SORTA CLASSIFIED!

From the Journals of Mac Harper: Out Rider Agent #11557

CIA Handler: Henry William Towler (U.S. Ambassador stationed in New York City)

The truth about my R&R 'exploits' in Taiwan-Entry II

My adventure would lead me into the seedy underbelly of Taipei, as Chuck Norris/Bruce Leeish and clichéd as it sounds. That was the last place we got Intel on the whereabouts of Katie. I kept her picture in my breast pocket, and close to my heart. I didn't know the child, but it was all the comfort I had to offer her right now. I was given one of those school pictures they take with the crooked library backdrop. Katie's wasn't crooked. She was a sweet looking child, a face as American as apple pie. She had light brown hair done up in a fluffy ponytail and a smattering of freckles over her nose and round, pink cheeks. She was smiling brightly, with wide-set green eyes and had one of those cute heart-shaped faces and pointy chins.

I tried not to look at the picture for too long, it only served to make me more furious. We had already lost three days between Frank's foolish hesitation to call Henry for outside Outrider help, and the sixteen-hour travel time from New York. I was coping with my extreme case of jet lag on top of it all.

The first stop was in the five-star Hotel Cha Ching-Cha Ching, (Remember, fake names, don't go putting it on the itinerary!) and that's where I met with Katie's distraught father and his associates. Frank couldn't understand why Henry didn't send a whole swat team of agents. Do ya think I told him that this was my first solo Outrider operation? I eventually got him to accept that this was a very delicate mission and had to be carried out as covertly as possible, and that I was the best Outrider Henry had. (Psst–now I am!)

If he ever reads this, I give my apologies to Jack Striker with no hard feelings. I know the Aussie has a couple of years on me; his fans love the whole James Bond aura. Me? I'm just a semi-swaggering goof ball, but it's really all part of my imperishable charm. I was gonna use another word, like, insatiable, but I don't know if it fit the context? Maybe you can tell me? I told ya, I'm not the best writer! I will not be responsible for any mistakes you come across while reading this, just let it go and carry on, people.

Frank's last communication with Katie was from the previous night, somewhere between 11:00pm and 11:15pm, Taiwan time. They had only spoken for a few seconds, but the glimmer of hope there was that she was still alive. Frank believed the leaders of a powerful mob group known as the 'White Tigers' kidnapped her. They highly resented the work Frank wanted to accomplish in their City and had given him many warnings to pack it up. He berated himself for not heeding them. I had to be nosy again and ask what Katie was doing in Taiwan with him. He admitted he and his wife were divorced and they had a six-month deal with their daughter. Both parents were high falootin' career people and the poor girl was a virtual yo-yo between them. I wondered if Katie was an attention seeker too. She did seem to have that mischievous glint in her eye.

Aside from research on the plane, I had to stage a course of action for getting Katie back safely and brush up on my Taiwanese. Frank's aids were able to trace the last phone call the White Tigers made to a slum just outside the City. I endeavored to bring up the CST issue with Frank. Of course, he got belligerent and demanded to know why that was important, so, I gave it to him. The White Tigers may not have been looking to kill Katie, but rather expose her to the very elements Frank was so righteously fighting to eliminate.

I have to say that it is a very humbling thing to see a grown man cry before your eyes. The berating started again and I knew it was time to make my exit. I had all the info I needed to get myself out there and his aides provided me with a list of known brothels. Thankfully, there was only a handful in the village. I didn't doubt that the White Tigers owned all of them. The aides promised to have the authorities ready as soon as I gave them confirmation of Katie's safety.

I passed out in my room for a quick, hour-long nap, just enough to revive my senses. I dressed down, so as not to attract too much attention. Anyone that knows me also knows my comfort zone. I prefer dark Polos, jeans and boots. Dani says I have a very infuriating habit of tearing off the Levi labels. That's quite true; I just hate being a walking billboard. Besides, when I do have the tag, I feel more eyes than I'm comfortable with on a particular region of my buff anatomy. Shameless, aren't I? Buff…handsome…I don't play coy very well. I brought along a knapsack with the slimy brochures, some food and water, and a few other spy essentials. Rule of thumb, never leave home without at least one 'bug' and recording device for future evidence.

The food wasn't for me, but for the children I planned to encounter and bribe information from. Of course, I never leave anywhere unless I'm packin.' I also had a neat set of ninja blades I just ordered that strapped around the lower calf. I gazed at Katie's picture one last time before I left. "Don't worry sweetheart," I vowed. "I'm coming for you and they are gonna pay."

I know this one is short, but Dani has us running circles for the recent issue of Harper's Bazaar. I told her that should be the title of my future memoirs, but we'll just put a play on words.

BIZARRE is more like it!