Chapter Five

"I'd like to do a lot more than that," Steve told her, falling into his role (and yet still telling the truth). Under his breath, too faintly for anyone but Jaime to hear, he added "I'm not wired. I don't know what you're doing here...but I sure am glad to see you."

"The bartender seems to have taken a little break," Jaime told him, "but I have plenty to drink....up in my room." She gave Steve her best impression of a 'take-me-now' look – and he had great difficulty remembering that they were acting.

"I mix a mean martini," Steve said smoothly.

"Well, let's go then, Sugar." Jaime stood and Steve wrapped one arm around her, taking care to look like a sex-crazed customer rather than half of a couple. "I swear, you're practically drooling," she whispered as he leaned in close.

"Part of the act," he lied.

"Okay, what's the story?" Jaime asked as soon as they were alone in the elevator.

"They're not the original buyers. They want you – but only because they know their 'associates' were willing to pay millions to get their hands on you."

"Are they right behind us?" she wondered.

"No. They must have a connection at the front desk because they said they'd find us....after I get you in...um... in a compromising position." The doors opened and they stepped out into an empty hallway.

"Then we've got a few minutes," Jaime said, opening the door. "Do they know we're bionic?" she asked once they were safely inside.

"I don't think so." Steve picked up the phone and dialed Oscar's red line while Jaime looked around the room for anything they might use to subdue their potential attackers. He quickly explained the situation, then returned to where Jaime was standing by the window, closing the drapes. "He's sending an army's-worth of help," Steve said quietly.

"They're out there, too," she noted. "We can't jump." Her eyes scanned the room again. "We could barricade the door and try to wait them out until Interpol gets here."

"They'd probably try to shoot their way through," Steve replied. "And they don't care how many civilians – even children – they might hit."

"Super." Jaime kicked off the spike heels, knowing she could move better without them, and then leaned into Steve's arms. "Steve, I don't wanna just get away from them; I wanna take them down. I want this over with!"

"I know – so do I." His eyes fell on the shoes she'd just discarded. "And I think I have an idea..."

Ten minutes later, when Jaime heard the elevator coming, they got into their agreed-upon positions and kissed for luck. "I love you..." they both whispered, very softly.

The door opened quickly but without force. (They not only had connections – they had a key!) Steve had been right, guessing that in addition to the gunman outside their window they would leave one each at the front and rear exits of the hotel. Only three gunmen entered the room. They moved to the bed with their guns drawn, aiming for the two people apparently under the blankets. Two right arms that they never had time to notice snaked around the corner from the bathroom and two shoes – spikes pointed outward - hurled in their direction. Both heels hit their intended targets and while the element of surprise was still on their side, Jaime and Steve descended on the third gunman, knocking him down and tying him securely before he had time to finish muttering "What the hell -"

With bionic speed, they tied the two unconscious men together and then stepped back for a hug of relief before phoning Oscar. Jaime heard sirens approaching and ran to the window. The police and Interpol had begun to arrive, but the gunman standing guard was gone. "What about the other three?" she asked.

"We've got their leader," Steve answered, nodding toward one of the men with a heel gouge in the back of his head. "Hopefully, once you cut off the head of a monster, the tail dies, too....or just slithers away. And I doubt this idiot will be above selling out his little minions to try and save his own skin." Steve pulled Jaime close again and kissed her. "Great job, Partner."

"Partner? I kinda like that..."

"Just imagine, we'll have the whole flight home to be alone together...and talk."

Jaime could hardly wait.

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