Looking for a job was hard for an uneducated woman of eighteen,but Peri tried her lot. Unfortunately, people did not want her services,but she still had the courage to take all rejections to be her "strength".

     Without her knowledge she was being followed by some men. The men did not look scary, but their minds were filled with filth due to the wretchedness of life.

     After another frustrating day, the men decided it was high time they show themselves to her. They followed her to her noisy neighborhood. As they have noticed the day before, she was well liked in this God-forsaken place.

     While Peri was feeding her young siblings and her ailing mother with almost stale bread, the three men knocked on her door. She opened the door. Even if they were not yet admitted to her humble home, they let themselves in. They put food on their table and threw the stale, er, almost stale food away.

     "Who are you?"

     "I'm Galvin Peterson and these are my side kicks, Jimmy and Victor." Peri was afraid of them, but she tried to compose herself. She was startled when she heard him say, "Hello, Peri. I came to offer you a job."

     "Really sir?....but how did you know my name?"

     "Well, that's not important now, but yes, I am not joking."

     "What kind of job?"

     "A very easy one...you'd earn lots of money."

     "Take it, Peri....beggars cannot be choosy," her ailing mother said.

     "Papa used say that when he was alive," Peri remembered. His death was the very reason she was in this situation anyway.

     "What if it's a bad job?"

     Galvin ran his fingers to her hair then said, "Do you have any choice? I've been observing you the past few days...I was just giving you another day more. I made today the deadline. You haven't found a job yet, so I'm offering you one....And don't get any idea that I influenced people...I could do that, but I didn't."

    "Take it...we need the money."

    Although Peri did not want to she was brought up to be a very obedient child so she accepted the offer. Before she left she looked at her lazy sixteen year old brother who sniffing rugby in one corner. With tears in her eyes she went with Galvin, accepting her ill fate.

     Peri was used to her ignominy by this time and enjoyed the wealth she had acquired, but she still hoped she could be free from all of it in the future...the very near future.

     One day while she was shopping for designer clothes, she met Brandon, a very distinguished looking gentleman. She almost did not repay his congeniality, but being with different horrible men for the past three years she kind of knew in her heart that he was different.

     "But I'm warning you...I'm not worth knowing....once you'd get to know me, you'd just regret it."

     "Try me."

     "I'd give you a clue....my job's not worth mentioning in a department store like this."

     "Look miss...I don't care what your line of work is, but I'm glad you're not pretending to be someone else...my offer's still good....may I make friends with you?"

     Peri smiled and silently thanked God by saying: I know I could still trust You.

     Peri let him enter in her brand new condo unit. As he putting down the things she bought she said, "Want anything to drink, Brandon?"

     "Yeah...do you have a wine cooler?"

     "A wine cooler?"

     She chuckled. A guy that drinks wine cooler....finally.

     She got a wine cooler from the refrigerator then gave it to him.

     "You alone here?"

     "My brothers and sisters live elsewhere..that way, they won't need to be ashamed of who they are...they live with my mom."

     "This is a nice place....you don't acquire a flat like this without big bucks....So I guess you're a first class hooker."

     "How I wish I were just a hooker....that way, nobody would ever have to watch me," she said with tears in her eyes. "I feel so dirty, Brandon. I wish there was a way out of this.....in the neighborhood where I came from, the men would tease me...I never felt cheaper...I don't want to do what I'm doing, but..." She broke down. Brandon embraced her tightly.

     After releasing her, he cupped her chin then asked, "Does anybody own you?"

     "Well, Evan's my boss, but Galvin's my only leading man...he doesn't want to share me with the other quote unquote actors...They can fondle me, but he has the only right to....oh I can't say it, but I guess you know what I mean," he nodded. She went on by saying, "Evan has a lot of girls anyway so that means he doesn't need the likes of me....wait a moment...I keep on babbling here when you don't even tell me what you do, you sneak."

     "Since you didn't hide anything from me, I think I owe you....I'm a cop."

     A copper? All of a sudden she was afraid of him.

     "Don't be afraid....I'm your friend....I could help you, but you musn't tell anybody I'm a cop....especially that Galvin and your boss."

     "How will you help me?"

     "I have to use you as an asset."

     "What's an asset?"

     "An asset is someone who gives information...he/she infiltrates the underworld or vice-versa"

     "So that means I'd still continue doing...Oh what the heck... All right."

     "You're heaven sent."

     "Please don't say that!!!"

     "Why?"

     "They always say that I am a gift from the gods...They almost made me lose my faith in God."

     "Almost....that means you still believe in Him."

     She nodded.

     Holding her hands he said, "Peri, listen.....don't lose your faith....don't ever, ever lose your faith....Please."

     She stared into his eyes. She knew that he was an honest person, she could tell that right from the start. I wish I were decent so that he could love me. Out loud she said, "I don't know, Brandon....let's wait and see if I could maintain this little faith that I have."

     "You'll have more faith after this....Well, I have to go now."

     "Your wife's waiting for you?" His face was blank. "You bought something from the ladies' department...that's how we met, remember?"

     Smiling he said, "It's for my sister, Melissa ...It's her birthday...Thanks to her, I met you."

     Peri led him to the door then he looked into her eyes. He couldn't control himself that he kissed her. "I'm sorry."

     "It's all right...it's just a kiss, anyway. Bye Brandon."

     He couldn't finish waving, so she closed the door. Her heart was jumping. Suddenly she saw a ray of light at the end of a bleary day.

     Brandon was in Nick Ferguson's house.  It was Ciara's 1st birthday. A lot of kids were there to celebrate. Some of the other cops were there too, along with their wives or girlfriends.

     While everybody else was celebrating, Brandon was deep in thoughts. He was thinking of Peri.

     His sister Melissa was helping Terri Ferguson with the guests.

    "Mel, you know you don't have to."

    "Come on, this is like an extension of my birthday... look how Ciara's grown...She's starting to look like you every minute...and Nicky's growing up looking like his dad...don't you agree, Bran?" Brandon was still lost in space. "Bran...are you still on earth?"

     "Huh?"

     "Boy, are you dazed out."

     "Terri, where's Nick?"

    "He's inside the den doing extra paper work, but he'd be out any moment now."

     Without excusing himself, he rushed to the den.

     "What's with your brother?"

     "I guess he's in love."

     "With whom?"

     "I dunno...come on...let's just have fun here."

     "What? You mean to say you've got us an asset?"

     "Yes."

     "How did you meet her again?"

     "It was love at first sight...I saw her in the ladies' department inside a super mall ....then she told me her life story...I offered to help her if she'd help us."

     "Did you tell the Feds about this?"

     "Not yet...I wanted to tell you first....Besides, I want to tell them when we have it all set... Terri was an asset before, right?"

     "I must remind you that she was an asset for the other side."

     "Still, she could give her pointers."

     "No....she's living a straight life now."

     "All I'm asking is that she befriend Peri....it's dangerous if I'd go in and out her place....Roger, the concierge, is already suspicious."

     "And you'd put my wife in danger? Look...Terri's trying to forget what happened to her then you'll remind her."

     "Hey! What horrible thing happened to her, huh? She met you and you're married now...you even have two cute little kids."

     "Let the Feds do it."

     "I know that child prostitution, white slavery and the likes are under their jurisdiction, but we too have responsibility over these matters...Peri told me they're using little kids for x-rated films. Boys and girls....imagine!"

     "I know...I know."

     Nick approached his wife and whispered something in her ear. Terri went to the kids' nanny to give her instructions then asked Melissa to continue entertaining the guests. Melissa did not mind so Terri followed her husband to the den.

     "What's it you want, Brandon?"

     Brandon started explaining everything to her and Terri's eyes showed she was excited to be in some adventure again. Nick shook his head, but deep in his heart he was proud of his wife.

     Inside the mob control room, Evan and Galvin were showing Peri around. As they reached a cubicle in one corner Evan said, "This is going to be your private office, Peri."

     Peri sat down, trying to feel the surroundings. There was a computer with all the works there and some other hi-tech stuff she did not know how to use yet.

     Putting his hands on her shoulders Evan said, "Well, since you became very cooperative right from the start, Galvin and I decided to teach you how we work the system....We know we can trust you. When the big boss arrives a few months from now, I will brag about you."

     "I'm deeply honored."

     "Well, we'll leave you here now....my new leading lady is great, but she's no better than you," said Galvin.

     Peri smiled.  

     Evan called Lucinda to teach her the ropes then the two left them alone.

      Terri was in the lobby of Peri's apartment waiting for her. A little while later, Peri arrived. She met Terri recently at a Rave Party so she hugged her.

     "Becky...long time no see...We have a lot of catching up to do. Roger, this is my friend Becky from high school."

     "It's a pleasure meeting you, Miss Becky."

     "We have to excuse ourselves.

     He smiled at them.

     Chuckling like real long lost friends, they rode the elevator.

     "And I never even entered grade school," whispered Peri.

     Terri put a finger on her lip. Peri immediately understood. 

     Inside the condo unit, Terri continued to put a finger on her lip. She meticulously scrutinized the place. "All right, we can talk."

     "It was nice of you to re-check the place...Brandon already did, you know."

     "We could never be too sure."

     Silence filled the air for a while then Peri said to Terri, "You're really very pretty."

     "So are you...In any case, we have to start with business here." Terri got a palm top computer from her brief case. "This is yours....Do you know about computers or do I have to teach you?"

     "Didn't Brandon tell you? They promoted me. I'm working at their control room now."

     "Brilliant!...When I met you you were still doing those porno stuff."

     "Please don't remind me."

     "I'm sorry."

     "It's OK...I'm so glad that Brandon's right....I shouldn't lose my faith. "

     "That's right...Anyway, let's get this straight...my husband doesn't want coming in and out of your house so this may be my first and last visit here then it's going to be your ball game....this computer is interlinked with Nick and Brandon's computers... You said you're working at the control room....do not transmit messages from that room."

     Nodding Peri said, "Brandon says it's dangerous."

     "Keep that in mind....do your transactions at home....have an extraordinary access code...and make a red herring...something that would catch their attention....make three red herrings...wait do you know what a red herring is?"

     She nodded,"Brandon told me."

     "Okay then. Your real access code should be something they'd never suspect....improvise."

     "Anything else?"

     "Pray....that's your best weapon," She was about to leave when she turned around to face Peri once more. "I really want you to be my friend so I need to know if that's your real name."

     "Yes...and is Terri yours?"

     "It's actually Theresa," she said smiling. "It's funny how the `best friends' found their love interests."

     "And how our names rhyme....but wait, do you mean to say..."

     "Yes...Brandon loves you."

     With that they hug. When Terri finally left, Peri was floating on mid-air.

     Inside the police station Nick and Brandon were talking. The ever suspicious Nick felt someone listening to their conversation.

     "You better watch your back, Brandon....you never know who you can trust....even here...don't tell anybody about your gift."

     "No problem...I don't want anybody taking away my potato chips."

     "What did the Feds say?"

     "It's our ballgame."

     The two just look at each other. The asset observing them was confused.

     The cop who was listening to their parley was there in The Big Boss' office at the same time Peri and were inside giving their reports.

     "Let me get this straight, you know Ferguson has a secret, but you don't know what. Did I get you right?" asked The Big Boss in an irritated tone.

     "Yes boss."

     "Men!"

     They hold him.

     "Hey!"

     "You're expendable!"

     "Give me another chance....please!" he cried.

     " Men!!!"

     Evan covered Peri's eyes.

     After a gun shot is heard, the Big Boss said, "You know what to do with the body."

     His rotting body was found in a swamp and flies were all over him.

     Over mugs of beer and shots of scotch at Nick's house Brandon complained, "Imagine, it took a couple of months before we found his body.... *&*(&%^^!!! They have people inside....Peri said Prentice was working for her boss....Who else could be working for him? We do not know who to trust anymore."

     After Nick gulped a shot he asked, "Did you delete all Peri's messages in your office?"

     "Yes....I told her to just send all her messages here....how about you?..Did you place a system in your house?"

     "It's too dangerous...I have to think of the kids."

     Nick finished a bottle due to desperation making Terri worried. She just continued to play with Nicky and Ciara. Brandon didn't have a clue what to do.

     Inside the director's office Nick and Brandon sat down with him along with two female special agents.

     "Did you inform the CIA about this?" asked the Director.

     "Brandon found out that they let Peri be the one to infiltrate the CIA making it safe to inform them, but even so, we don't want to take any chances," said Nick.

     "You were working for them before, right?"

     "Yes, but..."

     "It's all right, Ferguson...Agent Milano and Agent Hogan will help Peri Hoffa."

     Brandon looked at the two women. They did not look as bright as Peri and Terri were. "These are special agents? They look like girls from junior high." Instead of being insulted the agents were smiling.

     Nick said, "They're perfect."

     The director patted the two girls on the back then said, " So girls...it's up to you to do something that will lead them away from suspecting Peri."

      The two agents dressed up like junior high schoolers. They brought their `text books' and went inside a burger joint Peri told Brandon about. They pretended to tease each other like pre-teen girls.

      "Andrei Foyers is really a hunk," said agent Milano.

      "No...Jimmy Shriver is the best looking guy in school," said agent Hogan.

     Galvin was there in a corner talking with two of his boys.

     "Those two are perfect....follow them, but keep your distance."

     After their act in the burger joint the two agents were still giggling about boys as they purposely went to an alley.

     "You know, this is such a romantic place..How I wish Andrei was here with me....the dim lights are perfect."

     Then the men appeared. They pretended to be scared.

     "These bracelets sure look nice on lookers like you."

     They let the men cuff them.

     Evan decided that the two agents look too nice to be on film. Galvin complained saying that is what the viewers want : innocence.

     The two told them that they were no longer innocent.

     This turned Galvin off, which was exactly the plan.

     "Now what will we do with these two?...they are expendable!!!!" exclaimed Galvin, trying very hard to imitate the Big Boss.

     "Wait...are you guys members of the mob or something?"asked agent Milano.

     "Why?" asked Evan.

     "You see, I read a lot of Sidney Sheldon and Robert Ludlum books....Tracy here loves Tom Clancy and..."

     "Your point please," said the stupid Galvin.

     "Please don't kill us....you can use us," said agent Hogan.

     "How?" asked Galvin.

      The two told them they were demented geniuses. Galvin did not want to believe them, but Evan came to the rescue.

     "Wait, the two have a point....what do you know?" asked Evan.

     "Do you have a lab or something?" Agent Hogan asked.

     Evan lead the way to the laboratory and Hogan displayed her chemical expertise. She produced a bindle of heroin from her pockets and claimed she made the heroin too.

    "This bim is fantabulous!" exclaimed Galvin. He looked at Milano. "What about you chippy? What can you do?"

    "I can make sticks of tea."

    "We already have someone making maryjane cigarettes...what else?"

    "I'm good in encoding and decoding."

    "Is this chick for real? How old are you? 12? 13?"

    "Eleven."

    "How'd you know how to decode and encode."

    "My son's eight and he's great with the chips!" bragged Evan.

    "All rightee, then....send her to Peri."

     The Big Boss observed the two recruits surreptitiously. He noticed that Tracy (a.k.a. Hogan) was too good to be just in junior high. He also noticed that agent Milano (a.k.a. Twinkle) often looked at rooms that were not assigned to her.

      He sent someone to the said school in their identification cards. An undercover special agent was inside the registrar's office that time that made their role playing kind of authentic, but the Big Boss was not convinced.

     He let some operatives dig the into the school records that night and found out that there were no Tracy Mulligan and Twinkle Stew.

     A couple of days later, agents Star Milano and Dicky Hogan were decapitated. Their bodies were thrown in front of J. Edgar Hoover Hall at the crack of dawn.

      "This is terrible," said the Attorney General. "Just what is this asset doing to help us."

     "Now that's unfair...Ms. Hoffa has helped us a big deal...I hate to admit this, but our agents were too sloppy," defended the Director.

     "But how did they find out?" Attorney General.

     "I haven't the darndest idea."

     "It's your responsibility to find out what went wrong."

     The Attorney General left the director with a heavy heart.

     There were stiffs found floating on an eerie swamp a few days after. It was Galvin and his men. The Big Boss had blamed him for Agents Milano and Hogan's infiltration.

     Peri was getting nervous day after day, but she did a good job acting nonchalant about everything.

     The Big Boss was impressed with her work that he made her his mistress. Peri did not want to be his mistress, but she put in her mind that it was for a good cause.

     It was not because the Big Boss was not handsome, for he was. If she were not in love with Brandon, she might have fallen for the guy. It was because of what he represented.

     If there were no people like him, people like her won't be existing too. The world would be full of peace and harmony.

      Nick and Brandon were having terrible headaches when they heard the story of the special agent who played the role of the registrar.

     "How could you be so irresponsible?" complained Nicky.

     The agent was speechless.

     "You women talk about equal rights and then you get sloppy," said Brandon. The Attorney General glared at him, but he did not mind.

     "You know that's unfair. We're not perfect, yes, but must say I did a good job....and you told me that nobody else should know about this, that's why the administration didn't know about them...so don't you say I'm sloppy."

     Brandon raised an eyebrow then said, "If you're so brilliant, why did you hide?"

     "And why did you allow yourself to drop your id.?" That came from the Director who remained silent for quite some time."

     The Attorney General who was equally silent tapped her pen then said, "Enough of that! What we have to do now is to decide what to do next." She looked at the female special agent then told her, "You must not leave this building until this is all over."

     "Yes, ma'am."

     "Now you may go."

     The Special Agent left the four of them as they tried to device a plan.

     The Big Boss fell in love with Peri and Peri pretended to fall in love with him too. Finally, she learned about his true identity. He was not an ex-CIA agent like she thought, neither was he the chief of police or something. His name was Ross Horrigan. About two decades ago he was about to be the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but because of a few incipient details, they gave the position to someone else. He retired himself by faking his own death.

     Peri watched him sleep like a baby in his crib. She had to let Brandon know what she found out, but since she was not able to go home anymore, she did not know how to.

     She went to the basement kitchen to fix herself a cup of warm milk when a cold hand was placed on her shoulder. It was Evan.

     "Is he asleep?" Peri did not know what to answer. She was afraid of Evan. She thought he wanted to have a taste of her, but she was wrong.

     "Were you able to find out who he is?"

     "Why? Don't you know?"

     "If I did, would I still be here today?"

     Peri was bewildered. She did not understand what Evan was saying.  

     "Don't worry, I covered the camera," he assured her.

     "I don't understand what you are saying."

     "Please...let me know who he is."

     "Who are you really?"

      The director was asleep in his room with his wife when the phone rang.

      "Ferguson?" He looked at the time. "It's two in the morning....I bet you don't call the police chief at this time!"

      Nick holding his cordless telephone said, "I do, if I have to....Don't tell me your agents don't call you at two in the morning?"

     The director sat on his chair so that he would not disturb his sleeping wife.

     "All right, you win...what do you have for us?"

     Nick who by this time was standing by the hallway of his house said, "Peri sent me a wire which was very brave of her...His name is Ross Horrigan....does it ring a bell?....Is he an ex- CIA member or something?"

     This shocked the director. Ross Horrigan, though much older, was his best friend. His dead best friend.

     "Sir, are you still there?"

     "I'm sorry, Ferguson....Ross Horrigan was my best friend...He died in a car accident twenty years ago...We were special agents together."

     Inside the grandiose place, the director talked to Anna Horrigan, Ross' wife.

     "I must say you must be mistaken...it must be somebody with the same name....I was with him, remember?"

     "You're right, Delia," he said hugging her. "I'm sorry." she led him to the door. "Take care of yourself."

     "I will....Promise me you'd take care of yourself too."

      Outside, the director walked to the car where

Nick was inside.

      "What did she say?"

     "She said it was impossible....she was with him."

     "She's in on this too."

     "She can't be."

     "Don't tell me you're going to be a sentimental rat?"

     "I'm not."

     Disgruntled, Nick started the car.

     Peri was inside her computer cubicle and send a message through it. She knew that her days were numbered so she had to send the wire from where she was so that the agents could trace the place. After all, they already found out who the Big Boss really was.

     Just as Peri finished sending the message, Ross Horrigan entered in rage. His eyes were like molten lava. She started to shake. She knew he too was scared, but he overpowered her.

     "You're the only one who knows my name!!!" He said, pulling her hair. The other people were too scared of him to help her. "My wife told me somebody gave her a little visit and guess who it was!" As he was about to strangle Peri a gun shot was heard. Evan hit the big boss through his spine that brought him to meet his maker in a split second.

     "I guess now you can tell me who you are," said Peri.

     "I'm Agent Stewart of the CIA..." as his people started to show themselves. Pointing to Horrigan's men (and women) he said, "...and all of these people are under arrest."

     Peri due to gratitude embraced Evan. He embraced her back.

     Brandon was the one who received the message, but he did not move. As Nick and the Director arrived to fetch him he said, "Just look at this girl...I told her it was too dangerous to send messages here."

     Nick looked at the message and glanced at the Director as if to say, I told you so."She's in danger, bozo!!!! Quick...trace where it's from."

     Stupid Brandon started tracing it.

      Inside the car the Director just had to ask this question, "You told me my agents were sloppy yet you've been working with Peri for more than a year and you don't know where she works.

      Stupid, but lovable Brandon said, "They keep transferring...and besides, she said she wasn't ready to."

      Nick told them it was not the time to fight because it might be too late for them to save Peri. They were too late all right. Too late for the rescue.

      The Director thanked Peri for the wire of Horrigan's name, but she told them to thank Agent Stewart (a.k.a. Evan) of the CIA. Still, they thanked her, for if not for her, Horrigan would still be putting young innocent lives in danger.

      Brandon stared at Peri and Evan together and decided they were made for each other. When he started to leave Peri got his sleeve and asked, "Where do you think you are going?"

      "Home...after all you don't need me."

      "You and your foolish pride." Afterwards, Peri cupped his chin then kissed him lightly then added, "I love you, stupid."

     Peri and Brandon exchanged a long, but sweet osculation. The three did not leave, but stood there to watch.

     "Ferguson, tell me how did you become best friends with this nitwit?" asked the Director.

     "God only knows."