NOIR
Chapter One
Of High Regard
By Steve Edward
Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura are two female assassins created by Ryoe Tsukimura which weaved an intricate tale of these two young women who had to undergo extreme life and death trials in the course of their story to finally resolve that each would together become Noir.
In this story we visit Mireille Bouquet's family past, and the hatred she holds deeply within. Taking an assignment that will take her and Kirika Yumura head to head with an American crime syndicate family, she risks death to keep another from experiencing what she had as a young daughter of a Corsican family.
Monday, September 4th 0630 hours, Foundation Guest House, Paris, France
Gregor bouncing onto the bed announced it was time to wake up, and Randy giving an affectionate rub to the head of the dog swung his legs over and rose to his feet. With Gregor following him downstairs to the kitchen, Randy opened the back door and let the dog out, then prepping the coffee maker he headed back up to take a shower.
Returning to the kitchen after showering and dressing, Randy had half expected to find Mireille or Kirika in the kitchen but neither was there. Fixing breakfast and feeding Gregor, Randy had his morning coffee in relative peace.
Monday, September 4th 0045 hours, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
Mireille Bouquet drove the rental car, as Kirika Yumura perused the package that had been left in a storage locker. The assignment to 'extract' two persons being held against their wills would be challenging. For Mireille it brought memories of her early upbringing within a syndicate family, a family line long since dormant; at least to those who thought the Bouquet Family had been terminated so many years before.
She and Kirika were about to enter the lions den to free and escort to their new home a young widower and her child, heirs to an American syndicate family. Denied their rightful places, by the half-brother who had assumed the leadership position; the widower and her child wanted a new life and freedom. Noir would see to that they would have that wish and for those that were willing to stand in their way, they will pay a heavy price.
NOIR
Chapter One
Of High Regard
By Steve Edward
Monday, September 4th 1400 hours, Veterinary Hospital, Paris, France
The veterinarian studied the x-rays of his patient closely looking for any abnormalities in the German Shepard. Finding none, the doctor turned on his stool and looked at the patient, whose head was cocked slightly in curiosity, the deep brown eyes focused upon him. Looking towards the dog's owner, the doctor spoke "Monsieur Baldwin. Gregor is in excellent health and at his age of five years is at near perfect weight. I will have the results of the blood work by tomorrow morning and if everything is normal, I will sign the health certificate which will allow his entry into the United States."
Randy Baldwin giving an affectionate pat to Gregor replied, "Excellent. Would you be so kind to call my office once the certificate is signed and I'll make sure to have a courier pick it up." The doctor agreed to do so and after shaking hands with the doctor, Randy and Gregor exited the examination room then walked out of the animal clinic for the walk back to the Foundation Offices.
Monday, September 4th 0800 hours, Hall County High School, Hall County, Georgia
Corey Baldwin, the twins Irena and Nina with Ashley exited the Ford Focus and with their fellow students headed to class. Splitting their respective ways, the teenagers gathered with their friends to catch up on current events. The teenagers had breathed a sigh of relief that their escapades and that of their father had passed unnoticed at least for the time being. Their friends were more interested in how the 'cultural' trip to Japan and France had been. In their respective history classes the Baldwin teenagers helped bring a sense of history to life after discussing their respective visits to Belgium, but leaving the part out about their step-father's initial situation.
Monday, September 4th 1300 hours, Laurel Hollow, New York
Mireille Bouquet studied the stone wall briefly as she and Kirika walking past the estate, recalled her own early life behind such a wall. It had not been enough to save her parents or her brother. Kirika Yumura had seen to that. It would not be until nearly 12 years later she would learn the truth, and when she did she had nearly killed Kirika for it seeking revenge. But the true master behind the murder of her family had been a woman named Altena. Kirika Yumura seeking to redeem herself had charged Altena and both women tumbled over into a fiery cauldron of molten lava, but she had forgiven Kirika and reached out to her and pulled her new friend and partner to safety and that had been over 12 years ago. Today she and Kirika were making the final preparations to free another that had become by marriage originally an unwilling participant. The marriage dissolved by death, yet she was not free. The widower and her daughter would be free tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 5th 0100 hours, Laurel Hollow, New York
Joyce Milan gathered her daughter's belongings. Zetta still sleeping soundly unaware of what was about to transpire, would be awakened when the time came. Joyce, the widowed wife of a syndicate family member had been confined to her late husband estate since his death six months earlier from a massive heart attack, that had been determined to have been natural, and not from an outside influence.
Peter Milan was only 35 when he died, but he had been a loving husband and faithful father to Zetta; despite the occupation he was involved in. The marriage had been of convenience to both syndicate families. Joyce was initially against the marriage originally but the pressure to wed and bring peace between the syndicates had outweighed her reservations.
After the wedding, it was Peter himself who had confided to her that he had been against the marriage as well, but the two soon fell deeply in love with each other. Peter's sunny outlook on life was infectious. Joyce after becoming pregnant with Zetta, and giving Peter a daughter made their lives seem more at ease despite the 'family business'.
Then with Peter's sudden passing, the darkness fell upon her and Zetta, as Peter's half brother Zack whose disposition was opposite of her late husband took over Peter's half of the family business and then banishing both Joyce and Zetta to forced confinement to the family mansion, despite her pleas. It was a visit by an immediate family member of Joyce's, who in turn had discreetly notified her grandmother, Dora that had begun the chain of events unfolding. The grandmother living in Arizona had made the arrangements to have Joyce and Zetta freed. Zack's near insane behavior had demonstrated that to the grandmother.
Kirika Yumura tested her footing, then scaled the stone wall and dropped to a soft landing, pausing briefly to listen to her immediate surroundings. She and Mireille had found two men working for Zack out side at their respective guard posts and had disposed of them in near silence. The roving guard, surprised by Kirika had put up a brief but fruitless struggle as Kirika snapped his neck cleanly, leaving the man dead in an ivy patch where he would be found the next morning. The other disposed of by Mireille herself, a close range, point blank shot to the head. He would appear to be asleep when discovered, but the telltale bullet wound would say otherwise.
Mireille having scaled the opposite wall, and walking the grounds unobserved approached the next target, a small guard house next to the gated entrance. Wordlessly with her Walther P-99 raised, she entered the open door and fired twice. The startled look of the guards face frozen in death, would add another puzzle to investigators. Leaving the guardhouse and skirting the lighted driveway, Mireille joined Kirika at the side of the house, where each parted company again.
Joyce Milan clutching the tiny locket in her hand heard the thud of a falling body in the hallway, then holding her breath as the door opened the sight of the blond woman with an Asian standing to her side caused her to give silent thanks as Mireille Bouquet spoke, "Mrs. Milan? It is time to go." The time was 0140 hours.
Tuesday, September 5th 0830 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Atlanta, Georgia
Gina Baldwin having concluded the morning meeting entered her office and began reviewing ongoing cases that the foundation was engaged in. The Tokyo Office's report on a wave of kidnappings sweeping Tokyo and other cities in Japan pointed to a serial killer at work and likely copycats wanting their own attention. The Foundation's discreet involvement had included brining in a profiler to assist local authorities. There were promising leads developing on the case in which the kidnapper was preying on prostitutes. Gina Baldwin's spin on that situation was regardless of their line of work, a woman should have no fear of being taken off the street by force.
In Paris, France a report from Kelly Summers as she worked to solve a sudden rash of art thefts, that had been taking place at several art houses. Though not from well known artists, their works could grow in value as time grew. The art houses banding together had asked for the Foundation's assistance and her husband Randy still in Paris had directed Kelly to take on the case.
Gina finishing the overseas review turned to the stateside cases. Several fraud investigations were ongoing and one strange missing person case which Carl Greensand had been working caught her attention. Carl had been interrupted during the investigation while traveling to New York to look after Ashley, the week before.
Picking up where he had left off, Carl had made substantial progress and the missing was no longer among the missing. A Florida multi-millionaire had decided to take a sabbatical after all, without wanting to be bothered with the daily chores of running a business from day to day. His business partners had panicked needing his expertise. The self-made multi-millionaire's phone call from the city of Stanley in the Falkland Islands after being 'intercepted' by an Argentinean naval vessel had closed the case. The irritated man outraged over being forced to make landfall, had been priceless in terms of listening to him berate his partners during the conference call.
The man held no grudge against the foundation itself, but he did ask if they could recommend a good accounting firm. The request was answered with a stern warning from the millionaire himself, "God help you idiots when I get back to Miami in six months and you have screwed things up!" Gina had quietly disconnected after that, she suspected that the Foundation might be called in again.
The tap on the door caused Gina to look up and standing in the threshold was Carl Greensand, his thinning all white head of hair his most striking feature as was the goatee. Acknowledging his presence, Gina invited him in and accepted the coffee. Carl taking a seat on the nearby settee spoke, "You might want to turn to the Fox Network. Breaking news in New York looks like a crime syndicate family was wiped out."
Gina doing as Carl suggested listened to the report in progress, "We are joined by our Fox affiliate reporting from a small bedroom community called Laurel Hollow, which is Northeast of New York City where this morning authorities both local and federal are said to be swarming all over a mansion there. The initial reports are indicating that there area as many as seven dead, and they are not of natural causes. Witnesses requesting anonymity state most were shot at close range though at least two have been found with broken necks…" Gina muting the sound spoke, "Anything sound familiar from up there?" as Carl Greensand peered at the aerial shot of the mansion spoke, "Yes Mrs. Baldwin it does. Looks like somebody had a bone to pick with the Milan family."
Carl Greensand an Ex-NYPD homicide detective had spent 20 years on the force, fifteen of that as a detective. His investigative career had included numerous syndicate family murders. Carl looking back at the screen spoke, "The Milan's were initially low key players, mostly numbers at first then they branched out. Of course they ran afoul of the other families and had some pretty ugly turf wars. But as time passed and the Feds cracking down on the illicit activities, they like many of the other families decided it would be more profitable to be legit."
Carl sipping his coffee continued, "Then about seven years ago, an arranged marriage took place between two families. The Milan's and Marino's were joined together in holy matrimony. The initial word on the street at the time was that neither party, Joyce Marino of the Marino's and Peter Milan of the Milan's was happy with the arrangements, but they apparently did fall in love with each other and eventually had a daughter. Until this morning the violence had been pretty much low key, but I suppose it would not have lasted much longer since Peter Milan died five or six months ago from a heart attack. His half-brother took over things after his death refusing to allow Joyce to step in. Zack has a much darker side and is considered ruthless, but there is really nothing that the Foundation should be concerned with."
Gina Baldwin, picking up the remote to turn off the television watched as the first hearse left the gated estate. Tapping the off button she spoke, "Well so far the Foundation has pretty much left the syndicates to their own little world. I think Randy would prefer we keep ourselves out of this." Carl Greensand had to agree, "No need for us to dirty our hands over this. I am sure the locals will be able to handle it."
Tuesday, September 5th 1330 hours, Virginia State Line
Mireille Bouquet at the wheel of the conversion van as it crossed into Virginia from Maryland on Interstate 95. It was their third vehicle not counting the Mercedes-Benz station wagon 'barrowed' from the Milan estate. The Mercedes-Benz dumped in a long term parking garage in New York City for a rented Ford Taurus that was dropped off for a Chevrolet Impala that was left at a rental agency in Baltimore had been the list of vehicles she and Kirika had obtained. All of them rented with one time use and untraceable charge cards and the driver's licenses from various states of issue using real names matching the charge cards had helped conceal their identities.
A Marriott Hotel would be their next stop for the trip and on Interstate 85 which would eventually take them south into Georgia and beyond, but for now Mireille and Kirika were concerned with keeping a low profile especially with their two passengers, both of whom were napping in the reclining seats.
Joyce had hoped to be able to fly, but the risk would be too great. With the syndicate soon to be alerted that she was missing as were her daughter, they would go all out at every major airport and be looking for her. The only viable option would be to travel by ground.
Tuesday, September 5th 1630 hours, Federal Building, New York City
Zack Milan bunched the leather seat in anger as the Cadillac pulled away from the entrance of the building. Zack's first awareness of something going wrong was the hushed phone call from a house keeper arriving for work at the estate in Laurel Hollow to find the gate guard dead at his post. Zack had hoped to keep things quiet, but a jogger found another of the guards dead behind of the wheel of his car and by the time he had got to the estate, the local police and even the Feds were crawling all over it. Grilled for the past several hours, Zack had finally been released but given a stern warning to let the Feds handle it. For the time being he had withheld the fact that Joyce Milan and her daughter Zetta were missing, but he doubted the Feds or the locals would miss that detail for long. Picking up his cell phone he punched a pre-programmed number and spoke, "Has the station wagon been found yet?" as he listened to news he did not want to hear he replied "Well find the damn thing. Put word on the street that anyone finding that car will be amply rewarded and tell them it had better not be stripped either!"
A technician at the Federal Building smiled and tapped the stop button on the computer and quickly transferred the conversation to a CD-ROM and had it delivered to the resident agent in charge three floors down. The agent listening to the conversation wrote down the details then called his contact at NYPD. In less than an hour NYPD patrol units and foot officers were actively searching for the very same car. A foot patrol officer a rookie police officer named Jester would find it by 1800 hours.
Tuesday, September 5th 1930 hours, Marriott Hotel, Virginia
Joyce Milan sat with Mireille Bouquet and Kirika Yumura in the adjoining room as her daughter Zetta was watching Nickelodeon in their room. Joyce spoke, "I guess my grandmother asked for your help?" as Mireille replied, "That is none of your concern, but Dora Marino did seek our services." Kirika spoke, "Your grandmother told us of your situation and that she desired your freedom. Further she asked us to bring you to where she currently lives and that is near Phoenix, Arizona. We will honor that. That is our way."
There had been little conversation between them till now. Joyce sensing that they would speak to her in time had concerned herself with Zetta's care as they traveled. Leaving the estate, with Zetta already asleep again, Joyce had seen the gate guard as they exited the estate, sprawled on the floor of the guard house; the look of surprise and shock frozen on his face.
Realizing that these two women were responsible for what she had seen, it had given her the chills when looking at them. Neither would appear to be a killer to her, but they did not bring up the details of how they entered the estate. What Joyce had seen was enough to put her faith into them to protect her and her daughter.
Wednesday, September 6th, 0400 hours, Art House, Paris, France
Randy Baldwin left the door of the Land Rover ajar as he with Gregor stepped onto the sidewalk. The Foundation computers in Paris having had the previous theft data entered had projected the next likely targets of the art thieves. Kelly Summers exiting the Audi, across the street gave a discreet wave as she advanced taking cover where possible. Randy with Gregor, advancing till he could see the art gallery stopped then spoke discreetly, "I will have to give Adeline a bonus for all that typing she did. Guess what Ms. Summers, one small van with driver and a clown at the front door. You take the guy at the door and I'll take the van with the driver. Francis get ready to move if that van starts off. I do not feel like chasing the damn thing." Francis Ivax another Foundation investigator was sitting in a large truck less than two blocks away preparing to block the street.
Making their respective moves, Kelly Summers and Randy Baldwin advanced. The driver glancing at his side view mirror saw Randy with Gregor as they crossed the street. Giving out a warning in French to his cohort he started the engine, but seeing Kelly Summers having taken his partner down he floored it.
Randy shouting for Francis to block the street took off after the van on foot, but the fleet footed Gregor scampered ahead and to Baldwin's disbelief disappeared from view. The van sliding to a stop well before Francis's truck piqued Randy's curiosity even more and wary he approached the vehicle. Francis able to see into the van spoke, "Monsieur. Your dog has the driver in custody.
The tail stiff and fluffed gave Randy the only indication that Gregor was displaying anger, until he opened the door. The terrified driver pleading in French looked up at Gregor who was baring his fangs and growling; his muzzle just inches from the driver's throat. Randy stepping back slightly and holstering the Colt turned to Francis as he walked up to join his boss. Francis speaking in French to the terrified driver then turning to Baldwin spoke, "He said he will tell us what we what to know. Just please call off the dog."
Randy did so and turned back toward the entrance of the art house where Kelly Summers finding the art burglar a tad bit too wiry for her to handle alone called out for help. Randy sending Gregor ahead, trotted after him. Kelly Summers looking up as Randy approached smiled, "I will miss Gregor," as the German Shepard growling and displaying his fangs had intimidated the burglar to give up.
Ensuring that both were secure, Randy called the local police and waited for their arrival, musing all the while, he looked forward to going back to the States for peace and quiet.
Wednesday, September 6th 0900 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Paris, France
The representatives of the art dealers and houses had departed shortly before, satisfied that the theft ring had been broken. The theft case now turned over to the local gendarmes to deal with had successfully recovered all the stolen art. The gendarmes acting on information from the van's driver had raided a warehouse where the stolen paintings were being stored. In addition to the paintings, the gendarmes had recovered a substantial amount of stolen antique furniture, much of it being prepared for shipment overseas. The rare furniture stolen from residences and even several museums in France would have fetched millions had their sales been successful.
Kelly Summers knocked on the door to Randy's office and entered with a former colleague from her days as an FBI agent. Agent Andrew Weidman after being introduced sat across from Randy Baldwin as Kelly spoke, "Andrew was just giving me some info on some crime syndicate activity in the States. It seems a good number of certain foot soldiers were found dead at an estate just Northeast of New York."
Randy leaning back in his chair raised an eyebrow "I thought that the crime syndicates were keeping it very low key and avoiding the bloodshed. Does anyone know what started or caused the brouhaha?" Agent Weidman replied, "Well Mr. Baldwin, the Bureau is still sorting things out; but the two crime syndicates involved are low key players, the Milan's and the Marino's. The Milan's were trying to keep things quiet about certain missing person or persons, but the Bureau found out that the widow of the late Peter Milan, Joyce and her daughter Zetta are gone. There had been some rumors that the widow and child were being held in the estate residence under some sort of house arrest, by the half brother to Peter, named Zack."
Randy sitting upright replied, "Why inform us of this?" Kelly Summers interrupted, "Well since the Fallacy Investigation, the Bureau has been interested in linking syndicates with any kind of smuggling. They thought we might have come across some things during that investigation and asked Andrew to pay a visit."
Randy taking a sip of coffee replied, "Agent Weidman, we did look into the possible connections with syndicates, but of course in the Fallacy Investigation none of the syndicates were found to be even related to that case. That smuggling scheme had been cooked up by a Ukrainian Shipping Agent and a partner of his an American Shipping Executive. I might add all those case files were turned over to the FBI in New York for the prosecution of both men last year."
Andrew replied "Yes I was aware of that. We are not officially asking for help in this but are asking if your foundation should obtain information or hear of the whereabouts of the widow and her daughter that we might be contacted. Some fear that the half-brother, Zack had eventually planned to kill both and with them out of his reach, his power and control of the 'family assets' will likely come into question. He will do everything he can to get them back into his control or not withstanding will hunt them down and kill them."
Randy pondered that statement and replied, "Well if she is on the run, she had to have help. Do you have any information on what happened at that estate?" Agent Weidman replied, "I have been authorized to give you this report. It contains the detailed crime scene report; I think you might find it interesting reading." Randy Baldwin accepting the sealed envelope thanked the agent and advised he would inform them of any thing that he might find.
Kelly Summers escorted the visitor out then returned to Randy's office and closed the door, "Do we really want to get involved in a syndicates business? Perhaps we need to leave this one alone." Randy had no desire either and replied, "I am in agreement, but if we happen to hear anything pass it along." Kelly left the office satisfied for the time being as Randy unsealing the envelope began to read the crime scene report. What he read had him calling Kelly Summers and then Lucio Magnus to his office.
Wednesday, September 6th 0330 hours, New York City
Zack Milan paced his office in frustration. The NYPD had beaten his men to the car which was now in Federal custody. His attorney had called to inform him that FBI agents had revealed to him that they knew Joyce and Zetta were missing from the estate and were apparently on the run.
Zack's temper simmering just below the surface had caused him to react to that comment, by breaking a picture frame that had belonged to his late half-brother. The shattered glass crunching under his feet served to make him lash out at the battered frame once again, sending it crashing against a nearby wall. Then the idea struck him, why not have photographs of Joyce and Zetta distributed to trucking companies in his employ. It all made sense. If they have not been seen at airports, then Joyce was driving somewhere with her daughter. But where was Joyce intending to go? Picking up the phone, he ordered that photographs be distributed to all truck drivers in his employ and added an incentive that if any driver found Joyce and Zetta they would be well rewarded with a new rig of their choice.
Wednesday, September 6th 0730 hours, South Bound Interstate 85 in Virginia
Mireille Bouquet set the cruise control to the speed limit as the conversion van broke free of the Richmond, Virginia traffic. Except for rest stops and gas, they next major stop would be in Atlanta. Both she and Kirika had given thought to contacting the Baldwin's but considering the situation, neither preferred to involve them. The news stories of the estate killings were still in the news, but there had been no mention made of Joyce and Zetta which meant either the authorities were still not aware, or if they were they were trying to find them on their own discreetly which definitely put any airport out of reach. Then there was the matter of the syndicate family involved. Mireille had in her early life enjoyed the comfortable living, but all of that had been shattered after her parents and brother's death.
When the truth had hit her about the sheltered life that she had led as her own father engaged in various activities, it dawned on her that Joyce's young daughter Zetta would have had to eventually face similar upbringing and the threat of death as well. As long as Joyce and Zetta stayed alive, the power that Zack the brother-in-law could wield would be tempered because Joyce and Zetta were the true heirs to the Milan and Mirano family fortune.
Wednesday, September 6th 0845 hours, Highway 53, West Bound, Virginia
The trucker shifting and accelerating back to the speed limit looked at the photograph of the missing woman and her child. Musing that the woman had left her husband because of certain circumstances did not outweigh the reported reward. He would keep his eyes peeled just in case.
Wednesday, September 6th 1400 hours, Toussus-le-Noble Airfield, France
Kay Milroy and Else F. Conroy viewed one of their passengers as he entered the cockpit, the brown eyes of the German Shepard taking in the two women as they prepared to depart. Else giving an affectionate pat to the dogs head was rewarded with a friendly lick to her hand as Gregor turned about and walked aft towards the passenger compartment. Randy Baldwin their boss stuck his head into the cockpit, "How's the weather holding?"
Kay Milroy replied, "Looks like good weather all the way with scattered overcast at Brunswick Maine, but a low-pressure front is building in the Gulf and may make things interesting later on. But I've filed for a flight well west of the seaboard so we should come in behind it into Dekalb-Peachtree. Oh yeah Gina left the Mustang for you in the hanger she said to give you the keys. It is fully gassed." Taking the ignition keys from Kay, Randy headed aft looking at Gregor who had seated himself in a seat. Taking the specialized harness seat belt, he hooked Gregor into the seatbelt restraint of the seat for take-off.
Wednesday, September 6th 0830 hours, Baldwin Foundation Offices, Atlanta, Georgia
Gina Baldwin listened to her husband as he spoke from the airborne Gulfstream streaking Westward across the Atlantic, "So Carl told you about the syndicate mess in New York?" as Gina reading the article about the murders in the New York Times replied, "Yes he did. He surmised some kind of fall out, but that's about it." Randy who was reading an updated report of the incident replied, "Well I hope you are not on the speaker phone!" Gina confirmed she was not, "Husband just what has got you interested in the murders? Leave it to the law enforcement authorities to deal with."
Randy replied, "I think I may know who is involved. They are someone we both know." Randy using heavily encrypted voice communications continued, "Based on the report that was given to me, I believe that Noir is connected. Lucio is getting bad vibes if you will from Soldats in the States who think that the syndicate leader is hunting actively for the missing widow and her daughter. I have my doubts she herself took out seven syndicate guards watching over her. The methods that were utilized leave me no doubt that Mireille and Kirika are involved up to their necks in this, which means if they are traveling by ground, they will likely be spotted eventually."
Gina Baldwin frowning replied, "Well that is just wonderful, but they could be anywhere by now perhaps in Canada or elsewhere." Her husband replied, "Going north was out of the question. The syndicates have connections and they would be sounding the alarm to be alert at all border crossings. It would have to be south. And the time differences not withstanding, the last I saw of them both was Monday afternoon when we had lunch. They could have easily been in New York had they departed that afternoon, which I and Lucio believe that they did."
Gina spoke, "Well have you tried to call them?" Randy replied, "Already been there and done that. No joy. They are so damn adept at covering their identities and tracks they even use pay-as-you go cells when on assignments. Unless they decide to call either you or me to let us in on their assignment we are hunting for them blind."
Gina paused a moment pondering how she could explain to Carl Greensand and the other investigators to go out and find two women with a widow and child in tow without telling them about the New York murders, but gave up on that idea then turning to look out the window, she spied a Georgia Department of Transportation work crew setting up for some roadwork on the freeway in the distance. The portable sign flashing right lane closed ahead gave her an idea and she spoke, "Husband. I have an idea, and it just might work." Randy listened and smiled, "What the hell give it a try. If they are on Interstate 85 they have got to pass the Welcome Station. Get Martha Edelstein working on it. If we are right, they should still be somewhere in North Carolina. By the time the signs are setup and programmed they will likely be near the state line." Disconnecting from Gina, Randy looked out the window to the Atlantic far below musing, "Well so much for rest and relaxation. What ever the heck prompted them two to stir up so much discontent and discourse was going to make things hot in Hot-Lanta when Noir arrived to Georgia."