Lady Killer

Lady Killer Chapter 1

Preface –

This is the story about Joanne (Jo) McGrath and the love of her life, Julia (Jules) Acosta and their lives together. Jo is a principled assassin with a mission to remove society's criminals. Jules is a smart effervescent woman who brings stability to their relationship. The story starts after Jo has begun as an assassin and after she and Jules are partners.

The six chapters of "Lady Killer" are short allowing you to quickly read them. They give a glimpse into American society and provoke thought about life, love, honesty and morality.

Should you become interested, I've written "The Education of Jo" to provide more of Jo's background, why Jo became the person she is as well as how and why the relationship changed throughout their lives.

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Chapter 1

So begins the story of Jo, assassin.

Lost in thought, she sat quietly, dressed in a white judoji providing only a glimpse of the narrow black belt at her waist. The early morning stillness was broken by bird-song and the barely audible musical sound of water trickling into a small koi pond in the courtyard. The petite young blonde had arrived early to wait for her trainer, the old Japanese man.

Jo used her judo skills only when necessary, preferring instead a small short-bladed knife or a real pistol to do the job. In her less experienced youth, she had relied on a compact Pug. The problem was that while the small pistol was adequate it didn't pack the hitting power needed in some situations. It was the Pug that brought about the untimely departure of the egotistical lothario a few years ago. Jo recalled that he became enraged and called her an ungrateful bitch when she foiled his brutal rape attempt. He had attacked and injured her. She felt justified in defending herself. "Well. Stud, it's not going to turn out quite the way you expected", she'd said as the little Pug appeared in her hand.Three quick pops and three small holes blossomed in the chest of the advancing man. He briefly looked surprised as death came. Bad people like him deserved what they got. Now, Jo wouldn't use a small pistol. She'd learned. That's why she was here practicing.

After the session, Jo exchanged bows with the old man and headed to the changing room where she hurriedly showered, brushed her blonde hair and donned casual street clothes before stepping out into the California heat and walking the two blocks to the local juice bar. Just another day in paradise.

The cool Venice juice bar took the edge off the day's warmth. Then there was Jules. Jo's beloved Jules was waiting on one of the grizzled Venice denizens. Jules' lush body always whispered erotic messages, and her outfit only enhanced her curves. More than one person had dreamed of Jules. As soon as Jules saw Jo, she rushed over and bestowed a soft kiss and lingering hug that promised an evening of pleasure. Jules' vanilla latte body and ardor were always a special treat.

Under Jo's skillful guidance, the shiny blue Ninja smoothly handled the turns in the road up to Griffith observatory. The engine purred like a satisfied kitten. That's why Jo called her Pussycat, Puss for short. Strange how a machine is thought of as an animate creature. Puss was Jo's baby as surely as any mother loves her baby. Woe be to anybody who would attempt to injure that baby...or Jules.

Jo entered to cool marble observatory hall with its swinging pendulum as the sun slowly slipped toward the hazy horizon in the late afternoon. She was early for the meeting at which she would learn the identity of the new target. She made a habit of being early for meetings like this. It never hurt to scope the people who might be a threat. She saw only tourists and science junkies wandering about.

Fifteen minutes later while she stood watching the huge pendulum knock down pegs, Jo was given a manila envelope by a teenaged kid who left without saying a word. The messenger was different each time, but the envelopes always held information on the target and how the target was to be found. The messenger seemed to know that the woman in the blue motorcycle leathers was to get the envelope. Obviously, one of those people in the hall knew Jo was the person to get the envelope.

The fat envelope revealed that this wasn't the usual single target, there were three targets. The reason was obvious: young females who were destined to be slaves to the basest desires of the customers. This was going to be more difficult than past assignments, as the bundle of bills showed. Half now, the balance on completion. The reason explained the stack of bills.

Jo smelled the delicious fragrance of chicken Marsala as soon as she entered. Thoughts of the assignment faded at the prospect of a delicious dinner, a glass of fine wine and the night with Jules. Dirty plates were all that was left of dinner. When the dishes were put away they moved to the bedroom. Candle-filled colored glass tulips gave off a low light creating the perfect mood. Soft jazz filled the room. Within minutes, a perfumed warm bath and gentle hands prepared the way.

A passing couple stopped when they heard the feminine moans coming from the open window above. Silence suggested that lips were touching. After a moment of silence the increasingly aroused couple heard cries of "Oh god, don't stop. Don't stop! Yess-s-s! Yes-s-s-sss! Ogod-ogod-o-goooddd! Muffled moans suggested pleasure. Two female voices moaning. Again and again, urgent cries of elevating ecstasy. Embarrassed by their eavesdropping and arousal, the couple hurried on. The sounds of love-making continued until, finally, silence fell.

Jo and Jules slept, arms around each other. The sleep of exhaustion. The sleep of spent lovers. Tomorrow would wait.