Spy on Spy by twisted_trisk

Spy on Spy

twisted_trisk, Adult, Anthro, FBI, Fiction, Hetero, Heterosexual, Human, Human/Furry, HumanXFurry, Love at first sight, M/F, Pornography, Sex, Skunk, furry, heels, paradise, spy

#6 of Hetero Stories

A young FBI agent encounters a beautiful and mysterious girl while spying on a drug cartel. She sweeps him off his feet, but is she all she seems to be? Is their meeting a coincidence? Will this seductress be his undoing?

Spy on Spy

Contents: Sex, Male Human/Furry Female (Skunk)

Chapters:

1) ** **Unexpected Wrinkle

2) ** **Crazy Glue

3) ** **Beautiful

4) ** **Aftermath

5) ** **... In River City

6) ** **Breakdown

7) ** **But is this Love?

8) ** **Big Trouble

9) ** **Starting Somewhere

10) ** **Clues

11) ** **Confrontation

12) ** **The Way Home

1) ** **Unexpected Wrinkle

I was dug into a very good position to try and watch for my target. Along the lonely but beautiful section of Florida beach, with beautiful white sand and pure blue water, I was hidden amidst some rocks and fallen logs a few feet into a thick tropical grove. My department had scouted well, and I knew that I was invisible from the beach or the water, free to use binoculars and anything else I needed to use to watch and wait.

I was sick of lying here, sweltering in the sand, though. I had been here for several hours, my intelligence only stating that the drop would happen this afternoon. I had gotten here at ten o'clock in the morning, scanning the water, beach, and even the ridge behind me constantly, but so far there was nothing to report.

The endless rolling of the waves on the sand was hypnotic, and I was fighting to keep awake the whole time I was there, it seemed. Had the intel been wrong? Again I scanned the horizon, looking for the motorboat which was supposed to arrive here... sometime today.

I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye and swung the binocs around quickly to my right, heart pounding. With relief, I saw it was just a pedestrian. An innocent civilian strolling down this lonely beach, the first one I'd seen all day.

I looked again and felt my heart flutter. It was a drop-dead gorgeous, sensuously beautiful female skunk goddess. Her glossy black fur, brilliant white stripes, large breasts and full hips were the definition of feminine perfection. She was wearing a bright green string bikini, and had dyed her white hair the same brilliant green color. She wore expensive gold jewelry all over her arms, legs, neck, fingers and ears, and was gracefully ambling along the beach, holding a pair of matching green six-inch platform pump sandals in one beautiful paw.

She was supermodel beautiful and perfect. I watched her large breasts jiggle with each step she was taking, her hips switching with such a ravishing grace I could hardly tear my eyes off her. I had never in my life seen a female of any species that beautiful. She was so hot it was frightening.

I tore my eyes off her to quickly scan the horizon, and with a sinking feeling saw the glint of metal out on the water. My target was approaching in his boat. Damn the luck! This girl had to pick now to gambol past, after months of careful intelligence gathering had finally yielded us this spot. If the target saw her here, they would abort, and all our preparation would be for nothing. I realized quickly that I had to get her off the beach.

She was ambling past me, only about ten feet away now. I was about to speak, when she stopped and sniffed the air, her shiny black nose twitching. "Hello?" She called out in a sweet, lusty, feminine voice. I realized she had smelled me.

I weighed the options in my mind, then decided to keep silent and hope she was curious. She put her hands on her hips and spoke again, sounding a bit petulant. "I know somebody's in there, I can smell you, human. This is private property, and you are trespassing. Come out before I get upset."

When there was no response to her hail again, she drew her long green hair out of her eyes and stepped into the thicket. "Dammit! Yer making this worse for yourself by hiding! This is private property owned by my boss, and if you don't come out I'm going to call the police and have you arrested!" As she spoke, she stepped closer and closer, unable to see me through the camouflage blanket covering me and all my equipment, until she was standing practically on top of me.

All at once, I exploded up out of the camo and grabbed her, yanking her down into the hole I was hiding in and covering her muzzle with my hand. She let out a scream as I grabbed her, but in less than a second, I had her under the blanket and hidden from view. She tried to bite me, forcing me to drop the binoculars and clamp her muzzle closed with my hands.

"Listen!" I hissed to her. "I work for the FBI, and I'm working a case. Dammit, you just stumbled into a sting operation we've been working on for nearly a year, and you are this close to blowing it to bits. I need you to stay down and be quiet, my target is already on his way. Do you understand?"

I looked into the most beautiful lime-green eyes I'd ever seen in my life. I suddenly understood where she'd gotten her affection for that shade of green, her eyes were striking and lovely. "Please, ma'am. This is incredibly important. Please keep down and keep quiet. I'm going to let you go now, I have to watch my target. People's lives are at stake here."

I released her, and to my relief she didn't scream, run, or attack me. She just stared at me with wide eyes. I grabbed the binoculars up and looked through them, finding the small slough as it cut quickly towards the beach through the water. "C'mon, boys." I muttered.

"Like, yer a cop?" She asked, sounding incredulous. "Lemme see a badge."

I didn't even look over at her. "I'm not a police officer, I'm an FBI agent. Plus, I'm working undercover, in case you didn't notice." Nevertheless, I pulled my tin shield and showed it to her.

She did look around the dug-out depression in the sand, covered over with the camo blanket. I had communications gear, night vision gear, sound amplification equipment, a small radar box, first aid kit, multiple sets of binoculars, and several guns, including a shotgun and my trusty Kalash rifle.

"Cool!" She cooed and grabbed some binoculars, laying down right next to me and looking out. "What are ya lookin' for? Oh, that boat that's coming close? Wow, he's really moving!" She sounded thrilled to be in the middle of this.

I tried to drive the fact that her luscious, sexy body was pressed up against my side from my mind... that her fragrant, expensive perfume was filling my nostrils, and that the most beautiful woman in the world was looking at me with awe and admiration. "What've they done that yer watchin' them?" She asked in excitement.

"That's classified." I grunted, trying not to think about her, so close her left breast was gently touching my arm.

"Awwwww... that's no fun! Can I have one of the guns for protection?" As she spoke, I saw her grab the 12 gauge and grip it, putting a finger on the trigger.

"No!" I gasped. "That's loaded! Take your damn finger off the trigger right now! Haven't you ever held a gun before?"

She shook her head, pulling her finger away like it was hot. I chided her in a calmer voice. "Listen, you don't put your finger on the trigger until you have a bead on your target. Forget the Hollywood bullshit and please put that down right now before you ruin this stakeout!" I then turned my gaze back to the boat.

She was quiet for maybe half a minute, then said "Oh! He's slowing down! What can I do to help? What's your name?"

"Nothing and none of your business." I snapped.

In a falsly sweet voice dripping with a veiled threat, she said "You know, for someone who just said his cover could be blown by my being here, you're treating me awfully poorly. Maybe I'll pop out and see if the guys in that boat are more friendly to me."

She started to get up, forcing me to dive on her and try to hold her down. "No! Are you crazy? I told you, this is a government operation! Stay the hell down!"

Still speaking in a sweet, sing-song voice, she purred "Then tell me your name, or I'll start screaming!"

I stared at her in horror, then snarled "Michael."

Sounding as if she was greeting a guest at a summer banquet, she happily chirped "Pleased to meet you, Mike! My name is Maine. This is really cool! So why are you here, again?"

"I said Michael, not Mike. It's classified." I grunted. Immediately she made to stand up again, forcing me to dive on her and hold her down. "I can't tell you! It's... well... I'm trying to crack open a group that runs drugs and illegal guns out of Cuba."

In a sing-song voice, she purred "There. That wasn't so hard, was it? Cuba, huh? What are they doing over here in Florida?"

"Class..." I started to say, then thought better of it. I wished I had a tranquilizer of some sort to knock out this nosey female. "This is a deal being worked on by the higher-ups in the cartel. They meet wherever the hell they want to, but never anywhere near Cuba. Listen, can you please stop threatening me and just cooperate for a few damn minutes?"

She gave me a pouty look. "I'm not threatening you, Michael. I just wanna know what's going on. After all, you are trespassing. Fer all I know, you could be the cartel member and those are the cops out there."

"I just showed you my badge!" I protested.

She shrugged, unimpressed. "Those are easy to fake. I'd expect drug lords to have truckloads of them."

The slough was only a hundred yards from the shore already. I grabbed my radio and hit a button and softly spoke into it. "Target is almost on the ground. I had to detain a civilian walking on the beach. Be advised, civilian is in bunker with agent." I clicked the radio back off.

"You're really cute." She observed, staring at me intently with her sparkling green eyes.

I was nonplussed by that and looked at her, blinking in surprise. She smiled a stunning smile at me and touched my nose with a finger... a delicate, sexy finger. "Uh..." I weakly managed. "Th... thanks. You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life."

Her smile broadened, then she plopped back down beside me with a pair of binoculars again, looking at the boat. Remembering why I was here, I did the same. I could see two men in the boat, along with several suitcases, probably containing luggage. "Hello... what's this?" I muttered triumphantly. One of them was holding a small wooden box, perhaps eight inches wide, deep and long.

As if she could read my mind, the skunk softly whispered "What's the one on the right holding in his hand?"

"No idea." I lied, then grabbed the radio again. "One-two-one, oh-four-one" I softly spoke into it.

She stared at me shrewdly, then grumbled "You DO know what he's holding! What is it?"

Trying not to betray any emotions to her, I replied with another lie. "I do not. I just reported it because it is unexpected cargo."

The men slowed the boat and one of them hopped out, pulling it close enough for the other to get out. He grabbed the suitcases, and juggling the small box and his cases, he hurried up the beach without a second glance at the other man, who seemed in no great hurry to head back into the water. He sat on the prow of the boat and lit a cigarette, seeming to relax.

Half panicked, I grabbed the radio again and hissed "Target is on the move, driver is keeping me pinned down in this location. They did not make a clean drop, repeat, driver is keeping me pinned! Please advise!"

After a moment, the reply came through. "We have no other agents in the area because drop sequence was assured. Wait for driver to move, then pursue target."

I cursed softly and threw the receiver back down. The man was still relaxing and smoking his cigarette, looking like he was relaxing. To my right, Maine spoke up again. "Like, what's goin' on now, Mikey?"

"Trouble." I grunted. "This isn't how we thought it would go down. He was supposed to turn around and leave right away so I could pursue the box, so now I need to follow that package, and this guy is keeping me from moving."

Sounding a little triumphant, she crowed "I _knew_you knew something about that box."

"Well, I don't." I grunted as I gazed back up the beach where the target was now just a speck, jogging along in the same direction my troublesome female companion had come from. He paused, looking back, then set down his suitcases and grabbed something out of his pocket. A moment later I heard a cellphone ringing, and the man leaning against the boat picked it out of his pocket and answered. I grabbed my shotgun microphone and pointed it at him, slipping the earpiece in my ear.

"What's he saying?" Maine breathed into my ear.

I waved her off, which made her glare at me. "I'll just go ask him, then!" She growled softly and made to stand up again.

Exasperated, I dove on her yet again and spoke through gritted teeth. "His boss called from up the beach there and is yelling at him for hanging around. OK? Is that good enough for you?" As I spoke, he threw his cigarette into the ocean and shoved the boat back into the water, jumping on board and beginning to paddle back out into deeper water.

Scanning up the beach, I could no longer see my target, which was making me feel panicked. At last the boat's engine roared to life and took off back into the water, cutting through the gentle waves and quickly picking up speed. "Let's go!" the skunk chirped excitedly, starting to stand up.

"No!" I hissed and grabbed her arm. "We don't dare move until the boat is far, far away from here! If he were to turn around and see us, this whole op'd be for nothing!"

"Oh." She replied, plopping back down. "But our guy isn't even visible anymore, ya know? Don't we gotta risk it and move?"

I sighed, trying to keep my cool with her. "Listen. There is no 'we' going on here. When he's far enough away, I'm taking off after my_target, and _you are going to stay here for extraction and debriefing by my department."

She looked petulantly at me. "But I wanna come with you! I wanna see what happens next! I can be a big help, and I hate drugs!"

"Not going to happen." I snapped. "You stay here, and they'll come and pick you up in a few minutes, that's the way it is."

She glared at me, then cooed "How do you plan on keeping me from following you?"

I gaped at her. "Miami, please! You..."

"Maine! My name is Maine!" She hotly interrupted.

"... sorry. Maine. This is a government operation, and it is very dangerous! You have no training, you can't come with just because you are curious, OK?"

As I spoke I strapped on my pistol holster and readied to exit my little makeshift bunker. She stared at me forlornly with those large green eyes full of pleading. I didn't respond, instead taking one last look at the boat to make sure it was far enough away. "Please let me come with..." She begged, giving me doe-eyes.

Shaking my head, I said "Stay here." Then grabbed up the radio and called in. "I'm in pursuit of the package, civilian is remaining at concealment bunker for debriefing."

"En route for extraction." Came the terse reply. I threw down the mic and crawled up out of cover, out to the beach, where I stood and began to run in the direction my target had gone.

Immediately, there was a black and white striped furry figure running along beside me. I looked over at her in incredulity. She was gracefully bounding along beside me, looking like my top running speed in the soft sand was no more than a gentle stroll for her. She still had ahold of her pumps in one paw, and had a determined look on her face.

Before I could protest, she flatly declared "This is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me in my life. There's no way I'm going to miss it. If you wanna stop me from coming along, you better have a SWAT team arrest me, 'cause that's the only way I'll stop."

"Disobeying a federal officer in a situation like this could land you in prison!" I snarled in exasperation at her.

She reached over with her free paw and touched my cheek. "I know you won't do that to me, Mikey. I only wanna help, that's all. You're a big, strong agent and I'm just a helpless little skunkie girl. Please lemme come along..."

What response could I give? I knew she would disobey no matter what I said, so I just kept my mouth shut and kept my eyes open for my target. This was bad. He'd disappeared up the beach an eternity ago, and tailing him was going to be nearly impossible. The sand was too rough and patchy to even show his footprints, so there was no seeing him that way, either. I could only hope to move fast enough to catch a glimpse of him.

Suddenly, after running beside me in silence for fifteen minutes, she stopped and grabbed my shoulder. "He turned off the beach right here and headed for the road."

I stared at her. "What? How can you know that?"

She shrugged. "He smells bad. I can still smell him in the air, and that smell wasn't present when I walked this way before."

Only having a split second to make a judgment call, I hesitantly turned and headed up off the beach where she'd indicated. "You'd better be right, Mia... Maine."

She glared at me, but as we came over the small rise, I could see a parking lot, and there, climbing into a blue sedan, was my target. He was as shifty and stereotypically "Cuban cartel" looking as it was possible to be. I dropped low and looked around wildly as he started the car. "Please advise!" I urgently spat into my radio. "Target is still carrying package, and is entering a vehicle at a different parking lot from what we believed! I'm going to lose him!"

Dispatch was as calm and dispassionate as ever. "Agent is en route to you. ETA three minutes."

"I have a car." Maine quietly said.

"Three minutes? He'll be gone by then! This whole op is going to pieces!" I softly cried in exasperation. How was our intel so completely wrong?

"My car's right over there, Mikey!" Maine chirped, more urgently.

Looking frantically around, my panic building, I snapped "License plate is obscured by mud. We are going to lose this guy after months of preparation! Give me permission to intercept or he's gone!"

Immediately, my commanding officer's voice came online. "Do not intercept him, LaCosse. Repeat, do not intercept, that is out of the question. Can you procure a civilian vehicle?"

Maine slapped my cheek and grabbed my face, turning me to look at her and forcing me to listen. "My car is right over there! We can follow him in that!"

2) **Crazy Glue**

I kept thinking she couldn't shock me any further, and she kept proving me wrong. I clicked off my radio and slowly nodded. "Maybe you being here isn't such a bad idea after all." I said with a hint of admiration.

She caught the tone in my voice and flashed a radiant smile at me. "See? I'm not so bad to have around, Mikey!" She pulled a key out that she'd had tied into her G-string's tie and handed it to me in a smooth motion.

Her car was an expensive-looking cherry-red custom convertible sports car. It was hard to imagine a more conspicuous car to ride in while trying to tail someone, but the target had his engine running and was pulling out of the parking lot. Once I'd waited as long as I dared in the hopes that he wouldn't notice us, I charged for the car she'd indicated, with her right behind me. The blue sedan was disappearing around the corner as I leapt the driver-side door and started the car, realizing she was already in the seat next to me, putting on her seat belt.

I roared out of the parking space and sent the car barreling into the street, turning to follow where the target had been heading. After a couple blocks I caught sight of him and fell into a tailing pattern. "There he is!" the skunk-girl enthused, bouncing up and down on her seat. "Can we get closer?"

I took a risk of glancing over at her sitting there. The sun was sparkling off her black fur, shimmering on her green hair and eyes. Her large breasts, wide hips and luscious ass... her perfect body and long legs... "Who are you, exactly?" I asked her suddenly.

She looked at me and batted her eyes in bright, happy, confusion. "Pardon?" She cooed. "I'm Maine, I told ya that."

"No. What is your job? What were you doing out on that beach?" I watched her reaction as carefully as I could while driving.

"Wall, I'm an actress, an' I live here in Florida. I make good money and keep to myself, because frankly looking like this gets me hounded by countless shallow men." She said with a shrug. "I was just out walkin' for some exercise and 'cause I like the beach 'cause it's away from people." She continued to speak, but for a moment I was distracted from listening as I watched the target change lanes several times and maneuvered to follow him.

When I could return my attention to her words, I heard her say "Does that bother you?"

"Huh? No, not at all." I replied, wondering what she was talking about. Oh well, nothing important, I was sure.

She looked ecstatic. "Really? Oh, awesome, Mikey! You're such a sweet guy, so wholesome and nice... I'm so relieved, it's wonderful to meet someone like you!"

We turned onto a side road, and I began trying to calculate out in my mind the possible destinations we could be heading for. I was not expecting him to stop at a bank, but he did. I was further confused when he didn't even get out of the car, just parked for about five minutes, then drove off. "Maybe he had to make a phone call." I responded when Maine asked what that meant.

His next stop was a large, swank strip club. This time, he got out of the car and walked in, carrying his luggage and the box inside with him. We parked and hurried towards the front door. I was a step from it when a bouncer suddenly appeared in front of me. "hoooold on there, buddy. You got a VIP card?"

I shook my head. "No but I'm a cop!"

He looked me over. "Badge." He grunted skeptically.

I reached for my usual pocket and found it empty. With a lurch, I realized I hadn't re-pocketed it after flashing it for Maine "I'm plain clothes. I need to get in there immediately!"

His eyes narrowed and his brow lowered. "Plain clothes men still carry their badges. Piss off, punk, you ain't gettin' in."

Spluttering and out of ideas, I was again saved by Maine. She stepped around me and waved to the bouncer. "Hiyya, Philly." She crowed calmly.

The man's eyes widened. "Ms. Strype! I didn't see you there! Are you dancing tonight? Come right in, honey."

She shook her head. "No, not dancing. My friend here really is a cop and we really do need to get inside right away. Please let us in, Phil?" She gazed at him with her large, hypnotic green eyes and looked sweet and pleading.

Without hesitation, the big bruiser of a man stepped aside and motioned us both to go in. "Of course, babe. In you both go."

"I thought you said you were an actress..." I growled to her as we entered the building. "Not a stripper."

She shook her head. "I'm not a stripper. I never worked here in my life, or any other strip joint. He just was dreamin' or makin' a joke."

There was obviously more to her than met the eye, but I didn't have time for it right then. Instead, I turned and gazed around the room, looking for my target and paying little attention to the floor shows. Maine was craning her neck around as well, and suddenly stepped close, giving me a whiff of her expensive perfume. "There. Going through that door in the back with one of the girls."

Indeed she was right, there he was. We surreptitiously made our way for the door, but as we neared it, I read that it said "Employees Only" on a sign by the door. Another bouncer was there guarding it.

"Dammit. I don't suppose you can get us in there too?" I quietly spoke.

She shook her head. "I'm not an employee. Like, I could try, but I doubt it would work unless that guy over there is a huge fan of my work or something like that." I felt a sinking feeling inside, but nodded for her to try anyway.

I hung back and she sashayed up to the guard and grinned at him. "Hi Pete!" She cooed and wrapped her arms around his neck. I couldn't hear what she said after that, but I could see her pressing her nearly naked body close to him, letting him stroke her furry back and squeeze her ass with his hands. She whispered into his ear and ran her delicate fingers over his body. For some reason, seeing it made me jealous, which had to be the most ridiculous feeling I'd ever had in the world.

She kissed him gently on the lips and continued to speak, then turned around and started grinding her ass into his groin. He stroked her hips and looked giddy with delight, which was impressive considering where he worked. She spoke to him one last time and he nodded. She turned and kissed him deeply, then after a minute pulled back and motioned me forward. He turned and ignored us as we hurried through the door.

"Turns out he was a fan." She giggled.

My lip curled. "You sure you don't work here? You were all over him like a tawdry whore."

She snorted. "We were desperate, dummy. I did what I hadda do to get you back here. You'd rather I hadn't helped you? We'd still be out on the floor, you know. Hell, you'd still be running along that beach with no clue where he left it." She looked genuinely hurt by my accusation, and I suddenly felt guilty.

I softened and apologized. "Sorry, Maine. You've helped me over and over again in this. I guess I should stop being so hard on you. You are quite a lady, as smart as you are beautiful." I was checking doorways, so I didn't see her swell up in pride, beaming and happy at my words, at the fact that I'd noticed her.

Her six inch platform pumps were noisy, giving away our position, but at the same time I figured it wouldn't exactly be an uncommon sound in these halls. Wordlessly, I started carefully checking doors on the left wall, while she checked them on the right and used her nose again. I was about to start down a side hall, when she caught my shoulder and shook her head, indicating a stairway to the right.

We crept up the stairs, which were thankfully carpeted and masked her shoes' noises. She caught me several steps from the top and peeked around the corner, then yanked back and pressed me up against the wall, two stairs from the top, and began to kiss me and stroke my body with intense passion and intimacy.

My shock couldn't have been greater, but before I could do anything, I heard a male voice coming down the hall, speaking with a thick Cuban accent. Her touch was so intimate it was like foreplay. Her paws were all over my penis, slipping into my pants to touch my flesh, grinding her leg into my crotch as well. I belatedly realized she was giving us cover.

I began to kiss and touch her back, and found her body to be incredibly warm and completely willing in my fingers. Her fur was soft and comforting, and she was so unbelievably sexy I was breathless in an instant kissing her. My heart was hammering as I gently stroked her tight, round ass with shaking fingers. She was an absolute goddess.

She pressed her full, round bosom against me and paused her sugar-sweet kisses to murmur "You can touch my breasts if you'd like, Mikey. I don't mind."

If it was possible, my pulse sped up even more. I couldn't believe this was happening! Things like this never happened in real life, only in movies! And yet, here she was, the most sexy goddess of a woman I'd ever seen in my life, inviting me to touch her gorgeous body.

Some hazy part of me knew it wasn't a good idea, and it made me uneasy. She probably thought I was some kind of fictional spy like Bond, living a glamorous, wealthy lifestyle of action and adventure. She would not be likely to be impressed to learn I was poor, drove a junker car, and spent most of my days pushing pencils behind a mountain of boring paperwork.

Then again, we were just acting in order to keep from arousing suspicion, right? She'd said it was OK, right? All these thoughts raced through my mind in a fraction of a second.

When the target rounded the corner, there we stood on the second step. Maine had an arm around my neck and her other paw rubbing my cock while she drew her long leg up and down my side and ground her perfect body against me. I stood there, one hand fondling her sexy long leg as she stroked it along my side, the other hand gently but eagerly cupping and stroking her left breast through the shiny spandex bikini she wore.

God, she was so sexy. Her body was firm and tight... obviously she was in great shape, with lithe muscles complementing her curves and making her look all the more sculpted and godlike. She took very good care of herself, and it showed. Her breath was sweet, her saliva sweeter yet as our tongues swirled around each other. I felt her sharp teeth, her silky black lips, and marveled at how different her muzzle felt compared to a human woman. The thrill of the illicit... the idea of having sexual intercourse with a woman of a different species only made it all the more exciting and desirable.

My heart was filled with an aching longing as I experienced this beauty's gentle touch. I suddenly felt very lonely, and was amazed at how wonderful feminine contact could truly feel. I always felt inadequate around women, and suddenly it crashed into me even more how this girl was out of my league. But oh! It felt soooo wonderful to kiss her... to be touched by her... to feel a woman's tongue dancing with my own, even one so different from a human tongue. I would have given anything to make this perfect beauty mine.

Gently, she pulled away from me, a move which I was very reluctant to accept, trying to keep my mouth against hers, only giving up when her pull away became insistent. We separated with a slurp, and hoping to get just a few more glorious seconds of kissing her, I whispered softly "We should keep kissing until we're sure they're gone..." The eagerness was evident in my voice.

Her green eyes sparkled, and she looked up at me with a gentle smile and softly replied, "They walked past us ten minutes ago, Michael. I think they are long gone."

I gaped at her in shock. Had it really been that long? I hadn't even registered them passing us, I was so focused on her. I worked my jaw, but could think of nothing to say. I blushed and looked away from her in shame. "I... I..." I couldn't finish.

She laced her fingers through mine, making me look up at her. She seemed to realize I had blanked out, because she told me what had happened. "The two of them walked past us. I'm pretty certain she was his sister, from the way that they were talking. He glanced at us, paused to ogle me for a moment, then they went on down the stairs. He was telling her to be careful with it and she was assuring him she would be. She said her room is locked and none of the other girls have access to it. He wasn't carrying the box anymore, either."

I found myself looking dumbly at my hand, gently held in hers. I was completely in her thrall. I would have done anything in the world for her; absolutely anything. "That's wonderful. That means he has no clue how close we are to him, if all he's worried about is a stripper breaking in and stealing his stuff."

Feeling giddy that she was still holding my hand, I led her down the hall part way before realizing I had no idea which door they'd come out of. "D'you..." I started to say.

"This one here." She indicated with her free paw.

I turned to her. Suddenly, it was difficult to speak to her as it usually was for me when it came to women I liked. I stumbled over my words, blushing to see her beautiful green eyes. "M... Maine... Can you please... please go keep a watch out at the stairs in case she returns while I... I..." She blinked and it made me lose my train of thought for a second. "While I break into the room and find the b... box?"

Her brow furrowed and she looked petulant. "Awww... like, I wanna see what's in the box!" She fussed sadly.

"P... please... help me do my job? You may save my life and this mission by doing this for me..." I whispered.

Her expression softened and she nodded, squeezing my hand before releasing it and stepping sexily back towards the stairwell. I watched her tail switch back and forth with her sexy step as she gracefully walked. God... did she know how to walk sexy in heels! Her hips, her ass, her legs... she was the hottest in all the world.

Only when she disappeared around the corner did I at last come to my senses. I turned to the door and pulled out my lock picking gun, inserting the tab in and starting to work. All the while, I was thinking about Maine.

The lock was easy, popping open with very little work, and I was inside. The dressing room looked like a porn set, and I had to wonder if this girl wasn't something more than a stripper. I scanned the tawdry room, looking for obvious places to hide the small wooden box. There, in the closet, beneath a mountain of shoes, I could see a bit of wood peeking out. My mind still dwelled on Maine.

I scampered over to the closet and carefully moved some of the shoes, discovering that sure enough, this was the box. I pulled out my camera and with trembling fingers opened the lid. My eyes and camera saw many things, but my mind only saw Maine.

I had finished taking pictures and was arranging the shoes back about how they had been when Maine appeared at the door, silent as a cat. "She's coming!" She hissed to me. I jumped up and ran out the door, which she closed behind me. Before I could even think of where to go next, she grabbed me and yanked me down the hall farther from the stairs. I was surprised at how quiet she was, and realized she'd taken off her platform heels and was carrying them again, padding along barefoot.

The skunk-girl dragged me through an open door that I had not noticed. It was dark and smelled of cleaning supplies, probably a janitor's closet. I peeked around the doorframe just a hair and saw a woman I did not recognize stepping nonchalantly through the hall. "Is that his sister?" I whispered to her.

She peeked as well, then nodded. "Yep."

The woman went to the door I'd just vacated, unlocking it with a key and stepping inside. "I hope I got everything back in order in there." I muttered softly.

"What about the guy we were following? I suppose we lost him for good?" The shimmering beauty sadly intoned, slipping her warm paw back into my hand. It felt so good, I took a moment to respond to her. She was holding my hand again!

Shaking my head, I chuckled. "Oh, he doesn't matter. We got what we needed, and what's more, they don't know we got it. If he even happens to notice it was opened, he'll blame it on his sister. Perfect operation, perfect success."

She was staring at me intently. Her long, elbow-length green hair was somewhat in her eyes, and without thinking I reached up and gently stroked it aside. "Maine... I couldn't have done this without you. You... are the most beautiful, resourceful, quick-thinking, wonderful girl I've ever met in my life. I wish I was in your league." I smiled wanly at her. "You are absolutely perfect."

She looked at me with a bit of confusion, and I suddenly felt like a fool for saying something like that to her, while having the audacity to touch her. "C'mon. Let's head out." I said, blushing.

I turned and walked out of the closet and down the hall, walking slowly and carelessly, like I belonged here. She fell into step beside me, casting glances up at me as we walked, but saying nothing. I felt embarrassed about what I'd just said, and the more she silently stared at me, the more humiliated I felt. She must have thought I was a world-class idiot after that.

She was silent until we reached the ground floor and the door out of the private area of the club. She caught my shoulder with a paw and said "Hold on, lemme put my shoes back on" and used me for balance as she slipped them back on her sexy feet.

We walked out of the club, and straight into a tow-truck impounding Maine's car. I hadn't even noticed I'd parked in a 'no parking' zone. "Ahh! My car! Mikey!" She squawked in panic.

Surprised to see what I'd done, I hurriedly turned my radio on. "Mission over, success. I need an official team at 1314 pineapple lane, at 'LA Leggs' stripclub. Civilian vehicle I commandeered to get here is being impounded by city officials, we need to stop them."

I immediately heard a voice in my ear "Roger. Team inbound. Will arrive in two minutes. Could not find civilian on the beach, possible security leak."

"Negative. Civilian accompanied me and rendered assistance. She's right here with me." I replied.

"Detain for debriefing." Came the curt reply. That spelled trouble, I could already tell.

Maine was jumping up and down a little on her toes. "Mikey, my caaarrrRRR!" She whined. I realized she couldn't hear the radio... it was just an earpiece after all.

"Don't worry, my team is coming, we'll get it taken care of. Maine..." I paused, wanting to tell her how much she'd meant to me. "Honey... I... I don't know what to say... how to thank you..." I stopped. She wasn't even listening; instead she was marching towards the tow-truck driver. I watched her go sadly, but did not follow her. Yes, she was way, way, way out of my league, and was already treating me like most women did; ignoring me. I didn't have a prayer with a goddess like her. I wished... I could taste those sweet lips one last time, but now it was all over.

* * *

A single black sedan pulled in a moment later, and several fairly innocuous looking FBI agents stepped out. One of them made for the tow truck driver and ordered him to release the car, while another made his way towards Maine and I. "Ma'am, please come with me." He said tersely, reaching for her arm.

She looked up at me with shock and alarm, backing towards me and away from the agent. "Mikey?" She squeaked in a very high-pitched voice.

"They just need to debrief you, honey. There isn't anything to worry about." I said, trying to sound reassuring.

"I wanna go with you!" She wailed, rather loudly.

I hurriedly stepped forward and tried to smile and reassure her all was well. "I'll be right there, don't worry. It's OK, beautiful, I promise."

She didn't look pleased at all. She certainly didn't like it when things didn't go the way she wanted. As they led her towards the car, she gave me a hopeless, betrayed look, then shuffled off with her head down. I hated to see her sad, but I had many things to deal with already. I ended up driving her car to our offices and parking it in the visitor's section. Then I had a lengthy debriefing myself, turning over my camera and describing what had transpired.

When I at last was free, I immediately sought out where she was, and found her in the interrogation room. It was a typical small box room, with disorienting, bright spotlights focused on her. She sat in the middle of the room on an uncomfortable little chair, while the interrogator, Lee, sat behind one way glass and grilled her over a microphone. He was a hawkish man, prematurely bald and perpetually glaring past his nose.

She was crying and trembling when I stepped into the booth to look at her through the glass. "I dunno!" She sobbed. "I was only out walkin' so's I could relax, I didn't know 'bout any of this! I was only tryin' to help! Please let me go, I din't do anything!"

I switched off the microphone and glared at the interrogator. "What is going on? Why is she so scared and upset?"

"I'm trying to determine if she's a planted counter-spy or something of that nature. Why else would she have been there, fucking up the mission?" He grunted, then switched on the microphone. "Oh, so you're trying to tell me you just happened to walk in and accost our field agent within five minutes of a major operation? Are you aware what the penalty is for lying to a federal agent while being interrogated? You'd better come clean, or you may spend the rest of your life behind bars. Who do you work for?"

"N... nobody!" She sobbed. "I'm jus' an actress! I was just out for a walk! Where's Mikey! I want Mikey! Please don't arrest me!"

My heart broke seeing her so scared, and I felt fiercely protective of the lovely skunk. I instinctively knew she was telling the truth, but nobody else seemed to believe that at all. "Dammit, Lee! She's just a kid who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just get her statement and let her go!" I growled at him angrily.

"I have my orders, Mikey. She says your damn name about every third word." He disdainfully spat. I really couldn't stand him, and I knew the feeling was mutual.

Instead of arguing with a brick wall, I turned and walked to the door and entered the room with the frightened female. She whirled, took one look at me and gave a happy sob, diving on my neck and crying rivers of tears into my shirt as she buried her face in my chest. I hugged her tightly, unsure quite why she was this upset. "Hey, relax pretty girl. I'm here. I'm so sorry, I was giving my report, and I had no idea they were treating you like this." I gently rocked her in my arms.

"H... he's threatening to send me to prison! I din't do anything, Mikey! Tell them I didn't do anything! Why are they threatening me?" She moaned as she soaked my shirt with tears.

"Shhhh... It's OK, Maine. Nobody's sending you to prison. Honey, they're just trying to figure out what you know about the operation. This is why I didn't want you to know anything if I could help it. Relax, I'm here now. Be calm. It's OK, beautiful." I murmured into her pretty ear.

"I was so scared..." She whispered softly, hugging me so tight it was painful and relaxing into me with a smile.

I nestled my face into her soft, shimmering, lime-green hair and smelled her wonderful, expensive perfume. "Where's my girl, the one who bravely helped me succeed in this mission? Without her, I didn't stand a chance. She isn't going to be bothered by some silly old questions and a spotlight."

Through her tears, that made her giggle. She blinked up at me, her eyes sparkling with moisture, but she was smiling a little more now. "Thank you, Michael." She murmured, sniffling.

Nodding, I gently crooned "You are certainly full of surprises, beautiful girl. I never know what to expect from you."

She grinned and winked. "I'm a complex woman. 'Sides, I like to keep my boyfriends confused and on edge. Makes life more interesting." As she spoke, she tweaked my nose between her delicate fingers, smiling contentedly.

Slowly, the meaning of her words sank in, and my heart caught in my throat. "B... boy... friend?" I squeaked. I longed for that more than anything else in the entire world; to have this amazing, perfect beauty as my lover would be like a dream come true.

Before she could reply, Lee broke in and yelled something over the intercom. Neither of us even heard him as we stared at each other. "Uh huh!" She cooed. "Yer, like, the coolest guy I've ever met in my life, Mikey! I have such a crush on you!"

That should have made me feel happy, but instead, I felt like I'd been smashed in the chest with a wrecking ball. It was suddenly my turn to fight back tears, and I choked "Maine, I'm not anything at all special. I spend all day everyday behind a desk doing lousy paperwork. It's as boring as chartered accountancy... I... I'm no Bond, and I'm a total buffoon around ladies, I don't understand them at all. I'm so shy and afraid, I haven't had a date in over five years, I'm so insecure."

I swallowed and continued, letting it all flood out so that she'd be done with me. No sense in trying to act like something I was not, I would fail miserably anyway. Better to not love at all than to love her and lose her when she learned how uninteresting I was. "When I'm not working, I sit at home and do nothing at all, I just watch movies and play games... I'm a homebody... I don't like traveling or adventure or excitement in the least. And even worse... I'm really poor. This job doesn't pay well at all, and there would be no way I could treat you like royalty, like I'm sure you are used to men treating you."

She stared at me through all of this, and when I finished, hanging my head in shame, she gently laughed. "Well, you were right about one thing, you don't understand women, silly goose! You think I like you because I want money out of you? Or adventure?" She snorted. "I'm rich enough for both of us, so money is absolutely meaningless to me. Actually, I'm a homebody too. When I'm off work, I lounge around in my underwear and waste time on silly hobbies like beadwork."

Slowly I hazarded "I bet you look a hell of a lot sexier lounging in your underwear than I do."

Laughing, she shook her head. "Yer sexy, an' you treat me with respect, Mikey. It's the little things you do, things you probably don't even realize you are doing, that are courteous and thoughtful and make me feel special. Looking like this, in the line of work I'm in, I've never in my life met any guy who was ever interested in anything but fucking me. I'm a piece of meat to most men... but not you! I can see it in your eyes, that you look at me like a real person. You say you are insecure? I'm the most insecure girl on the planet... except when I'm with you. When I'm with you, I feel happy."

It didn't seem like this could be real. "Do you mean that?" I whispered.

She smiled her perfect, sexy smile and nodded. "I do. Now please can you get me out of here? I hate this place."

Just then, Lee, who had been yelling at me and getting ignored, pushed us roughly apart and stepped between us. "Damn you, Mike! I'm not done interrogating this stupid slut! Would you wake up and get the hell out of here before I tell Commander Joss..." at that point, I registered that he'd called Maine a slut and punched him right in the nose, hard enough to knock him flat on his back.

"Don't you dare call my girlfriend a slut!" I snarled. "This interrogation is over! She isn't some kind of counter-spy, she helped me achieve our goals! Without her I would have been stuck on the beach and we'd have lost the target! C'mon, honey. Let's go talk to Dale... Commander Josslam ourselves."

Admiration filled her eyes, and she wrapped her arm around mine as we stepped out of the room. She paused and turned around, sticking her tongue out with a "mleaaah!" at Lee, sitting on the floor rubbing his face. He saw it and looked away in humiliation. We grinned at each other and walked out.

3) ** **Beautiful

I reported to the commander and explained everything to him. Like me, he recognized that she was far from a counter-spy, instead treating her as a hero who'd helped us gather the information we'd been seeking. However, when she cutely asked "So... what was in that box, boys? I never got to see it." He and I froze up, glancing at each other.

"That's classified." Josslam replied in a deadpan tone.

She looked crestfallen, which made me speak up. "Honey, it's better and safer for you if you don't know what was in it. I promise you, it was nothing exciting like bars of gold or a nuclear hand-grenade. It was the kind of boring but important stuff that we go after all the time in this line of work."

She nodded. "I understand." She sighed.

Commander Josslam smiled at her. "OK, I think you can go home then, Maine. Please remember our charge, that in the interest of national security, you keep all the details of everything that happened today to yourself, telling no one for as long as you live. Is that acceptable?"

"Yes sir, Mister Dale. Thank you." She smiled.

"See to it she gets her car returned to her so she can leave, alright, Michael?" He said, turning to me.

"Uh... actually..." I hesitantly said.

"Mikey an' I are in love an' we're gonna move in together!" She declared happily, when she saw I'd frozen up. I blushed purple, shocked to hear her say that, but there was no way I was going to refute it.

Dale raised an eyebrow, and I could tell he thought I was crazy. "Love blossomed on the battlefield? Alright, in that case, why don't you see her home and make arrangements for your future then, Mike? You've worked quite enough for this week, I think."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir!" I said, relieved to not be getting read the riot act.

We stepped outside, and I had the lot guards release her convertible. We climbed in, this time with her behind the wheel and she drove us out of the lot towards her home. "I live in a pretty place on the ocean, not far from the beach where we met. You wanna move in with me, right? I got a really awesome place..."

"I live in a smelly one-bedroom." I admitted.

She laughed. "Well, I'll take care of you from now on, baby!" Let's swing over to your place and grab some stuff for you to live for a few days, an' I'll hire a moving company to come get the rest after that, K?"

Was this really happening? Was I dreaming this all? "I can't believe this is happening... It's all so fast." I admitted.

She reached over and squeezed my hand in her paw, though she kept her eyes on the road. "I don't believe in beating around the bush. I follow my heart, and it has never once let me down before. It's telling me that you're the one I been lookin' for... a guy who is interested in me, not just my body... and that makes me want to share with you... everything."

I directed her to my grungy apartment building, then began to hurriedly pack a few things that I'd need. She pulled her long green mane of hair back into a ponytail and helped me find and organize things I'd need until the rest would be delivered. All the while I felt giddy and nervous at the same time, for I still felt like this goddess was out of my league.

Everything packed as the sun was setting, we walked back to the car and she drove me to a beachside home that was nothing less than opulent. I gaped in shock as she led me inside, happily chirping "Welcome to your new home, baby!"

She had floor to ceiling glass windows looking out at the ocean in her front room, a massive kitchen with every modern convenience imaginable, a large, exquisite dining room with hand-carved furniture, soft mood lighting all over the whole house, expensive paintings on the walls, leather furniture, spacious bedrooms with round beds and silk sheets and blankets, animal skin rugs from dozens of beautiful animals... she had everything to make this an opulent, beautiful home as sexy as she was.

I barely got to see any of it though, as she had my hand in her lovely paw again and was dragging me towards her bedroom. Zebra rugs, zebra printed silk sheets and pillows, an exoticly lush rainforest plant on either side of the round bed... I took it all in as she dimmed the lights to a romantic mood and yanked me towards the bed. "Make love to me!" She cooed happily, sitting down on the edge of the round bed and looking up at me expectantly.

Heart pounding, I stepped up onto the platform the bed was on and approached my enigmatic, beautiful lover-to-be. "Are... are you sure about this, Maine? We only just met..." I weakly managed even as I touched her silky green hair. For some reason I had a bad feeling about all this.

She sprang up to her feet. "Yer right, I'm not. I'll drive ya home and let's forget the whole thing." She cooed, gliding past me towards the door.

I gaped at her retreating tail, swishing gracefully through the air. "Whaaaat?" I cried.

She paused at the door. "Well? C'mon, grab your things and I'll drop you off back at your squalid little hole in the wall." She blinked her large eyes, expressionless.

"But... but I... I didn't... No... I didn't mean... Please wait, Maine!" I blubbered as she turned to leave.

She came around again, grinning at me, and I knew immediately it had been a joke. "I'm just kiddin', Mikey! Just relax and enjoy yourself!" She converged on me and wrapped her soft, fuzzy arms around my neck, snuggling her body close to me. "I want to make friends with you in the nicest way possible. You don't have to be nervous or afraid, I really like you."

She drew me up onto the dais that held the bed again, kissing me and stroking me, beginning to remove my clothes. Mmmm. I love your human body. Humans are so sexy, I like 'em better'n my own species! Howabout that?" She grinned at me. To be talking like that, I realized she had to be pretty experienced, which made me feel inadequate and uncomfortable.

She was stripping me naked in record time, and before I could protest, she whisked off my underwear and gazed eagerly at my penis. I didn't even know what to expect, but she looked me over and smiled, stroking my already throbbing, erect member with a gentle, warm paw. "You got a lovely penis, Mikey." She whispered, grinning happily at me.

Feeling her touch me, stroking me with practiced familiarity was electrifying. I began to pant, my nervousness being outweighed by desire. "Oh, Maine..." I gasped.

She beamed up at me, her eyes twinkling. "See? Not so bad, huh? You go ahead and run the show, baby. I'll do whatever you'd like to do with me, I enjoy all forms of sex."

I swallowed and watched in delight as she leaned forward and delicately kissed and licked the tip of my dick. My face was flushed and I felt feint I was so nervous and excited. Her silky, warm, wet tongue swirled around the swollen head, tickling and stimulating me in a way I'd never felt before.

I gently caught her chin and lifted her face up so I could kiss her, experiencing her sweet lips, then crawled onto the bed with her, pulling her into the middle of the silky sheets. She relaxed back, resting her hands behind her head, waiting expectantly to see what I wanted out of her. The trouble was I had no real clue myself what I wanted.

I reached up and gently caught the string of her top and pulled it, popping the bow open and gently, carefully lifting it away from her lovely, soft round breasts. Her white tummy fur extended up to her chin, coating the inner side of her breasts with sparkly white fur, while the outsides were cast in shimmering black. It was such a beautiful juxtaposition, I just stared and admired them quietly. "What? Do they look good?" she asked, blushing self-consciously.

It was cute to see her blush, and I suddenly felt at ease with her, remembering why I'd longed for her in the first place. She was sweet and warm and nice... "They're the most beautiful breasts I've ever seen in my life, Maine... are they... ?"

"Real? Uh-huh! One-hundred perrrcent real. I've never had plastic surgery of any kind on my body, I'm all natural. Unheard of in my profession, I know, but it's true." She grinned at me shyly, looking proud of herself at my admiration.

Weakly, I whispered "Can I... ?"

In response, she smiled and grabbed my head, pulling me gently down and pressing my face into her warm, sweet smelling bosom. I licked the fur away and exposed her pink nipple and areola, then began to suckle, feeling dizzy with excitement. Was this really happening? I slurped and sucked like I was regressing into baby mode.

Her fingers stroked over my body, and she gently purred words of love to me. I went for her other nipple, soaking it down and kissing and licking it as well. She tenderly brought my hand up to her free breast, encouraging me to play with it, which I did. She wrapped her long legs around me and gently squeezed me with them, which made me groan.

I wanted to have sex with her, suddenly. This didn't seem nearly enough, and I wanted to go absolutely all the way with her, to seal my love and devotion and pledge of unity. I reared up over her, spreading her legs open and reaching for the string that held her skimpy panty in place. Again I pulled it until the bow popped off, and slid the slit of cloth away from her body.

Her white fur grew up to the edges of her lips, matted away from them and creating a fuzzy halo around her womanhood. Her fur was wet... she was obviously very aroused, and her fragrant scent filled my nostrils as I stared at her. Her puffy pussy lips were very pert, sweet and flawless, without any excess flesh, just a perfect pink slit that was dripping juices.

She reached down with two fingers and lovingly peeled herself open, letting me gaze into her wet flesh, impossibly soft and silky and delicate, a beautiful flower hidden away from view. Her inner lips looked so delicate and intoxicating I leaned forward and licked her without even thinking about it. Her flavor was delicate and sweet, gentle and very different from any human flavor. I was shocked at my own boldness, but the happy squeal she gave at my tongue's touch made me dive in deep and begin to lick her eagerly.

"Ohhhhh Mikey! My big, brave hero! This feels wonnnderful..." She groaned.

After a few minutes of eager licking at her sweet pussy, I again reared up over her. She looked so beautiful and sexy, her exotic skunk-fur and features, her beautiful, shapely body, and I at last grabbed my dick and eased it up to her puffy mound. Her lips opened up fluidly and I slid down inside of her for the first time.

I tilted my head back and gave a small cry as her tight, warm, wet body enveloped me. She was slippery and silky inside, and I could feel incredible, shiveringly delightful sensations on every inch of my dick as I pushed in. her folds slid softly over me, making me cry out again and again with every inch I was sinking inside her body.

She brought her long legs up and rested them on my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around them and slowly pulled back, feeling the lip of my glans catching on every little contour inside her warm, sloppy-wet, tight pussy as it was pulled carefully back out. "Maine! God! Maine, it feels so unbelievably good! You... you're the most wonderful girl I've ever met in my life! I love this so much!" I cried passionately.

"Awwww, sweetheart, that's such a wonderful thing to say." She cooed and reached up, gently pulling me down to her. "Nobody's ever been so nice to me in my life. I feel so wonderful with you, I never want to let you go, Mikey. Thank you... for caring for me, for not... for not being bothered by who I am." She wrapped her arms and legs around me, hugging my body tightly against hers and letting me bask in the delicious tickle of her silky, shiny fur. She began to grind her hips against me, encouraging me to begin fucking her instead of slowly sliding it in and out of her wet body.

If I felt any confusion or consternation at her words, it was quickly drowned out by passion and pleasure as I began to ride my body along against hers, making love to her with all my heart. She was so tight and so hot inside, it felt exquisite. Her fur tickled and stimulated me all over my body, and her warm, soft breasts sliding along my body as I fucked her felt so warm and flowing. She was as much a goddess in bed as she was in life.

I stroked her hips and sides, lacing my fingers through hers and kissing her as we ground our bodies together. "How is it, baby?" She panted in-between kisses, flicking her round ears.

"Ohhh God... Maine... I can't believe how good this feels! You are so sexy, your body is so firm and tight and luscious, I can't believe this is really happening." Her eyes were so liquid and beautiful as they sparkled up at me, filled with pleasure. "Maine, I love it... you are such a wonderful, perfect woman." I moaned.

She grinned and licked my nose with her long pink tongue. "Good. It feels wonderful to me, too."

As we began to grind our hips together more eagerly, she began to moan and gasp in delight, awash in the pleasure of our fucking. "Yeah! Ride me, Mikey! Good and hard! Give it all to me, baby! You're so cute and sexy, and you take such good care of me! I love you tooooOOO!"

I started plowing into her hard, our sex slurping together wetly as we fucked, making delicious noises. I reared up and started pumping into her, bringing her long legs up to rest them on my shoulders and kissing her calves and sexy feet. She groaned in delight and ran her paws over my bare chest, letting her claws gently scratch me a little. "More!" She squealed delightedly. "More, Mikey! Lots more!"

I was panting from exertion, but loving every second of what was happening. Her large, natural breasts were bouncing and jiggling lusciously in rhythm with my fucking, visual cues of our passionate love. I was drowning in this beautiful, sweet girl, filled with love and pride like I had never known before. I wanted to give her the world with every fiber of my being.

Ever seeming to be able to read my thoughts, She cooed "You like it? You like fucking your little skunkie-girlfriend? You like her tight little pussy, making it your own? Show me how much you love it, baby, let me see it in your eyes."

I didn't quite know what she expected, but I did my best to look love and devotion her direction. "I would do anything for you, Maine!" I cried with as much sincerity as I could manage.

She pulled me down to kiss her again, and this time rolled sideways to lay me out on my back and begin to ride me, kneeling over me. I ran my fingers over her shapely hips and slender, toned tummy, then up to her soft breasts. I wanted to taste them again as we fucked, so I sat up, hugging her tightly to me. I buried my face in her bosom and suckled her pink nipples as she drove her body up and down on my cock over and over and over again.

She grabbed handfuls of my hair as she rode me, groaning in delight at my suckling and nibbling. Long, luxurious minutes we sat there, clinging to each other, pressing our flesh together and uniting our bodies and spirits. "Ahh! Oh Mikey, darling Mikey! I'm gonna cum, baby! Are you close? Join me, honey, cum with me and fill my wet little pussy up with your sweet, thick cream!" She suddenly cried, speeding up her grinding against me.

I let go and laid back, grabbing her hips and fucking up into her slobbering pussy as hard and fast as I could. The squirting, slurping sounds coming from her sweet cunt drove me wild with lust. I wanted to complete this union; I wanted to cum inside her warm body.

A few more frantic thrusts and I cried out in delight. "Fuck yeah! I'm cumming, doll! I'm cumming!" My balls tightened up and I let loose with a huge shot of thick cum straight into her womb. She gave a sobbing cry and let go, releasing into her own orgasm and squirting girl-jizz all over my chest and belly, a streamer even spraying across my nose. It smelled sensuous.

"Mikey! Oh God! Oh! Oh! Ahhhhhhhmmmmnnnn! I can feel your penis lurching inside me with every squirt! Oh, blast it all internally, my darling! Fill me up, I'm in season right now! Fuck, yes! Your shaft is so hard and slippery!" Her voice broke and she sobbed happily as I belted shot after shot of fresh, buttery cum into her vagina and womb.

I'd never felt such pleasure, and as the orgasm subsided, I was left feeling contentment unlike any I'd ever felt in my life. She was mine, and I was hers, soul and spirit. Panting from her exertion, she laid down on my chest, cooing happily, keeping my cock deep inside her warm folds as I slowly softened. I felt so relaxed and happy, so warm and perfect.

Overflowing with love and feelings of devotion, I murmured "Maine, thank you so much... I love you, beautiful lady! I would do anything for you, anything just to see your pretty smile."

She gave a soft coo, looking touched at my words. "I'll be smiling all the time I'm around you, my darling. I love you, you make me sooooo happy."

We snuggled and kissed, relaxing against each-other. She kissed me gently all over my naked skin, tickling me with her soft fuzzy fur. We spent over an hour like that, just contented in each-other's arms.

"Baby?" She murmured after a long time.

"Mmmmmmm." I hummed, the luckiest man alive as I sucked on her nipples again.

Catching my head and pulling me back a bit so she could look me in the eyes, she looked almost apologetic. "Baby, I'm sorry to bug you about it, but I'm, like, dying not knowing what was in that box. Can't you please tell me a little bit? I swear, swear, swear I won't tell another living soul as long as I live, cross my heart and hope ta die."

I stared at her, having to realign my thinking for a moment to even remember what topic she'd suddenly jumped to, I muttered "You are doggedly persistent, lover."

Sheepishly, she looked down at her delicate paws and her sharp, non-retractable claws. "I know... I'm super curious about stuff, I admit it, and after all we went through for that box, I feel like we failed, to not know what it was we were risking our lives for. Please, I helped you and saved your mission and maybe even your life... can't you trust me enough to tell me?"

I frowned, looking up at the ceiling. Her words made sense, but I seriously wished she would just drop the subject. For whatever reason, she was unable, or perhaps just unwilling to do so. "Please? You can trust me, baby... We've trusted each other with our bodies, you know I'm trustworthy, right?"

Hesitantly, I said "Alright. Look, you are not supposed to know anything about this, so I'm going to hold you to your promise not to tell anyone else, not ever in your life. Promise me this goes to the grave with you, a secret unrevealed." I looked deep into her bright green eyes as I spoke.

She could hardly contain her eagerness, and her large eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Oh yes, yes, yes! I promise it, Mikey! I wanna share everything with you! I wanna be your partner spy!"

I chuckled at that a bit, but didn't say anything. "Now, I told you it was nothing terribly exciting, so don't be too disappointed by this. All it contained of special interest, besides drugs, was a small notebook, like the kind you might write a shopping list on."

She blinked. "Serious?"

I nodded. "Serious. It's what that notebook contained that we were after; a listing of several major drop points for drugs coming into the United States in the next several months. Now we know the precise locations and can round up all the criminals and keep the drugs off the street. That was worth risking our lives for, don't you think?"

She chewed on her glossy black lip, her brow furrowed. "That's all that was in the box? Really?"

"Really-really. Well, all that was important. There was some money and drugs as well." I nodded with a sigh.

I could tell she was grinding over it in her mind. "Well, if that's all it was, why was it stored in such a box? Why not keep it in his pocket? A lot less conspicuous, I'd think. Why such an odd, unique container to draw attention to itself?"

Gazing at her with clear admiration in my eyes, I caught her paw and squeezed it. "Wow. You are intuitive, Maine, and observant, too. Yes, the box is a big problem for us... One of the biggest we've ever faced, in fact."

Those words got her attention, and she looked at me eagerly again. "Really? What? What's special about it?" She sat up in bed in her excitement, pulling her warm, soft body away from me, leaving me feeling cold and lonely without her cuddling me.

I sat up and propped up on a pillow to see her better. "About a year ago, this cartel's drug shipments started being transported in boxes like that one. They come in a few different sizes and shapes, but they're all wooden like that, with a sealed lid. Somehow, and we still have no idea how, those little boxes confound the noses of our best drug sniffing dogs, and any other method of detecting illegal substances we have. They can fearlessly walk right past a drug checkpoint with one of those filled with any kind of drugs, and we have no clue they are doing it."

Looking at her, I could see she understood the gravity of that quite well. "Can't you intercept one and analyze it, figure out what they're doin'?" She asked thoughtfully.

I shook my head. "That's the most mysterious part about it. We actually did manage to intercept several small drug shipments in those boxes by pure accident, so we confiscated them and were able to study them."

Leaning forward, she eagerly squawked "And???" When I paused for a moment.

"And they are simple wooden boxes according to everything we can see about them. We sealed them back up with drugs in them and tested them with dogs... and the dogs detected them instantly. It makes no sense! When the cartel loads them with their trash, the dogs smell nothing... but when we load them, the dogs find them immediately! What do they know that we don't? How is this possible? Frankly, we have no idea, and it has been a BAD turn of events in our war against Cuban drugs."

Her face was glowing with excitement. "Wow! Awesome! So, it's like, when they come into our country sealed, they're undetectable, but when you open 'em up, somehow the seal is broken and they become ordinary boxes! Am I right?"

Nodding, I sighed. "Yeah, that's about exactly what we've concluded, not that it helps us much. Smart girl."

She puffed up proudly at my complement. "OK, so why can't you just detain anybody with a box like that? It's a peculiar enough looking thing it should be easy for guards to see, right?"

"I wish it was that easy." I lamented. "No, they can be hidden in other luggage or boxes, taking on almost any size and shape. One of them we caught was in an old violin case. The latch popped open and it fell out was how we caught it, otherwise we'd have had no clue. Worse still, we've only caught a few of them, and for all we know they could be using this same technology in an infinite number of ways to steal the drugs past us in ways we've not even begun to detect. We know a lot is coming in, because street prices have dropped and supply is great."

Looking crestfallen, she slowly murmured "Why do people gotta be so evil? I've... I've watched several of my actress friends be destroyed by drug addiction, and it's the scariest, most horrible, tragic thing I've ever had to witness. They were successful, in demand, rising starlets with boyfriends and a great life and future... and it all was destroyed as they broke down from the outside in with their addictions. One was my best friend in the whole world... I... I've never once tried any drugs, and I sure as hell never will. I hate drugs! I'm glad we're fighting these awful men! I wanna help you do this, Michael!" She looked at me with earnestness in her large eyes.

I nodded and smiled. "You already helped more than you can know, little skunk. With the information we got in that notebook, we'll be able to intercept at least one HUGE shipment in countless containers like the one we saw today. Our scientists have high hopes that with enough samples of them, we will be able to figure out the secret of the wooden boxes and reverse our fortunes in this war. I'm so proud of you for helping, Maine!"

She swallowed and shyly grinned at me, having trouble meeting my eyes all of a sudden. "Thanks Mikey... You make me feel soooo special. I think I love you!"

"I love you too, beautiful." I murmured, stroking her inner thighs with my fingers. My touch made her shiver, and she giggled at me.

Then suddenly her smile faded. "Wait. You hadda open the box to see the notebook. Are they gonna know it was tampered with? Might that ruin everything?"

Looking at the ceiling, I heaved a large sigh. "We really, really, really hope not. Since this box wasn't actually smuggling on the normal routes, we are hoping against hope that our intrusion won't be detected, that it wasn't even sealed to begin with. After all, why seal it? And why test for seal integrity, either? Plus, like I said back in the club, we can hope if he does notice it's been tampered with, he'll blame his sister, deny it though she might."

"I hope you're right about that." She said thoughtfully, then at last laid back down in the bed. I snuggled down to intertwine my body with hers again. It felt wonderful to have every inch of my body alive with stimulation from her warm, tickly fur.

We dozed off then, and I think it was the happiest night of my life, sleeping for the first time with my new, sweet lover... a girl I hadn't even known existed twenty-four hours ago.

4) ** **Aftermath

I walked into work the next morning feeling more giddy and wonderful than I'd ever felt in my life. There was a spring in my step and a whistle on my lips as I made for my messy cubicle. Several coworkers noticed my good mood and inquired about it. "I met the girl of my dreams yesterday, and we're head over heels in love with each other!" I enthused in response.

Even a dull and troubled meeting about the cartel and their continued capability to evade us couldn't dampen my mood. The names, dates, ports, times, addresses, and other information in the small notebook had been the biggest break our department had ever scored, and we were already making plans on what to do with the information, planning out intercepting, boarding, and searching their tramp steamer as it transported another major shipment.

By lunchtime, everyone knew about me and my new girlfriend. It turned out she'd already been the talk of the office when everyone had seen her while she was brought in and interrogated yesterday; I was not the only person who thought she was the most beautiful creature in the world. I was getting teased and told what a lucky bastard I was from everyone I knew. It all made me swell up with even more pride, and I could still hardly believe my luck.

"Ralph, Mike. Ralph."

I looked up and saw Joe, as slick a lady's man as we had in the office. He was standing over my cubicle scowling. "Pardon?" I asked. I never liked him, and he disdainfully ignored me, the lowest man on the totem-pole, most of the time.

"Ralph! You're the biggest nerd in the building, you got no life, you ain't much to look at, you're the lowest ranking employee here. How did you manage it? You pull the worst assignment in the world, hiding in a hot, smelly hole in the ground to monitor a drug dealer infiltrating the country, and what happens? First, you get a huge break and grab everything we needed. Then, you meet the goddess of the whole world, she falls head over heels for you, and you move in with her that night! Ralph!" He snarled. I would have thought he was joking, but he looked furious.

In response, I merely smirked and quietly said "You could have volunteered to be in that hot, smelly hole yourself, Joe."

Glaring, he hissed "The only consolation is she's gonna fuckin' realize what a complete loser and worthless man you are within a couple weeks, and you're gonna end up watchin' her tail head out the door while you get permanently blue-balled."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and leapt to my feet, standing nose-to-nose with him. "Are you fucking kidding me? Are you seriously that big of an asshole? Get the hell away from my desk or I'm going to beat the shit out of you!"

He glared at me, standing nose to nose for a minute longer, then suddenly broke the stern look and started laughing uproariously. "Relax, man! I'm joking! Congratulations, dude; you are the luckiest bastard in the world! You got my respect!"

I stood my ground, unsure what he was playing at. He laughed and winked at me, giving me a friendly swat on the shoulder. "C'mon, Mike! I was kidding... I'm not that much of a dickweed in real-life... at least I hope you don't think I am. So what's she do, anyway? A goddess like that prob'bly can have any job in the universe, am I right?"

Still glaring at him, I slowly sat back down in my chair, then turned back to my paperwork. "She's an actress." I grunted.

"Really? Geesh, I'd think I'd have heard of her, then. I'll have to go look her up."

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. "Is there something you wanted?" I said, crossly. I still didn't believe he'd been kidding, he'd only backed down when he saw how angry I'd become.

He shrugged and turned to leave. "I guess not. Later then, Mikey."

I rubbed my temples with my fingers. How had Maine's pet name for me suddenly become common knowledge, and everyone was calling me it?

* * *

I arrived home... that is, to my new home, at around five-thirty, and found Maine already there and waiting for me. She had on a simple bluejean miniskirt that showed off her awesome legs in fishnets, black high-heeled sandals, and a white blouse with a low-cut, frilly neck line that showed off her ample cleavage. She swept forward and threw her arms around me, which had to be the most wonderful way to come home in the world. I closed my eyes and buried my face in her silky green hair and just breathed her scent and drowned in her beauty.

"Hey baby! Welcome home... Mmm, such a nice huggy... How was work today, my dear?" She cooed melodically to me.

I sighed and responded "Oh, I was getting a lot of crap about you. Mostly good natured, some pretty bitter and jealous. There was a constant underlying current of feeling that 'I should have gotten her, not you' from all the guys, which really dragged the day out."

"Awww, po' baby." She huskily purred and kissed and stroked me. "Want mama to take you to bed right now and make it all better?"

I swallowed and grinned, squeezing her extra tight. "I'm starving, but that certainly sounds like a wonderful way to spend the evening together after dinner. How was your day at work, dearest?"

She kissed my nose and released me, gracefully strolling back into the kitchen to work on whatever it was she was cooking up. "That smells delicious, by the way!" I enthused, my stomach rumbling.

"Thank you, sweetie! I made it special for you. I didn't work today, actually. I work when I'm hired to play a part, and my agent takes care of all that for me. I just get a call from him about where to be and when, and I go from there." She chuckled to herself. "Being a starlet doesn't require much thinking or independence, frankly. I spent all day puttering around in my vegetable garden, waiting for you to get home."

That made me fill with affection towards her, and I stepped up behind her and wrapped my arms around her taught, muscular tummy and hugged her. "Yer so sweet." I cooed. I wasn't sure what it was she was cooking, and looking at it made me even less sure. It was definitely a furkind dish that humans don't eat. I hoped it would be edible, looking like green lumps and brown balls sizzling in olive oil.

She leaned her head back against my shoulder for a second, pausing her stirring, then chirped "Go change an' wash up! I'm almost ready for us to eat!"

Wearing a more relaxing combo of jeans and a T-shirt, I sat down to the odd looking, odd smelling meal with my sweet lover. Green lumps with little brown balls in it, and lots of spices was about all I could tell about it. She served me up a big plate of it before serving herself, then began to eat, chatting happily away about gardening.

I took a forkful and took a sniff of it. It was still unidentifiable. I blew on it and gingerly took a bite. The flavor was... bizarre, but not at all bad. I took another bite and found it quickly growing on me, though it was very spicy hot. I suddenly realized she's paused in her conversation and was eyeing me surreptitiously. "Well? Whaddaya think?" She asked, when she saw me looking.

I chewed and swallowed what I was eating, nodding. "It's pretty tasty, actually! What is it?"

She couldn't have looked more overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear. I'd just passed a major test with my new lover. "It's a skunk favorite, probably you've never had anything like it before. It's cucumbers for the base, with lots and lots of spices, lightly fried in oil. Those brown balls in there are raisins. I buy jars of pickled jalapeno peppers and take the peppers out, then fill it up with raisins. After a few days, the raisins soak up the brine and turn back into grapes filled with hot pepper juice. They're great as a snack, too."

Staring from her to the food on my plate, I couldn't help but laugh. "Wow! No, I've never had anything like it!" I shrugged. When in Rome... "It's really good though. Skunks have good taste."

She swelled with pride again. "Yes, we do! That's why I chose you, why you are here with me!" She reached out her left paw and caught my free hand, and we held hands for the rest of the meal, chatting away.

When I finished, I even asked her for some more, which I could tell made her overjoyed. It was quite tasty, but I was dying from the heat of it by the end of two helpings. Those jalapeno raisins were fiery. "No thanks, I'm full. Whew, that's really hot, too!" I said when she offered me thirds.

She blinked shyly and nodded. "I love hot food. Most skunks do. Are you gonna be OK with that?"

Nodding, I grinned. "Absolutely. I like hot food, it'll just take me a few days to get used to it is all. That was really good. Thank you for dinner! Now, you go sit and relax and let me clean up the kitchen, princess." I shooed her out of the kitchen and cleaned up while talking with her as she lounged in the front room.

Afterwards, she took me out to show me her flower and vegetable gardens. She was endlessly proud of them and knew a plethora of details about the species represented. We sat out on her couple's swing and cuddled, watching the waves as the sun set. It all still seemed too good to be true.

We finished the day off making love to each other, and tonight she taught me to fuck her doggy-style. With her on all fours and her back arched, with her coarse tail draped over my shoulder, I pounded eagerly into her full, round, sexy rump. It was jiggly and gorgeous, and the view of her body before me was luscious and amazing. She would turn her head and look at me proudly out of the corner of her eye if I did something well, and begged me for more.

Her bell-shaped hips and her tiny waist were so achingly beautiful... I caught her shoulders as I stoutly fucked her, firmly stroking my fingers over her back to her midriff, down her sides to catch on her wide hips and drive her perfect body into my invading cock. Her black fur and exquisite white stripes made her look so exotic from this side, I groaned in delight. "What a _lovely_view. Oh God, you are so gorgeous skunky-girl."

She grinned back at me and happily cooed "Oh, you take such good care of me, Mikey. You keep my tight little pussy so fucked and satisfied... Keep me good and full baby, fill me with your sweet cream just as often as you like! It feels soooooooOO good to be fucked by you."

She dropped from her paws down to her elbows, gritting her teeth and gasping in delight as I plunged into her with several extra-hard thrusts. Her cunt was like warm, wet silk, and was so slippery and tight she felt like she was squeezing my dick off, but oh! Did it ever feel good! I gazed down at her perfect little puffy pussy slit and decided she had the world's most beautiful vagina.

It was so wonderful to feel my penis enveloped in her warm body, to be buried inside her, reveling in the ecstasy that only my gorgeous, shiny, sleek skunk lover could give. I would never, ever be satisfied with another female, she was so much better, both in life and in bed. I leaned over her and hugged her upper body, fondling her big boobs as they bounced wildly to my rhythmic fucking. She turned her head and we messily slobbered and licked at each-other's mouths, grunting from the exertion of fucking.

"Oh Mikey! Fuck me silly! Yes! Oh God, yes! Oh, that human penis feels so good deep inside me! I love humans way more than my own species! Ya! Oh ya! Fuck!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks, she was so overwhelmed with pleasure and tender, romantic love. She looked incredibly beautiful and feminine while being fucked, so full of glowing, healthy beauty.

I grabbed her under the arms and lifted her up into a kneeling position so I could hug her tightly as I finished up. I tweaked and fondled her pretty little nipples, filling my hands with her breasts. "Oh Maine... I'm going to cum, baby. Your body is so perfect and sexy, I'm going to gush my load deep down into your cute little skunky womb. My semen is going to fill you up until it's leaking out, and my sperm is going to try its damnedest to impregnate you. Ahhhhh! Here it comes!"

"Oh yes!" She sobbed. "You make it sound so erotic! Getting creampies from your thick cum flooding me all internally makes me feel so feminine and fertile! Oh, fill me up, my voracious human lover!"

With a roaring cry, I let loose and pumped my thick, pearly semen into her wet, flushed and irritated pussy. The cum was so slippery she instantly was a nearly frictionless fuck, and I kept erratically humping into my lovely mate as I jetted her full of my healthy male seed. My sperm flooded into her and began swimming, seeking an egg to impregnate, though her alien body would not accept it or be fertilized by it.

I felt her spasm and ejaculate too, and we rode through our intense orgasms together as one flesh, enthralled with each other. I pumped wad after wad of semen into her trembling pussy, feeling her squirt as a show of her own pleasure. We hit our crescendo, then shakingly relaxed into bed, clinging to each other tightly, whispering desperate words of love and adoration to each other.

* * *

Early in the morning about two weeks later, I was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing. Maine groaned and squirmed out of my arms in order to get close enough to her bedside cabinet to grab the phone. "H'llo." She blearily spoke.

I couldn't hear what was being said on the other end of the phone, but her response was "Really? Nnkay... yeah... I can do that. How much? ... really? Great! 'K, I'll get up and get showered and primped up, nine o'clock should be no problem... OK... ... Thanks Will... Uh huh, you too, bye."

She flopped back into the bed and stretched. "My agent got me a last minute scene, so I gotta go to work today. Gahod, why's it always gotta be s' early?" She muttered. "Dumb film-makers aughtta work the afternoons for a change."

I leaned close and kissed her cheek. "How long will you be working? Weeks? Months?"

She laughed. "Just today. It's a single scene, not a feature film."

I gazed at her lovingly as she sat up and rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up. "You deserve a starring role in a feature film, baby. I bet you'd be great in it." I said, blinking and trying to wake up myself.

She leaned over me and kissed my nose, gently pushing me back into bed. "Awww, thank you for the nice sentiment, prince. No reason for you to get up an hour early, go back to sleep. I'll just be showering and putting on makeup and styling my hair." She laid several more tender kisses around my face and whispered "Go back to sleep. Our alarm will go off in an hour and wake you up." Despite myself, I sank back into slumber and did sleep for another hour.

When the alarm went off and I got up, it already felt very strange to wake up in bed alone. I stumbled blearily into the bathroom and found her putting on some fancy gold chain earrings. She was wearing a simple tank top, some white shorts that showed off her round ass, and flip-flops. She had her hair looking very full, thick and beautiful, and had put lots of dark makeup around her eyes that gave her a lovely, sensuous look that had me instantly aroused.

"G'mornin' hon'!" She happily chirped as I set my clothes down on the counter.

Wrapping my arms around her firm midriff, I gently whispered "Hi, beautiful goddess. You look absolutely gorgeous."

She paused and reached a paw back, stroking through my hair. "Awww, thank you, darlin'."

I stepped naked into the shower and turned the water on, finding it still a bit warm from her shower. I didn't bother to close the door so we could talk. "So, forgive my general level of cluelessness about how things work, but won't the set crew do your makeup and all that? You look amazing, really strikingly gorgeous, but aren't they just gonna wipe it all off and start again?"

She pinned on a lovely gold necklace as she replied. "I'm a veteran at this... been doing it since I was eighteen. I know how they always do my makeup and hair, so I can save them and myself a lot of time and effort by doing it myself. They just check it over to make sure it's perfect, and away we go. They'll take care of my costuming, though..."

She grabbed an eyebrow pencil and started to fuss with her makeup again. "Mannnn..." She whined. "After everything that's happened, I don't wanna go back to work. Now that I met you, I really hate my job. I wanna be a spy fulltime like you are!"

Chuckling, I replied "I'd love to have you working with me, believe me. We made a great team, actually. Your reflexes, sense of smell and hearing really helped us succeed in that mission. If you want, I could talk to my superiors... but being a spy pays remorsefully poorly. As far as earning a decent wage, you're better off as a Hollywood actress, for sure. Then there's the fact that most days are spent doing boring paperwork and studying phone records and other exciting tasks, and believe me, it isn't as glamorous as it might have seemed when we were in the middle of it."

She shrugged, fussing over getting her hair 'just right.' "I don't care. Now that I've met you, I really hate my job. I've made enough money I don't need any more, it would just be fun doing something... else. Anything else, as long as we're together."

"Honey." I gently admonished. "Don't lose sight of what you have, dreaming about what you don't. Most people would absolutely kill to be a Hollywood actress like you."

She stopped what she was doing and turned to look at me, giving me a strange, shocked sort of look. "Hollywood actress." She repeated blankly. "I don't live in Hollywood, I live in Florida."

I waved my arm dismissively. "I know, I know. I'm just using Hollywood as a metaphor for all movie-film-work-stuff." She was staring at me with the oddest expression I'd ever seen on her lovely face, and my smile faltered. "Uh... what? Have I seen one of your movies that I should know you from or something?"

She began to blink rapidly, so much so that it almost looked like she was blinking back tears. "Movies..." she whispered. Suddenly she seemed to snap back into focus and whirled around, frantically playing with her makeup. With almost artificial lightness, she replied "No, if you'd seen one of my movies, you'd know it. You'd recognize me, I'm sure. So, I should be done working when you are, wanna go out for dinner together tonight?"

I realized I'd insulted her by not having seen her film work. Truth was, I wasn't a very big movie watcher, and hadn't even visited a theatre for nearly five years. I just had other hobbies I was interested in that took preference over the latest summer blockbuster. Still, having a mate who was in Hollywood probably meant I would need to watch her movies and gain an appreciation for acting in general and her acting in specific. I'd have to figure out how to broach the subject later.

"Dinner sounds fantastic, honey!" I said, smiling, hoping she'd forgive me. I toweled off and stepped out of the shower.

She breezily said "Welllll, why don't I, like, drop you off at work this morning, and then I can pick you up, like, after work and we can go straight there? That be OK? You got my cellphone number an' I got yours, so we can keep in contact and coordinate it, right?"

She was eyeing me with a bit of lust as I put my boxers on, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by me. With all the makeup she was now wearing, she looked even more exotic and sexual than usual, and I wished we had time to have sex before work. "That'd work great, babe! I can hardly wait for tonight!"

I got dressed and we went out to get some breakfast, then headed out the door for another day of work. In a moment of silence in the car, I hesitantly offered "Honey... I'm sorry I haven't seen any of your movies. I don't watch much... but I'd sure like to see all of them now..."

Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, and she looked over at me quickly, then breezily said "Nono, I'm kinda glad you haven't seen any of them, honestly. You're so innocent and sweet... err, I mean, I'd rather keep my personal life and professional life separate, if it's all the same to you. I prefer that you don't have some huge... uh... worshipful thing goin' on because I'm a starlet you're obsessed with. You just know me as me, and I really would rather keep it that way."

It made sense. I'd heard famous writers tended to marry people who didn't read and things like that. It probably was healthy for our relationship after all. "OK. I just want to be supportive of you in any way you want or need, Maine... don't be afraid to tell me if your feelings ever change, because I'd love to be involved in what you do."

She reached a paw over and squeezed my hands. "You're so sweet, Mikey. Don't you ever change. Promise me you won't ever change."

Squeezing her paw back, I smiled. "I promise I won't. And I promise, promise, promise that my feelings for you will never, ever change. I love you so much, cutie-pie." She blushed at my words and smiled, seeming to relax.

5) ** **... In River City

Life was wonderful. Though work was boring, I felt the respect of my peers had become ten-times stronger in light of my relationship with Maine. Cramming through mountains of paperwork and planning our intercept mission based on the intel we'd received was a breeze, and at the end of the day, I waited excitedly in the parking lot for her cherry-red convertible to drive up.

Lee had found me and was talking a mile a minute to me. He'd been buddy-buddy to me for the last several days, which really did more to piss me off than anything else. I knew he didn't like or respect me any more than he used to, it was just because of Maine that I was getting his attention. Frankly, I'd have thought punching him in the nose might have made him furious, but instead, he was sucking up.

I was just thinking about bluntly telling him to go shove it, when I heard a powerful sports-car engine roar and saw my darling zip into the parking lot and head towards me, the engine purring. She had on sunglasses, and while she looked a little more frazzled than she had this morning, when she took the glasses off it was still breathtaking to see her beauty. "Hi honey!" She called as she pulled up to the sidewalk where I was standing, laying on the brake to stop the car in a hurry.

"Later Lee." I grunted and stepped for the car. Seeing him standing there, She pulled her fingers through her hair and beamed her perfect smile at him, waving a friendly wave. I was shocked to see this, and commented about it when we were driving away. "Why'd you wave at him?"

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "Huh? I was bein' friendly! I thought he was one of yer friends."

Shaking my head vigorously, I spat "Bleach, no. I can't stand him. He's the guy who was interrogating you, you know."

Her eyes widened. "He WAS?" She shivered. "I was so teared up I never even got a look at his face. Yucky! I take back my wave! Why were you talking with him then?"

I took a deep breath and let it slowly out. "He came up to me and was bothering me. Suddenly everyone wants to be my friend it seems, since they saw you and heard about my feelings for you."

Scowling, she grumpily snorted "Story of my life. Well, next time I see him I'll flip 'im the bird instead. I'd never been so scared in my life as when he was grilling me. He was horrible!"

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I gently intoned "It's over with. I'm so sorry that happened, love. That was a mess, but I got it sorted out with my boss."

* * *

Dinner was a lot of fun. As usual, she was perky and bouncy and of such a sunny and happy nature she just made me feel infectiously good whenever I was around her. We talked and laughed and shared our adventures of the day with each other.

"And the dumb cameraman hit the wrong button again! It was, like, one stupid line of dialogue before the action scene, and we ended up having to like, shoot fifty takes of it! It was so stupid! An' the guy I was playing the scene with was getting more and more flustered about it... he's a lot newer than I am... so then he starts blowing the line... Gosh, I think that one line of dialogue took over an hour and a half to film!" She finished, chortling.

I gave her a commiserating chuckle. "Aww, poor baby!"

She grinned at me and winked. "I can laugh about it now, but this afternoon I was ready to rip the throat out of anybody who so much as looked at me funny, I was so upset. It made for a long day of filming, an' I didn't even wanna be there."

Pausing with a forkful of chicken half-way to my mouth, I said "Uh oh... does that mean you have to go tomorrow for more filming?"

Shaking her head, she sighed and delicately wiped her little muzzle. "No, once we got that scene done, everything worked like clockwork. We shot the whole thing and got it perfect, so we're golden." She set her napkin down and sat back, eyes twinkling at me.

Just then, a fan recognized her. Some bespectacled, dumpy looking fat guy suddenly squawked "My... my God! Ms. Strype? Candy Strype? It really is you! Oh my gosh! Wow, you look even hotter'n real life than in your movies! I'm your biggest fan!" He gasped, staring at her.

She blushed and looked at me sheepishly, but spoke to the guy in a friendly voice. "Oh, thank you honey! That's very sweet of you to say." She cooed with a huge smile, which made the guy nearly melt right there.

"M... M... Ms. Strype, c... could I... y' know... have your... umm... autograph?" He squeaked, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

Ever the gracious beauty, Maine smiled at him. "Candy is just fine, deary. Yes, what would you like me to sign?"

He hurried over to our table and produced a tattered little notebook and pen. I watched with mild curiosity as she signed "To Jeff, my biggest fan inna world. XOXO, Mistress Candy Strype"

That finished, he begged for a photograph as well, producing a small, beat-up camera and begging me to snap a shot with her. She let him wrap his arms around her firm tummy, wrapping her arm around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. "One more." She said, and posed kissing him on the cheek.

The guy looked almost ready to pass out. He was sweating and panting furiously. "Oh man, I always heard the starlets were total bitches in real life!" He wheezed. "You are the nicest girl I've ever met in my life! Thank you so much, Candy! My favorite scene of yours is with you and..."

She cut him off, clearing her throat and speaking hurriedly over him while giving me a worried glance. "Aw, let's not pick favorites, shall we? You keep buying and I'll keep producing, and everybody's happy, right?"

"Uh-huh..." He gasped, dreamily staring at her. He then glanced at me. "Is this your boyfriend?"

"Mate." She corrected with a smile and a flick of her thick tail.

He stared at me dreamily next. "Wow. He's the luckiest guy on the planet. Take good care of her, mister... she's the most beautiful female of any species on the planet."

She cooed happily at the complement, and I stumblingly said "I... I'm trying. I'd do anything to make her happy."

When he at last left us alone, she turned back to me and sighed. "Thanks for tolerating that. It doesn't happen too often, but it does happen, and I try to make it special for all my fans by taking some time to make them feel good."

I nodded and grinned. "You made him feel good alright. He looked like he was going to have a heart attack when you kissed him. You're a sweetie, you know. Ummm. What was that name he called you? Candy Strype? What was that all about?"

She blushed and shifted her weight uncomfortably. "Well, its meaning should be pretty obvious... I'm sweet, like candy, and I have stripes. How creative, huh? It's my stage name. There are some pretty scary, obsessive fans out there, and it is really smart to keep your private life anonymous, so I keep my real name secret."

I nodded contemplatively. "I guess so. When you are this beautiful, huh?"

She nodded, looking a little remorseful. "Yeah. Let's get back to what we were talking about before that interruption, 'K? How was yer day at work?"

I grinned and nodded. "Oh, it was fine."

She leaned forward and lowered her voice a bit. "Any new developments in the... y'know?"

I glanced around, but there was nobody close to us. "It's going well. We're planning a large welcoming party for the first arrival on that list, happening next week."

She clapped her paws excitedly. "Oooo, awesome! Are you going to be there?"

My smile turned to a frown and I shook my head sadly. "Naw. I'm the lowest rung on the totem pole, so I don't get the exciting jobs like that. I get jobs like the one you interrupted. Sweating my head off in a hole in the ground to watch people, stuff like that, because none of the other agents want those jobs."

Looking crestfallen, she murmured "Aw geeze. I was gonna beg you to let me come along. That isn't fair! It was your coup capturing that intel in the first place! You aughta get first dibs on the mission to follow, because without you it wouldn't have happened!"

"Things don't work that way, honey. I'm just so, so, so grateful that I was on the mission I was on and met you! That's worth more than all the sting operations in the world, combined." I said, a sappy look of love on my face.

She looked at me and grinned back, whispering "Thanks, Michael. I'm glad too." Then she spoke up again. "But it still isn't fair! If I worked there, I'd complain to yer boss."

* * *

We went back home after eating a wonderful meal, and relaxed together in the garden a bit until the sun set, then headed inside to make love and go to bed. She looked a bit disheveled when she stripped, but I supposed it was from her costume and long hours of working on a hot movie set. I pulled her into the bed on top of me, laying on her back so we could spoon, worked my dick along her sexy ass crack, and began to kiss and massage her, which she sighed and cooed happily over.

"Oh, that feels nice, Mikey. So relaxing and... ahhhhh..." She dreamily purred.

I smiled, happy that I was able to do something special for her to make her feel good. I gently worked all her different muscle groups that I could reach from lying underneath her. When I'd finished all those, she rolled off me and onto her belly, flicking her tail and sweetly begging "Now the back too, please?"

I crawled over her and whispered "But of course, my sophisticated, delicate lady," and began to work the muscles in her back and legs. I caught a glimpse of her vagina and could see she was soaking wet and dripping in anticipation, which gave me another raging hard-on.

Lazily, she drawled "Ooooo... I'm usually really sore after a day of filming. It's hard work trying to pose and look sexy for the camera no matter what position you're in, angle after angle. Thank you, Michael... this is great, and really helps me relax. You're so thoughtful... I've never had a friend as thoughtful and giving as you, who treats me with such respect. I know I keep saying that, but I don't know how to express to you how much that means to me."

She fell silent for a moment, and I was just about to tell her she was very welcome and that I enjoyed doing things for her, when she started to speak again. "I feel so good when we're close... You make me feel like a lady, like a princess when you dote on me. I didn't even know a relationship could be like this, and it still feels like a dream. I... I've always had really low self-esteem, baby. I've always felt worthless and shallow and unattractive and deeply, deeply unhappy. You make me feel loved, and wanted..."

Apparently having had enough of a massage to relax herself, or perhaps because this felt more important, she suddenly started to bawl her eyes out and rolled over, diving on me and bowling me over so she could cover me with licks and nips and kisses. "I love you, Mikey. I love you so much I can't live without you. I neeeed you close. I'll... I'll do anything... anything at all you want. I'll quit my job, move, anything at all, _anything_if you'll just promise to never, ever leave me!"

I hugged her tight as I felt her tears dripping down my naked chest. I was surprised by this sudden outburst, and had no idea where it had come from or why. "Sweetheart! Calm down. I love you so much; you know that! I promise that no matter what, I'll stay with you. I'm in love with you; there's no way I would ever leave you, I promise. I mean that, honey. Be calm, it's OK. I was so lonely until I met you, I feel the exact same way. I'm so happy it feels like it's a dream."

She took a deep breath and let out a shuddering sigh, seeming to ease down. "S... sorry, honey. You must think I'm pretty silly." She said, looking a little embarrassed now by her outburst.

I held her close. "I do not. I only want to help you, sweetheart." I thought for a moment, then hazarded a guess at what this was about. "Was work tough for you today?"

She stiffened a bit in my arms, tightening her grip on me. "Y... yeah. After spending time with you, it was really, really hard to go back to work. I didn't want to be there, I wanted to be with you. I didn't want to film, I didn't want to..." She drew up short of saying something and was silent for a minute. Then she meekly said "I know you just want to help, and I love you to pieces for it, but... I really don't wanna talk about it right now. I don't wanna have to relive all the problems, I just need somebody to hold me and tell me it's alright, and that they love me."

I nodded and accepted her words at face value. I rocked her gently in my arms and cooed words of comfort and love to her, while she closed her eyes and nibbled on one of my fingers like a baby. It was strange, but I trusted her to tell me what was going on when she was ready. After all, we'd only known each other for a few weeks, and she was probably simply not ready to tell me about something very personal that was happening or had happened to her.

I figured she wouldn't want to have sex and when she fell asleep in my arms, I gently snuggled us both down into the bed as gently as I could so we could sleep. The movement jolted her awake, though, and she gasped "Oh! I... I'm sorry... we were about to make love and I dumped on you, didn't I?"

I smiled gently. "That's perfectly alright. You're upset and don't feel like making love tonight, and that's fine."

She shook her head. "No, heh, that isn't it at all. I want to make love to you, it'll make me feel a lot better, and help us both relax and go to sleep. But I'm really drained; would you mind doing everything tonight?"

I smiled and nodded, easing her over onto her back so I could gently worship her body until we were both completely aroused again. I guessed she would want more than anything to hold me close while we gently fucked, so I laid down on top of her and eased into her warmth missionary style. She did indeed give a coo and wrap her arms and legs around me tightly, pressing her muzzle to my lips.

Our sex was gentle, tender, relaxing and sweet this time. We weren't hornily pounding into each other or talking dirty and fucking in new and exciting positions, we were just laying together and gently, lovingly sliding in and out. We crescendoed together, and she let out a strangled sob of pleasure as she came. Our ejaculations mixed in a river of love and togetherness, and she held me close, going to sleep with me still inside her body.

* * *

It was Friday, thank God, when we woke up the next morning. One more day of work and then we would be able to spend a weekend together. Maine seemed to be in an infinitely better mood, but was even more intimate with me now that I'd helped her through whatever that had been. We both thought the world of each other, and I wondered if this love and devotion, so deep and so abrupt, could possibly be real. I was determined, at least, to make it real on my end.

Nothing much new or exciting happened that day, or that weekend, for that matter. We spent an absolutely wonderful Saturday and Sunday together, from walks on the beach where we'd met, to fine dining and box seats at theatre productions. She wanted to treat me to everything she could as fast as she could, and I had to keep telling her to relax and slow down, that my ideal activity with her was just being with her, and expensive dates, while fun, didn't matter so much to me.

Monday rolled around and was a real downer after such a wonderful weekend. We were preparing for the drug interception operation, and though I wasn't even going to participate, there was lots to do to support the agents who were involved. I had a bad feeling this was going to be a busy week, and I was not disappointed.

More than anything else in my life, I wanted to spend all my time with Maine, and instead I was having to work long hours all week. It was a relief when Thursday at last rolled around and the operation happened. It all went like clockwork, and we confiscated thirty-million dollars' worth of cocaine and several mid-level cartel people, too. The pressure was on, and we knew they would be going crazy trying to figure out how we'd accomplished what we'd done.

Friday was spent doing countless bundles of paperwork, but at least I was able to go home on time. I could hardly wait to spend another glorious weekend with my sweet little skunk lover, and was having to constantly slow the car down as I kept speeding up, wanting to get home so badly. She always greeted me at the door with a happy coo and lots of kisses and hugs, and I wanted them so badly, my chest was aching.

I was only a couple miles away when my cellphone rang. I glanced at it to see who it was, and saw it was Lee, to my surprise. I considered not answering for a second, then hit the button. "Hello, what's up." I said in a neutral voice.

He was all business immediately. "Hey Mike. I need to talk to you right away."

I groaned out loud. "Are you kidding? It's Friday, and I'm going home to spend the weekend with Maine! I've worked sixty hours this week, I want some time off with my sweetheart! I wasn't even involved with the raid. What could you possibly need me for?"

"Mike, this isn't about work. This is really important, or I wouldn't have called you." Lee replied soberly.

Snorting, I figured this was just one of my enemies being a dickweed. "Monday, Lee. It'll have to wait 'till Monday." I said, reaching to end the call.

"No! Wait. Listen. This can't wait. This is... this is about Maine, Mike. I know you don't like me, but this is really important."

That had certainly gotten my attention. "What? What about Maine? Spit it out! Now!"

Not the least bit intimidated, he grunted "Not over the phone. Meet me at the Columbus Elementary school parking lot." With that, he hung up.

I was two blocks from home, from my warm, sweet little green-haired goddess, from a weekend of love, sex and union with her. I gritted my teeth and swore a blue streak, turning the car around to drive the half a mile to the school he'd indicated. This had better be good, or I was going to pound him into the ground.

* * *

Lee was already there when I drove into the lot. He'd parked out by the children's toys and was out of his car, leaning against it and watching for me. In the drive over, I'd had enough time to imagine a million bad things that this could be about, and was now worried as hell that something might be wrong.

I pulled into the space next to him and jumped out. "Spit it out, Lee. I'm not in the mood for games. This had better be good or I'm going to knock your teeth down your throat." I growled.

He held up his hands. "Hey, take it easy! I know you don't like me, but I would hope you would respect me enough to tell me this if our situations were reversed. Please hear me out, Mike, I'm only trying to help."

I softened up a bit and sighed. "Sorry. I just... I'm really in love with her and I'm dying to get home and see her. Please make this short, OK? Is there something the matter with her? You've got me worried, now."

He nodded, but shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot several times before speaking again. "I guess... this is about... did she tell you what she does for a living?" He looked at me very closely.

I shrugged. "Yeah, she's an actress, and does some modeling, too. I know she makes really good money doing it, so she's pretty successful. Why?"

Still studying my face, he said "Did she tell you what kind of movies she acts in?"

My brow furrowed as I tried to recall if she'd given me any specific titles. "No, she didn't, and I guess I never asked. Just typical Hollywood type movies, I'd assume... Dramas, action films, that kinda stuff. Why?"

He stared at me for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "No Mike. She's a porn star." He quietly said.

I stared at him for a second, then laughed. "You asshole! No she is not! You wasted my time with this bullshit? I'm back to wanting to punch your face in."

Shaking his head, he softly said "I've got proof in my car, Mike. A couple of films she's been in. Her stage name is Candy Strype."

I froze. That name... How had he known that name? Suddenly, the back of my neck began to prickle and I felt dizzy. He opened his passenger side door and produced three Blu-Ray cases. All three had pictures of Maine naked on the front cover, giving sleezy, slutty looks to the camera. One was titled "Gonzo Orgies" and depicted her with several other females of various species. Another was "Furry Girl Power: Three hours of Lesbian action starring Candy Strype!" and showed her kissing a buxom vixen. The final one was called "Steamy Knights with Candy Strype" and featured her in a princess costume, kneeling before some dude wearing chainmail, unbuckling his belt and licking her lips.

I staggered backwards, running into my car and sliding clumsily to the ground on my butt, staring at the images on the covers of these tawdry films; Maine, my sweet Maine, the girl who I'd given my heart to, who swore to me every night she loved me with unconditional love and would never leave me, was nothing better than a whore. There in my hands was the proof that she sold her body on film for money.

Lee came cautiously forward and knelt before me. "Mike, I'm so sorry. I found this and didn't know what to do. I was afraid she hadn't told you because of how you talked about her. I had to tell you, I couldn't let her keep lying to you, because I knew you were falling in love more and more with her."

I began to cry, staring at the horrible pictures clutched in my trembling hands. I gently traced her features with a finger, until my vision was too obscured with tears to continue. Lee was no friend of mine, but he gave me a hug while I sobbed, my heart absolutely broken. It was probably that simple act that kept me from cracking under the strain of my emotions.

After a half an hour of tears and horror, I began to get my emotions under control a bit. "I have to go home and confront her with this. God, I hope she has some good explanation for it, but I don't see how." I finally managed to shakily say.

He shook his head. "I doubt she does, Mike. Listen, I'll drive you home, then walk back to get my car and go home, OK? I don't think you should drive, you're too upset to focus on the road."

I didn't respond, but nodded and handed him my keys. He drove me the few blocks to the beach, then at my bid walked away, leaving me holding the three damn films and staring at what I'd called my home, where I'd thought I'd found love.

6) ** **Breakdown

I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. She was there immediately, wearing a pretty yellow sundress with flowers printed on it, and some white and gold strappy heals. It was simple, but so strikingly beautiful on her, like everything was. "There you are, Mikey! You're so late, I was getting worried! Ohhh, I missed you so much!" She laughed happily and came forward, arms out for a hug. "I kin hardly wait to spend the weekend... to... gether..." Her voice trailed off as she saw me. "What's wrong?" She asked, seeing my pale, sickened look. Her ears flattened, and I fancied she knew what it was by the gravity of my expression.

Slowly, I lifted up the Blu-Ray clutched in my hand and showed it to her, the hurt pouring from my face wordlessly. She looked from it to me several times, her tail and ears drooping. She nodded, and softly said "Yeah. Now you know. I'm relieved, I guess. It's been tearing me up inside trying to figure out how to tell you."

"Tearing you up inside?" I choked, my voice shaking so badly I could hardly speak. "You... everything you offered me was a filthy lie! How... could you? What kind of animal are you that you could do this to someone who loves you?"

She was starting to tremble now too. "Mikey, everything that I do at work _stays_at work. That woman there... Candy Strype... she's not who I am. She's not anything like me. I've never once told you a lie of any kind. I love you, Michael, and I would die for you. I already offered to quit my job for you, and I meant it. If that's what you want me to do, I'll gladly do it to be with you."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You have the warped audacity to act like because you skirted the issue and let me believe you worked in Hollywood, telling me vague generalities, that you didn't lie to me? Are you out of your stupid mind? You let me believe that you were pure! You knew what I thought about you, about what I thought you did for a living, and you didn't say anything to correct me!" I was raising my voice to a yell as I spoke, and she cowered back from me, shrinking away and crying. "Now I have to find out from one of my coworkers that you are nothing better than a dirty, filthy slut! Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out? Are you really that stupid? Obviously, you are! Damn you! Damn you for making me care! Damn you for making me love you! God damn you for letting me believe you were sweet and loving!"

My voice broke and I began to cry myself, burying my face in my hands to sob. I heard her squeak in a tiny voice "N... no! It... it isn't like... like that, Mikey! You don't unnerstand..."

I clenched my fists and roared at her in inarticulate frustration that she would be still trying to justify herself to me. She cowered back from me and sobbed, "Are you gonna hit me?" her green eyes wide with terror.

I stared at her, trembling and white as a sheet, then softly said "Unlike the disgusting crowd of misogynistic people you associate with, I would never strike or harm a woman, no matter what she's done to me. I'm leaving, and I pray to God I never, ever see you or hear your name again so long as I live. Give me five minutes to collect my belongings and I'll be gone."

I staggered to our... her bedroom, crying. She followed me, standing in the doorframe and watching me pack while sobbing. After a few moments, she drew herself up and seemed to force her emotions under control by sheer force of will. "Mike, I can't make you stay, and I can't make you forgive me, but what you think I did isn't what really happened. Let me tell you the truth, at least, before you go. I can't bear it if you leave thinking that's what happened, never knowing the truth."

I didn't speak, but I didn't forbid her to speak, either. After a moment of silence, she forged ahead. Her voice was shaking, but she seemed to be keeping her emotions in check in her determination to talk to me. "The truth is, when we were out there on the beach, when I first looked at you and got a crush on you, I did tell you what I do for a living. I out and out told you explicitly that I was a porn starlet."

"We were driving in my car, tailing your target, and you asked me who I was. I responded 'I'm an actress, an' I live here in Florida. I make good money and keep to myself, because frankly looking like this gets me hounded by countless shallow men. I was just out walkin' for some exercise and 'cause I like the beach 'cause it's away from people. The truth is... I, uh... I work in adult film, so keeping to myself isn't always very practical when I'm recognized on the street, and I value privacy. I suppose that prolly means you want nothin' ta do with me, huh?'"

She looked at her paws as she recalled the story. "You had your brow furrowed, so I thought you were thinking about it, but when you didn't respond for a bit, and I couldn't stand to wait any longer, I added 'Does that bother you?' and you said it didn't. I was so elated! I already thought you were the coolest guy I'd ever met, an' for you to say you didn't mind my vocation... I thought you were a bit cavalier about it, but I decided that was just 'cause it really, honestly didn't bother you."

I had stopped packing and was seeing the scene in her convertible play out again in my mind as she spoke. I'd been distracted by a couple lane changes while chasing the target, and had tuned her out for a moment, the precise moment when she'd told me the most critical thing about herself. "I was distracted..." I softly moaned. "Couldn't you have waited for a time when you had my total attention to drop that on me? I was in the operation of my life and I didn't hear you!"

She nodded and sobbed. "I know that now... but at the time, I didn't realize you hadn't heard me. Mikey, by the time I figured it out, we'd already made love together! I didn't know what to do! I am so, soooo in love with you, I worship the ground you walk on! I was petrified, thinking that if I told you I might lose you! I had thought I'd already cleared the air with you long before we became intimate, and then I found out it wasn't so! I didn't do it to hurt you, I swear it. I don't care what you think of me, but please believe me when I say I love you with all my heart, and that I did not go about trying to hide this from you."

I slowly stood up and turned to face her. I looked into her eyes, and I knew she was telling me the truth. I knew her well enough to realize it all made perfect sense, and that she really hadn't done this out of dishonesty. Through a cruel act of cosmic fate, I'd missed her words and we'd gotten into a horrible misunderstanding.

"Can a female who has sex with strangers for a living possibly even be capable of true love anymore?" I whispered, more to myself than to her.

She nodded, her face full of desperate pleading. "Oh yes, you have just _got_to believe me, yes! Mike, I would give anything to be able to let you read my mind and heart for just one second, to make you truly see how much I love you and need you. Everything I've ever told you about my feelings is true! I will quit my job this minute, fire my agent right here, right now, and forsake all others, never having sex with anyone but you for the rest of my life, if only you will stay! I'll wear a Goddamn chastity belt if that'll make you believe in me and trust me to be true to you alone."

I was silent, staring at her. Softly, she added "My life has had meaning since I met you. I was just going through the motions until that day on the beach. I love you, Mikey. I love, love, love, love... love you. You're all I want in this whole world."

Continuing to stare at her, I let my tears flow freely and silently down my cheeks. She looked to be in anguished limbo as she sobbed. "I'm _dying,_Mikey! Please, say something... anything... let me know..." Her voice broke and she couldn't continue, beginning to cry harder and harder at my silence, probably suspecting that the longer I was silent, the more likely it was that I was going to reject her despite her feelings.

She hung her head, trembling and crying. All my instincts screamed out to surge forward and comfort my little lover. I loved her. I cared for her so much it was physically painful to see her suffering like this, and yet I felt crushed and betrayed by her. I had thought our sexual union was special and exclusive, that she was mine and mine alone, but now I was discovering that she slept with countless other men and women.

I truly was at a complete loss for what to do. "I have to get away from you and think about this." I croaked, zipping up my small suitcase. "I know it wasn't your fault, now, but... this is horrible. I have to think about it. Oh Maine... I'm so disappointed in you."

Headed for the door, I felt as if I was floating. She stepped quietly out of my way, silently sobbing to herself, but not stopping me. As I reached the front door of the house, she softly spoke from behind me "I'll do anything you ask if it will make you stay, Michael. I... you promised me you would stay, no matter what."

I paused, closing my eyes. "I promised you I would stay when I thought there were no secrets between us. I'm not saying I'm leaving for good, I just have to get away and think about what's happened." I turned to her. "Please wait for me for a few days, OK?"

Her large green eyes were brimming with tears, but she tried to put on a brave face. "D'you want me to quit my job? I'll do it right now, if that would help you."

Contemplatively scratching my ear, I shook my head. "What good will that do now? It won't change who you are and what has happened."

As I reached for my car door after throwing my meager belongings into my trunk, I heard her cry "I love you, Mikey..." in a strangled, anguished voice.

I couldn't bear to face her tears and sadness again, so I dove into the car and drove away, pretending I hadn't heard her.

7) ** **But is this Love?

"... and that's the whole story, sir." I finished. I was sitting in a chair in my boss's office, seven days after having walked out on Maine. I was still an emotional wreck, unable to sleep, unable to stop crying. There was a mountain of used tissues on the coffee table between us, and his trash can was also filled and overflowing on the floor next to me. I'd even used up a whole box of tissues and he'd had to get another.

Commander Dale Josslam nodded slowly, looking at his hands. "That is indeed a tragic story of miscommunications and misinterpretations. Do you think she meant to hurt you?"

I shook my head. "Oh, no sir. Like I already told you, it was all a colossal misunderstanding. She... looking back on it, I realize the precise moment after we made love for the first time that I said something that made her realize I didn't know what her job was. She looked shocked, agitated, and next to tears. If she made a mistake, perhaps it was simply that she should have spoken up then... but I don't blame her for panicking and pulling back, keeping it to herself while she frantically tried to figure out what to do."

He nodded. "Well, that's good. You don't harbor any blame towards her? None at all?"

Slowly, I shook my head. "No, sir. I'm horrified that it happened, but I know she didn't mean for it to happen. I'm not angry at her for that... but I am terribly disappointed in her, knowing what she does for a living... what she's done to her body, to her purity, to her mind."

He nodded again, commiserating. I'd come here thinking he could help me come to a conclusion, but so far he had asked me questions and nodded at my answers. Dispite my sorrow, I was getting a little annoyed with him. "Well, what do you think? Does she love me?"

Frowning a bit, he said "There are no easy answers for that, Mike..."

"But you've gotta have some kind of alternate view of the situation! You're a disinterested third party! Please, boss..."

Gazing at his hands again, he shook his head. "That isn't really an easy thing to do, Michael. I can try to take a look at you and your thoughts and feelings, but interpreting your recollections of her aren't enough for me to paint a psychological profile of her."

I sat forward. "Then why am I here? I need to know if she truly does love me, if she's even capable of love! I can't face her without that!"

Cocking his head, he asked "Well, what do you think about it? Do you think she loves you?"

"I don't know! That's why I'm asking you!" I cried.

Unflappable, he continued like I hadn't spoken. "Settle down, son. I'm trying to help. It actually shouldn't be that hard to figure out. First of all, we need to delve into your feelings, which I think we've mostly done already, so let me ask you just a few questions. When you think of her, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Knee jerk. Your first thought of her. Don't try to analyze, just relay."

That was easy. "I think of her sweet smile, and it warms my tummy." I replied.

"Her smile?" He studied me thoughtfully. "You're sure? Not her naked body, not her sex organs, her smile?" I blushed a little at his clinical description of it. I'd struggled with telling him or not, but had at last been unable to contain myself. I needed to tell somebody.

I nodded in response. "I love her smile. She has the prettiest smile... her whole face glows and her eyes sparkle with life and happiness, and I love to make her happy." I lamented, feeling sick at my own words.

Nodding, he asked "OK, and what do you think would be fun to do with her on a lazy summer afternoon? Again, give me your first thought."

"Walking on the beach and talking, or maybe sitting on her couple-swing and watching the sun set while sipping cold drinks. I even had fun learning about gardening, and she was eager to teach me." I admitted, feeling stinging pain as I thought of all the fun things I'd done with her... Life had seemed so adventuresome and exciting when we were together. Even the simplest things had been a delight.

Again he was studying my face closely. "That's the first thing you think of? Not pulling her clothes off and committing intercourse with her?"

Feeling a bit nonplussed, I shook my head. "Well, I enjoyed that a helluva lot too, but no. My first thought was of us working in her garden. I loved doing that because of how happy it made her. Her little paws would tremble she was having so much fun."

He rubbed his chin and thoughtfully spoke. "So, you don't just obsessively think about having intercourse with her, you think of all the fun you have living life with her."

"I guess so." I shrugged.

A small smile crossed his normally serious face. "Well, if you are telling me the truth about that, then I think you truly do have deep feelings for her, and a deep bond to her. I think you are healthily in love with her, though I'm no doctor."

I shrugged. "Tell me something I don't know." I grunted.

Leaning forward in his chair, he adjusted his position to get more comfortable as he spoke. "OK, well, let's turn this line of thinking around to her. What was the first thing she'd do when you'd get home from work?"

My eyes grew misty at the memories, and I grabbed another tissue. "She'd always come flying at me from wherever she was in the house, and give me a great big, hug and a wet, passionate kiss."

"OK, then what?"

"She would ask me about my day, and we'd amble around the yard, or if she needed help in the kitchen I'd go right in and help her with that." I said, blowing my nose.

He looked a little satisfied by something. "OK, good... good. How about after supper? What did she want to do then?"

That wasn't particularly hard to remember either. She was a creature of habit. "We'd talk. Either on the swing, or walking the beach, or making sand castles... she loved to play like a kid... it was so sweet to watch her have such fun doing such simple things... She even loved to just sit there and comb my hair, resting my head... against... her t-tummy." I squeaked, my voice breaking again into silent sobs.

"How often do you think her mind turned to sex?"

Slowly, I replied "I dunno... not really that often. I mean, she was always eagerly receptive to sex if I initiated it, but I don't think she ever really came to me looking for it after that first time. She always seemed to have a great time doing it though... I never felt like it made her sad or uncomfortable."

Rubbing his brow, he added "She never acted seductive, or tried to move and use her body to arouse you?"

"No sir, not unless I started it, other than the fact that she was incredibly gorgeous all the time. She never told me no, and was always glad to be sexy, though. She'd be seductive if I asked for it, no question. She was incredibly good at it."

He finally sat back. "Well, that is certainly a very good sign. If her view of love was purely sex, I do not think she would ever stray very far from that in her mind. The fact that she enjoyed talking, cooking, and playing with you in innocent ways points me to the conclusion that her feelings for you did not revolve simply around your body and sexual intercourse."

"To put it another way," he continued, "do you think that if her only concept of love was sex after a life in the pornography industry, she would be the least bit interested in holding your head in her lap and combing your hair?"

"Probably not." I admitted. "You make a good point."

Nodding, he gently smiled again. "If we can therefore assume that you truly do love her, and she truly does love you, then your next mental stumbling block can be distilled into one final question; can you forgive her past and love her in the present and future?"

I started to reply, but he forged ahead. "That is the most difficult part, isn't it? I can't even begin to tell you how I would feel if I learned these things about my wife. However, Maine has sworn she would give up her pornography life-style for you if you ask her to. She's promising herself to you now and forevermore after. I think that speaks of her determination right now, if nothing else."

He continued. "But what of the future? That is so hard to say. Many porn starlets speak of the addicting nature of the sex-high they achieve on a pornography set, and also the addicting nature of the large amounts of money to be made from a single scene. If she has entire videos dedicated to her, she has no doubt become very wealthy off of using her body. She is determined now, but will she begin to miss those things in a month? Or maybe in a year or two? Will she truly be satisfied with just one sexual partner?"

"The simple fact is, nobody but she can know how truly deeply her determination for you goes. Can you risk it in the hopes that she will stay true to you? Can you come to terms with what she does for a living and allow her to continue, and be satisfied that only you have her heart, though others share her body? I cannot answer these things for you, Mike. Nobody can. If you love her though, and want to work at the relationship, can you decide if it as least worth it to you to try?" He finished, falling silent.

Softly, I said "I'm afraid that if I open my heart up to her, I might be hurt again. If I let myself go, and fall ever deeper into loving her, I will be destroyed if she leaves me. Oh Commander Josslam, I wish now that I'd never met her."

He nodded. "Wishes won't get you one thing in life, Mike. Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Then are you willing to fight for her? Even if that means you may lose?"

I thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. You are right. I can't just walk away, not now. I love her too much to let her go, especially when she's begging me to stay." I sat up straight in the chair and let out a sigh.

He smiled. "Then fight for her. Be open with her, discuss your concerns with her and make sure you absolutely understand each other."

"Thank you so much, sir." I said, shaking his hand and feeling better for the first time in days.

* * *

I felt nervous as hell, but also resolute in my decision as I drove up her long driveway and parked my car in front of her garage. I'd told Lee about my decision. Because he'd looked out for me and told me the truth of things, I had buried the hatchet with him.

I stepped out, half expecting her to come flying at me at any second, but there wasn't so much as a peep from her majestic, opulent home. I walked up to the front door and knocked, but got no response. Where was she?

She'd given me a key to her place, and I used that now to open the door and step inside. "Maine?" I called out. "Maine, honey? It's Michael... I've had some time to come to grips with things... Maine? MAINE???"

No response. Worried, I searched through the house, but found no sign of her, then finally thought to go check her garage. Her car was gone, so I knew she wasn't home. The detective in me then went about looking for clues as to where she'd gone. I found her notepad by the phone, with an address and time written on it. It looked like whatever it was, it was happening right now, the time written there was three o'clock today and it was three-thirty.

I only debated with myself for a moment before I headed back to my car, carrying the address. It wasn't very far away... was it another scene she was filming today? The thought of seeing her in the middle of being fucked by someone else made me sick to my stomach, but I was also morbidly curious. I wanted to see with my own eyes what my seemingly sweet little lover was capable of.

It was with great relief, however, that I found my GPS had directed me to a brand new, big and beautiful hair salon sporting a 'Grand Opening!' sign over the front door. There was her cherry red convertible parked in the lot, signifying she was indeed inside. Of course, she had to go someplace to get her hair dyed, right? I thought about just waiting until she was done, but my desire to see her again, and to set her mind at ease and comfort her was too strong a pull.

I climbed out of my car and, feeling monumental trepidation, I walked to the door and stepped inside. The salon was obviously a very high-class establishment. The ceilings were around thirty feet high, with beautiful chandeliers and track-lighting illuminating the patrons below. The décor was plants and waterfalls, and gentle new-age music playing to relax the patrons.

A very pretty vixen stepped forward with a smile. "Hello sir, may I help you?"

I only glanced at her, still scanning the room for my little sweet skunk lover. "Oh, well, my girlfriend is in here somewhere, I'm looking for her." I grunted. Down on the end, in a very private salon booth surrounded by ferns and trickling waterfalls, I saw a pair of black-furred legs and a pair of lime-green platform pumps that could only belong to my sexy girl.

"I see her there. Is it OK if I go talk to her?"

The hostess nodded with another pretty smile. "That's fine. Just please keep your voice down, we want to have a relaxing atmosphere for our guests."

I thanked her and walked towards my love. Suddenly, as I neared, I heard her talking, and slowed down. I couldn't make out the words, but by the heavy emotions in her voice, I had an inkling that I could perhaps learn a lot about her feelings if I could listen in. I glanced around to make sure nobody was watching me, then ducked into the booth next to hers, crouching down against the planters and water tanks that made of the divider between her booth and this one.

The water was noisy and I still had to strain to hear, but I could make out her words. "Oh Abbi, he was so sweet. He was so thoughtful and kind, so gentle and caring... I can't even begin to tell you how much I love him." Her voice was tearful and trembling.

I heard the stylist, Abbi, speak. "Well, that sounds wonderful! Why are you so sad? You always have told me of your dreams to find a nice guy and settle down."

"I was sure he was the one... I've never felt that happy in my life. We... we made love that night, and it was the most wonderful, sweet, gentle pleasure I've ever experienced. Nothing I've ever done at work felt half that good! He was more concerned about giving me pleasure than he was taking any for himself... I came the first time with him! Really hard, too!" She sobbed.

The other woman spoke again. "Deary, that sounds like a romantic dream-come-true! What went wrong?"

Filled with anguish, I heard her voice, breaking under the strain. "He... he had been distracted when I told him what I did for a living. He didn't hear me say it."

I heard a soft gasp. "Oh God! Oh Maine..."

Her voice sounding shrill and desperate, I heard the sensuous little skunk cry "Yes! An... an... I didn't realize it until af'fer we'd made love. He made a comment that made me realize it... I panicked! I had no idea what to do about it, so I did the worst thing of all... I didn't tell him." She paused and I heard her blowing her nose. A moment later, she continued in a soft, shaking voice. "Before I could figure out what to do, one of his coworkers blabbed it to him. He was so hurt and crushed, I could see it broke his heart! He thought I was pure, and that... that he could call me his own, mind and body. I've never felt more disgusting and degenerate. He read me the riot act and packed his bags and left... all I could do was tell him what had really happened."

"Did he believe you?"

"I think so, but it din't change anything. He still left. I found the love of my life, an' I lost him because of my craving for wealth. I gave up my ability to give him anything special, an' it ruined us... Oh Abbi you were right, I'm so ashamed of who I am and what I've done with my life... I fired my manager and turned in my resignation to the studio, but it's far, far, far too late now. I've ruined our relationship and lost the only thing I ever cared about in my whole miserable life." She broke off and just sobbed.

I heard Abbi move around the chair and from the change in the sounds of Maine's sobbing, I could tell she was hugging her. "There there, sweetie. I think you did the right thing to quit. You are such a sweet girl, that place was slowly consuming you. If this Michael has any idea how much he means to you, and how much you've already sacrificed for his love... he'd have to be a complete asshole to turn you away."

I heard Maine sob "He's already left, Abbi. How empty would it be now to call him and tell him I quit? I don't deserve someone as nice and wholesome as he is. Even... even when he and I were together, before he found out, I went and did an orgy scene for the studio! I've never felt so ashamed of myself and sick to be in my own skin. I couldn't even look him in the eyes, but he was so innocent he didn't even notice. He just trusted me an' loved me."

I hugged myself as I listened to the two females talking. I'd wondered about that day she'd gone to work... it was even worse than I'd thought... an orgy... I wondered how many men and women she'd had sex with that day before me. The thought was sickening, and I felt betrayed all over again. Despite my resolution to go back to her and try to patch things up, I suddenly was filled with doubt again.

Was this a good idea? I could still walk away. I could make a clean break from her and go about trying to rebuild my life. Could I honestly look at her in simple love anymore, or would I forever see the ghosts of her degenerate lifestyle dancing behind her large green eyes? Once again in turmoil, I found myself leaving the building and stepping out into the parking lot.

I watched two children scamper past on the sidewalk nearby. They were laughing and playing with a cute little dog they had on a leash. I watched her little tail wagging frantically as she reveled in the attention and affection showed to her by her master. I watched them pass and longed for the innocence and simplicity of childhood.

* * *

I was still there, leaning against Maine's car with my hands in my pockets when she emerged from the salon. She was looking down, fumbling in her purse for her car keys, and didn't look up and see me until she was only a couple steps from me. For all my thinking and soul-searching, I still was no closer to a decision of what to do in this encounter.

She suddenly realized someone was leaning on her car, and her pretty head snapped up. She stared at me and her eyes popped from her skull. "MIKEY!!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and dove at me. However, just as fast as she started moving, she suddenly ground to a halt, nearly falling over backwards on her tail to keep from touching me as she registered that my presence did not necessarily mean acceptance.

She was immediately shaking so hard it practically looked like she was having a seizure. "Wh... wh... wh... wha' d-d-d-d-did y-you w... wa... want-t-t-t?" She choked, her jaw clattering together as if she was freezing.

I made my decision once and for all right then. I didn't think she couldn't fake emotional upset that severe. I just didn't believe that was possible. No, her feelings were real, and no matter what her past contained, she loved me, and I loved her. If we were both willing to give a hundred and ten percent to each other, we absolutely could make this work.

I reached my arms out for her, and softly said "I promised you I wouldn't leave you, and I meant it, pretty little skunk."

She stared at me with wide-eyes dripping with tears. Then gave a strangled cry of relief and joy and fell against me. She was shaking so hard she couldn't even stand up, and I staggered trying to catch her weight and keep her from falling. She was squeezing me so tightly it felt like she would break bones, and her claws were dug deep into my back, drawing blood as she gouged me. It was the most glorious feeling I'd ever had in my life.

"I lo... I l-l-lo... I lo..." She stuttered.

"I love you, too." I interjected, kissing her cheek where it rested against me. "Just be at peace, my darling. Relax and don't be afraid and sad anymore. I'm here, and I won't leave again." I repeated over and over, rocking her gently in my arms while she sobbed in relief.

It was a long time before she was calmed down enough I could help her into the passenger seat of her car and drive us home. She refused to break contact with me even for a second, needing to be touching me constantly, no matter what she had to do to keep contact. I kept gently speaking words of calming to her as she clung to my arm, her face buried in my shoulder, panting.

All at once, half way home, her head shot up and she gurgled "Stop the car! I hafta throw up!"

I slammed on the breaks and stopped just in time for her to dive out of the car and vomit all over in the ditch. I hurried around the car to her cute form, crouched over and droopy, and knelt beside her, holding her shoulders. "Are you OK honey? Are you sick? Do we need to go to the hospital?"

She retched and shook her head, spitting bile into the dirt. "N...no... It's just nerves... I been throwin' up a lot since you lef'... I'n sorry..."

"Oh sweetie." I moaned. "I'm here now, princess. I'm right here. I'm not going to leave again, OK? No more sadness, no more sorrow. This week has been hell on me, too." I sat back, leaning against the side of the car to get out of the direct sun and into some shade. I pulled her fuzzy, sexy body into my lap, and she curled up into a ball, swallowing and holding her little tummy.

As she shook in my arms, I realized I needed to give her more concrete assurance that I was really here. Trying to sound gentle and cheerful, spoke. "Oh Maine, I've missed you so badly. I didn't know what to do about any of it, but I went to my boss, Dale, and was able to spill my guts to him. He helped me to realize that no matter what the past, you really did love me, and I certainly still love you. Skunky-baby, if our love is really true, if we are willing to give ourselves to each other, I know we can spend the rest of our lives together and live happily ever-after."

I lowered my voice to a whisper. "I love you Maine. I don't care about the past, I still love you more than anyone else in the world. I don't care, I just love you."

"Ohhhh... ohhhhh-ohhhhh ohhhh.... Ohhh" She sobbed, sounding deliriously happy.

I continued to whisper gently into her fuzzy round ear. "I just want one promise from you, Maine. I want you to promise me that you are determined, through thick and thin, to stay with me, through joy and sorrow, that you'll remain true to me, and I swear to you I shall do the same."

She nodded spasmodically. "I p-p-pwomise." She managed.

I gently rubbed her belly. "I missed you so much." I chuckled.

Again I helped her into the car, and this time we made it to her house. I hurried around the car to her door and opened it, picking her up and carrying her inside, plopping her into the couch and relaxing onto the floor, putting my head in her lap. She gratefully stroked her fingers through my hair. I felt like I was home; not because I was in her house, but because I was in her arms.

After a few silent moments, she whispered "I quit my job and fired my manager."

I nodded from her lap. "I know. Please forgive me, but I snuck in and listened to your conversation with your hair stylist. It... was a great comfort to me to hear your words."

"Oh... oh, that's OK. I... hope you don't mind I was telling her all that. She was my other best friend growing up, and she's tried for years to get me to quit doing porn. She insisted I was better than that, no matter how low I sunk down into it, she never stopped believing in me."

"No, I don't mind at all, princess. I very much needed to hear those words too. I guess the money involved can be pretty addicting, huh?" I replied.

She shook her head. "I have nothing to say to justify myself before you, Michael. All I can say is I'm sorry."

I shook my head. "It doesn't even matter. You are so sweet, Maine. It hasn't destroyed you as much as you seem to think it has. You wouldn't be so sweet if it had. Now just relax, and let's leave that topic for a good long time. When we are calmed down and happy, maybe we can talk about it, but for now, we just need to heal together, and be in love. Does that sound OK?"

"OK." She simply replied.

* * *

It took all evening for the two of us to calm down. We were both exhausted from lack of sleep, and we both avoided the topic of sex for the night. Instead, we cuddled up in bed together in our jammies, and just lay there, holding each other. I'd taken to sleeping nude with her, so it felt odd to be wearing clothes in her bed, but tonight was not the night for love-making.

I buried my face in her soft neck fur and breathed her sweet, earthy scent. It was so comforting to feel her close. She had her arms and legs wrapped tightly around me, even curling her thick, bushy tail up my back and neck, warming me with her own body heat and fur. Neither of us spoke for a long time, each wrapped up in our own thoughts.

I reached up and filled my hand with her thick, soft green hair and ran my fingers through it. The touch seemed to rouse her out of her reverie, and she spoke up, a portion of her old cheerfulness returning. "So, what's happened in the fight against drugs? You make any more interceptions?"

I smiled in the darkness and pulled back from her slender neck so I could speak. "Not yet. We're working on a huge op tomorrow, though. If we're interpreting his notes correctly, this shipment is going to dwarf the previous one."

"His notebook is coded?" She asked breezily, but with evident eagerness tingeing her words.

"No, not coded. He just wrote the notes for himself, with lots of abbreviations and stuff that meant something to him but has to be carefully deciphered by us." I replied.

She gave a little giggle, then airily asked "So what's the interception plan?" She was still trying to sound nonchalant, but eagerness was evident in her sweet, silky voice.

I frowned a little in the blackness of the room. "Princess, you realize this stuff is all very, very classified, right? You can't breathe a word of it to anyone; lives literally depend on that. I really shouldn't be telling you, if they found out, I would be arrested and imprisoned myself."

"Oh, nonono! I won't breathe a word of it, I swear! I didn't tell Abbi anything about how we met, just that I met you walking the beach. You can trust me, I promise." She hurriedly, eagerly assured. "I'm nosy and inquisitive, but I know how to keep a secret myself."

Still feeling a bit hesitant to reveal government secrets to a civilian, even if she was my precious little lover, I haltingly spoke. "Well... the shipment is coming in on a private steamer, sailing into the Texas coast. It should tie up at the dock around one o'clock PM. We're ecstatic about this one... not only is there an estimated one-hundred and fifty million dollars of drugs onboard, we're nearly certain one of the cartel's highest ranking officers, 'Cobra' Verde, is going to be on that boat, coming stateside to do some shopping for his daughter's birthday. Capturing him red-handed could mean information that could help us break this Cuban cartel wide open!"

To my surprise, she bolted upright in bed and gave a frantic squeak of shock. "Rilly? Oh Mikey! That's... that's wonderful..." She shot out of bed, and I could vaguely see her pacing around the room a bit as she spoke again. "Are you gonna be one of the operatives bringing him in?"

I sat up in bed, confounded by her odd behavior. "Noooo" I slowly said. "It's happening in Texas, not Florida. I'd have to leave right this second, and I'd still barely get there in time for the op."

She sounded very relieved and flopped back into bed. "Oh, OK." I reached for her in the darkness and pulled her close, feeling her red-silk pajamas slip across her firm body underneath.

"Why don't you want me in on the op?" I asked her, a bit suspiciously.

She snuggled back into the bed, catching me in her arms and legs and squeezing me close before responding. "Oh, after the last time, I figure they'll be armed to the teeth and on the lookout for trouble. I just... I love hearing about you catching these scumbags, but I don't want my precious baby in danger, after all we've been through to be together. I feel like our luck is so bad right now you'd be killed or something."

"Oh." I replied, not sure what else to say. "Thanks, doll. We expect that too. The Texas National Guard is going to be helping us with the operation. As soon as they tie down on the dock, so many troops will descend on the boat we're hoping they'll give up no shots fired."

"K." She replied. "I gotta potty." And bounced out of bed again, scampering off to the bathroom. She didn't return for quite some time.

8) ** **Big Trouble

When I awoke the next morning, I was surprised to find Maine not lying in bed next to me. We'd gone to bed together, and I'd fallen asleep nestled in her fur, so I was confused where she could be. I yawned and got up, grabbing some clothes from my suitcase. I was going to have to go start moving my stuff from my apartment by hand; Maine had promised to have that job hired out, but she still hadn't done it, and I was sick of living out of a suitcase.

Clothes in tow, I headed for the bathroom. "Maine?" I called down the hall. There was no response. My brow furrowed in a bit of concern. I set my things down and searched the house for her. "Maine! Babe, where are you!?" I yelled, but there was no response. The house was dark and silent.

A quick search revealed she was nowhere to be found. I checked the garage and found her car was still there. I went out on the beach, still wearing pajamas, and howled for her at the top of my lungs. Again, there was no response, just the crashing of the waves. I looked up and down the lonely section of beach she lived on, but there was no sign of her. I studied the sand, but there were no fresh footprints anywhere that I could see.

I looked for her for a few more minutes, but then I had to get ready for work. Today would be busy, and I couldn't afford to be late. I showered and got ready, then ate some oatmeal for breakfast, all the while fruitlessly scanning the beach and driveway through the windows of the house. With nothing else to do, I wrote her a note and left it on the kitchen table.

Maine-

I've looked everywhere and I can't find you, love. It's got me a little worried. Please call me at work as soon as you get this message to set my mind at ease. I missed you this morning, and I love you. I'll look forward to seeing you tonight. -Love, Mike

I hoped I would hear from her very soon. I set the pen down on the pad and noted its exact position relative to the words I'd written, covering them a bit to force whoever was reading it to move it to read the whole note. It was a little trick I'd been doing since I was a kid, and I'd be able to tell if someone had read the note.

I drove to work, my mind dwelling on my lover's disappearance. When I arrived, the whole department was in a frantic state, getting ready for the shipment. "James, what's the rush?" I asked as one of my friends jogged past. He turned his head and yelled over his shoulder "The steamer's coming into port two hours early, and we're scrambling to be ready in time! The boss needs you ASAP, Mike, get to his office!"

I groaned inwardly, but ran to my cubicle and tossed my things down before barreling down the hall to my commanding officer, Dale's desk. He was on the phone, talking frantically to someone. He glanced up and saw me, then motioned for me to wait a moment.

I barely had time to sigh before he hung up the phone. "It's all hitting the fan, Mike. Figures they would change their plans after our last bust, and leave us scrambling. Satellite picked up the steamer, and it is almost to port already, several hours ahead of schedule. We can't be late for this, it just is not going to happen. I'm up to my neck here working with government red tape, I need you to call the Texas branch and give a final briefing to the National Guard troops who are going to be helping us. Here's the itinerary as best we've planned it, they were expecting our call five minutes ago. Get going."

I grabbed the papers he was shoving in my hands and headed to my office. This was not starting out to be a good day.

* * *

We tensely waited around the radio system as the troops poured onto the steamer. "Command deck secured... Sweeping cargo hold... crew quarters secured..." We listened as the teams one by one reported their sections clear. They lined up the crew they'd captured, and that was when our problems began. Cobra Verde, the high ranking Cartel leader, was not on the boat.

The drug sniffing team was sent onboard next, and the dogs found nothing. No great surprise considering their sealed boxes, but there were none of those present either. There was not so much as a single grain of cocaine anywhere on the old boat. The mission had been blown. "How did they find out?" Dale roared in frustration as we watched all our careful plans come to nothing.

"They must have changed the shipping plans after we hit the last shipment." James hollowly spat.

"No, no way." I interjected. "Our intel shows they loaded this boat and sent it on its way. This thing had product on it, they somehow made a switch, or they unloaded it, or something..."

Dale glared at me as I spoke, but nodded. "He's right. We know this was the plan, our spy took pictures of the ship being loaded several days ago in Cuba. That the hell happened?" He roared in frustration.

We all looked at one another, then Lee haltingly spoke up and said. "Maybe... maybe we got an informant somewhere in here."

That sent a murmur rippling through everyone there, and we all looked at each other in alarm. Commander Dale was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. "OK, let's talk about that possibility. Everyone in the department here has had full access to all the information about this operation. Who else has had access?"

"Secretary of Defense, and the Commander of the Texas National Guard. Also, everyone in the Texas branch of the FBI." Said one of the senior members of the team, Randy.

"Ugh." Dale moaned. "That's over fifty people. Can we narrow it down any?"

"Not just from this one situation. Hell, we don't even know if we really do have a leak or not. We'd have to have more ops blown to even begin to try and narrow it down." James said, sounding ill.

When the commander spoke again, he sounded old and tired. "Alright. James, I want you to pull everyone's file and look for anything. Interview everyone on their movements in the last few days. Lee, if he finds anything out of the ordinary, he's going to send them to you for intensive questioning." He paused and looked at all of us. "I pray to God this isn't true. If we have a leak, that person has just cost countless lives. All those drugs will cause untold damage because we didn't manage to intercept them when we had the chance."

* * *

When I made it back to my desk, I saw the message light blinking on my phone. Excited that it might be Maine, I picked up the receiver and played back the messages. One from my mother... one from a police officer I was dealing with... and a wrong number. Nothing from Maine. Feeling disappointed, I called home, but still got no answer from her.

With nothing else to do but worry about all that was happening, I began to work on more paperwork. I'd only just picked up my pen and grabbed some, when Lee walked up to my cubicle. He had a strange look on his face. "Mike, I gotta talk with you." When I sat back and looked up at him expectantly, he added "In private."

I followed him into our meeting room, and he closed the door, then turned to me. He shifted uncomfortably, reaching up to itch his shoulder, his lip twitching. "What's up, Lee?" I asked.

"Mike... when I interrogated Maine that day you first met her... she knew a whole lot about the mission." He began, trailing off and staring at me closely.

I nodded. "Yeah. She was a little bit of a witch when I met her. When I wouldn't tell her who I was or what I was doing, She threatened to go ask the cartel members I was watching what was going on. I had to tackle her and give her a few details to shut her up. Josslam has all that in my report."

He looked at me gravely. "You know that is not only against protocol, it could be charged as treason."

Staring at him, I said "The mission went off without a hitch, though. We got all the info we needed, and were set up beautifully."

"... until this happened." He finished.

"Right, but what does that have to do with...." I began.

He interrupted me. "Have you told her anything else since then? Anything at all about our operations? Even the tiniest detail?"

"I..."

"Did you tell her about today?"

Ice water flowed through my veins as the blood drained from my face. My look of abject shock did not go unnoticed by him. "You did, didn't you? I thought she knew an awful lot about our operation when I interrogated her."

My voice was nowhere to be found when I tried to speak, and I ended up only able to whisper. "What do you mean?"

He frowned a bit, staring blankly at the wall as he recalled it. "Well, she knew about the mystery boxes, and she knew about the notebook inside, for a start. Did you tell her about those?"

My voice was still missing. "Not until later." I admitted, my blood curdling in my veins.

"She even knew our office nickname for the cartel; She called them the Crowjuice cartel. When did you reveal that to her?" He asked, sounding angry.

I shook my head. "I never told her that."

"But she knew about it, Michael. You... you told her about today's op, didn't you." He bitterly spat.

I nodded, feeling mounting horror at what was happening. "Last night. She was asking... she... I felt like since she'd helped us so much in getting the information, I owed her a few details on what we were doing with it all." I moaned.

He slammed his fist down on the table. "And now this morning she's disappeared. Dammit, Mike! Do you have any idea what you've done? How many lives this may cost?" He lowered his voice. "Do you have any idea the punishment that's in store for you?"

I stared at him, unable to speak, looking completely stricken and in shock. I slowly shook my head. For the second time in a month, I found myself staring at Lee, praying that what he was saying wasn't true.

He sighed and stood back. "Do you want to tell the commander, or should I?" He said, sadly.

I put my head in my hands and managed to weakly gurgle "You... tell him... I'll wait here."

It was the longest five minutes in my life, sitting there, feeling far, far worse than I had even when I'd learned she was a porn starlet. After an eternity of waiting, Dale entered the room. He walked over to the security camera and unplugged it, then came over and sat down next to me in a chair. He handed me a cup of water. Not knowing what else to do, I took a drink.

"Long day." He grunted.

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"_Bad_day too."

"Yes, sir."

He sighed. "You went through the same training we all did, Michael. You knew better than to reveal anything about our missions to a civilian, regardless of how you felt for her. Most of us here have wives and girlfriends, and none of us tell them anything, it's for all our safety. You didn't even know this girl a month and you were spilling billion-dollar secrets to her."

"Yes, sir." I swallowed thickly. "I'm going to go to prison for the rest of my life, aren't I?" I whispered.

He sipped his own water and sat back with a sigh. "Not necessarily. You certainly could be sent to prison to rot, but I don't want to do that, Mike. I know you meant well, I know you didn't mean for this to happen, and I know you are a hard worker and have been a good agent. No, I'm going to give you the chance to make some restitution before we talk about that."

"I don't deserve that." I hollowly intoned.

"No, you don't." He shook his head. "But I'm going to do it anyway."

"What do you want me to do?" I asked at last, when he was silent.

His voice was quiet, but hard as steel when he spoke. "I want you to catch her."

9) ** **Starting Somewhere

I combed her house for clues first of all. I was numb, in total shock over all this, but I was determined to do what I had to do. This was the second time she'd betrayed me and played my emotions. I now knew it truly had all been a ruse, she never had loved me and had only used me, and I was going to catch her and make her pay for all of this. After that... It hardly mattered what they did to me anymore. I felt my life was over.

The first thing I did when I walked in was to head over to the note I'd left her. With an icy chill, I saw that the pen had been moved. Not by any great amount, but it had been covering the word "worried" and that word was now partially visible. She had been here since I'd left.

The Miami PD assisted me in combing the house for clues, but found nothing conclusive. We brought in a rather pretty Malamute furkind officer to sniff out the house, and the only fresh trail she could find of Maine's scent led out to her driveway and stopped. "I smell a car here, though." She said. "It's different from yours, Mike, and from hers, and from any of ours." That was a clue, but a meaningless one. It was no great surprise that a third party had come and picked her up... her car was still here.

Furkind don't have fingerprints, but their nose patterns are always completely unique, and therefore they are identified off their nose prints. We managed to pull one off the bedroom window; she must have pressed her little black nose up to it at some point in the recent past. A run of the print against the criminal database brought up nothing. She'd never even had a parking ticket.

At last, we gave up the search of the house without finding anything particularly helpful, other than that we now had her nose-print on file. The next, odious job for me was to go interrogate her employer and coworkers, her manager, and her friends. I decided to get the worst one out of the way first and went to the pornography studio that regularly employed her. It was called "Furry Sex." How original.

I made my way inside, demanding the front desk employee to see the owner. When I showed my FBI badge, she quickly buzzed me into the main area of the building. "Last door, straight ahead, his name's Bob Ocho." She said, looking worried. "I hope we aren't in any trouble... we try very hard to make sure everything we do is legal..."

I didn't answer, but marched down the hall. I knocked loudly on the door and made my way in. The middle aged, sweaty man behind a ratty desk had a pretty little canine on his lap and was fondling her and kissing her. He looked up as I barged in. "Hey! What th' hell?" He snarled angrily.

"Bitch, leave right now." I coldly demanded, holding up my badge again. "We have some things to discuss, Mr. Ocho." The canine girl gave a small yip and scampered away like a scared puppy.

He looked over my badge and turned beat-red in the face. "Whadaya want? We run a legal business here!" He panted, looking terrified.

It was obvious from his reaction that he did not, and while a part of me would have taken vindictive pleasure in destroying this vile corporation, I had other matters to attend to. "I don't care, I'm not here to talk about that. You have under your employ a green-haired female skunk named Maine Ellingson, stage name Candy Strype. She is wanted by the FBI, and you are going to tell me everything you know about her. You don't, and I'll make it a point to find whatever it is you're afraid of me finding about this place, and nail you to the wall."

He stared at me, then nodded. "That's fine with me. Dumb bitch flaked out on me. The last scene we shot with her, she was crying and so out of it and uncooperative we ended up throwing the whole thing away, and now she up and quit, stating 'personal reasons.'"

For all my hurt, trapped away, this surprised me. She'd actually truly quit the job? That was strange... her words of love had all been calculated lies to get me to reveal secrets, after all. "Tell me more about that." I grunted. Thinking further, I realized if she was going to make a move and blow her cover with me, of course she would quit. There was nothing unusual there.

He shrugged. "I don't know much. I argued with her, and she said her boyfriend didn't want her in porn anymore, said she was quitting to be with him. Like any dumb jock is going to care one bit for a fucked-over porn starlet... I told her he'd leave her as soon as he was tired of fucking her, but she just got pissed off at me and started crying."

My eyes lost their focus as he spoke. "Had she spoken of him before?" I asked vaguely.

He shrugged. "A bit when we were trying to film a scene with her. She didn't like the guys she was supposed to be fucking so much as touching her tits, or she'd get pissed off at them. Kept mentioning shit like 'only my boyfriend gets to touch me like that!' What a shitload. Footage was useless. She got the guys so nervous none of them could perform, either."

That was a surprise. That was a huge surprise. I tried to reconcile it with what I knew about everything that was happening, and concluded that she was using that as an excuse to quit because her spying was taking her elsewhere... though that didn't exactly convince me it was likely.

"How long did she work for you?" I coldly asked.

"Since she was eighteen. Came in the day after her eighteenth birthday and told me she wanted to get fucked for money." He laughed a dirty laugh that made me doubt that was how things had really happened.

"She worked exclusively here from then on?"

He shook his head, grabbing a tissue and wiping sweat from his temples. "Nah. Don't work that way. We're the biggest studio on the peninsula though, so the majority of her work was with us. Her stuff sells like crazy... she always looks so innocent and sweet, it's like a virgin being deflowered every time she got in front of the camera, no matter how dirty the scenes were."

I shuddered, feeling sick. That sweetness had drawn me to her. She'd wielded it like a club to sell pornography, and to manipulate me. I leaned forward and stared him right in his sallow eyes. "Do you know where she is now?"

He sat back, unconsciously afraid of my threatening look. "No, I got no clue. She marched in here, told me she wasn't working here ever again, called me a degenerate fuckwad pig, then left. Stupid cunt."

I smiled. "She sounds pretty smart to me." I leaned forward over the desk. "Do you know what will happen to you if you aren't telling me the truth?"

He cracked immediately. "I tol' ya! I don't know! Ask some of the other girls! Maybe she told them something! I don't know man! B'lieve me, I'd tell ya! I got no love for her and no reason NOT to tell ya!"

I straightened up. "Are any of her coworkers here right now?"

He nodded vigorously. "Yeah, yeah, stage three! Some of her close friends are here right now! We're re-filming the orgy scene she wrecked, but can it wait until we're done filming? It's really expensive..."

"Shut up." I ordered, and he fell silent immediately.

I walked back down the hall and found stage three. The groaning, shrieking and squeals of pleasure told me they were indeed filming right now. The "Do Not Enter: Filming in Session" light was lit, but I was in no mood for patience. I opened the door and marched in on a three girl, seven guy orgy scene. "This is the FBI! Shut off the cameras!" I bellowed. "Right now! Stop filming, stop fucking!"

They all sort of looked at me in shock, and I again flashed my badge. "I am searching for a green-haired female skunk named Maine Ellingson. You all probably know her as Candy Strype. Now, your boss told me you girls are some of her friends, and I have some questions for you."

A brunette spoke up from under the guy who'd been fucking her. He still was inside her, looking thoroughly blue-balled and even a bit mutinous. "She's my best friend... what's happened to her? God, Lance! Pull outta me and let me up!" She fussed at the dull looking moron penetrating her.

With cold sarcasm, I sneered "Well, would it be terribly too much to ask you show a little dignity for the first time in your life and get some clothes on so I can question you?"

The girl blushed and furtively hurried over to a duffel bag and pulled out some shorts and a T-shirt, quickly and clumsily putting them on. The rest of the cast followed suit. When she returned, I barked "Name."

"Lovely Lane... I mean... Donna Jackson." She said, looking afraid of me. Good, she would be more cooperative if she was scared.

"You claim to be friends with her? How long have you known her?" I said, beginning to write in my notebook.

The girl hesitated, thinking hard. "Well, since I started here, four years ago. She took me under her wing and sorta helped me learn how to survive, ya know?"

"When is the last time you saw her?" I asked, ignoring her attempt to be pleasant.

"W... well... umm... almost two weeks ago, we were filming a scene together... this scene actually, cause we're refilming it... because she was really upset and kept crying and getting mad at the boys. When the filming was over, I took her aside and asked her what was wrong... she told me she had a boyfriend... she like, bubbled on about him forever, and regaled me with how much she loved him and how devoted he was to her. She had it bad."

"It?" I snarled, in no mood for cryptic games.

"Love! She was really in love, I could tell!" She quickly explained, looking a bit frantic.

Again, in a conflict of interest, she was professing love? Why do it? She couldn't have ever expected me to meet this girl... at least not while it mattered. "Did she tell you who he was? What he did for a living?"

She rubbed her arm, thinking. "Ummmmmm... noooot much... She said she met him on the beach... I think she said he worked a government job doing paperwork all day. 'Mikey' she kept calling him. She was incredibly sweet on him. Musta been some guy to capture her that fully. Umm... what's happened to her? He didn't... he didn't kill her or something?" She suddenly sounded terrified.

"No, of course not. She's wanted for questioning relating to a case I'm working on. Donna, you haven't heard from her since? Not a thing? Not a phonecall, or a letter, an email, or anything else? She could be in great danger." I pressed, but she didn't know anything else.

I questioned the rest of the cast and crew, but nobody knew anything else. One of the other girls offered "She said this guy had moved in with her. Did you detain him already, or did he disappear too? Maine's really sweet... I don't see how she could be in trouble with the FBI... He might have done something to her, ya know?"

"Yeah!" Donna said with heartfelt conviction. "Maine wouldn't hurt a fly, and she was always really nice to everyone. All the boys thought they had something special going on with her 'cause she was so nice to 'em all... Whatever is going on, I'm sure she didn't break any laws."

Glowering at her, I testily said "Why don't you leave the deducting to the professionals. You three, I want your addresses and phone numbers in case I need to speak with you again. In the meantime, if you hear ANYTHING from her, I want you to call me right away, got it? Here's my card." I could tell they were all scared stiff of me, but I didn't care at all.

"Mike... LaCosse... Yer a Mike too, huh?" Donna chirped with a smile, still obviously trying to get me to soften up. I glared at her, but I said nothing, and was thankfully leaving the place. It somehow even smelled like sex in there. I imagined some of that smell might be Maine's... I had to pause in my car to cry for a while when I at last was sitting down and away from it all.

* * *

"Riscomb Agency" the sign said on the front of the building. I stepped inside, half expecting it to be another pornography den, but surprisingly, it was a simply, nicely appointed office building. The secretary looked up as I entered and smiled. "Welcome to Riscomb, I'm Larry. What can I help you with?"

Flashing my credentials, I continued to take in the décor. "I'm looking into the disappearance of one Maine Ellingson, aka Candy Strype. I need to speak to her former agent, William Wells."

Larry eyed me over for a second, contemplative, then hit a switch on his desk. "Bill, I got an FBI agent up front that wants to talk to you."

The small intercom box crackled and came to life. "Sure, send him back."

Again I entered a small office, but this one was quite nicely appointed instead of a sleazy, smelly hole. The small, bespectacled man that greeted me also didn't look like he worked in porn. "Hello, William Wells." he said, extending a hand.

I shook his hand, then took a seat across from his desk. "Now, what do you need to know about Maine?"

Still acting cold and stern, I grunted "Well, first, when is the last time you spoke with her?"

"Unfortunately, she called me to tell me she wouldn't be needing my services anymore, and released me as her agent. She was very agitated when she called me. I wanted some details from her, and she got angry at me for asking." He spoke sadly.

"What did she say about why she was doing it?" I coolly asked, trying not to let on that I was suddenly very eager to hear his answer.

He sighed. "Well, she was very upset at me, blaming me for her career. She said she'd fallen in love with her dream-boy, and he'd rejected her because she was a porn starlet. She was very distraught about it, crying pretty bitterly. I tried to point out she made an excellent wage and I hadn't forced her to do any of it, and she just screamed at me that I was just as responsible as her, because..." He hesitated and looked a bit guilty, but I leaned forward with a hint of threat in my cold eyes, and he finished the sentence. "she said it was because I'd pushed her into doing more and more hardcore scenes because they paid better, so I made more money."

I shrugged silent agreement with that, and asked "So you haven't heard from her since then?"

"No. Did she commit suicide?"

I shot him another angry glare. "No, she's disappeared, and her government has some questions for her. Was she a United States citizen?"

Not failing to pick up on my hostility towards him, he nodded. "Yeah. As part of my routine in my capacity as agent for a girl like her, I make sure she's of legal age, a legal citizen, and all of that. Makes getting her hired by studios much simpler if I can just hand them all of that information right up front."

Scribbling notes in my notebook left a period of silence in the conversation, which he nervously filled. "Um. Listen. She... She was really upset about her lost boyfriend. She very well might have committed suicide... You maybe need to be looking for a cadaver."

My pen trembled in my hand, and I looked up at him. "She reunited with her boyfriend several days later and was in wonderful spirits last time she was seen."

The little man sat back in his chair, surprised and perhaps even disappointed. I suddenly disliked him as much as the employees of the studio. "Oh? So you must have apprehended her boyfriend then. OK, well then I doubt I can tell you nearly as much as he can... you should go talk to him about her!"

"I'm talking to you." I snapped, making him cower a bit. I could be imposing and intimidating when I wanted to be.

* * *

Next up was Abbi, her hairstylist. I entered the salon and was again approached by the lovely vixen. She instantly recognized me and smiled. "Hello again! I'm afraid Maine isn't here today, if you're looking for her."

I shook my head. "I actually want to talk to her stylist, Abbi." I fervently hoped this woman might know more, if they were indeed childhood friends. It was my last hope so far... interrogations had turned up nothing.

The vixen turned, and before I could stop her, yelled "Abbi, Maine's boyfriend is here and wants to talk to you!"

My order for her to keep that to herself died in my throat. Great. That might have ruined the interview right there. I hadn't actually seen Abbi yesterday, but I saw her now. She was a lovely, slender, graceful snowy-white mink female. I stepped over to her chair in the back, where she'd been working on Maine. She stared at me with large blue eyes full of gravity and concern. "You're Maine's Mikey?" She said without preamble. "I want to talk to you, too." She turned to her client. "Can you wait for a few minutes? I'll give you this styling for free..."

This was far too public a place for interrogation. "Do you have anywhere we can go for privacy?" I asked.

She nodded and led me down a short hall to what looked to be the employee break room. I closed the door behind me, which made her look at me with a bit of mistrust and concern. This was going to be very, very delicate. "Abbi, my name is..."

"Michael. I know." She interjected. "Listen, before we say anything, I want you to know some things about Maine. She's been my best friend in the world since we were three years old. She's done some horrible, horrible things in her life, I won't deny that, but listen... she told me your story, and I can tell you with one-hundred percent certainty that she loves the hell out of you. She is absolutely heartbroken without you."

Taking a pause for breath, she rushed ahead. "I know my friend. I know that when she puts her mind to something, she's the most determined individual I've ever met in my life..."

I tried to break in. "Yes..."

She kept determinedly talking over me. "...If she swears herself to you and you alone for the rest of her life, she absolute will carry through with that promise. Even if you die, she'll stay true to you alone for the rest of her days. Please Michael. She's not perfect, she's no saint, but she loves you! Oh God, I know her and her heart was so broken yesterday... I'm begging you to believe her and to just give her a chance! She will not disappoint you, I'll stake every penny I have in the world on that."

She looked at me with sadness and pleading in her lovely blue eyes. I delicately cleared my throat and pulled out my badge. "I appreciate your sentiments, but I am not your friend's boyfriend. I'm an FBI agent, and my name is Michael LaCosse. I need to ask you some questions about your friend."

Staring from me to my badge, she softly squeaked "But Trish said you were her boyfriend when she sent you back to me!"

I shook my head, deciding that a gentler tactic would be best with her. "I'm sorry, but she was mistaken. I understand I share the same first name with him, so she must have gotten understandably confused."

Tears welled up in her blue eyes and I could see the disappointment she was feeling. "Well... I... I'm sorry then, Mr. LaCosse. I'm very worried about my best friend. She was in pieces yesterday over losing her boyfriend. What is it you need exactly?"

Flashing her a sympathetic smile, I decided to set her fears at ease first and said "We've actually already questioned her boyfriend at length. He was waiting for her when she left the salon here yesterday..."

Again she interrupted me, shrieking "Oh Gawd! He killed her???"

Trying not to grimace at her loud volume, I held up my hands and shook my head. "Let me finish! He made peace with her and forgave her and they went home last night together, very happy and very much in love. You don't have to worry about their relationship on that side, so just relax. That isn't why I'm here."

She sagged in her chair, letting out a grateful sigh. "Oh. You scared me, all grave and solemn... What's the problem then?"

I hesitated, and decided softening the truth would be the best thing to do here, but first I would disarm her a bit with the usual cursory questioning. I learned from her that Maine was estranged from her step-father, that he'd sexually abused the already beautiful skunk when she was young. I learned she was also at odds with her mother because she was still with the male, even knowing what he'd done to her daughter. She was twenty-six, as I'd known, and was very wealthy from her career in pornography.

Abbi was getting impatient with all this. "Why are you asking all these questions about Maine? What's going on?" She demanded, starting to look mistrustful and belligerent.

Delicately writing in my pad, I revealed "She's disappeared. Her boyfriend woke up this morning and she is nowhere to be found. Her car was in the garage, her clothing on the hooks... but she has disappeared. Worse still, and the reason I am involved in the case, is we think she may have connections to a Cuban drug cartel."

Her dainty little paw flew up to her muzzle. "Drugs? No. No! No way, not Maine. Never in a million years. She and I had a third friend... Misty was her name, and her boyfriend got her started on drugs. She took more and more and more, and we watched her world fall apart. She was killed when her dealer mixed in some other shit with her cocaine to try and get her hooked on it, and she was allergic and died. Mister, Maine hated drugs and drug dealers more than anything else in the entire world. She wouldn't even smoke cigarettes or drink coffee she hated addiction so much."

That was a lot of information that seemed pertinent, and I scribbled it down in my notebook. She watched me levelly and said "Look. She and I both had this done." She approached me and pulled her shirt off, exposing a pink silk bra. She leaned over close and pulled away the fur on her left breast, just above her heart, keeping her nipple covered with her paw.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a little shock.

"Look!" She replied. I studied her fur where she was pointing and realized I could see a tattoo faintly beneath her thick white coat. It said 'Drug Free for Life, M & A.' Abbi insistently, proudly and confidently said "She and I had these tattoos, a promise to each other to never, ever take drugs. She's got the exact same one in the exact same spot."

I sat back. "Do you have any proof of her having the same tattoo?"

Without hesitation, she nodded. "I sure do." She jumped up and went over to some cubby-holes on the wall and pulled out a purse. She had a small picture book, and she pulled it open to the first page, shoving it in my face. There, on the page, was unmistakably Abbi and Maine. My heart ached to see Maine, so beautiful, her brilliant green hair so striking around her lovely face. The two women had on bikini tops, and were showing off their new tattoos. They both had a patch shaved bare, and the tattoo was clearly visible on both women, smiling at the camera.

I looked from the picture to Abbi's chest, confirming that it was far too close of a match to be faked. "I never once noticed this on her, though!" I blurted out in excitement, before realizing that was a big mistake. The ink was low enough on her breast that it would only be visible if she were nude, and I'd just as much as admitted to having seen her thus.

For a second, I thought my mistake might not be noticed. Abbi shook her head and said "Her fur is thicker and longer than mine, and half the tattoo is in her black fur, as you can see on the picture. You can't see it on her unless she were to shave. Visibility wasn't the point of getting the tattoo, it was a promise between us, for only the two of us to share."

She paused, looking lost in thought as my mind raced to figure out how to change the subject. "Wait a minute. How would you have had any chance to see this on her in the first place?" She turned to me, looking suspicious. "You lied to me! You ARE her boyfriend! I thought I remembered her saying his last name was LaCosse!"

Closing my eyes, I deflated a bit. There was no weaseling out of this one. "Yes, I am."

Glaring at me, she hissed "Why would you lie to me about that??"

"Because I also am an FBI agent, and she has disappeared, and I have been tasked with finding her. I can't let my personal feelings get involved with this investigation. Her life and maybe many other lives depend on me doing my job flawlessly. I'm very scared for her... almost panicked! But if I let that consume me, I'll fail in my job and may lose her for good. This is much more important than she and I. Can you please put that fact away for now and work with me as an FBI agent, not as your friend's boyfriend?"

Staring at me, she sounded tearful. "Mike, she really, really loves you... It's more important to me that you listen to me when I say that and believe me, than your investigation."

I nodded. "I know that, Abbi. I told you, I met her in the parking lot last night and we made up. I came to grips with her past and forgave her. I trusted... I trust her to be faithful in her promise. Can you please drop that line of thought now?"

Looking immensely relieved, she smiled a bit, but still looked suspicious. "OK... But, back on topic... a Cuban cartel? No way. NO WAY."

Shaking my head, I said "I perhaps wasn't very clear. I only meant she is missing and we feel the cartel may be involved."

"Oh." She softly murmured.

My mind was racing a mile a minute. I needed to make a decision about how much to tell Abbi. My gut feeling was that she might be able to help me a great deal, but that I was going to need to give her some details to win her trust now that I'd been caught in a lie. In spite of the fact that I'd just gotten into serious trouble for revealing classified information to a civilian, I decided to do it again.

"Abbi, everything I'm going to tell you is classified. I need you to swear you will not repeat these things to anyone for as long as you live. Maine's life may depend on this, even. Do you give me your word?" I cautiously managed.

She nodded. "Oh! Oh absolutely. I kept her secrets for years from her mom and stuff."

Sitting back, I steepled my fingers and unfocused my eyes, lost in a confusion of thoughts as I spoke to her. "Abbi, I love her to death, but I've only known her a couple weeks. You may be able to help me shed some light on some things simply because you've known her for longer, and know her better. Here is what I can tell you. My department was performing an intercept mission on a major Cuban drug shipment, and the whole thing went to pieces. The cartel knew about our op, and they got rid of all the evidence."

I closed my eyes and continued. "Abbi, I told Maine some things about our mission... some critical information about it, the night before it was going to happen. The next morning, this morning, she disappeared, and our mission was compromised and ruined. My department believes she is a Cuban informant. I don't know what to believe, but I've got to find her and learn the truth."

"I'm praying that she was forced to tell them for some reason, but that is honestly all I know right now." I opened my eyes and looked at her. "I need your help. If there is anything you can tell me... anything at all that might help, please tell me."

She'd listened to this, more and more looking dizzy as I spoke. When I finished, she spoke in a tiny, weak voice. "She would not have been involved with a cartel."

I was about to speak, but she drew herself up and stared at me, her voice growing loud and firm. "Listen, Mike, mister FBI agent; I'm telling you this right now, without even a shadow of a doubt in me, from the tips of my claws to the top of my head. She did NOT do what you think she did. She would not help a cartel, she would turn them in immediately. If you know her at all, you should know how passionate she can be about things she believes in. I'm telling you she was _passionate_about this! She would never, EVER help someone involved with illegal drugs. If you are searching for a mole, you are after the wrong person."

She was pushing all the wrong buttons with me. Tears filled my eyes, my lips trembled, and my voice shook. "I want so much for you to be right about that. I have to find her to have any hope of clearing her name! This is shredding me up inside..." My voice broke.

She reached out and took my hand in her warm, fuzzy paws. "Don't feel sorrow believing she did it. Whatever has become of her, I am sure it was not to help a drug cartel, or to hurt you. She loves you."

I fought myself back under control, accepted the tissue she was offering me to clear my eyes and nose, and sat up straight, for the first time having a flicker of hope that somehow, someway, there was an explanation other than that she was a traitor. "Abbi. Have you heard from her since yesterday?"

She looked away from me, seeming to measure some things in her mind, then turned back and looked at me levelly. "I hope I don't regret this. Yes, I have."

10) ** **Clues

My head shot up and I stared at her in shock. "You have? Today??"

She looked pained, but nodded. "Yes, today."

"What, where, and how?" I eagerly pressed her, unable to contain my excitement.

The Mink female put her blouse back on as she spoke. "She called me from her cellphone this morning, like around ten o'clock. She sounded scared out of her wits, and sorta whispered and shrieked all at the same time. She said 'One-two-one, oh-four-one!' several times, then said 'Tell my...' and I heard a male voice yell and the phone make a horrible crackling noise. I tried to call her back, but got a message that her phone wasn't in service."

Finally, a concrete clue, my first on this case! I could hardly contain my excitement. "That's a code word! She heard me use that! 'Tell my,' what do you suppose she meant to say?" I muttered to myself. "She meant 'Tell Mike!' I'm sure of it!"

Staring at me with wide, nervous eyes, the pretty, snowy-white female asked, "What's one-two-one, oh-four-one mean? What was she trying to tell you through that?"

The code numbers were the hard part to interpret. I knew what they meant to my department, certainly. One-two-one was our code number for the sealed wooden drug containers that had us so baffled. Oh-four-one designated the box itself. The zero meant the box dimensions were square. The four was the approximate dimension of the box, divided by two, so since it had been about eight inches, that explained the four. The one meant there was one of the boxes identified on the target. A simple way to code information that was only marginally sensitive.

I had never told Maine any of that, so unless she really was the spy, she was not giving me that coded message to tell me anything about the drug boxes, she was trying to convey something else entirely. My mind began to race as I tried to think how that might be a significant way of communicating information in her thinking.

I stood and started for the door. Abbi was in many ways just as precocious and fiery as Maine. She jumped up and grabbed my arm, spinning me around to look at her. "Wait a moment! What does that mean? It means something to you, doesn't it?" She demanded.

"It's a coded message that my department uses. I used that message around her when we first met, but I never told her what it meant. She must be trying to relay some information to me, but I have to figure out what that is." I said, wondering why I was so easy to get information out of. I instinctively trusted Abbi, just as I had trusted Maine.

Again I tried to leave, and again she detained me. "I want to come with and help you find her! She's my best friend in the entire world." She declared.

Inwardly, I marveled at how much alike the two friends were, but now that I knew Maine better, I had a better idea of how to handle this. "Abbi, listen to me. Right now you and I are the only people in the world that believe Maine is innocent. I may very well need your help before this is over, but in the meantime, I need you to keep your head down and keep a low profile. Turn this situation around, and you come to the conclusion that someone framed Maine, and that means we are up against a very dangerous, resourceful individual. Someone who could pull the wool over the eyes of the FBI."

I gently patted her shoulder. "I swear to you, if I need help, I'll come to you before any of my coworkers. What I need most is you available and near your phone at all times, waiting for another possible call from Maine. Can you do that for me?"

She nodded, effectively redirected from wanting to tag along to waiting in the wings to help if needed. "You'll need my cellphone number." She offered.

I held up her business card, which I'd grabbed from Maine's pile of them by her phone. "This number, right?"

She nodded. "Find her, Mike, rescue her. If she's been framed, she's probably also been kidnapped..."

"I know. I think so too."

* * *

I stepped out of the salon with many things racing through my mind. Somehow, Maine had conveyed this piece of information, feeling it was vitally important for me to know. I had to figure out what she hoped to convey, and I felt like I'd better do it quickly.

Before I could think any farther, I looked up and found Lee leaning against my car, much as I'd been leaning against Maine's yesterday in this very parking lot. His arms were folded on his chest, and he was looking at me with bemused interest. "Any leads?" He called out.

Shocked to see him, I replied "How in the world did you know I was here? What are you doing here?"

He shrugged. "Boss thought about it after you left and decided you were too emotionally distraught to do this on your own. He assigned me to be your partner for this mission. As for how I found you, he told me you were here, wherever here is."

That made sense. All of us carried GPS phones so the department could track us, and although it wasn't something that was done very often, it proved useful occasionally. "Why not James or Roger? Why you?"

He shrugged again, and I got the feeling he was enjoying this a bit. I had the feeling he still disliked me, though he'd been very cordial towards me for days now. "I guess because I'm the one who figured out you were our information leak. C'mon, Mike, two heads are better than one. Let's do our job and bring her in, huh? So again I ask you, any leads?"

I sighed. "Not like I would wish for. Nothing from her home, or her employer."

"So you're here relaxing and getting a nail wrap?" He snorted at me.

Glaring at him, I felt like clamming up. "No. Her best friend works here, I was questioning her." I stepped past him to get into my car, prompting him to head for the passenger's seat.

He grinned at me. "OK? And?"

There was some truth to what I'd said to Abbi. She and I were the only people that thought Maine might be innocent, and I didn't feel inclined to reveal things to anyone in the department, lest they crack the case before I did and do something I would very much regret. "Nobody has a clue what became of her." I said, choosing my words carefully.

He relaxed back into the seat. "Well, we'll find her and nail her ass. Get it? Nail her ass?" He chortled at his own joke.

"Shut up, Lee." I grumbled.

He kept babbling away as I drove, making it hard for me to think about my lead. She'd given me the code for the boxes. What could that mean? Perhaps she was trying to draw my attention to... the beach? I'd used the code there, might there be a clue on the beach? I turned and headed the car for it, dubious.

* * *

Working with Lee was horrible. He was narcissistic, and very talkative, so I got to hear everything about his life that I just didn't care the least bit about. I parked at the beach parking lot and immediately began searching for clues, and it seemed as if Lee didn't even notice or care where we were and what we were doing.

Finding nothing in the parking lot, I set off down the beach towards the stand of trees and rocks I'd been hidden in the day I'd met her. All the while, Lee was babbling on, oblivious to what I was doing, making me wonder how he was possibly one of the senior agents in our department.

I poked around the trees, looked out over the water, and explored the dug-out pit where I'd been staked. All the equipment had been removed and the sand they'd removed from it put back in, completely hiding the fact that I'd ever even been there. I searched around and dug around, but found nothing. There was absolutely nothing here.

Disappointed, I headed back for the car, Lee droning on about his Porsche in my ear. Evening was falling and it was already after quitting time, so I was very happy to use that as an excuse to drop Lee off back at the office so I could get some peace and quiet and think this all over. I found a restaurant to eat at and had dinner while I mulled it all over.

She'd meant something, but what? She'd heard me use that code in relation to the boxes... so was she trying to draw my attention to the boxes themselves? I took a bite of food, chewing quickly as my brain worked.

OK, so if she had been framed, there was another mole in the department. If that was the case, they had kidnapped her to frame her, and me, for crimes they themselves were committing. That seemed possible, if remote... so someone was holding her... but where? Again, I was brought back to the code she'd used talking with Abbi.

Suddenly an idea hit me. Where were we storing all the boxes filled with cocaine that we'd intercepted when we took the first shipment? We'd taken thirty million dollars of drugs in hundreds of those boxes... I jumped up, leaving my half-eaten meal and hurrying to pay so I could get back to the office.

* * *

I was alone in the building as I sat down and turned my computer on. I waited impatiently for it to boot, then accessed the classified information about the operation. The drugs... had been flown here to Miami and stored in a maximum security warehouse over at the naval base, awaiting study by United States naval scientists. They could take them out one at a time and run experiments to try and detect the drugs inside, or figure out a way to open them without ruining their mysterious seal.

It was time to head over there, but for some reason I first walked to the interrogation room and stared at the chair where Maine had been. I could almost see her sitting there, looking so afraid, and my heart again churned in my breast. Could she be innocent? It hardly seemed so... especially when Lee had said she knew things during the interrogation that she shouldn't have known. Perhaps she'd been so afraid because she had so much to hide, and she'd manipulated me into getting her out of it.

I strengthened my resolve and drove to the naval base. My FBI clearance gained me immediate access to the base, but I was not sure I would be given the same clearance when I tried to get into the warehouse. If I couldn't get in, I'd have to get special clearance tomorrow, and I didn't want to be stopped in my search that long.

The pole-barn style warehouse was down at the end of the base, tucked away by itself. It was locked and guarded around the clock. The sun was setting and the lights of the base had come on as I approached the on-duty guard, a young and very bored looking soldier. As I approached, he stood at attention. "Sir!" He sharply barked in greeting.

"At ease, I'm not an officer. I work with the FBI, specifically, I worked with the team that captured all the cocaine that is being stored in here. I need to take a look in there in connection with my current case." I said, hoping against hope my connection with the bust would be enough to grant me clearance. I showed him my credentials, which he studied closely for a moment.

"You have any orders permitting you to enter?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No I don't, I'm following a lead. Can you call your superior and see if he can grant me access? Name's Mike LaCosse."

He reached down to the radio on his belt and flicked a switch. "This is seaman Barnes. Lieutenant Goodard?" He paused, listening to a reply in his earpiece. "Yes sir. I have an FBI agent by the name of Mike LaCosse here at warehouse seven, requesting access to the drug shipment they intercepted. He doesn't have official orders to go in, but he says he's working on a related case and needs access."

I waited nervously as several minutes seemed to drag by. "Yes sir. Thank you." He switched off his radio and addressed me. "The Lieutenant says you can go in as long as you have an escort. He's sending over Ensign Brandt to escort you, so if you'll just wait a few minutes, he'll be here."

I gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you very much Barnes, that will be fantastic." I said, grinning at him with as much energy as I could muster.

The sun had set and light was rapidly draining out of the sky, revealing the first few sparkling stars of the night as Ensign Brandt walked up. "Sir!" Barnes barked again, standing to attention.

"At ease, Barnes. Hi, you must be Mike LaCosse. OK, let us in, seaman. What are you looking for in particular?" The blonde-haired, blue-eyed lad spoke all in one breath.

I sighed. "I'm not honestly sure, Ensign. We have an information leak, and I'm trying to follow a vague lead, which means I'm spending a lot of time searching places. Can you tell me how many people go in and out of this warehouse every day?"

He nodded. "Well, almost nobody. We've had a few folks from your department in here the last couple of days, otherwise, there's one scientist with clearance to come in here to get any of those wooden boxes the research team needs, and that's it. Nothing else in here needs regular access."

As Barnes pulled the door open to let us inside, I asked "Any chance you keep a list of who all has come here from my department?"

"Yessir." Barnes said. "I keep a record right here."

Brandt stepped inside and flicked on a light switch, illuminating a warehouse that was subdivided into multiple small sections, each separated by a wall and locked doors requiring a different key. "Thanks, seaman. I'll take a look when I come out." I said, nodding to him.

I was led down a hall to a door J3, and Brandt unlocked the door and let me in. Inside was a massive hodgepodge of wooden boxes of every size and shape imaginable. It made the whole shipment a stacking nightmare, and everything was teetering and unstable. Feeling a little self-conscious, I called out "Maine?" There was no response. "Maine? Are you in here?" I called, louder.

"There's no way anybody should be in here." Brandt hazarded, evidently surprised at my yelling.

I felt deflated. Already I could tell this was another dead end in my search. Security was too tight. No way she could have been hidden here. Nevertheless, I took the time to thoroughly search for any possible clues, finding nothing. "Blast." I muttered to myself. "Alright, Ensign. I'm sorry I bothered you, this is another dead end in my search. Let's get out of here."

As we walked back down the long hall, he asked "What were you looking for?"

"Not what, who. A possible informant went missing this morning. It's complicated and I don't know how much I can reveal." I sadly explained.

We stepped back outside, and while Barnes locked the door again, I looked over the clipboard he'd handed me which listed all the visitors to the warehouse. I recognized Commander Josslam, Barbara, and Lee were all from my department. Lee had visited the most at four times. Nothing suspicious there, however... he'd headed the operation to capture these drugs.

I thanked the two of them for helping me, and walked back through the base towards my parked car. It was night now, dark and mysterious, with the ever present rumble of the ocean as it crashed on the invisible shore nearby. I checked in with the guard station and drove off the base and into the uncertain night.

I tried to think what else that message might have meant. It immediately hit me, so obvious I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it long before now. The strip club, of course!

* * *

It was night as I pulled into the parking lot of the swank strip club. While the rest of the world was winding down for the night, this place was gearing up for another night of drunkenness, lewdness, and probably illegal prostitution. It felt almost surreal walking towards it again, and my mind was drawn to my wonderful first kiss with Maine in the back hall of this place. I had been enveloped in her body, drowning in her smell and sweet, refreshing taste... I shuddered and tried to push the thoughts away before they brought fresh tears.

As I neared the front door, I was again accosted by the same bouncer from before. I could immediately tell he recognized me, and grinned in a very unfriendly way. "Well, well. It's little mister cop-with-no-badge! Still plain clothes, I see, and this time no Candy Strype to get you special favors. Get lost, boy, or I'll smash your face. I've had a bad day."

"You and me both, buddy." I sighed, pulling my credentials from my pocket and flipping them open for him to see.

He took it from my hand, studied it, then handed it back, sounding subdued. "I guess you really are an FBI agent. Sorry, Mr. LaCosse. You here on official business or just looking to relax?"

"Official business. I need to talk to the manager." I snapped, my voice clipped. I was in a terrible hurry, and this was slowing me down. Maine might be in there, in desperate need of help!

He nodded to me. "OK, no problem. When you go in the door, turn and follow the right wall all the way to the end. Her office is there, and she spends most of her night there, too."

"Thank you Phil." I uttered as I marched past him.

Inside was a chaos of strippers, lap dances, pole dances, and foolish men wasting endless money in the hopes of seeing a stripper shake her boobs at them. I glanced around little, making straight for the corner and the office he'd indicated. I knocked on the door, and unable to hear if I'd been invited in over the din of bad dance beats, I opened it and stepped inside.

There, sitting behind a desk backed by a row of security monitors, was a middle-aged woman who looked very much like she probably used to work here. Her beauty was rapidly fading, and she was trying desperately to cling to it with pounds of heavy makeup rather than gracefully accepting time. She looked up at me accusatorily. "This is a private office, not part of the floor shows! Get out of here right now!"

Flash the credentials again. "Sorry, I don't want to take much of your time, but I'll need at least a minute."

"Oh! Sorry, officer!" She blinked her eyes and tried to look cute. "My name's Essence. What can I help you with?"

I held out a picture of Maine to her. "Do you know this female skunk?"

She took the picture and immediately nodded. "Candy Strype! Sure! She's the hottest porn star in Florida. Her boss always brings the cast and crew here after they successfully shoot a porn film, and she's always the life of the party. She'll often dance with the girls and act like she works here. The men love her."

"Seen her recently?"

"Ummm... no. Not in a few weeks."

Suddenly I was curious about something I wanted to know personally, unrelated to the case. "Did she ever actually officially work here?"

The woman laughed. "No! Are you kidding? We might be swank, but she is a huge international star. We could never afford her even for a single night. I'd certainly love to have her... it would be a huge shot in the arm for our popularity! People would come from around the world to see her."

I nodded, pulling out my notebook and scribbling a few notes. "Essence, I need to get into the back rooms of the club, please. Would that be possible?"

I saw a distinct flicker of worry cross her face, confirming to me that not everything that went on here was legal. "D'you have a warrant for that?" She asked, sounding nervous.

"No, I don't." I started to say.

She interrupted me "Then I'm afraid I can't let you back there. Our employees value their privacy."

Shaking my head, I tried to put her mind at ease. "No, let me finish. What I am looking for has nothing whatsoever to do with your business. I don't know what goes on back there, and I don't care. I'm not here looking for reasons to bust you, nor will I report anything illegal I see, I give you my word. What I am looking for is completely unrelated to your business in any way, and if I find what I'm looking for, I'll make sure the press you receive over the altercation will be positive and bring the club into the public eye in a good way. 'LA Leggs Gentleman's Club courageously aids FBI in apprehension of dangerous criminal.' I'll make sure the headlines read just like that."

That certainly appealed to her, I could tell. "Wellll... what are you searching for?"

The question didn't catch me flat footed, but I hadn't exactly come up with a good excuse to give, either. "I'm looking for Candy Strype. I'm not sure at all why she'd be here, but I have a lead that makes me think she is."

Her pancaked eyes widened. "She's a dangerous criminal?"

Trying to gauge if her response meant she knew something, I said "I hope not, but I can't be too careful. Please, Essence... this is a hugely important matter of national security."

Her mind made up, she nodded. "Sure, but I'd like one of the girls to accompany you when you are back there, OK?"

"That would work. Please choose someone who will be discrete and quiet." I requested.

Grinning at me flirtatiously again, she chuckled. "I have just the girl."

She lead me back out to the main floor and marched over to the side, where a very tiny white mouse female was giving a lap dance. Typical of her species, she was so tiny she was like a toy... no more than four feet tall, and delicate and cute from nose to tail. Her breasts were tiny, almost non-existent, and her slender hips swirled gracefully as she pushed her adorable little bubble butt into her patron's face. She had on skimpy black panties and matching six inch platform heels, which made her look a little taller than her otherwise tiny frame would have been.

"Crystal, I need you to do something for me. Mister, I'll give you your money back for this dance since it is getting interrupted before you are finished. You can buy a dance with another girl and get a whole new dance along with the part of one you got for free, or Crystal can come back and give you the full treatment when she's done." The guy looked a little blue-balled, but he nodded. Essence spoke quietly to Crystal at length as she put on a skimpy, ultra-short leather jacket, covering her breasts with it but not bothering to zip it closed. The girl nodded and smiled at me.

"C'mon, Mike!" She cooed to me with a smile. I followed her skimpily-pantied, sexy little ass towards the back hall while Essence brought her customer to the desk to issue him a refund.

It was a relief to get out of the flashing lights and blaring music of the strip club proper. Once she'd ushered me through the door and closed it, she turned to me. "OK, so, like, whaddaya want to see back here?"

"We need to go upstairs." I said, and headed that direction with her following behind. When we reached the top of the stairs, I turned to her, finding her giving me a very seductive look, which I ignored. Pointing to the door to the room I'd searched several weeks ago, I softly whispered "Do you know the girl who's room that is?"

She stepped close, letting me smell cheap, strong perfume. "Little bit." She squeaked pleasantly.

I did not have the time for a stripper to come on to me, and I stepped pointedly back from her, scowling. "Do you know where she's from?"

"Cuba." She chirped, still advancing on me like a predator.

"Do you know if she's working tonight or not?" I asked, glowering at her as I unsuccessfully tried to warn her off.

She stepped up close, nearly touching her tiny body to me, looking up at me as cutely and lusciously as she could. "She's all dowdy and old. I can give you a very good time tonight, if you'd like. Don't you think I'm a lot cuter than her?"

Time to show the credentials yet again. "You sure you want to proposition a government agent?" I growled.

She saw my badge and gave a little chirping squeak. "Oh! I wasn't propositioning! I just thought you were cute, I'm not a prostitute! Money wasn't my goal!"

I held my finger up to my lips and she fell silent. "I don't care, Crystal. I'm not here for you or anybody else who works here. Just please cooperate with me and I'll get out of your hair as soon as I can. Now tell me, what's the Cuban girl's name?"

"Starlight..." She whispered, still looking petrified of me. "I dunno her real name, but Essence would."

I smiled at her, trying to reassure her. "Is Starlight working tonight?"

She shook her head, her large brown eyes sparkling even in the dim light of the dingy hallway. "No, she isn't. She took a couple weeks off, I think, starting today."

This was sounding more and more likely. I suppressed a smile. "OK. I need to get in there, Crystal, but first of all, I need to make absolutely sure she isn't inside. Here's what I want you to do. Go knock on the door. If you get no answer, great, we're good. If she answers the door, tell her Essence sent you up to ask if she's going to work tonight after all. If someone else answers the door, apologize and tell them you have the wrong door. Got all that?"

She nodded, wide-eyed, and started to tremble. I put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, this isn't a dangerous operation, Crystal, I promise. I just need to not be seen by her is all, OK?"

"OK." She said, relaxing a little. While I hid around the corner of the stairwell, I watched her long legs and perfect little heart-shaped butt as she stepped sexily over to the door and gave a loud knock. She waited, then knocked twice more before turning to me and shrugging, shaking her head.

Pulling out my lock-picking gun again, I strode for the door. "Thanks for your help, Crystal." I said, smiling at her and trying to further calm her down.

I'd already picked the lock once before, and so I had the door open in less than three seconds. The little rodent looked impressed, but said nothing. I had the feeling she was getting a crush on me, and I tried to not let that get me pissed. The lights were off, so I reached over and flipped the switch. To my complete disappointment, the room was empty. I swore softly to myself as bitter disappointment overtook my hope.

I looked around a bit, finding no sign of Maine. I went over to the closet and the mountain of shoes. The wooden box was gone, of course... but... the shoes were spread out all over the place around the closet door. As I studied the pattern, my brow furrowed. It looked as if they'd been used to bury something, then that something had been removed, scattering them everywhere. Perhaps it had just been the box...

I pulled the clothes aside, surprised that there would be that many costumes in a stripper's closet. There, affixed securely to the wall, was a pair of sturdy looking handcuffs. My eyes traveled down, and I saw ankle cuffs partly buried under the pile of shoes. My heart began to beat hard. I pulled out my flashlight and began to examine the cuffs closely... My heart skipped a beat. There was a tuft of bright, lime-green hair caught in the hinge of the cuff! I gave a small cry.

"What izzit?" Crystal asked from close beside me, making me jump a little.

"Dammit, girl! Don't scare me!" I growled, feeling my heart hammering in my chest. Maine had been here earlier today!

* * *

I went over the room with a fine-toothed comb, but other than finding some long white and black fur, coarse fur that had to be from Maine's fluffy tail, I found no other clues. I decided there was no reason to dust for noseprints; This was Maine's hair... I'd never seen green hair anywhere on the peninsula before.

As I finished searching, I felt a sinking feeling as I realized my clues had brought me to a dead end. I carefully collected the hair and fur samples, then just knelt there and started to tear up again. Despair crept in for several seconds before I realized the obvious next step was to go find this Starlight and lean on her. My emotions were wreaking havoc on my ability to do my job more and more. It was late, I was exhausted and emotionally drained not just from today, but from all the traumas of the last week. I stood up and nodded to Crystal. "OK, I've seen enough. I need to go out and talk with Essence again."

As we walked through the hall, she looked up at me and squeaked "You got a girl, Mike?" I felt her slip her little paw around my arm as she spoke, her tiny, warm body touching mine.

I looked down at her, scampering along to keep up with my strides. She was undeniably cute, but I was fully and completely taken. "Yes, I do. The sweetest girl I've ever met." I tried to say, but my voice broke a little with my heavy emotions.

She looked crestfallen, but nodded, saying nothing and removing her arm. I was glad to be rid of her, and after stopping in to Essence's office quick to get a name and address, I was on the road again. I checked my watch. It was getting late now, just a bit after midnight, but I was not going to stop until I found the truth, and I felt like I was getting closer than ever.

I pulled into an apartment parking lot about fifteen minutes later. The landlord let me in, and I found Starlight's room. Her actual name was Rosa Sanchez, Essence had told me. I knocked loudly on her door several times, at last bringing her. She threw the door open, tying a fuzzy bathrobe closed and blinking in the bright lights of the hall. "Who the hell are you and why the hell are you knocking on my door this late at night!?" She angrily snarled at me, squinting and blinking.

She looked to be about forty, tired and gaunt and world-weary. Nevertheless, she had some beauty about her. "Rosa Sanchez?" I asked. Time to show the badge again.

She blinked, stared at the badge, then looked back at me. Realization slammed into her face, followed by shock and absolute terror. Her face turned white as a ghost and she screamed "You!" in total hysteria, slamming the door closed on my face. I smiled. That had been a perfect admission of guilt if ever I'd seen one.

"Rosa, slamming the door on my face isn't going to make me leave. I have some questions and you are going to answer them. Open this door, or I'll get a warrant and smash it down!" I called through the door.

After a few minutes of coaxing, she slowly, tremblingly opened the door. "I... I told my brother I didn't want no part of it!" She immediately sobbed. "He brought her in... the poor girl... she was already in my room when I got there this morning! I... I scream at him! I tell him I no want her there, I don't want to be arrested! I want no part of kidnap... he finally get sick of me screaming and take her! Please... please... don't send me to prison! I didn't know what to do... I don't know where they took your girlfriend..."

"Hey!" I interjected. "You know me?"

Shaking from head to toe, she gave a tiny nod. "You and pretty skunk were after my brother. Oh, I don't want any part of this... Why did he have to come and push this all on my life? I tell him I want no part! I come here to get away, not get caught! I sorry they took her! That poor, poor girl was so scared! I feel terrible!" She wailed, big tears running down her cheeks.

I thought the reaction was more than a bit theatrical, but at the same time, I could tell she could hardly stand up she was so frightened, and really felt for Maine. "Calm down, Rosa. I tell you what; I'll make a deal with you. You help me rescue my lover, and we won't press any charges against you. I can sympathize with the terrible situation he put you in, but now it is time for you to do the right thing. Maine is alone and terrified right now, afraid she'll be killed, or that I won't ever find her. If you really feel sorry for her, then help me help her."

I gently spoke, catching her hand and squeezing it. "Can you imagine what she's feeling right now? I know you don't want to be involved with what's happened, so I'm begging you to do the right thing and help me find her. You can be a hero today and rescue someone's life. It isn't often you'll get that kind of chance." I managed to push every raw bit of emotion and fear into my voice, and joined her in letting my tears flow.

She looked at me with large gray eyes, and I thought I saw a flicker of empathy and pity in them. She wasn't the only one who could lay on the theatrics. "My brother... I tell him what he does is wrong... But I don't want to see him in prison." She took a deep breath, then held the door open and whispered "Come in, please."

I sat with her on her couch and tried to calm her down a little. "Rosa, you can't help what your brother is doing, it isn't your fault. All you can do is take care of yourself and keep your own nose clean. I'm asking you again to please help me. Your conscience will be clear then, and I swear no charges will be brought against you whatsoever."

Studying her face closely, I could tell she was conflicted. She knew it could mean her brother would be imprisoned, so it was a matter of saving his skin or saving her own. Luckily, it didn't take her long to opt for self-preservation. "This morning, I come in to work and there is your girl handcuffed in my closet. I was so scared I fainted! When I come to, my brother is standing over me, telling me to relax."

"'Relax?' I scream at him. 'You take a prisoner and bring her here to my room! I tell you I don't want to be involved with whatever crimes you do, and you still try to involve me!' So after that and lots more screaming, they finally take her and leave. I don't know where he go, or where he take her." She paused to sob elaborately, and I could tell she was still doing her best to act pathetic.

Feeling the threads of my leads were all coming to dead ends, I tried to fight back a growing sense of panic. "You said 'they' took her. Your brother and who else?" I pressed.

"I don't know him. Dressed in suit, bald, very rude. He laugh at me and call me a stupid slut." She replied, wrinkling her nose a bit.

"Had you ever seen him before? Do you have a picture of him, by any chance?" I asked, scribbling down notes frantically.

"N...no, I never see him before." She replied. I stopped writing and looked up at her intently. She was lying.

Not having time to waste, I leaned on her. "Are you sure about that? Your face tells me otherwise. I'm not going to promise you safety from prosecution unless you come clean about everything, Rosa. Tell me the truth."

Conflict danced across her lined face, adding to the cares and concerns this world had placed upon her. I kept staring at her levelly as she tried to decide what to do. "I'm scared they kill me if I tell you anything more."

I gripped her hands in mine. "Please, Rosa. I'll put you in witness protection tonight if you'll help me."

She stared into my eyes, tears smearing her makeup. "That man... I heard my brother call him by his name. I hear them talking..."

11) ** **Confrontation

I was sitting at my desk when Lee walked in, yawning. "What'd you find that couldn't wait for a few more hours? You got any idea what time it is? This better be good."

Turning in my chair to face him, I nodded. "Oh, it's good. It's very, very good." I reached over and hit spacebar on my computer, playing the audio file I had up. There was nothing but screeching static.

"Well, that's beautiful. Why are you showing me it?" He winced.

"These are the complete interrogation audio recordings from when you interviewed Maine. Completely scrambled, completely ruined." I stared at him coolly.

He leaned over the computer, squinting at the screen. "Really? I didn't even notice that. There must be something wrong with our equipment. I'll have Roger look at it today."

Shaking my head, I grunted "No, I checked the equipment, it's working fine. I checked the interrogation before and after this, and they are also completely fine. Strange that this one recording was ruined, don't you think?"

Brow furrowed, he said "Yeah... that is very strange."

Pressing spacebar again to stop the static, I spoke again. "You know, I was so upset yesterday when you first accused me, I didn't even notice that you somehow knew about the fact that she was missing when I hadn't told a soul. Now that I think about it, it's awfully convenient that you somehow also knew I'd revealed secrets to her... I wonder what would have made you jump to that conclusion?"

"It was a hunch because of how you talked about her." He said, shrugging carelessly.

I stared at him with penetrating, unblinking hazel eyes. "No, no. Drop the act. You'd been planning on setting us up. You just laid this whole plan out perfectly, didn't you? I found the bug you planted on her shoe. You've listened to everything she and I said to each other in bed since I moved in with her. You blew the mission, and you needed someone else to take the fall for you, so you set me up. Being able to set up Maine was just the icing on your cake. Why me? Because I'm the new guy?"

His eyes narrowed a bit as he stared at me. "No, because you punched me in the face defending your stupid slut, you dumb little shit. Nobody does that to me."

"That's the trouble with being sure you're so clever that you can work both sides. You just aren't ever quite as smart as you think you are. You're going away to prison for a long, long time." I hissed, angrily.

He didn't look the least bit upset by any of this. "No, I'm not. I'm going to shoot you, and turn the whole story around on you." He moved like a flash for his gun, but standing behind him was Commander Josslam, who I'd called first and brought in to oversee this confrontation. He'd been hiding in the darkened office beyond my cubicle, but now stepped silently out and clocked Lee hard across the back of the head with the butt of his own Springfield XDm pistol.

"Excellent work, son." He said grimly, smiling at me.

* * *

When Lee groaned and came to, I saw him first struggle against the cuffs he was secured with. Then he tried to move his legs and found those were restricted too. At last, he opened his eyes and looked around. I had him chained down securely in the interrogation room, with the bright, disorienting lights he had so often shined on others beaming down on him.

"Wakey, wakey, Lee." I growled, grinning at him from the darkness.

"What the hell?" He blearily managed.

"We got something to discuss, ol' pal." I continued.

He began to struggle furiously, and also uselessly. "Your stupid slut, right? Man, fuck you. She'll rot and die before you ever find her, and without me, she won't have food or water."

My smile became larger. "I was really hoping you were gonna say that."

There was a pregnant pause, wherein he stared at me, obviously imagining what I meant by that. "Fuck you." He growled, turning his head away from me.

I laughed quietly, which made him turn back to look at me, obvious worry in his eyes. I held up a box cutter. "Take a look at what I found down in the mail room. The blade on this thing is just a shard of rust, and it's so dull it can't even slice paper. Lemme show you." I grabbed up a piece of paper and drew the blade through it. The paper wadded up and tore as the dull blade caught it, mutilated.

His eyes widened in fear. "Man, what the hell? Mike, this isn't even legal! Where's Josslam?"

I stepped forward menacingly. "I'll tell you what's illegal: kidnapping." I paused and laughed. "You know what is funny? I've only known her for a few weeks, but I already live and die by her presence. If she doesn't make it, I don't want to live either... I'll take my own damn life willingly, but here I have her kidnapper, her tormentor right here in my hands. I figure I'm gonna make him wish he was never born before I go out." I brandished the box cutter and stepped closer.

"Josslam! JOSSLAM!" He screamed, his eyes giant white orbs as I moved the blade just under his nose.

I leaned over him, touching the rusty blade to his nose, making him go cross-eyed to look at it. "Oh, he has no idea how upset I am over this. He left me allll alone with you, Lee. We've got the rest of the night to have fun together. By morning, you're going to be an unrecognizable pile of ground meat, and I'll make sure you're still completely alive and feeling the agony of your life." I lowered the knife and began to saw his shirt with it.

"She's in a beach house I rented!" He squealed in terror, eyes bulging.

"Good boy!" I crooned to him, unclipping his handcuffs from the chair and hauling him up.

He sounded suddenly whiney and sniveling. "Now what are you doing?"

Sneering at him, I snarled "Oh, I wouldn't want to WASTE the fun we're going to have tonight just because you lie to me about where she's at. We'll go out there together, and if she isn't there, I start carving you like a thanksgiving turkey. So... you know... you might think about taking me to her instead of lying, because I'm not going to give you a second chance to reveal it."

* * *

He directed me to a remote beachfront vacation house that he'd rented. I brought him along, using him as a meat-shield in case Rosa's brother or someone else was here, even though he'd sworn they were not. I kept my XDm drawn and pointed right at the back of his head. "First sign of trouble, I'm splattering your brains." I explained to him.

The key in his pocket did indeed open the front door, and I stepped inside, gun planted to his skull. "Maine?" I shouted.

Almost immediately, I heard her unmistakable voice squeal from somewhere upstairs. "Mikey???"

"Is it safe to come up, baby?" I called.

"Y... yes... Lee left here an hour or more ago..." She called back. "I'm alone!"

I dragged him upstairs hurriedly and followed her voice to the master bedroom, flipping on the lights. To my surprise, there she sat on the bed in her silk night gown, holding a gun and pointing it at me. Seeing that also seemed to shock Lee.

I stared at the gun in shock. No... It couldn't be... She really did work for them. I felt a wave of hysteria and considered opening fire, but she immediately threw the gun down and dove at me with a happy shriek. I hurled the prisoner aside so I could tearfully embrace my sweet lover, twice relieved beyond measure.

"Mikey! Mikey, Mikey, Mikey!" She sobbed. "I thought I'd never see you 'gain!"

"I wasn't going to let them have you, Maine." I murmured, holding her with all my strength.

She held me crushingly tight, crying in absolute joy. I looked at the gun she'd been holding, laying there on the bed. I could see ropes that looked like they'd had her tied to the four bed-posts. "Baby skunk, how did you get that gun?" I asked her, holding her tight.

"I clawed my way through the ropes, then searched the house an' found it. I was gonna blow his brains out when he came back." She said, indicating Lee with her chin. "He said he was framing us for blowing the interception mission!"

I nuzzled in her soft green hair. "He did, and I very nearly got sent to prison for telling you secrets. Commander Josslam tasked me with catching and arresting you, because they believed you were the informant. I was so scared... scared that you..." I broke off.

"Mikey, I would never betray you." She said, tears running down her cheeks. "Especially not to some filthy drug cartel. I love you."

Her fur was so soft, and under it I could feel her firm, supple body trembling a little bit as she clung to me. "I know that now, baby. At first, Lee even had me believing you'd betrayed me, but Abbi convinced me of the truth. She wouldn't even entertain the possibility that you'd help them." As I spoke, I reached down and moved aside the gown strap above her left breast and gently pulled the fur apart so I could see her tattoo. There it was, unmistakable, but almost completely hidden by her soft fur. I smiled tearfully.

"She told you 'bout that?" the lovely female whispered.

I pulled my gun and pointed it at Lee, who'd been inching towards the door, motioning him to come back in, all without even looking at him. "Yeah. Oh Maine, I love you. God, I love you so much. I've been so lost without you, even if it was less than a day, it made me realize that I cannot even exist without you."

She sobbed happily in reply, hugging me even tighter. After a few more minutes of happy reunion, I pulled back to hold her at arm's length and speak. "We need to report back to the office and bring this scumbag with us. Other cartel members know about this place, so we aren't safe here. Grab the gun and let's go before we're discovered. We can rejoice in being together again later."

12) ** **The Way Home

She nodded and did as I told her, snatching up the pistol. "How in the world did they capture you? I didn't hear a sound. I just woke up and you were gone." I inquisitively asked.

She shivered. "I hardly know. Somebody jumped me from behind and hit me when I got up to potty just before dawn. When I came to, I was in the back of a van all tied up."

I hauled Lee to his feet and started to drag him, but for some reason he was resisting me now. "I'm gonna fuckin' get you for this yet, bitches!" He raved. I had to drag him roughly back downstairs, and he was making more noise all the time, which was getting me nervous.

"Knock him out." Maine suggested. I nodded and drew my gun to try and club him. He saw what I was going to do and dove forward, yanking me with him. The move saved my life. There was a deafening crack and crash as a bullet whizzed by, aimed for my chest but narrowly missing. I let go of Lee and speared Maine, knocking her over and away from the window in absolute terror as bullets began to spray glass everywhere. I yanked her with me and dove into the bathroom, pulling out my cellphone as I threw her into the bathtub.

A moment later Josslam answered my call. "Commander! I rescued Maine and we've been attacked by the cartel! I lost Lee in the scramble to safety!" I yelped. There was a flurry of gunshots, each impacting at the frame of the bathroom door. They were trying to pin us down. "We're under fire and need assistance immediately! Numbers unknown, but shots have been fired! Need air support too!"

Josslam's answer was grim. "Damn. We underestimated them again. Alright, GPS shows you closest to the Naval base. I'll have the cavalry there in a few minutes, just hold out, OK?"

I glanced over at Maine and saw her peeking over the rim of the tub, pistol clutched in both sexy paws. She was trembling, but looked determined and focused. Suddenly, as I looked at her, she lifted the gun up and fired. I whirled in shock to see what she'd fired at and saw that Lee had made a run for the front door, right past the bathroom. He was on the floor and let out a bellow of pain, and I saw blood streaming from his right leg.

There hadn't been any more shots fired, so I took the risk of darting my hand out and grabbing him by his leg, yanking him with all my might into the bathroom. I heard the shooter fire and chip more wood off the door frame, but he was a half second too late and I was already back into the relative safety of the bathroom. Lee howled in pain as I dragged him by his shot leg.

"Y' stupid bitch! Y' shot me!" He shouted in as much rage as pain.

"She just saved your miserable ass, you shitbag!" I shouted at him.

"Fuck ya! I'da gotten away to my partners!" He spat at me.

I pointed my gun at his left eyeball. "How do you think they'd react to finding out you brought me here? They're bound to guess it with those cuffs on you, huh?"

I could tell he hadn't thought of that, and suddenly he shrank a little closer to the tub. "You fuckin' fucks. I'll fuckin' figure fuckin' something out to fuckin' tell fuckin' them!"

Maine leapt out of the tub in a flash and swung her pistol, cracking the back of the slide into his head with pretty much all her might. He went limp, instantly knocked out. I could see hatred and loathing in her eyes, and I knew she wanted more than anything to kill him. "Such language! He sounds like a moron!"

I scrambled forward on my knees and pulled her away from him. "Get back in the tub, honey! You got him, he isn't going anywhere! Good girl! Focus on staying alive and staying ready. It's us against them, and our lives are in our own hands until help arrives."

She nodded, not tearing her eyes off of the unconscious Lee as she clambered back into the tub. She lay down again and peeked over the side, steadying her trembling gun on the rim of the cast iron tub. She looked at me, a strange, yearning look. I smiled at her. "I love you."

"I love you too." She whispered, but I didn't hear her as there was another burst of gunfire, drawing my attention to the doorway.

When the echoes of the shots had died down, I heard a gravelly voice speak with a thick Cuban accent. "You got two choices, gringo: Die fast or die slow. You come out now, we kill you fast in a hail of gunfire. Stay in there, we gonna make you wish you were dead. We gonna make it slowwww." I tried to judge how far away the speaker was from us, and I guessed he was still outside the house, calling in through the sizable hole that had been shot in the wall and window.

I eased a little closer to the doorway so I could look in the opposite direction, towards the front door. Sure enough, his talking was an attempt to distract us, and someone was trying to sneak in through the front door. I grimly fired a burst of three rounds and saw the figure of whoever it was stagger back, clutching his chest. I heard shouting from outside in what sounded like at least two different languages, including Spanish.

Just then the lights went out. I wasn't too surprised by that. Cutting the power would hopefully make us easier to kill, so they'd blacked us out. Maine gave a frightened cry, though. "Mikey! They turned off the power!?"

I scooted backwards along the floor to the edge of the tub. "Quiet, sweetie. Yeah, it's not anything to worry about. It makes it as much harder for them as it does for us, since I doubt they have night vision. Just keep down and keep ready. If somebody comes around the door shooting, aim for the flashes of light... just make damn sure it isn't me you're shooting at or you'll kill me." I whispered into her ear.

"I wanna go home so bad..." She softly moaned into my ear.

The poor thing was so terrified. Despite our situation, I reached back and gave her a half hug while I covered the door with my other hand. "Home for me is wherever you are, Maine. As long as we're together, I'm happy no matter what."

"Y... yeah..." She whispered, and I felt her glossy black lips kiss my neck.

I kept the doorway perpetually in my sights. My eyes had adjusted to the dark, and I was happy to see that ample light was coming from somewhere... I could still easily see to shoot if anyone tried to come for us.

As I looked, I heard a 'clunk-thump-thump,' and my blood froze in my veins at what I thought I'd just seen. I dove into the tub shouting "laydownlaydown! Cover your ears!" I dove on top of my mate, protecting her with my body, and covered my own ears as she did the same.

A split second later there was a tooth-rattling bang as the grenade went off. Secondary crashes and thumps echoed all through the house, and I felt my back getting pelted with pieces of the ceiling as the tub bucked like it was alive. I could hear Maine screaming in terror, and I softly cried "Quiet! Quiet! We're OK!"

As the crumbling and crashing stopped, I looked up. The other side of the bathroom had completely collapsed from the roof on down. The walls had held above us, buckling slightly from the force and tilting inwards. We were trapped in a small pocket of the bathroom that was still standing. Looking up, I could see moonlight, meaning the roof had caved in and torn open.

I pulled my hands from my ears and looked down at her with a smile. "Welllll, we don't have to worry about them shooting us anymore... It'd take them hours to dig through to us, and help will be here in a couple minutes."

She looked immensely relieved. "Oh thank God! We're safe!"

I shook my head. "Not safe, no. We're completely trapped in here. If they set fire to the house, we'll roast like a barbeque. We have to hope that our backup gets here before they get that obvious idea, or at least before they can get it started.

She stared up at me with wide eyes filled with frightened tears. I smiled sadly at her. "Bet you aren't too happy to know me right now, huh?"

She caught my shoulders as I started to sit up. "Are you kidding me? I never been so proud of anyone in my life! I loves you, Mikey! I'm so glad to be your girl! We're gonna win, 'cause we are together, and we are the good guys." She chucked my cheek as she spoke, looking brave even through her fear.

I smiled fondly at her. "You got it, girl." I looked up at the sky I could see overhead. A stream of moonlight was shining down on us, illuminating our little life raft in the sea of rubble. If we had to, I was fairly certain we could climb up through that hole and get out, but we would be on the roof, sitting ducks for all to see. Nevertheless, I shared the plan with her.

She nodded in understanding and whispered "What happened to Lee?"

I'd completely forgotten about him when the grenade went off, only concerned with saving Maine. "He either bought it from the explosion, or from the house collapsing on him. It'd be a miracle if he's still alive under all that wreckage."

Even as I finished speaking, she urgently whispered "I smell gas." Just before there was a loud flash and roar of igniting fuel, and we were momentarily illuminated as flames erupted through the debris. Fingers of flame trailed along the invisible lines of airborne gas, like giant glowing hands reaching through the rubble for us, to grip us in death's embrace. It was beautiful and frightened as anything I'd ever seen.

The house shook and debris rained on us again. Then all the airborne gas was burned off and we were once again in darkness. I could hear the dull roar of fire somewhere nearby. "Great. Things just keep getting better, huh babe?" I said with a chuckle, hoping to keep her spirits up.

I opened my cellphone and called Josslam. "Sir, they blew the house to bits with a grenade and have now set fire to it. We are trapped under the rubble and pinned down by shooters. Please... You've got to get here quick or we're going to die."

I heard the grizzled old veteran swear. "I'm comin', LaCosse. I'll try to draw their fire until the navy gets here. Think you can get out of the building, or are you trapped?"

"I think we can climb out to the roof, but we'll be sitting ducks up there. Dale, I smell smoke and it's getting warm already..." I groaned, feeling despair crushing me.

"I'm coming. I'll give them one hell of a good reason not to notice you. Get climbing when you hear gunshots, OK?" Was his terse reply.

I lowered the phone, keeping the connection active. "Well, tell me what you wanna do first when we get home, beautiful." I gently crooned to the crying female.

She threw her arms around me in the moonlight. "I'ns hungry an' thirsty, but after that I just wanna make love to you again. It feels like forever since the last time we were one flesh. I miss it so much... All I could think about when I was tied down on that bed was how we coulda made love one last time last night, but we didn't for some reason. I thought I'd never see you again, and I don't know why I didn't love you one last time 'fore I died."

Tenderly kissing her fuzzy cheek, I murmured "You aren't dead yet, and neither am I. We'll get through this, you'll see. I didn't come out here to bury you, or myself... I came to rescue you, and that's what I'm gonna do." She stared up at me, and I felt the tension sort of melt out of her body as she held me close. We cuddled there for a while, as the temperature began to rise, and smoke began to fill the room, ever stronger.

I heard someone shout, muffled through all the rubble, then the crackling spray of automatic rifle fire. That had to be the signal. "Climb, Maine!" I shouted, lifting her up to the first hand-hold.

She nodded and sprang up, fairly flying up the uneven rubble towards the sky visible above us. I launched myself after her as quickly as I could, gritting my teeth and straining to move as fast as I possibly could. She would be a sitting duck up there without me.

I came up through the hole and took in the scene around me. Maine was lying on the roof beside the crack I was climbing out of, and the whole building was tilted over towards the ground on one side. That same side was a massive blaze, with flames licking thirty feet into the sky. Down below us, I could see the muzzle flash of an AR-15 combat rifle which I was certain was Dale, laying down a withering barrage of suppressive and distractive fire. I could see the flashes of at least six other guns taking shots at the Commander, and I prayed he was in a well-protected position.

It looked like the entire roof of the house had sunk down more than half a story towards the ground, even here at the highest point. "We're on the roof, Commander!" I shouted into the phone over the din. Without waiting for a reply, I caught her paw and slid down the steep roof on my butt, feet first, dragging her into the slide with me.

I kept right on going, right over the edge, pulling her with me. I was thankful she managed not to scream as we sailed into space, and I grabbed the edge of the roof with my free hand, slowing her fall before dropping her the several feet to the ground as my hand gave out. We fell and smashed down feet first into some bushes, which broke our fall somewhat. "In the bushes." I hissed into the phone. "Any way I can help, sir?"

"I see you. I've got night vision on. To your left is a retaining wall that one of the criminals is hiding behind. If you can clear him out, it'll be excellent cover for you from the rest of them, and you might be able to help me." Was his distracted reply.

I could see the wall he was talking about faintly in the moonlight. I could also see muzzle blasts coming from behind it, and I estimated they were from a handgun. "Stay behind me, about ten feet." I ordered into her ear, then dropped low and charged the wall.

I dove in without feeling the sting of lead hitting me, and opened fire on the dark outline I could see there, prone and shooting at Josslam. The body slumped to the side and was still when my third shot struck it. I whirled and found her already crouched down beside me. "Are you hurt?" I tersely asked, seeing her nightgown was now torn to bits, leaving her nearly naked.

She shook her head. "No. Fine. It tore on the rubble as I climbed out."

I brought up my cellphone again. "OK, we're behind the wall. Shooter that was hiding behind it is incapacitated. Ready for further instructions..."

"Just shoot at any muzzle flashes you see that aren't mine." He replied. "The team is almost here. We got land, sea and air support all set to arrive at the same time."

I turned to her. "The automatic over there is Josslam. Any other muzzle flashes you see, fire at them, OK?" To illustrate, I fired at one about thirty yards to our left, then ducked down.

"Mikey, I wanna go home. Can't we go home? I wanna make love..." She wailed to me.

"Stay strong, baby! It's almost over! I'm eager for that too!" I replied, firing at another yellow flash.

She nodded and pressed close to me, her back against the retaining wall. "Someone's running for us!" She squealed suddenly.

I whirled even as she fired. I saw the outline of someone running and firing wildly at us. As I watched I could see him take the shot and stumble, dropping his gun. She fired several more times, and the figure collapsed. She let out a sob of hysteria. "Leave us alone!" She cried.

"Good job, sweetheart. Keep watching the back, I'll keep us safe up here." I said, patting her shoulder.

We were quiet for several minutes, simply working on firing at enemies and not getting hit ourselves. Several times she fired, then gave a frustrated cry. "My gun won't shoot anymore! Is it empty already, or did it jam? The slide's open!"

I looked down and saw indeed the slide was locked back. "It's empty, honey. Nothing we can do about it." I called into her ear as I reached down and hit the slide release. "Keep a hold on it in case you need to use it to bluff someone."

"I only fired seven times!? How can it already be empty?" She cried.

"Must've been a 1911." I called as I turned back to survey the battlefield. Another flash to our left, and I thought I heard the bullet impact on the bricks near us. I let loose with a storm of lead in that direction, realizing I could see more and more as the house burned ever brighter and brighter. My gun stopped firing and the slide locked open, empty.

I dropped the mag and loaded my spare. "How did you even know how to shoot that, Maine? I didn't think you knew a thing about guns a couple weeks ago!" I barked cheerfully, as if we were talking about shampoo.

"After you chewed me out for holding that gun, I decided to take a handgun course at the local range. I was gonna surprise you that I'd learned how to do it once I was really good." She replied, sounding a bit embarrassed.

Despite the chaos around us, I laughed. "Well, you certainly surprised me all right! You've saved us at least twice tonight with your shooting. You did great hon'!" I enthused, seeing her swell with pride a little.

"I hear a helicopter, Mikey!" Maine squealed, and as I listened, I could hear it too. Then all at once, lights came on from everywhere; cars screaming up the long driveway, boats roaring in from every direction along the shore, and from a helicopter that zoomed in and illuminated the yard with its spotlight. The shooting stopped and I saw the cartel members scatter, only to be picked up by searchlights as countless troops and agents descended on the area.

I heard Maine give a happy squeal to see them pouring in from all sides, all carrying rifles. "We're saved!" She cried, laughing weakly.

I threw down my gun and raised my hands as flashlights bobbed towards me, and Maine followed me in doing so. The troops surrounded us, barking orders that we lie down on the ground with our hands behind our heads. Then we were both being handcuffed and pulled towards the main cluster of vehicles out on the road. "Why are they handcuffing US???" Maine shrieked at me.

"Relax, babe! Standard operating procedure; cuff everyone until we can be identified, then we'll be released. Just cooperate!" I said, trying to make it sound like this wasn't the least bit out of the ordinary.

We were lined up with the cartel members that were being caught and arrested, but in less than twenty seconds Commander Josslam was there and said "These two aren't with the cartel. One of them's my agent, the other is a civilian. Get her a blanket."

We were pulled out of the line and released. Maine collapsed into my arms again, and I found myself holding up her limp body as she just panted into my neck. I held her close and looked gravely at the commander. "Thank you, sir. You saved both our lives. Thank you so much for making it here in time... you gave me my Maine back."

In response to this, Maine looked up, saw Josslam, and threw her arms around his neck next. "Thank you for saving us." She moaned.

The old man looked a little surprised to have a young, gorgeously beautiful female hugging him tightly, even if she was bedraggled and filthy after all our excitement. "You are very welcome, my dear. I'm sorry we suspected you were our mole... You have Michael to thank for clearing your name and finding the actual rat in our operation."

He looked over at me over her head. "Speaking of the mole, where's Lee?"

I turned and looked at the massive blaze that was all that remained of the beautiful rental house. "When they threw a grenade in at us, Maine and I dove into the tub for protection and he caught at least part of the blast. If he even survived that, trapped under the rubble of the subsequent collapse, I'd say there isn't much left of him now. I'm sorry sir. I guess I shouldn't have brought him with me."

He shook his head and sighed, patting Maine's back as she released him and returned to hugging me. "You couldn't have known what they would do, son. We lose some valuable information that we might have gotten out of him in interrogation, but look at all the cartel members we caught! At least one of them will break, and we might even learn where they took the powder we missed."

Maine was trembling as she pressed against me. "Commander, Maine's been kidnapped, tied up, been in the firefight of her life, and she's cold and hungry and thirsty. She's about a thousand miles beyond her ability to cope right now... May I please take her home, and we'll report for debriefing tomorrow?"

He smiled gently. "Yes, you may go home and take the rest of the day off. Maine, my dear, you are a courageous girl and should be very proud of yourself. You are safe now, and those who caused this are in custody or dead. Rest easy and be at peace in your man's arms. Michael didn't stop searching for you for one second, and I think deep down he believed you were innocent even when the rest of us didn't."

She nodded, turning from where she was hugging me. "Thank you sir. Yer such a sweetie... I'll never forget what you did to help us, riskin' your life to save us. As far as I'm concerned, you are a dear, dear friend to both Michael and I, and you are always welcome in our house." She cooed tiredly. As we left, I glanced over and saw Commander Dale Josslam blushing and looking like he's just won a million dollars, getting such kind words from such a striking beauty.

* * *

I drove my exhausted, dirty, but free and safe little skunk lover home as light crept into the sky. The rest of the world was waking up around us as we made our way back home. "It seems like an eternity ago that our only worry was you finding out about my job." She said, her voice heavy with sadness. "Bein' a spy isn't as much fun as I thought it would be."

She was turned a bit away from me so she could lean against me while I drove. I had my arm around her tummy, and she was gripping my arm with both paws. I affectionately rubbed her tum, which made her coo and lean her head back against my shoulder. "Nothing whatsoever like this has ever happened to me, or even the Florida branch of the FBI. It's usually just a bunch of paperwork, I'm telling you."

She rolled around in the seat and looked at me. "D'you think Dale will hire me? Doncha think I'd make a great agent after all this? I helped you get a car when you needed it, got you into the club, kept you safe in the strip joint, worked my way free of my bonds when I was kidnapped, defended us with a gun, and never once fainted or even threw up! Can't teach stuff like that, I just got what it takes!"

We both laughed happily. "Well, I can't speak for Dale, but if it were up to me, I'd sure hire you." I said, smiling at her.

She leaned back against me again, pulling my arm around her so she was in my embrace. "Well, that's more important to me than anything else. I got your seal of approval, anyway. I can retire from the spy biz a success."

I drove into her long driveway and parked outside her garage. The sun was peeking up now, and it was getting bright and cheerful out. We stepped into our home, and I could tell she was nearly passing out on her dainty, bare feet. I caught her before she fell and picked her up, carrying her to the bedroom. I whisked off her ruined pink gown and helped her into bed, then stripped naked and climbed in with her. I couldn't help but groan to feel her warm, energetic, soft furry body snuggle close to me. She was asleep before I could even say "G'night."

* * *

I was awakened several hours later to the sensation of being kissed. I grunted sleepily, reaching for her. "'Zup?" I managed to mumble.

"I can't sleep anymore 'till we'be made love." She cooed softly. I felt her paw begin to stroke me down below.

I opened my eyes and focused on her. "Time 'zit?" I slurred, still trying to wake up.

"One o'clock in the afternoon." She purred, then leaned in and kissed me deeply again. I reacted and began to stroke her soft, luscious body, feeling her begin to pant with excitement as my fingers played over her.

More awake now, I sat up, gathering her close so I could roll her beneath me. I gently drew my whole body up and down hers, reveling in the feel of fur against skin. She was so deliciously tickly, and her coarse tail fur was like straw it was so thick and scratchy. I held her, kissing her all over as I became erect in her practiced fingers.

We kissed and petted for a long time, until I at last felt her draw my glans to her slit, and I gently pushed to get it inside her warm sex. I'd not made love to her in days, so it felt immeasurably good to be one flesh with her again. I cried out and kept pushing, not stopping until I felt her mound press up against my groin, signifying that I was completely enveloped in her. "Maine... I love having you here. I love everything about you."

She cried out and gasped as I sank in. "Ahhh! Oh God! I haven't had sex in ages! It feels so good! Fuck me, my precious lover! Oh Mikey, fuck me hard and deep and fast!"

I sat up and grabbed her hips, beginning to take a few test strokes into her body. Comfortable and established, I began to hump into her, letting my hard shaft press deep into her innermost love. She cried out in ecstasy, squirming beneath me. I gritted my teeth and fucked her hard. "It's been since the last time with you for me, too. Uhhhnn... It just keeps getting better the more we do it together! How do you stay so tight?"

She giggled, thrusting her hips up gently against my own, matching my rhythm. "I eat healthy and take my vitamins, of course! I do exercise too, to keep my pussy tight and firm. Ohhh God, your human cock never gets old! I love human meat the best!"

"I'd... uh... love to see your... fuck... exercises sometime... God! I bet it's sexy as hell."

We humped and ground together for a while before changing out positions. She lifted her ass high in the air, spread her legs out extremely wide, and had me stand over her and fuck down in. My balls slapped against her wet fur as we pounded against each other. Dropping my weight down on her, I could positively punch myself into her. From her position, I was really teasing her clit vigorously as well, and she wailed in appreciation to let me know I was doing it right.

She flung her lovely head from side to side, screaming in pleasure as I pummeled her. "God! You're fucking me like an animal, Mikey! I love it! So hard! So good! I'm never going to get used to how great this feels! I love you, baby!"

I hooked my arms under her hips and yanked her up against me as I worked, making the wet slapping and slurping noises even louder as I fucked her wildly. "Can you take this, lover girl?" I gasped, drilling her.

She wailed in delight! "Yes! If feels like I'm going to explode with the pleasure of it! I can't hold back, Mikey! I'm gonna cum! Make me feel good while I cum! Ah! AhhhhhHHH!!!" She squirted and shuddered, then began to twitch and shiver as we bred furiously together.

We paused as she came down from the pleasure high, and she stood up on the bed, facing away from me and arching her back, pushing her full round ass into my face. I scrambled to my feet as well, grabbed her hips, and drove my dripping penis back into her juicy body. She bellowed loudly and reached back with her paws, peeling her love open for me to gaze into as I slammed it in deep and fast.

I drew my hands over her hips, her waist, her ass, and her sexy legs. She shrieked as I fucked her, getting closer as we frantically had make-up sex. I was delirious and leaned over, kissing and licking one of her feet as I pumped down into her. She squealed and squirmed as my tongue tickled her sensitive pads, cleaning the soot and dirt from the firefight off of them.

She played her hands along her amazing body, looking up at me with heavy lidded eyes. "Do it, sexy boy. I give myself to you all over again; this time we know everything about each other; this time there are no secrets. I love you."

"I...love you..." I hissed, then exploded into her. I'd not masturbated or anything in her absence, and I had an impressive load of cum saved up for her. It gushed and oozed and flowed and dripped deep into her sex, thick gobs pulsing through my penis and into her womb. I shuddered and gave a few extra thrusts, heightening the wonderful orgasm.

She howled "Yes!" And blew again. She soaked me down, until it was running down my legs as if I'd just gotten out of the shower.

"Yeah... fuck. I missed your smoking hot body, honey. I missed the sex so much." I managed as we collapsed into a heap on the bed. We grinned and panted at each other.

* * *

Lee's body was found and identified. A falling slice of wood and pipe had come down on top of him, skewering him through the heart and killing him instantly when the house collapsed. It was a bad way to go, but I didn't feel much sympathy for him. A raid of his home found notes that led to the discovery and capture of the lost hundred and fifty-million dollars of drugs as well as more cartel members who were guarding it.

Sadly, his motivations were never quite clear to us, other than that the cartel had given him large quantities of money. It turned out he'd been assisting them with the wooden boxes by confounding our research of them in several ways, such as fouling the noses of the drug sniffing dogs and putting unqualified scientists on the research project. Had he not been there, we probably would have figured them out already.

From our prisoners, we learned a great many things, including details about several more shipments which we intercepted, and a few clues as to how the sealed boxes worked. Once we knew the sealing compounds used, we could train our drug sniffing dogs to search for the boxes as well as drugs, rendering them useless. Soon, we ceased to see drugs being brought in them, as they no longer offered any protection.

My indiscretion in telling Maine our secrets was forgiven in light of her and my performance in identifying and capturing Lee. Maine was also commended for her bravery and heroism, and was named an honorary FBI agent by Commander Josslam. She essentially freelances for us on missions that we need her, though she only works with me as her partner. She puts on a wig, wears glasses and unflattering clothes, and her own mother wouldn't recognize her. She blends in well and has on several occasions proved to be a fantastic, calm, quick thinking and brave young woman well suited to the world of espionage.

For my part though, I'd rather just have the boring old paper-pushing desk job. I take missions when I am asked, but in some ways the emotions and fears of those wild two days have forever soured me on the idea of being an operative. I'm more interested in the detective work involved in some cases, and have proven to be quite good at it, if I do say so myself.

Abbi and her husband Chuck have become dear friends to both of us now. We often do things together as couples, and when Abbi and Maine are together, adventures always seem to happen. They love living in complete spontaneity, and Chuck and I have just gotten used to letting the girls run the show on our nights out together. We've ended up taking sudden trips to Alaska, taking week long vacations sailing on the ocean, tried hang-gliding, and dozens of other things that were all their ideas.

Maine has taken her retirement and disassociation from her past quite well. She began modeling clothing and jewelry, which she said she used to do before the siren song of pornography. She doesn't make as much money, but she makes more than plenty to support herself and her hard-working but poorly paid mate. She taught me gardening and beadwork, hobbies which we enjoy doing together. I felt a little funny at first, learning about beads, but I fell in love with the technical aspects of helping her design large and beautiful mosaics, and we sell them on the side as part of our hobby.

Do I need to say she's great in bed? She's patient with me, teaching me new things all the time to keep our sex life steamy-hot and sexy as hell. Her fur and body, so different from a human woman, is kinky and luscious to me, and I never get over the thrill of making love to her. We've tried some really wild acts and had a great time together through all of them.

Every day with her I consider a gift, because of how close I came to losing her. I will forever treasure my striking, beautiful, graceful and sweet little skunk lover, and she, thank God, always seems to treasure me.

Fin.