Dragonfly vs Monarch
Book Two
by
Charley Brindley
charleybrindley@yahoo.com
www.charleybrindley.com
Edited by
Karen Boston
Website https://bit.ly/2rJDq3f
Front cover art by
Charley Brindley
Back cover art by
Niki Vukadinova
© 2019 Charley Brindley, all rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition May 29, 2019
This book is dedicated to
Seth Alva Walker
Some of Charley Brindleys books
have been translated into:
Italian
Spanish
Portuguese
French
Dutch
Turkish
Chinese
and
Russian
The following books are available in audio format:
Raji, Book One (in English)
Do Not Resuscitate (in English)
The Last Mission of the Seventh Cavalry (in English)
Hannibals Elephant Girl, Book One (in Russian)
Henry IX (in Italian)
Other books by Charley Brindley
1.Oxanas Pit
2. The Last Mission of the Seventh Cavalry
3.Raji Book One: Octavia Pompeii
4.Raji Book Two: The Academy
5.Raji Book Three: Dire Kawa
6.Raji Book Four: The House of the West Wind
7.Hannibals Elephant Girl
8.Cian
9.Ariion XXIII
10. The Last Seat on the Hindenburg
11. Dragonfly vs Monarch: BookOne
12. The Sea of Tranquility 2.0 Book One: Exploration
13. The Sea of Tranquility 2.0 BookTwo: Invasion
14. The Sea of Tranquility 2.0 BookThree
15. The Sea of Tranquility 2.0 BookFour
16. Sea of Sorrows, Book Two of The Rod of God
17. Do Not Resuscitate
18.Hannibals Elephant Girl, Book Two
19. The Rod of God, Book One
20. Henry IX
21. Qubits Incubator
22. Caspers Game
Coming Soon
23. Dragonfly vs Monarch: Book Three
24. The Journey to Valdacia
25. Still Waters Run Deep
26. Ms Machiavelli
27. Ariion XXIX
28. The Last Mission of the Seventh Cavalry Book 2
29. Hannibals Elephant Girl, Book Three
See the end of this book for details about the others
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter One
The CIA isnt the only gang of spooks with weaponized insects. It seems the Kremlin has developed one of their own.
New York City, today.
Rigger Entime knocked on the door of apartment 7C. While he waited, he glanced down the hall as a laughing couple came off the elevator and turned away from him. Picturesque landscapes decorated the curving hallway while chic side tables held vases of fresh flowers.
Took you long enough. Katrina smiled when she opened the door.
I would have been here sooner, but
Shut up.
She slipped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. When he put his arms around her and kicked the door closed, his paper bag hit her in the butt.
Mmmfeels like you brought something hard with you.
Yeah. He kissed her again. Hard liquor.
That, too?
After a moment, she leaned back. Hungry?
He shook his head and kissed her again.
She reached behind herself and took the bag from his hand. I want to see what you brought me. She opened the bag and peeked inside. I love wine coolers.
Wheres Rachel?
At the orphanage. She took his hand to lead him toward the kitchen.
I wish she were here.
Me, too. I just love her to pieces. Katrina set the bottles out on the kitchen table. Sit there. She pointed to a chair at the table, then slipped on an oven mitt. I made us a pizza.
Wow, it smells great. Maybe I am hungry.
She placed the pizza on top of the stove and cut it with a rollerblade cutter. After sliding four large pieces onto a plate, she sat it on the table and took the chair across from him.
Where do we start? she asked.
He picked up a slice of pizza and immediately dropped it. I usually start with my fingers, but its too hot.
You know what Im talking about. She scooted her chair out and went to a drawer for two forks. Instead of returning to the chair across the table, she sat beside him.
They each used their forks to cut a bite of pizza.
Why did they fire you? he asked.
Sleeping with the enemy, for openers, which I didnt.
And?
Child endangerment.
Well, thats true, if you thought I might be a killer.
Ha, you dont know how close you were to a bullet.
Rigger stopped chewing to stare at her.
Remember that first day, when you bought us hot chocolate?
He nodded.
Did you ever see my right hand? No, you didnt, because it was in my coat pocket, right next to my service revolverwhich, by the way, I had to turn in today.
You had a gun on me?
Not actually on you, but I could have had it in my hand in an instant if you made a move on us. Same thing when you thought I was cleaning your kitchen. I had my eye on you the whole time while you were playing with Rachel.
Well He went back to his food. I thought you were a pretty poor house cleaner.
I wanted to arrest you so bad, but I had no evidence, nothing I could take to court.
When did you go soft on me?
It was the second time Rachel and I went to your apartment. I began to see you were an okay guy. Katrina twisted the caps off two wine coolers and set one in front of Rigger.
He took a drink. And I guess you reported back to your chief that I wasnt a suspect any longer?
I did, but Captain Billingsley didnt buy it. Said I was getting cozy with you and I should back away for a while, maybe do paperwork or write parking tickets.
But you didnt.
How could I?
He the one who fired you?
Yes. Not actually fired, but suspended until internal affairs completes their investigation. I think it was the third item on his list that really ticked him off.
Whats that?
Insubordination and not following department procedures.
Thats two items.
And the term loose cannon came up more than a couple of times.
Sounds like you really pissed him off, but I cant imagine you being insubordinate to anyone. Rigger glanced around the kitchen, then got up to pull two paper towels from a roll lying beside the sink. He handed one to her and wiped his mouth with the other.
Oh, I was insubordinate all right, and I also refused to stop seeing you.
He turned to face her. Was it worth it?
She studied her slice of pizza for a moment. Not yet. She took a bite.
Youre cute. Are we going to get drunk or what?
What.
Rigger put down his bottle and took her in his arms. He kissed her lips, cheek, ear, then neck. When he nibbled on the top button of her blouse, she dropped her wine cooler. The bottle hit the table and tipped over, spilling the pink beverage. Neither of them seemed to notice.
He pushed aside his pizza and picked her up to sit her on the table before him. She spread apart her knees, and he pressed the side of his face to her breast. When he wrapped his arms around her, she hugged his neck and laid her cheek on his head.
Rigger, she whispered.
Hmm?
Why is my butt wet?
He dropped his hand to her butt, then to the tabletop. Wine cooler, he said, without shifting his position.
Oh. Good.
Dont you think you should change out of those wet jeans?
Not here.
Where?
Bedroom.
You have one?
She eased forward, off the table and into his lap, straddling him.
When she kissed him, he felt her tongue brush his lips. He parted his lips, and their tongues met.
Kat, he whispered.
Hmm?
Now my pants are wet.
She threw back her head, laughing. Did you bring a change?
He shook his head.
See that door? she asked.
No.
Open your eyes.
Oh, you mean the door with the flashing neon sign saying, bedroom, bedroom, bedroom?
Yes, yes, yes.
Rigger carried her into the room, then sat on the bed, watching her unzip her jeans.
Katrina didnt take off her jeans. Instead, she unbuttoned her blouse, keeping her eyes on him. When she reached the last button, she said, You want to meet Thelma and Louise?
Riggers eyes widened when he saw her pink see-through bra. He nodded without taking his eyes from her.
She slipped off the blouse and tossed it aside, then reached to unhook her bra.
I never He stopped, swallowed, and blinked. He tried his voice again. I never knew a woman who named her breasts.
Those arent Thelma and Louise, silly. These are. Her bra fell to the floor as she crossed her arms over her breasts and slipped two tiny pistols from leather holsters taped to her lower back.
Wow!
She twirled the nickel-plated automatics on her trigger fingers while keeping her eyes on him. Captain Billingsley didnt know about these babies. She flipped her right pistol in the air and caught it behind her back. Wheres Thelma?
Rigger glanced at her left hand, which she held out to him, palm up. Shes gone.
Wheres Louise?
Now her right hand was empty. She placed her hands together high over her head and wiggled her body.
Rigger couldnt keep from smiling. He watched her hips sway and beautiful breasts jiggle.
She danced before him, then slowly turned her body until she faced away from him. She bent forward.
Thelma and Louise! he cried when he saw the two guns sticking halfway out of her hip pockets.
You can touch them if you want.
He reached for the swaying pistols, but she spun around, grabbing his hands.
He stood to face her.
We better get out of these wet clothes, she said.
Here, let me help.
* * * * *
Late the next morning, Rigger and Katrina stood in the hallway outside his apartment. He took her in his arms and kissed her. She leaned back, slipping her hands around his waist.
You hungry? he whispered near her ear.
Uh-huh. She glanced up at him. Do you smell donuts?
He sniffed the air. No, do you?
He reached into his pocket for his keys, but Katrina tried the doorit opened.
They stepped inside to find Pug and Autumn sitting close together on the couch. A box of Krispy Kreme donuts was on the coffee table.
Rig! Pug jumped to his feet. We were worried about you.
Yes, I can see that.
Where have you guys been? Autumn asked.
Um Katrina said, around. She glanced at Rigger and grinned.
Ah, Autumn said with a smile, is that the around I think it is?
Never mind, Rigger said. I hope you two have enjoyed my apartment.
He took a cream-filled donut and handed it to Katrina, then took another for himself. The two of them then sat together on the loveseat.
Actually, Autumn said, we have been having a little fun. She glanced at Pug.
Is that the same fun I think it is? Katrina reached for a napkin to wipe her lips.
Ha, Pug laughed, even better.
Autumn elbowed Pug in the ribs as she spoke to Rigger. Rig, do you Twitter?
Rigger chewed and swallowed. I Twitter and tweet.
Good. Autumn picked up her phone from the table. Check this out. She touched a button on her new Galaxy phone, then keyed in a number with her thumbs.
Rigger wiped his hands on a napkin and took his phone from a hip pocket. He glanced at the display. Should we be Twittering now?
Pug leaned close to Autumn, watching the display on her phone.
She glanced at Pug and lifted a shoulder.
Now put in two-d-two, Pug said.
She did, then they both smiled as something appeared on her screen.
I still got no Twitter? Rigger said.
Autumn pointed her chin toward the stairway, and all four of them looked that way.
After a moment, a tiny creature came into view at the top of the stairs, fluttering near the ceiling.
Donovan! Rigger cried.
Donovan? Katrina asked.