I jump on my chopper, starter up and head for the highway.  I’m in New Jersey now.  I live NYC.  Much easier to blend in and disappear in NY then in any other place in the world.  It gets a little too cold here for my liking at times.  But my line of work is conducive to a lot of travel so it’s not that big of a problem.  My place is just how I left it with white stark walls, and no furniture.  I don’t own any pictures.  There aren’t any knick knacks.  There’s a refridgerator and a bed.  All I really need in life.  The bed even remains debatable.  The only time it gets put to use is when I’m stone drunk and use it to pass out on.  Other then that I find most nights I stay awake.  Waiting.  I know it’s only a matter of time now.  This time I’ll be ready.

Alice:  “Porter.”

Bette:  “Hey Alice.  What’s up?”

Alice:  “Nothing.  I was wondering if maybe you’d be free for a drink tonight.”

Bette:  “I don’t see why not.”

Alice:  “Great meet me in the lobby at 5?”

Bette:  “I’ll be there.”

I watch her as she walks away.  I had been working at the L.A. FBI field office for about 2 years.  I graduated 5 in the academy.  But don’t let Scully fool you, the FBI is still very much a boys club.  So 5^th or not I had to be on desk duty by default for a few years just to remind me of my place.  Alice,however, graduated 1^st in her class.  So they had no choice but to put her on first year field work.  We had become ok friends even went cruising for chicks a few times but that was the extent of it.  The compition factor kept any of the women in the department from becoming too chummy.  Yet and still she’s in the field and I’m chained to a desk.  So its worth while to hang out with her maybe pick up a pointer or two.  Suddenly I’m anxious for 5 p.m.

3 a.m. and I receive the usual two knocks on my door.  I don’t rush to answer.  No one’s there.  Just a bag with the cash and my assignment.  I’m not anxious to see what it is they have me doing now.  It’s not always as simple as it was today.  I wish they were all like that.  Some are fact finding missions.  I bring the bag to my room and open the closet.  I push my extensive wardrobe to the side as I go to access my wall safe.  My wardrobe is the only thing extensive in my life.  I need it to become other people from time to time.  I wouldn’t even call it my wardrobe as so much as a costume closet.  My wardrobe and my bank account as well.  I bank at my own damn safe national.  B.E.T.T.E. insured.  I could and would never use an actual bank.  Too risky and they ask way too many questions.  I prefer to have my cash with me at all times or at least somewhere where I know I can readily get it and protect.  As I add the new stacks of cash to the hundreds that are already there I realize I’m going to need a new safe soon.  I’ll handle that just as soon as I get back from Seattle.  Never been there before.  Should be interesting.