silent forms of communication were the key to appearing
believably female.
George had fitted Carol for breast prostheses, showing him how to use
the adhesive and the remover. Carol's ribs were still sore but found
applying the breasts less painful as time went by.
It was strange having boobs, but Carol soon adapted, especially since
the girls fawned all over him, letting him know how good he looked. He
became familiar with brassieres and never went without one during the
day.
The girls showed Carol no mercy in appearing and acting girlish, and he
was always the most feminine appearing of the entire group. Of course,
his injury and padding almost made wearing dresses the easiest choice
for him.
The only person he could not fool was Toby, who took it all in stride.
He had cried when Carol's hair went dark, but quickly adapted. The rest
of the changes he was oblivious too, except he seemed to love to grab
at Carol's breasts and pinch them.
Chapter 12: School Days
Lady Jean had to admit, Carol was the hardest working student she had
ever seen. He just burned through the material, seemingly driven to
make up for lousy schools, apathetic teachers and no motivation all in
one year. At fourteen he was already caught up to his grade level, and
all this while being a full time mother.
Toby was a handful, still smiling and good natured but curious and
crawling into everything. He was a handful by any stretch of the
imagination. Carol played with him while studying material, never
ignoring him or even showing any temper.
Madeline became Carol's closest friend. Jean, Karen and George observed
a continual adaptation to the role of young mother and teenage girl
with little or no difficulty. It was like Bobby just became Carol over
the space of a few months.
Jean was proud of her girls, and a leaving ceremony was always a
tearful occasion. Dawn and Tracey had been at the lodge for three years
and were quite different from the scared and beaten girls who had shown
up at her door. Jean had determined the danger for them had passed and
was starting them off in a new life. The girls were starting a catering
business in Denver, a place far from their past.
Carol had used some of his stash of money to buy dresses for everybody
for the ceremony, including George. Jean thought it over and then
approved. It was the first time Carol had even thought about the money
in the whole year he had been there.
The formal gowns were very pretty, each one tailored to the
measurements sent in by Carol who had done it as his gift to the
departing girls.
Jean led the ceremony with some traditional words and all of them lit
the candles they held. Tracey and Dawn were in tears and it was
contagious. They said a few words indicating their love, their
appreciation for Lady Jean, and the unique rescue that had happened.
George was sobbing openly, his mascara running. It was short and
poignant.
Chapter 13: Direction and Discovery
Carol sat with Lady Jean. He was dressed up since he viewed this as
important, and his hair was a mass of permed curls. He smoothed his
skirt as he sat across the desk from her.
"Carol, you know the decision you need to make. Three doctors who love
you are all saying you should grow up one way or the other. I wish
there was another way. But Dr. Schlange is a leading expert on this and
says if you delay any longer you may end up halfway between man and
woman. We gave you a year to try living as a girl and frankly you are
better at it than most natural born girls.
"You may be just short of fifteen, but you are old enough to make this
decision. Just please do me one favor. Do this for you, not for Toby.
He's a wonderful child, but he would not want this on his head when
he's old enough to know what you gave up." Jean said, looking directly
into Carol's eyes.
Carol/Bobby went quiet.
After the longest ten minutes Jean could remember, he spoke. "I don't
think I would be as good a man as the woman I could be. I can't be
sure, but I think I want to be Carol. Can I do that?"
Jean hugged her newest girl.
Max Atherton had never given up on nailing Al and Carol Jenkins'
killers. He had to let the sheriff go, with the only evidence being
Al's call to the police. He knew the key was the Dunbar boy.
No one had found him, or the baby. It was like the earth had swallowed
them up. He knew the Disciples were still looking also, so he took
comfort in believing they were still alive. If the gang stopped
looking, they were dead.
Max called in the lone investigator who was still working the case.
Fred Washington was a massive man who was like a bulldog with a bone.
When he got a case, he never let go.
"Fred, did we check out everybody who went to the Jenkins funeral? I
mean everybody?"
"Yes, Max. We did. Three times. So did the Disciples through the PI's
they've hired. But I have an idea I've been working on and I need your
help." Fred said in his slow but penetrating voice.
"Okay, shoot."
"My latest theory is who didn't go to the funeral who should have. The
murder got nationwide attention, so most people would have found out.
I've gone through Carol Jenkins address book and I have a list of cop
and marine buddies for Al and old friends of Carol. I'm going to start
tracing them down. If any of them are sheltering the boy, they would
not have been at the service to avoid the Disciples' attention. Now do
any names strike you?"
Max scanned the list. Two popped out, both Vietnam buddies of Al's.
Bill Ferny and Bobby Filler. Both were in state and both would have
come for the funeral if they could.
"Okay, Max, I'll check them out. I have three names to track from Carol
Jenkins' friends. Barbara Holman, Jean Koslowski and Bebe Newhart. The
rest are dead or in very bad health." Fred continued.
"Fred, do this yourself. I really don't want that damn gang using your
work to find them and kill them. If that happens, I'd rather we just
drop the whole thing." Max said.
They found the listening device in Max's office the next day.
Chapter 14: Return
Sheriff Turner was basking in his new hot tub. The income from his role
in the Disciples allowed him to make his lifestyle a bit more
comfortable. He was about half asleep, sitting over the water jets with
a beer in his hand.
Suddenly he was yanked out of the water and thrown into a bag, tied
shut and heaved up on a shoulder.
"Make a noise and I'll break your skull wide open, scumbag." This was
all Turner heard. He decided to be quiet.
After being thrown into a car trunk, Turner remembered driving for what
seemed like hours. The bag was impervious to his efforts to break free.
He felt the car stop and the trunk open. He was hoisted out and carried
somewhere. A few minutes later, he is strapped up and hung on a hook,
suspended a foot off the ground. He heard two men.
"Turner, we need to go over what happened at the Dunbar place. We need
more clues to find the boy. Now start from the top and don't leave
anything out."
"What? Are you crazy? I work right for Reed and Sean. They already know
everything I know. This is a mistake!" Turner said, a whimper in his
voice. He heard some dogs, big snarly ones.
"Look asshole, Reed and Sean have fucked this up. We are looking over
their shoulder, so to speak. Now, do you answer or should I pour beef
gravy on your crotch and let the dogs loose? They haven't eaten for a
day and a half." The voice was cold and frightening.
Turner felt his bathing suit being cut away and felt something warm and
thick being poured onto his genitals. The dogs got louder.
Turner talked. He covered everything.
When he was done, he was punched in the face and gut, taken off the
hook and told, "Don't breathe a word about this to anyone, asshole, or
next time we won't be so nice."
Turner was told to not remove his mask for ten minutes or he would be
dead. He knew the gang actually did that to guys, leaving behind a
gunman with a stopwatch. They unstrapped him and he then heard a car
drive away.
Maybe a half an hour alter, he unmasked and found himself naked, in the
desert, miles from anywhere.
Chapter 15: Good Police Work
Max Atherton was in a rush. He knew the Disciples were driving against
the leads Fred had developed and blamed himself. They had not killed
anyone yet, but the people they could find had been visited. And
threats were implied.
Bobby Filler had captured two PI's who had gotten a little rough. The
State Police retrieved them and charged assault against an officer of
the law, Bobby being the Filler town sheriff. He told the troopers that
his favorite song was 'I Fought The Law And The Law Won' when they
drove away. Bobby started carrying his revolver again.
Max Atherton paid a call on Bobby.
"Bobby, I worked with Al Jenkins for twenty years. He was the best damn
cop this state ever had. And I let him down. If I can find that kid I
know I can put away Sean Cottrell for a long time." Max said.
"Mr. Atherton, even if you get Sean Cottrell, from what I understand
he's just the top punk. The damn gang will go on and kill that kid just
like stomping on a bug." Bobby said, shuffling papers on his desk.
"We could protect him. Oh, that's bullshit, I know. But what else can I
do? I've got to get the guys that took down Al." Max said, exasperated.
"Sounds like you need to go a bit outside the law, Max. If I hear
anything, I'll call you."
Fred had just connected Jean Koslowski to Lady Jean Thomas. He was not
going to tell anyone except Max, but was not aware there was spyware in
his computer, sending out his activity to a hidden location on the
local network. Someone was going to pick that up that evening.
The State Police Sysadmin was running maintenance routines, trying to
track down some anomalous behavior on the servers. He found the hidden
files just as they were leaving the system. He was able to trap the
files before they deleted themselves and tried to trace where they
went. Failing that, he picked up the phone to call the Duty Officer.
Max Atherton was called a half an hour later.
Chapter 16: Firebase Jean
Lady Jean got the call from Bobby, who got the call from Max Atherton.
She immediately started shutting down the lodge. When she decided to
handle the 'Extreme Cases' here, she knew she might attract some very
bad people. Fortunately there were only four girls and two toddlers,
plus three adult staff. Plus Jean. She hoped Bobby could get here soon
with some reinforcements. She opened the armory and issued weapons to
the staff, grabbing a Colt 1911 ACP for herself, along with an M-16
with full auto. She was running through the defenses in her head.
Claymores, motion sensors, video cameras and other booby traps.
She debated collapsing the staircase, but decided it made a better kill
zone if they tried to use it. Her staff cook was an expert with a SAW
(light machine gun) and was assembling it as she watched.
Lady Jean had almost been killed several times defending a position
almost forty years ago and was going to be damned if she would let them
through hers now. She remembered when the nurses had been offered
rifles and asked to help hold the line. It was never supposed to
happen, and never had, officially.
Sean Cottrell was angry every time he closed his jaw. The
reconstruction was never quite right, and the source of constant pain.
That kid had caught him just right and smashed the hinge joint beyond
recognition. He had spent the better part of the year going to oral
surgeons, who he found, were much more professional at giving pain than
he could ever aspire to. His brother had told him he wasn't allowed to
kill the doctors when he was finished, and that really pissed him off.
Sean was going in from the air. There were two helos, each carrying two
Disciples to climb down a rope and enter the lodge. Reed had about
twenty guys working their way up the hill, ready to go in and lay waste
on Sean's signal. The money paid to the cops IT people was worth it, it
kept them one step ahead.
Carol and Toby were in a central room. Carol held the 9mm Bobby Filler
had let her keep. She always thought of herself in the feminine these
days, since she had committed to the hormone therapy. After just a few
months, her body was already taking shape. She knew it would take some
time, but she wanted her own breasts so she could ditch the prostheses.
So far, her nipples were changing and she showed some growth. Despite
the mood swings, she was happier than she had ever been. Until today.
Madeline, Melinda and Barbara, along with Melinda's toddler were also
there, and Melinda had a pump shotgun aimed at the only door.
Reed Cottrell was cursing the underbrush. At first this little hit
seemed like fun, like all those war movies he had seen. He had his guys
working up the hill, and they were cursing and shouting and making a
hell of a lot of noise. Reed knew that was wrong, but who could get in
their way out here? He hefted the H&K submachine gun and kept moving
upward. He hoped they were on the right hill.
Chapter 17: Confrontation
Jean heard the helicopters and saw the men rappelling down the lines,
four of them. She cursed herself. She had never planned on an air
assault. She ran up the stairs. She heard the crash of glass and knew
at least one had entered the house.
Sean Cottrell sent his companion down the hall. They both began kicking
in doors. He heard someone running up stairs. His partner kicked in a
door and was taken down by a shotgun blast. Sean crept up and looked
inside and saw a bunch of girls and little kids. One was rubbing a sore
shoulder from the shotgun blast.
Sean ran in and shouted, "Bobby Dunbar! Give it up and nobody else gets
hurt!"
The girls all looked at each other, some grasping the babies. Carol hid
the 9mm under her skirt. She heard gunfire in the hallway.
"Bobby Dunbar! Come out!" Sean said. Nobody moved.
Carol knew Sean could cut them to pieces if he squeezed off a burst
with his weapon. Including Toby.
Jean saw two men coming down the hall, and sent a burst into the first
one. He staggered, but didn't go down. Damn armor she thought. She was
then surprised to see the second man snap her target's neck. He turned,
a large man with short hair and a beard, tattoos all over his huge
upper arms. He held up his hand and put a finger in front of his mouth,
indicating silence. Jean nodded. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, at
least this moment.
Both of them heard Sean's challenge in the room off the hallway. The
large man crept inside.
Carol, grasping her skirt, stood up. She gave Toby to Melinda.
"I'm Bobby Dunbar. Leave them alone." She said.
Sean looked and laughed.
"You are a little faggot. I'll bet you've enjoyed this, girl. Now I owe
you some payback." Sean menaced, his jaw clicking.
Carol drew up the pistol but stopped as Sean was suddenly in a choke
hold. Carol stood there stunned.
"You forgot the other Dunbar, Sean. Drop the gun or I'll snap your
neck. I may anyway." Steve Dunbar stood there. Smiling.
Sean dropped the gun. Steve smashed him right in his reconstructed jaw,
sending Sean in paroxysms of screaming pain. Steve tied him up with
some plastic handcuffs he had in his assault suit.
Carol was absolutely shaken. Steve came up and picked her up.
"I've been looking for you for almost a year, Bobby. I'll never leave
you again. Is that Toby?"
Carol nodded.
"I see you took real good care of him. I'm real proud of you, kid. I
got some of the story, but I want to hear it all from you."
"Daddy! Daddy!" Carol screamed. "I thought you were dead! Daddy!" Tears
were streaming down most cheeks in the room. Madeline handed Toby to
Steve.
After a few minutes, Lady Jean interrupted.
"Mr. Dunbar, I thank you for your help, but there are at least fifteen
men coming up the mountain, all heavily armed. I think we better attend
to the defenses."
Steve set his family down.
"Bobby, please take that pistol and blow that guy away if he tries to
get loose. I'll be back. Take care of the group here."
Steve kissed his sons and left with Lady Jean.
As they approached the first floor, Jean heard the SAW ripping bursts
right at the staircase, and saw her cook take out at least four of the
attackers. These morons were plain stupid, Jean thought, we may survive
this yet.
Steve took his H&K and worked a gunport under a window. Jean saw a
group of five men on the video monitor at the base of the stairs and
triggered the claymores. Remote controlled explosives loaded with steel
bearings. She watched the shrapnel rip the Disciples to complete
shreds. The odds were evening up.
The house was stinking of cordite and sweat. Her staff was now only
firing when they saw a target.
Chapter 18: Wrap
Jean saw her attackers start dying on the video monitors, but she could
not see how. Suddenly the survivors had their hands in the air.
Jean's phone rang. She answered it, put the receiver down and shouted,
"It's over! Put your weapons down! Bobby Filler got here with some
help."
Bobby had enlisted the nearby Mountain Resort security team to help
out. Most were reservists, former Recon Marines or Army Special Forces.
They had no casualties; their only limitation was getting there fast
enough.
One of the dead was Reed Cottrell, his face barely recognizable from
Jean's claymores.
Jean looked up and saw another helicopter. Just as everyone was raising
weapons, she heard a shout, "Friendly! State Police"
Chapter 19: Sweet Home Again
Max Atherton was debating between arresting everyone in sight or just
ignoring the whole thing and taking in Sean Cottrell and his remaining
Disciples, and squeezing them for what he would need to put a real dent
in the organization.
Lady Jean Thomas, her lodge restored to order, all windows airing out
the smell of battle, recounted the story as she knew it. Max went wide
eyed at what Bobby Dunbar had to go through. Max decided to ignore the
several hundred weapons violations in evidence.
Steve Dunbar related his story, which consisted of being found barely
alive by 'freelance salvage crews' or pirates, working the small
islands off the Philippines, graduating from slave to crew, escaping
and working his way back to the US. Once he arrived, he contacted an
old friend who clued him in to what had happened. He glossed over some
of his methods tracking the Disciples, but told Max that he had
boatloads of data on their operations which he would be happy to let
them 'find' them on Reed Cottrell's body.
A medevac helicopter came for the wounded, especially Sean Cottrell,
who, in addition to a re-fractured jaw, somehow had his testicles
hammered flat, possibly with a pistol butt.
Jean knew she would never ask Carol about that.
Jean decided that Steve Dunbar was an exceptional man, capable of
violence but also caring. He had accepted Carol's life decision,
understanding the logic and knew he had been a part of the circumstance
which brought it about. He had a lot of guilt to work out. Jean knew
she was capable of violence herself, if it meant defending her
'family'.
Lady Jean's mission sometimes required force to extract and protect the
women and children while they made it to her sanctuary, and Al Jenkins
was gone and had been too old for quite a while, and she knew Bobby
Filler, while tough as they come, was getting on in years. She needed
someone new to keep things going.
Steve Dunbar spent a lot of time talking to Lady Jean, about his life
and his choices. She came to see him as a man who looked for redemption
and was struggling to achieve it. He also was driven to protect the
innocent. Even in his worst days as a gang member, he applied violence
only against those who could defend themselves, and today his smuggling
of pot would just make him a minor glaucoma medicine distributor.
So Lady Jean Thomas gave Carol, her newest girl, the best gift she
could.
Steve accepted her offer to stay on as a 'security specialist'. He
agreed, knowing the Disciples could still lash out while the justice
system began to dismantle them. He also knew Carol (he called her that
now almost every time) liked it here. He had promised not to leave his
family again, and this was keeping that promise.
Later that week, Carol put on her favorite dress, did her hair just the
way she liked it, put on some light makeup and scent and even wore
heels. She and Toby were going to dinner with Dad.
She realized she was happy, and had been happy for a longer time than
ever before.
END