It was time to prepare for Susan's enrollment in high school.  Kathy reflected on
the events of the summer just past.  Reflecting on it, the summer was the most
pleasant she could remember.  It was exciting to get to know one's daughter...
and oneself.  She smiled, thinking of the fame they had achieved, on the sports
page for a change.

As a break from the academic tutoring she was doing, she and Susan had gone out
to the club one day to play tennis.  She had demonstrated the basic strokes and
they started hitting the ball back and forth.  The pace quickened as she saw
Susan improving dramatically with every stroke.  She developed a vicious topspin
drive in no time, lashing the ball into the corners of the court, but always
inside the chalk.  It had been a hot day, and Kathy called a break to catch her
breath.  She hit Susan with the flat of her racket when she heard the girl murmur
with a grin on her face, "The old lady's out of shape. The legs always go first."
 Kathy noticed with satisfaction that Susan was breathing hard as she said it.

They found that the mother-daughter tournament was scheduled to begin in less
than an hour.  "Mom, could we enter?  For kicks?  You're too tough!"  She had
agreed and went to see the pro.  There was an open spot in the draw and he wrote
them in.  As she did, Kathy reflected that she and Susan had a running athletic
competition.  Inevitably, it was her experience against Susan's youth -- their
physical skills were about equal, but at a level far higher than either realized.
 Kathy looked down at her body.  Because of all the exercise, she decided her
physical condition and Susan's were perfect.

They met their two opponents in the first match.  The girl was about sixteen,
while her mother appeared to be in her forties.  While they had been waiting for
the match, Kathy had briefly reviewed doubles tactics with Susan, who immediately
understood the reasoning behind them.  Their opponents served first.  The girl
served to Kathy who hit a forehand smash down the center of the court.  The girl,
coming to net, could manage only a weak volley return that Susan slammed into her
feet for a winner.  The match was 6-0, 6-0.  In fact, they swept the tournament
without losing a game.  Kathy was proud of Susan.  In response to a question, she
claimed to have been playing tennis since the age of six.  On the way home, Kathy
kidded her about her answer. Susan explained it.  "Six or sixteen: the difference
is the one, right.  And plus or minus one is pretty close, isn't it?"

Following their club win they went on to area matches and finally to the state
championships.  Perhaps because Kathy was so well known, perhaps because of their
shared beauty, the tourna ment -- usually reported in the microscopic print on
the sports' page with long lists of scores -- had some reporters and
photographers in attendance.  In the finals they met a team from Roanoke.  The
daughter was eighteen, and her mother was in her mid-thirties.  It was obvious
watching them warm up that they were very good and very experienced in tournament
play.  Susan served first.  Kathy thought they won the tournament with that
single serve.  Susan served to the girl who was receiving deep.  Her serve came
off her racket like a bullet and kicked up chalk as it hit in the service box
while moving at an angle sharply away from the girl.  She could only watch it hit
the screen behind the adjacent court.  In many ways, it was a strange match. 
Like the others it ended 6-0, 6-0, yet many of the points and games were hard
fought.  Their opponents were real ladies and congratulated them warmly on their
victory.  The girl expressed surprise she had never met Susan on the state junior
tournament circuit, because clearly she was the best female junior she had ever
seen.

As the mother and Kathy relaxed with drinks after the match, the woman commented
that she had never seen a mother-daughter pair like Susan and her. "There's one
thing I don't understand.  You're obviously her mother -- you two look like twins
-- but you can't be.  You look like her older sister.  And if you'll forgive my
jealousy, only slightly older.  How on earth did you do it?" Kathy couldn't
remember what she had replied but knew it was some double-talk that seemed to
satisfy the woman.  'Or else,' Kathy thought, 'she's just too polite to pursue
it.'  Their picture appeared in several Virginia newspapers and it was played up
big in Norfolk.  Susan was thrilled.  Kathy was concerned that Susan might be
recognized by some of Sylvia's former customers but realized she had had little
customer exposure, and all traces -- including her nude photo on the bidding
sheet -- had been destroyed.

As promised to Admiral Stark, she had been seen and examined by the best
gynecologist in the area.  She told him that she had been told as a teenager by a
physician that she could never have children.  The doctor gave her a thorough
examination.  He had a sense of humor and laughed when he saw the now-faded stamp
imprint.  When she was again fully dressed, he reviewed the examination with her
in his office.  "Mrs. Stark, we like to think of medicine as a science.  To the
extent we know certain things, it is.  However, there are still far more things
we don't yet know.  The process of conception is one that we still don't know a
great deal about.  Frankly, I see dozens of women who are physiologically sound,
whose husbands are potent, yet who fail to conceive for whatever reasons. 
Clearly, there must be a psychological or neurological element involved, because
it's not uncommon for a woman to give up on ever having a baby, adopt one, and
then become pregnant.  I will say this, however: I don't know who the doctor was
who said you could not have a baby.  I do know I found absolutely nothing wrong
with your reproductive system.  He may turn out to be correct, but to do so he
used astrology, numerology, or something of that sort.  He did not use medical
science.  He could not have found anything that would make that a physical fact.

"I would add only one more thing.  It is rare that I get to examine a woman who
is as beautifully prepared for motherhood as you are.  Barring complications,
there should be no problems.  My only advice to you and your husband is to keep
trying.  Whenever you mention him, your eyes light up.  I commented earlier on
your...  markings.  I conclude you enjoy a very active sex life and clearly you
seem to enjoy it.  Continue to have fun trying to make a baby."

'He's got that right!' Kathy thought.  'Just the thought of making love with Ken
makes me hurt.'  She realized that her fun with Susan had helped her get through
what would otherwise have been an unendurable separation.

Then her thoughts returned to a call she received from Sam Stark a few weeks ago.
 She recalled it vividly in her mind's eye.  "Kathy, it's Dad.  Remember when you
were up here, you turned around, bent over, and wanted me to kick you in your
brains?  Well, I was sure you just wanted me to admire that lovely little rear of
yours.  I was about to say so when I remembered you're the best pistol shot in
the state, and you're armed.  Anyway, if you think you sit on your brains, I must
be walking on mine!

"It appears that your husband was a real hero.  I'm still tracking down the
details, but here's what I have so far:  He was in command of one of those river
gunboats we were using out there and they were evacuating a group of Vietnamese
from an encircled village.  You were also correct on the timing. It was when
everything was coming unglued all at once.  At any rate, most of his crew were
ashore helping to organize the evacuation, and then all hell broke loose.  North
Vietnamese regulars attacked the village to try to collapse the defense perimeter
before they could evacuate.  A couple of Ken's guys were hit, and they were all
cut off.  He took a weapon and singlehandedly fought his way to them and then got
them out.  The flotilla commander had been killed in the first attack, so even
though he was wounded Ken took command of the force.  They held off the enemy
until the people he came for were boarded and on their way to safety.

"Kathy, I'm trying to speak as an admiral and not as Ken's dad.  What he did that
day deserves a very big medal.  We're talking the Navy Cross or possibly even the
Medal of Honor.  Anyway, I don't know why Ken never said anything. Perhaps it's
because we left with our tail between our legs while he was still in the
hospital.  I don't know.  However, the record is being reconstructed from various
information sources, and we're trying to locate some eyewitnesses.  We have names
of guys who were there and we know where to look for them, so it's only a matter
of time.  Kathy, thank you.  I'll keep you posted, and I'm glad your brain still
works."

Kathy told him she had kept her part of the bargain and reported what she had
been told.  "So, Dad, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.  Ken and I
will just have to work harder when he gets back!"

Finally, she thought back to the day she and Susan visited the State Police
barracks and saw Will Stockdale.  She had been greeted by the troop commander,
Captain Collins.  Lieutenant Pinkney, who had arranged the escort for Susan, was
there as well.

"Captain Collins, it's a real pleasure to meet you.  I have you to thank for the
escort to my apartment provided by Trooper Stockdale on my wedding night. It was
very thoughtful of you.  I'm afraid you've been hearing a great deal about me
over the last year or so, and not much of it could be good."

"Mrs. Stark... but may I call you Kathy?  Around here you're only known by your
first name.  There are so many Kathy stories floating around the barracks, I
couldn't count them.  They're all respectful and -- pardon me for saying it --
loving.  I hope it's not too painful a memory for you, but I remember vividly the
morning last year that the call came over the police radio net that 'Kathy's
down.  Somebody shot Kathy.'  No last name, just Kathy.  With Virginia law
enforce ment that's all the identification you need."  He finished with a warm
smile.  "I don't believe I've had the pleasure," he said turning toward Susan who
had been listening to this senior officer greet her mother with such respect and
love.

"Captain, I'm very proud to introduce you to my daughter, Susan.  Susan was the
one who was injured when Lieutenant Pinkney provided the escort."

"How do you do, Susan?  It's a real pleasure!  I don't think you know this, but
the greatest pride we have had in our fellow officers was when we learned a
Norfolk policeman had killed that sadistic matron who shot at your mother. You
see, your mother spent a brilliant career making law enforcement agencies look
very good.  Mostly, we just stood around and cheered while she did our job for
us.  It was long overdue for us to do something for her.  Kathy, if it wouldn't
be too much trouble, could I see those famous badges I've heard so much about?" 
Kathy smiled ruefully and took them out.  Susan's eyes widened as she saw the
gold.  The captain looked at them carefully, looked at Susan and smiled.  "Young
lady, from the look on your face -- and on your mother's -- you've never seen
them before."  Susan shook her head.  The Captain looked at Kathy with a
question.  She nodded, and he handed them to Susan.

"Susan, as far as I know, those badges are unique.  Your mother is the only
law-enforcement officer with dual jurisdiction -- both State and Federal. She's
also the finest pistol shot in the state.  Kathy, I can tell you're looking for
someone, and it can only be Will Stockdale.  Am I right?"  Kathy nodded.  "He's
around somewhere, I'm sure.  Let's find him.

"I'm right here, Captain," said Will from behind.  "I'm delighted to see you
women here today.  He looked particularly at Susan.  "Miss Stark, if I may say,
you are looking particularly beautiful.  I'm so happy there were no lasting
effects.  We heard what had happened to you.  I shouldn't say this, I suppose,
but it's a good thing that woman is dead."  Turning to Kathy, he said, "Now what
can I do for you?"

"Will, could we go somewhere and talk?"  They found a quiet corner in the
troopers' lounge and sat down.  "Will, I have a problem I think you can help me
with.  You know how big a city Virginia Beach is.  You really need a car to get
around and Susan is starting high school next month.  She'll be a junior. She
just got her driver's license and...  Well, she drives like me."

"Kathy, are you serious?  Is she really that good?"

Kathy smiled and nodded.  "She really is -- probably better.  Why?"

"Well, ma'am, as you know -- but won't admit -- you're a legend around here. And
that most particularly includes your driving.  We have a training track out back
here.  Well, I asked the Captain if we could get you behind the wheel of one of
our cruisers.  He thought about it, but finally said no.  He said you're too big
a name in this state, and he wanted no embarrassment.  But if Susan would be
willing?...  If you'd let her?..."

"May I, Mom?  Please?  If the captain says it's all right?"

The captain said it was fine with him if Mrs. Stark approved.  Kathy nodded and
smiled at her daughter.  The whole troop off duty went out to the track. Will
fitted Susan with a crash helmet and a Nomex driving suit and drove her around
the track.  It combined a high-speed track with both a skid pad and a slalom
course.  First, Will drove the course with Susan riding beside him. When they got
back to the starting point, Susan prepared to make her run. Kathy asked what the
track record for the course was.  She had been observing the car as Will had
driven the course.  Turning to the Captain she asked, "Are you a betting man? 
I'll wager Susan breaks that record by at least one full second.  If we lose, you
and all your troopers who are off duty will be our guests for dinner tonight.  If
we win, you have to have us as your guests here at the barracks."

"Kathy, did I hear you say you would buy food for this whole army at a good
restaurant, or we feed you what passes for food here?  Is that the bet?" Kathy
nodded.  "Then Kathy, it's a bet!"  He raised his voice, called the troopers
over, and explained the bet.  A couple of troopers ran to set up the electronic
timing equipment they would need.  Soon they were all ready. Meanwhile, Will was
busy making side bets with his buddies at very attractive odds.  It was pointed
out to him that the record holder had spent nearly three years bringing the time
down to its present level.  Will just nodded, smiled, and took the bets.

When everything was set, a light ahead of Susan went from red to amber to green. 
At the instant the light changed, she was off with her rear tires smoking from
the wheel-spin.  Kathy watched impassively as Susan found the perfect line on the
banked track and took it with the cruiser running flat out.  Jaws dropped as the
cruiser roared around the track for the three laps agreed, flew out onto the skid
pad and executed the required maneuvers, including a bootlegger's turn at very
high speed.  Will muttered, "Damn!  I forgot to bring out the speed gun!" 
Finally, she roared through the slalom while the cruiser rocked like a bathtub
with its tires at the very limit of their adhesion in spite of its special
suspension designed to minimize body roll.  She roared across the finish line,
spun another 180 degree turn and stopped on almost the precise spot from which
she had started.

The captain had been watching in utter amazement.  He turned to Kathy and asked,
"How long has Susan been driving?"

Kathy grinned at him.  "I apologize, Captain.  That was a setup.  Will has told
me I'm pretty good.  Susan's only been driving for three months, but she's
probably better than I am.  She's very good with cars."

"How much did she beat it by?" the Captain called out.  The answer was by over
five full seconds.

Susan got out of the car and ran over to where they were standing, stopping just
long enough to shed her helmet and driving suit.  The Captain put out his hand
and shook hers.  "Susan, that was utterly amazing!  We're going to get a plaque
with the time on that run.  I know you're only in high school, *but*... Young
lady, we're always trying to recruit young women into police work.  Not many are
interested.  Of the few that are, some are unsuited.  Unfortunately, too many of
the remainder aren't very good.  You are *very* good!  If you ever look for a
job, there's one here for you."  He had another idea.  "Susan, have you ever shot
a pistol?"  She shook her head, no.  "Your mother is the finest pistol shot
alive.  She says you are good at all the things she's good at. Would you like to
shoot a few rounds on our pistol range?  Maybe your mother would like to shoot,
too?  Would you, Kathy?"

Kathy grinned.  "I was afraid you'd never ask!  I would love to.  Susan, would
you get that case from the back seat, please."  Susan came speeding back with an
aluminum carrying case in her hand.  They went to the pistol range where they
found the targets arranged in sets of three.  The targets would spin, back to
front, on a pivot controlled by the rangemaster.  At the start, there were three
black silhouettes.  When they spun so the shooter could see them, they were
combina tions of felons: targets to be shot, and civilians: not to be shot.

They decided they would fire it from the draw position.  Kathy opened the case
Susan had brought.  In it were loaded cylinders for her LadySmith which dropped
in quickly to reload.  Kathy went first to show Susan how it was done. She went
out to the shooting position with her purse in her left hand.  After putting on
sound-absorbing ear protectors, she waved ready.  The targets spun: all bad.  Her
weapon sounded like a continuous thunderclap after a draw the officers admitted
they never saw.  Six bullets fired, two each into the ten spot marking the heart
location on the targets.  She continued in her unerring fashion.  She came back
to the line and reloaded the now-empty cylinders while the targets were being
scored.

Susan had been watching her mother's movements carefully.  She took the unloaded
weapon, and Kathy showed her the sighting patterns.  Then she put a loaded
cylinder in to get the feel.  Finally she was ready.  If there had been
videotapes made, the two images would have been duplicates.  When it was over,
she had lost to her mother by one point.  She had a single nine with all the rest
tens.

The Captain spoke to his troop.  "You have now seen a demonstration of how to
shoot this course.  We will forgive Miss Stark her miss.  After all, this is the
first time she has ever held a gun in her hand, let alone fired one.  Also like
her mother, she put two bullets into each target.  The other bullet was, of
course, a ten.  One bullet in the heart is as lethal as two, but then we know
Kathy -- and her daughter -- believe in being sure.  Susan, you shot the highest
score on this range ever!  We won't mention how your mother did.  I hope this
serves as a model to you men.  A girl fires this score within minutes of holding
a weapon in her hand for the first time.  It really isn't so hard, is it?

"But now I have some bad news.  I made a wager with Kathy and lost.  Mother- love
triumphed.  She bet me that Susan could turn the track at least one full second
faster than the best previous recorded time.  You all know the results.
Therefore, the only honorable thing to do is to pay up.  Accordingly, under the
terms of our wager, we must host the two women at dinner here in the barracks
this evening!"  The troopers cheered, and the Captain turned to Kathy, "There you
see true Virginia gentlemen: paying a lost wager with a cheer!"  He grinned at
her and winked.

Kathy looked at him speculatively.  "Captain Collins, could I make a confession? 
I thought that something like this might happen, and I know that the state
doesn't go overboard on your food budget.  If you keep quiet, I've made
arrangements to have dinner tonight catered for you and your men.  It can be
canceled on a phone call, of course, but actually, I was planning to take you and
your men out to dinner in your own barracks.  May I still?  Please?"

"Kathy Stark, you are a piece of work!" Collins said with a grin.  "I wasn't
kidding when I spoke earlier about all the Kathy stories.  Collectively, they are
forming a legend.  Needless to say, you and Susan added to the legend this
afternoon.  We would be honored to accept your gracious hospitality."

Kathy found Susan talking with Will.  "Mother, do you know what Trooper Stockdale
has just done?"

Kathy grinned at them both.  "No, I don't know what Trooper Stockdale has just
done... but I can guess.  But Susan, I do think he'd like it better if you called
him Will, wouldn't you?"

"Susan, I would appreciate it very much if you would.  I call your mother Kathy,
and she isn't much older than you are.  May I call you Susan?"

"Of course, Will, and I would love it!" Susan replied, with a smile that just
about melted poor Will to the ground.

Kathy continued, "Back to your question.  I think Will has probably just about
cleaned out his barracks mates for the next couple of months or so.  Will, I
think it's only fair that you buy Susan a dinner sometime soon.  If you did what
I think you did, you cleaned up!"

"Kathy, it was unfair, I guess.  I know how you drive.  When you say Susan's
good, she's *good*!  Then o' course, they went double or nothing on the range,
some of them, and that's all she wrote!  Susan, it would be a great honor to take
you out to dinner.  After next payday, I expect to get about half the barracks'
entire pay, so any place at all."

"Will," Susan replied, "I would be truly delighted!  Please call and let me know
what date would be convenient."  She gave him another of her smiles. Kathy
recognized it as a duplicate of her own.

"Now that the business is taken care of, I would like to get back to our
conversation about Susan.  Will, do you agree that Susan's a bit better than your
average beginning driver?" Kathy asked.

"Ma'am, you're joshing me!  She could drive the tracks at Darlington, Charlotte
or Daytona, she's that good.  Yes, ma'am!  If it's got four wheels and an engine,
Susan can drive it!  And I'm not real sure she needs all four wheels, either. 
Susan, I've never seen that slalom driven better!  Now, Kathy, what do you want
me to do?"

"Will, I was thinking about a car.  I think Sue needs one to get to school. It's
not a question of money, but I don't want her looking all that different from the
other kids.  On the other hand, I can't stand anything mechanical that doesn't
work well... *very* well.  I want to get Susan a car that looks like the basic
high-school junkie, but good.  Do you think you can help?  I know you have
friends I suspect do this for a living.  Am I right?"

"I caught your drift at the beginning Kathy, and I've been thinking.  I want
Susan in a car that won't mess her up too much.  Air conditioning, for example,
understand?  I have an idea.  Mazda makes a car, the 323 GTX.  Now it's a real
pocket rocket, with a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, Recaro seats, three
spoilers on the rear -- the whole nine yards.  Now, what if you bought one new? 
I have friends that could take off the spoilers, paint it a standard factory
color, that sort of stuff.  It would look like Susan's driving a 323 which is
sort of an econobox.  Now, Kathy, make no mistake. Susan would look like she's
driving a new 323 you can pick up for less than $10,000.  The additional work
isn't much.  How does it sound?"

"Honey, how does it sound to you?" Kathy asked Susan.

"Mom, could we?  Really?  A car of my very own to drive to school?  Fantastic! It
sounds fantastic."

"Okay, Will.  It's a deal.  I'll order the car tomorrow.  Does it matter what the
original color is?"

"No, ma'am, but a light color would be good if they have one.  Now, the car comes
with some things like a sunroof, rear wiper, and the seats that aren't available
on a normal 323, but I don't think anyone will notice.  My friends will deliver
it back to you a week or ten days after they get it.  Okay?"

"Will, it's a deal!" Kathy said.  "Now, let's see about dinner, shall we?"

The dinner was a spectacular success.  Later, while driving home, Kathy said to
Susan, "That was beautiful driving, dear.  And beautiful shooting."

"I'm my mother's daughter!  What more can I say?" Susan responded.  "Mom, you've
been holding out on me.  At dinner I learned that you've killed three men with
that weapon in your purse.  At our table all they could talk about was your
shooting.  'Five shots fired.  Four in the heart, one in the brain.' That's true,
Mom, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so.  I don't really know why I still carry that thing, but it's been
very useful.  Susan, how would you like one with a bra holster?"  They both
laughed at the thought.

* * *

Kathy and Susan went together to meet the educationists at the high school. They
had an appointment with an assistant principal named James Worthington. After
they were shown into Mr. Worthington's office and took seats, Kathy began, "Mr.
Worthington, I've come in this morning to enroll my daughter, Susan, as a junior
in your school."

"That's fine, Mrs. Stark.  May I have a copy of the transcript from her previous
school?"

"Mr. Worthington, there is no previous school.  Susan has had private tutors in
the past.  She has decided that she would like to meet more young people so she
is enrolling in the public schools.  Now, what is the procedure?"

"Why, Mrs. Stark, this is highly irregular.  Surely, she has a transcript."

"From her tutor?  One could be prepared, I suppose, but it would look like no
transcript you've ever seen before.  Should we bother?"

"But... Well... How do we know Susan is equipped to do the work?  I mean...  "

"Why don't you give her an admissions test?" Kathy asked.

"Why that's ridiculous!  There are no admissions requirements.  This is a public
high school."

Kathy had had enough.  With her eyes blazing blue fire she declared, "Mr.
Worthington, you have three choices.  First, admit Susan as a junior and we move
ahead to discuss her course of study.  Second, give her an admissions test.  Her
scores will blow your mind and then we discuss her course of study. Third, do not
admit Susan.  Then I call the Governor and you think about where you might be
able to get a job next year while I go through this again with your successor who
is likely to be more agreeable.  Do you understand the alternatives?"

He nodded, looking like the canary about to be eaten by the cat.

"Wonderful!" Kathy said.  "Now, which of the alternatives would you like to
pursue?"

"Admit her as a junior?" he said tremulously.  His statement was made to sound
like a question.

"That's great!  Now that Susan is a junior, let's talk about her courses, shall
we?  Oh, I will see that a transcript of her prior work is forwarded by her
tutor.  She will need it for her college applications."

On the way home, Susan looked at Kathy strangely.  "Mother, that was cruel.  I
have never seen you act mean to a living soul.  Ever!  Yet you terrorized that
poor man.  Why did you do it?"

Kathy looked thoughtful and finally responded, "Susan, there are certain people I
loathe.  Occasionally it shows.  Usually, when I don't like a person I go out of
my way to be extra nice.  But Mr. Worthington is in the first group.  He stood
between my beloved daughter and her education, an education she underwent a
brutal beating to try to get.  I'm sorry, Honey.  I blew my stack.  Was I really
that bad?"

Susan was giggling.  "I'm sorry, Mom, but he was in such terror!  And you are so
beautiful.  I think of the story of the Amazons.  It's just so funny,
remembering.  Mom, will Dad be home soon?  I can't wait to meet him."

"Very soon," Kathy answered.  "But, dear God, it can't be soon enough!  Susan,
you can't believe the extent of my love for your father.  I absolutely worship
the man.  But I guess you'll see that for yourself pretty soon."