It is a cool summer evening. The rare kind that brings to mind only pleasant thoughts. Lisa and I are sitting on the roof watching the sun slowly descend from sight; on its way to share its life giving light with other parts of the world.

On the roof you can look down into the streets and see the people walking by. Or you can look up into the sky and see clouds float by, the birds flying in formation, that perfect blue that automatically sets one's mind at ease.

Today had been a laid back day. No one called and we sat around all day relaxing. We usually like to do that before a big day. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We received the assignment two weeks ago...

Information was coming in over the fax. Hmmm. A middle-aged Caucasian female. Married. Retired public school teacher. Recently moved to Boston and opened up a bookstore. Nothing unusual so far.

All the descriptive facts checked out with what J.H. had faxed. J.H.'s story seemed to check out too. Whyte did need money and she was trying to get it through blackmailing J.H.. But it also seemed like this assignment was based on revenge more than anything else. I don't like to do jobs based solely on revenge, it just isn't a good enough reason and it's bad for business.

Chapter 2

Gary Lewis sits in his class listening to his professor. The class is History, American History. The topic is World War I, a time when the United States blindly tried to hold on to a dying policy of isolationism. It took a second world war and the death of millions to finally jar the U.S. into the leadership role it was destined to take.

Gary's parents are going to be in the Massachusetts area and plan to stop by for a visit. Gary is kind of apprehensive about their visit. It is his junior year, the year most students have to decide what they are going to major in. A decision that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Fortunately Gary has already decided what his major is going to be. Unfortunately, his parents probably won't like his decision. Gary's major is art. He had taken some art classes in school and a few lessons with an artist who was a friend of the family, and even though they all said he was good he never considered a career as an artist a possibility. Never, that was, until he came to the U. of M..

When Gary first came to Massachusetts University he did not feel like he was fitting in. His classmates liked him and he didn't get into any trouble; it was just that he felt as if he was missing something, as if something was not quite right.

That all changed when Gary took his first art class. He had found that piece that was missing in his college life. That thing that made him special. Now if his parents could accept it then everything would be fine. Maybe.

She is dressed in plain, inconspicuous, casual clothing. Yet she still is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Her beauty has gotten me into a great deal of trouble in the past, but it has also saved my life more times than I care to count.