The Woman Who Loved Cats

Unmasked

The rain streamed down as though the end of the world was nigh. It was easy to understand how the flooded occupants of Lismore felt, their houses washed away or thoroughly drenched and ruined. Ryan realised it was a stretch to compare the rain in Collaroy with the rains in Lismore but he had some idea that it was bad.

He wandered from the window overlooking the ocean to the sofa and sat next to Lily who, as usual, looked immaculate. She smiled at him.

'I hope this weather relents. I need to get back to feed Marlon.'

'Marlon will be okay, won't he? You've left him food, I imagine.'

'True but he would be frightened.'

Ryan put his arm around Lily and pulled her closer. "If you leave me alone, I'll be frightened.'

Lily laughed. 'You big sook.'

'The weather is so bad now you have to stay here.' Ryan turned and kissed Lily on the cheek. She turned and kissed him back.

After a passionate session of love-making, in bed, lying closely together, Ryan said, 'I'm not as cuddly as Marlon, am I?'

'No, but you do things Marlon can't.'

Relaxed, Ryan lay back and closed his eyes. He was very happy and hoped this moment would last forever. But he was jerked out of his contemplations by his mobile phone buzzing.

He didn't want to but he reached for the phone, sitting on his dresser. 'Yes,' he said. 'Right, got it.'

When Ryan faced Lily again, his expression was anything but happy. 'That was my contact, the guy who pays me.'

Lily peered at Ryan. 'So, what does that mean?' She pulled a sheet up, covering herself and Ryan.

'It means I need to travel again. Work.'

'Okay. Who wants your consulting services now?'

Ryan screwed up his face. He leaned down and kissed Lily on the lips. He felt her naked body against his and he felt movement below the waist. 'I want to make love to you one more time. It may be the last time.'

'What?' Lily didn't know whether he was serious or not. What had happened? That phone call changed everything. Was he going to jail because of unpaid taxes. If a killer was after him, he wouldn't be quite so calm. But before he answered, they were exploring each other's bodies again. Lily loved the way his tongue started at her breats then travelled down as he held her legs over his head. He worked on her sweet centre with style and grace and brought her to a c****x so powerful she couldn't help but scream loudly. She had never felt so euphoric, so alive.

Then it was Ryan's turn and his entyire body shuddered when he reached his ending. He collapsed beside her afterwards.

Although he just wanted to sleep, Ryan knew he needed to tell Lily what was happening.

He explained that he was a messenger of doom and that he needed to travel to the Philippines to complete a contract.

'You're a hitman.' Lily gazed at him, incredulous.

'I wouldn't put it that way but I guess in layman's terms, that's right.' He wondered how long it would be before Lily walked off, disgusted. And he expected she would end the relationship. But it didn't happen.

Instead she said, 'Does it pay well?'

Ryan couldn't believe his ears. 'Sure does.'

Jasper and Odondo entered the rented house just before nine o'clock. They'd had some drinks and a snack at a local eatery with some of the other guys who were finished for the day. Odondo was tired and he was keen to get some shut-eye. he walked along the corridor after high fiving Jasper. They's had a successful and lucrative week and each man was going to his bedroom, to rest or catch up on some sleep.

Odondo opened the door and switched on the overhead light. When he looked ahead, he almost passed out with fright. Perspiration was streaming down his face. The fact that the air conditioning wasn't on didn't help.

'What the hell?' he blurted out at the man with a gun which had, as an attachment, a silencer

'Shut the door and sit down,' Ryan said. 'And stay quiet otherwise this situation could turn ugly.'

Odondo, brushing sweat off his brow, sat on a chair near the bed. 'What do you want?'

'Toss me your wallet. I'd just like to see what name you're working with now. And don't make any sudden movements. I've retrieved the gun out of your drawer. And I've established from your records that you are, in fact, Mr Carl Odondo. Am I right?'

Odondo didn't want to admit it and didn't know how to invent aplausible story on the spot. 'What about it?'

'You're a scammer. One of your victims is Judy from Singapore. Does this ring a bell?'

'I'll get her on the phone in a moment. If she identifies you, I will shoot you in the knees to make sure you don't walk again.'

'What do you want?'

Ryan raised his mobile phone and snapped a photo of Odondo. 'I want you to return what you've stolen from Judy to her.'

'I cannot. Money spent.'

Ryan fired and hit Odondo's left knee.

Odondo screamed.

The next moment the door opened and Jasper looked inside, aghast. Ryan shot him in the chest. 'What did I tell you about keeping quiet?'

's**t. He's my friend.'

'Another scammer. I have received intelligence about your opertation here. The police are in the premises at the moment, collecting data. Tomorrow, every person will be charged. Records will be sent to the police and arrangements will be made to reimburse the victims.'

'So why are you hassling me?'

'It's a job for me. If you want to live, send back the money.'

Odondo was holding his knee. 'How did you find me?'

'One of your operators talked.'

'Who?'

Ryan smiled. 'That's confidential.' He made a call and ten minutes later police and an ambulance arrived. Odondo was arrested. The dead man remained dead but was taken away. Ryan explained all he knew to the police who asked him for a written statement. Ryan agreed.

Back in Sydney, Ryan called Lily and asked her out. They met at the Four Seasons hotel as Lily was goiung to be out in the afternoon and she said she'd make her own way there. When they sat down, he ordered champagne. Over a glass of Bollionger, Ryan toasted with an announcement. 'I booked the Romance package. Hope you can stay the night.'

Lily beamed delight. 'That's lovely. Was the trip a success?'

'Absolutely. Another romance scam operation eliminated.'

That night turned out to be a prelude to a great future for both of them.