Free Pretenses by Keith Lee Johnson

information on all the people on Coco’s hit list. Their relationship had started out professionally but had become sexual almost immediately.
    Now they were grunting and groaning like wild animals in heat. Michelson was the one man who could keep up with Coco without the aid of acupuncture. It was going to be a shame to kill him, but she always had the needles.
    After a couple of rounds of satisfying sex, Michelson said, “I took her off the case, Coco. You oughta be able to finish up in Washington and maybe San Francisco before St. Clair puts her back on the case. Ford and Flynn won’t give you any trouble. Both of them are serious fuck-ups.”
    â€œI want Perry on the case, Lawrence. Put her back on.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause she’s a worthy opponent. I want the challenge of her trying to stop me from carrying out my assignment.”
    â€œIs that wise? Why even risk it?”
    â€œBecause she scares me, and I like it.”
    â€œWell, it’s outta my hands. The suspension came straight from the top. Nothing I can do about it, either.”
    â€œI’ll take care of it,” Coco said. “Did you bring me the info on Perry and the blonde?”
    â€œYes, it’s in my briefcase. I’ll get it for you.” As he walked across the room, Michelson remembered the conversation with agent Perry in the parking lot. “By the way, she knows you’re Kunoichi.”
    â€œAh, a worthy opponent indeed. I’m going to enjoy turning her life upside-down.”
    Michelson came back to the bed with the files on the two agents and handed them to her. Then he went into the bathroom to take a shower. Coco opened Perry’s file first. She discovered that Sydney Drew was her father, and it brought a smile to her face. She learned that Phoenix had spent twelve years in a Shaolin Temple honing her skills in Kung Fu. Her mother had died giving birth to her, which is why she was named Phoenix. Her name would symbolize the death and rebirth of her mother for as long as she lived.

CHAPTER 26
    T HE EVENING NEWS did a hatchet job on Kelly and me. Keyth and I sat on the couch, watching, shaking our heads as they distorted everything. They chronicled the investigation and made me look like a Keystone cop. Somehow they found out that Director Pockets was deeply in debt and hinted that he was taking bribes for investigating private citizens.
    He had used Gordon Scott to tap telephones and dig into all sorts of personal information on selected people so Clayton Pockets could blackmail them. What I found particularly deplorable was how they connected the murder of Judge Taylor to these two sleazeballs by simply asking, “What did Clayton Pockets have on Supreme Court nominee Jennifer Taylor?”
    â€œSee, baby,” Keyth began, “that’s why you need to leave the bureau and come into business with me and your father. Those bastards don’t care about how that question sullies her reputation. If she weren’t a conservative, do you think they would say some shit like that? HELL NO! I guess what’s pissing me off even more is the fact that none of the black organizations are standing up for her. And I bet that witch Patricia English is loving this electronic lynching.”
    â€œI know, Keyth, I know.”
    â€œLet’s take advantage of your suspension and take a mini-vacation. I’m thinkin’ maybe a trip to St. Thomas. We could leave tonight. My mother could take care of Savannah while we take moonlight walks on the sand, sip margaritas, and make love all night long.”
    â€œSounds good to me. Call your mother, and I’ll let Savannah know we’re leaving for the weekend.”
    â€œI’ll call your dad first and let him know.”
    â€œHave you and Dad discussed the murders?”
    â€œTo tell you the truth, no, we haven’t. We’ve been so busy at the office that we haven’t discussed anything but our own