“A friend had a catalogue from a New York City sex store, and I bought all of those through the mail, except for the towel, of course, which was sup...lied by the hotel.” “A friend?” I inquired. “Male or female?” “A woman I know.” “You must know her very well to be sharing a sex toy catalogue.” “We’re good friends,” Ellie replied, with a shy and embarrassed look, not expecting the question. “Have you slept together?” I pressed. There was a long silence. Ellie stepped directly in front of me and. "I looked at John, sensing almost fear. He continued, "It seems that over the last couple of years, eight former CIA operatives vanished, or went into hiding. The problem is they are all working as assassins or hit men. I think we eliminated one of them, and they don't have a clue as to what happened to him. That's good since they probably think he did what he was hired to do, but had something happen to him coming back in. They might suspect Alcam, as that group was very untrustworthy. Anyway,. For what seemed like the millionth time, he looked at the pictures that were scattered in front of him. They showed a heavily armed man and woman. They had been taken at the bunkhouse the night before. His orders from Max were to detain them if possible, but he was authorized to shoot and kill them, as long as the book she was supposed to be carrying was safe.No explanation had been offered, but one of his men had seen them jump into a freezing, underground river after the woman had punched. ”The ladies and I finished up the veggies and Kolstar asked me to stay a moment, as we were on the way out of the pantry, I guess you could call it. I held back and said, “You wanted to talk with me privately?”“Yes Bob I did, I understand from Cherrine that you might be swaying towards giving some of us women ‘leader’s rights’ mementoes. I would not object, if one of them came my way.”“I did not know I was such a popular man, Kolstar. You are the third woman who has approached me regarding that.