"While we are waiting," Jane said. "I assume you would like to see the skin growth formula and sample." She looked around, "Carla I need a sharp knife." The girl wandered around asking for a sharp knife and finally returned holding a knife by the blade. Taking it from her Jane poured a little of her drink on both sides of the blade before slicing the palm of her left hand open. She heard gasps from Susan and Carla but kept her eyes on Dr. Mann. "The compound is currently in a hand cream suspension and applied topically so there is a bit of pain involved."
With her hand dripping blood Jane opened the jar. She turned so her palm was face up and used her right forefinger to grab a dollop and rub it into the wound. She winced and said, "Propylene glycol would be less painful. However, I did not have any on hand at the time." All the while, she kept her hand palm up as she continued, "Total healing time is under twenty minutes." Jane looked at the man, "Dr. Mann what is your degree in?"
"Public administration," Dr. Mann replied still looking at the woman's palm. Finally, he raised his eyes and said, "Do you realize what you have Dr. Brown? It will revolutionize health care."
"I realize only too well Dr. Mann," Jane countered. "That is why I fought so hard for my work to become public domain after ten years." She wiped the cream off and all that remained of the cut was a thin red line that faded almost at once. "As an agent for the united states government, are you interested?"
"Yes," he replied. Jane handed over the jar and then a couple pieces of paper. The top sheet is the routing and account numbers for the deposit. The bottom is most of the formula. Once the money goes into the account I will deliver the missing steps."
Dr. Mann looked at the piece of paper and made a quick call. He passed over the routing and accounts numbers and said make the transfer.
"The signatures check out Dr. Brown," Susan said.
Jane nodded and opened her phone to check the balance on the account. "I knew they would." A minute later the deposit showed up. Putting her phone back into her purse she asked Dr. Mann, "May I?" He handed the formula page and she began writing on it. After about ten minutes, she said, "There." She handed it back and said, "I would say it is a pleasure Dr. Mann but I would be lying. "
"At least we agree on something Dr. Brown," Dr. Mann said standing. The pair of men stood and slowly picked up their pistols. Without a word of goodbye he turned and walked out with the pair of bodyguards keeping an eye on everything."
About a minute later one of the bikers came in and nodded towards the bartender. She in turn got the backpack and tossed it to Susan who put it down on the table. "Dr. Brown you need to strip fast. We don't have much time." As she spoke Susan stripped and was tossing her clothing to Alice who quickly dressed. As Jane stripped slower Tina came up and stripped. She then began dressing in Jane's.
Jane watched as Susan pulled out a pair of jeans and dress shirt like Frank was wearing, another think pink tee, and daisy dukes. She took the tee and short shorts before Susan could grab them. Once they had dressed and looked like the others Susan said, "Please be careful."
Jane watched the three walk out and looked at the pistol on the table. "Will I ever find out what you planned Susan?"
"Once we are on the road," Susan replied going over to the counter and handing the two pistols to the bartender. "Thanks dear," She told her before jamming the hat on her head, "Come on Dr. Brown we need to go."
Jane nodded, put the hat on her head, grabbed the backpack and followed Susan out the back door. Instead of her truck, there was an old beat up pickup sitting next to several motor cycles. Susan drove to the airport as fast as she dared. Even so, a motorcycle came roaring up and blew by them. "That's got to be Frank driving," she said. "He scared the crap out of me when I rode with him."
Susan laughed, "I bet it did." A minute later she pulled into the darkened county airport and got out. "Thanks again." She said softly hugging the two men.
Before Jane could thank them also, Susan was pulling her quickly to a dark hanger even though her jet was waiting on the tarmac with engines running, lights on and door open. In the darkness of the hanger, she watched as her car pulled up, three figures hurried out and to the jet. A moment later, the door closed and it took off. Just as it was taking off she saw another car pull up and two men get out. They watched her jet fly towards the east and Miami International airport. They quickly got back in and with a screech of tires drove away. "Go with god," she whispered a prayer for her girls.
"Come on Jane," Susan said pulling her towards a dim light.
Jane realized the dim light was an aircraft door. Susan gestured for her to get in first and followed. "What the?" she asked looking around. If this was her jet, then who was flying the other one.
"Please have a seat and strap in, this will be rough." Lisa said. With Rachel beside her she started one and then the other engine. She looked at Rachel, "You do it... you have more experience with this type of takeoff."
Not trusting herself to speak she nodded and advanced the throttles slightly so they eased out of the hanger. Turning onto the runway, she stood on the brakes as she spooled the engines up to full. She released the breaks and with the lights still off roared down the runway. Seeing the white lines marking the end off the runway, she pulled back on the stick and the jet took off at a forty-degree angle. Once it passed five hundred feet she said, "Lights." At one thousand feet she leveled off and called in. She looked at Lisa, "I have it if you want to go keep mistress from killing Susan."
"You're better at that Rachel. You go I got this," Lisa replied.
"Rock, paper, scissors?" Rachel asked.
"No... go rescue Susan before mistress throws her off the jet." Lisa laughed.
"Mistress won't throw Susan off the jet, but she wants some answers and she wants them soon," Jane said from behind them. "You can start by telling me where Kim is."
Rachel looked at her watch and said, "In the air and on her way towards Mexico City."
The others will be dropped off in Miami while the jet takes on fuel and flies to Grand Cayman. From Miami, they all catch different airlines to different destinations." Rachel paused and then continued, "Carla is headed to New York. Tina is going to Dallas, and finally Alice Chicago."
Susan spoke from behind her, "They have connecting flights but instead of getting on the flight, they will change airlines and fly around some more. Meanwhile we are flying to the property. The realtor will turn on the runway lights for us so we can land as soon as we arrive. With luck the hanger is big enough to hide in."
"We should be there about four am," Lisa said. "You should get some rest mistress."
She turned and looked at Susan and said, "You did wonderfully and thank you very much for everything Susan." She lowered her voice and added, "All I will add is I pray you remember you were playing a part."
"I know mistress," Susan said softly looking down. "Your girl is sorry she had to be a bitch." She looked up with a smile and added, "You should read the reactions to your posting the tax document and contract with the government. You started a bidding war for anything you create. The last one I saw was thirty million per with five year hold on release to others and asylum from Great Britton."
"I bet Dr. Mann will catch hell once he lands." Jane replied. "As my lawyer, what would you do Susan?"
"Dr. Brown, you're in a high stakes poker game and holding a busted flush. As your lawyer I say bluff rather than fold." Susan paused and walked back to pour herself and Jane a drink. Returning she handed one to Jane and said, "You signed a contract with the United States government under duress so it will be contested in federal court by noon tomorrow." Sipping her drink she continued, "Before it is all over I expect the United Nations to jump in. That is the way to go if you want to keep your work out of one country or another's hands."
She went over to one of the seats and sat, "Dr. Brown, I don't know about you, but personally I would stick with the contract you have. You pick the research topics, not them."
Jane went and sat next to Susan, "Put out a post thanking everyone and say I am going to ride this pony for a while or some such." She watched as Susan got a laptop out and posted to Jane's account that she was flattered for the offers but she will hold true to her contract with the United States government for a while.
Logging off Susan turned the computer off and put it away. "Done mistress," she said softly. "May I wash out this dye and do my hair and makeup properly?"
