Bikini Beach: The Coup free porn video

Bikini Beach - The Coup ElrodW A secret service agent comes to the park with a very serious problem that will take Bikini Beach's special magic to solve. The problem is that it's very high-level politics, where the big boys play for keeps. Does Grandmother want to get involved, or can she afford not to? (Note - the character Michelle Thompson has an oblique reference to "Bikini Beach: The Senator", but never appeared in that story. There is potentially another story to tie the two together. Some minor hints are given as to the reason this character knows Bikini Beach. Rachel Warren and Brett Williams are both directly from "The Senator".) This is a new, never-before-published Bikini Beach story. It is a little different than any stories I've written in the past. I hope you enjoy. ********** Bikini Beach - The Coup This story is copyright by the author. It is protected by licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. The man strolled along the park, following the meandering path in a leisurely fashion. He looked like a normal man walking through the park on a normal Sunday afternoon, at least at first glance. However, there was a certain something about the man that seemed to be slightly out of place. Even though he appeared to be glancing about him casually, further study would reveal that his eyes were definitely _not_ casually looking about, but were carefully scrutinizing his surroundings. His pace was a little too deliberate, his smile a little too false. Larry Hollister was a man on a mission. A tad over six feet tall, he looked like he was a professional athlete instead of a casual businessman. His features were strong and masculine, and he wore his hair cut short, like a Marine crew cut. He walked unhurriedly down the path, occasionally greeting others who were walking dogs or pushing strollers or jogging, but he kept glancing at a small picnic table off the pathway near a small pond. He passed the picnic table, and without any further glances, strolled down the path another fifty meters. At the first convenient bench, he lifted his leg and began to fumble with his shoelace. As he did so, Larry glanced around himself easily, professionally examining the path he'd come down and the surroundings. After another jogger had passed him, he slowly turned and strolled back toward the picnic table. The table was about twenty meters off the path, under a wide-spreading tree that offered shade from the July sun. Three people sat at the table - two women and one man. They _looked_ casual enough, but they weren't interacting in the manner one would expect for a casual Sunday afternoon. They, too, seemed on guard, alert, watchful. All had noticed him coming; all had studied him surreptitiously, and all were very pointedly not looking directly at him. Larry knew the game well. As he sat down, Larry studied the three people. The man he knew well; Dick Rawlins had been a partner long ago. They'd shared many interesting assignments, and the two used to trust each other with their very lives. A few years younger than Larry's thirty-five, Dick looked a bit like a roguish playboy, with deep blue eyes and a stylish haircut. His looks had been compared, more than once, to a movie star's, which made him all the more attractive to ladies. The first lady - Larry started when he recognized her. He _knew_ her quite well. Too well, in fact. Tanya Smith and he had shared many romantic evenings, dating steadily for over a year before they split up. Lewis knew that she'd blamed him, while he thought she was inflexible and demanding. He wondered what _she_ was doing here. The second woman was a mystery. He thought she looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place her face. She was, outwardly, the most reserved of the three, and the least inconspicuous. Where others wore casual clothes, she looked less casual, and a bit more businesslike. She looked serious and focused, whereas the others managed to appear casual and relaxed. She was totally out of place in this setting. As Larry approached, the second woman stood and blocked his path, producing what looked like a cell phone. She swept it up and down his body, and, satisfied at what the instrument was telling her, nodded. "He's clean." She pocketed the device. Larry knew that the second woman had swept him for electronics. He remembered the odd request that he leave his cell phone at home. The whole thing was getting scarier by the moment. Despite years of experience and training, he felt a chill run down his spine. He'd never known his old partner to act so ... paranoid. Dick stood and grasped Larry's hand. "Glad you could make it. I was starting to think that you didn't remember the code." Larry laughed. "A scrap here, a note there, a text somewhere else - and assembling them in a Fibonacci series. Yeah," he laughed, "I remembered. The tough thing was to translate them into the proper coordinate reference frame." The second woman nodded. "Dick said that you'd figure it out." She glanced around. "Are you sure you weren't tailed?" Larry shook his head. "If they did, they're a lot better than I am." He looked at Dick, his curiosity taking over. "What the heck is going on here? You're making this feel like some type of secret meeting of the people's revolutionary cabal!" "Larry, this is Michelle Thompson." He smiled. "That's about all you need to know." "Good afternoon." Larry shook Michelle's hand, using the opportunity to size her up. From the firmness of her handclasp and the look in her eyes, Larry knew that she was not to be underestimated. "I'm ...." "Larry Hollister," Michelle answered with a smile. "Yes, I know." Larry felt uncomfortable that she obviously knew about him, but he didn't know anything about her. It added to the mystery. Once the introductions were done, Dick produced a tablet PC from his backpack. He held it out toward Larry, but didn't let Larry take it. "Did you ever watch the old TV series, 'Mission Impossible'?" Larry frowned. "No. Why?" Dick laughed. "I did. My dad loved that show, and I must have watched every re-run at least ten times." Larry's frown deepened. "What does an old TV series have to do with ... this?" "At the start of each episode, the leader would get info at a secret dead- drop location. The information was always pretty explicit, but was on a tape that would 'self-destruct in fifteen seconds.'" He glanced at the tablet. Tanya looked evenly at him. "Right now, you can turn and walk away, and you'll know nothing. Once you look at the information on that tablet, though, you're committed to something that's much bigger than anything you've ever dealt with in your life." "And that would be ...?" Michelle shook her head. "We can't tell you. It's _that_ sensitive." Larry gulped. This _was_ real cloak-and-dagger stuff. Not the usual day- at-the-office, but potentially deadly-serious. "As the Brits say, 'in for a penny, in for a pound." Dick nodded. "Once you turn on the tablet, you have precisely fifteen minutes before a chemical reaction irrevocably obliterates every piece of silicon in that tablet. Not even the NSA boys would be able to recover data from what will be left." Larry felt the hairs on the nape of his neck rise, trying to alert him to danger. This sounded like some type of Hollywood action-movie about a plot to overthrow the government or assassinate some key leader. He nodded. "I trust you," he said slowly. "The others ...." He shook his head. "Let's just say that if it was anyone else, I'd walk away." "But you're in?" Larry nodded and reached for the tablet. "Yeah, I'm in." ********** Larry gulped as he handed the tablet back to Dick, who set it on the table. As they watched, thin wisps of chemical smoke began to seep from the case; the system was destroying itself, just as Dick had said. More critically, it was destroying all evidence of what Larry had learned. "You're kidding, right?" he asked Dick hopefully. Tonya shook her head sadly. "I _wish_ we were kidding." "So let's see if I've got this right. President Falk is dying of inoperable brain cancer, and no-one apart from a small inner circle knows?" Dick nodded grimly. "And you are very certain that the veep is highly compromised and will sell out the US to the Chinese as soon as he takes office?" Larry continued. "You saw the details of the discussions," Tonya answered. "He's planning some deals to sell several mothballed aircraft carriers and some of our retired submarines to the Chinese military. It'll completely change the balance of power in the Pacific. Hell," she sighed and continued, "it'll change the balance of power in the whole world!" "And he's publicly pledged, several times in the past, to share any secrets of missile defense, to reduce tensions." Michelle nodded. "He's already announced his desire to repudiate the national debt, which will wipe out our credit rating and make us a banana republic. That's practically begging the Chinese to attack us! And if he waits until he shifts the balance of power, ..." She didn't need to continue. "Why?" Larry asked the obvious question. "Those seem counter to each other." Dick nodded. "It would seem so," he agreed. "But think of the order of doing things. Think of strategy. He sacrifices rooks and bishops - the carriers and subs - and strengthens the enemy by doing so. Then he makes a bold move that invites a counterattack when they're strong enough to succeed and we aren't strong enough to defend ourselves." "Why would he be willing to sell out the country like that?" He shook his head. "Without some solid motive, this just seems so ... speculative." "Why do dictators act in ways that most people consider irrational?" Michelle countered. "Mostly, it's love of power above all else." Dick nodded. "We strongly suspect, because not even the Secret Service was in the room during the last US-Chinese bilateral meeting, that there's some ... deal in the works. Some kind of power for him. How are you on your Latin?" "I didn't study Latin," Larry said slowly. He wondered about this curious puzzle piece as well. "Look up the term 'praefectus' when you get a chance." "That's one word I _don't_ need to look up," Larry countered. He rubbed his eyes lightly with his thumb and forefinger as he considered what he'd learned so far. It all sounded so ... incredible. After a few long seconds, he looked back at Dick. "So your plan is to get enough information on the Veep to publicly discredit him - before the president resigns for health reasons in a few months?" He shook his head. "Do you know that this is _treason_?" he asked, almost stupefied. Dick nodded, his expression as grim as the reaper. "If we don't, the country is going to be in very deep shit." Larry sighed, shaking his head slowly. This was a _lot_ more than he'd counted on for a Sunday afternoon, even after Dick's cryptic messages and hidden clues. In retrospect, Dick had never before acted so suspiciously and shared so little information. This was _very_ serious. He gulped. "Okay," he said finally, resigned to the fact that he'd committed to this. "Who can we trust?" Dick shook his head. "No-one. A lot of Secret Service agents are pretty compromised. A few, who I can't name, aren't - some of them risked their lives and broke their oaths of silence to get this information out!" "Shit," Larry swore softly. "So how do we go about trying to get past the best executive security service in the world?" ********** Larry sighed as the car drove through the city. He didn't understand what they were doing, and he really didn't like having to work with Tonya again. She was still visibly pissed at how their relationship had ended. And he didn't like working with Michelle, Thompson, an unknown who hadn't earned his trust. She seemed just a little too self-confident and arrogant. "Would you tell me what are we doing _here_?" he asked for the seventh or eighth time. So far, the answers had been enigmatic at best. "It's part of the plan," Michelle answered with a smug smile. Larry shook his head. "It's just odd that we're wasting our time here, while the ... action is in DC." Michelle and Tonya exchanged a knowing glance, and then shut up. They both knew that what they were about to do was one hell of a gamble. Shortly, after more silence and mounting frustration for Larry, the car pulled into the parking lot of a water park, of all things. Larry frowned. "What the hell is this?" he demanded. Tonya parked the car, and then got out. "You'll understand in a few minutes." With nothing better to do, Larry exited the car and joined the two women walking toward the park's ticket booth. Tonya grasped his arm to hold him back, while Michelle walked to the ticket booth. Her conversation was a bit animated, but finally, she procured something and rejoined the group. She handed a ticket to Larry. Larry was baffled by now. "Okay, what's _this_ about?" "Just go into the park and change," Michelle explained simply. "They have guest suits in the men's locker room. We'll see you in the park in a couple of minutes." "No," Larry said firmly. "Look, this is stupid. We've got some real work to do, and you've got me going to a water park?" He scowled. "What the hell is going on?" Michelle shook her head. "I'm not sure that this is the best place ...." she began. In his peripheral vision, Larry noticed an older woman approaching. He was _trained_ to notice such things. "Quiet," he hissed. The old woman smiled as she approached. "Oh, no need for that," she said pleasantly, as if she'd heard him. She gave Michelle a warm hug. "It's nice to see you again. Has everything worked out like you were hoping?" Michelle returned the embrace. She _knew_ this old woman somehow. "Better than I'd hoped." The old woman looked at Larry. "Do go on. Pretend I'm not here." "I'm just trying to understand what's going on here," Larry explained, trying to persuade the old gal to either explain things or leave. The old woman smiled. "At least you didn't call me an 'old bat'," she said with a grin. Larry flinched at her words. In his extreme frustration, he _had_ thought of saying those very words. He started to reassess the old woman; clearly, his first impression had been wrong. "Uh, how ...?" The old woman looked at him. Larry instantly was intimidated; in her eyes, he saw a raw power that cowed and scared him, but there was also compassion and understanding. "Just do as they suggest," the old woman said soothingly. "You'll understand in a few moments." Larry gulped, and then he nodded slowly. "Okay, I'll play along." Still not understanding, and reluctant to waste time, he trudged through the turnstile, pausing to swipe the pass, and disappeared into the men's locker room. The old woman watched him go, and then turned to the two women. "I'd suggest you go to the office. Anya is waiting for you." She smiled. "It'll be easier if I handle things when he comes out of the locker room." As the two walked toward the office, the old woman overheard Tonya's question. She, too, was confused about what, exactly, was happening. ********** Larry shook his head in disbelief as he stuffed his clothing into the locker. This was unreal - he was involved in perhaps the most clandestine, dangerous plan in the history of the country, and somehow, he'd ended up in this coastal city, in a water park, changing into swim trunks. Surreal wasn't exactly a strong enough word. Even though he was concerned about his work, Larry paused to admire himself. Despite the time he spent behind a desk and not in the field, he worked hard to keep himself in shape. His abs - perfect six-pack. He had no extra fat; if one were to guess, one might suppose him to be an athlete instead of a government agent. Lean, trim - all a result of diligence to fitness. He pocketed the key, and remembering the signs, stepped to a shower. Shaking his head, not quite believing what he was doing, he pulled back the curtain and twisted the shower knob, turning on the stream of water. Not wanting to waste any more precious time, he stepped into the steady stream of water. Larry was very surprised at the warmth of the water; he'd expected a blast of lukewarm or cool water at best. He was also stunned at just how good the shower felt; it was some type of shower massage, and its pulsing jets seemed to melt the tension from his entire body. He closed his eyes, relaxing for a moment, and thus failed to immediately notice that the mist had turned light pink. When he opened his eyes, Larry was baffled. He glanced around, and _did_ notice, now, that the wisps of steam and mist about him didn't seem quite normal. Further, his scalp was tingling a tiny bit, and it seemed that something wet was slapping his shoulders. He ignored the odd sensation and reached up to shut off the shower. As he walked toward the exit, Larry's brow wrinkled; something didn't seem quite right. The sensation of walking was ... odd, as if his balance was altered a bit. And there was some swaying on his chest that was out of place. He knew how his body was supposed to feel - that was a consequence of his daily workouts. He thus knew that the sensations he was feeling were highly unusual. As Larry rounded the corner to the exit, he came face-to-face with a semi- nude woman coming his way. Larry flinched, and saw the woman react in the same startled manner. Years of being a trained situational observer served Larry well. He'd seen the reaction in the woman that mirrored his. Every motion he made was echoed. And he noticed a small frame around the door, which meant it wasn't a door. In a fraction of a second, Larry knew he was staring into a mirror. That conclusion, no matter how illogical, led him to look down, to see if the odd sensations he'd felt had anything to do with the image he saw. Larry gasped, a tiny feminine sound, as he beheld the breasts on his chest. They were perfect specimens of female curves, round and full and capped by large dark nipples. Between the valley on his chest, Larry could see that his toned abs were gone, replaced by a smooth, perfectly flat woman's stomach. Below that - Larry craned his neck forward to get a better view over the mounds hanging on his chest - he could see that his swim suit had changed into a delicate and alluring bikini bottom, with no obvious bulge of manhood. Feeling a bit of panic, Larry looked up at the mirror again. The face he saw was only faintly like his own. The woman was a beauty; her light brown hair, cut in a shoulder-length bob and swept across her forehead, contrasted with her soft, inviting hazel eyes. She had a dainty nose, high cheeks, and her lips were full and alluring. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties. She was an icon of beauty. At that moment, the door opened, and the mirror was replaced by the old woman framed in the doorway. "Ah, I see you're done changing," she said with an enigmatic smile. Larry frowned. "This ... this is impossible," he said softly, again marveling at the sultry contralto voice that came from his lips. He thought he detected a faint Southern accent in how he was speaking. "What have you done to me?" The old woman produced a bikini top, seemingly from nowhere. "First things first. I don't like topless sunbathing in my park." She handed it to Larry. "Put this on, please." Confronted as he was with a situation he couldn't explain, Larry simply followed his instructions. He took the top, and with a skill that he didn't know he possessed, fastened the top on. Not surprisingly, he noted, it matched the bottom perfectly, even if the cups were a bit small for his ... chest. While covering his breasts, it nonetheless left an inviting image. "How ... how did I do that?" he asked, even more baffled. "Magic." "Magic? Yeah, right! This has got to be one hell of an illusion," he rebutted. "And yet, you know it isn't, correct?" the old woman asked with a smile. "I built my park to give women a place of sanctuary from leering eyes and lustful stares. The magic changes men into women, so they don't interrupt the privacy of my patrons. Now, if you'll follow me, your colleagues are waiting in the office. We have some very serious matters to discuss, I believe." With no other options, Larry elected to follow the woman. They walked across the entrance plaza, past a much larger woman's changing room, and into a low office building that bordered the high privacy fence. Inside the building, three other ladies were seated. Larry recognized the two who'd accompanied him to the park, but the third was a mystery. "Don't worry about my grand-daughter Anya," the old woman interrupted his train of thought. "She's essential to my operations here, and she's as trustworthy as I am." Larry sat down, and without realizing it, crossed his legs in a proper lady-like fashion. Tonya watched, her eyes wide with surprise at what she was seeing. Larry noticed Tonya's expression, and he _also_ noted the rather bemused look on Michelle's face. At the same time, the old woman and the younger woman, Anya, seemed bored by the entire spectacle, as if men changed into women every day. Given what the old woman had said in the shower, Larry realized, men probably _did_ change into women every day at this park. He had a sudden terrifying thought. "Is this ... permanent?" Michelle smiled and spoke before either the old woman or Anya could. "No," she assured him, "the magic lasts for the duration of the pass - plus a few hours. You'll be a woman until your pass expires." Larry glanced at Tonya, and saw her staring wide-eyed at him. "Are you jealous?" he taunted her. Tonya frowned. "No," she snapped quickly. Instantly, she realized that she'd answered too quickly, and that she'd betrayed the fact that she _was_ a little jealous. Larry's body was an absolute knockout, and she felt, in some ways, inadequate by comparison. "Okay, Michelle, now that we're done with pleasantries, I'd like to know why you've come to me." The old woman was speaking to the second female agent. Michelle, smiled, but it was not a genuine smile. "We ... need your help." "Again," Anya added. Larry glanced at Anya. Despite looking about twenty-three, she was very perceptive - very much like her grandmother. He was starting to doubt Michelle's judgment; he didn't know if he could trust these two with this magnitude of secret. "Yeah, again." She paused, wondering how to word her request in a way that didn't betray national security secrets. "We're, um, working on a special project," she began. The old woman smiled. "Come on, Michelle," she interrupted. "You know that we can read your thoughts. We _know_ what's going on." She glanced at Larry. "And just to settle your doubts, we _can_ be trusted. It's our country, too." Michelle seemed relaxed by the news; the telepathy meant that she didn't have to speak aloud about their concerns and plot. "Yeah." "I presume that you haven't yet told Larry what his role will be?" Anya prompted. Michelle looked at her, then dropped her gaze. "No, not yet." "Don't you think you'd better," the old woman prompted softly. "It's _his_ decision to make, not yours." Tonya piped up. "I wish _I_ knew what this was all about, too!" Michelle swallowed, still staring at the floor, and then she looked directly into Larry's eyes. "We have to get someone close to Collins," she said matter-of-factly. "Someone intimately close, someone who can spy, and get notes, and collect the data that we need." Tonya's eyes widened, as did Larry's, as they both realized the implications of her words. Vice President Roger Collins, never married, was known to be a ladies' man, a smooth-talking romancer of younger, attractive girls. "You're not suggesting ...?" Larry stammered. Michelle nodded. "You're the only one." "But ..." Tonya started to voice her objections as well. Michelle shook her head. "He's the only one. The secret service agents we trust that are on his detail - they're both married. If they were to change, they'd be female versions of themselves, still on the security detail, and thus known to Collins. And the only other man that we can absolutely trust is also married." She sighed. "I'm too well known, both from my earlier time in the Secret Service, and my work on Senator Warren's staff, and Tonya is a known agent." "I worked on his security detail a few years ago," Larry objected. "Surely ..." Tonya realized the truth of what Michelle had said. "I'm afraid she's right," she admitted grudgingly. "You're the only one. You have the most knowledge of his ... tomcat ... ways and tastes of any of us." Larry knew it was a losing battle. Logic and appeal to patriotism were on the women's side. "So that's why you brought me here and tricked me into changing - so I would be the patsy." Michelle and Tonya winced at the accusatory tone of his voice. They knew that he was right. "It's still your choice," Michelle said simply. "This was a ... demonstration. You have to admit that if I'd told you two about magic and such, you would have never believed me." Larry stared at her for a moment, and then nodded. "You're right," he said with an air of resignation. "On both counts. I _wouldn't_ have believed you, and it seems that I'm the lucky one." He sighed heavily. "So when you say that I would have to get close to Collins, how _close_ are you talking?" He saw the embarrassed look on Michelle's face. "That's what I was afraid of." Everyone know that Collins was a randy old goat and with a reputation for his adventuresome peccadillos. He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly as he stared at a light fixture. When he looked back at Michelle, he looked weary. "So now I get the speech about duty to country and all of that?" Tonya laughed. "I don't think that'd be fitting." Larry looked at the old woman. "So what's going to happen? How long? I'll need ...." "If - when - you check, you'll find that your identification is Laura O'Donnell. Anya's magic has made a complete background for you. To everyone outside this room, you'll have always been Laura, a widowed young woman who happens to enjoy the DC social scene." "How long?" Larry asked simply. "How long is this ... assignment going to last?" "Right now, the pass you have expires at midnight," the old woman answered. "We had a ... discussion. I wouldn't sell a longer pass unless _you_ made the decision. This is a ... test drive." "Okay, so this ends at midnight. I assume that I'll have to change again if I agree to this assignment? How long will _that_ pass last?" Michelle and Tonya exchanged looks of unease. "Six months at the outside." "Six _months_?" Michelle nodded, her expression grim. "That's the longest the doctors think the president can go before he's forced to resign. And that's only _if_ he lasts that long." "Six months?" Larry shook his head. "That's a long time." "Can you think of another way?" Larry shook his head, a resigned expression on his face. "No." ********** Laura, Tonya, and Michelle started out the door. It hadn't taken a day for Larry to decide - he knew where his duty lay. Grandmother, however, interrupted them. "Michelle, can I have a word with you in private before you leave?" Anya had already gotten the hint from Grandmother through her magic senses. She was half-way to the door by the time the old woman had spoken. Michelle nodded, already suspecting what the old woman was going to say to her. "Wait in the car. This shouldn't take but a moment." When the door had closed, Michelle turned toward the old woman. "You broke your promise," Grandmother said simply. Michelle nodded, a grim expression on her face. "I know. But I didn't have a choice!" "Yes, you did!" the old woman snapped. "There are always choices. I made a choice when I decided to help you." Michelle nodded, humbled a bit by the old woman's frustration. "I know. And I appreciate it more than I can say. You helped me become the real me, the person I'd been inside for years. You saved my life from the depression that my ... condition and conflict was causing." "Senator Michaels is the one who saved your life," Grandmother reminded Michelle. "And I still owe him - and his memory. It's a debt that I can't repay." "He wouldn't have broken his vow," the old woman said, stinging Michelle with her words. "Do you think I don't know that?" Michelle asked, her eyes watering. "We tried! We couldn't find any other way!" "You haven't told Rachel, have you?" Michelle shook her head. "She's too upright and honest. She wouldn't understand my breaking a promise, either. It would ... disappoint her. It would hurt her that a trusted aide would do such a thing." "I know," Michelle lowered her eyes. "You won't tell her, will you?" "No. That's for you." Michelle nodded her understanding. "I can't tell her. Not yet. This is far too ... dangerous for her to be involved. She needs to be kept clean from the whole mess, in case this blows up in our faces." "It's political," Grandmother reminded her. "It probably _will_ blow up." Michelle sighed. "I know," she said sadly. "I know." ********** After Michelle had left, Anya re-entered the office. "I noticed that you were a lot less ... verbal ... than normal. What are you thinking?" "I can't fool you, can I?" the old woman asked with a sad smile. "I'm very concerned about getting involved in ... politics." She spoke the word as if it were distasteful. "You realize that if we help, we could be held as accomplices to treason." Anya's usual cheery expression was somber. "Yes." It wasn't like Anya to give simple, one-word answers to anything. "Do you think we have a choice?" Anya needed no time to think. "No. Not unless you're willing to ignore the data they've seen, magically wipe their memories of this place, and then hope that they're wrong." "What do you think?" Anya shook her head. "They're not wrong," she said with certainty. "That's my assessment, too." The old woman sighed. "We really don't have a choice. With the type of actors in politics, do you think you could protect yourself - and everyone around you - every second of every day? There's someone behind those three - and they are desperate. One never corners a rat, because that's when they get dangerous. That's why _I_ had to leave a place, once." She shook her head. But there's another complication." "Oh?" The old woman nodded. "You know what kind of sentence I'm under from the Wizards' Council. I've told you about the rules for non-interference." She shook her head. "I can't help any more than I've already done." "What you're trying to tell me is that if Laura needs any more help, I'm going to have to do it, right?" The old woman nodded. "You aren't of age to travel to the 'otherworld', so the non-interference rules don't apply to you - yet." "This might be a stretch," Anya said nervously. "I'm not sure I can handle it." Grandmother smiled. "You're more than capable enough. Your powers are strong. You did great work with Senator Michaels, and with Melanie Lewis. And with Alison. I _know_ you can do what's needed." Anya blushed. She wasn't used to being complimented on her magic abilities. "Do you think I'll have to give Laura a little extra ... something," she asked, "to help her attract men?" She already knew the answer. Larry's task was already difficult enough without having to deal with a good dose of sexual magnetism that drew men's attention, but in order to ensure that she attracted that one man's attention, she'd need every bit of extra allure that Anya could give her. ********** Laura O'Donnell grimaced inwardly, even as she pasted on a phony smile. She was at the social gathering with Tonya, supposedly her best friend from college. As Anya had warned her, due to the enhanced sexual magnetism she'd received, she was getting a _lot_ of attention from men, ranging from interns to lobbyists to House and Senate members. Laura had been forewarned by Anya that she'd have all the memories and mannerisms to play her role, but she'd been shocked at how extensive those memories and habits were. She felt like she was caught between two worlds - the artificial memories of Laura, and the real memories of Larry. More than once, she'd awakened in a sweat with the feeling that she was actually Laura, and was just dreaming of being Larry. Laura tried to put on an expression that was discouraging. "Why, no, General," she said with her Southern-belle accent, "my dear Todd never told me about those missions. I knew better than to ask, because I knew he wouldn't tell me things that were classified." She was poised, graceful, and displayed all the politeness and manners of a proper Southern lady. Her accent was charming without sounding overdone or stereotypical. More importantly, since Larry had served on Vice- President Collins' security detail, he knew exactly what characteristics caught Collins' eye, and Laura matched all of those details - in spades. What's more, the special, almost magical, aura about her was an added lure to entice Collins. So far, however, the plan to get close to Collins had failed. Twice, scheduling conflicts had kept him away from social events, and a third time, he arrived with a perky blonde on his arm, making it impossible to get close enough for Laura to turn on her charms. Laura was left trying to fend off interested men. She'd known how common affairs were in the capitol, but she was shocked by how blatant some of the men were. At the moment, she was trying to deflect the attention of a general. She knew he was married, but like many in DC, he was almost eager to have an affair with a lovely young lady. Given the numbers of eligible, lonely women in the city, such affairs were very commonplace. "Besides," she added, "I still miss him so, and even though he's gone, I still feel like I shouldn't give improper ... appearances." He took the hint, made some cordial excuse, and went elsewhere to prowl for companionship. Laura breathed a sigh of relief, but jumped when she felt a hand on her arm. Her heartbeat slowed again when she saw that it was Tonya that had touched her. "A little jumpy tonight?" Tonya asked with sweet smile. Laura kept the smile on her face, despite her inner emotions. "We'll talk later. Any word on Collins?" "He's not going to make it. Schedule change." Laura frowned. "Which means that he found some sweet young thing for the evening, right?" She shook her head. "This is _not_ working." Tonya continued to smile. "Make your excuses so we can go. I've got some information for you." After some cordial "thank you's" and excuses, Laura left with Tonya. As soon as they were in Laura's car, out of earshot of anyone nearby, Laura sighed out of frustration. "This isn't working," she repeated. Tonya shrugged. "You just hate having to dress up and flirt," she countered playfully. "Would you get serious?" "Okay." Tonya decided that she'd ribbed Laura enough for one night. "At the reception the other night, Collins noticed you." "How? He had that blonde bimbo hanging all over him?" Tonya laughed. Laura didn't realize just how competitively female she sounded. "Maybe, but there have been some queries in the office to find out more about you." "Finally!" Laura sighed with relief. "It's taken long enough." Tonya frowned, but her expression was unseen in the darkness. "That was the good news." "Oh?" Laura was alert again. "Someone is getting suspicious," Tonya reported. "You've got a tail." "I noticed." "Which might mean that someone from Collin's security detail is checking you out." Laura nodded her agreement. "I hope so. That would mean he's taking the bait." "And it's not safe to contact Dick. He thinks his phone is tapped, and his e-mail is getting extra scrutiny. ." "Shit." The cursing from Laura was completely out of character with her appearance "You can't contact me, either." She sighed. "I'm just a field agent, so it's very unusual for me to go to your social events. It's getting attention. A lot of people in the office are starting to feel that they're not ... trusted, and that they're under scrutiny. Someone's getting edgy" "But ... you're supposed to be my best friend from college!" Laura and Tonya both knew the way Anya's magic had rewritten their lives. "Yeah, well that may be, but we move in totally different social circles, and it's not ... appropriate ... for us to be seen together. At least not frequently." Laura winced. "That means ... I'm on my own." Tonya nodded. "We'll set up some dead drops." Laura shook her head. "Not if I've got a tail. That'll arouse suspicion, especially if you and Dick start attracting interest, too." "Shit," Tonya swore. "How the hell are we going to pull this off now?" She sighed heavily. "You know that Collins came from a ... rough city. If he starts to get suspicious, well, you know it wouldn't be the first time that someone _inconvenient_ had problems or disappeared." Laura bit her lip as she thought. "No. We _have_ to stop the son of a bitch." She shook her head. "There _has_ to be ...." She suddenly thought. "You don't suppose that girl, Anya, could help us out ... again?" Tonya's face brightened. "Maybe using her magic? Like, every time you needed to get something, you could do a dead-drop, and she'd be able to tell us where to pick it up?" She nodded. "That would make it less predictable, and it wouldn't attract attention." "We hope." "Yeah," "I'll talk to Michelle and see what we can arrange." ********** "I don't like it, Anya," Grandmother said with a frown. "We're getting dragged deeper and deeper into this ... conspiracy." Michelle nodded grimly. "I don't see how we can help it." "At least you have an excuse to visit us. You and Senator Warren are both long-time patrons of our park," Anya noted wryly. "But we're not in Washington, DC, and Laura doesn't have an excuse to drop in any time she needs." "Can you do anything?" Michelle asked. Anya thought a moment. She looked at Grandmother. "Some type of amulet or jewelry that alerts me, and lets me monitor her thoughts if I need?" Grandmother nodded. She would have smiled at Anya's creative solution, except for the grave nature of the task. "I've got two concerns. First, it'll distract you a lot from your work. Second, I'm worried that you might not be able to cast that spell." Anya nodded. "I think I can manage the spell." She glanced at Michelle. "If the two of you are arousing suspicion, then you'll probably need something, too." "That makes sense," Michelle agreed. "Something you normally wear. A class ring, a pair of earrings, a necklace. Anything that wouldn't seem out of the ordinary." "I'll tell Dick." Anya shook her head. "If you're both being followed, that's too risky. I'll have to just ... visit ... magically, and cast the spell." Michelle laughed. "I forgot that you can do that." She smiled. "How many times did you do that trick with the Senator - during the time he was changing?" Anya and Grandmother both flinched. "No-one was supposed to know anything about that," Grandmother said warily. A wry smile crept over Michelle's face. "Did you forget who _I_ was? How I came to be on Senator Warren's staff - after I'd been on Senator Michaels' staff? It wasn't that hard to figure out what you'd done." "How many other people know - or suspect - what happened?" "Just me, and I'll take the secret to my grave," Michelle said solemnly. Anya winced. "Are you going to tell the Senator about this?" Michelle shook her head. "No. She needs ... plausible deniability - if something goes wrong." "You really have a strong sense of loyalty," the old woman said with admiration. Michelle nodded. "I put my life on the line for Senator Michaels. I put my life on the line for Senator Warren. I did it for my country, too. Yeah, I take my duties seriously." "If this all works out," Anya said softly, "you're going to have to tell her - someday." "Yeah, I know." ********** Laura grimaced inwardly as she shook one more hand. She was at a formal State Department reception, for another wanna-be dictator from another third-world country. She was bored with the whole process, she hated the time and fuss of getting her hair and makeup done, she hated the need to find "just the right" dress, and she hated how her feet hurt in her heels. She reminded herself, for perhaps the twentieth time so far that evening, that it was "just a job," like all the crap jobs she'd had while Larry had served in the military. Laura's frown straightened when she saw the Vice President slowly making his way toward her. She sighed - maybe _this_ would be the time that he finally noticed her, and she would be able to move to the next phase of her task. At the same time, she shuddered at the knowledge of what the "next phase" would be - getting close enough to the Vice President to gather hard information, including getting intimate if necessary. A older woman who was known to be a friend of the Veep lightly touched Laura's elbow. "There's a friend of mine that I know you'd love to meet," she said warmly. In the current reality, the woman was also a friend of Laura. Laura knew the game. She couldn't just walk up to an important man and start talking. That just wasn't how things were done in polite society. Someone had to introduce her, and that, in political circles, generally meant that both sides needed an intermediary, someone who would do the polite introductions and then, if needed, retreat when conversations turned private. "I'd be delighted to meet any of your friends," Laura responded. Her misgivings about the 'friend' and the assignment were relegated to the background. She had a job to do. As they crossed the few yards that separated her from the Veep, Laura saw that he was watching them. Clearly, _he_ had initiated the contact through the mutual friend. She felt, for a moment, like a bird flying into a snare. At the same time, she felt a little relief that, after a few weeks of frustration, she might be making her first contact with him. She glanced to the side, to where she knew that Tonya was keeping her post as part of the Secret Service detail. She gave a brief nod when she caught Tonya's eye, indicating that this might be the first real progress. "Mister Vice President," the woman said with her own charm turned on full, "this is my dear friend, Laura O'Donnell, that I was telling you about." "I've heard so much about you, Ms. O'Donnell," the Vice-President said, as he bent forward to kiss her outstretched hand. "Oh?" Laura asked, trying to sound interested by not obvious. "I trust it's all good." Collins smiled. "You have a reputation as being one of the finest hostesses in DC. And you are considered, by many, to be one of the most charming ladies in the city." Laura feigned modesty. "You're going to make me blush," she said with all the Southern charm she could muster. "Then perhaps I shouldn't add that, in my opinion, you are perhaps the most beautiful as well." Laura _did_ blush at the compliment. "Why, Mr Vice President, it's been said that you could charm the morning dew right off the honeysuckle. It appears that was an understatement." Despite his official duties, the Vice President lingered to talk with Laura, and whenever he was called away for another formal introduction or greeting, he managed to find his way back to continue his conversation. As the reception was ending, Collins came back to Laura. "I was wondering, " he said, oozing charm, "if your social calendar was free tomorrow evening. There is a reception at the Russian embassy, and it would not be as pleasant for me to go without a suitable ... partner." Laura felt a surge of excitement to accompany her growing sense of dread. "Why, Mister Vice President, ..." Collins smiled and interrupted. "Please, call me Roger. I'd prefer not to dwell on titles. It's a little too ... formal." "Then I insist that you call me Laura," she replied. "And I'd be honored to be your guest at the reception." Laura felt her heart flutter in a strange way; she was finding him as charming as his reputation suggested, and she found his attention caused a slight thrill. She forced the strange feeling from herself. She needed to focus on her job. "Then I'll send a limo to pick you up. Shall we say, about six?" Laura smiled. "That will barely give me time to find a suitable dress and to get my hair done," she said coyly. "But I'll manage, somehow." "And you needn't explain the 'rules' about a woman not being seen twice in the same dress," Collins added with a polite smile. "I'm so glad you understand. Most men don't." "I'm not 'most men'," Collins had a peculiarly naughty expression. "So I've heard," Laura answered, trying to sound interested but not desperate. "Until tomorrow evening, then," Collins kissed her hand again, then turned and, with his security team taking their places, departed the reception. ********** The second reception resulted in an invitation to a private movie screening at the White House. As she put on her makeup for the 'date,' Laura found herself feeling both delighted and horrified by the prospect. Shopping for a dress had been too easy; in fact, it had been, to her shock and dismay, downright fun. Putting on her makeup was too easy. She wondered if she wasn't enjoying the role a bit too much. As they chatted before the movie screening, Laura wondered when Collins was going to make his move. He was obviously interested, but so far, he'd been a lot more reserved than his reputation would suggest. Finally, Collins hinted about the subject. "You know, never having been married, I find life in this city to be ... lonely, at times." He had a wistful, seductive quality to his voice. Laura nodded knowingly. "I know the feeling," she said. "It's ... difficult ... at times, being a widow at my age." She wiped at a tear that had appeared; she blamed Anya's magic and skills for the overdone sentimentality. "Very few women my age can relate, and at times, I feel alone and isolated." "In a way, then," Collins continued, "we're kindred spirits. Two people, alone in this hub of power." "Oh?" Laura was relying on one of Anya's lessons, "I thought you had plenty of opportunity for ... companionship." Collins laughed. "When one is in a position of power," he explained lightly, "one finds many ... companions, who are interested only because of the power or celebrity status." He smiled warmly. "One seldom meets a companion who _isn't_ interested in those things" "Oh? So I take it you don't categorize me as a groupie who merely wants to seduce the Vice President?" "Hardly," Collins answered with a smile. "If you had been, you'd have been rather insistent on 'hooking up' at the reception where we first met. No, I find you charming company of a more ... sophisticated nature." "And I find you pleasant to talk with," Laura replied, trying to sound both encouraging and at the same time, demure. "Perhaps," Collins suggested, "if you haven't yet dined, after the movie we could enjoy dinner and a glass of wine together?" "That would be very nice," Laura said with a smile. "But there aren't many places that you won't be recognized and mobbed by ... your admirers." "If you wouldn't think it too forward of me, we could dine privately at my residence. The staff chef is excellent." Laura knew that he was falling for the bait. "I think that would be very nice," she answered, trying to sound demure and sweet. Inwardly, Laura was thankful for the coaching that Anya had given her, as well as the enhanced 'charm'. She'd been playing 'hard to get', precisely as Anya had advised, but it had only taken three days for Collins to become irresistibly enthralled by her. The plan was working. Collins was falling for her, and soon, hopefully, she would get the information that they so desperately needed. She also knew better than to get her hopes up too soon; Anya had warned her that Collins was a cagy political master, and it would probably take time to get to the point that she had access to what she needed. Patience was the name of the game, but the problem was, with a dying President, patience was something that they couldn't afford. ********** Laura sighed, trying her best to sound sexually satisfied. She lay in bed with Collins, her head resting on his shoulder, and his arm around her. He was reveling in the afterglow of sex. Laura was just glad he was done. "There's something very special about you," Collins said with a smile. "You know how to make an old man feel young." Laura wanted to vomit. Instead, she forced herself to turn on her charm. "You know how to make a woman feel like a complete woman," she purred. Inwardly, however, she felt completely different. Collins was clumsy, rough, and in a hurry to satisfy his own carnal needs. She _knew_ that she was going to have to pleasure herself when he was done - just to avoid the sexual frustration that had been building in her - much to her chagrin. She found that she wanted to feel pleasure - and Collins had just denied that to her because of his own egotistical nature. And that need made her angry at herself, and frightened that she was becoming too much Laura, and forgetting Larry. "You know, I should be leaving," Laura continued. "You don't want the press starting any rumors, do you?" Collins laughed. "Sometimes when we're together, I don't care if they did. It might actually help my reputation to be involved romantically with such a lovely woman, as opposed to the ... other ways the press describes me." Laura turned to sit on the edge of the bed, but Collins wrapped his arms around her from behind and began to kiss her neck. "You really _don't_ want me to go," she purred. "No. But you do have a point ... about the press, I mean." It was already three in the morning. "Will I be seeing you tonight?" Laura asked. "Absolutely," Collins answered. "But then I've got that trip to China for a few days." "I wish I could come along," Laura said wistfully. Inside, she realized, to her shock, that she actually _meant_ what she'd said. She was finding it harder and harder to focus on her job. Roger Collins had _that_ effect on women, and Laura wasn't immune. Collins nodded, continuing his ministrations on her neck. "So do I." He sounded genuine, like he would truly miss her company. As Laura drove from the Veep's residence, she sighed heavily. She felt _dirty_ at what she was doing. She was doing things with Collins that, a couple of months ago, she'd have never imagined herself doing. Despite that, though, she felt successful. Collins' barriers to her were lowering quickly, as he was so obviously smitten with her. At home, she took a quick shower, then went to bed. She felt exhausted from the late hours she'd been spending with Collins. Late in the morning, she rose and dressed, then ate a light brunch. Suspecting that she was being watched, she drove to the Pentagon City Mall, and began browsing through the department stores for a suitable dress. Part of her knew it was a cover - not blowing a routine day with activities that might alert a trailing agent, but part of it was a genuine need to have appropriate - and attractive - attire. She flinched at the thought that she was actually concerned about being attractive, but convinced herself quickly that it was a necessary part of her role. Once she'd found a new dress, Laura stopped at a coffee shop and Internet caf?. As she sipped her coffee, she used the laptop to send a message to Tonya. She noted that Collins was highly interested, and that things were going smoothly. She informed Tonya that the two had another rendezvous set up for that evening. Satisfied with the message, she quickly and professionally accessed the computer's history files, deleted her entries, and then did a little web surfing for dresses and jewelry. If she was being followed, there was no sense in leaving any but the most routine, boring crumbs of information. Smiling to herself, she left the caf?. ********* "I'm so glad you could come," the woman said with enthusiasm as she performed the air-kiss-near-the-cheeks greeting ritual expected of the in crowd, whether they be socialites or stars. It was a warm evening in the early summer - not too hot, yet, although in a few weeks, it would be oppressively hot and humid. The crowd was gathered in a large, neat yard, surrounded by immaculately-tended gardens and shrubs, and a large patio with wrought-iron tables and chairs and a large bar serving drinks. It was a typical socialite's gathering in the nation's capital. "I wouldn't miss your party for the world," Laura replied easily. "You must be very busy these days." Rachel Warren laughed, a pleasant, delightful sound. "I knew what I was getting into," she said. "I guess it comes with my father's territory." Laura laughed, pausing to clasp the hand of Rachel's husband and give him a quick kiss. "You need to remember to schedule time so work can't intrude." "As do you," Rachel countered. "You've been spending a lot of time with Roger." Laura smiled outwardly, but on the inside, she was carefully measuring Rachel Warren's words, her tone, her expression, every facet of the young senator. "He's pleasant company." Rachel laughed aloud. "He's a political shark." Laura shrugged, feigning innocence. "I hadn't noticed." "I'm sure you hadn't," Rachel countered, her tone conveying her doubt about Laura's word. "But everyone has noticed that he's very smitten with you." "Oh, really?" Laura was actually surprised at Rachel's words. "And it's no secret that your friendship is ... more than casual." Laura frowned. "It's ... a personal matter," she said defensively. Rachel laughed. "At least you didn't say it was a personal _affair_!" Laura decided that it was time to change the subject. The topic of her romance with the vice president was still embarrassing. Despite the help from the old woman, she was still having difficulty coping with the change. "I'll be having a party in three weeks," she said, trying to sound charming. "I do hope you won't be tied up and can attend." "I don't think I have anything planned," Rachel replied, "but please check with my staff to make sure it's on my calendar." Without warning, a flicker of concern crossed her features, and an eyebrow rose a millimeter or two. She stared into Laura's eyes with a gaze that was unsettling. After a second or two, however, the look passed, and the smile returned. "I hope we can talk later," she said to Laura. "I have a sudden feeling that we have much more in common than you realize. And I have a special friend visiting that you really _must_ meet." She turned to greet other guests. A few minutes later, she saw Rachel approaching. With her was .... Laura's heart raced, as she felt an icy chill down her spine. "Laura," Rachel called warmly. "I want you to meet my very special friend." Laura tried, desperately, to act casual, but she was truly startled, and even a bit frightened. "I'm ...." she started to say as she leaned to hug Rachel's guest. "... Laura O'Donnell," the old woman answered, her face warm and friendly. "Everyone who's anyone knows who you are, my dear." Laura felt her head spinning. "I'm pleased to meet you." "Again, you mean," the old woman said softly. She turned her head slightly to glance at Rachel. "Please stop grinning like the cat that ate the canary, dear," she chided the Senator. "It's not very becoming." Rachel looked chastised, as if she was a misbehaving toddler that had been caught. "Yes, ma'am," she replied humbly, but still with a smile. "I think Laura and I would like to chat a bit," the old woman continued. Rachel took the hint and turned toward other guests. Laura felt her knees wobble. "What are you doing here?" she asked when her nerves calmed enough for her to speak. "Visiting a friend," the old woman said casually. "The Senator is a friend, and she was kind enough to invite me to visit." Laura's eyes narrowed. "Is she ...." The old woman laughed. "She's a dear old friend of the family. Nothing more." "Then why did I get the impression that she ... knew ... my secret?" Laura asked hesitantly. "She was staring at me with the same look that you and Anya have." "Rachel is a very perceptive young lady," Grandmother replied, still smiling. "Why ... are you here? Something tells me that you didn't just pop up here to visit Senator Warren." "Why, dear, I don't know what you are implying," the old woman laughed. She patted Laura on the arm. "By the way, I _love_ that dress. It really flatters your figure, and the color really works with your skin tone and hair." "Thank you," Laura replied automatically. "It's hard to find ...." She frowned. "Would you stop that! I need a break from this socialite stuff." "Sorry, but the play is not over. In fact, it's only begun the second act. There's still a lot for you to do." "Great," Laura said heavily. "So what now?" Grandmother began to fumble through her purse, and produced a plastic card, which looked like an average credit card. She handed it to Laura. "You need to extend your pass by at least another three months," she said as if reporting the weather. "You know this is very difficult," Laura said, glad to at least have a moment to let down her guard and not act like an ultra-feminine DC socialite. She sighed. "So do I need to travel so I can visit the park again?" "Oh, no, dear," Grandmother said with a smile. "That was done when you accepted the new pass. After all, my park is like magic." "Enough with the bad puns," Laura said plainly. "You're here for a reason." "Two reasons, actually," Grandmother reported. "First, as I said, I wanted a chance to visit my dear friend, Rachel. I haven't seen her in quite a while." "And second?" "Second is to warn you." She glanced around quickly, although Laura knew that the old woman's magic senses would know when she could talk. "Do you know that you're being recorded by some gentlemen with some rather sophisticated eavesdropping devices?" Laura sighed. "I suspected as much." "Well," the old woman said with a grin as she chanted a few foreign- sounding words, "they're going to be so very surprised when they find that their equipment has malfunctioned - just as we were about to discuss the 'juicy bits'." Laura glanced around, noting where the van was parked with the eavesdropping equipment. She saw a bit of activity. "You're safe for the moment," Grandmother said. "But I must warn you - you are now on your own. Your ... partners ... have attracted enough attention that they can't risk trying to contact you." "Collins?" The old woman nodded, her expression grim. "And more. Much more, and much more dangerous." "So it's not enough to be ... close ... to Collins?" Laura shook her head. "I get hints every now and then, but I haven't gotten any solid evidence." "You need to be much closer." "Closer than ...?" Laura blushed at the implication of what she was saying. The old woman smiled, understanding perfectly. "You need to become his most trusted advisor, an aide with keen political instincts that he trusts more than anyone else." Laura sighed. "I can do that." Grandmother shook her head. "It means that you're going to have to give up secrets that you once swore to keep, and possibly to let Collins hurt a few people's careers, in order to win his trust." Laura shook her head. "This is way above and beyond," she said. "It's also very demeaning, and even humiliating." ********** Laura snuggled on Roger's arm as they lay in bed. As usual, he had wanted sex, and now that he was satisfied, he was conversant. "I wasn't aware that you knew Rachel Warren," he said casually. Laura winced. "I knew her father, and naturally, I was curious as to whether she was anything like her old man." "And is she?" Laura shrugged. "If you mean, is she sharp? Yes. Has she got good political instincts? She's quickly developing them. And she's just as charming as he was." "What else do you know?" Collins prompted. "Not a lot. Not like some other people." Laura had to distract him from Rachel Warren. Rachel had seemed to know her secret, and Laura felt threatened by that. "Oh?" "I bumped into Sarah Rafferty in the store the other day. Talk about a mess!" Inwardly, Laura was cringing - she was about to betray a secret, something that the service had sworn never to do. "What's going on with Representative Rafferty?" Collins' interest was piqued. "Sarah's about ready to leave him." "Really. Why would she do that?" Laura hoped that Collins didn't see through her act. She was trying to appear nonchalant, but also calculated in divulging the information. "Isn't he the chair of the committee that's got your proposal locked up?" "I think so," Collins lied, but his lie was transparent. He knew all of the actors on the stage that was DC political life. "He's got a very serious gambling problem," Laura noted. "It's been almost completely hushed up, because his brother-in-law controls two television stations in his district, and the brother-in-law is well connected." "How bad? It can't be anything ... scandalous, could it?" "Yes. Sara said that they had to sell their vacation home in Colorado, and they're about to lose their house here. She's taking the kids home, and plans to file for divorce so she can at least keep her house back home." "How has _that_ been kept under wraps?" Laura smiled up at him. "You do realize, that with his 'Bible Belt' district, news of his ... problem ... would cause a big stir. A divorce wouldn't help him, either. A little suggestion might help get your proposal to the House floor for a vote." Collins' grin turned almost evil. He kissed Laura. "I'm glad you're on my side, my dear. You're special enough that I could see you as First Lady." Laura's eyes snapped open. He couldn't see, of course, from how she lay, but she _knew_ that he'd just said something that bespoke his ambition. "First Lady? But ... the President ..." She tried her best to sound confused. In fact, it took a moment for her to realize that he'd all but proposed, and when she _did_ note what he'd said, she felt a strange, exciting tingle run through her. At the same time, she became frightened of the power of his ambition, and his apparent and reputed willingness to do anything to achieve his goals. She realized how precarious her position truly was. "I have ambition, my dear," Collins said with the sweetness of a siren song. "I have ways to get you _anything_ you might desire." "But ... First Lady?" If there had been an academy award for acting by a special agent magically transformed into a woman, she'd have been a shoe- in. "The President won't be in office forever, my dear," Collins said with certainty. "And when he leaves ...." There was no doubt that he meant to succeed the current occupant of the Oval Office. Laura glanced up at his face, acting surprised. "There are a _lot_ of men who want to run for that office. Some of them are very well positioned politically," she said, feigning confusion. "You sound awfully sure that you'll win." "Who says I'll have to run to occupy the office?" Collins was