“So Dillian, how did you get tangled up in this web?”
“I’m just the messenger Ms. Green. I actually help test the equipment they invent.”
“Here’s your omelet and sausage sir. Toast is on the way.”
“Omelet? I ordered…”
“Now, now sir, you wouldn’t insult the cook by refusing his special order, would you? We’re quite fond of our Alice. We take special care of her, always watching out for her and her friends. You are a friend of hers, aren’t you?”
“Not exactly.”
“No? Tis, tis. You should be friendly to our Alice. You will try, won’t you?”
“I think she’s a nice girl.”
“Nice. No more? You think she’s pretty?”
Pretty.
Hmm.
Wavy blonde hair to her shoulders, a wisp of bang, chocolate brown eyes, hmm, long dark eyelashes.
A rose in bloom.
“She’s satisfactory.”
Satisfactory?
What a compliment Dill, and knock me on the other side of the head.
“Here’s the toast. This is the young man, Millie? The one you warned me about?”
“Yes honey. This is my husband, the Chief. Dillian, meet my husband.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Son, you haven’t taken a bit of my sausage, don’t you like it?
Sausage?
I’m a bacon man.
“Fine meal sir. Your Millie’s quite a lady.”
Quite.
What did Alice tell these two?
“Very good sausage, sir.”
Spicy!
“Um… can I have some water? The coffee’s a bit…”
Watery?
Cold?
What did Alice say?!
“Finished Alice love?”
“Yes Millie. Thanks so much for the food. You two are the best. Dillian? Catch me when you can.”
“Wait! You can’t leave Ms. Green, we’re not finished!”
“Your right, Dillian boy, your omelets getting cold, Chiefs always eat their eggs. See these biceps? Good food and exercise. That’s my motto. Eat up. I don’t like waiting. I like satisfied customers.”
Oh boy.
Food was great here with good service.
Now I’m eating leftovers with…
“Flex your muscles honey. Young men these days don’t know the benefits of your good food. See son? Take a close look.”
Oh boy.
“Princess, if you’re riding with me, we play by my rules.”
“I don’t exactly get a choice, now do I?”
“You’re learning Jamie love… now we’re driving right back to work. You’re going to act casual and smile to everybody, and then we’re calling on my desk phone to Mike. Here’s the paper I want you to read from. Got that?”
“Use your cell phone.”
“Sweetie, Mike doesn’t know my cell. We, experts follow the rules with no mistakes. Have you forgotten the portable? Mike carries the thing with him. The little thing records everything. It’s a darn nuisance is what it is. Now read the note aloud to me.”
“This wont work, Mike knows me. He’ll know when I’m pretending.”
“He would, wouldn’t he? You talk enough.”
“He’s smart.”
“Fine, make small talk. But remember, I’m right beside you.”
“Do you always carry a Simi-automatic pistol with you?”
“Get use to it Doll face, it’s my best friend.”
“I don’t scare easily.”
Apparently not.
Hostages are supposed to be supportive, cooperative, and generally ugly. Instead I get an unreasonable, annoying, angelic princess with glaring eyes!
What would she do if I kissed her?
If only to shut her up!
“I know how to use it Angel, so don’t tempt me.”
“So? My dog knows how to use his teeth too. Do you want me to whistle?”
“No. I want you to shut up and cooperate.”
“Sign the paper with your real name and I will.”
“How many times do I have to explain? I am authorized!”
Recording
Its 8:30 AM, the next day.
Location the East Seashore Dock.
Subject found and located.
I will be polite, but firm.
Gentle of words, but to the point.
I will…
I will reframe tying her up.
I will not lose my temper.
I will…
Recording
I will get these papers signed.
This is Dillian Coleman.
Recording out
She’s here.
My sweet, slippery… worm.
Oh, how she will wiggle for safety on my razor sharp hook.
No, she won’t get away from me this time.
This time I stole her keys.
What kind of blonde leaves her keys in the ignition?
What am I now?
A thief?
Alice Green
My Client
My pint size, blonde, who escapes every trap, line and bait I dangle!
What does it take to catch this minnow?
All I want is her signature.
Ok, five signatures.
One for every promise broken.
You see, she volunteered for an experiment.
Except my company, TICC aka Technical Information Computer Chips made a slight error.
They grabbed the wrong girl.
Now me.
The paper boy, has to bring the bad news.
Oh joy.
Easy right?
Search, contact, sign off.
Not.
This little guppy doesn’t want to get caught.
Why I ask you?
Because this little guppy was warned ahead of time by TICC.
Warned!
Contract broken.
She will lose everything we gave her.
Everything!
Every promise we made broken.
Every dollar taken away.
Nada. Zip. Kaput.
And we need her signatures to make it all final!
One little thing.
Is this so bad?
In her book it is.
Now she’s avoiding us.
Me.
Like I’m the plague or something.
I’m the good guy, lady.
I had no part in this deal.
I’m just the messenger!
Tick, tick. Tick, tick.
The clocks ticking Jamie.
I can’t hold out to long.
Hmm.
Here’s the plan.
First, I’ll punch the numbers really fast. He won’t notice the wrong number.
Second, I’ll carefully reveal our exactly location. In case I need the police.
Third, I’ll ah… ah… stay calm and speak really slowly.
Here goes.
“Hello.”
“Hi, its Jamie sir.”
“Jamie? What’s taking you so long?! We’re waiting for you on the dock.”
“It’s nice to here from you too sir… yes, I’m at work, in the second office to your right… I’m requesting permission to obtain the combination numbers to the safe.”
“Jamie, are you listening to me? We’ve been here three hours. Why are you at work? You don’t work on Saturdays.”
“Yes, I know I don’t… ah… sir, a Mr. Harding wants the combination again. Somehow he lost them.”
“Combination? Jamie, I don’t work there anymore, remember? Did I tell you the latest news? TICC sent some shark my way to sign me off. Can you believe this? What’s rightfully mine, gone. It’s like signing your death certificate. TICC just won’t let me keep it!”
“They did?!... I mean, yes sir… you’re at the East Seashore Dock?”
“Yes. Jamie, are you listening? I mean really listening. You’re talking very weird.”
You don’t know half of it.
Please Alice figure this out… before it’s too late.
“Right sir… we’re on our way to the dock…”
“Wait! You said we. You’re bringing someone Jamie? Does that mean your dating again?”
“Oh boy… I mean, we’re on our way. Thanks sir!”
Click.
Great.
First, I’m kidnapped.
Now, I’m stuck with a boyfriend.
Aaagh!
What a tangled mess this is!
“Hey Charley! You tied that rope yet?”
“Oh! Keep your shorts on, I almost got it! Wheh! We’re about ready… Jamie call yet?”
“You won’t believe this Charley, Jamie’s dating again!”
“No way!”
“Yep, she just called me. She sounded a bit weird though. She kept calling me sir and saying she needed some numbers for a combination.”
“Combination for what?”
“I don’t know. She sounded funny.”
“Everything’s set to go Alice, except whatever’s left on dock… ah oh. Is that the man chasing you?”
Oh no.
He’s back.
“Hurry Charley! Move the rest of the stuff on board.”
“Aren’t you going to talk to him?”
“I don’t think so. He’s one lone shark I’d rather not tangle with. Just grab the stuff and ignore him.”
“Sweetheart, it’s kind of hard to ignore a six-two black panther. Shall we call him Blacky?”
“Don’t call him anything. Ignore him and he’ll go away.”
“He’s a persistent fellow. Kind of like you. Shall we take him for a swim? I think so. What was his name again?”
“Dillian Coleman and no…”
“Hey Dill! Over here!”
“Charley! Don’t you dare!”
“Shh, hide aft.”
Men!
Whose side is he on?
A deals, a deal.
It’s not my fault TICC broke their stupid agreement.
Men change their minds like a woman I tell you.
It’s all a game to them.
Always fun and games.
And Charley’s joining the game!
Men!
So they want to play, do they?
I’ll give them a play.
A play they won’t ever forget!