Leopard's Baby

The December wind was biting. Tammy was glad to step into the bank where it was warm. She groaned inwardly when she saw the long line. There were at least eight stations for tellers, but only two were occupied. It was a little too warm, so she took off her jacket and draped it over her arm. Freaking banks are trying to force us to use ATM’s for everything, Tammy thought. It’s cheaper for them than paying tellers. Shit! I’m only in my sixth month and already my back hurts when I’m on my feet in one spot. You’d think being a were-leopard would make it easier, but no. Her phone vibrated. Karla.

“Hey, Karla,” Tammy said to her sister-in-law. “What’s up?” Karla and Tammy texted on a regular basis, but hadn’t spoken since Karla left for her freshman year at Brown the previous August.

“I just got back yesterday,” Karla said. “Finals were a bitch, but I think I did okay. I thought maybe you and I could do something. Anything. Go out to dinner or whatever. I’d like to see you. Are you done for the term?”

“I’ve got one more final for the fall semester. Tomorrow. Shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve got to eat, so I could meet you somewhere.”

“How about if I come to your house, and we went to a place near you? That way if you wanted to study some more I could leave and not take up too much of your time. To be honest, I have an ulterior motive. I’ve got to get away from my mother.”

“I can relate to that,” Tammy said. To say she and her mother-in-law, Jennifer Roberts, didn’t get along would be an gross understatement. Jennifer hadn’t been in favor of the marriage to begin with, and when her son was killed, she blamed Tammy. “What has my esteemed monster-in-law done now?”

Karla laughed. “Last night, my first night back, she had another couple and their son over for dinner. I’m pretty sure she has something similar planned for tonight. In fact I know she does. She’s determined to marry me off as soon as possible.”

“She does recall you just turned nineteen, right?”

“Yeah, but she’s a complete anti-feminist. Boys go to college. Girls get married. What time should I come over?”

“Around six would be good. If you want you could eat with us. I’m sure Didi wouldn’t mind. Everybody’s home now, and Amanda’s boyfriend will be joining us. There’s not much difference between feeding ten or feeding eleven.”

Karla hesitated. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather go out. It’s not that I don’t like your family, it’s just that I don’t really know them. I’d rather have you to myself.”

“It’s nice to be wanted,” Tammy said. Talking with Karla always seemed to make her feel better. “See you tonight. I have a surprise for you.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

“Now I’m really curious!”

Tammy chuckled, ended the call, and sighed. There were still five people ahead of her in line. One person seemed to be arguing heatedly with a teller. Tammy glanced toward the front window, turned to face forward, and whipped her head back toward the window. A van had pulled up right in front of the bank. Three men got out and pulled ski masks over their heads. One red, one gray, and one blue. It was cold, but not that cold.

Tammy dropped her jacket, pushed her way up to the teller, ignored the complaints directed at her, shoved the customer aside, and said, “The bank is about to get robbed! Push your alarm button.” The teller gaped at her. “Do it right fucking now!” Tammy yelled.

The teller reached under the counter and did something. The customer Tammy had knocked aside came back to her, his red face inches from hers, spittle coming from his mouth, and started to remonstrate with her. A shotgun blast reverberated around the room. Silence ensued. Three men stood at the door, all holding shotguns. Their faces were covered by ski masks. Tammy surreptitiously pushed a speed dial button on her phone.

***

Congresswoman Desiree Martinez held two dresses in front of her. “Which do you think would look better on me?”

Olivia furrowed her brow, pulled at her lower lip, tilted her head slightly to the left, and considered. “They’re both good, but I think the blue one is better. It brings out the blue in your eyes. It’s unusual for someone named Martinez to have blue eyes. It singles you out. Take advantage of it.”

Martinez grinned. “My mother got grief over that, but I did some research. It’s definitely possible for two brown-eyed people to have a blue-eyed child. The reverse is much less likely. Eye-color genetics is much more complicated than I thought. I’ve given up trying to determine how I wound up with blue eyes. I think you’re right about the dress, Liv. I’ll go with the blue one.”

Martinez handed both dresses and her credit card to the saleswoman. “I’ll take the blue one.”

“Excellent choice, ma’am. It looks great on you. Give me a minute to wrap it.”

Olivia had recommended a boutique store in a mall close to her Virginia home, and the two women were there. Martinez, early thirties, was in her second term in congress. Except for her eyes, she looked like the typical, attractive, Hispanic woman. She’d recently introduced gun control legislation, following which, she’d received several death threats. She hired SF Security for protection. Olivia had been assigned as her bodyguard.

A large man hurried up the aisle. Olivia placed herself between the congresswoman and the man. He raced by with barely a glance in their direction.

“You look positively ferocious right now,” Martinez said. “Do you know that man?”

“No, but it’s unusual to see a male in this store. Especially someone who looks like him.”

About two minutes later the man returned, his face red with anger. The smell of alcohol on his breath was strong. He pointed at Martinez and screamed, “There you are, you fucking bitch! I’ll teach you to try and take my gun!”

The man reached inside his jacket. Olivia was on him immediately. She picked him up and body slammed him to the floor. The air whooshed out of his lungs. Olivia reached inside his jacket and withdrew a water-pistol filled with a red liquid. She sniffed. Blood.

“I’ve called mall security,” the saleswoman shouted.

Olivia rolled the man onto his stomach, took a pair of handcuffs off her belt, and cuffed the man’s hands behind him. A man and a woman, both wearing security uniforms, ran up. Everyone started talking at once.

“QUIET!” Olivia bellowed. To the security people she said, “This is Congresswoman Desiree Martinez. This man threatened her. I believe he was going to spray her with blood, probably pig’s blood, using this water-pistol. Call the police.” The female security guard took out a cell phone while the male took charge of the prisoner.

Olivia made her way over to Martinez and said, “If you want to slip away, Desiree, now would be a good time.”

“Are you kidding?” Martinez said, her eyes shining with excitement. “I couldn’t ask for better publicity for my bill. Hopefully somebody made a video of the action, and it’ll go viral.”

Olivia was less than thrilled by the possible notoriety. Just what I need, she thought. To have my face plastered all over the internet manhandling a guy twice my size. This is not exactly keeping a low profile. Too many people want me dead.

Just then Olivia’s phone vibrated. Tammy. “Mom,” a voice said, so low Olivia could barely hear it even with her cat-like hearing. “I’m in the bank branch on Maple, two blocks west of campus. It’s being robbed.”

“Desiree, a family emergency just came up,” Olivia said while texting her home office. “I’ve got to go. You’ll be safe with the security people until the police get here. Shouldn’t be more than five minutes, tops. I’ve just texted my boss. They’ll have someone here within a half hour. Have the cops stay with you until my replacement arrives. He’ll escort you to your office. I’ll get there as soon as I can. If I’m tied up for more than a couple of hours I’ll call and let you know. We won’t leave you alone.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” Martinez said emphatically. “Only you.”

“It’ll only be for a short time. You’ll be taken care of. Don’t worry.”

***

The three men leveled their guns at the customers. The man wearing the red mask screamed, “Everyone throw your phones and your wallets toward me. Ladies throw your purses. If you hesitate you get hurt.”

One man stepped forward, pointed his finger at Red, and blustered, “You can’t…”

Blue struck him on the bridge of his nose with the butt end of his gun. Blood spurted. The man fell to the floor, his hands over his face, wailing in pain. A hail of purses, wallets, and phones flew toward the center of the lobby.

“Now all of you sit!” Red commanded.

Everyone complied. Red started methodically going through the wallets, putting the cash in one plastic bag and the credit cards in another.

Gray pointed his gun at the tellers and ordered, “Both of you step away from the counter. One of you give me the code to open the gate. I’m coming back there to empty the cash drawers and the money safe. There’s no reason for anyone else to get hurt.”

In a shaky voice one of the tellers gave the combination to the gate. Gray entered the area behind the counter. One teller was male and the other female. He ordered them to sit on the floor. The woman, mid twenties, slightly overweight, began to cry. “Shut the fuck up or I’ll give you something to really cry about,” Gray shouted. She cried harder.

He yanked her to her feet, ripped open her blouse, yanked down her bra strap exposing her breast, and pinched her nipple. She yelped in pain. He put his face up against hers, and with nostrils flared, said, “You keep howling like that and I’ll strip you naked and fuck you right here in front of everyone. Want that?” Her face flamed red. She shook her head in the negative. He pushed her back to the floor and went about gathering the money. The teller crossed her arms across her chest. Her body heaved with silent sobs, but she made no more sounds.

Gray was just coming out from behind the counter when Blue called, “Jimmy, three cop cars just pulled up in front. They blocked off Siggy’s van. We’re trapped! You said we could be in and out in ten minutes. The cops couldn’t get here that quick. Now what do we do?”

“Fuck!” Gray exclaimed. He quickly scanned the customers, pointed his finger at Tammy, and said, “You! Pregnant girl. Get your ass over here.”

Tammy started to get up. A man seated to her left put his hand on her arm and said to the robber, “Have you no decency? Don’t take a pregnant woman! If you need a hostage take me instead.” Blue started toward the man, his gun butt raised.

Just what I need, a hero, Tammy thought. Sotto voce, she said, “Don’t get yourself hurt, sir. I’ll be fine.”

She jumped to her feet and placed herself between Blue and her purported savior. “Don’t hurt him, please. I’m doing what you said.”

Blue stopped. “Lucky for him you’re being sensible, girlie. He’s got more balls than brains. The cops might not give a shit if a guy got hurt, but a pregnant broad is something else again. We’ve got two hostages in one.”

Gray handed his shotgun and the bag of money to Red and took out a handgun. He pulled Tammy against him, her back to his front, rubbed her belly, cupped her breast, and put his pistol to her head. The police outside could see exactly what he was doing through the glass door. Two more cop cars arrived. One minute later another car drove up. A cop with sergeant’s stripes got out.

“We’ve got to get the fuck outta here!” Blue shouted. “What the fuck are we waiting for?”

“Someone with authority,” Gray said. “That sergeant should do.”

“What about the rest of the wallets?” Red asked. “I’m almost done.”

“Forget them, they’re not worth it,” Gray said. “We want to be gone before the state cops and the feebs get here. This cute honey is our ticket out. I bet the guy who knocked her up had a good time. You two. Get behind me.”

Gray pushed opened the front door about two inches and called, “We’re coming out. Anybody makes a move to stop us, the pregnant bitch gets it along with anyone else in the line of fire. I’m not shitting you. Clear away from our van and let the driver go. We’re taking the girl with us. If we see anyone following us, we shoot her in the belly.”

“Let’s talk about this,” the sergeant said.

“This is not a negotiation,” Gray yelled. “You follow our instructions and we’ll let her go when we’re away from here. You have ten seconds to start clearing out. Then we start shooting.”

After a brief hesitation the sergeant said, “Do what he wants.”

The police cars moved away from the van. The man called Siggy was released from his handcuffs. He ran to the van and started it up. Keeping Tammy in front of him and his gun to her head, Gray started moving toward the van. The other two were close behind.

As soon as they were clear of the bank building, Tammy, moving so fast none of the bank robbers had time to react, turned her head to the side so the pistol was no longer pressed against it, grasped Gray’s gun hand and twisted it, forcing the gun to point upward. He fired two shots harmlessly into the air. Tammy wrenched the gun from his hand and bashed him in the head with it. Blue started to level his shotgun at Tammy, but before he could pull the trigger a smallish woman darted up, yanked it out his hand, and kicked him hard in the groin. He fell to the ground screaming.

Tammy leveled the pistol at Red and ordered, “Drop your gun and the money!” Red saw the cops closing in, weapons drawn, and complied.

“Thanks, Mom,” Tammy said to the woman.

“You okay?” Olivia asked.

***

Karla identified herself over the intercom. The gate swung open. She drove through, the gate closing behind her, and parked in front of the house.

Tyler met her at the door. Candi was standing right behind him. I know she’s his girlfriend, Karla thought. I wonder what he sees in her. He’s a stud and she’s as plain as can be.

Tyler helped her off with her coat, hung it on a rack, and said, “My sister’s in the den. I’ll take you to her.”

He led Karla to a room toward the rear of the house, knocked once on the door, opened it, and said, “Karla’s here, Tam.”

Karla entered the room, started to say something, and saw Tammy was not alone. With her was a man. They were sitting shoulder to shoulder behind a table. Their heads were nearly touching, as they examined something on the table. Karla’s lips compressed in disapproval. It didn’t take her long to get a new guy, Karla thought. I couldn’t expect her to wear sackcloth and ashes forever, but my brother has only been dead for a few months. She could’ve waited at least a year before she started dating again. If this is the surprise she said she had for me, I could’ve done without it. “Who’s your friend?” Karla asked. She tried to keep her voice from showing her outrage.

“Hey, Karla,” Tammy said as she got to her feet. “This is my study-buddy, Jeremy. He’ll be taking the same final as me tomorrow. Jeremy this is Karla. I’m glad you’re here. I’m starving.” Tammy patted her belly. “I can never seem to get enough now that I’m eating for two.”

“Holy shit, you’re pregnant!” Karla blurted.

“Astute of you to notice,” Tammy said. She snickered. “That’s the surprise I told you about.”

“Pleased to meet you, Karla,” Jeremy said.

“Is it Brendan’s?” Karla asked, ignoring Jeremy.

“No Karla,” Tammy said as she rolled her eyes. “I went to a fraternity party and banged the entire house. I don’t know which one knocked me up… Of course Brendan’s the father! What do you think I am?”

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Karla said. She flushed and bit her upper lip. “It’s just that seeing you with another guy and then your condition… It discombobulated me.”

“I’m just a platonic friend,” Jeremy said. “Tammy’s helping me get through a tough math class. I’ll leave you two ladies alone. See you at the exam tomorrow, Tam.”

“Hang on for a second, Jeremy,” Tammy said as she walked over and hugged Karla. “I’m glad to see you, Babe. I’m anxious to hear all about Brown. If you don’t like the guys your mother is trying to fix you up with, you could do worse than Jeremy. Seriously.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Karla said as she returned Tammy’s hug. “No offense, Jeremy. I’m sure you’re a great guy, but I’m seeing someone.”

“No problem,” Jeremy said. He picked up his coat which had been draped over a chair. “Girls turn me down all the time. I’m used to it. Nice meeting you.”

“Is this guy you’re seeing your soul mate?” Tammy asked after Jeremy left.

“I doubt it,” Karla replied with a chuckle. “I’m starting to see cracks in the façade. I’ll see how it goes. If it ends I don’t think I’ll be too broken up. One of his appeals is that my mother wouldn’t like him.”

Tammy laughed. “That’s a great reason for going with a guy. Why wouldn’t she like him?”

“He’s Catholic.”

Tammy laughed again. “It could be worse. He could be Jewish.”

“My mother wouldn’t consider that worse. Catholics are too dogmatic in her view. She thinks you can do business with Jews. Except for you, of course. Speaking of my mother, does she know she’ll be a grandmother soon?”

“Not from me she doesn’t. We’re not exactly BFFs.”

“Do you mind if I tell her?”

“Go ahead,” Tammy said as she rubbed her bulging abdomen. “It’s not something I can keep secret.”

***

Jennifer Roberts had her hands on her hips, her jaw clenched, and was tapping the floor with the toes of her right foot. She stared daggers at her daughter as Karla entered the house.

Except for the severe expression on her face Jennifer looked more like Karla’s older sister than her mother. She was in her early fifties, but appeared to be at least fifteen years younger, thanks to a combination of careful diet, exercise, and some judicious cosmetic surgery.

“Where have you been, young lady?” Jennifer demanded.

“I told you, Mom,” Karla said as she hung up her coat. She rubbed her hands together and added, “When you call me ‘young lady’ I know I’m in deep shit for some reason. I’m glad to be inside. It’s cold as a witch’s tit out there.”

“I wish you wouldn’t use such language,” Jennifer admonished. “It’s not proper. You yelled something about Tamara when you raced out. Is that where you were? Seeing the girl responsible for your brother’s death?”

“Yes, Mother,” Karla said sharply. “I went to Tammy’s house, and we went out to dinner. She’s not responsible for what happened to Brendan. Even Daddy says so.”

“You knew Congressman Struthers and his family were coming to dinner. I wanted you here to greet them. His support might be important to your father’s reelection.”

“You wanted me here because you wanted me to go out with his son. Again.”

“Would that have been so bad? He’s a fine Christian boy.”

“He’s a little too Christian for me. The last time I went out with him, all he did was regale me about what a great time he expected to have at his church camp. They spend half their time praying. Sounded boring has hell. He was boring as hell.”

“More language. I think you use it solely because you like to irritate me. Can’t you do anything to make me happy?”

“All right, Mother. Here’s something that should make you happy. You’re going to be a grandmother.”

The color drained from Jennifer’s face. She staggered and had to place her hand against the wall to keep from falling. “You’re pregnant,” she said in a whispery voice. “Oh my God! You’re not married. What a nightmare! What will my friends say?”

“Not me, Mother,” Karla said, but couldn’t conceal a grin. She’d anticipated her mother’s reaction. “Tammy is carrying Brendan’s child. You better learn to get along with her if you want to see your grandchild.”