Fast Track. Fern Michaels

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      “What we should have done and didn’t do was get fingerprints off the dishes. I wonder if Charles did that and didn’t tell us. See, we messed up, and we haven’t even started yet,” Kathryn said three hours later, when Nikki came up dry on the computer. “But I have an idea. Alexis, can you sketch pictures of our new employers from memory? Then maybe Nikki can scan them and see if anything pops up.”

      Alexis nodded and reached for paper and pen.

      “I don’t think the people who came here are our actual employers. I think they were emissaries of the big shots. People like them are never seen because they prefer to remain in the shadows and let others do their dirty work,” Yoko said.

      “I agree,” Kathryn said. She peered over Isabelle’s shoulder to see how Alexis was doing with her first character sketch. “That’s it, Alexis! You caught the weasel look. Ooh, it’s just too perfect.”

      Alexis handed the dark-lined sketch to Nikki, who immediately put it into the scanner and started typing. Alexis was already on her second sketch, her pen making clear, sharp lines on the stark white paper.

      “I’m not really clear on why we’re doing this,” Annie said. “Even if we get a name to match the face, what are we going to do with that information? Are we going to go after the hand that is feeding us? I just want to make sure I understand, since our trip to Washington is going to be time-sensitive.”

      Nikki frowned, and the others looked at Annie in surprise. She threw her hands in the air. “What? Was that a stupid question?” The others, Annie included, looked to Nikki.

      “No, it’s not a stupid question at all. Charles had the cameras on in the conference room. I’m sure our guests didn’t realize it, but that’s not our problem. These people will lead us, if we decide we need to know, to whoever wrote the checks for our ten million dollars. I thought we were clear on that. Look, I think we’re all a little intimidated here because we’re taking on the awesome World Bank and the people involved. We all need to change our mind-sets here, myself included. If we’re intimidated, this mission is not going to work. It’s just another mission, our tenth. That’s how we have to look at it. Look at us, we’re already spinning our wheels.”

      The women whirled around when they heard the sound of hands clapping. Charles stood in the open doorway. “All you had to do was ask me. I have our guests on video. I have their fingerprints on file. I know exactly who visited us on our mountain the other night. I know whom they represent. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me. This is a team effort, in case you’ve forgotten. When you leave the mountain tomorrow all that information will be at your fingertips. A word of advice: tread cautiously where these people are concerned. They have far-reaching arms and unbelievable power.”

      Kathryn openly bristled. “What’s the worst thing they could do to us? Blow up this mountain?”

      “There is that possibility,” Charles said quietly. “Even though I, as well as the pilot, took precautions, there is every possibility our guests figured out our location. Like I said, tread lightly, ladies. You’re dismissed now. Thank you for your artistic efforts, Alexis.”

      The women trooped out of the computer room, each busy with her own thoughts.

      “It’s lunchtime, let’s all do it together,” Myra said. “Something light, a chicken salad and some fruit. It will keep our minds busy.”

      While the women set about the tasks Myra assigned them, they kept up a running dialogue with each other, calling back and forth. Again, it was Annie who summed it all up, to their surprise.

      “Don’t you see what we’ve been trying to do? The other night when we took it upon ourselves to…uh…take out Charles and show our guests we were in charge—we were undermining him. That was the start. We think we’re capable of running this mission on our own, and that simply is not true. And we all know it. So, that raises the question of why we’re all feeling like we suddenly want control. Is it that we no longer trust Charles? I’m sorry, Myra, if that hurts your feelings, but I think we need to air all of this right now before things get out of hand. One at a time, voice whatever is on your mind. I’m also allowing for cabin fever, but I don’t think that’s our problem. One last thing, it was NOT Charles’s fault that we got caught and are now fugitives. The blame for our capture rests solely with Ted Robinson and Maggie Spritzer. I like things clear in my own mind, so I am assuming you are all the same way. Now, goddamn it, spit out whatever it is that’s bothering you.”

      Myra clapped her hands in approval. “I couldn’t have said it better, Annie.” The others looked sheepish.

      In the end, when the women sat down at the table with their salads, the words flowed like wine. When they were finished, Myra summed it up succinctly by saying, “So, it’s a combination of cabin fever, being fugitives, suddenly becoming guns for hire, and missing life in the fast lane that is bothering everyone. Correct me if I’m wrong.” There was a bite to Myra’s voice the others had never heard before.

      “You’re not wrong, Myra. It’s just…What I mean is…No matter how I say this, it’s going to come out wrong. So, speaking strictly for myself, it’s easier to blame someone else rather than own up to my own shortcomings. I don’t know what we were trying to prove the other night. Maybe that we’re equals? I just don’t know. I’m over it now. Charles is the boss as far as I’m concerned. I trust him with my life.” Kathryn looked around at the others to see if they agreed with her. When she saw them nod she smiled. “Okay, we’re back on track. We’ll kick ass and take names later.”

      Annie put her fingers under her tongue and whistled the way Kathryn taught her. “I so love it when we’re all on the same page. Now, let’s get down to business.”

      “After we eat,” Kathryn said as she slipped Murphy a strip of chicken from her salad. “You know Charles; we don’t discuss business while we eat.”

      “Amen,” Annie said.