BOMAW Vol. 10-12 (187 page)

She stood with her mind flipping like crazy. "I don't know - just - leave me alone for now."

"So then, what he said, it's not true then? He was lying right?"

"Victor, I don't know what he told you, but we were with family. Surrounded by family, we had a couple of nights out - a dance - and yes, he tried to kiss me, but it never went any where - and no further than that - I stopped him."

Victor was burning once more, desperate more than ever now to get her away from him.

"He's trying to get you Crystal, he'll no doubt go to any lengths to succeed. We don't need this right now, we need to be focused on, doing the right thing, for our sons. We're a family Crystal, you, me, Isaac and Darren. We - are - a family. Remember our vows, for richer, for poorer, sickness and in health, until death us due part? I thought that meant, even through the really hard times, bad times, even if one of us makes mistakes. Me, okay? I made the mistakes Crystal, fine - it was all me, if-..."

"I never said it was all you."

"I don't care Crystal, if that's what it takes for use to be a family again, I'll take all the blame. I'll do whatever you want me to do, I just want us to be together, to raise our sons, and - as I said, maybe - a little girl as well? Maybe?"

Crystal looked away, back at herself in the mirror. She needed to comb her hair. "Leave me to think okay? Just leave me alone for a while."

"Okay, but - I'll be back later - you mean too much to me to leave it alone. You're all the family I have left Crystal, you're all I have left. I've completely cut myself off from my mother, my father, everyone. All I have is you now, please don't let it all be in vain. I can't stand the thought of losing you now, I don't - I don't know what I'd do, if I lost you. I'll go now. Can I at least - have a kiss - before I go?"

"No, just go - I said I'd think about it."

While all were enjoying the pizza Shawn ordered, bodyguard included. Who had come in, shy like, humble and very respectful and giving towards Shawn, fully understanding this man and the way that he was. Reason; Ivory had been thoroughly briefed by his boss, Deidre, on his make up, the way he was - how he saw things, how he would handle things if forced to the edge. She also informed him with full conviction and confidence, that he had a heart of gold, and respect, honor and back bone went a long way to winning him over. He wasn't a mean person, but one absolute with feelings and logic that saw things in black or white and depending on the situation, on occasion, he saw in grey. She let him know, that once Shawn made a stand on anything, or anyone, he did not, nor would not waiver and would stick by his opinion of them, based on what that person showed themselves to be, to the bitter end. If he didn't like you, you had no doubt of that. If he did like you, you got to see him smile; maybe even laugh. The same with love and hate - if you were loved by him, he saw you as his own, blood or not. If you were hated by him - well then, at all cost, avoid him and for goodness sake, leave his family alone.

Immediately upon taking the position as Angela's bodyguard, and having Deidre fill him in, he also went on his own fact finding mission, along with observing, and listening in to various discussions taken place around him. He knew how crucial it was to his job to get it right the first time. Angela was his first really big paying assignment that he went into fresh, disciplined; with a mind set on how he was do this job. Therefore, he was determined to know all he needed to know to be prepared for all possibilities. Thus, he initiated a study and research period, reading, noting Angela's father's body language, his manner, his facial expressions, the way he handled his step children - everything. It all told Ivory Saitama all he needed to know about the man. Until his fact findings gathered speed and came in and when it did, he was blown away by what he found on one Shawn McPherson. Due to the line of work he was into, and having honed his IT skills, with additional privileges to access certain records, all granting him certain licenses; by that day, he had gathered more on Shawn Everett McPherson than he would ever let on. Determined in utilizing all tips and advice given him, Ivory did his homework - collecting data not only on Shawn, but on each of the persons he might have to interact with. He spent his time while watching his ward, doing history building on every person touching her. After all, how could he possibly protect her, if he didn't know what threats there might be out there for her? Thus, he'd profiled every one of them. The persons connected to Angela Rae McPherson's life; whose past, associates and relationships could possibly threaten her future, based on what he found out about them so far on his list were the following; her own mother, Deidre Wherrington; her parent's, the Wherrington's; her father, Shawn McPherson; her stepmother, Sylvia McPherson; her stepbrother, Armundo Payne Jr.; and due to his added reputation alongside his older brother, even her Uncle - Jake; his past also served as a potential to bring harm to her. He knew things about them that would make them fear him - if they knew what he knew. However, he was not the police, not a judge, not a court system and certainly not God.

He was Angela Rae McPherson's bodyguard - what he knew - was for his benefit only!

Thus, he knew what developments to case out, watch and follow. The moment a threat began to develop, he was not beyond taking it out, no matter who that threat was - one step before reaching the target, Angela. His teacher, instructor, mentor - trainer always emphasized, give it until the final step to be certain; the moment the final step is in process to be taken, remove the threat - simple as that.

This is why Ivory Saitama knew that he, with Shawn Everett McPherson - would fit right in - they were of the same mind - they were of the same kind. They also shared a similar road, a past. Only difference, one succeeded in obtaining his stamp of approval, or status with 'privileges', and the other had not. Ivory knew things about Shawn, that few ever would if he never divulged it himself. He knew just how dangerous this man could be, and to what extent he was able to handle himself if he faced anyone that was his target to take out - especially if given any advanced warning. To all intents and purposes, he conducted himself like a normal street brawler, but Ivory knew, that while he toured Europe with the woman Merriam Styles - he studied martial arts - extensively. And just as he, Ivory - knew how to kill quickly, so did Shawn Everett McPherson. Therefore, Ivory knew that If he did his job well, protecting her, Angela and inadvertently those that surrounded her; he, Shawn, her father would never have to cross the line, violating his limitations as a U.S. citizen. He did not have what some had coined to calling a "license to kill" - making him above the law, only answerable to the secret service. He had been denied that status - marked as a loose canon; and uncontrollable because as his psychological profile showed when he'd been evaluated - he would not disconnect himself from his own instilled code of values and emotions.

He could not emotionally disconnect himself from family - unwilling to remain free in order to avoid bonds and ties. They saw him, as they had many others like him, who wanted the stamp - in order to police their own surroundings, controlling incidents that impacted their lives and those in it. Persons of that ilk were of no use to the system that had long been established. He was unwilling to be used by the government for their purposes. Thus, the officials who could categorize him, denied him - due to his clear disdain of them and what they stood for. To them, his thoughts, his logic, his reasoning, his objectives, clashed with their own - in the end, he could not be used for their needs, not now anyway, as long as he was the way he was. As long as he held the capacity to be moved to 'love' and 'feel' and question them, who would be questioned by no one; while embracing 'friends' - 'family' and a lifestyle that slotted him as of common mind and thinking, he would never be given the figurative 'license to kill' - where there were no written rules.

In short - he was denied and dismissed - wrong state of moral and mind.

They saw him, and those like him as a waste. Those that could be used, baffled cops, detectives, judges, who brought them in - case filled with evidence against them. But one call later, all would be dropped and free to go about their way, they went. They, the ones free to go, had 'paid' the price.

As Ivory Saitama discovered, Shawn had not, nor would not pay it. He, Shawn was not interested in that line of work, although he qualified and had past all tests written and physical to do so. What was sad to those at the top is that he had the added bonus of being a photographer, a natural born surveyor with the best cover of all.

Nope, he wanted his freedom.

Ivory was of the same mind as Shawn, and thus, he played the game, appeared to pay the price, in order to get what he needed to do what he was now doing. He didn't understand why Shawn didn't go along with it just to get that stamp? That baffled Ivory about him. The stamp was a valuable thing when one lived in this kind of world, it gave a freedom like no other. It gave a sort of power, like no other. Putting one in a position to really - get to know people and watch them. In a sense, he was like a physical angel of God that could see all, but kept all to himself. Unlike the angels however, Ivory made no reports back to God - he used it only to know the people surrounding him, and to know who to trust and who not to trust - and who might end up on the list for elimination - with him having full authority to dispatch them accordingly.

Shawn Everett McPherson was the first, 'one' of many like that - that he'd come into contact with. He was dying to know the mind of someone that would give up the chance to hold in his hand, what he held. What possessed a man to blow the chance to hold a license to police, judge and execute?

Holding all within him, Ivory smiled and joined the family to enjoy the pizza - this gave him greater access to learn even more. Only thing that was a disappointment to him, was that Shawn soon departed from them to take care of things Ivory could only theorize about. That was okay, soon - he would have all in place to monitor even the goings on within the home, phone and computer tapping. All information would be used to help him know what was developing to be ready for any threat to Angela. What he was being paid, he could retire by 30 on, living the rest of his life, more than comfortable.

Upstairs in Sylvia's office, Shawn gathered all the things he had on Armundo sr. - saying a little prayer, he called Paul once more, who answered the second ring, now that he was home.

"I'm impressed, I can't believe you waited so long to call me back." Paul started right away, having answered it after seeing Shawn on his display, which showed up with the ID he'd given him, MS-ES-CA. His own classification filing method he used not to ever place names in his system or phones due to the kind of work and research he did. Shawn was CA due to his relationship with Paul's aunt, Merriam Styles. Other's not close to him or his family, were usually classed as Cb - Cc. Lowercase second letter - detached work or person. Capitalized letter A - meant a person's relevant importance to him.

"I can't walk away from this, I can't."

"I wouldn't think so, considering the situ. It amazes me how with you, a simple life is almost impossible."

"Don't get sidetracked - please? See, I'm begging."

"There's no need, I was going to do it anyway. So send all you can on him to me right away."

Shawn sighed deep and thankful. "I can't thank you enough, what made you change your mind, about helping me?"

"I hadn't changed my mind, I just needed you to rethink how you'll be dealing with it. How will you be dealing with it, if - what you suspect is true?"

"Hands off."

"Give me your word."

"You have it, hands off."

"That's all I care about, that you don't touch him - directly that is. There are many methods to seeing about him, learn to start using them, if - that is, he is still alive, refer to them."

"I've already thought it through - and I will."

"I'm happy - let's find out then, shall we?"

"Can I send all now? I'm in my wife's office, going to use her fax to get it to you."

"Long as you remember to clean up afterwards."

"That goes without saying."

"My fax is on, send it. Photos as well, I can re-color them on this end."

"How long will it take you to find out if this is all in my active imagination?"

"I never give a date and time."

"I'm paying you!"

Paul laughed, "I'm worth it. If you'd been a good boy, it would be free and within 24 hours. Bad boys wait in line."

"Bastard!"

Paul laughed even more, "You never learn. It's a good thing Auntie loved you so much - and I must admit, you've grown on me too ... like a wart that keeps returning."

Shawn had no choice but to laugh as well, "Sorry about that, what can I say?"

"After this, you're gonna calm down, be happy - live domestic, right? Stay shit free, right?"

Shawn smiled, "Aren't I always, shit free?"

Paul shook his head, "Yeah - sure, send the fax."

"It's on it's way - again, thank you."

Within fifteen minutes of closing the call, all that needed to be sent, was sent, including macro pictures of Armundo's jewellery Shawn found in Sylvia's jewellery box. He only waited for the ok confirmation that all had been transferred successfully. When he received it, as he promised, he removed the data trail and reset her fax machine to re-number the faxes as if no extra had been sent. Sitting at her desk, he made another phone call. He couldn't wait until his own office across the road was live, until then, hers would have to do, long as he was done before she came home and his mess was cleaned up.

As the phone rang, he played on her computer, checking out her brochures, smiling to himself how they were arranged, he was impressed. She really was tech savvy - even though a few things needed cleaning up on them, he did it while he sat with his phone to his ear, wouldn't take long. He figured he needed all the points he could get with her, this was worth at least an extra snuggle, kiss and feel. He chuckled, shaking his head at himself.