The proposal Marcus had for Paula was simple: become his apprentice and eventual partner in crime, while maintaining their "romantic" relationship.
Paula accepted immediately. A handsome older man was going to become her full time lover and teach her to be a thief! The prospect appealed to Paula, since she hated earning a living as much as everyone else and her nature was, basically, corrupt.
First, Apted taught her physical combat techniques and then gave an extensive introduction to criminal law. "If you get caught, you'll need it!" he explained when Paula complained.
Paula moved in with Apted, which made the six month training go faster. By then, Paula was ready for her trial breaking and entry.
They cased the penthouse of multi millionaire John Baines, a steel and electronics magnate, whose wife collected rare diamond jewelry. Apted knew that if, removed from their setting, the precious stones would be untraceable and worth a fortune on the black market.
The pair struck when the Baines family was on vacation. Apted allowed Paula to gain entry to the apartment without security catching her and let him through a delivery entrance. The apprentice easily neutralized the security system.
The collection was quickly removed from its storage case. Apted then began showing Paula how to decode the combination to the electronic lock on the wall safe in Baines' study, when they heard voices outside.
"Security." whispered Apted, motioning Paula to follow him.
Finding no other escape route, the pair concealed themselves under a canvas that covered the space between two pieces of furniture. They were completely still.
The voices came from two Justice Force agents who responded when concealed censors, attached to the jewelry case, went off. They moved carefully, knowing the perps were likely still in the apartment.
Both women, one a tall blond and the other a powerfully built African American, wore the skin tight body suit uniforms of Justice Force, the all-female crime fighting organization. Ten years of experience in crime detection taught the signs of a professional break in. Protocol required they subdue such possibly violent suspects, which they were anticipating. Both women loved knocking out bad guys.
The Justice Force agents slipped quietly into the room Apted and Paula had hidden themselves. The tall blond spotted four slender, female fingers sticking out from the sheet. Signaling her partner, the blond removed a club from her utility belt. The brown skinned girl followed, her club ready.
They stood on each side of the concealed thieves and the amazon nodded a "You first!" to the blond.
The blond smiled broadly. "Pleasant dreams!" she said as the club struck Paula's head.
For a second, Paula was stiff and wide eyed. She sighed "Gah nigh Daddy!" and passed out against Apted.
Instantly, Apted recognized the voice: Lady Donna of Justice Force. Before he could move, another voice, even more familiar to him, froze him in place.
"Your turn!" the amazon chirped. "Say 'nighty-night'!"
Janie! Apted thought and the club struck his head. Stars and colorful pinwheels showered everywhere. He was dizzy, then sleepy, then nothing. Marcus Apted was out cold.
"Got 'em!!" Lady Donna exclaimed, pulling away the sheet.
Laying back to back, Apted and Paula were both in a profound knockout. Their limbs were limp as cooked spaghetti and their heads rested on each other's shoulders, looking up at the assailants with closed eyes and dreamy smiles.
"Look, a boy-girl team!" Lady Donna went on, proud of her work on Paula. "You recognize either of them, Janie?"
"Marcus?!" Janie, known as Panther Woman, shouted as if Lady Donna wasn't there.
"So you know him, then?"
Panther Girl nodded slowly. "I know him...."
"Tangled with him on a previous case?" asked Lady Donna, taking up the bag of jewelry belonging to Mrs. Baines.
"In a way..." Janie answered flatly. "We were lovers for a while."
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