Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:50:54 -0400 From: Eff Del Subject: Flights of Angels-Chapter 20 Flights of Angels-Chapter 20 By Eff Del Obstacles and adversity are among the tools placed before us to forge our character. Adversity has many positive uses. Difficulty can force us to tap into our personal well of unexpected strengths. Everyone is handed adversity in life. No one's journey is easy. It is how we handle these difficulties and problems that make us unique. Anyone can hold to a steady course when the sea is calm. "Well, I'm not one to say `I told you so' Eric but we DID warn you about giving your pal Bernie too much information." Walter was drumming his fingers on the table-top in frustration as he reviewed the latest information provided by Barry. "Got to hand it to those guys, this was a move we never saw coming and sadly, they had over four days to pull it off which frankly is an outrageous amount of time. While we were so carefully planning our `surprise' take-over, they cherry picked the most currently valuable boys and removed them from the campus completely undetected. It was done so smoothly that we might not have noticed the extent of their extraction for days if we hadn't had Taylor with us. Bringing him on board was a great idea on your part." "So, what do we know so far?" I asked Walter, Barry and Richard more or less collectively. Walter gestured to Barry who answered; "This was so skillfully executed that it must have been a contingency plan they've had in place for a very long time. Four days was more than enough time to pull it off but not nearly enough time to come up with the strategy. They've extracted all of the boys undergoing their sexual training; the entire 13 and 14 year old tiers. These were probably removed over the weekend while Director Coleman and his office staff were not at the school. While we've had access and potential control over the school's computer system for a long time, we haven't been closely monitoring every seemingly routine transaction. Right under our noses all the proper paperwork required for an `extended field trip `to be taken by the group of boys was processed. Everything is straightforward in the eyes of the law. The people who have taken them have as much a legal right to have them as you did with Sean and currently have with Jack until his adoption is actually processed. All the right papers have been drawn and all the right signatures at least seemingly obtained. These boys are out under someone's legal guardianship and those papers will stand up under a judge's scrutiny Eric." With a look of pained frustration Richard jumped into the conversation; "There's little doubt that they've been whisked off someplace they feel is secret and secure. Almost certainly the sexual `education' of these young boys will be greatly accelerated so that they'll be a marketable commodity as soon as possible. In the meantime, they've also gotten ahold of the five youngest boys who were out on contract; three fifteen year olds and two sixteen year olds. There were actually another six boys between seventeen and eighteen out on contract at the same time but these have all been returned as per schedule. Whoever these guys are, they wanted the young ones only. No doubt in order to guarantee maximum years of service from them to cater to very specific tastes. Also, remember that these five can be marketed out while the younger boys are gotten ready for service on an accelerated schedule. A handful of the `special training' Proctors as well as several of the Proctors who regularly picked up and delivered the boys on contracts never showed up for work on Monday and are still unaccounted for. This leads to the assumption that a `Mini-NEST' is going to be set up somewhere. "Our current problem in this regard Eric, is that it could be anyplace in the world." Walter entered the conversation again. "The NEST obtains passports for all of its boys when they reach the age of twelve. This of course, made things easier if a boy was required for an international contract later on. So, with all of the proper paperwork in hand, these boys could have been whisked out of the country on any public airline with the TSA and Customs people smiling and waving `bon voyage'. It was very slick. We'll find them soon enough though, and then we'll figure out how to get them back." Walter placed a hand on my shoulder and urged me up from my chair. "Don't take offense here Eric, but your very best people are on this. Barry and his folks are without peer at what they do...Richard is already forming mobile `strike teams' ready to deploy at a moment's notice and `Wolfman' has his entire field staff on alert. Remember that Skuggor isn't some little local bunch of security guards. It's a worldwide network of highly skilled operatives. We'll find them and get them back Eric. There's absolutely nothing you can do right now that isn't already being done. Throughout all of this, you've got to be thinking about your boys...your family. Why don't you go take care of them and I'll let you know as things develop." I nodded in agreement but then turned to him and said; "In light of this development, let's pull Chris and Taylor back up here to Joyous Gaurde for now and...Doc Swaim as well. I really need him here for Sean and Jack. The Commodore, Ricky and Doctor Scott can get the Academy running smoothly again...especially since we currently don't have to worry about any of the `special education'" I smiled grimly as I said this. "Uncle Phil can stay down there for another few days to provide back-up for them and do whatever hands on stuff we may need on site." "If I can make a suggestion then," Richard cut in. "Why not fly Mandy down so she can be with Ricky? She's a stabilizing force for him and actually, I think she'd be a big help to the entire team." "Great idea." I said and then gestured to the three of them. "Make it so!" despite everything, I couldn't help but grin. "Get out of here Captain Piccard!" Walter laughed. ********************************************************************** Sean and I were waiting as the blue Beemer turned the corner and pulled into the car park. It was actually a momentary shock to see the driver door open and a red headed green eyed sixteen year old step out from behind the wheel. He walked over to me attempting to appear casual and cool over the fact that he'd just driven and automobile for the first time but he couldn't fight the smile attempting to take over his face. He held out the key and fob as if to give them back to me. I arched and eyebrow at him. "What are you doing Jack? Those are yours. John already has duplicates for when he needs them for maintenance and stuff. From now on son, that's your car. How was it?" "Dad...it was Soooo Cool! It was great and the car drives so nice...it's perfect...and John says I did pretty good...didn't I John?" John smiled and squeezed the boy's shoulder. "You did great Jack, I'm very impressed. You're going to be a wonderful driver." "When can you take me for a ride Jack?" Sean was wide-eyed with excitement and pleasure. Jack looked up at John his eyes asked the question. "I think in a couple of days Seano." The big man smiled. "In a couple of days he'll be composed and confident enough to take you for a spin." "Yeah!" My little boy gave his `big brother' a friendly punch in the arm "I knew you'd do great Rufus!" I turned to John and we exchanged smiles. "Would you like to join us for dinner John?" I asked and he shook his head once. "I'd love to guys but actually...Jenny and I are going out for pizza and a movie tonight in fact, I should go hop in the shower and get changed." I'd forgotten that John and Jenny were dating and in fact had apparently been seeing each other for some time. I seemed to remember him actually hinting that it might be getting serious. "Good for you!" I clapped him on the arm. "Have fun." I turned to the boys. "Well guys, there's still about an hour and a half before it's time to eat. It seems like ages since I've seen your bare butts in the swimming pool what do you say?" They were off like a shot laughing and yelling. I just followed smiling and shaking my head. As I rounded the hedge I could hear them in the water already and I noticed their clothes were folded neatly and resting on a nearby table. I couldn't help but be impressed for the umpteenth time at how well they had been raised. Just as quickly though I shook my head and decided I wasn't going to think about the NEST anymore tonight. I quickly got undressed and lay my clothing (much less neatly) upon a chair and dived into the clear water. After smiling at the boys, I launched myself into a set of vigorous laps and was soon joined by a sleek naked boy on each side essentially matching me stroke for stroke. After ten hard laps of the pool I rolled onto my back and floated as I caught my breath. They imitated my action and floated beside me. We drifted on the water in this fashion for a few moments in comfortable silence before Sean spoke; "This is soooo nice. Just us together like this. I could stay like this forever!" I smiled to myself but then I just couldn't help it and I said; "Well, boys enjoy it because Professor Swaim is coming home tomorrow and he's going to be getting back to devoting most of his time to your education so your little spate of freedom is over." "Dad." Sean was treading water alongside me now and looking at me with his best `butter would melt in his mouth' face. "Don't say it like that...We LOVE the Professor don't we Jack? Goin' to class is MUCH more fun than hangin' around by the pool all day...ain't it Jack?" Jack was already chuckling and Sean was trying very hard to keep a straight face as he spoke. I just rolled my eyes and reached over to the top of his head and pushed him under. When he rose spluttering to the surface, it was obvious that war had been declared. Jack seemingly felt duty bound to take the younger boy's side and very soon I found myself outnumbered in a splashing and dunking melee. While the boys enjoyed the rough housing, I enjoyed the grab ass part of the battle but all too soon I was resting on the side of the pool grabbing my breath. I noted with satisfaction though that they were both breathing hard as well. ****************************************** After we'd eaten, Sean and I were engaged in another chess game while Jack was stretched out on one of the couches with a book. "John said he's going to let me drive out to Deer Run for my boxing practice tomorrow Dad. That's OK isn't it?" "Son, if John thinks you're up to it, that's plenty good enough for me. I suspect though, that the idea of showing off your new car might be part of your motivation eh?" He lowered his book and looked over at me with a grin. "There's another thing that I wanted to ask you about though." His face was considerably more serious now. "The Club is having a dance next Saturday. Do you think I could go? I've never been to a dance or anything with girls and stuff." "Of course you can go Jack...but, do you even know how to dance?" "A little...see...Mandy has been teaching me a little and she says I do OK. So...I can go then?" "Absolutely, remind me in the morning and I'll arrange to have your ticket ready for you to pick-up before your practice tomorrow...and speaking of tomorrow; guys it's time for you to head upstairs. I'll be up to say goodnight in a bit. I've got a few things I need to do." As always, there was no complaint and no fuss from either of them. They were on their feet, gave me a kiss and were down the hall headed for the elevator without my needing to say another word. I walked down to my study and dialed the number to Chris' room at the hotel in Houston. "Hello" The response came after several rings and I'd almost hung up. I didn't recognize the voice on the phone at first. "Taylor? It's Eric Tucker. I thought I'd called Chris' room." "Oh...err Hi Mr. Tucker ahh...yeah this is the right number...Chris is...ah... right here. We were ahh just talking... hold on." "Hello Eric? Why are you calling so late?...oh I forget it's earlier out by you huh?" "Yes Chris, I'm sorry if I've disturbed anything I was just calling to make sure you guys have gotten the word that I'm flying you back her tomorrow." "Oh yes...Yes we know. Phil told us earlier today. That...err...that's great. We're...I'm looking forward to getting back." "Good then, I won't keep you. I'll see you tomorrow then. Goodnight." "Goodnight Eric." I hung up the phone thinking to myself that the conversation had sounded strange...almost awkward. I wondered if something was going on that I didn't know about. I quickly dismissed my uneasiness realizing that if something was wrong, I'd learn about it soon enough. For some reason, I'd half expected to find one or both of the boys in my bed but it was empty and so I walked down the hall. Jack's door was opened and a small lamp was burning at his bedside. He'd obviously been reading. His book still lay open across his chest. I carefully took it from his relaxed grip and marked his page. I placed it on the table and pulled his light blanket up to cover him. I bent over and placed a soft kiss on his forehead and turned off his lamp. In the room across the hall, Sean lay bathed in the blue light of the moonlit sky that came in from his window. His small achingly perfect young body looked almost like a marble sculpture as he slept; one arm stretched out to the side and the other resting upon his flat stomach which rose and fell slightly with each soft breath. His perfect legs were slightly splayed and I laughed to myself as I noted his little cock was erect as a steel rod. `Enjoy those good dreams little man' I whispered almost silently. His thick black hair was spread upon the pillow revealing his stunning face; smooth and untroubled. His eyes were closed and his impossibly long black lashes didn't even quiver as he slept...engaged in the wonderful dream that was causing his small little boy's prick to rise to whatever occasion his subliminal imagination had created. As with Jack, I pulled the light cover up over him and kissed the small exquisite vision as I whispered; `goodnight'. Although my bed was empty and despite the unpleasant news from the NEST, sleep came quickly and I awoke to find a small naked boy straddling my stomach. "Mornin' Dad!" he leaned in to kiss me. "Did you sleep good? After we shower an' have breakfast Jack an' me are gonna' kick the soccer ball around `cause he says I'm probably out of practice and tryouts are soon. Wann'a play with us?" I'd lifted him off of me and placed him on the floor and together we walked into the bathroom. I answered him as I casually took my morning piss. "I don't know yet little man. Unfortunately, I've got some stuff I've got to do up in the meeting room and then actually, I was thinking that while Jack is out on his driving lesson with John, you and I could take the `red cat' out to Greenwolds and get your soccer shoes, shin guards and whatever else you might need... then, we could grab a burrito. How about that?" "Great!" His smile lit up his whole gorgeous face, but my gaze was drawn appreciatively to his lush little butt as he moved my shaving gear prominently onto the counter near the closest sink. Sean most definitely preferred me to be clean shaven and he liked to watch me perform this morning ritual. As I worked the badger hair brush around the mug working up a stiff rich lather, I thought to myself that Jack must be near the age of shaving...maybe he already was...funny how much I don't know about the boy I'm about to adopt...I should look into that. He'd be needing a razor, a mug and a brush. I intended to start both boys off as my father had done with me; brush and blade. They could of course drift into whatever method pleased them but I wanted to at least start them out traditionally. After working the thick creamy lather coated brush into my morning stubble, I reached over and covered Sean's chin, lip and the tip of his nose in the thick froth causing him to giggle with pleasure. Most mornings my shower continued to be primarily an experience shared between Sean and me. Jack liked to sleep later than we did and therefore usually showered alone in his own bathroom...except, of course, when sleeping arrangements found him waking up in my bed. This was quite alright with me because the morning shower ritual had been an important part of the relationship between my little boy and me from the very first morning we'd awakened together. I knew the day was coming when he'd decide that he was too old to share this morning pleasure with me and I'd promised myself I'd enjoy it as long as it lasted and acquiesce gracefully when the time came for it to end. It was still `game on' this morning and I was grateful for that. ********************************************************************************** Although the morning was no particularly special occasion, Martha had pulled out all the stops for breakfast. She placed before each of us a plate with two eggs over easy...or `over squeezy' if one were speaking `Sean-ish'. At the side were four strips of crispy maple cured bacon, buttered toast and a side plate of cantaloupe slices. As if that weren't enough, in the center of the table she'd set a platter stacked with thick slices of baked French toast with cinnamon sugar. I happily finished my eggs and bacon and reached for the platter of French toast only to discover that the bulk of its bounty had already been divided between the two boys. I looked down upon the two remaining slices and then at the young heathens across from me as they wolfed down the food as if they'd only just escaped from some desolate prison camp. Sean looked up from his plate and saw me looking at the both of them. "What Dad?" he said with a syrup coated smile. "Not a thing son." I smiled as I pulled the two golden brown portions onto my own plate conceding to myself that I really couldn't have eaten more anyway. `I was that young and bottomless once' I thought to myself. "Jack, I'm taking Sean into town for his soccer equipment. I never asked if you're interested in joining a team this year." He looked up at me with those almost hypnotic green eyes. "Thanks Dad, but no. I really thought about it but the boxing season still has several weeks to go and I'd really like to concentrate on that. Besides, I want to devote as much time behind the wheel as John can spend with me. I really want to get my license as soon as possible." I nodded but I remembered the upcoming dance and his very hetero internet interests lately and wondered if the randy young redhead wasn't planning for the future. I was still enjoying a cup of coffee when the boys asked to be excused. They cleaned the table and carried everything into the kitchen as always and then happily exchanged hugs and kisses with Martha. "Now boys, I'm planning on a big cheesy lasagna for dinner tonight so I'm only putting out some fruit for your snacks this afternoon. It'll be in bowls in the fridge when you're ready...no nosing around for cookies and things like that." "Oh Mrs. Edwards...me an' Jack wouldn't never do something like that." Sean was looking at her with his big blue/green eyes and an angelic look on his face. She pulled him towards her and grabbed him by his cheeks gently and firmly. "Right Mister big blue eyes...and the devil wouldn't dance on a Sunday...if his fiddle was broken." She pinched his cheeks gently and Sean endured it because he knew a loving kiss was certain to follow. As we were leaving, I told Martha not to worry about lunch for us because I'd already spoken to John and he and Jack were going to meet us at Cocina Alfredo later on. ****************************************** I had to admit to myself that I loved nosing around Greenwolds Sporting goods and having boys to use as a handy excuse was a great thing. As I looked at the separate displays I thought to myself that Sean's kidnapping and subsequent recovery had stolen the baseball season from us but there would be many seasons yet to come. I was really looking forward to soccer because it was something neither Kyle nor I had participated in. I understood the game well enough from a spectator's perspective, but based upon everything I knew, I couldn't wait to watch my Sean in action. Selecting the shin guards was a quick and easy task. Sean preferred the type with a bottom loop for the foot and elastic straps that went around the calves. "I like them to feel like they're part of me...like I'm wearing them instead of them just bein' somethin' stuck down in the front of my socks." He'd explained. We found Nike and Adidas products that he liked although he'd only ever used Nikes products back in his days playing for the NEST. We got a pair of each because from my point of view, there was enough of a difference in the design to justify the multiple purchases. The shoes were another matter entirely. Sean corrected me straight on by explaining that soccer shoes were called `boots' by anyone who understood the game. He was quite specific as he began to explain the important aspects of a good pair of soccer `boots'. "So, you know what you're looking for then?" I'd asked. He'd confirmed that he certainly did and so I left the selection up to him and the poor young man who was waiting on us. After about thirty minutes Sean was torn between two pair both of them NIKEs but of a slightly different design. He looked up at me as he sat there holding one of each. "These would be perfect for a hard dry pitch and even if the grass wasn't very good and these...would be excellent on soft wet fields and places when the surface was thick and spongey...but...REALLY Dad, they're both awfully good boots." I smiled to myself and wondered if he'd ever understand. Sean had no concept of selfishness or desire for material things. He appreciated quality and anything well-made and he enjoyed those things he had but couldn't grasp the concept that he could own more than one `good' thing. Jack was the same which is why he'd never even considered proposing a BMW as one of his car choices. These were unselfish clear minded boys who truly appreciated everything that they had. "Sean," I'd knelt down next to him and was speaking sotto voce. "We should get them both. You never know what conditions you'll be playing under, why not have the perfect pair for whatever you face?" "Really Dad?" I knew I'd never get enough of his smile. "That would be great...it would be perfect! Thanks Dad!" He hugged me and kissed me right there in the middle of the sporting goods store. I squeezed him tightly to me not caring who was watching. `This will end someday soon' I thought to myself `But please PLEASE not TOO soon.' This was as close as I came to praying. As we walked through the store, I threw several items into our cart like water bottles three new size 4 soccer balls. I hadn't realized that there were different sized balls for the age groups. Sean was at the last stage of youth sized balls. Next year he would be playing with a full sized ball but this year he'd be dealing with the slightly smaller 26 inch `balón' and I knew that he should be practicing with that size rather than the full sized balls I had back at the estate. I'd also picked up several pair of long soccer socks and a couple pair of light weight soccer shorts for him to use during practices. He was walking by my side...actually dancing or strutting...it seemed like Sean never actually `walked' like normal people and I spied a display I'd not even though about. I pulled him close and whispered; "What about...you know...protection down there?" It took him a minute or so before he realized what I was talking about. Once it dawned on him he grinned up at me. "Dad, I already got a couple of jocks. You bought them for me last time we were here an...much as I wish I had, I ain't grown very much in that department since then." I was still looking intently at him and he finally realized why. "Dad, you don't seriously think a guy could play soccer wearing a cup do you? It might keep my nards protected but man would that rub and chafe! Ooooh it hurts just to think about it! Dad honest...our nuts are pretty safe out there... I sure don't need some hunk a plastic stuck between my legs while I'm tryin' to run an' kick and stuff." I looked at him with what was no doubt a very sheepish grin. "I'm only concerned about protecting you Sean." "I know Dad, an' thanks but honest...I'd rather take a ball in the nards than have to try to play wearin' a cup." "OK then little man I understand. Is there anything else you need or...want?" "Nope. The club will give us our uniforms and sweat suits an' bags and stuff. I'm all set thanks Dad!" "OK then, I'll call John and have him and Jack meet us at Alfredo's." ************************************************* Jack and John had left right after breakfast. John was driving Jack's car as it left Joyous Gaurde because they had a passenger. They were dropping Mandy off at the airport. Captain Lucas would fly her down to be with Ricky and then late this afternoon, he'd fly back with Doc Swaim, Chris and Taylor. After Mandy's flight departed, Jack would take over the driver's seat and John would continue his driving instructions. We'd beaten them to the restaurant and were standing on the simple front vestibule waiting for them. I watched with a mixture of pride and amusement as the blue BMW turned into the parking lot. The boy behind the wheel ignored several available spots that were between other parked cars relatively close to the entrance. Instead, he slowly drove to the rear of the lot and parked the car in the empty row. I wondered if this was caution because he was not yet confident enough to slip his vehicle in between two others or if he was simply being protective of his own shiny new car. I remembered when I'd first started driving; I was almost pathologically protective of the beautiful red Mercedes CLK convertible that my father had given to me. Even long after I'd gotten my license I always chose to park as far away from other cars as possible; not because I wasn't capable of properly parking the car, but because I was so afraid of dents and nicks from carelessly opened doors or improper driving on the part of others. I remember Mathew, who was John's predecessor laughingly telling me that if I would simply put a little scratch in one of the body panels myself, then I could get over it and treat the car less cautiously. Of course I never did that. I loved that car and is was as perfect as if it had just driven off the showroom three years later when an old man in a full sized Chevy van had `mistaken' the accelerator for the brake and shot like a guided missile straight across the Deer Run Club parking lot and into my wonderful red convertible as she sat parked while I was inside playing tennis. My car was totaled and the old man after recovering from his happily minor injuries, was never allowed to drive again. As those pleasant and unpleasant memories played out in my head, I decided to not even mention Jack's parking peculiarities to him. I just smiled and pulled him into a hug as Sean opened the door and the four of us walked into the enticing aromas emitting from the kitchen of the wonderful Mexican restaurant. ************** After returning to Joyous Gaurde, the boys and I (all wearing swim suits) horsed around in the pool with John for about an hour before I had to get out and get dressed to receive an up-date in the conference room. The boys stayed in the pool with John. He and Jack would leave in about a half an hour so that Jack could drive out to Deer Run for the boy's boxing practice. Sean had announced excitedly that Martha was going to let him help her cook diner. I decided that might certainly be an interesting affair and was almost sorry I wasn't going to get to watch. In fairness though, I'd thus far discovered that there wasn't much Sean didn't learn to excel at very quickly and so I decided; `why not add cooking to the list'? I found Walter and Richard hunched over a stack of papers some of which looked to be topographical maps. Barry was engrossed in something on the computer as his fingers seemed to fly over his keyboard. "Any good news guys?" I asked as I took my seat at the big table. "Well, there's news." Walter looked up with a sort of half smile. "Although I don't know if you'd call it good or bad." I raised an eyebrow and didn't have to ask for further information. "The thirteen and fourteen year old boys taken from the school are now out of the country." Walter stated matter of factly. "Just as we feared might happen, they were flown from Houston's Hobby airport on a chartered flight to Los Angeles Friday night and were all placed upon a regular Air New Zealand flight in the wee hours of Saturday. By our time Sunday, they were all delivered and ensconced at a private estate on one of the defunct coffee plantations on Atiu." "Where?" I asked a bit bewildered... Walter smiled at me. "Yeah, I know. Not exactly a household word is it? Atiu is one of the islands in the southern group of the Cook Islands. It's a little north west of Rarotonga which is the big island and the capital." "Well that's pretty good news isn't it?" I asked as I got up and walked over to the coffee maker and poured myself a cup. "If I remember right, the Cook Islands are part of New Zealand...right? So we should be able to get good local co-operation once we establish the fact that these boys were actually taken out of the country illegally. Seems to me this should be easier than I was afraid it was going to be." Walter got up and walked over to me and guided me back to my chair and I noticed that both Richard and Barry had expressions on their faces that ...well, that didn't seem very encouraging. "Eric, the Cook Islands are a kind of hinky situation in-so-far as international law is concerned." Walter had poured a cup of coffee for himself and sat down next to me. "Let's start out by saying that all citizens of the Cook Islands are New Zealanders but...not all New Zealanders are citizens of the Cook Islands. They are sort of a nation within a nation. They make their own international treaties and have established their own economic boundaries. They virtually ignore all international extradition requests and are a haven for people seeking to escape international jurisdiction by making the seeking of legal restitution an almost impossible task. Although the islands are spread out over an area larger than Europe, they're really sparsely populated and actually comprise a land mass of only about 100 square miles all told. For many years now, the Cook Island government has encouraged economic competition especially between the United States and China. The island of Atiu once was home of several coffee plantations most of which failed in the early 1980's but the land is still undeveloped. In fact, there are no cities; actually no real towns on the island, just five villages which are more or less growing together. The total population is about seven hundred people. The seclusion is wonderful and frankly, the place is an island paradise. If I were going to plan this kind of a caper Eric, I don't think I could come up with a more perfect spot. On paper they have the boys there completely legally and there just aren't many people around to snoop and ask questions. The boys are now on a large private estate belonging to a man named Chao "Charles" Chang. He is some sort of Chinese diplomat to the extent that he has immunity in most western nations. Our current file on him is surprisingly small; perhaps because of his international status and perhaps because he is very, very rich. Not as rich as you Eric, but rich enough to be very formidable. We have been able to ascertain that he is a very regular client of the NEST. Scarcely a week goes by that he hasn't contracted for one of the boys...usually the fifteen year olds early in their `carreers'." Something flashed in my memory. I recalled Jack's autobiographical commentary to Professor Swaim. Jack's first `client' had been someone named Chang. I recalled him bragging to Jack that he almost always got the NEST boys first...didn't he tell Jack that he had friends inside the Academy? I was certain I was right but I'd check it out after leaving the conference room. "So what do we do now Walter?" I asked. "Eric, we're working on several extraction plans. We've got a nice sized contingent of Skuggor in New Zealand and of course an even larger compliment in Australia. With your permission, tomorrow Richard and `Wolfman' will leave for Auckland and by the time they get there; Barry and I will have finalized our strategy." "Sounds great Walter I said and then I had a thought. "What about the five boys snatched from their contracts?" Richard answered me this time; "We're pretty certain that they're still someplace in the USA. They would need to keep them close, handy and available for contract. They certainly will want to keep money flowing in while they re-organize. Remember that from this point on, they don't have all the other funding coming in to subsidize themselves. I'm not certain that snatching these five boys was part of the initial plan. It seems more like a spur of the moment reaction to the news of our planned take-over. I suspect that we'll have them located by morning." "OK then guys," I got up and was walking to the door more or less in a haze. "I'll see you in the morning and for gawd's sake, all of you try to get some sleep. Richard...have a good flight tomorrow." I was a bit stunned. At least we knew where the majority of the boys were now. They certainly weren't stressed out because what young boy would be stressed over being taken to a tropical paradise especially by people that from his perspective were folks that had looked over him and protected him all of his life?" As I walked down the hall and passed by the kitchen I noticed that Doc Swaim was there talking to Martha and Sean. The group had obviously gotten in from Houston. I walked in and we exchanged a few words but he was obviously tired so I left him with both of us agreeing to talk after diner. For some reason, I suddenly realized that Doc's presence meant that Chris was back as well. I smile to myself thinking that just being with Chris would calm me down and help me to evaluate the situation rationally. I walked out to the charging line and jumped onto a golf cart and headed for the condos. There was another cart plugged into the charging station so I knew Chris had returned. I didn't want to frighten him but I kind of wanted to surprise him so I climbed the stairs quietly. The door to his condo was opened and without a thought I walked in. There were two travel bags laying on the floor of the big main room but no sign of anyone so I wandered down the hall towards the master bed room. Knowing he was probably very tired and likely asleep, I tried not to make any noise. If he was sleeping, I'd probably do just as I did with the boys; plant a kiss and leave him alone. It was comfort enough just to have him back. As I neared the door to the bedroom, I was surprised to hear noises from inside. They were guttural sounds and higher pitched whines... The unmistakable sounds of sexual activity. For some reason I didn't hesitate. I simply walked into the room. I was greeted by the view of a muscular ass moving in frantic pumping action while a pair of equally well developed legs were wrapped around the back belonging to the thrusting ass. I couldn't think quickly enough to stop myself. I just blurted out; "Oh my god!...Excuse me! I should have knocked! I'm so Sorry!" Instantly the action on the bed froze and two familiar faces stared at me in wide eyed panic. "Mr. Tucker!" Taylor exclaimed looking at me from over his shoulder and from below him, Chris was looking in horror as he almost cried; E...Eric! Eric We...I...ERIC!" (To be continued) Thanks once again for the wonderful email support. You know that your responses are what keeps this thing going and...speaking about keeping things going, PLEASE remember that NIFTY needs your support to keep this all coming to you for free. You can donate here... http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html You can contact me here... Nolitimere156@gmail.com I respond to all communications.