SIX

As she walked hastily around the side of the complex, over to where she believed the number one-thirty-eight town-home would be, her surroundings began to strike her as quite odd. From what she had known and heard of Dan’s wealth - Jess had expected and prepared to set foot inside a mansion, or something else extravagant. But what she was looking at was a dump - nicely put. She shrugged it off and continued towards the apartment. Without too much of a problem -other than stepping on some fresh, hot, melted gum with her brand new tennis shoes- Jess made it to the door of town-house #138. Though she did not feel ready - she raised her hand up, preparing to knock on the door of the man whom had stolen her innocense years ago But before she could - someone called out to her from a bit of a distance; she turned towards the voice. “Is there something I can help you with?” Asked the stranger. The voice was British. Jess was caught off-guard, by both the accent and the stranger’s appearance. She found that the voice seemed quite deep for a woman - but as the stranger approached her, Jess realized that it wasn’t a woman’s voice at all.

“Umm, uhh,” Jess stammered. “I don’t have any money...and I was just paying a visit to an old friend.” She knew the man could sense the discomfort in her voice, but she couldn’t help it - she had never been approached by a cross-dresser before. Although the new situation she faced was an uncomfortable one, there was something reassuring and familiar about his voice. When Jess took a closer look at him -and into his eyes- she recognized him. “Oh my god! Dan!” she exclaimed. As soon as he’d heard her voice, he knew who she was. Even before she spoke, he had questioned it. He wanted to give her a giant bear-hug, but instead, he snapped at her. “What do you want?” He didn’t mean to be harsh, but it was just the way he reacted.

“I need your help.”

“Whoa, whoa! Hold up! Little Miss Jessie I-can-do-everything-on-my-own... is asking for my help? Admitting that she actually depends on other people, and not just herself? Wow, Jess, I know it’s been a few years - but you really have changed!”

“Says the one who has transformed his gender.”

Dan smiled. “It’s a bit uncomfortable weather out here, wouldn’t you say? I’m going to make you an offer”

“I don’t do men in lipstick,” Jess said matter-of-factly, with a bit of an icy tone.

“Okay, so I was wrong. You haven’t changed,” Dan smiled. “I was just going to offer you something to drink and a place to sit. If you do in fact need ‘help’ as you said, I am more than willing to listen.”

Jess nodded in response, and he led her inside. Dan pulled out a chair for her, and walked into the kitchen - returning with two drinks. “You know, I’m not a cross-dresser, and I’m not a hooker. It’s just a cover. I couldn’t bear to live a life like this one. I need luxury.”

“Of course.”

Though she’d said it sarcastically - Jess believed him. She knew Dan, and she agreed that he wouldn’t possibly live in a place like the one they were in at the moment And it would explain why they were not sitting in a mansion, along with the several other puzzle pieces that just didn’t seem to fit Dan’s mold..

“So tell me why you came. What is this ‘predicament’ you have found yourself in?” Jess could tell that he was quite please that she actually needed his help. He was going to use it to his advantage, too - she was sure of it.

Jess explained her situation to him - and made sure to clue him in on all of the detailsof the recent events she had been a part of. Dan agreed that she was in one hell of a shit-hole, not because someone had killed Timothy Collins instead of her, but rather - because they did not know why. If Jess was not aware of the motive behind the killing, she could not be sure that it was only Tim that they were after. With her father working for the same company, and being of an even higher position, Jess realized that he could quite easily be their next target, if they did in fact have one. On the other hand, Jess considered the possibility that someone was trying to sabotage her and her duties - someone with a grudge. Jess knew there were many men in the industry who wanted her to fail, however, she quickly realized that there were better ways to do that than to do her job for her, because that didn’t prove her ‘lack of skills’ to anyone but themselves. No, it wasn’t them. But she was going to have to find out. Someone could be after her or her father next. What had before been nothing but an assignment has quite possibly become a game of cat and mouse - one that Jess wasn’t sure she could win without some help.

Becoming quickly more and more knowledgeable on the events of the past few days, Dan intended to help Jess as best he could. He taught her how to play detective, and he gave her what she would need to pursue the ‘mystery.’ The catch? He wanted to go with her. He promised that he’d be nothing but helpful, and Jess agreed. She couldn’t understand why he would want to help with something like thisgiven all of the things he must already be working on. She knew that Dan was a busy man, and an important one too. She didn’t know why he would want to bother with her petty assignment, but decided not to put too much thought into it.

Dan told her to wait for him in his well-decorated living room, while he went to go get some of the things they would need. Jess wondered what kind of ‘things’ those might be. “Here,” he said. He handed her his bologna and mustard sandwich, and walked out of the room.