This is the twentieth installment of
Mrs. Hart's Ache
Chapter XI "…Top Floor, going down…"
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Author's note: see the Index of Terms for the definition of any word with which you are not familiar.
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This is a simple tale of retribution, wherein the young hero teaches the mother of his newest girlfriend a few manners while enjoying a few adventures – sexual and otherwise – along the way.
James Mark Masterson.
Just your typical teenager. Smart… sexy… sophisticated… and always horny. With the time and bank to do pretty much what he wants to do.
And to do who he wants to do.
'Tinkerbelle' is in good hands, and the information she has provided as well as the assistance she has given make the next two operations possible.
Not simple, but definitely possible.
In fact, if their luck holds, James and the gang may be able to get both Lydia and Marco at the same time.
Harder to accomplish, but with a lot less exposure.
Read along as Operations 'Fat Ass' and 'Guido' come to a surprising conclusion…
Surprising for Lydia and The Putz certainly; but somewhat surprising for the James gang too…
Happy Reading.
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XI "…Top Floor, Going Down…"
"
…It's vital that we get Marco and Lydia here as quickly as possible…
"
Gwendolyn and Saundra were sitting in the living room talking. They glanced up when I entered. I gave them a brief rundown on my instructions to Cassandra. They agreed to assist if necessary.
I paused long enough to accept a hug from each of them, then grabbed the laptop and the map and headed out the door. I wanted to be close when the villains arrived. Saundra was already punching up Maxine's number when I left.
Lydia's place was less than ten minutes farther down that same road. Traffic was light. I saw two other cars on the drive. The road to Lydia's place was on the right. Maxine appeared from a stand of trees on the left when she saw my car. She waved and pointed a few yards farther up the road where an old cutting, probably a logging road or hunting trail provided a turn out. Her truck was parked fifty feet up, out of sight of the road.
Marti was inside talking on her phone. She shut it as I climbed out of my car. She slid out of the truck as Maxine walked up to join us.
"Cora's found the place to do her thing. The hookup's about twenty yards in." Marti announced. "The power and phone lines run along the road up to the house. It's about a half-mile in, down by the lake. As soon as you're ready, I'll call her and she'll disconnect them."
I thought for a minute, then said. "We'll wait until I'm inside. What I have to say will shake them up. I want you to shake them up more. Let them know that I'm not alone."
They nodded. "That makes sense, James." Maxine said. "I was wondering how we could let them know that you're not by yourself. There's no telling what those two assholes might do if we give them too many options and too much time to think."
Marti punched up Cora again. She confirmed the plan, then we settled in to wait. All three of us were tense, but quiet. I was reviewing everything. Maxine and Marti looked like they were too.
While I thought about things, I glanced at the car. The top was folded down. Good. I wanted the bad guys to see one person get out of the car with no place for anyone else to hide. They'd be watching for it. I didn't want them to get too nervous before I was inside where I could see them.
Twenty minutes later, Lydia's black Lexus roared up the road. She made the turn onto her drive with gravel flying. Marco was right behind in his Mercedes convertible. He was a bit more concerned with the paint job on his car. We gave them one minute, then followed.
I led the way and stopped when Cora stepped from the trees. She pointed to the transformer on the pole beside the road. We all got out for a last conference, then Cora started climbing. I nodded to her, and told Maxine to give me two additional minutes to get to the house.
We both looked at our watches. Seven minutes from the tick, Cora was to pull the power. Ten minutes after that, Maxine was to call in the cavalry if I wasn't out or hadn't communicated with the correct code word: 'sister'.
She nodded then punched my arm. The adrenaline was running, so I don't think I felt it. No bruise either. Surprise.
Marti touched my shoulder. Cora gave me thumbs up from her perch atop the pole. I slid into the car and waved as I drove up the road.
Nice house. Lydia had paid dearly for her comforts and privacy. The house was new. Though I could see that the area had been landscaped in the recent past, an old barn stood across the drive. I'd have bet that Lydia had had the old house torn down and the new place built upon the foundation.
They were standing beside their cars talking, and turned when they heard mine. Both looked puzzled when they caught sight of the Miata. They were expecting Wendy's red Bimmer. I pulled around facing back out, then hopped out with my laptop in hand.
Marco started toward me, but I held up my hand and called out a greeting.
I liked the setting. Outside was better. Both looked bewildered as I set the computer on the trunk of Lydia's car and hit the power switch. As the CPU booted, I turned to greet them by name.
"Good afternoon Ms Parker, Mr Scuzetti." I said pleasantly. "How do you do. My name is James. I here to represent your associate, Ms Saunders. She's asked that I show you a couple of things, then explain some ground rules."
Both villains were stunned. Good. Stunned means still. No activity. Confusion. I wanted to keep them off balance and quiet as long as possible. They suddenly needed a lot more information. Only I could give it to them. I had their complete attention. They weren't going anywhere until they'd heard what I had to say.
The computer finished booting. I slipped a disc into the drive then turned to them. "Please step over here. In this bright light, you can see the screen better from an angle."
They moved near without thinking. Marco gave me a measuring look, then bent down to focus in on the screen. Perfect. The opportunity presented itself. I took it.
I chopped him across the neck. He dropped like a puppet with his strings cut. My only worry was that, with the adrenaline pumping so hard, I might hit him too hard. Training pays off. As soon as the blow landed, I knew it was on target. He'd be out for at least a half hour. It hadn't been part of the plan, but thinking about it later, I realized that we could've almost counted upon Marco to do something stupid. He seemed to have a gift for the asinine.
Lydia was stunned again. She looked at me as though I had sprouted another head. She turned, looking longingly at the house, but a took her arm gently and pointed at the screen.
"Don't worry Lydia." I said softly. "I won't harm you unless you do something stupid. We both know that you're not stupid. But neither you nor I need to risk Marco's reaction if he viewed this disc. You'll see what I mean when you watch it. You know Marco. He would not be happy with some of the selections. It is better that he not see it here and now. I really made this for your edification, not his.."
I pulled her over to the computer and clicked the icon for her. While she watched selected cuts from the surveillance vids, I punched up the ladies. It had gone fast. I had almost three minutes remaining before the lights were scheduled to go out. Maxine answered on the first ring.
"'Sister' here. Call off Cora if she hasn't already pulled the plug." I said. "We don't need it. The situation's under control. Get up here ASAP. We have one down, lights out, and one in the 'Shock and Awe' mode."
I snapped the phone shut without waiting for a reply. There was no need. A second or two later I heard Maxine's yelp of triumph echo from the woods. Then Cora and Marti's answering bellows reverberating.
I glanced down at the screen. The scene of Marco and Lydia discussing the latest payoff from a fashion house was just ending. Lydia was pale under her tan. She'd get more so.
While she watched the vids, I kept an eye on her and gave Marco a pat-down. Surprise, surprise: he had a little sub-compact Beretta .22 tucked at the small of his back. Even Lydia was shocked to see it. I checked the safety and slipped it in my pocket. If Lydia had a weapon, she couldn't get at it without flashing the world. Her designer dress was not designed to conceal much of anything, least of all a pistol. I'd have the ladies pat her down.
Lydia turned back to the screen. The cocaine discussion was running. That was followed by their conversations regarding Summer May, and their plans for their next party featuring Missy. The next scene was of Missy's leave-taking after her 'date' with Marco. Lydia's cheeks suddenly flushed. She was pissed.
She looked down to Marco, sprawled on the gravel drive. I think she resisted the urge to kick him in the balls, but it took some restraint. She was barely holding onto her temper as she viewed the final scene, that of Marco and Wendy's tryst.
I have to admit, she is fast. She landed that kick before I could stop her. Marco's body jumped as her pointed toe caught him square in the crotch. Still unconscious, he just gurgled.
I wondered if every woman Marco dated had the urge to use his nuts for target practice. So far, two out of three that I knew had done so. I was betting that Wendy would have attempted a punt too if she could get position on him. What a pointy-head.
While Lydia stood smoldering, looking down contemptuously on Poindexter, I called Gwendolyn.
"Operation Guido complete." I said into the phone without preamble. "Operation 'Fat Ass' –
Lydia glanced up glaring. I wagged a forefinger at her. She subsided.
– complete. Operation Honeymooners underway. Will complete on-site. Out." I snapped the phone shut again.
