The Partners

By Ed Carlson

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This story is purely fictitious. The names and places are used only to illustrate

the story and should not be construed as fact, or persons, alive or dead.

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Chapter 1

The blood-curdling scream that Brenda let out brought Bob straight up out of bed. She was sitting on one of the bathroom chairs sobbing uncontrollably by the time he reached her.

“What’s the matter?” he asked as he kneeled down beside her.

She didn’t say anything, just held both of her arm stumps for him to see. The tips of both of her arm stumps were bright red. He lightly touched them, and she screamed again, this time in pain.

“It’s going to be all right,” Bob said, trying to comfort her as he took her in his arms.

“I just don’t want to be armless,” Brenda sobbed. “What am I going to do if they have to take my arm stumps off? I can’t use my feet because my toes won’t move much. I’d be completely helpless.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Bob said. “First we need to get you into The Company hospital.”

There was a knock on the door to their suite. Bob helped Brenda to her feet and slipped a robe over her shoulders. He put on his robe and went to answer the door. He was more than a little shocked when he saw Erika, nude and dripping wet, sitting in her wheelchair.

“Come on in,” Bob said.

“I was in the large hot tub and heard the scream,” Erika said. “It sounded like Brenda; is she all right?”

“No,” Bob said frankly. “Both of her arm stumps are badly inflamed and painful.”

Brenda walked into the sitting room where Bob and Erika were talking. Without saying a word, she walked over to them so Bob could remove her robe. The look on Erika’s face told them exactly what she was thinking.

“They’re pretty bad, aren’t they?” Brenda said.

“I don’t think you should waste much time getting to the hospital,” Erika said. “Bob tells me they are tender to the touch.”

“Tender isn’t the word for it. It’s more like extremely painful.”

“We can go right away if you want. Juan can pick us up in the helicopter and fly us over to the airstrip,” Erika said. “We can be at The Company hospital in three hours.”

“I don’t know,” Brenda stammered as Bob slipped the robe back over her shoulders.

“Everything’s ready when you are,” Erika said. “You really need to get there.”

“Remember what Wayne told us six months ago when he was here? You really need to get to the hospital,” Bob urged.

“But the doctors said my stumps were fine when I was there for the plastic surgery on my face right after that,” she protested. “They thought everything was going to be just fine.”

“It looks like they might have been wrong,” Erika said. “We can have the helicopter here by the time we’re dressed. I need a checkup too. Let’s all of us go right now.”

“I should really stay here,” Bob said. “That container ship is due in this morning. Will the two of you be all right by yourselves?”

“I need to shower,” Brenda said. “Let’s go in about forty-five minutes.”

“Bob, I’ll stay here and take care of the container ship. You need to be with Brenda now. She needs your support,” Erika said as she started to wheel herself to the door. “I’ll call Juan.”

As soon as Erika had gone, Brenda and Bob walked into the bathroom, where he disrobed both of them. He turned on the water in the shower and adjusted the temperature. She followed him into the oversize shower stall. He held her close, then gently, but passionately, kissed her. She was still trembling when the long kiss was over, and she waited for him to lather her. He lathered her all over, being especially gentle with her arms stubs. When he finished, she stepped under a couple of the multiple shower heads that were flowing. Bob washed himself and rinsed quickly, then turned off the water. He dried both of them while they were still in the huge shower stall.

“Do you want to wear your arms?” Bob asked.

“Let’s give them a try,” Brenda replied as she started to cry again. “It may be the last chance I have to wear them.”

Bob held her close and whispered: “It’s going to be all right. They’ll give you an antibiotic shot, and you’ll be as good as new.”

Her sobbing subsided, and Bob helped her get into some slacks and her bra; then he slipped her stump socks over her badly inflamed arm stumps. She held both arm stumps up so that he could thread her two prosthetic arms down over her sock-covered arm stumps.

“How does that feel?” Bob quizzed when her arms were in place.

“Not worth a damn,” Brenda replied. “I think my arm stumps have swollen; the arm sockets seem tighter than they used to.”

“Do you want to take them off again?” he asked.

“Not right yet,” she said. “We can take them off once we get on the jet if my arms get hurting too bad.”

Bob threaded the armhole of a short sleeved blouse on over her prosthetic arms and fastened the Velcro fasteners in the front. The blouse had been designed so that Brenda could undress herself without her prosthetic arms.

When Bob had finished dressing, they walked down the hall into Erika’s wing of the house and knocked on the door to her office. Erika replied with a “Come on in.”

She was dressed in a dark sweater and blue jeans. She was sitting at her computer in her wheelchair.

“We’re ready,” Bob announced.

Erika backed up her wheelchair and spun around. She wheeled toward them and said: “Juan is in the air, and I’ve just alerted our Immigration folks. They are waiting for you. It’s just the formality and Peppy will whisk you right on through. I’ve also called Wayne, and he will take care of things at The Company, including having Customs meet the plane. The plane will be kept in quarantine, and a Company car and driver will meet you.”

They started toward the heliport. Juan had just landed, and the special lift that was designed to hold Erika’s wheelchair was unfolding from the underside of the helicopter. Erika positioned herself on the lift, and it began to retract and lift her into the craft. As soon as she had locked herself in place, Bob helped Brenda get into her seat and fastened in. Bob was the last to take his place for the quick ride to the airport and Immigration.

As they set down, two men came out to meet them and escorted Brenda and Bob to the Customs and Immigration Office while Erika waited in the craft. Brenda had gone with one of the men inside, and Bob and the other agent were about to start up the stairs when a woman jumped out from behind a large crate and threw a small round object their way. It rolled under the lower step of the open riser of the stairs.

Bob looked down to see what it was, and the last thing he said as he started up the step was, “GRENADE, RUN . . .”

The explosion was loud and shook the area. Glass broke in the windows, and debris pelted the waiting helicopter. All who were near the blast were lying on the ground, including Bob and the officer. Brenda was dazed and trying to get back out the door. Bob lay motionless on the sidewalk outside of the customs office. Juan tried to get Erika’s lift to operate in an effort to get her out of the helicopter, but it was inoperable. Brenda finally made her way down to Bob through the debris. Juan lifted Erika out of her wheelchair, which was still secured in the helicopter, and set her down on the ground, then worked feverishly to free the wheelchair. Brenda shook and shouted at Bob trying to get him to respond. Soon Juan was able to free the wheelchair and set it on the ground, then lifted Erika into it. She immediately began to push herself over to Bob and Brenda.

“I can’t get him to wake up!” Brenda screamed to Erika.

Erika slid out of her wheelchair and onto the ground beside Brenda. Erika put her hand on Bob’s throat and tried to feel a carotid pulse. Erika looked up at Brenda and shook her head no. Brenda used her hooks to rip his shirt open, then gasped when she saw the gaping hole in his chest.

“We have to do something!” Brenda yelled.

“Brenda! There’s nothing we can do now!” Erika replied. “He’s dead.”

“He can’t be,” Brenda cried.

“Brenda, he’s dead!” Erika said emphatically. “Now let’s worry about you.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me!” Brenda insisted. “We need to help Bob!”

Erika slapped Brenda hard and shouted: “Damn it, he’s dead. There is nothing more we can do for him. We need to get you to the hospital if we’re going to save your arms.”

Two of Erika’s security men dragged a screaming and cursing woman over to them. Juan helped Erika get back in her wheelchair. In the process, her legs became twisted and she used her hands to put them in their proper places.

“She is the one who threw the grenade,” one of them said.

“Who is she?” Erika asked.

“She is the wife of José Fernadez,” he replied.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Erika demanded.

“They killed my husband and took all of our money. They both deserve to die,” she screamed. “Our village is ruined because of them. My husband is dead, and I have nothing to live for now.”

“Do you have any children?” Erika asked.

“No. I am barren,” the woman replied.

“Do you know the penalty for what you have done?” Erika said.

The woman said nothing, but closed her eyes and hung her head.

Erika removed the pistol from the holster in the back of her wheelchair. The single shot echoed throughout the village, and then all was silent. The two bodyguards dragged the lifeless body away.

“Peppy, we need to get Brenda to the hospital now,” Erika said to the Customs and Immigration agent who had just emerged from his hiding place.

“Y . . . Y . . . You are . . . free to go,” he stammered, obviously shaken by what he had just witnessed.

“Quickly, load her in the jet,” Erika barked, and two of her men lifted Brenda, who had passed out, and carried her to the waiting plane. “Where is Meguale?”

“He’s on his way from the dock,” Juan replied.

They both turned to see him running at full speed toward the scene. When he reached them, Erika told him: “Meguale, Ms. Scott has to get to the hospital right away. I am going with her. You are in charge. Understand?”

Meguale didn’t say anything, just nodded his head affirmatively.

“Mr. Hammer is dead and so is José Fernadez’s wife. She is the one who threw the grenade. See that Mr. Hammer is properly prepared and call the priest. See that Mrs. Fernadez’s body is taken back to her village. We will pay for the funeral. Now the container ship will be in port this morning. You will have to supervise the offloading. Do you think you can handle it?”

“Yes, Ms. Tyler, I can take care of it,” Meguale replied.

“I’m going to The Company hospital with Ms. Scott. The number is in the office. You can call me on the plane phone or on the satellite phone if you need me.”

“You go on and be with Ms. Scott,” he said. “I’ll take care of things here.”

“All right,” Erika said and began pushing her wheelchair toward the waiting jet.

Juan was starting the starboard engine as Erika wheeled up to the extended wheelchair lift. She positioned herself on the lift, then pushed the button that raised the lift to the level of the jet floor. Once in the up position, she rolled inside and pressed the button that folded the lift back into the cargo hold beneath the floor of the jet plane. She pushed the button that closed the door to the cabin, and it began to slowly close.

Brenda had been placed on one of the fold-down beds that were available for long flights. Erika pushed her chair over to the bed and clamped the wheels down to one of the many tie-down spots in the floor. Brenda was still unconscious, and the other engine was starting when Erika picked up the intercom phone.

“Juan. I want you to set a speed record getting to the hospital,” she instructed. “Keep the engines at the red line mark all the way.”

She hung up the intercom as the jet began to taxi toward the end of the runway. Juan had taken her instructions to heart, and when he made the turn onto the runway, the plane almost tipped sideways. He accelerated and was off the ground in less than a quarter of the runway. When they reached cruising altitude, the engines did not throttle back.

“Try to relax,” Erika said. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

“But why did he have to die?” Brenda sobbed.

“Brenda, get a hold of yourself,” Erika said sternly. “Bob is dead and is not coming back. You both knew the danger in this business and what was possible. Well, the worse came to pass. Now you have to live with it and adjust.”

“But I don’t want him dead,” Brenda insisted as her crying subsided.

“I don’t either, but it’s the way things are,” Erika told her. “Now we have to worry about getting you fixed up. You and I have become good friends, and now you are my only business partner. I need you, so let’s concentrate on getting you better. OK?”

“Shit. What am I going to do now?” Brenda said. “Having short stumps was bad enough. Now they’re going to want to cut off the rest of my arms as well. Oh shit!”

“Maybe they won’t have to cut off your arms,” Erika said. “Maybe they can fill you with antibiotics that can stop the infection.”

“Man, I sure hope so,” Brenda said. “After I saw my inflamed stumps this morning, I had pretty much resigned myself to the prospect of having to live without arms. Bob would have been there to help me. But without him, I don’t know if I can make it.”

“Sure you can,” Erika said. “I’ll be there to help you, and you can hire any help you may need.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Brenda said. “I should be thinking about getting a caregiver.”

“Why don’t you try and get some rest? We should be at the hospital soon, and they can relieve some of that pain.”

“They can fix the pain in my arms, but they can’t fix the pain in my heart,” Brenda said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I know,” Erika said softly. “Try and rest now.”

Chapter 2

“What about my arms?” Brenda asked. “I don’t want to lose them.”

“They don’t look good at all. Erika said you were braced for the possibility that you are going to lose them, and there is about an eighty percent chance that will happen,” the doctor said frankly.

“How soon will you need to take my arms?” Brenda asked.

“It’s too soon to tell. I want to see what the antibiotics do. One of the things I want to do is to go down and get x-rays of both of your upper arm bones so that we can compare the new x-rays with your old ones. You may have as long as a month.”

“OK, how soon can I get out of here?” Brenda asked. “I have a very close personal friend who I need to bury.”

“Erika told me about losing Bob,” the doctor said. “I remember him from when you two were first teamed up. I think that we can arrange for you to fly down to San Maguey for the funeral. I’ll send a nurse, and we can fix you up with some painkillers if you need them. I’m going to want you to come right back though. You may want to bring some of your personal things because you’re going to be here a couple of months. OK?”

Brenda looked over at Erika, who nodded approval, and then back at the doctor. “That will work with us.”

“Good,” the doctor said.

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The doctor walked into the room. Brenda was sitting at the table in the room, and Erika was sitting in her wheelchair reading a book. She and Brenda had been on the phone with Meguale making funeral arrangements.

“I have the results of your x-rays we took last night,” he said. “It doesn’t look good at all.”

“How bad is it?” Brenda asked.

“Let’s go down to the x-ray reading room, and we can look at the light box,” he said.

Brenda used her prosthetic right hook to grasp the papers on the table to straighten them, and then slowly got up from the table.

“Follow me this way,” the doctor said as Brenda stood up.

“You might as well come too,” Brenda said to Erika.

The doctor and Brenda started for the door. Erika pushed herself after them, catching up in the corridor. The three of them went into a small room. The doctor turned down the overhead lights and switched on one of the light box panels.

“This is your x-ray from the file when you were discharged,” he said. “Notice this area on your arm stumps and how dark it is. That indicates bone mass.”

He switched on the other box and continued: “This is the one that we took last night. Notice that everything is the same in your shoulders. But also take a close look at the bones here in your arms. See how light the lower half of the bone is?”

“Yes,” Brenda replied. “What does that mean?”

“It appears as though the bones in your arms are disintegrating from the inside out. I believe that the chemical that was in the shell you were making up is still in your body.”

“And removing my arms completely will get rid of it?” she said with her eyes closed and her head tilted back.

“I believe it would,” he replied.

“Isn’t there some way you could go in and just ream out the bone and put some kind of filler or something in it?” Erika asked.

“I wish it was that simple,” he said. “We’ve known about the problem for about a year now and have been doing all kinds of live animal experiments. No technique seems to work as long as the bone that has been cut is still in the body. All of our other attempts have ended in failure. In fact most of the experiments show that if we disturb the partially healed bone, it accelerates the disintegration of the remnant bone.”

“The antibiotics have taken away the tenderness in my arm stump tips. So how long do I have?” Brenda asked,

“I don’t know for sure,” he said. “I want to run more tests and take more x-rays next week when you come back.”

“So I get to keep my arms for another week?”

“I’m guessing a month right now,” he said. “We should remove them when the disintegration is no closer than an inch to the end. I don’t want to risk infecting your shoulder blades or collar bone. If that were to happen, we’d end up taking those as well.”

“So what’s the plan then?” Brenda asked.

“Why don’t we let you out of here in a couple of days. I’ll send a nurse along to keep an eye on you. Then you come back the middle of next week, and we’ll see how you’ve progressed. When you come back, plan on staying a couple of months. That will give plenty of time to get you healed from the surgery, your permanent myoelectric prosthetic arms fitted, and allow us to teach you how to use them.”

Chapter 3

“That was really a nice service,” Erika said to Brenda as she wheeled her way into the family room area of the big house on the hill.

“I thought so too,” Brenda agreed. “The priest had some nice things to say about him. I’m glad the priest didn’t know what Bob used to do as a profession. He only knew him since he went to work here.”

“Allow me to extend my condolences again,” Wayne said.

“Mine as well,” Alan added.

“Thank you both for coming,” Brenda said, smiling at them, the first time in many days. “It meant a lot to me.”

“I don’t understand why Bob wanted to be buried down here rather than back at the national cemetery,” Wayne remarked.

“We decided to settle here in San Maguey,” Brenda said. “This is our home now. We were having plans developed for a new house on the other hill.”

“Are you still going through with it?” Wayne asked.

“I’ve put everything on hold for now,” Brenda said. “Erika wants me to stay here in this house with her, and I just might take her up on it. As large as the place is, we almost have to make an appointment to see one another.”

“Brenda, you know that I really do want you to stay here,” Erika said. “It would be almost foolish for you to have a house built just for yourself and duplicate everything, including security.”

“Speaking of security,” Alan asked. “How did Mrs. Fernadez get past security at the customs office?”

“The customs office is not within our perimeter fence because it’s government owned,” Erika said. “We were in a hurry and didn’t set up guards for the less than five minutes we were to be there. It was just a lucky fluke she caught us when she did.”

“I understand that you administered quick justice,” Wayne stated.

“It’s a matter of maintaining control. You taught us that,” Erika said. “We control this place by providing good paying jobs as well as maintaining tight security. Everyone knows how it works and no one questions it, not even the federal boys.”

“So these people both love and fear you at the same time,” Wayne observed.

“I suppose you could put it that way,” Erika replied. “We try to maintain the balance on the love side, but sometimes the scales tip the other way, and we need to show that we mean business.”

“Brenda, the doctors tell me that the news about your arms may not be positive,” Wayne said.

“The bones in my arms are being dissolved from the inside out from the chemicals in the explosion,” she replied. “Probably the only way that it can be resolved is to remove my arms completely.”

“My guess is that you will need a full time caregiver then,” he said.

“I have given it some thought, because I just might be needing one,” Brenda admitted.

“If you do, I have a great candidate for you,” Wayne said. “She was a four-point student and an Olympic athlete. She worked for us as a rifle instructor until she went to a party with her boyfriend, and they apparently were given drinks made with the wrong type of alcohol. Her boyfriend died, and she was left totally blind. I think you’ll like her, and she has a personality that will fit with you two.”

“She seems like someone I would like to meet, even if I didn’t need to hire her,” she replied.

“Well, Alan and I must be going,” Wayne said.

“You are welcome to spend the night,” Brenda said. “We have lots of room for you.”

“Thank you, but I have a meeting with the committee in the morning, and I need to prepare for it,” Wayne said, getting up from his chair with Alan following his lead.

Brenda got up and walked over to him and extended her right hook to him. He took it in both of his hands and again expressed his condolences, then turned and walked away. Both of their eyes were moist as they parted. Brenda went to her suite and lay on the bed for a good cry.

Chapter 4

Brenda got off the elevator on the seventh floor of the upper building of The Company complex where she once lived. She walked down the hall to room six-fourteen and knocked on the door. In a few minutes, the door was opened by a beautiful young woman. Her blindness was instantly given away by the color of her eyes—eyes with a bright white, almost iridescent centers, and only a faint outline of what must have been beautiful dark brown eyes.

“Hello, I’m Brenda Scott, do I have the right place?”

“Yes, come in,” she said, stepping aside to allow Brenda to enter.

Wanda led the way down the hall into the living room. The room was tastefully decorated, and the housekeeping was spotless.

“I’m Wanda Jenson,” she said and offered her hand.

Brenda obliged by placing her right hook in the outstretched hand. Wanda had a shocked look on her face as she starred blankly ahead.

“I’m sorry,” Wanda said as she withdrew her hand. “Wayne said that you’d been injured, but he didn’t say much more than that.”

Regaining her composure, Wanda gestured toward a wing-back chair and said, “Please sit down.”

Brenda sat in the chair, and Wanda sat in a straight-back chair facing her.

“May I offer you something to drink?” Wanda asked as she looked in Brenda’s direction but slightly aside.

“No thank you. I just had a cup of coffee before I came over here,” Brenda replied. “How much did Wayne tell you about me and what I need?”

“Not very much,” Wanda said. “He said that you used to work here, and you were hurt in an explosion in the lab. He said that you disappeared when you were on an assignment. Then he told me that when you were on the way back here, you were almost hurt again by a hand grenade. Other than that, I don’t know anything else.”

“OK. Where do I start?” Brenda said. “You felt my hook.”

“Yes. I’m so very sorry. Please forgive me. I was expecting a hand,” she said shyly. “I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be,” Brenda said. “You felt the hook on my right arm. The left arm has a matching hook just like the other.”

“Oh my gosh. You don’t have any hands at all. That must be terrible.”

“Actually it’s a little more than that,” Brenda said. “Both of my arms were amputated about six inches below my shoulders. I have twin above the elbow prosthetic arms as the result of the explosion in the lab.”

“Now I understand why you might need help,” she said. “Wayne said you were almost hurt on the way back here as well. What happened?”

“My friend Bob Hammer and I were on the way back here because my arm stumps had become badly inflamed,” Brenda recounted. “The wife of the man who was the target of our last assignment threw a hand grenade at us. The explosion killed Bob instantly. Bob was my boyfriend as well as my personal helper.”

“Oh my gosh. You poor thing,” she said.

“Are you ready for more?” Brenda asked.

“I don’t know how things could get much worse for you, unless you are losing your sight too,” Wanda replied.

“No, not that, thank goodness. Like I said, my arm stumps are badly inflamed,” Brenda continued. “Because of the chemical involved in the first explosion, now I may lose both arms completely. They are talking about amputating both of my arms right at the shoulder, and my toes don’t work well because of frostbite damage. That’s why I’m going to be needing some help.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’m flabbergasted at all that has happened to you.”

“Well, I’ve told you a little about me,” Brenda said. “Why don’t you tell me a little about you?”

“There’s not really that much to tell other than I’m totally and irreversibly blind,” Wanda offered. “I made a real stupid mistake and now have the rest of my life to pay for it.”

“Why don’t you tell me your life story in a nutshell?” Brenda requested.

“Well, I was fifteen when my Mom and Dad were killed in a car crash. I was sent to a foster family. I had been getting good grades in school up until then, but suddenly it didn’t matter anymore. I was abused by them and hated my foster family, so I ran away. I was broke and on the street, so I turned to prostitution. I was really careful not to catch anything and always insisted that the guys use a condom. I hated what I was doing, and when I was sixteen, I got a job as dancer in a strip club. I decided after that to go back to school even though I still turned tricks to support myself. My grades were good enough that I received a college scholarship from The Company with the offer of a job after graduation. I managed to graduate with a four-point grade average. I majored in chemistry and minored in mathematics. While I was in college, I ran track and learned to shoot. I was on the rifle team and fortunate enough to participate in the Olympics.”

“I saw your Olympic medals on the wall,” Brenda interjected.

“Before graduation, I went to work for The Company part time as a rifle instructor. Then after graduation, they also had me doing some theoretical mathematics using their supercomputer, as well as working as a rifle instructor,”

“Wanda, how did you lose your sight?” Brenda asked.

“I had a boyfriend. Then one fateful night, we went to a beach party. Everyone there was getting drunk and stupid. I hadn’t been out for a while and was drinking beer. This guy who I thought that I knew mixed us drinks out of what he called his special stock. My boyfriend and I went down the beach and up into the dunes with our drinks. I already had a problem with night blindness, but the moon was out bright, and I could see a little bit. It started getting cloudy and dark so we sat down until it got bright enough for me to see again.

“We still had our drinks, and I took a big drink, but my boyfriend chugged his. I was almost sick instantly and went away to vomit. But unfortunately, I didn’t get sick but passed out instead. When I woke up, I couldn’t find my boyfriend and I thought it was still night but it was well after sunrise. I wandered blindly around the dunes completely lost and disoriented. They found me and took me to the ER. That’s when I found out I was totally blind and my boyfriend was found dead out on the beach.

“Later, because I was already totally blind and had nothing more to lose, I agreed to let The Company doctors do some experimental surgery, but it failed. They tell me the surgery clouded my corneas. I don’t know though; I have never seen them, or anything else since that night, as far as that goes.”

“So you’re totally blind?” Brenda asked.

“Blind as a bat,” Wanda replied. “The only way I know day from night is the warmth of the sun. My world is now only deep black, and I go through life poking my way around with a cane.”

“Wow, that’s a tough story,” Brenda observed. “So what happened after the surgery?”

“After that, The Company sent me to blind school and has given me menial jobs that a little blind girl can handle. Because of my ability to memorize numbers and do complex computations in my head, I’ve been working with my laptop computer with voice recognition technology to work out some trajectory problems. That’s about it.”

“How long have you been blind?” Brenda asked.

Wanda felt her watch and said, “Eight months, four days, thirteen hours and five minutes. My boyfriend told me what time it was before we had our drinks.”

“Wanda, let me say that I really like you,” Brenda said.

“I like you too,” Wanda replied. “You seem like a nice person.”

“Do you know what a shooter for The Company is?”

“That’s what they call the assassins,” Wanda said. “They are the ones I was training.”

Brenda said, “I used to be a shooter.”

“I have a hard time believing that; you don’t seem to be like most of those people. You don’t have the attitude and seem so nice.”

“I’ve killed people, and my business partner, a woman who is in a wheelchair permanently because of a shootout, was also a shooter for The Company,” Brenda said. “Does that make a difference to you?”

“Not really,” Wanda said. “I was thinking about becoming one, until I screwed myself up.”

“Wayne had me talk to one of The Company psychiatrists and had him examine all three of our psychological profiles. He said we should all be compatible,” Brenda said. “I would like to offer you a job working for me as a caregiver.”

“I think I would be interested,” Wanda said. “What all would I have to do?”

“Basically, you would be my hands,” Brenda said. “They think they can fit me with myoelectric prosthetic arms that would attach at my shoulders. The problem is that with my bad feet, once I have my prosthetics off, I’m pretty helpless.”

“I think I could do that,” Wanda said excitedly. “Where would we live?”

“My business partner and I live in a very large house above San Maguey, a small village in Central America. Even though we live out of the way, we have all the amenities that you might want. We run a successful shipping company called Intercoastal Connection,” Brenda said. “Your file says that you speak fluent Spanish.”

“Yes I do, and I’ve been brushing up with tapes.”

“That’s the language that the locals speak,” Brenda said. “Do you think you’d like to come to work for me?”

“Oh, I’d love to give it a try,” Wanda said excitedly.

“OK. As of right now, you’re on the payroll. We’ll talk about salary and benefits later. Don’t worry, I’ll make it well worth your while,” Brenda said. “I’ll call you soon and let you know what’s going on.”

“Gosh, I’m so excited, I can hardly wait. I’ll start getting ready,” Wanda said enthusiastically. “I do have one request though.”

“What’s that?” Brenda wondered.

“I’d like to look at you,” she said sheepishly.

“Sure. I’ll stand up in front of you.”

Brenda stood up and moved over in front of Wanda. Wanda began to lightly feel her all over and quit when she felt the top of her head.

“Of course I do look a little different without my prosthetics,” Brenda said.

“I realize that, but I’ll have time to see that part of you later.”

“I have to be going now,” Brenda said.

“Let me walk you to the door,” Wanda said as she felt her way down the hallway to the front door. “I still have one silly request.”

“What is that?” Brenda asked.

“Can I have a hug?”

Brenda and Wanda gave each other a good hug, then Wanda opened the door.

As Brenda looked back, she could see tears in Wanda’s sightless eyes. She had made the right choice.

Chapter 5

Brenda and the doctor walked down the corridor on the way to the room with the x-ray reading light boxes.

“The news I have for you is not good,” he said solemnly.

They went into the room and he turned on three light boxes. They already had x-ray films on them.

“You saw the first two three weeks ago. Now look at the one we did last night,” he said. “A lot more of the bone has been eaten away. We are down to about an inch and a half of good bone left.”

“I’ve given this a lot of thought, Doctor,” Brenda said. “As much as I don’t want to be completely armless, I don’t want to run the risk of losing my shoulder blades too. Dr. Fitter has given me a full set of tests and has shown me a preliminary design for a myoelectric harness. I think we should proceed with the operation and just get it over with.”

“I’m pleased you said it first,” the doctor said. “I was going to suggest the same thing. How about tomorrow morning?”

“I’ve hired a new caregiver, and I want her here,” Brenda said. “Let me call her and see if she can be here.”

He turned off the lights on the x-ray table, and they walked back to Brenda’s room. They stopped by his office.

“I’ve had one of our photo people make up a before and after picture for you,” he said, pulling out a large photo of her with arm stumps and without. “Notice that your shoulders will be narrower after the operation because the humerus bone has a knob on it where it enters the shoulder socket. However, when you are wearing prosthetics they should be about the same width. Any questions?”

“No, I’ve been doing some research on the Internet and figured out that I’d pretty much look like that,” Brenda said. “Let me make a call.”

He passed the phone to her. Brenda picked up the phone with one of her hooks and pushed the buttons on the phone with the other.

“Wanda? This is Brenda. The operation is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Can you be here? . . . Good, you’ll be here in a little while then? Do you need transportation? . . . All right.”

“It’s all set,” Brenda told the doctor. “She’ll be here in a couple of hours. Let’s do it.”

“I’ll order up some medication for you, and I’ll see you about six o’clock in the morning,” the doctor said. “Try and rest the best you can.”

“As if I’m going to sleep a lot knowing that you’re cutting my arms off in the morning,” she replied, getting up from the chair.

“Just don’t party all night then,” he said with a smile. “Going in for an operation with a hangover is not a fun thing.”

“You’re safe,” she replied as she started out the door. “I don’t drink.”

Chapter 6

“Well doctor, what do you think?” Brenda asked as the doctor began removing the bandages from her armless shoulder.

“I think it looks really good,” the doctor replied. “I marvel each time I see the results of the laser knife. It’s only been three days and the wound is almost completely healed. How does this feel?”

He pressed the wound, and Brenda flinched a little, then said: “It’s tender, but it isn’t painful. My inflamed stumps used to hurt a lot more than that does.”

“Excellent,” he said. “I’m going to leave the bandages off to get some air on the incision. Maybe tomorrow Dr. Fitter can start working on your new arms.”

“He already has,” Brenda replied. “He’s made up the arms and the motors; now he can start on the harness with the sensors. He said it would only take a couple of days once the bandages were off.”

“I’ll call him to let him know the good news,” the doctor said. “How are you getting along now?”

“Surprisingly well,” Brenda replied. “I was mentally ready for it, and Wanda is working out perfectly. She anticipates my every need and challenges me to try to do things by myself.”

“Good for her,” he said. “Keep up the good work, and we’ll have to kick you out of here.”

“I would like to take Wanda shopping before we go back to San Maguey,” Brenda said. “There are a lot of things we just don’t have down there.”

“That should not be a problem if you don’t overdo it,” the doctor said.

“I’ll be careful,” Brenda replied.

--------------------------------------------

“How does this harness feel?” Doctor Fitter asked as he fastened the single strap that crossed her mid section.

“Surprisingly soft for plastic,” Brenda replied. “It feels all right around my midsection.”

The flesh colored harness fit over her shoulders and covered most of her back. Wires and sensors were built into the harness to signal her new myoelectric arms.

Doctor Fitter attached the arms to the harness at each of her shoulders. Once the arms were attached to the fittings on the harness, he hooked the wires up. He turned the switch on each of her upper arms to the ON position.

“See if you can make them work,” he said. “Tighten your right shoulder and see if it moves.”

Brenda did as she was instructed and the right arm moved. Her left arm worked when she moved her left shoulder.

“Now mid back muscles for the elbow flex.”

She was able to move each forearm up and down several times.

“Now open and close your hooks,” he said.

Brenda shrugged her right shoulder and her left hook opened. She shrugged her left shoulder and her right hook opened.

“I don’t know why you wanted it hooked up that way,” he said.

“It’s because that’s the way I’m used to running them,” she replied. “It seems like the natural thing for me to do now.”

“Are you sure that you don’t want hand terminal devices rather than the hooks?” he asked.

“I’ve told you several times. Hooks are what I want,” Brenda said emphatically. “I’ve tried hands, and I don’t like them. I can do a heck of a lot more with the hooks than I can with the hands.”

“Well ladies, I’ve done all that I can. Now it’s off to physical therapy for you to learn how to make these things work,” he said. “I believe Sue is waiting for you.”

Brenda and Wanda stood up. Brenda awkwardly extended a right hook out to Dr. Fitter.

“Thank you Doctor,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” Doctor Fitter replied as he grasped her extended hook.

Dr. Fitter left the room, and Wanda felt her way over to the bed and felt around for the T-shirt Brenda wanted. She found it and found Brenda, then felt around to find Brenda’s hooks. She slipped a T-shirt on her; then with Wanda’s hand on Brenda’s shoulder, they walked down the hall toward the physical therapy wing of the hospital.

Chapter 7

“Good afternoon Mr. Porter, it was nice of you to come,” Brenda said as she greeted the attorney at the door. “Follow me.”

She led the way to the large formal dinning room where Ms. Haddock, their banker from Grand Cayman, was waiting with Erika. Ms. Haddock stood up as they entered the room while Erika remained seated in her wheelchair.

“I believe you know Ms. Haddock and Ms. Taylor,” Brenda said as they walked into the room.

“Yes I do,” he said. “It’s good to see you both. I only wish it was under more pleasant circumstances.”

They all seated themselves at the large dining room table. A chair had been placed at the head of the table usually reserved for Erika Taylor. Mr. Porter took that seat and placed his small briefcase on the table in front of him. He opened the briefcase and took out a sealed envelope.

“As you all know, we are gathered together to read the last will and testament of Robert Hammer,” he said, opening the sealed envelope. He began reading the entire will aloud.

It was no surprise to anyone that Bob had willed everything to Brenda. When they had executed wills, Brenda had also given all of her assets to Bob in case that she preceded him in death.

“There is an exception,” Mr. Porter said. “If you remember the way the three-way partnership was set up, now you two are equal partners in Intercoastal Connection.”

“How would you like to handle his bank account?” Ms. Haddock asked. “Both of your accounts are joint accounts with right of survivor. In other words, you don’t have to do anything right now if you don’t want to.”

“Yes, don’t change the account then. But while I have you both here, there is one thing I would like to do,” Brenda said. “There’s an orphanage a few miles south of here that specializes in crippled children. I would like an endowment set up to be sure that the children receive the best medical attention that they can within reason. I would like that up to the amount that Bob’s account would generate to go to the children.”

“Are you sure?” Ms Haddock asked. “With the investments that we have set up for you, that would be close to five million dollars U.S. per year.”

“That’s all right,” Brenda said. “I want the endowment to be up to that much. If we can do it for less in future years, then the excess is to be reinvested to make even more for future years.”

“We can do it,” Mr. Porter said. “I can begin drafting the paperwork tomorrow. I could have a rough draft by the middle of next week.”

“That will be fine, but I don’t want them to know where it’s coming from,” Brenda said. “I’ll be out of the area, but Erika can get it to me for my signature. Just send it here.”

“Is there anything else?” Mr. Porter asked.

“No,” Brenda said. “I assume that you will handle the necessary paperwork.”

“I will take care of it,” he replied. “I’ll create a living trust which you can manage anonymously.”

“If there is nothing else, we shouldn’t take any more of your time,” Brenda said. “Thank you for coming all this way.”

“I’m glad I could make the trip,” Ms. Haddock said, standing up. “I only wish it could have been under more pleasant circumstances. Allow me to again offer my condolences for the loss of your good friend.”

“The same goes for me,” Mr. Porter said as he stood up. “I will have the draft to you next week.”

“Thank you again,” Brenda said as she stood up with tears in her eyes.

Erika pushed herself ahead of them as she escorted them to the door, and Brenda went out onto the patio. Wanda was sitting at the table listening to a book on tape. Brenda was staring off into space with tears streaming down her face when Erika joined her.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Erika said as she wheeled up beside Brenda.

“I was just letting my mind wander,” Brenda said. “I was thinking how much I miss Bob and also that even though I’m one of the richest women in the country, they couldn’t save my arms.”

Chapter 8

It was early when Brenda awoke.

She kicked the covers off and scooted around to get her legs dangling over the edge of the bed. With the leverage and a little wiggling, she was able to sit up. Being totally armless was difficult for her, but she was coping.

She looked over at her myoelectric arms and the harness that was sitting on the chair. The charging cord was plugged in, and the indicator light was showing full charge. She thought of the days when she still had arm stumps and could put on her manually operated hook prosthetics without help.

She walked into the bathroom and looked at her naked body in the mirror. ‘You’re still in pretty decent shape for someone who has been through two explosions and an operation to completely remove her arms which had become strangely infected,’ she thought.

Still nude, she walked through the rest of the house and onto the large patio. Erika’s wheelchair was sitting beside the hot tub, and Erika was already enjoying the warmth of the water. Brenda walked over to the hot tub and down the steps until she made it to the bottom step, then sat down.

“Good morning,” Erika said cheerfully.

“Good morning,” Brenda replied. “Wanda must be sleeping in this morning.”

“I haven’t seen her,” Erika said. “How did you sleep?”

“I slept very well, thanks,” she replied. “It’s been almost six months now, but I still do miss sleeping next to Bob.”

“I bet you do,” Erika said. “I miss having him around too.”

“I love Wanda to death, but she isn’t Bob,” Brenda lamented.

“And she never will be,” Erika said. “You and Bob had a wonderful thing going. Wanda will never replace him.”

“While I’ve been thinking about him, I’ve also been thinking about how strangely the whole scenario came together,” Brenda said. “Her timing had to be perfect for Mrs. Fernadez to be at Customs when we were.”

Wanda, completely dressed, came out onto the patio.

“Hello. Is anyone here?” Wanda asked.

“We’re in the hot tub,” Erika said.

Using her long white cane, Wanda tapped her way over to them. She found a chair and sat down. Wanda was a tall woman with a perfect figure, a tan muscular body, long black hair, and dark unseeing eyes with a fixed stare.

“Good morning,” Brenda and Erika said almost in unison.

“Good morning,” Wanda replied. “It sounds like you two are practicing for a road show.”

“Where have you been so early?” Brenda asked.

“Oh, I’ve just been out looking at the grounds,” Wanda replied. “I’m still trying to find my way around my new maze. I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”

“No, not at all,” Erika said. “Brenda and I were just discussing how strange the timing was for the woman to throw the grenade at the precise time when Bob and Brenda were at Customs.”

“You know, the whole thing is strange,” Brenda said. “My arms were fine, and suddenly they became infected. Bob and I had to go through Customs, the only area that our security doesn’t cover like a blanket. It’s like someone wanted us gone for good. The poor woman was grief stricken, and it’s like somebody put her up to do it.”

“Well, do you have any enemies?” Wanda asked.

“Oh yes,” Brenda replied. “When I was a shooter, I made enemies with every shot I took.”

“Maybe we can narrow it down a bit,” Wanda said. “Did you ever have a co-worker who you didn’t get along with?”

“Not that I can think of right off hand,” Brenda replied.

“What about that chemist you were telling me about,” Erika interjected.

“Oh him,” Brenda remembered. “Victor the sleaze-ball. He was a greasy looking character, a nerd type; he made a pass at me in the lab, and I put him in his place. He slipped into my room after I lost my arms and tried to attack me, and I defended myself. I never did see him after that.”

“What do you mean by ‘put him in his place’ and ‘defended yourself’?” Wanda asked.

“When we were in the lab, we were in the storeroom. He wanted to get fresh and had me pinned up against the wall. I broke his hold and spun him around face-first into the wall,” Brenda said. “The next time, I was just getting ready for bed. I was completely undressed and nude as I am now, and he slid open my patio door. This time, when he had me pinned to the wall, I used a knee to the groin followed by a spin kick to the chin. He was almost knocked out when he staggered back out of my apartment. Had he tried anything else, I would have finished him permanently.”

“How?” Wanda quizzed.

“Probably a take down and a stomp on his larynx,” Brenda replied confidently.

“That’s pretty effective,” Erika interjected. “No one walks away from that combination.”

“I take it you two can defend yourselves,” Wanda observed.

“When we have to,” Erika commented as Brenda nodded affirmatively.

“Brenda, you said your arms were fine and then suddenly became infected?” Wanda quizzed.

“That’s right. I was fine. I had just had a new pair of arms made up, and I was doing great,” Brenda said. “Then one day, out of the blue, my arms became inflamed.”

“Did you do anything differently or notice anything strange?” Wanda asked.

“My stump socks seemed softer,” Brenda replied. “Maria said she was using a new fabric softener.”

“Do you think something in the fabric softener could have caused the problem?” Erika asked.

“Fabric softener is fabric softener,” Brenda said. “I’m sure nothing harmful could be in it.”

“I have a good friend who’s a chemist if you want to have some analyzed,” Wanda offered.

“I’ll ask Maria when she gets here if she still has it,” Erika said. “Now it’s time for me to get out and cleaned out.”

Erika took the sling motor box in her hand and lowered the sling into the hot tub. She worked the sling under her butt and pressed the up button on the sling motor. When she was up above the hot tub, she swung the boom around and set herself down in her wheelchair. She unhooked the sling from the lifting cable and wiggled the sling strap out from under her. She said goodbye and wheeled toward her suite of rooms.

“Are you ready for your shower?” Wanda asked.

“Sure, I guess,” Brenda said.

Brenda stood up and got out of the hot tub. Wanda stood up and felt around for Brenda. After Wanda had quickly toweled her off, Brenda led the way as they walked to Brenda’s suite of rooms. When they got to Brenda’s bathroom, Wanda first found a large towel and put it over the chair next to the shower. She completely undressed and turned on the water in the cavernous shower, and they both got in. Wanda soaped up Brenda much the way that Bob had done, including her very private parts.

“Bob used to have a touch like you,” Brenda said. “You can touch me more there if you want to.”

“I wanted to ask you about that, but I didn’t exactly know how,” Wanda said softly.

“Bob would wash me there and sometimes lightly touch my arm stump scars to really get me turned on.”

Without saying anything else, Wanda lightly touched the scars in the depression in one of Brenda’s shoulders. Brenda felt a chill go up her spine as Wanda touched her.

“Oh boy. That’s a turn on,” Brenda said.

“I’m glad you like the feeling. I like doing it to you,” Wanda replied. “I’ve thought about being with you and how your shoulder would feel against me, if you know what I mean.”

“We should try it when we have a little more time,” Brenda said. “I think Erika will be waiting for us soon. Let’s get together tonight.”

“All right,” Wanda said and continued washing the rest of her.

When Brenda had rinsed, Wanda applied shampoo to her hair. As Brenda rinsed her hair, Wanda also lathered herself but did not wash her hair this day. Brenda had thoughts of Wanda’s beautiful body.

Wanda toweled Brenda off thoroughly and then dried herself. Brenda sat in the chair with the towel. Wanda carefully dried Brenda’s shoulder sockets and got them ready for prosthetics.

Brenda said, “I’m all caught up down at the office so we’ll just lie around here and maybe a walk on the beach later.”

“I like the sounds on the beach,” Wanda replied. “The sounds of the waves are so relaxing. I used to love watching them break on the beach; now I enjoy the sound.”

Wanda threaded a pair of panties on Brenda’s legs, and when Brenda stood back up, Wanda pulled them all the way up.

“I’m not going to wear my arms right now,” Brenda said. “Let’s go with a bra, plain T-shirt, and blue jeans for now.”

Brenda led the way into her bedroom. Wanda felt her way over to the dresser and took a bra out of the drawer. She found Brenda again and placed the wide elastic strap around her back and connected the clasps between the two front cups. Brenda had gone to a style of bra with straps crossed in the back. She found this arrangement stopped the problem of bra straps falling off of her armless shoulders. Wanda put the side straps in place and positioned Brenda’s breasts in the cups. Brenda bent forward at the waist and rotated her upper torso from side to side in order to put her breasts in final position.

Wanda slid the light yellow T-shirt over Brenda’s head. With the T-shirt in place, Wanda helped her put on some blue jeans. Brenda sat down and watched the morning news on satellite TV while Wanda used her cane to find the way to her own room to dress. Wanda returned quickly, and they went into the bathroom to do Brenda’s hair and makeup.

When they finished, Wanda combed her own hair and they went into the kitchen.

“Maria, are you still using the new fabric softer that you used to use on my stump socks?” Brenda asked.

“No. I didn’t like the smell. So I quit using it,” Maria replied.

“Do you still have any?” Wanda asked.

“Yes, about half a bottle,” Maria replied. “Would you like me to get it?”

“Please,” Brenda said.

Erika rolled into the kitchen before Maria returned carrying the partly empty bottle. She handed it to Wanda, and Wanda held it so Brenda could begin reading the label. Brenda read the contents out loud.

“The ingredients that are listed are what you’d expect to find in fabric softener,” Wanda said when Brenda had finished reading the label.

“Maria, where did you get this?” Brenda quizzed.

“I met a man in the market, who said he was from north of here,” she replied. “He said it was a sample of a new product. He said it was particularly useful on cloth that was close to the skin. When he said that, I thought of those socks you used to wear on your arms, so that’s all I ever used it on.”

“Thank you Maria,” Brenda said.

“Did I do something wrong?” Maria asked fearfully.

“No Maria, you didn’t do anything wrong. You had my best interest at heart, and that’s all that’s important,” Brenda replied.

“So what do we do now?” Erika asked.

“Let’s call Wayne and see if he knows what happened to Victor the sleaze,” Brenda said. “I never saw him again after that night in my place.”

“Come on in the office. We can use the video phone in there,” Erika said as she spun herself around.

Erika pushed herself ahead, and the other two women followed. Erika turned on the satellite equipment and dialed Wayne’s special number. Soon the logo of The Company appeared, then Wayne.

“Good morning. You girls are up early,” Wayne said. “What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering whatever happened to Victor who used to work in the lab with me,” Brenda said. “The one I called Victor the sleaze.”

“I fired him Brenda,” Wayne replied. “Security witnessed the intrusion into your apartment.”

“Do you know what happened to him?” Erika asked.

“No, but I can find out,” Wayne said. “What’s this all about?”

“We are working on a theory that someone spiked the fabric softener that was used on Brenda’s stump socks,” Wanda said from the overstuffed leather chair she now occupied. “We think maybe someone might have put a chemical in it that would have affected Brenda’s arm stumps.”

“Do you have a way of doing a chemical analysis?” Wayne asked.

“I have an old friend who’s a research chemist,” Wanda replied. “I’m sure he will do it for me if I ask.”

“If he won’t, we have people in our lab who can do it easily,” Wayne offered. “In the meantime, I’ll find out about your old buddy Victor.”

“That sleaze ball is no friend of mine,” Brenda said. “Instead, he may be my number one enemy.”

“I’ll put my ear to the ground and see what I can find and get back to you,” Wayne said. “In the meantime, the lab offer stands.”

“Thanks Wayne,” Brenda said as they signed off.

The three of them went out onto the patio. Wanda sat in a chair by the table. Erika joined them using her wheelchair. Brenda stood by the rail and looked out over the bay with all the little boat activity.

“I just wonder if that son of a bitch did this to me?” Brenda said as a light breeze came up and fluttered the empty sleeves of her light yellow T-shirt. “He’s dead meat if he did.”

Chapter 9

It was two days later when Maria came out to the patio to tell them that Wayne wanted them to call him on the video phone. The three women gathered in the office. Erika made the call. As usual, The Company logo appeared and then Wayne.

“Good morning,” he said. “Let’s go to scramble mode.”

Erika made the adjustments, and Brenda said, “What do you have for us?”

“Thanks for sending the fabric softener sample here,” he said. “Our people have worked all night on it and have found a chemical that acts very similarly to the chemical you were loading in the shell. It appears to be readily absorbed through the skin and attacks bone from the inside out. The good news is that it only attacks bone that has been cut and doesn’t appear to penetrate the surface of the bone. Hence the attack on your arm bone Brenda.”

“What’s the bad news?” Erika asked.

“Two things,” Wayne said. “Brenda has absorbed the chemical, and we need to get an antidote into her right away before it starts working on any of her bones that might have been broken or cracked before. We’ve worked out an antidote, and the doctor is in the air right now to get it to you.”

“OK, we’ll have him flown over to the house by helicopter,” Brenda said. “What else?”

“Your old friend Victor has apparently taken up residence in the little village where you and Bob eliminated José Fernadez. He has kind of taken over and is causing some problems. I’m going to send a team in to take him out.”

“Don’t do that!” Brenda exclaimed. “Let us do it. He’s the one who has caused us so many of our problems. It’s our fight, let us do it.”

“Well, I don’t know how you’re going to do it, but take care of it,” Wayne said.

“How soon will the doctor be here?” Wanda asked, feeling her Braille dial watch.

“Within the hour,” Wayne replied. “Brenda, how are your new arms working?”

“They’re fine when I wear them,” Brenda replied. “It’s pretty hot down here, and I perspire a lot with the harness on.”

“We’ll be ready for him, and thanks for letting us handle our problem,” Erika said before she signed off.

“How are we going to do that?” Wanda asked.

“Let us work on it,” Brenda and Erika said almost in unison.

Chapter 10

“Do you think he’ll show up?” Wanda asked.

“I’m sure that he will,” Brenda said. “We sure gave him enough incentive for a decoy. We promised him ten million for a small load of H if he would meet me.”

“I still think that you should have worn your arms,” Erika said as she held herself up with crutches and braces next to Brenda and Wanda.

“His conditions were meet him alone with no arms, a sleeveless blouse, pants, and barefoot,” Brenda said. “Are all our men in place?”

“I think so; let me check,” Wanda said and spoke into the radio. The reply was that all was in readiness.

“It’s just about time,” Brenda said. “You two get out of sight. It’s up to me now.”

Erika crutched herself toward the edge of the clearing, taking Wanda with her. Brenda had confidence in her friend as she was an excellent shot and equipped with a high-powered rifle with a telescopic sight. Brenda had known of Erika’s shooting abilities from her previous work with her and had seen her demonstrate her skills on the range near the house. With both of them in their hiding places, Brenda waited alone and armless in the little clearing in the forest. As Victor had instructed, she was wearing only a tube strap blouse, pants, and was barefoot.

She would not have to wait long, squatting by the stump as she had been directed. Soon there was the sound of a vehicle coming near. In a few moments, a green Land Rover eased its way into the clearing. She recognized the driver as Victor. He appeared to be the lone occupant of the vehicle, which stopped about twenty feet from her. Victor slowly got out and started toward Brenda as she struggled to stand up. He was wearing a pistol in a side holster.

“Good to see you again,” Victor said in a cocky voice.

“I wish I could stay the same,” Brenda replied.

“I see my little concoction worked,” he said laughingly. “Do you need an antidote to save the rest of you?”

“No, that won’t be necessary you bastard,” she snapped back. “I’ve already been given one.”

“I’m surprised it took you so long to figure it out,” he said.

“I guess I’m just slow,” Brenda replied. “Do you have the stuff?”

“Right here,” he said, holding up the small package he was carrying. “Do you have the cash?”

“Right here,” she said, glancing down at the aluminum briefcase at her feet. “I’d pick it up and show you, but someone arranged it so that I no longer have arms.”

“Can you imagine that?” he said. “Nice armless shoulders. You’re a real turn on like that.”

“And you’re a pervert. Just set the package down beside me, and the money is yours,” she said. “You might want to check that it is all there and that I didn’t give you a briefcase full of newspaper.”

He set the package down and knelt down to open the briefcase. Brenda had selectively placed it in perfect range for her. Her first kick was to his side and made him roll over onto his stomach. As he reached for the pistol, she kicked it out of his hand and it went flying completely over the Land Rover. He was almost to his feet when her foot connected with his knee, sending him down again. He tried to get up and back away, holding his knee.

“What’s the matter, are you scared of an armless woman?” she said.

“Not me,” he said. “Or blind ones either. Ask her who gave her boyfriend the drinks.”

“I will. But you made me this way asshole, now it’s my chance to get even,” she said as she caught up to him.

Brenda’s next kick was to his other knee, knocking him onto his back. He tried to get up again, but her spin kick was to the chin, dazing him and putting him flat on his back. He shook his head and was on his elbows when her foot landed squarely on his groin. The bloodcurdling scream that he let out reverberated throughout the jungle. She let him writhe on the ground in agony for a while.

“I bet you think you think you’re such a tough guy to attack armless women,” she said.

This time, he didn’t reply. Brenda noticed that Erika had emerged from her hiding place for a better view. Wanda was beside her, and Erika was describing the action to her.

“Have you had enough?” she asked him.

“I give,” Victor pleaded, his eyes wide with fear. “No more.”

“I still need to get even for what you had done to Bob and Wanda,” she said. “This one is for them.”

Her final kick was a blow to his larynx, crushing it. He writhed on the ground gasping for air. Unable to breathe, it took him a few agonizing minutes to die.

It took Erika a little while to crutch over to where Brenda stood looking at Victor’s lifeless body. Wanda used her cane as she walked beside Erika.

“From what Erika described, remind me not to get you pissed at me,” Wanda said.

“Did you hear him say that he gave your boyfriend the bad booze?” Brenda asked.

“I heard. One less mystery in my life,” Wanda said. “Thanks for killing him.”

“What do we do now, bury him?” Erika asked.

“No, just leave him. The wild animals will eat him,” Brenda said.

“Even for him, that’s pretty gross,” Wanda objected.

“A wonderful friend of mine once told me ‘The animals need to eat too,’ ” Brenda said. “By the way, what time is it?”

“Exactly eleven-thirty,” Erika said.

“OK, everyone put a foot on his chest,” Brenda said. “Look up, smile, and wave at the camera.”

E N D