Author's Note: I decided to name chapter 18 'Nothing Happened' for one main reason: Nothing really happened in that chapter, at all. It was a low point, I apologize. I think I was trying to drag this story out too much. In this chapter you'll get to see another layer of Kali's personality. I'll try to speed things up, I promises. I think there will be more ass kicking in chapter 20, if not then therepositively will be in chapter 21.
Chapter Nineteen
As Kali drove away from the facility, into the country side, she pulled out her cell and dialed quickly. "Hello, is this Matthew Dragnet?" She blushed a little, "Hi Matt. This is Kali Rhiannon. Do you remember me?"
"How could I forget?" came the oily male voice, "I saw you on the news the other night. Trouble in paradise?"
"Being on the president's cabinet is hardly paradise."
"You know, I voted for the other guy."
She rolled her eyes, "You would."
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Seeing as how you haven't called me in nearly three years," he sneered.
"Matt, I didn't call to pick a fight."
"Of course you didn't. Don't worry, I understand completely. I don't exactly do a politician's rep any good. You know what I do do good..."
"Shut up."
"Sorry, Miss Tight Ass. Being in the public eye certainly hasn't helped improve your sense of humor."
She pulled to the side of the road, "Look, I know how you get when you're on the phone. For you it's play time."
"You used to like that."
"Yeah, well... This is business."
"Why don't you come by the house?"
"I Don't think so."
"Why not? We used to have lots of fun over here. I still have the scar from when-"
"No, Matt. I'm not interested in starting up again, so you can zip your pants."
"You know me too well."
"Would you shut up? I'm trying to ask you a favor." She stepped out of the vehicle and leaned against the hood. She looked up and down the highway. It was completely deserted. Before he could insert another cocky comment she continued, "How's your cousin Ricky?"
"Same as always," he said, disgusted that she'd changed the subject.
"That's what I was counting on. Can you call him for me? If he still runs with the same crowd, chances are he can get me in touch with the kind of people I'm looking for."
"What's this?" He asked, dripping with satisfaction, "Little prim and proper politician wants some one to pull a job for her? You just made my day, baby."
She gagged dryly. Three years ago she'd been young and stupid. She'd dated Matt simply because everything about him was slick and fast. Now she knew it was all chalked up to the gallon of grease in his hair. "Call me back after you talk to him. I'll tell you where he should meet me and when."
"You know I'll be there too."
"I'm hanging up now."
"Suit your-" she flipped the phone shut, ending the vulgar conversation.
She met the men on a dock far from her office, seven hours past sun set. Crates were stacked up high left and right, and the smell of fish was heavy in the air. She saw Ricky first.
"Hey there Miss Kali," he said, shaking her hand, "How ya been?"
"Not so good. I need to hire some one to take care of a problem for me."
Matt moved out of the shadows and came up behind her, grabbing her buttocks firmly, "Hey, Sweet Ass."
She elbowed him in the ribs. He backed off with an 'Oof.' "Touch me again and It'll be you who ends up with a mercenary at his front door."
"Looking for a Merc?" asked Ricky.
"I am. The best you can get me."
He lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips, sucking in softly, "Who's the target?"
"You might have heard of him: Richard Riddick."
He pulled the cig from his mouth, "Richard B? Hell, I heard of 'im. Naw, naw. You got this all wrong," he said expertly, talking with his hands. The cigarette's smoke made hazy patterns between them. "You need a team for this guy. It'll cost a pretty inter-stellar cred or two."
She put her hands in her pocket and narrowed her eyes, "How much?"
"Today? 85K."
"85? Are you screwing with me?"
"She ain't used to handling big money, cuz," Matt commented.
"I handle more credits every day than you'll ever see in a life time," she spat, warning him to keep it shut. She shook Ricky's hand again, "You'll get your money."
He flicked the cigarette aside, "I'll have your teem assembled in two days, tops."
"Two days?"
"You want the best, don't you? The best take time."
"Fine. In two days meet me here with your 'team.' Then I'll give you your credits and the system he's in." She walked away, but called over her shoulder, "You better not be here Matthew!"
"I'll be thinking' about you tonight, Kali," He said through his shit-eating grin. He high fived his cousin.
"Bite me," she said under her breath.
The 144 hours went by agonizingly slow for Secretary RhiannonEvery time she was paged she jumped. She'd never done anything illegal before, except for that one minor indiscretion in high school. It made her edgy. She was scared to death of being found out. She justified her actions in her mind again and again, You're ridding the galaxies of a serial murderer, these are necessary measures. Some how, it didn't make her feel any less guilty about abusing the system she had sworn to protect.
She took steps to disguise herself before driving back out to the sea side. She put on a pair of large sunglasses and tied her hair up under a hat. She also decide to forgo her tell-tail loose clothing, and instead wore one of her black undershirts and a set of her old jeans.
"Interesting look, babe," said Matt, walking up to greet her.
"I thought I told you to beat it," she said, deciding it was all right to drop all professionalism. She grabbed a small duffel bag out of the trunk.
"Don't I get a kiss hello?" he spread his arms out, offering a hug.
She shoved him hard in the chest, "You didn't come out here thinking you'd get a piece of ass, did you?" She shouldered the bag and bumped past him.
Ricky was huddled with a group of six others, four men and two women. "Ah, and here she comes," he said, pointing.
One of the women, who wore her long black hair in a braid, brushed by him to stand in front of her. She placed her hands defiantly on her hips. "And when the target asks who our generous benefactor who put the bounty on his head is, we should say..?"
"Anonymous," Kali answered, mirroring her attitude filled stance, "As most of your clients like to remain, I'm sure."
The woman chewed the inside of her lip for a moment, then extended her hand for Kali to take. "I'm Will." She indicated the men first, "That's Fuse, Mac, Wake, and Gatback. Chica's my little sister, Dawn."
Ricky put Dawn in a head lock and messed her hair up, "She's new to the game, but she's catching on quick." She pushed him off, frowning deeply.
"So where do we find Mr. Payday?" Asked Will.
The secretary took in the teem. She didn't know much about quality mercenaries, but if they were one fourth as tough as they looked and half as discreet they should do fine. "Helion Prime, New Mecca. Richard B. Riddick."
Will nodded. However, Gatback protested, "Riddick? Hey, Will, you didn't say nothin' about goin' after a Merc killin' freak."
"Cop it, Gat. Does it matter what I tell you? I say where we go and when. You got a problem with your share of the 80K? 'Cause I can whittle it down if it's too much for you to handle."
Before Kali could say anything Ricky reassured her, "The other five's for me. Handler's fee."
"The plan's in the bag," confirmed Will, "We'll take the job."
Kali handed the duffel bag to Ricky and returned to her car. To her disappointment, Matt was still there, admiring the rims. "Give me a call once you hear from Ricky about my man, and not a minute before." She slipped behind the wheel.
Before she could go he leaned in the window, "So what'd this guy do to you, any way? Break your heart?"
She shifted into reverse and backed out quickly, forcing him to pull away before the car popped his head off. She yelled back at him before gunning it, "No one breaks my heart."
