THE REVENGE OF MIGUEL BAIN

by Chris H.

CC awoke the next morning to the sound of the shower running. She was glad Miguel was already up. After screaming "I love you!" to him last night, she wasn't sure she was ready to face him. Why did she say that? Love this man? She loved what he did to her, that was for sure, but love him? She got up and made coffee. When Miguel emerged from the shower, wrapped only in a towel, she felt the charge run through her. Even with the still healing wounds, he had one magnificent body. She turned away; she couldn't think about that now.

"Hey, I made some coffee if you want some." CC then noticed the remains of Miguel's laptop on the floor. "What happened to that? Did you beat it with the axe? Didn't get the answer you wanted from your stock broker?"

Miguel said, "The damn dog took off with the cord wrapped around his legs. Look, I've got to get a replacement. Where's the closest town with a good computer store? "

"Close?" CC snorted, "there isn't anything close to here. But as it turns out, I have to drive to Albuquerque today, so you can come along."

"Drive? Why don't you just fly?"

"Because the plane isn't fit to fly. I'm lucky I didn't land it on the cabin last night. I have to drive in and pick up some parts to fix it."

"How far is it?"

"Not that far, but for the first part of the trip, the roads are well, shall we say, not so good. It's about four hours from here. I have to make a couple of stops on the way down the mountain too, so if we get moving we can get there by early afternoon. But we will probably have to spend the night. I expect a couple of the parts will have to be flown in and won't be here until tomorrow. That should give you plenty of time to find a new computer."

CC showered and dressed then loaded Cyber and Papa in her ancient pick-up. She yelled at Miguel to hurry.

"You are taking them?"

"No, I am leaving them at a friend's just down the road. The cabin's too cold for Papa without someone to keep the wood stove going."

They drove off, Papa screaming, "Cono! Cono!" as the truck bounced over the rough mountain road. A few miles down, CC pulled the truck onto a narrow track. She could barely go forward, the ruts in the road slinging them all violently around the truck. They finally arrived in front of a run-down shack. CC turned the motor off and stared at the house. Finally, an ancient woman appeared at the door. CC quickly got out of the truck and told Miguel to grab Papa's cage while she loosened the harness holding Cyber in the bed of the truck.

"Hello, Grandmother," she called. The old lady said something, but Miguel couldn't understand what she said. CC handed the old woman several bottles of prescription medicines as they spoke in a language he had never heard before. Miguel got the feeling he was being checked out before going up for auction. The old woman cackled with delight after something CC said, then pinched Miguel's butt as he set the birdcage down.

He whirled around, and CC could see the dangerous anger in his eyes.

"Miguel! She was kidding! Calm down!"

"I'll wait in the truck," he snapped.

CC came out of few minutes later, followed by the old woman. The woman came over to Miguel's side of the truck and indicated he should roll down the window.

She said, "Take care of CC, she needs a man like you." She winked and walked back to her house.

When CC started the engine, Miguel said, "I didn't know I was gonna meet the relatives."

"What? No, she isn't my grandmother. It is just a term of respect."

"What were you talking about? And what language was that?"

"Navaho. Ohhhh, nothing. Just the weather."

"Bullshit! I don't think the weather prompted her to pinch my ass!"

"She wanted to know if you were good in bed, ok? She said you had a nice firm butt and that she bet you really knew how to use… oh shit…"

"Use what? She said that?" Miguel's face broke into a leering grin. "And what did you say?"

"What do you think? Look I can't concentrate on the road with this conversation. We need to get moving."

Miguel continued to smile at the old woman's comments, and didn't say anything else to CC. He felt the familiar arousal that just thinking about her brought on, and was glad she was driving. He watched her concentrate on the road, noticing how her long straight black hair glistened in the sunlight. The urge to stop the truck and take her began rising in him. Then she asked him what kind of computer he would get.

They talked a little, and his mind immediately went back to Rath. Shit, shit, shit, he thought. He wanted so badly to be screwing with Rath's mind right now. What was he going to do to Rath…? He had several ideas, but none of them seemed quite what he wanted. He watched the rugged terrain pass by. A man could disappear up here and not be found until there was nothing left to identify him…

CC could sense that Miguel didn't want to talk, so she just drove. Now that she knew where Electra was she had to decide what to do. She hated her, and wanted her dead for destroying her brother, but if she was going to kill Electra, she had to make sure she didn't get caught. She couldn't think of a way, but she cleared her mind of other thoughts and tried to focus on Electra's face.

They finally made it to the highway, and CC told Miguel it wouldn't be too much further now. She increased her speed, and Miguel closed his eyes and dozed until they arrived in Albuquerque.

CC stopped at a computer store. "I'll leave you here, and go pick up my stuff. There's another store around the corner, so if this place doesn't have what you need, you can check the other place out. And here," she scribbled a number on some paper, "call me if you finish early. I will be back in about two hours otherwise, ok?"

"Fine."

CC arrived to pick up Miguel just as he finished his transaction. "I hope you don't mind too much but we have to spend the night. My parts will be here in the morning. We can stay someplace cheap and…"

"No, not cheap. I don't need to stay in cheap hotels. Give me your phone." Miguel made arrangements at a posh downtown hotel. "My treat. A small payback for what you've done for me."

CC didn't argue. She was tired and ready to take a long shower or maybe a bath. When they arrived at the hotel, the valet looked at the truck in disgust when she handed him the keys, but quickly got in to move it after Miguel handed him a large bill. They checked into their room, a huge suite. She dumped her stuff on the dresser and announced she was going to take a bath in the huge whirlpool tub. Miguel said, "Sure you don't want some company? I could wash your back…"

"Mmmmm, maybe later, Miguel. I need to relax for a few minutes. Alone."

"Ok, ok! Don't say I didn't offer!" Miguel wanted to get on the laptop as soon as possible and CC in a nice hot bath would give him just about enough time to do what he needed, if he could establish the connection with Rath.

CC stepped into the warm water; the frothy streams from the whirlpool jets pulsating against her body. Her hair was pulled up on her head, and she sank until just her head was above the water. She figured Miguel was probably already on his computer. She closed her eyes and thought about him. What was he doing on that computer? How had he gotten shot? With any other passenger these thoughts would never have crossed her mind. But no other passenger did to her what he had. She tried to drag her thoughts away, but his intense eyes and his insistent, urgent body kept creeping into her mind. She gave up and just thought about him.

As Miguel set up the laptop, he noticed CC's appointment book lying partially opened next to her purse. "Let's see what kind of business you do, my pilot lover." He flipped through the cryptic entries, starting at the beginning of the year, but didn't see anything too interesting. He found his name, and noticed she had written "cancelled" next to every entry for two weeks after she had flown him to the cabin. He flipped the next page, and the name leaped out at him. R. Rath. His eyes narrowed. Was CC working for Rath? Did Rath already know he was with CC?

He flipped through the book again, looking more carefully at the entries, but Rath's name didn't appear again. He rummaged through her purse, while he tried to establish the computer connection with Rath. He found her address book. Nothing but personal stuff. None of the same names. Shit! He thought he could trust her, but now he wasn't sure. He couldn't believe that she was faking what had happened between them in her bed, though. The computer beeped and he jumped. The connection had been made to Rath. "Come on, Bobby… Are you home? Answer the page, Anticuado…"

Nothing happened for a few minutes. His mind wandered back to CC. If Rath knew CC then he knew she had saved him. No, that didn't make sense. If she worked for Rath, why would she save him? He had been ready to play the Gambit move, but now he wasn't sure. His knees bounced with the tension building up in him. Then words flashed on the screen.

Mr. Anonymous, I see you are back for more. Your playing style is not what I am used to. Do you intend to make a move this time?

"Ah, getting a little nervous, are we Bob-biee? Don't like the waiting?" Miguel realized that Cyber's move had actually played right into Miguel's hands. He rubbed his hands together, then typed: Technical difficulties, I am sure you understand. Now let's see where were we? I believe it is my move.

The impatience in Rath was palpable as he replied: So make it, dammit! You have had two days to decide what to do. Lucky for you we aren't playing this against a clock.

"Bobby! I am surprised! Where is your calm reserve? I thought you never lost your temper. Never showed any emotion," Miguel spoke as he typed his reply. My apologies. I did not realize you were in a hurry. I have all the time in the world.

Miguel clicked the mouse and sent the game down the path of the Fadhlan Gambit.

At that instant, CC opened the bathroom door. He jumped, and quickly dumped the game again. He had forgotten that CC's purse was still in his lap, and its contents spilled over the floor as he stood up.

"What were you doing? Were you going through my purse?" She saw her address book and appointment calendar. "What the fuck do you think you are doing?" she screamed at him.

Miguel's eyes snapped with anger as he gripped her wrists and pulled her to him. He shook the appointment book in her face. "How do you know Rath, eh? Are you working for him, telling him what I am doing? And you are so innocent of checking me out? You little bitch, do you think I don't know you went through my things when I was flat on my back in your bed? How many passports did you find? Do you know what I do, who I am? Did Rath tell you how I got these bullet holes in my chest? Did he tell you about me? Then you know I don't have a problem killing a woman. Now tell me what you know about Rath!"

CC knew she could not easily break free from the hold he had on her. She wasn't sure what he was talking about, who was Rath? She tried to relax, but his grip didn't lessen.

"Miguel, you are hurting me. Please, I'll try to explain, if you will let go."

He marched her over to the bed and threw her onto the mattress.

"Talk and talk fast. How the fuck do you know Rath?"

"Shit, Miguel. I don't know anybody named Rath. I…"

"Don't lie to me! His fucking name is right there in your calendar! You just saw him yesterday!"

"Miguel, wait a minute! Just wait a minute!" CC held her palms up toward Miguel and she took a couple of deep breaths. "I got a call to make a pick-up, a passenger. A woman and a cat. I never saw any man, or met anyone named Rath. Rath was only the name of the person paying the fare. I swear to you, I never met the man you are talking about."

Miguel's eyes watched her. She rubbed her wrists where his grip had left bruises. She looked back at him, waiting for him to say something.

"The woman. What did she look like?" Miguel asked.

"Why do you want to know about her?" CC asked.

"Was she a red-head? Tall? Good looking?"

"How do you know about her?" CC asked. "She…" CC almost blurted out the she had killed her brother, then she asked, "Who are you?"

Rath froze as he saw the move. He couldn't believe it. Bain, it had to be Bain. No one else could have known. How could Miguel Bain still be alive? It just couldn't be possible. He couldn't think, then he heard the beep of the computer as he realized the session had been dumped again. He began searching for some link, some way to find where Bain had played that move. He had many resources available to him, but even if they had an easy time finding where the game had been initiated; it would still take several days.

"Dammit!" He yelled as he smashed his fist onto the desk.

Anna came into the room. She said, "What's wrong with you? First you break the window, and now you are tearing up the furniture. What is eating you?" She didn't wait for his response. "I think I will drive up to get Pearl when she comes home. I didn't think much of that pilot you hired."

"Hey, Joe, I said I am driving to get Pearl."

Rath finally focused on her comment. "Anna, don't be ridiculous. It would take you hours. What was wrong with the pilot?"

"It isn't that far. They moved Pearl to Carmel. I don't know. Just something… creepy about her. She seemed familiar, but I can't think how I could possibly know her."

"Well, I can get someone else, but she is highly recommended. When do you have to go back? "

"Two days. My poor baby will be ready to pick up then."

"You are not driving. Even to Carmel, the road is really bad. If you didn' t like the pilot, I can get someone else, just say the word."

"No, oh, I guess she was ok. She just reminded me of someone. Made me think of something, I can't quite remember what…"

Miguel didn't say anything. He turned his back to CC, walked to the window and stared out, not seeing anything. He was trying to decide what to tell her. Who was he? Before his encounter with Rath, he knew exactly who he was, exactly what he wanted. After Rath almost succeeded in killing him, he knew he wanted Rath dead more than anything, but after that, what did he want? He knew how close to death he had been, but even that had not made him consider quitting. This woman, though. He kept thinking of her. Just the thought of her, even in the heat of his anger, touching her had aroused him. He could have killed her if she worked for Rath, but what he wanted was to feel her skin next to his, to taste her, to feel her warm body take him in, and to hear her scream "I love you" again.

CC warily watched him. She knew now beyond any doubt that this man was dangerous. She didn't say anything, but she hoped that what she had said made sense to him. She watched his back and the nervous movements of his hands. The slow deep breaths he took. She could see the tenseness in his back ease, and she felt a slight sensation of relief, but she didn't drop her guard. She was staring at him so intensely that when he suddenly turned, she jumped. Her eyes focused back on his face instantly.

"CC. I trust no one. It is… I can't…shit! I… it keeps me alive if I trust no one. Then you. I started to trust you, and then I see the name of the man… cono… the man who did this to me."

CC watched as his hands and body almost twitched with the nervous energy pulsing through him. She still hesitated to say anything. He didn't look at her, but she realized he was waiting for her to say something.

Finally she spoke. "Miguel…. Miguel, this Rath, he was the one who shot you? I promise you I knew nothing of it. I make a living from not knowing things. I forget things I see. It doesn't pay to know. In my profession, to know things gets you killed. Miguel, if he knows you are with me, it is not because of anything I did. I don't know what I can do to convince you of that, but it's true."

She watched his face. He finally looked up and gazed into her eyes. "I believe you," he said, his voice almost a whisper.

A loud insistent beep came from the spilled contents of CC's purse. They both turned to look. CC cautiously got up from the bed and picked the beeper up. She glanced at the number. "It's my chartering service."

Miguel nodded, and she moved to the phone and called. She listened as the schedule was read to her, watching Miguel carefully as he paced back and forth in front of the window. She added some entries into her appointment calendar, then hung up the phone. Miguel didn't stop pacing, and never looked at her.

She hesitated to tell him what she had just heard, but finally spoke. "Miguel."

He turned quickly.

"Miguel, I have another flight scheduled for Rath. I am to pick the woman up again day after tomorrow. Probably going back to pick up the cat."

"So the little bitch will be getting her cat, eh? I would like to see her dead. Rath would not have lived if she hadn't helped him, and I would have killed her too."

CC's blood ran cold as she heard his words. She sat on the bed and hugged a pillow to her. Miguel looked at her.

"What?" he said. "You don't like to think of me killing someone? CC, that is what I do, that is who I am. I guess that shocks you?"

"No." she replied. "You killing someone doesn't surprise me at all. It is just that, I want her dead, too." Her voice trailed off to a whisper.

"CC? You want her dead? Why? I mean, you know her?"

"She is responsible for the death of my youngest brother." CC explained the circumstances of her brother's death. "He kept a journal on his computer. I found it when I found his body." Her voice broke, and she took a deep breath. She explained how Eric had loved Electra and she had duped him into giving her a confidential computer disk full of valuable information then left him to take the blame. "She killed him and I… I want her to pay for it."

Miguel looked into CC's dark eyes, seeing the hatred there. "Then, we will have to see that she does…CC I can help you do this. This might be just what I need to get to Rath. Yes."

CC watched as Miguel resumed pacing around the room. He was deep in thought. She was wary of him, but as she watched him move, his cat-like graceful steps, she thought of how he made her feel. She had never been with a man who could do to her what he had done. She closed her eyes, feeling him in her mind, remembering how his touch had made her moan. She jumped when he sat next to her, and slipped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. She tried to pull away, but she knew she really didn't want to.

"CC, listen. You will fly me to Thousand Oaks, and leave me there.

"Not Thousand Oaks. She is flying to Carmel."

"Whatever. You leave me in Carmel, then fly to pick her up. In the mean time, I will make sure that Rath knows where I am, once you have Electra. We will bring her here. She will be my bait to get him. Once he realizes I am in Carmel, he will know I have her. It will drive him mad."

"We are going to bring her to my cabin? I don't know about this, Miguel."

"Their bodies won't be found for weeks. There will be no way to identify them. No one will ever know about it."

Miguel kissed CC. She tried to push him away. "You hurt me and now you want to kiss me. Quit it, Miguel." She turned her head as his lips tried to find hers. She struggled against him, but he was too strong. She finally grabbed him hard in the crotch of his pants. He froze. "Listen to me, damn it!" CC demanded. "You are right. I do want you. But let me just explain something to you. If you ever, lift one finger to hurt me again, I will make sure you will never need this again. Understand?" She squeezed him as she spoke.

"CC. I am sorry. I promise I will not hurt you again."

She let go of him, and he exhaled loudly.

Then she said, "Now, where were we?"

"Somewhere about here. I like it when you play rough," he whispered as he slipped his hands against her bare skin inside the bathrobe.

Everything was going as scheduled. They had hurried back to the cabin, and while CC repaired the plane, Miguel contacted Rath again, liberally leaving clues to his location, making it easy for Rath to trace him. Miguel could almost feel the frustration in Rath as he played move after move of the Fadhlan Gambit. Rath had to be sure by now that Miguel was still alive.

They got off early the morning CC was to pick up Electra. The flight to Carmel was uneventful, but as CC was readying for the next leg of the flight she told Miguel she wasn't sure if she could do this.

"CC, you just bring her to me. I will take care of the rest."

CC took off and Miguel got on the computer. He began to try to connect to Rath, leaving a trail that any fool could follow. Rath had to know the Miguel was in the same town as Electra. He watched the time carefully, then heard his pager. It was CC letting him know that she was about to land with their prey.

He started the connection to Rath. "Come on Bobbiieee… Where are you? Let' s play a little more…" he whispered to himself.

He watched as CC landed the plane, and saw Electra drive off in the little convertible. Miguel hadn't wanted Electra to get the cat, but CC suggested that the vet might contact Rath if she didn't show up.

Rath answered the page about the time CC burst into the airport office Miguel was using. Miguel stared intently at the screen as he checked out Rath's last move. CC asked, "Going as planned?"

Miguel nodded, and CC knew he would be busy for some time. She watched, his legs bouncing with nervous energy, his hands constantly moving, and words, mostly in Spanish, pouring out of his mouth. Miguel jumped from window to window on the screen, playing chess at the same time he was watching Rath try to locate him.

"Got it yet Bobby? Come on Anticuado, I know you are smart enough…" Suddenly the connection was closed, from Rath's end. "Shit!" exclaimed Migu el. "What the fuck are you doing, Anticuado!"

"What's wrong?"

"He shut down. I don't think he had time to find my location. What the hell is he doing?" Miguel turned and looked at CC. "I think our plans may have to change a little now."

Rath dumped the game. He felt as if a noose was tightening around his neck. He had to get word to Anna somehow. While he was playing the game with Bain, and trying to pinpoint his location, he got an e-mail. One of his contacts sent him the news that a private charter had flown a badly injured or very sick young man from the airport on the island where he thought he had killed Bain. The pilot was a woman, named Tonali…

Tonali! That was the name of the pilot that had picked up Anna again this morning! If there were any way she was connected to Bain, Anna would be killed. He tried to call Anna, but she had her phone turned off and she didn't answer her pager either. He frantically hunted for the name of the veterinarian who had Pearl. He called, only to find that Anna had already left to return to the airport. At least Bain didn't have her yet. He called the airport, fear gripping him. He had to get hold of her somehow! He left a message, hoping she would get it in time. Then he called her pager over and over.

Finally the phone rang. "Joe, what is wrong? My pager has been going off like crazy. My phone is on the plane. What is it?"

Rath breathed a sigh of relief. "Nothing. I just heard something bad about your pilot, Ms. Tonali. She…"

"Who? What did you say her name is? CC Tonali?" Anna screamed into the phone. "Shit!" she screamed, "Joe, she will kill me! Oh my god!" She slammed down the phone, and grabbed the pet carrier.

She looked over her shoulder as she raced out of the airport. She didn't see anyone, but that didn't make her feel any safer. Eric had told her he was going to tell CC what had happened, and CC would make Anna pay for what she had done to him. And CC had made some threatening phone calls to her, before Anna had managed to ditch her. She raced back to the rental car, and left a trail of rubber as she drove away from the airport.

Rath stared at the phone is his hand. He wasn't sure what had just happened, but at least Anna would try to stay away from the pilot now. He set the phone down, and walked back to the computer.

Miguel and CC watched as Electra entered the airport. She went immediately to the line of pay phones on the wall. In seconds, she was obviously screaming, then slammed the phone down, and raced out of the airport. They could see her getting into the convertible.

"Shit!" Miguel cursed. "What the hell just happened? Can you get us a car? Maybe we can follow her."

CC nodded and left to get a car. Miguel pulled up a map on the computer. She had to be driving back to their house. He thought the coastal highway was probably the only direct route, and his search confirmed it. If CC could get a car quickly, then maybe they could overtake her on the twisting road.

She came back in a few moments, dangling keys. They found the rental car, and with Miguel behind the wheel, they sped off, headed for the coastal highway to Big Sur.