Daughters of the American Evolution - Melissa, Ch. 01
This story is part of a series called "Daughters of the American Evolution." The stories are all based on the concept of an allegedly sinister (some say beneficent) organization called 'Families Interaction Therapists', or FIT, that has put into action a plan to subliminally convert every female on earth to lesbianism, and to non-violently reduce the number of men on earth by 98%.
But no plan goes easily....
"I don't think it's a stereotype, honestly," Linda McDaniels said.
"No? Cops eating doughnuts, really?" Kathy O'Flaherty responded, with a slightly disgusted shake of her auburn tresses. In spite of her reluctance to be seen associated with the fried dough confection, she turned the marked Crown Vic into the parking lot of the Dunkin Donuts on Eddy Road, the early June morning New England chill and dense, full maple trees shading the lot, a scene from a summer celebration of American life.
"Oh, cut me some slack, Red," Linda joked. "My sister's up from Texas after her divorce, and she has Jim and I drinking fruit smoothies all the time. I'm about to barf from all the healthful food, and Jim actually HAS barfed once or twice." She paused, then, looking a little embarrassed, asked, "So, what's up with you and Steve?"
"Speaking of barf, you mean?" Kathy replied. "He's still an ass, and we're still broken up." Linda looked as though her 'on second thought' to not mention Steve had gotten into her head just a moment too late.
"Sorry," Linda muttered, chagrined at bringing up an obvious sore point for her attractive partner.
"Not your fault," Kathy replied, shrugging.
The two Manchester Patrol Division officers made their way to the front counter. Kathy rolled her eyes at Linda's order for three of the more sugar-filled doughy treats, then responded with a request for an egg white veggie wrap.
"Seriously?" Linda said, with a look of disgust herself. "You eat that stuff, and you still get mistaken for me from behind. Is it worth it?"
"If I didn't eat 'this stuff', I'd look like the desk sergeant from behind," Kathy said.
"Different strokes, I guess," Linda said. She was interrupted by a man at an adjoining table sneezing loudly. He looked apologetic as he whipped out a well-used handkerchief.
"Nice," Linda said sarcastically, as she wiped off a small speck of mucus that had landed on the back of her hand. Kathy glared at the man, who ignored the two officers.
While eating, the two women discussed gossip from their station, until Kathy's shoulder radio mic squawked her name.
"Kathy, there's a gentleman from the New Hampshire State Police office here to see you. Lieutenant Fredericks says for you to come in." The two women's eyes met, Linda's eyebrows raising. Kathy's mouth turned downward.
"What the fuck..." Kathy whispered. "Roger that, dispatch," she responded more loudly, then shrugged at Linda. The two gathered up their food, and headed back to the station on Chestnut Street. Whatever the office visitor was about, Linda kept her curiosity to herself - for the moment.
"Hey, Sarge," Kathy said as she entered the Traffic Unit offices. The office was decorated in city government gray, gray walls, gray furnishings and gray in the complexions of some of the older officers present.
"Hi, Kathy," Sergeant Buckerman responded. "Go ahead and see Lieutenant Fredericks, he's in his office." Linda walked down the hall to the office, as Linda busied herself with some previously neglected paperwork at one of the common desks.
"Come in," the lieutenant responded, when Kathy knocked. As she entered, she looked first at the middle-aged, slightly plumping uniformed command officer, then to the handsome, well dressed younger man standing next to him. He looked to be about twenty-five.
"Kathy, this is Trent Barkade, a Special Agent from the Investigative Services Bureau of the New Hampshire Department of Safety," the lieutenant gestured at the younger man. Reading her expression, he added, "And let me assure you, you're in no trouble whatsoever. He's with the Terrorism Intelligence Unit."
"Hi, Kathy," the Investigator said, extending his hand to shake Kathy's. She took his hand, finding it warm, dry and firm. A slight tingle ran through her.
"Keep it down," she thought to herself. She currently had no boyfriend, and while this one was
very
interesting, she knew nothing about him. Besides, this was a professional situation.
"Let me reinforce the lieutenant's comment," he began. "You're not in any trouble, as a matter of fact, the Bureau needs your help." He looked at the lieutenant.
"I've got some things to take care of," Lieutenant Fredericks responded, moving toward the door. "I'll leave you two to talk." After he left, Agent Barkade gestured Kathy to the chair in front of the lieutenant's desk, then he took the lieutenant's chair.
"I'll get right to it," Agent Barkade said. "There is a group meeting at Southern New Hampshire University - we're concerned that they're involved in possible terror-related activity, and wanted an officer to keep an eye on them. You fit the bill perfectly."
"Keep an eye..." Kathy responded in a questioning tone.
"Go to their meetings, get a little involved with their activities, nothing 'cloak and dagger', just a little light undercover work," he answered, flashing Kathy a pearly white smile. Her heart fluttered a little. "He is kind of hot," she thought.
"We just need you to report back to us," he finished. "By 'us,' I mean to Lieutenant Fredericks."
"Why me?" she asked.
"You've done well on your evaluations, you're close to college age - and you look it - you're not particularly well known in Manchester, and you have a university background. Norwich University, right?"
"Yes sir," Kathy responded. "Criminal Justice major, graduated summa cum laude. And yeah, I've only been in Manchester a short time. I lived in Vermont for 22 years until moving here."
"Commendable," he responded, with a warm smile. "So, what do you think?"
"I guess I'd have to know more," she responded honestly.
"Fair enough," he said. "How about over lunch?" She nodded.
"Great. I've got a few things to attend to. I'll pick you up at 1 - is that alright?" She nodded again.
"How's Richard's Bistro for lunch?" he asked. "It looked pretty nice when I drove by."
"Um, I hear it's great," she said. "Kind of pricey for a traffic cop, though," she added.
"Oh, lunch is on me, it's the least we can do." Sensing that the interview was over for the meantime, Kathy rose to leave.
"Oh, and I'd appreciate if you didn't say anything to your partner," the Special Agent said, when her hand reached the door knob. Kathy froze.
"Nothing?" she responded, slightly shocked. Partners don't keep secrets from each other.
"That, pretty much," he said, with that enchanting smile. "You can tell her that you're doing some paperwork, compiling statistics for the Bureau, but I'd rather no more than that."
"Mmm, okay," she said, frowning slightly. She went to the 'bullpen', where field officers share desks and where Linda waited for her partner. Linda's eyes asked the question.