They had died when helping thwart a plan to undermine the government of the United States. Now Ben and Susan have returned from the dead and they must bring that government down. Standing in their way are Michael Black and Michelle Gray, the bodies of whom they now occupy.
-(The Story begins HERE)-
When my eyes snapped open I was confused, not sure where I was. In the dim light above me, the ceiling filled my senses. Beaded perspiration upon my naked body gleamed from the glow of the table lamp.
The bed next to me was empty. From behind the closed door to the bathroom I could hear running water. Feeling defeated, I sat up and buried my face in my hands. Though I had no recollection of the act, I realized I must have succumbed. I must have given in to her advances. My nakedness, my sweat-covered body and Susan in the shower were evidence enough.
My head was aching from the dizzying thoughts running helter-skelter within my skull. Too much was happening, too much had been happening for me to focus on any single event. I glanced at my watch and groaned at its revelation. It was five in the morning.
The throbbing pain in my head was abating but I thought could hear a faint pounding beyond the bedroom. Staggering about the room I managed to retrieve my pants and shirt. Once dressed I leaned against the bedroom door and trained my ears to the room beyond.
The pounding, though intermittent, persisted. After a couple of minutes my composure was restored and I realized that the sound was coming from the hallway. Someone was rapping upon the door to the apartment.
I grimaced as I gazed through the security peephole in the door. Although their faces were distorted by the convex lens, there was no doubt that my visitors were none other than the two FBI agents we'd encountered at the university earlier.
I cracked open the door and exclaimed, "Agents Landers and Ferrara, what a pleasant surprise!"
"Spare us the sarcasm, Mr. Black," Landers barked even as he shoved the door aside. "This is not a social visit."
"How did you get past the security door? Who buzzed you in?" I asked once they were inside the apartment.
Ferrara shrugged and with a sly grin replied, "When your girlfriend left the building we slipped in through the door before it closed."
"Girlfriend?" I sputtered. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, Mr. Black," Ferrara said, "we've seen you in the company of one Susan Parsons. We watched you enter this building together."
"You've been following us?" I asked. I grew tense at the implications of his remark. "Susan? You saw her leaving the building? No. She's taking a shower!"
I turned away from them and darted into the guest room. Pounding on the bathroom I shouted her name but no answer was was forthcoming. All I could hear was the running shower. A swirling wall of steam greeted me when I tore open the door.
After turning off the shower head I returned to face my uninvited visitors. Landers and Ferrara were standing where I'd left them. Arms folded across their chests, their stoic faces were belying their amusement.
I plopped down onto the sofa and queried, "I don't suppose you saw which way she went?"
Landers stated with a stiff lip, "She hopped into a Metro cab in front of the building."
"I called the dispatcher on the way up in the elevator," Ferrara asserted.
I spread my open palms before me, "...And?"
"It would appear," Landers suggested, "that you and your paramour didn't spend too much time talking." He studied my reddening face and raised a hand, "Of course, your relationship with Miss Parsons is none of our business, is it?"
I clinched my fists and glared at him before redressing his suggestions. "No, it isn't. However, I have nothing to hide. For the record, there was nothing untoward taking place here tonight." My hidden thoughts were not so assuring.
Ferrara shrugged his shoulders and said, "Look, we don't care whether you were knocking off a piece or not. That cab was dispatched to the campus of Northeastern University. I don't suppose you know what business she'd have there at five o'clock in the morning."
"Northeastern?" I gasped. My mind began to race at the implications. Was she aware of Professor Jordan? Was he summoning her? If so, what was he up to?"
Landers motioned to my attire and addressed me, "I suggest you get dressed, Mr. Black. The three of us are going for a ride."
"Ironic, isn't it, Mr. Black?" Ferrara quipped, "Our tenuous partnership began over there. It's where it all began."
I nodded and turned away to get dressed. I couldn't help but think that much more than our partnership had begun there."
The bed next to me was empty. From behind the closed door to the bathroom I could hear running water. Feeling defeated, I sat up and buried my face in my hands. Though I had no recollection of the act, I realized I must have succumbed. I must have given in to her advances. My nakedness, my sweat-covered body and Susan in the shower were evidence enough.
My head was aching from the dizzying thoughts running helter-skelter within my skull. Too much was happening, too much had been happening for me to focus on any single event. I glanced at my watch and groaned at its revelation. It was five in the morning.
The throbbing pain in my head was abating but I thought could hear a faint pounding beyond the bedroom. Staggering about the room I managed to retrieve my pants and shirt. Once dressed I leaned against the bedroom door and trained my ears to the room beyond.
The pounding, though intermittent, persisted. After a couple of minutes my composure was restored and I realized that the sound was coming from the hallway. Someone was rapping upon the door to the apartment.
I grimaced as I gazed through the security peephole in the door. Although their faces were distorted by the convex lens, there was no doubt that my visitors were none other than the two FBI agents we'd encountered at the university earlier.
I cracked open the door and exclaimed, "Agents Landers and Ferrara, what a pleasant surprise!"
"Spare us the sarcasm, Mr. Black," Landers barked even as he shoved the door aside. "This is not a social visit."
"How did you get past the security door? Who buzzed you in?" I asked once they were inside the apartment.
Ferrara shrugged and with a sly grin replied, "When your girlfriend left the building we slipped in through the door before it closed."
"Girlfriend?" I sputtered. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, Mr. Black," Ferrara said, "we've seen you in the company of one Susan Parsons. We watched you enter this building together."
"You've been following us?" I asked. I grew tense at the implications of his remark. "Susan? You saw her leaving the building? No. She's taking a shower!"
I turned away from them and darted into the guest room. Pounding on the bathroom I shouted her name but no answer was was forthcoming. All I could hear was the running shower. A swirling wall of steam greeted me when I tore open the door.
After turning off the shower head I returned to face my uninvited visitors. Landers and Ferrara were standing where I'd left them. Arms folded across their chests, their stoic faces were belying their amusement.
I plopped down onto the sofa and queried, "I don't suppose you saw which way she went?"
Landers stated with a stiff lip, "She hopped into a Metro cab in front of the building."
"I called the dispatcher on the way up in the elevator," Ferrara asserted.
I spread my open palms before me, "...And?"
"It would appear," Landers suggested, "that you and your paramour didn't spend too much time talking." He studied my reddening face and raised a hand, "Of course, your relationship with Miss Parsons is none of our business, is it?"
I clinched my fists and glared at him before redressing his suggestions. "No, it isn't. However, I have nothing to hide. For the record, there was nothing untoward taking place here tonight." My hidden thoughts were not so assuring.
Ferrara shrugged his shoulders and said, "Look, we don't care whether you were knocking off a piece or not. That cab was dispatched to the campus of Northeastern University. I don't suppose you know what business she'd have there at five o'clock in the morning."
"Northeastern?" I gasped. My mind began to race at the implications. Was she aware of Professor Jordan? Was he summoning her? If so, what was he up to?"
Landers motioned to my attire and addressed me, "I suggest you get dressed, Mr. Black. The three of us are going for a ride."
"Ironic, isn't it, Mr. Black?" Ferrara quipped, "Our tenuous partnership began over there. It's where it all began."
I nodded and turned away to get dressed. I couldn't help but think that much more than our partnership had begun there."
Corpus Delicti )
№ 2037
4 comments:
Back to the beginning. Hmmmm?
Was Susan summoned(?) back?
Why wasn't Ben?
Is Jordan the mastermind after all?
Perhaps Jordan has had a breakthrough that only Susan can help with.
Perhaps Jordan is secretly lusting after Susan.
Perhaps the author is lusting after Susan and Michelle. snerx. ( I couldn't resist and I'm not sorry. lmao)
So many possibilities.
I will stay tuned.
Jack posed many of my questions, well except about the author lusting after Susan and Michelle. Bwahahahahaha. That made me laugh out loud.
So many possibilities indeed.
Have a terrific day. :)
Jack,
They say that author's sometimes put themselves into their stories as if they were living them ...
... but (LOL) lusting after Susan and Michelle?
Hmmm ... maybe you're on to something. :o}
Sandee,
I have to admit that the musings of both you and Jack might and have at times figured into the stories.
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