Panther4 by Tom Adams
The "Bureau" takes Panther on a dangerous assignment against a terrorist.
Panther opens the post office box and removes the manilla envelope. It's from the Bureau, instructions for her next assignment. The Bureau does all the investigating. They develop a plan of action and if Panther is the right agent, she is brought in to finish the job. Usually in a matter of days, sometimes in a few hours.
Panther lays the envelope on her desk in her apartment. She has been debugging a computer program all day and she's drained. First a shower. The warm water feels good on her head and quickly drenches her jet black hair and runs down her brown skin. She stays in the shower a long time letting the water work the tension out of her body.
Finally she cuts off the water, steps out of the shower and towels her hair. Panther sees herself in the mirror on the bathroom door and stops for a moment. The towel falls to the floor. She is proud of what she sees. Her Afro-American features give her a unique sensuality. Forty years old and still the jogging and weight lifting keep her body a "work of art." She drops to her hands and knees. Like a big cat, a panther.
Work of art? Sounds sort of corny. But there is nothing corny about her strong, muscular arms and legs, her hard, flat stomach and firm breasts. She is a work of art. Men find her extremely attractive. And that's why the Bureau has chosen her for this assignment. Panther doesn't know it yet. She will when she opens the envelope and reads its contents.
Panther slips into a bathrobe and pads barefoot into the kitchen. She puts a dinner into the microwave, pours a little white wine into a glass, picks up the manilla envelope and settles into her favorite chair. She tucks her bare feet under her and looks at the lastest assignment from the Bureau.
His name is Jeff Anderson, an alias, of course. Real name is Bob Stephens, an all American boy that has developed into a home grown terrorist. Panther skims over the background on what he had been. She doesn't give a damn. She just wants to know what Jeff?, Bob?, whoever is doing now.
Well, now, although the Bureau can't prove it in court, Jeff is blowing up abortion clinics and has assasinated a federal judge. He has assembled a group that is going to blow up a major federal building. But when?, where?, the Bureau doesn't know, yet. It will be much easier to just take Jeff out, permanently. And that's where Panther comes in. Jeff has a hobby, the Bureau hopes can be turned into a fatal weakness.
Jeff is obsessed with taking pictures of nude women, especialy black women. Why?. It's probably in the background info Panther ignored. She smiles, takes a deep breath and flexes the muscles in her body. She can feel them strain against her skin. Her smile is not about Jeff. It's about the Bureau. They are brilliant with their research. Brilliant in the way they search for a possible weakness and pick just the right agent to go in to finish the job. Jeff, if you like taking pictures of nude, black women, I will be you're worst nightmare. Panther swallows the last of her wine and finishes reading the Bureau report.
The next afternoon a Delta jet lands in Atlanta, non-stop from Los Angeles. Panther grabs her only luggage, an overnight bag, and takes the subway to the main terminal. She's traveling light, plans to be back in LA in two, maybe three days. The Bureau has mailed her a key to a storage box. She opens it and pulls out a large briefcase. Then a rapid rail train and a quick ride to a station just south of the downtown area.
Panther looks around. A first time visitor would think they had arrived in a run down warehouse area. She knows better. The report tells her she will be in a loft apartment area. Old warehouses converted into expensive apartments and condominiums. Jeff lives nearby in an apartment over an antique store. His front? Commercial photographer specializing in pictures of loft apartments. His hobby? Photographs of nude women, preferably black. His vice? Assasin, bomber.
The area is still in a period of some transition. There is an old, low rent hotel across from Jeff's apartment. Panther checks in, pays cash for three nights. She asks for a specific room. The desk clerk, an old man already impressed with Panther's appearance, wonders why. Oh, who gives a damn. The place is almost empty anyway. Give her anything she wants, especiallly a cash in advance customer. And for three nights! He takes her money, gives her a room key and goes back to sleep
Same day 11:00pm. A surprisingly nice singles bar and restaurant near Jeff's apartment. Panther has been here since 9:30pm. She has already told four men, in a very polite way, to "get lost". The Bureau says Jeff will arrive between 10:00pm and midnight. As usual, the Bureau is right.
She spots Jeff as he comes through the door. The picture from the file did not do him justice. He's tall, blond and muscular. He wears a short sleeve shirt to make sure all the women know he's a "hunk". And he spots Panther sitting at the bar, almost before the door closes behind him. Brown skin, black hair, dark eyes, muscular arms and legs. My God, the lens will eat her. He looks around the room first, trying not to be too obvious, then sits down on a bar stool beside Panther.
"Hi, name's Jeff, and yours?" Not too smooth, but not corny. And who cares? This is not a seduction. Just give him what he wants, then send him to the afterlife. "Nancy," replies Panther. "I'm a photographer," says Jeff giving her a business card. "You're very attractive. Ever thought of doing any modeling?. There can be a lot of money in it." Jesus, is this a quick approach or what?. No idle chit chat, just boom!
11:45pm. They are in Jeff's apartment. Panther has made the idle chit chat, asked him a lot of questions about his photography business. Jeff is an experienced terrorist and she doesn't want to give him the idea he is being set up. She is not afraid of being alone with Jeff. Panther has a small pistol in her purse. And she is a martial arts expert. Can kill with her hands, her elbows, her knees, her feet. The Bureau has trained her well. But Jeff's death has to look like an accident.
"Well, this is one big room," says Panther as she looks around Jeff's apartment. "It's a loft apartment," says Jeff smiling. "Everything in one room, my studio, my bed, my TV, kitchen. Oh except the bathroom. It is separate." "Unique," replies Panther. "Not in this area of Atlanta," says Jeff. "But let's get started."
As Jeff adjust the studio lights and lowers a plain blue backdrop, Panther quickly looks around the apartment. The Bureau advance work stopped at Jeff's door. Now it's up to her. She notices a book shelf from the floor to about six feet high and about ten feet wide. Apparently Jeff is an avid reader. And the kitchen. The kitchen has what appears to be a gas stove. Gas!
"Would you like some coffee?" Jeff ask.. Panther almost jumps. She is so focused on taking in every detail of his apartment. "Yes, thank you," says Panther. Jeff goes to the stove and turns on a burner to heat up some water. It is gas!. "Hope you don't mind "instant"", says Jeff. "No, that will be fine," replies Panther. Jeff turns on the gas, the water heats quickly . They sit drinking coffee discussing the photo shoot.
1:15am. Panther has posed in her revealing dress, exposing more and more of her muscular body when Jeff asked the question she knew was coming. "I would like to take a nude photograph of you. You are the most beautiful black woman I have ever seen." Don't give in too easily. Remember, this man is a trained terrorist. If you show a weakness, even the slightest weaknesss, He'll spot it.
What's in it for me?." asked Panther. Jeff has heard this before. "The market is for nudes." answers Jeff. "High class nudes. We don't have to show frontal nude shots. Certainly nothing pornographic. Your skin and muscle tone are great. Just one shot from the side . OK? Anything I can sell of your photo, you get 50%." Panther pretends to thank about this for several minutes and finally says, "OK"
She rises on the balls of her feet, flexes the beautiful browm muscles in her calves and thighs. She turns slightly to the front to show her hard, flat, muscular stomach. She keeps her arms folded over her breasts, showing just enough to be provocative, and smiles. Jeff takes the picture.
Panther quickly puts her clothes on. "Can we have another photo shoot tomorrow night?" ask Jeff. "I'm leaving town late tomorrow afternoon," she replies. "But the 50% grabs me. Can we make it tomorrow afternoon?" Jeff frowns. For all the talk about being a full time photographer he also has a "day job", just one of the crowd in a boiler room telemarketing firm. The Bureau has missed that. Careless. Very careless.
But the Bureau's mistake works to Panther's advantage. "What time?" ask Jeff. "Five PM answers Panther. Damn, damn, I've already taken so much time off I'm about to be fired. But this is the most beautiful black woman I've ever photographed. Screw it, I'll get another telemarketing job. "Yes, five PM it is ," says Jeff.
1:00pm. Next day. Panther is back in her hotel room, straight across the street from Jeff's apartment. She opens the briefcase the Bureau had left at the Atlanta airport. Inside is a rifle, silencer, telescopic site. The Bureau has no way of knowing if this will be needed. However when the object is to "take someone out" this is sometimes how it's done.
Panther assembles the weapon, starting with the barrell and ending with the telescopic site. There is one item remaining in the brief case. A very small, but powerful amount of plastic explosive. No need to handle it gently. It takes a severe jolt, like a bullet from her rifle, to set it off. She places it in her purse and waits.
5:30pm. Panther knocks on Jeff's door. She's thirty minutes late. The effect this has on Jeff is very effective. "God, where have you been? I thought we agreed on 5:00pm," says Jeff, his cheeks slightly flushed. He desparately wants to photograph me. His obsession has completely taken over. Good. Very Good. "I'm sorry, Jeff," replies Panther, faking a slightly ashamed look. "Got tied up in traffic. I hope this didn't interfere with your schedule."
"I'll make it up to you," says Panther. "Let me fix some coffee and then you can take another nude photo of me. But remember what you said 50-50, OK?" The flush stays on Jeff's cheeks, but not because of anger of a late arrival. It's the anticipation of her nude body, captured again on film. To Jeff, this is better than sex.
Panther fixes the coffee and puts a drug into Jeff's cup. It will take an hour before he knows what hit him. But then it will be too late. He will be unconscious in about forty five minues and not wake up for hours. But in Jeff's case, the hours will last for an eternity.
Panther and Jeff drink their coffee while exchanging small talk about the weather in LA and Atlanta. The flush on his cheeks has gone. He is relaxed now and his mind turns to the photo shoot.They continue small talk about loft apartments vs regular apartments while he sets up the backdrop and adjust the lighting. And, of course, like last night he closes the blinds on the windows.
"How do you want me to pose, Jeff?" ask Panther. He thinks for a moment, remembering last night's photo from the side. Panther has said no frontal nudity. That leaves the back. "Completely nude from the back," says Jeff.Panther slips out of her shoes, takes off her dress, letting it fall to the floor She is not wearing panties or bra.. And then she turns her back to him and the camera. Jeff stares in admiration for a few minutes, and then goes behind the camera.
Panther once again flexes the muscles in her calves and thighs and also her perfectly rounded butt and her powerful back and shoulders. Jeff admires her for a moment, takes and deep breath and snaps several photos.
As Panther put on her clothes, Jeff appears to be drousy. The drug is begining to take affect. Perfect timing. "Nancy, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever photographed," says Jeff. "I'm feeling sleepy. Hard day at work. Can we have another photogaphy session? Maybe tomorrow? You name the time. I'll be here." "Sure, Jeff", says Panther. Sure Jeff, you won't be here tomorrow.
Jeff almost stumbles into a chair near the window and goes to sleep.Jeff will never wake up. Panther goes to the stove, turns on the gas full on all burners and blows out the pilot light. She goes to his large bookcase, selects a book from a recent best seller and inserts the explosive, then opens all the blinds to his apartment.
6:30pm. Panther waits until the antique shop under Jeff's loft apartment is closed and emptry. She waits another half hour. Jeff, who has killed and will kill again must be taken out. But not one single innocent life will be sacrificed. It's a Bureau rule and it's her rule. She slowly looks through the telescopic site at the "best seller", takes a deep breath and pulls the triger.
Jeff's apartment erupts in a mass a flame. Panther quickly disassemles the rifle and places it back in the brief case. As she walks back to the rapid rail station she can hear the sound of sirens as the fire department, police and ambulances rush to the scene.
8:00pm. Back at the Atlanta airport. A Delta jet to LA takes off at 8:45pm. But first to another storage box in the main terminal. Panther deposits the rifle and picks up another minalla envelope from the Bureau.
9:30pm. At 30,000 feet Panther opens the manilla envelope from the Bureau. She takes it into a restroom, locks the door and opens it. $10,000. Panther considers herself a patriot, helping rid the country from enemies. She would do it for nothing. But the Bureau is known by only a few at the highest levels of government. They consider their agents paid mercennaries and assasins. Panther does not feel this way. She takes the $10,000 and flushes it down the toilit