The restaurant is crowded, filled mostly with cops, a few of which I remember from the first evening. "Want a drink?", Bill asked, ordering a shot and a beer.

"No, I don't drink before nine O'clock otherwise I get into trouble." I laugh as Bill gulps the shot and asks for a table. We are seated immediately and I order the special meatloaf, salad and iced tea. Bill has a hamburger as does Leo. "Where did you learn computers", I ask Leo?

"At home, before I went to the academy. I was a pretty good hacker in my days."

"He was the best before we busted him", Bill says laughing. "Changed him from a punk kid screwing with us into a good cop screwing them. He's really sharp. It took the FBI a year to find him and he was right under our noses."

"Yeah", Leo laughs. "I was one block from the station in a loft owned by an artist friend. I watched them go to work from my window. I still don't know how they caught me."

"You were overconfident ... kid. You didn't watch your ass and someone grabbed it."

"That's right. Did eighteen months at the juvenile farm before I got a special disposition to attend the academy. I guess they just wanted me on their side."

"We wanted him where we can watch him", Bill says laughing."

"Well, I learned my lesson and now I have a future. I would have been dead by now if I had kept running with the group I was with. They are all in jail or dead. At least I get a regular paycheck and can play with the latest computers."

As we eat and chat I make a mental note of the cops in Dano's. Four or five seem to be regulars as they were in the bar the night I arrived. Bill fits into the group but Leo seems out of place, probably because of his age. We finish lunch and Bill drives us back to the station.

Once in the room I finish balancing the computers and setting up the router. I give Leo a short briefing on the function and relationship of the programs and show him a demonstration of how one traces a perpetrator through the camouflage of changing URL's. He's a sharp kid and catches on quickly. Bill just plods along without a clue of where we are going or what we are doing. He seems to be along for the ride.

"Think you can get the hang of this", I ask Leo, moving from the desk so that he can sit down.

"I think so! I just have to get the theory and commands. Then, I can rock 'n roll with the best of them."

"I'm the best", I add. "Can you find the back door?"

"You said there wasn't a back door!"

"Yes, but you don't believe me. Do you?"

"Not really, but I wouldn't know where to look for one."

"One looks in the back", I add laughing. "But, I assure you, there are no hidden pathways in or out of the program. My reputation is more important than playing games with you. If I have a hidden entrance you, or someone else, would certainly find it. That would be the end of your trust and the finish to our business."

"I guess", he says, doubtingly.

The workday's finished as Bill asks if I would like to go to dinner. I tell him that I am tired of thinking and teaching and want to go back to the hotel. "I'm still on East Coast time and I get up real early."

Bill drives me to the Boneventure and I take the elevator to the fourteenth floor. I lie down for a couple of hours waiting to see if anyone comes to the room.

At seven I go to Mary's room on the fifth floor. On the door is an envelope addressed to Mary Wright with the ticket to Phoenix that she had ordered the evening before. I check the flight information and the name, making sure that everything is correct. I will leave LAX at nine, arriving at ten. I enter Mary's room and remove my suit and put on the clothes I wore the other evening. It takes me about a half-hour to change and do my makeup before I pack the black outfit in the suitcase and go to the counter to check out. I pay Mary's bill with a credit card and thank the attendant for arranging my return flight. I tips him ten bucks and he gets me a cab to Dano's.

When I enter the bar, I am greeted by the same bartender that waited on me the other night. He remembers me and makes a passing joke about my still looking for a John. I laugh and take a seat near the end of the bar.

"No, not tonight. I'm going back to Phoenix. I have to get a cab to the airport in a few minutes. I order a Manhattan and the bartender places it in front of me, having remembered the order. "I get off in a half-hour, can I give you a ride."

"I'm not a hooker, remember", I say, laughing as I straighten my skirt.

"I remember. But, I live in Santa Monica and can go by the airport. It'll save you thirty bucks and, who knows, we might get to know each other better. You say you come to town regularly."

"About twice a month. I may move here if I find a good job."

"Then it's a deal, the ride?"

"It's a deal, but only a lift to the airport, this time."

"Fine by me", the bartender says. "By the way, I'm Jerry. Let me finish washing these glasses and we'll go.

I sip the Manhattan, watching the cops sneak looks at my nice thighs. Jerry finishes and joins me at the bar. "Shall we be off", he ask.

"Sure!"

As we leave, someone in the crowd yells, " ... get lucky, Jerry", and the group laughs. He takes my arm and leads me to the parking lot on the side of the building. Jerry drives an old Chevy with loud dual pipes. When we get in he turns down the stereo and asks me what kind of music I like.

"I like it all", I answer, smiling as Jerry catches the innuendo of her comment.

"All", he says winking.

"All", I say, licking my lips slowly, " ... but not tonight."

We leave the lot and take the Santa Monica Freeway. The traffic has slackened, the drive is easy and we arrive at the beach by eight. "We have some time to kill, want to come over for a nice Manhattan? You know that I make a great one."

"Not tonight, I told you. Anyway, I have my period and don't feel well. Just drop me off at the airport and I'll wait for my flight. "

"Ok", he says, reluctantly, driving south to LAX and dropping me off in front of America West at eight-thirty.

"Thanks", I say, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Maybe you'll get lucky ... next week", I whiisper, smiling as I pick up my bags and walks into the terminal.

Stopping at the counter I watch Jerry drive off before exiting the airport. I take a cab to Federal Express, telling the cabby to wait as I go to the counter. "Package for Mary Wright", I ask, handing the lady my Arizona Driver's License and a Visa Card.

"One I.D. is enough", she says, checking the name and getting a cardboard box from the back. "There's a ten dollar and fifty cent over weight charge" she says, setting the package on the counter. I pay, asking for a receipt, which the lady reluctantly fills out. I pick up the package and returns to the cab.

"What's the best hotel in Santa Monica", I ask the driver. "Near the beach with a nice view."

"Loews", the driver answers. "Shall we go there?"

"Yes, please. But, can you drive along the coast?"

"Certainly", the driver says, pulling away from the curb. We drive up the beach route through Venice and I can see the Ferris wheel on the pier as the cab turns East a block and pulls into the circular driveway of the hotel. "Shall I wait?"

"No, thank you. I have reservations."

"That'll be fifteen buck."

I pay, giving a five-dollar tip before I walk to the counter. "Reservations for Miss Barbara Ramsey", I tells the innkeeper.

"Yes, Miss Ramsey", he answers, checking the reservation list in the computer. "A room with a view, as you requested."

"You're right, a view of Malibu."

"Top floor, best view in the hotel. How was your flight from Phoenix?"

"A lovely flight and a beautiful sunset."

"Extra luggage", the attendant asks, hitting the bell as a young man approaches.

"Just this bag and a gift for my client", I say, pointing to my suitcase and the cardboard box.

"Room 2301", the man tells the bellhop as he picks up the box and luggage.

"Heavy gift", he comments as they take the elevator to the twenty-third floor.

"Only if you're a lady", I answer, winking at the young man struggling with the packages.

Once in the room I tip the kid ten bucks and tells him not to have me disturbed in the morning as I am tired. The bellhop leaves and I walk to the window, opening the glass and feeling the cool air blowing off of the Pacific Ocean. Looking across the few lower buildings to the pier I can see the old carousel building and parking lot.

I go to the bed and place the box on the covers , untying the cord holding the package together for shipping. I take off the top and remove the black plastic case, laying it on the bed. I opens the case and look at my disassembled M21. The barrel is at the top of the case, the magazine and bolt are side by side in the middle. The stock to the left, the scope is to the right and the round silencer is at the bottom with the flash arrester..

I pick up the scope and return to the window, placing the tube on the windowsill as I scans the pier area parking lot. "There", I think, fixing the lens on the smaller kiddy ride in the corner of the pier.

There are elephants flying in a circle as the ride rotates the animals move up and down. "Nice distraction", I whisper as I move from the window and replaces the scope, closing the case and replacing it in the cardboard shipping container. I re-ties the box as it was when Ipicked it up from the shipper and put the box in the closet. I open my suitcase, remove the clothes and hangs them neatly with the hangers in the closet.

I plug the laptop into the phone connection and lay the computer on the bed before I take off my dress, stockings, bra but leaving the wig. I turns down the bed and climb between the sheets rolling and kicking the covers as I wipe her lips across the pillow. After a few minutes I throw the covers back, opens the laptop and log onto my server in New York, transferring the URL to San Francisco, St. Louis and finally Dallas.

Missy is in the first chat room that I visit.

"Hello Sugar Daddy. I miss you. When will you be here?"

"I'll be in town tomorrow night, where would you like to go?"

"I'm so unhappy. I've been so afraid of my Step Dad. You don't know how much I need you."

"I think I do my sweetie", I type. "How about nine, near the flying elephants at the pier."

"I know that ride. How will I know you?"

"I will know you, Missy."

"How?"

"Tell me", Mary asks, clicking the server and moving to second location from St. Louis to Chicago.

"Well, I'm blond, small, long hair and I will wear a red sweater and white tennis shoes."

"Stand near the entrance of the ride and I will meet you. You'll come alone ... won't you?"

"Yes, Daddy, I'll be alone and ready. Do you really want me."

"I can't wait", I type, moving the server connection to Memphis. "Tomorrow at nine."

"I love you, Sugar Daddy."

"I want you, Missy."

I click off, close the connection, put the lap top in the closet as enter the bathroom for a hot shower. I clean off my makeup and wash my hair. When I'm finished it is almost ten O'clock as I put on the man's black suit.

Smiling in the mirror, I hang up the rest of the clothes before leaving as Rudy, placing the Do Not Disturb sign on the door.