ANGELS AND GHOSTS
CHAPTER SIX

Surveillance

After showering and dressing the next morning Rachael said, “I’m gunna check out her house, so I’ll be gone for a few hours.”

“Do you want me to make you breakfast?”

“No, I’ll grab something on the way,” Rachael replied, then she added, “Today’s just about checking everything out, then tomorrow the full surveillance will begin.”

“And full surveillance means what?”

“I aim to be near her place by seven each morning, and I’ll keep observing her until I’m satisfied that she’s bedded down for the night.”

“So what, you could be gone all day and half the night?”

“Yeah, what’s the problem?”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Do what you normally do and watch porn.” Rachael replied drolly. She put the black wig on, then slipped a baseball cap on. “I probably won’t get a chance to attach the tracking device today, but I’ll take it just in case.”

“It’s in the front pocket of my back-pack.”

Rachael grabbed the tracking device, then said, “Okay, I’ll probably be back by mid-afternoon.”

*

Forty minutes later, Rachael parked the rental car five houses down from the target’s house, then she smiled wryly as she said to herself, “Okay, this assignment is officially under way.”

She got out of the car and walked across the road, and as she looked at the neighbouring houses, she cursed, “Fuck.” This was obviously a wealthy area, and just about every one of the impressive houses had CCTV monitors. The words caution and incognito sprang into her mind as she looked at the target’s house. All the houses she had seen so far were on large allotments, and the target’s house was no exception. The property was guarded by a wrought iron fence, the gates currently closed. A winding driveway led up to a triple-garage, the impressive double-story residence sitting at the southern end of the garage. Rachael noted two CCTV cameras; one affixed to the fascia of the garage, one above the portico leading into the house. She rarely abducted targets from their houses, so the cameras weren’t a major problem. A white Mercedes sedan sat halfway up the driveway, and from information Rachael had received, she knew that the Mercedes belonged to the target. When Rachael got a general idea of what the target did each day, she would attach a tracking device to the vehicle as soon as the opportunity presented itself.

Rachael went back to the rental and sat inside, then reclined the seat into a comfortable position. This was the part of the job she hated the most; following, watching, spying, observing; you can call it what you like, to her it was boring, although unfortunately, it was also necessary. Well actually, it was vital. The T’s needed to be crossed and the I’s needed to be dotted, because she had to learn everything she could about her targets. She didn’t spy on her targets with a view to exposing their misdeeds, she spied on them with the end goal being to abduct them.

Boring hours trickled slowly, although at 2.23pm, movement, the gates of the mansion slowly swinging inwards. Rachael got her first proper sighting of Melissa Anne Harvey, the woman striding towards the Mercedes, and after jotting down the time, she said admiringly, “Hmmm, you’re in good nick.”

The woman got in her car and drove off the expansive property, and Rachael started the rental as she whispered to herself, “Okay Melissa, enjoy your last few weeks.”

*

Marco loved sleeping in the same room as his idol, although he couldn’t get to sleep on night two because, mummering, muttering …

Timidly, he asked, “Teriny, Rach, you okay?”

No answer, so he asked again, “Arrhh, Rach, you awake?”

… In the space, in slumber-world, Rachael looked down timidly, wanting the man to recognize the guilty expression that she had tried so hard to manufacture.

“You’ve committed a crime?” the policeman asked.

“I, I stole something from you.” she whispered.

“What did you steal?”

“It’s embarrassing, and I can’t say,” she replied as she looked at him, her eye-lashes fluttering, then she continued, “You’ll see what it was when you search me.”

Rachael turned away from him, then braced her hands against the wall, her legs spread.

6’ 2” Officer Jamieson shook his head then said, “I can’t do a body search of a female suspect; I’ll go and get Officer Stevens.”

Fuck … wasn’t supposed to go like this … “No, no; I’ll consent to you doing a body search!” she said quickly.

“No, regulation 54 expressly states that a female officer must-”

“Fuck!” she snorted, “Forget about regulation 54 and just do the freaking body search already!”

Respectfully, Officer Jamieson frisked her, his hands whispering down her sides, over her hips, patting her legs, then he said, “Okay, all clean.”

Rachael, this Rachael, sighed, bowed her face, then said, “Sometimes girls hide stuff in their bras.”

Officer Jamieson was silent for a moment, seemed to be indecisive, then he said, “Okay, I’ll just go and get Officer Steve-”

“Ohhh, for fucks sake!” Rachael moaned, “You do it!”

Officer Jamieson gently patted her breasts, then said, “Well nothing there.”

Her tits were good tits, so Rachael was offended by the remark, even though this Rachael knew that the 6’2” policeman probably meant that there were no stolen objects in her bra; all the same, she was a woman of action, so she took her right hand off the wall and undid the buttons of her shirt, then she said bluntly, “My bra, my bra, it could be inside my bra!”

Things were starting to go according to plan, a tentative excursion inside the bra, cautious fingers feeling, Officer Jamieson then moving away, and Rachael knew that it was time to move it along. “Or sometimes girls hide things in their …” she turned to gaze him, the police officer suitably embarrassed, although it seemed by the bulge in his pants, that he was pleased that he had detoured regulation 54, so Rachael said, “Sometimes girls hide things in their panties.”

Rachael undid the button of her jeans and slid the zip down, and before she turned around to placed her hands back on the wall, she said testily, “So do your job, okay?”

The tentative fingers were more cautious than ever, almost as if the fingers were embarrassed, although when they slid inside the panties, the embarrassment seemed to subside, the fingers becoming explorative.

Okay, this is more like it.

The fingers were more having a good old feel rather than searching for the mysterious object, and Rachael felt him lean against her, then she felt six to eight inches of intention push against her buttocks, and she sighed, “I should get undressed, yeah?”

“What?” he asked shakily.

“This is a strip search yeah, so we both strip?”

Maybe there wasn’t a regulation against stripping off when you did a search, because policeman mumbled, “Ummm, ummm, okay.”

Rachael discarded her clothes with indecent haste, and as she turned around, she was surprised that he was already naked, and it was good how that had happened. Rachael ran her hands over his muscular chest, her eyes lowering to his stomach, her eyes then lowering even further, wanting to see what had been pushing against her … and then … shaking, trembling, Him, the gun …. Boom!

Everything turning to shit, no six-to-eight-inches anymore, just blood dripping off the walls, and Rachael, this Rachael was rattled as she gasped in disbelief, “You, you fucking …” everything a nightmare, everything dripping with blood, her whole world suddenly a canvas of dripping red.

Tentatively, Marco propped up, “Teriny, Rach, you okay?”

Whimpering sounds, the sounds interspersed with angry cusses, and Marco asked again, “Rach … you okay?”

Shivering, lost, bewildered, she sat up.

Marco saw the figure sit up, and he asked uncertainly, “Rach, you okay? Is everything alright?”

Rachael heard his voice, and her head sagged. Now was a good time to cry, but no, fuck that useless loser; no tears. She suspected that she may have woken Marco up, so she asked timidly, “You awake?”

“Yeah, I’m awake,” Marco replied, and stunned by what he’d heard, he muttered, “You, you must have been having a nightmare.”

Rachael was just about to reply, No, I wasn’t … instead, feeling small and vulnerable, she bowed her face. He, Fuck-Shit-Head was in her dreamscape, and he would come again, painting the dreamscape red, and sometimes, just occasionally, times like right at that very moment, she felt so lonely, so frightened, so obliterated. She scampered across and jumped into the double bed, then after settling in, she rolled away from him.

Bruised, emotionally battered, and also embarrassed by the fact that her best friend might have seen the other Rachael Terina; the whimpering, blubbering Rachael Terina who cowered in the corner, Rachael asked quietly, “Marco, can you cuddle me?”

He moved against her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Contact, physical intervention, although she was her, and she muttered, “Don’t get a boner okay, I just need to be held.”

“I’ll try not to, but I’m not very good at it.” he muttered.

“What?”

“I’ll try, but I’m not very good at not getting boners.”

*

Marco knew that he had to raise the subject, so he mentioned it at breakfast. “Rach, you, you had a nightmare or something last night.”

Sitting at the table, she sipped her coffee then bowed her face. Marco was her best friend, and obviously he had been affected by the previous night, but did she really want to reveal herself to him? Baby steps maybe. “What, did I say something?” she asked.

“Ummm, ummm, you were blubbering, and you said, Why do you always have to fuck up everything, or something like that.”

Rachael pondered for a moment, thought about herself, Rachael Terina, twenty-seven-year-old female assassin; bold, daring, attractive, financially independent, the world seemingly at her feet … except for Him. He who comes when defences are down, He who slips into her dreams, He who still terrifies the living shit out of her. She didn’t need to reveal herself to her best friend, then again, maybe she did. She skimmed a hand through her hair, then she said quietly, “Yeah, I have nightmares about the ass-hole.”

Marco knew what she was talking about it, and he asked sympathetically, “Trevor?”

“Trent, his name was Trent!”

“Sorry.”

The ass-hole couldn’t enter her mind in daylight hours, she was mentally strong enough to block him out; but in the depths of night, He came for her. She didn’t know what she said or did when he invaded, because she always snapped awake, panting, breathless, on a knives edge; but obviously her best friend had borne witness to a nightmare, and maybe he could fill in a few blanks. “Is that all I said?” she asked timidly.

“Ummm, jeez, you were like whimpering and spluttering, and what I told you was the only bit I could understand.”

“Well yeah, you know, I relive it in these nightmares, I mean nightmares that still happen for some reason,” she looked at him and said casually, “And I mean I couldn’t give a fuck about that ass-hole, but the nightmares kinda knock me around a bit.”

“Rach …”

“What?”

“So you’re still, I dunno, fucked up?”

Yeah, pretty much … she thought wryly. “Marco, you know me yeah, and I don’t take shit from anybody,” Rachael bowed her face again as she concluded, “But yeah, him, I, I don’t know how to stop it.”

Marco reached across and patted her hand as he said, “Teriny, Rach, I dunno, should you see a counsellor or something?”

“Jesus!” she blew out. “I was seeing shrinks for three years after it happened, and they didn’t make him go away, they just made him bigger.”

Marco searched for a positive, but couldn’t replace one, so he opted for a show of support. “Rach, if you wanta talk about stuff, well I hope you know that I’ll always be here for you.”

Rachael hung her head. The night had been a serious cluster-fuck, and even though it was a cluster-fuck she should be used to, she was glad that somebody cared about her. “Yeah thanks.” she mumbled. She was now day-time Rachael Terina though, and day-time Rachael Terina was The Boss. Glaring at him, she said, “And listen my fat perverted friend, didn’t I specifically tell you not to get a boner last night?”

Marco relaxed, and anticipating that a Rachael Terina insult or threat might be coming his way, he said mockingly, “Ohhh, I’m so sorry! I was cuddled up to you, what do you expect? I mean have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?”

Rachael finished her coffee, then stood as she said, “Yeah, thanks very much. Now I’ll have a new nightmare to contend with; your throbbing boner squashed up against my ass cheeks!”

*

Week one was boring, although all movements were recorded, as were all visitations to the target’s home.

Week one also saw two more nightmares, and Marco was shaken by them, although he was pleased that it meant Rachael scampered across and jumped in his bed.

Rachael was shaken too, not understanding why it still happened, and while she climbed into the double bed reluctantly, she knew that she needed physical contact, needed any kind of comfort.

*

Week two, yawn … although patterns emerging.

The target went to gym at least three times a week, had lunched at diners five times in the two week period, and dined out for evening meals four times.

Regular visitations were noted.

Week two, two nightmares; Marco shaken by their intensity, Rachael climbing into the double bed, shivering.

*

Week three, clear patterns emerging, Rachael concentrating on the women’s alone time, because the consistent alone times would give birth to the abduction plan.

Just the one nightmare for Week three, and Rachael assumed that maybe her sub-conscious had decided that it preferred to sleep without the boner nestled into her bum crack.

*

Marco had a confusing day at the end of week three.

As far as the assignment went, everything was going to plan, and his services were virtually redundant. The coming night was a designated blowie night, although he was conflicted. He adored Rachael Terina, and most of his dreams revolved around his best friend sliding her panties down; but Jesus, confused and conflicted. His ultimate wish was that penis of his, would one day enter vagina of hers, but if the Big Dogs, those who pulled the strings in the Paradise Above, if they gave him a choice, Ye Perverted One, we shall arrange for The Girl to lie before you, but in return, you will lose her forever.

Which way would he go?

Coupling with the Goddess of his dreams was what he craved, but losing her forever?

His best friend was actually his hero. Rachael Terina was bigger, bolder and braver than any of the video game heroes he had come across, although recently, he had seen that she wasn’t a video game hero, she was a human being with her own set of vulnerabilities.

If the Big Dogs said to him, Perverted One, we need your answer. He would be conflicted, because he wanted to say, ‘Yeah, let me slam her!’ but no, sometimes to go forward, one needed to make significant sacrifices.

His best friend was obviously damaged, and he didn’t want to damage her any further. Ye Big Dogs, the offer of the sacred flesh is inviting, but The Girl is my hero, The Girl is almost my world, and of the things I desire most, her eternal friendship is that which I crave.

After dinner and casual conversation, Rachael asked, “You had a shower?”

“Drat.” he muttered, Marco just about to extend the hand of eternal friendship, “Teriny, I’ve been thinking …”

“I will not bend over for you pervert!” she spat out.

“No, no, I mean, I dunno, like I didn’t realise you were so fucked up, so …”

She waited, then prompted him, “So what?”

Marco sighed then said quietly, “Ummm, I guess from now on, you can pay me cash.”

“Dickhead, this job is both cash and blowies!”

He nodded and said solemnly, “Yeah, well just increase the cash payment.”

Rachael leant back in the chair, interested, “More cash instead of blowies?”

“Yeah.”

More interested, pondering, “How come?”

Marco patted her hand, and Rachael pulled hers away.

“Teriny, you’re my best friend, I mean I idolize you, and I don’t want to … ummm … you know …”

Arms folded now, “What?”

Marco gazed at her, “I don’t want to fuck you up any more than you already are.”

Rachael shrugged her shoulders and asked, “You don’t like me jacking you off anymore?”

“Of course I do!” he spluttered, “I mean that’s the big highlight in my life, but I care about you, and if me missing out on the occasional blowie means that you’ll, I dunno, get better or get more normal or whatever, well yeah.”

Rachael almost smiled, although she tried to halt the physical reaction. Shacking up together for this assignment meant that Marco had seen Cowering-In-The-Corner Rachael Terina, and it had obviously affected him. For him to offer to forgo one of his greatest pleasures must mean that he really did care for her, and she felt humbled. Even though she would never admit it, he really was her best friend. Staring at her lap, she said nonchalantly, “I understand, what you’re saying, and yeah thanks, but jacking you off doesn’t screw me up or send me into psychological melt-down, that fucking ass-hole creeping into my dreams fucks me up.”

“Okay, but I dunno, I’d like to try and help you rather than screw you up even more.”

Day-time Rachael Terina and Cowering-In-The-Corner Rachael Terina meet her in her mind, and she lifted her gaze to him. “Marco, I’m kinda embarrassed that you’ve seen me at my worst, and I’m touched that you’re considerate of my feelings, but this is me, I mean I’ve got shit that I have to deal with, and yeah, I just try and deal with it and keep the wheels rolling.”

“Okay, well you know, cash is okay from now on.”

Without his beard, and with a compassionate smile on his face, he looked like a big, cuddly teddy bear, and Rachael let the next smile blossom as she said, “For tonight’s blowie, you can play with my tits.”

Marco braced his hands on the chair and leant forward as he asked in surprise, “Really?”

“Yes, but gently, reverently.”

Marco was abuzz with all things positive, and he asked, “Yeah, so every time I can grope?”

“Once only Fat Pudding, so store it in your memory bank.”

That night, shower, oil, caressing … and no nightmare; Rachael in the single bed all night.

*

Week four, Melissa Anne Harvey proving to be a creature of habit, and Rachael Terina, female assassin, was content.

Day-time Rachael Terina was content as well, because maybe she had taken over the dark, lonely hours, for it was a nightmare-free week.

*

Stage two; the location.

Rachael wanted somewhere isolated, although not so isolated that she’d be noticed driving and parking there. Industrial areas were ideal for her purposes, and she found one no more than five miles from where they were staying.

The industrial area was a hive of activity during the day, and almost deserted by night; perfect.

With the black wig on, sunglasses on and her collar turned up, Rachael walked through the area one afternoon, taking notice of how many CCTV cameras there were, and also looking for discreet laneways that would land her in the eastern section of the area.

One building was tucked right into the eastern corner, JEFF DAVIS SMASH REPAIRS. The building was secured by cyclone fencing, the gates padlocked, although from her thorough investigation, no CCTV cameras were evident, and importantly, the security warning sign hanging on the front gate was old and dilapidated. Rachael was hoping that Jeff Davis was too stingy to pay for a security firm, so she sent a message to Marco;

Jeff davis smash repairs, linsley way, hughington; security firm listed as macmillan security p/l;

check if contract is still valid, and if so, you’ll need to work on a plan to get me in.

Marco had the information when she arrived back at the motel that evening.

“Cheap bastard,” Marco smiled, “Too lousy to pay for security.”

“Good boy.” Rachael replied.

“What’s the plan?”

“It’s an industrial area, and by midday Saturday, it’s deserted, so if my little friend sticks to her normal routine and goes to gym on Sunday morning …”

“What?” he prompted.

“If she goes to gym on Sunday like usual, then I’m thinking that Mr Jeff Davis might replace a little surprise in his staff room on Monday morning.”

“Hooo, this is exciting!”

“Hold your horses Plumpasauras, but yeah, at this stage, Sunday is the day.”

On the Sunday, Melissa Anne Harvey did go to gym, and while she was working through her hour-long routine, Rachael disabled her car alarm and then waited, a rag and a bottle of chloroform in her jacket pocket.