38. Witchy Woman

Everybody slept late. When I finally got up I looked out the window and saw a cruiser go by. Bet there's been one every hour on the hour. I took out some coffee and started the pecolator. While it brewed I sat staring at Marsha's high chair. She may be ready for a booster seat when she gets back.

Company came in. Kim sat and took in a deep breath. "Ah, that smells good; some of Hank's blend?"

I shook my head, a little sadly. "Nah, we've begged him to bag it and sell it, we'd all be rich if he did. He's too much of a control freak to let somebody else run things."

"Now that's a term I never thought I would hear regarding Hego." Her eyes were home. "He's a big picture guy where I come from, a lot like Ron. I'm the one who's always worrying about this and that, trying to make sure everything's perfect."

She chuckled. "You know, I was even beginning to think about how we'd raise kids if we never got home. What would we tell them about their grandparents?" She looked at the high chair and her voice changed. "You'll see them someday. It'll be like a year-long Christmas!" After laughing a bit she sighed.

"Now we know there won't be a life for us here. Even if we beat Yamanouchi, they'd just send others, and others. Ron and I have faced long odds before, but those were against people trying to take over the world. These people would be fighting to save their world. I, I don't know if I could kill anyone fighting for that.

"The night…the night Steve and Marsha left, when I was standing at the door to the den, I was concentrating on where I would have to strike to kill anyone coming through with one blow. And when I saw Yori hurting you, I was trying to kill her too. Before we came here, I didn't think I could do that."

"You could have fooled me." My smile was a little tighter than I wanted it to be. "You were gonna put your shoe on my throat."

"I was." Kid didn't even try to deny it. "I was going to mash down until your eyes bulged out and your face turned black. Ron was dying, I knew it, and I wasn't going to give Shego a chance to rub it in."

"Thank God Raimi's such a good aim with his taser. I'd hate the thought of Campbell filling you full of lead."

"Not as much as I would." She got up, walked over to the cabinet and pulled out a mug. I already had one. "Ron'll be down in a minute. Any requests for breakfast?"

"I'm just having some toast and jam. We're off today and Mom's expecting us for dinner. You do NOT want to go there even a quarter full."

Kim smiled. "I'd like to see your Mom again. Ron might feel a little differently."

"Mom did give him a bit of a hard time." I poured the coffee. "You're family now; we can't help but watch out for you."

"Nice to know. Any business today?"

"No, we're gonna give things a chance to cool off. Ron's Yamanouchi buddies let us hit enough places last night to get our message out. Somebody will talk. We all need a break."

Never thought I'd describe dinner at Mom's as a break.

Nbc

The place looked great. With just the Twins at home and a Chief's salary to work with, Mom had been able to really fix the place up.

Ted and Fred nearly bowled me over at the door. "Glad you guys are here. Mom's made a dinner she says her family made for Napoleon when he liberated Poland. By the looks of it they fed his army too."

"Told you." I turned to Kim and Ron. "You don't come here unless you're hungry."

"Starved!" Ron smiled.

Mom and Daddy came up. She made a simple black dress elegant. Daddy was as casual as Mom allowed before summer; slacks and a button down shirt.

"Come on in." Mom gave me a big hug. "What's the news on Marsha?"

"I talked to her after her nap, Mom. She's all set for a bed. Says she has one there."

Daddy jumped at that. "I'll go get her a Princess bed tomorrow."

"Dad…" his look shut me up. Sheesh! She goes to one grandparents' place, and she makes out like a bandit with the others.

"You and Steve need to save for her college, or wedding. If you end up doing things like your Mom did…"

Mom gave Daddy a glare, followed by a playful swat. "I only have one daughter, and it's amazing you let any boy get close enough to win her heart. Now, I think it's time to get dinner on the table."

The Twins weren't kidding. Mom made one of everything. It took three growing boys to make the slightest dent. I didn't want to think about how long Mom had worked on this.

"This is great, Ms. Go." Ron was trying to decide what plates to visit a third time. "And I thought the time you cooked over at their place was something."

"That was just a light meal. I wanted to have you and Kim over for a proper dinner."

"This is proper, all right!" The boy looked like he needed to loosen his belt. That's the way to Mom's good graces, all right.

Daddy changed the subject. "So, Kim, you're going to what school this Fall?"

"Harvard." Good, let's all assume everything will work out. "At first I applied only to overseas schools. But I thought it over and sent out a few more."

Mom joined the new conversation. "And where will you be going, Ronald?"

"Not Harvard." He frowned. "I started getting ready for college about four years too late. There's a small college outside of Foxborough that has a good business program. Martin Smarty helped me find it."

"You know Martin Smarty…I mean, your Martin Smarty?" Daddy was impressed.

"Yep. Rescued him from Shego once. Did some time as his son's life coach. That didn't go so well, but he kept me on in the pet department."

Ted looked at Kim. "Sasha's a criminal from where you come from?"

"One of the worst." She grinned at him, then me. "Glowing hands and a black heart full of homicidal tendencies."

"I knew it!" Fred laughed. "And we're superheroes? What can we do?"

"You can make copies of yourselves." Kim answered.

"Copies?" Ted was a little let down. "Hardly sounds like a superpower."

"Well," Ron was back at the pierogi. "you guys are pretty strong. I've seen a few of you swing a steel beam like it was a stick."

"Neat!" That brightened the Twins up. "Too bad Hank had to throw Mike out of the tree house. We could be saving the world now."

I shook my head. "I'll stick with what I know, thank you very much. From what I remember reading Hank's comics, you never see superheroes with happy home lives."

"It is not for us to question God." Mom was feeling philosophical. "There must be a reason it happened differently here. From what Kim has said about Shego, I'm glad I have my plain, wonderful children. Now, will you girls help me with the pastries?"

We filed into the kitchen. How much is she wanting us to carry home? I don't have Stevie to pitch in right now. Then I saw the picture on the fridge under a plastic shield. Mom nodded, pride mingled with regret.

"The first ultrasound for Henri and Mary, taken yesterday. It's their peanut picture."

I looked at it a long time while Mom and Kim put everything on trays. "Wish I'd gotten a hard copy of Marsha's. Doctor sent us a digital copy via e-mail."

The trays were ready. You could hear the boys cleaning the table. And the wonderful smell of Henri's coffee came in from the dining room. We picked up our trays and went back.

Daddy and the boys watched me when I came in. What's going on? There was something at my place. Wide, long, but not too tall, and wrapped in pink. I never cared for pink, but for three years now pink meant Marsha. I stood and stared. Ted came over and took the tray from my hands.

"Go on," Daddy smiled, "sit down and open it."

I didn't have to be told twice. The cover was Bible quality leather. Marsha Elaine Barkin was the gold lettered title. Page after page of pictures.

"It's every picture we have." Daddy stood behind me now, hand on my shoulder. "All professionally copied."

Mom could hardly whisper. "The paper is acid free and the sheets are mylar. Keep it out of the sun, and it's guaranteed for a hundred years."

"Is it water proof?" I reached for a clean napkin. "Mom, Daddy, Ted, Fred, thanks! This wasn't cheap."

Mom nodded. "You're our daughter, and she's our granddaughter. Money was no object. I just wish I had asked you for copies of more of your pictures."

I was too choked up to reply. Eventually that died down and everyone was drinking coffee, eating pastries and admiring Marsha.

For once I really didn't want to leave, but time was not a friend of ours anymore. The hugs at the door were extra long. Mom surprised the kids when she held onto them. So you don't think you'll see them again, do you Mom?

It was still early evening, and Mom's little talk had started something turning in my mind. Nothing was planned, so I decided to improvise.

"Look, I'm dropping you two off at the house."

"Sasha, is it safe to split up?" Kim was at my shoulder.

"I'll be in public the whole time. Besides, I'm careful. You normally don't see me wearing my coat on my days off."

"So, you've got a heater." Ron grinned. Kim gave him a glance. "Hey, I watched all the Ronnie Diamond movies."

I had to chuckle. "Yeah, I'm packing. Now, you guys take it easy. I'll be back before too long. There's a question I need answered."

Nbc

I didn't go to the usual spot. Let's just say I needed another doctor. Crowd was light, about what you'd expect. Even late, I was able to get the seat I wanted. He handled the small crowd as though they were the big show coming up tomorrow. The look on his face when he saw me. I let the regulars have their words and go before I came over.

"Sasha," still that smile, "good to see you."

"Same here, Pete: God treating you good?"

"I won't complain. Just gets you in trouble, you know." He took a seat on the steps. I followed suit. "What brings you here? You didn't come up for Communion. You aren't here for Confession, are you?"

"What? No! I did that in May, Holy Mother Church will just have to wait until December. Besides, I couldn't Confess to you, in the little booth, your voice all ghostly. Just wouldn't seem right. Remember, I've seen you naked…and happy to be that way."

"You're a little off. I wasn't happy to be naked, I was happy to see you naked." We had a good laugh at that. He finally wiped his eyes. "Oh, what would my parishioners say about that?"

"Think they'd approve. Mom always said the only perfect priests were Satanic."

"Great woman. How is she? Your family?"

"All fine. Mom's been in total remission for two years now. Stevie and Marsha have gone to see his folks. She's having a blast; being spoiled rotten I'm sure."

"And you didn't take time off to go with them?" I could see the suspicion in his eyes.

"Big case, can't talk about it. You're a priest, an ex-boyfriend, not my Confessor."

"Point taken. So, what did you come to talk about?"

"Just a question; one that keeps coming to me."

He gave me a little smile. "I somehow think it has nothing to do with Transubstantiation. Okay, what's the question?"

I looked him in the eye. "Why?"

"Why?"

"Yeah, why'd you go? I was really starting to fall for you. One day we're talking about moving my stuff into your apartment, the next you transfer to another school and I find out you're taking Monastic Orders. Girl's gotta feel a little rejected."

"You and your vanity. Would it help you to know I was falling too, so hard it scared me? I had to get away."

"Another school, another state, celibacy. That's getting away, all right."

Pete shook his head. "There's no getting away from God, or you. When they told me I would be back here I nearly quit. Part of me was afraid you'd come through that door and I would just follow you like a puppy."

"No, you missed out on me. I met Stevie a month after you left. You ever get past the whole no-no bit? I choose to be flattered that you swore off tail after me, but you'll never advance that way."

"Actually, I'm seeing a girl. She's a junior priest at St. Thomas."

"A family all in black. You were always cheap, gonna do your own wedding, or will she wear the alb in the family?"

"You're getting a bit ahead of the game there." Maybe a move, but she's got you in check, I can tell.

"All right, Pete, I think I know you enough to figure it wasn't love you were scared of. Now tell me, why did you run off?"

Good thing he was so cute. "Sasha, you were going to be a cop like I was going to be a priest, it's in your blood. Okay, it wasn't love, it was the Life. You're brave, smart, decent…a wonderful person. All of that is going to get you shot one of these days. I just couldn't be the one they'll have to call."

So it comes out. "Do me a favor, if you see Mom, don't tell her that. We aren't a superstitious bunch, but if Mom hears a priest predict that, she'll wear her knees out."

"I'll do the praying for you this time."

"Thanks. Don't ask me why I had to see you tonight. It's just one of those things a girl needs to know."

He wasn't dumb, he knew there was more going on, but he had heard all he was going to. "I better let you go then, it's getting dark out."

"Hey, I've got three black belts and two guns on me. I'm good."

"Just keep it that way."

Nbc

One problem with St. Joseph's is the parking. It's in the back. I went out the front door and started the long walk down the alley. Like I said before, I'd done a lot of decoy work. The guy behind me was trying to sound normal, but he was following me. A hitter wouldn't wait, and he'd be seen from the street. Must be a mugger or rapist. You're gonna be sorry tonight.

I picked up my pace just a bit. When I hit the corner of the building I ducked around and looked back. That was dumb. I was still looking to where he would come from, drawing my gun when my world focused on the large caliber barrel resting behind my left ear.

"Evening, Sasha." I recognized the gravely voice. "Raise your hands, please."

Better believe I did as I was told. "Warren, haven't seen you in a long time. How are you?"

"Great. You know, I need to thank you for your referral to Dr. D. It literally saved my life."

"Think you could return the favor?"

There was a smile in his voice. "You know me, Sasha. If she wanted you dead, your brains would be all over the wall right now. She just wants to talk. Now you know the drill, Hell, you people came up with it. Pull your gun out with the left thumb and fore finger, please."

For once this Polish girl played Good Little German. He took the gun. "Your back-up?"

"On my left calf."

His buddy was up now. Warren got him to get the 22. Now I was unarmed.

"One thing I don't understand, Warren. You're middle upper management. What are you doing making a pick up?"

"Making sure it's done right. Here we are."

A big black car stopped beside us. The lackey opened the door. Warren motioned, and I got in.

Her dress was soft gray satin, very refined. Gloves went midway up the upper arms. The corner of her mouth lifted when I took my seat. She hid her eyes behind round sun glasses. My guess is someone spent a lot of time braiding this woman's hair. Has it ever been cut?

"You look surprised, darling."

"I am. I was expecting Baba Jaga to be a little…"

"Old?" her accent was Central European, my guess Hungarian. "Decrepit? Dirty? Remember the stories; the Witch is whatever she wants to be."

"This isn't a story." May as well play my cards. "Daddy's got me watched."

"Yes, Car 54, they're off tonight, so Car 72 is guarding you. Right now, they're responding to an armed robbery. So we have some time. Do you want a drink?"

"No thanks, a sip or two and I might forget I just came out of Mass. I want to stay on Her good side for now."

"Smart girl. Warren, put that gun away and get me a cognac."

Warren handed her a glass. The Witch looked at the liquid and back at me. The amusement ran away from her face.

"What are we going to do with you? Do you have any idea how much damage you caused last night? You, your partner, that man-mountain, the devil children, and all those people in black! It will take months to get everything back on track!"

She leaned forward. "Wipe that smirk off your face! There was a conference about this last night. Six hours of old men droning on and on, when they weren't trying to sneak a peek down my dress. There's only one boss besides me who isn't all dried out, but the head of the Syndicate doesn't like girls."

I let the smirk go, but I continued to play it cool. "So, what was your decision?"

"The Syndicate wants you dead. Big surprise there, that's their solution to everything. They want ME dead." Her eyes went to another place and time. "They've never forgiven me for getting away from them. I was quite the little money maker."

She came back. "The Consallas, on the other hand, have a soft spot for your father. They never forget a kindness, and they know what grief can make you do. A warning was enough for them…this time."

"I've never been good with warnings, just ask Mother Superior at St. Ag's."

Baba took a sip of her drink and gave me a sour look. "Yes, I've read your file. A good waste of bad girl material. You can think like us and act like us, that makes you dangerous. Someone should put a bullet in your head."

But you aren't gonna do that. "But you're not here for that, you woulda just sent Warren, and not in a nice car like this. What are you here for, you got my answer?"

She finished her drink. "I can't give that to you. None of us can. But I know someone who can help."

The privacy glass went down from behind the front seat. I couldn't believe who turned around.

"Du?"

"Sergeant Barkin," he was shaking his head, "you are a major disaster. Are you trying to start a war?"

"A war? Nah. A feud, a fight, a fracas…"

"Okay, thesaurus girl, listen up, as far as I'm concerned, as far as the Agency is concerned, if they put a bullet in your head it would be just fine, except for one thing. Your Dad would be out on the streets in ten minutes, with five thousand cops behind him. It would be a riot with no one to stop it, because the cops would BE the riot."

He continued while I glared at him. "Pump's making a mess out of everything. Socialists are gaining ground in the cities; about the only quiet spot was organized crime. Now you're throwing that into the crapper! The Director doesn't like that; not one bit.

"But since you're the Chief's little girl I can't let nature take its course. The Director told me to contact Baba and make her an offer."

"And you know Baba how?"

"We've met before at a social function."

"What, a charity balling?"

That cracked everybody up. "Saved by your lip." Du laughed. "And it was a party that didn't make it in the society papers."

Baba leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial tone. "He's quite the player and I've scouted both teams extensively."

What do the kids say? TMI? "I think I'll pass on him. What now?"

"I show you where to go." Du smirked. "Here's your car."

Hadn't noticed we'd rounded the block and were back at the parking lot. My car sure looked small now.

"Don't make me see you again." Baba lowered her glasses to show cold gray eyes.

"If you do, I'll have cuffs for you, but I don't think you'll like the game I'll play."

She motioned to Warren. He got out and played the gentleman. The front door opened and Du stepped out. He already had my back-up gun. Warren gave him the Random. I didn't get them back until after the Witch was out on the street and out of sight.

"You were careless." Du stood beside my passenger side door.

"Smoked them out, didn't I?" I went to my side and opened the car. "Now, are you going to taking me to the person I have to kill?"

Du shook his head. "You're going to listen first. Then you can decide what to do."

We shut the doors and I turned the key. "Fair enough."