The Gravity of Anti-Gravity (33 page)

Stella and Brenda were adventurous and selected short kimono style outfits and both of them looked fabulous.

While they were dressing on the female side of the communal dressing area, Stella and Brenda began talking for the first time.

“So Stella, I knew you were Bill’s associate and worked on his project along side him. I knew you were a female, and he’s had nothing but good things to say about your skill and knowledge but somehow he left out the part about you being stunningly beautiful.”

“Well thank you for that complement Brenda,” Stella responded. Even though Bill and I have spent way too much time together in the last couple months, our relationship would best be characterized as friends and colleagues.”

You don’t find Bill cute and sexy?” Brenda probed.

“Possibly, but I much more appreciate his mind. Bill’s brain works just a little differently than most of us and I find that difference intriguing.” Stella answered.

“Just remember Stella,” Brenda said. “And I say this with all the respect you have earned; I saw Bill first!”

Back in the reception area, Rolf’s phone rang. It was Buckholder.

“Rolf, this is Forest. I am so sorry to hear about your casualties and the drama you encountered getting on the helicopter. I have taken the liberty of providing you a long range 737 for your flight back to the States. I have included my personal staff to serve you and your people so it should be a pleasant fight. The older Japanese man who has been escorting you will take you to the plane when you are ready.”

“Mr. Buckholder,” Rolf said, “first we’ll have to take care of Agent Kim’s body for the trip home. You have taken care of us well and may have saved our lives, but no one works for free. I suppose you will expect Bill and Stella to come to work for you when we get back.”

“Rolf, of course I hope they come to work with me.” Buckholder answered. “At this point, I am hopeful but expect nothing. I can provide along with a competent support staff, a pleasant working environment and the security that’s been sorely lacking. Why don’t we schedule a meeting with you, Stella and Bill tomorrow at 11 A.M.? We can discuss any questions you might have then.”

“I think that will work for us
Forest. Now which airport are we flying into in L.A?” Rolf asked.

“We will leave that open right now.” Buckholder answered. “I have people at most of the airports and if something doesn’t look right we will divert the plane to an airport that looks safe. I can’t believe the bad guys know about your homecoming yet but they have shown a remarkable ability to mobilize very quickly so I will leave nothing to chance.”

“OK Forest,” Rolf said, “we will gratefully accept your plane ride home. We will talk when we all get back.”

The trip home was amazing. We were served champagne, caviar, fine wine and some of the best food most of us had ever eaten. Since it was a twelve hour flight back, most of the guys drank and ate heavily in the beginning, knowing they would have eight hours to sleep off any affects of the alcohol.

I was sitting next to Brenda, “Would you like to celebrate with a glass of champagne?” I asked.

“Are you kidding Bill? “Brenda answered. “I’m still feeling the effects of my first and only run in with booze. I broke a covenant with my church when I did it but I was a spy and I was just playing a part. It was worth it to get you back, Bill.” Then Brenda looked around and waved for the flight attendant to come over. “I would like another helping of that Beluga Caviar please.” Brenda asked as she wiped her mouth with a linen napkin. “I never thought I’d say this but I could get used to eating caviar.”

“Next you’ll be ordering a plate of escargot,” I joked.

“Do they have that here?” Brenda asked as she looked around the cabin; “If they do, bring me a double order!”

Several hours later the plane started to drop down for our landing.

“People, we are landing in
Long Beach.” Rolf stood up and announced. “Even though everything looks quiet at Burbank, we have decided that Long Beach is a safer bet. There will be four vans available with drivers going to different areas to take you to your destination.

After we landed, Vaughn, Alvarez and three guys got on the downtown L.A van and Jerry, Brenda, Stella, Rolf and I got in the van going to the
Pasadena area.

“Jerry, spend the night tonight,” I suggested. “Joanna will love to see you and we can all just hang out. And Brenda, let’s have the driver drop you off at my house too; I’ll drive you home later in my new Mustang convertible.”

“Sounds great Bill,” Brenda said as she gripped my arm with both hands and snuggled up closer.

When we were dropped off at home, we noticed that two security agents were still watching the house. Rolf reminded me we needed to get together tomorrow at eleven for our meeting with Forest Buckholder.

“Sure Rolf; and I know it sounds corny but words can not express my gratitude,” I said. “You risked your life to save Stella and me and I will never forget that. See you tomorrow.”

When Felix Alvarez arrived at his office late in the day, there was an urgent call from his boss. Felix immediately called him back.

Assistant Director James Pollard answered. “Jim this is Felix. I just walked in the door. What can I help you with?”

“Felix, glad to have you back,” Pollard said. “You must have been successful because I’m getting crapped on from every corner of the U.S. Government. Every weasel above me knows what’s happened but none of them can figure out why or how. I’m acting stupid until things settle down a little. And here’s the funniest part. Remember when I told you that the Chinese were dragging their feet on forgiving the first trillion dollars of
U.S. debt?”

“Yes I do,” answered Felix.

“When the President found out that our scientists had escaped or been rescued,” Pollard continued, “he told the Chinese that we got our people back because they, the Chinese, had reneged on the deal so we took our collateral back. Pretty quick thinking on the part of the President and if it weren’t so ludicrous, it would be hysterical. The Secretary of State is still in Beijing trying to straighten everything out.”

“Do Stella and Bill have to worry about being ‘reacquired’ by the President and our government?” Alvarez asked.

“Not at this time,” Pollard answered. “The President is aware now that too many people were involved and know the entire story. If the story gets out to the media, and it would, he’d be exposed for being the mastermind of the treachery. Tell me we’re talking on a secure line, Felix.”

“Yes we are Jim, now what you want me to do?”

“Felix, for now, do what I am doing; act stupid and tell them any information is classified. Felix, there is one more bit of information that came to light. We are about eighty percent sure that the last episode with Bill Burton and the kidnapping of his sister is connected directly to the Chinese Government. Our interrogation of the two men that were captured led us in many steps to an assistant chancellor in their government. We haven’t tied it to the top people yet but we will.”

“That means that while the Chinese Government was negotiating with the President to forgive debt, they were also trying to kidnap
Burton.” Felix pondered. “If they were successful in the kidnap, the President wouldn’t be able to deliver Burton as agreed and they wouldn’t have to forgive the debt. And if the President did deliver Burton, they would just stall the payment. It’s not like the president could protest. He wouldn’t go on the news and say he was bamboozled by the Chinese Government for selling the greatest invention since the wheel for nothing. Has the President put this together yet?”

“Not sure; but sooner or later he will.” Pollard commented. “The best thing about this for us is getting
Burton and Morton back. When the Administration figures out that we are responsible and realize we saved them from doing something really stupid, we’ll either be heroes or prisoners. By the way, where is Mr. Burton? I’m sure the Chinese will continue to do everything possible to reacquire him.”

“I hadn’t considered that Jim,” Felix said. “I’ll recommend that the FBI add more men to his protection detail right away.”

When Bill, Brenda and Jerry walked into the
Burton house, there was jubilation. Joanna and Jerry hugged and kissed and Grandma sat Brenda down and asked her to tell everything.

“Mrs. Burton, for the moment I am supposed to keep quiet about the rescue but some things that aren’t classified are: I played a drunken Chinese hooker, I got drunk for real and I got shot.” With that Brenda pulled up her kimono to show a large bandage on the right thigh.”

“Brenda, I can’t believe what you did! You are an amazingly brave girl, Bill owes you his life,” Grandma commented.

“I’m not sure about that Mrs. Burton but at least now I’ll have some exciting stories to tell my grand kids,” Brenda joked. “Bill you’d better take me home. When I called my parents from the
Long Beach airport, my mother almost fainted with relief.”

When Bill and Brenda walked into Brenda’s house, her parents just sat quietly and stared with an odd grin. Finally her mother spoke. “The Lord kept you safe Brenda. Your father and I prayed every hour you were gone and our prayers were answered. Thank God you are back home and safe. You are OK aren’t you?”

“Mom, I’m fine,” Brenda answered. “I did get grazed by a bullet when we were getting on the helicopter in the middle of the
East China Sea.”

Then Brenda slid her kimono up to reveal the bandage on her upper thigh. Her parents looked at the bandage and their response could only be described as mortified.

After a pause, her mother stammered, “You mean there was shooting and you were escaping from people who wanted to kill you?”

“They weren’t after me in particular,” Brenda answered. “They were just shooting at everyone on our rescue team and we were shooting back.”

“Brenda! Had I known your mission was this dangerous I never would have let you go,” her mother stated firmly.

“Mom, I love you but nothing could have kept me from going. And look, Bill’s here and the mission was successful.”

“I think you folks need to talk alone,” I interjected as I got up to leave.

“Bill, let me walk you out.” Brenda said.

Brenda and I then walked to the Mustang parked at the curb. Down the street a couple houses were two men in a car watching. Good, the FBI is on the job I thought.

“Bill, this experience was the most exhilarating of my life and I can’t stop thinking of everything that’s happened. It will take me a while to calm down but I want you to know that I love you and I hope you love me too.”

“I do love you Brenda” I answered softly and we kissed. Then I got in the Mustang and drove directly to Stella’s apartment.

At Stella’s apartment complex, I saw what looked liked two FBI vehicles with two agents in each of them. Good, increased security I thought as I walked past them, up the stairs and knocked.

Stella opened the door just a crack, saw it was me and opened it wide and said, “I was expecting you, Bill.”

She was dressed in a short blue negligee style night gown. The blue gown brought out her deep blue-green eyes and she looked unbelievable.

“If I didn’t know any better, Dr. Morton, I’d think that being kidnapped by your own government, imprisoned in
China for three weeks and being shot at on your escape has made you even more beautiful.”

“Quiet Bill, no more talking”, Stella said with a softness that made my body tingle. Then she gently took my hand and led me into the bathroom.

She turned on the shower, looked at me lovingly and said “It’s been a while since you’ve cleaned up Bill so let me help you to take care of that.”

Stella slowly and deliberately removed my clothes piece by piece and while I stood there totally naked, she seductively removed and dropped her negligee revealing her perfect female form. Stella took my hand again, opened the shower door and we stepped in. She proceeded to meticulously wash and clean every part of my body slowly and completely. During this first erotic shower of my life I caressed Stella’s body and velvet smooth skin.

With the shower still running, we began a sexual encounter. After many sultry minutes our fire culminated in orgasmic bliss. We both stood there in a tender embrace, under the running water trying to catch our breath. Suddenly the water ran cold and snapped us back to reality. The hot water heater had run out of hot water!

We jumped out of the shower laughing and caressing and kissed some more. Stella grabbed a towel and started to dry me off. I got another towel and enthusiastically returned the favor.

Without dressing at all we went back to Stella’s bed and laid down.

“Stella,” I whispered, “Our time together has been by far the most intense of my life. I can’t imagine my life without you Stella. I love you!”

“Bill, that may be the afterglow of sex talking but I do like the sound of it. Why don’t you go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow we’ll hear what Forest Buckholder has to say.”