"Flashing of fangs"

John came back and sat down. He took his drink and sucked it dry. "Fuckin' robbers."

"What's the matter?"

He looked at me. "Oh, nothing. You'll have your own problems when you deal." He brightened up almost at once. "But, business is business."

A different waitress came over. "Another drink?"

John looked up. "Yes, please. Paula?"

"I'll have another one also." I didn't like the sound of 'but, business is business.' I decided I wasn't lewd enough for John. He was on my 'to beat the hell out of' list.

"Something wrong, Paula?"

"Nothing John." I lied, everything was wrong. Two more people had gotten up, one at a time, to the back. I was beginning to think I was passed up, when a waitress came over to me. "Miss. Paula Haggart?"

"Yes."

"A call is waiting for you in the backroom, could you follow me please." I took several big gulps of the Tea, and grabbed the attache case. John smiled and winked.

I was lead to a smoke-filled room. Men, I think Japanese men, sat around a table. A light shone behind them into my eyes. It was difficult to get an accurate description on their features. I sat opposite them.

"What do you want, woman?" One clamored. I memorized his voice. A photograph of me laid on the table. I sat back and simpered, 'I got this far.' I looked each in the eyes, as best as I could, and hated every one of them. If I could draw and shoot each one I would have, in spite of my willingness to end their shallow lives I needed more information.

"Well, speak!" He shouted.

I quoted the note, "One tall, one medium, under twenty-five, if a virgin exist, get that also."

The room fell silent. My heart hammered through my dress. They were playing the 'shut up game.' After several long excruciating minutes one of them spoke.

"What makes you think we deal in slaves?" His smile was venomous through the smoke and light. "That's illegal."

"Who said anything about slaves. I told you what I want. I'm here as a representative."

"WHO?"

"Mr. Thomas Carter."

The room fell silent again. So silent I thought I heard the smoke particles banging against the wall.

"Kore wa nan desu ka?!"

I slammed my fist on the table. "I'm doing the dealing now, Mr. Carter's contacts are still in play, you just have someone else as middleman."

"SIT DOWN!"

At least he didn't say 'get out' again.

"No I will not." I banged on the table again. "I'm a business woman who is use to doing business with business people. Not jerk-offs and jack-asses. If you are not the ones, then STOP wasting my time." I tossed the attache case at one of them. He caught it. "If this is not enough then you know who to return the money to. I'm finished with you." I walked to the door, I was done flashing my fangs and had enough. I squeezed my purse closer to me. The firm hardness of my Glock was reassuring, it gave me a sense of security.

I was infuriated. "Why those arrogant ostentatious pompous butt wipes." I sat at the table. John looked at me, he reached a hand out to mine. I glowered at him. "Let's leave now!"

"Okay." He said. "I'm done."

We got up and walked to the front door. Penny was standing near the entrance.

"I'll get in touch with you, Penny."

She nodded, "Bye Paula. Bye John."

The outside air brushed against my face. The coolness calmed me down, I shuddered.

"Cold, here take my jacket." He gave it to me.

"Thank you," I uttered. I quivered because I was frightened. I wanted to get away, away quickly. I pissed them off, but I got information. I know what they look like, how they deal. That information alone could bring in a wealth of other details. I wanted to be elsewhere. John flagged down a taxi.

It pulled over. "Where to?"

"Ramada INN." I said.

We hopped into the Taxi.

"That rough?" He asked.

"Yeah, extremely."

The cab pulled up in front of the hotel. John and I got out. I walked up to the counter.

A desk clerk said, "May I help you?"

"Yes. A room please, one bed, non-smoking."

"Okay." He stepped behind a computer and asked me the usual questions. He gave me a key and John and I left. We took the elevator up to the tenth floor, found the room and went in. The lights from the outside shone in through the open drapes, illuminating the room barely enough to see. John touched me, and I trembled. I wanted someone to sleep with me tonight. I would even settle for him. He was a warm body, and a body was what I wanted. "John."

"Yes, Karen."

WHAT!?! I stepped back.

"I know who you are." He took out his ID. "FBI"

I closed the door, closed the drapes and turned on the lights. I was enraged. "FBI!"

"Yes, may I call you Karen, or should I continue to call you Paula?"

"I thought you were some slime sucking butt plug."

"Butt plug?"

"You were that close to being wasted." I snapped my fingers, "Or at least being dumped."

He looked sad, "I'm sorry I'm FBI." He started to walk out.

"Wait." I reached out and grabbed him by the arm. "Please stay."

"Okay. But why this thing about FBI?"

"Oh nothing, something back in Los Angeles."

He smiled, "I heard."

"We're on the same team."

He nodded and came closer to me.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

He shrugged, "Probably because of what could have just happened." He snapped his fingers.

I hugged him toward me. "You know I hated your guts. I wanted them splattered all over the road."

He looked at me unbelievably, "Why?"

"Because I thought you actually were scum. Buying flesh. I wanted to exterminate every single buyer on the bus."

"I understand, I'm glad you didn't."

I looked into his eyes, nice eyes, very pretty. Funny, how I changed my feelings for John . . . "Is John your real name?"

"Yeah, John Thompson."

Funny, how I could change feelings about an individual I only minutes ago wanted to be dead.

I crushed him close to my body. "Please forgive me."

"I was never mad. The first time I saw you I fell in love with you."

"You did?"

"I am very much in love with you. You turn me on."

I could feel his arousal growing.

I breathed heavenly and rested my head on his shoulder. "Make love to me?"

"Yes."

I turned the light off. He moved me to the bed. The damn dress got in the way, it was hard to get off, John fumbled for the zipper. Once the zipper was down, the dress was easy to come off, he just slipped it over my head. The cover was cool, and that excited me even more. Tonight wasn't going to be such a lousy night after all. I found I do like John very much, he's not as good as Jim, but he was good nevertheless.