My destination lay straight ahead.
​
I pointed the boat across the lake and onto the sandy bank.
​I began the long trek through the trees toward an isolated compound about six miles inland. Hours later, I found the small clearing, exactly where I expected.

Intel said my target wouldn’t arrive until dusk. Sitting in the shadows, I could see the narrow dirt road that led to the house. Having come from the thick woods, I avoided any security, who wouldn’t expect anyone to go through several miles of dense forest to get to the place.

I waited.
The sound of tires rolling on the rocky road alerted my sense. A few four-wheeled drive trucks and Land Rovers came down the narrow road toward the house. I heard shouting, and the slamming of doors echoed through the woods as my target, and his bodyguards arrived.

I had one mission.

I waited for the noise to settle, and darkness was falling. I slipped around to the back door, making quick work of the lock. Stealthily, I made my way through the house toward the main living room.

My target sat on an oversized leather chair, a drink in one hand. I stepped into the room with weapon raised, pointed at his head.
“I was supposed to arrest you. I decided not to waste my time.”

His eyes widened in fear. “Who the hell are you?”

I fired my gun. The silences on the semi-automatic deafened the blast, but it was loud enough for security to hear.
I slipped into the hall closest as several men came running in and stood dumbfounded. I managed to duck out unseen and head for the boat.

I was supposed to arrest him and bring him back for trial. But I knew he’d never serve a day for his crimes, and cops would die when his gang attempted rescue, or he’d get off scot-free by bribing someone.

​ I figured I saved a lot of lives that day.

​One more cup of coffee for courage, then I needed to leave to do something I was dreading. The waitress brought another latte. The heart on top was perfect for my mood. I thanked her for it and commented on the art. It was almost too nice looking to drink. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to cool off. As I sipped it, I considered several options. Leaving town was an idea that appealed to me, but it wouldn’t solve anything. And I couldn’t avoid her in the small town forever. Eventually, we’d meet again. It was better to meet her now and get it over with and suffer the sling and arrows of love and other such nonsense. But it wasn’t nonsense, although it had seemed like it at the time. But when she told me she loved me. I almost fell out of my chair. Yes, I loved her too. But… There’s always a but involved. The but was, I couldn’t marry her as much as I wanted to do. She wasn’t married. She couldn’t be. No, I’m not married. As I sipped on the latte, I remembered our nights together. It was then I discovered her true nature. The powers she had and the forces she commended were beyond anything that I’d ever encountered. She could do things most men have never dreamed of, and that was before we made love. Making love with her was an extensional experience I’ll never forget or have again. Getting up, I paid for the half dozen coffees and lattes I’d drank in the last several hours. High on caffeine and sugar, I was as ready as I’d ever been to see her. She was waiting at her house. I rang the doorbell. She let me in. Inside, we relaxed, and I returned to my natural state. And she to hers. It was unfortunate that universal law forbids interplanetary marriages. She was from Venus. I was from Mars.
​

Getting across the bridge was my only hope, but they were closing in rapidly.
Traffic was snarled up for blocks. In my mirrors, I saw their cars trying to close in.
 The traffic slowed both of us down.
 If I ducked out of the car, they’d see and follow.  I needed a diversion that would keep them busy long enough for me to disappear into the crowds and blend in a sea of faceless bodies.

 The sound of metal crashing into metal was music to my ears.  
I realized what it was as  I barely missed the car ahead of me and stole a glance in my mirror.
 Two cars back someone had zigged when they should have Zagged. 
The result was three cars piled into the middle of the street.   Horns blared and I heard the sound of screaming several swear words floated to me as I opened the door of my car.  
 
 Shutting it as quietly as I could trying not to attract attention. I glanced back. 
They were standing next to their car.   Grabbing the messenger bag I was carrying I waited. As soon as I saw them talking to someone I  took my chance and walked to the sidewalk just behind a crowd of gawkers. 

 Once I had several groups of people between me and the accident I breathed a little easier.  
 Slipping in and out of the crowd was easy compared to trying to get down a block in a car. 
 It took me a while to get over the bridge. 
 Delivering the messenger bag with the incrementing documents to the District Attorney meant that I was a free man.
Only I wasn’t.
 After that afternoon I spent the rest of my life looking over my shoulder for the odd car and lone gunman that was sure to looking for me eventually.


 

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