Mandi was leaning down in her car, gathering up her bags. She didn't see the woman approach. Suddenly, there was a voice just behind her. Her head nearly hit the roof of the car as she whirled around to see who it was.
She gaped at the woman who was standing there with a strangely happy... no, an eerily joyous smile on her face.
You scared me, goddammit!" Mandi clutched a hand over her heart. "Don't you know not to sneak up on people?"
The woman took a few steps back, her expression was apologetic. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to frighten you. My name is Virta. I need to talk to you. It's very important."
Mandi looked the woman, Virta, over carefully.
She was probably in her late 20's, and about the same height and build as Mandi. She had long, dark hair and intense green eyes. A little too intense. Mandi found it hard to look at them, but hard to look away as well.
Virta broke eye contact for a moment and Mandi felt free to look at the rest of her. She saw that Virta was smiling even harder at her, as if that was possible.
Mandi's eyes were drawn down to the red tube top that barely covered the swell of Virta's breasts and left her stomach bare. Her nipples were clearly poking out of the material that stretched tightly over them.
Dropping her gaze lower still, she took in Virta's white, very short shorts. As tight as they were, it was obvious that she wasn't wearing underwear. Nothing on the woman's body was left to the imagination.
My god, she's even wearing red stiletto heels with this outfit! Mandi couldn't help but shake her head.
Going back up to Virta's face, she saw too much red lipstick. And she was starting to get a sunburn; her once-fair skin now turning the slightest pink.
No matter the strange clothes or makeup, the woman was very beautiful, Mandi had to admit. But what to think?
Was she homeless? Mentally ill or dangerous? There was no weapon that Mandi could see. It looked like she had no place to hide one in that skimpy little outfit.
Still, Mandi let her fingers sift through her bag, enveloping the canister of pepper spray there.
"I'm on a mission to help you."
OK, what was she, some kind of religious nut?
"Mission? What the hell are you talking about?"
Virta smiled again "I'm actually on two missions. I'm undercover, you could say."
"As what? A prostitute?"
Virta's face fell.
"Look, I'm sorry," Mandi said. "But you're hanging around my apartment complex in that skanka dilla outfit, sneaking up on me getting out of my car, and you have something to tell me. So tell me already."
Virta glanced around nervously. "Let's go inside."
Mandi wanted to reach into her handbag and pull out either the pepper spray or her cell phone. But she did neither. Something in the woman's eyes and voice made her forget all common sense.
"You said your name is Virta? I just got home from work. I'm hot, tired, I don't feel that well, and I need to get these groceries in the house."
"Oh, let me help you," Virta said. "I'll just follow along."
Mandi reluctantly handed the grocery bag over to Virta. She carried her handbag and a bottle of wine as Virta followed her into her small apartment.
She had no idea why she was trusting someone she'd met thirty seconds ago.... Mandi was definitely not her usual self lately. She could be letting a complete lunatic into her home.
Still, something about Virta made her feel as if she was in the presence of an old friend... she had to at least listen to the woman.
"Have a seat at the table," Mandi said to her, indicating the small dinette that seated two. Virta slowly pulled out a chair and sat down, looking around the little apartment.
Mandi put the small amount of groceries away. She didn't have much of an appetite herself lately, but she wanted to have stuff in the kitchen in case Heath was hungry. The man was a bottomless pit. She smiled at the thought of him sitting across from her at dinner each night, shoveling in the food.
Mandi pulled out the bottle of wine she'd bought for later tonight. Dom Perignon. It was her way of splurging for her man. She knew he loved expensive champagne.
She'd have to scrimp for a while – no ordering in lunch at work, no extra groceries; she'd have coffee at home and wouldn't be buying clothes for a while. But beyond the champagne, there were money problems.
She just couldn't account for where so much of her cash had gone the past week. But she wouldn't worry about that now. There were more important things to think of, she realized. Like what was going to happen tonight. Later, they would make love for the first time...
She wanted it to be perfect. Her thoughts went to lingerie. But the new negligee she'd bought a couple days ago was missing. She couldn't understand it. She was certain it had been neatly folded in her lingerie drawer. She'd turned the place upside down; it was gone.
Doesn't matter, she thought with a smile. Whatever I wear tonight won't be on for long anyway...
"Nice place you have here, Mandi," Virta said, taking in the small efficiency apartment. "It's just like mine. Only you know how to decorate."
Mandi rolled her eyes. "Yeah, thanks. But you didn't come in here to share decorating tips, did you?"
Virta turned those moss green eyes on her. "No, I've seen it all before," she said. "I've been watching you for a long time, you know."
Mandi nearly dropped the bottle of Dom. She pushed it to the back of the counter where it was safe from falling, and turned to Virta again.
"What are you talking about?"
"I have to tell you something that you're not gonna want to hear. It's about Heath."
Mandi crossed her arms. "You know my boyfriend? What about Heath?"
Virta fidgeted in her chair. She was clearly nervous.
"He's dangerous. He's not who or what you think he is."
"Oh? And who, or what, is he?"
"Will it suffice to say that he's someone who has hurt a lot of women? I'm here on their behalf, as well as yours. I want to keep him from damaging even one other woman.
"So, you're a disgruntled ex-girlfriend?"
"No! God, no. We do come from the same... er, place, that's how I know him. I want to get you away from him."
"And then what? Swoop in and have him all for yourself?"
"I promise you, I have no ulterior motive. I'm not here to steal your boyfriend. I'm not doing this for money either. You're safety is all that matters."
"And I'm just supposed to believe that? Why do you care about me? You don't even know me."
"I don't know if I should share this with you. But I will, because I trust you that much. You see, Mandi... Oh hell, I'll just say it - I'm a... an angel."
Oh god... this woman, Virta, was a nutcase for sure. She strained to remember why had she let the her into her home. But a lot of things didn't make sense anymore.
"Oookaaay then," Mandi said. She hoped her tone of voice let the lunatic know she was not buying it. "Let's, uh, call the police right now and you can tell them all about Heath."
Mandi reached for the cell phone sticking out of her handbag. She saw her hand shaking.
"The police can't be involved. They are powerless against Heath and Athan."
"Heath and who?" Mandi had the cell in her hand. She flipped it open.
"Athan... his evil overlord."
