After much arguing and haranguing, and a few well-placed smacks from Evelyn Bobby finally told me that Angel had let his girlfriend borrow my car. I wouldn't have minded, except for all my guns. The car was a piece of shit, I bought it to fit in with the rest of the neighborhood, and so I could be assured that no one would want to steal it. Angel was conveniently gone by the time Jackie and I had gone back to the house. I'd deal with him later, at that moment I had a meeting to get to. I went back over to my home and called a car rental agency that doesn't ask questions for the right amount of money. They also deliver, God bless America.

My plan was to take a taxi to the designated area, get my car, hide my stuff in it and change into the disguise, and get to the meeting. Time would be tight, but I'm a fast worker. Jack tried to throw a wrench into my plan. He and Evelyn both insisted that he drive me and wait there to take me home. I had to nix that fucker immediately. With a smile I explained that we would be going over statistics and figures and I wasn't sure how long that it would take.

Evelyn, the not so saintly saint, asked, "how long do you think that will take?"

"Evelyn sometimes we've had to stay until midnight or so trying to correct mistakes."

She frowned deeply, "You and Jack were supposed to be going out tonight."

I smiled and put my hands on her arms, "I will do everything in my power to be home before eight, but I have to do my job."

That put a smile on the conniving woman's face. She agreed to let me take a taxi, and talked Jack into it too. He was more hesitant about it than I expected, but he relented because it gave him time to make nefarious plans involving our "date." I wasn't nervous; he wasn't mean enough to do anything that would make me uncomfortable. Besides, I could use the opportunity to quiz him about his family, if any of them had any history of violence against children, that sort of thing.

I went on my way, and returned at nine at night. The damn fool refused to be bribed, coerced, or blackmailed. It got awfully messy before the end. I had left the rental car in the usual place and taken another taxi home. I always use two separate cab companies when I have to do my dirty work; it just works out better if anyone starts asking questions. I also pay exclusively in cash, and if you throw in a good enough tip the cabbie will forget that they ever met you.

I rushed into my house; it's not good to be covered in blood while gallivanting around your neighborhood. I learned that lesson the hard way. I jumped in the shower to hose off the pint or so of blood that I couldn't get off me at the scene. By the time I had been cleansed to my satisfaction it was 9:30. Jack was gonna be pissed, especially if he's like any of the other guys I dated before all of this.

I quickly dried my hair. It doesn't take long to dry short hair, thank God. I had laid an outfit out before I left, so I threw that on and headed for the door. I was running up the steps to the Mercer household when the door opened. Jack came out and hugged me. That was strange. The last time I made a guy wait for a date he tried to hit me. Maybe Jack was different. He just held me for the longest time and rubbed my still damp hair, "I was so worried about you. I thought something had happened." It was oddly refreshing to have someone give a damn. A little disconcerting, but refreshing all the same. I couldn't honestly say that it didn't feel great.

When Jack finally released me he snagged my hand and pulled me back over to my own home. I had thought that we were going out, but he obviously wanted to stay in. Before I knew it he had dragged me into my house, locked the door, and pushed me backwards onto my couch. The whole manhandling thing was getting old fast. I started to stand up, to turn some lights on, but I felt an arm wrap around my waist and I was pulled down into his lap.

"Do you have something to tell me?"

I frowned, what the hell was he babbling about? Then a light bulb came on over my head, "I'm so sorry I'm late. We got held over because one of the idiot scientists contaminated his research with Dr. Pepper. I've never seen a dumber smart person in my life. I honestly didn't mean to make you wait."

All of a sudden Jack pushed me off his lap and I onto the couch, "That's not what I'm talking about Kylie and you know it!"

I was getting frantic at this point, had I forgotten something? "What are you talking about?"

Jack was standing above me at this point, "The guns, Kylie, the goddamned guns!"

Shit. They found the guns. Think fast Kylie think fast. "What guns?" The only real response would be to act as if I didn't have a clue what he was talking about. I learned the dummy act from my brother and it hasn't failed me yet. I really fucked up letting them borrow my car. Never again.

"Sofi wrecked your car and one of the door panels was ripped off and there were automatic weapons hidden in there."

This was my chance and I jumped on it, "Who the fuck is Sofi? You guys wrecked my car? I just bought that damn thing last week!"

That damn boy was winding up to lecture me again, "Sofi is Angel's girlfriend and she wrecked your car…that you just bought…last week?"

YES! He wasn't so sure of himself now. All I had to do was look confused and nod, and he would put the rest together himself. Thank God for small favors.

Jack sat down next to me on the couch and put his hands over mine, "Kylie, this is very important. Where did you get the car?"

I looked right into his eyes, "An add in the paper. It was a great deal, especially since the car has been well maintained, never wrecked, all in all it's practically new." I glanced his way like a realization was dawning on me, "Shit… I didn't think… I just saw a good car for a great price… Shit."

Jack smiled slightly my way, "Hey it could happen to anyone."

I just shook my head, poor boy was so gullible. I almost felt bad for all the lies I had been telling him, almost. I knew it would be harder to convince the others of my innocence in the situation, at least without proof. Luckily, I had bought the car last week. It was standard operating procedure, change of address, change of car, and look. I had saved the bill of sale, but it didn't have any name on it but mine. The title to the car would be a bigger problem, but nothing I couldn't handle.

I hugged Jack and leaned against him, "God. What if that car belonged to a drug dealer or a murderer or something? I've been driving the car from hell, or at least it was on its way. Christ."

He started rubbing my back and humming. It was kind of soothing. I knew I had to talk to the others soon though.

I pulled back and looked pointedly at the floor, "I bet your brothers think I'm some kind of…something. Oh my God, what did Evelyn say?" I turned to him with horrified eyes and he chuckled at me, "We didn't tell Ma about it. We wanted your side of the story before we demonized you in the eyes of our mother."

I couldn't help but smile and say what was really on my mind, "That was your doing wasn't it?"

He nodded, and instead of thanking him vocally I leaned over and kissed him firmly on the lips. He seemed to understand as he kissed me back but didn't press the issue. Instead Jack stood up and offered me his hand; we had to go explain things to the rest of the Mercer family.