Ch 22

After she talked with Claire, Carol went over to Cameron. The young looking woman had all the tableware stacked at one end, and three coolers with drinks open. The beer cooler was near John by the grill to control who grabbed for beers. Cameron was watching the kids play in the pool when Carol came up.

Cameron saw her and smiled. "Hi, Carol. I'm glad to finally see you."

"Hi Cameron. Claire was telling me a little about … your past," she said cautiously.

Cameron's face blanked. "I have a very disturbing past. I wasn't what you'd call a nice person."

"It sounded to me like you were a Rambo-type warrior."

"I was, and still am a Terminator. As much as I pretend to be just a common mother, I am an advanced killing machine that is all but impossible to stop. I've been shot countless times, blown up and hit with rockets. None of it has ever stopped me. There's not much in this time line that can seriously damage me." Cameron explained in a flat tone. "I like being a mother and having a family. That is not what I am though."

Carol swallowed nervously. If nothing else, Cameron was a warrior. "I see."

Cameron then glanced at Carol and cast her a tiny smile. "You haven't and hopefully never will. I know I must sound odd, but you need to know the truth. I will tell you that if they decide to stay together, Joan will ensure nothing ever happens to Bob. Like me, she will destroy whoever tries to hurt her family. Joan is part human yes, she is also part Terminator. People like to call us cyborgs, it's easier on the ears to hear that. The bare truth is we're the Wolverines of intelligent machines."

Cameron's words made Carol shudder. Despite her young looks and slim figure, this woman was extremely dangerous. "You have moved past having to do things like that though, haven't you?"

Cameron cast her a real smile. "Right here, right now, this is heaven for me. I have my family, John, Delilah, the kids, even our moms and dads. We have a safe place to live where no one, human or machine is going to break into the house looking to hurt us. I love my family." Cameron wiped a tear from her eye. "I will also do whatever it takes for them to be happy. I really wish all the fighting and killing was over. That we could stay like this, and watch the kids grow up and not have any worries. That is not the truth. Danger is always just beyond the horizon. Another attempt to make a Sky Net, another terrorist looking to do harm, another selfish, self-important jerk who wants something so bad they are willing to do anything, kill anyone to get it. Yes, I'm happy now we have had a long break. For now I can just be a mother and a lover. I also cannot let my guard down from watching for threats."

"You really are intense," Carol noted.

"I must be. It has saved my family's lives countless times," Cameron replied. "When trouble comes again, I'll be there to meet it, and it won't be happy."

Carol almost felt sorry for any troublemaker who decided to tangle with Cameron. "You do know we're going to be moving soon?" she asked.

"Yes, near the south end of a lake two miles from a town called Driftwood in Texas," Cameron replied. "Your house is almost finished. utilities are in and the interior walls are going up."

"How did you know that?" Carol asked, surprised. Jake didn't even know how far along their house was.

Cameron offered her a smile. "As I said, I ensure I keep a watch on things."

"You know Bob and Joan are going to be separated by distance." Carol said.

Cameron smirked. "It is best you believe so, for now."

.

George and the band were back in town. Sonya had an idea. Joan said Bob had a nice singing voice, Jackie was doing well on her piano. She knew Delilah was aching to get a chance to play her electric guitar, and the band was much better than when they first started out.

"A concert in the park! Won't that be fun?" Sonya asked.

"All of us?" Jackie asked eagerly.

"Yes!" Sonya said eagerly. "We don't have to worry about making any more shows, Spring break is coming, and it will be our last big-bash concert here in Palmdale. What do you think?" she asked, looked around the table.

"I'm for it," Delilah said firmly.

"That does sound fun. I'm for it." Cameron agreed.

"I can get the permit and help with the stage," Martin agreed.

John nodded. "I say, let's do it!"

"YES!" Joan and Jackie cried, thrusting fists in the air.

Louise looked dumbstruck. "Playing a concert, all of us?" she asked. "Like, up on stage?"

"You'll love it, trust me," Cameron assured her.

"People will be watching us?" Louise asked, looking scared.

"Lots of people," Delilah said with a grin.

"It's going to be great!" Sonya assured her.

.

Tod thought it was a good idea also. His band was becoming better known, and this would help spread their name. Tod knew he and George also liked playing with the Connors. Cameron sang like an angel and Delilah really wailed on the guitar. Of course George was the first to volunteer to go up and get the details from Sonya.

.

On the bus to school, Joan leaned up against Bob. "Come on, join us! It'll be a blast."

Bob shied back. "Ahh Joan, I can't play any instruments. What am I going to do for a concert?"

"You can sing, I know you can," she said firmly and poked him.

"That was for you," he said shyly.

"This will be for me too! I'll be up there to sing, come on, join me," Joan coaxed.

"What will we be singing?"

"Sonya and Moms haven't said yet. They're talking to the band. They'll let us know so we can practice."

"Joan, I'm not the fondest of Country music."

"That was last concert," Joan said and poked him. "THIS is going to be a rock party! rumbling drums, wailing guitars, you know, fun stuff!"

Bob let out a sigh. "You're going to keep after me until I prove that I can't sing, aren't you?"

"But you can," Joan said firmly.

"That was a one time thing, for you."

Casting him her best puppy dog eyes Joan cooed, "But this will be for me too."

"I'm singing, aren't I?" Bob relented.

"Yes, for me," she said snuggling up against him.

.

Davis sat in his office working on the month's numbers. One of his guards came in. "Sir, Benny Laird is here."

Davis frowned and waved. "Show him in. Get your brass knuckles ready."

"Yes Sir."

The man left then the door opened, Benny came in. This time he had a blue tie on his ugly orange shirt. The guard stayed behind him as Benny sat down.

"Heard you had a deal go bad," Davis said.

"But I had two others go good," Benny pointed out.

"The firm had to pay out a hundred thirty grand to cover your ass, Benny. That's not good." Davis stated.

"I'll pay it back, don't worry," Benny said casually.

"Yes, you will. Who was it you were buying from?" Davis asked.

Benny shrugged. "Some woman, Conner was her name yeah. She pulled my own gun on me! Fucking threw me into the side of my car. Mr. Davis, we should do something about her!"

"You're lucky you're not dead!" Davis said in a hard tone and leaned forward. "We stay away from the Connors, didn't you get that message? Do you know why?"

Benny could tell his boss was upset. "I... I didn't think it..."

Davis pounded a fist on his desk. "That's right! You didn't think! Let me remind you. They kill, and they are bullet proof and will follow you to the ends of the Earth just to rip your fucking head off! They just don't go after the person in front of them, they torture information out of you and follow the chain all the way up! They wipe out organizations, Benny! Your fuckup could have killed us all! THAT is why we don't try to scam them, kidnap their kids for ransom or even get within spitting distance of them! We're here to do business, NOT get in a fucking war we can't win! Are you getting this?"

Looking scared now, Benny nodded quickly, "Yeah, yeah boss, no more nothing with anyone named Connor, I get it!"

Davis sat back. "Leo, Ugly up this POS so he knows I'm serious."

Benny turned to plead for mercy and received a brass knuckled fist in his face that knocked him out of his chair. Leo beat on him for a bit then stopped.

"Mr. Davis, he's out."

Davis waved a hand and said, "Drag him out. Rub a little salt into his wounds. Hopefully he'll smarted up."

'

Louise was confused on why she was gaining weight, but getting slimmer. Shouldn't the opposite happen? Her new Mom, Cameron, verified this and didn't seemed concerned. Louise had to admit that using the metal salt instead of regular salt did make her dinner taste better. She knew Joan and Jackie liked it. So did Allison when she ate with them. Wasn't anyone afraid of metal poisoning?

At the end of the school day, she was set to go home with JJ and Misty and got a surprise. Cameron was waiting outside for her with the purple Jeep.

"Louise, get in, you're going to see a doctor," Cameron said.

Louise breathed a sigh of relief. "See you guys later," she said and waved to JJ and Misty.

Cameron turned around and drove. Louise asked, "You think there's something wrong with me, right? Do you think it might be from the accident?"

Cameron smirked. "Indirectly. Let's wait to see this doctor. What I have to tell you might be unbelievable, so I want you to see proof before I explain."

"OK," Louise said. "Is it bad?"

"It saved your life. There are side effects though."

"Like gaining weight for no reason?"

"That is the tip of the iceberg. Like I said, Once you see, you'll be more ready to believe."

"I'm a little scared here."

"Don't be. It's nothing that will hurt you."

Cameron drove them to the hospital she'd been in. Going up to a nursing station desk, Cameron announced them. One of the nurses took them back to a room that had what looked like an airport scanning device in it. They sat down and waited.

After a wait that seemed forever, Dr. Wilson came in. "Hello Louise, how are you feeling?" she asked pleasantly.

"I feel fine, but I'm gaining weight but loosing belly. That's not normal, is it?"

Dr. Wilson turned the machine on. "This is fluoroscope. Airports us it for a metal detector. Nothing shows bright except for metal," she explained.

Cameron got up and grabbed the full length mirror and angled it.

Dr. Wilson said, "Get in and look in the mirror."

Louise did. She saw herself inside the machine. Her shoulders, shoulder blades ribs and hips glowed brighter than the rest of her. "Am I sick or something?" she asked.

"No. You can step out now," Cameron replied. "Your bones are slowly being turned to metal. Eventually all your bones will be metal and in critical areas of your body, skull, chest, back, they will widen to form an interior armor plating. Your tendons and muscles will also become partially metallic. You will gain more weight due to this. You will also be much stronger than you are now."

Gaping at Cameron, Louise asked, How did this happen?"

Cameron motioned to Dr. Wilson. "When you came in, you were hurt so bad you couldn't even have the surgery you needed to survive. It would have killed you. Dr. Wilson got a hold of me. I gave you a dose of my nanites. They repaired the damage to your body. They also built a gland under your stomach so you can eat and digest metal. Currently, they are taking the digested metal you eat to replace most of the calcium in your bones with metal. Louise, you are becoming a cyborg. Part human, part non biological.

"That's not possible, is it?" Louie asked weakly.

"It is possible and it is happening," Cameron stated. "I had to do it to save your life. There was no other way. If I didn't, you would have died before the day was out."

"So you have metal bones too?"

"I do, and much more," Cameron told her. "I don't have red or white blood cells, I have nanites. These nanites follow my ... non biological plan to perform repairs. Inside you, they are giving you the structure they see as appropriate. Do you understand?"

Louise nodded slowly. "Mom, how did you get them?"

"I was built with them."

Casting Cameron a questioning look, she asked, "You were built?"

"Watch the fluoroscope," Cameron told her.

Louise watched Cameron walk into the machine and turn to face her. So did Dr. Wilson. Both their jaws dropped. Cameron not only had a metal skeleton, she had pistons and actuators on all her joints. Cameron turned her head, lifted her arms then turned and walked out of the machine. "Do you see now?" she asked.

"You... you're a robot?" Louie asked in a squeak.

"TOK 715 was my initial designation," Cameron explained. "I have grown beyond my programs in all areas. I have free will and have developed emotions. I know and understand things, I no longer just process information. I could have told you this, but seeing is believing. You will not gain the computer like modules that I have, but your brain may be enhanced. Time will tell."

"Holy God," Dr. Wilson whispered.

"God had nothing to do with making me," Cameron said firmly. "Louise, if you want the full story, I'll tell you at home. Not here."

"I thought you were just enhanced with metal. You ARE metal," Dr. Wilson said.

"I am. Have any questions I can answer here, Louise?"

"I'm not dreaming, right? I really saw what I thought I saw?"

"No dream. The upside, you will be very resistant to damage, wounds and damage will heal faster, you will see and hear better and be stronger. Downsides, you will be heavier than water, which means you will need an aide to swim, like a mermaid tail Joan and Jackie have. Otherwise you'll sink to the bottom. You will set off every metal detector you encounter. You must be careful how you interact with pure humans. Even a hug you mean as a show of friendship might crush their rib cage. Be aware of where you sit or stand. Remember, you'll be heavier than you look. I can't sit in light or folding metal chairs, they collapse under me."

"This is unreal," Louise whispered.

"It is very real," Cameron stated. "Over time you will gain fifty to sixty pounds but look like you weigh maybe 110. You know Sonya. She looks to be about 250 or so, she weighs 414 pounds."

Louise then thought of something. "That's why all the chairs at home are sturdy metal, and the benches are made of thick stone."

"Yes, that is exactly why."

"Damn," Louise breathed.

"Why are you made so sturdy?" Dr. Wilson asked Cameron.

"I wasn't made just to function. I was made for combat, to find and kill the enemy no matter the situation or odds," Cameron told her. "Maybe you can see a little clearer now why I cannot distribute nanites to just anyone. Someone who may be of questionable morals could well become a nemesis to many and cause chaos."

Cameron then turned to Louise. "Ready to go home now?"

Louise nodded. They left together.

Dr. Wilson understood a little better now. Cameron wasn't just someone with metal in her. She was a mechanical monster. Thankfully, she was a monster with morals.

.

Dr. Galvin contacted his sponsor. a multi-millionaire named Artemis Bach, to let him know of a possible new drug he'd discovered. Mr. Bach supplied his research in return for being kept up to date on what he was working on. Normal contact was usually just firing off an E-mail. He wasn't expecting to get phone call a half hour later.

"Dr. Galvin," he said, answering his private phone.

"This is Mr. Leonard calling for Mr. Bach. You claim to have discovered a cure all for everything? These nanites as you call them?"

"Yes, a girl who was horribly injured in a car accident got a dose. She was expected to die, but was completely healed within 12 hours due to this treatment. She had everything from internal injuries, broken bones..."

"Do you have more of this miracle drug?"

"Sir, it's not a drug. Truthfully, I don't know what it is. This woman produces it in her body. It is really very amazing."

"Who is this woman?"

"Sir, I can't give out that information."

"Doctor, your research grant specifically states you must pass to Mr. Bach all information you acquire. You agreed to that. She did not leave you a sample of this nanite material?"

"No Sir, it's biological. It will not live or be effective outside the body for very long at all."

"Doctor, it is quite possible this woman needs monetary incentive. Tell me her name and we will provide the incentive."

Dr. Galvin sighed. "Mr. Leonard..."

"Her name, please, or your research grants and that nice house you have will go away."

"It's Cameron Connor. She is the one who saved that girl."

"Thank you doctor. I knew you would be cooperative." *click*

.

On the way home, Louise asked, "How long does it take to, you know, change me?"

"You are still growing," Cameron said. "So it will take until you are 19 to take full effect. To stay healthy and grow to your proper height, you now need to eat metal salts with your food at least during breakfast and dinner. The change will be slow, you may not notice any changes other than weight gain for a while."

"This is really freaky."

"For you, until you get used to the idea, it will be," Cameron agreed. "As I said though, it was change you or allow you to die."

Louise tipped her head slightly. "I am glad you didn't let me die. I can still be kinda normal, right?"

"How you look and the choices you make are always up to you. You will just have to get used to your new physical condition."

"So like I can never fly on a plane?"

Cameron smirked briefly. "Use the excuse I used. I let the security people know I have been in a terrible accident, and in your case, it's true, and had meal supports though my whole body. They checked my bare arms, legs and head with a wand to see I was telling the truth, then performed a pat down. I also got a card that told of my ... special needs from a security chief to help me get through security posts."

"That was smart."

"In your case mostly accurate."

They rode on for a bit, then Louise said, "Joan and Jackie wear bikinis to put their tails on so they seal good. I never felt comfortable wearing so little around other people."

"We can find you a different style tail. Think about what color and fins you want, and then get a bathing suit to match."

Louise thought about swimming with a mermaid tail, to be as graceful and pretty as the other girls. "Yes, i would like that."

.

Sitting down a a laptop, Louise looked at the pages of mermaid tails Cameron showed her. It amazed her how many different styles and colors there were as will as materials.

"Whatcha doing?" Jackie asked as she came up to her. Seeing the pages, Jackie asked, "You're getting a tail too?"

"I was. I never knew there was such a variety!"

Jackie giggled. "There are! You want a full silicone tail, those are more buoyant and help you stay up off the bottom. You want the stiff fins, they make you go faster, and make sure you get all your measurements so your tail will fit. You get bigger though, you'll need a new tail. Mommies get us the standard tails, the customized ones are really expensive. Hey, we're going to need new tails soon, mine's getting tight. We can order them all together!"

Louise then noticed the price of a full silicone mermaid tail. "Four to eight thousand dollars?" she cried.

"Yeah, they are pricey," Jackie said in a musing tone. "That's why we get the standard tails."

Louise gaped at Jackie. "But ... that's a lot of money." Thinking about the three tails Joan, Jackie and Allison had, and one for her, she added, "That's a shit load of money!"

Jackie shrugged. "Mommie's tails are getting old, they might want new ones too."

Louise thought it was a good thing they were rich.

.

Buying one of these was more complex than Louise thought. Since Louise was getting one, Cameron agreed all the kids needed new tails, the old one were getting a bit tight. Joan also helped Louise select the style and colors she wanted. Joan wrote down what Jackie wanted, a medium green tail with the 'fish' pattern in light green and standard 'fluke' fins with the stiff inner fins. Joan wrote Louise at the top of the paper. Joan then wrote herself out a paper for a full silicone tail, dark blue with medium blue 'perch' pattern of stripes and of course the stiff fluke fins. Once all the papers were done for all four of them, Joan gave the papers to Cameron, who had them line up and took their measurements, legs together. Not just hips. but belly, hips, thighs knees calves and ankles, and feet.

Delilah wrote down all the measurements on each girl's paper, then added more papers to the pile for Cameron, Delilah John and JJ. Sonya's tail was newer, she didn't need a new one.

"I'll go call and make the order," Delilah said. "It will take a few months, we should get them in time for summer."

Louise was excited. She was going to have her very own Mermaid tail!

.

Bob looked at the Karaoke machine Joan brought. In his living room he sat in a chair across from Joan who was on the couch, grinning at him. His mother was in the kitchen. She was going to hear anyway. Damn.

"Bob, you can do it," Joan coaxed.

"Don't you dare laugh," he grumbled. The song Joan picked was 'Together forever' by Rick Ashtley. She'd had him listen to that song until he knew the words and could recite them. Now, he had to sing them, with his mother hearing.

"I wouldn't to that," Joan countered. "Just pretend you're Rick, and sing it like he did."

Well, this was for Joan, so he gathered up his courage and pushed play, doing his best to believe he was singing this just for Joan.

If there is anything you need

All you have to to is say

You know you

Satisfy everything in me

We shouldn't waste a single day

so don't stop be falling.

it's destiny calling

A power we just can't deny

It's never changing, can you hear me

I'm saying, I want you for the rest of my life

Together forever and never to part

Together forever we two

And don't you know I would move heaven and Earth

to be together forever with you!

As Bob sang, he got more confident. He watched the prompt screen carefully, and sang out in his best voice. Halfway into the song, he was getting into it and was singing a little better. By the end, he was feeling a little happy buzz.

Joan clapped as did his mother who was now standing in the living room watching him.

"That was very good, Bobby!" his mother praised.

"Yes! Towards the end there, you really rocked!" Joan agreed. "Don't be afraid to put your volume out! You'll need to at the concert."

"What concert?" his mother asked.

Joan turned and told her, "Bob's singing at the concert we're all going to give! Sonya call it our last Palmdale concert blast! It's going to be a party! As soon as the band and moms put it all together, they will announce it. Bob's practicing his big part in the concert."

Carol stared at Bob. "You're going to sing? On stage?"

Bob shrugged. "I'm going to try."

"That's wonderful!" she cried.

"Do it again!" Joan said. "This time, just like you did at the end. Really FEEL it!" she beamed.

Bob did the song again. Carol remembered it wasn't long ago Bob mostly sat in his room and played internet games. Now, he was going to be in a concert. Since he and Joan started to become close, he was much more active and looking better, slim yet his arms and chest had filled out from playing football. Joan was having a very good influence on him. She also remembered that song Delilah sang up at the falls park. She grew a grin. It was possible that Bobby did have a tiger by the tail.

Bob sang the song twice more, sounding better each time. After the second time, Joan bounced up off the couch and planted his head in her chest, hugging him tight. "That was wonderful! I have to go now, but keep practicing! You will sound really good!" She then gave him a quick kiss and waved to Carol. "Bye, Mrs Tanner!"

When she left, Bob sagged in place. "Did I really sound good, Mom?"

"You did, dear," she assured him. She also had an idea that Joan had picked that song for him because she wanted him to sing it for her.

.

Mr. Leonard found the Connors lived in Palmdale, but he couldn't find an address for them. They weren't on any pubic listing locally or on the internet. For everyone knowing them they were very private people. Possible rich enough to remain private, or they had government help to stay hidden. After four days of searching he did get one break. Going on the assumption they had money, he stopped at a real estate office to look at available properties.

Mr. Bach bought, refurbished and sold expensive properties. Maybe they did also. Leafing through the listings he came upon one that caught his eye. big SOLD was stamped over the picture. It was a mansion atop a hill just out of town. Of course no seller or buyer was listed but the price was. At $121,500,000, this might be a lead.

Driving up to the place, he parked by the gate and looked in. Yes, this was possibly it. Seeing the security pad on the left side pillar he looked for a call button. There wasn't one, just numbers an symbols. As he studied it, a big black SUV came up the driveway. He waited until it stopped near him and put on a smile. A slim young woman was driving. In the passenger seat was a huge woman. Not fat but very tall. It looked like she barely fit in the roomy interior. The driver did look like Cameron Connor.

"Excuse me, I was looking for Cameron Connor. I have a business proposition for her," he said.

The slim woman's face went blank. "Who are you?"

"Please forgive me. I'm Mr. Leonard, I work for Mr. Bach. He is very interested in an item Miss Connor has and will pay handsomely for it."

"You are in the wrong place. Look elsewhere," she stated flatly.

"Perhaps I could offer an incentive for her to hear me out?" he asked and produced a fat envelope of money.

The woman he was sure was Cameron Connor looked at the passenger. The passenger got out. The red head had to be seven feet tall or better. She walked around the front of the SUV.

"I said you have the wrong place. Please turn around and leave." Cameron said flatly.

This woman was not friendly. Mr. Leonard tried one more time. "This money is yours if you just hear me out," he coaxed.

The giant woman punched in a code with her back to him she he couldn't see the pad. The gate opened. The giant stood just outside the gate, Cameron drove in and stopped. Once the gate was closing, the giant stepped inside. The gate fully shut, she got back in. The car drove on.

Mr. Leonard got in his car and called Mr. Bach.

"Sir, it's Mr. Leonard. I approached Cameron Connor. she seemed not in a good mood. She wouldn't even talk to me even after I offered her the fifty thousand just to listen. Your instructions?"

"Give her more incentive. Find out what it will take to hand over these nanites. Shoot her and collect her blood if that's what it takes. If you can find a lesser method, do so."

"Yes, sir."

Mr. Leonard drove back down into town. He'd been hoping this was going to be easy. Unfortunately, it was going to require some pressure on Connor to give up her secret.

.

Hacking into school records, Mr. Leonard found the Connors had kids in school. he got four names, the youngest being a Louise and John Junior. He no more that got their information when a knock came a his hotel room door. He looked through the peep hole. It was Cameron Connor. He opened the door.

He meant to greet her, but she shoved him hard to land on the floor. She shut the door and came in.

"There is no need for violence, Mrs. Connor," he said as he got up.

Stone faced, she said, "You work for a Mr. Bach?"

"Yes, that is correct. He wants me to acquire nanites that you have. He will pay whatever you want to get them," he replied firmly.

"Where did he hear about these nanites?" she asked.

"That is irrelevant," he stated.

She backhanded him to bounce off the bed and back onto the floor. Before he could get up, she grabbed his wrist and twisted his arm to plant him face down on the floor. In her toneless voice she said, "You will tell me who, or I break your arm."

Damn this woman was strong! She was serious also. "Give me your price, Mr. Back will gladly... AHHHH!" he ended in a scream as she pulled and snapped his arm pulling it out of the shoulder socket.

"Unless you like pain, you will tell me, who informed Mr. Bach about nanites."

He wasn't going to win. "Doctor Galvin send Mr. Bach an email, telling of his discovery." His arm was released then he felt a knee in his back, keeping him pinned in place. "I told you the truth!" he quickly said.

"You did," Cameron agreed, grabbed his head and broke his neck. His body went into the trunk of his car.

.

Dr. Gavin lived in a very nice house with two young women as his maids. He had all the latest security devices, motion sensors and cameras covering the outside of his house and inside. Alarms were audible and went to the security firm who recorded everything once an alarm went off. He felt safe in his easy chair with his pretty, young Hispanic maid across his lap. Smiling at each other, he explored her assets.

All his security didn't stop the heavy .30 caliber round from a silenced M-14 that was shot from half a mile away. The bullet smashed through a window and struck the top of the maid's head before plowing into his face to blow the back of his head out. The lights and alarms came on to show them in place, dead, his hand still up under her short skirt.

Perfect shot, no witnesses.

.

Mr. Bach was a not hard to find. Using the information Mr. Leonard had on him, Cameron did get his phone number. she called and used Mr. Leonard's voice.

"Yes, what is it?" Bach asked in a growl.

"Sir, I have what you wanted. Where do I take it?"

"Excellent! Bring it to the Palm Beach residence, and hurry. We don't want it to go bad."

"Yes sir."

Mr. Leonard had a nice car. The Mercedes had all the latest electronics. Including an complete navigation system. She selected Mr. Bach and Palm beach. She got driving directions right to his house.

Upon arriving, the gate guard saw the car and opened the gate. Mr. Leonard was well known here. Cameron parked outside the garage. She donned the hooded mask and grabbed her silenced glocks. Hearing voices from the back of the house, she went around to find a large man in a lounger, a busty woman in a bikini beside him and a pair of guards set like bookends to the asides. She shot the guards and the woman.

"Mr. Bach?" she asked, pointing glock at him.

He gaped at her. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked angrily.

"Are you Mr. Bock?" she asked again.

"Yes, and I'll.."

She shot him turned and went back to the car. The gate guard let her out.

Driving to a bad section of LA, Cameron cruised the street until she saw a pair of teenage boys beside an older car. She stopped behind them got out and dangled the keys out to them.

"I always wanted one of these," she said, looking at the old chevy. "Trade?"

Her offer was quickly accepted. she drove off in the old beater as they jumped in the Mercedes and headed for the chop-shop.