Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)
Chapter 14 - Tiger On My Tail

“Let me work on it. I think I have the perfect she-jaguar to get the phone to him. She’s mates to one of the partners but doesn’t go anywhere near his job site.”

“Okay,” I mumbled as we ate. I wasn’t sure about the two tech jaguars. I wanted to laugh at the thought. I could understand why they did it, it was good money for their village. Plus, a great way to train and stay in shape.

“This is good,” Manuel said, covering his mouth.

“Thanks.”

We both zoned out a little. I knew he was probably thinking of a way to get the information to the she-jaguar. Her phone would have been tapped too. I had some ideas on a way to do it but she didn’t know me. I didn’t want anyone hurt on my account. There were too many skeletons already.

“I think I have it. I always joke, especially about her getting a tan. I could tell her she was going to burn. She would know right away what I was talking about. It’s an old joke, one she knows means nine-one-one. She buys a burner phone every time. She’s the one who checks for bugs in their apartment.”

“She is? Cool. I would love to meet her,” I replied.

Manuel rolled his eyes, something he didn’t think he had ever done it before. “They only have a few days left in the tech department but I don’t think it would be a problem with them getting here. It wouldn’t take them long with the helicopter they bought. It’s a funny sight to see the villagers scrabbling outside to watch it. After a couple of times, it gets boring. They had to build their own heliport. Now, that was a sight to behold.”

“I bet the one’s wife enjoyed it,” I said with a chuckle.

“That’s all you got from what I was saying? Seriously?” He asked incredulously.

“Yep,” I waited a beat. “And, they had only a few days left and it wouldn’t be a problem getting here. They have a helicopter.”

“Smarty-pants.”

I gathered up our dishes, setting them up in the sink, running a little rain water over them.. I didn’t want bugs and I didn’t want to wash only two dishes.

I left the Dutch oven on the burner, letting it cool. I had made just enough for us and I could wash the pot with the dishes but it was way too hot to wash as of now.

“I’m headed to the porch, okay?”

“Sure. I’m going to get some sleep myself, after I do the dishes. I don’t want to leave them overnight,” I explained.

“Do you need some help?” Manuel asked.

“Nah, I got it.”

When Manuel walked out the door, I scrubbed out the Dutch oven and rinsed it with rain water. I filled it back up and set it on the burner, turning the gas on and lighting it. As soon as the water was hot enough, I washed off the dishes, forks and glasses, then cleaned the big pot, rinsing everything with more rain water. I double checked the propane was off.

I felt gross, dirty and sweaty. I put a little rain water in a plastic bowl and rinsed off, using a clean cloth I found. I knew I needed to put more spray on. I hated smelling like the stuff but it was either the spray or the drug runners. Or, worse - the monster.

After I cleaned off, I held my nose and sprayed the masking scent on. I wondered if the guy who owned this tree house would be mad at the smell, I knew I would be. It was rank and I didn’t like smelling like the stuff. This bottle was one of my older bottles and stunk worse than the others. Before I got all the way dressed, I looked out the door, hiding my body behind the wall.

“You, okay?” He asked quietly.

“Yes. This crap is ripe. I think I used my old bottle and I was trying to air the inside out a little. I’m going to wash up again and use the new bottle. No wonder you said I stank.” I shuddered. “It’s nasty. I use all natural stuff but that bottle must have fermented. I could probably drink it and get a buzz but I don’t think I will chance it.”

I shut the door, going back over to the bowl and adding rain water, once again. I took everything off and scrubbed my body, then hurried to put on the new bottle of masking spray. Whew! A lot better. I didn’t think I would have slept stinking as bad as I did. I grabbed another set of camo pants, tugging them on. I grabbed a black tank and a camo long sleeved shirt, putting them on. I didn’t want to wear my shit kickers to bed but I had to be ready for anything, so I put them on.

After I was dressed, I went and emptied the bowl I had used to take a bath with. I walked over to the bed and laid down, hoping against hope I could get some much needed sleep tonight. I was on edge. Every sound, every drop of water and everyone of Manuel’s light snores were heard.

I felt myself relax into the bed, finally drifting off to sleep.

I awoke to the howler monkey’s going crazy. They were upset with someone and I couldn’t see who. I hated being at someone else’s mercy but I wouldn’t put them in more danger with my presence.

“Oi,” I heard Manuel say.

“We were looking for Rivera,” a voice said.

“He’s in Washington for some reason. He doesn’t tell me anything, can you believe it? Friends for twenty-years and he still doesn’t say anything,” Manuel answered the voice back.

“I’m his boss and he’s missing. He got a call saying his partner was kidnapped. It’s the last item we picked up on his phone,” the voice said.

“I’ll call him on the walkie. He might answer if he’s in the bird but I’m not sure.”

“I’m going to check out his tree house,” the voice stated.

“No! You are going to show me some damned I.D. then maybe you can go up. I don’t just let anyone into his house. He has a relative waiting on him to return in a couple of days,” Manuel demanded and explained.

After a brief pause, I heard. “You might want to be careful. This person is dangerous when riled up.”

Way to go Manuel. Way to state I wasn’t female and get the man’s attention on danger. The military thrives on danger.

Yay me.

“Want one of us to go with you, General?” Another voiced asked.

I hope he liked where his butt was. And, I thought Manuel was calling him out on his masculinity. Nope, this fool did, and he did it in front of his men.

Way to go ass-wipe.

“Did I ask anyone else to go with me? I’ve eaten larger Marines than this guy has ever thought about hurting. Get back with the other’s, Marine,” the General sneered.

Well, here goes the big General to the bottom of the food chain.

I could hear the General pulling himself up the rope ladder. I was still behind the door, but instead of my gun I held my blade. I didn’t want to accidentally, on purpose, shoot the General.

The door opened and the General poked his head in, looking around.

I grabbed his head, threw him to his knees and held my blade to his throat. “What was that, General? Something about eating larger Marines for breakfast?” I whispered, letting him up. I kept my blade close as I turned the lantern up.

“Damn, your a little thing, aren’t you?” He whispered back. “Hey, I know who you ar-”

He didn’t get to finish the sentence, before I had my hand over his mouth and my blade back at his throat. “Quietly, how do you know me?”

“We’ve been keeping tabs on him through his trainer. We set him up as a spy. He was always telling us that you hated it there. Our last conversation was him telling us you had run.”

I nodded my head. “It’s why the reason you have gotten the greeting you did. I can’t have him know I’m here. He will kill everyone, you included,” I explained as I thought about what the General said. “That sly dog. He knew training me I would soak up everything like a sponge. He works for you now?”

“Yes. He had some extraordinary talents he said learned all over the world. I never asked questions. When he was, supposedly, turned against the government, he went to work for him. He even got his surgery from a government surgeon. A surgeon with an actual office in California. He helps us keep track of the face changes these men do.”

The General sniffed around the room. “What is that god-awful smell?”

“What smell?” I asked.

“I am guessing you’re the same as I am?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I answered.

“Okay, a test. Whisper something to Manuel and have him whisper something back.”

“Go in the corner of the room, General,” I ordered and smiled.

“I can’t believe you ordered me to stand in a corner,” he said and laughed.

“Manuel, whisper to the General my exact words. Tell him he’s a yankee doodle dandy,” I whispered and tried not to laugh.

It was only a few seconds before the General busted out in laughter. Full bodied, tears flowing laughter. “I can’t believe he quoted you word for word.”

“Well, okay, then. What are you?” I questioned.

“I’m a tiger. I’m from the Philippines.”

“Fuck!”

“You need to join the Marines, you would fit right in,” he jested.

I shuddered. “I’m allergic to bullets,” I dead-panned.

“Well, I wonder why?” He stated, knowing full well why she hated bullets. His reports were detailed and sickening.

“What are you going to do with the information from your guy? I mean, you, as a General, can’t exactly operate on this soil, can you?”

“Not with this unit. I put together a unit of shifters as a shadow unit. They named themselves the Shadow Cats,” he commented, rolling his eyes at the name.

“I’m going to send my unit back, after I make a call on my new burner phone. Do you mind?” He asked, holding up the phone.

“Nope, but I’m not walking out there,” I replied.

“Understood. I’m going to call my-”

“-la-la-la-la. I don’t care. I don’t want to know. I’m trying to stay alive, not die,” I responded.

“Are you alright, General?” The stupid Marine asked.

I rolled my eyes. “Send him to me, he won’t make it.” I chuckled at the General as he thought about it for a second.

“I’m fine. Mind yourself. There are things in the rainforest that could eat you in about a second,” the General said happily.

Ooh, I liked this General.

“Merda burra.”

“What did he Manuel say?”

“Dumb shit,” I replied with a straight face.