TURNS OUT IT was a good decision to not bring a firearm, since my personal FBI law enforcement liaison was waiting for me at Union Station.

I was not surprised to find the FBI waiting for me. There's a lot that goes along with being a McIver besides trust funds and contentious family relationships. There's also the random searches, seizures, and interrogations by our ever-vigilant federal police force. Daddy used to describe it as kind of like dealing with palmetto bugs in Florida. No matter what you do you're going to have them, so you might as well shut up and get over it.

BTW, a palmetto bug is a giant cockroach. I had to ask what it was, too.

Anyway, once I got to Union Station, I headed for the nearest taxi stand when a white guy in a black suit stepped in front of me and maneuvered me back onto the sidewalk and against the Indiana limestone exterior. He was a reasonably good looking white guy in his late 20s, with brown hair, wayfarers, and a smug ass smile.

"I got to say, McIver, you look mighty fine today," he leered, doing a once over on me that was totally visible despite the dark lens of his sunglasses. "Mighty fine, indeed."

And just like magic, this shitty day got even shittier. I plastered on a large, yet completely insincere smile. "Well if it isn't the very special Special Agent Donnelly. I like the sunglasses. Very Mulder."

"Thanks." He grinned back and pushed the glasses up on his nose. "I think so, too."

"Where's your partner? What's his name again?"

"Salim. Abu Salim. He's in the car."

I looked over his shoulder; sitting in an unmarked Federal Agent Special Edition Ford Explorer was Special Agent Salim. He was casually taking pictures of me using a camera with a long lens. I waved. He waved back.

"I like him," I told Special Agent Donnelly. "He's professional and respectful. Why can't he be my own personal government stalker?"

"He's taking pictures."

"I see that. I still like him better than I like you." I turned around and spoke loudly for the benefit of the unseen surveillance team recording our session. "Did you get that? I like Agent Salim better than Agent Donnelly."

Donnelly laughed, stuck his hands in his pockets, and rocked on his heels. "Aw, you like me, McIver. You're just afraid of your feelings for me."

"Is that it? Wow. I had no idea. It all makes sense now. Can I go?"

"Oh, come on now, McIver. We haven't seen each other in so long. Don't you want to stay and catch up?"

"I saw your new sunglasses. I consider that caught up." I moved to walk around him, but he blocked me.

Even though he was wearing the sunglasses, I could swear he gave me an evaluating look. "You got me all curious now, McIver. Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

I refrained from rolling my eyes. Showing temper to law enforcement lets them know they're getting to you. "I have a court date. I'm filing a restraining order against this federal agent who keeps harassing me."

He clutched his heart and acted all wounded. "That hurts, McIver, it really, really hurts. All I want to do is talk. Don't you wanna talk? I wanna talk."

"I don't want to talk."

"C'mon McIver. All girls like to talk. Tell you what. I'll put the ball in your court. You can start by first asking me a question. How's that sound?"

I looked up like I was thinking hard and twirled a lock of hair. "Let's see...could you explain to me how any information you get from me is inadmissible because you're acting under the color of authority and sadly have not informed me of my rights under Miranda v. Arizona?"

Funny how fast he lost his smile. "Oh, c'mon McIver. We're just having a conversation. No need to get all acrimonious on me. I mean, we're friends right. I like to think we're friends. Aren't we friends?"

"We're not friends. Can I go?"

"You gonna be that way after I gave you a compliment? I told you that you looked nice. You could at least be grateful."

"I'm not."

He ignored that and gave me a once over that was damn near physical. Blatantly staring at my chest, he asked, "Did you get a boob job since the last time I saw you? Because I swear they look bigger." He snapped his fingers and pointed. "It's a new bra, isn't it? Well, it's working, let me tell you. They are truly magnificent."

Donnelly is such a pig, but hey, he's right. I do have an awesome rack. I pushed them out farther for his further viewing pleasure. "Thanks for noticing, G-man. I don't find your rude and inappropriate comments off-putting at all."

He smiled at that, gave me a cop stare for a minute, then said, "All dressed up in your designer dress and your sexy high heels. I wonder who you plan to see."

"You really think my breasts look fake?" I countered, unbuttoning a button. "I don't. I think they look just right. Don't you?"

He half-smiled and gave them another look, but alas, he was not to be deterred. "C'mon, McIver, who you gonna see?"

"I'm going bra shopping. Want to come?"

He smirked. "Uh huh. I don't think you're going bra shopping. I think you're meeting somebody." He pulled down his shades and looked at me hard. "Have you been crying?"

That almost threw me off, but I caught myself just in time."Please. Why would I be crying?"

"I don't know. Why would you be?" He continued to stare at me, and then pushed up his glasses. "You hiding something, McIver?"

I popped open another button. "I'm an open book, G-man. You wanna see?"

He waggled a finger at me. "Naughty, naughty. You should be careful." He oogled my cleavage and purred, "One of these days I might take you up on it. You really are a beautiful woman." He paused and then added, "I hope Alexander Cosetino appreciates you the way I do."

Oh. So that's it. I hadn't been dating Alex for a month, and now the Feds are all over me about it. This time I did roll my eyes. What I did with Alex was nobody's business. "You know, Agent, I got things to do. Am I under arrest?"

"Why would you think that you're under arrest, McIver?" He gave me that good natured grin he wore when he was still feeling friendly. "You feeling guilty about something?"

"I don't know, G-Man. I've asked you several times if I could leave, and each time you said no. That's Florida v. Bostick. When a reasonable person doesn't feel like they can leave a police encounter, then they're under arrest."

"Listen to you quote case law, McIver. I bet you even know the citation."

I batted my eyes at him. "You need me to explain it to you, state actor?"

"I love it when you talk all legal, McIver. It's so damn sexy. Say habeas corpus for me. Or writ of mandamus."

I yawned and patted my mouth.

"Alright, alright." He laughed and held up his hands. " I get it. Go and buy your bras McIver." He stepped aside so I could pass. "Great talk. We got to do it again sometime."

I moved quickly around him. "No, we don't."

"Make good choices," he called out after me.

"Thanks, Agent Donnelly," I yelled back with a little wave over my shoulder. "Hope you get a chance to read the Constitution between then and now."

"Be seeing you."

"Not if I see you first." I frantically hailed a cab.

"Oh, hey, McIver, can you hang on for a second?"

I winced. Dammit. I stopped in my tracks.

He walked slowly up to me. "Do you mind if I look in your bag?"

I took another deep breath and then turned to face him. "Is it really necessary, Special Agent Donnelly?"

"Yeah. It's really necessary, McIver." He smiled a shark's smile. "Open the bag."

"Fine." I unzipped it and showed it to him.

He stuck his hands inside, all around. "Well, it doesn't look like anything's in there. Can I see your purse?"

"You know you're infringing on my Fourth Amendment rights."

He shrugged. "I can't call it a day until I infringe on somebody's Fourth Amendment rights. It's the best part of the job." He winked. " Also, I like feeling your underwear."

"Enjoy it, G-man, because searching my bag illegally is the only time you will ever get to feel any of my undergarments."

"Don't be so negative. Purse, please."

I handed it to him and he started digging. First, he took out my wallet, opened it, and whistled. "How much cash you got there?"

"I don't know," I lied. "Maybe a thousand? Patrick sent it to me for school supplies."

"Did he? What kind of school supplies do you need?"

"A new Mac. I'm going to the Apple store on State Street."

"You could get one cheaper than there, you know."

I stared at him. "I don't have to worry about things like that."

He stared back. "I suppose you don't." Next, he pulled out Pat's Amex and studied it. "If Patrick gave you cash, why do you need his American Express card?"

"It's a back up. You know Patrick's my guardian." I sighed heavily. "He's always so worried about me, so he gave me his Amex for emergencies."

He put the wallet up. "How is Patrick? Is he keeping his hands off the local cheerleading squad?"

I cocked my head, confused. "I don't know what you mean by that, Agent. Should I call and ask him?"

"No, that's alright." He dug around for another few seconds and pulled out a lipstick. He read the label. "Fire Engine Red," he said. "I thought redheads weren't supposed to wear red."

"I thought government agents were suppose to have probable cause." I shrugged. "Looks like we were both wrong."

He chuckled at that and put up my lipstick. "You know, McIver, you are something else. I think out of all the potential felons I have the pleasure of protecting the public from, you're my favorite."

I smiled back. "Oh, pshaw, Agent. You're just saying that. Now, are you sure you don't want me to call my brothers? They always get such a kick out of talking to state actors about title 42, section 1983 of the United States code."

"There you go, talking all legal again." He handed me my purse. "You're giving me a boner."

"God, you're such a pig," I said before I could stop myself.

"Getting to you, huh. I knew it would eventually." He dropped his smile and gave me his expressionless Ray Bann stare. I knew what that meant. It was time for the 'come away from the dark side' pep talk that always ended our little get-togethers. "You know, in all seriousness, McIver, you should think about distancing yourself from Cosetino. You're a smart woman. You should be careful."

"Alex is a lawyer," I sighed. "He's not a criminal."

"Oh, he's a criminal, McIver. He's a very big, very bad criminal."

"You're just saying that because he's Italian. He's Italian, he's rich, ergo, he's a mobster. You're such a racist, Donnelly. Alex is so straight he practically squeaks when he walks."

"Actually, I'm saying that he's mafia because he's mafia. People in organized crime don't look like Soprano extras anymore, McIver. It's called assimilation. Look it up."

I glared at him.

"You can give me dirty looks all you want to, but I'm telling you, he's connected. You stay with him, you'll go down with him."

This time it was my turn to smile a shark's smile. "Well, then, it's a damn good thing I know a lawyer. or two, or a hundred. Are we done here, state actor?"

He glared back and nodded curtly. This time I passed him without bothering to say goodby. I could, however, feel his eyes on my ass. "Stop looking at my ass, G-man," I yelled as I opened the cab door.

"Stop having such a fine ass," he yelled back.

_____ * _____ * _____ * _____ * _____

This chapter introduces Special Agent Jason Donnelly. He's snarky, rude, sexist, and sexy. Some people might go so far as to ship him and Siobhan. Those people should check out FlyGirl 2.0. :)

Again, thank you so much for taking time to read FlyGirl. I look forward to your comments, and if you liked it, please remember to vote!

©Copyright Liz Charnes May 2018 

This work is protected by copyright and cannot be copied or used in any way without my express consent. Please don't steal it. Thank you!