Interpol, the FBI and the Italian police caught up with Jeffery Canter in Naples.  They had set up a sting involving six girls who were to be delivered to a Russian oil tycoon.  Jeffery and his backers were to make the exchange for the Russian.  The exchange was to cost over eighteen million US dollars and net not just Jeffery but his bosses as well.  The deal went bad.  Two agents, one police officer and seven of the bad guys, including Jeffery died in a blazing gun battle that seemed more like a movie shoot-out than a sting.  “Scarface” had nothing on the firepower these guys wielded.  Two city blocks were shot up during a running battle that lasted at least two hours.<br/><br/>Max got the news the second week of January…  “Happy New Year!”  The communiqué started.  Max did not see the humor.<br/><br/>He went to see his boss…<br/><br/>A week later he was sitting in the lobby of an unnamed hospital in an unnamed North Eastern State with a briefcase full of papers, documents and forms for his “star witness” to sign.  There was a check in the briefcase for a large sum of money.  A gratuity from a grateful government.  There would be no trial.  The rest of the slavery ring had been rounded up in Eastern Europe and turned over to the Romanians’ for whatever they did with slave traders who supported terrorist groups.  Max liked to imagine it would not be pretty.<br/><br/>He was sitting in the private doctor’s lounge for about a half-hour while the discharge papers were being drawn up.  A dark, late model car with a driver sat outside with the engine running.  Max nervously tapped his fingers on the briefcase sitting across his knees.  It seemed like an eternity until a nurse came out with the discharge papers.  Max had agreed to sign them since Kate’s mother would have nothing to do with her after she had been informed of the case.  Three and a half months of hospitals, therapy and being constantly moved from one city to another and not one word from her mother even though the agency made special arrangement for her if she wanted to contact her daughter…nothing.  The only thing she got the whole time was a package from Billy.  Max had no idea what he sent her but he hoped it helped.  The updates he got were encouraging.  Kate was a strong girl and made a lot of progress towards forgiving herself for carrying around a lot of baggage that wasn’t even hers.  There were a couple of set-backs, but that was to be expected considering all that had happened to her.  But in the end it was Kate who made the effort and it paid off.<br/><br/>The FBI made sure that her high school and Princeton University were notified through secure channels that Kate was “volunteering” for a special FBI and Interpol probe into the white slave trade.  They made sure they understood how dangerous it was and that she would be considered a hero and a possible candidate for a special civilian commendation for her willingness to do her part to stop terrorism.  It was all hush, hush of course.  Both schools ate it up like candy.  She graduated early from high school while she was still in the hospital and could start at Princeton anytime she wanted.  Max smiled to himself.<br/><br/><em>“Smooth as shit.”  </em>He thought as he signed the discharge papers.<em>“Smooth as shit.”</em><br/><br/>The nurse left and Max stood, turned around and signaled to the driver outside that it would only be a minute.  When he turned back around he almost dropped the briefcase.  Kate was standing in the lounge doorway with the nurse at her side.  Max thought it was impossible for a woman… and that’s what Kate was… not a girl anymore… he thought it impossible for a woman to be more beautiful then the last time anyone saw her, but Kate was.  Tall, with striking features and a perfect body she oozed confidence with that tiny hint of shyness the drove men to madness.  She wore a tailored black leather dress that looked like it cost a million dollars.  It still had that Goth look to it but more stylish and less “in your face.”  The dress was complimented by high laced up boots.  But there were other changes that Max immediately thought were for the better.  Gone was the heavy makeup, the black lipstick and black nail polish.  Gone was the heavy jewelry and leather wrist bands.  Her makeup was light, clean, and fresh looking.  But the most striking change that made Max loose his train of thought and almost forget he was married with two kids.  She was a blonde again.<br/><br/>Her hair was cut in one of those styles that fell longer on one side than the other.  Cut to just below the jaw line and shaved at the back of the neck.  Her natural hair color made her electric blue eyes even more intoxicating.  They drilled right through your brain.  He could not stop staring at her.  Blessedly she walked up to him and touched him on the arm.  She even smelled clean.<br/><br/>“Yo…Max?  You in there?  I’d like to get a decent cup of coffee somewhere if we have time.  The shit they serve here sucks.”<br/><br/>The voice was definitely Kate’s as was the attitude, but the person standing in front of him came from some other world.<br/><br/>“You…um…you look great.”  Max stuttered.  He blinked and fell back to earth.  “Yeah sure…coffee sounds fine.  Come on, I have a car waiting outside we can sign these papers at the restaurant."<br/><br/>They stopped at a small local dinner and sat in a booth near the back.  Max went over all the paperwork and had her sign each document as needed.  He explained all about the school arrangements and the cover story.  She stared at him in disbelief and he thought for a moment she was going to cry.  But all she did was blink and express her gratitude and appreciation for what he had done for her.  She also thanked him for taking care of her.  When he went over the details of how Jeffery was caught she listened intently.  Then she got quiet and sipped her coffee.  She was deep in thought and Max got a little concerned.<br/><br/>“You okay?”<br/><br/>“Yeah.”  She nodded.  I was just wondering…how’s Billy?”<br/><br/>Max explained everything that happened the night of the raid and that he had not seen Billy since.  She listened and nodded.<br/><br/>“So…he’s okay then?”<br/><br/>“As far as I know, yes.  But…Kate…you’ll be seeing him soon.  You know that right?  I mean he’s going to be your legal guardian until you start at Princeton.  You’ll be living with him but you know that, right?”<br/><br/>Kate did not look up from her coffee.  The shame she felt was deep.  She wondered if she could even face him let alone live with him.  He must think her disgusting. That first evening when she gave him a shot up her dress?  What was she thinking?  Yeah he’s good looking and all but Jesus he was her uncle.  Still…she felt safe with him.  He seemed to really care for and about her.  She would be living under the same roof with him for at least six months.  The money she got from the government meant she would not have to work during the summer.  She could pay him back somehow for letting her live there…or something.<br/><br/>Kate slept a good bit of five hour drive back to Boston.  The roads were clear of snow and dry and the driver was making good time.  They would stop every hour or so and Max would report in to Langley.  When Kate got out to use the bathroom Max would wait just outside the women’s room.  He was not convinced she was totally recovered yet.  The kind of shit she had been through sometimes took years to get over…if ever.  Kate, however, made it look easy.  The way she moved or smiled.  How she got in and out of the car.  Everything graceful and confident.  Max lost count of the number of men at the service areas who stood transfixed as Kate walked by.  The look on their faces said they had finally found their living dream or maybe it was Max projecting his own fantasies onto them.  Who knew?<br/><br/>It was late afternoon when they pulled up to Billy’s house.  Kate felt like it was her mother dropping her off all over again.  Except it wasn’t and she wasn’t that Kate anymore either.  She was someone else.  Someone closer to the real Kate than ever before.  Somehow the next few months had to work out.  Somehow she and Billy had to come to grips with their feelings and their guilt.  Kate walked up to the door with Max and waited as he pressed the door bell.  She looked around the snow covered neighborhood.  Across the street she saw the old woman peering out her window.  Kate smiled and popped a stick of “Juicy Fruit” gum in her mouth.  Some things never changed.<br/><br/>She turned when she heard the door open…<br/>