The Protector

by

Julie O.

  

Chapter One

  

Special Agent Carol Martin arrived at the police station directly from the airport. She was 35 and a top law enforcement agent for the Federal Government. Carol was thin and fit and extremely proud that she had finished the New York Marathon the previous year in only three hours. Carol didn't want to waste any time before seeing "The Protector" at work. That was the nickname that someone had given Detective Al Burns. In the last six months, his efforts had led to the arrest of 23 Internet pedophiles and sexual predators. He had also helped detect several illegal Internet sites. These were the predators who befriended young boys and girls on the Internet and then set up meetings, which often led to abduction and sexual assault, or sometimes murder. Apparently, his investigations set up sting operations that had captured many sex offenders. She was here to see why he was so successful and if his techniques could be duplicated elsewhere.

She had read the file on Detective Burns and the more she learned about him, the more astounding his success was. He had graduated high school at age sixteen and college at nineteen with a double major in pre-law and psychology. What was more amazing was that he had just finished his Masters in Criminology! He had been with the local police for four years, before being promoted early to detective this past year. His picture made him look like he was only seventeen. Still, it was hard to argue with his success, as he was fast becoming a legend in the fight against sex offenders and the Internet.

Carol was heading a Federal Task Force to address the growth in the use of the Internet in child abduction. One of the problems was that the average teenager knew more about the Internet than her agents. She needed to see what Det. Burns was doing right.

Carol saw this fight against child abuse as being very personal; her best friend in high school had been sexually abused by a neighbor. Carol still cringed when she thought about how devastating it had been to Kim. Carol always felt personal joy each time she arrested one of these predators.

She also thought of her stepfather. He had never physically touched her. No, he tried to mentally abuse her. He wanted Carol to grow up and be happy being a wife and mother, and tried to squash any ideas she had for a career. Maybe this was the reason why Carol had excelled at her job, just to prove him wrong.

Carol was shown to the Chief's office.

"So the Feds think they can learn from our wonder kid?" asked Chief Stone, as he leaned back in his chair.

Carol looked at Chief Stone. He was in his 50s, graying hair, muscular, with a slight paunch. She also knew that he had an excellent record and ran a very clean department. He was the Chief of Police for a boomtown in Southern California. Ten years earlier it had been a small town with a closed military base and high unemployment. It's location between LA and San Diego plus cheap land and tax breaks had made it a perfect spot for new electronics firms to grow.

"We are always looking for new ways to meet the challenges of technological advances," replied Carol. "What can you tell me about Detective Burns?"

"Initially, I never wanted Al on the force. He's five foot nothing and is a stick, yet he passed every physical test we threw at him. I thought he wouldn't last a week as a patrol officer, now I wish I had a dozen like him. He's excelled at every job we've given him. Because of his size and youthful appearance, we've used him extensively in undercover investigations," Chief Stone replied.

"What kind of undercover operations?" asked Carol. Al sounded very interesting.

"Initially, it was drug dealing. We enrolled him in one of the local high schools. Later we used him in vice stings. Not many guys will volunteer to pose as a male prostitute, but Al did a great job. Our town may look nice and suburban, but we have our share of big city problems," answered the Chief.

"Including child abuse," stated Carol.

"Yes. The high tech industry that has benefited our community so much has also created a lot of latchkey kids. They come home from school to an empty house and are without adult supervision until later in the evening. We are lacking in facilities and activities to keep them out of trouble. The combination of computer literate kids and late working parents has attracted the predators, like sharks to blood. We had a runaway 14-year-old girl turn up in LA dead. Turns out she was seduced over the Internet and turned into a child prostitute. She was murdered for $25.00," lamented the Chief.

"So, how did Det. Burns get involved?" she asked.

"When we discovered the way the bastard got to her, we tried to catch him. Unfortunately, our efforts were too easily detected. Al asked to try it and within a week he had arranged a meeting between a 55-year-old man and his 15-year-old victim. The 'victim' was played by one of our policewomen. That man is presently in prison for child abuse and sexual assault. I let Al continue and he had more and more success, until it became his fulltime job. He just has a knack for catching these bastards. We have begun to cooperate with forces across the country," stated the Chief proudly. "I'm not sure how he does it, but he can immediately detect a predator, from the most seemingly harmless chat room conversation. Additionally he seems to have a talent for profiling them, just by their conversations online."

Carol looked at the Chief in disbelief.

"I know what you're thinking, but you are wrong. He has an almost perfect track record. I just don't know how he does it. It's almost supernatural!" exclaimed the Chief.

Carol looked at her notes. He had a right to be proud. Their record was outstanding.

"When can I meet Al?" she asked.

"He'll be here in a moment. Promise me that you aren't going to try and steal him!" stated Chief Stone with a sly smile.

"I'm not here to steal him," she laughed. Both knew she was lying.

There was a knocking at the door. The Chief waved in a short, thin man. Carol knew he was young, but she was shocked at how young he looked. He had blond hair and blue eyes and barely looked older than 17! She doubted that he even shaved more than once a week.

"Al, this is Special Agent Carol Martin," introduced the Chief.

"Pleased to meet you, Agent Martin. Please call me Al," answered Al, in a cheerful voice. Even his voice sounded like a kid, thought Carol.

Likewise, Al was checking out Carol. She had short brunette hair, looked athletic, and was quite attractive. He wondered if all Feds looked this good!

"Please, call me Carol," she replied.

"Al, she would like to observe your operations for the next few days. Please show her the highest cooperation," stated the Chief.

"Understood, Chief. Please follow me Carol, I'll show you my operations center," said a proud Al.

Carol smiled. Operations center? It was mostly likely a cubical with a PC! Oh well, I might as well humor him, she thought.

 

Chapter Two

 

Al led her to a secure door and she watched in amazement as he punched in a security code.

"This building was originally part of the old military base. This was a secure room, used by their intelligence agents. I took it over. It allows me to use secure connections that cannot be traced to the police," Al stated. "We have a special antenna that allows us to call out of here, and to also use the radio and TV.

"Are the pedophiles that sophisticated, that they can trace a call?" she asked as they walked in. She smiled at the fact that Al was trying so hard to impress her.

"Yes, some of them are very technologically advanced. They are also a lot more wary since the whole 'Protector' crap started," added Al in a disgusted tone.

Carol was amazed by what she saw inside the room. There were five computers tied into the net. Around each computer was a photograph of a teenager, a notebook, and a biography. In addition to the bios, the room was filled with teen magazines, junk food, catalogs, CDs, and other teen paraphernalia. At each station there was a cell phone. The last computer station appeared to be tied into the main police computer. There was also a refrigerator, microwave, and a large couch.

"This is incredible!" Carol was impressed.

"I have to keep the door locked or else things disappear, especially the food! Each of those five computers represents a different teenager. I have created a biography and personality for each one. The notebook is used to record pertinent information," explained Al with pride. He then pointed to all the stuff lying around the room. "This allows me to stay credible and up-to-date in the chat rooms. So far I've never been 'outed' as an adult."

"Food?" asked Carol with a laugh, looking over the collection of chips, candy and other assorted junk food.

"I have to try this stuff. It comes up in conversations and I have to know about it, or else I raise suspicions. Actually, some of it isn't too bad," quipped Al.

 

There was a stack of current teen magazines on the table. Carol picked up a teen fashion magazine and held it up to Al. "You actually read this?"

"Yes. I read all of them. I am currently portraying four girls and one boy. I did some acting in school, but I need to keep current. The music is the worst part of the job. I have to listen to so much crap!" he stated as he pointed at the CD player and the stack of CD's.

Carol laughed as she checked out his collection. "My niece would kill for your collection!"

"I have to stay up-to-date. The predators are very careful these days," stated Al in a serious tone.

"How did you afford this set-up?" asked Carol.

"I applied for some grants, and I hit up the high tech companies for some donations. I guess they felt guilty, plus it was a nice tax write off for them. They did give us some very cool stuff. Our system records every chat room conversation with date/time verification, so it can be used as evidence," explained Al.

"You do all this by yourself?" she asked in a surprised tone.

"Right now, I do. I got help in setting it all up, but I run it all by myself. It keeps me busy!" he answered. "Although when I get closer to a meeting, I'll bring in help. That is when the policewoman comes in who will be playing my creation. They learn their role so they can arrest the accused."

"I imagine this would be exhausting. It must mean you are here late most nights," she commented.

"The couch is pretty comfy and there is a lot of Diet Coke and Mountain Dew in the fridge. Actually, I do better in the middle of the day. If I'm in a chat room in the middle of the day, that tells the predators that I'm skipping school. They're more likely to hit on me. Of course, I have to establish myself in the rooms first. The only bad thing about any success is that it means that 'personality' can't be used again!" added Al.

"I never thought of that," stated Carol. "I must admit that I am impressed."

"Thank you," replied Al. He seemed to be embarrassed by her compliments. Carol wasn't sure, but he almost looked like he was blushing.

"Tell me about 'The Protector?" asked Carol. She noticed that sometimes he acted as young as he looked.

Al sighed. "After I nailed my third scumbag, someone in the DA's office called me 'The Protector'. Then the death cards began to show up in the chat rooms frequented by the sex offenders."

"Death cards?" asked Carol.

"Here, let me show you," stated Al with a smile.

He sat down at a computer and typed in a web address. Carol recognized it as one of the viler sex chat rooms. It was a known hangout for pedophiles and sex offenders. When Al logged in, what looked like a pop-up ad came up. On it was listed the chat room name of the latest arrested child sex abuser with a smiling skull on it. Then up popped a laughing voice. "Another one caught by The Protector! You may be next!" It was accompanied by diabolical laughter from the skull.

"I have no idea who is doing this. But it has caused a lot of concern in the rooms. If it scares off a few, then I suppose that it's doing some good. Mainly it makes my job more difficult," complained Al. "They are getting more wary, knowing that I am out there hunting them."

"What do you think about the bounty?" asked Carol.

Al smiled. "I doubt it really exists."

There was rumor that a bounty was being raised for the person who silenced "The Protector". No one really took it seriously, but it was a good sign that the predators were scared.

"Do you mind if I look around?" asked Carol.

"Nope. Not at all," replied Al.

Carol looked through the biographies. Al didn't seem to miss a single detail. There were blocks for everything from family information to favorite foods and TV shows. She looked over and saw a TV near the CD player.

"So, what is your favorite show?" she laughed.

"Depends on who I am!" he quipped.

"I see that some of the bios are for people in other cities. I assume that their forces contacted you for help?" she asked.

"Yes, we've caught several pedophiles and sex offenders in other cities. The Chief doesn't mind so long as we focus on the local problem," answered Al. "Since we are between LA and San Diego we work with their police on a regular basis. It also spreads the mystique of 'The Protector'. The predators don't know exactly where he'll strike next."

Carol looked at each bio and it was the last one that intrigued her. The bio was for a teenage boy who was transgendered. The boy's name was Larry/Layla.

"Why this one?" asked Carol holding up the clipboard.

"They're a big target these days. Gay and lesbian teenagers are somewhat accepted. However, TG teens are still in the closet. I've talked to several school counselors and they've told me that TG kids are very vulnerable to predators. They are seeking acceptance, from anywhere. That makes them very easy marks," explained Al sadly.

"Why don't you do more of them?" she asked, pointing to the other computers. The others all represented teenage girls. She sensed that this was very important to Al.

"To be honest, it isn't important to many legal agencies. I do what I can do. Teenage girls are still the biggest priority. But the last three predators I caught were all caught going after TG teens," explained Al with pride.

Carol nodded. She then looked over at the library of books that Al had collected. It included books on sexual predators, transgendered issues, criminal profiling, and sexual abuse. There were also files with transcripts of previous Internet conversations, with handwritten comments in the columns. Apparently, Al reviewed his past cases for trends to help him in profiling, noticed Carol. She pulled out a book about gender identity and noticed that it had many passages highlighted.

"So, how did you design your biography sheets? They are very thorough!" commented Carol, as she glance through the book.

Al laughed. "The original form was from a writing website. An author I met in a chat room gave it to me. She used it to design characters for stories. I have since modified it several times. I can give you a copy of it on a CD if you want."

"I'd like that," she replied.

"Excuse me, Carol, I need to go online. School's out!" stated Al, looking at the clock. "Help yourself to a soda or some coffee." He grabbed a can of soda and sat down at a computer.

Carol sat back and watched as Al logged into a chat room. He became Layla and within seconds he was engaged in a conversation with several other people. Al explained that these people were all regulars and harmless, mostly other transgendered teens. Al then shifted over to another computer and assumed the role of Wendy, a lonely single child from a divorced family. Carol was amazed at how Al kept track of who was who as he went back and forth from one screen to the other. She also noticed the changes in Al. He assumed a more feminine posture. He crossed his legs like a girl would and his personality seemed to shift. He seemed more passive and feminine. Carol had a hard time determining which was the role-playing personality and which was the real Al.

Al worked the two computers for several hours, at one point slipping in a third person. This one was an oversexed girl named Kristy. Carol sat back on the couch and watched with interest. Al seemed to be oblivious to her presence. After several hours, he signed off all but the one with Layla.

"I may have a nibble over here," he stated, almost nonchalantly.

"Nibble?" asked Carol. She got up and walked over to see what he meant.

"Sorry, I look at this like fishing. There's a guy in this chat room, who I suspect is interested in Layla in a sexual way. His questions have been getting more and more personal," explained Al.

Carol looked over and noticed the log Al was writing in. It was a history of conversations with a man named Mac. Al was right. The conversations were getting more and more personal.

"I don't think he's ready to bite yet. But he's definitely interested in Layla," stated Al.

"Where is Mac from?" she asked.

"He claims to be from San Francisco, but I think he may be closer than that. He knows too much about this city. He knows a lot about Layla. I imagine he was in this room a few times under another name. They do that sometimes to check out potential victims," explained Al.

"So, the hunter is being hunted?" smiled Carol.

Al laughed. "I guess that is one way of looking at it."

Carol watched as Mac befriended Layla. He told her that she should be proud about her TG status and not ashamed. He comforted her and boosted her self-esteem. It all looked so innocent, until he asked her if she liked men.

"He just made his first move," announced Al.

Al explained that this was the most delicate part of the investigation. If he answered too quickly, then Mac might suspect it was a trap. If he moved too slowly, then Mac might lose interest.

Al wrote that Layla was confused about her sexuality. Layla described how confusing everything was. Mac took the bait and suggested that she needed someone to help her discover her true self. Layla answered back that she would like that, as no one around her town seemed to understand or care. Mac comforted her and gave her an electronic shoulder to cry on.

"Does he know she is only 15?" asked Carol.

"Yes. He can also access Layla's online biography. He claims to be only 22, but I suspect he's a lot older. This one's looking promising!" answered Al, in an excited tone.

"You think he will ask her to meet him?" asked Carol.

"Yes, you get a feeling about these things. I am glad you are here to see this," added Al.

"Who will play Layla?" asked Carol. She glanced over at the photograph and bio. Al would be a good pick.

Al smiled, "I sort of modeled this one after me. I really want to get back out in the field, although, I doubt if the Chief will approve. He doesn't want to risk me getting hurt, as it would hurt my other investigations."

"I miss field work myself, so I know how you feel," added Carol. "By the way, we have appreciated the information that you have given us."

Al's arrests had often turned up a wealth of information on impounded computers. Often the computers contained names and contacts for other pedophiles. This information had allowed them to break several organizations.

"I appreciate that, but sometimes I don't feel like I am a real policemen, just sitting here at these computers," bemoaned Al.

Carol shook her head in disagreement. "Don't sell yourself short. This is as much police work as working the streets. You should be very proud of the work you've done here. I am very impressed!"

Al smiled, "Thanks, I appreciate that."

"So, will you dress as Layla for the meeting?" asked Carol, trying to picture Al as a girl. She decided it wouldn't take much work to make him feminine.

"I can go as either Larry or Layla. Depends on what Mac wants. Sometimes they like to be the one who dresses their victim up. But don't worry; as soon as we meet and he tries to take me home it's all over. That's when we arrest them. Then we get a warrant and search their home, car, and their computer," answered Al. "We also search their work computer, if they have one. Surprisingly, the work computers often turn up some great information."

"Would it bother you to have to dress as Layla?" asked Carol. She was curious about his answer.

Al hesitated for a second before answering, almost as if he was searching for the correct response.

"If it meant catching a predator, then I would dress as a large purple dinosaur!"

Carol laughed, "I didn't know that some of them were that perverted!" Deep down, she suspected that she had struck a nerve with Al. It intrigued her. Al was obviously hiding something.

Layla and Mac chatted for another hour, before he had to leave. It was a fruitful session.

"Look at the time! Do you want to grab some dinner?" asked Carol. It was almost 8:45 PM.

"That sounds great. I need to finish up a few things and we can leave," answered Al.

Twenty minutes later they were sitting in a small Italian restaurant sharing a very good bottle of wine.

"Does it bother you that they carded you?" asked Carol.

"Tonight it did. They know me here, and they only did it to embarrass me because you were with me. I may return the favor with my tip!" he laughed.

Carol laughed too. She could see why Al was so highly thought of by his Chief. Considering his record, he had every reason to be arrogant, but he was down to earth and humble. He didn't even mind when others got credit for the actual arrest. She also found that she enjoyed his company in a nonprofessional manner.

The rest of the evening they traded their personal histories. Carol learned that Al had been an only child and his parents were both college professors. He was initially home schooled, but he insisted on going to public high school. His small size and his exceptional IQ had initially made him an outcast, but by graduation he had fit in. He picked the police after graduating college, because he wanted to prove himself.

"I know it sounds silly, but I needed to know that I could do a job like this. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, I knew, said it was a mistake. But now they agree that it was the right choice," explained Al.

"So what's your long-term career goal?" asked Carol.

"As much as I like it here, I've gone as far as I can. I'd like to try something a bit more challenging," he explained.

"I promised your Chief I wouldn't try to steal you, but we could use someone like you. We are thinking of setting up a national facility, similar to yours. We would love to have you there," offered Carol, doing a little fishing herself.

"That would be so cool," he added enthusiastically. "I'd love to do this sort of thing on a larger scale."

"I was hoping you would be interested," replied Carol happily. She smiled internally at Al's enthusiasm. He was so much like the teenagers he was protecting.

The conversation switched to more personal and less work-related topics. Carol found that Al shared her love of old movies and good wine. They spent almost an hour discussing Bogart movies. While Carol found Al to be wonderful company, she still sensed that he was hiding something from her. Oh well, she thought, being an investigator made her a bit suspicious of her own mother at times!

"What time will you be in tomorrow?" Carol asked him.

"I'll be in early, around 6:00. I sometimes log on in the morning and see if something shows up," answered Al.

"I'll see you midmorning. I feel a little jetlag coming on," said Carol, holding back a yawn.

"I'm sorry, you must be exhausted," apologized Al.

Carol smiled, "No need to apologize. I have had a great time this evening. I'll see you in the morning."

Al nodded and he called for the check. Carol took it from him.

"Please, let me, I have a good expense account," she laughed.

As Carol drove to her hotel, she replayed the evening in her head. This was her little quirk that she did every time she went out with a man, regardless if it was a date or not. As usual, she took a slightly dominant role, usually that scared off most men. Although Al didn't seem to mind, maybe he was intimidated by her status or maybe he liked the submissive role? Al didn't seem to mind the difference between their ages either.

Carol sighed. She accepted the fact that she had to be in charge in her relationships; it was just difficult finding a willing partner who was also interesting. Most men she dated didn't like the fact that Carol had to be in charge. It was an affront to their masculinity! Carol also didn't want a totally passive partner either. If she wanted a pet, she would adopt a dog. Rather she wanted a lover who was comfortable with being in the submissive role in the relationship. Al had definite possibilities.

Al decided to play a hunch and he swung by the office on the way home and checked each of his creations' email accounts. Layla had three e-mail messages from Mac. The first was just the standard "thanks for chatting" message. But the next two were more serious. Mac suggested that they talk sometime on the phone. This was often the first step to gaining actual contact with the youth. The last message asked Layla what kind of clothes she liked to wear. Mac asked if she liked short skirts and dresses and high heels. No, this wasn't just a person being friendly, thought Al. He definitely had another predator nibbling at the bait.

There was also an interesting e-mail to Kristy. She was the girl he had set up in Seattle. The e-mail was supposedly from a teenage boy, but it didn't look right. The language and grammar was too perfect. Al forwarded the e-mail with his daily report to his point of contact in the Seattle PD. They would be the ones setting up the sting. He had talked to the policewoman who would be playing Kristy. She had the biography and was kept up-to-date with the progress of the hunt. The man they were hunting had already abducted two girls and they feared he was about to strike again.

Al was about to leave, but he decided to take a chance with Layla and he logged into the chat room. His hunch was right; as Mac was in there waiting for her. Soon he was engaged in a lengthy conversation.

Layla: I'm so tired of fighting these feelings!

Mac: Hang in there, Sweetie!

Layla: You have no idea how bad it is! BTW I love that you call me Sweetie!

Mac: I think I can imagine how bad it is for you, Sweetie. You feel like you are totally alone.

Layla: Sigh! You are the only one who understands me.

Mac: I would love to take care of you.

Layla: I wish you could.

Mac: You want to talk about it? Let me call you?

Al sat back. It had started. Time to let him take the bait and let him run a bit.

Layla: I don't know. My parents told me not to talk to people I meet online.

Mac: These are the same parents who are always on your case. They just want to control you and make you act the way they want you to! You can trust me, Sweetie.

Layla: You're right. OK, here's my number. I can only talk for a few minutes.

Al typed in the number of one of his phones. It was set up to record the entire conversation. Al hoped his voice would fool Mac. If Mac suspected the truth it could mean the quick end of a lot of work. To provide the proper background noise, Al turned on the radio.

Mac called a few minutes later and Al answered. Mac didn't seem to detect that he was talking to an adult and not a fifteen-year-old boy. As Al expected, Mac kept the first call to nonsexual matters. This was a call to establish contact and build up Layla's belief that he was her friend. They talked for 20 minutes, and Al felt confident that Mac didn't suspect the truth. By the sound of his voice, Mac was much older than he had told Layla. That wasn't uncommon. The caller ID showed the call to be coming from a payphone in LA. Al was right, Mac was much closer than he said he was. Al was content with his night's work and drove home happy. His mind also drifted to Carol. He hoped that she would be in town for more than a few days.

 

Chapter Three

 

Carol entered the command center and was amazed to see that Al was portraying two of his characters in the same chat room. She watched for several minutes before interrupting.

"Do you do that often?" she asked in an astonished tone.

"We got a tip from the Seattle PD. Their computer techs found that this room was frequented a lot by two of their missing girls. They think that the same guy grabbed both. I figured to try something new. My local girl, Wendy, is talking to my Seattle girl, Kristy. It allows Kristy to talk about her sexuality without waiting for a predator to ask. I hope this speeds things up a bit. If the predator comes into this room, he'll find a local kid who seems to want sex with an older guy," explained Al.

"Good idea," commented Carol. She poured herself a mug of coffee and took a seat to watch Al at work.

She looked over at the Seattle map and city guide. There was also a stack of computer printouts on Seattle and its teen hangouts, along with play lists from Kristy's favorite radio stations.

"I imagine it is difficult pretending to be in totally different city," she said

"Very much so. Little things like the weather can trip you up. Thankfully, I've gotten a lot of help from the Seattle PD," added Al. He then told her about his conversation with Mac.

"You think he's serious?" asked Carol. She was impressed that Al came in after their dinner to work.

"Yes. I feel very confident that he will make his move very soon, maybe even today. He seems very anxious," Al explained.

"Are you ready to meet him?" asked Carol.

"Larry is, but I haven't had time to shop for Layla," laughed Al.

"What are your sizes?" asked Carol. "Let me go out and pick out a few outfits for you."

Al looked over at her and smiled. 'You'd do that? Cool. I have to admit that I could use some help."

Al handed her the notebook and bio of Layla.

"Mac seems to like short skirts on his girls. According to the bio, Layla has two older sisters who are real fashion princesses," explained Al. "Save the receipts, I'll reimburse you from MY expense account!"

Carol recorded Al's measurements and let herself out of the room. There was a shopping center across the road from her hotel. She thought about the tone of Al's voice. There was a tone that sounded like a combination of excitement and fear.

It was actually enjoyable shopping for Layla. Of course, Layla needed everything from makeup to deodorant. Carol picked out several outfits. She would give Layla a selection of what to wear. She deliberately selected items that were a bit big. After all, Layla was borrowing the clothes from her older sisters, so they wouldn't exactly fit correctly. Carol also picked up some things at a thrift shop. Layla couldn't look too perfect.

Carol was about to head back to the office when she had a wild idea. She checked her watch and decided that she wouldn't be missed for a while.

Carol dropped off her booty at the hotel and drove back to the police station. Thankfully, Al had given her the security code and she let herself in. Al was napping on the couch. Quietly, Carol walked in and sat down and examined the logbooks. She glanced over to make sure that she hadn't disturbed him. Carol thought he looked even younger and innocent while asleep.

Mac had called Layla twice and had left voice messages. He said that he would call again later. Al was right, thought Carol, he did seem anxious.

Next, she checked the logs for Wendy and Kristy. It looked like Al's plan had worked, as a local Seattle man had contacted Kristy, while she was chatting with Wendy. Carol tried to imagine what it would be like to conduct a conversation with yourself online. She looked over at Al and smiled. He was remarkable. She only hoped that she hadn't misjudged her feelings and suspicions about him.

Al woke up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"Sorry, I didn't hear you come in," apologized Al. "It was slow, so I grabbed a few Zs."

"That's OK," answered Carol. "I picked up some things for Layla. I dropped them off at my hotel room."

Carol studied Al's response and detected a slight sense of disappointment that she didn't bring the items here.

"I see that Mac called a few times," commented Carol, pointing to the log.

"Yes, I won't answer until after 3:30. That is when Layla will be out of school," he added. "I also made some progress in the Seattle case. I think he'll speed up his advances soon," Al informed Carol.

"Is it usually this easy?" asked Carol.

"No, but sometimes I get lucky. The guy in Seattle has gotten away with abducting at least two girls. He is arrogant and now thinks his system is foolproof. He doesn't know he is being stalked himself. As for Mac, I would say that this isn't his first time. But he hasn't done it in a while, and now he is being driven by emotions and not his intelligence. Sometimes you have to help things speed up, before they get cautious,' answered Al. "I wouldn't be surprised if he'd just got out of jail."

"Obviously he hasn't been online much lately or he would be more wary about coming into the backyard of 'The Protector'," added Carol.

Al smiled and nodded.

"How long have you been looking for the Seattle guy?" asked Carol.

"Over three weeks. They've been hunting him for six months. He works on a cycle. From what we've learned so far, this guy fits the description. If it's him, he'll try and set up a meeting in the next 48 hours. The first girl disappeared on the first day of fall, the second on the first day of winter. Spring starts in two days," explained Al. "By the way, I didn't figure that out, they determined it up there in Seattle."

"So what about Mac?" she asked. She smiled at how modest he was.

"We'll know today. I imagine that he is heading this way and will try to set up a meeting in the next day or so," commented Al.

"Have you told your Chief about your plan?" asked Carol, imagining the Chief's response.

Al smiled. "Yes, and he wasn't happy. But he agreed to it. We have a team standing by. The whole meeting will be recorded on video and audio. There'll be appropriate back-up to make the arrest."

"You sound a little nervous," commented Carol.

"I guess I am. It's been a while since I did any undercover work," he explained.

Carol knew that it was something else. She was convinced that her hunch was right.

"Well, it's like riding a bike, you never forget," she laughed.

Just then the cell phone by Layla's station rang. Both Al and Carol looked up at the clock. It was 3:45. Al nodded and picked up the phone.

"Hello," greeted Layla.

Carol was amazed at the transformation in Al. It was even more visible than it had been when he was on line. Al was definitely more feminine and quickly adopted the persona of a vulnerable and scared teenage transgendered youth. It was quite remarkable!

The conversation lasted for nearly an hour and near the end Al flashed her a thumbs-up sign. After the conversation ended, Al jumped up and had a huge smile on his face.

"Yes! We've got him hooked!" he exclaimed as he jumped excitedly out of his chair.

Carol smiled at both the news and how easily he shifted back to being Al. "All we have to do is reel him in," added Carol.

"Mac's coming into town tomorrow and wants to meet me. He suggested a park near Layla's neighborhood and that I should look 'pretty' for him!" stated Al. "I'll inform the Chief and we'll get our team together."

"I'd be happy to help you become Layla," suggested Carol.

"That would be great. If I don't look convincing, he may not show his face," answered Al.

Reluctantly the Chief approved the plan, although he had to admit to himself it would be interesting to see Al as a teenage girl. It would be risky, if Al was injured the rest of the ongoing investigations might be derailed. Due to the outfit he would be wearing, he couldn't wear a bulletproof vest.

The plan was that Al would be wired and would arrive alone at the park by bus. He would go to the rendezvous spot and wait for Mac. The backup teams were already staking out their spots. Luckily, the rendezvous was near a parking lot. That would allow the surveillance van a clear shot to videotape the meeting. Carol would be in the van. Several plainclothes officers would be in the area to rush in to make an arrest and to protect Al. Officers undercover were very vulnerable and no one wanted to see them hurt.

"Why don't you come by my room tomorrow morning and I can get you ready?" asked Carol.

"That sounds good. 8:00 AM?" asked Al.

He's anxious, Carol smiled to herself. "Yes, that would be perfect."

 

Chapter Four

 

Al arrived at Carol's hotel at 8:00 sharp. "Good morning, Carol."

"Hi, Al, or should I say Layla?" quipped Carol.

He blushed when she called him Layla, Carol noticed. She liked that!

"First thing is that you've got to get rid of your leg and arm hair. You'll also have to shave your face and armpits. I've put a good hair removal cream in the bathroom; it's mild and shouldn't cause any skin discomfort, just follow the directions," explained Carol. "The robe in there is for you. Let me know when you are done."

"You're the boss," joked Al and went into the bathroom.

Carol laid out the rest of the outfit. There was a pair of panties, a bra, with breast pads, a short denim skirt, a couple of tops, and several pairs of shoes. The shoes ranged from sandals to heels. She would let Al select the outfit that best represented Layla. She also had a small collection of jewelry and a blonde wig.

After nearly 30 minutes, Al called out that he was done. Carol knocked on the door and handed in the panties and bra.

"Slip those on and then put the robe on," ordered Carol.

Al came out a minute later. Carol smiled as he kept looking down at his now smooth legs. She found that he seemed comfortable in the bra and panties. This pleased her, it only served to confirm her hunch about Al.

"OK, what's next?" he asked anxiously.

Carol looked at the clock; they had plenty of time, as they didn't have to be back at the station for almost two hours. Layla's bio had her dressing for a year, so she would have some experience, but would be far from perfect.

"Sit down here and I'll do your makeup and hair," said Carol pointing to a chair by the bed. She slowly applied Al's makeup. She put a little too much eye shadow and mascara around the eyes. That was a common mistake of young girls. They had both agreed that Layla's makeup couldn't look perfect. Carol selected a brighter colored lipstick. It was too bright for daytime and would be the exact type of mistake a "girl" like Layla would make.

Carol stepped back and was proud of her work. Layla was turning out to be a cute girl. Next, she played around with the wig and slipped it on Al's head. He was fast becoming Layla. Carol noticed the subtle changes in his posture; he was also less rigid. Al crossed his legs as a woman would. It seemed very natural to him.

Carol had selected a bright pink nail polish for Layla's fingers and toes. She didn't worry about making the nails look perfect. As the polish dried she stood back and admired her work. Layla looked great! She was pleased with how willingly Al had done everything she had asked. She only hoped that he would be as cooperative later!

"OK, Layla, you need to get dressed. Here are your skirt and some tops. Put the breast pads in your bra first," Carol told Al with a laugh.

"Funny!" he answered, as he got dressed.

"Well, I just want you to get into character," Carol responded.

Al just smiled at her as he slipped on the skirt. He then selected a pink tank top along with the denim jacket. For shoes, Al selected the heels.

"Mac seems to have a thing for heels. I'd rather be in shoes that I can move in, but I need to remember that I am the worm on the end of the hook," Al said seriously.

"Just remember to wiggle, but not to get eaten," joked Carol. She had done a lot of undercover work herself, so she could relate to Al's mindset. She hoped that he wouldn't be distracted.

She completed the outfit with some jewelry, mostly cheap costume stuff. She had Al/Layla stand up and look in the mirror.

Al couldn't believe his eyes and kept staring at the young woman looking back at him. Carol was amazed herself! Al looked like a teenage girl. Mac would find her irresistible!

"Here is your purse, and when you get close to the stop at the park, put on some perfume. Overdo it a bit, that is a common mistake," explained Carol.

Al nodded and took another look at himself in the mirror and laughed. "I'm going to catch a lot of crap at the station!"

"I think you make very tempting jailbait, Layla," quipped Carol.

They both laughed and it did much to ease the tension.

They arrived at the station a few minutes later. No one initially recognized Al as they walked to the briefing room. When they entered, the rest of the team was already there. Three officers were in civilian clothes and they would be nearby to make the arrest. The Chief was sitting there and he stared at Carol and the young girl who came in next to her. There were also the surveillance techs, who would be recording and videotaping the meeting.

"Who's this?" he growled at Carol, pointing at Layla. "And where the hell is Al!"

"I'm right here," smiled the young girl.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at Al.

"Holy shit! Damm, you're cute Ally!" joked an officer in a sweat suit.

Al smiled a sweet smile back and nonchalantly flipped him the bird.

"Not very ladylike!" joked the officer.

The rest of the room broke into laughter.

"OK, enough! Let's get this started," ordered the Chief. He too was staring at how good Al looked.

Everyone immediately got serious. They all knew that an undercover sting was a very dangerous operation. The officer conducting the sting was very vulnerable and depended on the rest of the team for protection. They might kid "Ally" in the station, but they wouldn't allow the suspect to hurt him.

Al was fitted with a transmitter and microphone. They would be able to hear the entire conversation. There was a key phrase that Al would say to signal the officers to make the arrest or to come to his rescue. The plan was reviewed and contingencies discussed in case things went wrong.

"Well, I'll see you when this is all over," said Al calmly to Carol. He would be driven to the bus stop. An unmarked police car would follow him to the park, just in case Mac showed up early.

"I'll be in the van. Dinner tonight is on me," she quipped.

Both could sense the tension, but neither said a word.

"I'd like that," said Al. While he tried to stay professional with Carol, he was finding himself attracted to her. They hugged briefly before they left.

 

Chapter Five

 

Al was sitting on the city bus as it worked its way to the park. He had gotten a few looks and some smiles, but no one suspected the truth. Still, he felt nervous as he thought about everything that could go wrong. He looked out and could see they were approaching the park. At least it was a nice day, he thought.

As he walked over to the rendezvous spot, he remembered to put on some perfume. He spoke softly to let them know he was approaching. He had to assume the microphone was working. He saw the van in the parking lot. He also saw one of the officers stretching nearby on the grass. To the average person walking by, the officer was just another jogger stretching.

Al sat down on a bench and waited. There was always the risk that the suspect wouldn't show up. That was always disappointing, but Al had a feeling that Mac would show up. Al took out his MP3 player and listened to some of the crappy music that teenagers liked as he waited. After fifteen minutes, his cell phone rang.

Al shut off the player and answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, Sweetie," greeted Mac.

"Mac! Hi! Where are you?" he asked in an excited tone. He wanted Mac to think that Layla couldn't wait for him.

"I'm looking at you as we speak. You look hot. I am pleased you know how to dress for me,' he answered.

Al looked around and saw a large man with brown hair and goatee getting out of a van. He looked around forty. Just as Al suspected, he'd lied about his age. Shit! He was parked right next to the surveillance van!

Al smiled and waved at the man, who waved back.

"I didn't know you had a goatee!" commented Al.

"Do you like it?" he asked, as he walked closer.

"Oh yes, it's really cool!" said Al.

Mac walked up and sat down next to Layla. His eyes were taking her all in. It was obvious that he was aroused and he wanted Layla badly, Al thought. This won't take long.

"I am very pleased you came here today," said Mac in a reassuring tone.

So far he hadn't touched Layla. He was smooth, thought Al.

"I couldn't wait!" answered Al.

"Did you tell anyone that you were coming here?" asked Mac.

"No one, just like you told me. I skipped school and caught the bus here," answered Al.

"Good," smiled Mac, as he leered Layla.

He reached over and slipped his arm around Al's shoulder.

"Sweetie, you are far too pretty to be a boy. I think you are making the right decision, my sweet. I think you need a real man in your life," assured Mac in a calming voice. He slowly pulled Al closer.

"Thank you," answered Al. It was coming, he thought.

"I want you to come with me back to my hotel. I have some pretty things for you to wear. They will make you look like a real woman," smiled Mac. "Then you can show me your thanks, just like a real woman."

"I'm not a woman, I'm only fifteen," said Al softly.

Mac smiled and looked Al in the eyes, "That is old enough for me, Sweetie."

Al nodded and spoke the code phrase, "OK, let's do it."

Mac smiled and began to lead Al to his van. Suddenly there were police everywhere. In addition to the three plainclothes officers, two black and whites pulled up and blocked Mac's van. Carol jumped out of the van with her own gun drawn.

"Don't move. You're under arrest!" screamed one of the officers, pointing his gun at Mac.

 

Mac looked around and saw several other guns pointed at him. He glared angrily at the little bitch that had set him up. He sized up the situation and realized that escape was impossible.

Al's job was to get away from Mac as quickly as possible, so that he wouldn't become a hostage. Mac stood there enraged, but was arrested without incident.

Carol ran up to Al with a big smile on her face. "Great job, we got it all!" She then swung her arms around Al and gave him a big hug. She felt Al's body trembling next to hers. She leaned close and whispered, "Stay in character, don't let him know that you are 'The Protector'."

Al nodded.

Carol then spoke loudly, "Great job, Cadet! We appreciate you volunteering for this operation. I'll make sure your supervisors at the Police Academy know how helpful you were! We can use more women like you on the force!"

They watched as Mac was cuffed, searched, and read his rights. He glared at Al the whole time as the squad car pulled away. The uniformed officers later told them that he was cursing the "police bitch" who set him up. Mac swore that he should have known he was being setup, as there was no way Layla could have been a male! That caused some laughter back in the station house.

There was still a lot of work to be done. Mac's van was towed away for evidence and his hotel room had to be searched. Mac turned out to be a convicted sex offender, and just as Al had suspected he'd just been released from jail. Apparently, he had some very nasty plans in store for Layla. They found handcuffs and a gag in his car. There were also some really hardcore sex magazines involving teens and bondage.

Back at the station, the team had a minor celebration. They felt good about making a near textbook arrest and that a convicted sex offender was back in jail. Mac was being held without bond and faced a large list of state and federal charges. Al was still catching some good-natured kidding. But kidding aside, his fellow officers were very proud of him. Al had put himself in a dangerous situation, and because of his bravery they had an arrest they could all feel good about.

Al was ecstatic that they had caught another one. The DA was very pleased with the video and predicted that Mac would be spending a long time in prison.

"The Protector strikes again!" joked the DA. "By the way Ally, you do make a cute girl!"

Al smiled. He could laugh about it now. He hadn't bothered to change; the weird thing was that no one else seemed to care either.

"Ally, here is Mac's record. You nailed a real bad guy this time!" complimented the DA. "You should be proud about this one!"

Al took the record and flipped through it. Mac had kidnapped several girls and transgendered teens and had severely abused them. He'd kept one tied up for several weeks and had ravaged her, both mentally and physically. Al felt a shiver of fear sweep through his body thinking what would have happened to him if Mac had actually kidnapped him.

"You okay?" asked Carol.

Al snapped back to reality and nodded.

Carol knew something had upset Al. "So, you ready for some dinner?" asked Carol, hoping to get Al back into a better mood.

"I need to check on my Seattle case first, then we can go. Is that OK?" he asked.

"Sure, but you might want to change first," laughed Carol.

"I totally forgot all about this." Al smiled, as he pointed to his outfit.

Carol smiled to herself. She doubted that Al had really forgotten about it and felt he was in no hurry to change.

 

The Seattle case was speeding up and the suspect wanted Kristy to call him. Al called up his contact in Seattle and they took over. He hoped that their sting went as smoothly as the operation here. Al was an optimist and believed that there was a slight chance that the two girls were still alive. His profile of the man suggested that he was likely to keep his captives alive, as if he was building his own little harem.

Carol drove Al back to the hotel. She hoped that she was reading him right; otherwise it would be very embarrassing!

"So, what got you so shaken back in the station room?" asked Carol.

"Was it that obvious?" replied Al, as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Carol nodded. She noticed that Al crossed his legs as a girl would and he even straightened out his skirt.

"I read what a monster Mac was, and I suddenly pictured myself in the place of his victims. I thought about what could have happened if the operation had failed and if he got me back to his hotel. I had doubts if I could have fought him off. It made me feel very vulnerable, as if I really was Layla," explained Al, in a soft voice.

It was common for undercover officers to exhibit post-operation stress, but this was different, thought Carol.

"You know, when I first heard about you and your operation, I was told that you were a woman. The initial reports never fully described you and everyone assumed that only a woman could be so successful at portraying young girls," laughed Carol. She opened a bottle of wine and poured a victory glass for each of them. They had a toast to the successful capture of Mac.

"I've been told that before," replied Al nervously as he sipped his wine.

Carol noticed he was not in a hurry to change. That was a good sign. Well, here goes nothing, thought Carol.

"I wouldn't mind if you were a woman," replied Carol softly, going for broke.

Al stared at her speechless.

"In addition to the Layla outfits, I bought a few things for Ally," added Carol. She slid open the closet door exposing several outfits. She watched Al for his reaction.

Al trembled slightly and a single tear began to run down his cheek.

"Are you a transsexual?" asked Carol softly, as she sat next to him. She took Al's hand in hers and pulled him close to her. She could feel his trembling body next to hers.

Biting her lip, Ally nodded yes. She began to speak, as if to explain. Carol put her finger to Ally's lips and shook her head no. Then Carol leaned over and kissed her softly. Dinner could wait until later.

They lay in bed next to each other. It was very much like being with another woman, thought Carol. They didn't have sex in the traditional sense. There was a lot of kissing and cuddling, very mutual and very satisfying. It was funny, she thought, she had finally found the perfect man for her, and she was a woman!

 

Epilog

 

Three months later, the new head of the Internet Sex Offender Taskforce walked confidently into her new office in Washington, DC. Her reputation preceded her and many of the agents in the office looked at her with awe. They were a bit surprised at the petite young woman who walked into the office. She barely looked old enough to be out of high school, even though she was dressed very stylishly in a tailored skirt and jacket. However, they knew not to be deceived by her looks as she was known to be a brilliant investigator. In addition to all her arrests, she had helped catch that kidnapper in Seattle, which had led to the safe return of two abducted girls. They felt very fortunate to be working with Agent Ally Burns, The Protector.

Ally sat down at her desk, adjusted her skirt, and smiled. It was like a dream come true she thought! She picked up her phone and left a message for her roommate and lover.

"Hey, Carol, Ally here. I can't believe the office they gave me! It's incredible. I'll see you for dinner, and by the way, Casablanca is on the classic movie channel tonight."

 

The End

  

  

  

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