Jennifer White sat in silence and started at the small, slender foot.   The stubby toes, tipped in red polish wiggled nervously.  All that Jon  had just told her was so hard to believe, but she could not deny the  physical evidence presented before her eyes.

“Go ahead touch them” Jon said

“No, I don’t I need to.  So all  these reports of missing people have been because of this Von Crucial person?”

“Afraid so”  Jon said

“So why are you here?  I mean, why didn’t he take you too?

Jon sighed, “I don’t know, the only explanation I have is this guy  didn’t want to bother with us, he only wanted to slow us down.  He’s not  a killer, there’s no money in it but in his eyes, my investigation was  interfering with business and by slowing me down, he’s been able to  create a cushion between us and them.  We’ve been close on a couple of  occasions, but actually apprehending this guy has been almost impossible  and perhaps it is.  Until we can find a way to reverse and prevent  these changes, he has the upper hand for certain.”

“You mention his business, what do you mean?”

“We think he operates a human smuggling ring.  We have been monitoring  several bank accounts of some persons of interest worldwide and  occasionally, we have noticed a large sum of money being wired into an  off shore account after every kidnapping spree.  Judging by the types of  powers VonCrucial seems to possess, it could range from sex trade, to  human oddities to even rare art.”

Jennifer directed the conversation back to Jon.

“So, what are you going to do? How long do you think you are stuck like this?”

“I don’t know.  It could be days, weeks or years.”

Jennifer looked at her ex-husband, picturing him going through monthly  periods, yeast infections and who knows even menopause caused her to  shake her head.  Jon was always the poster child for masculinity.  When  they were married, he played the roll of hunter/gatherer to a tee.  As a  law enforcement professional, his was the role of the alpha male and  always rose to the top among his male peers.  What would this  transformation do to him?  How his is psyche will handle this remains to  be seen, she could understand why Craig has not placed him fit for duty  yet.

“Ummm so do you have any questions?” she asked

“About what?”  Jon replied

“Well, you seem to be having some freshness  issues.  I am here for you  if you need anything…advice…or if you just need to talk”  she said

“God, she’s treating me like I’m one of her girlfriends” he thought.

“I appreciate that Jen, I really do but the nurse gave me some pamphlets to read and there is always the Internet”

Jen realized the embarrassment he has to be feeling and for a moment  felt silly for even offering to help.  When they were married he refused  to let her help him, even when he just had a cold, how would she have  expected him to accept help with the female problems he has now.

“Have to spoken with…what was her name?”

“Do you mean Joy?”

“Yes, um is she ok?”

“I don’t know, all I got from her is a note apologizing.  At the time, I  didn’t understand exactly what for but now, I think she wanted to let  me know that she was sorry that I am paying the price for her  lifestyle.”

“Well, please let me help you with this…and she reached into her purse  and produced a small plastic bottle with yellow fluid in it.”

“What’s that?” he asked

“Nail polish remover.  I’m sorry, but red isn’t your color.” She said and smiled.