Chapter 4
I realized that Stephen was desperate and might also be serious about confronting the blackmailer himself. Stephen shared that his wife is on some heavy-duty medications since Melanie killed herself. If Stephen was killed, or arrested for killing the blackmailer, his wife would surely have more serious problems.
Besides, I can’t ignore his asking for help. He only wants me to find out who is doing the blackmailing.
Now that I think about that, then what happens? I’ll just identify who it is and then see what Stephen plans to do. He already said he can’t make this public. Now, I’m more concerned about my involvement. I better get some advice.
*.*.*
I made my way around Harvard Square which was blocked off for the parade. Brattle Street had many cars parked along it since it was so close for people who wanted to see the parade. I parked behind the building, but was surprised when I saw Mike’s car parked in one of the parking spaces.
I opened the front door which was unlocked.
“Is that you Scott?” Mike asked from somewhere inside.
“Yes it is.” I walked towards his office.
“I thought I heard the roar of your car,” he said holding his ears.
“Very funny. Happy Fourth of July, Mike.”
“Yes and the same to you. I didn’t expect to see you in today. I thought you would be enjoying a long weekend and your redheaded friend.”
I gave that a quick thought and responded, “Yeah, me too.”
“Oops. Do I detect a problem?”
I smiled and sat down. “You know Mike, I have a lot of respect for you detectives…you don’t miss much.”
“Scott, I’m about done here, and was about to leave. Do you have something you need to take care of, or do you want to join me for a beer?”
“I don’t have anything in particular I was going to do. I was just coming into the office to get my mind off things.” I stood up. “I would love to have a beer, or maybe a couple of pitchers.”
“Lover’s quarrel?” he said smiling and getting up.
“There you go again. Why don’t I keep my mouth shut, and you can tell me what I should do?”
“Sure, after many years of marriage…buy flowers and a box of chocolates.”
“If it were only that easy.”
*.*.*
We walked around the block to the Harvard Pub. We spent many hours here talking about cases when we both worked on the task forces, along with just having a beer or two after work.
The entrance to the pub always surprised me. There was just a window and a door, but once inside, the short hall opened up into a large lounge area with high tables. The bar was off to the left side of the hallway as you came in. Today the lounge and bar was crowded due to the holiday. It didn’t look like we were going to get our usual table or a table at all.
We stood at the end of the hall looking around. Mike’s expression turned to a smile. I felt two breasts pressed into my back and arms wrapped around my waist.
“My, oh my, who would let you out on a long-weekend?” I recognized the sweet voice of Maggie.
I turned around to look down at Maggie’s smiling face and breasts only inches from falling out of a much too small top. “Hi Maggie.”
She looked up and smiled. “Yes Scott, they’re still there.” She looked down at her breasts and pulled them up with both hands. “That reminds me, you both still owe me a visit…you really need to see my dance routine. What else can I get you Scott…Mike?”
I was bright red and could feel it in my ears. “Any chance of a table?”
“Oh, you come see me dance and I’ll get you a table right down front. Other than the stage it’s dark in the club and no one would see your face light up like now.” She turned to Mike. “I just love how I get to him. Happy fourth Mike.” She did a quick look over her shoulder. “Just a minute, I’ll be right back.”
“She does like teasing you, doesn’t she?”
“Yes she does, and she does a good job. I don’t think I could ever see her dance routine. From that point on she would never be dressed again. There’s not much left to the imagination as it is.”
Maggie was waving to us from over near the far wall. We made our way through the crowded pub. “So, where’s the redhead you guys are always flaunting?”
“She’s working today.”
“So, that’s why you look like a lost puppy dog. I just love little puppies. You guys want your usual drafts, or can I get you one of our special pitchers?”
Maggie was not very tall, which was ideal for resting both of her breasts on the table, but she had one hand on my thigh. “I think we could use a pitcher.” I answered with a voice that wasn’t my own.
“I’ll get you a pitcher and a
picture,
” she said with a squeeze, and a big smile. She turned and wiggled away.
“You know Scott, she teases everyone, which is why the owner likes to have her waiting on tables. Being an exotic dancer leaves her very comfortable with her body. However, she
really
likes it when you come in here. I’m sure you’ve noticed that. What’s up that you can talk about?”
I watched as Maggie headed our way with a pitcher and two frozen mugs in one hand and coasters in the other. She threw the coasters from about four feet away and one slid in front of Mike and the other slid off the table into my lap.
She placed the pitcher and one mug on the table and coaster, and then started to reach for the other coaster. “I guess I’m losing my touch, I can usually hit the table from six feet away.”
Mike and I knew her ability with the coasters, and it wasn’t an accident it was sitting in my lap. I picked the coaster up quickly and placed it on the table.
“Scott, you seem a little jumpy today.” She put the remaining mug on the coaster and filled each mug. She reached around her back and placed something on my thigh. “That will give you a little preview of my routine, and I’m sure something to get you up and going in the morning.” She winked.
I looked, and it was a picture of her doing a routine. I turned red, but didn’t know if the picture was upside down or not. I didn’t know what to say.
“Thanks for the compliment Scott. Keep that to yourself…okay?”
I put the picture in my shirt pocket. Then looked over at Mike and he was almost choking on his beer.
When Maggie left and I had downed half my glass of beer and felt I could talk in my own voice I said, “I do have something to talk to you about.”
“Let’s have it.”
*.*.*
“I have a problem.”
“Just one?”
“Funny man.” I looked to make sure Maggie wasn’t going to disturb us, or more exactly – me. “It involves Mercedes’ father, Stephen.”
“I take it it’s not related to the real estate project you’re working on for him?”
“I wish it was. No, this is much more serious, and you’re the only one I think I can share enough of what’s going on to guide me.”
“How can I help?”
“Stephen has asked me to do a private investigation for him, but Mercedes is asking me to stay away from any future investigations. She doesn’t know anything about her father asking for my help. She’s concerned I almost bit off more than I could chew—“
“Did you call me Scott?” Maggie asked from behind me.
“As a matter of fact, would you please bring us another pitcher.”
“Oh, just a pitcher…I thought you wanted…never mind, I’ll bring you another. Gentlemen, need anything to eat?” She said it with a deliberate straight face.
“Mike, do you want some rings?” I asked.
“Sure, that sounds fine.”
Maggie tugged up on the top of her outfit. “I’ll be right back boys.”
“Phew, where was I?”
“You were explaining your problem involving Stephen and Mercedes.”
“Right. Mike, I need your advice as to what to do. I want to help Stephen with his investigation, but I also don’t want to ruin my relationship with Mercedes.”
“Is there any danger connected with the investigation?”
“There could be. Someone is blackmailing him and he wants me to find out who it is.”
He studied me for a moment, and then responded, “Scott, I would say this could indeed be dangerous.”
“Are you guys talking about me again?” Maggie asked as she came up from behind me.
“No we weren’t…talking about you. You’re not dangerous.” I answered, and then immediately regretted the words.
“Well Scott, you might say that now, but if you saw me dance you might have another opinion. I’ll let you think about that, and get your onion rings, which should be hot and ready by now.” She said that in a normal voice, but then came over and leaned against me, and whispered in my ear, “Scott, I caught that no good husband of mine with one of the other dancers. We’re now separated and soon to be divorced. Please come see me dance. Will you do that for me?”
I looked at her and she looked like her emotions were starting to show, her eyes sparkling. “I will seriously give that some thought.”
She smiled and winked, and tugged at the top of her outfit and wiggled away.
“What may I ask was that all about?”
I took a deep breath before I answered. “She’s almost single again and really wants me to see her dance.”
“She’s right Scott. Seeing her dance sounds more dangerous than the investigation, especially if Mercedes finds out about it.”
“Mike you never answered me about the investigation. What do you think?”
“I think you should do as Mercedes asked and let our office do the investigation for Stephen.”
Maggie arrived with the rings and another round. “I thought Scott could use another beer, so I brought both of you another.” She reached between her breasts and pulled out what looked like another picture. She put it in my white shirt pocket and tapped on the pocket. “Just something for…later.” She smiled and spun away.
I didn’t dare look at what she gave me. However, I could smell the fragrance emanating from my pocket.
Mike watched the exchange and then asked, “Would you like to explain to Stephen why you can’t do the investigation, and then mention our alternative? Do you really want to risk your relationship with Mercedes? If you want my opinion, don’t get yourself involved. You can’t afford to lose her, or worse, your life.”
“So Scott, what will it be?”
Chapter 5
Dr. Adler looked at her baby picture which was now wrinkled from his handling. His life changed the day she entered his world. That was well over twenty years ago. She was covered in hair, which they thought she would have to live with all her life.
At the time she came to stay at the hospital, the disease called Ambras Syndrome was not well known. Her condition was later diagnosed as Circumscribed Hypertrichosis. However, when she reached puberty the hair regressed.
He spent years with her trying to deal with her emotional instability and lack of self-esteem. He used post-hypnotic suggestions to give her a better feeling about herself.
Despite her current beauty, he still needs to work with her so that when she looks in the mirror, she sees how beautiful she really is. All she sees is how she looked as a hairy monster. Despite all of his recent attempts, she has confessed that when she looks in the mirror, all she sees is the image of her earlier disfigurement.
He pulled one of the more recent photos of her. All of the lanugo hair has long since disappeared. Her body is the color of fine porcelain. Her hair is a bright red and has only been slightly trimmed since birth. He liked to see her hair partially covering her naked breasts, the long strands reaching almost to her navel. The triangle patch of hair where her thighs meet is a much lighter color and soft to his touch.
He has many Polaroid pictures of her naked body. When she’s not actually with him, the pictures help him fulfill his other fantasies.
He still finds it amazing that she has never felt ashamed of what they do while she is under his hypnotic spell. For many years he has been her lover. He has contemplated sharing with her what they do together, but fears it would end his ability to continue. He can’t tell a soul what he does with her, as it would mean he would be relieved of his managing the care facility and could also get him disbarred, and possibly arrested. He thinks often about the day he will share what they have been doing all these years. However, he’s concerned his reward of her beauty and her body is too much to risk telling her.
He can’t tell her about how he has fallen in love with her, and he certainly needs to maintain the ultimate of discretion from the other caregivers at the institution. All they know is that for years he signs her out of the facility to his home to help her transition to the outside world. His fabricated reports talk about her progress toward that end.
*.*.*
They spent hours in this secret room in his basement. During the day, light would filter in from the two windows high on the basement wall. At night, light from the small lamp on the nightstand would cast a soft glow on her body. When he planned this room he purposely located it at the back of the house, making sure it was away from any people passing by on the sidewalk.
Now, the cool air of the room was sensual against his naked body. He stood against the foot of the bed, closed his eyes and pictured her once again naked on the sheet covered bed. Her ankles restrained by the ropes at each corner. Her wrists slipped into the other ropes at each bedpost. She could normally remove her wrists anytime she felt the need. She never did, but this time he made sure she couldn’t. The white of her body against the black sheets was an erotic sight.
He could hear his rushed breathing and his heart pounding. Despite all the things he normally does with her, now he was doing the things he really wanted to do.
He imagined her shock of what he was doing and her predicament registering in her wide eyes—this time she was trapped.
In spite of how much talent she had learned in the fine art of lovemaking—it wasn’t enough to satisfy his cravings. He was going to make her pay for what
she
had created. He had always made sure he didn’t leave any scars on her body, but this time he didn’t care.
She had always been a willing student, but this time she was crying out for a different reason.
*.*.*
Minutes later he opened his eyes and realized what he had done. In spite of all of his medical training and credentials he couldn’t control his behavior. In just a matter of hours he would have the real thing for three whole days and nights.
Why couldn’t he wait?
Will this be the weekend he fulfills his most wicked desires, or will he be content for the fire inside her body? Why is that not enough?
Right now he had to control himself. He had trained her well, but he had created a monster within himself. He wasn’t proud of his behavior, but he had gone too far and was lost forever. His guidance had succeeded in creating a girl, no a woman, capable of satisfying both their needs.
He knew deep inside him it was getting harder and harder not to fulfill his deepest fantasies whether she was willing or not.