A Murder Misstery
by the author of The Jessica Project
When I rolled out of bed that fateful morning, I had no way of knowing
that it would be my last day as Matt McCoy. After showering and
dressing quickly (how I long for those days!) I bolted out the door for
my train, looking forward to another manic day on the floor. Although I
was one of the youngest traders at the Chicago exchange, I was becoming
feared and respected for my cunning and balls...another detail which was
soon to change.
I grabbed a bagel and a cup of coffee at the station and wolfed them
down on the train, absent-mindedly flipping through the Tribune. My
heart stopped when I came to this article:
PROMINENT BROKER ARRESTED
CHICAGO - Norman Wolf, CEO of Piranha and Wolf, has been charged by
federal authorities with bilking thousands of elderly investors
throughout Chicagoland. Wolf, who was taken into custody last night at
his Lakeshore Drive home, proclaimed his innocence, maintaining that a
rogue employee masterminded the scheme for his personal self-enrichment.
Authorities declined to identify Wolf's alleged accomplice, stating only
that their investigation was ongoing and additional arrests were
expected.
My hands were shaking as I dropped the paper to the floor. When I
questioned him about some questionable activities I'd come across
working late one night, Norman Wolf had assured me that everything was
on the up-and-up. He even took me out to lunch one day and involved me
in some of his dealings. Now I was convinced that he was setting me up,
and that he would try to finger me to save his skin.
Furtively I glanced around the train, expecting to see policemen heading
my way with guns drawn. But there were only the other passengers,
either engrossed in their papers or asleep, as we pulled into Clybourn,
the last stop before Chicago. If the cops were onto me, they'd be
waiting at the end of the line. Without thinking I vaulted over the
passenger next to me and raced for the door, just making it out onto the
platform before the train pulled away.
Shivering in the freezing February gloom, I tried desperately to think.
Going back to my apartment was out of the question. Until I could
figure out a way to clear myself, I'd have to lay low, keeping out of
sight until the heat was off. Fortunately I had no family or close
friends in Chicago, only my girlfriend Tracy, a flight attendant who
lived with two other girls in an apartment near O'Hare. I flipped open
my cell phone and punched in her number.
"Hello?" a groggy voice answered.
"Tracy, it's me."
"God, don't you know what time it is? I flew all night and I just got
to sleep."
"Sorry, baby. Are your roommates there?"
"No, you didn't wake anyone else up. Just me, and I'm gonna hang up."
"Tracy, I'm in trouble and I need your help."
It took some doing, but after a long walk to Armitage I caught the "L"
downtown and rode the Blue Line out to the Rosemont station, a few long
blocks from Tracy's apartment. I don't know which of us was more
frazzled when she finally let me in. Standing there in her robe without
any makeup, even after working all night, she was a sight for sore eyes.
"Thanks for taking me in," I said after a long hug. "Are you sure you
want to harbor a fugitive?"
"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" she replied as she poured
us each a cup of steaming black coffee. "Why not just turn yourself in?
The FBI will believe you if you tell them the truth."
"You don't know Norman Wolf. All the way here I've been replaying
little scenes at the office which didn't make sense to me before, but
they do now. He was setting me up all along, Tracy."
"Well, what are you going to do?"
"I need a disguise and a place to stay until I can figure things out."
"You could stay here, I guess..."
"What about your roomies?"
"Cathy just left for training in Denver, and Ashley is on vacation till
the end of the week."
"That works. Now all we need is to come up with a disguise, something
that will enable me to move around until I can clear my name."
"Hmm..." Tracy walked around the room, surveying me with a critical
eye. "Stand up and take off your jacket," she said, disappearing into
the bedroom. I did as I was told, and she returned with a tape measure.
"Raise your arms," she said, and I stood there while she drew the tape
around my chest, then around my waist, then once more a little lower.
"How tall are you?"
"Five nine."
"How much do you weigh?"
"One fifty."
"And your shoe size?"
"Nine."
"Perfect," she giggled. "Come with me." I followed her into the large
walk-in closet that she shared with the other girls. It was crammed
full of clothes, shoes and accessories. All of a sudden it hit me, and
I backed out of the closet in a panic. "Come back here!"
"No way!" I trembled.
"Listen, mister, you asked me to help you come up with a disguise, and I
did. You'll fit into my clothes, Cathy's feet are as big as yours, and
Ashley has a wig in here somewhere that she used to wear on layovers."
"I'm not gonna dress up as a chick!"
"Why not? Are you afraid of what people might think?"
"Damn right!"
"Well, let's see how you look first. When I'm finished with you, I
don't think anybody will be able to tell that you're really a guy."
"Yeah, right," I said nervously. Maybe that was what I was so afraid
of, afraid that my masculinity might be threatened. Had I only known,
I'm sure I would never have taken that first fateful step, but I was
desperate, Tracy was sincerely trying to help me, and what choice did I
have?
"May I take that as a yes?"
I hung my head in resignation. "I guess we can try it," said with a
sigh.
"Attagirl. Now if this is gonna work we've gotta start from the skin
out. Take off all your clothes."
"Okay, but what do you mean 'from the skin out'?" I asked as I
unbuttoned my shirt.
"I mean this has gotta go," she said with a tug on my chest hair.
"Oh no, you don't!" I protested.
"Listen, silly, if you expect me to make you believable as a girl,
you're gonna have to work with me."
"I'm sorry, Tracy, but I've changed my mind."
"Suit yourself," she said in a huff. "I'd just as soon go back to sleep
anyway." She tossed my shirt at me, and I was buttoning it back up when
the telephone rang. "Hello?" She shot me a hard glance. "Uh, no, I
haven't seen him, why?" Her eyes widened. "Really! Wow, that's
unbelievable, thanks for letting me know." She hung up and grabbed the
TV remote.
"What was that all about?" I asked.
Tracy ignored me, flipping through the channels until she came to a
local news station. We both stared speechless as my picture came up on
the screen. "According to the FBI, Matt McCoy is suspected of
masterminding a scheme to swindle thousands of elderly investors out of
their life savings," a reporter was saying.
I felt sick to my stomach. "This can't be happening."
"Just be thankful that you found out about it before you walked out of
here," she said. "You knew this was coming down. Matt, are you sure
you're telling me the truth?"
"Tracy, you've got to believe me!" I started to cry, and she took me
into her arms.
"I'm here for you, baby," she whispered.
"I'm sorry I was so stupid. Please help me. I'll do anything you say."
The bathroom in Tracy's apartment was strewn with nylons hanging out to
dry. They might be falling out of fashion, but not in an apartment
shared by three flight attendants. Tracy wore pantyhose every day as
part of her uniform, and soon I'd be wearing them too, I thought
morosely as I shaved my legs in her bathtub. My arms too, then my chest
and underarms, and finally Tracy came in to finish off my back. "You
look buff," she said after I toweled myself off.
"You mean you like me this way?" In spite of all I'd been through, I
felt myself starting to stir.
"You're just like a movie star," she purred. "Besides, I've always
wanted to make love to a wanted fugitive." I chased her into the
bedroom and we tumbled into bed. The feeling of our smooth bodies
touching was incredibly arousing, and we went at with abandon. Tracy
had always been a gentle lover, but today she was like a tigress, with
some newfound power. "Wow," she sighed when we finally came up for air.
"Let's do it again," I said, even though my body was totally tapped out.
I dreaded what was about to happen to me.
She teased my exhausted manhood. "Now that I've softened you up, we're
going to turn you into a girl," she pronounced. "Come on, get out of
bed. We have some serious work to do." With a sigh I got up and we put
on terrycloth bathrobes which she'd stolen from some hotels. After I
shaved my face again, Tracy was all business. First she went to work
with an emery board, smoothing and shaping my longish nails. Next she
tweezed my eyebrows, and when I yelped she told me to stop being such a
baby. She helped me moisturize my tender skin, and then it was time to
get me dressed.
"What am I going to try on?" I asked nervously.
"Let's start with one of my old uniforms. I used to be a little chubby
before I met you, so it should fit just fine."
I cringed at the thought. "Don't you have something more casual?"
"Listen, missy, I'm a working girl and my wardrobe is somewhat limited.
Once we find out whether you're presentable, maybe we can do a little
shopping, okay?" That shut me up, and I reluctantly followed her back
into the closet.
"Your hips are slim enough for you to wear my panties," she said matter-
of-factly. I cringed when she handed me a lacy white pair, and I
watched her smirk as I tugged them on. "There, that wasn't so hard, was
it? This may seem a little strange," she said as she handed me one of
her bras. I watched sullenly as she draped it over my chest and showed
me how to fasten the clasps from behind. After Tracy stuffed the cups
with some knee-highs, she pushed me over to her vanity and went to work
on my makeup. I watched with alarm as she methodically feminized my
face, leaving me with smoky eyes and pouting pink lips.
Next came Ashley's wig, and the effect was shocking. One minute I was a
guy in a bra and panties, and the next, I was totally a girl. I could
only gape and stare as Tracy gently styled my short blonde hair into a
perky wedge.
Tracy seemed mesmerized by her creation. "This is scary," she
whispered.
"Tell me about it." How could it be so easy to erase my gender? I
followed her back into the closet in a trance.
"Okay, put this on first," she said, handing me a crisp white blouse.
"Oh wait, I almost forgot." She left me standing there, surrounded by
racks of skirts and dresses, contemplating my misfortune. When she
returned she was holding a lacy white slip. "This will help to smooth
you out," she said. "No, don't pull it over your head, you'll muss your
hairdo. Step into it." Reluctantly I did as I was instructed, and a
shiver ran down my spine as the cool, silky fabric slid up my hairless
body. "That's better, now put on your blouse." My hands were shaking,
and I fumbled helplessly with the buttons until I realized that they
were backwards from what I was used to. Eventually I figured them out,
and although the blouse was a little tight around my shoulders, the last
button left me with just enough room to breathe.
"Time to put on your nylons," Tracy said with a snicker.
"Do I have to? You never wear them when we go out."
"I do when I go to work. Besides they'll make your legs look more
feminine. Anyway, they're part of your uniform, so get with the
program!" She handed me a pair of navy blue pantyhose and showed me how
to ease them on, one leg at a time. After that my blue skirt was almost
an anti-climax, and I felt trapped when she zipped it up.
There was a full-length mirror on the back of the closet door, and I
watched my reflection in dismay as Tracy lifted up my skirt and tugged
down my blouse and slip. Then it was time to step into a pair of
Cathy's low-heeled blue pumps, which just fit. "We'll practice walking
around in them in a minute," Tracy said as she tied a silk scarf loosely
around my neck. A blue jacket was next, and again it was a little tight
around the shoulders but it buttoned up all right.
"Almost done," Tracy said. I followed her over to the dresser, and
stood there in her clothes while she tried some jewelry on me. "I can't
remember who gave me these clip-ons," she said as she fussed with my
earrings, and a simple gold necklace and an inexpensive woman's watch
were next. Then she sat me down at her vanity and started to apply a
coat of quick-dry polish to my nails. As I sat there I looked down at
my silken knees, peeking demurely under the hem of my slim skirt. Never
in my life had I felt so helpless and confined.
When my nails were dry, we went back to the kitchen and Tracy made some
more coffee. We sat there for a while, sipping our coffee in silence,
while I gradually got used to the strange sensations of wearing women's
clothing. "I can't believe how cute you look," Tracy marveled.
"Thanks, that's all I needed to hear."
"Take it as a compliment. If you looked like a guy in a dress, this
disguise would never work. Now if we can only do something with your
voice, I really think you can pull it off."
"My voice?"
"Try talking a little softer, and raise your pitch a little." For the
next half hour we chatted like two girls as she worked on my voice. I
was beginning to get the hang of it when the doorbell rang.
Tracy saw the panic in my eyes. "Relax, it's probably just the lady
next door. She waters the plants when we're all away. Sit still, you
look totally like a girl now, it will be a good test for you." Before I
could protest, Tracy got up and opened the door.
"FBI," a deep voice said. "Are you Tracy Flowers? Do you mind if we
come in?" Tracy tried to slam the door but it was too late, and two
middle-aged special agents in suits and ties entered the apartment.
Tracy was beside herself, and I was worried that she might give me away.
Sheer instinct for self- preservation took over. "Why don't you go
change, Tracy? Can I get you guys some coffee?"
Tracy ran into the bedroom and slammed the door. "I'm sorry we barged
in on her in her bathrobe," one of the agents stammered.
Keep it short and sweet, I reminded myself before I spoke. "That's
okay, she's a big girl. How do you take your coffee?"
"Black for me."
"Nothing for me, thanks," the other agent said as he prowled around the
apartment. "Do you live here?"
There was no time to think, so I just went with the flow. "Uh huh." I
reached up into one of the cabinets for a mug, very aware that my skirt
was riding up my legs, and after I filled it with coffee I offered it to
the agent, trying to keep my gestures as feminine as possible.
"What's your name, sweetie?"
"Ashley." In her wig, I looked almost like her, not that they would
know what she looked like anyway...keep your cool, girl, I told myself.
"Do you know Matt McCoy?"
"Tracy's boyfriend? I've met him, why?"
"Let's wait for your roommate." That was the opening I needed, and
before they could stop me I walked over to the bedroom and closed the
door firmly behind me. Tracy was sitting on the bed, still in her
bathrobe, shaking with sobs.
"Listen carefully," I whispered. "They think I'm Ashley." Her eyes
widened. "You've got to play along. Quick, put on some clothes and
when you come back, just tell them that you haven't seen or heard from
Matt since yesterday. Got it?" She nodded dumbly. "Come on, Tracy,
get with it!"
When she finally got up to get dressed, I returned to face the agents.
"She'll be here in a minute," I said breezily. "Some more coffee for
you?"
"You must be a very good flight attendant." I ignored the sexist remark
and sat down on the sofa. It occurred to me that the men were staring
at my legs. I crossed them slowly and tugged at the hem of my skirt,
waiting for them to make the next move. Just then Tracy opened the
bedroom door, dressed in jeans and a hoodie. I gave her an encouraging
wink, and she sat down beside me on the sofa.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion, Miss Flowers, and thank you for your time.
When is the last time you saw Matt McCoy?"
"Last Saturday."
"Where was that?"
"He took me to a movie, and then we came back here for a while."
"Have to spoken with him since?"
"No."
"Is that unusual?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, doesn't he call you on the phone sometimes?"
"It depends. He knows I travel a lot. I just got back from a trip this
morning," she answered, trying to keep to the truth whenever she could.
I felt so strange, sitting there in women's clothing, watching the men
ogle my legs while Tracy described me like I wasn't in the room. I
tugged my skirt down over my knees again and prayed that she wouldn't
give me away.
"Were there any messages from him on your machine?"
"No."
"Do you know where he is right now?"
"Look, I'll be very honest with you," Tracy said as I held my breath.
"One of my girlfriends called me a few hours ago and told me that Matt
was wanted by the police. I saw his picture on TV."
"Was that news to you?"
"Yes! What kind of girl do you think I am?"
"Did you try to get in touch with him after you heard about it?"
"No! Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"What they're saying about him. Is he really a criminal?"
"We're really not at liberty to discuss our investigation." They handed
Tracy their cards. "Please call us immediately if you hear from him.
Thank you again for your cooperation."
Tracy got up to let them out. "And thank you, sweetie," the agent who
had the coffee said to me before they left.
Tracy waited until they were well down the hall before bolting the door
and collapsing next to me on the sofa in near hysterics. I couldn't
tell whether she was laughing or crying, but the tears were real, and
she hugged me close. When I tried to comfort her, she shushed me with a
kiss, and the next thing I knew she was stroking my legs through my
nylons. It was the sexiest thing I'd ever felt, and I started to lose
control as she reached up my skirt and tugged down my pantyhose and
panties...then she had her jeans off and she was straddling me, riding
up and down, panting and yelping until we came together in an incredible
rush.
Afterwards I lay back in a daze, trying to come to grips with what was
happening to me. I'd just had the best sex of my life, in woman's
clothing, with my girlfriend on top. My lipstick was smeared all over
her beautiful face, and our hairless legs were tangled up in my panties
and stockings. When she finally rolled off me, I got unsteadily to me
feet and began to pull myself together. "You've ruined my stockings,"
she pouted, pointing to a long run that ran from my toes to my waist.
"Take 'em off, and I'll get you a fresh pair after we fix your makeup.
You're a total mess!" A subtle shift in our relationship was occurring,
although I was so distracted by my female trappings, I didn't notice it
at the time.
After showing me how to put on a fresh coat of lipstick, Tracy handed me
another pair of pantyhose, nude this time. It was humiliating to
struggle with them under her watchful eye. When I finally got them on,
she disappeared into the bathroom to shower and change.
I stepped back into my heels and stared at myself for a long time in the
full length mirror. Looking back at me was a pretty flight attendant
with perky blonde hair and terrific legs. I turned this way and that,
practicing ways to stand and move my hands to make myself look more
feminine. The more I studied myself, the more convinced I became that
Tracy was right: my disguise was perfect, and with a little practice
there was no way anyone would detect that I was really a guy.
That brought me back to reality, and I was thinking of ways to get close
to Norman Wolf when Tracy returned to the closet. She had zero makeup
on, her hair was pulled back into a bun, and her bra and panties were
soon covered by a thick sweater and baggy khakis. "Are you trying to
look like a guy?" I asked as she pulled on a pair of trouser socks.
"One of us has to wear the pants around here," she taunted me. "I
thought I'd take you out to lunch, then maybe we can do a little
shopping so you won't have to wear my clothes. How are you fixed for
cash?"
"We got our bonuses in January, so I'm flush...uh oh!"
"What?"
"If the feds are looking for me, how am I going to get into my bank
account?"
"Like any working girl, use your ATM to take out as much cash as you can
every day."
"Hmm....they'll be watching my account, and once they see that I'm using
an ATM machine in Rosemont, they'll be all over you."
"This is true...how about if you write a big check to me, only date it
like a week ago, and I'll cash it for you?"
"I really don't want to get you in trouble, Tracy...say, does Ashley
have any ID around here?"
"Clever girl! You do look an awful lot like her now. Let's see, she
may have left her airline credential when she went on vacation, let me
check." Sure enough, Ashley's photo ID was in a drawer of her
nightstand, and it bore an uncanny resemblance to me in her wig.
"Okay, only I'll have to go downtown to one of the big branches of my
bank." I retrieved my wallet from the pile of guy clothes on the closet
floor and found the blank check I always carried with me. After I made
it out to Ashley in the amount of $5,000, I was about to stuff it into
the pocket of my little blue jacket when Tracy started to laugh. "Girls
don't carry their money like that, dear," she explained. She went into
the closet and came back with a navy blue purse and one of her old
wallets. "Here, let's set you up like a proper woman." Soon my purse
was chock full female essentials like lipstick, a compact, a brush,
tissues, and a nail file in addition to the wallet.
After Tracy put on a pair of sturdy shoes, a wool cap and a pea coat,
she loaned me one of her uniform topcoats and a pair of women's gloves,
and we were off. I was very self-conscious at first, and Tracy had to
tell me to smile and act natural. "Stand up straight...stop staring at
your feet!" she scolded me. When we stepped outside, the winter wind
whipped my skirt and coat around my knees, and the frigid air cut
through my stockings like a knife. "Now I know why you're wearing
pants!" I groaned.
"Better get used to it, sweetheart. You look like a girl dressed like
that, but I don't know how convincing you'd be in pants."
"Whatever," I sighed. My girlish voice was becoming a little more
natural to me, and we bantered back and forth to take our minds off my
troubles.
"Hungry?" she asked me.
"Starving."
"Okay, let's find someplace where I can teach you how to eat like a
girl."
It dawned on me that Tracy was acting more and more in charge, almost
like she was the guy. "You're digging this, aren't you?" I asked.
"If you're asking me whether I'm happy that my boyfriend is on the ten
most wanted list, the answer is no."
"But you are digging the fact that I have to act like a chick."
"I have to admit, it's been a blast so far. Watching you try to pretend
you're a girl is a hoot, and you gotta admit, the sex was amazing."
Just thinking about it made me stir again, which was a very
uncomfortable feeling. I closed my eyes and tried to forget about my
manhood, trapped and throbbing in its silken prison. At least my tight
skirt and heels made it impossible for me to walk like a man, and it was
a struggle to keep up with Tracy.
We arrived at the Rosemont station, and I fished awkwardly through my
purse for money to pay for our tickets to Chicago on the Blue Line.
Fortunately the station was almost deserted at that hour, and a train
came along in a few minutes. As soon as we found our seats, I kicked
off my heels and flexed my aching toes, which were cold under my
stockings. Tracy smiled sympathetically before she closed her eyes to
catch some sleep.
Instead of looking out for cops, I studied the faces of other passengers
for any indication that they saw through my disguise, but once again
everyone else was either reading or sleeping. As we rolled through the
Chicago suburbs, I actually closed my eyes and nodded off for a few
minutes. Without realizing it I was getting more and more used to
myself as a woman.
We woke up with a start when the train went underground for the final
run into downtown Chicago, and soon we were making our way through the
crowded concourse, looking for a place to eat. Nothing appealed to us,
then Tracy had an inspiration and we rode up the escalator to State
Street. Once again I cursed my fate as the winter weather knifed
through my nylons, and as we made our way towards Macy's, it occurred to
me that I was the only person on the sidewalk, man or woman, showing any
leg. "Look at me! I'm the only dumb-dumb in a dress!"
"Poor baby! We'll get you some tights and boots after lunch."
Although we were both famished, I saw a branch office of my bank across
the street, and I told Tracy to wait outside. She gave me a little kiss
on the cheek for good luck after I instructed her to melt away in the
crowd if I was apprehended. There was a long line waiting for tellers,
but it moved quickly, and soon I was face to face with a young woman who
scrutinized my check, then my ID, then me. "Do you have an account with
us?" she inquired.
"No."
"It should be all right, since the check is drawn on one of our
accounts. It's just that the amount is so large, I'll have to get an
assistant vice president to approve it." My knees were shaking while we
waited for an unctuous man to appear, but after he looked me over and
glanced at my ID he scribbled his initials and the teller began counting
out hundred dollar bills. As soon as she was through counting it all
twice, I stuffed the wad into my purse and beat a hasty retreat.
Tracy had a relieved smile on her face when I joined her outside. "Can
we add forgery to your list of firsts today?" she asked.
I stuck out my tongue at her. "Better be nice to me if you want me to
pay for lunch."
We crossed the street again and continued on our way towards Macy's,
still thought of by Chicagoans as Marshall Fields. After we went
through the revolving door into the vast department store, I gratefully
unbuttoned my topcoat and peeled off my gloves. It was unnerving to see
my manicured fingers again, just another reminder of my newfound
femininity, and I got zapped with cologne by a girl in a white smock as
we fought our way past the cosmetics counters.
The restaurant upstairs was a Chicago institution, and most of the lunch
crowd was gone by then, so we were seated immediately. Tracy taught me
how to drape my coat over the back of my chair, and she suggested that I
visit the ladies room to repair what the wind had done to my wig. "Does
it look funny?" I asked.
"No, you just look like a girl who's been through a force ten gale. Now
you know why I wore this hat."
I had so much to learn about being a woman!
Fifteen minutes later I rejoined a very impatient Tracy at the table.
"Where have you been?" she steamed.
"Well, let's see...first I had to wait for a stall..."
"You needed a stall to comb your hair?"
"Please...nature called, and after I scored a stall, it took me a while
to figure out how to get my panties and pantyhose down far enough to sit
down, while holding up my slip and skirt of course...what a hassle!"
"I hope everything came out all right," she said sarcastically.
"Yes, darling. It did take me forever to put everything back together,
and then I went to work on my hair...it looked like a fright wig! I
almost pulled it clear off my head, which would have been a little
embarrassing, considering the crowd that was in there, although none of
them had a clue. I think I'm beginning to get the hang of this. How do
I look?"
Tracy backed off. "You look like you've been a woman all your life,"
she said. "Believe me, I know girls who would kill to have your figure,
and who knew that your face would paint up so pretty?"
I must have blushed, and once again I had the nagging feeling that I was
getting way too good at this...what kind of a man was I? A waitress
materialized before I could think of what to say, and we busied
ourselves with the menus. I followed Tracy's lead and ordered a salad
and iced tea, something a girl would have for lunch. When we were alone
again Tracy launched into her lesson. "Cut your food into little
pieces...always ask for the dressing on the side...leave something on
your plate..." On and on she went, schooling me on the ways of being a
woman, from etiquette to fashion, even hygiene and how to watch my
weight. It was so strange, sitting there with her like another girl,
feeling more and more like I was becoming one.
When we were through with our ladies' lunch, Tracy insisted on picking
up the check, then she steered me back to State Street for the short
walk to Filene's Basement. There I was overwhelmed by the endless racks
of skirts, tops and dresses, as well as accessories, lingerie and
outerwear. We must have spent two hours trying outfits out on me, after
I overcame a panic attack waiting for the sentry in the fitting room to
give me a plastic number indicating the number of items I was carrying.
Soon I was the proud owner of a complete woman's wardrobe: panties,
bras, skirts and dresses, tights and tops, coats and sweaters, even a
nightgown with a matching robe to sleep in. Just when I thought we were
finished Tracy dragged me to a Payless shoe store where I tried on and
bought several pair of flats, heels and boots.
Our final stop was Walgreen's, where Tracy helped me stock up on
foundation, powder, eyeliner, nail polish, shadow, blush, lipstick and
mascara, as well as an array of brushes of sponges and a cosmetics bag
to put them in.
I was totally exhausted by the time we made our way to the underground
concourse to catch the Blue Line back to Rosemont. The train was
crowded with commuters this time, but we were able to find two seats
together, and once again I dozed off as we streaked through the
gathering dusk. When we got to our stop, we buttoned up our coats and
slogged our way back to back to Tracy's apartment, laden down with
shopping bags, feeling exhausted, exhilarated, and slightly silly.
Tracy uncorked a bottle of wine while I tried to find space for my new
things in her crowded closet and dresser.
"We forgot to get me some bling," I said when I joined her in the
kitchen.
"What would you like, a diamond tiara?"
"No, it's just that you know, I hate to take your stuff...."
"Girlfriend, I'm just happy that you're not wearing my clothes. If you
want to keep those trinkets you've got on, be my guest, although I do
think you should have your ears pierced." I ignored the suggestion, not
wanting to go there...it seemed so permanent! "We should put a ring on
your finger, so the guys don't hit on you...."
"Sh'yea, right!"
"I'm serious, missy," Tracy said as she poured us each a glass of wine.
"In case you don't know it, you are seriously hot, and I'm surprised you
haven't been hit on already."
Tracy fixed us a salad, and then some pasta, while we gabbed through the
night about girl stuff. After two bottles of wine, and some Ben and
Jerry's ice cream, we were ready for bed. It felt great to take off my
girl's clothes and cream off my makeup, and even better to slip into my
nightgown and crawl into bed beside Tracy...that night we had the most
glorious sex of our lives, taking turns pleasing each other, crying out
in ecstasy as we each went to places we'd never been before.
When we were both sated, Tracy lit up a Benson & Hedges and we shared
puffs contentedly. "That was amazing," she said. "Can I ask you a
question?"
"Anything."
"Do you think I could pass as a guy?" That totally threw me. What kind
of weird hang-up was this? Then again, who was I to talk? "I don't
mean that I want to be a guy," she went on, "but seeing you like you
were today makes me wonder whether I could pull it off like you."
Something told me there was more going on beneath the surface. "I don't
know...I think you're too pretty."
"Thanks, but what if I had a fake mustache or something."
"Then you'd look like a fairy with a mustache. Is that what you want?"
"No!" she punched me in the arm. "I guess I'll have to content myself
with being your lesbian lover." For some reason that turned us both on
again, and we made slow, sweet love until our bodies were utterly spent.
The next morning Tracy fixed breakfast while I shaved, bathed and
dressed in one of my new outfits. I decided on my plaid kilt,
turtleneck and tights, accessorized by a gold chain around my waist.
After I pulled on my calf-length boots, I studied my reflection in the
mirror. If anything, I looked more like a girl than yesterday. What in
the world was happening to me?
"Let me see you," Tracy said when I sat down to breakfast. "Hmm...your
makeup isn't bad, and your hair looks nice...wow, I love your kilt, it
looks so cute with that sweater. You really should have been a girl,
you know."
Once again that nagging suggestion that I was getting way too good at
this...I dismissed the thought and focused on the matters at hand.
"When's your next flight?"
"I have to leave for the airport at six, why?"
"Because my plan is to lure Norman Wolf back here tonight to get the
truth out of him. According to the paper he just made bail, and if I
know Norman, he'll be on Rush Street getting drunk."
"Lure him? What, are you gonna put on a cocktail dress and come on to
him at a singles bar?"
"You got it...he's divorced, and he hangs out at Gibson's most nights
when he's in Chicago."
"You go, girl...only what are you gonna do if he tries to get into your
pants?"
Tracy and I spent the day shopping for a dress for me. It wasn't easy
to find a slinky dress that looked good on my body, but eventually we
found a little black number with spaghetti straps that made me look like
I'd been poured into it. I splurged on some sexy lingerie, a clutch
purse, strappy heels and some fashion jewelry, and we even found a fake
fur at a thrift shop that looked like a million on me.
Tracy surprised me with a trip to a nail salon, which left me with sharp
red talons to use on Norman Wolf. Our last stop was a store which
catered to mastectomy patients, where she helped me buy the most amazing
set of silicone breast forms. I tried them on as soon as we got back to
her place. I couldn't believe how they made me look so hot and feel so
girly.
Tracy liked them too, and before she got ready for work, she coaxed one
last orgasm out of my bewildered body. By the time she was in her
uniform, ready to leave for her flight, I was luxuriating in a bubble
bath, psyching myself up for the night ahead.
"Good luck, girlfriend," she said with genuine concern. "Wish I could
be there with you."
"You're the best, baby," I said from behind a wall of bubbles. "I
couldn't have done this without you."
She reached down and kissed me gently on the lips. "Please be careful!
Remember, you're only a girl." Then she was gone, and I wallowed in the
tub for a long time, missing her as well as the man I used to be.
It was with real foreboding that I climbed out of the tub to prepare
myself for the night head. After drying off and moisturizing, I took a
long time with my makeup, adding a few flourishes for evening that Tracy
had taught me. Before she left she shampooed my wig, and I was freaked
out by how ratty it looked before she brushed it out. Now it looked
better than ever, and in no time I'd styled it into a perky wedge.
My new dress called for a strapless bra, and I felt forlorn as I tucked
myself into my matching black panties. Sheer nude pantyhose were next,
then a lacy black half slip, and finally my dress, which looked
sensational on me. I was shaking with anticipation as I sat down on the
bed to strap on my heels, then it was time for some bling and a shot of
Tracy's expensive cologne. I stuffed my little purse with female
essentials, and when I wrapped my fur around my shoulders, the look was
complete. God, I looked hot in the full length mirror!
There was no way I was taking the subway in this outfit. I called for a
cab, and soon I was sitting in the back of an overheated taxi, very
aware of the sly glances from the driver in the rear view mirror. By
now my self-confidence was such that I knew he was looking at me as a
woman, and my feelings of vulnerability intensified.
I tipped him handsomely when we pulled up to Gibson's. Although it was
a bitterly cold night, Rush Street was full of life, and I caused quite
a scene when I stepped out of the cab in my skimpy little dress. The
crowd outside Gibson's parted and a guy opened the door for me. I handed
my fur to the coat check girl, and after a quick trip to the ladies'
room to check on my hair and makeup I was fighting for a place at the
bar.
There he was, right where I expected to find him, holding down a
barstool with a Jack Daniels in one hand and a cigarette in the other.
Norman Wolf looked a bit more disheveled than usual, and I watched with
amusement as he hit on a cougar with zero success. Meanwhile I was
having problems of my own, trying as nicely as I could to brush off lame
pickup lines from two losers.
Then the barstool next to Norman opened up, and I was on it in a flash,
making an elaborate show of tugging at the hem of my dress after I
climbed onto it. I totally ignored Norman at first, even though he was
obviously staring at me. The moment of truth: even in his inebriated
state in the dim light, would he make me as Matt McCoy? I wanted to
have plenty of people around if that happened.
I reached into my purse for one of Tracy's cigarettes. When I started
fumbling for my lighter, Norman whipped out his, and I gave him a
sideways glance while he lit me up. "Thanks," I said, feeling a little
buzz after I drew the sweet smoke into my lungs.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"Sure, that would be nice."
Norman snapped his fingers at the bartender. "What will it be?" he
asked me.
"A Cosmopolitan, please."
"A Cosmo for the little lady, and another Jack on the rocks for me,"
Norman ordered. I gave him a shy smile and waited for him to make the
next move.
"Are you from Chicago?" he asked.
"Yes."
"I haven't seen you here before."
"I live in Rosemont. I was supposed to meet a friend for dinner
tonight, but he had a last-minute conflict, and here I was, all dressed
up with no place to go. So I decided to console myself with a drink
before I went back to the burbs." My female voice was working for me,
and the lies rolled easily off my tongue.
"That's a shame," Norman said. "Why don't you have dinner with me?"
"I don't even know your name."
"It's Norman....and you are?"
"Ashley."
"Well then, now that we've been properly introduced, let's find
ourselves a table." He pushed back his barstool and took my hand. It
wasn't easy hopping down in my dress, and I'm sure Norman enjoyed the
spectacle. He bulled his way through the crowd without waiting for me.
Grudgingly I had to admire his self-confidence as I tottered after him
in my heels. By the time I caught up with him, he was bribing the
maitre'd for the next table, and soon we were seated side-by-side in a
cozy booth.
When a waiter arrived with our drinks from the bar, Norman ordered two
more before he turned his attention to the wine list. I'd been out with
him once before, for lunch as a guy, and I remembered how he'd splurged
on a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine. I couldn't wait to see how
much he was going to spend on me.
I wasn't disappointed. "They have an exceptional Bordeaux if you feel
like red meat tonight," he said.
"A filet would be nice."
"Done." I crossed my legs with a swish of nylon and gazed around the
restaurant while Norman dealt with the sommelier and the waiter. It
seemed that half the tables were occupied by middle-aged men with hot
chicks. The waiter lit a candle on our table, but the light was still
low, and I was sure that Norman had no idea that his chippie was really
me.
I reached into my purse for another cigarette. I waited expectantly for
Norman to light it, and this time I touched his hand when he offered his
lighter. "Thanks," I said. "Do you come here a lot?"
"I'm one of their best customers. How do you think we got this table?"
Such an ass, I said to myself. "You must be important," I purred.
"And how about you, Ashley? What do you do?"
"I'm just a flight attendant."
"How nice," he said condescendingly. "You must meet some fascinating
people."
"Oh sure, you meet a lot of nice cattle on the cattle car." I was
beginning to feel more at ease, and I needed to loosen him up. He took
another pull at his Jack Daniels and leaned closer to me. I felt his
hand brush against my leg. Another long draw on my cigarette while I
waited for his next move.
"You're much too intelligent and attractive to be stuck in a job you
don't like," he slurred. God, you really must be drunk, I thought to
myself, considering that the girl you're hitting on is really a guy
trying to act like a total bimbo. The whole scene would have been
comical if my situation weren't so desperate. Our wine and salads
arrived, and while we engaged in small talk, I tried to remember Tracy's
lessons on how to be ladylike.
Our steaks were presented with a flourish on sizzling platters, and my
filet was so delicious I almost forgot who I was. Tiny bites! I had to
remind myself, while Norman attacked his 16 oz. sirloin like a Rwandan
refugee. Suddenly his face turned blue, and before I realized what was
happening he started to pound on the table, gasping and clawing at his
throat. He was choking on a piece of meat! Without thinking, I jumped
up, ran around the booth and dragged him onto the floor. Then I reached
down around his massive chest and grabbed him in the Heimlich maneuver.
One sharp tug...another sharp tug...and then a piece of sirloin shot out
of his mouth and he was able to breathe.
I sat next to him on the floor, my dress up to my thighs, panting with
exertion. Several waiters ran over to us offering to help, and one of
them took my hand and lifted me back on my feet while Norman brushed
them off. "I'm fine," he said with embarrassment.
"Thanks to your lady friend," a man at the next table said, and the
whole restaurant burst into spontaneous applause. I did a little
curtsey and resumed my seat. Our table top was a shambles, and the
waiters swiftly replaced our tablecloth and salvaged what remained of
our dinners. A new bottle of wine was produced compliments of the
management, and we both sat there sipping in silence. I stole a glance
at the compact in my purse to make sure my wig was still on straight,
wondering if this episode had ruined my chances for tonight.
To the contrary. When Norman finally spoke, he sounded almost sincere.
"Ashley, you just saved my life. I am totally indebted to you. How can
I ever repay you?"
Half an hour later we were cruising up Lakeshore Drive in Norman's
Jaguar. Although my scheme had been to lure him to Tracy's apartment,
when he suggested that we adjourn to his place for a nightcap I jumped
at the chance, although I was becoming more and more worried as we drove
towards his building. If I'd gotten him alone at Tracy's place, I
intended to knock him out with booze laced with sleeping pills, tie him
up, and force a confession out of him when he came to.
Now I had no plan, and in my little dress and heels I would be
defenseless if he tried to take advantage of me. As if to confirm my
worst fears, Norman's arm strayed over the console and squeezed one of
my silky knees. "Thanks again for saving my life tonight, baby," he
whispered. I fought my revulsion and allowed his hand to slide up my
dress until it got dangerously close to my secret.
Finally I grasped his hand and gently but firmly guided it back onto the
wheel. "Better watch your driving, you don't want the cops to stop you
after all we've had to drink."
"Yes, dear," he teased me. "You really are my guardian angel tonight."
Talk about clueless, I thought to myself. Norman deliberately jumped a
light just to spook me, then he started pawing my legs again. Before I
could protest he pulled into a driveway and parked in his reserved spot
in an underground garage. I lifted the visor and peeked at myself in
the vanity mirror while he was walking around the car to open my door.
The girl looking back at me in the mirror seemed very nervous. Then my
door was open, and Norman was treated to a spectacular leg show as I
scrambled out of my bucket seat.
He put his arm around me and guided me towards the elevators. We rode
in silence to one of the upper floors of an exclusive high-rise. Nobody
saw us enter the building, and when the elevator doors opened the
hallway was deserted. I took his arm as we walked, unnerved by the
clickety-clack of my high heels echoing down the marble corridor. His
unit was at the very end, and after he unlocked the door he held it open
for me without turning on the lights.
At first I thought that he was going to jump on me then and there, until
I realized that he wanted the full impact of the view to hit me in the
darkness. It was spectacular, a blaze of lights reflecting off the
glistening shore of Lake Michigan. How many women had he used the same
technique on, I wondered? While I was standing at the floor-to-ceiling
windows, he turned on some music and soft lights. "How about a glass of
champagne?" he asked, nuzzling me from behind as he slipped off my fur.
"Okay, after I powder my nose." He pointed towards a hall bathroom, and
I made a beeline for it, locked the door behind me and grasped the
vanity with both hands, shaking uncontrollably. What the hell was I
doing here, in women's clothing, with a man who had already ruined my
life? I looked up at myself in the mirror and saw a scared little girl
who was in way over her head. The best I could hope for was to make my
way back to the street without humiliating myself...then all I'd have to
do was hail a cab, in a dress and heels, in downtown Chicago in the dark
of night.
Maybe there was another way...I desperately tried to come up with a plan
as I went through the motions of straightening my dress and stockings,
brushing my hair, freshening my lipstick. The only thing I had going
for me was the way I looked: the woman in the mirror was undeniably
pretty, and Norman Wolf was already impaired from way too much alcohol.
If I could keep up the fa?ade long enough to find a weakness, maybe I
could save myself. "You're a woman," I told my reflection in the
mirror. "I'm a woman," she said back to me.
Norman was waiting for me on a cream leather sofa, two glasses of
champagne bubbling on the glass coffee table. I leaned against the wall
and unstrapped my heels, gratefully feeling the relief from walking
across the plush carpet in my stockinged feet. I sat down next to him
and tucked my legs under my dress. He handed me a fluted glass of
champagne, picked up his, and we clinked them together in a silent
toast. "To Ashley," he said as an after-thought, "the woman who saved
my life."
To Norman, the shit who wrecked mine, I thought to myself as I sipped my
champagne. I got up from the sofa and retrieved a cigarette from my
purse. Norman lit it for me, and I sat down demurely in a facing chair,
playing hard to get. He drained his champagne in two gulps and topped
me off before he poured himself another glass. How much more alcohol
could he take before he passed out, I wondered?
As if to answer my question, Norman asked me if I'd like a tour of his
condo. God, what a nightmare! I drained my glass and reluctantly got
to my feet, pretending to be a little drunk to lower his guard. When we
got to his study, I spied a heavy-duty safe behind an open closet door.
An inspiration came to me. "What's my reward for saving your life?" I
asked.
"Your reward?"
"The keys to your jag? Or maybe I'll just move in here with you...."
Being a guy, I figured that would throw him, and sure enough he
responded the way I expected. "Sweetie, I owe you big time. Let me
show you how generous I can be." I held my breath while he dialed the
combination to his safe...there was a large brass paperweight on his
desk, and I deftly picked it up and hid it behind my back. When he bent
down to reach into the safe, I came up behind him and brought it down as
hard as I could on the back of his ugly head.
Norman collapsed into a heap on the floor. I stepped over him and
started unloading the contents of his safe, looking for anything that
might incriminate him and clear me. To my astonishment all I found were
thick envelopes stuffed with wads of cash, in large bills...hundreds of
thousands of dollars, more like millions, which Norman must have stashed
away over the years.
I looked down at him, and for the first time I realized that something
was wrong. Not only wasn't he moving, he didn't appear to be breathing,
and his face had turned a deadly white. A quick check of his pulse
confirmed the worst. I can honestly say that I felt no remorse,
considering what he'd done to me. Instead I felt sick to my stomach
over what would happen to me when I was arrested for his murder. When
word got out that I'd killed a man while dressed as a woman, I'd be fair
game for the boys in prison. One way or another, my life as a man was
over.
Or maybe not. Nobody had seen us enter his apartment. I glanced at my
watch. It was well past midnight. Coolly I looked around the study for
something to hold the cash. An attach? case on the floor caught my eye,
and I went to work stuffing it with thousands upon thousands of dollars.
When it was full I was barely able to snap it shut, and it weighed a
ton.
Okay, now for fingerprints...I used a towel from the powder room to
methodically wipe down the paperweight, my champagne glass, and anything
else I might have touched. While I was doing this I was already
planning my escape. I returned to Norman's corpse and fished his keys
out of his trouser pocket. After a last look around I strapped my heels
back on, put on my fur, picked up my purse and the briefcase full of
cash, and quietly let myself out.
Nobody saw me ride down the elevator to the garage and get into Norman's
car. I drove carefully through the city streets to the JFK Expressway,
and stayed well under the speed limit all the way to Rosemont. It was
almost dawn when I pulled a ticket for the lot at Tracy's building,
parked and locked Norman's car, and made my way to the apartment. A few
early risers noticed the pretty girl coming home alone in her black
dress, and a guy offered to help me with my heavy briefcase, but I waved
him off politely and kept my cool until I was safely inside.
Then I lost it, totally. I fell to the floor, curled up and cried,
shedding a woman's tears over what had become of me. Matt McCoy's only
chance to clear his name had died with Norman Wolf. Now I was a
murderer, a thief, and from the looks of things, I was going to have to
become a woman. I was already a wanted man, and when they found
Norman's body, they'd assume it was me who killed him. I'd be better
off hiding out as a woman for as long as I could. Once they caught up
with me, if I was lucky enough to avoid the death penalty, I'd spend the
rest of my life getting raped in prison, so I was going to be a woman
whether I liked it or not. Why not be a pretty, rich young woman?
There were millions of dollars in that briefcase...could I really get
away with it?
"Let's go, girl," I said to myself with grim determination. First I hid
the briefcase full of cash in the hall closet. Then, after removing my
clothes, wig and makeup, I took a long, hot bath. After I shaved, put
on a little makeup and my wig again, I dressed myself in a simple skirt
and top. I was beginning to get used to the feel of women's clothes.
Good thing, I thought sadly, since I'd be wearing them for the rest of
my life. I was making toast and coffee when there was a sharp rap on
the door.
Could the cops be onto me already? Maybe they found Norman's car! I
pulled myself together and opened the door. It was the same two FBI
agents who had questioned Tracy two days earlier! This time they didn't
ask if they could come in, they just barged through the door and
confronted me. "You weren't completely truthful with us the other day,
were you, Ashley?" one of them said.
Some instinct saved me from blurting out what I'd done. Instead I fell
into the flight attendant's role that had worked for me last time,
hoping to buy some time. "I don't know what you mean. Can I get you
some coffee?"
"No, thanks."
I sat down on the sofa and wrapped my long skirt around my bare legs, a
feminine gesture that didn't seem to impress the men. "Ashley, why
didn't you tell us that Matt McCoy gave you a check for five thousand
dollars last week?"
I was so relieved that they weren't accusing me of murder, I felt almost
giddy. "Because Tracy was in the room."
"What do you mean?"
I gave a little sigh. "Tracy doesn't know that I've been seeing Matt."
"Why did he give you the money?"
"He forgot my birthday, and when I got mad he flipped open his checkbook
and wrote me a check. I was so insulted, I wasn't even going to cash
it."
"But you did cash it, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"In fact, you cashed it the day before yesterday, after you learned that
we were looking for him."
I lowered my head. "Yes," I nodded.
"Would you care to tell us why?"
I looked up at them defensively. "Things are tough for a working girl.
I needed the money."
"Have you heard from him since we were here?"
I nodded my head again and started to sniffle. "Yes."
That got their attention. "When did you talk to him?"
"Matt called me after Tracy left for her trip, around six o'clock."
"What did he say?"
"He told me he's innocent."
"They all say that, Ashley. What else did he tell you?"
"Do I have to say?"
"You're in enough trouble already, Ashley. If you cooperate with us,
we'll give you a pass for covering up for him yesterday. If you don't,
we'll be going downtown for a longer conversation."
I shook my head sadly. "He told me he was going to lie low in
California for a while. He really did tell me that he was innocent. He
said he was set up by some guy named Norman."
The agents exchanged glances. "Did he say anything else?"
"Just that he loved me," I sniffled again.
"All right, Ashley. I want you to promise that you'll call us
immediately if you hear from him again, and above all don't tell him
what you just told us. Is that clear?"
"Definitely, I don't want Matt knowing that I told you anything."
"Did he say where in California?"
I screwed up my eyes like I was trying to remember. "I think he said
San Francisco."
"Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?"
"That's all I know. I'm sorry I didn't say anything yesterday. Can I
ask you a question?" I inquired as I got up to let them out.
"What?"
"Does Tracy have to know about this?"
They relented a bit. "We won't say anything to her about your
relationship with Matt."
"Thanks." I opened the door for them, and waited for them to disappear
down the hall before I closed the door, fell to the floor and curled up
once again, wiping my tears with the folds of my skirt. My crying jag
was shorter this time, and when I got back up, I was actually proud of
myself. After all I'd given the feds a bum steer that would have them
combing San Francisco for me. Now all I had to do was head in the
opposite direction.
I went to the nightstand where I'd found Ashley's airline credential and
looked for her passport. Sure enough, she'd left it there, and her
passport photo was the spitting image of me in her wig. I thought for a
moment of all the trouble I was causing for Ashley. Between linking her
to Matt McCoy's flight from justice and stealing her passport, I was
doing quite a number on her. I resolved to leave $1,000 for her in the
nightstand as a gesture of atonement.
Surely she wouldn't mind my borrowing one of her suitcases too! I found
her airline-issue rolling bag and opened it up on the bed. It swallowed
up my meager woman's wardrobe with room for more, but I decided not to
steal any of the girls' clothes. My getaway outfit would be a wool
jumper, nylons and flats. I threw the skirt and top I was wearing into
the suitcase, put on my dress and stockings, and crammed my cosmetics
bag into an outside pocket of Ashley's suitcase. My flats were almost
comfortable compared to the heels I'd been wearing, and they made my
feet look downright dainty.
I put Ashley's passport in my purse, and got the briefcase out of the
hall closet. I didn't take the time to count it, but I was sure there
was well over a million dollars in hundred dollar bills in those
envelopes. After taking out Ashley's grand and ten thousand in
traveling money for me, I scattered the rest throughout Ashley's
suitcase, burying the money with skirts, tops and lingerie.
The last thing I did was sit down to write a note to Tracy. I sat at
her kitchen table for the last time, wearing a dress, trying to think of
how to say goodbye to the woman who had literally changed my life.
Forty-eight hours ago I was a brash young man with his whole life ahead
of him. Now, because of Norman Wolf's treachery and my own stupidity, I
was a hunted man. Thanks to Tracy I had another chance, even if it
meant living the rest of my life as a woman. How could I tell her how I
felt without revealing too much, knowing that the FBI might get their
hands on my letter?
I crumpled up several sheet of paper before I found the right words:
Dear Tracy,
By the time you read this I will be far away. I want you to know how
much I love you for what you did for me. I'm afraid I wasn't very
grateful at first, but I have gotten used to it and to tell you the
truth, I kind of like myself this way.
I've got to believe that the FBI will clear me some day. Maybe Norman
Wolf will come clean and admit that he set me up. In the meantime I
will be on the run, thinking of you, and the incredible time we had.
Love,
Matt
PS - Please tell Ashley I'm sorry for any trouble I caused her, I left
some money in her nightstand.
I left the letter on her pillow, grabbed my purse and suitcase, and let
myself out of the apartment. As an afterthought I returned for the
empty briefcase, which I tossed down the trash chute. Norman's car was
where I left it, and with any luck his body was still undiscovered. I
turned on the news during the short drive to O'Hare, but there was
nothing about a murder on Lakeshore Drive. I left his car in the long-
term parking lot, tossed the keys into a storm drain, and caught the
shuttle bus to the international terminal.
Tugging Ashley's suitcase behind me, I entered the ultra-modern
concourse with no destination in mind. The large departures board
hanging from the ceiling indicated that the next flight out of the
country was in ten minutes, to London. After that there was a flight to
Hong Kong, and then one to Tokyo. I kept looking down the board until I
found a flight to Z?rich, leaving in two hours. Perfect. I walked up
to the first class counter at Swissair and asked if they had any space
available. Yes, I was told, there was one seat left in first class. I
asked what the one-way fare would be. It was a small fortune, and I had
to fish a wad of hundred dollar bills out of my purse to pay for it.
The ticket agent gave Ashley's passport a long, hard look before issuing
my boarding pass.
I knew that I was in for a gauntlet at security. A one-way ticket paid
for with cash set off alarm bells, and there was nothing I could do but
grin and bear it. I took my chances and checked my bag, reasoning that
the risk of my money being discovered and stolen by a dishonest airline
employee was preferable to the trouble it could cause me during
secondary screening, and besides I had all my cosmetics to think of.
As expected I was singled out for a thorough search. A matronly
employee took her time with a wand, feeling me up and down, but she
didn't come near my package. I had to stand there for a long time in my
stockinged feet while they pawed through my purse, then I was on my way
to the first class lounge. I indulged myself with some excellent
champagne and brie, flipping through the Chicago papers for anything
about Norman Wolf's murder. My flight was called, and I was just
gathering up my purse when it made the evening news:
"Norman Wolf, a prominent Chicago businessman, was found dead this
afternoon in his luxurious condominium on Lakeshore Drive. A
housekeeper discovered his body next to an open safe in his study. Wolf
had not been missed at work, where he has been on leave of absence since
his indictment for securities fraud. Police declined to speculate
whether there was any connection between his death and the pending
charges...."
Time to get out of the country! I hurried to my gate, where the last of
the passengers were just boarding. The first class steward escorted me
to my seat, and I was handed another glass of champagne as soon as I sat
down.
A leather amenity kit full of cr?mes and lotions, a pillow and blanket,
and a menu and wine list soon followed. If this was the life of a
female fugitive, I could get used to it! I snuggled into my enormous
sleeper seat, more like a flying Barcalounger, and closed my eyes. By
now I'd become so comfortable wearing women's clothing that I didn't
mind the thought of sleeping in my dress. After 36 hours without any
sleep, it wouldn't take long for me to drift into dreamland.
You would think I was in for a restless night, with blood on my hands
and the law on my tail, but after an excellent dinner and too many
glasses of wine, I was dead to the world. When I finally awakened the
cabin crew was already serving breakfast. I beat the crowd into the
well-appointed lavatory and surveyed myself in the mirror. As I feared,
stubble was peeking through my makeup. Fortunately the lavatory was
equipped with a nice array of amenities, including razors and shaving
cream. Fifteen minutes later my female face restored, I was ready for a
bloody mary with breakfast.
I gazed down at the snow-covered Alps as we made our final approach,
calculating my next moves. As soon as we touched down, I shouldered my
purse and braced myself for passport control. Ashley's passport worked
for me again, and after an anxious wait her suitcase emerged on the
baggage carousel. I breezed through the Nothing to Declare line, and it
was off to the U-Bahn to central Z?rich.
Figuring that my days might be numbered, I splurged on a five star hotel
by the lake, taking the best room available. As soon as I was safely
inside my suite, I tore open Ashley's suitcase to see if the cash was
still there. There they were, glorious bundles of green, submerged in a
silky sea of skirts, lingerie, and stockings. I wept silently as I
tallied them up...five hundred thousand...one million...two
million...Norman Wolf had squirreled away over three million dollars,
which now belonged to me, as long as I was willing to spend the rest of
my life as a woman.
There are worse fates, I pondered after I shaved my legs in a long, hot
bath. Luxuriating with a cup of room service espresso in my plush hotel
bathrobe, I made a list of things to do, practicing how to write with a
girlish hand:
1. Open bank account
2. Find Internet caf?
3. Look for news about NW
4. email Tracy
5. Web search re female hormones?
I scratched out the last item...I knew I had to make some serious
decisions about my future, but they could wait. T