AS SHERIFF LOU was en route to Little Beaver, and Duane was having his breakfast, two FBI agents sat on a red leather sofa in the outer office of the Sacramento Bureau shrink, Doctor Ramón Fernandez, awaiting his arrival.
Agent Candice Merlot, a stunning African-American in her late twenties, scrutinized the contents of a magazine. She casually twisted a finger around a stray curl of her fashionably straightened hair. She was not overly tall, but she sure made up for that with her lithe, muscular body that fit snugly into her gray suit.
Sometimes she liked to be just Merlot, and like the wine, she was smooth, lively on the tongue and full of velvety textures that lingered well beyond the first tantalizing sip. As Candi, she liked to be slowly unwrapped and savored for her sweet taste, something she had picked up during her modeling days for Sports Illustrated. She adored Latin American music, loved to salsa and liked her food spicy-the hotter the better. But, most of all, Agent Merlot liked the guys and the guys sure liked her.
Merlot glanced at her partner, Agent Willis Johnson. He was a few years older, taller and fit looking, with a lean, somewhat chiseled, but attractive face with short auburn hair. She knew he never missed his daily work outs. That he never ate anything unhealthy. He ate tons of fiber. He liked country and western music, and as for the ladies, well, only Agent Johnson knew what he liked. He would never kiss and tell, keeping everything bottled up, which was the reason they were waiting for the shrink.
They sat together on the long comfy sofa, but at either end, as far apart as possible. Agent Merlot looked casual with legs crossed while Agent Johnson sat straight-backed, serious-faced and looked uptight.
Merlot glanced at her wristwatch and noted the time. She scrutinized her taciturn partner. Ten minutes had elapsed since they had entered Doctor Fernandez's cozy outer office. Neither had spoken a word to one another in all that time. That was just how Agent Johnson liked it these days—as silent as Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western.
The small fan on the black desk at their feet gently oscillated, thus providing a therapeutic white noise that made the silence bearable, thought Merlot. She guessed it had been intentionally left switched on by the good doctor.
Merlot cast a familiar eye around the very feminine outer office. Normally she would have concluded the shrink was on the same team, but she knew better, as did all her female colleagues. Pink was the order of the day to match the flaming red sofa. Both colors were used deliberately to elicit a response. There were three scatter cushions on the sofa, but one was now being throttled in the vice-like grip of Agent Johnson's clenched hands.
The door of the outer office opened and in walked Doctor Ramón Fernandez. Wow!
Merlot stared at the man of her dreams. Ramón was a gorgeous Latin American in his early thirties. His shining black hair, dark brown eyes and olive skin were perfectly encased within the confines of his dark gray suit that seemed to Merlot to be a size too small. She ogled his tight buttocks and muscular thighs as he walked past her.
Merlot stared agog at the breathtaking sight before her, licking her lips suggestively. Way too sexy for a shrink, she thought. She shifted on the sofa as her juices started to flow. She had nicknamed Ramón "Doctor Sluice" and had been severely reprimanded by her anal boss and Agent Johnson for blurting it out on occasion.
"Agents," Doctor Fernandez said, nodding as he entered his private domain.
Merlot looked for approval from her partner. She got nothing but an icy glare. She nodded her head with dismay and entered the consultation room.
Agent Johnson sighed heavily and jumped from the sofa like a coiled spring. He followed Merlot into the office and slammed the door.
MERLOT RECALLED THE FIRST TIME she'd been in Doctor Fernandez's consultation room which was even cozier than the outer office. Pale blue was the order of the day with dark blue chenille armchairs. The walls were festooned with Doctor Fernandez's psychiatric accomplishments. On his desk was a computer and photos of his family-no wife.
Merlot was there to explain her partner's condition. She informed the shrink that they'd been partners for nearly a year and a good friendship had grown between them. Without warning, he had gone completely insane. He had become distant and offensive. And not just to her, but to other FBI agents as well. The once super-cool Agent Johnson had become easy to provoke into bouts of anger. On two occasions, he had warned Merlot to shut her big mouth. And on more occasions than that, Agent Tightass had used very insulting comments to describe Agent Merlot's happy-go-lucky attitude. There had also been several complaints of civilian harassment aimed at Agent Johnson.
During this initial consultation, Doctor Fernandez asked Merlot a lot of personal questions about her partner. Was he seeing someone?—don't know. Was he regular?-don't know. Was he sleeping?—don't know. Have you had a sexual relationship with Willis?—that's sick . . . he was more like a brother to her.
It was soon established that Agent Merlot knew nothing about her partner. But Merlot did however tell Doctor Fernandez that she suspected whatever was troubling Johnson had something to do with his home town, and perhaps a certain woman residing there.
Merlot recalled removing a folded magazine page from her jacket pocket and handing it to Doctor Fernandez. The picture displayed Annie Bumgardner in all her luscious glory. The mention of the home town caused Merlot to erupt into laughter throughout the consultation. Apparently, in an interview, Annie mentioned how her heart had been broken by a certain young man who had left town unexpectedly, the upshot of which was she was prompted to up and leave Big Beaver as well to pursue a modeling career.
Agent Merlot also recalled her partner receiving a letter from Big Beaver. After reading it, he went berserk and had been that way ever since. She couldn't be absolutely sure Annie was the reason for her partner's troubles, as he was so tight-lipped on the subject.
Merlot snapped out of her recollection as Doctor Fernandez sat in his armchair opposite her and deliberately sat with legs apart, revealing a sizeable piece of luggage. Merlot shifted uncomfortably in her armchair as south of the border became activated at the sight of such good wood—mature hard mahogany on her woodometer scale.
She cleared her throat and smiled at the stunning Doctor Ramón who had obviously noticed the effect he was having on her by the increased bulge between his legs. Merlot gazed into his luscious eyes with a look of wanton abandon. She decided to be the first to speak-no choice really.
"I forgive you for calling me a puck bunny and a twinkie, Agent Johnson," she said in a friendly tone of voice.
Agent Johnson remained silent, his expression grimly serious. His jaw muscles were clenched so tight Merlot could hear his teeth grinding.
She thought that if her partner wasn't careful the Bureau would insist he took more than just counseling-a prolonged leave of absence. Merlot didn't want that to happen. She would have to break in a new partner.
"Don't suppose I can buy you a coffee later?" Merlot offered.
No reply from her anal partner.
Merlot shrugged. What more could she do? She returned her attention to the awesome Dr. Ramón. He sure was a gorgeous specimen of hardwood. She wavered as the doctor shifted to accommodate his erection. Merlot was surely gratified.
"Sorry I'm late," Ramón casually offered. He smiled just for Merlot. "Good morning, agents." He averted his gaze from Merlot's overtly intense sexual come-on look.
Merlot knew from that moment that her luck was in. She smiled ever so briefly, licking her red lips with a tongue that begged for more. She wondered if he had any tan lines. Her fervent imagination ran riot with thoughts of the exquisite Ramón lying naked on a beach while she massaged sun lotion into the glorious skin of his firm buns.
Doctor Fernandez gave a warning cough.
Merlot apologized with a furtive smile and settled back into her chair, looking serious.
"Good morning to you, Doctor Fernandez."
"You can call me Ramón, if you wish."
"Ramón it is then." The female agent knew beyond all doubt Ramón wanted her as much as she wanted him.
Ramón focused his attention on the dour Agent Johnson. He pursed his full lips in thought.
"Don't you think it's a good morning, Agent Johnson?"
Agent Johnson seemed immune to the doctor's charm. His expression remained serious. He didn't speak right away, rather allowing the silence to maintain his serious stance.
"What's so good about it? It's just another shitty morning like any other shitty morning." Agent Johnson scowled with menace.
"I see," the good doctor said, with eyebrows raised. "Well now, what do you want us to talk about, Agent Johnson, or can I call you Willis?"
Willis fixed the doctor with a steely look, "Whatever. Can I go now?" He started to get up.
"No you cannot, Willis." Ramón pointed to Willis' chair to remain seated.
"Quack," Willis whispered under his breath as he sat back down.
Merlot's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, thinking now you've done it, Agent Tightass.
Ramón had good hearing, apparently. "I heard that."
Willis shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care.
Ramón persisted with the good doctor routine. "Come, come, Willis, something is bugging you. You want to know what I think is the root cause of your sudden behavior?"
Willis didn't reply. He looked around the room seemingly uninterested.
Merlot gave her partner a concerned look.
"I think your hometown of Big Beaver has a lot to do with what's troubling you, and perhaps you still hold a torch for an old girlfriend there. Am I right about the letter you received two months ago?" Dr Fernandez waited for a reply with an expectant look.
Merlot bit her hand to stop the giggles as Big Beaver filled her mind with images of trim. Those thoughts soon vanished as she imagined Ramón's luscious lips pleasuring her.
Willis narrowed his eyes and turned his attention upon his partner, "Bitch! Trust you to put two and two together, and come up with nothing."
"Prick!"
"Okay girls, that's quite enough." Ramón started to write something out on a notepad.
Willis stood and was about to leave.
Ramón lifted a finger to halt Willis. "I haven't finished." He ripped off a sheet from the notepad and handed it to Willis. "Your prescription, and adhere to it or you will be placed on suspension."
Willis snatched the piece of paper from Ramón's hand without reading it and left the office.
Merlot waited in her armchair for Ramón to declare his undying love for her.
The gorgeous doctor gave Merlot an inquisitive look, "Is there anything more, Agent Merlot?" He smiled.
Oh yes, there was more, but Merlot knew now was not the time.