Complete story recovered and migrated from Classic Big Closet

Rebecca's Revenge

By Constance Grant

Copyright (c) 1999, 2000 by Constance Grant Manasquan, NJ all rights
reserved

This is a work of fiction, any resemblance to actual persons or events is
unintended.

If it's illegal for you to read this - DON'T.

Preface

This began as a short story, so much for good intentions!

My thanks to HR Music for his wit and patience.
Without his editing and suggestions, this would be a much poorer effort.

Also thanks to Lacey Deveraux of the sharp eyed Deveraux,
for uncovering more lurking bugs.

All of which would be unnecessary had this author been more skillful.
Remaining errors are mine, the corrections were, well - correct.

Constance Grant, Manasquan NJ
December, 1999

Do not forget little one, when one is given great gifts,
a great price may be extracted.

Demonology (1206)

Chapter 1 - In the Beginning

All things truly wicked start from an innocence.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
. . . I had ridden this trail a hundred times; Marshal, the horse I was riding
could navigate it at a gallop by the dawn's half-light. But today he slowed
to a walk near the lily pond near the rear of the estate, you know, near the
fieldstone wall. It was a soft morning, seemingly too warm for the wisps of
mist clinging to the lake's surface. I heard a horse whinny in recognition of
Marshal's presence.

At thirteen my first impulse was to sneak up on whoever was there and
shout boo. When I left the new stable a half-hour ago, the other five
horses were still their stalls, so whoever was here must have just arrived. I
looped Marshal's rein around a low branch, and walked up to the bluff
overlooking the lake, and the Hudson River shimmering golden in the
distance.

Christina was standing in the soft light of dawn, far more beautiful than any
model; she was even more beautiful than God's dawn. I stood admiring her
beauty, it was a minute until she sensed my presence, and turning to me she
said, "This is so beautiful Nicholas. Do you come here often?"

I untied my tongue, it seemed to take forever until I could finally say, "Yes
Christina, but without you it will never again look the same to me."

She smiled, and then sitting down on the watcher's stone she requested,
"Come sit by me, we will enjoy the view together."

So, Becky we sat together for a good hour, and after a while, she held my
hand. I was so absorbed by her presence I can't remember what we talked
about, I guess as they say in the books everything and nothing. Becky I
know it's unrealistic of me, very foolish, but now I'm just fifteen and I have
never wavered from that moment two years ago. I love her so, sometimes
so deeply it hurts. You must be sick of my telling you about it by now, but
thank you for not saying so, as it gives me joy to share my feelings with
you.

The most wonderful thing happened early this morning, a fantasy extension
to that memory. I would die if she knew, but I have to tell you, as you are
the only person who will understand that I love her, and am not just telling
a dirty story. I'm not thinking impure and licentious thoughts, because,
regardless of what Brother Mark says, those two words can't exist in the
same context as Christina.

Just before I woke today I was reliving my favorite memory half-awake,
half-asleep, but this time, in my dream she kissed me after holding my hand.
Then we were hugging and lying back on the cool moist grass. We were
kissing so our tongues were probing each other's mouths, just like in
Hemingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.'

Somehow my pants were open and dickey was very hard, I've told you how
that's been happening to me a lot, even when I'm not thinking of Christina,
sometimes at the most inappropriate moments. Anyway, in the dream it
was most appropriate. We were holding each other warmly and dickey
was in the most wonderful warm place, I think between Christina's legs, but
I think not in her pussy.

Then this feeling of total ecstasy, a wonderful sensation unlike anything
that I have ever felt overcame me, and just as wave after wave of feeling
washed over me, I fully woke up. I must confess my jockey shorts were a
yucky mess. I know it's called a wet dream; the other boys talk about it
like it's a joke, but let me tell you it's truly beautiful. I just wish I could
share my ecstasy physically with Christine, it is entirely too wonderful to
keep to myself.

Thank you for letting me share this moment with you, I need to post this
now and I hope I will find a letter from you.

As ever, your devoted and loving brother.

Nicholas, May 20, 1998

PS: I can't wait until I see you in twelve days for a whole summer, I'm
literally counting the hours - 284 as of now!

PS: Don't give into to Alexis; I'm sure Aunt Jen is on your side. I will lend
my voice when I get home.

It surely isn't how I expected life to unfold when I wrote that letter to
Becky many years ago, but if I don't reflect too deeply, it's better.

Let me start at the beginning. I was first of a set of twins born about seven
AM on April 19, 1983, unfortunately my mom died minutes after my sister
was born. As we got older dad, Robert Vincent Hayes, explained that
mom had died from a previously undiagnosed heart condition - and that we
should not blame ourselves, but Becky and I always felt that deep down he
did, I know we did. Nevertheless, he named me Nicholas Robert after his
dad, and my sister Rebecca Anne after our mom.

After mom's death, dad led a carefree life of adventure. He was a
photojournalist and traveled much of the time to various places throughout
the world - chasing one hot story after another. His twin sister, Jennifer
Marie Hayes-Ravlon, Aunt Jen to me, joyfully took over the task of raising
Becky and I, just days after our birth. Aunt Jen's daughter Nicola was two
days older than Becky and I, and Aunt Jen insisted on nursing us all as her
own for the first months of our lives, and always referred to us as her
children. We had joint birthday parties each April 18 as if we were triplets
- as we truly felt we were. I was their brother, and they were my sisters in
every material way, if not biologically or in law. Often it seemed we
children could read each other's minds and feelings, Becky and I were
particularly close, and we could not mask the truth or our actual feelings
from each other.

In addition to raising us, Aunt Jen continued with the active management
of the Hayes conglomerate. After mom's death dad chose not to partake at
all in the active management of the business, and in fact signed over his half
interest's voting rights to Aunt Jen. However, as I got older, I was made to
understand those rights and attendant responsibilities would devolve to me
whenever Aunt Jen thought I was worthy.

Mike Ravlon, Aunt Jen's husband, focused on the Ravlon division, which
had been a subsidiary of Hayes since just before their marriage. I always
thought it smacked of joining of great houses, or alliances of blood
between countries, but then I always had a very active imagination.

Raising children is never easy, but the family was especially wealthy, which
eased Aunt Jen's task immeasurably. The household staff numbered
nineteen, eight of whom lived in. Our Nanny Heidi, her helpers Jose and
Sally, Aunt Jen's personal maid Jody, the head groundskeeper Kyle, the
chauffeur Giles, the head housekeeper Mrs. Hammer, and her husband the
chef, Chef Robert as everybody called him.

We were brought up in a lovely home, the same home where dad and Aunt
Jen were raised, as well as seven previous generations of the Hayes family.
Physically the mansion was located a few miles south of Nyack, NY and
was a sprawling Edwardian structure set in fifty acres of pristine land
overlooking the Hudson River.

Aunt Jen is a warm and loving person, she took a real interest in raising all
of us, and I always considered her my real mom. While she was very active
in business, from the time we were infants she would read to us each night,
and when we were old enough we would each read to her. Even if she
expected company, she would sit with us through our supper meal in the
clubroom, most often eating her supper with us. When Uncle Mike or dad
was in town, we would all take our meals together in the formal dining
room. By example, she taught us to be polite and witty, discussing the
day's activities and world events during meals. Even though I had to
shower first and wear a jacket and tie, it was a treasured time of day for
me.

Aunt Jen insisted on truthfulness from us in our dealings with her, and if we
told the truth we were seldom punished, however if we lied to her it would
go worse for us. In fact, most of the time we were smart, and told Aunt
Jen the truth.

Once, when I was about seven, I cut down several prize roses in the
hothouse while imagining I was John Paul Jones defending Old Ironsides,
and I lied about doing it to Aunt Jen at the dinner table. Becky knew the
truth, and of course said nothing, but after dinner, she asked me what I was
going to do now. We talked it over and decided the right thing was to tell
Aunt Jen at dinner the next evening.

The next night, as soon as we sat down I told Aunt Jen in front of everyone
that I had lied. She told me, "Nicholas I'm very disappointed you found it
necessary to lie to me, but I am pleased that you rectified your mistake. To
help you remember the lesson in the future, I would appreciate your
bringing me a dozen fresh roses to my room every morning before school,
for a month. Further, I would like for you to personally select, cut, and
arrange the flowers for me - without wearing gloves."

At first, Becky helped me select the roses and directed their arrangement in
the vase, but I cut and handled the roses myself. The first day my hands
were a mess with many scratches, no matter how careful I was, it seemed a
thorn was always in the way. However, by the end of the month my touch
was so controlled I could do the whole job myself without a scratch. The
last day of my duty Aunt Jen held my scratch free hands and kissed them
saying, "I see you have learned more then one lesson dear, I'm very proud
of you." So was I, and even after the punishment I would bring her roses
frequently.

Uncle Mike, and dad when he was home, spent a lot of time with me, 'To
rescue you from all the damn girls in the house!' Uncle Mike would boom.
Chef Robert spent a lot of time with me as well, and I became a pretty fair
chef by the age of ten. I always felt like a boy, as Aunt Jen made sure I
joined cub scouts and later boy scouts, little league, I even took karate
achieving a black belt. I was an excellent horseman and practiced polo,
often with Uncle Mike. Uncle Mike and dad took me hunting, deep sea
fishing, and shooting at every opportunity, they saw to it that I had golf,
tennis, squash, hell you name it, and I took lessons, and enjoyed doing it.
Occasionally dad took me on trips with him if they promised to be short,
and was in a safe location.

On rainy days I often played dress up with my sisters, they loved to dress
me in a tux and pretend I was the bridegroom of one of them getting
married, in return they played with my trucks, cars, and trains. In all we
were very happy growing up in an atmosphere of mutual love, and
deprived or mistreated in no way.

That all changed, after our tenth birthday - on June twentieth dad
remarried. Alicia was a well-known television journalist specializing in
foreign assignments. They had met on several common assignments; she
was gorgeous, bright, and totally disinterested in raising children.
Nevertheless, Becky and I moved in her large Manhattan apartment with
them. Shortly thereafter dad decided that we would be far better off in
boarding school, he had gone to boarding school and maintained, "It builds
character, it may take a few weeks, but you will both love it."

In fact, Becky and I overheard Alexis shouting to Dad late one night,
"Either you get those whiny brats out of here, or I'm out of here!" What
the hell did she expect, whenever dad's back was turned, she was always
pinching us.

I was sent to Saint Bernard's Academy in northern New Jersey and Becky
to Saint Mary's outside Philadelphia, PA. To say we were unhappy is a
gross understatement, but no matter how many buckets of tears were shed,
two months and one week after dad remarried we were installed in our
respective schools. In retrospect, the only thing that made our time apart
bearable was our letters to each other. Every week without fail, mostly
three or four times a week we exchanged letters. Long candid letters in
which we held nothing back from each other.

In truth, our schools were very good and the respective staffs of nuns or
brothers cared for us and educated us, but they did not love us - except in
the generic biblical sense. We were both very intelligent, I found out my
IQ by sneaking a look at my records - during a session when my guidance
counselor was called out of the office - it was one hundred and sixty six.

Moments later, Brother Clement caught me looking, he smiled and said,
"When your IQ is that high, the test numbers are totally unreliable. I don't
want you to get a swelled head, but over several different tests your results
are consistently the highest I've ever seen."

Becky and I appeared to be doing very well, seeming to adjust and I'm sure
dad never doubted for a moment that he did the right thing by us. We were
out of Alicia's sight, and that was all she cared about. Between the two of
them, they spent most of the time on assignment, and it turned out that
from the time they were married the only holiday we spent with them was a
few days at Christmas, and a week or two in the summer. Some years not
even that.

Fortunately Aunt Jen more then filled in for them, I was closer and could
reasonably come home most weekends, Becky made it every other
weekend, and of course, every holiday. On the weekends Becky came
home, Giles, Aunt Jen's chauffeur would pick me up at school early and I
would ride to St. Mary's with him, then Becky and I would hash all the
events that transpired since we parted on the ride home. I saw more of
Aunt Jen then Becky, but I faithfully wrote to her all about everything, and
she said that she felt that she was there with us.

When I was just thirteen Uncle Mike died of a heart attack, and as the
family was very prominent, the details made the papers in dribs and drabs.
Everyone tried to keep them from us children, except our schoolmates of
course. It seems that Uncle Mike died while in the act, with his
fifteen-year-old mistress, at the time he died. Aunt Jen was upset, but her
grief was overshadowed by the ongoing revelations - within two weeks of
his internment, she just looked damn angry to me.

A few weeks after his death Nicola and Becky got their first periods and
Aunt Jen had them refer to her as Jennifer from then on. She became
closer to the girls and frequently went shopping and things with them.
Nanny Heidi developed a kidney infection about that time and Miss.
Christine Maxwell was brought in to help her out. Tina as we called her, at
fifteen was exceptionally beautiful and bright. She had long golden blond
hair, green eyes you could fall into, the face of a model with the grace and
poise to match. In a bathing suit, she was breathtaking.

Becky told me Christina had some sort of a rare health condition and she
didn't attend regular school, but had private tutors, and saw a doctor three
or four times a week. At the time, we thought she had some sort of a rare
blood disorder, however she looked and acted just fine to me.

We all loved her, as you noted, I more than the others combined did. She
in fact became a companion for Nicola and Becky (when she was in
residence,) not a Nanny's assistant, and at thirteen, I fell hopelessly in love
with her. Of course, the only person I told was Becky, and frequently in
my letters, I would pour my heart out to her when we were parted and in
person when we were together. She must have tired hearing me out, but
she never gave the slightest indication that she had.

Kyle and I became close after Mike's death. He had played professional
soccer in England, and when I showed a real interest in Soccer he coached
my junior team, and as there were no other men available he became my de
facto driver, companion and as I now know, bodyguard. He was head
groundskeeper and had the eight men working for him organized like a
military unit, and in fact, he had a lot of spare time to devote to me without
the grounds suffering one iota.

On the most exciting day of my fourteen and a half years, he saved my life
and I saved his. The car we mostly used was a big old white Mercedes,
affectionately nicknamed the tank. We were on our way back from the
Paramus Fencing School, late one cold Saturday afternoon in early
November 1997. Snow was falling and the roads were icing when a car
seemed to deliberately cut us off forcing us toward the river. Kyle
recovered beautifully, and avoided hitting anything and regained the road.
The car attempting to cut us off was not as fortunate and became stuck in
the slush near the river.

Kyle continued without stopping, another car pulled up in the passing lane
and I saw what looked like a Uzi machine gun pointed at us from the
passenger's open window. I yanked the wheel to the right shouting to Kyle
to duck, Kyle had a firm grip on the wheel and we only swerved a little, but
it was enough for most of the bullets to miss him. However, they shattered
the windshield and his window raining glass on us. With two powerful
swipes of his gloved hand, he cleared most of the remaining plastic and
glass from the windshield.

There were quite a few cars on the road, but despite the other cars, the
wind and wet snow pelting our faces, Kyle accelerated and began to pull
away from the other car. A mile on we hit a slick of ice just as Kyle had to
swerve to miss a head on collision with an oncoming car, itself in an out of
control skid. We ended up off the parkway in a ditch.

We both piled out and raced to the rear of the car; I had the presence of
mind to grab my equipment bag where a cell phone was stowed. The car
chasing us stopped and two men got out and began to fire at us with Uzi
machine guns. To my surprise, Kyle pulled out a gun and fired back hitting
one of the attackers immediately.

As shots were exchanged I crouched down behind our car and hit the redial
on the cell phone, it happened Giles picked up on the first ring. I succinctly
explained what was happening, and where we were, but just then, Kyle was
hit, and it looked bad to me as he dropped like a rock. I passed that to
Giles, he told me to hang up, and he would get help to us, and call right
back.

I picked up Kyle's gun from the snow and looked around our car, two of
the attackers were down, but a third man holding a pistol was getting out
of the back of his car. I fired at him twice and the slide of my gun locked
back indicating it was out of cartridges. Fortunately, whoever the dapper
man was, he didn't like to be shot at, he hastily got back in the car, and it
pulled away. I ran up and memorized the license plate and make of car as
it pulled away.

Then I looked after Kyle. He was shot several times; the most obvious was
a neck wound that was bleeding heavily. I made a compress out of my
handkerchief and held it to the wound slowing down the blood flow
appreciably.

It seemed forever until a NJ Highway Patrol car screeched to a stop, and
within minutes, an ambulance arrived with paramedics a car length behind.
I wanted to go to the hospital with Kyle, but as I was uninjured, the State
policeman insisted that I stay with him. Within minutes, there were a
dozen police cars on the scene, and as I wasn't very nice to the first
patrolman, I was locked out or reach of my phone in the rear of his patrol
car.

Then Giles pulled up in the limo, and soon several other men pulled up and
conferred with him; at least one of which was a family lawyer. I was
brought to the State Police barracks, and gave a complete statement with
our lawyer present. Because the (overbearing first) State Trooper on the
scene had not paid attention to my attempts to tell them what had
happened, the attackers got clean away. Except for the two Kyle had
killed. I did have the useless satisfaction of having every part of my story
verified, including the description of the dapper man in overcoat and the
attacker's car, which had been stolen and was found ditched in a mall
parking lot.

Late that night Giles drove me to the hospital and we saw Kyle briefly, he
was going back into surgery and it was the last time that I would see him
for several years. I missed Kyle badly, as we had really grown quite close.

Earlier, when I reached Giles he was on his way back from Kennedy airport
after dropping Jennifer off. She was on her way to Japan over the polar
route and could not be reached for nearly twelve hours. I went back to
school Sunday night and didn't see her for two weeks. Outside of
complimenting me for keeping a cool head, it was years before she
mentioned the incident to me again.

On the way to school, I rode to Philadelphia with Becky and we hashed the
whole incident every which way. Our conclusion was that it was an
aborted attempt to kidnap me, failing that to kill me, but outside of being
rich, we couldn't figure a motive. Becky could see that I was upset and
began to tell me details of her Saturday, shopping, hairdresser, and such
with Jennifer, Nicola, and Tina. The normalcy of her day calmed me, and I
always wanted to hear every detail of what Tina did.

On the way back to my school when we were alone Giles only said I would
not be that exposed in the future, and not to worry. He also told me Kyle
would live, but that he had a million dollar wound, and as soon as he was
able, he was returning home to Scotland to recover. He had me tell him all
the details and was very interested in my description of the dapper man, but
he told me little more than I knew. He did say that it would be best if I
didn't talk to my classmates about the incident - I didn't.

Chapter 2 - Tragedy's Aftermath

When you close your eyes to tragedy, you close your eyes to
greatness.
Stephen Vizinczey (b. 1933)

I was almost fifteen and at school when it happened, while watching a little
league game Nicola was hit in the head by a foul ball. Mrs. Hammer called
me at the academy and I immediately went AWOL, hitching rides to get
home, but by the time I arrived, Nicola had died from an embolism in her
brain - a million to one occurrence the doctors said.

Becky hitched too and showed up a few hours after I, and between us, we
helped Aunt Jen get through the worst of it. I went back to school a few
weeks later, just in time for finals, and had no trouble making up what I
had missed. Hell, even though I was in the most advanced classes offered I
was a good year ahead in my books anyway.

Becky refused to go back to St. Mary's demanding to stay with Aunt Jen.
Dad approved (they were in South Africa at the time covering a story) but
Alexis vetoed the idea, before the issue was resolved summer vacation was
on us, and Becky was still with Aunt Jen.

A few months later tragedy struck again, it was three weeks before school
started for the fall term. Dad and Alicia sent for Becky, so that she could
spend a week with them in France. I was to come the following week. In
Alicia's words, "So that the children could individually reacquaint
themselves with us." Becky finished Alexis' thought, "And I can break
your legs, chain and lock you up in Philadelphia."

To which I replied, "Yeah, the inconsiderate bitch, don't you give in to her!
I don't believe Aunt Jen will make you - not when push comes to shove,
and believe me I'll make sure that it will. 'Reacquaint themselves...' gag me
with a damn spoon. Stupid woman, we would much rather be on vacation
together."

It happened on the sidewalk outside the American Embassy. Sudanese
terrorists made a statement with a bomb - and Becky, Alicia, and dad was
killed.

I went to Aunt Jen's room as soon as I heard the news, and she was
inconsolable, regardless of physical distance, she and dad telephoned and
wrote frequently - they were very close; she was in such a state a doctor
was called and gave her tranquilizers.

I spent a lot of time with her until I went back to school, she seemed to
enjoy my reading to her, and I spent hours in the sunroom reading poems
and short stories. I was terribly sad and missed Becky so very much, the
only good thing was that Christina spent a lot of time with me - just riding,
walking, and talking. At the time, Tina didn't replace Becky by any means,
but she did draw me back from the depression I was falling into. I
suggested to Aunt Jen that I delay further going back to school, but she
insisted dad would want my education continued.

Reluctantly, and with a heavy heart I left for school in mid October. It was
awful for me there, my mailbox was mostly empty, and each day as I
passed it, it reminded me with a knife in my guts, a knife bearing the
message 'never again.' To keep my mind off my loss the Brothers roped me
into one time-consuming assignment after another. While I'm sure they
were well intended, it didn't work, and it just kept me from going home.

As Thanksgiving neared, I firmly refused any new assignments; I cleared
leaving school on the Friday before Thanksgiving with the rector and called
Mrs. Hammer. She sent the limo for me, during the ride home Giles told
me Aunt Jen was still inconsolable. He was clear that they were all very
worried about her withdrawal from everything - he was visibly very upset
at her condition, and that was not like Giles to show any emotion.

He wasn't exaggerating; when I first went into her room, I didn't recognize
her. She was a beautiful woman, and normally she was tastefully made up
and fastidious in her appearance. Two years before, after a short, but
decent interval, she'd successfully resumed the day-to-day management of
the conglomerate. Even after Nicola's death she resumed work after a few
weeks, but now, months latter, she hadn't even looked at the two-foot high
stack of papers marked 'Urgent' waiting on her desk. I looked at her
closely, noticing that she was drawn and had lost considerable weight. She
wasn't a heavy woman to begin with, but at five seven, I doubted she now
weighed ninety pounds.

She smiled when she saw me, but when I asked if she would like me to
read to her, she replied, "Not now dear, maybe later." Attempts to draw
her into conversation were also fruitless; in fact, she fell asleep in mid
sentence talking to me.

After supper, I had a momentous talk with Christina in the study.

"God, but I m glad you are home." She said with real feeling.

"Isn't there something we can do, anyone can do?"

"There have been a gaggle of doctors and priests in and out, but nothing
they do seems to snap her out of it. The medication stops the crying, but
doesn't seem to help her otherwise. She is just wasting away. If something
isn't done, I'm afraid she will die from a broken heart or worse. Giles told
me she requested a pistol from him, some nonsense about possible
burglars."

I thought of Great-grandfather Hayes who had shot himself in this very
room. "Christ, so that's why he was so worried about her, he didn't tell me
about a gun."

"Yes, she has it in the night table on her side of the bed. Giles gave it to
her unloaded, but she asked for the cartridges a day later and he had to
give them to her."

"When was that?"

"Just this Wednesday. Look Nicholas, that woman means more to me then
you can possibly imagine. I know you love and care for her deeply - its up
to us, we must do something, and soon!" She leaned over and gripped my
leg for emphasis, sending totally inappropriate shivers of desire to my
brain.

"Ok, clearly we have to make her focus on something besides her grief,
something to absolutely demand her attention, something she can't ignore."

"I have tried everything I could think of, I even dressed up like Nicola and
then Becky and tried to engage her, but she looked at me a long time finally
saying, 'Thank you dear, I truly love you, but you aren't my blood.' That
hurt me, but it's true."

"Shit."

"I even tried inventing problems with Mrs. Hammers help, but Jennifer just
said listlessly, 'Handle it yourselves.'"

"You were on the right track, we just have to come up with something she
can't ignore."

"Say your voice hasn't changed yet, are you up to try something drastic?"

That cut me to the quake, but I had to admit it was true. I swallowed my
pride and said, "What did you have in mind?"

"I think I was on the right track with the impersonation idea, Jennifer did
perk up for several minutes at first, then she crashed. You basically have a
strong family resemble to Becky and to a lesser extent to Nicola, I think I
can make you look a lot like either of them in the right clothes."

"Damn, besides my feelings, which are summed up in one word - 'yuck,'
would Becky want me impersonating her?"

"I know she would want to help Jennifer any way she could, besides when
you were kids didn't you play dress up with the girls?"

"Yeah, but I dressed up in a tux and married them, or in Ken outfits and
they wore Barbie things, I can't remember ever dressing in girl's clothes."

"Are you willing to give it a try?"

"If you think it will help, and if I get caught by anyone, you must promise
to be my witness that I'm doing it for this reason only. Promise?"

"Of course, we have to get started now if you are to bring her breakfast to
her as Becky tomorrow."

"Er, how come. I'll just find a dress that fits and just bring her breakfast to
her."

"It's not that easy, if you are going to be convincing, and not a travesty,
you have to get into your role as a girl, you need to prepare."

"Are you sure this will work?"

"No, but it's the only idea I have, and if you are as cleaver with her as I
think you will be - yes I do believe it will work. I will be with you the
whole time helping you get ready, but you will have to see and convince
her alone." She put her hand on my thigh again.

That was the clincher.

Chapter 3 - The First Time

A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little
smaller.
Paul Klee (1879-1940)

"I think its best that you stay in Becky's room and imagine that you are her.
At times I used to help her with everything, and I will do the same for
you." I felt a terrible sense of loss as I entered her room, but then I
thought I felt a hand, Becky's hand in mine, and I felt welcome. "Please
undress while I run your bath." Tina continued.

"Damn, are you sure this step is necessary?" Undressing in front of women
was not embarrassing to me, after all Aunt Jen and nannies had cared for
me all my life, but Tina was different - at least I hoped to make her so.

"Yes it is, don't be embarrassed, I had brothers and have seen everything."
Not the answer I was hoping for.

While Tina was fussing in the bathroom I made up my mind, ok I will do
what it takes to get Aunt Jen back on track. I grinned at my reflection in
the mirror thinking, 'I guess this qualifies as anything.' I matter of factly
undressed; this sure was nothing like the seduction fantasy I had been
building in my mind for many months.

Tina came back in the room appearing to take no notice of my nakedness
and saying, "Lets see what fits an what doesn't." First, I tried on several
pairs of shoes but all of them were very snug.

"I guess that shoots down this idea." I said hopefully.

"No, not at all, Nicola's feet were larger than Becky's. Wait a minute I'll be
right back. Oh, please watch the tub for me."

I went into the bathroom and thought at first it was overflowing, but it was
just the suds from the bubble bath. However, I sat on the hamper and
watched it as it filled. The sound of the water relaxed me and took my
mind off what we were about.

Soon Tina was back with an armful of shoes and called to me, I turned off
the water and joined her in the bedroom. Over a pair of Becky's
knee-highs these shoes fit perfectly - I was distressed to note.

Then Tina looked in Becky's underwear draws and selected several items.
The first she tried on me was a boned waist cincher with garters, which
while snug was not too tight, Tina nodded with satisfaction at the effect. I
remembered Becky complaining about having to wear one for some outfits,
and my quick answer of how grown up it made her look - what goes
around, comes around.

Then Tina ran her hands all over my body observing the little blond hair I
had on my body was unnoticeable, embarrassingly dickey was coming to
full attention, something no one beside myself had seen. She was squatting
in front of me checking my legs for hair when she said, "Now that's much
more then I expected." Seeing my red face she quickly continued, "Don't
worry, its very normal and healthy, I'll help you with it later."

Still blushing I tried on a bra, I was surprised to note it was padded, smiling
Tina adjusted it saying, "Becky needed a little help last year, this is just
what you need to start with." While she helped me off with it I
remembered Becky telling me how grown up she felt at the time. Dickey
was bobbing at full attention now.

"Good, the basics fit, get into the tub, and begin to imagine that you are a
lovely girl."

I was glad to get in the tub and hide dickey under concealing bubbles, it
may not have embarrassed Tina, but it sure as hell did me. Tina told me to
lean back and she would do everything for me, she folded a towel to pillow
head telling me to close my eyes as she stroked my head. In minutes, I felt
the tension drain out of me as the fragrant bubbles and her caress worked
their magic.

She must have been in tune with my body, as no sooner had I relaxed
completely, she had me stand and started to rub soap filled sponges all, and
I do mean all, over my body. But it only served to further relax me, and I
found it unbelievably pleasant. I knew Becky took a bubble bath every
night, sometimes with Tina assisting, and I was thinking, 'Why didn't she
tell me, really tell me, how very fine this is?'

Soaping over, Tina had me sit back in the tub while she shampooed my
hair, rinsing with the aid of a spray hose. Then she told me she was
applying rinse to it. Finally rinsing that pleasant smelling concoction out, I
said, "That's silly, rinsing the rinse."

She giggled, "So much of what we do to be beautiful is, but Becky, you
will see it works." Tina wrapped a towel around my head like I had seen
on Becky hundreds of times. I stepped out of the tub and Tina insisted on
patting me dry with a fluffy warmed towel. Then she did the most amazing
thing, she rubbed my whole body down with a fragrant body lotion, and
dickey went wild when he received his share, but she just said, "Becky
dear, what's his name?"

"Name?"

"Yes."

"Er, I call it dickey."

"Ok dickey, just wait your turn, I promise you it will be worth it."

My senses were in overload, I didn't know if I could wait, but Tina led me
into the bedroom and said, "Wait a minute." She went into Becky's draws
again and returned with a robins-egg-blue short cotton nightgown and a
pair of matching panties. First, she powdered me all over with a big fluffy
puff, and then she had me step into the panties pulling them up snug and
slipped the nightgown over my head. The material was much softer and
sweeter smelling then anything I ever wore. Going to the closet, she
brought out a blue satin and lace robe with matching slippers, helping me
into them. I looked into the mirror and was amazed at my resemblance to
Becky - this was her favorite before bed outfit.

"Wow Tina, this might just work. What do you want to do now, watch
TV or read until bedtime?"

"No, I'm afraid there are a few more things we have to do before bed. I
need to curl your hair, do your nails, and prepare for your makeup in the
morning. I always like to do as much at night as possible, and Jennifer
seems to wake early these days, I suspect she just might not sleep very
well. Here sit down at the makeup table."

First Tina brushed out my hair, which was longish, as it hadn't been cut
since before Becky's death. She parted it several ways experimenting,
cutting a few strands as she went. From a drawer she removed a box of
rollers, and from another a squeeze bottle proceeding to put my hair up on
rollers.

As she started on my hair it felt very strange, but I knew Becky had done it
most every night, almost immediately Tina said, "To help you get in role,
let's talk a while like you are Becky. She wrote to you all the time, can you
talk to me as she might, you know, as if you were she discussing things
with me?"

It was awkward at first, but I had reread all her long letters sent to me the
past three years many times since her death, they were filled with every day
minutia, her likes, dislikes, hopes and plans. I found reading them brought
me closer to her, and mitigated my sense of loss. Soon I was conversing
with Tina and exchanging girl talk as I mentally read between the lines of
Becky's letters.

My hair took almost a hour, as Tina had to redo and snip parts as she went
along saying, "Becky, your hair is great, it's not exactly Becky's shade of
blond, but it's close enough - this will work out perfectly." About halfway
through my hair Tina got a bowl of warm water and had me soak my hands
in it.

I was so busy talking I didn't realize Tina was through with my hair;
suddenly she was trimming cuticles, filing and shaping my fingernails. I
hadn't bothered with them in a week or more (nothing new) and she had
something to work with. As we continued talking, she applied a coat of
primer to my fingernails and started on my toenails, ending up by putting a
cotton stick between each toe and applying a primer coat to them. In total
all twenty of my nails, received primer, two coats of color (cherry red,
Becky's favorite) and a coat of super gloss finish.

Then she started on my face, specifically plucking my eyebrows, looking at
a large picture of Becky's face for guidance, filling them in with light pencil,
which she removed with cream when she was satisfied with the effect.
Then she applied sweet smelling face cream, massaging it in, I told her how
fantastic that felt. Smiling she squirted perfume in my hair, behind my ears
and under my arms and grinning broadly my crouch. All the while, we
chatted, by the time she put a pretty night net over my curlers, I felt just
like I was sure Becky felt after such treatment.

Tina said, "Wait here I want to get you something." I examined my painted
nails and toenails, looking in the mirror I couldn't believe I was sitting
there, I remembered Becky writing often about just this kind of moment.
Tina came back several minutes later with a glass of milk and another
bottle of lotion. She locked the door saying, "Its time for bed now, get in,
and I will give you the surprise I promised." For the first time I looked at
the clock and it was almost ten, where did the three hours go since I
stepped into the tub?

Once I was in bed Tina sat on the side and asked, "Have you ever been
with a woman before? Sexually I mean."

I blushed deeply, but answered truthfully, "No, they don't even give us a
chance to play with ourselves in school!"

"Then just relax, I will tell you what to do, and I hope the way we do it will
reinforce your feminine image too. What we will do is a lot like two girls
might do together."

Lying there with curlers in my head dressed in my sister's nighty, I could
believe her. She slowly unbuttoned her blouse and took off her bra. I
gasped at her inviting breasts, I could see the nipples were hard and I
wished to take them in my mouth.

"Touch them very softly, just like your fingers are feathers." I did as she
sat next to me, even though my hands were quivering and dickey was
pushing my panties out. As I touched her, she touched my nipples through
the soft material. Noticing dickey, she freed him by pulling my panties
down, allowing him to stand straight up. We touched each other's breasts
and she said, "Follow what I do to you as closely as you can, be very
gentle, imagine your hands are mine."

We played follow the leader for almost fifteen minutes, touching with
increasing sureness, and I couldn't believe the delightful sensations her
touches and kisses were causing me. And judging by her quivering and
little moans, for her too.

"Is this how girls feel?" I asked her.

"This is how true lovers feel." She moved and removed her skirt and
panties keeping on her stockings and garter belt, and kneeled over me.
"Yes Becky, see this," spreading her lower lips to revile a tiny finger like
organ hidden within. This is my clit, it's a lot like your dickey, please lick it
and these very lightly, follow the leader, until I have my organism, and I
will be doing the same to your clit, I mean dickey."

I followed her instructions and we did kiss, nip, and lick each other, I
mirrored her every move. Her musk was incredibly erotic, but somehow
dickey behaved and we spent several minutes doing each other, I really was
arousing her - her clit and lips became swollen and quivered at my touch -
and of course I was far beyond overload. At the end she took my clit fully
into her mouth, and I filled it with my seed which she swallowed saying
afterward, "That is so sweet of you to share your love with me Becky, you
are a wonderful sensitive lover." We waited a few minutes holding each
other, she got a washcloth and wiped my face and dickey off thoroughly,
and then powdering it's sleeping form she pulled up the panties and the
nighty down.

Tina gave me a pill, explaining, "This is one of Aunt Jen's sleeping pills,
you might need it as the curlers in your hair will likely keep you awake
until you get used to them." I took the pill and drank the milk while Tina
turned off the light and closed my door.

Chapter 4 - A Dream

The distance that the dead have gone
Does not at first appear-
Their coming back seems possible
For many an ardent year.

Emily Dickinson (1830-86)

I have no proof if what I'm about to relate happened in reality, but I firmly
believe that it did. It was the first, but by no means the last time Becky
came to me like this.

***It was very dark and I couldn't see the clock, my eyes focused on a
small bright spot, which seemed to grow in size until it formed a portal, and
Becky stepped out of it into the room. She sat on the bed, but I couldn't
feel the bed move. "Becky is that really you?" I thought.

"Yes, it's really me." Becky's voice said in my head. "This is a wonderful
unselfish thing you are doing Nicholas, we are proud of you here."

"You mean you can see us. Great God, you saw what we did just did?"

"Yes, and it was pretty nice wasn't it?" She said with a smile.

"You guys did that too?"

"No silly, but it's right for you two."

"I hope it is, it's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me, you
know how much I love her. How are you doing, I've missed you terribly."

"It's nice here; our real mom, Alicia, and dad are all here together. Don't
worry about doing things with Tina, what you did wasn't bad, in fact it is
necessary if you are to take my place. If all goes well I will live in your
body beside you."

"That would be great, but doesn't dad think I'm weird doing this?"

Dad stepped through the portal with a woman I don't ever remember
meeting, but I knew was my mom from pictures. "Son, both mom and I
are proud of you, impersonate Becky as well as you can and Aunt Jen will
get well, and by then you may be surprised as well." They all stepped back
into the portal before I could say anything.***

I went back to sleep feeling very warm inside, and if it were a dream, I
remember every detail perfectly, even decades later as I write this.

Chapter 5 - Metamorphoses

Being a sex symbol has to do with an attitude, not looks. Most men think
it's looks, most women know otherwise.

Kathleen Turner (b. 1956)

I woke in the morning to Tina's smiling face saying, "Rise and shine
sleepyhead. Ms. Becky the world awaits your debut."

I glanced at the clock as I swung my feet over the side of the bed, it was
five o'clock, and Tina put Becky's slightly elevated slippers on my feet. I
lifted up her face and asked, "May I kiss you darling Christine?"

She smiled and said, "Yes after you brush your teeth and have your
makeup on, I will show you how girls in love kiss. Do you still want to go
through with this? I don't want to force you."

"Yes, let's do it."

I started to do the necessary.

Tina looked in and said, "From now on sit down when you do that, and in
some dresses I might have to help you." I looked at her quizzically but she
didn't elaborate, then I showered with a large puffy shower cap on and
brushed my teeth.

Out of the shower, Tina patted me dry and powdered me, and I put Becky's
robe back on. Back in the bedroom, I sat at the makeup table and Tina tied
a bib around my neck. "Today I will do it all for you and explain every
step as I go, remember it's taken me years to perfect the techniques, but
you will learn quickly if you practice in your spare time.

Becky, this is foundation. This particular selection is extremely sheer, as
your skin is already very good; it will just make it look a little smoother.

This powder will set the foundation and absorb any excess oil in your skin.
Feel your cheek, now feel my cheek... see just the same." Dickey leaped to
attention. Noticing Tina smiled.

"I like to do my eyes next, for daytime makeup it's fast, two minutes or so,
but evening makeup can take upwards fifteen minutes.

For daytime, I skip the eyeliner steps. Now a light eye shadow, a pastel
blue looks nice on you. Look; see how I feather it so it blends in.

Add a little mascara. Now you have to stop blinking every time I approach
your eye with the brush! Use some willpower I won't hurt you! There,
that's much better; you will be doing this yourself in no time. Notice the
color is light brown, but see how it brings out your lashes, which by the
way are beautiful and totally wasted on a boy.

Now I'll bring out your eyebrows with this pencil, see, I did get it right the
first time.

Personally, I always use a long lasting lip liner, that way I can apply my
lipstick the rest of the day without worrying about exactly hitting the edges
when I touch it up. This is an important step and is almost an art. Your
lips need to be a tad fuller so put a dot here, then one here and on the other
side, connect them using a smooth arcs like so, the same with the lower lip
- like so. Now you fill in the color, like so, using a conventional lipstick."
She filled in my lips, "now purse them like so and the first application in the
morning blot and color again. Ok, I like to wait a minute or so before
blotting the second time, doesn't it feel creamy and yummy? I love lipstick.
That's about it except for the blush, it highlights the cheekbones, but yours
are already very good, so just a little like so. Blend it with a tissue, now
blot your lipstick like so. That's excellent, look at the result." Becky
looked back at me from the mirror; I had to stick my tongue out to be sure
it was I.

Tina handed me an eight by ten of Becky explaining, "The cosmetologists
at Jennifer's Ravlon subsidiary selected Becky's basic makeup and gave her
photos of each for day, evening and formal. This picture is a mirror image,
just as you see yourself in the mirror." I moved up close to the mirror and
the resemblance was unsettling. "It is especially important your make up is
perfect, as cosmetics are one of the cornerstones of the companies
business, Aunt Jen was quite particular about that for you girls, and herself
before her illness.

Now I'll let your hair out." Tina removed the rollers and fiddled with it,
frowning slightly, "We have to get you to a hairdresser soon, the color isn't
quite right and it needs a professional perm."

"Hey, can we reverse all this when I have to go to school next week?"

"Sure, and besides nobody pays that much attention to the color of a boy's
hair." I sure as heck didn't.

"Now lets get you dressed." I noticed on the bench at the foot of the bed
several undies laid out. I took off my robe. "Lets get your cinch on, don't
frown, besides nipping your waist it will remind you to sit straight, you
need the reminder, you were slouching at the makeup table. Just imagine
I'm hugging you, giving you a gentle reminder that you are Becky now, and
that you must sit up straight. Don't worry we will work on one thing at a
time, the real Becky tended to slouch a little too. Just remember how
straight my posture is, and emulate it. You like the way I look don't you?"

"God yes, you are gorgeous."

"Well, good posture is one of the reasons I project that impression."
Dickey was at attention, Tina kissed me lightly on the ear, and whispered,
"I will help you with that in a minute, it mustn't show in your dress." After
last night, I wasn't embarrassed at all, just hopeful. "Put your stockings on
now, bunch them like you have seen Becky do and slip them on." After
two tries for each leg, I got them on and fastened the garters; I stepped
back into the slippers and put on a bra, with Tina fastening it for me. The
sheer stockings felt strange, nice strange; I smoothed them - very nice
strange.

"Becky most girls don't wear stockings these days, in fact they wear pants
and not skirts, but I like to wear stockings and skirts. I find they make me
feel so much more feminine, besides Jennifer preferred you girls dressed
this way, at least at home." I knew Becky had mixed feelings about this;
on the one hand, she liked how she looked in skirts, on the other she
wanted to fit in with her friends. "Come into the bathroom with me."

Standing before the mirrored wall Tina said, "Look at yourself dear, sexy
aren't you, just imagine we are two girls in love, now for your kiss."

Carefully, slowly our lips touched, I know I felt a spark of electricity. We
remained like that for a minute, our lips lightly engaged, and our tongues
gently probing each other seductively, our hands roving.

"What I want you to do now is to touch your breasts lightly through your
bra, use your nails and finger tips, remember last night? Imagine I am
doing yours and you are doing mine, look at your painted nails tweaking
your titties through the bra, now look at how sexy you are." Dickey was
quivering, Tina stood behind me, and reached around to run her nails
lightly up and down dickey, I molded myself to her moaning with pleasure.
She put some fine lotion on dickey, it was terribly erotic to watch her small
hands stroking dickey while I was dressed in Becky's undies, imagining
Tina's hands loving my nipples through Becky's bra. After a minute of
ecstasy dickey erupted, as I kneaded my breasts and nipples Tina continued
milking until the last of my seed was ejected splattering on the mirror.

I leaned back into her and she wrapped her arms around me, I gasped "My
god Tina, where did you learn to do that."

After our breathing slowed down she said, "Someday I'll tell you, but right
now you must get dressed."

Back in the room, I stepped into panties and a full slip, followed by an
amber plaid dress with a full skirt short puff sleeves.

Tina zipped it for me saying, "This was Becky's favorite day dress, do a
twirl, and model it for me." Laughing, I did as asked before the full-length
mirror. "Now curtsey, like this, again." We did it together several times
until I got it right. "Let me help you with your shoes." I lifted one foot at
a time and she put pumps with two-inch heels in a matching color on my
feet. "Perfect, let me see a curtsey now, it feels a little different in heels,
doesn't it." She said smiling.

Next came a necklace with a delicate gold and emerald cross.

I said, "I remember the Christmas two years ago that Aunt Jen gave this to
Becky, she loved it and wore it all the time." A dozen or so thin gold
bracelets on my left and a watch on my right wrist, followed by little gold
and emerald clip on earrings.

"Oh Becky that's just perfect, lets go down to the kitchen and get Aunt
Jen's breakfast tray."

"Yikes, I just thought, what will everyone else say?"

"I've told them you are Becky, and the word of your death was premature.
Only Mr. and Mrs. Hammer know, and they are fully behind this plot."

When I went downstairs everyone called me Becky with not a single
strange glance, only Chef Robert smiled, and said, "We are still the best
chef's in the house - eh," with a big wink.

There were no flowers on the tray, so I walked out to the greenhouse for
some roses and baby breath. The breeze rustling my skirt was a strange
feeling, pleasant, but at the same time, I felt very exposed. I remembered
Becky explaining the feeling to me, but I never really understood it until
now. Back in the kitchen, I brought the flower-adorned tray upstairs.

Chapter 6 - Change of Heart

It appears I am destined for something; I will live.

Robert Clive (1725-74)

Tina knocked on the door to Jennifer's suite, opened it for me, and I went
in alone to see Aunt Jen. She was in her sitting room near the windows,
slouched in a ladies armchair. Several lamps and track lights were on, but
the bright early morning sunlight streaming in deepened the shadows, the
double doors to her bedroom were open and I could see her bed was
unmade. I don't really know what I expected her to say, but a matter of
fact "Put the tray down over there." wasn't it.

I put the tray down on a table several feet from her and waited. While I
was bringing up the tray I though of what I should say, and I had what I
hoped was a good idea, but the ball was in her court now.

Then she looked at me carefully, "Is this some kind of a not so funny
joke?"

The real Becky called her Jennifer, and I always called her Aunt Jen, "No
Jennifer, its an attempt to salvage both our lives." I said seriously.

"Both our lives?"

"Yes, I really need you. I'm easily just as depressed as you are." I walked
into her bedroom and opened her night table draw and took the gun out
saying, "I've thought about this too, and if you were gone, well I just don't
know."

"That isn't here for that, I was worried about burglars."

I just looked at her for a full minute, I hoped just like Becky looked at me
when I tried to pull a fast one on her. Finally, Jennifer said, "I shouldn't lie
to you either, should I?"

"I don't think we can successfully lie to each other."

"Why are you dressed like this?"

"Seeing Becky in the mirror gives me hope and relives my despondency
over loosing her and Dad. If you let me I can fill a void in your life too, it
was quite clear yesterday Nicholas couldn't."

That exaggerated the case for me, as I was handling my grief pretty well,
and while I did enjoy seeing Becky in the mirror - especially after the joy of
last night's visit - I had been getting along just fine without dressing like
her.

"I'm sorry I gave you that impression dear." She looked like she wanted to
say something, so I waited for her to complete her thought, after a good
minute she continued, "but you're probably right. You look amazingly like
Becky, come closer, and let me see you.

I put the gun away, laughing like Becky would, and I twirled toward her
ending up in front of her curtseying. I held it until she said, "Amazing, the
resemblance is uncanny."

"You may not believe this but Becky, daddy and my real mom appeared to
me in a dream last night and said I definitely should do this. Becky said
this would give her, as well as you, another chance at life."

"Sounds like wishful thinking to me." Aunt Jen said with a frown.

"Maybe, but its undeniable that I feel a hundred percent better this
morning." Remembering Becky's pragmatism, I moved her breakfast tray
to the table next to her saying, "Heck Jennifer, while you finish your
breakfast I'll tell you what happened in Paris while I was there."

I'm sure in spite of her rational mind's objections, Jennifer just smiled at me
as she picked up a piece of toast, "Ok, if you insist."

The last letter I received from Becky was posted hours before they were all
killed - it was over thirty pages long. "The weather was great and we
walked just about everywhere. Alexis and daddy have been here hundreds
of times - you have too, haven't you?"

"Not hundreds dear, just forty or fifty - and once was on my honeymoon."
She said and sipped her orange juice.

"Well we saw all the tourist things, like the Eiffel tower the Louvre and
scads more...."

I continued for almost a half-hour, long after Jennifer had finished her tray.
She looked animated quizzing me, like her old self. I had read all the
books available on Paris in the school library in anticipation of my own trip
in addition to Becky's letters, so she didn't stump me once.

Finally I asked, "May I call down for some breakfast myself, I came up
here without eating."

"Yes dear, by all means do. If you don't mind I would like some more
toast, and the fresh mixed fruit was particularly good this morning, perhaps
some coffee, I haven't had any in ages."

I called the kitchen and ordered for Jennifer, and what Becky would have
ordered, not the bacon, eggs and hash brown potatoes waiting on the stove
that I was dying for.

Jennifer looked at me sharply, "You brought me roses, atoning in advance
for a lie?"

"No atonement, I just thought your breakfast tray looked drab without
them." I held out my hands, "See, I haven't lost my touch, not one thorn
prick. I may be skirting reality a bit, but we both know what I am doing -
and it is working for me, and for you, isn't it?"

"Yes. Yes it is!"

"While we are waiting, I didn't know your honeymoon was in Paris. Please
tell me about it."

"Frankly I don't like to talk about it dear, the last few years of our marriage
were very difficult for me."

"But your honeymoon wasn't, was it?

"No, but the later years tainted it."

"Nonsense, throw those bitter memories in the trash now, if we are to
survive together, we must forget the bad things and take strength from the
good memories. You don't think I like Alexis one little bit do you. She
really fouled up Nicholas' and my lives, but on the good side daddy loved
her and she really brightened up his life. He is gone now, and I am happy
he enjoyed her while he could. Your life and mine are what we make of it
from this day on."

I was surprised that came out, Becky and I hated boarding school, but from
dad's point of view it wasn't a punishment. He had survived it himself; he
was eight years in the same kind of colorless places we were put.

"Do you really think that way?"

"Yes, I really do, now tell me about your honeymoon - what did you wear
that first night together?" Whoops, she is staring at my legs, why? You
are wearing a skirt dummy, keep your legs together, and sit up straighter.

A glint of approval registered as I corrected my posture and then her eyes
misted over with memories, "I haven't thought of that in years, it really was
nice you know...."

We talked about everything, remembering Becky's letters I answered from
her point of view whenever possible. I was thinking and talking to Jennifer
as Becky now, not a few times her old sharpness surfaced, and she asked
me questions about math and science. Becky's IQ was high, but languages
were her gift and math and science gave her fits. Becky couldn't answer
Jennifer's questions in a million years - but I decided to. Sometime during
this exchange, a new light came into Jennifer's eye, and stayed.

My breakfast came with Jennifer's second and both were devoured, and a
few hours later lunch met the same fate. After lunch I said, "This room is
enough to cast gloom in anyone's heart, get dressed and let's blow this
place, then call a interior decorator." It looked fine to me, but that just
came flying out too - then I remembered Becky telling me that she hated
this room's decor.

Jennifer looked around and said, "Your right, but Christ I look like
absolute hell."

I joined her at the mirror, "Nothing that a few good meals and some
exercise won't fix. Look, I'll start your bath and call Tina to help you."

She thought a few seconds, "No Becky, Tina is your friend, I will call Jody
back after the holidays, I gave her paid leave to visit her family in
California. In the meantime I would appreciate you helping me, you are
Becky, aren't you?" She said with a twinkle of amusement in her eye.

Christ, looking at the way she perked up, I guess for now the answer was
definitely yes. Then I remembered the pictures of Jennifer nude on the
beach in Cannes, the ones we had snuck in and looked at as kids, and I
realized it wasn't a big deal for her regardless.

"Absolutely, we are going to be a team together." With that we walked
into the bathroom and she peed while I started her bath, somehow we kept
chatting and I didn't blush - I think.

Remembering how Tina did me, I repeated the procedure for Jennifer's
bath, I found that I enjoyed the process of caring for her in a totally asexual
way, and even while I applied lotion all over her body, dickey snoozed
without a twitch. I was even careful of my dress as Tina had been of hers
last night, and I kept my touch very gentle, as if Jennifer had thorns.

Jennifer selected an outfit from her vast closet and asked my opinion. I
shook my head saying, "No way, too drab!" After looking, laughing, and
bickering over dozens of candidates, we agreed on a bright cheery red
dress, its print even suggested thanksgiving.

She dressed herself with my helping with the hooks and zipper, and then
she applied her makeup in nothing flat. I realized I had a lot to learn from
this lady, and at the time, I had no real idea of the depth of her intellect and
complexities of personality. I checked myself in the mirror and decided I
needed to touchup my lipstick and had to pee - but not in that order.

She was still shaky from the effective forty day fast, so I held her arm until
she was seated in the downstairs sun porch. It was a clear, cold, and sunny
November day, and the heated glassed in porch was quite pleasant.

Excusing myself, I quickly ran upstairs to my room, Tina was reading, but
she put the book down and came into the bathroom with me. *Christ lady,
I got to whip it out and pee really bad.* Instead she showed me how to
hike up my slip and skirt forward so as not to let them get wet from the
plumbing and to pull down my panties and hold them with my thighs so
they didn't get wet on the floor.

She admitted, "This floor is so clean that you could eat off it, but you must
practice for public rest rooms, which are often a disgrace."

Then with a big grin, she insisted on holding dickey down for me so he
would squirt into the bowl, while I held my skirt up. She asked me stand
while still holding my skirts up, she playfully washed, and dried dickey,
powdered him, and then pulled my panties up, altogether a very pleasant. I
brushed my teeth and we kissed, our tongues probing lightly for a minute,
then I did my lipstick, powdered my nose at Tina's suggestion and she
touched up my mascara. I quickly summarized the events of morning, and
went downstairs to rejoin Jennifer.

Chapter 7 - The Test

After all, the ultimate goal of all research is not objectivity, but truth.

Helene Deutsch (1884-1982)

Lying in bed early Friday morning, I reflected that the week had passed
quickly; I was Becky full time and found that I liked that very much. In all
honestly, I asked myself, did I like being Becky? Or did I like the constant
expert attention of Tina? After all, two or three expertly delivered orgasms
each day with the girl of your dreams, is a damn nice side benefit in any
boy's book. The truthful answer was that I liked both a whole lot, however
the question bugging me was whether I liked being Becky enough to make
it a long-term thing, and I hadn't thought that all through yet. And
yesterday's test hadn't made being female very attractive.

Although Jennifer was still painfully thin, feeling dizzy frequently, she was
definitely on her game - her mind was as sharp or sharper then ever.
Sunday through Wednesday in addition to my tending her bath, and
whatever else came to mind, we spent several hours each day together
going over the backlog of papers from work. Prior to our working
together she hadn't even looked at the papers sent home for her
consideration, they just accumulated over the past weeks of her depression.
I read everything with her and we discussed most points at length, at the
time, she said discussing them with me helped crystallized the issues it in
her mind. I enjoyed working with her immensely, it exercised previously
unused parts of my mind, and she actually gave weight to my opinions.

Typically everybody was asked to dress for Thanksgiving dinner including
all the staff, Chef Robert and his two assistants were the only exemption,
the marvelous selection of food was brought to the table family style and
simply passed around. The entire staff and their families were there as
Jennifer handed out the holiday bonuses by tradition after the meal.

Jennifer specifically requested Tina and I wear the equivalent of ball gowns
that we would find in the attic. It took us over two hours to dress - beauty
took time and preparation I was finding out, boy was I finding that out.

Just to give you an idea, Wednesday morning we brought the gowns down
from one of the large cedar closets in the attic. We aired them and
discovered they were over a hundred years old - and had impossibly tiny
waists. We found hourglass corsets in boxes under the dresses and a half
dozen layered petticoats for each dress hanging next to them.

Jennifer brought us antique jewelry in plush boxes to wear with the outfits,
but was little help except to suggest that I run to the mall and get my ears
pierced, the matching jewelry required it. Tina drove, in my mind's
background I was trying to figure out how I was going to explain two
pierced ears to my buddies at school on Monday. Tina was discussing how
we would be able to dress each other tomorrow - she saw it as a test for
her too.

None of the several pair of high button shoes stored with the dresses would
fit either of us, so we hit a boot store before the Piercing Pagoda. Tina
didn't think our shoes would be visible under the skirts, but we bought a
pair of boots each that resembled high button shoes anyway, the only
problem was that they had three-inch heels, and I still stumbled
occasionally on two-inch heels.

Then I got my ears pierced, Tina was a little malicious when she said, "and
we only do it because men like us to have jewelry dangling from our
pierced ears, they think it's very sexy."

Patently half false, clearly women wear jewelry because they like it, but I
didn't argue the point with her.

We stopped at a bra store specializing in reconstructive silicon breast
forms, and picked up two bras for my every day use and two stand-alone
silicon pads for tomorrow. The tab was twelve hundred dollars on
Jennifer's American Express. I wore a new bra home and was amazed how
real my breasts looked and felt. Tina experimented in the store's dressing
room, and depending how they were squeezed it felt like my breast was
being directly manipulated. It was very erotic to stand in front of the
mirror and watch her touch my breasts through my blouse; it felt almost
like they were real. I found that a correctly fitted bra was almost a pleasure
to wear, and the weight of the breast forms encouraged me to stand and sit
with my shoulders back. Tina pointed out my posture was now just like
hers, I liked that and resolved to keep it that way. Jennifer noticed the
bra's effect immediately, and commented that it was money well spent, then
she kissed each of my pierced ears saying, "I love you, Becky" in each ear.

Thanksgiving morning found us first applying evening makeup. Then with
the room freezing from an open window, so we wouldn't begin perspiring
from the exertion of lacing each other to an impossible waist size. We
wore a loose fitting long silk slip first, then the corset over it. Surprisingly
mine was the easier fight to lace small enough, unfortunately that meant I
was to be laced in it minutes longer. In the boots too, as neither of us
would be able to bend zip our boots once the corsets were laced. We
thought of asking Mrs. Hammer for help, but decided that would be
admitting defeat.

Once laced in we donned one petticoat after another, and then put the stiff
satin gowns on over our heads - desperately trying to not mess up our
makeup. Even the long sleeves fought us; they fit like a second skin,
without the benefit of modern elastic materials. Finally all the little buttons
down the back of the gowns were fastened, a task made easier with a hook
packed with the corsets. There was absolutely no way to dress, or undress,
in these outfits unaided.

Finally! We were dressed, quite lovely actually; even I felt like a princess, I
really did. Laughing, we curtsied to one another and twirled before the
mirrors, in the mirror it was clear the dresses were several inches too short,
Tina remarked, "The girls these were made for must have been short.
Good thing we got these boots, it looks like we planned it this way."

After a while, the tight garments settled, but neither of us could take a deep
breath.

After we fussed with each other's hair and jewelry Tina said, "Damn Becky,
I really have to pee bad."

"Now that you mention it, so do I, how?"

It's a simple thing to do you say? Once in the bathroom, we realized the
toilet was out with the volume of our stiff skirts and bustle.

"Er, I don't think this will work. I guess we will have to take some of this
stuff off."

"No way, by the time we get it back on I'll have to pee again."

I said half in jest, "What we need is a pot to pee in."

"Your right!"

We settled for a tall flower vase. We took turns holding the vase under the
skirt and petticoats of the one standing on a chair. It was a good thing I
had spent so much time kissing Tina's pussy, because last week at this time,
standing in darkness under the mass of petticoats, I wouldn't have had a
clue where to hold it. It was easy for her, and we laughed and joked about
the differences. The laughing stopped when she milked dickey while I
stood on the chair looking in the mirror. It was so erotic, so utterly
wonderful. When she finished me, I had her stand back on the chair and
very gently brought her to organism. We both used a washcloth on the
other, and dried and powered too, before pulling up the others panties. We
kissed for a long time after, and for the first time Tina told me that she
loved me - my heart ran wild, she loves me! And Christ, just look at me!

As we touched up our makeup and hair we began laughing and joking
again, but we both knew nothing would ever be the same.

The next challenge was the stairs, I remembered with dread that it was a
dual curved staircase with a lot of steps. From the top I counted, there
were twenty, and our high heel boots were completely hidden from view,
lifting our skirts didn't help us to see the steps either. Tina whispered, "I
have gotten down these stairs in a long full skirt and heels before, but
nothing like this."

Jennifer picked that moment to appear at he foot of the stairs, calling
"Come everybody, our princesses have arrived."

"Shit." Tina whispered to me as the crowd gathered, "Look, lift up your
skirt like this, find the edge of the step with your heel, and step down
slowly. If you fall just relax and pray. Remember no matter how we feel,
we must smile from now on and talk wittily at dinner, or all this is wasted
effort." Standing close to each other, we found the first step (the most
difficult) and slowly walked down. I held the banister and Tina held my
arm, I was counting softly as we went... eighteen, nineteen, and twenty.
Jennifer gave us each a hug.

The test wasn't over; we were to find that it was just starting. At the table
all we could do was sit on the forward half of our chairs least the bustles be
crushed, for an hour and a half, backs straight without the support of a
backrest. The only good thing was that there was no way I could slouch.
Fully made up and sitting so straight eating was a task, take only a very
small fork full, no sauce dripping, don't drop anything on my bosom, chew
thoroughly. Bread, break into tiny morsels and butter, be dainty, besides
with the pressure on our tummies we could eat very little trussed as we
were. No wonder girls were always fainting back then, but how the heck
did they get old and fat?

Through it all, neither of us stopped smiling and responding wittily to the
table talk. Finally, finally the meal was over. After we bid goodbye to all
the nonresident guests, and all the envelopes were handed out, Tina,
Jennifer, and I retired to the preacher's parlor for formal coffee. All Tina
and I wanted to do was to get out of these restricting dresses, but Jennifer
had another idea.

Jennifer smiled and ever so sweetly and asked me, "Becky dear, would you
mind summarizing my work? You know dear, the papers we went over
earlier in the week."

Much to Tina's discomfort, I spent the next three hours organizing and
presenting the necessary information from memory. Jennifer would
interrupt to ask questions and make comments, but it was my show.
Sitting there answering was easier for me as I was concentrating so hard I
forgot all about my discomfort. I didn't realize it at the time, but after the
first hour Jennifer was watching Tina closely, especially Tina's expression
as she watched me.

When I reached 'the bottom of the pile' Jennifer said simply, "Very
impressive Becky, amazing actually. You girls must be tired, run along to
bed."

I had been sitting in one position for so long, that I literally couldn't stand
until Tina helped me to my feet. Upstairs we lost no time undressing each
other and peeing, after removing makeup we took a shower together.
After drying each other, we rubbed lotion in until the mass of indentations,
from the corsets bunching the silk of our undergarment, disappeared from
our skin. We hung or folded everything and wearing one of Becky's
nightgowns Tina crawled into bed with me, and we were asleep shortly
after our heads hit the pillow.

Neither of us noticed Jennifer as she looked in about eleven, just before
retiring. She smiled warmly at the two figures snuggled together. She was
thinking, 'Not only have I regained a daughter, maybe two, but also I have
found a truly worthy successor. It's ironic, last week at this time I was
about to take my life. Now I must consolidate my ground.'

Chapter 8 - Seven AM, The Friday After Thanksgiving

One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears-by listening to
them.

Dean Rusk (1909-94)

Becky's room:

Tina woke with a smile, my kiss was perfect, warm, and utterly arousing,
but Tina said, "I have to pee real bad lover."

"So do I, I just like to be with you when you do, so I waited."

When we arrived at the toilet Tina asked, "Whose first?"

"Let's do it together, you sit, I have the hose."

We faced each other over the bowl and after a little moving around; we
peed simultaneously while laughing and hugging each other. We washed
and powdered each other and brushed our teeth, kissing lightly several
times more to enjoy our fresh breath.

Back in bed in fresh nightgowns, we settled into the lovingly familiar
sixty-nine position, after thoroughly stimulating each other's bodies,
breasts, and necks. A half-hour later, we gave each other a bath, dressed
and arrived in the breakfast room ravenous.

Jennifer's room:

"Yes this is Compact, I would like to speak to Goodman."

"He won't be in today, if its urgent I can contact him at home and have him
call you."

"It is, please do, what is your name please."

"Cherry."

"Thank you Cherry, have a pleasant day."

Every CEO of a major corporation needs a jack of all trades, but most of
all plausible deniability. Charlie Marsh, AKA Goodman, was all of that and
more to Jennifer.

A few minutes later her phone rang, "I'm here."

"I need several things done and I need some information."

"Ok."

"I'll fax it to you one-twenty-eight bit encoded."

"I'll be waiting."

Within ten minutes Jennifer made a four-page list on her computer,
checked it, and sent it off. An hour later, her WinFax program's chime
rang and she got up to read it.

It too was several pages long, among other things it said, "Doctor Sandra
West Peters, Fort Lee, NJ (formally Doctor Harry West Peters) and a
telephone number." Plus the message, "document changes are being
planned, call me when you want them activated." Jennifer memorized the
document and wipe erased it and her original fax from the computer. She
called Charlie back and said, "I agree, five million to start and fifteen more
if my goals are met. Start the paperwork, expense is not a consideration,
success is."

"I understand. Anything else?"

"Are you sure about Paris?"

"Yes, my source is very reliable. It was not a random event, but exactly as
I stated."

"No getting around it now, I will take your advice."

"Good, I'm relieved. Anything else?"

"Yes, I want a support infrastructure for Becky established, once my
intentions are suspected she might well become a target. Keep it lighter
than you did for Nicholas, I don't want to attract attention to her. As it is,
when they find out he is dead, maybe the attempts will stop."

"I agree, how about the other girl? T something?"

"Absolutely."

"I'll make all the arrangements, you sound much better."

"I am, Becky has made all the difference."

"Is the other thing really necessary then?"

"You know how I feel about succession, and you know why."

"It's medieval you know, but you better make sure it's right for her,
otherwise it could backfire terribly on you."

"I will make sure, after all I love her, and she is all I have left of my own
blood."

"Please consider this action very carefully, we aren't all that way you
know."

"I know, but I won't take the chance with so much at stake."

Jennifer considered calling Becky for her bath, but decided she had passed
that test too, and reluctantly missing Becky's soft touch, took a shower.

Chapter 9 - The Surface Realities of My Situation

In an age of synthetic images and synthetic emotions, the chances of an
accidental encounter with reality are remote indeed.

Serge Daney (1944-92)

Jennifer joined us late for lunch, indicating Tina should stay with us. As we
were getting up from the table Jennifer casually asked, "Tina dear, would
you mind if I took a drive alone with Becky this afternoon?"

"No, not at all."

"Becky, would you enjoy a drive?"

"Certainly, Tina and I were going to the mall, but that can wait. Is this
dress ok?"

"Yes its lovely, I have to powder my nose - see you at the front door in
fifteen minutes?"

I went up with Tina and tended nature not knowing how long we would
be, as I hadn't used a public ladies room yet, and wasn't anxious to either. I
washed and dried dickey, finishing with a little powder before pulling my
panties up. I asked Tina, "Is this what girls mean when the say, 'Lets
powder our nose?'"

She cracked up saying, "I never thought of it that way, now I won't be able
to stop."

It was just such a nice practice, ever so much nicer that putting it back wet
and dripping. While I was doing that, Tina was checking to make sure I
had all that I needed in my purse. I touched up my makeup myself while
Tina smiled at me approvingly, we kissed, and I headed down to the front
door.

Jennifer met me a moment later and we entered the limo. Giles must have
been instructed on our destination as he drove off without a word. Jennifer
closed the smoked window between him and us and turned to me.

"Becky darling I'm feeling ever so much better, having you with me is the
best tonic I could have, but have you thought of the ramifications your
present role?"

"In all honesty, probably not very thoroughly."

"Selfishly I would keep you with me as Becky, just as you are now forever,
but I'm not sure you are old enough to make such a decision for yourself,
especially after only a week. If you don't mind I will be very frank with
you about the choices ahead."

I nodded affirmatively and she continued, "However, first I want to take
one biasing element out of the picture. I know you hate going to boarding
school, and I hated sending you. Robert and I saw eye to eye on almost
everything, but we had had many crosswords over Alexis's demands
regarding Nicholas and you. I want you to know that whatever your
decision today, if you want, you can stay in my home and go to school
locally - whether you chose to go as Nicholas or Becky."

"I appreciate that, and thank you, it means a lot to me to stay with you."

"That off the table, before we go further what is your inclination now?"

"I don't know what kind of a person this makes me, but impersonating
Becky makes me feel good and I'm enjoying the experience. Not only do I
like how I look and feel, but I love being so close to you and being treated
like an equal, I can't tell you how stimulating going over your work with
you was to me. I can learn so much from you; I'm really psyched. Tina
and I hit it off fantastically, I don't know if you can tell, but we are best
friends now."

"I noticed," she said dryly, "Have you two had sex together?"

Wow, that's a below the belt question. Shit. "Before I answer that
question fully, you won't be mean to her will you?"

"No, I couldn't be mean to her, not with what she's been through."

"I don't know exactly how to put this, as before last Friday I had no sexual
experience whatsoever, just locker room talk that even I knew was mostly
bull. Tina and I have incredibly gentle sex, she tells me it's like two girls
making love. Honestly, now I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Have either of you climaxed?"

"Yes, both of us have."

"Is that why you are inclined to stay as Becky?"

"No, I think I have separated the two in my mind, when I consider staying
Becky it just seems right to me, almost like its my destiny." I laughed, "I
don't think I would make the same decision in the 1890's though!"

"Frankly if given a choice neither would I, when I reached seventeen my
mother gave me the same test I gave you and Tina yesterday, and you two
handled it with far more grace and good cheer than I. You two pulled off
the roles of cultured young ladies perfectly; that was what prompted me to
have this little chat with you. Had you ever practiced with Becky, had you
exchanged rolls before?"

"No, absolutely not. It never occurred to either of us to do such a thing;
but we did exchange all our experiences, and rejoiced in their diversity.

Tina is very perceptive, she recognized you have a bias against men
because of Mike's duplicity. She suggested to me that this might work; I
wouldn't have done it if she hadn't convinced me I could help you as
Becky, as I couldn't as Nicholas. However, I want you to know that am
very glad that she that did.

I can tell you that Tina really loves you. She was really and truly worried
about you, not one bit less than Becky or Nicola would have been, and she
was at wits end - grasping at straws."

"Amazing, last week in my depression I didn't think anybody really cared
for me."

"Everybody cares, on the ride back from school Giles was practically in
tears with worry for you. Ask him, you will see."

"Its not necessary dear, I believe you. Knowing I'm ever so much better
now, do you still want to remain as Becky?"

I could swear I heard Becky say deep in my head, "Yes." After a long
minute I said, "Yes, I think I really do."

"I made an appointment with a doctor today, she specializes in gender
adjustments, mainly to get a professional opinion in the matter."

"That's a wise idea Jennifer, I really don't know what's involved, thank
you."

The doctors office turned out to be a large private clinic, I found out later
it had a half-dozen or so rooms for patients and an around the clock staff.
The nurse that met us said, "Come dear, I must draw a little blood." To my
look of dismay she replied, "I'm very good at this, you won't feel a thing.
What's your name dear?"

I sat down at a student's desk with a fold down arm on each side, and she
prepared to draw some blood.

"Rebecca Marie Hayes, but everybody calls me Becky." She took the
blood. "Wow you are good, I hardly felt a thing."

"See? Becky, my name is June and I'm glad to meet you, please take this
cup in that little room and make me a sample."

I was pleased Tina had sent some antibacterial wipes and powder in my
purse, when I came out I gave the sample to June. "I'll bring you back to
your mother and get these analyzed. Doctor Peters will be with you
shortly."

It turned out to be a good half-hour, Jennifer and I spent the time talking
about her work, and it was plain she was eager to get back to it. Out of
the blue she asked me, "Becky darling, how has your schoolwork been
going this year with all the upset?"

"Please understand, I'm not bragging, but the work in school is really
dumbed down. I read all my texts the first week I was back, and hardly
opened them since - heck I never got below a ninety-five on any quiz, test,
or report the whole time I was enrolled in that dingy place!"

"I believe you. You demonstrated that unbelievable intellectual tour de
force after dinner yesterday. What amazed me was that it was not just a
complete regurgitation of what we had discussed, but also a well-organized
insightful analysis. No one I have working for me could do that, that is not
flattery, that is a fact."

Just then, June led us back to Dr. Peters' office. The office was large,
bright with several modern paintings on the walls, there was a large screen
computer on her desk, but very few of the books I had come to associate
with doctor's offices. "I'm Dr. Sandra Peters, pleased to meet you Mrs.
Hayes-Ravlon, and this is Becky - or has June mixed up this blood-work."
She said smiling at me.

I smiled back, "No Dr. Peters, I prefer to be called Becky, and by the way
June was exceptionally gentle and painless drawing my blood."

Smiling, "So she is always telling me, but please call me Sandra. Your
mother was telling me you have decided to live as your dead sister. Is that
correct?"

"I hadn't thought of it in such stark terms, but yes, that's correct."

"Why?"

"It seems to feel right, I enjoy my sister's role, and I believe she would be
pleased I chose it." I didn't want to air Jennifer's linen in public, besides my
logic teachers always said 'keep it simple.'

"Well I must say, if your blood work didn't show otherwise, I would have
no doubt you were a young lady. I ask that you keep this between us, but I
was born male, and until a few years ago, my name was Harry. I say this
so that you understand, that I understand exactly where you are coming
from."

I very much doubted that, and I hate to say it, but she was a very masculine
Sandra, however I said, "I find that hard to believe."

She shook her head and smiled ruefully, "No you don't, but that's because I
waited too long, if I had started at your age I would have been a much
nicer looking woman. If you notice my voice is very deep, once a voice
changes it is very difficult for many, including me, to speak as a natural
female. Another thing, once your beard grows it's a bear to lose, and that
is much better nipped in the bud. You are fifteen now, have you had sex
with a man or woman leading to ejaculation?"

Damn she is blunt, "Yes, only with a girl, several times very recently."

"And you still want to be a girl?" She asked showing disbelief.

"Yes, I just don't want to loose dickey, I mean my penis" as my face turned
cherry red.

"Well many of us choose that alternative, for myself I gladly had it all
removed and a realistic vagina made, I've been happily married to the same
man for several years now. Regardless, such a decision is months if nor
years away. What we must decide today is whether to start hormone
therapy. The urgency is that in your case puberty is overdue. At your age,
it can't be far away after you begin to ejaculate while having sex, besides
very high levels of testosterone are already circulating in your blood. You
could begin changing any day now. Becky, do you understand what I just
said?"

"Yes, if I don't start taking female hormones immediately, the testosterone
in my blood will force male changes on my body that can't be reversed. My
question is, will the female hormones needed to counteract testosterone's
effect also be irreversible?"

"Normally no, in fact your ability to have organisms will continue, however
to an unpredictable extent the urgency of desire for sex may abate. I would
expect that if you stay on female hormones a matter of months your breasts
will begin to bud, your skin will soften and your hips will develop. The
hormones also tend to retard hair growth on the face and body. Your
voice will not become deeper unless that change is already well underway."

"That sounds like what I am looking for, some breathing room to be
absolutely sure this is what I want. Are there any statically significant nasty
side effects I must consider in my choice to proceed?"

"Yes, there are several. Your chances for breast and other lymphatic
cancers approach the risk levels a natural woman might expect. In a few
percent of cases, the male testes develop an adverse reaction to the female
hormones, and very occasionally, the gonads must be surgically removed.

There will be emotional changes as well, at this point, I can't tell if yours
will be insignificant or will require psychiatric treatment. You should be
aware that I will not start you on a course of treatments, unless, both you
and your mother, agree beforehand to see me and any other doctors I may
recommend on a schedule I set up. Initially I will see you every week, then
more or less frequently, as I deem fit. If at any time you have a problem
you must promise to call or come in, the clinic is open at all times, and Jack
says I'm a workaholic."

"My I speak briefly with my mother?"

"Certainly, please stay here I'll be back in a few minutes."

When she closed the door behind her I turned to Jennifer, "Jennifer, what
do you think?"

Typically, as I was finding out, she answered my question with a question
on another subject, "Why didn't you correct her when she referred to me as
your mother?"

I looked deeply into her eyes for several moments while I considered the
wording for my answer, finally responding, "Because you are my mother!
For my entire life you have been my mother in every way imaginable,
except for the incident of biological birth."

Her eyes misted over and she said, "Thank you. Becky dearest, do you
know you have the most beautifully expressive eyes I have ever seen? But
to answer you question, she is the most competent doctor in her field I
could find, I am perfectly comfortable with any decision you will make."

I sat quietly and thought very hard balancing the alternatives. I was ready
when the doctor returned.

"Sandra I would like to proceed with the treatments, starting today if
possible."

"Becky, for my own records I will need you to state your decision in your
own hand writing, and please mention explicitly that this is your choice
freely made. Mrs. Hayes-Ravlon, as Becky is a minor I have a stack of
forms for you to sign."

That ritual over I went into the examining room, and blushing furiously I
undressed in front of everyone to be examined. I was surprised that I was
more upset loosing my breasts in public, then I was with exposing dickey
with jewelry, my face made up, and my nails painted. I received the most
through examination of my life, including Jennifer helping me with a semen
sample. Christ, none of the women in my life seemed to have the slightest
hesitancy helping me with that.

After the exam, Sandra looked over the results of my blood work saying, "I
will give you two shots today and some pills that I want you to take twice
a day. I will see you next Friday without fail, is that clear?" She waited
until we both said yes and gave me the shots. 'Ooww, one in each cheek,
next time bring in Nurse June,' I thought.

Jennifer left to pay and I dressed as Sandra watched, she nodded
approvingly and gave me the two bottles of pills June brought in, putting
them in my purse I joined Jennifer in the waiting room just as she finished
writing a check. What I couldn't know at the time was that a charitable
foundation controlled by 'Hayes Holding,' had just donated five million
dollars to the charitable foundation, whose sole recipient was this clinic.

Back in the limo Jennifer said, "Darling, if you don't mind I would like to
formally adopt you. Do you mind?"

Looking directly at her I said, "Heck no! I would love that, I'm proud and
honored to be formally your child."

"That brings up another point, I am advised that it is possible that records
were mixed up and the French police believe Nicholas was actually killed
by the bomb. There was very little remaining as the terrorists used a
particularly vicious firebomb. Shall we let the error stand?"

'Do I want to loose my identity, and legally adopt Becky's? That's exactly
what you are asking.' I thought, after a minute I replied, "Yes I do, that is
a neat solution. But how about school, I was there the past six weeks."

"No you weren't dear, don't you remember you were grieving with me at
home. I'm sure the Rector and his records will agree after a suitable
donation."

I smiled, "No doubt." Then I continued more seriously, "I really wish that
I had been with you, you went through hell alone. If I had known I never
would have stayed away."

"I'm regaining my strength now as you came back just in time, but lets
consider school again. Do you think you could skip and pick up as a senior
in Nicola's school? I believe the head mistress will give you the required
tests."

"Yes, I believe I can. However I would like a stiffer curriculum than
Nicola's, no offence, she was a wonderful and warm person, but she really
didn't like to study very much."

"That will be totally satisfactory. I would push for direct entry into
college, you are capable of it, but I think you need a little more time
associating with girls near your own age. The experience of dealing
effectively with women, as a woman, really can't be learned from a book.
But I will help you, remember come to me with everything - I promise to
help you when needed, and you can't shock me." After jerking me off in
the doctor's office, I had no doubt.

As we were getting out of the limo Jennifer said, "Becky, please wait just a
minute before you go in. Why don't you ask Tina if she would like to move
into your room? I'm sure the bed is big enough for the two of you." She
said with a knowing wink, "I know there are a lot of old clothes in the
closet you will never wear again that should be donated, there will be room
for both of your things. You are a senior now, and after all, you need new
things. Of course Tina must agree freely, and please don't put the slightest
pressure on her."

"I understand, and I wouldn't do that. I will be very careful how I ask her."

Chapter 10 - The Question

An engaged woman is always more agreeable than a disengaged. She is
satisfied with herself. Her cares are over, and she feels that she may exert
all her powers of pleasing without suspicion. All is safe with a lady
engaged; no harm can be done.

Jane Austen (1775-1817)

I didn't ask Tina that night, instead I answered all her questions about the
day while she bathed me and did my hair. She seemed very pleased with
my decision and we spent a long time making love, I fell asleep and she
must have returned to her room.

***I know because Becky visited and told me I was doing all the right
things, and to bring a ring or something nice when I asked Tina to share my
room. It was after Becky walked back into the portal that I noticed Tina
had left my bed.***

However, I was awakened in the morning with her sweet smelling lips on
mine.

After showering and dressing, we headed for the mall with her driving. I
had my first appointment to get my hair and nails done, and we planned to
pick up new shoes and a few new outfits appropriate for a senior. I
thought with resignation, and some of the school uniforms I must wear
four days each week. My thought processes were decidedly female these
days, a week ago I thought any uniform was just fine, especially one
without a necktie. Seeing my distaste Tina said, "Don't worry, I'll show
you tricks and you won't look like a carbon copy."

My hair was colored to Becky's exact shade and I was given a perm, I
decided to let it grow longer as I had picked out a style from a book, and
wanted my hair to grow into it. Diane and Tina agreed that it was perfect
for me, so she ripped out the page, and inserted it in the folder she kept for
Becky.

I thought about nail tips, actually, Lydia the manicurist suggested it, but
Tina requested that I wait for a special occasion. When we were alone, she
whispered that I needed more experience living with my natural nails as
they grew, and I had to agree.

Becky had described the whole process to me in detail several times, and
told me exactly how it felt. At the time, I marveled at her patience while
being fussed over; personally, I always hated the barbershop, and chose the
fastest haircut possible. But now I found this whole experience enjoyable
and was taking a real interest in my appearance - after all I was using
Becky's good name and I didn't want to embarrass her.

I was finding that I really knew quite a bit about being a girl from having
shared so much with Becky, I couldn't help wondering how she would do if
positions were reversed. It would have been very hard for her I concluded,
requiring her to be much more competitive and athletic, after all, for my
size I excelled in many sports. Living as a girl required from me an attitude
change, a shift in focus to the details of how I did everything.

Tina was finished first and left the Beauty Parlor to scout for things in
order to save time. I was done a few minutes later and used the time alone
to buy the two rings that I had discussed with Jennifer before I left home. I
purchased them with the charge card she had given me.

We had lunch at the mall and then 'Shopped 'til we dropped' as the mall
advertisements advised. But on the way home, I suggested supper at a
restaurant Jennifer had mentioned. We pulled in, and after we were seated
I casually asked, "We almost starved to death on Thanksgiving, but it was
fun being sisters, wasn't it?"

"Yes, how about the use we put to the flower vase."

"I think they are growing faster, I swear the are - we should patent it."

"Silly, they are silk flowers."

"All the more reason to patent the process." I paused and then blurted out,
"Say, would like to share my room from now on?"

She looked longingly and said, "I'd love to, but what will Jennifer think?"

"Are you sure, sure that you would like to stay with me I mean?"

"Becky I love you, it hurts me to leave you at night, it makes me feel like
something I don't want to be."

"Its ok if you move in, I asked Jennifer before we left, she said yes - but
only if you really want to."

"I really do."

"Then I have a present for you," and I gave her one of the two diamond
friendship rings and put it on her ring finger.

She looked at me and put the other on my finger saying, "Does this mean
what I think it means?"

"To death do us part?"

"God, I really hope so, but definitely not soon." She replied kissing my
hand, and I hers.

So ended my first week as a girl - Jennifer back in good spirits, no more
boarding school, I got the most beautiful girl in the world to live with me,
and talked to Becky, mom and dad - pretty damn good week, I'd say.

Chapter 11 - Accepted Into a New School?

To make oneself an object, to make oneself passive, is a very different
thing from being a passive object.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908-86)

It was my forth Monday as Becky when I met, Ms. Sandra Welch, the head
mistress of Nicola's school, The Academy (formally The Northvale
Academy for Girls.) It was a difficult meeting, as she clearly didn't think
my record from St. Mary's warranted advancement to senior status. I stuck
with the story Jennifer and I had agreed on, that was while at St. Mary's I
was homesick (very true, Becky often was, I remembered all the tear marks
in her letters) and I couldn't do anything like my best work (true, she made
little effort.)

After Ms. Welch had stated all her arguments, I played what I hoped was a
trump card. During the previous three weeks, I had read all the textbooks
as well as every book on the school's reading list, and I noticed a distinct
radical feminist bent. I had discussed it with Jennifer, she personally
thought the view was largely counterproductive, but while I was The
Academy, I might be wise to cloak myself in it.

"Look I don't know how you feel about these things, but I got myself in
deep snow with my views. One of the nuns deliberately lowered key test
grades in my record for spite (true.) She told me she did it because I was a
godless (actually lazy) troublemaker. I learned my lesson after that, but the
damage had been done. My grades were only as good as they were,
because I bit my tongue and shut up. Still I was labeled."

"And what views were they?"

"I'll list them, tell me when to stop. A woman butt isn't necessarily behind
her husband in the home, its anywhere she can get it, and damn well wants
it to stay. Birth control is only common sense. Abortion shouldn't be the
first choice, but it damn well has its place. Lifestyles like lesbians (she lived
with a girl my hairdresser had told me) and homosexuals are ok if that's
your thing, it's a free country, or should be. Women are...."

"Wait! Yes I see what you mean, it was a Catholic school wasn't it."

"Saint Mary's? Run by the Sisters of St. Joseph? You have to be kidding.
Look, give me a chance and start testing, if I'm full of it you will know
soon enough."

"Your stepmother...."

"Correction, Jennifer is my mother, she brought me up in her house from a
few days old infant. She nursed my brother and I equally with Nicola, I
didn't live two months in total with Alicia during the six years she was my
stepmother and my biological mother died minutes after I was born.
Besides she legally adopted me."

She smiled, "Your mother argued persuasively for me to test you, so be it.
When do you want to start?"

"No time like the present."

She threw me a curve ball, as she was prepared to test me all along. The
first test was a comprehensive IQ test, followed by a personality/aptitude
profile battery of tests. Steeped as I was in feminism, I let it show, and
hoped the personality profile wouldn't unmask me; I really held a dim view
of radical feminism. Tuesday I took the full suite of P/SATS. Wednesday
started all the junior year finals given last year in almost every subject, four
or five a day. A different teacher for most subject(s) administered the tests;
and they all made a point of speaking to me for fifteen or twenty minutes
about their subject.

Late Friday afternoon I finished and left the school without seeing Ms.
Welch. I called home and asked Tina to pick me up before leaving the
building.

Chapter 12 - The Wait

For time is the longest distance between two places.

Tennessee Williams (1914-83)

Tina and I routinely worked out, our typical session included the machines
in the mansion's gym, in addition we did aerobics following a tape, we
practiced ballroom style dancing together, then we showered and swam a
mile in the large heated indoor pool. Through experimentation, we
discovered a snug one-piece bathing suit with a panty shield over my
suitably arranged male equipment looked best, and told no stories. The
silicone breast pads purchased for Thanksgiving provided a totally
believable figure. Tina wore brief two-piece suits and was gorgeous.

We went to our room to change for dinner and she gave me a relaxing
bubble bath. I protested that it was her turn, but she insisted she enjoyed
bathing me. After mutual lotion we dressed for diner, Jennifer had left a
message with Mrs. Hammer, that we would be having company for a
dinner party starting about eight, and to wear something special.

Dinner with actual guests would be another first for me, we used evening
makeup, and Tina arranged dickey and his two friends. To my amazement
my testicles could be tucked up into my body, dickey pulled between my
legs and held in place with a snug thong. It wasn't uncomfortable and
totally necessary tonight. We wore strapless merry widows to give me
some shape with sheer red stockings, Tina's shape in the merry widow is
super fine, great God, but she was beautiful. We were wearing new;
lipstick red, long sheath cashmere dresses over long matching silk full slips.
To make it interesting mine was worn off the right shoulder and Tina's off
the left. We each wore long finger less matching red gloves, three-inch red
pumps, and with some of Jennifer's diamond jewelry, we were a treat to the
eye. I just hoped Jennifer wouldn't think the outfit was too old for a
fifteen-year-old; we must have agonized over that for ten seconds in the
store while making our purchase.

We decided, after practicing the stairs in the tight long skirts and heels, to
wait in the bedroom, and then make a dramatic entrance when Jennifer and
her guests arrived. Tina said the thong subtly separated and shaped my
behind, making it nice and feminine as well as rendering dickey and his two
hiding friends completely unnoticeable.

While we waited, Tina tortured me by describing what she had planned for
bed tonight, knowing full well Dickey had nowhere to move. I had no idea
how her teasing now would build my desire for her during dinner, and after
in the drawing room. Tina did, Tina could be a devil!

Finally, Mrs. Hammer called saying the limo had just pulled up. We waited
at the top of the stairs. As the door opened and the guests filled in, I said
in a voice that would carry, "We will be right down Jennifer." With
everybody looking, we glided downstairs.

Jennifer had a pleased and happy smile when she greeted me with a kiss
and speaking softly so only I could hear, "Very dramatic, I love you
Becky." Then she kissed Tina, with a brief message that lit up Tina's eyes.

The guests were from France and worked for Ravlon there, they were
staying overnight here, and Giles would take them to Kennedy in the
morning. There they would catch a flight to Toronto for a few days prior
to returning to France. Tina spoke French fluently and I made the effort
even though my French accent was atrocious, however I stuck with it all
night and Tina said I improved as the night went on. Jennifer was pleased
that I remembered the issues regarding disagreements between Ravlon
divisions, and without being overt (I hoped); I supported all of her
positions. Jennifer called it a night about eleven, as her guests had an early
flight.

As we were going upstairs Tina said, "Christ I'm glad their wives were with
them, they were raping us with their eyes all night."

"Is that what that was, I just thought they were just warm."

"Get with it girl, I know you have no interest in them, but you have to
know the signs to keep them on a tight leash." Tina was only two years
older then me, but she sure was much older in experience, I guess some
girls are born with 'it.'

Once in our room we slowly undressed each other, it was so very erotic as
dickey was only released after everything was hung up, then the thong was
removed - at long last. Tina was anxiously looking forward to tonight as
well, her period was over today and pussy was sorely in need of loving
attention.

She climaxed twice in the first five minutes, after that, we settled into a
mostly sixty-nine love play, and by midnight I had climaxed twice and Tina
at least four more major times. We quickly sponged, powdered, and put
on nighties, falling asleep minutes later in each other's arms.

Jennifer slept late, exhausted by her first full week back at work, and I
brought up her breakfast tray to her, after bidding her guests' good-bye for
her. Jody was back, but I gave Jennifer her bath anyhow. As I was
sponging her she said, "Becky dearest, I hope you know how much
happiness you have brought me."

"I certainly hope so, in case you haven't noticed I'm so very happy, you
couldn't do more for me. See I told you; our real lives began five weeks
ago. You are my real mother, and I hope I am a real daughter to you."

"In that dress last night I had no doubt, and you handled our guests with
mature grace and charm."

"Don't forget I am thirty now." I said with a sly grin.

"How do you figure that?"

"I'm fifteen as you see me, right?

"Yes.

"And Nicholas is fifteen, right?"

"Yes."

"He is inside of me. Just add it up, his fifteen plus mine equals thirty!"

Shaking her head in agreement, "I suspect that there is more to that then
just jest."

Then while I dried her, applied her lotion, and helped her pick out an outfit
saying, "I hope I didn't embarrass you with my attempt at French last
night."

"Not at all, it was charming."

"Thank God."

"The French are very impressed when Americans use their language - it's
important to them and most of us just don't bother. I will see you get
practice by bringing more foreign guests home. We have a lot of foreign
employees, regardless of what Mike thought, Ravlon is only a small piece
of 'Hayes Holding.'" It took a moment, but I realized she was talking about
her late husband Mike Ravlon. "What other languages would you like to
practice?"

"Only Spanish, besides the ever popular Latin and classic Greek I haven't
taken any others."

"Take Russian and German if you get a chance, Chinese and Japanese will
be helpful too."

"I'll make every effort mother."

Even though the prevailing fashion seemed to be pants for all, Jennifer
thought girls should not slouch around looking like smaller versions of the
boys they were with. Fortunately, Tina and I agreed, so all attired in long
warm dresses and coats, we went shopping at the Short Hills Mall, that is
as soon as Giles returned from Kennedy.

From the mall, we were driven to my weekly doctors appointment. Sandra
said I was doing fine after examining my blood work, gave me two shots
and a changed in the pills I was taking. She asked, "When did you
ejaculate last?"

"This morning."

"And before that?"

"Last night."

"That explains this result, in the future please don't ejaculate for twenty
four hours prior to leaving a semen sample here, we can't get a reliable
semen count if you do." She almost hid her grin at my dismay.

I reported that so far, I could see no effects, but at least my voice hadn't
changed. She noticed my breast were in the stage prior to budding, I
commented that they were tender, but privately I attributed that to Tina's
wonderful attention.

On Sunday, Jennifer had invited two-dozen neighbors and close friends
over for a hunt (less the fox) breakfast; Jennifer took my arm and
reintroduced me to everyone as her daughter. I sensed a note of pride in
her voice and I redoubled my efforts to live up to her expectations. I
purposefully hadn't thought of it, but what if my test results disappointed
her. After all the effort she expended on my behalf, it wasn't a pleasant
thought.

The school uniform was to be worn Monday through Thursday and had
two approved forms. One with navy slacks and the other with a knee
length pleated navy skirt to be worn interchangeably with a white blouse
and navy blazer. A beret, detachable lining navy raincoat, navy two inch
pumps or black and white Oxfords and ankle white socks
(stockings/pantyhose optional) completed the outfit. We tried both and
settled for the skirt version with a silk charmeuse full slip underneath,
stocking with the pumps. Tina's logic was the most girls would opt for
slacks, the silk slip would make the skirt drape and move noticeably
differently, and the expensive sheer stockings and pumps would showcase
my legs.

In other words, I would have my own unique, very classy look; she bet me
if I were consistent, many girls would copy it by school's end. I didn't
share Becky's need to conform, and knew from the male point of view, a
nicely filled skirt and stockings was generally preferable to loose fitting
slacks.

I couldn't help it; I was a nervous wreck as Tina dropped me off at school
Monday morning. Sitting outside Ms. Welch's office in my new uniform, I
almost started biting my nicely manicured nails. Instead I sat ramrod
straight, knees glued or demurely crossed, with my hands crossed on my
lap watching the teachers who administered my tests last week march in
and out, one after the other. All except Ms. Ackins, the advanced math
and science teacher, barely glanced at me, but she smiled warmly.

When I was finally called in an hour later, Ms. Welch smiled, stood up, and
shook my hand saying, "Welcome to the senior class at The Academy. Ms.
Barrett in room 2A is waiting for you to select a schedule, good luck."

'Christ, after all that anxiety, that's all?'

I had memorized the floor plan of the school, so I went directly to room
2A without asking anyone directions and knocked.

"Come in. The doors open."

I smiled, "Ms. Barrett, I'm Rebecca Marie Hayes-Ravlon, but everybody
calls me Becky, pleased to meet you." I extended my hand.

She held it warmly saying, "Come in and sit down Becky, it's a pleasure to
meet you. You may not know it, but you have been the topic of
conversation in the faculty room for the past week."

"Should I be flattered or am I back in deep snow again?" Looking worried
(no acting required.)

"You should be flattered, with a little tact I think you will be very happy
here. You will find the atmosphere far more open than St. Mary's,
however; you will find biases here as well. They are different, but very
strongly held."

"I will make a sincere effort to fit in, please tell me how I did last week, I
was so worried I barely ate over the weekend." Hyperbole, but I certainly
was concerned.

"You had no reason to be concerned. You tested exceptionally well. I
won't kid you; you have the highest IQ and trial SAT results in the history
of the school, that's another reason I think you will fit in well. If you have
little problem with your studies, you will be able to concentrate on the
social skills we attempt to teach. Everybody knew Nicola, and she was
very popular, if her charm runs in the family you're home free." I smiled
wistfully (I hoped,) then looked serious.

"Her death was tragic and an awful shock to me. I don't know if you know
it or not, but Nicholas and I grew up with Nicola from infancy. Nicholas
and I were twins and Jennifer had Nicola two days before we were born,
we always considered ourselves triplets and did everything together, that is
until we were ten and my stepmother decided Nicholas and I would be
better educated in boarding schools." I said bitterly (no acting required.)

"You don't have to tell me, but why did she split you up?"

"A week after mom died, hours after we were born, daddy moved us all in
with Jennifer, she is his twin sister. We didn't see him a lot; as he was a
photojournalist, he traveled all the time. Daddy remarried when we were
just ten, we were taken from Jennifer to live with Alexis and dad in her
Manhattan apartment. We were a real shock to Alexis and clipped her
wings, so two months later we were sent to different boarding schools,
totally a black event."

"How do you feel about living with Jennifer now?"

"Great, she has adopted me officially, I have always thought of her as my
mother and now she legally is, and no one can yank me away from her
again. I just have a real hole in my heart as Nicola and Nicholas isn't here,
they would be just as pleased. I can't tell you how very close we all were."

"Thank you for sharing, I will keep it to myself. Let's discuss your
schedule."

I selected advanced college math, physics, and physical chemistry, Ms.
Barrett said there were only a few students enrolled in these advanced
classes, and I would receive close individual attention. I took college
French and English, and introductory Russian and German in addition to
Social Studies, etiquette, drama, debating and poise.

"Are you sure you can handle all this?"

I smiled, "I sure hope so, but if I find myself in a snow drift I will ask for
relief. You will be the first to know!"

"Just don't wait too long, if you drop something in the first few weeks it
won't be on your permanent record. I have asked one of our brighter
seniors, Dorothy Baker, to be your hostess the first week or two; she will
show you the ropes. You are lucky, this is the last school week before
Christmas, and we go on vacation for ten days starting Wednesday."

We chatted a bit until Dotty knocked. I shook hands with Ms. Barrett,
thanked her warmly for her consideration, and left with Dotty holding my
hand. We started visiting my future classes, knocked and Dotty introduced
me to my future teachers, most were familiar to me from administrating my
tests. They in turn introduced me to each girl in the room; I smiled and
made an effort to remember everyone's names, and the information they
told of themselves by way of introduction. At lunch I met many other girls
and amazed Dotty with my memory for names and details, she said, "Your
nickname should be Politician."

"Please no, I really prefer to be called Becky."

"Ok, but you should be. My dad is a senator in DC and I know all about
these things."

"Wow, I haven't even visited there." I had, but Jennifer suggested that I
leave lots of openings for conversation and invitations.

The talk at lunch was about the senior Christmas/New Years dance a week
from Saturday, something I dreaded as Jennifer said I must also get
experience with dealing with boys as a girl. So, I dropped the fact that
Tina and I didn't know many boys here, and was open to suggestions for a
possible date. After lunch, I picked up all my books, stowed them in my
assigned locker, and visited more classes with Dotty.

I was concerned about the crowded ladies room between classes with its
many open stalls, but Tina had spent hours watching while I practiced
peeing. The skirt helped hide the deed, it is an art to slip the tip of my
penis from the confines of the thong, pee, and tuck it back while giving the
impression I was wiping my pussy.

I was amazed, a month ago, I would have gone into sensory overload with
all the girls doing intimate things in close proximity, but now it seemed
normal, and unless I deliberately considered them erotically, I wasn't
aroused in the slightest. Tina was very glad to hear that, but it was not
surprising as she made sure dickey was well tamed each and every morning
- except doctor days.

Makeup was second nature by now, and I checked it and touched it up on a
regular basis. Likewise checking that my hair and clothes were arranged
properly - and making sure my bra was straight, I had learned to use a dab
of spirit gum. Otherwise, with no real breasts to anchor it, if I moved too
freely they tended to move about. Every time I looked in a mirror I felt
warm inside, it was as if Becky was here with me. She visited me several
times over the weeks at night, and she insisted that she was with me during
each day - and was enjoying our going to school together.

Tina picked me up and we gave Dotty a ride home, which saved her
mother a trip. Dotty insisted we come in and we met her mother and
brothers, we stayed for tea, and on the drive home I told Tina all about my
day. During that discussion, I discovered she had never attended school, I
couldn't believe it, as she was so knowledgeable and poised. She said
Jennifer and before her others, had arranged for tutors for her.

School the next two days was easy, there was a mother and daughter tea
on Wednesday afternoon, and I was surprised and pleased Jennifer made it.
She was surprised and pleased as I brought her around and introduced her
to all the girls by name, and they their mothers to Jennifer.

Chapter 13 - Boys and Things

Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn't matter if only we could prevent
girls from being girls.

Anthony Hope [Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins] (1863-1933)

That Wednesday night I had my first date with a boy. He had called
several times in the afternoon, and after exercise with Tina, I gritted my
teeth and returned his call telling him I would be pleased to go. That is if
he could get a date for Tina. To my dismay, he called back twenty minutes
later, saying they would be by at eight, and we discussed what movie to
see.

Over dinner I found Tina was even more reluctant to date than I, it was
only after Jennifer gave us her cell phone for Tina's purse that she agreed to
go. Jennifer was quite firm, we had to learn to handle boys without pissing
them off, and without giving them our bodies. Quite mater-of-factly she
added, "If they are too hot, cool them off by masturbating them with your
hand, its better then the alternatives." Both Tina and I paled at the
thought.

Back in the room, Tina showed me the fastest way, quickly rubbing at the
base of the penis. It relieved the pent up pressure from the day all right and
was amazingly quick, but nothing I'd like to make a habit of. How the hell
does she know so much about this stuff? When I asked again she kissed
me sweetly and said, "One day I'll tell you all about it."

Actually, both Mike Martian and Paul Schroeder were perfect gentlemen,
pretty much as I would have been two months ago. Tina thought they
were handsome and that we made an attractive pair of couples. We went
to see "Something About Mary" at the mall cinema; it was a very funny
move and a little risqu . After the movie, over a hamburger in the local
diner, Mike shyly asked if we would like to join a dance class at the local
community college they attended.

He explained, they had to have dates that would commit to a three-hour
class one evening a week, and a diner dance at the end of the school year.
He admitted ruefully that nobody else agreed to attend with them. All the
girls told them that they either danced well enough now, or didn't want to
admit they couldn't. We said we would get back to them.

I was afraid to tell Jennifer, I knew damn well what she would say, and she
did. I called Mike and said we would be pleased to take dance classes with
he and Paul. Actually after doing an aerobic exercise tape after vigorous
exercise each day, Tina had been teaching me to dance. She was very
good, and was taking the boys part to acclimatize me to following. We
really liked real slow dirty dancing together in leotards and tights, and
found our sweaty musk was very arousing, mutually very arousing!

The Christmas vacation was very full for me. I read all my texts for the
year and did three assignments; thank God for the speed-reading courses,
Jennifer had Becky and I attend during my eighth grade summer vacation.
We did Christmas shopping for the entire staff at Jennifer's request, she had
purchased many gifts over the year, but she wanted to make sure
everybody received at least one from us. We also purchased dozens of
popular toys for both boys and girls for the staff with children. I felt funny
using her charge card for her presents, but she said that's foolish as money
wasn't a consideration, the selection of the gift was what counted - not too
much pressure.

Christmas morning found the staff and us opening an embarrassment of
gifts. Jennifer's favorite gift was a gold statuette (over a pound of solid
twenty two karat gold) of a mother and two little girls, I had it engraved
"Dearest Jennifer, This marks the start of the first year of our lives
together, your loving daughters, Becky & Tina - Christmas 1998."

Jennifer was very even handed and gave Tina and I each exactly the same
gifts. An array of fine jewelry, a Platinum American express card in our
own name, a PCS cell phones with distress alarm, and a loaded personal
computer. The PC came with Internet access and private phone lines
(installed while we were out) in our room. Giles and Mack Coles, the lead
gardener, brought the PC's up to our room and brought a table and chairs
down from the attic. Before we went to bed Christmas day I had them
operational, networked together, and hooked to the Internet.

The main gift Tina and I gave to each other was each other, and real
diamond engagement rings. We had purchased them separately and neither
of us knew what the other was getting. Surprisingly we chose similar one
caret designs set in platinum, for now we only wore them in our rooms, but
Tina thought they would be an effective foil from unwanted masculine
attentions in the future.

Jennifer was very demanding of me in a very nice polite way, and of Tina
by virtue of her proximity to me, much, much more so then she had been
with Nicola and Becky. Shrouded in silk, there was a core of steel in that
woman, fortunately both Tina and I viewed her demands as a challenge and
enjoyed meeting, for the most part exceeding her expectations.

I found that I enjoyed answering challenges as a girl would; it was ever so
much nicer then the locker room's crude demands and responses I was
accustomed to. The brothers tended to be very 'macho,' I always thought
to offset the fact they wore robes.

Tina and I went in with Jennifer to her work two days, during one we
attended an all day board meeting, she had us sit next to her at the
conference table. That really opened my eyes to Jennifer in action - she
was Chairman of the Board, and without being bitchy, she left no doubt in
anyone's mind she was back on top of the game. We said nothing in the
meeting, but passed a few notes, spoke candidly while alone in her office,
ladies room, and limo - we both commented on everything and everyone.
Tina showed Jennifer her devastating ability to read people, and I could tell
Jennifer was looking at her in a whole new way after that day.

Tina and I attended the school dance on the Saturday after Christmas with
Mark and Peter, the older brothers of Peggy Marsh, one of the four girls in
my three back-to-back morning technical science classes. As '40s big band
was the rage then, we wore dresses with stiff crinolines, pantyhose, and
fancy panties made to be seen while jitterbugging - complete with bobby
sox and oxfords. It really was fun.

After the dance, they got a little frisky on the way home, with a bottle of
Vodka and expectations of sex, but they responded well to a no-nonsense
approach on both counts. Tina 'high fived' me and we let out a joyful
victory yell as soon as we closed the door to our room.

Chapter 14 - One Hell of a Good Friday

Perhaps catastrophe is the natural human environment, and even though we
spend a good deal of energy trying to get away from it, we are
programmed for survival amid catastrophe.

Germaine Greer (b. 1939)1

The weeks flew by and soon it was Easter break, the only constant was our
loving and grooming each other at least two hours each day. In the interest
of time we alternated days giving the bath, but applied lotion to each other
every night. I drew up plans for a hot tub installation big enough for the
two of us, waiting only for an opportunity to ask Jennifer when she was in
a particularly good mood. We made love for at least a half-hour most
nights before sleep, and Tina milked dickey in the most delightful ways
mornings, effectively eliminating embarrassing problems with him.

Jennifer dined with us most evenings, and I shared with her my experiences
at school. However between Tina's advice and Becky's comments I had
little need for her intervention, for her part she didn't offer unsolicited
advice, but rather enjoyed my experiences vicariously - exactly as I
remember her enjoying Nicola and Becky's.

Becky continued to 'visit' me at night, and began to offer helpful advice on
dealing with some of the girls at school. You may think me crazy, but I felt
then as now, it really is she and not a trick of my imagination.

My breasts were budding and particularly sensitive, Tina thought that they
were at least 'A' size. I purchased new silicon-padded bras that took
advantage of my new fullness, and discontinued the spirit gum as
unnecessary. I could competently do my own hair by now, but we
alternated doing each other's hair because we enjoyed fussing over each
other, I did my day makeup completely on my own. Tina was only an inch
taller than I was, and we could share many outfits, a good thing as the
closet was overflowing again - I drew up plans to fix that too. I planned to
make my old room, which was adjacent to Becky's, a computer/sitting
room, and break through the baths and closets to super size them.

As Giles was taking Jennifer to Kennedy from work, Tina drove me to Fort
Lee for my appointment with Sandra. Sandra spent considerable time
examining my testicles, which seemed a bit swollen to her eye. Tina was in
the room when Sandra asked if I still wanted to continue as Becky, without
hesitation I said yes. Tina helped with my weekly sperm sample, and
Sandra let it drop that in addition to analyzing the semen for irregularities,
the bulk of it was being cryogenically frozen against the off chance I
develop a problem with my testicles.

We decided to stop at a fine Italian restaurant in Fort Lee for supper; we
were on our own as Jennifer was on her way to France on a business trip.
It was a romantic place, with candle lit tables placed far enough apart for
privacy. After a fine dinner, we were discussing the storage of my semen
when I asked Tina, "Do you think in the future you might want to have my
child?"

"Very much so, but I might have a tough time, I had internal damage years
ago. You know how irregular and spotty my period is. But recently I've
been told that medical science has advanced, and with care, I probably can
conceive and carry a baby to full term. Becky, are you really serious about
this?"

"Yes, I plan to spend my life with you, and I would love to raise children
with you. I am wealthy in my own rite, so we can do what ever we wish,
even though I'm sure Jennifer would approve. I do want to finish college
before raising a family though."

"Really, you are planning that far ahead?

"Of course, you must know that I really love you by now."

"Yes, but you are young, your perspective might change in a few years."

"I can't see the future, but you should know me by now - I'm pretty steady
and dependable."

We finished dessert and still starry eyed, we walked to our car, which was
parked toward the back of the restaurant's parking lot.

Suddenly two ruffians accosted us, brandishing knives and demanding our
money. I only had ten dollars, but reaching in my purse, I took it out -
tripping the alarm on my phone in the process. The guy facing me wasn't
satisfied and grabbed my purse, dumping it out on the ground, looking in
my wallet he took the only thing of value, my American express card. The
other was repeating the process with Tina who had less that fifty dollars
cash.

The two looked very high on something, and a minute later, they confirmed
it in my mind. The one in front of me demanded, "Bitch! What's it going
to be - you give me a blowjob first, and then I fuck you? What you like,
ass or cunt?"

Taking his cue the other said, "I like to fuck the bitches the ass first, then
have them lick my cock clean and give me a blow job. That way my dick
doesn't itch much afterwards."

I could see Tina begin to struggle, so I thought real fast. If I have access
to his balls and prick, I can do all sorts of damage to him. I smiled and
said, "I love it up the ass, then do my cunt - let me make you real hard and
then it will be wet enough for a really good ass fuck. Give me some
pleasure too and I'll give you the fuck of your life. Ok?"

"Yo, this bitch is hot for me. What you say bitch, you do me good. We
get high together after."

I nodded yes and smiled.

Tina was struggling harder, and the bastard was really slapping her around
hard, and forcing her to the ground.

I said, "You got it big guy."

The creep was shorter then me, nevertheless I squatted down and loosened
his pants, pulling them and his filthy boxer shorts to his ankles. The
schoolboy joke, 'a girl can run faster with her skirts up, than a man can with
his pants down' came to mind, but I couldn't leave Tina. I almost threw up
from the foul stench, but I heard Tina cry out in pain and steeled myself. I
was surprised at Tina's panicked reaction; she was normally so
knowledgeable about handling sexual situations. It was obvious it was up
to me to salvage the day.

I took the flaccid thing in my mouth and grabbed his balls with both hands
with my nails ready to dig in. He let out a groan of pleasure, before I bit
down real hard pulling my head side to side like a dog, all the while
attempting to crush his balls and rip them off. I didn't actually rip them off,
but I did dig in with my nails and crush them pretty well, and I could taste
the blood from his bleeding cock in my mouth.

After several seconds, the pain penetrated his drug filled mind and he let
out a high scream, doubling over quickly. Waiting for just that moment, I
released his cock and pushing off his crushed balls, I stood up forcibly,
smashing my forehead into his face stunning him. He dropped his knife and
I scooped it up stabbing him in the neck several times until he appeared
unconscious. Quickly I moved over to the bastard trying to rape Tina's
butt with a flaccid cock, and stabbed him repeatedly in the neck until he fell
over.

Tina was unconscious and covered with the bastard's blood; shaking badly
I took the better part of a minute dialing 911. Tina was coming around and
I sat her up against a nearby car. A police car was there in minutes.
Before they arrived I had picked up our purses and most of our things, and
then I thought to call the number Jennifer had given me in case of an
emergency like this. It was a little melodramatic; I gave the girl who
answered the code word, no name, or anything. She identified herself with
the proper code name, asked where I was and said help would be with me
quickly.

The scene was self explanatory to the arriving police officer, and she called
for backup and ambulances. The guy who attacked Tina was dead; the
other was loosing a lot of blood from his neck and crotch. Tina was able
to walk and we were taken to the emergency room in a police car to have
our injuries documented. I had blood all over me, but fortunately, it was
theirs. As I wasn't assaulted anally or vaginally I wasn't examined that way
- with the resulting embarrassment of having my secret revealed.

Shortly after we arrived at the hospital, a man came up to me and said,
"Becky Hayes-Ravlon?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm Bob Cohen, I am a lawyer retained by your family. You are a minor
aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm fifteen, nearly sixteen."

"What happened?"

"We just finished dinner together at the restaurant and were approaching
our car to drive home. Two thugs accosted us and demanded our money.
We only had sixty dollars cash between us and it angered them. They were
high on something and decided to rape us right there in the parking lot.
Tina struggled right off, and her assailant beat her up pretty bad, look she
still is in shock." Tina was slouched in a chair, her left hand held mine, but
she was starring straight-ahead, still waiting for care.

"Just a minute, I'll be right back."

He went up to the emergency room nurse and spoke to her, he raised his
voice, and she shrugged her shoulders picking up the phone. She gave it to
him, he dialed, and he spoke for a minute or two, handed her the phone
back, and came over to me.

"I just expedited some real attention for Christine, please continue."

"The guy accosting me demanded that I suck his cock before he raped me,
I agreed, once I had his pants down I bit his cock real hard and I tried real
hard to rip his balls off. He bent over in pain, and I rammed my forehead
into his face stunning him momentarily. He dropped his knife and I picked
it up and stabbed him, I think in the back and neck, I think several times.
Then I stabbed the other guy in the neck until he stopped hurting Tina and
called 911. Oh yeah, I triggered the emergency signal on my PCS phone
when this all started."

Doctors and nurses started to cluster around Tina now, and it looked like
she was getting care at last.

He looked at me shaking his head saying, "Goddamn, you are a regular
tigress. Let me make sure the police investigation is done right." He made
several calls on his cell phone. "It looks like Tina is coming around, I want
to make sure her injuries are properly documented."

He talked to several doctors and came back, "Becky he do any damage to
you?"

"Nothing major, I didn't start resisting until I could really hurt him."

"How did you know what to do?"

"I had a boyfriend once who told me."

"He was a trusting soul."

"He was nice, he would never touch a girl mean like that, besides I was
only twelve at the time." Actually, I had told Becky what to do, my karate
teacher had told me.

We stayed overnight at the hospital and I insisted we be put in the same
room. Tina was sedated, but I sat in a chair by her bed holding her hand all
night falling asleep near dawn.

It was embarrassing as my tits were so small, but I was photographed from
the waist up, and surprisingly I had many bruises on my arms, neck, and
face. I guess the ones on my face were self-inflicted from when I smashed
my forehead into the creep's face. Tina woke up sore, but feeling much
better.

Bob Cohen came in a little while later and we told him we wanted to go
home. He made some calls and while we were waiting to be discharged he
said, "Becky your mother has been notified and is cutting her trip short, she
will be home today. I have called your house and Giles is coming for you,
don't worry about the car, someone will drive it home for you. A security
camera recorded the whole attack, and it verifies your story fully, as does
other physical evidence. You may have to appear before a judge, but in
any event, it is a clear case of self-defense, and you have nothing to worry
about. I have taken steps with the court to insure your names will remain
confidential. Do you have any questions?"

"Last night someone said I killed one of them, is that true?"

"Actually both assailants are dead, the hospital missed a spinal injury on
your attacker. Don't worry, as I said it is clearly a case of self defense."

"That really isn't the point, I took two lives. I got to live with that the rest
of my life."

"Don't worry, the memory will fade, if it helps it is exactly like you were a
soldier protecting your loved ones. Those two were high on a mixture of
speed and cocaine; it was saturating their blood. In addition, they were
facing a third felony conviction. I believe they probably would have killed
you after they raped you, if you hadn't stopped them."

Tina put her hand on my shoulder, "He is right you know, that guy beat the
shit out of me, and that was when he wanted sex from me, I'm sure he
would have killed me after. Dead witnesses tell no tales."

Before we left the hospital two police detectives and two men from the
DA's office took individual detailed statements from us, Bob Cohen was
present at mine, and another lawyer from Mr. Cohen's office was present
for Tina's. When I was through Bob took me aside and said, "Becky, I'm
your lawyer and need to know the absolute truth, did you fabricate or omit
anything in your statement - no matter how small?"

I looked down and then looked directly into his eyes saying, "Yes, I didn't
tell those guys that I made my attacker think, heck I told him I wanted sex
with him. He was going to fuck me anyway, and I needed to get a clear
shot at his cock and balls if I was going to overcome him, he was obviously
high on something so I figured a simple kick wouldn't do. So I told him I
would suck his cock so it would be big, hard and wet, so he could give me
a good fucking. I'm not very proud of that."

"Becky, are you a virgin?"

"I've never had sex with a man!"

"Ok, I believe you - and it's between us, nobody else has to know what you
actually said to that thug. That information doesn't change anything, you
were intelligently fighting for your life, and the world is a better place with
those low life's gone."

I didn't know it at the time, but it was the DA, not an assistant, who
interrogated me. Another man came in and conferred with the DA. At the
time, I didn't know he was the responsible judge. He said we were free to
go, and that no charges would be filed.

Years later, Jennifer told me about the following conversation.

Jennifer: "I'm over the Atlantic, anything I should know?"

"Yes, they each had twenty five hundred in cash in their pockets, and at
least a thousand in drugs on their person."

"Yes?"

"One died of his wounds on the scene, the other was wounded, but the
doctor believes he actually was poisoned by something sophisticated in the
drugs. It might be a few days before we know exactly what. Officially he
died of his wounds."

"God dammit Charley! Where the hell were their watchers?"

"In the hospital, a truck slammed into the side of their car. Hit and run."

"That's perfect, just wonderful. Look I was foolish, don't be subtle, protect
her!"

"I'll take the necessary steps."

"Thank you, I'll be in touch."

Chapter 15 - Consequences and Benefits

For every life and every act
Consequence of good and evil can be shown
And as in time results of many deeds are blended
So good and evil in the end become confounded.

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)

Giles drove us home and left immediately to pick up Jennifer. Tina was
still shaken, and I was introspective, but we sought comfort holding one
another and occasionally kissing. We were kissing when Jennifer walked in
the room and gasped at my bruised face, she took one look at Tina and
said, "Christ they weren't exaggerating. Becky dearest, please come with
me for a few minutes, we must talk. Tina honey, I won't keep her long." I
straightened my dress and took a few licks at my hair, and followed
Jennifer.

We went into Jennifer's sitting room off her bedroom and sat on a love seat
facing one another. First, she asked, "Becky are you ok, I mean is that
superficial, or do you need additional medical care?"

"Its superficial, looks lots worse than it is - you should see the other guy."

Jennifer didn't laugh, "How about Tina?"

"The hospital said she could go home, but I think she should be examined
by a good doctor. I think she may have been anally penetrated, the guy
was trying anyway, however I don't believe he could have ejaculated."

"I will see to that when we are through, now tell me, just what happened -
leave nothing out."

I did, completely and honestly.

"Becky, don't misinterpret this, I'm not clipping your wings in any
meaningful way, but I want you to accept security. I have purchased
another armored limo and Giles has retained two more of his buddies from
the SAS to drive and escort you wherever you go. Even on dates with
boys they will follow discretely in less conspicuous cars."

"That was just a random event, aren't you overreacting?"

"No, not where your safety is concerned, do you have any other
objections?"

"No, and that's not really an objection. I really would have appreciated
help last night. Actually, I am grateful for the added protection, after all
this is the second time I've been attacked. However, you are more exposed
than I. Shouldn't you have the two bodyguards?"

"Becky dearest, I always have at least four armed bodyguards in addition
to Giles close by. You see they can be very inconspicuous. Four of the
gardeners are armed security guards also. You are the most precious
person in the world to me, and I will protect you in every way possible.
Now run along to Tina, she needs you right now. I don't have to tell you,
but be extra gentle with her."

Tina and I lay down again together on the bedspread, and without
intending to, we drifted off to sleep. About midnight I was awakened by
Jennifer gently shaking me, "Please wake up, you and Tina come
downstairs, and we will take her for a through examination."

At the hospital Tina was given a full body MRI and a full internal
examination. No recent damage was observed to her rectum, and the
verdict was she hadn't been recently penetrated. Her assailant had
gonorrhea and was filthy, as was mine, but it was unlikely Tina contracted
a disease. They shot us full of antibiotics and gave us pills to take for ten
days.

Jennifer took me aside and asked, "Becky, I need to know. In your sexual
relations do you ever penetrate Tina, either anally or vaginally?"

"No, never with my penis, she says she wouldn't enjoy that."

"Do you penetrate it with anything else?"

"God but this is embarrassing, but yes, I often penetrate her vagina with my
tongue."

"I'm sorry Becky dear, if it's any help, I am very pleased with your candor.
I would never use it against you or Tina."

I wasn't privy to it at the time, but Jennifer spoke to Sandra the next
morning.

"How is Becky doing Sandra?"

"As well as can be expected, we need to make a very decision soon. Her
testicles are beginning to react badly to the levels of estrogen and
progesterone in her body."

"Are you sure the operation won't impair her ability to achieve organism?"

"Nothing is a hundred percent certain, but the odds are against it. I saw
the two of them together yesterday, I suspect they will work it out - they
are obviously in love."

"Did you hear about last night?"

"The attempted rape?"

"Yes, specifically will the loss of testosterone reduce Becky's ability to
defend herself?"

"Effectively, she has almost no testosterone circulating in her blood now,
from the hospital reports I read she fought like a enraged woman. She
almost ripped her assailant's cock and balls off, with her teeth and nails - I
mean off. Believe me, she is a real wild cat. I can send you photos from
the creep's postmortem if you like, they very clearly show how not to do
the operation."

"No thanks. You really believe the operation is now or never if she is to
remain looking like a pretty girl?"

"Look I can't keep giving her the estrogen and other hormone levels I am
for much longer, either we let nature masculinize her, or remove her
testicles - and soon."

"Will children of her own be possible?"

"Yes we have sufficient semen in cryogenic storage in three separate
facilities as you specified, the spermatozoa count is satisfactory."

"Will the operation be painful for her?"

"There is very little if any pain, the procedure takes eight hours because we
seek to salvage every nerve and destroy or mangle none. When all is said
and done, she will feel sensations where her testicles were; very similar to
what you feel when your vaginal lips are stimulated. For best results Tina
has to be instructed how to best help bring those sensations out in a
pleasurable way. Becky's penis will retain its sensitivity and ability to
harden - which is a function of the prostate and that will remain. We will
also weaken the muscle at the base of the penis, doing that will allow the
penis lay more comfortably between her legs when flaccid, but not affect its
functioning adversely. That should heal in the few days she is sedated. In
the future we will monitor her hormone levels and provide all the needed
female hormones, and even include carefully measured amounts of
testosterone local to the prostrate."

"You better not mess up my Becky, you know what is riding on this for
you?"

"Yes, with that in mind I suggest that next Friday we will discover the
operation's necessity, and do it here on Saturday, if all goes well she will be
home by the following Saturday."

"See that it does go well."

Jennifer hung up the phone and looked out her window thinking, 'God I
hope I'm doing the right thing by her. Is this a sane thing to do to
Nicholas? Christ he loves me so much and is so damned competent, is it
the right thing to do? Just because Mike's gonads caused such evil, it
doesn't follow Nicholas's will.' She sat thoughtfully for quite awhile, finally
resolving, 'I just can't take a chance on my successor, its to damn important
now. Becky does make a perfect young lady, and I do believe she's really
enjoying her new life. She will have an edge in the future that even I don't
have.'

Chapter 16 - The Day She Told Me All About It

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge
increaseth sorrow.

Hebrew Bible

Easter Monday night found us cuddling, "Tina I have to ask you something
that's been bothering me."

"What's that love?"

"When I squatted down in front of that thug and took his cock into my
mouth, I never felt so degraded and disgusted in my life. I almost threw
up, and I don't think the foul taste has left my mouth yet. I've been
worried; does it disgust, and make you feel degraded to take mine into
your mouth? You know you don't have to do it if it does."

"No silly, I savor you and enjoy every minute, I love you and giving you
pleasure gives me pleasure - besides most of the time you are returning the
favor to clitey at the same time. You don't feel degraded doing that for me,
do you?"

"No, not at all I feel as if we are one, closer than one, its true ecstasy. I
love you."

I had just kissed Tina when she sighed and said, "I must tell you the truth
Becky, you are getting far too attached to me to go blindly forward, you
need the facts, and if you want to break up I will understand."

I kissed her again and said, "Tell me what you must."

"You always ask me how I know so much about sex, this is the ugly truth.
From the time I was six or seven I worked in a very high-class
whorehouse, I was a whore. Mostly I assisted the older whores, there are
men who like to look at naked children, touch them, pose them, and have
them sit on them, do disgusting things to them. Because I was very
beautiful the house used me to stimulate the man's imagination, and then an
older whore, or I'm very ashamed to say, a more expendable child would
finish him off. By watching and later by doing, I learned every way to get a
man or a woman off.

When I was just twelve, Mike, Jennifer's husband took my physical
virginity; I believe he paid twenty thousand dollars to do it. For some
perverted reason he fell in love with me and kept me under guard in an
apartment he maintained for the purpose. Most of the time he was very
good to me, didn't touch me sexually, and arranged for tutors to come to
the apartment to educate me, that's how I learned French and German, not
to mention dance, English, history and math. On the nice days he was with
me he would alternately speak in English, French, or German, so I became
proficient, on those days he was like a wonderful caring father. About
once each month or so he became a perverted monster for a day or two, he
and his friends also molested young boys - going so far as to kill some of
them. They would penetrate me in every way hurting me terribly, which is
why even now, even with you; I can't bear the thought of penetration.

Two, maybe three years ago, I don't remember exactly, but I was about
your age - Mike died while penetrating me anally, they tell me that I was
pinned under him for over an hour. Many things that happened that night,
and other nights, are too horrible for me to remember. My rational mind
has blocked them out, even now. Somehow, the house took me away from
the police after the ambulances left, it seems Mike was only renting me, and
as I was no longer a virgin, I was immediately made to service very wealthy
men and every now and then a woman. The doctors later said I was in
shock for that month while they made me do it, I only remember it as a
dream, a very bad dream.

About a month after Mike died, Jennifer came to the house with five very
tough men led by Giles. They badly hurt the house's managers and rescued
me. I believe she took other steps, but I don't know the details, in any
event, I wasn't bothered again.

It seems Jennifer found and read a diary Mike kept detailing his
perversions, when she read about me, she decided to rescue me and have
me live here. I saw the diary, and the two monsters that shared Mike's
perversions are named Goldman and Schwartz, but Giles says we can't be
sure they are their real names. However, over a year later, Giles told me he
was sure the attack on you and Kyle was in retaliation for rescuing me.
Most disturbing, the monster that masterminded your attack, and one of
the managers from the whorehouse, is still free.

Jennifer gave me twenty million dollars, which is invested for me, and told
me I was free to stay or leave, but no matter what I had a home with her
here forever. I never had a rare blood disease, I was seeing a psychiatrist -
that morning we met by the pond was the turning point for me, the talk we
had gave me a reason to live.

Nicola, Becky when she was home, and I became fast friends, and I helped
them with everything - not because I was paid, I wasn't, but because I
learned to love them and Jennifer too. I never was an assistant nanny;
Jennifer made that up to explain my initial presence in the house.
Unfortunately after Nicola's death, I believe Jennifer was reminded of
Mike's evil whenever she saw me. I had decided to move out when your
family was killed in France, but with Jennifer failing I couldn't go and leave
her."

I was stroking her back as she spoke and softly kissed her bruised
forehead. I started to say something, but she put her finger on my lips.

"Just a little more, your sister Becky's things were here, including all of
your letters to her. I'm very sorry for invading your privacy, but I read
them all more than once, and I truly fell in love with you. I became
convinced that, if anyone could, your kind gentle ways could bring Jennifer
out of her depression.

In talking with the long-term servants, all of whom care deeply for Jennifer,
I became convinced of her distrust of men after discovering Mike's evil. I
believed that distrust would prevent her from accepting meaningful help
from Nicholas, but if I could convince you to impersonate Becky, she
would accept help from you in that guise.

What I have told you so far is bad enough, but I doubt if you can forgive
me this.

I had seen young boys turned into pretty girls in the whorehouse and knew
the techniques. May God forgive me, but I used them on you. I knew
from your letters that you loved and idolized me and took advantage of
your love. I was blinded by the thought I was helping Jennifer who had
saved me from a life of slavery. A few days after that first night I realized
what harm I was doing you, but I couldn't stop - you were so right for me,
as you are now. I was very selfish and knew better, it's a sin on my soul."

I began to cry thinking about Tina's life in the whorehouse and living with
Mike. I clutched Tina to me not thinking how I might be hurting her
bruised body. I don't know how long I cried, but I was shaken out of it
when Tina started to get up. "Don't leave me, the past is done, let's live the
future. There is nothing for me to forgive, I'm just grateful we found each
other."

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course, I love you. Tina I really, really do. If it is important to you
that I be Becky, that is enough for me, and besides Jennifer is certainly
better and back to her old self."

Then she started to cry with me, and sometime later, we fell asleep.

Tiny tub or not, we bathed together in the morning. We dressed and with
dickey delightfully milked, we went downstairs to face the world closer
then ever.

I brought Jennifer's breakfast to her telling Jody to take the morning off,
and while I was bathing Jennifer, I said, "Tina told me her whole history
last night, and I want you to know how much I appreciate what you have
done for her. It was a very noble and unselfish act of kindness."

"Mike hurt me so badly, he was such a bastard, Christ doing those things
with children, an awful person - I was completely fooled by him. When I
learned the facts I realized how much of a victim Tina was, my conscience
would let me do nothing less."

As Jennifer left the tub, we were both crying and hugging each other. I
finally understood why women cry together. We started with tears of rage
at what was done by Mike, and went through the gamut of emotions and
ended up feeling closer than we ever had - I thought we had found closure
with the past. After awhile I went to our room, changed my damp dress,
and reapplied my makeup before going downstairs to join them in the
sunroom.

Chapter 17 - And Then There Were None

Take care to sell your horse before he dies. The art of life is passing losses
on.

Robert Frost (1874-1963

Nigel and Ian, our new bodyguards, had joined Giles on Monday.
Somehow, they had gotten hold of postmortem photos of the thugs who
attacked us, Giles said he was most impressed, as even as Becky I still had
a cool head and survived another attack.

When we were alone, I asked him about the attack while I was with Kyle
years ago. He told me that attack was in retribution for the attack that
freed Tina. They were positive because the two men Kyle had killed were
in the whorehouse when it was raided, but they had been unsuccessful
finding the others. I asked if the attack last week was related. He said that
he didn't know for sure, but it was possible as there were things about it
that didn't ring true for an ordinary robbery and rape. He wouldn't, or
couldn't, elaborate.

If Jennifer didn't require Giles, he would alternate Nigel and Ian in the limo
with him to bring them up to speed. The other would follow in an
unmarked car. Both were new to America and had a lot to learn, and Giles
asked us to help with streets, customs, and such.

Giles assured us they would be both loyal and competent, to that end he
put on a demonstration of close combat that was nothing short of
spectacular. We were given some insight into their weapons and tactics as
well. The second car was used as it provided more options in the event of
attack, all were armed with pistols and knives, and there was a sniper rifle
in the chase car. They were all licensed as private investigators and had
permits to carry their weapons. We were given code words and instructed
in what to do during various emergencies.

On Tuesday, Jennifer had gone back to France, after assuring herself our
protection was in place.

By Friday, the worst of Tina's and all of my bruises were gone.

There was no school this week because of the Easter holiday, and I spent
time studying. With all my outside activities, my class load was
challenging, but my grades were excellent, and I was enjoying every
minute.

I was internalizing Tina's past, and she was getting used to the fact I knew
- and the fact that it didn't diminish my opinion of her, in fact it drew me
closer to her. The gentle way we loved each other enabled us to continue
love making, even as battered and bruised as she was - in fact she found my
attentions most welcome and reassuring. I continued my daily exercise and
Tina was well enough to rejoin me on Thursday, in short, it was an idyllic
lazy week for us.

I had moved our appointment with Sandra to three as we were going to
dinner and a New York show with Sam and Paul, Marsha Wright's (from
my Russian class) older brothers. Tina and I were looking forward to it as
neither of us had seen a live play before. Our security was most
convenient, as it all but ruled out hanky panky on the part of the boys we
dated, and that off the table I found that I looked forward to boys'
company and the attention they paid us. I also found I liked looking good
for them, and in all honesty I was becoming a shameless tease - something
Tina found most amusing.

In short, Tina and I had no idea what was to befall me at Sandra's hands.

We went directly into the examination room a half-hour after my blood was
taken as usual and Sandra was waiting, which was unusual. She had a
serious look on her face as she looked up from a lab report and asked me
to undress. Tina sensed the tension in Sandra and hovered close to me as I
undressed. My testicles were up in my body when I removed my thong,
and Sandra popped them out as I stood in front of her, she spent quite a bit
of time looking at them.

"Becky, I have some potentially bad news for you, mind you we aren't
certain yet. Do you feel comfortable talking about very personal things
with Tina in the room?"

"We have no secrets from each other. Please be candid."

"Your testicles seem to be developing a serious problem, and I want you to
stay overnight while we run some tests."

"Damn, how serious?"

"I can't tell right now, but it could be life threatening if left untreated - If its
what I suspect hours could count."

"We were going to New York to see "The Phantom of the Opera" on
Broadway tonight. What if we come back first thing in the morning?"

"I'd rather not wait, weigh one show against a lifetime of shows."

"Well if you put it that way, I don't have anything with me to wear for the
night though."

She laughed, "Don't worry, for one night a clinic gown will do."

Sandra pressed a button on her cell phone and Nurse June came in. She
handed June my chart and said, "Becky will be staying the night with us,
please get her settled into her room. Tina while Becky is getting settled in,
perhaps you would like to cancel your arrangements for tonight."

When Tina returned I was in bed having received a shot from June. She
hadn't lost her touch; I didn't even feel it. It wasn't long before I was falling
asleep. My last recollection was Sandra telling Tina to leave me now, and
come back tomorrow afternoon about three.

I didn't know the conversation between the four doctors then, but I know
all about it now.

Sandra: "She is in deep sleep, perhaps you would care to examine her
now?"

#2: "Yes Sandra, by all means."

Sandra: "She has requested a completely pain free procedure."

#4: "That will be no problem, have you secured all the necessary clearances
and legal forms?"

Sandra: "There all here if you would like to review them."

#4: After reviewing each page in detail. "Whenever a minor is involved, it
pays to be very careful, do you have her medical record?"

Sandra: "It's all here."

#4: "Very healthy, but you were challenging her with very high levels of
estrogen among other hormones."

Sandra: "Puberty is imminent, and she didn't want to turn out like me."
Sandra was smiling bleakly, "I wanted to give her about six months under
my close observation to insure this was the course she truly desired. The
psychological people agree with me, this is a proper course of action.
Their report is attached to the medical record."

#3: "I noticed that, you recommend reconstructive surgery as well."

Sandra: "Yes and absolutely no nerve damage, that is why I requested your
team for this procedure."

#2: "The penis is to be left fully functional?"

Sandra: "Yes with the additional work as noted in my statement of
procedure, she is uncertain if a full reconstruction is desirable and wants to
keep her options open. Conversely, the reconstruction tomorrow should
allow for a problem free full reconstruction later.

#4: "Money is no object, judging by our fees?"

Sandra: "Correct, but perfect results are absolutely essential."

#2: "Just to double check, she is fully aware of the irreversibility of
tomorrow's procedure and fully consents to it of her own free will. She has
been explicitly advised of the details of the procedure, its consequences and
risks, and she herself has fully and explicitly consented?"

Sandra: "Yes." It was the first outright lie of the briefing.

I was then given a full body MRI using the clinic's new multimillion-dollar
GE machine. The surgeons began measuring and marking my body; they
planned their work meticulously for over an hour and when finished retired
to the clinic's guestrooms for a good night's rest.

At seven AM the procedure started and it lasted until five in the afternoon,
after the operation #4 told Sandra perfect results were to be expected, but
it was up to Sandra to keep the site free of opportunistic infection. The fee
for the three-man surgical team was one and half one million dollars, plus
expenses, they were the best money could buy.

Tina arrived at three as expected, and as planned, the clinic's staff
psychiatrist intercepted her when she entered the waiting room.

"Tina, I'm Doctor Marshal may I have a word with you?"

"Sure, but is there something wrong with Becky?"

"Yes she ran into a serious complication, she is in no danger now, but I
must tell you all about her condition."

They went into a warmly furnished office with several comfortable leather
easy chairs. Dr. Marshal closed the door, and eschewing his desk sat next
to Tina in one of the easy chairs, they were within two feet of each other.
Unknown to Tina, the records of her earlier psychoanalysis were on his
desk, the deck was stacked.

"We have been in constant conversation with Becky's mother via
transatlantic telephone today, and she has candidly explained your spousal
relationship with Becky. She will call and speak with you in a little while,
but in a nutshell, she wants you to act in her place, make sure Becky's care
is the best, and for you to comfort Becky emotionally when she wakes.
Mrs. Hayes-Ravlon has been advised that Becky will be unconscious at
least until Wednesday, mainly to insure Becky feels little or no pain from
the procedure. Mrs. Hayes-Ravlon won't be returning until early Thursday
morning as the business she is involved with is critically important, besides
there is nothing she can do here that you can't, and she has every
confidence in you."

Tina grabbed his arm saying, "What happened to Becky?"

"There is no easy way to say this, the doctors were forced to remove her
gonads."

"Oh my god, only last week we were talking of raising a family after she
completed college."

"That will still be possible, her semen has been saved and is in cryogenic
storage, it would be a simple procedure to artificially impregnate you. In
fact should she elect to undergo the full sex change in the future, it might
be possible by using your eggs she could carry the baby to term herself."

"Is her penis is still intact?"

"Yes fully, it will be fully functional, there just won't be any sperm in the
ejaculate, the ejaculate fluid will be clear."

"That's a relief. What's the downside?"

"Very little I imagine, given her current lifestyle. She does live full time as
a girl, doesn't she?"

"Yes, day and night."

"Is she happy in that role?"

"Yes, I believe so. We both are, as strange as that seems, but candidly we
both enjoy her penis."

"In that case I believe the potential is there for even fuller enjoyment. We
had two choices after the gonads were removed. First we could have
inserted silicon sacks, very similar to breast implants. In that case,
outwardly her testicles would have looked unchanged. The second choice,
the one Mrs. Hayes-Ravlon elected, was to use the sack tissue, and
salvaged nerves to form some of the external sex organs of a woman. As
with the first choice the appearance is superficial, but with proper
conditioning they can be made to give sensations much like your outer lips
give you.

While Becky is unconscious, I would like to explore your roles together in
order to help you help Becky when she awakes. Can you spend several
hours each day with my assistants and I?"

"Yes, anything if it will help Becky."

***I was kind of half-awake for some time, Becky visited and we talked,
as she was leaving she told me, 'I am enjoying our life together, it is really
satisfying to do so well in school for a change, its really fun going out too.
You must not fret about your loss, they aren't all that important to you
anymore - it will all work out for the best. Tina will help you over any
rough spots.' She leaned over and kissed me, I was puzzling about the
strange sensation the kiss triggered, and she left through the portal before I
thought to ask what 'they' were.***

Then I saw Tina leaning over me and came out of my fog, "Hi sleepyhead,
you just set a family sleep record." She commented with a smile.

I tried to sit up and kiss her, but I got very dizzy and lay back down
immediately. "Hey, give me a kiss, I'm so dizzy I can't sit up.

She did - a long luscious kiss, and then said, "How do you feel, any pain at
all?"

"No, but dickey feels funny, what on it, in it? Say how did I get in my
nightgown, I went to sleep in a ugly hospital thing."

"First question, you have a catheter in dickey, its held in by a rubber like
thingee, and it drains your urine. Didn't you notice the IV in your arm?"

"No, not until you mentioned it."

"About your gown, I thought you would feel nicer in your own, rather then
the clinic's. I have some makeup here for you too; I thought that would
perk you up. You do prefer it on, don't you?"

"Sure, thank you, please."

Tina gave me a toothbrush and paste, I brushed then she started to apply
my makeup saying, "You have been doing your own for so long, I hope
you don't come out looking like a clown." I didn't move and enjoyed her
attention; Tina has such a nice touch. After a few minutes she said, "Good,
now let me do your nails, they have grown quite a bit."

I looked at my nails and there was a good eighth inch unpainted at the
cuticles, "Darn, how long have I been out?"

"About five days, you had emergency surgery." Tina began taking the
polish off my nails; she had a small portable manicure kit with her too.

"Christ, what for?"

I didn't like it when Tina hesitated, and a look of worry passed briefly over
her eyes. When she took a deep breath, I really got worried.

"Your gonads reacted violently to the estrogen and had to be removed."

"Did I hear you right, they had to castrate me?"

Tina looked like she would cry, "Yes. Yes but Becky, it makes no
difference to me, I still love you and we can still have children and make
love to each other. The doctors and therapists who have been working
with me say our love making can even be better."

"Christ that will take some getting used to, you used to love playing with
them, hiding them for me. Not only that but without testosterone will my
penis work right, I mean long term."

"The doctors say yes it will, unless you develop an emotional block.
Physically with appropriate hormone therapy there is no reason dickey
won't continue to function as well or better then ever."

She matter of factly continued with my nails, but there were tears at the
corners of her eyes.

"Tina are you sure you can love me without my balls?"

She couldn't help it and laughed, saying after a few moments, "Absolutely
certain, I will love you forever no matter what." She smiled again,
"Besides a man's balls are not his most attractive feature. Becky I've
known about this since Saturday and have had a chance to think it through.
It should make no difference to us, unless it destroys you emotionally in
some unnecessary way."

I thought about that awhile as she trimmed my cuticles, and then started
applying the base coat.

"Look I'm days from being sixteen and I have no choice but to live the rest
of my life this way, you are eighteen and I will certainly understand if you
want a complete man."

"Darling, don't be silly, what I love about you is your mind and gentle
nature, not your balls. Of course your butt is very sexy too and your
developing the cutest little tits, but its definitely the inner you I adore."

"I don't hurt at all, I read castration hurt like the devil."

"The way the doctor explained it to me was that they used a very
sophisticated procedure, and fortunately a skilled surgical team was
available. It took nine hours to do the surgery on Saturday. Rather than
cut the nerves or damage them they carefully separated them from the
gonads, reformed the outer skin and other tissue, over the separated
nerves, and closed it up. They even destroyed hair follicles where you
likely didn't want them. All the nerves are all alive and working, they just
have been relocated. After the operation, they used some new stuff to
quickly regenerate the skin over the incisions and stitches. I've seen the
result this morning and it looks just like my pussy from the outside, I'm told
it will produce sensations for you like mine does for me, if that is true you
are in for a real treat. There is no deep vagina, but they explained that
could be added later."

"That must look strange. I mean with Dickey and all."

She laughed, "I like it. You look like my equipment down there, with a
real big clit above it. I think we will really enjoy it as it is now. We will
find out soon, they say I have to help you train it to give you pleasure. In
the process we will cure one my biggest remaining hang ups, and I know
you are going to like that."

Tina finished my nails, took off her dress and shoes, and in her slip got into
bed with me and we cuddled. She must have spent a lot of sleepless nights,
as she was soon asleep, amazingly after all the sleep I had, I soon followed.

When I woke, I could tell by the sun it was early morning. Tina was still
nestled next to me and Jennifer was sleeping in an easy chair pulled close to
the bed. I moved my arm slightly and she woke, she had been holding my
hand. We smiled at each other sleepily, "I really have to stop going to
France, terrible things happen every time I do."

"I guess I was the one, of 'one in fifty" fame, to lose his gonads.
Remember Sandra warned us about that possibility on our first visit."

"Not much consolation. How do you feel?"

"There is no physical pain. Tina has seen the result of the surgery and says
she can live with it, she even thinks we will like it that way after a short
while. I don't know about that. I do know I'm almost sixteen, and that I
am not going to let it ruin the rest of my life, especially as I intend to live it
as a girl. That's a good thing, as my voice hasn't changed and I'd be
ridiculed now dressed as a man."

"Becky, you are a wonder. You have strength beyond my belief, just
recover your health now."

Almost on cue, Sandra walked in. "You look good very nice, how do you
feel?"

*Like a pissed off bastard, give me back my fucking balls you incompetent
quack.* But I said, "Very good, thank you."

"I want to get you up and about, Tina (who had awakened when Sandra
first spoke) and Jennifer, would you give Becky a hand."

It took a few minutes waiting for the dizziness to subside, but I was finally
on my feet. Sandra said, "Very good, lay back down and I'll take the tubes
out of you and change your pad if necessary."

After all that work, I lay back down. Sandra removed the IV in my arm
and took down my panties. The catheter stung a little as it was removed; I
noticed I was wearing a sanitary napkin.

"Are you ready to see the results of the surgery, or would you rather wait?"

My first inclination was to wait, at least peek when I was alone. But the
two closest people I had in the world were with me, one had brought me
up from a days old infant and the other was my lover - no secrets there, and
besides I was curious, "Yes, let me see what you have done."

It looked strange as there was no hair at all down there, I could see my
penis, and it looked normal, but there were a few little bandages around the
base. I said, "Besides being hairless everything looks the same from my
prospective up here."

Sandra picked up a makeup mirror and I opened my legs and took a real
good look. Tina's description was accurate; it did look a lot like her pussy
from the outside, and was located pretty much where hers was. I reached
down and yes, it did look and feel like the two lips were formed, I probed a
bit, and there was no pee hole, deep vagina, or clit, just a resilient fold of
skin. There was sensation when I touched it; the sensation was not
unpleasant, but confusing. It didn't feel like what my eyes were seeing.

I didn't realize it, but I had been holding my breath, I took another with an
audible sigh. "I will get use to it, I don't have to get a period too, do I?

"No, and as any girl will tell you, thank God for that. The pad was just a
convenient protection while you slept." Sandra was looking closely at my
faux pussy with a loop and probe, "The wound looks fully healed and you
won't need a pad again, but I wouldn't put a lot of strain on it for the next
two weeks or so. Why don't you try to go to the bathroom, there is a little
fecal matter on the pad."

I turned beet red and ran into the bathroom, Sandra followed, "Slow down!
Don't be embarrassed dear - here use these handy wipes when you are
through." Dickey was sore at the base, and seemed very lazy hanging
almost straight down; at the time, it meant nothing to me, just passing
strange. I tuned back in to Sandra, "...contain a special
antiseptic/antibacterial that you should use down there for the next week or
so to prevent infection, then put on your robe and we'll go down to the
cafeteria and get something to eat."

I stayed one more night at the clinic; Tina and Jennifer are convinced my
visits from Becky are a combination of wishful thinking and my
subconscious supplying answers while I sleep. I believe otherwise, hell, I
know otherwise.

***Becky visited me early Friday morning and for some time we spoke of
trivial but reassuring things, before she left she projected an image into my
mind of a thick file folder on Sandra's large desk; the folder had my name
on it. Becky just kissed me and left through the portal without mentioning
the folder.***

Tina was sleeping with me and I disengaged from her embrace without
waking her. Getting up I put on a negligee and slippers, and went directly
to Sandra's office.

I entered quietly and sat at her desk, only then did I notice the light snoring
coming from the couch, as I watched, Sandra moved in a fitful sleep.
Becky didn't show me this file without a reason, so I started to read it. I
went through it cover to cover, skimming the technical reports, but clearly
getting the gist of my treatment from hours before I first visited the clinic
to the present. I put everything back where I found it, and debated kicking
Sandra in the teeth, but I decided to keep the knowledge to myself, and left
Sandra's office with my innocence and trust in Jennifer badly damaged.

Back in my room, I took a tube of toothpaste from the bath, squirted some
making the letter 'T' on the bed board, and then snuggling up to Tina fell
back to sleep.

Friday morning the 'T' was there and I knew I hadn't dreamed the whole
thing, after Sandra checked me we dressed and Giles drove us home.
Dotty called after school and her mom dropped her off with my school
assignments, Dotty stayed for dinner, and Giles brought her home about
eight. The story was that my kidneys had developed a sudden, serious, and
debilitating infection. It was bound to be misunderstood.

Chapter 18 - School and Other Activities
A school is not a factory. Its raison d' tre is to provide opportunity for
experience.

J. L. Carr (b. 1912)

My first day back to school was the Monday after I returned home from
Sandra's Clinic - light a body part or two. A few of the girls, obviously not
my friends, spread the rumor I had an abortion and not a kidney infection I
claimed. Tina and I thought that my being pregnant was very funny, all
things considered - at least nobody suggested the fact I was castrated and
given a faux pussy. On Tuesday when Ms. Welch invited me into the office
to talk about squelching the rumor, I couldn't help laughing.

When I stopped I said, "I'm very sorry, but that story is so ridiculous - I
had a very painful infection, not a baby. Even the nuns taught me the
difference between a stone and a baby." She laughed at that, and I
continued, "Say, mother wanted to invite you and your significant other
over for dinner anyway, maybe sooner will be better then later, what would
be a good day for you?"

"Thursday would be fine for us. You've met Billy, and with Billy, you get
Billy - even on her best behavior. Are you sure your mother won't be
offended?"

"Trust me, Jennifer is unflappable. She runs a very profitable hundred
billion dollar international conglomerate and is one shrewd woman. I will
check if she will be in town Thursday, and let you know tomorrow."

"There is still the matter of the rumor. What do you want done about it."

"It doesn't bother me in the least, let them have their fun. The rumor will
die a natural death quickly enough. In my old school, I would be burned at
the stake at the very suggestion, but here? I don't understand why anyone
started it, like who would give a good rats butt, even if it were true. Most
of the girls who know me well think that it's nonsense anyway." I paused,
opened my purse and then grinned saying, "I can't believe that Sarah
Winton, she is telling everybody, 'Well, nobody has seen her wear pads the
past two months, that proves she must be pregnant." I aped Sarah's phony
British accent, and elaborate hand motions then continued, "Duh, what
planet is she from? Obviously, one without tampons - these aren't Cuban
cigars. Don't waste your time thinking about it, I don't."

When Ms. Welch stopped laughing she said, "Ok with me, it's probably the
best way to handle it anyhow. Let me know about Thursday please, I've
been dying to visit your home."

Thursday turned out to be fine for Jennifer, and Ms. Catherine Welch and
Billy Querns came for dinner. Billy is a very masculine female and her
actions matched her appearance, even though she was on her very best
behavior - or else. I could see why Ms. Welch was concerned, but of
course, Jennifer didn't bat an eye.

Tina and I wore our long red cashmere dresses and our diamond
engagement rings with platinum wedding bands on the correct finger.
Jennifer sat at the head of the table, Tina and I sat on her right, and
Catherine and Billy (we all were on first name basis in our home) were
together to her right. Tina and I did not attempt to hide our affection for
one another, and Catherine got the message we intended to project.

Over cordials (Soda for Tina and I) in the preacher's parlor, Jennifer
remarked, "Catherine, Becky has brought to my attention the school has no
real athletic facilities. In this day and age, it's as important for girls to be
physically fit as it is for boys. It doesn't affect Becky adversely, as we all
regularly use the facilities here. However, I have been thinking of funding
athletic facilities at your school, and I would like them to be dedicated in
Nicola's name, if that's agreeable with you."

It was, and they discussed details with Jennifer to arrange for an architect
as the next step. It was something Jennifer had long planned to do in any
event.

When they left, I reminded Jennifer that her room was still way overdue for
a face-lift, and would she mind if I arranged the remodeling for her. "Oh,
and while we were at it, our room could use some work. For instance, I
would like to make a sitting/computer room out of Nicholas's old room,
and connect it to ours - plus a few other things that need doing."

She replied with a knowing smile, "Yes that's a great idea, why don't you
network my computer to yours while you're at it. I expect we will be
sharing much work soon. Will you make all the arrangements with the
tradesmen?"

"Sure, it will be fun. Tina is has been planning pastel color schemes, it will
brighten up our lives."

At school Friday morning, Ms. Welch called me in to her office and said,
"You are the foxy one Becky Marie Hayes-Ravlon. Did those rings mean
what they implied?"

"Well, they were more symbolic that real, of course we aren't actually
married. However, you can see why Tina and I were so amused by the
rumor I might be pregnant, we are very faithful to each other. Trust me,
the boys we date are strictly for decoration, not for sexual play. After
college Tina might choose to be pregnant, my brother Nicholas's seed is in
cryogenic storage, but after all that effort, we sure as hell won't seek an
abortion. I'm sure you understand our desire for a private relationship, at
least for the next few years,"

"My lips are sealed, was that the price of the gym?"

"Absolutely not, if you check the deeds for the new property you will see it
was purchased shortly after Nicola's death. That was long before Tina and
I became an item. Jennifer was going to do something for the school in any
event, she wanted a suitable useful memorial for Nicola, and Nicola loved
this school. By the way, I do too. Tina and I are usually very discreet, that
was just our way of letting you know you had a friends."

And now so did we.

We were far too wealthy to totally escape the attention of the press, but the
publicist Jennifer hired did an excellent job of managing the stories, and by
and large, we were able to ignore it. Fortunately, the Hayes household's
women were believed to be boring copy scandal wise, and we didn't receive
in depth scrutiny. The fluff pieces that were published were largely
flattering and appeared in the business, home, and society sections of the
papers - and not the tabloids.

For example, on Friday we got to see 'Phantom of the Opera," and had
dinner at 'Windows on the World' 1,300 feet above street level in the
World Trade Center building in lower Manhattan. The night was to be our
treat, making amends to Sam and Paul for missing our date, and causing
them to miss the show two weeks previously.

Tina and I dressed to the nines in new evening gowns sent to us by the
Hayes' 'Evening Lady' division for the occasion. The were made of a new
organza fabric that reflected rainbows of light, like sunlight from oiled bath
water, it gave the impression we were nude and clothed in a almost
transparent black hologram. Jennifer loaned us some fine diamond jewelry,
tiaras, chandler earrings, matching diamond tennis bracelets, and matching
velvet and diamond chokers. The boys wore black tux, and looked most
elegant.

Our publicist tipped the New York Times fashion magazine, and they had a
photographer and feature writer cover our evening. The resulting story
was to be included in an upcoming series, "Beautiful People At Play in
Manhattan." They photographed us entering the restaurant, at dinner, in
our limo from dinner to the theater, and in our box at the theater. After the
show, we were brought back stage, met with the cast, and more pictures
were taken.

On the way home, the boys looked for a piece of us - they received a quick
kiss good night, but their parents were delighted with the Times piece!
The color photos in the spread were gorgeous; the boys were as
photogenic as Tina and I. While the feature writer interviewed us after
dinner in the limo, the story was almost word for word from our publicist's
background sheet Jennifer had approved.

***The night of the play Becky visited; it was the first time since I
discovered Jennifer's duplicity that night in the clinic.

"Why, Becky why did she do this to me?"

"She was afraid you would grow into the monster she believes Uncle Mike
was."

"I'm me, Nicholas and I have Tina. I don't want to have anyone else.
Especially not a child, that is perverted - I hope he is roasting in hell for
what he did to Tina."

"I don't know about hell, but he sure isn't up here with us. I know it's hard
for you now, but your loss is the price of Jennifer's trust. If you were a
whole man she would always suspect you of going the way of Uncle
Mike."

"But in doing this she has lost my trust, at the very least she should have
secured my consent."

"Would you have given it to her?"

"I don't know for sure. , I guess if she made a compelling case, I probably
would have, but in any case she should have asked. Trust is a two way
street."

"What are you going to do? Are you going to confront Jennifer?"

"Not for now, I am going to prepare myself to take my rightful place -
nothing will give me back what she took. Confrontation now will only
rekindle her suspicious of my motives and the male me. I will be the model
daughter you would have been, and learn how to use the power she
controls to the very best of my ability."

"I agree, and for what its worth - I believe she does love you."

"That's great, I hate to think of what I'd have lost if she only liked me."

"She loved Uncle Mike and his weakness was something Jennifer never
suspected. It hurt her very deeply when she found out how weak and
depraved he was. She doesn't fully trust any men after that - it's corroding
her future."

Our conversation lasted for what seemed to be hours. Our pleasant
intimate discussion cooled my anger and I felt at peace with myself - for
now.

Becky smiled and waved as she disappeared into the portal.***

Our Wednesday evenings were spent in the ballroom dance class with Mike
and Paul (a different Paul than the one who escorted us to the theater.) In
addition to conventional dances, Tina and I were getting very good at
Jitterbugging to a big band's forties renaissance, the current rage. Mike
was a shy and gentle guy, but he was very strong and could really throw
me around, it was a blast. Paul was not as athletic, but Tina and he looked
smooth and graceful doing the same steps.

After one very vigorous dance set Mike kissed me, I was a little winded
and flushed before the kiss. What started as a friendly kiss became
something else entirely. I felt warm and wonderful in his arms, a extension
of his body, I wanted to be part of his body, and I returned his kiss with a
passion I reserved for Tina. He told me afterwards that I looked so
desirable he couldn't resist steeling a kiss, and looked shaken after we
disengaged. That was the first time I felt like a woman in the arms of a
man, it was very disquieting in retrospect.

A few minutes later in the ladies' room, Tina asked me, "What was that all
about?"

"He kissed me."

"I could see that."

"I don't know it caught me by surprise, and I couldn't help returning his
kiss. I don't know what came over me, I felt like I wanted to be part of
him. He seemed so strong, I wanted to yield to him and let him take
control of me. Not my mind, it was something on a very physical level."

"I know that feeling well, its called lust for a man, and it's what women feel
when we are about to yield to a man. Frankly, with all the hormones
Sandra gives you I'm surprised you haven't felt it before."

"Maybe the hormones are more effective now that I don't have my gonads.
Christ, look at me. I'm far from your exceptional beauty, but for one detail,
I look like a woman. Up to now, I never really felt what a woman truly
feels - Tina I don't want to be a woman inside, I want to be a man and I
only want to love you."

"You do, and I don't want that to change, but you have to recognize you
have a strong female side and that it can exert a powerful influence on you.
It's real and you will have to learn to control it, just as you control you
male behavior. Don't worry, it really isn't bad - and we can use it to make
our love stronger."

She kissed me, and it too became something more. I felt like myself as we
rejoined the boys.

There were a half dozen other boys we went out with now and then, and
we both were mastering the techniques of controlling their baser instincts,
while still enjoying their company and they ours. In one way, I had an
advantage over Tina in that I liked sports and was knowledgeable,
providing neutral non-threatening conversational icebreakers. I didn't
know or care what they did for sexual release, but it was well understood
by all that is wouldn't be with us.

I joked with Tina that we were accessorizing men, very much as we added
jewelry prior to an evening out - which was not far from the truth. Even
Jennifer was going out occasionally, the two men she chose in rotation to
take her to various social functions, Robert, and Jason, turned out to be
closet gays, very safe, very polite, very attentive, very much to my relief.
Jennifer was taking a page from our book we joked.

Chapter 19 - A Different Perspective
Oh Doris Lessing, my dear-your Anna is wrong about orgasms. They are
no proof of love-any more than that other Anna's fall under the wheels of
that Russian train was a proof of love. It's all female shenanigans, cultural
mishegoss, conditioning, brainwashing, male mythologizing. What does a
woman want? She wants what she has been told she ought to want. Anna
Wulf wants orgasm, Anna Karenina, death. Orgasm is no proof of
anything. Orgasm is proof of orgasm. Someday every woman will have
orgasms-like every family has color TV-and we can all get on with the real
business of life.

Erica Jong (b. 1942)

We waited until the third Sunday after the surgery to begin training Puss,
(an abbreviated pussy,) as we nicknamed it. Tina said it was best if I didn't
think rationally about the process ahead of time, and to just follow her lead.
The woman who instructed her was a sex therapist employed by the clinic,
and acting as a surrogate she been successful in several cases similar to
mine. Tina was quite firm, she would learn how to do the therapy from the
surrogate, and take the responsibility of training me. I teased her about her
possessiveness, but was actually very pleased.

We started making love as usual for us, but when we moved to sixty-nine
Tina ignored Dickey and concentrated on Puss. After doing nice things to
wake it up, she asked me to imagine she was penetrating it with her tongue
exactly as I did pussy. In fact, she whispered in my ear, "Becky please
concentrate on your feelings, for now let me do for you. This is not really
a game, concentrate on being penetrated, imagine you are being penetrated,
ask to be penetrated as the need grows."

Then she resumed with Puss - kissing and nipping its lips just as I would
hers; it was very pleasant but she was rapidly getting far rougher then I
ever got. Finally, I almost screamed as I felt as if my nonexistent balls
were pinched and squeezed very hard.

Tina turned around and whispered in my ear, "I just took your cherry, and
now I'm going to make you feel so good, my cock will go all the way up
your new Puss, tell me you want it, beg me for it. You are a nice girl
Becky, but you really need my cock now, tell me. I did, I pulled her body
to me demanding, begging that she penetrate me.

"Spread your legs wide and lift up your knees, while I stick my cock into
you. Get ready, the first inch it's the hardest for a virgin." Tina was
between my legs, which were now spread apart in the missionary position,
the cool air on a moist Puss only increased my desire. Then Tina was lying
between my legs as a man would, Dickey was hard as a rock from the
attention Puss had received, but I concentrated my attention on Puss,
waiting to receive Tina's cock.

Suddenly Pussy enveloped Dickey for the very first time ever, just Dickey's
head. "Isn't that nice to have my cock in you?" She asked. My senses
exploded, as I knew that I was in Tina for the very first time, but I
suppressed rational thought and imagined she was in me, saying almost
involuntarily, "Oh, yes Tina. Give me more; please much more I need you.
Now, oh God don't stop now."

As she moved her legs up she lowered herself onto me, I really felt as if she
was fucking me, in my new Puss, my new Puss was tingling. She
penetrated me fully and reached back pushing into my Puss with
something. The illusion was that she was buried to the hilt into me.

Tina stayed 'buried in me' her hips virtually unmoving, while she
manipulated an oval ball into my Puss. I felt sensations of pain from my
old testicles, which somehow my brain started to interpret as the full
feeling, satisfying sensations of being deeply penetrated. Tina's constant
mantra reinforced the feeling. After quite a while, she withdrew.
Naturally, I wanted her to put it in me again, but she said, "Please wait
lover, I don't want to cum in your new Puss just yet.

She gave me a bath, and applied a new lotion, which made my entire skin
super sensitive, all the while teasing and asking if I was ready to be fucked
again. Soon, we went through the same process again, only as she applied
more pressure to Puss, my mind interrupted the sensations less like a pain
in my balls, and more like I imagined the warm full feeling of penetration.
Then she penetrated me again. Manipulated Puss, and still asked me not to
cum, I didn't, but my whole body was in overload.

After a while we both took a shower and did it all again, by the forth
iteration there was no doubt in my mind I was being penetrated, but this
time I was powerfully fucked, deeply and satisfying with long full strokes,
until we both achieved monster orgasms.

After two weeks of this or variations each night, all the sensations my body
was reporting when she would fuck me was that it was I being penetrated,
my Puss was becoming exquisitely sensitive, especially enjoying sixty-nine
as foreplay. After two weeks Tina said, "You know what has happened.
Don't you?"

"I think so, but I suspect this conditioning, patterning I think is the proper
term, wouldn't have worked if we had normal intercourse prior to now, or
at least not anywhere near as quickly."

"Yes, I suspect your right. What else happened?"

"The other side of the equation - well, please don't be offended. I think it's
totally non-threatening for you to penetrate me while you remain in
control, rather then the reverse. We love each other and this is the ultimate
physical intimacy, through the reversal of roles, you are able to see it as the
gift we are giving each other. The fact that I really feel that way must be a
real turn-on for you - at least I hope so."

"Pretty close, however my lover, now I don't have any trouble accepting,
hell desiring penetration from you. Anyway we think of it, that doesn't
matter, I want you inside of me." She giggled, "If you could fuck me all
the time, it wouldn't be too much - it's just that fine. Scratch one of my
hang-ups."

"Gladly, but for now this is wonderful, let's do it this way." When time was
right, I planned to take her - I was looking forward to that, I thought the
surprise would really turn her on. Now.

"I like it too, and thank you. You are the first person I ever lovingly,
willingly, knowingly joined with, it is so wonderfully different, everything
before you was an unpleasant violation of my body and soul. Thank you
for making me experience physical love - and I do mean LOVE!" And she
kissed me, that kiss was so fine.

I learned to play tennis all over again as a girl, ride sidesaddle for a lark in
an antique equestrian dress, (as well as with a normal saddle, Puss did
make a pleasant difference,) acquired a taste for golf, exercised in our gym,
and swam. All were relatively safe sports to minimize the possibility of
being rushed to the hospital with an injury - and the resulting potential for
unmasking.

Prior to high school graduation, Jennifer hired half dozen well-connected
educational experts to plan my higher education. Harvard, Stamford, Yale,
or Radcliff were considered, but ruled out because of security concerns,
but the real reason was that Jennifer wanted to keep us close to her. We
decided I would be enrolled in one college and two universities
simultaneously. Steven's Institute for scientific and engineering courses,
New York University for business, and Columbia for languages and
government. All were chosen as they were excellent schools and in easy
commuting range of home. A very large amount of grant money was
funneled to each, and we certainly received prompt and considerate
attention to our unprecedented requests.

I insisted Tina take courses with me, coinciding with mine in time, but not
necessarily in content. I knew Tina was intelligent, but with her SAT
results, in the high-fifteen-hundreds, now so did everyone else. She was
the most surprised of all. So, with few exceptions we enjoyed being
together most days. What started out as a selfish demand on my part, quite
literally was crucial in the years to come, but of course, at the time, we had
no idea.

However, our real education was the hours we spent with Jennifer, at her
request we were largely quiet in meetings, asking an occasional question,
but saving our comments for the ladies room, limo and home. Jennifer
gave the impression we were along solely to provide company for her, and
we acted spoiled and bored at times to further the image. The ruse was
necessary, as she didn't want to expose us to serious attacks before we
were fully prepared. The plan worked, not only did we learn from Jennifer,
but we also had a chance to study our potential allies and adversaries from
cover.

To reduce travel time Jennifer purchased a condo on Central Park West
near Sixtieth Street overlooking the Park. We stayed there three or four
nights a week, but we were always glad to return home to the Hayes
Mansion at Nyack for the weekends.

We became accustomed to traveling by limo almost everywhere, a point
driven home by an attempt on Jennifer's life shortly after I graduated high
school.

Chapter 20 - Attempted Murder

Deep down, no one really believes they have a right to live. But this death
sentence generally stays cosily tucked away, hidden beneath the difficulty
of living. If that difficulty is removed from time to time, death is suddenly
there, unintelligibly.

Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)

It was a warm June day, the sun was shining brightly, and I was thinking
how fortunate we were that someone thought to erect an awning over the
stage. Tina and I were wearing yellow sunflower dresses and slips
manufactured by 'Hayes Cares!' in this town. They were so light and airy it
was as if we had nothing on - on stage in front of hundreds of people. I
could tell Tina was feeling the same way; it was very erotic and I couldn't
wait to get her alone.

We were there for opening a new half-billion-dollar garment/textile
manufacturing plant the 'Hayes Cares!' sports clothing division had erected.
Jennifer had just concluded the dedication speech prior to the ribbon
cutting. As she stepped into the open from behind the podium, Nigel leapt
in front of her bringing her to the floor - while shielding her with his body.
Not even a quarter-second later, we heard the shots.

It all registered on my brain like I was watching a sporting event with
instant replay; somehow, my mind absorbed every detail of the moment.
Just before I dragged Tina to the rostrum floor, I noticed a van parked on a
hill, with men firing rifles at us from its open side door. Panic and screams
reigned as bullets peppered the people on the podium. I yelled to Giles,
"The van on the hill at two o'clock."

Disregarding his own safety, he stood up and began firing at the van; his
two other men on stage followed his lead. It was a very long pistol shot,
however the return fire drove the cowards away in a cloud of dust. We
found out later that one of the return shots' hit a perpetrator. As soon as
the van pulled away, Giles ran up to Jennifer and Nigel. His other two men
took positions around them shielding them from the panicking dignitaries.
Giles got on his cell phone and called the police. I noticed at least six other
people down, and I shouted to Giles and he passed it along to the police.
It must have been a acoustical trick, but I could hear every word he said
over the cries of the wounded and panic of those spared.

Tina seemed in a shocked daze, but otherwise unhurt, so holding her firmly
I pushed our way to Jennifer's side. Nigel had taken two bullets in the
chest which passed right through his bullet proof vest, and he was
coughing up pink frothy blood, another bullet passed through his arm and
was lodged in Jennifer's shoulder. I checked Jennifer all over determining
her only wound was in her shoulder, and that it was just dribbling a little
blood. I cradled her in my arms talking to her least she go into shock.

Seeing Jennifer and Nigel bleeding snapped Tina out of it, and she knelt at
his side and opened Nigel's shirt and vest, using two maxi pads from her
shoulder purse to stem the worst of Nigel's bleeding. She continued to
kneel in the blood next to him, cradling his head and kept him from slipping
into unconsciousness by talking and cajoling him.

Nigel was the most seriously hurt of the nine people shot, and was taken to
the hospital first, with Tina and Randal from our security riding with him.
When Jennifer's turn came, I rode with her and Giles, the remainder of our
security following in a separate car.

The Greenville, North Carolina hospital welcomed us. While we were in
triage, the town treasurer, who seemed to have been grazed in the arm by a
bullet, died quietly of cardiac arrhythmia while waiting his turn. No one
noticed until the room cleared out.

As soon as we were sure that Jennifer and Nigel were being cared for
properly, Tina and I returned to our hotel with Randal. Once in our room
we removed our once beautiful sundresses, now encrusted with other's
dried blood. Once in the shower, the blood ran down the drain off our
bodies as we kissed. After we made love I confessed to Tina I never felt so
alive, she admitted to feeling the same euphoria. I suppose we should have
felt guilt, but it felt too damn good to be alive and unhurt. After our
energy was spent, we dressed, rounded up Randal, and returned to the
hospital.

There was considerable fallout from the tragedy.

The bullet cracked Jennifer's shoulder blade, and she was in considerable
discomfort from the heavy cast. Nevertheless, the next day from her
hospital bed Jennifer began to analyze the reasons for the shooting. The
shooters turned out to be poorly skilled workers, whose jobs in the
seventy-year-old factory were eliminated by the new highly automated
factory replacing it. True, under no conditions should people just shoot
other people, but Jennifer was looking to their motivations. She concluded
Hayes Industries was at least partially to blame, in that the factory workers
and townspeople were not brought in on management's decision-making
process to build a new factory.

The prevailing opinion as reflected in editorials and letters to the editor was
that 'Hayes Cares!' had, 'Just up and decided to fire half the workers and
close the old factory - making machines replace people.' I helped Jennifer
with an open letter to the town explaining why a new factory was
necessary. The long letter's message was that in order to compete with
foreign low priced high quality goods, the new highly automated factory
was built as an generational investment, and that the alternative was closing
the companies manufacturing in the U.S. completely. It was too little, too
late, and even though true, only half believed.

Just before Jennifer left the hospital a new Doctor visited Jennifer, under
Giles watchful gaze he examined her. While he was looking in Jennifer's
ear he said, "The scopolamine interrogation proves that they were paid to
murder you, and given the armor piercing ammunition and surplus M1A1
rifles to do the job."

"I suspected as much. Do they know they were questioned?"

"No, we were careful."

In no way did Jennifer show what she knew, and it was years before
Jennifer told me, but I knew anyway. You can think what you will, but I
believe Becky told me in a dream on the night of the shooting.

Heads rolled at Hayes, and it was made clear that all future decisions
would be shared with the affected employees and consensus sought.
Within Hayes it was a seminal event, one Jennifer confided to me was long
overdue.

Nigel was six long months recovering. Jennifer expressed her gratitude to
him for saving her life, with a million-dollar bonus and the choice of
retiring with full pay or coming back to work. He chose to come back to
work and eventually became an American Citizen. He claimed it was to
duck British taxes, but I knew he liked this country. The other bodyguards
with us that day were given one hundred-thousand-dollar bonus each for
steadfastness in the line of fire.

Giles recommended we all become proficient with firearms, so Jennifer had
a sophisticated automated combat range constructed in the enormous
empty old barn that had once housed thirty horses. To improve our speed
in target acquisition a skeet range was constructed. We all became
proficient and found we enjoyed the sport, but Tina had a real knack for
shooting, and once she overcame her initial fear of firearms was the house
champion. She even outscored most of Giles' men on the skeet course, and
some on the combat ranges - Giles men based in Nyack now numbered
eighteen and climbing.

It was amazing and wonderful to watch Tina blossom. She had largely lost
the guilt that she had felt for being forced to be whore after she told me of
her past, and totally unjustified guilt I must add. But over the months, her
competency with weapons gave her newfound confidence in herself, which
was a joy to behold. She bloomed before my eyes, and our relationship as
equals, as students, as adults, as friends, as lovers solidified.

Three days before my second Thanksgiving as Becky, Jennifer requested
that I help with her morning bath. Out of the blue, she asked, "How would
you like a new sister?"

Totally misunderstanding I touched her mons through the suds and
exclaimed, "I had no idea you were pregnant!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean like that. Ever since I brought Tina into our
house, I've toyed with formally adopting her, but for one reason or another,
I put it off. If you think of it, her position is much like a young daughter
who was sexually abused by her father. After being shot, I realized that I'm
not immortal, and should do it now - that is if I'm going to do it at all.
However, in thinking about it further, I realized it might be very awkward
for you, if your spouse is also your sister. Not to mention what totally
equal status might do to your relationship, especially without the bonds of
marriage."

I continued sponging her all over and then began washing her hair. I was
thinking about what Jennifer said, evaluating it from every which way. I
was quiet while I thought. I rinsed her hair and helped her out of the tub.
Then I put a towel around her hair, patted her dry with another, and began
to apply lotion, saying, "I think you should do it, and do it soon as possible,
but if you don't mind I would like to talk to her first."

"By all means dear, take all the time you need."

The remodeling of our rooms was completed. The bath that had been
Nicholas's, and the one belonging to Becky, was now one with all new
fixtures. There was a dual sink vanity, two toilets, a warm water bidet, a
large hot tub, and a separate large shower. It was after supper and we
were indulging our bodies in our new hot tub with the whirlpool unit
turned on high.

"Tina, would you like to marry me?"

"We are silly, in every meaningful way."

"No, I mean legally - a white dress, a priest and all."

"I would love to, in fact I dreamed about having a wedding day from when
I was a very little girl. But it really isn't very practical, it would be a
scandal." She giggled.

"Ok, how would you like to be my sister?"

"Same answer silly, I already am in every meaningful way."

"No your not, you haven't been formally adopted. Take it from me, it's
important. When Jennifer formally adopted me, I felt a degree of security
unlike any in my life. Nobody was going to rip me away from the people I
loved, not ever again."

"Jennifer would never do that for me, I always remind her of the scandal
that was Mike, don't forget that she is conscious that I am not her blood."

"Yes she will, she told me she wants to, and I didn't even bring the subject
up. She looks at you as her daughter now, the only difference between us
is that you were severely molested by her swine of a husband."

She was scrubbing me now. "That is pretty damn nice of her, but was she
really serious?"

"Very, she wouldn't say it if she didn't mean it."

"Is that why you brought up marriage?"

"Indirectly, I have always dreamed of marrying you, from the first day I
saw you four years ago. For some reason, something deep at my core
demands it. Practically speaking, if for no other reason to insure our
children aren't bastards. If you think of it, we are biologically man and
woman, and how I dress shouldn't preclude a marriage. The ceremony
itself could be very quiet and private, nevertheless be valid. I am only
seventeen, but there are several states where it would be legal with or
without parental consent."

"I see what you mean, once I am legally your sister, I could not marry my
brother."

"I don't know for sure if that's true, but it was my first thought."

Tina finished me and I started on her, outside of several kisses, we were
quiet until we were snuggled in bed. Tina hugged me saying, "Becky, if
you really, deep in your heart of hearts, are ready to commit to me for life,
I am more than willing to formally commit my life to you, it would make
me unbelievably happy to be your wife. It's the way it should be. Likewise
if Jennifer wants to adopt me, you're right, it is very important and I can't
wait to tell her how proud and happy I am - I will be a good daughter for
her too."

"Great! Run in and tell her now, I'm sure she is very anxious to hear from
you."

I didn't know what they talked about for three hours, but it was after one
when I woke with Tina kissing me. "Don't get fully awake love, but all will
be arranged. Jennifer agrees that we should marry, and she really, really
wants to adopt me. You are a treasure."

It was to be my first meeting with Charlie Marsh. Jennifer sent Mrs.
Hammer to wake me; I looked at the clock sleepily. It was a few minutes
before six, and Tina was still sleeping contentedly. I sat up and Mrs.
Hammer whispered that I should dress quickly and come to Jennifer's room
to meet a gentleman. I quietly went into the bathroom, did the necessary,
and took a fast shower. Back in the room I donned a bra and thong, these
days Dickey nestled very inconspicuously between Puss' lips, if I paused to
think about it, I could get very horny. In fact, now it was a favorite form
of foreplay, but most of the time, he just nestled peacefully in his new
home. After the operation, he was very flexible at the base and Tina swore
he was an inch longer when fully aroused. I knew why, but kept it to
myself, unwilling to admit Jennifer's duplicity to Tina.

Slipping on hose and shoes, then a yellow full slip, I sat and quickly applied
my day makeup and brushed my damp blond hair, tying it into a high
ponytail. Minutes later found me in the closet selecting a sun yellow, long
straight skirt and white blouse, with a short matching jacket. Checking
myself in the mirror, I added emerald studs, gold necklace and emerald
cross, bracelets and watch. Satisfied that I looked like a young female
executive, I knocked and entered Jennifer's room twenty minutes after Mrs.
Welch woke me. I was ready for whoever she wanted me to meet - and
very curious about the timing of the visit.

Jennifer was dressed in a navy outfit similar to mine, and waiting in her
sitting room for me.

In addition to the loveseat, there were four small plush armchairs (in
another age Ladies chairs) and two larger armchairs designed for the
comfort of men. A large closed hutch contained her state of the art
personal computer and files, the chair she used when computing was rolled
against the wall, and a few small tables completed the furnishings. Indirect
lighting from hidden fixtures in the ceiling and walls provided glare free
illumination, its level determined by voice command.

"My you look lovely dear, you make up for the tardy sun, please sit down
our guest will be here shortly." I sat next to Jennifer in one of the smaller
chairs.

"You look pretty sharp yourself, it must be the early hour - or the expected
company," I quipped.

Ignoring my probe for the time being, she said, "You have no idea how
much I enjoy this room now, I had no thought of just how depressing the
old d cor was. I think it must have been Mikes idea, all dark wood and
heavy furniture."

Marsha brought in pitchers of orange juice and coffee, a tray with cups,
bagels, and sweet rolls. She set them down and withdrew.

"I certainly enjoy warm pastels, as you can see from our room, Tina picked
out all our decorations. Say wasn't it fun picking out all these watercolor
and pastel artworks, and they all fit in so perfectly."

"Yes." She grinned, "But Giles was pleased when we had found all the
pictures we needed, he almost ran out of gas twice circling the block
waiting for us." We had spent all our free time for two weeks in August,
while Jennifer healed, scouring art shops for just the right pieces. In a flash
of inspiration, I knew what Jennifer's Christmas gift would be. She
continued, "Our guest this morning is Charlie Marsh, I thought you two
should meet as he handles many special and private needs of our family,
and as you will find out very much more besides.

It isn't in his interest, or ours, that he be seen with us, so I have no idea
what he will look like today. I asked him to come after the conversation
Tina and I had the night before last. Charlie is privy to many of our
secrets, and he knows all about your transformation. Among many other
things, he was behind the scenes easing your way out of the dreadful
restaurant parking lot incident. He was also the architect behind Tina and
your acceptance to the colleges of your choice, and their acquiescence to
your degree objectives, schedules, and credit sharing.

I want you two to accept each other's place in the event something should
happen to me. I will make him understand that you are to be my successor
in the event harm befalls me, or if I choose to drop out of sight. He is to
deal with you as he deals with me. Any questions?"

"Yes, how about Tina?"

"Once she is formally adopted I will make it plain to her, that after me you
take authority, with both of us incapacitated she will take authority. Is that
to your liking?"

"Yes, that is proper, there can only be one ultimate authority in the family."

"Good. A considerable amount of work is required to insure your marriage
is both legal and confidential, and that is one of the tasks I will give him
today. The other is to arrange for Tina's formal adoption as my daughter.
The night before last, Tina told me much of her life with Mike, and before.
Things that she has recently remembered, and while I disapprove of
revenge as it corrodes the soul," her normally warm blue eyes became cold
as ice. "I intend to see justice is served.

I think Tina should tell you in her own way and time. It is only very
recently that she has been able to consciously face some of the details of
her degradation, and to begin to truly put it behind her. You have made
that possible because of your unconditional love and understanding. I want
you to know, and reassure her if she is concerned, that I heard nothing the
other night to make me think less of her. In fact I'm most grateful for her
candor, and more determined then ever to make her both my legal daughter
- and if you desire my daughter in law. She has real strength and
gentleness, it's clear to me you are perfect for each other, and because of
that, perfect for me."

There was a knock on the door, and Mrs. Hammer showed a plumber in, at
least his jacket identified him as a plumber, and she promptly left. The
plumber walked over to us, removed his unruly red hair with a smile, shook
our hands, and sat comfortably in one of the leather chairs. I rose and
served coffee and breads, as I sat back down Jennifer said, "Becky this is
Charlie Marsh, Charlie this is Becky."

He was about five eleven and two hundred pounds, I guessed his age about
fifty with a ruddy complexion and receding brown hair. His hands were
knurled and looked very powerful, but his eyes arrested you, very pale gray
and they fixed you in their gaze.

"Good to meet you, you are beautiful and I know you are amazingly
intelligent, I can see why Jennifer is so pleased with you." Taking a sip of
coffee, "My that hits the spot! Jennifer what can I do for you today?"

"A few months from now I want Becky to be legally married to Tina, and I
want to make Tina my legally adopted daughter. It's a tall order as I want
it done with no future problems or loose ends, doable?"

He looked directly at me saying, "One question. Will you remain Becky
through all this?"

"I am Becky to the world, and intend to stay Becky. I can see no
advantage for me as I am now with a male face." It came out more
forcefully then I intended.

"You are right Jennifer, she is formidable. It will be expensive done
correctly."

"Spend what you must, this is important to me."

"It will be done, is that all?"

"No, I asked you here so that you could meet each other. Becky has my
full confidence; she is my successor, and following the plan at the proper
moment, she will be publicly take complete power in my place. I want you
to understand, that while she will keep in the background as she completes
her seasoning, should anything happen to me she will take over
immediately - no ifs, ands, or buts from anyone. You will assist her in any
way possible, just as you have me."

Looking squarely at Jennifer he said, "You can count on me."

With no small talk, Charlie finished his coffee and Danish and rose to leave.
I stood and shook his hand; in my heels, my eyes were level with his. We
looked unflinchingly at each other; our hands firmly engaged while he said,
"You can count on me Becky."

I replied, "Thank you, I won't disappoint you either."

Then putting on his hair and wild sunglasses, he smiled warmly to Jennifer
as he was leaving.

"Jennifer is Charlie a lawyer? Detective? What is he?"

"He is all of that, and much more. At the right time he will tell you about
himself." She had a funny little smile on her face just then, and I knew that
would be one great story.

Back in our room Tina was just returning from the bathroom, she came
over and kissed me, "Where were you at this hour?"

"I met a associate of Jennifer's, I listened as she instructed him to make the
arrangements for our marriage and your adoption."

"Was he shocked?"

"Not at all, as far as I could tell he knows all about us, and he asked if
would remain Becky, I told him without a doubt,"

"I'm so happy." She kissed me again and her night musk kindled my desire,
sensing that she continued, "I feel utterly shameless this morning. Undress
for me young lady, I must see all of you before I hire you."

"Should I? You wouldn't take advantage of me - would you?" I said in a
small voice.

"Who me? Of course not!" said 'he,' with insincerity dripping from each
word.

As item after item fell 'he' became more forward, "Sir you have very busy
hands, why I never!" I cried.

As 'he' rubbed a rebellious Dickey into Puss, finally with only my stocking
and cinch remaining, we fell laughing to the bed in each other's arms. Two
hours later, we joined with Jennifer in the sunroom.

Thanksgiving Day found us in a modern equivalent of the ball gowns worn
last year as a surprise for Jennifer. We were much more comfortable and
enjoyed the meal this time. However, we used the same flower vase, for
the same purpose, with the same kinky aftermath. Ms. Catherine Welch
and Billy Querns were guests for dinner as was the entire staff. After
dinner, we retired to the preacher's parlor and filled Catherine in on our
progress at college, discussed the new gym, as ground would be broken in
April - in all a delightful day.

Chapter 21 - Our Wedding

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny
threads which sew people together through the years. That is what makes
a marriage last-more than passion or even sex!

Simone Signoret (b. 1921)

It took longer then Jennifer wanted, but in the end, she was satisfied with
Charlie's plans for our marriage. I reviewed them, and was amazed at the
legal hoops we would be jumping through to satisfy our requirements. I'm
sure no laws were broken, but the spirit of many was certainly skirted,
mainly to satisfy the requirement for the secrecy of our marriage. The
major cost after lawyer fees and donations were gratuities (bribes) to
individuals in credit and other tracking agencies, to not report name and
status changes.

For instance, Tina's adoption was to be made public and celebrated with a
large party the following Sunday, but not the intermediate name changes,
or phony history to mask her actual name and history. In this case,
significant political contributions were made. Tina was run through the
federal witness protection program, and given the necessary legal
background and phony intermediate name. To add to the intended
confusion, Jennifer changed our names from Hayes-Ravlon back to Hayes -
that gave her considerable satisfaction.

As I suspected, the cleanest way was for us for us to secretly marry first,
then later Tina would be formally adopted. Things were complicated by
Jennifer's insistence on a church wedding. She felt the experience would
bind us closer than a private ceremony in our home - or a civil ceremony
judges chambers. Charlie chose St. Paul Minnesota for the location of the
marriage. The Hayes family maintained a home there dating to the turn of
the last century. Our legal residency was easily established, as well as
Tina's long-term membership in Holy Innocents RC church. The bans of
marriage were announced and the church scheduled, somehow all printed
and newspaper announcements were misspelled. A donation of a new
rectory building and major school addition, muted most questions
regarding the apparent sameness of our sexes.

While reportedly very liberal, the priest did ask me privately to prove I was
a man in at least one important way, I guess to ease his conscience. I
suppose I could have refused, but I demonstrated by peeing for him
standing up, with my cock in plain sight. Fortunately, the fact I was
castrated didn't come up, and as I was wearing jeans, it wasn't too
embarrassing. The things we girls do for love.

Saturday, August 28, 2000 was chosen as our wedding day, as the day got
closer Tina became more and more excited. She insisted that we would be
married in identical gowns, and in fact, we were fitted and purchased them.
Catherine would be maid of honor for Tina, and Billy would be my maid of
honor. They already thought they knew all about us anyway, and we
needed witnesses who were not employed by us. However, we restricted
the guests to them and our extended family - Giles, Nigel, Mr. and Mrs.
Hammer, and Jody. We has many other friends, some of which suspected
our relationship was more than sisterly, but Charley argued successfully
that secrecy could not be maintained with more people 'in the know.'

A week before we married, I arranged to give Jennifer her bath. Using the
opportunity for privacy, I spoke about our wedding. "Jennifer there is one
thing about the wedding ceremony I'm a little concerned about."

"Not getting cold feet are you?"

"Hell no, it's just that Tina wants us dressed identically."

"Oh, you want to have a design dress of your own, I really don't think Tina
will mind if you talk to her about it."

"No, that's not it. I think there should be just one bride at a wedding, it's
her special day - hopefully never to need repeating."

"Well in case you haven't looked in a mirror lately, there will be two brides,
it's your special day too."

"Not in the same way it is for her. Look Jennifer, when Nichol, Becky, and
I were all little, we played dress up frequently. Each time either Nicola, or
Becky was the bride; the other was the maid of honor or something, never
both the bride. I ought to know they dressed me in a morning suit often
enough to be the groom. I think little girls must be born with the desire to
be very special on the day they are married, on the other hand it really isn't
important to me."

"That's sweet of you to think like that. You're right. How do you want to
dress?"

"A white morning suit ought to be fine, the designer we all bought dresses
from had some made to be harmonious with her dress designs. I thought I
would stop by and pick one up, however with my shape these days there
will be no doubt I'm Becky - it's symbolic more than anything."

"Do you plan on telling Tina ahead of time?"

"No I don't think so, I'd like to surprise her. Perhaps we could use the ruse
that you will help her dress, and Catherine or Billy will help me. Bad luck
looking at the bride before the ceremony, or some such nonsense as an
excuse."

After I left Jennifer, I called Billy and asked her if she would mind coming
with me while I selected a tux. She said that she wasn't doing anything
urgent, so we picked her up in the limo. She didn't work outside the home,
and did most of the housekeeping and cooking for Catherine. Even
though, she was at pains to point out that, that she was always the male in
their lovemaking. I mentioned that seemed boring to me, earning a
thoughtful frown.

On the way I told her what I wanted to do, and we decided I would buy
her one too so she could be my best man, she really didn't feel comfortable
in a bridesmaid's dress anyway. The plot now was that we would help each
other dress in morning suits, thereby surprising both Catherine and Tina.
At first, the designer groused about the short notice, but my platinum
American Express card convinced her it was a financial windfall not to be
missed. The tailoring left no doubt Becky was there; on the other hand,
with Billy, one had to look twice.

After my last class on Friday, Tina, Nigel, Sean, (another of Giles' men)
and I boarded a flight from Newark to Minneapolis; Peter drove the limo
back to Nyack. At Minneapolis, we picked up a Hertz limo for the short
drive to St. Paul across the river. A service had prepared the old house for
us, and a catered buffet style diner was waiting, as were our guests.
Jennifer had a board meeting in Atlanta and wouldn't be arriving until nine.

Everybody went to their rooms early, but before we retired Jennifer called
Tina and I into her room. "There are some legal documents we all must
sign, they are in the nature of a prenuptial agreement. I'm sorry to spring
this on you at the last minute, but I thought it was advisable. Tina, Becky
if you still wish to marry I will go on, shall I?"

Tina said, "Money has nothing to do with my love, I will sign anything."

"It's not about money Tina, you and Becky have more of that then you will
ever spend, it is all about power and responsibility." Jennifer replied
levelly.

"Jennifer please explain what you are doing to Tina, I have been expecting
this." I replied.

"As you may know, Hayes Holding is a closely held corporation with assets
in excess of one hundred billion dollars, yes Tina, billion with a 'B.'

As of this instant one hundred percent of the ownership is split between
Becky and I, should we both die a trust I have designated will take over
voting control and management of the company. Becky's father signed
over control to me years ago, with the understanding his
fifty-point-one-percent voting control would devolve to Nicholas when I
judged him ready and able for the responsibility.

Of course Nicholas is now Becky, and I can tell you Becky will be my
successor, as of several months ago, in the event of my death or incapacity
one hundred percent control of Hayes Holding, inc. will devolve to Becky.
As Becky is seventeen and still a minor, it will be necessary to move to
Costa Rico where arrangements have been made to allow her to exercise
active legal control until she is twenty-one. Once you reach twenty-one,
the Costa Rico subterfuge will become unnecessary.

These papers add Tina to the line of secession. If you agree, after your
marriage tomorrow you will be entitled to thirty percent of Becky's
inherited wealth. It is primarily stock in Hayes Holding, but I was
surprised to find her dad and Alexis left an independent estate to Becky
worth over seventy million. It is thirty percent, not fifty percent, as I
would like Becky to have undisputed control while she is alive.

Tomorrow after the wedding, I will sign papers formally adopting you,"
looking at Tina. "I will also change my will such that you and Becky will
share equally my estate in the event of my passing. In the event of both
Becky and my incapacity, control of Hayes Holding, inc. will devolve to
you. Is all of that clear and acceptable to both of you? Becky?"

"Perfectly satisfactory mother."

"Tina?"

"Yes, of course. This will take some getting use to - I had no idea."

"One more point, all of this is legal and binding, but is strictly between us,
as if the wrong people find out you will become direct targets sooner than
necessary."

Tina stayed with Jennifer in her room, and for the first time since my
operation I slept alone in a separate room, as befitted the occasion.

In the morning, Billy and I dressed early and left for the church, with Giles
driving one of the limos and Nigel and two other men in the chase car,
Jennifer made sure Tina didn't see us leave. We had a good hour to wait,
and the priest, Father Doyle, offered us the rectory to wait in while he
served his last mass. When he returned we shared a light breakfast of rolls
and coffee with him.

I had an inspiration and asked Father Doyle if he would hear my
confession. I had been brought up as a nominal Catholic, Baptism, first
Holy Communion, Confirmation, but outside of generous donations, that
was the extent of the family's religious participation. At boarding school, it
was different, I had no choice, I participated ad nauseam, and I learned far
more about Catholicism then was good for any budding faith I might have
had.

It was probably unfair of me, but in confession, I told Father Doyle that I
had been born a hermaphrodite. Because of the organ positions, and
surgical risks, the decision was made to let me keep both sets of external
organs, at least until it was clear which was dominant. I explained I had
been brought up as a boy, but changes in my body wouldn't support that
role as I matured, even though I 'thought' primarily as a male. I explained
that I felt God had made me this way and that I wouldn't change his design.
I was very fortunate to meet Tina; she was fully aware of my physiology,
and wanted to marry me anyway. Further, as he saw I had a fully
functional penis and would be able to consummate our marriage, and while
we might not be able to have children, we could adopt and provide a warm
and loving home. To justify the confession I admitted to increasingly
licentious thoughts for Tina as our wedding neared. I received a penance
of three Our Fathers and six Hail Mary's. Plus the knowledge he wouldn't
talk of this ever, as it was told under the seal of Confession. Shameless I
know.

Giles called from the limo, saying Jennifer and Tina were leaving the house
now, and we walked to the church entering through the sacristy. We
looked out and saw our guests, a photographer, a full choir, and about
two-dozen others, who must have liked to attend weddings. I noticed
eight of Giles' men spotted about the church. We all took our places at the
front of the church waiting for Tina and her escorts.

Finally, they arrived, and to the accompaniment of traditional music, Tina
walked toward me looking gorgeous. She looked so happy, even through
her veil I could see her eyes sparkle and flash. It was a nice touch as
Jennifer gave away Tina and Chef Robert stood for me with Billy acting as
best man. It was a double ring ceremony, and we each said our own vows
to each other after the required ones. I lifted her veil and Tina had tears in
her eyes as she kissed me deeply, clutching my shoulder as she almost lost
her balance. We walked out of the church, man with wife in the eyes of
god, state, and ourselves.

A few hours later, Jennifer signed Tina's adoption papers and we were
officially sisters in the eyes of the state. Our marriage was a closely
guarded secret, but we publicized the fact that Tina was Jennifer's second
adopted daughter.

We only had a few days before our sophomore year began in earnest, so
after the reception we went to Bermuda for our honeymoon registering as
the sisters Tina and Becky Hayes. I did carry Tina over the threshold, and
immediately made love to her in the clumsy way one would expect for the
first time, penetrating her, and pretending to come as soon as I entered.
Tina caught on right away, and after several more 'times,' we lay back
hugging each other. Tina looked at me saying, "This is the first day of the
rest of our lives isn't it."

"Yes, that's what I was saying with my body."

"You surprised me today, should I feel bad for hogging the spotlight?"

"Not at all, you have no idea how excited I was seeing you come toward
me, knowing we would be together now. You were so beautiful, that was
an image to last a lifetime."

"Did you know how much money you were worth?"

"Yes, within a billion or so."

"Christ, do you really think I'm worth that much, with that much money
you could have any girl, or a hundred of them."

"Still could, as a matter of fact you can have just about any man you want,
or a hundred of them. I guess we will just have to trust each other."

"Christ four years ago I was a slave, a whore."

"You are a hell of a lot more than that. Look, I might be just kid impressed
with a beautiful older girl who is sexual dynamite, hell I can't even vote.
What the hell do I know?"

"That's kind of what I'm saying."

"But Jennifer sure as hell isn't, she sees much more potential in you, as I
do. She wouldn't have gone forward with your adoption if she had the
slightest doubt, much less let me marry you - she had to approve, no give
me permission to marry you, I'm even underage for that." Well I really
could have, but probably not secretly, and not with clearly defined
succession.

"I forget at times, you are so mature in your thoughts and actions."

"Don't forget what Jennifer said, this isn't about money, its about power."

"What exactly did she mean?"

"'Hayes Holding' indirectly has a de facto controlling interest at least ninety
corporations that I am aware of, large public companies all over the world.
That is Jennifer's real legacy to us, and it's an awesome responsibility.
That's why she is so demanding of us, she expects us to be ready when the
inevitable happens."

"It is our responsibility to prepare the next generation too, isn't it? How
long have you known?"

"I knew last Thanksgiving when Jennifer gave us that test, she was testing
our willpower and resourcefulness, and my intelligence. I really
understood after I was castrated, it was the price of power."

"Christ, if she did that to you, what does she expect from me?"

"Nothing in that sense, I understand now that she distrusts men, and that's
why my castration was necessary. If anything, I guess she expects you to
be faithful to me, and to prepare yourself to take over." I didn't know it
then, but Jennifer had much more explicitly in mind.

Chapter 22 - College Years, Sophomore On
University degrees are a bit like adultery: you may not want to get involved
with that sort of thing, but you don't want to be thought incapable.

Sir Peter Imbert (b. 1933)

On a very personal level when I entered my second year at college I was
married, seventeen, five eight (same as Tina now,) one hundred and twenty
five pounds, and very pleased with my natural, honest, and exquisitely
sensitive thirty-four 'C' breasts. My skin was soft, waist small at
twenty-four inches without an cinch, hips thirty-one with a great butt in
Guess jeans. While nowhere close to Tina's striking beauty, I was
completely at home with my body and outward role as a woman, spoken of
as beautiful by the gushing press, and appeared to be every inch a
pampered socialite. Inside I was something else, but even now, I couldn't
tell you exactly what.

I saw Sandra every month, and continued with estrogen replacement, as
well as increasingly sophisticated hormone therapy to maintain my ability to
sustain an erection and ejaculate. For the past several months I used
experimental implants which provided up to two months precise hormone
replacement. Dickey was very well behaved these days, and when I
brought it up to Sandra, she said it was due to the calming effect of the
female hormones. However, once aroused he worked as well or better
than ever, and she said I could expect that to continue. This was due to
sophisticated microcomputer controlled implants that discharged precisely
measured hormones precisely where and when needed.

Puss and Dickey was an endless source of pleasure for Tina and I, and
while I enjoyed my roll as the passive partner, most often since our
marriage I took the male part and penetrated Tina both mentally and
physically. Once Tina welcomed penetration, the residual taint she carried
from the past evaporated, and from then on, the classic woman's role was
most natural and satisfying for her - given time, some things work out, as
they should.

Jennifer entertained frequently and Tina and I associated with our friends
from school. Often we would go out on dates with boys to keep up
appearances. We made some new friends at college and added them to our
growing social life. We always double-dated, and whenever we went out
dancing we had at least one dance together, in fact we were often asked to
jitterbug because we looked so cool together.

As Tina lost her distaste of penetration and guilt, I was a little concerned
she would begin exploring relationships with men that are more normal.
While Dickey was more than adequately sized, I sure didn't look like a man
in any other way. Can you blame me for concern? Men hit on her
constantly, after all, she was drop dead gorgeous and had 'it,' but she never
reciprocated, nor do I think she seriously considered it.

On the other side of the coin, I had no interest in women other than Tina,
and was perfectly content with our relationship. Intellectually, I was a little
apprehensive that because of the hormones, I would begin to find myself
increasingly physically attracted to men. Many hit on me too, but while I
enjoyed their attention and liked to flirt, I harbored no desire for intimacy
as long as I kept them at arms length. However, in rare instances I found
myself in very intimate contact.

For example, during a charity dinner and dance at Nyack, I found myself
alone with Gill West in the far gazebo behind the mansion. Gill was
normally a nice guy, big and bear like, but nice. He was a line backer, must
have carried two eighty of solid muscle, and was six four if he was an inch.
But, unknown to me, he had been drinking heavily with some of his
teammates, and he had made a bet that he could take my cherry.

I thought we were talking about future careers, when the alcohol hit him
suddenly. He was far drunker than I had thought. Before I realized what
was happening, I was pinned under him between the benches on the floor.
I wanted him off me, but I really didn't want to savage him - even if I could
have.

At a hundred and twenty five pounds, under his almost dead weight, I was
pretty well his to do with as he wanted, and he was groping, grinding and
wanting just then. Following Jennifer's advice, I reached down with
extreme difficulty and opened his zipper. I released his cock, and using
Tina's fast method masturbated him with my hand between my legs. He
was grunting and squirming with pleasure, moaning something about how I
had the greatest pussy he had ever been in. But I wasn't sure if my tiring
hand or his alcohol-numbed cock would give out first. After what seemed
forever he ejaculated endlessly all over my skirt - promptly falling asleep on
top of me.

I couldn't get any leverage to push him off me, or to slide out from under
him, and he wasn't about to wake up - I was fairly stuck where I was barely
able to breath. About a century later Tina and Billy West found us by my
feeble cries for help, she was looking for me to say goodbye to our guests,
and with difficulty they pulled him up sufficiently - so I could scurry out
from under him.

I wiped most of the yuck from my dress and sleeping hand, bid our guests
goodbye, and never fully lived it down. And yes, I had the dress dry
cleaned immediately, and donated it to the Salvation Army pick up box
when it was returned from the cleaners. Regardless, years later, even
Jennifer kidded me about it. I can tell you I was much, much more careful
with whom I was alone with after that.

School was increasingly challenging for us, during our sophomore year, I
carried twenty-one credits, and Tina carried eighteen. We spent a lot of
time traveling between the campuses of the three universities, but we used
most of that to study. Jennifer had special lights and writing surfaces
installed in the limo's to accommodate our need. In addition Jennifer was
constantly bringing us into the decision making process at Hayes, we sat
silently in presentations and meetings, and then hashed them out in private
with Jennifer.

Increasingly I noticed she would accept our recommendations. However, I
was never sure if we prevailed over her actual opinions, as she was not
above taking a contrary view just to draw us out. I was far better making
analytical decisions based on objective facts, while Tina was devastatingly
accurate in her appraisal of people, especially as her own self confidence
increased. She was especially accurate reading men's body language,
teaching me a lot and amazing Jennifer in the process. We worked out a
series of surreptitious signals between ourselves, so Jennifer and I could
benefit from Tina's insight in real time.

Chapter 23 - Another Bride

Traditionally a bride at her second marriage does not wear a veil. She
wants to see what she is getting. Personnaly I like to maintain the ilusion
for as long as possible.

Anne Rand (1982)

As we approached our second wedding anniversary, Tina had gained full
self-confidence, and as Giles would tell new men, 'Those two - are surely
joined at the hip, what one lacks, the other provides.'

Something was up, and I wasn't in on it, but of course, Tina wasn't in on
the trip to Maui I had booked for our second honeymoon. Naturally, I told
Nigel and seven of his men, so they could make concurrent travel
arrangements.

The Friday before our actual wedding anniversary, Jennifer invited me to
her room after breakfast, she told me my present from Tina was a
reenactment of our wedding, and that she and I were flying out to St. Paul
this evening. As I had no school, I would attend a board meeting in
Manhattan with Jennifer, while Tina took her Japanese final ending her
Colombia summer school session. After the final, she would travel on her
own and meet us in St, Paul. It smelled a bit fishy to me, but St. Paul was
a thousand miles closer to Maui then here - on the way so to speak.

I really didn't think more about it as we began talking about the 'Hayes
Cares!' on the way to the board meeting. If approved, the changes would
bring together thirty-one previously independent companies into the
recently expanded 'Hayes Cares!' corporate structure. These included
different clothing (Men's, but mostly Women's,) fabrics, synthetics,
fragrances, and cosmetics (including Ravlon and the recent acquisition of
its largest competitor 'HR for Her'.) Accessories and personal care
companies rounded out the group. The thinking was these all involved
style conscious decisions, and would benefit from synergies in marketing
and common raw materials. In actuality, it was a move to install new
matrix management concept and integrate new super-computer based
control structures.

In a break with Jennifer's custom, after lunch I was left to chair the meeting
while Jennifer attended another meeting. It was a surprise to me too,
before lunch was brought in, she told the rest I would chair the meeting in
her stead. She publicly instructed me to vote strictly according to her
instructions, until she returned in an hour or so. She had given me no
instructions, but before leaving, she whispered to me, "Do whatever you
think best, I will back you." No one heard her, but the angst in the room
was already palpable. Hundreds of executive careers, not to mention the
allocation of billions of dollars, were to be affected by the votes today.

We had discussed all the issues of course, but Jennifer hadn't expressed her
final opinion on any issue to me. The one-hour went to two, then four, and
no Jennifer. Twenty-two votes were taken including seven contentious
issues where mine was the deciding vote. One was particularly emotional,
it involved 'HG for Her' and Ravlon, and in effect I put HG executives in de
facto control of U.S. Ravlon, and it's European operations. One of the
cronies of the U.S. Ravlon people went so far, as to shout angrily, "You
are a God damned traitor to your father's memory, he must be rolling in his
grave."

To which I calmly replied, "Please be calm, I am only following Jennifer's
explicit instructions." Many in the room had long expected Jennifer to act
against Ravlon, as kind of surrogate revenge against Mike. If anything I
suspected she would not have, but I felt Ravlon management was
complacent, and HG people were vital and on top of their business. I felt
guilty pushing responsibility for my decision to her, but I really had no
choice. It was a decision I would pay a personal price for.

Another shouted, "This no fucking fair, Jennifer didn't even listen to our
presentation. This board is going to hell in a hand basket, when the board
chairperson leaves a snot nosed spoiled bitch to do her dirty work."

He was really pissed, beat red as he started packing his briefcase, preparing
to storm out. I said calmly, "I'm very sorry Mr. Goldman, but she was
most explicit. May I have other comments for the record please? Mr.
Morris, I believe your next."

As was Jennifer's way, I let everyone have their say, and calmly remarked
last, "HG's market share has tripled, partially at the expense of Ravlon,
Jennifer expects to see the combined results reflect the HG trend, if not, we
will revisit the issue next year." I let my vote stand, a majority of one.

Jennifer got back in time to close the meeting, and we left immediately with
the excuse that we had a plane to catch. Once in the limo I started to tell
Jennifer about the meeting, but she grinned and showed me the minutes,
smiling she said, "I had Fredrick route these to my PC as he was taking
them. You decisions agreed with mine twenty out of twenty-two, and after
hearing your logic, I'm not so sure I wouldn't agree with you on those two.
You are very formidable. I would have enjoyed seeing Goldman's face, he
is a real prick."

"Think beat red Jennifer, beet red. Seriously I could have really messed up
in there." I replied with a little smile.

"I have faith in you, but Fredrick would have notified me if you were
getting run over with steamroller, as it was you handled things very nicely.
Besides, at this level a firm reasoned decision - whatever it may be - is
usually better than no decision. If you don't strangle them, people make
things work."

I was wound up from the meeting and almost accepted the offered glass of
Champaign as we were seated in first class, I don't think Jennifer would
have objected. I was getting anxious to see Tina, last night she studied
most of the night for her final, and we hadn't made love since Wednesday
evening.

In the limo to St. Paul Jennifer said, "When Tina came to me with this
suggestion I was very pleased, you two really care for each other.
Tomorrow you will be the bride, it truly is an experience to savor, and Tina
is anxious to be married from a male viewpoint."

"Will we require pre-nuptial agreements?" Her eyes registered surprise,
until she noticed the twinkle in my eye.

"No, I believe everything is quite satisfactory as it stands. What do you
think of her idea?"

"Truthfully I was kind of getting into being a bride before our marriage,
after getting the dress and all, but two brides just didn't make any sense. I
wanted Tina to have her day more than satisfying what amounted to
curiosity on my part. As a kid I was curious about what it was like to be
the bride, Becky told me all about all her dreams and expectations many
times, but truthfully the anticipation of a wedding ceremony just wasn't in
my roster of dreams. However, I really believe I will enjoy being a bride
now that Tina has had her day, and I'm definitely looking forward to our
wedding night, I'm sure Tina has some surprises for me. If you don't mind
I would like you to give me away."

"Certainly, I would have it no other way, you will sleep with me tonight,
and Jody and I will ready you tomorrow. Just relax and enjoy the
sensations, put yourself fully into the role, we have some nice surprises for
you too."

"I just hope Tina behaves herself at her bachelor party, and makes it to the
church on time." I was joking, but as I spoke Catherine and Billy were
taking Tina for dinner, to be followed by a female strip show in
Minneapolis, just to get her in the male frame of mind, they said.

"Which reminds me, Tina was coming in with Catherine and Billy. They
are going to have dinner in New York, I think that's what Catherine said,
and then take a late flight. So, let's get a bite to eat in St. Paul," suggested
Jennifer.

We stopped at The Market, a three star eatery with a French Bistro
atmosphere, naturally over the excellent food the conversation turned to
Jennifer's honeymoon and wedding. We were still talking about it when we
reached her room. Not surprisingly, she suggested I prepare for a
luxurious bath - that sounded great to me. With our very busy schedules,
Tina and I had stopped giving baths to each other over the summer, settling
for quick showers. We used the time saved for more direct loving,
swimming, and other sports.

While Jennifer was fussing with the bath I stripped, and then put on a lace
over some fantastically light silky soft fabric robe from Jennifer's closet.
She called me and once in the bathroom, without thinking I took off the
robe in the soft candlelight. Jennifer took my hand, and had me turn fully
around saying, "You have really developed in the past year. I had no idea
this was all you, do you like the way you are now?"

"Yes, I really do. Dickey is well behaved and he and Puss give Tina and I a
great deal of pleasure." I deliberately moved her chin looking directly in
her eyes saying deliberately, "I absolutely do not want to make any further
changes, and will not suffer them passively as I did this." I put her hand on
Puss.

"You know?"

"I've known that you arranged my castration with Sandra prior to my first
meeting with her, I found out the Friday after the operation."

"You don't hate me?"

"You didn't grow our business as you have without recognizing
opportunity and seizing it, I understand that. I just want you to know that
any further changes will be made with Tina and my explicit informed
consent, and right now I see no possibility I would agree to any."

"Why didn't you say anything to me about it before?"

"I accepted it as necessary to gain your trust, even though I deeply
regretted your subterfuge, and feel hurt by your lack of trust in me and my
judgment."

She took my arm saying, "I may have made a mistake, but you have my
complete trust now and enjoy advantages I don't possess. Will what I did
be a problem between us?"

"Not if you respect my judgment in the future. You are my mother, my
love and respect for you is very strong.

Besides, I have Tina's love and I can do most of what I want to do now.
There are quite a few nice new things, like being a bride. Now I couldn't
do that as Nicholas. I do have to be mindful of my limits, so that I don't
wind up under line backers, but otherwise I have few restrictions."

I grinned, and then we both chuckled, lightening the mood, "Get into the
tub dear, I have a treat in store for you."

And she did, she scrubbed me, plucked and shaved me in the very few
places it was necessary, and sponged me, then out of the tub she applied
several oils and lotions until all my skin all over was more alive and
sensitive than ever. I couldn't get over how good Dickey was, not a twitch
with all the attention, I guess it took Tina's touch these days. I put the robe
on and sat at the makeup table while Jennifer put my hair up. "Do you like
this robe dear?"

"Yes, what is it, it feels fantastic."

"It's a new fabric from our plant in Greenville, think it will sell?"

"How expensive is it?"

"It costs a little more than Tricot to make, but I believe it will command
premium prices. We will release it this Christmas in upscale stores only.
Here try this nightgown. It feels like silk but breaths like cotton, I will see
that Tina and you are sent sample collections."

"These will sell, perhaps a promotion with the prize a short nighty. Have a
lot of winners, and the word of mouth will clear the shelves."

"I'll speak to Harry Sikhs, it's a good idea."

I went to bed; Jennifer said she would bring some warm milk to help me
sleep. I was asleep long before she returned with the milk. Jody woke us
in the morning saying, "Time we got started, I have everything ready."
Jennifer and I took a quick shower and she dried me and applied the magic
lotions. When I left the bathroom, I was wearing a thong with a panty
liner, as I didn't want to embarrass Jody.

First Jennifer had me put on a formless short silk slip, then she helped me
with a firm artfully boned merry widow, Jody slipped on silk seamed
stockings and heels, routing the garters under my thong. "Jennifer these
undies are different from Tina's and the ones I picked out."

"Here, look in the mirror, you really look sexy. You hold yourself sexy
too, you're a flirt aren't you."

I turned a little red, "Tina says I flirt, but I don't try to. My God it sure is
sexy, but it's not at all uncomfortable."

"You asked me once what I wore for my wedding, and honeymoon. My
undies were so nice, see how soft and supple the bra cups are." She
giggled, "You fill them out better then I. This will put you in a delicious
mood, and will drive your lover crazy - its only fitting my daughter should
wear the best on her wedding day. Sit down and Jody will do your makeup
and hair," she looked at my hands closely, "your nails look fine dear, Jody
will just change the color, and we might even be on time. I'll bring us some
coffee and rolls."

After my makeup and hair met with Jody's approval, she worked on my
nails, the new color was only slightly different from what I was wearing so
she just applied the new color over the old and gloss, as the gloss dried
Jennifer was back with the coffee. I finished mine, checked my makeup
and then I donned the traditional garter, seven petticoats, and finally the
wedding gown. Jennifer said it was silk taffeta covered with layers of
bleached Irish lace with embedded baby pearls. Very feminine and
beautiful, "Was this yours Jennifer?"

"No I'm afraid I destroyed mine in a fit of rage long ago, but I had this
made for you, and as near as I can remember it's the same. Look how
nicely it showcases your neck, breasts, and shoulders. Now I have your
jewelry for you." As she held out a silver jewelry box, opening it, the
platinum, emeralds, and diamonds had a life of their own against the
midnight velvet holding them. "These are worth a king's ransom, I hate to
confess that I broke my set by stamping on them in a rage. But fortunately,
Jody salvaged the stones, and I had them repaired and reconstructed for
you. The lesson here is don't succumb to rage, I never did after that night -
get even, in a ladylike way of course. Mother told me, a fist of iron, hidden
by a glove of velvet and lace - never let them see you coming. It took me
half a lifetime to master that simple truth, but I suspect you already practice
it."

The final touches were the long gloves and veil. The veil was held on with
a diamond and emerald tiara, with the veil over my face I did feel like a
bride. A wide diamond choker forced me to hold my head high, I found I
could only move forward in graceful arcs due to the long train, delightful
restrictions that added to the regal feeling of a princess about to be
married. I swear Puss was wet in anticipation.

Holding my bouquet, I glided down the grand staircase without a care, and
was photographed alone and with Jennifer. I even got butterflies in my
stomach lest something go wrong. I felt a little faint and asked Jody for a
little water before we left.

Getting in the limo with the long train was a challenge, Jody moved the
train in first, then I got in while Jody, and Jennifer straightened my skirt
before I sat fully down. They sat in the rear-facing seat and I took the
entire rear seat. The extra effort getting in made getting out at the church
graceful and easy. I was really into princess mode now. My heart was
beating like a trip-hammer, as I walked on the red carpet up the stairs and
into the church vestibule, and past the baptismal room.

As I waited for the musical clue to start down the aisle, the thought of
making babies, carrying a baby to term myself, crossed my mind. Sandra
said that it was possible, and I certainly loved Tina enough. I was thinking
about that as I moved up the aisle, remembering Tina's wonderful smile as
she approached me, I smiled at her too, capturing her eyes. I was amazed
how handsome she looked in a tux; she was wearing makeup calculated to
masculinize her face. No doubt, it was Tina, but somehow her being
slightly masculine today was just the right touch. The priest did his thing,
finally it was time, and Tina pulled my veil up and kissed me deeply. I
wasn't teary, but I became lightheaded and almost fainted. I clutched her
momentarily, remembering that she did the same to me. I whispered, "My
god it takes the breath away doesn't it?"

"Yes lover it most certainly does, I can't wait until were alone." That was
all it took for Dickey to go wild, of course he had nowhere to go, and that
made it imperative we be alone as soon as possible - the sacristy perhaps?
Alas no. However, that was just the reaction she sought.

The reception was again at the house, and Catherine caught the bouquet.
We danced for a while, ate a little, and as soon as it was decent we went
upstairs to change. Tina had no trouble carrying me over the threshold,
once the door was closed she kissed me, passionately kissed me and I felt
faint again. Her hands were at my back, as she kissed me she was trying to
unfasten the seemingly hundreds of tiny buttons securing my gown. "Damn
I can't get these from here, please turn around."

"What's your hurry, don't you like the gown?"

"The gown is fine, I need what's in it, and I need it right now!"

I turned around, and saw our reflection in the mirror. "Darling look at us,
please kiss my neck a little and touch me here." I felt warm breath on my
neck and ears, and skilled hands exploring my breasts, it was heavenly. She
couldn't seem to wait and attacked the buttons with a vengeance, it took
five minutes, and by the time I stepped out of the gown, I was more
anxious then Tina. The slips came next, then the thong releasing a raging
Dickey. We looked in the mirror again, she was breathing noticeably
harder, "Becky, this is so very sexy, I don't remember seeing it before."

"Jennifer is anxious we have a successful union my love, I fear she is
waiting below for the sight of the bloody sheet."

"Mustn't disappoint her, but first," Tina spilled me to the floor. "I must put
it in you now, I can't wait." As I lay on the floor looking up at her, "Don't
just lay there, help me with my pants wench!"

It was a little awkward in the corset, but I sat up, reached up, and
unbuttoned them pulling them off, then the jockey shorts. I held her hips
with her pants still at her ankles, and kissed her mons, licking down and
teased her clit. The sweet musk from her Pussy made Dickey hard as a
rock. Then Tina lay on top of me, the hard floor and firm merry widow
amplified her weight making me feel very little, and very vulnerable, finally
I was penetrated in our fashion. Instinctively I wrapped my silk clad legs
around Tina pulling her fully into me. Simultaneously we let out sighs of
pleasure. I didn't know Tina was so strong, as she pumped hard into me,
breaking the hold of my legs in her lust. This was no act as we built to a
climax, Tina normally produced very little fluid during orgasm, but this was
not her ordinary orgasm and we were quickly covered with her juices.

We moved to the bed, Tina allowed me to fully undress her, but she
wouldn't let me undress further. We kissed and teased each other's breasts;
Tina was rougher through the restraining cups as a man might be, but even
though I was slightly bruised the next day, it was very satisfying today. We
moved to sixty-nine and more orgasms for Tina. The musk and taste of her
fluid was highly erotic, and Dickey was rock hard again, but Puss and my
stockinged legs were receiving all the attention now, as was Pussy. Then
she penetrated me again, she rode me like a stallion roughly clutching my
breasts until I came, and came. As I felt my first spasm begin, I felt Tina
start her organism, with contractions that kept up forever.

After we rested, Tina sponged me off and powdered me suggesting I leave
the undies on to remind us what was in store. I put a light slip and dress on
- at her direction, I left the thong off. I was confident Dickey would be
comatose for some time.

We almost missed our flight, but played and slept on the plane. Tina put a
blanket over our laps, and played with Dickey and Puss as the spirit moved
her. Pussy was not left unattended. Horny as hell we picked up again as
soon as our suite's door was closed in Maui. Maui is a glorious place for
lovers, and we made the best of it.

After we returned from Maui we decided not to short change our time
together ever again, and we take the time for sensual bathing, Jennifer's
magic oils, and often, nightly love. While we enjoy each other in guess
jeans and slacks, we mostly wear skirts, and for the most part prefer
stockings to pantyhose. We just like it that way, and by the look of the
malls in 2004, so now do many girls.

In short, our five years in college were full, most pleasant, and culminated
for me in five degrees including a MBA. Tina received three including a
MBA. Jennifer was ready to unleash us within an unsuspecting corporate
giant - with a plan to see that justice done. Fate was ready to express its
own plan.

Chapter 24 - The Making of a Whore
We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not
true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies mostly to women and its name
is prostitution.

Victor Hugo (1802-85)2
Part of our graduation present was our appointment to the European board
of directors of 'Hayes Cares!' The meeting was located in Hamburg,
Germany; our first time with an official portfolio - it was to be a lark.
Jennifer had a darker game afoot, but Tina and I weren't privy to any of
that at the time. Giles carried no firearms on the aircraft, but six armed
men met our plane in Hamburg, all licensed in Germany to carry firearms,
and hand picked by Charlie Marsh's European director.

We had several planned meetings at the airport hotel at Heathrow, all of
which ran late. Our flight from London to Hamburg was late, so it was
after eleven PM when we left the airport for our hotel in downtown
Hamburg. Three men were in a Ford in front of us, Giles and the driver
were in the limo's front seat, and three men were in the a Ford behind us.

A few blocks from where we pulled off the autobahn onto the city streets, a
Russian style RPG (rocket grenade) slammed into the limo. The white
Mercedes limo was heavily armored, but the rocket struck just in front of
the drivers door killing him and blowing the front drivers side's wheel
completely off. The armored window between the driver's compartment
and ours was half closed, and gave a measure of protection to us.

In the back, we were not injured except for the disorientation caused by the
explosions overdraft. The lead car backed up alongside my door, I kicked
the door on my side open, and helped Jennifer and Tina out, crouching
between the two vehicles. Another rocket was fired hitting the Ford killing
all inside and blasting all the doors open. Giles had come around and was
with us now, I didn't know it at the time, but he had a concussion and
temporally couldn't hear.

He began to fire at the thugs reloading the RPG's using the dead limo
drivers HK-9mm. Other thugs near the RPG were firing at us with
machine pistols. I grabbed a HK and a spare magazine from one of our
dead bodyguards in the Ford, and began firing when Giles' gun ran out, he
hustled Jennifer and Tina into the chase car, which had pulled up behind us
while I fired. I guess because of my return fire, the next RPG rocket flew
high over the chase car, hitting the stone building behind us. The streets
were narrow and the explosion caused stone to fly in all directions, a piece
of which hit Jennifer on the back of her head. Another piece hit me
rendering me unconscious.

I hesitate to relate this episode in my life; it was simply awful, and if you
find perversion distasteful, do skip the remainder of this chapter. In an age
of less candor, a single line might suffice. Something like, 'It was a difficult
incarceration, but fortune smiled, and I was rescued before my body and
soul was damaged beyond redemption.' However, it all happened as I
relate below, tested my character in unexpected ways, and is part of my life
- as much as I wish it wasn't.

I woke up to find myself in an office; at least three men were looking at
me. The next thing I noticed was that I was handcuffed to the arms of my
chair, and then I felt a cool dampness of my skirt, and realized I must have
wet myself while unconscious. I didn't know it then, but I received a mild
concussion and I woke almost thirty-six hours after the attack. A voice
behind me said in English, "You're awake, good."

I tried to look around and was hit in the back of my head, "Don't turn
around bitch." The man who hit me snarled in English, he was behind me
with a heavy German accent and strong cabbage breath.

I spoke German fluently after taking four years of it at Columbia, but I
decided to hide the fact, at least until I found out what was happening. I
said lamely in English, "That really hurt, stop it."

The first voice said, "Stand her up and strip her, I want to see how much of
that is real."

Cabbage breath unhooked each cuff from the chair standing me up, and
using a switchblade cut my thousand dollar, original Armani dress, neatly
off - leaving me in stockings, garter belt, and thong. The voice behind me
said, "Turn her around, take off her thong." My thought of 'Oh shit, what
am I in for now' coincided with a chuckle of delight from the man standing
in the shadows. "The spoiled bitch is a half boy, she will fetch a pretty
penny, eh Gunter?"

Gunter said in German, "You are right Mr. G, what do you want me to do
with her?"

Mr. G. replied in German, "Oh Gunter, you have no idea how sweet this is
for me. Don't disappoint me now, I will tell you exactly what I want
done."

I decided to jump in to reinforce my ignorance of German. "Hey speak
English for Christ sake and give me some clothes. My mother is rich as
hell and will have your balls for dinner if you hurt me."

"If your mother was alive she just might, but you're ours now, you might as
well get use to it."

"She's dead?" I gasped; it wasn't all acting as I started to cry, slumping on
to the chair putting my head in my hands sobbing.

Ignoring my distress Mr. G went on in German. "I will be back in
twenty-eight days for the next board meeting, I almost wish I could stay,
but you will make videotape of everything. Gunter I want this done right,
you will use Helga and Otto, do you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"There are to be no scars, none at all, no piercing, no elongation of her tits
either, keep her body perfect as it is, you may use the plugs, the horse and
enema's to train her. Make her see all the video, all the time. You may use
some drugs as a reward, but sparingly - no addiction. I don't know, she
may already love to fuck with her head and ass, but I want her to crave it
when I get back, however she feels about it now. Do you understand?"

'Christ, is he serious?' I thought.

"Yes Sir."

"I want the pleasure of ripping into her ass, me no one else. You bend her
over I want to examine her closely, fool, blindfold her first."

Cabbage breath yanked my head up by the hair and slipped a heavy
blindfold over my eyes. I heard a loud thunk, and a yelp from cabbage
breath. Mr. G said in German, "Do not treat her roughly, I will orchestrate
her degradation in my own time, it will be my pleasure to do so. Do you
understand Gunter?" I was quivering and shaking, as cabbage breath bent
me over gently, but he was so strong I had no option.

"Yes sir."

I could feel my rear cheeks being spread and the hole fingered, he kissed it,
and I felt his tongue penetrate me. "Hey what are you doing, get away
from there, that's mine and not a toy of some pervert's!"

"It should be stretched and made supple, you may use up to a medium
dildo and use clean tools, but the hole must be as sweet and virginal as it is
now, do you understand Gunter?"

"Yes sir." He turned me around and played with my cock. I objected,

"Hey leave that alone."

"One more word from you and I will twist your nipples off with vise grips."
He spat out in English contradicting his own orders. I gasped holding my
breasts protectively. He continued, "I have them in my pocket, so shut up
if you know what's good for you." I quivered and sobbed, but said
nothing. Then he expertly masturbated me using Tina's quick technique. I
had no control as Dickey responded to his expert touch. I could feel his
lips on my cock as he licked my cock clean.

When he finished he said in German, "That is clean and sweet, and will be
that way when I return Use rubbers and do not give her a disease, or I will
kill you, slowly, do you understand Gunter?"

"Yes Sir."

Then he felt Puss and fingered the lips, "See Gunter, she responds to my
touch, but has no holes or clit, this is to be left intact, I will decide what I
want done with it." His hands moved to my breasts and I gasped, but said
nothing. "These are real and free of lumps, they are to be the same, Gunter
do you understand?"

"Yes Sir."

"One last thing, no one is to teach her German, and let no one see her that
is not under contract. This one is very valuable property; make sure she
stays with us. Make very sure. Now please write all that down and sign it,
I will take a copy, make sure everyone who handles or trains her copies,
and signs this contract. I will review them when I return. Regrettably I
must leave now to attend my meetings, then I must return to London and
New York." I could hear a pen scratching on paper.

"Is this satisfactory sir?"

"You left out he section on penalty should any of my rules, or their spirit,
be violated."

"Yes sir." A minute later, "Is this satisfactory sir?"

"Yes Gunter, I will see you within thirty days." Then in English, "You
should know what will happen to you is exactly what I had done to that
slut who is your legal sister," he spat out the words, "of course she was
much younger then." He finished with a mean laugh. I looked like I didn't
understand, I hoped. "You can ask a question."

"You mean Tina?"

"Yes, she was a prime whore."

"That's can't be, I know Tina, she was my sister's nanny's helper. Jennifer
adopted her, and she is now my sister."

He sneered, "Maybe she didn't tell you of her past, but that bitch of a
woman Jennifer knew well enough. I will bring some video and we will
watch it together - she was a lusty little slut taking cock any and every way
she could. Think about that as they train you, I think we will make you a
whore just like her, then find you a sugar daddy." He was chuckling as I
heard the door close - I recognized the voice.

"Take off the blindfold, I don't want her falling, then put her in Anna's
room and use the mink cuffs to the chain." Gunter said in German.

"What do I do with Anna?"

"Put her with the rest, she should be ready by now, have someone clean the
room and bath. I want it spotless, clean bedding changed daily; you heard
what Mr. G said about disease. Then come back here, write out your
contract, and sign it."

I found myself in a small room with a bath; cabbage breath exchanged my
handcuffs for two mink covered restraints and attached them to a screw
eye high on the wall. I was still virtually naked, and forced to stand on the
balls of my feet by the high restraint. Three women came in and
thoroughly cleaned the room and bath; they totally ignored my questions
spoken in English. I pulled, but the eye was firmly attached.

About an hour later a heavyset woman came in, she attached a chain across
the room into the bathroom and attached it to an eye in the bedroom wall
with a padlock, to another in the bathroom. It crossed about two-feet over
the bed, and I had a sinking realization what it was for.

She left and a little while later came back with a box of equipment and
what looked like an IV pole. She set it up, and my stomach went through
the floor. I knew what it was from medical books I had read, but I had
never had one, and hell, Tina didn't even douche - she told me early on that
she couldn't stand the thought of forcing water into her body. 'Oh Tina
baby, they did this to you, didn't they? Well if you could survive it as a
child, I can now; I will get the bastards too.' I silently vowed.

The woman sat on the bed and said in perfect American English, "I am
Helga, Mr. G has given me instructions, but first let's chat. What is your
name?"

"Rebecca Marie Hayes, but everybody calls me Becky. Can you let me
down, and give me some clothes?"

"I'll let you down in a minute, but for the next few days you will likely be
naked. Well Becky, do you enjoy sucking men's cocks?"

"God no, that's disgusting."

"Becky do you like a man's cock up your girl cunt?"

"My pussy doesn't have a holes, I was born without them.

"I meant in your rear hole, we will call that your girl cunt from now on,
since god didn't give you the usual one."

"That is really disgusting, you get germs that way. All I use that for is
God's purpose, and I always wash my hands after that, too."

"Christ how do you have sex?"

"That's private."

"Nothing is private here, tell me." A little sharpness crept into her voice.

"Sometimes Tina and I kiss at night, but Jennifer doesn't like us to."

"Who is Jennifer?"

"She is our adopted mother."

"What else do you do?"

"Sometimes we play with each other's breasts and kiss most everywhere."

"On your assholes too?"

"Christ no, above our waists, I meant should have said that."

"This Tina is satisfied with that? I understand she had our training."

"No, she couldn't have had, she was very shy, and it was a long time before
we did anything at all. I think those men have mixed her up with someone
else."

"Do you sleep with men? Have sex with men?"

"No, Jennifer says we must save ourselves for our husbands."

"Well, all I got to say is I have a treat in store for you. Let me prepare
your first douche, have you ever had one?"

"What's a douche?"

"Give me a few minutes and I'll show you."

In a few minutes she came back and sat down saying, "This will become a
way of life for you each evening, or a hour or so before a gentleman visits
you. It might seem a little strange at first, but most of the girls like you
enjoy it after a short while. While you are here, I will do it for you; latter
you will do it for yourself. Do you understand?"

"Why, I never had to do it before?"

"You never used your girl cunt for sex either, now did you?"

"Oh my god, you don't mean I have to do that."

"Not right away, but after a while you will ask for it. Now I will unlock
you from the wall, if you struggle I will call Otto and Snake in to hold you
- trust me you don't want that."

"Don't hurt me. Promise?"

She didn't answer but unlocked my restraints, and I gratefully stood on my
full foot. She ordered me to remove my stockings and belt, and gave me a
minute to massage my aching calves.

"Come into the bathroom now." I followed her, "Now kneel here, and lean
over this support. If you cooperate I will leave the restraints off - at the
first sign of rebellion they go on."

I looked over my shoulder and she was putting latex surgical gloves on.
Then I felt her finger spreading lubricant in and around my hole. I quivered
with real fear now. Then I felt something being inserted in me, then the
sound of pumping and I had a full uncomfortable feeling in my butt.

"That nozzle expands inside you to keep the fluid in, I will start the
solution now." It was warm and didn't feel that bad at first, but I began to
fill up, sensing that she said, "Remember don't move, or the restraints go
on." After a minute I couldn't help it, I straightened up.

She called, "Otto get in here now." He must have been waiting, as seconds
latter two men came in and put heavy elbow length rubber gloves on me,
then the put a padded L shaped board like thing down and attached it to
my support, then the gloves to it. My elbows were butted against the
vertical padded board and the gloves attached to the horizontal board.
Then they placed a wide rubber belt around my thighs and the support. I
couldn't move, and my rear was fully accessible.

Helga said, "Do we need a gag too Becky?"

"Please don't hurt me any more."

"Well you might as well get used to it, sooner rather than later. Maybe the
experience now will quiet you later." I couldn't do anything as she placed a
ball like thing over my mouth explaining, "The thing sticking into your
mouth is a relatively small rubber cock. Get used to it soon you will be
begging for the real thing.

This is only a small enema, I will be back in twenty minutes to give you
relief."

Thoroughly miserable, I knelt there, as cramps built up and abated like
waves. I could breath through my nose and through a hole in the rubber
cock. I could feel the ridges on the cock with my tongue, Christ; did they
do this to Tina? I will kill them all!

The minutes passed slowly, finally, Helga said, "I will disconnect the hose
now. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, which way is it?"

I tried to say, "Easy way," through the gag.

"Ok, I'm going to release you." She was very practiced; it only took a few
seconds, "Now stand up." She helped me up, "Now if you cooperate I will
reward you, otherwise I will punish you. When I pull the plug out bear
down and keep the douche inside until my hand is out of the way, then you
can sit down and release the fluid."

I nodded my head yes. I heard the air escape and felt the plug shrink, I
really tried, I really did, but there was too much pressure and some squirted
out. I know now, that the way she withdrew it made squirting a little
unavoidable.

She said, "Damn, well I could see you were trying, so I won't make the
punishment as bad as it could be. Get it all out now, it will take a minute
or two for you to fully discharge."

Relieving the pressure was a true relief; I used the opportunity to pee too.
Then she had me kneel down and attached me to the support, I didn't fight,
as she would only would call Otto in again and force me. My plan was to
cooperate as much as I could and wait for an opportunity to escape - as if I
had a choice. Same drill she started to fill me up again.

"This is the sweet smelling rinse with a little rose oil, the first was a mild
soapy solution. Just so you know I am using a comfortable temperature, I
could use colder or warmer, either of which is most unpleasant. I am only
giving you an ounce more than last time; I could safely use a quart more. I
will only leave it in five minutes, eight hours on your knees like this is
possible. I will be back in five minutes."

The enema seemed to cramp more this time and a few times I cried out
through my gag. Finally, she came back and released me. She said again,
"When I pull the plug out bear down and keep the enema in until my hand
is out of the way, then you can sit down and release the fluid."

I tried, but when the plug cleared, I couldn't help squirting a little. "Ok
dear, you tried, but I still must punish you." I looked at the support in
horror, "No not tonight, only one cleansing and a rinse each day."

She wiped me off well with a soapy cloth, and then again with one rinsed
with clear water. Still naked she led me into the bedroom, "Otto."

Otto walked in, "Otto show Becky you cock." He did, he rubbed it, until it
grew and he rolled a rubber on it, putting a rubber band around the base to
prevent it sliding off, I guessed. It was long, but not very thick at all. "I
will give you a chance to avoid your punishment, all you have to do is suck
Otto's cock, and then ask him nicely to fuck your girl cunt." I looked in
horror and shook my head emphatically no.

"Ok Otto you may go, see Anna, she will be pleased to take care of that for
you. Ok Becky, give me your hand, the left hand if you are right handed,
and she locked a mink restraint on my left wrist and the other end she
attached to the chain running across the room. Walk as far over to this
dresser as you can, I want to show you something."

I did and looked into the draw she opened, my eyes got wide with horror
as I realized what they were. "Becky these are butt plugs, for the next few
weeks when you aren't holding an enema or something else up your girl
cunt you will most likely be plugged with one of these. Don't look so
shocked, trust me, after a while, you will want one in all the time. We can't
let you, because when your gentlemen call, they will have their own things
to stuff in you. You are a whore in training and will learn to live for other's
pleasure. You are very fortunate, as this is a very high-class establishment,
catering only to the finest clientele.

If you really upset me the sudden insertion of one from here on will be
remembered for a very long time, I can also use no lubricant, which
becomes very uncomfortable. Tonight I will use this one," picking up one
of the smaller ones, about an inch thick at its thickest and about three
inches long. "See there is a attachment for an air bulb." She demonstrated
and the last three inches expanded to about two inches in thickness and a
little longer. The bulb used to pump it up had a needle on the end, which
was inserted into the plug's valve, exactly like a football's valve.

"Now bend over and spread your cunt lips."

I heisted only a second and did as bid, I felt lubricant squirt into my hole,
and then the butt plug poped in followed by a little full feeling as she
pumped it up. It hurt a little at first, but then just felt strange.

"There dear that wasn't so bad, was it?"

I looked over my shoulder at her wide-eyed.

"Stand up, I want you to practice cock sucking now on this model. This is
a mandatory part of your training and I will be harsh if you don't cooperate,
sucking a real man to organism is optional at his stage." She handed me
the model, which was about three-foot of a man's torso and thighs,
anatomically correct, complete with genitals and rear. The cock was
flaccid.

"Now if you promise not to scream I will remove your gag. Promise?"

I nodded my head, anything to get it off. I won't go into detail, but she had
me first stimulate the faux cock by licking and teasing it, she pumped it up,
and after sucking on it for a while it spat something salty and viscous into
my mouth.

"Very good Becky, swallow that now. You need a lot of work, but an
excellent first effort.

Normally I would allow you to play with you clit at night, but not tonight
as your punishment. For tonight, all you will wear are these rubber panties,
I will wrap your clit with gauze, and if you mess during the night, I will be
harsh. On nights when you have been good, I have rubber pants with a
hole to let your clit out, not only can you play with your clit, but you will
be able to visit the bathroom and pee."

Oh, shit, as soon as she mentioned it I had to pee. "May I pee now,
please?"

I peed a lot for having done an hour so or so ago, she wrapped my cock
with layers of gauze, I couldn't help quipping, "It looks like a mummy's
cock now." She laughed and put on my rubber pants locking the waist
chain with a small pad lock.

"You should know dear that your body absorbs a lot of water from the
enema, I think you can see why you don't want me cross with you. If
voluntary compliance doesn't work, have other methods to control your
bladder at night, but you don't want to experience those - trust me on that.
One more thing, I will leave the TV on for you all night, there are only five
channels. One is what I call the straight fuck channel, two is gay men,
three is women fucking each other and men, four is fetish with some
movies about girls like you, and five is S&M. What would prefer to start
with?"

"I usually sleep in a dark quiet room, if it is ok with you?"

"Sorry dear, its part of your education which channel would you like?"

"Ok, three please."

I tried to ignore the constant eroticism from the TV, but the butt plug and
snug rubber panties wouldn't let me. When I did fall asleep I woke playing
with my breasts, and Dickey was hard as ever. It didn't help that I had no
covers, the lights were dimmed, but not out, and three TV cameras were
present on the walls in the room. There was no doubt in my mind that I
was being taped for Goldman, yes, I had recognized his voice.

When I did finally fall asleep, I was hoping Becky would visit. As
embarrassing as my position was, a friendly face would have really helped
my spirits. The incessant racket from the TV coupled with the strange
sensations I was forced to endure, probably kept me from a truly restful
sleep. For whatever reason, Becky never visited with me the entire time I
was in that room.

I had no idea what time Helga woke me, I had to pee badly though, she
said, "Please understand Becky, today's activities are not a punishment, but
are a necessary part of your training, most girls like you find it quite
enjoyable too. You will wear this cock gag for a half-hour now, if your
panties are dry I will remove the plug and you may tend to nature and take
a shower, then you may have breakfast." She unlocked and removed the
rubber panties, I was concerned that pre-cum would count as ejaculation,
but Helga said, "Excellent love, don't worry about the pre-cum, clients love
it."

She put a gag made entirely like a realistic cock into my mouth, it was a
good inch and a half thick and five inches long, and she secured it with a
strap around my head. I wanted to gag and choke; "Now dear you won't
choke, just move it around with your tongue and mouth and you will be
able to breathe." She released my restraint leaving it dangle from the chain,
"now bend over and I will remove the plug, look see how clean the plug is,
see the little discomfort of the douche is worth it."

I couldn't believe it, but my rear actually missed the full feeling. Sensing
my thoughts Helga said, "See I told you so, come I'll give you your
shower, but perhaps first you would like to pee."

After the shower, she dried me off, lingering a bit long on my breasts I
thought, dabbed some powder on, leading me back in the room. "Bend
over now dear and I will plug you again, this one is just a little bigger then
the one last night." She squirted lubricant, and played as she inserted and
removed it once or twice, finally leaving it in and pumping it up. "Play
with the cock in your mouth and imagine a man is stuffing you from both
ends." I couldn't help it but Dickey got very hard, Helga milked it very
slowly while playing with my nipples saying, "You really like this don't you,
you may play with your clitti now if you wish."

She massaged my breasts as I masturbated to climax; she removed the gag
and sent me in to brush my teeth and hair - which was a mess. When I
came back into the room there were a tray of eggs, potatoes, ham, bread,
and cabbage? Still naked I sat at the table across from Helga. I was very
hungry and ate it all, over coffee she said, "Brush your teeth again, then
rest and digest your meal dear, I will be back in an hour."

She fastened the handcuff to the chain, turned up the TV sound and left. I
couldn't help it, my eyes were drawn to the screen, a beautiful girl was
being fucked in the rear while she sucked a man's cock, and I began to
imagine I was she. Helga must have been gone more than an hour as I saw
at least seven long sequences of girls being fucked by two or three men in
every place at the same time. The one I really got hard for, and began
unconsciously stroking my breasts, another woman was playing with and
sucking her breasts while the men used her.

Finally, Helga returned, and two men brought in an apparatus like a
pommel horse. They bolted it to the floor and left. Helga said, "Here is
your gag for this exercise, please put it on dear." It was the same one as
this morning, there was something additionally degrading about securing it
myself, but I did. "Please come over here and I will arrange you on this,
once you beg Otto for his cock, binding you like this will be unnecessary."

She had me lay over it and extend my arms to each end. My wrists and
forearms were strapped down flat in several places and I couldn't move
more than an inch any which way. Helga cranked the whole thing lower so
my knees were bent. She lowered the TV on its scissors stand and turned
it so I could watch, in fact closing my eyes was the only way I couldn't see
it, and then she changed channels. Leaving it where a woman was
whipping a man, really hurting him. "I will be several hours dear, please
think about begging Otto to let you blow him and then for him to fuck you,
you will enjoy that ever much more than this."

At first, it wasn't too bad, until my legs began to cramp. I couldn't rest on
the 'horse' and let my legs relax as it put too much pressure on my arms. I
began to hurt all over, but I couldn't give in too soon even though I knew I
must eventually. My mouth was sore from continually manipulating the
large cock in my mouth to breathe. The images of degradation and pain I
was seeing made me wonder what was next for me. My rational mind
knew, per Goldman's orders, they wouldn't do anything permanently
hurtful, but I was finding out there was much they could do short of that.

Finally Helga came in with Otto, I looked up at Helga, pleading with my
eyes. She shook her head saying gently, "You will know better tomorrow
dear." I strained to watch Otto as he opened a draw, put on surgical
gloves, selected a rather small (by comparison) dildo with a handle at one
end, and a squeeze bottle of lubricant. He moved around behind me and
removed the plug.

Helga kneeled in front of me and said, "Just relax dear, Otto will be gentile
with the artificial cock, keep in mind it isn't nearly as nice as the real thing.
Look into my eyes dear. I know your mouth hurts from the artificial cock,
you can't move it very much, and it's so unyielding. I know, when I was
much younger" at that instant Otto squirted lubricant up my butt and began
fucking my hole slowly with the dildo. If I could have, I would have
screamed with the shock of it, Helga kept looking in my eyes as Otto
fucked me, now fast, now slow, now deep, now just teasing the hole.
"Something like this was done to me, I know it's difficult being trussed as
you are, and how much your legs hurt. Just ten minutes more my dear."

Finally, it was over. Otto wiped my butt free of the large amount of
lubricant he continuously applied, lubricated, and inserted another larger
plug. Helga removed my gag and they released me from the 'horse.' I
couldn't stand or talk so they carried me to bed. "Relax for a hour or so
dear, and then I will have dinner with you."

My body ached all over, I shuddered to think about I'd feel tomorrow. I
forced myself up after awhile, and still tethered to the chain I forced myself
to walk into the bathroom and sat down to pee. I felt like I wanted to
poop, but with the plug inflated I couldn't. I washed my hands, brushed my
teeth, and took a hot shower. It wasn't easy with one hand, but I managed.

There was a stack of towels and I dried myself, and wrapped a towel
around my hair, none was big enough to wrap around my body. I sat in a
chair and was reminded to sit slowly and carefully when plugged. Helga
came in saying, "Good I see you are feeling better, it does no good to
whine or cry, just accept and get on with it."

"I have no choice do I?"

"No you truly don't. Eat your dinner now."

I was surprised to find I was hungry, and finished all that was given to me.
Over coffee she asked, "Will you beg Otto tomorrow."

"I don't know, I really don't like men at all you know. I know I'm part one,
but the few times we made love, Tina milked me first, and I never
penetrated her, or her me for that matter. We just are very gentle and
touch each other in such marvelous ways."

"How, exactly what do you do."

"We are sisters you know, but sometimes at night we kiss and rub each
other's bodies, especially our breasts. I just rub her clit and lips with my
Dickey, I mean clit, I like that term ever so much more. Anyway what we
do is really sublime."

"Rest an hour or so baby, then I will give you your douche."

I actually slept once my head hit the pillow.

For the next eight days, the routine was the same. I begged Helga to
understand taking a real man's cock into my mouth made me sick, that I
didn't want to defy her. I was mastering the torso, even to learning how to
stimulate a man anally with a variety of dildos.

Before my ninth douche I said, "Helga may I ask a favor?"

"You may ask dear."

"I believe I have enough control to hold still now, and I won't cry out,
please don't bind and gag me for my douche."

"All you had to do was ask, remember I told you this will be a lifetime
thing and eventually you will be doing it all for yourself. In fact if you are
good I will help you to be more comfortable doing it."

I was sure she gave me more of the soapy solution, and she closed the
valve removing the hose from the plug. "Here dear, let me help you,
walking around will ease the cramps and make the douche work better. As
we walked she touched my breasts and body, it made my skin crawl, but I
pretended to like her touches. When it came time to release the enema
Helga said, "I didn't lock the air valve this time, do you mind removing the
plug yourself?"

"No I don't, if I don't make much mess will you let me have panties with no
crotch?"

"Yes dear, if would ask me to play with your lovely breasts while you
release the enema."

"Helga, please do my breasts, I yearn for the gentle touch of a woman."

So we did. As the rinse filled me next, I was laying on the floor while
Helga played with me kneeling over me. When I was detached from the
hose, I kneeled over her, and she played with Puss, I pretended it was
driving me wild. I released the rinse and took a shower; Helga undressed
and stepped in with me. We dried each other off and after she plugged me
with a little larger plug, we made we love as I had described I did with
Tina. Helga was hooked on perverting my innocence. She put different
rubber panties on me, ones with an open crotch.

As she was leaving I said, "I never play with myself, that was Tina's
pleasure, now its yours. I just wanted to pee if I had too, but I look
forward to you milking me tomorrow." I think I even managed a blush.

On the tenth day I told Helga at breakfast I would beg Otto, if she could
still love me after I did such a disgusting thing. She assured me that she
would. This time I kneeled down and sucked Otto's rubber sheathed cock,
I tried everything Helga had shown me, but he wouldn't come. Finally, he
declared victory, and removed my butt plug as I leaned unrestrained over
the horse, and he fucked me. Helga was correct; it was far more
pleasurable with a man, than to be tied down and fucked by dildos. After a
very long time I think he came. Wiped and plugged again, I wondered
what was next.

Over dinner, I found out. I could either suck snakes cock while Otto
fucked my butt or fuck Otto and blow snake. I told Helga I would tell her
in the shower. I did the whole douche thing myself under Helga's watchful
eye; in the shower, she hugged me and congratulated me. I looked in her
eyes and said; "I would like Snake and Otto fucking me, if you will love my
body while they do their will upon me."

"Ok baby, but you must understand I won't always be there for you."

"In that case, let's enjoy our love while we can."

We kissed passionately, and I almost puked right in her mouth. While I
held her, I realized I could easily trip her and smash her head on the tub. I
was free of any restraints, and maybe I could escape. Not knowing if
someone was watching the closed circuit TV gave me pause. Was
someone watching the monitors now? How far would I get naked in this
building? Outside of this room, an inside hallway, and Gunter's office I had
no idea where the outside was, or how many people were between freedom
and me. I chickened out, and suffered Helga.

The way it worked was I began on snake kneeling over him from his right
side, it was clear why he was called snake; I could barely keep him in my
mouth as he approached ejaculation. But long before that, Otto entered me
and began to powerfully thrust into me, and then Helga lay under me and
messed with everything in reach. I hate to admit it, but such depravity is
pleasurable, and I feared addictive.

That night after loving Helga I asked her for a bigger plug, she whispered
in my ear, "Why?"

"I must prepare myself for the likes of Snake."

"You're right, just don't tell anybody I did this." She changed the plug, and
I was instantly sorry I asked, as the whole of this plug expanded as she
pumped. That night I watched with fascination 'Chicks with Dicks' on TV,
with many other fetishes. This plug was not something that slipped to the
back of your mind until you moved - you knew it was there all the time and
it was hours before I fell into a restless sleep.

In spite of the discomfort I wore it or larger each night from then on,
during the day I wore the specified ones. Gradually I asked for things and
was given them. Manicures ever two days, cosmetics of my own, no more
handcuff, and my hair styled daily by Edith who was another whore. I took
my first real chance and stole a new single edged razor blade from her kit.

On the twentieth day, I was given a ghastly purple and black merry widow,
black stockings, and pumps with five-inch heels to wear during the day.
Helga would lace me in before breakfast and remove it after my nightly
enema. I would wash it and let it dry overnight. It hid nothing, in fact,
there were no full bra cups, it just pushed my half uncovered breasts up
obscenely, nipples and areolas fully visible, and allowed full view of my
cock and Puss. I looked like an obscene sexual object and hated wearing
it, but pretended to be pleased with Helga for giving it to me. Each day
while I was briefly out of view of the cameras, little by little I fashioned a
pocket in the merry widow for the blade. If I crossed my arms, as in an
attempt to cover my breasts modestly, I could remove the blade with my
right hand without the action being noticed.

On the twenty-sixth day of captivity, I was given a feather robe to wear
over the purple and black thing, and was brought before Gunter and a half
dozen of his cronies. The damn robe was worse than nothing, in an
obscene way; it was slit into narrow vertical stripes of feathers and
extended from my shoulders to thighs. But as I moved I poked out, and
parts of my body were exposed.

Gunter asked me for a blowjob handing me several Trojans. I pretended I
didn't understand until he asked me again in English, then I knelt between
his legs, totally degraded, but promising myself that he was a dead man. I
put a Trojan in my mouth and worked it onto his cock as Helga had
instructed me. He did cum quickly, his dick wasn't large, and he seemed
satisfied. I removed it and cleaned him with a damp cloth Helga handed
me. Next he examined my daytime plug, he asked, "Is this too tight?"

"It is very big, it is hard to walk normally."

He seemed to like that answer, and had Otto fuck my butt, then with the
plug back in place, I fucked Otto pretending an organism after a decent
interval. I was caught at it when Gunter examined the Trojan I was
wearing, but he said that was ok, that I faked it well enough to satisfy most
customers. Then I blew three of his cronies, the ones who asked me. They
told the others I was good in German, but one who refused said nobody
got him off but a real man, the others just nodded in agreement.

It wouldn't be long, by my count Mr. G was due back tomorrow, I knew
who he was and I was prepared to kill or be killed - most likely both. I was
particularly tender making love to Helga after my douche and there were
tears in her eyes as she left my room. I didn't know if it would help, but
she was the closest to a friend I had here, and I was on the fence as to
whether I would kill her if given the chance.

I was given no diner, but about seven PM Helga came in and told me I
must cleanse with douches and shower, Mr. G expected me at nine. Just
before nine, dressed in my merry widow and feather robe, Otto brought me
to Gunter in his large office. There were two-manned VCRs set up and
several indirect floodlights illuminating the room. Snake, Helga, and
several of Gunter's cronies were standing around.

Mr. G looked ludicrous in a black leather harness, and leather half mask,
thin neck, small cock, and potbelly. It was all I could do to keep from
laughing at him. He pulled my robe aside telling me to hold it open for
him, and fingered me all over; he put a bulb in my plug and pumped it to
maximum. I screamed and he laughed, leaving it fully inflated.
Fortunately, the many uncomfortable nights had conditioned me so this
medium one, even fully inflated, didn't really bother me at all.

He said, "You did well Gunter, I am pleased." He looked at me saying,
"You, look at that TV screen."

On screen was a succession of video clips documenting my training, I didn't
have to pretend to hang my head in shame. Then the scene changed from
my room to a conventional bedroom. First, I made out Uncle Mike, and
realized he was kissing a beautiful naked blond child. She looked directly
at the camera and my heart stopped. He was fondling Tina, and she didn't
look to me more than twelve. Goldman laughed nastily saying, "I see you
recognize your sister, be pleased, we will add these tapes to your nightly
viewing - while you recover for my next visit." He enjoyed the tape and
the discomfort it caused me for a few more minutes, groping me absently
as his penis became engorged. It wasn't even as big as Otto's; I mentally
kicked myself for fearing him.

Smiling evilly, he said facing the camcorders, "Rebecca Marie Hayes
service this for me." He handed me an anal pleasure probe saying, "Use
this at the right time. Give me ecstasy and I will fuck your ass like a
gentleman, otherwise I will split you in two like I did your whore sister
Tina." He showed me a sleeve that went over his relatively thin penis that
increased its diameter to almost three inches near his body; it had several
ridges running lengthwise designed to cut tender tissue as it entered.

No acting, I looked at it in terror and said, "Yes sir." I knelt before him
and started to put a Trojan on him with my mouth as Helga had taught me.

"I don't wear those!" He said and smacked me hard, the rubber flew out of
my mouth.

Even after all the training, it was disgusting. Without a rubber, his
uncircumcised cock was especially gross. Somehow, I did him, in the
process laying him down and exciting his ass with the stimulator. Each
time he was about to cum I shifted my target and toyed with his tiny tits
until he was begging to cum. The men with the video cameras jockeyed
for better angles, and Gunter and friends kept up a steady stream obscene
comment in German. When I figured I had pushed the turd as far as I
could, I let him cum in my mouth, sucking it all out. He didn't produce
much and I didn't swallow it. He lay back on the floor gasping and
exhausted, I absently crossed my arms to pull up the cup less top of the
merry widow under my robe - and grasped the razor blade between my
fingers. I helped him to his feet with my left hand lisping from his salty
cum still in my mouth, "Was that the best you ever had, or what?"

"Yes, you are very talented, but nevertheless I will still split you. I
promised that pleasure to myself in the boardroom in New York years ago.
As I do you, remember it is exactly what I did to the whore you call your
sister."

Pretending to kiss his ear and beg, I moved behind him placing the
razorblade to his scrawny neck, his right carotid artery jest under my blade.
"Move and you are dead." I hissed spitting his cum in his ear.

He froze, "Cut me, and you are dead."

"It's worth it, after what you did to Tina and me." I cut him deliberately,
but not deeply. "Tell the rest to drop their weapons and back off to the
other side of the room."

"Fuck you!"

"No, fuck you!" As I cut him again digging my nails into the other side of
his neck. "Tell them to drop their guns and back off - or you die right
now!"

"Ok, ok. Gunter back off, put your guns down - now!!"

He squealed as my nails dug further into his neck. Gunter and his men
looked at one another, at Goldman's bleeding neck. I could read their
minds, 'What do I owe Goldman anyhow, fuck him.'

Gunter snarled in German, "Do it, back off, we need Goldman's political
cover. We will get the bitch later!"

The ones who had taken out guns or knives, put them on the floor, and
backed up to the wall. I was just about to order Goldman to open the
office door...

But just then, the office door burst open and masked-armed men poured in.
A familiar voice said, "Are you ok Becky?" God, talk about the cavalry
arriving in the nick of time!

"I am now, do you have handcuffs?" He nodded, "Please secure this turd.
That guy in the center too, his name is Gunter, that fat woman, Helga, you
don't have to handcuff her, but bring her too." I think I went a little crazy
then, these weren't men in my mind, they were monsters. I whispered to
Nigel, "Kill the others if you can, or cripple them, but I'd promised myself I
would see them all dead. Have somebody come with me to control Gunter
and Goldman."

Nigel nodded, he gave some quiet instructions in Russian to on of our men,
and then he and another secured Gunter and Goldman starting them
moving toward the office's rear door. On the way to my room, I smiled as
I heard silenced HK-550 machinegun fire from Gunter's office.

My room was right down the hall and we took them there. "Helga help
me, this place is history; I might give you money to start a new life when
we are done."

I stepped close to the masked man and ripped his mask off saying softly,
"Nigel this will be disgusting, but this creep deserves it." He shrugged with
a smile; at that point, I didn't know that he had seen what they did with
children in this place.

Helga and I secured him to the horse; I took the largest plug, a Pyrex
monster almost three inches thick, and eight inches long, shaped like a
conventional plug. I told Helga to start it and forget the lubricant, and then
I asked Nigel to kick it. He rammed it home in one shot to the music of
Goldman's screams. Helga pulled rubber shorts roughly onto Goldman,
and pulled the waist chain tight and padlocked it. That plug was going
nowhere. I had one more thing, not caring who saw, I deflated and
removed the plug from my rear, and shoved it down Goldman's throat,
placing a leather gag over his mouth I said, "Don't touch that gag, or I will
cut your balls off." He started to turn red as he choked on it, then he
learned how to breathe around it and suffered in complete silence.

Then we repeated the treatment for Gunter using a slightly smaller Pyrex
butt plug and the largest cock gag in the drawer. It took a while, but he
adapted and breathed around it too. 'Too bad,' I was thinking with Tina's
image in my mind as Mike molested her.

I heard Tina's voice, "Way to go lover, I've wanted to do that to these two
for years, the boys are cleaning this place out."

"Christ, make sure they get all the videotape."

"That's covered, I know how these turds operate. Boy do I ever know."

"Do you have your checkbook?"

"Yes, I have a special account for this operation."

"Please give Helga ten thousand dollars, she was helpful, at least not as bad
as she could have been."

Tina looked a Helga closely and asked coldly, "You've put on a hundred
pounds, but you were in that house in Patterson, NJ in the late eighties,
early nineties. Weren't you?"

"Yes." Helga answered with real fear in her eyes.

"I will make it twenty thousand, on condition that I never see you again. If
I find out you are back in the old business, I'll have you killed. I mean that.
Do you understand?" Helga nodded, took the check Tina wrote, and
turned to walk out - as soon as her back was turned Tina shot her in the
back of her head and took back the check saying, "Changed my mind
bitch." I smiled at her, and she blew the smoke from barrel of her Berreta
and smiled back.

Goldman and Gunter looked more terrified then before, if possible. We
may have been out of control, but we were definitely feeling great as two
of Nigel's men took Goldman and Gunter out. I was pleased to see they
were waddling like ducks in their short black rubber panties.

Chapter 25 - Reunion

Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the
resurrection.

Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)
Still in the room I asked, "How is Jennifer?"

"We don't know, she disappeared at the scene of the ambush and her body
hasn't been found."

"There's hope then, do you have people looking for her?"

"Yes, when Charlie Marsh came here, and told me of Jennifer's instructions
in the event you both were incapacitated, I instructed him to spare no effort
tracking you both down. It was unnecessary as he already was, all I really
did was give him a blank check."

"Let's get out of this place."

Anticipating my condition, Tina brought clothes for me. She helped me
out of the purple thing, saying purple was Goldman's favorite color. I
changed into real panties, comfortable bra, jeans, sneakers, and a blouse
feeling human for the first time in a month. We left the whorehouse
building in eight vans.

The ordinary whores, and most customers, had been herded into a porno
theater, which was part of the operation, were turned loose. Radio
controlled high intensity thermal bombs set off inside the complex,
destroying the bodies of Gunter and associates along with the buildings.
The fix was in, and the normally efficient Hamburg fire department took
twenty minutes to show.

I found out latter, that the initial fire records recorded the cause of the
inferno as a cigarette butt carelessly left by a customer. I had no idea how
huge the place was while I was held captive. Tina told me it occupied a
city block of connected buildings, and had three underground exits to
buildings on other streets. Gunter ran the main operation catering to
wealthy protected clients, and rented buildings to over a dozen fetishes,
homosexual or cheap sex providers to ordinary patrons. The whole
complex was in flames as we left.

Tina had rented a large modern house on the outskirts of Hamburg, and we
headed there in a stretch Mercedes Limo. Goldman and Gunter were
crying and shifting position the whole time on the jump seats. I asked
Nigel to put them somewhere uncomfortable when we reached home, and
make them more so, even if they choked to death, the gags were to stay on.

"Gave you a bad time did they?"

"Yes, not as bad as he could have, he didn't get a chance to 'split me,' but
their favorite victims were young girls and boys, they have a lot to answer
for."

His eyes hardened, "I saw! You looked like you had him under control," as
he smacked Goldman's ear.

"Yeah, I would have killed him, but his cohorts would have easily
overpowered me. I only had one little razor blade."

"Have you decided what to do with him?"

"Question him about Jennifer's whereabouts, but after that, I'm open to
suggestions."

"See what you come up with, I'll run it by Giles. Libya comes to mind
though, American eunuchs are in demand there to clean harems." I was
pleased to see they didn't like that idea.

As soon as we arrived at the house, we went directly to our rooms and I
noticed guards all over the place. Tina started to kiss me and I stopped her
saying, "That fucking bastard Goldman, made me give him a blowjob
before you got there, he wouldn't let me put a rubber on him so I could
have picked up anything."

"We have an ex SAS corpsman standing by incase any of our men was
injured, his nickname is Doc. He is not a licensed physician, but he is very
experienced medic, and has the equivalent of a field surgery here. He has
access to Hayes owned medical lab facilities; emergency hospital facilities
have been reserved against severe injuries.

Giles said Doc assisted at several real black interrogations, and I thought
he might be useful if you weren't at Gunter's. I'll get him up here. Probably
a course of antibiotics will catch anything, but it's a good thing we grabbed
Goldman, Doc will draw blood and have it tested for everything."

Tina picked up an intra-house wall phone, and asked to have the doctor
come to our room.

"We better have the doc look at Goldman. He indirectly told me Jennifer
was dead the first day I was there, and he might know something. I'm
afraid I acted hastily in rage, he might choke on my butt plug."

"He will live, for my size I survived far worse. I remember it all now," her
eyes darkened, "everything they did to me. We will face the nightmares
together. How was it for you?"

"Not nearly as bad as you went through, they made me do a lot of
degrading things. I went along with most without any real resistance, and
that is what really bothers me. Christ, I only endured less than a month;
you had years of sexual torture. He showed me video of you and Mike,
Christ Tina, you told me, but to see it... I always thought you were a
strong person, now I know you are a very strong person just to survive the
bastards."

The Doc knocked, I explained what happened to me, and he took some
blood samples and gave me a recently developed broad-spectrum
antibiotic. I explained why we wanted to wring out Goldman and what I
had done to him.

He replied, "Child molesters, eh? The chaps told me some of what they
found in that place. Good start for an interrogation, eight inches of Pyrex
you say?"

I nodded.

"That can stay in for awhile, they might need urgent surgery if we remove
them. However, I'll have to remove the butt plug from his throat, he could
choke on that. The gags should be ok. Cut with a razor blade, I'll dress
that too. I'll look right in on him, and while I'm at it, I'll suggest some
further things to the chaps to get the bastards in a proper mood to talk. I
advise you leave them a bit to consider their sins, after a few hours and
some hypnotics they will talk - proper songbirds, what?" Doc turned
smartly and left the room.

"How have you managed? Your arrival was just in the nick of time." I
said as I hugged her again.

"God, but it's been unbelievable. My priority was to rescue you and
Jennifer. When Charlie Marsh flew here the day after the attack and
handed me all this power, I became overwhelmed for a week or so, I still
have no idea what to do with that." Tina shrugged her shoulders and
pointed to a two-foot high stack of reports and memos. "I just continued
trying to find you both and figure out what Jennifer had on tap. I went to
the necessary board meetings here in Germany, and teleconferenced to the
ones in the Rome, London, and the states. God knows what damage I did,
as you know I'm better at reading people, I'm no good at all that analytical
stuff you and Jennifer just breeze through. Unfortunately all my MBA
seems to do, is to warn me that I don't really know what I'm doing."

"You'll get no complaint from me, how did you find me?"

"Lucky guess really, I attended a Board Meeting here last month two days
after the kidnapping. It took me awhile during the meeting, but eventually
I recognized Goldman. Ten years had changed him a lot; back then he was
thin as a rail and had a full beard, but his voice still had a distinct whining
quality and he speaks with the same insipid lisp. I was sure he was one of
the turds that tortured me, and egged Mike on to do awful things while I
was living with him. He was a real bastard to me; I think he hates young
women in general, he and a guy named Stern hurt me very bad. Anyway,
at the board meeting Goldman was too smug when everyone was told
Jennifer and you were missing, and that I was taking over. I got real bad
vibes from him, I think he knew who I was from back then, and I could see
it really bugged him that I was in charge.

So in addition to doing anything else we could think of, I arranged for
Charlie's people to investigate Goldman with a magnifying glass. I found
out he was arrested in the states as an aftermath to Jennifer's freeing me.
However, with his family's money and influence, he weaseled out of it
without any publicity. Even Charlie didn't know about that phase of his life
until this investigation. The company chauffeur Goldman used here
remembered bringing him to that whorehouse every month for two or three
nights - like clockwork, the days before and sometimes a day after the
board meetings. Further investigation revealed a long-term connection
with Gunter, apparently Gunter moved back here before he could be
arrested in New Jersey, and with Goldman's money set this
super-whorehouse up. The buzz was that it specialized in every kind of
fetish including children for those with very deep pockets. Even I didn't
believe what was going on there when we raided the place tonight.

Giles arranged for his people, some additional ex SAS mercenaries, and a
team of forty-three ex Russian Spetznaz commandos to do the actual
assault. It took some time to grease all the necessary palms in Hamburg
with out spilling our actual target, and to find out the whorehouses' interior
layout. The last time I looked we had spent over forty million on the
overall effort, a lot of money for a hunch."

"As far as I'm concerned four hundred million would have been cheap, your
instincts are terrific, but tell me. How did you arrived just in the nick of
time?"

"Just blind dumb luck. We planned to hit the place the next time Goldman
visited. Mainly because I thought he would want to take part, in whatever
humiliation he had planned for you. We weren't sure you were there so we
didn't go in earlier, but we figured he would have you brought in for him if
you weren't.

I knew from his methodical torturing me over years he was a patient
bastard; he would plan to make you suffer for years. What better way than
to turn you into a she-male whore. I was sure he would use the
whorehouse's facilities and people, and at every opportunity would check
and gloat over your degradation - he told his chauffeur this morning, to
plan on taking him their tonight.

Giles, Nigel, and eleven of his men went in first posing as customers; they
took out the whorehouse's external and internal security, and admitted a
third of the Russians. The bulk of the Russians secured the perimeter
blocking the emergency exits, and then we took over the place room by
room, being careful to avoid sounding an alarm. All that took almost two
hours - it's a big place.

All the children we found are being turned over to Hamburg's children's
services as we speak, along with a very generous donation for their care. I
think there were eighteen preteen girls and twenty-three boys. Originally,
we were just going to burn the place down and rough up Gunter's men, but
that changed when the men found the kids. The customers found with
children were handcuffed to walls and gut shot, after the kids were clear of
the building. I'm told radio controlled Thermet and gelled naphtha bombs
were used, and no identifiable pieces of the bodies are likely to be found.

Giles said his men and the Russians had no trouble doing it once they saw
what was being done to the children, and I don't think their consciences
will bother them - I sure as hell know mine won't.

We hit the office you were in last, as Giles was watching from the internal
security station. He noticed six people including Goldman enter the front
office door. A few minutes later you, Helga and two others entered from a
rear passage. Giles was in overall command, and had two-way voice
communication with all of our men over a command radio net. Since we
knew you were there, we made sure we had total control of the building
and all escape routes blocked before we entered Gunter's office, that took
about forty minutes from the time Giles saw you enter the room."

"Your timing was perfect."

Chapter 26 - Songbirds
The healthy man does not torture others-generally it is the tortured who
turn into torturers.

Carl Jung (1875-1961)

We talked for a while as we bathed each other; Tina had a whirlpool unit
installed against my return. We used it for the first time as Tina said she
wouldn't use it until we could enjoy it together. She examined me all over
saying, "You don't have to talk about it, but I can tell they used butt plugs
on you as the did me. I wore them most all the time from a month before
Mike fucked me the first time, for almost four years. I'll bet they gave you
daily enemas too." Seeing my red face, "It's all right, don't feel ashamed, I
know how it is to be forced. I also know you get used to being penetrated,
and likely will even miss the systematic violations, I do, its not weird, its
just how we are wired to survive such things."

"How did you survive that?"

"The same as you, I went along until I was rescued. I know other things
they did. They gagged you all the time with cock gags didn't they?"

"Yes two to eight hours a day. I can tell you I won't miss that."

"You might be surprised. Did they play pornographic tapes for you?"

"Yes all the time, day and night. I even found myself identifying myself
with some of it."

"Yes, what they do is watch you for interest, in your case see what made
you hard or touch yourself, then they force you to reenact it with your
trainers. I'll bet they didn't give you any clothes, blankets, or covering
sheets either. I saw the chain; they cuff you to that so you won't curl up
and it encourages you sleep on your back. Somebody, probably Helga
watched your reactions, sleeping, half-asleep, and waking, planning your
next day's program. Except for certain customers who like to torture, most
customers want a willing, even an eager participant. Mike never really
wanted to hurt me, and felt guilty as hell after he did, it was Goldman and
Stern - I'm still looking for Stern, hey, maybe Goldman knows where he
is!"

"If he knows, he will tell - I promise you. What do you say we play good
guy, bad guy?"

"How about bad guy the doctor, the worst guy me, and the 'fucking
avenger you?' Those two deserve no less."

"They were worse to you for longer, you deserve the 'fucking avenger'
role. Don't you think?"

"That's ok, you split them with those monster butt plugs. After living with
them for hours, you will be most feared. Goldman will think the doc is soft
for removing the butt plug from his throat, but not too soft, because he left
the Pyrex ones in. God, but they must hurt like hell, the big rubber ones
are bad enough, by now their guts will be cramping badly, and they must
really need to poop. Too dammed bad, one time Goldman and Stern made
Mike leave me plugged tight for almost two days, I was chained to a table
in the living room during an orgy.

Let me do the questioning. I can read their reactions better, and will do a
good job questioning them, trust me." Tina finished with an angelic grin.

On that happy thought, we dried each other and applied lotion; thoroughly
relaxed we slept nestled together. We woke early and made love, very
tenderly, very sweetly with no penetration or deep kissing, that would have
to wait until the doc's report came back.

I must warn the reader again, I'm not proud of what we did, for most of
you please skip to the next chapter with the knowledge Gunter and
Goldman told us everything they knew. For the few readers as incensed at
them as we were, read on. Perhaps it will affect you, as it did us.

The large home we were in was set on an acre of fenced in property on the
outskirts of Hamburg. The house itself was an ultra modern two-year-old
structure, but the chilly musty arched basement looked to be hundreds of
years old, and extended many levels below the surface. After breakfast, we
went downstairs to the basement.

May God forgive me, but I was pleased to see both of them blindfolded
and hanging from the iron gates protecting the deep wine cellar. I had
read, in one of the many sex books that they had forced on me, exactly
how and why they were bound as they were. Giles told us at breakfast he
had seen it used by Arabs on prisoners they were torturing, and he thought
if it were good enough for those bloody bastards, it was probably pretty
effective. The technique put maximum strain on the joints and back
causing increasing pain every time they were jostled. There was a pool of
dried blood and piss originating from the puffed out rubber shorts on the
floor. The rubber masked the damage to their well and properly split rear
holes. They were awake, looked pitiful, smelled worse; instead of feeling
sorry for them, we backed away and planned the next step.

Minutes later, I came in alone raging and cursing at them. I ripped their
blindfolds off, and slammed the hinged doors several times to raise the
general level of their pain. Then I lit the propane torch in my hand from a
flint, it ignited with a loud pop. Their eyes shifted from my face to the
flame as I adjusted it.

I shouted, "Ok which of you bastards is first?" I waited a minute, "You
won't talk, well fuck you, I'll teach you to answer when spoken to."

Rather unfair of me as they were still gagged, a fact I pretended not to
notice. As planned, I picked Gunter first. I applied the torch to his feet,
coming close to burning his soles and toes a little. Just then, Tina, Giles,
and the doc ran downstairs yelling for me to stop. I just kept cursing and
almost charring until Giles physically carried me away from him.

Tina shouted, "We have to talk to them! Calm down dear, act civilized."

Doc said to Gunter and Goldman, "If you tell Christina what she wants to
know, I just won't just stand by and watch Rebecca slowly burn you to
death. You will have had enough, and she must let me treat you humanly,
my oath, you understand."

"They better fucking well tell you everything, or I goddamn will burn them
inch by inch, oath or no fucking oath." I turned up the torch for emphasis,
broke free of Giles' grip, and stormed upstairs waving the torch.

Giles told me later, two of the Russians took Gunter down from the gate
and dragged him to the other end of the dim second cellar, pushing him
down on a hard stone bench; the butt plug hit the stone audibly. The doc
removed the cock gag from Gunter's distended mouth. It was a minute
before his mouth would even close; he gave Gunter some water letting
some spill as if by accident. Goldman was equally parched and had an
unobstructed view of the wasted water, then Doc gave Gunter some more
saying, "That's all I can do for you now, for God's sake tell her what she
needs to know. Then I'll take you upstairs and fix you up." Gunter
nodded.

Tina asked coldly, "Can you speak, if you can't we will tie you back up to
the gates, and talk to Goldman first."

"I can speak," he croaked, waited a minute until Giles made to take his
arm, "I will tell you whatever you want!" His voice a little stronger this
time and doc gave him more water.

"Remember me Gunter, I was what, six when you took me from my father,
in lieu of a gambling debt. You told me often enough just how unloved a
little bitch I was, just how worthless a piece of shit I was."

"God, Goldman told me you were here." He croaked, Doc gave him some
more water, "But I didn't believe him, you weren't treated that badly in my
house."

"Believe it fuck face. You don't believe making a whore out of a
six-year-old child is bad. The only reason you didn't mess with me at a
younger age was I was worth more to you as bait and switch. So much for
memory lane, it won't take much for me to get Becky down here and really
burn you up - she is real pissed at you. Goldman never should have shown
her that tape of Mike and me; I think she is over the edge now.

Look at me! I need to know three things. Where is Jennifer Hayes
Ravlon, second where are you selling the children when they are worth
more to you sold, third who ordered, and who carried out the attack on our
motorcade?"

The doc gave him more water. He held Gunter's shoulder in an
encouraging way, and rinsed his face off, then giving him more water.
Goldman's eyes were fixed on us, but we were too far away for him to
hear. Doc said encouragingly, "Come on son, tell her all of what she wants
to know, I'll take you away from all this, and remove that plug from your
ass and you can shit, your stomach is becoming distended, that must be
quite uncomfortable."

Tina turned on a tape recorder placing a throat mike on Gunter's neck; she
listened to his responses in a little earphone. In this way, only Gunter's
responses were taped, and the questions were not taped. For over an hour
Gunter talked, at each revelation he was given a sip of water. Then the doc
and Giles carried him up to the first basement, and leaving the plug and
rubber pants in place doc gave him a shot rendering him unconscious - on a
pink shower curtain to contain his mess.

I sat at the breakfast table with Nigel listening to the tape, I made notes as
it played, and we made a list of questions to ask Goldman. Meanwhile
downstairs he was treated to the same 'kind' treatment Gunter had been,
Nigel brought my questions to Tina and she asked them, but this time doc
gave him his shot in place. Tina came up with Giles, and all listened to
Goldman's tape as I made notes. We analyzed the responses for
inconsistencies, and made a long list of follow up questions. Gunter was
brought back downstairs and we let them sleep on the cold stone floor for a
few hours.

Neither shed any light on Jennifer's whereabouts. All Gunter knew, was
that his men reported that a large man carried her unconscious body into
the Ford at the ambush site. The Ford had backed up a block or so and
been hit by their last RPG rocket. Goldman only knew what Gunter had
told him, so he said.

Tina said Gunter's story jibed with her recollection of the facts, and Giles
agreed. As the driver of Ford immediately backed away from the ambush,
he totally ignored Tina's pleas to get me first, in retrospect it was the
proper thing to do. As he sped backwards another rocket was fired when
they were about a block away; it was a near miss but it exploded close
enough to stun them all. When they regained their wits Jennifer and one of
Charlie Marsh's men were not in the car. Tina thought she saw another
man carry Jennifer away, but she couldn't be sure she wasn't dreaming.
Checks of the hospitals, through police searches all failed to yield either
Jennifer or Charlie's German agent.

After the discussion, I went up to our room and attacked the pile of work;
Tina lay down and rested. I concentrated on the work, but around four, I
began to miss the butt plug's full feeling and looked forward to my enema.
It was a desire similar to what I imagined a drug addict felt. I was
disgusted with myself.

Tina woke up and we took a shower together, and made love, still without
ejaculation, although I experienced something different and quite
wonderful as Tina had one of hers. We dressed and went downstairs and
had dinner with the men. I ravenously ate every vegetable in sight, the only
one served in the whorehouse was cabbage, and it was served, and eaten
(or else) at every damn meal. Come to think of it, it added to the butt
plugs discomfort, as it was very difficult to fart with one in place. Why the
hell do I want one in me now?

I fetched the fifteen inch high stack of completed work and brought it
downstairs. I asked Nigel to have one of his men bring it to the 'Hayes
Cares!' offices here, to be faxed or sent overnight to New York. A much
smaller stack was to be processed at the office here. I called ahead and had
someone stay and see the faxes off, with instructions to give that person
two days off with pay (in addition to overtime) if everything went out
tonight.

Tina was well rested when we went downstairs, and we had Goldman and
Gunter tied up to the fence again. This time Goldman earned the cock gag.
Doc gave them a shot of stimulant to wake them up, but before they woke
up, we went upstairs out of sight.

Ten minutes latter I roared down stairs yelling, "One of you fucking child
molesters is a lying sack of shit. I promised you what would happen."

I lit the torch again. They were still disoriented from the drugs, and the
flick of heat I gave to their feet was enough to make them piss in their
pants again.

Repeat of yesterday, I was dragged away screaming, this time all the way
upstairs. Gunter was interrogated first again. This time in a much more
focused way, about all we got new was the name and addresses of a dozen
or more 'Men's Club' members - the name a group of pedophiles gave
themselves. Gunter didn't know Stern's whereabouts, but he was sure
Goldman did.

And one piece of bad news, some of the videotape of my training had been
sent to Stern in England a few days ago.

When Tina was sure he knew nothing else, she smacked Gunter in the head
with the pipe she had been using for encouragement. Very hard, his head
split like a melon splattering his brains and gore; some flying back on her,
and she angrily kicked him to the floor. At that doc called her a murderer,
and stormed upstairs, a seemingly shocked Giles and the two Russians
obeyed Tina's orders to bring Goldman over. They untied him from the
gate and dragged him over to Tina, sitting him on the stone bench very
hard, Tina told me latter she thought the Pyrex might have shattered.

She attached the bloody mike, after removing it from Gunter's body, with
Goldman's eyes following her every move. He was still gagged, and
ignoring that fact, she was shouting questions at him. Just as she was
about to hit him with the pipe, doc stormed down, pointing a gun at her
and took the pipe from her. He assured Goldman, "Mr. Goldman, I won't
stand by and let this mad woman murder you, but you better answer her
questions fully this time, or I won't be able to stop them from putting you
on the gate again."

With that, he removed Goldman's gag and gave him water until he could
talk. It didn't take very long this time, as the gag was only in an hour or so.
Tina asked the questions again getting more 'Men's Club' members names
and addresses, including several of Stern's hide-a-ways - and the location of
the club's records in an apartment in London he and Goldman maintained.
Goldman slipped and Tina caught it.

"Ok, what is the purpose of the 'Men's Club'?

"It is just a group of men who share the same interests."

"What is its purpose, I can get Rebecca and here torch down here. You're
showing her that video of Mike and me pushed her over the edge!"

"Stern will kill me, I can't tell you."

"No he won't, look at Gunter, tell me now or you join your friend in hell. I
don't care what you do, we'll find Stern eventually, and find out from him."

The doc spoke up, "Mr. Goldman, please tell her - I can't watch her murder
you...

But she pays all these men, these are Russians, very hard men, and they will
do whatever she says."

It was if a dam broke...

"Stern works for the Cartel, we get influential men to join 'The Men's Club'
or any of several other fetish clubs. Tape them doing what they crave,
addict them to deeper depravity, and control them. We almost took over
Hayes, Mike got Stern and I on the board. But the woman raided us and
broke up the plan after Mike died, he never told us she actually ran the
company."

"I was there when you killed him, why did you murder Mike Ravlon if he
got you two slugs on the board?"

"Mike threatened to spill the whole plan, he couldn't live with himself any
more. We found a videotape he made exposing us, it was to be used after
his suicide."

Goldman spilled all he knew, once he started the filth just spewed forth.
He couldn't stop talking. Tina put several fresh tapes and batteries in her
machine before he ran down.

This time, Tina nodded that she was satisfied; doc clubbed Goldman in the
head. He laughed saying dryly, "Can't let a mad woman have all the fun."

The Immediate Aftermath
There was a bad Autobahn accident that night, two men's bodies were
found in the wreckage. After a few days, the badly battered and burned
bodies were identified as a well-known brothel (they are legal in Germany)
owner, Mr. Hans Gunter, and a wealthy American businessman Mr. Robert
Barns Goldman.

The tabloids played up the fact they were long time homosexual lovers, as
evidenced by the identical enormous butt plugs inserted in each. Others
played up the rubber fetish they both enjoyed. Pictures were shown in one
tabloid of one of the butt plugs next to a soccer ball, people gasped and
tittered at the size, and Pyrex's AG division reported a run on that
particular 'decorative' product.

The brothels insurance company, a subsidiary of Hayes Holding, a U.S.
based conglomerate, uncovered further evidence. There was substantial
evidence that the brothel's fire was deliberately set, and further close
examination of the ashes proved that many people had been killed.

The American executive, Mr. Goldman, who was with Gunter, was found
to be a member of the insurance company's board. Company records
revealed further illegal and unethical behavior of the executive, he had
fraudulently directed that a policy be issued without inspection to a clearly
unsafe structure. Once the fraud was known, and a German court
determined Mr. Gunter and Mr. Goldman had set the fire to collect the
insurance. Evidence showed they were fleeing the police at the time of
their death; the company was absolved from paying any claims - claims
estimated in the tens of millions marks.

'Hayes Holding' was spared having to pay millions in death benefits to
Goldman's estate, because of his collusion in felonious activities. It was in
his contract.

Chapter 27 - Where the Hell Is Jennifer?"
Questions are never indiscreet. Answers sometimes are.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

After the bloody interrogations, we summarized our results. Using my
laptop PC, I digitized the thirteen hours of audiotape containing Gunter
and Goldman's responses. Then I wrote a macro that separated each
answer as marked by Tina during the interrogation, converted it to text,
and entered each into a database. Each record in the database now
contained the text and original audio for each response, our comments, and
the index structure to track and follow up future activity for each response.
A flexible topic and content index structure was also created to aid in
grouping and reconciling responses. Giles, Doc, and Tina spent their free
time over the next day or so providing a question for each answer, and
inputting association keys for each. Then I sent a copy of the entire
database to Charlie Marsh on a DVD via courier, with instructions for his
organization to systematically follow up. The objective was to expand our
knowledge of the Cartel, and I hoped this effort would mark the beginning
of its demise.

The Russian mercenaries disposed of Gunter and Goldman's bodies. Under
the direction of Charlie Marsh's European director, an elaborate scenario
was created. Starting with the staging of a fatal autobahn accident, and
culminating in complete public damnation of the two.

It took the better part of four days to complete the database. At the end of
each day we went upstairs, and scrubbed each other in the shower, hoping
to rid us of Gunter and Goldman's stench forever. Even though we
followed that with quality time in the hot tub, and after drying and lotion
gratefully went to bed and to sleep, the stench lingered on.

Each night my last conscious thought was "Where the hell is Jennifer?"

Finally, on the fourth night following my rescue, Becky came to me in a
dream. It was the first time we communicated since I was incarcerated,
and was a seminal event in more ways than one.

***
I halfway woke up some time during the night, and Becky walked through
the portal. It is hard to describe, but as she sat on the bed next to me, I
seemed to float to her, and I could feel her warmth and love. She stayed
like that for the longest time as we mentally held hands and took strength
from each other.

Finally, she spoke, "My dear brother Nicholas, we haven't been able to
speak, but I have been sharing your body and feeling what you felt all
during the past few weeks - as always."

"I am ashamed that you experienced that, I didn't behave very bravely - you
certainly should never have been exposed to such degradation," I replied.

"It can't affect me badly here, and you handled yourself well under the
circumstances. Tina will help you recover your lost self-esteem, and you
need to help her, as her wounds are deep. Be cheered, your love will be
stronger for your trial."

"I am really glad to be back with Tina, I was so worried that she might
have been killed in the ambush."

"I wish I could have told you she was safe, I could see that worry added to
your agitation."

"I almost despaired at times, I missed being able to visit with you."

"You were so upset, and your body was experiencing so many new and
unpleasant sensations. The constant erotic video and physical upheaval,
constantly prevented communication."

"But Becky, my mind was so roiled - and that's exactly when I needed to
talk to you most"

"You must learn to meditate Nicholas, to create a inner place of tranquility,
even if you are in pain and all around you is in chaos. I will be able to visit
you whenever you are in that quiet place, in fact you can call me to it."

"I will search the net for a technique. Is it possible to warn me of
ambushes in the future?"

She answered "No," but I 'felt' a yes maybe in her eyes.

"Do you have any idea where Jennifer is?"

"Not really," but she showed me Jennifer sleeping in a bed - it was familiar.
Yes, while I stayed at Sandra's clinic I was in that same room.

Mom and dad stepped through the portal and we all spoke. I noticed again
that Becky and I enjoyed a closer form of communication. I could feel
unspoken concepts and images from her, subtle shades of meaning not
present with dad and mom. No one will ever convince me that Becky and I
didn't share my life, nor I suppose, will I convince anyone she does.

"Son," dad said after a while, "you must find a another way to deal with
your enemies short of cold blooded murder. You must refrain from killing
them in cold blood. The universe permits killing in self-defense, the man
you killed in the ambush was..."

"What man? Who did I kill?"

"You shot three men during the ambush, one was loading the RPG
launcher, and the other two were firing handguns at your party. One died,
the other two had minor wounds, but were distracted from firing long
enough for Tina and Jennifer to escape. Those men were part of the
whorehouse security, and Giles' men killed the surviving attackers during
the assault on the whorehouse. Most of those deaths can be justified as
self-defense. I'm talking about your order to kill all the men in Gunter's
office, and Tina's murder of Gunter, Helga, and even Goldman. Those
cannot be justified by a claim of self defense."

"But dad, you must realize that the authorities would not have acted
against them. They had years to close that place down. I know
prostitution is legal in Germany, but their laws on child prostitution and
murder are very strict. The authorities knew what was going on and
refused to act! Goldman and Gunter both admitted that the responsible
officials were being bribed, blackmailed, or suborned."

"Nevertheless Nicholas, it is not your place to take their lives - you and
Tina must find another way to render them harmless in the future. Please
understand that their death is not important to the universe - all men die of
something, sooner or later. The problem is what murder does to your
being, your soul, and since she is linked to you, Becky's being - not to
mention Tina's. During your mortal existence, it is not your charter to take
life in that way. You must enlist others in authority to help punish those
controlling the Cartel once you have located them. You alone do not have
the right to murder them, if you ignore my warning, you will sink to their
level - become what you despise. I don't want to see that."

"Should I do nothing then?"

"No, that is not an option now. They know you are fighting them - and
they will step up their attempts to control or murder you. If they take over
Hayes, evil will have another powerful tool, do not let that happen."

"But you are tying my hands! Is my individual soul that important, when
balanced against the destruction of the Cartel?"

"It is to me Nicholas, yours, Becky's and Tina's are most important. You
will find a way short of cold-blooded murder - think about it, there is much
you can do. Talk about this with Tina - you will find a way."

Mom said, "We never had a chance to share life, but I love you as if we
had. Heed your father's advice; fulfill your destiny in life - so we all may be
together here.

Mom and dad exited through the portal after a short while, Becky delayed
a moment longer, and as she left, she reminded me, "Learn to meditate, to
create a quiet place where we can meet."
***

I woke several hours later with Tina kissing me deeply, and judging by the
sun it was well close to noon. I kissed her back and one thing lead to
another. She began the mantra to prepare me to be penetrated, my body
responded, as Puss was stimulated. She whispered, "Doc told me that
Goldman only had a recently contracted case of gonorrhea, and the
antibiotics he gave you should have nipped that in the bud, don't worry
baby, just enjoy." It took a very long time as Tina penetrated bringing us
just short of the point of no return, then slipping into a loving sixty-nine,
and then penetrated me again to mutual orgasm. We kissed some more,
touching each other in new places. When I was clearly ready, she switched
mantras and begged to be penetrated, my blood was boiling, and I fucked
her hard and heavy - as if we hadn't made love in a year. Exhausted and
satisfied we lay locked in an embrace, panting and breathless.

After a while, we showered and dressed, and I told Tina we were flying
back to Nyack as soon as possible. I called the office and they made all the
necessary arrangements, Giles wanted us to travel in separate limos, but we
refused - even though we admitted that it made sense. From now on, we
vowed we would not allow ourselves to be separated, dying together if
necessary. We made sure we were armed too, at the airport, reluctantly
leaving the guns in the limo, with one of the men based in Germany.

Shortly after take off, and after two glasses of Champaign Tina slept; I
couldn't sleep and attacked the work I had brought, finishing about ten
inches of it by the time we approached Newark's landing pattern. While I
worked, I forced thoughts of butt plugs and enemas from my mind, but
once I put the work away, they came back with a vengeance. For the final
twenty minutes I read a book on meditation, it advised deep regular
breathing and channeling my thoughts to a beautiful place by a waterfall. I
was to imagine the surrounding fauna and the sound of water splashing in
the waterfall. It helped to push my carnal desires from conscious thought,
but Becky didn't appear.

Heaven and earth would be moved in the days to come, and our
bodyguards and we were issued permits to carry weapons everywhere we
customarily traveled - even on aircraft. But for this trip we were picked up
in three limos with nine of Giles' armed men in sight and with others
hidden, following or at times leading. Tina and I traveled together in one
of the limos, but in traffic it would be difficult to keep track of which one.
Giles did not drive our limo, to further confuse an attack. Paranoid? After
my recent experience, I sure didn't think so!

In the limo, I told Tina of Becky's visit. After thinking a minute she said,
"That makes sense, your subconscious must have put it together as you
slept."

I didn't believe that for one minute, but I didn't argue, nor did I have time
to mention dad's message. Our first stop after the florist was Sandra's
clinic. We didn't call ahead, but Sandra saw us almost immediately.
Without my telling her, she drew several vials from each of us saying, "I
will scan for disease as well as your hormone levels."

She was clearly flustered when I asked to see Jennifer; her eyes told the
story that her lips didn't. Even I picked up on that.

I said quietly, "Sandra, I'll tell her you tried and couldn't stop us, I know
she is here." I punched the button on my PCS to signal Giles, and as
planned, he brought in the flowers. Sandra led us to Jennifer's room to find
Charlie Marsh snoozing in a chair, but holding her hand.

Jennifer had a large geodesic like globe surrounded her head, connected to
a brace on her shoulders with a dozen or more screws entering her scalp
holding her head in place. I found out later that the brace was actually
screwed to her shoulder blades. However, she was awake and saw us
immediately. Squeezing Charlie's hand, she waited until he looked up to
say, "See, I told you, once they got together again it wouldn't be long."

I just smiled and asked, "How long has this been going on?"

For the first time ever, I saw Jennifer blush.

We leaned over her bed and kissed her hands and arms (her head was
inaccessible) saying all the stupid things people say when reunited after a
tragedy. I patted the bed next to Jennifer while looking at Charlie, he took
the hint and we alternated gently squeezing and holding Jennifer.

I looked at Tina and she nodded, I said, "In case you are interested, you
have our permission to get married." They both blushed; I couldn't believe
my eyes.

Sandra came in after only a few minutes and said with a smile, "This is a
pretty good day for you Jennifer, your first day fully awake and now the
kids are home. I'm going to have to chase them out; the monitors indicate
you need to rest. I have something here to help you." She attached
another bag to the tree and it began to drip into Jennifer's intravenous
metering device.

When Jennifer drifted off to sleep, we walked outside the room with
Charlie following. He said, "You know you have to forget you saw her for
quite awhile." We nodded, "She will be here up to another month, until her
skull is fully mended. For weeks we didn't know if she would make it,
because spinal fluid kept building up in the brain, but the indications are
looking good now. When she leaves here, I will take her somewhere safe
while she fully recovers, when you have neutralized the worst of the threats
we will come home to Nyack." Then he gave us a warm smile and
embraced us, "You kids are smart, but don't get swelled head heads,
Jennifer and I were married the day after Mike's funeral."

"No shit!" We said in unison. Then we both kissed him, on a different ear,
together, saying as if we had rehearsed it, "Hi dad. Welcome to our
family." He gave us each a fatherly kiss on our foreheads, accompanied by
a long bear hug.

One of Sandra's nurses interrupted us with a cough, "Miss. Becky Hayes?"

"Yes," I answered, laughing.

"Dr. Peters would like to see you in procedure room two, please follow
me."

Once in the procedure room, Sandra gave me a fresh set of implants saying,
"You guys are free of the obvious and easily detected diseases, but it will
be a month before we rule out everything. I might need another blood
sample from you both." Her face broke out in a grin, "Say in week, or so,
I'll call the office in Manhattan to make an appointment, so everyone
knows why you are here."

Before we left the clinic, Charlie called us into a small conference room. "I
looked over the data base record of Gunter and Goldman's interrogation.
I've assigned a dozen men to follow up and see what we can find to
support their assertions. Do you believe what they told you?

"Yes, I don't think Goldman was lying. Once he cracked it all flowed out
of him like a sewer. I felt he was being completely candid. Gunter may
have held some details back, but again I believe him." Tina responded.

"How about you Becky?"

"It all hung together in a logical way, with the pressure Goldman was under
I doubt if he was lying. Tina is very good at reading men, if she says they
were truthful, I believe her."

"Okay, on another subject. The database we found in Stern's London flat,
with the names of the various fetish club members, agrees almost entirely
with the information you extracted. We found another computer in
Goldman's Rome offices, and we accessed it with the same password you
gave me for the London computer. While the Rome database had a dozen
or more names, it had all the names you extracted from Goldman. I agree
the information he gave us is largely accurate. I have updated your
database with all of our new information, I will copy it to another DVD
and send it to you by courier."

"How many people have copies of this data now?" I asked with a sick
feeling in my stomach.

"Just me, I did all the updating personally. You will have to excuse the
typos, I use two ham handed fingers."

"That's okay, I was worried the Cartel might get their hands on that
database. How about Stern, has he showed his face yet?" Tina asked.

"Yes, he was spotted leaving his Paris apartment. He is growing a beard
and my man on the scene didn't recognize him, so he got away. It was only
after the photographs of the apartments visitors were analyzed that he was
identified."

"Do you have that picture?" I asked.

"Yes, wait a second." Charlie looked into his attach case. "Here you go,
the new Stern. Quite a fashion plate, isn't he?"

I looked at the half dozen eight by tens of a dapper looking man, then I
said, "Charlie this is the same man that attacked Kyle and I on the Palisades
Parkway years ago. He has a little less hair, and the beard isn't as mature -
but those eyes. I'm sure he is the same man."

"You were pretty young then, are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure." I answered

"Charlie, he's one of the man who tortured me. He and Goldman are the
ones that egged Mike on; there is no doubt in my mind. I wish I didn't, but
I remember it all now." Tina said.

"Do you think he has been warned we are looking for him? I asked.

"Yes, he hasn't been doing any of his normal duties. He hasn't shown at
any board meeting or office since the whorehouse raid. That isn't
unprecedented, the background checks we have made uncovered he has
dropped out of sight for months at a time, unfortunately he has always
reappeared."

We talked a little more, and then headed home to Nyack.

Chapter 28 - Home Again
It belongs to the imperfection of everything human that man can only attain
his desire by passing through its opposite.

S ren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)

That first night home we went to bed early, I was tired and was asleep
shortly after our bath. In fact, I lay down while Tina was opening the
windows a bit, and was asleep before she joined me in bed. I woke shortly
after sunrise to her sweet kiss, and we just lay in bed cuddling.

We were wearing short nighties, and Tina began idly stroking Puss, she
rolled me over on my side and touched my hole. It was electric and my
muscles reacted involuntarily, "I know what you are going through, I have
been fighting it for years."

"It still bothers you after all this time?"

"Yes at times, I suppressed the compulsion for years, basically for two
reasons. One was that I associated it with guilt and pain, very much like I
rejected penetration by your penis at first. The second was that you hadn't
been exposed to those sensations; most men are during adolescence, either
by homosexual acts or accidentally while making love. I was with you the
whole time you were an adolescent which kept you from accidental
relations with men, and I was careful how I touched you, no anal
stimulation."

"I never had any sexual interest in men, I find still that kind of contact
utterly repulsive - even now - especially now, after they fucked me and
made me a accomplished cocksucker."

"Didn't it feel okay when they had one man fuck your butt, and they made
you suck another man?"

"Oh Christ! Were you watching, did you see any of those tapes?"

"No, but I know how it's done. I'm sure not proud of it, but they made me
do it too. With boys like you... well, that's what their clients want from
them, that and you fucking their butts. Heck, you know, they showed you
all the tapes. If we hadn't rescued you, after a few months you would have
been in high demand." She gave me a little rueful smile, that said, 'I've
been there.'

I shook my head no, but she nodded yes and held my hand, continuing,
"Becky, I never understood why they wanted to, but when I was going
through it all some men wanted was to fuck me in my ass. Others wanted
to shove things in it and fuck me. Some demanded to have two or three
men fuck me at the same time. That was even after Helga forced me to
learn how to control my vaginal muscles. I'm glad I know how, because
my vagina gives you," she smiled, "and me so much pleasure. But believe
me, Helga's training was brutal. I think that's why I murdered her, as she
turned away from me I felt that physical pain again. She got off on training
whores, turning innocent children into sex slaves - she just would have just
found somewhere else to work, and do those horrible things to other young
girls. There were long term physical effects from that training, after the
way Helga made me control those muscles, my period was never right, and
I probably can't have children without extraordinary care."

"Don't worry, when the time comes we will have children together.
Science will help us, and Sandra tells me your eggs are normal. We'll have
lovely children, you just wait and see."

"I hope so, it would be a shame to have all this money and be denied our
most basic desire. Anyway, I found that the only way I could bear people
violating my body was to pretend one of them loved me, preferably a
woman. Otherwise, it just hurt - and was degrading and disgusting. It's
my shame, God help me, but there were times when the depravity became
pleasurable. After Jennifer rescued me, she saw to it that I received
therapy. The doctor made me realize it was all about the bastards' absolute
power over me. The physical satisfaction they received was almost
secondary. They got off on degrading me, especially perverts like
Goldman and Stern."

"I'm so sorry those things were done to you, every time they did something
to me I would think 'they must have done this with Tina, I will survive this,
somehow I'll kill them all and get back to her.' Now I wonder if that was
just an excuse, I didn't fight very hard."

"How many times did they tie you to the horse? Then they would lower it
so your knees were bent and leave you for hours with a cock gag in your
mouth. I bet all you had to do to make them stop was beg to suck
somebody's cock and then for them to fuck you in the ass."

"Only six or seven times, but I knew after the first time, I would eventually
have to give in. They always played a tape for me while I was tied to the
horse about people tied up, being whipped, and all sorts of hurtful things. I
told myself I didn't want to condition myself to accept pain as pleasure so I
gave in. Hell, I'm not even sure if they just played those sadistic tapes just
to give me a rationalization to give in."

"Probably a little of both, after a few years they probably would have made
a serious effort to get you into the S&M scene as a submissive. It's very
profitable for the house, but they burn up the submissive ones fast, and
always need new ones."

"Christ, and people call prostitution a victimless crime."

"Yeah right, I bet after you gave in and sucked the one guy and he butt
fucked you, that they brought someone else in the next day and made you
blow him while the first guy fucked your ass. The second guy probably
had a monstrous cock too."

"Yes that's exactly what they did, but I had Helga under me playing with
my breasts and things. It made it bearable, but now it makes me very
ashamed."

"See we aren't all that different. I needed that thought too; for God's sake
don't be ashamed, you survived. Say, how the hell did you get Helga to do
that?"

"Christ this is pretty bad, please don't be upset, I really wasn't being
unfaithful. I noticed she lingered over my breasts at times when she dried
me after my shower. From the beginning I made our, yours and mine,
relationship seem very innocent. Just two sisters, I told her we did no
penetration or sixty-nine. I thought if she thought I was very
inexperienced, she would slow down the pace of training - give me time
before things got gross.

Well it didn't work that way, the first night Helga tied me to a support and
gagged me when I moved and cried out as she gave me my first enema.
Christ it was the first one I ever had. Then she plugged me, wrapped my
cock like a mummy in gauze, and locked me in rubber panties with a
padlock. She said that she did that because I squirted a little on her hand
as she removed the enema plug each time.

But there was more, even though my innocent act didn't slow down the
program, I think corrupting me attracted her to me sexually. I seduced her
and slowly got her to do things for me. It didn't buy me much in the end; in
fact, I probably outsmarted myself. I didn't know what splitting was, I just
figured Goldman had a monster cock like Snake and intended to fuck my
hole with it. I didn't know he had a puny cock, and planned to put a plastic
sleeve over it to increase its thickness. Hell it even had ribs to cut and
open my hole."

"Boy, do I ever know. It was months after Stern did me like that before I
could poop without pain, I was just thirteen then, and I can still feel his
violation. How did you get Helga to help you?"

"The whole time I was there I pretended not to speak German, right at the
beginning it paid off as I heard Goldman instruct Gunter that I was not to
be visibly hurt. He even told him to make my hole supple but not to stretch
it too much; the bastard wanted to do that himself. He restricted Helga to
medium butt plugs and enemas, the guy he had fuck my hole had a long
cock, but it wasn't very thick.

The guy Snake was a whole other story, he was enormous, and the thought
of him fucking me terrified me. I was afraid Goldman had a cock like his
and would fuck my hole with it. I talked Helga into letting me have bigger
plugs in me at night to get me ready for Goldman. She did, even though
she was directly told not to. It was very uncomfortable at night for the last
two weeks, but I could have taken Snake's cock without serious damage by
the time Goldman arrived. It was all in vain as that sleeve Goldman
planned to use would have ripped me horribly regardless."

Tina kissed me, "You used your head, and resisted, I'm proud of you. Hell
we are only human and can only act on what we know."

"I guess we are human, I did a lot of things, and some of the depravity was
pleasurable. Christ, does that mean I'm going to end up like Mike?"

"Actually Mike wasn't evil by himself, when we were alone he never
touched me sexually, he even saw to it I was well educated. He spent a lot
of money on me; I know he felt very guilty for what he did when Goldman
and Stern were there. I'm sure they were blackmailing Mike with
something unspeakable, Goldman told me in Germany that he didn't know
what, that Stern held the evidence. Goldman and Stern did the truly awful
things to me, and they goaded Mike into taking my cherry when I was
eleven. Mike was on drugs and half drunk at the time. I didn't even have
breasts then, and the first time he was in my pussy, Goldman's cock was up
my ass and Stern's large cock was in my mouth. That was how I lost my
virginity. It was so damn traumatic that my mind suppressed that memory
until very recently.

The night Mike died I was just fifteen, it was Goldman who split me again
with the plastic sleeve; they killed Mike earlier because he refused to do
something they demanded, I don't know what. When the bastards finished
with me, they put the sleeve on Mike's cock and laid him on top of me.
After they left, they called the cops from the parkway. I was so
traumatized I couldn't move out from under his dead body, hell I don't even
think I tried, to be truthful I think I was hiding there. How gross is that?
Everybody assumed Mike did that to me because I was found alone with
him on top of me. That whole horrible night is another memory my mind
suppressed for years.

Goldman told me in Germany that he called the tabloids and gave them a
distorted story, he has always hated Jennifer; the bastard couldn't stand the
thought of a woman in control. I believe Mike actually kept me with him
to keep me out of the whorehouse. Even though Mike rented me full time,
they wouldn't sell me to him, and Gunter insisted that I return to the
whorehouse two or three days a month for training. Mike had to keep me
plugged at night, if he didn't my hole would tighten up and my monthly
'training' sessions would be unbearable, if you don't take regular enemas
that much plugging is intolerable. It's damned if you do, and goddamned if
you don't. That many enemas can cause real health problems too, but I
was very lucky no permanent damage was done.

But in answer to your question, no you won't. I will not let you become
depraved. We will do things together, share our feelings openly, and not
let unspeakable secret desires build up. Desires that build up until you
must seek others to satisfy them, or go crazy - or both. After what we
have been through, we have to realize that we can trust each other, share
our feelings no matter how bizarre, and do whatever is necessary for the
other."

I snuggled for the longest time as we reaffirmed our love; finally, about
seven we bathed and dressed. In the hot tub, Tina told me she could hardly
wait, but she had a surprise for me before dinner. I didn't bring up dad's
message to me, I wasn't sure I wanted to burden her with it. Whatever she
did to Helga, Gunter, or Goldman, in my mind, she had more than ample
justification!

We started working about eight, and had brunch brought up about ten. A
courier picked up the work I had completed about three, and dropped off
several inches of new stuff. Tina handled the many necessary phone calls,
and attended meetings using the video conferencing installed on our PCs.
Occasionally I would join in, but mostly I did the analytical stuff and Tina
handled the people. Technically, I was in charge, but we worked together,
we played to our strengths - without discussion or conscious thought.

Mrs. Hammer brought up sandwiches and coffee about four, and we took a
short break. As the afternoon wore on I missed the full feeling of the plug,
and wistfully my mind drifted to the warm feeling of an enema, I had to
remind myself where I was and focus on my work. We worked until five
when Tina stood behind me kissed my ears and neck saying, "I can't wait
any longer Becky, I need this as badly as you. Let's go into the bedroom
and explore a different aspect of our loving."

From our closet Tina took out a large box and opened it, showing me a
large selection of sex toys and saying, "I purchased these in Germany
before the raid, against the chance you were in the whorehouse. If you
were, I suspected that I knew what they had done to you, and figured these
might help when we were together again. Now let's use these in a loving
way, with no hint of coercion, to reinforce our love. I have secretly
dreamed about doing this with you - now, not only can we, but I think we
should. Are you game?"

My heart leaped, "God yes, what's first?"

Once again dear readers, skipping to the next line of

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++

from here might be wise. For those of you uninterested in the erotic
minutia, be satisfied with the knowledge that Tina and Becky did cope, and
became closer in the process. For those hearty readers curious as to
exactly how Becky and Tina coped with their newfound sensitivities, read
on. CG

"We give each other a cleansing enema, start to dress for dinner I asked for
it to be ready by seven, then, hell just follow the leader. Next time, you
should be the leader." I was excited, Tina was too as she unpacked the
bags and things her hands were shaking in anticipation. After everything
was unpacked and stored in a lockable drawer, we put all the packaging
material back in the big box. Tina giggled, "We will have to dispose of this
ourselves somehow, we can't have everybody talking."

The enema equipment was better made then the whorehouse's, for instance
the nozzle and expanding plug assembly was made nicer although the
football valve to the inflation bulb was the same. Also, the water hose
connection fit flat without a bulky valve, the self-sealing fitting on the long
hoses was easily removed from the plug, and the butt plug/nozzle assembly
sealed itself too. The plug/nozzle assembly's shape was more like quality
butt plugs then the house's kludgy one. Tina looked offering me a
nozzle/plug assembly shyly saying, "Do me first."

We filled the bags with warm water, let it flow through the nozzle to clean
the bags and tubing, and then I detached the hoses from the plug/nozzle.
Tina then bent over the vanity moving her butt seductively and touching
her breasts, which hung in the sink. I squirted lubricant in her hole and on
the nozzle spreading it with my surgical rubber clad fingers, as I probed her
hole little muscle spasms told me of her desire. The nozzle was only half
inch thick, but it could expand to almost three inches thick toward the tip.
It was designed to pull it into the hole as it expanded until stopped by the
wide soft outer shoulder. I slid it in to Tina and she shivered as it went in,
"Mum, that feels good." I pumped it up until it was securely held in place,
the inner expansion forming a watertight seal, and then I removed the bulb.
When Tina stood up it wasn't visible, she turned around saying, and
"You're going to love this, this is so much nicer then I remember, my turn."

I bent over the sink as she had, and Tina did me. It was really a nice unit,
but Tina doing it made it beautiful and not at all degrading, I stood up and
she giggled, "Where did it go lover? I can't see it, is it there?"

"You know it's there, and exactly how it feels." We filled the bags to the
quart line, less than half of what Helga insisted on, and added the special
liquid soap. We let a little flow through the fitting to get the air out of the
hose, then spread a large red towel on the floor and lay facing each other.
We each took a hose fitting, fumbled a bit inserting it into the plug, but
then the warm water began flowing into us. We held each other and Tina
worked pussy over Dickey. "Now that's the way this should be done." I
said with satisfaction.

"Mum hum." She just held me quivering a little, we let out little moans as
momentary cramps developed. Tina looked up at the bags saying, "They
are empty now, let's disconnect the hoses now, and put a few things on
while the solution works." The fittings worked perfectly and not a drop
leaked as we stood up. Back in the bedroom Tina gave me one of my
loose fitting silk slips that were to be worn under a merry widow, as I put
mine on she put one on too. "Recognize this lover?" She was holding the
merry widow I wore for our wedding reenactment. "See, it looked so sexy
on you I decided to get one too. I'll help you with yours." Once mine was
laced, I did hers. We looked in the mirror and kissed, saying as one, "You
are hot!"

Then she put my silk stockings on. Kneeling to fasten the garters, she
fumbled a bit, but I didn't mind as she was sucking on Dickey. All the
while, the enema wouldn't let us forget it was there. I did her stockings
with my tongue softly caressing her clit, fumbled more than she, but
received no rebuke. Then we put on three-inch heels, after sneakers all day
they emphasized our femininity.

We stood together looking in the mirror, this merry widow was so smooth
and comfortable, it had soft bra cups that hugged your tits. They were not
open, leaving you hanging without support for greedy male hands, as the
whorehouse's hand me down was - that monstrosity that I wore almost full
time for a week. Tina started to fondle my breasts through the soft
stretchy material, and my body lit up, we stood facing each other gently
milking each other's nipples with our fingers. Every so often, a little enema
cramp would momentarily cause a little tighter squeeze.

It was sublime, Tina noticed the clock, and we went to the toilets to relieve
our selves. Sitting on the low toilet in heels always seemed awkward to
me, but not today as I looked at Tina enjoying the same sensations as I, our
knees high, quivering a little. Even this was nicer and mess free, flipping a
little valve on the plug released the air slowly. I didn't want to mess my
stockings, so I did what Helga's punishment failed to achieve, the plug
came out without any mess at all. We waited on our own toilets looking at
each other, and evacuated together, waiting until we were drained. We
wiped ourselves thoroughly with antibacterial towels.

Standing we cleaned the nozzles, shyly Tina handed me hers and took mine
saying, "I want yours in me for the rinse, do you mind?"

"God no, it will be exciting to put yours in me." I kissed the tip of hers
briefly. Then we inserted them into each other again and inflated them.
Filled the bags again and added the nice smelling rinse concentrate. This
time Tina mounted me, as I lay flat on my back with pussy engulfing
Dickey - he had been rock hard ever since Tina first whispered her plan,
and then we let the fluid flow in. A whole new range of sensations swept
over us. I remembered how vulnerable I felt as the bride after reenacting
our wedding ceremony. Tina had lustfully 'penetrated' me on the hard
wood floor, but this time the water flowing in emphasized the feeling. The
smooth but constricting merry widow and Tina's weight magnified the
fullness. Tina controlled the flow into her by leaning over me one second
and then sitting up straight, her vagina began to spasm as it contracted with
her first orgasm. My high heels slipped on the tile floor as I tried to push
myself into her, adding to my sense of sweet vulnerability. "Don't cum
now baby, wait." Easier said then done with her massaging my breasts and
her vagina gripping Dickey, but I managed to wait.

We got to our feet and Tina said, "Let me arrange something." She put a
flat wire strainer over the water in the bowl, "Now sit on the toilet baby, I
think you will really like this." She released the air pressure on my plug
saying, "Don't push, hold it in for as long as you possibly can," as she
mounted Dickey and holding my shoulders firmly. It was a difficult
position for her, but she began to ride Dickey front back, up and down, as I
encouraged her by kneading her breasts. I began to build up to an orgasm,
all the while holding the water in, until I just couldn't. I simultaneously
exploded into her, and into the bowl releasing the pressure in a rush of
water. I felt her vagina grip me as never before, milking me as she moaned
with a powerful orgasm of her own. We hugged each other, as she
gradually regained her breath and I released all the water. Still Dickey was
hard as a rock.

We removed my plug from the wire mesh. I released her valve letting the
air out, but didn't remove the plug, and Tina sat down. I stood above and
behind her straddling the bowl, and leaned over to kiss her lips and cup her
breasts milking the nipples as she touched her pussy, as I built up my
rhythm she built up hers until she climaxed, popping her plug with a rush of
water.

There was surprisingly little mess, what little there was we cleaned up
quickly. Washing and putting away the enema equipment in its lockable
dresser draw. Tina then held up two inflatable butt plugs, "Shall we?"

"Sure, whose first?"

"Me, I can't wait." There was a catch in her voice as she said it.

"Let's lay down on the bed, I'll put it in as nicely as I can." This butt plug
was a superior product, firm but soft, with no sharp edges, or mold marks
to chafe sensitive skin. They were shaped like a traditional plug, a little
over five inches in length, an inch thick at the widest unexpanded,
expanding by more than two inches in both thickness and length when
pumped up. The shaft where the sphincter muscle would grip expanded to
a little more than a half inch.

I used the glove to insure my nails didn't hurt her tender skin, not really for
fear of germs. We lay on the bed hugging, reaching behind her I put
lubricant in her hole and on the plug, then I inserted my index finger slowly
into her hole, massaging it and making sure it was evenly coated with lube.
It was incredibly erotic as she molded herself into me, with our merry
widows, and silk stockings emphasizing our shapes as we touched. I
teased her with two fingers finally inserting the plug, in a little, then out a
little, then in, back and forth until it was fully seated. "Was that nice
baby?"

"Mum, yes that is how that should be done, now please inflate it a little."

"Tell me when to stop." There was a little pressure indicator on the bulb I
could feel, and Tina said to stop when it was a little over half way. I lay
next to her and we kissed for several minutes as her body adapted to it, its
hard firmness is a different feeling from the enema, especially as you
realized it might be there for hours. Then Tina put on a glove, fingered me
with even more gentleness, inserted mine, Dickey was actually vibrating as
Tina pumped it up slowly. I kissed her saying, "Okay, that's very good."

We put on soft panties, not too tight, but enough to hold Dickey up close
to my belly. We got off the bed moving a little gingerly as the plug moved
inside of us, these didn't hurt as they were snug but not too large, large
enough so that you knew they were there though. Especially when you
walked or sat, they changed your gate in heels, and I noticed Tina's hips
moved in a much more pronounced way. She commented mine did too.
Very Hot!

"Let's put on something sexy for dinner, I think these will be very nice."
She held up two earth colored dresses with long full skirts and short selves.
We donned satin full slips and stepped into our dresses, the material was
very soft and slightly elastic. The effect was to emphasize our shapes while
the high neck, half sleeves, and long full skirt still gave us a modest look.
Tina was devastatingly sexy in hers.

There was a feeling of identity with each other such as I never felt before.
We had a secret known only to us, we were identically dressed feeling the
same sensations, we complimented each other and in every way. From that
time, we moved and thought as one, it was a bond closer than Becky and I
shared as twins.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++
Note: Proceed to the next line, if you really want no minutia. CG

Everybody on the staff at Nyack was glad to see us home, and we were
glad to see them. We decided to institute a custom of everyone eating
together. Over the coming months we had a second dining room built out
of what was the men's after dinner smoking area. When we had outside
guests we would eat in the main dining area which was not as elegant as
the new, for the next few months though we all ate together in the main
dining room.

After dinner we went to the combat firing range, we assured ourselves that
we could complete it with high scores even in dresses, heels, and plugs.
One thing was clear; Tina was in much better physical condition then I.
The poor food and lack of exercise while I was in the whorehouse had
eroded my fitness. Tina kissed me saying we would fix that.

Back in our room, Dickey became hard as a rock, but Tina fixed that too as
Dickey pleasured pussy. We removed the plugs deciding to sleep without
them.

It was over a week later when we felt the need to play with toys again, as
our loving excursion on the wild side was far more satisfying for us then
being coerced. I couldn't think of a way to improve on the giving of the
enemas, and the merry widows were perfect to emphasize the feelings
while leaving essential parts accessible. But once the butt plugs were in
place we put on forty's style long tight girdles and long sheath dresses over
long slips and sheer nylon stockings. The dresses were relatively stiff white
satin and rubbed erotically on our nipples through the second skin material
of our bra cups - making them strain against the supple material. Those
dirty books Helga made me read occasionally were good for something.

Before going down for dinner we danced for an hour to the sounds of
romantic big bands. The plugs felt trapped within our bodies as our legs
and cheeks were glued together by the firm girdle, the old-fashioned
seamed nylon stockings were an erotic touch encased in the long slip and
skirt. After an hour we were more than glad to go down to dinner and rest
our three-inch heels adorned feet. But here again the tight skirt and high
heels encouraged us to sit leaning to one side, very seductively and the
plugs were very noticeable - but only to us. Of course with everyone there,
we couldn't give the slightest indication of our building passion.

After dinner, we tried our hand at the combat course again, and while I was
in better shape this week our mobility was severely degraded - the slit on
the skirts was only up to the knees, and our thighs were glued together by
the long girdle. Not to mention, holding the guns in front of us with both
hands seriously teased our breasts and nipples. Once back in the bedroom,
we lay on the bed head to feet, giving each other much needed calf to foot
massage. We talked of how eager we were to make love, but did not hurry
the massage. After hours the girdle was so restricting that our hands had
little room to maneuver in Puss or pussy's private territory, so as we
finished our foot massage our other body parts felt deprived.

We moved so that we were sitting with our legs folded under us, and
embraced. We sat there, just kissing and teasing our breasts, telling each
other how our butts, Puss, pussy, and Dickey needed attention. We found
our breasts definitely created newfound feelings of pleasure as we teased
each other. We had to pee and that undeniable need finally caused us to
undress to widows and nylons, but even with that urgency, we took our
time.

Peeing was a pleasure and after washing and powdering, we donned long
nightgowns over our widows and nylons, and went to bed. I had a tent in
front with a pre-cum stain spreading. We solved that with an eager session
of sixty-nine, Tina made her first request of the night, "Please wait, I want
you to cum in pussy." Then she truly expertly loved Dickey, such sweet
hell, and as she licked and sucked, the plug took on a life of its own. Of
course, from her squirming and moans, pussy was bringing her to the brink,
and then over - I hoped the insulated walls of our room contained her cries
of ecstasy.

I envied her ability to continue after a short rest, and we did. This time I
was on top, conventional missionaries, but with a difference. I was in such
a state of excitement after the building tension of the evening, I couldn't
come for the longest time, I stroked in and out, deep strokes conscious of
my plug, feeling hers when I was deep inside her. As I built up frequency it
was as if a dam was about to break, pussy was so wet and slippery even
Tina's powerful vaginal muscles couldn't grasp Dickey. Then I came in a
torrent, and she came, and came. We were so exhausted, we lay clutching
each other, and she wouldn't let me withdraw. She was breathing as hard
as I was for several minutes; later as our breathing became normal, she was
kissing me as we fell asleep. In the morning I was glued to her and still
inside.

It wasn't easy, but I lifted her into the shower that way, and laughing we
became unglued under the warm water. We removed the plugs, widows,
and nylons under the shower too. It wasn't for almost three weeks that we
brought the toys out again; in the meantime, we had almost daily
conventional (for us) pleasure. We were pleased the new games hadn't
preempted our normal pleasures.

I didn't forget about learning to meditate either, and Becky visited me
whenever I succeeded reaching my 'quiet place.'

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++

Chapter 29 - Preparing the Field
Those who prepared for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip
themselves at the expense of joy.

E. M. Forster (1879-1970)

We were working in our computer/sitting room just a week after our
second exploration of our new toys, E+9 (9 days since our first time) we
joked. Reggie, Chef Robert's sous-chief, brought up our lunch and we
took a break. We were still in exercise outfits, having been roped into
several emergency videoconferences before we could get to the gym. We
put on necklaces and designer jackets while the cameras were on, so I'm
sure no one realized how we were actually dressed.

While we were finishing our soup I mentioned, "You know the meetings
today are the sort of thing Fredrick or Marsha normally handled for
Jennifer."

"Yes I know, but they gave their notice two weeks ago while I was
preoccupied - it was in a stack I didn't act on or read closely. Somebody
from New York, Harry Johnson I think, called and told me about it, but we
raided Gunter that day. I didn't follow up to make sure they stayed, in fact,
I forgot about them until you just mentioned them."

"We either have to get them back or find replacements."

"How the hell can we replace them, they were Jennifer's assistants for
fifteen years. Nobody has the insight into the company they do, except
Jennifer of course. I really screwed up this time." Tina said with a frown.

"Don't worry about it, let's fix it. Any idea where they live?"

"Why don't you access Jennifer's address book, their home phones, bios
and addresses must be in there."

I linked to Jennifer's PC and retrieved their phone numbers and addresses.
I recognized the address; they had condos in the same building as our
Manhattan condo. Out of curiosity, I checked the history of the building
and found 'Hayes Holding' owned the building. Outside of a few long-term
rent control residents, it was populated with 'Hayes Holding's' key people,
plus a few guest apartments for official visitors.

"Okay, we know where they are, now what do we say?" I asked.

"Look further, Jennifer must have given them gifts and made notes about
them over the years."

"Okay, here it is - let me calculate her password for today. Okay, damn -
that Jennifer sure is a piece of work. Listen to this, she has several first
editions here in the house that Frederick was hot for; apparently he
threatened to quit on a regular basis. Yeah, she says he has no real need
for a raise, I guess not his salary was two hundred thousand, plus all
benefits, he still gets half in retirement, he's a widower, two married
children, and lives alone. Let's see - the perpetual use of the apartment was
a gift on his twentieth anniversary with the company. Hum, that's an
interesting tax treatment.

Yes, here is Marsha; she has the same basic deal, except her salary was
two-fifty. Jennifer remarked that she has a handicapped brother she cares
for as the reason for the differential. She also supports her significant
other, Brenda West. Marsha likes original Wyeth's, and Jennifer always
gave her one when she placated Frederick. Look here, Jennifer has four in
the attic air-conditioned safe - just in case, they must be worth several
hundred thousand. The first editions are up there also. Jennifer didn't want
to let those two loose either. Okay people person, what do we do now?"

"Let's call and ask to see them, lets see, ask them to meet with us together
in one of their apartments, they should feel secure there, or ours if they
balk at that. I think we should first ask to see them together, so that one
doesn't think we are going behind their back."

"Sounds good to me, your call or mine?"

"You call Marsha and I'll call Frederick."

To make a long story short we met in Marsha's apartment, and as soon as
we got there, she called Frederick. We were introduced to Brenda and
Steveie her brother, Brenda was a lovely young woman in her early thirties,
from the chemistry between Marsha and she, their romance was still going
strong. Brenda took a reluctant Steveie into his bedroom to play, she was
very patient with him, and he seemed to return her affection.

A few minutes later Frederick arrived, and I 'buzzed' Giles on the PCS
phone, signaling him to bring up the 'bribes.' In the meantime, they asked
about Jennifer's disappearance. Tina changed the subject adroitly, telling
them about the effort to rescue me, where I was, and some of why. She
mentioned Goldman's hatred of Jennifer, omitting mention of his direct
involvement or his capture by us.

Frederick asked, "Why did you leave Germany while Jennifer is still
missing?"

I replied, "We didn't, and I can't say more."

Frederick and Marsha looked at one another and Marsha asked with a sly
grin, "How are things going for you at Hayes?"

Tina replied, "Better now that Becky is here to help, at least Jennifer's mail
is being read and processed, and I handle most of the necessary phone calls
and videoconferences. It really takes both of us to fill in for Jennifer, but
still we are like salmon swimming up stream - and have come bearing
gifts."

As if on cue Giles rang the front door, and carried in the Wyeth, while Jake
Peters, who was riding shotgun today, reverently brought in the first
edition. They put the pieces down on a coffee table and left.

Tina continued, "Regardless of your decision, these are yours
unconditionally, Jennifer had marked them for you."

They eagerly looked at their acquisitions and Frederick asked, "There were
several others purchased in this same lot by an unknown buyer, as an avid
collector I follow those things. You wouldn't know anything about that,
would you?"

"That sounds like something Jennifer might do, however I guess it's also
possible that she purchased it from that buyer. I don't know which is the
case, frankly I don't follow either collectable market." I answered
truthfully.

Marsha looked at me sharply saying, "Fred, the apple didn't fall far from the
tree with these two. I don't know about you, but I'm sick of sitting around
here."

"Yes, I take it you guys want us back to work." Fred said.

"Thought you two would never ask, damn right." Tina replied with a
smile.

We had dinner with them and as we were leaving I asked, "Do either of
you know of a close friend of Goldman's, a Mr. Abe Stern."

Marsha turned livid, "That prick tried to molest Steveie a few years ago,
took him in the men's room at Hayes Holding and tried to bugger him.
Fortunately, Steveie screamed and Stern ran out. It was a slow boy's word
against an associate of Goldman's, so nothing was done about it. The only
good thing was Jennifer talked to Goldman, and neither of them hung
around the office after that. They would attend a board meeting when
absolutely necessary, and leave when it was over. I know Steveie wouldn't
lie about such a thing. What do you want with the likes of Stern?"

I replied far harsher then I intended, "For what it's worth, I certainly believe
Steveie, but in addition we have private business with Stern, long
outstanding business. You don't want to know what, you really don't."

Tina said more levelly, "I have some addresses here," handing Marsha a
list, "but he must have heard of Goldman's misfortune, and he hasn't shown
at any address we have, and all are being watched." Tina's voice and eyes
didn't sound like misfortune was misfortune, more like retribution. She
didn't mention each of Goldman and Stern's properties had been searched,
and all documents and computer records copied, or that Charlie Marsh's
people as well as certain government labs were analyzing them for clues.

Frederick asked, "Anything to do with your disappearance Becky?"

"Maybe yes, maybe no, we aren't absolutely sure. Regardless we would
like to have a word with him."

Marsha asked quietly, "Were the tabloids correct about Goldman's manner
of death?"

"Maybe not, I heard a rumor that it was probably much worse, but I really
couldn't vouch for that particular rumor." Tina replied.

Marsha replied, "I will look, I know the bastard called Goldman a lot, and
we have complete computerized phone logs going back years. It isn't
widely known, but our PBX switch has network level caller ID and tags the
calling number to each log entry, that might help. I'll check in the
morning."

"Should you find something, bury it in a encrypted fax to us, and don't
mention his name on the phone." I asked.

"Okay, and forget about your request too?" Marsha asked with a grin.

"I would, and I would make it look like you were looking for something
else, if possible."

"No problem, from the gleam in Fred's eye he might have an idea or two."

"Don't you guys take any risks, this could be a extremely nasty situation.
Oh, by the way, have the necessary paperwork processed showing you
were actually on a special assignment for the past few weeks, Becky will
sign it." Tina replied

Frederick looked at Tina and said, "Thank you, we appreciate that, you can
count on us from here on. We never would have quit if we knew what was
really happening in Germany."

Shortly thereafter, we left feeling good about the meeting. However, we
became quite serious as we crossed the George Washington Bridge when
Giles called me. Mike Walsh, driving one of the chase cars, discovered a
tail. We agreed for now to just watch, and see what it was up to.

As soon as we entered the Palisades Parkway, I attempted meditation in
order to 'return to my quiet place.' ***
It took a few minutes for me to regulate my breathing, and concentrated on
the sound of the falls, but as soon as I entered it, Becky visited me briefly.
Her message was unbelievable as she showed me the two occupants of the
tailing car - they looked like younger versions of Charlie Marsh.

I thought, 'Our brothers?' and she nodded yes, turned, and disappeared into
the portal.
***

I wasn't surprised after we returned home, when Giles reported the tailing
car was parked on a rise with a clear view of our gate, and probably the
driveway in front of the house. But it was not in the field of view of any of
our security cameras, after a moment's thought I wasn't surprised at that
either. I told Giles I wanted to immediately visit the car without overt
security. He objected strongly, only relenting when I agreed to take Tina
with me, be well armed including a dead-mans canister of sleeping gas, and
have cars in position to prevent who ever it was from escaping with us. I
agreed to all his requests, as they all were all sensible.

A half-hour later, dressed in combat fatigues and makeup, Tina and I
climbed the fence nearest the car and crawled uphill to it - hopefully in its
blind side. I guess we had it right, as they seemed surprised when I opened
their back door and got in, scooting over to make room for Tina. They
must have disabled the interior lights, as they didn't come on when we
opened the door.

In response to their fast motions, I said immediately, "You don't need guns,
ours are already out."

The guy in the passenger's seat looked at me closely in the reflected
moonlight saying, "Relax Nathan, it's Becky Hayes, and I would guess she's
Tina."

Nathan said, "You don't need guns with us, believe it or not, we are here to
protect you. Getting into a car with two strange men isn't a very good idea
as a general rule though."

"We usually don't, but I figured we would be safe enough with our
brothers." I answered.

"Your brothers?" Nathan stammered.

"Your dad is Charlie Marsh isn't he?"

"How the hell did you know that? Yes." The other said, and then almost
immediately continued, "Christ this all makes sense now."

"Nathan, please introduce us to our other brother." Tina asked.

"Sorry, please meet Wallace, he is a year older than I, but I run the show."

"Half right, I am a year older. What are you two doing in a strange car at
night? Dad said you are pretty cautious after Germany."

"We come bearing guns, knives, gas, and eleven men surrounding your car
- I'd say we were prepared if you two turned out to be ax murders." Tina
laughed. "Besides Nathan, I recognize you from Germany. I was stunned
from the explosion then, but now I remember you and William carrying
Jennifer from the Ford after the ambush."

"She's got you bro, eat crow. But seriously, what do we do now? Dad
wanted our men and us to watch you from a distance, just incase anything
went badly wrong - like it did in Germany."

"Talk it over with him, tell him I think it's time we four worked together.
There is no reason your men can't keep an eye on Tina and I as before, just
be aware we are much more cautious these days. We have three chase
cars, you were picked up by the second and third before we crossed the
George Washington Bridge on the way home. They thought they had you
on the way in too, but lost you in Manhattan traffic as they had to keep up
with our limos." I said.

"Three limos is a great idea, shuffling them in the driveway on the way out
is even better, we weren't sure which one you were in until you actually got
out at the condo in Manhattan. I hate to go to dad and tell him you caught
us, but I will - he won't let us live it down." Nathan said.

"Any special reason you want to work more closely with us now?"
Wallace asked.

I replied, "Yes, we think somebody is seriously trying to kill us, or gain
control of 'Hayes Holding' through blackmailing me. Goldman was a
pawn, but he was aware of the plot. He thought that Stern knew more
about the plot, but he believed that Stern was only a pawn too. I expect a
blackmail attempt, as some of the videotape of my forced training in the
whorehouse in Germany was passed on to Stern, Goldman believed Stern
was to give it to someone else. Blackmail won't work with Tina and I. We
won't like it, but all our secrets can be made public, and while very
embarrassing, the hell with it. With enough money thrown to restore our
reputations, we will get public opinion on our side. Make black look
white, just look at what was done for Ted Kennedy or Bill Clinton.

On the other hand, if they are just trying to kill us, the person or persons
behind this must be in a position to take over 'Hayes Holding.' I have
narrowed the list down to twenty-one individuals or organizations, most
members of the trust Jennifer formed to take over in the event we were all
killed. The problem is she vetted them and they all appear clean as a
whistle. I only just started to work on this as Jennifer didn't tell me her
suspicions, but I'm on it now and expect to get results - when I get close
and they realize I am, the attacks may get really nasty."

"Okay, we'll bring it to dad and see what he says, when it comes to your
family, hell our family, I never know what he will do. How do you want to
get in touch?"

"Where did you guys go to school?" I asked.

"Harvard, I took law and can practice in Connecticut, New York, and New
Jersey. Nathan is an MBA with a CPA."

"To far above us City brats for common haunts, where do you live?"

"Officially with dad in Englewood Cliffs, in a very modest home by
comparison with this." Wallace pointed to the well-lit mansion below, and
then continued, "However, we have a condo in Fort Lee where Nathan and
I hang out most of the time."

"Why don't we find a seminar in the city we all might logically attend and
meet there?" Nathan nodded affirmatively, I continued, "I'm about due for
a boyfriend, how about you Tina?"

Tina waited a minute thinking, and then in a level voice she said, "Before
we do anything like that, Nathan and Wallace have to come to terms with
potential blackmail too. We are all family here so I'll be blunt. I was a
whore by the age of seven, Jennifer's husband Mike kept me as his mistress
from the time I was twelve until he died, supposedly while fucking me
when I was fifteen. Becky just escaped from being forced to train as a
whore, and very incriminating videotape of that training is in someone's
hands. Between us girls, Becky, and I don't give a good rat's ass if it all
comes out, even though we might pretend that we do, in order to draw out
the bastards. Not only that but Becky and I are sisters and are married to
each other - we have zero sexual interest in men.

On the other hand, you one or both of you are as queer as a three-dollar
bill, when we got in the car you were maneuvering to hide what you were
doing, not reaching for weapons. Your body language tells me you are
long-term lovers."

"Incest must run in our family." I dryly observed.

"Hey, I'm just family by adoption," Tina responded. "But seriously, you
must answer these questions; are the two of you ready to be outed by the
same creep who is after us? Does your dad know? Or more to the point
are you willing to face your dad with the truth? How promiscuous are
you? How many 'good friends' have videotape of you taking the pipe?"

She paused, you could cut the silence with a knife, and continued, "Don't
get me wrong, I have nothing against your choice of lifestyle, that would be
the kettle calling the pot black, besides you guys would make perfect
steady dates for us. We would be great lovers, pop into the mansion, you
go to your rooms, and we go to ours for fun and games. Perfect, but I
don't want to see you shaken by threats of someone publicly telling all your
nasty stories down the line - tapes, pictures, the whole nine yards. Trust
me, the creeps we are after will find out and attempt to blackmail you. Just
how thick is your skin when it gets dragged into a sewer and stomped
around?"

Tina put the ball squarely in their court, and I wasn't about to let them off
the hook, even as surprised as I was at Tina's revelations. Clearly from
their faces in the bright light of the full moon, she was right on the money.

Nathan spoke first, "Fuck, I didn't know we were that transparent, but she
is right on another point, dad must know by now, he isn't blind. Are we
ready to face him head on, and get it all out into the open? I think I am,
Wallace, how about you?"

"Shit, he'll disown us, you know how he feels about queers."

"I don't think so, I think he expressed that attitude was to discourage us
when we were younger. Its too late to discourage us now, lets go to him."

Tina said, "I'm really sorry to ruin your night, but your discussion from
here on is clearly between the two of you. If you decide you can stand the
potential disgrace and shame, send us a blind invitation to a professional
seminar we all might be interested in. But remember this, regardless of
your decision you are our brothers, and we must learn to love and support
each other unconditionally. Let's go Becky."

"She is right, we will always be here for you guys. Nathan you saved
Jennifer's life and we owe you big time. You can rest assured that
whatever your decision, everything we said or know is confidential and
between us." Without waiting for a reply, we left the car and walked down
to the road and Giles' waiting car.

Once in our room Tina asked, "What do you think, did I blow that?"

"No you did what was necessary, but boy are you sharp. I didn't pick up
on their relationship, how did you do it?"

"Just as I said, body language. I've been around all kinds of men all my life,
and from a real early age, someone was always pointing out their
proclivities to me. The bastards did it so that I could serve the clients
better, so sizing people up is second nature now - besides most men don't
carry guns, bang, bang ones, that is, zipped behind their fly."

"I just didn't notice, I was just worried about real bang, bang guns. Okay,
great swami, what will they do now?"

"I think they will talk to Charlie, and judging by how he reacted to us, I'd
say when the smoke clears they will contact us. The wild card is I have no
idea how promiscuous and well known they are, so they may be
compromised less than we appear to be, or a hell of a lot more. On the
other hand, Charlie might feel any degree of fag is bad for his business.
Thankfully, Jennifer decided she could live with the shame disclosure of my
background would bring, she explicitly told me that."

"She didn't say shame, did she?"

"No, she said 'regardless of your background, you're part of my family now
and I would never abandon you because of anything in your past.'"

"There is a difference, you know."

"I know rationally that I shouldn't be ashamed, but inside I still feel shame
for all the things they made me do, maybe more shame for the things I
began to accept doing. It's awful to admit now, but I actually wanted to
give a guy a blowjob, I tried extra hard to wear him out with pleasure, just
so that he wouldn't fuck me. You must be feeling something akin to shame
yourself, for something like that. Don't you?"

"Yes, I guess I do." I paused, "Truthfully I feel a deep sense of shame and
violation, there is no question about it, I even feel ashamed of what I
physically am now - I never felt that way before. They tried to make me
react to men sexually like a girl would, actually desire and seek men's lust,
at times I think I did. Regardless of how I look, deep down I never
thought of me as a girl before. It's like I'm a freak or something, half boy,
half girl. Now that I really know what is expected of the girl part of a
whore, I'm ashamed of what I did and felt. I'm ashamed of the boy part of
a whore too, after they made me fuck men in the butt and mouth - I sure
didn't want to do that, but I have to admit that it's marginally better than
being fucked in the butt or mouth."

Tina laughed bitterly, "You know exactly the shame I feel, it would have
almost been better to have been tied and forced all the time, it's the
unknown degree of our willing compliance that shames us."

"Logically I know we shouldn't feel shame, but it is there - I can't deny
that. Regardless of the shame we feel, in fact because of it, let's make sure
we get the bastards that use people that way."

"If our brothers take us up on our suggestion, we need to have a talk with
them - look how hard it is for us to deal with our shame and we have each
other. Hell, I had almost two years of intensive psychotherapy and I still
feel the shame, like it was yesterday sometimes."

After a minute I said, "I need your warmth now Tina, lets share our love."

And we did, renewing ourselves in the process.

I still hadn't told her of dad's advice - I guess advice isn't a strong enough
word.

Chapter 30 - Enlisting the Aid of Old Friends
Love is only chatter,
Friends are all that matter.

Gelett Burgess (1866-1951)
***
That night Becky visited me with dad and mom for what seemed like
hours, it was most pleasant and comforting. I can't really explain the
difference, but Becky and I could communicate on a private level. She
could put private images in my mind, and I could think a simple private
reply to her without dad and mom apparently noticing. It was different
from the overt conversation I held with the three of them, which was akin
to a normal conversation between live persons.

Subtleties could be conveyed, as when dad told me Alexis had decided to
leave him and join a previous lover. Becky put an image of a winning
prizefighter in my mind and mom looked like the cat who ate the mouse -
well maybe not all that subtle.

But before they left, Becky put images of people listening and small
electronic devices transmitting - with one inside of Wallace's butt.
***

While a student at Steven's I became friendly with a classmate who was a
true prodigy. When I first met Thomas, Tina teased me about flirting with
"the school nerd." In a college full of nerds, that was no mean title. In any
event, I talked to him regularly during breaks, and over the years, we
attended many of the same classes. Early on, I made it clear to Thomas
that our relationship began and ended with platonic friendship. Truthfully,
he seemed happy just being seen with Tina and I. In fact, Debbie, the girl
he would marry, was initially attracted to him because of our apparent
relationship. If two rich babes (limos were always picking us up or
dropping us off) hung out with Thomas, maybe there was something
interesting there...

It's another story, but she found out that there certainly was.

A strong bond of respect also developed between Thomas and I; learning
together forged it. Some of the work at Steven's was truly challenging to
us, and we each had a high GPA to defend. He often accompanied us to
Nyack for the weekend, when we weren't studying; we took advantage of
the many facilities. He had never fired a firearm before, but became
fascinated by the challenge, becoming very proficient. When Debbie
started joining us on weekends, she enjoyed Thomas teaching her - but she
confessed to Tina, horseback riding was her new passion.

In his senior year, Thomas got into real trouble with the federal
government over a computer virus he wrote. His motivation was to
demonstrate a new variant of the breed, not to let it loose and cause havoc
on the Internet. The havoc really wasn't his fault, as some fellow nerds
hacked his password as a joke, and started executing his programs in the
open to see what they did. This too is a whole other story, but after his
arrest, I hired attorneys for him, made bail, paid all his legal expenses. This
led to a quick exoneration for Thomas, and to reduced misdemeanor
convictions for the others. I also provided significant additional grant
money to Steven's, leading the administration to view his discovery of a
new class of virus positively, and his fellow nerds prank more leniently.
Thomas' family's means were quite modest, and I believe he was truly
grateful for my assistance.

That was the first major expenditure of my own funds, without my first
having to request permission from Jennifer, and as such, was a milestone
for me. I did discuss it with her, but she just smiled saying, "Well dear, he
is your friend, and it's your money." It also showed me first hand the
power I could exercise; I remember hoping I would continue exercising
power for good cause.

So there was no question about whom I would go to for technical
assistance. I knew he was a scientist at Lucent Technologies, so I knew
where to contact him. But how to contact him without exposing him or
my purpose was not clear - especially after paranoia set in.

Tina suggested we meet at the Art's Center off the Garden State Parkway,
it was close to his home, and we had attended events there in the past on a
regular basis. Giles groaned when we told him, only agreeing after he
insisted on planting his men (there were forty one now) along the path from
our limo drop off point to our 'box' (as a long term benefactor of the center
we had 'box seats.') I e-mailed Thomas asking for a meeting via a hackers
cutout using a code we developed as a lark - we thought it was
unbreakable, we were almost right.

The Art's Center was mobbed, Bruce Springstein's popularity may have
been on the wane, but he was a New Jersey boy with a strong local
following, even in 2005. Brenda and Mary, two of Giles' people
accompanied us. They were both about the same height as us, and we
were all dressed in jeans, and denim jackets, and large Stetsons with blond
hair. Brenda sat with Tina, and Mary and I lounged to the rear of the box.
As Bruce and the reconstituted E Street band began his first set, I left for
the ladies room. I ducked into the adjacent men's room that sported a
'closed for cleaning' sign; Thomas was waiting for me there, looking as
nerdy as ever.

"Hi," he gave me a hug and a little peck on my cheek, "you know Debbie
just had Michael and is still recovering from her pregnancy. She would be
grateful if you supplied me with a little sex, just to get me off her back. We
didn't have to meet in a public rest room, my living room would have done
just as well." His grin was from ear to ear.

"Thomas if it was just sex I would have brought a video camera to record
the event for her," I gave him a little hug and a peck on the cheek, "there,
that should fix you up."

"Ahhh, that was so good. Now that the tension is gone, what can I do for
you?"

I filled him in, including my abduction, Jennifer's disappearance,
emphasized the danger, and finally what I thought I needed. Thomas
thought for several minutes, I knew he was evaluating what I said, what I
didn't say, and his response - very deliberately and thoroughly, so I just
waited for his response.

After several minutes he said, "Lucent is really a whorehouse these days, if
you have the money we have the technology and people. All senior
scientists are expected to come up with moneymaking projects to pay for
the work that they really want to do. You know me, I pretty much do
whatever interests me, and frankly I haven't made much money for dear old
Lucent. That is about to change." He had a real wide grin.

"I'll put together a plan for a high-tech security consulting service tailor
made to your problem, and present it Monday as a generic solution. Sarah
Fox is the person in charge of the whorehouse, and I'll talk to her directly.
You call, say on Tuesday, and request help with electronic counter
surveillance, talk directly with Sarah and I'm sure she will give it to me.
Your contract for say twenty million, or so, will be with Lucent and our
relationship will be masked. You still got dough? If not, I'll go home with
you and do the work for nothing."

"Yeah, I still have more money than brains. I will have someone from
'Hayes Holding' make the actual call and set up the contract. Plan on
coming to Nyack on Thursday. Let me tell you the initial problem I need
to fix, and you can look for other holes yourself."

I rounded out the task and we talked of Debbie and his new son Michael
for a few minutes. I got back to the box just as Bruce reprised Jersey Girl.

On Monday, Tina and I went to the office and I spoke to my newly
reinstated assistant, Marsha, in the ladies room, once she understood what
I wanted she agreed to call Lucent, and set it up Tuesday. I wasn't fully
candid with her as I didn't mention Thomas, I just left her with the
impression I wanted the best minds and technology applied to a potential
problem. It was a good thing too.

Also, on Monday we received an invitation to attend a seminar on
streamlining corporate management, it was being held at NYU. It looked
interesting to Tina and I, so we attended Wednesday evening. I met a nice
young man at the luncheon, and Tina sat next to another in the afternoon
session. Coincidently we invited them to Nyack on Saturday for an
afternoon of horseback riding, tennis and swimming.

Thursday brought a large trailer bearing the Lucent logo and motto. It
pulled up to the delivery entrance at Nyack, and was met by four of Giles'
men - with automatic weapons at the ready. After assuring themselves
Thomas and his men were unarmed, he led them into the kitchen. It was a
sham, as years before Giles had taught Thomas how to shoot, and was fully
expecting him. I met Thomas in the kitchen, and he came upstairs with me
to the sitting/computer room next to my bedroom. We left his two techs
and driver in the kitchen with Mrs. Gunner having coffee and goodies.
Tina tossed him a cold Coke, and for a moment, it felt like we were back in
school.

He put his finger to his lips and opened his briefcase, removed a laptop
computer and several black boxes. On one of the boxes, a tiny red LED
(Light Emitting Diode) immediately began flashing red.

"Okay, Sarah Fox tells me you want Lucent to insure there are no
electronic eavesdropping devices in this location, let me explain our service
to you..."

A minute or so later another cube's LED began flashing green. Thomas
smiled and said, "Okay, we can talk freely now, as long as we stay within a
few feet of that cube. The flashing red LED indicates the presence of
resonant diodes in this room. The box with the flashing green will simulate
a resonant diode and broadcast an overriding signal. That signal will
contain a boring presentation by me of Lucent's considerable capabilities.
If that LED becomes amber, we are being actively probed, and whoever is
probing us could be listening. I hacked into the company's computers that
just revamped your security, 'Hayes Electronic Solutions,' and I noticed this
one hole. The probing signal has to come from overhead, and most likely
from a satellite - but we can't rule out an aircraft."

"Jennifer just spent millions last winter upgrading our security, the place
was a mess for a month. I thought it was impossible to bug this place."
Tina said with a frown.

Thomas smiled, "The security firm's computer was supposed to be
invulnerable too, but I hacked it anyway. If I can, we have to assume your
adversaries could too." Thomas hit a function key and plans of our
security system appeared on the screen of his portable PC. "Your security
company really did a good job, from the plans this was the only
vulnerability I noticed. Nobody can erect a perfect defense, all you can
hope to do is keep evaluating and upgrading your defense, and to be
careful where and what you say. The problem is you are close to the limit
of what can be done; any incremental security for this facility will come at a
very high price.

I'm going over all your present electronic defenses with a fine toothcomb,
really to see if it was put in place as the plans indicate. It is damn good on
paper. But as a practical matter a one dollar capacitor could render useless
the isolation transformers, flywheels, motor generators, and batteries that
isolate this home from the power grid. That equipment alone cost you over
seven million, if something has been installed to bypass your power
isolation you could be wide open. Actually, I expect any bypass to be
more sophisticated than a simple capacitor, but a capacitor would do the
job.

We will look everything over; both my guys are highly qualified. You
might remember Sam - he is one of the guys who hacked my password
back at Stevens, you saved his ass too, and he is grateful. The other guy I
got saddled with, he is a good man, but I can't say how trustworthy he is -
I'll watch him closely. Do you still want me here Saturday?"

"Yes, Giles will disguise you a little, and you will be introduced as one of
our security people." I replied, and filled him in with more detail of
Saturday's operation.

Chapter 31 - Opening the Kimono

The present critical point in the compromise between candor and shame at
which the parties may have arrived here and now.
E. A. Poe's definition of reality

On Friday, Tina and I stopped by Sandra's clinic. I attempted to keep
Marsha advised of my schedule, the reason given for the clinic visit was for
some blood testing. Marsha was aware of some of the details of my
incarceration, and thought it only prudent - especially given my propensity
to succumb to chronic kidney infections. Yes, we kept alive the old cover
story, mainly to mask the visits made necessary by my ongoing hormone
therapy.

We wanted to see Jennifer, and that was the reason Sandra believed we
were there. But that wasn't the entire reason; it was time that Sandra
began paying the piper for my castration. I may have forgiven Jennifer, but
I hadn't forgotten Sandra's part. What I was going to ask her to do was
ethical - I just wanted it done discreetly. When I told her, she hesitated,
but then agreed to visit us at Nyack Saturday for a little horseback riding.
When I brought up the need for Dr. Marshal, she was reluctant, but in the
end, she agreed and we stopped by his office. When I told him what I
wanted, he readily agreed. We talked a bit more, and I thought we might
have gained a potent ally. Both saw the need never to mention these
services to anyone.

After talking to Sandra, we went to visit with Jennifer, but were stopped by
Charlie Marsh in the hall outside her room.

"Hi kids," he said with a crooked grin, "Jennifer is awake and expecting
you, but please wait just a minute. My sons had a long talk with me, as I
understand it, you want to work more closely with them."

I held a pendant from Thomas between Tina, Charlie and I, standing with
our heads almost together, we could hear the white noise it produced.
What we couldn't sense was the complex electromagnetic field radiating
from it that masked our conversation from electronic devices.

"Yes, I think we are getting close to the Cartel and would like to have
friendly faces near by," I answered.

"I don't like to admit this, but the boys could cause you more problems
than they help solve. I have some other men who will serve you better in
this situation."

"I take it from your remark, they talked to you frankly." Tina asked.

"Yes, Wallace was distraught that you 'read' him. Frankly, he has far
deeper problems than Nathan, and I fear he is very vulnerable to
blackmail."

"No more than I am," I responded.

"You faced your nature years ago, you won't give into blackmail," Charlie
said with certainty.

"Things have happened to me since, very recently as you know, but you're
right I won't be blackmailed. In fact it might be wise to develop a counter
campaign debunking any stories, video, or pictures the Cartel might
publish," I said.

"I've already started on that."

"He's family, I think we owe him a chance. Don't worry too much, we will
watch and help him. It could destroy him now if we all showed that we
distrusted him. Better get something going to help counter bad publicity
directed against him, if I know those creeps they will have something pretty
damning on Wallace - maybe even Nathan."

"I've started that too. Look, you two are in a fight where your lives are at
stake, why start with handicaps? Nathan and Wallace are big boys; they
made their bed, let them sleep in it."

"On the other hand, perhaps Wallace could be useful to us in a different
way. Look, if the Cartel believes they can blackmail him, and he stands
firm with us, he will be able to leads us to them," I said.

"If that's what you want to do, I can have someone stand in for him, then
we wouldn't have to worry about him cracking."

Tina smiled, "Big bad Charlie, you don't believe it's best for Wallace to be
sidelined any more than I. Let's come out of this a stronger family. We
will nail the Cartel - I'm sure of that. Our motivation is much stronger than
theirs."

"You know that you can't just kill them all, like you did in Germany,"
Charlie said seriously.

"Why not, this is a violent country too." Tina said grimly. "They
attempted to kill Nicholas when he was only fifteen, all of us in North
Carolina when we were in college, and recently in Germany. They had
their shots, it's our turn now!"

"Besides the fact it's wrong, I don't think we can keep a lid on it. The
German mess will be noticed, and connections drawn if bodies begin
showing up here."

"Aren't they pouring concrete anywhere, or the old mob standby: acid
baths?" Tina retorted.

With my dad's warnings in mind I said quickly, "I've been thinking about
that problem Charlie, and think I have a solution - short of killing them, but
getting them put away for a long time." I asserted with a good deal more
certainty then I felt, Tina looked at me quizzically. Then as much to
change the subject as anything, I asked, "Has Stern shown his face
anywhere?"

"He was seen going through customs a few Fridays ago. His passport was
in a different name, which is why we didn't pick up on him right away. One
of my men noticed him while routinely scanning security footage from the
John Foster Dulles airport in Virginia. He could be anywhere by now..."

"He'll be close to Nyack I'm sure, the Cartel can't be happy with what
happened in Germany. They must at least suspect we had something to do
with that. Besides they must think they have damn good leverage over
me."

"Over me too, you said Goldman showed you a video of me being raped by
Mike, Goldman and Stern."

"Are you sure you want to risk this all coming out?" Charlie asked with a
frown.

"Just be ready with the damage control, we will take the heat. Personally I
have no trouble with the animals showing a twelve-year-old girl being
raped, it's their problem, not mine now." Tina responded heatedly.

"I don't like the idea of video of me being released either, but if it necessary
to get the bastards, so be it!"

"Okay Becky, but remember Wallace isn't as sanguine as you are about all
this. Tell Jennifer I'll be back to see her later."

Tina took Charlie's arm, eyes flashing she said, "We aren't sanguine
Charlie, but we will take whatever is necessary, do whatever is necessary -
stoically as necessary, we will give back better then we receive too. Make
no mistake about that..."

A moment passed, and Tina released his arm. He nodded and thoughtfully
walked away.

Just before we turned to enter Jennifer's room, I smiled at Tina saying,
"Right on, me thinks Wallace isn't the only one who needs bucking up."

The room had been rearranged; her bed was to one side no longer
dominating the room. A cluster of three small easy chairs, with a large
overstuffed leather chair, arranged about a round glass table was now the
room's focus. Jennifer was sitting in a small easy chair facing the door,
dressed in a burgundy negligee and peignoir set. She had her hair recently
refreshed to her honey blonde color, and arranged in a soft shoulder length
style. Her makeup and nails were impeccable as always. Her legs were
crossed, and she was relaxed and sparkling as she looked up from her
book.

"Oh it's so good to see you, come sit by me."

We moved to her and kissed warmly. Tina sat in the small armchair to her
right, and I the one to her left. We spoke of her health and ours for several
minutes. Even up close, she looked well, rested and clear-eyed, and it
clearly wasn't a trick of artful makeup. I suspected Charlie had something
to do with that, but couldn't think of a tactful way to ask.

"... so I'm up to a mile on the Nordic now. That's enough about me for
now. How is the business doing?"

"I don't know how you handled it by yourself, it takes the combined effort
of Tina and I to manage. I must say, that now that Fredrick and Marsha
are back, it's getting easier. As far as the numbers, this year will be very
good."

Jennifer went on to question us in detail about 'Hayes Holding' for several
minutes, then into the subsidiaries for another hour. Finally, as she seemed
to run out of questions, I asked, "As I said, things are under control at the
office." I hung Thomas' necklace around Jennifer's neck. "That should
neutralize all listening devices as long as we speak softly and remain close
together. Now we need to know about our family, I say need to know
because we are about to confront the Cartel head on. Let's start with
Charlie, why should we trust him?"

"I'd like to hear it from you first, if the situation is right I'll ask Charlie."
Tina said with a faint smile.

"All right, you are going to think me very foolish." When neither of us
spoke, she continued, "Charlie and I met while I was in grammar school at
the Nyack Academy. It was at one of those silly dances where all the boys
stand on one side of the room, and the girls the other. After some coaxing,
the boys began asking us girls to dance. That was how I met Charlie
Marsh.

We really had no common ground, except those silly school dances.
Charlie's family had adequate but modest means, and we just simply didn't
move in the same circles. Nevertheless, we struck up a friendship. Charlie
was very smart and treated me as an intellectual equal. This was a treat for
me, because I was expected to look pretty, and not bother my little head
with anything else. At the proper time, a husband would be found for me,
and I would go forth and multiply.

Charlie and I saw each other during our High School years, but never really
dated. My mother, at my father's direct command, made sure I dated only
'proper boys,' and was chaperoned at that. College was a whole other
thing, father was satisfied that I went to an all girls boarding school. It was
one of the best, Radcliffe, and far from the nunnery father envisioned.
Now, of course, it's officially merged with Harvard University, but when I
went they were separate institutions, albeit with close ties. Mother knew
of course, but conveniently forgot to mention it to father. In order to be
close to me, your dad went to Harvard, a break with the Yale tradition of
the family. Our father thought his son was just being rebellious, but gave in
- frankly, he didn't pay all that much attention to either of us. Charlie
Marsh also went to Harvard on a full academic scholarship. Mother didn't
know that.

Becky the relative advantages you enjoyed intelligence-wise over your
Sister and Nichole were reversed between your dad and I. I was the
brilliant one, but as a girl was not expected to take over Hayes, more than
that - it would not be allowed! Your dad, my brother, recognized I should
be the one, and he didn't want the responsibility of Hayes. So we made an
agreement between us, should the opportunity come to us, I would run the
Hayes and he would pursue his own interests. You should understand that
my brother and I were every bit as close as you and your sister Becky,"
Jennifer was looking directly at me, and continued, "we trusted and loved
each other just as much - and we never in our entire lives betrayed that love
or trust.

Back to the college years, both Charlie and I helped to get your dad
through with good grades; I even took several business and technical
classes in his name! It was a hoot sometimes, but the University never
caught on. At the end of four years, we all graduated, and I had taken all
the courses necessary for an MBA - but could not receive the degree, your
dad actually received it.

I dated Charlie the full four years, and we were very, very close - I wanted
to marry him, he wanted to marry me even more. Your dad met your
mom, she was my roommate from our sophomore year on, and he did
marry her after graduation.

Fate stepped in after graduation when my father, your grandfather, had a
heart attack followed by a stroke. Your dad was brought into the Hayes
Manhattan offices to begin grooming him to take over. He brought me in
as his assistant, father thought I was his secretary and approved. Together,
my brother and I worked hard, and within three years were all but running
Hayes Holding. My Father held all the titles, but he was virtually
bedridden and his health was failing.

It was during the first year out of college that I made the biggest mistake of
my life. Father wasn't so sick that he couldn't arrange a marriage for me.
The marriage would be a key factor in consummating a business deal he
had been working on. To understand this, you have to understand that
father was at the end of a ten-year plan to divest Hayes Holding of all
defense related subsidiaries. Hayes was investing in clothing manufactures,
personal care, and home products in a deeply integrated structure. Ravlon
was a key piece in the new structure, but as I said, more than money was
needed to close the deal. In father's mind, that was my purpose in life, I
would marry into the Ravlon family - and clinch the deal."

"What was your mistake? It sounds like you had little choice in the
situation." Tina stated.

"Oh, I had a choice, we always have a choice - if there is one lesson in all
this, that is it. I could have married Charlie, and with the perspective of
time I know I wouldn't have been disowned, and I would have eventually
taken over Hayes anyway." Jennifer squeezed my arm, and continued,
"Your dad would have seen to that. But at the time, I told Charlie about
having to marry Mike, and he didn't say much that night. The next day he
joined the Air Force as an intelligence officer. I didn't see him again for ten
years.

Just a year later, I married Mike. It was a storybook wedding, and almost
one thousand guests showed up for the reception. A New York Times
business editor quipped, 'A bomb in that reception hall would have
decapitated American business. I simply lost track of the number of CEOs,
COOs (Chief Operating Officers,) and board chairmen were in attendance.'
At first all was well, Mike could be charming." Jennifer looked reflective
for a moment, and continued, "I think that at his core he lacked the
capacity for evil, he was simply a weak man."

"I think so too," Tina said thoughtfully. "Except when Goldman or Stern
was around, he was very decent to me. I have to say, most of the time he
was fun to be with, cared for me, and didn't molest me. After all this time,
I find that I can't hate Mike." I thought it was ironic, that these two
women who had been forced into Mike's company, could sit calmly
together and agree he was weak, fatally flawed, but charming.

Jennifer must have also, because she smiled a little as she continued, "The
first six years of my marriage were good years, but looking back on it now
I can see that we were not really close. I mean, we shared few common
interests; he concentrated on Ravlon and had no interest in Hayes. I felt
Ravlon wasn't well run, but it managed to make a profit each year, and I
didn't want to hassle Mike as I did other Hayes Chief Operating Officers.
We dined together perhaps three times a week, and went out most Friday
and Saturday evenings - some Sundays we hosted or attended hunt
breakfasts.

Then we decided to have children. Almost immediately I became pregnant
with Nicola, the plan was that your dad would run Hayes, while I
recovered and nursed Nicola for the first four months or so. Rebecca
senior, your mom, also became pregnant, almost the same night as I - at
least we joked that she had. We were all living at Nyack then, and my
sister in law and I became full of joyful excitement, as both expected twins.
As you know, twins run in our family. I could see the difference between
our marriages; your mom and dad became closer. They attended Lamaze
classes together, and he called her frequently from work. She would joke
that she couldn't go to the bathroom, a frequent necessity, without him
calling. So, your dad had a phone installed in every bathroom at Nyack.
She was very pleased that he called, even though she kidded him about it.

In comparison, Mike seemed to draw away from me, and missed half the
Lamaze classes - even worse; he was in Scotland playing golf when Nicola
was born. As you know, the births harbored a tragedy. Rebecca died of a
heart attack hours after Becky was born; she had undiagnosed aneurisms
that simply burst. Today it's likely the condition would have been detected,
and the birthing team prepared to deal with it, back then they simply
watched helplessly while she died."

"Becky and I always blamed ourselves for causing her death." I said

"That's foolish, any more then we can blame your dad for making her
pregnant, although I know he did blame himself. It was fate, that's all.
What you probably don't know was that there were complications in
Nicola's birth too. Her twin brother was stillborn, and my tubes were
damaged such that I am now sterile."

I hadn't known that, and I took her hand in a gesture of comfort. Jennifer
continued, "Out of all that tragedy your dad and I had a series of long talks,
and we agreed I would raise the children at Nyack with Mike. He would
become a photojournalist; he couldn't face living where Rebecca and he had
been so happy. Even though his first job was with Hayes Communications,
he was an accomplished photographer before then. His photographs had
won many awards, and he had done an award winning expos of
conditions in Boston's foster homes while at Harvard. As you know from
his estate, he was subsequently very successful.

For my part, I was more than happy to raise Becky and yourself along with
Nicola. I tried my best not to slight any of you in the least."

I interrupted, "Our childhood was perfect until we had to move in with Dad
and Alexis. Mrs. Hammer always told us how you nursed us all, until we
were three or four months old."

"That was what your mother would have done, I could do no less. After
the children were born, Mike and I became more distant. Honestly I can't
blame him entirely, on the surface all was well, but we shared little
intimacy. Either he was too busy, tired or I was. Mike was never what
you would call a lusty man, I don't understand how Goldman and Stern
blackmailed him."

"They look for a fetish to exploit," Tina said reflectively. "The deed
doesn't have to be very bad at the outset, just a little embarrassing - but
somehow they lead the mark deeper and deeper into perversion, until the
mark is seriously compromised. Over time, the mark is compromised
repeatedly, so that he can see no light, and has to yield to their demands. I
don't know how they hooked Mike, but I suspect it was something he did,
or thought he did, while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol."

Jennifer looked at me and said, "Mike virtually ignored you kids, until you
became four or five. Then the seemed to take a real interest in you, he
seemed to be proud of Nicholas, a boy that would become a man and share
his interests. He would make plans with your father for activities you
could do together. As you got older, he would play polo with you. Polo
was a passion with Mike, and he organized a father-son league. Some of
the participants came from as far away as the Continent or California. He
was very proud of you, as you were an excellent horseman and player. If
you remember, he took you to England to play several times."

"Yes, I remember. I had no problem with Mike, in fact, I really liked him,
and he was as much of a father figure to me as Dad was. I didn't believe
the rumors about his death at the time, and would defend him. Of course, I
do now, but I can't hate him, especially as Tina doesn't. He was a flawed
person unable to rise above his weaknesses, I only hope that I can rise
above mine."

Jennifer smiled wryly saying, "A perfect introduction to the murky places
I'm about to introduce you to. Do you remember your Great Uncle Peter?"

"Vaguely, at the time he seemed older than the hills to me, I remember
going to his funeral a year or so before Dad married Alexis."

"That's him. Well I got to know him quite well; he never took an active
part in the day-to-day management of Hayes. I don't think he and father
could work together. He was very laid back, and thought it was a great
joke on father that I was managing the company, whilst father was ill. He
was one shrewd man, and while he was alive, he always voted with me.
Oh, on a few occasions, he disagreed, but he told me privately, and in most
cases, I saw the wisdom in his viewpoint. Just before he died, we had a
long talk, and he told me I needed someone outside of the company, to do
things for me that I couldn't afford to be caught doing.

Imagine my surprise when he recommended Charley Marsh for the job.
Now I wouldn't rule out prior knowledge on his part of my involvement
with Charlie during my college years, but Uncle Peter recommended him
on the basis of proven competence in the CIA. Uncle Peter had been in
military intelligence during WWII, and when the CIA was formed, he
moved into it. He never spoke of it, but Charlie told me recently that
Uncle Peter was a known as the 'Spymaster's Master's' master within the
agency.

When Charlie entered the Air Force, he was assigned to intelligence, and
made quite a name for himself with his complete and accurate assessments.
While stationed in the Pentagon, he picked up a law degree at George
Washington University in his spare time. Upon discharge from the Air
Force, he was picked up by the CIA, and worked for them for almost ten
years. He was in Europe and Japan during most of that time and actively
managed spies and 'ran' covert operations. Uncle Peter told me
confidentially, that Charlie was very successful, but had stepped on some
toes back in Langely. Further, that Charlie would be stymied in career
advancement until the 'current political environment' cleared. He had been
back a Langely two years at the time, using his spare time in the DC area to
pick up an MBA, as well a degree in Police Science.

So Uncle Peter set up a meeting between us. I was attending a CEO
conference at the Hunt Valley Country club outside Baltimore, and we
arranged to meet for dinner at a nearby restaurant. Well to make a long
story short, I agreed to fund his initial organization comprised of a lawyer,
Charlie, and two private investigators - ex spies who had worked for him in
Europe. It was to be based in New Jersey, and we would see how things
went.

Uncle Peter also introduced me to Lord Torrington. He and Uncle Peter
were very close having worked together during WWII. Lord Torrington
had close connection with the SAS, he headed it at one time, and his son
was a colonel in that organization. It was through him I first recruited ex
SAS men for our security, Giles was actually a Captain and Nigel and Kyle
served under him as Sergeant Majors. They have maintained their contacts
in the SAS and have recruited many loyal and efficient men for our
security.

Shortly thereafter Uncle Peter died. He left a good portion of his wealth to
various philanthropic organizations as he had no wife or children, but he
left me all his Hayes voting stock. I owe a great deal to Uncle Peter, and
there have been many times I've wished for his sage advice. On a personal
level, I miss him more than I miss anyone, with the exception of your dad -
nothing can replace my relationship with him." Jennifer was leaning
forward and looking at me with a tear in her eye.

She sat up straight and continued, "With that stock, and with your dad's
power of attorney, I controlled Hayes with a voting majority of over ninety
percent. As stock became available, I picked it up, until as of a few years
ago, I control virtually one hundred percent. With your interest Tina and
yours Becky, we own, almost all the outstanding voting stock in Hayes.

Charlie and his organization are responsible in large measure for my
success. His research has kept me better informed then my competition,
within Hayes, and without. His organization is now over two hundred
strong and located on five continents. He is able to draw on resources in
the CIA, and does considerable subcontracting for the agency. Hayes
spent over fifty million with him last year."

"Actually it was more like ninety, and I don't think I found all your creative
payment schemes." I observed with a smile, earning a little frown from
Jennifer. "When did you and Charley become an item again?" I asked.

"When Ruth died twelve years ago, it hit Charlie very hard. Even though I
was still married to Mike, I took advantage of the situation. I'm afraid we
carried on quite a torrid affair. I had made up my mind to divorce Mike,
just about the time he was killed. Charlie and I wasted no time marrying,
although our prenuptial agreement specified we have no financial claim on
the other's assets. That's why I saw no reason to tell you about it."
Looking at Tina's questioning expression, Jennifer added, "That, and the
fact I was a bit embarrassed about sneaking our marriage in so close to
Mike's death. When this Cartel business is wrapped up, we intend to make
our marriage public - maybe reaffirm our vows in a public ceremony."

"Great, we adore weddings." Tina and I said in unison, laughing together..

Shifting gears, I asked, "we need to know about Nathan and Wallace - our
surprise brothers."

"Both boys are bright. According to Charlie, Wallace is brilliant, he has a
law degree from Harvard, he graduated top of his class and has been
admitted to the bar in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Charlie
would stack him against any corporate lawyer in the tri-state area. Nathan
is more intuitive, he as a MBA and is a licensed CPA. They both hold
private investigator licenses in New Jersey and New York, and permits to
carry firearms most places."

"Are both of them Charlie's natural sons?" Tina asked.

"Between us, no. Wallace was adopted as a month-old infant, because it
was believed Ruth was infertile. Eleven months later Nathan was born, it
often happens..." Jennifer trailed off, obviously trying to decide how much
to tell us. An idle thought surfaced, 'So, they aren't committing incest after
all.'

Having made up her mind, Jennifer continued, "There is a bit more to the
story than that though. Wallace's mother died shortly after he was born,
and the father, a close friend of Charlie's from the CIA, was killed a few
days later. He was on a mission in Central America - Charlie feels a strong
sense of responsibility toward the boy, maybe even more so than Nathan,
his natural son.

Charlie takes it as a personal failure that Wallace has homosexual leanings;
further, Charlie doesn't believe Wallace knows that he is adopted. A lot of
creative work went into his birth documentation, but DNA testing would
reveal the truth. In almost every other area, Charlie is the quintessential
realist, but not when it comes to Wallace."

"You realize Wallace has considerably more than just homosexual leanings.
Don't you Jennifer?" Tina asked.

"No, I have no first-hand knowledge, Charlie just told me today. He said
the boys came to him last Sunday, and brought it out into the open, he
suspected, but never expected the boys to bring it out into the open."

"That was my doing, I'm afraid." Tina said apologetically. "I confronted
them, and told them if they fought with us against the Cartel, they could
expect to be publicly exposed - that is the Cartel's modus operandi after all.
Find a weakness in your opponent, then exploit it." Tina spat out that last
statement.

I jumped in, "Jennifer, Tina and I suspect the Cartel will first go after me.
Hopefully we will be able to snatch Stern when they do. We plan on using
Wallace as bait to attack the next level. Tina feels that if Wallace can see
this through, he will be much stronger. If he is sheltered, he will never
trust himself, nor will Charlie or we trust him with anything important. We
have talked it over, and believe the risk is worth the reward for our
brother." I exchanged glances with Tina, "He is Charlie's son, as much as
Tina or I are your children. My question to you is, do you agree with our
strategy?"

"Let me think about that a minute, in the meantime tell me exactly what
happened in Germany."

It took the better part of an hour as we filled Jennifer in. I pulled no
punches with what happened to me in the whorehouse. Tina was equally
candid describing her search for both Jennifer and I. The subsequent
capture and interrogation of Goldman and Gunter was covered in accurate
detail. Jennifer asked several pointed questions. Then she asked us what
we were going to do next, and I told her in detail.

Finally, Jennifer said, "I don't think Charlie knows the full story of
Germany, and it's probably best not to go into it with him now. You will
be taking a lot more risks than I'm happy with, but you're right, if we don't
attack them and prevail; eventually one of their assassination attempts is
bound to succeed. They came far too close this last time. I agree with
your plan, I also agree that you should use Wallace - with the proviso that
you don't risk your lives, if he falters. Do you really feel your revenge will
work, Becky?"

"It better, we can't just kill them all." I answered.

"Pity," said Jennifer.

Chapter 32 - The Game Begins
Intelligence and war are games, perhaps the only meaningful games left. If
any player becomes too proficient, the game is threatened with termination.

William Burroughs (1914-97)

We spoke with Jennifer further, but uncovered only one piece of new
information. She would be staying with Charley at his home in Englewood
starting tomorrow. She felt she would be safe, as Charlie was taking many
unnamed precautions. I pointed out the security problems at Nyack, but
she said she felt secure with Charlie. I hoped it wasn't her heart reasoning
for her.

After sharing a light supper of soup and sandwiches, it was long past dark
when we finally bid her farewell.

Tina and I talked little of Jennifer or her revelations on the way home, each
lost in our own thoughts. That was often our way these days, we would
reflect on a matter before speaking of it. Often because we felt it was
necessary to be somewhere we wouldn't be overheard, to speak candidly.
In addition, we could often almost read each other's minds, making small
talk unnecessary.

Once back in our rooms at Nyack, Tina asked, "You are serious about this
form of revenge, aren't you?"

"Very serious, I don't think we should kill them outright. Nor should we
use the extreme torture like Germany."

"Some would think this was worse, you know."

"Maybe, but you have to admit it fits their crimes. Don't you think?"

Tina gave me a broad smile, if you can imagine her beautiful looking almost
wolfish. "I love it actually, I even thought of where we might find some
reliable help with managing it. Let me look on the net for a while."

"Good, I thought you would like it. I have some research to do too."

After an hour on the web Tina sat back with a satisfied smile on her face, I
was still attacking my tasks, but I looked up, "Yes?"

"Let's take a drive into Manhattan Sunday. How are you making out?"

"Good, there is a board meeting of 'Hayes Nuclear' in London Thursday, I
found some issues that might require our attention. How would you like
dinner and theater in London Wednesday night?"

"I'd love it, we could do some shopping there too. There are so many
great things to buy! Oh Becky, this is going to be fun." Looking over my
shoulder, Tina asked, "what have you been working on?"

"Well, you'll love this, I figured out how to fund the whole thing. The best
part is that all the money will be traced back to the Cartel; you might say
Goldman is going to fund us from the grave. I cracked his PINs from the
numbered Austrian and Swiss Banks accounts that Charlie's men found in
his computer in London. I haven't gone through the entire list yet, but I'm
already over to thirty eight million. Now all I need is to find a place for our
little enterprise, and that's what I'm working on now. I'm compiling a list
of potential available properties."

We went to bed about twelve thirty, but it was well after two before we fell
asleep in each other's arms. Tina was right this revenge would be fun.
Discuss a few ideas, and then make love. Repeat until exhausted.

Well-rested but still a little sleepy, about nine we called for breakfast in
bed. Mrs. Hammer brought it to us, and smiled at the musky odor and
general disarray of the bedroom. I warned her to be on the look out for
Thomas, but she said he had already eaten, and was with Giles being
prepared. She chided us for not filling her in on Michael, Thomas' new
son. She viewed Thomas and Debbie as family, given all the time they
spent with us while at college. I apologized abjectly, and laughing she left
us; Tina goosed me as the door closed. We ate quickly, showered, and
dressed in jeans, denim shirts, and leather vests, for the horseback riding
with Thomas, Nathan, and Wallace.

Just as we finished dressing, a car pulled up under the covered portico
leading to the front door. We went out to great them. I hadn't really seen
Wallace in daylight until now At six four, two hundred trim pounds, he
was one handsome hunk of guy. He looked like a young Marlborough
man, decked out in faded jeans, and a red plaid shirt with a brown
ten-gallon hat. Tina must have thought so too, as she whistled. Nathan
who was similarly dressed, but only six foot said, "Don't do that Tina, his
head is huge enough already. Don't let him near any mirrors either, or we
will never make it to the horses."

"Don't believe him, I don't need a mirror to know how great I look - unlike
some I know."

I grabbed Nathan's arm saying, "The horses are this-a-way partner."

Tina took Wallace's arm and we ran full tilt, laughing for the joy of it, the
hundred yards to the new stables. There was a method to my madness, as
Wallace was not about to find out. As soon as we entered the dim interior
from the bright sunlight, I pulled Nathan aside. Tina stopped just inside the
door jam with Wallace, and then: pffft. A hypodermic dart with a powerful
hypnotic agent was fired into Wallace's pulsing neck artery, from four-foot
Giles couldn't miss. Tina remarked loudly, "Becky those flies are terrible
today." That was the last thing Wallace heard before he succumbed to the
drug.

It took a minute for Nathan's eyes to adjust to the dim light. While his eyes
were adjusting, I said, "Don't be alarmed Nathan, Wallace is just
unconscious. We won't hurt him. Give us a few minutes, and you will see
why we are doing this."

Nathan looked around and saw a half dozen armed men. I could feel him
tense up, and then relax as he evaluated the odds. "Okay sis, but you better
have a good reason."

Giles and Robert had immediately moved to support Wallace, so he never
hit the floor. They brought him into the little infirmary that the vets used.
It had several gurneys to administer first aid to injured riders. The room
looked amazingly high tech, as there were a dozen open laptop computers,
some on tripods, all with large folding color TFT screens. Doctors Sandra
Peters and Frank Marshal were waiting, as was Thomas decked out in a
white doctors coat sporting a faux Vandyke beard.

Thomas had several of his little black boxes set up, and one started to flash
amber. I had Nathan stand with me, we could see everything, but were out
of the way. Nathan was also in the field of another of Thomas' black
boxes, but its LED stayed green. I spoke quietly to Nathan, "See that
flashing amber light, that indicated Wallace has a resonant diode
somewhere in or on his body."

"No way, we sweep ourselves on a regular basis. Just a few hours ago, he
was clean."

"No he isn't, however I don't think he is aware of the bug. Give us a few
minutes; if we are wrong, he will never know it unless you tell him. If we
are right we will formulate a strategy together... Okay?"

"How do you know I'm clean?"

"See that green LED, that's how."

"But you had this all set up, how did you know?"

"I had a strong hunch, I get them sometimes."

"Bull, but I'll go along with you for now..."

While we were talking, Wallace was stripped of all his clothes and laid face
down on a gurney. Thomas put the clothes in the field of a box, and its
LED remained green. Then he took a gimbaled ruby laser and walked
around Wallace. The red spot from the laser stayed on Wallace's butt as
Thomas moved. "It's in there Sandra, I have a specially modified
sigmoidoscope for you to use."

Thomas opened a suitcase; a snake like sigmoidoscope was attached to
electronics and a computer within the case by a thin cable. In addition,
Sandra removed several devices from a case of her own. Sandra lubricated
the devices and inserted the sigmoidoscope into Wallace's rectum. We
could all see the screen, about four inches of the device was in when a red
highlighted bump was spotted. Sandra fed one the flexible laparoscopic
tools into his rectum as well; we could see it as it approached the bump.
Sandra manipulated it until it grasped the bump. Thomas manipulated the
computer keyboard, and we could all see the device was embedded in the
skin of Wallace's colon.

"I'll remove it now, can you focus clearly on the site where it is attached, I
want to make sure the colon wall isn't punctured."

Sandra removed the device, and while the colon wall was pitted, it didn't
appear punctured. Thomas dropped the device into a plastic bag
containing a solvent antiseptic. He removed it with tweezers, cleaned it,
and inserted it into another computer's sensor assembly that was set up on
another table. In the mean time, the amber light stayed on!

Sandra went back into Wallace's rectum, and over the next forty-five
minutes removed seven more devices similar in appearance to the first.
Finally, the amber light turned green. Sandra then went back in and applied
an instant skin/sealer formulated especially for the colon to each of the
sites, saying, "This will seal each site, and hopefully prevent polyps from
forming. I want to see this boy in three months to make sure; cancers can
form because of this kind of thing. It's a good thing we got them out now,
totally irresponsible to use these in the colon!" However, Nathan hadn't
noticed that she also inserted a different device that Thomas had
surreptitiously handed her.

Thomas was busy with his analysis; I could see a look of satisfaction on his
face. But he said nothing. In the meantime, Sandra was removing and
cleaning the equipment. When it was all put away, she said, "I'll go back to
the house and wait for you Mark, I need some coffee."

"What are you going to do now?" Nathan asked looking at me.

"Dr. Mark Marshal is a Psychiatrist, he is going to hypnotize Wallace, and
try to find out when, where and who placed those devices. We would like
you to help us by giving us points where Dr. Marshal can start."

Thomas looked up from the computer screen, "One of these devices is a
computer/sensor chip, and it is extremely sophisticated. It is designed to
detect most active probes, and put out a neutralizing field to mask the
resonant diodes. It is made to respond only to a very specific signal probe,
I thought only the government had this technology deployed. That's why
normal detection devices failed you Nathan, even the few designed to
detect resonant diodes will miss them with this little beauty nearby. It has a
clock, indicating it was inserted three hundred and ninety point three hours
ago. That is sixteen days ago, at about two AM."

Nathan took out a pocket secretary. Several of Thomas' devices responded
with amber or red lights. Thomas quietly moved to another computer
screen and hit a few keys. Unknown to Nathan, Thomas drained the
contents of his pocket secretary into the Lucent computer.

Nathan exclaimed softly, "Aw shit, Wallace has a friend in the Village, he
was spending the night with him."

"Do you know who?" I asked.

"Wallace isn't going to like this one little bit. I have quietly, unknown to
him, kept him under surveillance. Look, I trust him. I trust him with my
life, but, well, he engages in some high-risk things. Damn, I just wanted to
have someone near enough to help him if he got hurt. The guys name is
Duane Carlson; he's a rather well known poet. He hasn't been outed either;
his family is very wealthy and he fears they will disown him. Wallace
believed they were a monogamous item. They met at Harvard and have
been together for four or five years, but very discretely."

"How did he keep that from daddy?" Tina asked.

"Unless he has a good excuse, they only met every couple of weeks or so.
I thought he was pretty careful."

"That's how the bastards work Nathan, they must have something on
Duane, and are using him to get at our dad's organization. It's a good bet
that they know of his relationship with Hayes too. Just how secure is your
home where Daddy is taking Jennifer?" Tina asked.

"I don't know. Hell, I didn't know she was leaving the clinic today. If dad
takes her to Englewood, it's just an ordinary fieldstone colonial home, on a
four acre wooded lot. We own the houses on either side, and he might
have people there - most of our people are ex CIA or DIA (Defense
Intelligence Agency) dad used to know. There is a small river in a gully
behind us, a golf course is behind that, and a sophisticated intrusion alarm
system covering the house and grounds. There are two lightly armored
rooms without windows in the interior of the house, honestly, it wouldn't
be all that hard to assault successfully. We never worried about our own
personal safety; we are a legitimate legal and private investigation firm after
all."

"Nathan, do me a favor. Tell Giles where your home is, I'd like him to take
some men and keep an eye on your place. Kinda like you watched over us.
Do you have a problem with that?" I asked.

Nathan shook his head saying, "No, it's a wise precaution."

Nathan talked to Giles softly for a few minutes, and Giles and Robert left,
to be replaced by Kyle and Nick. Dr. Marshal had given Wallace some sort
of injection, and moved him over to an easy chair against a wall; Dr.
Marshal sat next to him on a milkmaid's stool. He placed a throat mike on
Wallace and himself, and Thomas hooked them into another of his portable
computers. Thomas then gave earpieces to the doc, Kyle, Nathan, Tina,
himself, and me. We could clearly hear both the Doctor and Nathan.

After some preparation, "... Okay Wallace, are you in your warm and
comfortable place?" Dr. Marshal intoned.

"Yes."

"Good, I want you to think back to the night..."

"... Very good, after you made love with Duane, what did you do?"

"Duane brought me some chilled Zinfandel, rose, the kind I adore. I took a
sip, I felt so warm and safe, I fell asleep."

"Wallace I want you to go to your warm and comfortable place now - are
you there?"

"Yes."

"Wallace I want you to go outside your body now, just as you fell asleep.
You will be safe in your warm and comfortable place, but you will be able
to see and tell me what is happening. Nothing bad can happen to you.
You will be there on the count of three. One.. two.. Three."

"I can only see a rosy glow, but I hear Duane talking to me, 'I'm sorry
Wallace, they made me do it.' He begins to cry. He leaves me and I'm
alone...

Soon I hear other voices coming into the room, 'Can you give him the drug
now?'

A different voice answers, 'Yes, the drug in the drink works well with the
truth drug.'

'He must not remember this, you understand that. If he does, you will be
punished for you ineptitude.'

'He will have no conscious memory. I told you that I could extract the
memory of the interrogation from him, if I can, others can. I will not be
responsible if your electronic devices are discovered, and as a result an
expert questions him under the drugs. I will do nothing more until you
agree that I am to be held blameless under those conditions. Tell me you
agree to that, or I will leave... Tell your goon to put the gun away, I don't
report to you.'

'Okay, Meyer that won't be necessary. Dr. Walters, I agree to your
conditions. Now give him the damn drug.'

My body begins to swim, I know I'm in bed, but it feels like I'm swimming,
Duane asks me, 'Ah Wallace, are you feeling better now?'

Now I can see, there are three men in the room with me."

"Wallace, return to your warm and comfortable place." Dr. Marshal
commanded. "Are you there?"

"Yes."

"Good. I want you to look at the men and describe them to me when you
return to where you just were, and then you will return here. Remember
that nothing can hurt you - you are only an observer. You will be there on
the count of three. One.. two.. three."

"The man by the door is about six feet tall, he is in a gray suit and looks
muscular. His face is ruddy, I think of an old prizefighter, his nose is
pulpy, and his eyes are gray and a little blood shot. He is nearly bald, what
hair he does have is gray and neatly combed.

The man at the foot of the bed is - he is Stern, I'm sure from the pictures.
He is about five ten, thin, Van Dyke beard, very neat - he must have it
trimmed by someone. It's jet black as is his hair, must be dyed. But I'm
sure it's Stern.

The man leaning over me has no mouth. Wait, he has an electronic device
over his mouth. He speaks to me; it can't be, he sounds like Duane. He is
using a synthesizer, no mystery. His receding hair is a light brown, bushy
eyebrow, long eyelashes, cold green eyes, and hawk like nose. I can't tell
how tall he is, but he is slightly built."

"Wallace, return to your warm and comfortable place." Dr. Marshal
commanded. "Are you there?"

"Yes."

"Wallace now go back and tell me what the man sounding like Duane asks
you, and your replies. Remember that nothing can hurt you - you are only
an observer. You will be there on the count of three. One.. two.. three."

In a nutshell, Wallace had told Stern and Dr. Walters, his brainwasher,
some of the connection Eyesco (Charlie's organization's corporate name)
had with Hayes. He told them of the assignment to oversee the security of
Jennifer, Tina and I. He told them Jennifer was still alive, but said he didn't
know where she was. We hadn't met with them yet, so no mention of
being related, or working with us was made. I thought we learned as much
by the questions, as Stern did by the answers. The most important tidbit
was that Wallace was ordered to visit with Duane this Monday for the
night.

All this actually required an hour of careful hypnotic probing, at the end of
which, Dr, Marshal was reasonably sure this had been the first time Wallace
had been probed by Stern and Dr. Walters. Dr. Marshal ended by telling
Wallace he would wake when hearing the word 'albacore,' he would be a
little groggy, and think there was a bump on his head. He would realize
immediately that he had hit the low door jam while coming into the dim
room out of the sun.

It was coming up on two hours since Wallace was knocked out, so we
agreed to meet with Nathan Sunday in Fort Lee at the Pancake House near
their apartment. Dr. Marshal supplies Nathan with a few pills to insure that
Wallace would sleep late.

"Albacore," Nathan said softly.

"Hey, wa... What happened?" Wallace said groggily from the stableman's
cot.

"Bro, you bumped your head good."

"Oh, yeah, that damn door jam over there. The damn thing must be made
for a midget." Wallace looked at his watch and said, "Sheeet, it's after two,
have I been out all this time?"

"'Fraid so bro, we were beginning to worry about you. Tina and Becky are
over at the house waiting for a doctor, do you feel up to walking?"

Wallace put his hand to his head saying, "I feel fine, except for this damn
goose egg on my head. Give me a hand."

"Easy Bro, take a minute sitting up to get your sea legs..."

Nathan put his hand on Wallace's shoulder saying, "Okay now, see if you
can stand. I won't let you fall."

"I'm okay now, hey I can clear the jam now."

"You were showing off to Tina and leaped into the room, your head hit the
top of the jam dummy. Like diving into a pool and hitting the bottom, in
reverse." Nathan grinned.

"I was not showing off, I was just trying to keep up with her. She may be
only a girl, but she runs fast as hell."

"You're just out of shape... hey, that didn't warrant a poke..."

Wallace and Nathan bantered as they walked the hundred yards to the
house, and by the time they reached the side door, his longer stride was
forcing Nathan to jog at times just to keep up. I handed Thomas the
earphone I had been listening to Wallace and Nathan on, and met them at
the door.

"You gave us a scare, but you look like you are feeling better. Tina was
just talking to Doctor Peters; she was on the Palisades Parkway and should
arrive any minute now."

"I'm okay, really I don't need a doctor."

"Well you are going to get one anyway. You were sleeping when we
called her, and lost your vote. As soon as she looks at you, we will have
lunch. If she says you are fit, we can go riding after lunch."

"You're really bossy, did you know that sis?"

"Somebody has to exercise common sense around here..."

Doctors Peters and Marshal pulled up just about then. After introductions,
Sandra examined Wallace pronouncing him fit. They had lunch with us,
and then left to visit friends in White Plains. Thomas, the brothers, and
sisters the finally took the delayed ride. When we returned to the stables
we went to the combat training ranges in the old stable to humble our
brothers - they were going to humble us, they thought.

"Well it's their combat range, they know how to play it." Wallace groused
as we walked back to the house. I was three richer, and Tina 9 dollars,
having won two out of three. Thomas grinned as he placed third overall,
and he loved combat shooting, it was such a major kick! It was well worth
a dollar ante that feed the betting pool each round.

Early Sunday morning, Kyle looked over Nathan's route to the Pancake
House, and decided Nathan would probably walk. So, Tina and I arrived
early in a limo, with three obvious chase cars. As expected Nathan left his
apartment ten minutes before we were to meet. As he walked up the street
toward the Pancake House we pulled along side, and he got in. We parked
in a Hudson River outlook, Giles moved to the rear bench seat next to me,
and Tina moved next to Nathan. While Giles pulled the center table up,
Tina and I opened the cases with Chef Robert's bounty, and placed the
food and coffee on the table. In a minute, we were munching breakfast in
the spacious rear of our limo.

Nathan shook his head, "Are you guys for real, the food at the Pancake
House isn't that bad."

"This is private, and this food is pretty good." Tina responded, and
pointing to the little black boxes, "With these active, real private."

I guess Chef Robert's little Egg McMuffins were 'pretty good,' sherry
sauce, scrambled egg, Danish ham, sharp cheddar, on homemade English
muffins - a dozen just disappeared, and Tina and I only had two apiece. I
was content living as a girl most of the time, but restricting myself to two
small muffins, and a spoon full of hash browns, was almost too much of a
price to pay. But if there is one thing about wearing a snug merry widow
under our form fitting suede dresses, it's that you are unmistakably
reminded when to stop eating. Tina wanted us to look hot for our meeting
in Manhattan, and judging by Nathan's reaction, we succeeded. I know
that Tina was devastatingly sexy, but no bimbo this, she was regally
beautiful.

When Tina and I were finished, I took advantage of everyone else's full
mouths and began. "The way I see it, we can either make up a reason for
Wallace to miss his tryst with Duane, or let him go to it. If he sees Duane,
we can wait and try to follow Stern and company when they leave. Or we
can try to nail Stern then and there.

If we keep him from going, eventually Stern will pressure Duane into
setting up another date. I would imagine Wallace is damn anxious to see
Duane, and won't be put off for too long. It would seem they are truly
close to one another. I don't know if I should be concerned, but Duane
must be suffering terrible guilt over being forced to betray Wallace.

If we let Wallace see Duane, he will have much more information to tell
Stern. Dr. Marshal said he couldn't guarantee that Wallace wouldn't tell
Stern about being questioned by him either. It would depend entirely on
how astutely he was questioned. I guess we would have to bug Duane's
bedroom, to be certain of what Wallace actually says. Then make damn
sure we don't loose Stern and company when they leave, or let them see us
tailing them.

If we decide to let the meeting go forward with the objective of kidnapping
Stern, we don't necessarily have to send Wallace in. We could have
someone impersonate him. On the other hand we could tell Wallace
exactly what we know, and enlist his active aid. In any event, we need to
know precisely how Duane's apartment is laid out, the type of building, and
so forth. Duane is an unknown too, how will he react? They must have
something pretty nasty on him."

I continued exploring options in the same vein, with Tina picking up points
while Nathan and Giles ate. In a way, this was all theater for Nathan's
benefit. Tina, Giles, and I agreed the least risk option was to kidnap Stern
and company. The only open question in our minds was the degree of
Wallace's involvement. So, when Tina and I stopped speaking, Giles said
nothing, and we all waited for Nathan to give us his opinion.

"If I were running this, I would let the meeting go forward - it's too good
of an opportunity to nail Stern. There is no way we can follow him in the
city, and be certain to keep him in sight; there are too many simple things
he can do to shake a tail.

We haven't picked him up yet, and we really have tried with a lot of
resources, he is an extremely careful man." Nathan paused looking
disturbed, "Or we have a mole in our organization tipping him off. Shit!"

"When we have Stern we can squeeze him to find out." Giles said
unemotionally.

Nathan nodded and continued, "Yes, besides, assuming we tail him
somewhere it will be difficult to keep him under surveillance. Every time
he goes out, we would have to mount a tailing operation. No, if we can
nail him, let's do it.

I vote we tell Wallace just prior to his tryst and enlist his aid; there is no
need to go into detail - just tell him that we have received a tip. Duane is a
solid guy; truthfully, I would like to see he and Wallace together on a more
permanent basis. You are right, they must really have something nasty on
Duane, if not, he would never betray Wallace."

"Have you been to Duane's apartment? What's it like?" Giles asked.

"He is in an exclusive condo in Greenwich Village in Manhattan. The
building is relatively small, and used to be a factory and warehouse. A
decade ago, it was converted into six large luxury condos, and last year,
around the clock security was given up in favor of a sophisticated alarm
system. They are on the same block as a police station, so it made sense.
Duane's apartment is on the second floor in the rear. There is only one
other apartment on that floor, one on the first, two on the third, and an
enormous penthouse on the fourth floor. There is an eight-car garage in
the basement accessed from the street through part of the first floor. A key
controlled elevator from the garage stops at all floors, the elevator door
won't open on any floor without a key, or a signal from an apartment on
that floor. In addition, there is a controlled access stairway to all floors. A
closed circuit television system gives each apartment views of the stairs,
lobby, and elevator. One of the nice features of the three apartments on the
first two floors is that they have private access doors, in addition to the
lobby stairs and elevator. I know our company has plans for the building
and alarm system, because Wallace had us audit them for Duane last year."

"Can we get them today?"

"They're on our computer, I guess so. I'm not really an expert on finding
things in it, I usually ask our database expert..."

Tina and I said as one, "Thomas!" And I continued, "If you can get him
into your offices, he can find it."

"Who is he, he seemed nerdy to hang out with you guys."

"Some nerd, he cleaned your clock on the combat range yesterday. Of
course your sisters..." Tina let the phrase go unsaid.

I said rather disingenuously with a smile, "It was strange, 'Hayes Holding'
contracted with Lucent Technologies for electronic security expertise, and
he showed up. Imagine our surprise, our old friend from college, probably
the smartest guy I ever met, showing up with a large trailer full of Lucent's
electronic gear, access to satellites, and whatever."

"He is a hell of a good shot for a nerd, where did he pick that up?"

"Well he used to visit us while we were at Stevens." Tina said.

"Yeah, and he just showed up by accident."

"I think that's what happened." Tina said innocently - convincing no one,
much less Nathan.

The planning went on for another hour, and by the end of our discussion,
we had a decent plan. More importantly however, we were working
together as a trusted team. We let Nathan and Giles out near the
apartment, they checked Wallace, who was sleeping soundly. When
Nathan and Giles reached the street again, they went to meet with Thomas
and flesh out multiple felonies.

With Kyle driving our limo, led and trailed by the other two limos, Tina
and I set off for a strange meeting, in one of Manhattan's east side
brownstones. We should have been going in the opposite direction, had we
a clue to the events fate held for the family - very early tomorrow morning.

Chapter 33 - It's War Now

A "just war" is hospitable to every self-deception on the part of those
waging it, none more than the certainty of virtue, under whose shelter
every abomination can be committed with a clear conscience.

Alexander Cockburn (b. 1941)

Kyle double-parked Limo in front of the large eastside brownstone and we
got out, then Mark slid behind the wheel. Kyle stood with us on the
sidewalk while we waited for Joseph and Britt. In a minute, they joined us
from one of the chase cars. Britt was carrying the suitcase with the
electronic gear. Tina had briefed them while I said goodbye to Nathan, and
I realized they knew more about our meeting then I did. Tina had said with
a smile, "I just want to see your face as the meeting progresses."

We rang the doorbell; a female voice asked who we were. I noticed the
TV camera and realized she could see our party, it moved to each of us,
and its lens changed it's focus several times. I made a mental note to take
the security tape before we left. Tina responded, "Rachel Hunter and
party." I found out later that was Tina's working name while she was at
the whorehouse. Mike had renamed her Christina, and it stuck. It's a
funny thing about names; I couldn't see Tina with the name Rachel.

Within a minute, the inner door to the vestibule opened, then the outer
door. I almost did a double take, but Tina was watching me, so with an
effort I remained deadpan. The creature that greeted us was obviously a
large man, six-foot eight in heels and close to two hundred pounds. But he
was molded into a French maid's uniform by what must have been a
severely tight corset. The uniform was complete with short skirt, patterned
seamed stockings, and five inch heals. His white wig and heavy makeup
would have done a seventeenth century French courtesan proud. The
makeup was as effective as a mask, and I don't believe I would recognize
him without it - which was the point, I realized. He curtseyed, and bid us
to follow him.

He led us into a large well-appointed room, and indicating chairs,
curtseyed, and said in a falsetto, "Please make yourselves comfortable, the
mistress will be with you shortly. If you require anything my name is
Cynthia."

Kyle, Tina, and I sat in three of the six Queen Anne style chairs arrayed
about a coffee table. Joseph and Britt remained standing near the door.
The maid kneeled down, and placed his head on the floor, looking like a
follower of Islam at prayer. His naked butt was exposed, and stripes from
a recent whipping were plainly evident. Joseph looked at Britt shrugging
his shoulders as if to say, 'It takes all kinds.'

A slightly overweight woman and a slender, very pretty girl entered the
room from another door. The woman looked to be over thirty, and the girl
in her early twenties. Both had raven black hair, were dressed in black
leather pantsuits, silver mace belts, and were plainly wearing severe
corsets. Their jewelry was restricted to silver hoop earrings and they wore
thigh high stiletto-heeled boots. In a no-nonsense tone of voice the
heavyset woman commanded, "Cynthia, Mistress Betty is waiting for her
refreshment downstairs. Bring it to her instantly."

Cynthia was still kneeling, stood immediately, curtseyed saying, "Yes,
Mistress," leaving the room by backing out.

The slender girl embraced Tina warmly saying quietly, "It's so good to see
you, I didn't know what happened to you after we were freed," she stepped
back and continued, "This is my very good friend Vicky."

"Kathy, this is my sister Becky, Kyle is leading our security; Joseph and
Britt are two of Kyle's men. If you don't mind, they will sweep the room
for video and listening devices." Tina maintained a friendly smile but her
tone of voice permitted no argument.

Using Thomas' equipment, our two security men swept the room. In a few
minutes, they disabled three video cameras and four mikes, locating a rack
of VCRs in a closet, they removed the tapes. Britt placed a cube between
us, and I indicated the five of us should move our chairs together in a tight
circle.

Tina spoke first. "Kathy, Becky and I are here to offer you and Vicky an
opportunity to make a great deal of money, and Kathy, possibly enjoying
some payback at the expense of some mutual friends of ours. It will be
necessary to leave this work, and work at a facility we are setting up."

"Why should we move, this place is a goldmine, and we are well paid - not
to mention profit sharing and tips." Vicky said unabashedly.

"How much are you talking about?" I asked.

"Between us we cleared a couple of hundred thousand last year." Vicky
replied with a shrewd look in her eyes.

Tina replied, "I can guarantee you one half million each as a retainer. Plus
one hundred thousand for each of you for each client we bring you. In
addition, we will give you a living allowance, and provide your room and
board. At the end of your employment, there will be a bonus for never
mentioning your, or our activities. That agreement will be enforced."

"Dollars?" Kathy gasped.

"US dollars, and I would recommend they we deposit most funds directly
to your numbered accounts in Austria." Tina said with a smile.

"What makes you think we have accounts in Austria?"

Tina said a little sharply, "I did my homework Vicky, I also know you
declared eighty seven thousand of income to the IRS between the two of
you last year, and the rent on the apartment you share is thirty-seven-fifty a
month, plus assessments. Your average monthly credit card charges were
seven thousand six hundred, and as of yesterday you owed a combined
balance of just shy of eleven thousand. I could go on. This is an important
enterprise for us, and we will expect top drawer work and loyalty from
you."

"I know you Tina, and what we were forced to do together, but who are
you. I guess I should say, who do you represent." Kathy asked.

"We are with a large multinational conglomerate, and for now lets say we
want to provide special entertainment for some problem customers. Kathy,
the woman who rescued us, and arranged for your care and education until
you reached twenty-one, is now my mother."

"Tina, she did much more than that for me, she gave me a family - if they
hadn't been killed in a auto accident, I wouldn't have slid into this line of
work. Not that I'm complaining, I much prefer being in this end of the
whip. What do you say Vicky?"

"Sharon has been pretty good to me, I hate to leave her in the lurch. We
should give her some notice." Vicky said.

"We are prepared to give Sharon a fair monetary settlement for you in lieu
of notice. There are a few more things, you will live at the facility we
provide, we will buy out your apartment lease, and you will leave this place
with us tonight. We will arrange for your things to be brought to you or
put in storage. We also must ask that you break all ties with your present
friends for as long as you work for us, and sign binding non-disclosure
agreements. If you decide not to join us, we will give you twenty thousand
cash for your time tonight, and request you tell no one of our visit." I said.

"Is this illegal?"

"Perhaps, but we are the good guys on only seek justice." Tina said with
assurance.

Kathy leaned over and whispered something to Tina, Tina responded in a
whisper. Kathy leaned back and said seriously, "Count me in, this is
personal now."

"Well in that case, you better count me in too, I'm not about to leave
Kathy." Vicky said with feeling. Kathy gave her a warm hug.

"For Kyle and Becky's benefit, perhaps you would explain what you do
here." Tina asked.

"Our cliental is all wealthy, often powerful men and occasionally a woman.
The men pay to be dominated by women, often feminized, and punished.
The occasional woman client usually wants to dominate and punish the
men. In most cases, we do nothing that will 'show at work on Monday
morning,' so to speak. However, a few clients desire more lasting and
visible feminization. We are very careful not to exceed the clients wishes
and ability to handle pain, we don't want them dying of strokes or heart
attacks. We are not primarily into bondage or pain, but rather use those
tools to enhance the client's pleasure. Is that generally what you have in
mind for us to do for you?" Vicky concluded with a question.

"Generally, but you definitely won't be concerned with your subjects
wishes, your clients are Becky and I. We expect that the subjects will be
badly abused and feminized, but not killed, or tortured by extreme methods
- like crushing bones or burning of flesh. They definitely will not be ready
to 'resume work as usual Monday morning.'" Tina said with an evil smile.

"Would either of you have a problem with that?" I asked.

"If we strike back at the men I think we are, no problem whatsoever.
Speaking for myself, it will be my pleasure." Kathy answered.

"And you Vicky?"

"I have no problem with that - are you talking about the likes of Lord
Farnsworth and Goldman, Kathy has told me what they did to her."

"Goldman and Gunter died in Germany last month. I had forgotten about
Lord Farnsworth, but yes, we can easily add him to our list." Tina replied
levelly.

"Perhaps you would care to tour this facility?" Kathy asked.

We agreed and were all given masks, Tina and I were given vicious looking
riding crops - "for show" Vicky explained. I was pleased with the masks,
as I didn't want Tina or I to be recognized by a possible business associate.
It was a lucky thing too, as I spotted one Hayes executive, and a fellow
board member from a national charity.

Before we started on the tour, Vicky called Sharon (the owner.) She said
she would be right over and didn't ask why. "Things go wrong around here
occasionally, and it isn't wise to discus them on the phone. I wouldn't be
surprised if she shows up here with our lawyer - he's her husband, and
non-paying client." Vicky explained with a knowing wink.

I asked Britt and Joseph to wait in the office for Sharon and possibly her
husband, saying, "Be polite, but firm, they are to wait here and make no
phone calls." Kathy pointed out four more video tape recorders in a hidden
hall closet, and Britt confiscated those too.

We took an elevator up to the third floor; there were three men in little
girl's party dresses, another was in diapers playing with a mobile hanging
over his playpen. A woman in a starched white nurse's dress uniform was
supervising their play. She had a paddle on her lap, and it was clear why
the 'children' were playing so nicely. Several rooms on the floor were
decorated as little girl's bedrooms, complete with dolls and teddy bears.

The next floor down held eleven men in various types of bondage. The
most extreme was sitting on a stool, his leg's bound with leather belts at the
ankles and thighs, with his arms were behind his back in what looked to be
a very tightly laced arm binder. Vicky mentioned he was attached to the
stool via an expanding butt plug. All were gagged, some with cock gags.
Having personally experienced gags, I couldn't imagine why someone
would pay to have that done to him. Two were blindfolded, and several
smelled of urine and were lying on rubber sheets. She pointed out an
emergency button each could use in the event of emergency, and she
introduced us to Mistress Veronica who was overseeing them. She was
wearing high heal black boots, fish net stockings, a severe corset under her
belted black leather dress, and a rhinestone encrusted mask. There was a
computer on the table where Kathy said they kept track of each mans liquid
schedules, time in bondage, etc.

The first floor was given over to a kitchen, dining room, and offices. We
saw four men various types of maid's outfits, they were cooking, cleaning,
and polishing throughout the house. The whole house was scrupulously
cleaned and polished, and I could see why.

Downstairs was the dungeon, in contrast with above this place smelled
musty, of urine and sex - it was old and foreboding. Several men were tied
to tables, bent over sawhorses, or chained to a wall. One was dressed as a
girl, his clothes partially ripped from him, hanging by the wrists from ropes,
with only the toes of his high heels barely touching the floor. His back,
buttocks, and thighs were red and welted from a whipping.

Whoever created this place had a wonderful sense of theater, but the welts
on most of the men were quite real, although the skin wasn't broken. Two
Mistresses supervise this place, one was fucking a client with a dildo,
another was sitting on her helpless clients face being eaten out. We
glanced around; Kyle shook his head in wonderment to me, and then we all
trooped upstairs. Sharon and her husband were just entering from the
foyer door,

The meeting with Sharon was quite amiable - once we offered twenty
thousand, and were bargained up to twenty-five thousand dollar cash
settlement, in lieu of notice for Vicky and Kathy. And after we made it
plain that, they would not be working for a competing local business. That
was important to Sharon, as Kathy had been used prominently in their web
page and print advertisements - which in fact was how Tina found her.
Kyle made a call to our limo, and a short while later Cynthia escorted in
Samuel to us. He brought a briefcase with thirty thousand in cash.

As we were leaving, I said, "Sharon it was necessary for us to remove all
the video tape from your machines, I suggest you insert your second set of
tapes after we leave. We will return all of the security tapes after all traces
of our being there have been purged."

Walking us to the limo she nodded, saying, "That is okay I guess. Send the
masks back with the tapes please."

"We will." I said as we entered the limo, and a few seconds later drove off.

Kyle turned to me saying, "We have to pull over before we reach the
tunnel, to remove the covers from over our license plates."

"We have to stop by Kathy's place too." Tina responded.

We didn't have a chance to say much, as Kathy gave directions to their
apartment. It was only three blocks from the 'House of Domination,' as it
was called. We went upstairs with them, and helped gather enough clothes
for a week. Vicky pointed out to Kyle the things to be brought latter, and
he made notes. Kathy and Vicky changed out of their 'working uniforms,
with Vicky uttering a sigh of contentment as Kathy unlaced her corset.

Those items they wouldn't need immediately would be put in secure
storage. At Kyle's suggestion we kept our fancy masks on while in the
apartment building, there was video in the halls and lobby. Within thirty
minutes, Kathy and Vicky were in the Limo with us, heading for Patterson
(New Jersey.) "Any second thoughts Vicky?" I asked.

"No, as long as Kathy and I are together, I'm good - besides I kind of look
forward to disciplining our new subjects. I hated to hold back with the
sniveling clients we had." Vicky said. I looked at Kathy.

"No second thoughts, tell me about our subjects." Kathy asked.

"If all goes well, the first ones may be with us as soon as tomorrow, but it
might be Friday a week before we give them to you. Do you remember
Stern?"

"Oh that vicious cocksucker, he split my butt with that God damn plastic
sleeve of his, while Lord Farnsworth and that bitch of a wife of his video
taped my face - he said he would call it "A Study In Agony," and keep it
forever. I was thirteen then, but I remember. Yes, I remember Stern very
well. Did you say Goldman and Gunter are dead?"

"Yes, rumor has it large Pyrex but plugs had been rammed up their butts, a
day or so before they had a fatal automobile accident. Rumor also has it
their bodies were a mess before the accident, but the fire removed all
evidence of that. The newspapers concluded that they had been
homosexual lovers, and were fleeing after setting fire to the whorehouse
they ran - for the insurance money." Tina had a satisfied look on her face,
and then continued. "Your subjects will be men that were directly or
indirectly responsible for enslaving children to prostitution, and
blackmailing countless weak men."

"How long will we be responsible for our subjects?" Vicky asked.

"Several months to a year I would imagine, we want them well feminized
and submissive, but they don't have to be pretty. I don't see any necessity
for them to function as men ever again. They should be subservient too,
not just acting like Cynthia was, but ingrained into their character. If they
are broken and spineless that would be nice." Tina said.

"Do you remember Mastiff?" Kathy asked.

"Yes."

"He is working as a janitor now, and I have his address. He worked
occasionally for Sharon when we needed a very big ugly man for a scene,
and I am still friendly with him. All the beatings he took slowed his mind,
but he would be helpful managing our subjects. I know that he will be
pleased for the opportunity, he was treated as bad or worse then we were."

"I remember sneaking down to the dungeon with you, to put antiseptic
cream on his wounds, what was the name of that bitch that used to cut him
up with the flail?" Tina asked.

"Shit, she was Lord Farnsworth wife if I'm not mistaken, god she was an
awful woman. She caught me one time fixing up Mastiff, and tied me to
the sawhorse for a day. My pussy and legs were sore for a month. It's a
good thing that we were rescued soon afterwards, any more of that kind of
brutalization, and they would have made me a vegetable like some of the
others. What do you think of bringing in Mastiff?"

"Sounds good to me, but he will have to work in the same isolation as you.
Will that be a problem?"

"I don't think so, most people are still cruel to him because he is so ugly.
But he is really a gentle guy with me, he will be glad to see you also. He
still talks of you, and calls you his golden angel."

"Okay, tomorrow Kyle, or one of his men, will take you to see Mastiff."
Tina agreed.

Just as we pulled on to the Palisades Parkway Kyle received a distress call.
It was from the Nyack men that were watching the Charlie's house in
Englewood Cliffs. Gunshots were heard in and around the home, and two
of our six men were off net. We were normally ten minutes away with
traffic, but somehow we pulled into Daniel Drive, halting a hundred yards
down the street from the house in three minutes. By that time, Tina and I
each had a HK-P95 charged with 30 rounds of 9mm black tips. Our
earpiece radios automatically tuned into the watchers tactical net, and we
were wearing the newest 'all light vision' goggles. We told Vicky and
Kathy to stay in the car, Britt moved into the passenger compartment with
them from a chase car, George moved to the driver's seat, and Kyle exited
to take command of the deployment. The Tactical radio net came alive
with his orders and confirmations.

As soon as the Velcro of our bulletproof body armor was on, we moved
into the night toward the house. Our destination was a nearby car that I
recognized as one of our Mercedes, all the while keeping it between the
house and us. Britt wasn't happy about that, but we were his bosses after
all, we told him we were just going to check if anyone was wounded inside.
The snug suede skirts and heels hampered Tina and me, but we had trained
at Nyack in more restrictive garb, and the adrenalin pumping through our
systems compensated.

Two more of our men checked in on the net, reporting that they had set up
a sniper position covering the front and rear of the house. They would be
using Colt sniper rifles with all light sights. I could feel, rather than see
more men were moving into position around the house. We had brought
nine men. The two men standing off in the watch car, had to stay with the
car and keep in contact with Giles. Not counting Tina and I, seven men
were deploying around the house, and we could hear an occasional shot
from within the house.

Two more of the six men Giles originally had watching the house came on
net. Very softly, they reported, "Kyle, you out there?"

"Yes, sitrep?"

Even on the radio, you could sense the effort to keep their voices down,
"Ferret and Charles here, okay, in mudroom at rear of house. Two
opposition expired quietly, look like ninjas, oriental in ninja outfits anyway.
We counted eight total, may be more. We think that all we saw are in the
house now, we think the men guarding the house and in adjacent houses
took out more ninjas outside this house. Three local friendlies are in here
with us - two expired, one out with a head wound. Don't think the
opposition knows we are here in the house. The ninjas we killed don't
seem to have communicators. Random shots are coming from interior of
house, not coming in our direction. Go"

"Any night vision on ninjas Ferret? Go." Kyle asked.

"Yes, 2nd generation light amplification. Go."

"Roger, free."

There was a slight pause, "Greg, to report."

"Go!" Kyle responded.

"There are three four seat ATVs back here. Go."

"Disable, free"

We had opened the door to the Mercedes, "Flower to report." Tina spoke.

"Go!"

"Little Roger and Wilson expired in Mercedes."

"Get the devil back to the limo, now!" Kyle exclaimed.

I looked at Tina, she shrugged, and we returned to the limo. I did what I
should have earlier; I began to meditate, calming myself from the shock of
seeing our men dead. I was conscious of voices, but I deliberately tuned
them out and relaxed.

***
As one world receeded, the world of the portal formed in my mind, and
Becky stepped through. "Ah Nicholas, close to trouble again. What am I
to do with you, it is not yet your time to join me - don't take foolish risks
and come here before your time."

"Can you tell me what is happening in the house?"

"No," but as she said that, an image of the interior of the house ws forming
in my mind. She continued as if on another subject, "But I think your
revenge is most apporate. I love it. Daddy says there is more for you to
do, but he wants you to implement it on your own inicitive. Some here are
jealous of our closeness, but I tell them we were close in the womb and
have remained so. Daddy has tried to visit Jennifer, but she is too guarded,
and she never senses him."

"This won't get you in trouble, will it?"

"No, we are past trouble here. Do not worry. I have to go now - I love
and miss you Nicholas, but at the same time I am always with you."

"I love you Becky, I am so lucky to be able to see you."
***

As Becky walked through the portal, I became aware of Tina speaking to
me. "Are you alright, Becky, please answer me."

"Yes, I'm fine. Where is Kyle now?"

"Behind those trees." Tina pointed out a group of decorative trees fifty
yards or so from us.

I tightened my jaw to activate the transmitter in my ear, "Kyle, return to
command, go."

There was a pause, "Moving, free."

While Kyle was moving toward the limo, I set up the desk, and working
with the night vision sketched the interior of the house as Becky had shown
me. Under the bed, in what I assumed was the master bedroom, was a tiny
false room accessed through a trap door under the bed. Charlie, Jennifer,
and one other man were huddled in there. Charlie looked like he had a
radio in his hand, and there was a phone on the wall. Two other men were
positioned on either side of the blind hallway, apparently keeping five black
clad men at bay. This was all on the upper floor, and there was one black
clad man holding a radio at the base of the stairs. He was near the front
door, the pantry adjacent to the mudroom, seemed to be directly under the
small secret room. I guessed there must be an exit there too.

"Tina, get Nathan on the phone if you can."

"Okay." Tina punched Nathan's code on her PCS Phone. With that, Kyle
pilled in the back seat with us, surprising Vicky and Kathy, as they hadn't
heard my quiet message to Kyle, and they couldn't see in the dark limo
because there were no spare night vision devices.

"Kyle this is how I remember the layout of Charlie's house. Judging from
the interior gunfire, the location of his men holding off the attackers is here.
I'll bet Charlie has Jennifer holed up in the secret room under his bed. It
looks like it is close to where your two men are stationed in the mud
room." Kyle studied the crude sketch I made.

"Here's Nathan Becky," Tina handed me her phone.

"Hi, can you call your dad on the phone in the small room accessed by the
trapdoor under his bed?" I asked.

"Yes, I can even establish a three way."

"Do it, then I'll explain."

"If he answers it means..."

"Yes," Charlie answered in a whisper.

"This is Becky, Nathan is on the line too. We have seven men in position
around your house, and there are two of our men in the mudroom. Can
you get from the small hidden room into the pantry."

"Are you sure your men are there?" Charlie asked.

"Kyle, are our two men still in the mudroom?"

"Ferret, you still in the mudroom? Go."

I could hear Ferret through my earpiece, "Roger. Go"

""Do you see a pantry? Go."

"Roger, Go"

"Yes, they are still in the mudroom." I told Charlie.

"Ok, in twenty seconds we will be with them from the pantry."

"Ferret, this is Flower, Rose (Jennifer's code name) and two friendlies are
coming to you from a hidden room in the pantry, go." I said.

"Correct Kyle? Go." Ferret double checked.

"Roger, have Charles cover the interior."

"Roger. Go."

"Waiting, Go." Kyle said.

It was a long twenty seconds. "Rose and two friendlies exiting to outside
in ten seconds. Go."

Nine seconds later, "This is Walter have package outside, wait."

Three seconds later Walter resumed, "Friendly one will release sleepy gas
in interior fifteen seconds. Go"

"Out of there Ferret and Charles, go." Kyle command.

"Roger, go." Responded Ferret

"Ferret, Charles and one friendly wounded with me now. Go." Reported
Walter

"Walter bring party to Limo one, Go." Kyle commanded.

"Roger, ETA one minute, Go." Walter replied.

"Free." Kyle responded.

A minute later Charley and Jennifer piled in the rear of the limo. Tina
pulled Jennifer across our laps, and we hugged her. Kyle directed Charlie
to sit on the rear facing bench seat next to Vicky and Kathy, as he was
sitting next to us and there was no room on our bench seat. One of our
cars drove quickly past us bringing the wounded man to the hospital.

"Anybody, what's the situation." Charley asked.

I asked Nathan quietly if he could hear, he responded yes. Kyle spoke,
"We have four dead that I know of, two Nyack men in that car and two of
yours in the mudroom, there are two dead attackers in the mudroom, and
three at various outside locations. We have been monitoring local police
bands and apparently, no one has called 911."

"Jennifer, please go back to Nyack with Becky and Tina, I'll stay here and
clean up. Becky, can you spare Kyle and a few men to help me?" Charlie
said.

"Kyle, okay with me, any problems?"

"No, Giles is on his way here, he will pick you up on the Parkway. Britt
can drive the limo, and you will have two chase cars. Britt turn the limo
around, and I'll tell you when to go when I've organized the chase cars."

Kyle and Charlie got out of the limo and I could hear Kyle giving
assignments over the tactical net. Within three minutes, we were on our
way. I moved over and Jennifer slid between us, she held both Tina and I
to her tightly.

Kathy and Vicky had been quiet up until then, "Just what the hell was that
all about?" Vicky asked.

"One or more of your future subjects tried to kill or kidnap Jennifer, here,
and the man that got in the limo with her a moment ago. At least six men
died in the attempt." I replied.

"Christ, I didn't plan on getting into the middle of a shooting war. Let us
out near a phone, we'll call a cab and head back to Manhattan!" Vicky
demanded.

"We have met before, haven't we Jennifer?" Kathy said.

Tina spoke, "Kathy is no longer a saucy fourteen year old whore, but
Jennifer, you have met her during and after the raid on the whorehouse."

"Sorry it's pretty dark in here, I didn't recognize you at first. What are you
doing here?" Jennifer asked.

"Tina asked us to help out with the men responsible for the carnage back
there." It was dark, but I could see Kathy turn to Vicky and grasp her arm,
"Vicky, I intend to stay with Tina and help her fight those bastards. You
can go if you wish; when this is all over, we can get back together again."
Kathy said with an air of finality.

"Why, their fight isn't ours. It's been nearly ten years, let it go." Vicky
implored.

"No, you go. I'll find you when this is over."

"If you stay, I'll stay, I won't leave you with these mad people all alone."

"Kathy, you don't have to stay because of what I did for you, that was a no
strings attached deal. You have no obligation to me." Jennifer said.

"I'm staying because you made it possible by freeing me from slavery. I am
free now, and I choose to get back at those bastards with you. Trust me,
you leave them with me for a few months, and I'll give you back obedient,
docile, whores. Becky was right, it is perfect symmetry, poetic justice if
you will."

"Why don't you just kill the bastards, you have guns and men. Men were
killed tonight." Vicky asked.

I replied, "Just murdering them would be wrong, this is a better way. It's
my idea of revenge for what they did to Tina, my family, and yes for Kathy
- and all the others still in slavery. Vicky you are free to go, think about it
on the way to our home. I will have someone take you back to Manhattan
if you wish. This is a very dangerous enterprise we are undertaking."

During the half hour ride to Nyack, we spoke of the things we would need
we for Kathy's Dungeon. I kept a running list on my notebook computer -
manacles, whips, collars, corsets... the list went on endlessly. Speak to
Sandra about fast track hormone therapy. At the end of the drive Vicky
said, "Better have that sign made up as, 'Mistress Kathy and Mistress
Vicky's Dungeon Of Lost Hope.' I know more about this business than
anyone, and I'm in for the duration, I won't change my mind - besides I've
always wanted to be utterly merciless bitch. I fucking hate men!"

Over a light supper we agreed to make most of our purchases in London,
Vicky said the English understood dungeons, S&M devices, and restrictive
garments. One store at least, would give us twenty-four hour delivery on
made to order garments. We could find at least three or four stores that
could fill our other needs.

Best of all, we would set up our accounts with Goldman's money. Kathy
and Vicky would accompany us to London. After dinner, Jennifer said she
was tired, and asked Mrs. Hammer to show Vicky and Kathy to their suite
on the third floor. We walked up the stairs together as far as the second
floor, where our suits were, and bid goodnight to them.

Jennifer joined us in our sitting room; she hugged us saying, "I was so glad
to see you tonight. Someone close to Charlie betrayed him tonight. All the
emergency weapons, gas masks and night vision was missing from the
hidden caches in his house. We were fortunate some of his men were loyal;
they were able to buy enough time for help to arrive. How did you know
we were in trouble?"

"We are working closely with Nathan now, he agreed it would be a good
idea to have some Nyack men watch Charlie's house, kind of a reverse of
Germany. We didn't tell Charlie or his men, just watched. The two Nyack
men, who were killed, were in a car nearest the main road. They must have
been spotted, truthfully, I believe Giles put them in an obvious position,
and took pains to camouflage the other four."

I brought Jennifer up to date on Wallace, and our plans to nab Stern. We
talked over memorial services for our fallen men, and covered many other
items needing attention. It was after midnight when Jennifer left for her
suite.

Sometime very early Monday morning, Charlie joined Jennifer in her
bedroom. I guess he got a few hours sleep.

Chapter 34 - Netting Vermin
Where there is no imagination there is no horror.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930)

As planned Nathan and Wallace arrived at Nyack about eight, Mrs.
Hammer met them and brought them to our computer/sitting room where
coffee was set out. We joined them minutes later wearing bright dresses
and heels. Nathan said, "It's a crime to look so good this early in the
morning."

"Didn't get much sleep last night?" I asked.

"Yes and no, I'm very disturbed at what happened at dad's last night. Dad
didn't get us involved with the cleanup, but I knew two of the men who
were killed just about all my life. It's very troubling." Wallace said sadly.

"It's a mess, I'm just glad that dad and mom are okay. However, if these
attacks keep up it's only a matter of time before one succeeds. Becky, do
you want to go thorough with that thing today?"

"More than ever..." I started to reply, as Jennifer knocked on our door.
Seconds later Charlie and she entered, Charlie was wearing a bathrobe, and
Jennifer a peignoir set - I winked at Tina. Tina smiled and rose to move
another chair into our circle. Charlie picked one up by the door and joined
us. Going clockwise around our little table, it was Wallace, Tina, Charlie,
Jennifer, Nathan, and I. I pointed to Thomas' cube and said, "If we talk
softly, that will prevent our being heard."

"Thanks for last night Becky, you pulled our bacon out of the fire very
neatly." Charlie said pausing, "How did you know about the secret room,
it appears on no plans."

"I do my homework, but it was blind dumb luck we were close enough to
help. Giles men deserve the credit, they did all the work." I wasn't about
to tell them Becky told me, even Tina thought she was a figment of my
subconscious.

"Somebody in my organization is a traitor, I was hoping they would have
run, but whoever it is a cool customer because I know where all my men
are. It could only be one of a dozen men, no one else has access to my
home. The outgoing communications was knocked out and our radios
jammed. I'll find him, but until then my normal organization is effectively
neutralized."

"It's possible the guilty man isn't aware he is guilty. The Cartel has at least
one first class doctor with credentials as a hypnotist on the payroll." I
looked at Tina and she shrugged, Nathan did too, so I continued, "Charlie,
we have found one too. Wallace, this is going to be difficult for you - but
last Saturday we removed some eavesdropping devices and location
beacons from your body. After that procedure, you were hypnotized with
drug augmentation. Tina, Nathan, and I were present throughout the entire
procedure. Charlie, until this minute, Wallace not aware this was done to
him."

"Jesus Christ, Nathan, is she telling the truth?" Wallace exclaimed. Charlie
narrowed his eyes, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten
degrees.

"'Fraid so bro, I didn't know what they were going to do beforehand, but I
was there when they did it. Dad, this isn't Wallace's doing - he was set up."
Nathan added.

"When we went into the stables, I didn't hit my head, did I?" Wallace
asked.

"Nope, you were drugged with a dart gun - slicker than duck shit too.
Your blood was pumping a mile a minute into your brain from the run, and
the effect of the hypnotic was instantaneous. They had everything ready;
tell them the whole story Becky."

I thought, 'thanks bro,' the thing was, when we planned this meeting, we
sure didn't plan for mom and dad to be present. So, I said, "I will in a
minute Nathan, Wallace will you come with me?"

I think Wallace was in a state of shock, but he got up and came into the
bedroom with me. "Wallace, you told us about Duane on Saturday. Not
only that, but while you were hypnotized Saturday, you told us that while
at Duane's apartment Stern had you hypnotized. While hypnotized you
told him things about you Dad's company."

"Are you telling me the truth?"

"Yes, I have the recording of your recollection of Stern's interrogation."

"Shit, I might just as well kill myself, dad will if I don't."

"Don't be foolish, lets get it all out on the table. Jennifer and your dad will
understand, hell they know Goldman had me in a whorehouse for a month -
men had their way with me. Jennifer will see to it that your dad
understands, I told her some of this last night.

And no, rest easy, you didn't say anything that caused or aided the raid last
night. You did tell us how to catch Stern and the Doctor who hypnotized
you."

"You don't understand, this is different, Duane and I have had a long term
consensual relationship."

"Don't you really want to be open about that with your dad? I mean, deep
down in you heart, don't you want his acceptance, maybe approval?"

"Yes, but..."

"Look we are all family out there, but if you want I will just tell them a
redacted version. Look, Tina and I promised to try to help you, we will
keep our promise. What's it to be?"

Almost two minutes went by, for a while I thought he would cry, but then
he said, "Tell the whole truth to them, I don't want to live like this any
more. He may not like it, but that's his problem."

I gave him a big hug, and he clung to me for a minute. "One more thing,
Duane was forced to betray you, try to get him to help you tonight. It will
go a long way toward easing his conscience, if you guys love one another,
you have to get past this."

"This is a god damn mess."

"Yes, so let's fix it." I said as we rejoined the family.

For the next hour, I played portions of Wallace's recorded testimonial
under hypnosis. All us siblings answered uncomfortable questions from
mom and dad - but in the end, there was acceptance of our plan. There
was even the beginning of understanding, if not approval between Charlie
and Wallace. We took a short nature break and Charlie took me aside
saying, "That conversation needed to happen, thank you."

"Thank Wallace, it was his decision."

"You're you mothers daughter, Christ, but you are a piece of work." I
hoped that was a compliment.

He was shaking his head as he moved toward the bathroom. I called Giles
and Kyle and they joined us for a session to plan the attempt to snatch
Stern tonight. At the end, we planned a quiet funeral service for our two
fallen men, and agreed to ship their bodies back home to England. One of
Tina's and my duties while in Great Britain will be to visit the families and
express our condolences.

It was after noon when we broke for lunch, and then Nathan, Wallace,
Kyle, and Giles went to the large stable to brief and rehearse the men. Tina
and I felt badly that we would have no part tonight. However, Giles
argued that it would be difficult enough doing the snatch, without worrying
about our safety. We sulked a little in our rooms, but then began working
on Hayes business. Jennifer came in and looked over our shoulders for a
few minutes, and then disappeared with Charlie. The hours passed quickly,
we just finished when the courier from Manhattan brought another pile of
work, and took the work we had completed.

We had dinner with Jennifer and Charlie, but everybody seemed lost in
their own thoughts. We went back upstairs and did a few more hours of
work. I was sitting back, reflecting on a particularly nasty decision, to
approve the closing an electronics plant in Oklahoma or not, when my PCS
phone rang. It was Giles; he said simply, "The package with a bonus is in
Leonia." I looked at Tina saying, "They have Stern and company. Her
eyes lit up and she leapt onto my lap for a prolonged hug, one that evolved.

She felt my excitement and said, "Later, I need you badly too - for now
let's tell Jennifer."

Before I joined her, I attached a note to the Oklahoma packet. "Find
something we are outsourcing to make in that plant, charge the tooling and
retraining to a Hayes Holding capital account -set one up for the purpose.
See if the state or federal government will offset part of the expense, make
damn sure the employees and town knows what we are doing - and why!
Get the employees involved in the selection of the new product. If
necessary, I can be made available to talk to the people."

Jennifer and Charlie were playing gin in her sitting room. As soon as Tina
told Charlie, he started to leave.

"Hey, give us a minute and we will join you!" Tina said.

Charlie turned to us, "That wouldn't be wise. If they have someone
watching this place, a cavalcade this time of night would lead them directly
to Stern."

"So we will go in one car, nobody will expect that."

"Too risky, look, after the chemical interrogation we are going to turn
them over to your girls by, probably by Sunday a week. We will record
everything just like you did in Germany, they are sedated now, and we plan
to keep them sedated and isolated in water for sensory deprivation the
entire time. Nathan, Giles, Thomas, and Dr. Marshal can be your eyes. I'm
going to slip out of here disguised as one of the gardeners. By the way, if
Wallace did a good job tonight, I'm going to leave him in charge of Eyesco.
"

"Great, Wallace is too much of an asset to loose. What will your new
songbirds be like when you turn them over to Kathy?"

Tina said, "They will be pretty weak and disoriented when the get out of
the water, if I remember what I've read on the procedure. Is that true?"

"Very weak and disoriented, sometimes it takes the better part of a day to
walk." Charlie replied.

"Good," Tina said, "Just the right condition, for Kathy and Vicky to start
them on their new lives."

Charlie shrugged, "Whatever, I'll call on the PCS if anything substantive
turns up."

Then he turned and left for the seventeen-mile drive to Leonia. We
expected he would stay most of the week supervising Stern's, and more
importantly now, Doctor Walter's debriefings. They were being kept in a
penthouse apartment in Leonia - a hideout secretly owned by the late and
unlamented Mr. Goldman. The specialized equipment required had been
brought in earlier in the day by Giles' men - Charlie didn't know which of
his men to trust. Neighbors noticed, and wondered if they would see more
of the new occupants, than the old. Of course, the private elevator from
the garage to the penthouse, made meeting the new neighbors a chance
affair.

Jennifer said, "Sit down girls." As we were sitting down, she called down
to Mrs. Hammer and asked her to come up.

"Charlie thinks I'll be safer here, but I want you two to keep managing
Hayes as you have. As far as anyone in Manhattan is to know, I'm still
missing and haven't been seen since the ambush in Germany."

"Obviously the Cartel knows. Why Hide?" Tina asked.

"Well they can't be certain I've been found."

"Why let the bastards escape? They killed some of our men!" Tina asked.

"True, but what were we to do with them. We can't afford to get the
police involved yet. Charlie is truly a devious bastard sometimes; he
figured that since none of the men who attacked his house actually saw me,
they could be used to convey a false message. Without realizing it, they
were tagged with some of Thomas' little wonders while unconscious, and
then were allowed to escape a few hours ago. Further, they were allowed
to overhear a discussion between two of the men Charlie trusts. It was to
the effect that they had been led into a trap in an attempt to capture Stern,
because we wanted to talk to Stern in order to determine my whereabouts.
Charlie doesn't know if it will work, but he feels it will increase the 'fog of
war' surrounding whomever the Cartel has managing the attacks against us.
Even though they are just hired thugs, Thomas can track their whereabouts
using Lucent Satellites, plus Guiles can detect them if they come within a
thousand meters of here."

"Good, it can't hurt. Cheaper than feeding them." I quipped, and was
rewarded by a chuckle from Jennifer. Tina clearly would still like to burry
them under a ton of concrete!

Mrs. Hammer knocked and entered immediately. She came over to
Jennifer and hugged her saying, "God it's good to see you, and we were so
worried. Come down and see Robert when you have a minute, he was on
pins and needles the whole time you were gone."

Jennifer hugged her, and after almost a minute said, "You have no idea
how glad I am to be home, I love you all, you are part of my family you
know. That's why I want to speak to you. All our lives could depend on
keeping secret the fact I am here. After the attack on me Sunday, Charlie
feels that this is the most defensible place I can stay. But that also means if
our enemies find out I'm here, we could be attacked.

Between us, the attack the other night cost not only two of our Nyack
men's lives, but five of Charlie's men also died protecting us. Not to
mention eight of the attackers were killed. The reason we were able to
hold out until Kyle's men arrived was a stroke of luck. The two men
leading the attack were killed early on, and the underlings, not knowing
that, were waiting for instructions.

We have more trusted men here, but there is nothing to stop a mortar or
rocket attack. After all, shoulder-launched rockets were used against us in
Germany."

Mrs. Hammer said thoughtfully, "The household staff is now down to
seven, and all of them live on the grounds. Since Germany, Giles halted all
deliveries to the house. His men purchase everything we need, and bring it
to the house. Since Max retired last year, there are no more true
groundskeepers, Giles' men do all that work. Since you have been home,
none of the staff has left the grounds."

"That's good, but I can't demand that the household staff become prisoners
in this house." Jennifer replied.

"No, but all those people have been with us for at least ten years. If we lay
the situation out to them forthrightly, I believe they will voluntarily stay on
the grounds while the danger is imminent. They all are very good about
keeping family business to themselves, and I believe they all can be trusted
to so in the future." Mrs. Hammer said with conviction.

"I hate to bring this up, but all of us, including Jennifer will have to
undergo comprehensive medical exams on a periodic basis. Do you
remember Wallace, from last Saturday?" I asked.

"Yes, he was a real hunk. Robert threatened to lock me up the next time
he called."

"Well, tell Robert he can rest easy. Wallace is not attracted to pretty girls
like us." Tina said with a smile.

"Wallace had undergone a interrogation while under drugs, and had
advanced listening devices implanted in his body. All this was done
without his knowledge, in less than two hours. We have to screen all of us
to detect such invasions of our bodies." I continued.

Jennifer looked thoughtful, and then said to Mrs. Hammer, "I know you
have suspected for some time, but Charlie and I are married, and those two
young men are his sons. That makes them Tina and Becky's brothers."

"Ahh, I knew it. I told Robert after that no good Mike died that you had
married Charlie Marsh - I remember how you looked when you two were
in college. It was kismet! You can't avoid your fate. Will he be living here
now?"

"I hope so Irma, if we weren't in such danger there would be no question.
Our adversaries now know the connection between his company and
Hayes, so there is no reason why we can't publicly acknowledge our
marriage. In fact we may reaffirm our vows, only have most people believe
it is our wedding."

"I will talk with the staff, may I tell them you will speak to them also?"

"Certainly, I will speak to any of them individually at any time too. You
know I have always been available."

"I will take care of it, would you like a snack before bed?"

"No, thank you. Tina, Becky?" We said no, and Mrs. Hammer left.

"What's Charlie going to do about Wallace?" I asked.

"I don't know. I recommended that he have Wallace run the day-to-day
business of Eyesco, and Nathan take responsibility for the research and
investigative operations. He is not prepared yet to give them a free reign
as I have you - I'm afraid he didn't prepare them as thoroughly as I did you.
I believe he has come to terms with Wallace's sexual orientation, he doesn't
like it, but he is reconciled. I personally would rest easier if the boys were
more open with him." Jennifer said.

"I think Nathan will work out fine, I have no concern's about him. He has
a girlfriend he is very serious about, and he hopes that Wallace will be able
to have an open relationship with Duane. Should that happen he feels his
responsibility to support Wallace emotionally will diminish, and he will
marry Nancy. I think Charlie should consider a good title and routine
responsibility for Wallace, but have the real power in Nathan's hands.
Nathan will always have the stronger character." Tina said.

"I concur, Nathan's character is the stronger. But Wallace is extremely
capable, there is no reason why they can't work together like Tina and I,
playing to each other's strong points." I added.

"There is one, excess testosterone." Jennifer wryly observed. "With that
sexist remark I believe I will retire, have a good night girls."

Tuesday morning found Tina and I in Manhattan by seven AM, we had a
whole series of meetings with COOs (Chief Operating Officers) of several
Hayes subsidiaries planned for the day. There was so many backed up, that
Tina and I met separately with different COOs. These were the difficult
meetings - the easy ones were handled by videoconference. Some of the
meetings were very difficult as the subsidiaries were in trouble, and nobody
likes 'come to god' meetings, least of all us. But it comes with the territory.
It was after seven before we left Manhattan, and was the first time we had
to ourselves all day, but we were so bushed Tina laid her head on my lap
and took a nap. I wasn't far behind her, nestling my head into the headrest.
Because a nasty accident on the George Washington Bridge, it was nine
before we reached home

Kathy and Vicky had waited for us, and we enjoyed Chef Robert's patented
pasta with veal medallions in hunter sauce, served with an exquisite Caesar
salad and homemade crusty French bread. It was their first opportunity to
fill us in on their progress. On Monday our resident mistresses looked at a
series of properties with Maxwell and Britt, they had settled on one, which
they leased with an option to buy this morning. They used false names and
ID supplied by Nathan, and paid for it with a draft drawn on one of
Goldman's secret accounts. They spent the day planning their new facility,
and making a list of what they would need for each room.

They weren't aware of it, but while Britt and Maxwell escorted them, four
other of our men in three cars provided protection in depth. Giles' logistic
expert approved the facilities location, it was reasonably isolated, adaptable
to electronic security and intrusion alarms, and close enough to our normal
routes to permit unnoticed visiting by us. No interest in the girl's activities
was detected.

Also today, a messenger returned the videotapes and masks to Sharon.
She gave him a complimentary letter thanking the girls and us for our
courtesy. She added that she would eagerly accept the girls back in her
employ, should they desire to return in the future.

Kathy said, "No way, this is our last gig."

Vicky said nothing, but it was clear to me that she didn't agree.

It was ten thirty by the time we finished a desert of brandied strawberries,
and all Tina and I wanted was to get our damn business suits and bra's off.
But Mrs. Hammer asked us to stop by Jennifer's room before bed. Jennifer
was waiting for us with Charlie; he was scowling as she had just gone gin
on him. "Tough day at the office kids?" Jennifer asked with a pleased
smile on her face.

"Does it show?" Tina asked.

"A little, we won't take long." Charlie smiled.

"What's up?" I asked as we seated ourselves.

"The trap on Monday bagged more than we expected. First off, I have to
tell you your men impressed the hell out of me. Thomas set up two
holographic cameras, so we have the entire takedown on DVD.
Apparently, the Cartel has its headquarters in Chicago, and in addition to
Stern, they sent a member of the board to try to find out went wrong in
their raid Sunday night. So, we bagged him too. So far, he has resisted
our efforts to question him, but Dr. Marshal hasn't given up. Did you
know Marshal worked as a contract specialist for the CIA?"

I shook my head, and he continued, "Stern is talking and he told us
Fredrick is working for them, at first, it wasn't clear whether they were
bribing him, blackmailing or what. Dr. Walters cracked this morning and
admitted to hypnotizing Fredrick and controlling him through phone
conversations. There is a tape recorder in the executive ladies room,
because they knew you often talked to Jennifer and each other there. We
are going to pick up Fredrick tomorrow and Dr. Marshal is going to have a
go at him. Hayes Security may have missed the bugs for whatever reason;
Thomas is going there tonight to sweep the place.

I'm ashamed to say the traitor in my organization was simply bribed, they
found he had a gambling problem and saw to it that he got in over his head.
I'm just going to watch him for now, and see if somebody attempts to
contact him. I also can't say for sure that he is the only one.

You are still going to London tomorrow?"

"Yes, we are going with Vicky and Kathy, I manufactured a reason to go
there. We will attend a Board Meeting at Hayes Nuclear, but I really
wanted to meet Nigel and the eight men he had recruited to provide
security for Kathy's little project."

"One name that keeps coming up in Stern's interrogations is Lord
Farnsworth. Apparently, he is persona non grata in this country, child
molestation, and torture. I'm getting the official file, but my contact at MI5
said he was on a diplomatic passport, and the powers to be over there were
quite embarrassed by the whole affair. My contact in MI5 also indicated
the British government wouldn't look very hard for him, should he and his
wife disappear. To quote my MI5 contact, "They play with a very rough
crowd, and are heavy into S&M on the dominant side, and shit happens to
people like that - listed or not.""

"Say no more daddy, he is added to our shopping list. Let us know how
you want him shipped back here, if he is there now, he'll be here next
week." Tina said leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that he would be.

"You know him?" Jennifer asked.

"Yes, from way back, so does Kathy."

"Can you run an objective operation Tina?" Charlie asked.

"You better believe it daddy, it's a very cold plate and trust me this is one
turkey who will be sliced and diced to a fair thee well. But trust me, it will
take months, if not years. Let me tell you just one reason why. When
Kathy was thirteen she helped a man you will meet, his name is Mastiff,
and he had been tortured. He was flailed until his back, butt, and legs were
like hamburger. She was caught applying first aid cream to his back. Lord
Farnsworth's wife Tiffany, put Kathy on a torture device called a sawhorse,
and left her on it for over twenty-four hours."

Seeing Jennifer's questioning glance, Tina explained, "She was hung by the
wrists from a chain attached to the ceiling, then made to straddle the
sawhorse, and the chain's height was adjusted so that her toes cleared the
floor. The Saw horse was adjusted so it almost touched her crotch, and the
chain to the ceiling was lowered enough to transfer her full weight to the
balls of her feet, but still held her in place with her arms raised. Her ankles
cuffed loosely to eyes in the floor so she couldn't lift her legs over the
horse. It's positively diabolical.

They did it to me as part of a show, but I was only on it for an hour. At
first, it's not too bad because, even at thirteen, I was used to heels and
could stand on the balls of my feet. But them my calves began to tire, if I
relaxed the wooden bar hurt my crotch after a short while. Then my calves
and legs began to cramp; well you know how painful that is. When they
brought Kathy upstairs she was rubbed raw and bleeding, and you know
what?"

"What?" Jennifer and Charlie asked in unison.

"I heard Gunter charged Lord Farnsworth an extra five thousand dollars
for damaging Kathy, which he paid with a laugh. Kathy remembers, and is
in no hurry to shorten Tiffany or his Lordship's stay with her."

"I'll look into how best to get them into this country. I'd like a few days to
question him, then Kathy can have him. That okay with you?"

"Yes, just don't kill them, okay daddy?" Tina asked, but it sounded more
like a command.

"Are you appending this information to the database we started with
Goldman?" I asked.

Charlie replied, "Yes, and Thomas has entered it into something he calls a
neural network analysis tool. I don't understand how he told me it works,
but the result will be a series of associations and suppositions for us to
test."

We talked for several more minutes, bid goodnight, and then took a long
soak in our hot tub with the whirlpool on high. For once, Tina was
sleeping soundly in the time it took me to fold our suits for the cleaners.
Minutes later, I followed her example.

Tina challenged me to a game of tennis after a light breakfast, and Vicky on
Kathy joined us for an hour of doubles. Kathy was graceful, but a tennis
novice. Vicky was strong, but was also a poor player. Since the first set
was so one sided we swapped partners. Kathy and I against Tina and
Vicky, the result was more even and we split the next few sets, wearing out
the two novices in the process. Tina and I played a few singles sets to
complete our workout, and then cooled down with an aerobic tape and
swim with our guests.

They went to their rooms to change, and then to spend a few hours
double-checking their lists at the Training Facility, or TF for short. Kathy
made sure the contractors knew what was required. One contractor was
starting to make the rooms secure, Lucent was installing the electronic
systems, and several of Giles' men were painting and doing yard work -
besides providing security. The TF was costing the dead Mr. Goldman
almost eight million to be whipped into shape - almost one million was in
bonuses to the contractors for on time completion. I hoped he appreciated
it.

After dressing, Tina and I began working. We documented our meetings
yesterday, outlined the necessary letters on our computers, and then
transferred the encrypted files to Marsha. Checking my email, there was a
note from Marsha mentioning Fredrick was ill. I pointed it out to Tina and
she commented, "Ill at the Leonia Hilton, I really hope he comes out of this
clean, I'd hate to find out he had willingly complied."

"Me too, Marsha has been breaking in Gloria and Howard, but they are a
long way from knowing the job like Fredrick."

About one we broke for lunch, we found Jennifer in the sunroom where
she was relaxing nude in the artificial sunlight. I gave her a wolf whistle
saying, "That bod is in great shape, been working out?"

"Five bucks says she's trapping a man." Tina teased.

Jennifer giggled, "He is already trapped, I just want to remind him why.
Have you eaten?"

"No, come on. We called down and Chef Robert is laying on one of his
fabulous salads served with fresh tomato and garlic focaccia bread."

Jennifer donned a body suit and a graceful white dress reminiscent of a
Grecian creation one sees on ancient statues. As was our custom, we ate
with whatever staff was on lunch break, about halfway through Kathy and
Vicky joined us. Soon we were alone with them, Kathy said, "I can't
believe it, but I actually believe all the work will be completed by next
Wednesday. This must be costing you a fortune!"

"Costing the late unlamented Mr. Goldman a fortune, you mean." Tina
responded with a big grin. "Are you all packed for London?"

"No, we are going to do it now. I got to tell you, as someone who has
never traveled further than Disney world in Florida, I'm psyched! I've
always wanted to travel, I'm kind of a romance buff, and love historical
novels set in England and France. Now I'm going there!" Kathy was
flushed with excitement.

"Well don't pack too much, we will probably shop at least one day for
ourselves, and Jennifer has given us a list of things to pick up for her.
Typically we come home with a few more suitcases more than we leave
with." Tina advised.

"What a heavenly thought." Vicky sighed. "By the way thank you, I wired
our attorney in Vienna, and he responded that our retainers have been
deposited. It's a lot of money, I hope our results will live up to your
expectations."

"You can expect more payments, we have your first four subjects in hand,
they are being questioned and softened up for you as we speak. If all goes
well they will be in your care by next Friday."

I didn't mention they were given medications in addition to being
questioned. Specifically they were receiving shots to chemically
emasculate them quickly, and specially buffered female hormone implants
in the breast area, coupled with high potency female hormone injections.

The flight to London was a typical redeye, but BOAC first class is truly
first class and we managed at least five hours sleep. Nigel met us with the
limos and security. He greeted me warmly as always, and I him. After all,
almost ten years ago, we had saved each other's lives - and that's a very
special bond. Tina and I went to the offices of Hayes Nuclear directly,
while Kathy and Vicky continued downtown to the Grosvenor Square
Marriott where our rooms were booked under aliases. With our security,
we had a block of ten rooms, effectively taking over the end of one floor.

Brenda and Mary, two of our security people, were made up to resemble
Tina and I, were checked into a suite in the Marble Arch Marriott. When
we left the Hayes Nuclear offices later in the day, they left ahead of us in a
Limo for George Street and their hotel, and we left a few minutes later in a
Mercedes for our hotel wearing dark wigs and tan pantsuits. The switch
was made in the ladies room, two blonds wearing blue suits with
fashionably short skirts, walked in followed by two brunets in tan pants
suits. A few minutes' later two blonds walked out in blue suits. A few
minutes later, two brunets walked out in tan. Both pairs seemed to be
attired as they had entered. The switch went without a hitch, and soon we
were having a cocktail with Kathy and Vicky at the hotel. We hoped in
this way to have some freedom moving about the city.

They had visited the shops on their list, and spent a hundred and fifty
thousand of Goldman's money. Martin, a London based logistics expert on
the security staff, arranged shipping per Charlie's instructions. In addition,
they set up accounts in two shops providing all manner of custom garments
made to order and shipped in one day. They would be shipped to a dummy
address, and picked up by our people and delivered to the TF.

We were all tired, so after dressing for dinner, we walked with Nigel and
three of his men to Le Gavroche. It is a fine establishment featuring haute
cuisine, located down the street from the still extraordinarily ugly American
embassy. We sat around a square table, barely adequate for two people to
sit side by side, but the forced intimacy made it fun. I do believe I saw
sparks between Vicky and Ian Simmons, one of our London based security.
He was a burly Welshman about six two, and looked to be in his late
thirties. After Nigel, he was senior security man in Britain. I wondered if
he had any idea what was Vicky's idea of fun with a man.

Dining completed, we walked for about a half hour and returned to the
hotel to retire. Tina and I were asleep by eleven, and enjoyed a sound
nights rest. Kathy couldn't wait to confide that Vicky and Ian hadn't slept
as long as the rest of us. When we were alone, I asked Tina, "I thought
Vicky and Kathy were an item, Kathy didn't seem upset."

"I think they are bi, many professional girls are, mainly because so many of
the men are shits. The girls kind of take comfort from one another. When
we were younger, Kathy and I slept together whenever possible, we
sometimes made love, but that wasn't the nexus of our relationship. We
cared for each other, and even if it wasn't effective all the time, we looked
out for each other. I still feel a sense of responsibility for her, and now that
she is back in my life, I hope we can help her find a better life when this is
all said and done."

"Of course, I'll help in any way I can." I promised.

After breakfast, we spent the day shopping, much to our security men's
discomfort, especially in the lingerie stores. It was plain even to the other
men Vicky was teasing Ian. Tina had checked, and passed on the
information Ian was divorced and presently unattached to Vicky. Many of
the stores we patronized provided a very high level of service, at a
correspondingly very high cost. But since this was on Goldman, God curse
his soul, we indulged even more than usual. Several of the sales people
were upset by our choice of colors, and we had to confide our true hair
color to put them at ease.

For dinner, Tina and I split off on our own with Nigel and four men to
meet the actual reason we were in London. I planned to set up a separate
security for TF. I really didn't want to expose our regular men to the
perversion I intended to inflict on Stern - and any Cartel senior executive
we could capture. Nigel and I had a few private moments and I told him
we had captured Stern, and an outline of what was in store for him. Nigel
loved it. He would come back with us and act as a liaison between Giles
and TF.

The West End bar we entered was dark, smelly, and filthy. The Glock
9mm pistol in my handbag comforted me, as well as the freedom afforded
by designer jeans, and relatively low heals of my steel toe boots. A glance
at Tina showed we shared the same feelings. We walked quickly to the
rear and entered a curtained room. It was a little smoky and eight men
were arrayed around a large card table. A tall man, with pale blue eyes
stood. Several scars marred his otherwise ruggedly handsome face. His
unruly black hair threatened to spill over into his eyes, which never left
Nigel. "Welcome to my humble office. Nigel lad, are these two our new
employers."

For the first time his eyes shifted to us, and he unabashedly looked us over
thoroughly. We just as coolly looked him over. "Please sit, and have a
pint with us," indicating three chairs.

Nigel placed three of Thomas' cubes on the table; the LEDs blinked for a
moment, then came on solid green. "As long as those stay green we can
speak freely."

"I'm Tom O'Flyn, pleased to meat you. Going around the table this is Bill,
Sean, Mike, Colin, Eddie, Wasp, and Jimmy."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Tina replied smiling. "I'm Tina and
this is my sister Becky. Thank you for introducing your men."

"Yes, these are my boys - we are the last of a breed." He laughed wryly,
"Or so we like to think. Nigel tells me the job is in the States, this could be
a problem, due to certain past indiscretions."

"I have been advised of their nature, and I believe we can have that record
cleaned in the United States - if your boys are loyal to us." The issue
actually derived from crimes committed in Ireland, but covered under
terrorist accords between Great Britain and the United States. In return for
a certain raid on behalf of the MI5, in which two thirds of Tom's men were
killed or wounded, the survivors were granted an unofficial pardon for past
sins - if they kept their noses clean and didn't return to Ireland. They were
presently having a hard time of it, as their skills did not encourage normal
employment. "Not only can we get you United States citizenship, but we
can provide you with a nest egg to get a fresh start. We will help you find
employment in the States if you desire it. That is after one year in our
employ." I concluded.

"Who do we have to kill?" Tom asked.

"Hopefully nobody, but quite possibly many. You will act as security for a
very unusual facility, which in itself is illegal. We have certain connections
with the authorities and they are not really a concern - but we are
concerned with attacks by a rival organization." I replied.

"If it's drugs you can forget us, we won't dirty our hands." Tom replied
without hesitation.

"It is not drugs, in fact it's a sort of prison where powerful criminals who
are above the law will be punished. You and your men will be expected to
protect our workers from the inmates, and if their friends get wind of
where they are being held - from them. This is a dangerous high-risk job;
last Saturday one of our homes was attacked with the aim of kidnapping
my father and mother. Seven of our men and eight of the attackers were
killed in the surprise attack. One of daddy's trusted men betrayed him.
That traitor will be one of the inmates you will guard, should you join us,
you will see his punishment for disloyalty is unusually harsh." I explained
as coolly as I possibly could.

"Nigel contacted us long before last Sunday and provided us with a
stipend. He explained it was to be used to survive until needed."

"This was planned for some time, that traitor is merely one of several
inmates. Does this sound like the sort of thing you would do?" I said.
Actually, Nigel had two similar groups of Europeans under option, in
reserve for exceptionally dirty assignments.

Tom turned to his men and spoke to them in Gaelic; at least I think it was
Gaelic. The spoke with some give and take for several minutes. He turned
to us and said, "We are of a mind to do it. And what will the pay be?"

"Each of you will receive a bonus at the end of a year of $250,000 dollars,
should you be wounded we will pay your medical and hospital expenses, if
you are disabled you will collect the bonus, if you are killed your bonus will
be paid to the person you designate. We will pay for your food and board
plus a thousand a month spending money. For completion of certain other
assignments, you will be paid additional amounts, depending on their
difficulty and risk. You will be free to accept or reject them as they come
up, not all of you will asked to perform every assignment. If you have
dependants, talk to Tom and we will provide a reasonable stipend for them.
Any other questions?"

They spoke in Gaelic for almost ten minutes; Tom made notes on a pad of
paper. He made some calculations and said, "All but two of the men have
wives, or family they would like to support. All are presently in Ireland
and really require two thousand U.S. a month to live decently. In most
cases they wonder if it would be possible to bring them over after the year,
I mean legally."

"Okay, how is this. I will make your salary three thousand five hundred a
month, we will send two thousand five hundred directly to the dependent,
for the men without dependants we will bank the money for you and give it
to you with your bonus. I will personally make an honest effort to bring all
your families to the states after your year, but without knowing individual
details I can't say that in every case it will be possible."

We dickered a bit more with the men. Tom knew going in he would
receive a leadership bonus equal to his bonus.

"Okay, I want four men to do a bit of dirty work, the other four men will
go to the States with one of Nigel's men first thing in the morning. The
weapons and work clothing that you need will be issued at your
destination. Please choose among yourselves. Again, discussion ensued,
"What will the job pay?"

"When you decide who will do the job, we will discuss the job, decide what
it pays. It's not the sort of thing to burden everyone with." I replied.

In the end, they drew straws. Mike, Colin, Eddie, and Wasp left with
Robert to get their things together for the flight tomorrow. "Okay, you
have your men, what's on the board?" Tom asked.

"How do you feel about kidnapping a Lord and Lady of the realm, then
spiriting them to the States?" I asked.

"You are joking. Aren't you?"

"Nope, serious as a heart attack." I answered.

"I guess that depends on which one." Tom replied carefully, but he had a
gleam in his eye.

"Lord and Lady Farnsworth, I believe they spent some years in Ireland
several years back."

"Doesn't ring a bell..."

Billy leaned forward and spoke rapidly to Tom, and Tom's eyes narrowed.
"We will do this one as a gesture of good faith. Do you have any idea
where they are."

"Apparently he is an embarrassment to the present government as well, and
MI5 is keeping an eye on him for us. Be ready tomorrow about noon,
some friends of mine will take you to lunch and shopping for what you
need. We will be going to a party, and you will need costumes. We will
snatch him at or after that party. Their transportation to the States is being
arranged, and it isn't first class. "It's worth a months pay added to your
bonus, I am a fair person." I replied.

Tina looked closely at each of the men, "Keep them safe, we have
something very special waiting for them. This one is very, very personal."
Nobody doubted her, and they began to suspect they would earn their
money, but have fun doing it.

The 'party' was held in a large basement dancehall in Soho, at one time it
had been used as meeting place for the communist party. Now it had
degenerated to a monthly modern day slave auction - and S&M gala. In
case you are new to this, 'S' stands for Sadism as in I like to hurt someone.
And 'M' stands for Masochist as in, I want you to hurt me, or I'm too weak
to stop you from hurting me. I know there are stable relationships where
one person is a sadist and the other a masochist - or put nicely, I am
dominant and you are subservient. Joey Bishop used to quip, it's called
marriage, and your mother in law is a sadist training your wife to be one.

The scene we witnessed in Manhattan was mild compared to what we saw
here. Frankly, my senses were assailed, leaving my sensibilities little time
to catch up. Of course, we were in costume, and until I saw this crowd, I
thought that we were something quite odd. Let me describe our outfits.
All four of us girls were dressed alike. Long black hair, wigs for Tina and
I, pulled sharply back, and braided and wound atop our heads. Black
leather corset dresses, laced to accentuate our figures, with short tight
skirts, knee high soft leather black boots with four or five inch heels. We
all wore diamond-encrusted black masks over the upper half of our faces,
and with the heels were all over six foot. Kathy and Vicky could use the
bullwhips they carried expertly. Tina and mine were for show, as we hadn't
mastered the art yet.

"You look like sisters from hell," Tom quipped. Tom and his three men
were outfitted as slaves from an Arabian Nights fantasy. Each of them had
shackles hanging from their belts; a leash attached to a collar that one of us
held. Kathy held Tom's leash, and he didn't look all that unhappy. Each
carried a large black shoulder bag, which we explained to the man
collecting our entry fee, held things we normally would carry in our purses,
and cash to purchase one or more new slaves. We looked like we had
stepped off the set of a Hollywood movie, clean and nice smelling.

Our slaves were in stark contrast to about half the people in the room,
these were people seriously into pain and domination. Their subs or slaves
definitely smelled of the degradation they had endured, and displayed the
resultant welts or piercing prominently. Several vendors had booths set up
along the walls, and we casually walked around looking at their wares. But
our eight pair of our eyes scanned like radar for the lord and lady, Kathy
spotted him first.

Vicky was making a purchase from one of the vendors, but the rest of us
tracked his passage through the crowded hall. Through an opening in the
crowd, we could see Lady Tiffany and the two slave girls they were
leading. The lord was dressed in black silver trimmed executioner leather
as was Tiffany, but she was a scrawny bitch and downright ugly. The two
slave girls were scantly clad, and looked to have their arms cruelly laced
behind their backs in arm binders, their mouths were painfully distended
from stick style gags, they were being led by chains attached to rings
through their nipples.

As soon as Vicky completed her purchase, Kathy and I moved close to
them, Vicky and Tina, with slave, moved to cover the two exits. We all
had ear radios, and were able to keep in contact with each other in the hall,
as well as Nigel and the MI5 operative were outside. Our Lord and Lady
seemed disinterested with those about them as they moved to the auction
block. They amused themselves with jerking their salves chains, cruelly
stretching the girl's nipples, Kathy pointed out, that one of the girls piercing
was recent and bleeding. Tiffany seemed to enjoy smacking both slaves at
random with her weighted riding crop, the smacks could be head over the
crowd, and a mass of welts was being raised on their bosoms, bellies, legs,
just about everywhere. My blood was boiling; looking at the slave girls, I
could see they were not enjoying their treatment. Their eyes flashed hatred
at their mistreatment, voluntary masochists they weren't.

We moved closer, so that Kathy was standing next to Tiffany. The auction
started and we bid a few times for show, but Farnsworth waited for one
striking blond haired girl. The auctioneer represented her as eighteen, a
virgin, and well trained to obedience by her current owner. He made a
point of mentioning all her papers of submission and identity were in order.
A red ball pulled tightly distended her mouth, and she was shackled hand
and foot by thin, but effective gold plated chains. She looked young and
frightened, and I resolved to purchase her and free her.

It was not to be. Lord Farnsworth purchased her for twenty thousand
pounds. We had heard Tiffany say they would leave as soon as the girl was
paid for. Gambling they would leave the way they came in, I walked in
that direction with Billy, my 'slave.' Kathy and Tom stayed near
Farnsworth. Once they settled accounts, they claimed their new slave.
Tiffany hit the girl with her crop, placed a dogs choker leash around her
slender neck, and then our royal target made slow progress toward the exit
- slowed by their new slave, she could only take small steps in her shackles.
That didn't stop Tiffany from smacking her with the riding crop to speed
her progress, and tears were running from the girl's eyes. I feared she
would suffocate if her nose clogged.

Then we received the message we were waiting for, Nigel and Morris (the
contract agent from MI5) had overcome the chauffeur and bodyguard of
his lordship's enormous Rolls Royce and had replaced them. They were
drugged and sleeping, stuffed under Nigel's feet, while Morris drove.

The next part would be tricky; the plan was for Kathy and Tom, and Vicky
and Jimmy to force their way into the Rolls behind our royals, loudly
thanking them for the ride. The rear of Rolls would be crowded with the
two Farnsworths, the three slave girls, and our four people. We hoped the
apparent confusion and noise would cover injecting the two royals with
sedatives, and stifle their cries for help until the drugs took effect.

From the sidewalk, knowing what was going on, I couldn't see anything
untoward. It looked just like partygoers, perhaps slightly tipsy sharing a
too small of a space - perhaps more good fun with the press of bodies.
Tina had hailed a waiting cab, and we gave directions to a pub. The rolls
wound through the narrow twisting streets ahead of us. After a
five-minute drive, it pulled up to a funeral parlor, and then pulled into a
garage through an opening overhead door. We had the cab drop us off a
block away in front of a pub. As soon as the cab was out of sight, we
walked back to the funeral parlor.

We were just in time to see the newly purchased slave girl freed of her
chains, all the gags had been removed immediately. Kathy pulled Tina
aside, and they had a brief whispered conversation. Tina then whispered to
me, "Kathy would like to see if these girls want a job. Okay with you."

I thought for a minute, "Let her broach the subject, if you feel good about
it it's okay with me. Kathy and Vicky can't run that place alone
twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. These girls might be well
motivated."

Kathy and Tina took the girls to a corner of the garage and I joined them.
Kathy was speaking, "... so you see I was once a slave to those two, now
it's my turn."

"You want us to join you?" Asked Beth, she was one of the original two
slave girls, "These people are royalty, and no place in Britain will be safe
when the search for them starts."

"We won't be in Britain, and those two aren't very popular - I doubt if the
search will be very thorough. Once this is all over, we can help you start a
new life." Tina said.

I was looking at Gloria, the newly purchased slave. While she was very
pretty, she also looked very young, a child really. I gently pulled her aside.
"How old are you dear? I mean really."

"Fourteen." She slumped down on her haunches; I squatted down too, and
held her hands lightly in mine.

"How did you come to be auctioned? Don't be frightened, I only want to
help you."

"My father owed a lot of money gambling, yesterday he gave me to the
man who sold me. I was gagged and taken from my mother, and then
today I was chained, gagged, and brought to that horrible place. The man
that brought me knew that those people would buy me, it was all a sham."

"Do you see the girl on the left?" I was pointing to Tina.

"Yes."

"Her name is Christina, but we all call her Tina. Her father sold her into
slavery when she was five years old. My mother rescued her, and brought
her into her home to live, she is now my sister. Would you like to come
into our home to live, it really will be nice for you. At any time you will be
free to leave, and you will have nothing to do with these people ever
again."

"Do you mean that?"

"Yes dear, I would very much like to help you."

"Please, thank you. Are you American, would we go to America? What is
your name?"

"My name is Rebecca, but everybody calls me Becky. We sure are
Americans, and we leave for America tomorrow." She nodded
enthusiastically, "Great, you stick by me from now on."

I got up and rejoined Tina with Gloria holding my hand for dear life.

Tina looked at me saying, "Beth and Kim would both like to join us. Their
Pimp arranged a party with the Farnsworths for a week; they didn't realize
what they were in for. There is no way they can go back to their pimp, and
they are afraid he will track them down. I told them that if they worked for
us we would protect them from him. What do you think?"

"It's okay with me. Gloria will be coming to live with us, but as she is only
fourteen, she will have no further dealings with the likes of Farnsworth. Is
that okay with you?"

Tina took Gloria's hand and said, "Welcome to our family, you will love it.
I know because I was just about your age when I was rescued." Gloria
hugged her, and I had difficulty keeping from crying.

"Gloria, let's go out to our car. We can wait for the rest there. I also want
to call and make arrangements for you, Beth, and Kim for tomorrows
flight."

Once in our Mercedes with Roger, one of Nigel's London based men, I
called Charlie's representative and asked that he meet us at the Marriott in
two hours.

I'm sure there were a lot of late hours put in, but we had phony, but very
passable US passports for everybody. Even Lord and Lady Farnsworth
had papers, but they were traveling in caskets in the hold of the aircraft.
Their papers identified them as retired State Department personnel. The
papers stated that the pair had resided in London, and were making their
final journey home to Leonia, New Jersey. They were made up to resemble
cadavers dead a few weeks, eyes stitched closed, drugged to a near death
state, and supplied with oxygen tainted with the odor of the ripe dead from
a compact re-breather system. Morris told us the drug merely paralyzed
most of their motor functions, slowed breathing, and stiffened the joints,
but that they were probably aware. The CIA had developed the drug
during the cold war, and it was used back then to smuggle people into and
out of the Eastern Block.

In line with the low profile we were keeping, we all traveled coach.
Tickets were purchased for Gloria, Beth, and Kim; in all, a block of
eighteen tickets in the front center of the aircraft's coach section was
purchased for our church's tour, guaranteeing us room and privacy. Gloria
sat between Tina and I, and we alternated answering her excited questions.
She told me weeks later, that she thought we were telling her fairy tales
about her new home, in order to put he at ease. We weren't.

Since the faux Tina and Becky were already in residence at Nyack, having
flown back first class two days ago, we were picked up by rental cars
driven by Giles men. Our four Irish mercenaries and Nigel drove directly
to the TF. They would bunk with their compatriots, in a small servants
house located adjacent to the main TF, within the property's boundaries.
From then on, they would fully take over the duties of the Nyack men, and
only Giles, Kyle, and Nigel would have contact with them.

The royal pair was delivered to a funeral parlor in Leonia. From there,
they were interred at Charlie's interrogation resort, for a dark and wet
week or two of questions.

Vicky and Kim in one, Kathy and Beth rode in another stopping at a motel
in Passaic to change clothes. When they were sure that they hadn't been
followed, they were driven to the TF. Once there, they enlisted the aid of
the Irishmen, and began setting up the equipment in the dungeon and
rooms. The word spread that within a week Lord and Lady Farnsworth
would take up residence. This heightened the men's interest in the use of
all the devices. While there were many looks saying, "I'd hate to have that
happen to me." The general opinion was that at least in the royals' case, it
was justice long delayed!

In the evening Nigel drove Kathy to the lower Bronx, she met Mastiff on
the steps outside his rundown rooming house. They were an odd looking
pair, the tall, shapely dark haired beauty, and the enormous six foot four
misshapen scarred man, with wild brown hair. He agreed to come work
for her with no questions; the fact Kathy asked was good enough for him.
Since he was a temporary and worked on a day-to-day basis, he agreed to
leave for the TF immediately. He went up to his room, and five minutes
latter returned with two battered suitcases held closed by belts. Kathy said
nothing, as she realized he had no more. He would live with the female
staff, as his penis and testicles had been so badly abused as a child, he
couldn't function as a man.

From the airport, Tina, Gloria, and I rode in the back seat of one of the
Hertz Fords, and headed with several chase cars directly to Nyack.
Gloria's eyes were like saucers when she drove up to the house, widening
even more as we entered and I introduced her to Mrs. Hammer and the
staff. While I did that, Tina went out to the sunroom and told Jennifer of
our new houseguest. Tina told me later that Jennifer questioned her
thoroughly, but after she was satisfied she knew all the facts, she hugged
Tina saying, "I'm proud of two, of course we will welcome her into our
family. I'd love to meet her now."

Jennifer put on her white bikini and sheer cover, Tina whistled. "My,
having a man around has sure perked you up." Earning a blush from
Jennifer, Tina could hardly believe it.

Gloria and I were having a snack in the breakfast room when Jennifer and
Tina came in. They both sat down and Gloria looked apprehensive.
Jennifer reached over the table saying, "Welcome to our family dear, I'm so
pleased you have come to stay with us. When you finish your snack, I'll
bring you to your room and we can get acquainted. What sizes do you
wear? Do you ..."

Chapter 35 - The Training Facility (TF) Early Operation
It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained.

Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain

Three days passed, Gloria had been examined by Sandra and declared
physically healthy - happily none the worse for wear. She confirmed that
Gloria is a virgin. Doctor Marshal had seen her, and a series of sessions
were planned to help her adjust. I personally thought the shopping trips
Jennifer took her on, cured any residual problems.

Jennifer installed her in Nicola's old room. When Jennifer explained her
tears to Gloria, Gloria hugged her and they both cried. With Tina and I
busy with Hayes business and the TF, Jennifer was free to concentrate on
Gloria. In just a few short days, under Jennifer's gentle tutorage, her table
manners improved to the standards Jennifer expected. She even was
beginning to speak like Jennifer. More importantly, they had bonded.

Finally, the day came for arrival of the Training Facility's first subjects.
And the TF and staff were ready.

Kathy had natural leadership qualities, and without friction, she had
assumed the task of organizing the TF. She did it without antagonizing
either the Irishmen or her staff. This was no mean feat, considering the fact
that Vicky was domineering and argumentative by nature.

Beth was a feisty cockney with an eight grade education, tough as nails,
and been a whore for six years - from the age of twelve. Kim was college
educated, but without immediate family. After a fight with her live in
boyfriend, he had lent her to a pimp without her consent. He told her a few
months servicing men for pay would make her appreciate him. Lord
Farnsworth was her first trick, lucky girl. The evil pair tortured Kim and
Beth for thirty-six hours, but it was more than enough for them to
understand the depths of their evil. They also told Kathy the pair
purchased Gloria because she was an innocent child; the public purchase
was a pre-arranged fig leaf. They considered the possibility that the
authorities might accuse them of molesting and torturing a minor, and
wanted to credibly claim that they believed her to be a willing submissive
adult.

Mastiff adored Kathy, and would do anything for her - it was not the
adoration of a slave, but rather of friendship, gratitude, and respect. Tom
was falling in love with her, and while not submissive by nature, he was
considering serving as her husband. His wife had left him for another man,
a few years after his exile. He really couldn't blame her, and he had happy
memories of the months he had been able to spend with her. For her part,
Kathy was beginning to succumb to his gentle Irish charm. She had used
men before, but she had never been in love with one - and a whole range of
unexpected feelings was surfacing.

Of course, her efforts setting up the TF were helped by the mutual desire to
punish those that had hurt them. Individually most had grievances against
one or more of the future subjects, but she was able to infuse a sense of
larger purpose. A sense that they would be administrating a punishment
that truly suited the crime.

It wasn't that any of them believed that being a woman was demeaning, or
made one a second-class human being. It was that their subjects thought of
women in that way. That was the true humiliation of the punishment.
Kathy understood that perfectly, and was able to transfer that
understanding to her staff.

In the few days that they had all been together, I was the first to realize the
miracle that was taking place. Then Giles told me that he was amazed how
such a diverse group of people pulled together under Kathy's leadership.
Tina was spending a lot time on Hayes related videoconferences, and she
hadn't tracked the day-to-day progress of the TF, commented after a short
visit that Kathy was doing a fantastic job. Since everybody agreed, I spoke
to Kathy and told he she was officially in charge, and would be eligible for
a leadership bonus of twice her retainer if all went well. When she
accepted the responsibility, I called everyone together and made it official.
It was well accepted by all.

Shortly after that meeting, a blue windowless van pulled up, and for the
first time I saw Stern and Dr. Walters. They looked thin and thoroughly
confused. I guess the best way to explain the training they underwent, is to
include excerpts from Kathy's personal log.

TF Log - Kathy Harris, September 19, 2006

Received first two subjects, henceforth Mr. Stern will be subject suzy and
Dr. Walters will be subject daisy. Both appeared dazed and disoriented
upon arrival. As per plan, Vicky led them to the clothing room, where
Beth and Kim waited. Each was stripped and all hair removed with the
new long lasting depilatory from 'Hayes Ravlon.'

Mastiff supervised their shower; Kim told me later that they had an odd
odor of seawater when they arrived. After their shower, they were
perfumed and garbed in a formless silk slip. They were secured to the
stretching bars, while standing, with their arms raised. Then their ankles
were clamped to the floor. The winches raised the stretching bars, and
while stretched, their starter corsets were put on them. Mastiff tightened
the laces constricting their waists by the initial four inches. Even in their
dazed state, from their complaints, you would think he tightened them the
full eight inches. Needles to say he paid little heed to their complaints.

They were released from the stretcher. Vicky attached and locked the
confining device she bought at the slave auction in Soho. It was efficient
as it bound the subject's testicles into its body, and held the penis between
its legs; in such a way, that urination was possible while sitting. I had to
speak to Vicky last evening regarding unnecessary roughness while
manipulating their parts. I reminded her that we had agreed to reserve
such handling to a clearly announced punishment sessions.

After attaching their confining device, she had them alternate putting on the
others stockings, which were a heavy-duty support style in black. Kim
permanently attached their wigs, eye lashes, and arched eye brows with
Hayes Pharmaceuticals Extended Use Surgical Adhesive. The two-inch
training heels were locked on, and the slave collar and bio monitor fitted
and locked. Pink ruffled panties and pink dresses with ridiculously short
skirts finished the outfit. They required several sharp swats from Kim's
quirt to assist each other properly. The post hypnotic commands to
distrust and dislike each other were clearly working.

They were allowed to eat a supplement bar and a bowl of greens, made to
each finish two quarts of water. After dinner, they administered cold
cleansing enemas to each other under Mastiff's supervision. At six PM they
were chained to their rubber hammocks, the tether was long enough to
allow them access to the toilet. The surveillance telemetry from their bio
monitor showed that they passed a restless uncomfortable night. That was
as expected.

TF Log - Kathy Harris, September 20, 2006

Each of the subjects had long lasting hormonal implants inserted prior to
arrival. These will quickly chemically castrate the subject and cause the
growth of secondary female body characteristics. The process was similar
to a normal female's development at puberty, but highly accelerated. We
would augment the process further by hormone injections designed to
further push the subject and add to its discomfort. Both subjects arrived
with the well-developed muscle structure of a man, had worked out
regularly, and cared for its body. One of our goals was to reduce that
muscular body to a soft out of shape female, dependent on a corset for its
comfort.

To do this we sharply reduced the subject's calorie and protein intake
through rigid diet control. Breakfast consisted of a bowl of enriched
oatmeal, some leafy greens, and two quarts of water. The hormonal soup
injected was design to bring about severe PMS symptoms. (Note: It had
originally been designed by Hayes Pharmaceuticals as a control to measure
the effectiveness of symptom relieving drugs. Millions of women
worldwide, none more than me, are grateful to the human volunteers who
endured false PMS while an effective cure was developed. It was now one
of Hayes Pharmaceuticals largest sellers, and Jennifer had it priced at close
to cost. Hundreds of clinics worldwide distributed it free to poor and
needy women.) Once the dosage was established for each subject, it would
endure PMS symptoms of bloating, severe cramps, almost constant feeling
of nausea, and emotional instability five of every ten days. The length and
frequency of its period would be adjusted as necessary - humans had never
been pushed this hard.

The subject's physical activity was severely limited, and it would endure
long periods of uncomfortable bondage, further reducing its muscle tone.
Vicky had a theory that given enough time a man could be made more
flexible than a woman, and she intended to test it. Newly developed drugs
would reduce the subject's harmful blood chemistry expected from the
inactivity and stress in order to keep it healthy - our objective was not to
kill it, merely transform it.

As planned the subjects fought and argued over breakfast, arbitrarily Vicky
blamed subject suzy and singled it out for punishment. Subject daisy was
allowed to sit in relative comfort chained to a chair in front of a TV with
women's programming. Subject suzy was laced into a severe arm binder,
legs bound, and placed on a butt plug stool facing subject daisy. Once the
dildo was inflated, the subject was effectively bound to the stool. After an
hour, subject daisy shouted for subject suzy to shut up, and both had cock
ball gags applied. Both wet themselves as expected and daisy was forced
to clean up after both when they were released at super time.

After a dinner at which the both argued and bickered, they were again
gagged and made to shower and wash each other, again in their corsets,
give each other enemas, etc. Grooming each other's long hair caused
another fuss, and Kim used her quirt to restore order. They were strictly
chained to their hammocks by seven PM. Mastiff had to be awakened at
two PM to stop suzy from pummeling daisy in its sleep. Suzy was chained
strictly to its hammock, and twenty minutes later daisy had to be similarly
chained to its hammock for pummeling the helpless suzy.

TF Log - Kathy Harris, September 23, 2006
We really have to watch suzy and daisy closely when they are unfettered.
They have developed such a mutual hatred, that they do the nastiest things
to each other. They are like two nasty children, as long as the other is hurt,
they don't think ahead to their own punishment. Each tattles on the other
in an attempt to increase its punishments and humiliation. When their
corsets were removed for the first time today, we found a bottle cap
wedged under daisy's armpit, which caused it considerable irritation. Sand
was found on suzy's back, we were puzzled at first, as to where it had
come from, until we noticed some in the corner of the basement. Daisy
must have picked it up while cleaning.

Hayes Pharmaceuticals New Skin was used to repair the subject inflicted
damage, as well as the damage from the sever lashing with a cat that
Mastiff administered to each for nastiness to the other. The three hours
out of the six in three days they were allowed free of the corsets restraint
was sufficient for healing. We did not apply the cream recommended to
eliminate the itching associated with the new skin.

The new corsets were specially made to order in London. They were
designed to quickly form a most feminine shape when used with hormone
therapy. They also covered more of the subjects body, extending from
under the arm pits to the pelvis, a extension held the thighs together for an
additional eight inches. In contrast with the waist, the hips were loose to
accommodate the expected expansion. When seated enough of the rear
was exposed to permit bathroom activities and access to the anus.

For the next two weeks, the subjects would be most uncomfortable since
these corsets were heavily boned and designed to be quite firm and tight.
Mastiff had a computer generated schedule of measurements he would
tighten the laces to each day, each day a little smaller. By the end of its
first month, suzy would have a twenty-inch waist down from thirty, and
daisy would have twenty-two down from thirty-four. Computer
projections indicated on both subjects the lower ribs would have to be
removed for further reduction. We were considering the option.

The fat in their diet was increased, but protein was further restricted. The
next few days the will be free of the induced PMS symptoms, and we were
curious to see if that reduced the animosity they displayed to one another.

About two PM, Lord and Lady Farnsworth were processed in as subjects
dotty and sally respectively. Both were fitted with corsets, but in sally's
case, it was designed to be especially uncomfortable. She was painfully
thin and past menopause, so she was given hormones that had been found
to promote weight gain. The estrogen and other female hormones were
also given in high doses. She would soon have a figure attractive to men.
She was not given a silk slip, as the corset was not really shaping her
already female form drastically. Long wearing cycles, including showering
in the tight garment, without the silk buffer was expected to be very
uncomfortable indeed. She was given even higher doses of the PMS
inducing drugs.

At the first transgression, sally's punishment will be twelve hours on the
sawhorse. I will see to that personally.

Subject dotty will be treated like the other biological men had been. All
four subjects sleep in the same room. A sawhorse and chains has been
moved in to remind subject sally of the inevitable.

SC7 15:00:17 Day +34
A few weeks after the facility was in operation, security camera recorded
Tom, as he attempted to explain the punishment to one his men. Kathy
shared it with me.

"I don't know about this Tommy, it's a good job, but what they are doing is
unnatural." Billy said with a disturbed look on his face.

"And what makes you say that Billy boy."

"They have these men dressed as tarts and making them act that way. That
Vicky is an evil one, she had two of our boys bugger the tall one, and then
she made him lick the boys clean."

"Did the boys wear skins?"

"For sure, that Vicky saw to that, she did."

"Do you know what these men did?"

"No, but I heard the ran a house, you know a girl house."

"Well it was more than that. The controlled many of those places, they
used children to be bait for men they intended to blackmail. You don't
really have to know more than that, but these are evil men. They have no
respect for women, that's why it is so bad for them to be turned into
women."

"Turned into women?"

"Not completely, just made to look like women, then they will be trained to
give men pleasure, be slaves to men. Just as they took young girls and
made them slaves. They will be turned into the lowest of whores. It's a
fitting punishment."

"I heard that pair of English prigs are coming, they were cruel to the folk
when they were in Ireland."

"Well Billy me boyo, you may get a chance to fuck a lord and lady, just see
that you wear two skins..."

Chapter 36 - Retaliation
And, re-assembling our afflicted powers,
Consult how we may henceforth most offend.

John Milton (1608-74)
What a wild eight weeks. Time flew by and I could scarcely believe it
when Thanksgiving week rolled around.

Tina and I were spending a good eight hours a day, six days a week
managing Hayes Holding and its subsidiary corporations. Even though
Jennifer was in residence again, she merely kept abreast of developments
by monitoring our correspondence, and occasional close questioning. Only
infrequently would she express an opinion, and she never overruled one of
our decisions.

Jennifer spent her time divided between or with Gloria and Charlie.
Several things were done to alter her appearance, her hair was now a deep
mahogany, she had plastic surgery that modified her face, and implants to
enhance her figure. She looked very different, a sexy twenty years
younger, and said that she had never been happier.

To minimize our exposure to the cartel, we mostly worked from Nyack,
leaving Fredrick and Marsha to handle most face-to-face meetings in
Manhattan and elsewhere. We were pretty well convinced Fredrick was
betraying us under the hypnotic influence of Dr, Walters. So, we returned
him to his apartment with a hypnotic suggestion that he was felled for two
days by a bad flu virus. A Thomas designed sophisticated listening device
was inserted ahead of Frederick's mastoid bone. Among other things, it
was a solid state equivalent of a tape recorder. It was based on organic
technology, and operated on such low power levels that it was virtually
undetectable from normal nerve activity.

A read out device that Thomas hid in Frederick's office, polled the
implanted recorder several times each day. AI software scanned it, and the
encrypted result and was fed directly to Thomas. In addition, two former
MI5 intelligence analysts working for Giles listened to the raw recording.
They applied trained human perception to detect any evidence of a Cartel
contact. We realized they would keep their old masters somewhat apprised
of our doings, but it was a tit for tat for help MI5 rendered us on occasion.

Charlie was reasonably certain the initial leak into his organization was
through Cartel informers (or outright agents) in the CIA. But there again,
he felt that on balance a reciprocal arrangement was in our long-range best
interests. We tried to keep a core of secrets closely, but let most of our
people in on most things, accepting the fact that leaks were inevitable.

Those meetings we did attend away from Nyack were for the most part
unannounced, leading to increased anxiety on the part of our executives. It
was unavoidable as they felt they had to be prepared to meet with us at
almost any time. Jennifer had little compassion, saying it would keep them
on their toes.

On Thomas' advice, we had installed several active defensive measures at
Nyack. During the relatively peaceful period after the gulf war, Hayes
Holding quietly acquired several key defense companies. Jennifer's
thinking was with all the government cutbacks in the industry, good highly
advanced companies would soon become capital starved. She was correct.
Under Hayes investment policies, several quality companies found
themselves owned by Hayes with their R&D heavily subsidized, while
production facilities were mothballed. The defense department viewed the
arrangement as highly beneficial, as it freed weapons development dollars
for readiness and manpower accounts. Since programs were managed in a
business like way, with long term funding and objectives, free of political
and military micromanagement, amazing systems were developed.

One system was a close in defense against missiles. It was comprised of
radar and optical directed high speed gating style 20mm cannons. Instead
of depleted uranium slugs fired by the Navy's version of the weapon, it was
essentially a smooth bore shotgun firing 0000-buck shot. Advanced
computer enhanced radar controlled the guns, and it was designed to take
out mortar, RPG, and short-range STS missiles. Similar systems were
profitably sold to, and installed at the White House and other key
government facilities. The advantage was that the hail of protective steel
clad lead pellets would not travel much beyond the property, yet would
explode, and/or deflect most missiles before they hit the house. Thirty-two
of these guns with their associated radars were deployed in a defensive
screen around the main house and other living quarters. The initial cost
was thirty two million, plus the salaries of the four live in technicians hired
to maintain the systems.

The system was only tested during thunderstorms, when the noise it made
would be confused with the sound of thunder. People on the ground were
exposed to a non lethal, but highly annoying rain of pellets, whose high
initial velocities were reduced to a safe range by atmospheric resistance.
So many pellets accumulated on the grounds, a powerful cryogenic magnet
disguised as a lawn mower was designed to pick them up. They were
returned to Hayes Defense for recycling.

The various ground surveillance and tracking systems were significantly
upgraded. The main threat besides men attacking was the fear of small
creeping or mole emulating robot explosive devices. We knew of several
systems developed in France, Japan, and Israel that could be purchased
through cleverly disguised third parties. We had no doubt the Cartel could
acquire them, and quite possibly had their own producing defense
companies. Sixteen high cycle, highly accurate computer controlled .50 cal
rifles were deployed to counter that threat. In addition, they provided the
firepower necessary to break up a manned attack. Several STS (Surface
To Surface) and STA (Surface To Air) missile launchers were hidden in
pods on the roof of the main house. In addition to the normal personal
weapons, Giles men had several HEAT missiles to counter armored vehicle
attack.

Modern gas masks and personal weapons were deployed throughout the
house. The closed cycle highly filtered air cleaning, and non-interruptible
power supplies were upgraded. Other contingencies were covered, and in
Thomas and Giles' opinion, we were as ready as we could be. Giles split
his men into a red and gold team, who took turns devising attack strategies
- a game that Thomas truly relished.

All of us had several tracking devices implanted in various parts of our
bodies. Using Lucent satellites, Thomas devised tracking methods that
would pinpoint our location in the event of an abduction.

After the attack on Charlie's home, we took the possibility of an attack on
our Nyack home very seriously.

But Thanksgiving was around the corner! Continuing our tradition, Tina
and I prepared to purchase new formal antebellum dresses, when Gloria
got wind of our plans she shyly asked for one of her own. Having learned
our lesson that first thanksgiving, we insisted on modern materials and had
the dresses made at a bridal shop in the Short Hills Mall. Two weeks
before Thanksgiving, we visited the bridal shop. We had an eleven-man
security escort, and we moved with deliberate slowness window-shopping
through the mall to give our security time to gain position. Tina and I had
Glock 9mm pistols in our purses. We spent several hours in the store,
being fitted for our new gowns, and trying on various things. Gloria tried
several wedding dresses just for fun, and was in seventh heaven, she
positively glowed.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving the dresses were delivered. A routine
scan of them disclosed no fewer than six sophisticated tracking and
recording devices. Mrs. Hammer and Jose working with Thomas'
technician removed them, while Thomas devised a plan to use then to feed
misinformation to the Cartel.

Ominously it showed the Cartel had replaced Stern and/or Dr. Walters, and
were undoubtedly curious as to their fate. Technologically they were using
satellites of their own to poll the devices implanted in the dresses. The TF
facility was notified, but it was judged less risky to let them rely its being
unknown to the cartel (we hoped,) and on their own security, than to be
seen reinforcing them with Nyack men.

As if to reinforce the message, the Cartel contacted Frederick two days
before Thanksgiving. We didn't find out about it until the next day a few
hours after Frederick sat in his chair at Hayes Holding. Cartel men had
held a face-to-face meeting using hypnosis with Frederick in his apartment.
According to the recording, the meeting took place beginning at 6:33 PM;
the men were in his apartment when he returned from work. They could be
heard leaving an hour later. However, none of the security tapes from the
building showed anyone entering or leaving his condo. A more detailed
analysis by Lucent technicians on Wednesday evening, indicated the tapes
had been tampered with. We did have a complete audio of the session,
which indicated at least two Cartel men were present. Apparently, they
were a team made up of an operations man like Stern, and a trained
hypnotist like Dr. Walters.

Frederick's interrogators seemed to be interested in three things. What he
knew of our family's future plans; where we would be, when we would visit
Manhattan or other Hayes facilities. Had he heard from or seen Jennifer?
That sort of thing, the only event he thought we would show up at for sure,
was the Christmas Eve party in the Hayes offices in Manhattan. He told
them that, while he suspected Jennifer was alive, he wasn't sure and hadn't
seen or talked to her.

They quizzed him closely about Stern or Dr. Walter's whereabouts. All he
was able to tell them about was the times they had interrogated him.
Fortunately, the conditioning Dr. Marshal gave him held, and they did not
determine that we had interrogated him. However, until Dr. Marshal
examined the recording closely, we wouldn't be one hundred percent sure.

Finally, they began the conditioning to use him as a weapon to attack Tina
and I. When I heard that segment of the recording, I felt as if someone
walked over my grave.

One other thing, from the questioning it seemed that Dr. Walter filled
complete reports, including code phrases he used with Frederick. Stern it
would appear had not. Nathan was alerted and he reset the trap in Duane's
apartment, where Wallace had taken up residence. The Cartel had
surveillance equipment in and around Duane's apartment, but Thomas had
found it, and tricked it. I would not to 'see' our four tradesmen that put
teeth in the trap, or the men in positions outside the building.

Thanksgiving day arrived; frankly, I was a bit excited - for the first time our
entire family, as I knew it, would be together. I may be a guy at my core,
and had just demonstrated that fact delightfully to Tina, but I was excited
by the prospect of wearing our new dresses. Gone was the fear and
uncertainty of our first adventure in such beautiful attire, what remained
was an appreciation of being a truly lovely and desirable female, the object
of admiring attention. There is something wonderful in giving pleasure to
others in this way.

If Gloria had burst into the room, and bounced on our bed two minutes
earlier, we would have been embarrassed. As it was I hoped our musk
wouldn't give us away. Gloria snuggled between us under the covers and
said, "Mumm this is warm and snuggly. Jennifer and Charley tossed me
out, I think they wanted to be alone." She burst into a fit of giggles.

Tina and I clasped her between us as Tina said, "Well snuggle bug - you
have a warm place to burrow now."

"Excited about meeting everybody today?" I asked after a minute.

"Yes, but I'm a little afraid too. Do you think I'll manage alright?"

"Sure, you'll be fine. Anything bothers you, just come to one of us and we
will help. You know it wasn't that long ago that we were in your shoes."
Tina said.

And I added, "Our gowns today are much easier to manage than the
original versions. These outfits are actually comfortable, but you do have
to watch how you eat."

"And always smile, a frown just doesn't go with these dresses." Tina
finished.

"But what if I spill something on myself!"

"Don't worry, if you do I promise I will too. Every body will laugh at me
and forget about you." I said with an added squeeze.

"Don't you mind if someone laughs at you?"

"Not really, I will try my best to be lovely and ladylike, but if I goof it
won't be the end of the world. And I would like to see others do better -
especially the boys."

Gloria fell into a fit of giggling and we all snoozed for twenty minutes or
so. I felt the vibrator on my necklace indicating an urgent computer
message, and quietly left Tina and Gloria sleeping. I activated my PC in
the adjoining room. The email was from Thomas, since I would be seeing
him later today, I figured it must be important. I entered my password for
the day, and encrypted using my 'Thomas only' private pre arranged key for
today. It took a few seconds for everything to sync up, and then a typed
message appeared. This in itself was unusual; we normally used voice or
video. Text messages like this were the most highly encrypted, and
reserved for our most private correspondence.

It read: "Babe (my code name,) I haven't been able to fully decode Cartel
message traffic, but from the e-intl Frederick's sensor gleaned, I taped
partially into the new Cartel operation man's cell-phone-matrix. An attack
on some Hayes facility is planned for today. If I were to bet, it will be
Nyack and not TF or Le. If you don't mind additional houseguests, I
would like to put up Debbie and Michael with you guys for the duration.
Taps have appeared on my phones, and I have picked up a tail. If some of
Giles people could meet me on parkway for an escort at eleven AM exit
117 I would appreciate it. We will have the Lucent van. Acknowledge?
Tea"

I responded: Tea, Understood, will take steps to cover, will find a cot or
two somewhere here for y'all. Babe.

Actually, Thomas could use any of a number of guest suites. I signaled
Giles, and five minutes later, he and Nigel knocked and entered. I showed
them Thomas' message, "Makes sense, we have been tweaking their noses
pretty badly lately." Nigel observed quietly.

"You still have people watching Thomas?" I asked.

"Yes, like a feather though." Giles responded.

"Any problem sending a few more as he requested, and nabbing his
shadow?" I asked

"No, but if this place comes under attack, I would like to have as many as
possible here. The entire family will be here, if I wanted to cripple Hayes,
I'd hit this place hard." Giles said thoughtfully, adding, "I wonder if they
know."

"Wouldn't surprise me, we usually have a fairly large group of guests, and
we have used encoded PCS phones for dinner plans. Those phones are not
exactly secure. Make sure Thomas is safe, he and his family are exposed
now, keep them safe - this place will be more secure for them now that the
Cartel is on to Thomas. I hate to do it to your guys, but I guess we better
hunker down today. What do you think, close in missile defense on
automatic? Fifty cal, mines, and offensive missiles on manned release.
Close Lexan and ready Kevlar window shields now, and activate satellite
illumination. Sound Ok?" I asked.

"I would like to activate the mines as soon as every one we expect is inside,
can you have Charlie notify the anti-terrorist response team that there has
been a threat?"

"Yeah, I'll go in when we finish here, and I'll mention Leonia too. Will you
warn Tom at the TF?"

"Yes, I will have Kyle bring Duane and Wallace in from Manhattan now,
Nigel will you leave for Thomas, and if you can bag the shadow?" Guiles
spoke quietly, but with finality.

"On my way." Nigel responded as the left the room.

I looked in on Gloria and Tina, but they were still sleeping, so I walked a
few doors down the hall to Jennifer's suite. I knocked, gave it a minute,
and entered. The doors were so thick I wouldn't have heard a response had
one been given. Charlie and Jennifer appeared asleep, but as I reached to
shake Charlie, he opened his eyes and mouthed, "Be right with you."

I walked over to the sitting room, and waited while looking out the
windows. As Charlie came up behind me, the Lexan shutters were closing,
conveying my message for me. I handed him Thomas' message.

He studied it a moment and said, "I'll contact Leonia, and signal Lizard and
Mink."

I filled him in on the other defensive measures, and he went to Jennifer's PC
to make the necessary notifications. He also made sure his weapons and
gas masks were actually in place, he had been burned once.

Back in our room I decided to shower before Gloria and Tina woke up. I
was just soaping myself when they came it to tinkle. I turned my back to
them, and Tina said, "Party poop, Gloria and I are going to take a bubble
bath and oil in the hot tub. Join us?"

I shook my head saying, "I want to look at some stuff on my PC, you guys
have a ball, just leave the oil scented water in for me and I'll take a quick
dip when I'm through." Tina understood my reasoning and noticing the
Lexan protected window nodded to me. Then back in the room, she
started to roughhouse with Gloria as I set aside my towel and put on my
panties, bra, and robe. Neither of us saw the necessity of alarming Gloria.

Back in front of my PC, I began to analyze the information extracted from
all the recent interrogations. The two British analysts had entered it into an
expanded version of the database I created after Goldman's interrogation in
Germany. The Brits entered the information using a form view, and
Thomas had limited them to that view. I was working with a fully merged
database comprised of all the information from all the interrogations, plus
records of electronic eavesdropping, and reports from agents, like
Charlie's, as well as shared data on the cartel from MI5, GRU, CIA, etc.
The available data was huge, over thirty terabytes with the included video
and audio files. I was using Thomas' neural network search engine, and
started from his results and conclusions. Thomas and I had done well in
almost all the some subjects at college, but our minds worked differently,
and I hoped to capitalize on that fact. I should have been on top of this
before, but I had allowed myself to become preoccupied with Hayes
business. However, now my mind was spurred by the knowledge people
would die today - and if I could solve the puzzle correctly, and in time, I
hoped to minimize our losses.

Some time later, I became aware of my surroundings, as it registered on my
overheated brain that Tina was nibbling on my ear. "Time to get ready
lover."

"Ready for what?" I asked, still in another world.

"We are all dressed, come and dress for dinner."

"Oh, that. Okay, I'm not making much progress here." Now fully in the
present I continued, "Let me take a quick whirlpool break, and my ladies in
waiting can gown and bejewel me."

"Your ladies in waiting await the pleasure, O tardy one." Tina said, as a
giggling Gloria joined our mirth from the doorway.

I took a quick whirlpool in the gloriously scented water, an emollient made
even sweeter by the previous bathers. After drying, I tucked woody in
Puss' crease, and drew the silk French thong panties up snugly. Satisfied
Woody was well hidden I joined Tina and Gloria in the bedroom.

Both were fully dressed in glorious off the shoulder antebellum ball gowns.
Tina's was cobalt blue and Gloria's was pale ivory. First Gloria slipped a
short strapless silk slip over my head, and then I stepped into the corset
Tina held. She laced me up so that my normal twenty-four inch waist was
reduced to only twenty inches; the properly fitted garment was a pleasant
restriction, rather like a lover's firm embrace. I sat and raised my legs while
each lovely rolled a silk stocking up my legs, fastened the garters, followed
by emerald green silk covered boots with three-inch heels.

I stood and stepped into a flowing half-slip followed by crinoline supported
by a hoop. Gloria stepped on a chair and lowered my lined emerald green
gown over my head, while Tina smoothed and adjusted it. Our large
mirror reflected a happy scene of three ladies dressing from the past.

I carefully sat while Gloria combed out my long ponytail and French
braided it, finishing by wrapping it around the top of my head, held in place
by emerald encrusted combs. Tina placed a make up bib on me and did my
makeup. Emerald Jewelry in period settings followed for me, and I applied
similar pieces with blue diamonds for Tina. We surprised Gloria with a set
of her own featuring pure white pearls.

A final mirror check and we left to see if Jennifer was ready. I was
surprised to see Jennifer had an identical gown to ours, only in a fabulous
desert orange color; Jose was just finishing with her amber with yellow
diamond jewelry as we entered.

Jose must have called downstairs, for when we reached the top of the long
curved stairway, a group was gathering below. Jennifer with Gloria
holding her arm with one hand, and the banister with the other went down
first. Tina and I followed when they were almost at the bottom. Charlie
and Nathan filmed us using a new holographic process.

The large room was lit by almost a hundred candles in crystal holders;
indirect electric lighting provided a comfortable overall illumination. The
huge table was groaning with delectable treats as we took our seats.
Charlie, Duane, Nathan, and Wallace were dressed in period costumes of
broadcloth and silk to compliment our dresses; everyone else was dressed
nicely in contemporary styles. I was relieved to see Thomas and his family
here, and I met Nancy, Nathan's intended for the first time. Jennifer and
Charlie sat abreast at one end of the large table, Jennifer had arranged for
Nancy to sit next to the head of the table nearest her, followed by Nathan,
then I, Duane, Tina, and Wallace. Charlie had invited Tom Hanscom, wife
three kids sat across from me, and Gloria sat across from us close to
Charlie, followed by Thomas, Debbie, Michael, and Mrs. Hammer who had
co-opted four-month-old Michael. The rest of the table was staff and
conspicuously few security people.

The meal was buffet style from the sideboards, however our civil war era
men chose plates for their female charges. It was kind of fun being waited
on by our 'men folks,' but really a necessity given our billowing gowns. I
had a chance to talk with Duane for the first time, and found him delightful.
He was very embarrassed by his betrayal of Wallace, but felt much better
when I explained the nature of our foes. Wallace had told him, but coming
from Tina and I made him realize we accepted and forgave him. However,
we left no doubt in his mind where his loyalties must lie in the future.

After the main portion of the meal, I caught Gloria's urgent mouthing of
the word 'bathroom.' I caught Tina's eye and the three of us went upstairs,
Jennifer declined for the time being. Tina and I had to behave, so Gloria
stood on the chair first, and Tina held the famous flower vase for her. We
were all giggling with the absurdity of it.

What happened next took less than fifteen seconds. Two extremely loud
crashes within a tenth of a second sounded from our left front window.
Immediately Gloria let out a groan and seemed to fly three feet off the chair
and fall to the floor like a battered rag doll. Then all hell broke loose. The
Gatling cannon threw up a defensive wall of lead and steel. I could pick
out the sharper sound of the .50 cal machine guns, and felt the release of
two STS missiles from the roof. Several other loud explosions were heard,
and I found out latter they were at least twenty incoming missiles exploded
by the Gatling cannon. We couldn't hear the distant explosions of our two
STS missiles as they destroyed two large garbage haulers. They were the
platforms that were launching machine gun fire and missiles at us. We also
didn't hear the four crew launched HEAT missiles that took out as many
vans discharging attackers.

With a sick feeling, I went to Tina, but she rolled over by herself. We both
rolled, you can't crawl in one of these damn dresses, to Gloria who was
lying on her stomach. A two-inch long .50cal bullet was melted into her
gown on its long side. It was just under her left shoulder blade, but a quick
look showed no bleeding. I felt for a pulse in her neck and found none.
Disregarding the bedlam surrounding us, I turned her over and Tina began
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and I began to press above her heart
rhythmically hoping to get it re-started. After fifteen seconds, Tina paused
and retrieved a survival pod. Immediately, she injected herself and me with
a soup of stimulants and protective drugs. Then Tina retrieved a knife
from a survival pod, cut away Gloria's dress and corset, and then breathing
oxygen from a canister into her lungs, forced it into Gloria's.

All the while, I kept trying to start her heart. After almost a minute Tina
took the large heart stimulating hypo, angled it correctly against Gloria's
chest, and fired it. The long needle punctured through her chest into her
heart, discharged its massive stimulant, and immediately retracted the
needle into the handle.

Gloria reacted as if she had received an electric shock, and I could see the
pulse in her neck begin its movement. Within a few seconds, her heart and
breathing seemed strong, but she didn't awaken. We pulled blankets off the
bed, and covered her with them. Tina talked to her, but she was totally
unresponsive.

I unfastened Tina and she I by slicing the tens of tiny buttons off. We
slipped out of the dresses and petticoats. Without taking the time to
remove our undies, we donned black one-piece coveralls. I couldn't help
whistling at Tina who looked sexy as hell with he tiny waist and ample
elsewhere - and long dangly earrings!

She said, "You're not so bad yourself lover," as she strapped on a weapons
belt, "I'll stay with Gloria, why don't you check downstairs." We inserted
our tactical ear radios, clicked our tongues, and nodded in satisfaction that
they were working. A second later the communications computers had us
linked into the tactical net, and we could hear Giles' men as they reported
and reconnoitered.

I strapped on my weapons belt, Tina removed my massive necklace while
put on a pair of black sneakers. With fear in my heart as to what I might
find, I ran downstairs. People were just getting up from the floor, where
they had dived for safety. Nobody in the room had been hurt, nor was the
room damaged. Charlie, Nathan, and Wallace were wearing weapons
belts, and Thomas was retrieving belts for himself and Debbie from another
pod. Mrs. Hammer and Debbie hugged Michael between them, he as
looking around curiously wondering what game all these adults were
playing. Mr. and Mrs. Hanscom, and Duane were calming the Hanscom
kids, all of which were under five. The air indicators showed green, so we
hadn't deployed gas masks, but everyone with weapons was administering
the protective drugs to them selves - accompanied by yelps of pain.

I told Jennifer about Gloria. She turned white, slung a weapons belt over
her shoulder, shoved a radio in her ear, hiked up her skirt, and ran upstairs.
The attack was less than four minutes old at that point.

Thomas, Charlie, and I headed for the command center in the basement.
Nathan, Wallace, and several security people were all armed and had
plugged radios into their ears. They stayed with the rest for protection.
On the way downstairs, we passed 'doc' on his way upstairs to look at
Gloria; incredibly, she was the only causality we had taken - that we knew
of then.

If you have ever toured a US naval vessel and visited it's CIC (Combat
Information Center), or seen a movie of our modern ships at war, you
know what we saw as Frazier admitted us. Giles and Nigel were sitting at
control consoles looking at a wall full of computer-enhanced images of the
outside, and schematic representations of radar and the various systems
status. Four 'video games players' manned as many consoles that
controlled the computerized weapon systems. Their nerve-racking job was
to correctly identify threats, prioritize them, and issue orders to release the
missiles - or computer controlled fire - to destroy the target.

Charlie went directly to Giles, while Thomas and I went to his 'observation'
console. The first thing he did was program the communications computer
to continue to feed us net traffic, while allowing us to hold a private
conversation. He also set up to eavesdrop on Giles, Nigel, and Charlie.

"Let's look at the attack from first recognition." He suggested to me.

"Okay." His fingers flew over the keyboard.

Thomas began thinking out loud, "The video games boys are tracking nine
vehicles, lets see, about ten minutes ago. They picked them up as the
vehicles drove quickly for position. These visitors look good; at least they
had a plan. These two large garbage trucks are a dead giveaway, what the
hell are they doing climbing the bluff?"

"Look at these four vans, they are driving right down the middle to our
driveway. This Mercedes Limo looks like a command vehicle; the thermal
image shows four people and a lot of hot electronics. It looks like these to
vans are in reserve or to protect the limo." I contributed.

"Christ, that's a array of fifty cal guns deploying from that garbage truck.
Shit, he wasted no time firing. Look VG1 (Video Gamer 1) has him
targeted for a STS, and released the weapon the instant he fired on us,
VG2 was way less than heartbeat behind targeting the other truck. Shit,
they are releasing weapons and mortars like crazy." Thomas said excitedly.

"Yeah, it was less than a fifth of a second before the Kevlar and reactive
armor closed, Gloria must have been hit by one if the first rounds fired.
The first of our STS are at altitude two seconds from first fire, they found
their targets, and wham. Christ those babies vaporized the trucks, look at
all the secondary explosions." The timer indicated eleven seconds into the
attack. The Gatling screen is still firing." I paused and looked at another
display, "There are still five missiles heading toward the house, that's why."

Then Thomas replayed Giles commands. The tactical display he used
focused on the ground attack by the four large vans. Fortunately, a NASA
inferred satellite was overhead. One of Charlie's friends had made its
output available to our tactical computer, as a 'test' of a new theater tactical
information system that Hayes Electronics was developing for the army. It
looked like four or five men had a chance to exit each van, before a HEAT
missile fired by Nigel's two man teams could fire. Giles had propositioned
them in spider holes covering the 'easy' approaches to the house. All four
attacking vans were destroyed, and secondary explosions were triggered
from the munitions still inside. We could see the twenty or so attackers
who managed to leave the vans, being picked off or captured. Although
the vans held in reserve had not exhibited an overt threat, Giles gave the
order to VG1 and VG2 to target a STS on each van. Thirty seconds later
they were both destroyed, and the limo pulled quickly away, but not before
Kyle, leading an outside team, tagged it with a tracer beacon.

The attack was seven minutes old at this point. The thought crossed my
mind, that when the military planners saw the computerized reenactments
of this attack, Hayes would sell a lot more of these defensive systems.

Thomas then gave the computers commands to locate all warm bodies on
the grounds and identify each. Three of our men, and five other warm
bodies were approaching the main house from the rear. Thomas typed a
few more commands and said calmly, "Giles, your attention on the rear
sector, five attackers, carrying three of our men without vital signs as
cover, are approaching."

"Got them, Peters, Michael look grid R2 forty yards out. Go."

"Got them, they have Norman, Little Mike and Maxwell as hostages. Go."

"Negative, friendlies have no vitals. Can you use gas? Go."

"No, too much of a breeze. Go."

"Fire, try to get some alive. Execute."

"Done! All down. Go."

"Be careful, cover them, and wait for help. Go."

"Will do. Done."

Giles dispatched a four-man team from the barn to check on the five
downed intruders.

While that drama unfolded, Thomas continued to scan for warm bodies.
Finding none, he looked at how those five entered the estate by rolling
back the telemetry. As far as the inferred satellite data showed, they
materialized out of thin air. But tracking backward using available optical
and radar data he discovered several ATVs, (All Terrain Vehicles) which
were camouflaged and apparently shielded from most radar and inferred
detection. He whistled and said, "These babies are cool, got to get me
one." But his fingers were flying over the keyboard as he programmed the
threat recognition software on the fly. Gradually, fifteen such vehicles
appeared on the tactical displays, "We have unfriendlies all over Giles."

"See them..." and he began to issue orders. The VG3 and VG4 manned
consoles controlling the .50 cal rapid cycle precision rifles. They targeted
each as it became exposed. They didn't actually aim the weapons, they just
designated them, and the computer aimed and fired the appropriate weapon
as the target came into its field of fire.

Giles had his men on foot approach from directions out of the field of fire,
to verify kill or capture the occupants. Chef Robert shot and killed one
cloaked attacker as he tried to enter through the mudroom. It was over a
half hour before that deadly game played out. In all we lost three men, had
four wounded, one seriously. Besides Gloria, all our causalities were the
work of the cloaked attackers. Thomas and Giles concluded the initial
attack was a diversion from the primary cloaked sneak attack.

When it seemed that threat was suppressed, we called in a med evacuation
chopper. Hayes Pharmaceuticals funded it as a public service for the
residents of northern New Jersey and southern New York. Doc could see
no reason why Gloria remained unconscious, so he had stabilized her with
a neck collar to a C-spine board and began fluids and oxygen. When the
chopper arrived, she and two of the injured men were flown to Patterson
Memorial. Jennifer and Kyle accompanied them over Charlie's objection.
Charlie and ten men, left with a limo and several cars, to provide Jennifer
protection at the hospital.

In all fifty-two bodies were found between the initial assault force and the
cloaked force. Eleven were captured alive, but six died of injuries within
hours of the attack. The five survivors, including the individual we
suspected of commanding the attack, were transferred to Leonia by a
circuitous route. There they would be interrogated and sent to the TF if
they deserved such special treatment.

Thomas continued analyzing the attack, while Giles and the rest of us
planned a counter attack on the estate the limo had pulled into. Thomas
was performing a scan for all our people, when he called Giles and I over.
He looked worried as he said; "I don't have Tina anywhere on the property.
Did she go to Patterson with Gloria and Jennifer?"

"Don't think so." I said as I called Jennifer's cell phone.

"Yes." Jennifer answered.

"Tina with you guys?"

"No."

"Sure?

"Yes."

"Okay."

"I just checked with the men deployed in cars, she isn't with them either."
Giles reported

Meanwhile Thomas was expanding the scope of his search...

Thomas was looking at displays and typing furiously, for the first time I
could see perspiration on his forehead. Finally he said, "Got her, lets see...
She is about ten miles from the limo's destination... She is traveling at forty
knots, at two thousand feet. She must be in one of those ultra lights the
cloaked force was planning on escaping in. It seems we missed a few after
all."

We all stared at each other for a full minute, each lost in thought, I spoke
first, "We can't leave her with them alone while we plan and execute a
rescue raid. I have to get in there with her; I won't leave her alone with
them. How does this sound? I'll walk right up to the front door; I'll use
one of the small BMW convertibles so it will be clear I'm alone. My cover
story is that I want to negotiate a truce; I'll need a weapon I can carry in, it
can't be found when they search me, and I must be able to control a room
full of people with it. I'll neutralize whoever is in the room with us, and
Tina and I can arm ourselves from the cartel people, and hold out until you
can rescue us. If possible we will knock out whatever defenses they have."

Thomas and Giles thought about my plan, Thomas was thinking about how
it could be done, and Giles was thinking of how he could talk me out of it.
Thomas spoke first, "You will have to use gas, nothing else will control a
room that fast, but you can't very well carry a canister in with you."

"I could hide a small one in my colon."

"No, all the ones we have here are steel, and will be picked up by metal
detectors." Giles said, "Besides," he added, "It's foolhardy to put you at
risk too. We can organize an attack before they can do much to her. She
injected herself didn't she?"

"Yes, first thing, me too."

"No hypnotics will work on her, and she is protected against most nerve
gasses. If she is seriously stabbed or shot, her body will fall into a near
death trance." Giles said.

"Giles, listen to me, I am only being realistic. We have no idea of their
defenses. Their cloaked attack shows a level of sophistication approaching
our own. That place could be as much of a death trap to attackers as this
one was, especially if we take it on blindly. No, the only way is to get
someone in there, and I can think of a great cover story. I'll make them a
offer they can't refuse." I finished with a smile.

"Look Becky, those drugs we took enhance and speed up our thinking -
hell the aren't called the genius drug in the press for nothing, but they also
tend to make us a bit foolhardy too. I really wish you would reconsider
this, let me send some men in with an e-recon package. I don't want to
loose you too."

Thomas looked at each of us saying, "She is right, if we can come up with
a weapon for her, she is our best chance. That attack on us was masterful,
not bragging, but if I weren't here to reprogram the threat computers on
the fly, it would have done a hell of a lot more damage. I wouldn't want
those two loose in my underbelly when I was under attack. Face it Giles,
both Tina and Becky can be deadly as hell."

"Ok guys it's settled, you figure out a weapon, communications, and
transportation in the next half hour. I'll get dressed for the part, and come
back down to be armed." It was well that I didn't know just how Thomas'
mind worked - at least I had a half hour of physical and mental comfort.

Chapter 37 - Trojan Horse
(Hardly flattering, but apt!)

Trust not the horse, O Trojans. Be it what it may, I fear the Grecians even
when they offer gifts.

Virgil (70-19 BC)
Well I wasn't Greek, more like a Norse goddess I fancied. Besides, I didn't
look like a horse on my worst days, so what the hell - nothing will go
wrong!
Becky Hayes (b1983)

I was having a last minute chat with Giles, while standing in our Lexan
shielded porch that overlooked the helipad. The Cartel's estate was
forty-five minutes by car, and located near Ringwood, New Jersey. It had
taken an hour and a half to get me 'armed and commed' as Nigel
succulently put it. Brenda had taken the little BMW convertible on a
circuitous route designed to flush a tail, to a park ranger helipad a few
miles from The Cartel's estate. She was wearing Tina's black sable coat
and had her hair fixed like mine. Giles had people following her, but they
detected no ground surveillance.

"You're sure I can't talk you out of this harebrained scheme?" Giles asked
looking serious as a heart attack.

"No, I think it's a calculated risk with the odds well skewed in our favor. I
don't want to leave Tina in their clutches one minute longer than necessary.
Besides, without inside help, you admitted our attack could easily turn into
a bloody failure." I responded

"Brenda could go in, she has passed for you before."

"No she can't, don't forget The Cartel held me for near a month in that
whorehouse in Germany. Stern was sent videos of my training - and
Brenda lacks a cock, and they know I have one. Not only that, I've been
studying up on these bastards, and I'm sure I can convince them I want to
deal. They will swallow it long enough for me to free Tina, and once we
are both free inside their stronghold, we will at least be able to tell you
what you are up against."

"What if they don't want to deal, and shoot you the minute they see you?"

"Tina's still alive, they snatched her, and it would have been easier to kill
her right here."

"All right, I didn't think I could talk you out of it. While you were being
armed, I spoke to our contact at Hayes Defense. They are flying some
offensive ordinance in from Phoenix, but it won't be here much before nine
this evening. We were lucky they had a few chaps working on the program
that I know, I think they are coming with the weapons - they have been
testing them on the live fire ranges, so we shouldn't have any trouble using
them."

Giles shook my hand, and I walked out to a corporate helicopter. The
blades were rotating and I was glad my hair braids arranged on top of my
head held in the wind it generated. In less than fifteen minutes we were
landing almost on top of the BMW Brenda drove here. She gave me a hug
and wished me luck as I walked to the car. She boarded the chopper and I
drove the final three miles to the cartel's mansion. Actually it was a
collection of rustic looking buildings with one larger rambling building, I
figured it to have been built as a small tourist resort in the middle of the last
century.

I pulled right up to the front door of the largest building, and could see
people behind picture windows looking at me. To give them time to
recognize me, I checked my makeup in the vanity mirror on the visor.
Lipstick freshened, nose powdered I swung my feet out and stood up. I
moved slowly as it was painful, as the cramps started up again.
Nevertheless, I tightened the belt on my sable coat, fixed a smile on my
face, and walked up to the front door. The door opened, and a
well-groomed man in his late forties or early fifties greeted me, he bowed
slightly saying, "Ms. Rebecca Hayes I presume."

"Yes, my friends call me Becky, who do I have the pleasure of
addressing?"

"I'm Basil De Koven, my friends call me Basil. Please come in my dear
Becky, it is chilly outside."

"Thank you Basil," I walked a few feet past two men holding HK assault
rifles, into a good-sized cozy room. It was decorated with scenes of early
logging in the area as a motif; there were several groupings of furniture,
and a large gas fireplace behind a glass partition radiated heat. Three men
were seated in a cluster of six easy chairs near the fireplace. Four more
men were standing about holding assault rifles, and they were paying close
attention to me.

"We have to search you my dear." Basil said in an oily voice.

I loosened the belt on my coat and let it drop to the floor. There was an
audible sound of breath being drawn in by several of the men. All I was
wearing under the coat was red hip hugger panties, smoky elastic top
stockings, and red leather three-inch heels.

"Go right ahead, I don't mind."

He proceeded to search me, paying close attention to my butt and breasts;
he massaged my cock through my panties - looking not the least surprised
to find one there. His finger even probed my butt hole and stroked my faux
pussy. He didn't pause at the communicator glued in position to resemble a
clitoris, but I reacted with a soft moan as he touched it. I could see the
bulge forming in his pants. He took far more time than a search required, it
was a real exercise in self-control for me just to stand there, and let him
handle me.

"I see you were expecting a search, I must say I never expected to see you
walk through my front door."

"Basil, if you don't mind, my dress is in the right hand pocket of my coat.
Would you be a dear and hand it to me. Then we can chat to your hearts
desire."

He gingerly picked up my coat and searched the two large pockets. He
found my dress and a pair of black leather gloves. The dress was made of a
stretchy new synthetic fabric the resembled a cross between silk and
cotton. It was an opaque lipstick red and matched my shoes, after one of
Basil's men ran an electronic detector over me, and then it, he handed it to
me. It was perfectly wrinkle free when I shook it out, and since it was
oversized at this point, I had no trouble stepping into it. Almost
immediately, it shrunk to a perfect fit from my body heat. Without a bra,
Tina and I had joked as to whether it was more revealing off or on. In this
company, I definitely felt better with it on. Since it was strapless and very
short, it did not hinder my movement at all, and after another a few
moments, it even supported my breasts like a good strapless bra. Basil was
fascinated as the dress molded to my body.

"Come over here and be seated, can I offer you a refreshment?" Basil
asked, in my imagination he looked like a spider greeting a fly.

"Water please, Poland if you have it." I left my purse on a table where a
guard pawed through it and examined it with the electronic device. I left it
there and followed Basil to the other men, and then sat in the leather easy
chair that he indicated. I crossed my legs demurely and smiled at the other
three. Two looked prosperous and overweight, the same two had their
eves shifting between my legs and breasts. The third looked like a slender
bird of prey, he ignored my body to look me directly in the eyes. I focused
on him and said, "I'm Becky Hayes, whom do I have the pleasure of
meeting."

His gaze didn't waver as he said, "I'm Robert Bird Hass, but most people
call me Cardinal."

I smiled, "That's a great nickname, how did you come by it."

He smiled slightly, "My mother started it. You see I have a red birthmark
in a private place that looks exactly like a cardinal. Mother was taken with
it and gave me the middle name Bird, but Cardinal is the name that stuck."

"You must show me some time." I said as Basil handed me a small bottle
of Poland water and a sparkling goblet. "Thank you, Basil." I smiled up at
him.

"That is not very likely, I believe we have different proclivities." Cardinal
said coldly.

"Pity... And Basil, who else do I have the pleasure of meeting?" I asked.

"This is Bob Putman and this is Marshal Wright, all these gentlemen are
fellow businessmen."

"If memory serves me, I believe you are all board members of Vulcan
Holding. It's a very special pleasure to make your acquaintance." Putman
and Wright looked surprised, then pissed at being identified, Basil and
Cardinal kept perfect poker faces. I continued, "This meeting is most
fortunate, I have been looking for a way to have a private chat."

"Why would you want to talk to us?" Putman asked with a sneer.

"Two subjects actually. The first is simple; I want your organization to
stop attacking me. The second is I wish to forge a business alliance."

Wright squinted his eyes at me and asked, "Whatever gave you the idea
that we wish to cause you harm?"

I sighed, "Please..."

And then continued, "I believe Basil and Cardinal owe their lives to me as
I spared the limo this morning." Cardinal looked at me in a way to make
me wish I hadn't - well I hadn't really, Giles did, so he could track then to
their lair. "Sorry Cardinal, we had the missiles and you were targeted. Zip,
swish, bam, and you would have been history - just like the two vans
deployed around you."

"I had friends in those vans." He snarled.

"So sorry, next time knock - I would have welcomed you. You have to
admit that you fired first, you can hardly be angry for my firing back." He
didn't look at all as if he accepted my logic. I waved my hand in a gesture
of dismissal, and continued, "What's done is done, we lost good people
too. More to the point, protecting me has cost over one hundred million
this year. I could have used that money to make money, say by investing in
joint ventures between Hayes Holding and Vulcan Holding. That makes
eminently more sense."

"Are you suggesting we intend to extort money from you?" Wright said.

"Not at all, I have no intention of simply giving Vulcan money, I intend to
make prudent investments with full expectation of reaping a handsome
profit - while retaining title to my initial investment. I am proposing our
two organizations move forward in concert, not at cross purposes as we do
now."

"You are a woman, we do not work with women." Cardinal snapped back.

I was watching Basil, he was keeping a perfect poker face, but his foot
began to move rhythmically ever so slightly as I mentioned investment with
mutual goals. I asked, "Would that be your only objection to forming a
partnership between our organizations? Let me fetch another bottle of
water while you discuss the matter."

I stood and walked to the bar, one of the guards glared at me, but moved
behind the bar before I reached it. "What do you want?" He asked in a
surly manner.

"A bottle of Poland please." He handed it to me and I twisted off the top.
I slowly drank from the bottle while standing at the bar. I could feel all the
men looking at me as they discussed my proposal - except for Cardinal. He
looked quite animated focusing on the others, but after a few minutes, Basil
spoke ending the discussion.

Basil turned toward me and beckoned me to return, when I was seated and
my legs were again demurely crossed, he said, "We see no reason why such
an arrangement couldn't be made to work, of course you would have to
step aside. However you and your family would have the assurance that of
our security was protecting you, not acting at cross purposes as you so
delicately put it."

"There would be no need for me to step aside, I am biologically a man - I
have a cock and fuck women just as you do. My DNA is one hundred
percent male."

As I said that, I noticed Cardinal looking at me closely, appraisingly.
Apparently, he hadn't seen Goldman's videotapes.

Basil looked at me and said; "I have seen certain videotape of you in
Germany. You acted very much like a woman."

"If someone held a gun to your head, and applied certain other torturous
inducements you could be made to act like a woman too. But even
imprisoned in Goldman and Gunter's whorehouse, I was able to contact my
people on the outside and arrange my freedom. I hope Gunter and
Goldman weren't your close friends, because they each performed far more
degrading and extreme acts for me - before I allowed them the option of
death. And it was not a pretty death at that... They had a month of my
degradation to atone for, and I am satisfied."

Basil asked sharply, "What happened to Stern?"

"Ah Stern, you know he has been the bane of my existence since he tried to
murder me when I was fourteen." I looked at my nails a moment, "You
will not see Dr. Walton or Stern again, and I doubt their bodies will be
discovered anytime soon." I was walking a thin line; I knew Basil had a
voice stress analyzer on his wrist. Under ideal conditions, it was a good lie
detector, but I had a drug active in my system that suppressed tremors, and
I was sticking to half-truths as much as possible.

"You have taken out several of our key men, I don't take that lightly."
Cardinal said with a glare.

"They were venial fools, forget them. That horses ass Goldman, was intent
on sexual revenge on me; the fool wouldn't even entertain a discussion of
business matters. He thought he was getting even with me because I
embarrassed him. The disagreement occurred over six years previously, at
a board meeting, and was over an everyday business matter - certainly
nothing to hold a grudge about. He was a self-aggrandized fool; you are
well rid of him. As for Gunter, he was little more than a simpering pimp,
without Goldman's money and influence; he would have been in jail years
ago.

Stern was little more than a degenerate; he was centered on his own
pleasures and made many decisions that were obviously against the best
interests of your organization. I didn't know Dr. Walton, but he got in the
way and tarred with Stern's stench. At the time, I didn't feel comfortable
letting him escape - like I let your ninjas. He met the same fate as Stern."

"You are a blood thirsty bitch." Cardinal said.

"I am not a bitch, I am not a female. You may fairly call me many things,
perhaps I am bloodthirsty, but bitch is not appropriate..."

I didn't get a chance to finish my thought when Putman said nastily, "You
look like a pretty damn fuckable bitch to me."

"You try it lover boy, and you will have a dick up your ass so fast you will
think you are back in college." I looked back at Basil, "Basil, can you look
me in the eye with a straight face, and say you would have done differently
with those fools?"

"Given the circumstances I expect you have a point, but how can we
believe you will follow through with your deal once we release you?" Basil
said to me, but looking pointedly at Cardinal.

"Why wouldn't I? It is in my own best interest. Besides you haven't heard
my entire proposal yet."

"True, what else do you have in mind?"

"Right now I control Hayes Holding, but Jennifer Hayes is always in the
background, and legally she can take over on a moments notice. I need to
have something done about her, and I can't be seen as having anything to
do with it."

"Are you saying you want us to kill her?" Cardinal asked incredulously.

"Precisely. And Vulcan Holding can't be seen to have had a hand in it
either."

"That isn't so easy, we have tried as you know." Basil said with a smile,
"She is your mother, isn't she?"

"Stepmother, and she is the one who arranged to have my balls cut off - it
was a long time ago, but I have neither forgotten or forgiven!"

Basil actually visibly relaxed, I could imagine him twisting his moustache if
he had one, "How do you propose we do it?"

"Do we have agreement on goals? Can you work with me? Please discuss
my proposal amongst yourselves before I go into detail, I find myself
thirsty again." I finished speaking while getting up on my own, hopefully
retaining some modesty, which was almost impossible in this short dress.

I walked over to the bar, and the surly guard handed me another unopened
bottle of water. I twisted of its cap and took a needed drink, almost
draining the small bottle. Again, there was heated discussion, and again
Basil said a few words ending it, but he waited almost five minutes this
time.

He beckoned me over, "We are in essential agreement, what is your plan?"

"Do you have a conference room? Something with a whiteboard and
reasonable audio security?"

"Yes, we can adjourn to the Oak Room, it is shielded. Follow me." Basil
said.

"I would like to stop at the men's room, all this water you know." I asked.

Cardinal answered, "Follow me."

I realized this was a small test, so I chose to use a urinal once inside the
room. It was a moderately sized facility designed to accommodate four
men without waiting. For the first time since I pissed standing for the
priest, I hiked up my skirt and pulled down my panties sufficiently to free
my cock, and pissed. I stood back so Cardinal had an unobstructed view,
and he took full advantage of my openness to stare, he actually licked his
lips. He finished before I, and dampened a towel from the vanity; first, he
wiped my cock clean, then his own.

I really hated his touch on my body, but I smiled at him encouragingly.

"Can you have a orgasm with this?" He asked.

"Of course, even though the bitch took my balls, I've had testosterone
hormone therapy and can, and do, fuck like a rabbit. I've probably got
more T in my blood than you. Would you like to try me and see?"

"Do you prefer men then?"

"No, but I will take a good orgasm any way I can get it - I guess you can
say I'm bi, with a preference for women. I'm an interesting guy to go to
bed with, or even for a quick romp in here. Are you up for one?"

This was the second time I asked, if he didn't act I wasn't going to ask
again. He looked undecided for a moment, then dropped to his knees and
took me into his mouth. I thought of Tina, but in truth, he was a very good
cocksucker. His fingers probed my butt, but fortunately, it wasn't long
before I was bucking wildly into his throat; I held his head tightly to me
while I drained myself. I released him and pulled out before he felt extreme
discomfort from lack of air, hoping he hadn't prematurely released my
weapon.

I lifted him up and kissed him, when we broke I asked, "Man enough for
you baby?"

"Quite, we must join the others now - I will make sure we have another
private moment."

I was rearranging myself as he turned to leave. I took his arm saying, "See
that you do, I owe you one. Perhaps Tina could join us, you will not be
sorry - she is most accomplished."

He didn't take the bait, merely led me down a hall into a large conference
room. We took seats at the speaker's table across from Basil, and his two
stooges. The guards had moved with Basil and were standing about, I
noticed over a half dozen men clustered around some video displays, and
what looked like a portable command sets. They were in the in a corner of
the room furthest from us. I hoped these men controlled the external
security patrols. Two of the guards left the room. I could feel the gasbag
in my colon shift, as the nozzle expanded toward my hole; it was a most
uncomfortable feeling as it attempted to pass my sphincter.

Nevertheless, I smiled and asked, "I want to have Tina present for this, if
she doesn't buy into it we will have to kill her."

"We can just kill her, and not worry about her any further." Cardinal said.
Did I detect a hint of jealousy?

"She is my wife, and a enormous help to me. If she is killed unnecessarily I
will take it very personally, and the individuals responsible will pay a
terrible price. This I can promise." I said it quietly, but no one missed the
resolve in my voice.

Basil smiled and said, "Reginald, please bring Mrs. Hayes in here, I didn't
know you were married."

"No? I'm surprised. Your intelligence is horrible. While it is not general
knowledge, if you dig deeply enough in the right places, you would find the
public record - just as I uncovered your ties with Vulcan Holding." My
baiting him was just a little jab, designed to make him wonder what else
about me didn't he know.

She couldn't have been far, as Reginald was gone less than five minutes
when he returned with Tina. She looked pale, her lip was bleeding, and her
eye swollen almost closed, my blood boiled. Following our training,
neither of us looked overly excited to see one another, but we kissed.
During the kiss, I could feel Tina trembling, but all I did was to push a
capsule into her mouth. It had been held in my mouth by adhesive, where
my right wisdom teeth normally would be. She half expected it, and I
could see the muscles of her jaw tighten as she broke the capsule.

When we separated, Tina was looking for signals from me as to how to act.
Nigel had drilled many signals into us, both verbal and non-verbal, to be
used in just this kind of situation. I didn't want to signal her now when all
eyes were upon us, these guys weren't the sharpest tools in the box, but
they weren't dumb either. Another man, who took a seat next to Basil, had
accompanied her and the guard Reginald. She was sitting next to me, and
placed her hands on the table to signal me she was not restrained and okay.

I said, "Tina, the gentleman to my right is Cardinal, sitting across from us
to our right is Bob Putman, then Marshal Wright and finally Mr. Basil De
Koven. Basil prefers to be addressed as Basil. Basil, who is the new
member of our group?"

"Dr. Warren Hartman, he is replacing the unfortunate Dr. Walton. May we
continue please? As you were saying Becky."

"Tina, to bring you up to speed. This incident has given us the opportunity
to have open discussions with The Cartel through these gentlemen." I
smiled at Basil and said, "That was the name we gave your organization, it
is still accurate I believe, as Vulcan Holding is only part of your holdings."
Basil nodded, and I continued looking back at Tina, "We have agreed to
operate with consideration of the others interests in the future, and jointly
when it makes sense. As a gesture of good faith, Basil has agreed to help
us with our Jennifer problem."

Tina responded with one word, "Excellent."

I focused on Basil, "In a few weeks, Jennifer and Charlie Marsh will
publicly re-enact their marriage. They will then fly to Maui for a month
long honeymoon. However, it will not be them in Maui, but two of our
security agents who resemble them very closely. They will pull it off
undetected, as they have fooled casual acquaintances in the past.

Actually, Charlie and Jennifer will disguise themselves, and fly to Antigua.
Once there they will set sail on an eighty-foot sloop. Jennifer has recently
purchased it as a wedding present for Charlie. Charlie is an excellent
sailor, and except for four of Giles' security men to crew, they will be quite
alone sailing Caribbean waters.

I believe an accident at sea with all hands lost will serve quite nicely. Tina,
do you have any further suggestions?"

"Only that her body be found, she should have died by drowning." Tina
said coldly.

"I have one question, what is to prevent an attack on us when you two
leave?" Basil asked in a reasonable tone of voice.

"I will leave Tina here for a day, she will stay with some of your people
until you executives have cleared out. As long as our agreement holds, you
have nothing to fear from Hayes people. However, if you break it,
remember we know who you are - and you can be sure that I will hold you
personally responsible for any problems that develop as a result of a breach
of faith."

"I'll stay as a hostage! In a pigs ass I will." Tina picked up on my signal to
start a fight. "That quack has been pinching, poking, and interrogating me
since I got here - those two raped me as soon as I arrived. You're not
leaving me alone with them!"

"Dr. Hartman no longer has a reason to interrogate you. You will give the
order to stop annoying Tina, won't you Basil?"

"Certainly Becky, you have my word on it. From this moment on Tina is
an honored guest."

"I still want to leave with you, it will be boring here." Tina pouted
beautifully.

"You will do as I tell you!" In a tone low and mean.

"You can't order me about, I'm not one of your whores." She countered.

With that, I slapped her face hard. "You will do as I say!"

She had barely recovered from my blow as she punched me hard under my
jaw, I added momentum to the punch and sprawled over backwards to the
floor taking the chair with me. Tina was right on top of me, and for a
moment her ear was next to my mouth, "You must kick and hit my lower
stomach really hard." That was all I had time to say without giving away
the game. I flipped her over my head, and jumped to my feet. My skirt
was riding above my ass, but I left it that way to add to the show. I just
hopped they wouldn't stop us.

Tina was on her feet as fast as I, and delivered a roundhouse kick to my
lower stomach. I felt the valve pass my sphincter ring, but didn't hear the
sound of gas. I recovered and swept her off her feet with my right foot.
As she fell I jumped on top of her, but she brought her knees up and my
lower belly made contact with them hard. "Done," I muttered to Tina, I
had an excruciating pain in my lower stomach now. The gas releasing
sounded like a sharp loud fart, and one of the pigs at the table said through
his raucous laughter, "This is good, she is kicking the shit out of him."

I rolled off Tina, and brought my leg down across her neck, my foot made
a slapping sound as it hit the floor. I actually didn't hit her neck, but it
sounded as if I had, and Tina lay still with her eyes closed feigning
unconsciousness. I got up, forcing myself to ignore the pain in my gut, and
sat back at the table.

"Does she talk back often?" Basil dryly asked.

"Yes, but usually not in public. We have a room in the basement full of
interesting toys, she will learn the error of her ways - someday." I grinned,
"She likes our little sessions there, something you did must have gotten her
heated up."

They all started to laugh uproariously at my little innuendo, which was the
first sign the gas was working on them. My nose was running, confirming
the high concentration of the gas. I reached across the table and grabbed
Basil's handkerchief just before he passed out. Thank God, it was clean!
Twenty seconds later they were all sound asleep.

I waited an eternity for the gas to do its work on the men across the room;
it actually took only two minutes on the clock - and fortunately, they were
intent on their instrumentation during that time. Once everyone in the
room, except Tina and I, were unconscious, I frisked Cardinal, finding a
Glock 9mm and two spare clips.

"Tina," I said quietly, "you can get up now." In an instant, she was on her
feet and in my arms. We nuzzled for a moment, and then I said, "Here is a
Glock for you, and some spare clips." She took the gun, jacked the slide
back to confirm there was a live round in the chamber, checked the clips
and in less than two seconds had the clips stowed in the pockets of her
jumpsuit, and was moving across the room to the unconscious Cartel
security manning the command center. I quickly searched all the men at
our table, and found four more Glocks and a number of spare clips. I took
Dr. Hartman's jacket off his unconscious body and put it on, and then put
all the spare clips into the pockets. I brought the Glocks and the guard's
two HKs with me; Tina took one of the Glocks, putting it in the left hip
pocket of her jump suit. We took a minute to cut Tina's corset off, and she
breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief, and performed some stretches. I looked
closely at the corset noticing the cum stains, Tina said, "I forgot how truly
awful it was to be used like that, if we get out of this alive I will see to it
those pigs pay."

"I will help, sometimes I think the TF is too good for these creeps."

"It doesn't have to be baby, it can be pure hell - trust me on that."

While we talked, we stripped all the HK assault rifles but two, throwing the
bolts, springs, and rods across the room. We hung HK clip pouches from
our necks, and then concentrated on the electronic displays.

Then I remembered my communicator, and Tina knelt down while I spread
my legs, and slowly peeled it from its nest in Puss. Temporary surgical
adhesive had been used; the stuff was more like rubber cement and
designed to be removed without solvents. Nevertheless, it was an
unpleasant experience, "There is a lot of adhesive on you, but the earpiece
came off cleanly." Tina told me.

I put the communicator in my ear, and several of the instruments on the
table went wild. The implant in my ear activated the communicator, and it
tried to link up with a Hayes tactical net. I heard the familiar click of net
lock up, followed by Thomas' cheerful voice, "Took you long enough
Babe, we were about to break for supper." Thomas was telling me that
they were in position to attack, and awaiting some word from us.

"We already ate steak Tea, but Tina and I will join you for a glass of beer."
I was giving Thomas the recognition phrase we had agreed upon, and in
addition, it told him that we were at a command console; Tina was with
me, and she was well, that we had control of the room we were in, and
finally that were had not been undetected.

As I began to tell Thomas what I was looking at, Tina began hand and
ankle cuffing all The Cartel men with plastic ties that she found on one of
the tables. On her return sweep, she emptied their pockets of weapons and
whatever else they carried. She wrote their names from their ID on their
foreheads with a magic marker. Besides Basil and his four cohorts, there
were nine Cartel thugs.

All the while, we kept an eye out for visitors; in all probability, we assumed
all the gas had dissipated by now and anybody walking in would be
unaffected. On the other hand, if the gas worked as advertised, the Cartel
men now asleep would be out up to two days, unless the antidote was used
to wake them - the same antidote that I passed to Tina in our initial kiss.

The logical thing for me to do was to give the communicator to Tina, and
let her work directly with Thomas, as she could work the katana keyboards
and read the screens. Unfortunately, unlike most of our communicators,
this new all biologic unit, would only work with my implant. So I had to
play communicator for Tina on one end and Thomas on the other.

Acting as Thomas' hands and eyes, I began using the equipment. After a
brief initial exploration, we disabled three of the seven portable consoles, as
they were clearly associated with repelling an airborne attack. The
equipment was Japanese and at least three of the unconscious men were
Asian. So, Tina stood next to me to describe what was showing in
Japanese on the screens to Thomas. With the increasingly severe pain in
my gut, I lost track of what Tina and Thomas were actually doing, I was
truly acting as a dumb link. Finally, Tina punched a series of commands
into a keyboard and I heard a muffled series of explosions.

But right then two people walked into the room, one was Tom Hanscom
and the other was a cartel man with a HK in his hands. It all happened very
quickly, the Cartel man looked in shock about the room, then to his credit
acted quickly to bring his gun to bear on us. Tina was concentrating on the
consoles, but I focused on the intruders just as Tom's Glock cleared his
pocket. It was too late for them, as I loosed a burst of 9mm hell into their
bodies in a classic infinity pattern. I loosed the whole clip, as I wanted to
make sure they wouldn't get off a shot. Reading my mind, Tina dumped
half a clip into each while I reloaded. They looked like hamburger; Tina
was reloaded and ready in an instant. "He was the prick that grabbed my
communicator out of my ear and held me until the others took me. He was
afraid our men had seen him with a gun in my back, so he flew here with
us. Christ Becky, the bastard had dinner with us with his wife and children,
and left them without a thought."

"There must be a lot more to the story." But right then, between the agony
in my gut and the threat of more Cartel goons, I had other considerations.
The HK's we used had suppressors, but they were still loud and had a
distinctive sound, so I expected more company at any moment. While I
guarded the door, Tina changed the passwords for the consoles as Thomas
instructed.

We left the room to work our way toward the front door. Tina nailed two
more guards, and I one on the trip through dim corridors. Just as we
reached the front door, we heard a crescendo of fire from outside, then
silence. Crouching near the entrance, I could hear on the net our guys
working toward the main house; they confirmed one after another cartel
hard points were destroyed - by the self-destruct command Tina had given.

It was a terrible lesson - never mine your own men without requiring them
to close the final destruct enable. In other words, make sure they are all
clear before remotely initiating a self-destruct sequence. Our men met
some sporadic resistance, but were able to quickly put it down. From the
chatter on the net just before I passed out, it seemed that the cartel death
toll was very high.

Chapter 38 - Another Recovery
Each time dawn appears, the mystery is there in its
entirety.

Ren Daumal (1908-44)

I woke up. After the cobwebs cleared, I realized that I was in a too
familiar room in Sandra's clinic; all the lights were dim. So realizing it was
still night, I closed my eyes and drifted off again.

***
When I opened my eyes again, all was dark, but I could see the portal
opening. Becky stepped through with a radiant smile on her face. She
came over and sat on my bed, I really couldn't feel her weight as she settled
on the bed, but I felt her cool hand as she stroked my forehead. Each
stroke said I love you, surer than any words.

"You have been foolish again my beloved Nicholas, she smiled and kissed
me. What am I to do with you? Just don't let your success this time make
you too cocky, you could have died - and your time is not yet."

"What happened to me this time?"

"The doctors will tell you soon enough, you will fully recover. I am so
proud of you, dad and mom have passed to another place, but they were
proud too."

"Will you leave me Becky?"

"No, we are linked too closely. Besides I really wouldn't want to leave
you, it is fun to live my life through you."

We stayed like that for a long time, she stroking my head, and I soaking up
her love. Finally she said, "When you wake you will have to care for Tina,
she was raped and it brought back all the old fears and memories. She
needs you very badly now. I will see you soon."

"Good bye Becky, I will care for her, I truly love her more than life itself."

"I know Nicholas, it is one of the reasons I love you so much my dearest
brother." With that, she passed back through the portal.
***

When I woke again, sun was coming through the window. Sandra came in
the room and gave me a through examination, while she worked she said,
"That was a damn fool stunt you pulled."

"It seemed like a good idea at the time, and it worked."

"And it damn near killed you, do you realize you almost destroyed your
prostrate gland, your bowel was perforated in several places, and badly
brushed your kidneys and spleen. The injury to your prostrate could have
rendered you impotent."

"Sandra, it really was important to rescue Tina quickly, they only had her
for a few hours - has she told you what they did to her?"

"I know she was raped, but she hasn't told me about the incident in any
detail. I cleaned out her uterus and womb thoroughly, and you two don't
have to worry about possible pregnancy, she felt better after I told her that.
She is staying here and physically recovering nicely. Further, she has had
several chats daily with Dr. Marshal; I know he feels she will recover more
quickly now that we woke you."

"Can I see her now?"

"You have to lay pretty immobile until we do another MRI later today, I
want to make sure that adhesive repaired your bowel completely, and that
your entire kidney and spleen are correctly receiving blood flow." It was as
she was speaking I realized my lower body was immobilized and secured to
the bed. "I'll check on Tina, if she is awake I'll send her in with your
breakfast."

"I'd like that, thank you. Say, do you know how Gloria is doing?"

"No, she isn't here. The last I heard she was still in a coma. She had
swelling of fluid at the base of the brain, but Jennifer has retained the best
people to treat her, she has been moved to Columbia Presbyterian in
Manhattan. My gut feel is that she will recover, however I will call Dr.
Honing and check on her condition for you when I get back to my office."

"Thank you, she is like a sister to me."

She started to leave, then turned to face me saying, "If you ever need to
secret a weapon in your body, consult with me first, I will help make it
safer for you."

"In that case, as soon as I get back to Nyack, we should get together and
refine this design. We only had an hour or so to design, fabricate, and
insert this one in me. As a result, it was very crude and the triggering
mechanism was unreliable. In the end, it was devastatingly effective
though."

Sandra was shaking her head as she left.

It seemed like I just blinked my eyes, but when I looked up Tina was
standing next to my bed with a tray. She put the tray down on the table
and kissed me, then said, "Hi sleepyhead, how are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you are here, how are you feeling?"

"Ditto baby, Sandra said you would be okay, but seeing is believing. Let
me raise your head, she said you can't move your lower body yet."

"What did they do to me?"

"Nothing drastic," she looked under the covers and rubbed woody,
"Everything is here and feels to be in working order." She giggled as he
grew in size, stopping she said, "As I understand it, the bladder Doc put
into you developed some sharp edges at the seams, when they pressurized
it with the nerve gas. These edges actually cut your lower colon in several
places. After Sandra, and the specialist she brought in, removed Thomas'
bladder, they used a special adhesive developed for the colon to repair the
damage. To give the colon wall time to fully mend, a special experimental
balder designed by Hayes Pharmaceuticals was inserted and inflated. It has
permeable sides and the gases inside it promote healing."

"I was wondering about that, something seems to be up there, I guess that
will come out later today."

"Yes, that's why you can't go to the bathroom yet, you are catheterized for
urine."

"What happened after I passed out?"

Tina twisted her pendent and I could hear it's strange noise as it went into
cloak mode. "Thomas gave me one of these too." She stuck her tongue
out at me and continued, "The four executives, the doctor, and a few
surviving guards were brought to Leonia; they are being interrogated there
now. I haven't heard what if anything they are saying. I asked Giles and
Kyle to be present; frankly, I am a little leery to fully trust Charlie's
organization now. He didn't even suspect Tom Hanscom, and Tom had
just passed a rigorous security check prior to his promotion.

There were forty Cartel guards found, three were taken alive at the resort.
The self-destruct mines planted in their own hard points killed the majority,
over thirty men - poof. Our guys went through the survivors like a scythe
through wheat; none of our men were seriously hurt, except for you. I
wish I could feel remorse for killing all those men, but I don't - I hate those
bastards, all of them."

Then Tina broke down and cried, sobbing out of control. I held her to me,
and it wasn't long before we were both crying. I have no idea how long we
were holding each other, but gradually I realized we weren't crying any
more. Then she pulled away and gave me a little smile while she rubbed
her eyes.

"I still hate the bastards, but I feel a whole lot better."

"So do I. So, what else happened?" I asked.

"Thomas packed up all their electronic gear and is working on it with some
more Lucent people at Nyack. Nigel, and a few of our bomb experts, went
over the building we had been in with a fine tooth comb, and discovered
high intensity incendiary fire bombs planted throughout the building. Giles
had a great idea, he had all the Cartel bodies from Nyack brought there,
and they brought all the bodies in from outside, and set the place off.
Thomas had a pyrometer and measured temperatures over two thousand
degrees. We didn't stick around for the place to cool off, but Charlie's
contacts in the state police told Nathan only a few bones remained."

"Great, I was really concerned with how we were going to dispose of all
those bodies. Charlie was concerned people would begin making
connections with Hamburg. As far as I know, there is no connection
between Hayes and that place. Has Charlie and Jennifer been brought up
to date yet?"

"No, I wanted to wait for you. All Jennifer and he were told was that I
was rescued, and that we snared a few Cartel men for questioning. Oh,
and that you had been slightly injured. Jennifer has been staying with
Gloria, and since I didn't tell them how seriously you were hurt, she hasn't
asked to see you."

"That's just as well, she has enough to worry about with Gloria. What
exactly happened to Gloria?" I asked.

"She was actually very lucky. The Lexan window shield slowed and
destabilized the .50 cal. bullet as it crashed through. When it hit Gloria, it
struck her on its side with great force, but the silk of her dress and
sideways aspect ratio of the bullet prevented it from penetrating her body.
However, the shock of the impact stopped her heart and sent a shock wave
into her lower brain - actually dislodging large numbers of lower brain
cells. This caused fluid to build up in the days that followed, much as
happened with Jennifer, and the doctors are still fighting that build up of
spinal fluid, which could kill her if left unchecked. In addition, the shock
wave caused micro fractures of her collar and other bones, and of course
the coma."

"Do they think she will recover?"

"I think that her doctors don't actually understand why she is still in a
coma."

"Shit," was my inane and eloquent commentary.

Things went better for me; the doctors removed the medicinal bladder from
my colon that day. I stayed two more days in the clinic while Sandra
verified my plumbing and circulation was working properly. During those
days, Tina stayed in the room with me. I used my portable PC and we ran
Hayes business over our encoded PCS phones. In my spare time I
analyzed the additional information we were gleaning from Basil and
company. Several times, Tina and I checked that our plumbing, and that
our emotions were responding properly, that our experience hadn't caused
any lasting harm.

On the surface, Tina was fine, and we enjoyed each other's bodies as fully
as ever, but her sense of security had been fragmented. She had put the
nightmare of her childhood to rest long ago under layers of security and
self-confidence, now she had to deal with the reality that she really was just
as venerable as ever. On a rational level, she had accepted the risk, and felt
she could deal with it. Looking at how intelligently and efficiently she
fought back, literally an hour after being raped, one could think she was
unaffected by the experience.

The morning we were leaving for Nyack, we made love, after Tina said as
she lay in my arms, "Does it bother you that those men raped me?"

"It makes me madder than hell at them, it makes me want to torture and
then kill them for hurting you."

"That isn't what I mean. Does their taking pleasure in me, using me, make
me seem any less yours? Does it make me seem dirty to you?"

"No, I understand emotionally and rationally that it was an act of violence
forced upon you, like a bad beating by a mugger. Your being attacked
doesn't make you seem any less mine. If anything, the fact you survived
and are here now with me makes you more precious to me. What terrifies
me, is that you could so easily have been killed, and lost to me forever."

"I feel dirty, violated, and ashamed that my body responded to them."

"I understand, but that no more diminishes my love for you, than the
experience I had in Germany makes me less yours... It doesn't, does it?"

"That's different, they weren't in you."

"Yes they were, in every way they could be. You know that. For now just
know that I love you, don't think less of yourself for what they did. I
don't"

"That is easier said than done."

"I know Tina, I truly know. You helped me get over the feeling of being
degraded, used an object. Let me help you. I do understand, and I love
you more than ever."

We talked like that for a long time; eventually my constant reassurances
relaxed Tina, but I knew they did not erase the troubles from her spirit.
That would take much more time. I didn't have to deal with those kinds of
issues this time, especially as I had felt in control while dealing with Basil,
Cardinal, and their cohorts. I did feel guilty about enjoying Cardinals
blowjob, and I didn't mention it to Tina.

This pattern continued for the following weeks when we returned to
Nyack. Gradually Tina began to regain her self-confidence and security.
She damn near wore a Glock and HK out running through the live fire
combat range, and practiced with any of Giles men that could stand her
furious unarmed attacks. Initially our lovemaking was tender, then kinky,
sometimes furious. Whatever Tina seemed to need at the time, I tried to
give her, but as the weeks passed, we most often practiced the tender
feeling passion, that characterized our pre rape lovemaking.

After Thanksgiving, Thomas decided to keep his family at Nyack. He
spent time overseeing the repair of the house and grounds, and the
cleaning, replenishing ammunition, and testing the fixed weapons. He also
spent time with Hayes Defense engineers upgrading our defenses. In our
spare time, he worked with me analyzing the Cartel - and giving himself the
equivalent of a MBA. Somehow, he found time to paint his wife and son in
oil using Jennifer's easel and paints. Thomas was truly a renaissance man,
and my only male friend.

The Monday before Christmas 2006, we decorated the large Christmas tree
in the foyer nestled by the main curving staircase. Years before, some
Hayes ancestor arranged for swings to be installed, they could be raised
and lowered around the tree. It was a tradition for the family to use these
decorating the Christmas tree's upper branches. It was a lot of fun, and
Thomas' infant son Michael was delighted watching us trim the tree. While
we were swinging about, we got word Gloria had come out of her coma.
The next evening Charlie and Jennifer brought her home, Nathan, Debbie,
Duane, and Wallace showed up too.

After dinner, we split up into groups. Gloria, and Debbie played with, and
cared for Michael. Gloria loved the baby, and as she had no memory of the
trauma she sustained, she picked up right where she left off at
Thanksgiving - really only the day before yesterday in her mind. Nancy and
Duane played cut throat gin. Wallace discussed the running of the agency
with Jennifer and Charlie, he was really getting the third degree, and I
didn't envy him. Jennifer expressed no interest in the running of Hayes,
although I knew she was receiving regular updates and summaries from
Frederick. We kept monitoring Frederick and Duane for contacts by the
Cartel, kind of an early warning system. Nathan, Tina, Thomas, and I
discussed the Cartel in our computer/sitting room. Tina and I had agreed
that we trusted Nathan, and were almost as frank, but not nearly as through
discussing our findings with him as we were with Thomas. We requested
that he not discuss most of what we shared with him with either his dad or
Wallace. He agreed.

Nathan had seen most of the raw data as he was supervising Basil and
company's interrogation. He saw the questions Thomas gave him daily, but
until tonight, he wasn't privy to the extent of our database or the analysis
Thomas and I applied to it.

"So how are your evil children?" Tina asked after we finished a discussion
of what we were learning from them about the Cartel.

"They must be pretty weak by now, they have been floating in water for
two weeks, and on a constant diet of muscle relaxants, subsistence forced
feeding, and psychotropic drugs. Dr. Marshal said that it is will help with
the next phase.

Just what the hell is the next phase?" Nathan asked.

"They will be turned into effeminate slaves, addicted to pain and
submission. Some of them deserve worse, but we will make them as
miserable as we can short of murdering them." Tina said with ice water in
her voice.

"I know two of these creeps raped you, is this just for revenge?" Nathan
asked.

I responded, "No, we are doing this because none of these people would
receive justice for their crimes in a court of law, they are far too wealthy
and powerful. We are seeing they are punished for their crimes. The fact
that we dole out a measure of personal revenge in the process is a bonus
for us, but not our major objective."

I locked eyes with him and continued, "Look Nathan, two of those
creatures raped Tina, one tortured her by pinching, and twisting her body,
smacking her with a whip - while the other two raped her. The other one,
Basil, gave the order for them to do it. The Doctor you have
recommended that they start the interrogation that way to soften her up.
That is personal. In addition to ordering the outrage on Tina, Basil ordered
the attack on this house on Thanksgiving. As you know seven of our men
died, Gloria was gravely wounded, and four of our people are still in the
hospital. Not to mention the over eighty of his own men killed between
here and the resort.

Those are only his most recent crimes. They have enslaved countless
young people into prostitution and blackmailed or suborned countless
people. Take for example Duane, Frederic, and very nearly your brother
Wallace. Not to mention the perversion of Tom Hanscome, if you dad
wasn't a considerate human being, his innocent wife and three kids would
be homeless without a cent as we speak.

You know all that now, I know it without a shadow of doubt. Do you
think a conviction in a court of law is possible?"

"No, I guess not. But why keep them alive, my choice would be to just
blow them away - after we have squeezed them dry." Nathan answered.

Thinking of my real Dad's visit I said, "We can't become cold blooded
murderers, if we do, we will be no better then the ones we fight. Besides,
in this case there is symmetry of crime and punishment. They are being
made to experience degradation similar to that which they inflicted on so
many others, many innocent young girls."

"Only they aren't innocent children or adults, they are the perpetrators of
countless despicable crimes over many years. When do you think we can
take them over?" Tina asked, her voice cold as ice.

"We have squeezed Putman and Wright dry, they are merely venial corrupt
business men, followers not leaders. You can have them tomorrow.

May I see what you are going to do to them?" Nathan asked a little
timidly.

"Why don't you wait until we induct Hartman, Basil and the Cardinal, they
should be the last for a while. You might even come up with some ideas
on what to do with them next." I suggested.

"Okay sis, but you have really peaked my curiosity."

With that, Tina and Nathan went downstairs to find Wallace and his dad.
Thomas and I continued with the effort to identify the Cartel members, and
its ultimate master. We prepared a list of questions for Basil. We were
close. Very close, as we took one more look at our latest analysis run.

Christmas Eve was the most festive in recent memory. Gloria was still a
little sore, but in the afternoon, she held her own in an aerobic dancing
session with Jennifer, Tina, Debbie and I. She even followed Tina and I
into the pool to swim a lap or two. The muscle stimulation she received
while in her coma, served well to maintain her muscle tone. She seemed to
have recovered quite well, and didn't really understand our repeated
expression of concern for her health.

The extended family members, including Debbie, dressed as Santa's helpers
in ermine trimmed short red dresses, red tights and black boots. We wore
wide patent leather belts like the men who dressed like trim Santa's, sans
beards. Jennifer had purchased the outfits while staying in Manhattan, and
was most pleased we all were able to enjoy them. We had invited several
of my school friends from The Academy, and a few had young children and
husbands in tow. All the employee families with children were invited. At
nine in the evening, chef Thomas arrived with helpers laden with toys. All
the children received several.

Ms. Sandra Welch and Billy Querns were invited, and Jennifer used the
opportunity to introduce Gloria to them. Over coffee, Sandra decided to
admit Gloria to the fall freshman session. She agreed to test Gloria and
determine what tutoring was necessary to get her ready for school in
America. Even though Gloria's education had received little help from her
parents, she had liked school in England, and done well in most of her
subjects.

Thomas and I were concerned with the real possibility of another attack by
the cartel, Giles argued against the party. However Jennifer overruled us
on the basis that the Cartel would require time to regroup, Giles pointed
out that we did too. Manpower wise we were about at half strength.
Following our custom, after an engagement the men involved were given
generous combat bonuses, and given the option of taking a month's leave.
Seven men were killed, five were still recuperating from serious injuries,
and eleven had elected to take leave. Giles was seriously concerned with
our ability to halt an attack like the one mounted against us on
Thanksgiving Day.

The grounds had been cleaned up, Lexan and Kevlar shields replaced as
needed, and ammunition replaced. Several tons of it for the Close In
Defense weapon system. Most of the men were deployed in defensive
positions about the Estate, and only people with invitations and matching
photo ID lists were admitted into the grounds. The software analyzing the
camera, thermal, and satellite data had been updated by Thomas to detect
another cloaked attack. But, as Thomas pointed out; it was the nature of
defense to protect against the last attack perfectly, not the surprise
elements of the next attack!

However, what concerned Thomas and I most, was the possibility we
would be hit with a powerful bomb. Most likely, a missile - with a large
bomb like the ones we had brought in from Phoenix to hit the Cartel
Resort. To counter this threat, we had a prototype of the Hayes Aerospace
advanced Patriot III missile defense system installed. Up to now, our
political connections, and I guess the Cartel's connections; have kept our
little war from the government's official notice. While certain agencies of
the U. S. Government were fully aware of the Thanksgiving Day bloodshed
- in full detail, officially a blind eye was turned. Hayes Defense actually
received additional orders for the Close In Defense based on its
performance under an actual attack. But that would all change if missiles,
and counter missiles, started exploding in the sky, less than fifteen miles
from New York City. Not to mention the fact we all might be vaporized in
the process.

Against this backdrop, Jennifer, Charlie, Nathan, Thomas, Giles, Tina, and
I met early Christmas morning after all our party guests had left. Jennifer
and Charlie had a little Champaign, but their heads cleared quickly, when
after chitchat, I outlined our position.

"... As you can see, so far we have reacted defensively to the Cartel's
attacks. We know now that they are responsible for Mike's debauchery
and death. They outright murdered Dad, Becky, and Alexis with a bomb in
Paris. The attack on this house on Thanksgiving was the last straw for me,
I vote that we attack them before they can regroup and attack us again."

"Do we know who or what to attack?" Charlie asked.

Thomas answered, "With the information we are gathering from Basil's
interrogation, placed in the context of prior information, we are very close
to identifying the figure pulling the Cartel's strings."

"Precisely what do you propose we do Becky?" Jennifer asked

"As soon as we identify a significant number of the controlling board, I
propose we threaten each and every one of them - probably make and
example out of one of them. Make it personal, and make it nasty. I think
the majority are cowards and will knuckle under a direct threat to their
person." I answered.

"When do you believe you can strike?" Charlie asked.

"Within the next month or so, if we delay much beyond this I believe we
will be hit again. Thomas and I believe that this time they will use heavy
missiles, as a defense we should probably disperse." I answered.

"Given the attack on Charlie's house, what is safer than here? I for one
have confidence in Giles, and the Patriot missile defense Thomas had
installed." Jennifer said.

Giles responded, "No defense is perfect, given the likelihood we would
have little or no warning, the Patriots would have to work perfectly. To
date they have less than a fifty percent success rate in testing. I suggest
that you, Charlie and Gloria take that cruise you had planned for the next
month or so, break all communication with Becky and Tina running Hayes
from here, and Wallace and Nathan running Eyesco from Englewood."

"I know it makes sense so that at least some of us survive, but I will not be
chased out of my home again. I vote that we take the war directly to the
bastards, I have been a punching bag long enough." Jennifer said with
finality.

Charlie responded, "Let's get married and take our honeymoon as planned,
if they don't know where we are, they can't kill us. Giles makes sense."

Jennifer responded while Charlie was on the last syllable, "If we stay here,
we will be missed and they can look for us - at sea we could be gone for a
month before they even begin to look. How many others of our trusted
people have they gotten their hooks into? How secret could our location
be? I would have placed my faith in Frederick, you did with Tom
Hanscom, they had Wallace bugged - who else that we trust has been
comprised? I don't know, do you? No, I say let's stay together, and watch
each other's backs. Tina, how do you feel?"

"I agree with you, I was snatched under everybody's nose, but was rescued
by Thomas' technology, Becky's guile, and Guiles' muscle. I will trust that
combination, if Thomas and Becky will stay here, I will - they understand
the risks. The Cartel has just begun to feel our wrath, I intend to make
them knuckle under to it!" Tina didn't raise her voice, but nobody doubted
her resolve.

Thomas spoke for the first time, "I don't know a safer place, and if you will
let me, I want to keep my family here. Our technology is good, the odds
are with us."

I summed up, "Ok, we all stay here, and as soon as we can we will attack
the Cartel..."

It wasn't the last word, but that is the plan we followed.

TF Log - Kathy Harris, December 27, 2006
Hi Tina,
I received your email and was very distressed to hear of your rape. Trust
me, the ones responsible will pay! What follows is a summary of our
present status; we are ready, willing, and able to induct five more in the
next week or so. I am looking forward to your visit. Attached is kind of a
summary log page.
KH

At ten AM we inducted Bob Putman and Marshal Wright as icky and bee.
Sally, the former Lady Farnsworth, is as much of a sadist as ever. We
encourage her to torture her fellow trainees, but give them ample
opportunities to get even. The three biological males now display full
feminine form, they have been chemically castrated, and their penises
stitched to their crotch. The penises are only useful for urination due to the
high levels of female hormones they endure. The process of feminization is
irreversible, should the hormones be stopped, they will just resemble aged
women.

The initial four have received drugs that impair their ability to
communicate; due to hypnosis they cannot say their real names, have
trouble saying their assigned names, and speaking in sentences. At another
level, they remember full well who they were.

They are encouraged to sodomize each other, large strap on dildos are
used. Within a few days, icky and bee will be regularly and thoroughly
sodomized. They will sleep with the others, and within a month be as fully
feminized, as the others. After a month of brutalizing each other, they have
at least a broken nose and lost teeth. They make really, really, ugly looking
women.

I don't encourage it, but Tom's men use our subjects for their own sexual
pleasure, some of it quite rough. Especially since the have found out their
histories from Vicky and the other girls. Since they can't leave the TF, I
guess it's okay. Tom and I have drawn quite close, and I have told him my
full history - and he has told me his. He has no personal need to use our
subjects.

Arrangements have been made with a particularly vicious pimp to add the
subjects to his stable, where they will be put out on the street as working
whores. If you decide to close this facility, I would suggest they be placed
in his care.

KH

Chapter 39 - Checkmate
I have only ever made one prayer to God,
a very short one:
"O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous."
And God granted it.

Voltaire (1694-1778)

"I can't believe these people, but it must be true." Thomas sat back
scratching his head.

I glanced at him, but decided to just listen. Tina leaned back from the PC
and letter she was writing, "What can't you believe?"

"According to the record Basil's of interrogations, the initiation into the
Cartel's executive board of directors involves the rape and murder of a
child by the new member. Only after the individual has performed that act
in front of other board members, will they be trusted with the Cartel's inner
secrets. With all the truth drugs they gave him, I don't believe he could be
lying - and he should know, he is a member of the executive board."

"I have no trouble believing that, it is fully consistent with their past
actions. I'll even bet there is a visual record of the deed somewhere. The
Cartel has always used extortion and blackmail as a tool of ordinary
business. It makes perfect sense, after performing such a universally
condemned act; a board member could never testify against the Cartel. If
you were a prosecutor, could you afford to give an informant immunity
from such a crime - in return for what amounts to a commercial
prosecution? I think not."

"No, I guess not. Especially after Cartel lawyers made it plain to him the
deal would be made public. Becky is right, these people are truly above the
law."

"But they are not out of our reach, in some ways were also operate above
the law. We have the power and will to squash those perverts. I will see
to it, or die trying." Tina's voice conveyed her will.

"Well, if we use our heads that shouldn't be necessary." Thomas dryly
observed - with a wink, and then continued, "These people are really sick,
but if we handle this right, we can use their perversion against them. I
think I can see how we can get them off our backs, and clip their wings in
the process. The key is this guy Basil, his dad, Northrop De Koven, is the
chairman of the board of NT. NT is apparently the holding company that
glues the entire Cartel together. This guy Cardinal is a lovely piece of
work too; apparently, he handles the wet work for the executive board -
the stuff too dirty to trust to others. He tells the same story, from the point
of view of the procurer of young virgin girls, and stage manager of the
ritual. He also sees to the disposal of their bodies."

"Does either of them know where the tapes are kept?" Tina asked.

"Apparently not, both he and Basil are adamant that only Northrop Senior
knows where the tapes and records are kept, much less has access to the
records of the murders. Supposedly, it will be either Basil or Northrop
Junior's legacy when the old man dies of natural causes. They are
competing for the old man's favor, even though Northrop Junior is the
oldest. According to Cardinal, Basil was the current front-runner.
Northrop Junior seems to be a few cards shy of a full deck, and doesn't
show much enthusiasm for the family business." Thomas said thoughtfully.

"Any I idea when the next executive board induction ceremony is, and
where it is being held." Tina asked.

"Strange that you should ask. According to out two songbirds, it's
scheduled for February 11 and 12, 2007 at the Lincolnshire Resort in
Lincolnshire City, Illinois; apparently, the old man likes to do these things
on weekends. On Saturday afternoon they induct new members and cavort
well into the night, on Sunday they handle business. We should arrange to
have Basil and Cardinal's bodies discovered in the ruins of the Ringwood
resort. If the old man thinks we have them, he might call off the meeting."
Thomas answered with a frown.

"Got you covered, I spoke to Nathan about that when I returned here after
Thanksgiving. Both the Cardinal and Basil have had a few fingers
removed, they were found by the State Police in a suitably charred state.
The last I heard they had been identified by fingerprints, apparently both
creeps had passports. However, the file on the fire was copied and the
fingers stolen. I think we can assume the Cartel was behind the theft, and
has positively identified the remains of their men." I added, breaking my
silence.

"Let me go back over the electronic intercepts. I'll see if I can find any
evidence that the Cartel was actually responsible for the theft, and that they
have made the connection." Thomas started some serious keyboard
pounding.

"You had some of their fingers removed, too bad they couldn't be better
identified by their cocks." Tina said quite seriously.

"They won't have the use of them for long, Kathy will see to that." I
answered.

"I will see to that! I remember very well Basil giving the order to rape and
torture me. I hope the fingers Cardinal is missing were the ones he twisted
my tits with. Regardless, he will find out how that feels! Will he ever."
Tina promised.

"Neither of them will twist anything very hard without thumbs, too bad the
pain of amputation will be mostly over when they become fully aware." I
answered.

It took over a hundred thousand dollars in time on Lucent's most powerful
computers, but within forty-eight hours we had the proof we needed.
Among other things, we had the decoded conversation between Northrop
Junior and Senior. They were discussing the finding of Cartel scientists;
the fingers found in the resort's ruin matched Cardinal and Basil's
fingerprints in Cartel files. Further, DNA of the fingers identified as Basil's,
positively matched the DNA of his sperm, which was in cryogenically
storage. Senior seemed more upset that only Junior was left to carry the
family flag, and Junior seemed upset he would have to be inducted to the
executive board. It occurred to me that we could help Junior, and
ourselves if we played this right.

The month of January flew by.

Tina and I averaged nine hours six days a week working on Hayes
business. We had the COO and CFO from our various operating
companies visit us at Nyack. Telephone, videoconference, or a proxy
could not substitute for most of these year-end review and New Year
strategy meetings. There were many days when we had a dozen
houseguests on Hayes business. Most of the business meetings took place
in the downstairs den, and both Tina and I would be present. Most often,
we would have dinner with two or more operating company's people.
Jennifer spent time with a few long-term associates, especially if their
results for the prior year were favorable.

It became very clear to me, that I couldn't build a personal rapport with any
of these men. They viewed me as a single woman, the boss, and treated me
with kid gloves. The few that made a pass at me, I had to reject for
obvious reasons. I couldn't find the middle ground of simple friendship. I
felt badly, but accepted it as one of the process of my female mask.

When I mentioned my plight to Jennifer, she asked me if I remembered
James Joyce's famous line. When I shook my head no, she quoted - "Love
between man and man is impossible because there must not be sexual
intercourse, and friendship between man and woman is impossible because
there must be sexual intercourse."

I guess Thomas was the exception that proved the rule.

I often spoke with Thomas explaining what we did, and he began work on
improving our information systems in his spare time. He had never
considered the problems of managing a huge enterprise, and was fascinated
by the challenge.

We all spent at least an hour a day using the athletic facilities. I particularly
enjoyed aerobic dancing with Debbie, Tina, Jennifer, and Gloria. Thomas
felt strange at first, but he was beginning to enjoy it too. We all had fun in
the indoor pool; there is something wonderful about swimming in January -
with snow on the ground.

On a serious note, Thomas, Tina, and I ran through the combat range at
least once each day. Sometimes Charlie, Jennifer, and Nathan joined us.
Debbie and Gloria only when we insisted, they felt much more comfortable
spending time with Michael.

Tina and I practiced unarmed combat skills, and Tina brought in Mary Lee
who was considered the finest wushu martial arts teacher available. Tina
spent at least two hours daily with her, and convinced her to stay with us
for a few months. Tina vowed not to be captured so easily again. I began
working with Mary at least an hour each day, as her style of fighting was
well suited to my slight female form. Jennifer, Debbie, and Gloria also
began working with her. As time passed, Gloria especially liked the feeling
of self-assurance the daily workouts gave her.

Tina spent several hours each week at the TF. At first, she received
satisfaction adding to her ex-tormentor's pain and discomfort, but after a
few weeks, as their bodies changed she just found them repulsive. Kathy
said Cardinal and Basil broke earlier than any of the others, and now they
were pathetic submissive whores who craved abuse.

As the weekend of the February 11 neared, we began planning our attack
in earnest. Because we didn't want to strip Nyack of men, thirty of the
Russian mercenaries Tina had used in Germany were brought into the
country on February 1. They were armed with the captured Cartel
weapons, and we put them up at a rented National Guard camp in
Wisconsin. I was surprised to learn they all had some college and spoke
some English, some fluently. Their training focused on three skills, with
the objective of blending in and completing the operation unnoticed.

First, familiarity with the cartel weapons - live fire and combat simulation
several hours each day.

Second, Nigel worked with them to hone an attack plan. Using the base
conference facilities, the men practiced gaining control of the expected
opposition.

Third, they were given training as Vodka salesmen. Their cover at the
resort was the annual sales meeting of a distribution company, the company
existed, but the meeting was faked. As an added incentive, the company
we retained to train the mercenaries as salesmen, arranged for permanent
jobs in America for those judged by the firm able to handle the job. None
of the Russians committed, but they all worked hard to have the option.
They all were outfitted with sportswear consistent with their cover, much
to their enjoyment.

On February 4 about ten in the evening, Charlie joined Giles and I as we
were discussing the strategy to use while taking control of the Cartel
meeting. He looked upset, and I asked, "What's the matter?" Thinking
something had happened to the boys.

"This might mean nothing, but when I read the briefing sheet, I felt as if
someone was walking on my grave. I hate it when my subconscious sends
me messages like that - it's usually right."

Charlie really looked shaken, so I just waited for him to tell us what was
bothering him.

After a minute Charlie continued, "A shipment of eight cruise missiles
arrived at Otis AFB last Friday with two of the missiles missing. Concrete
had been poured in their shipping containers, so the theft was not
immediately noticed. What set my alarms off was that the final assembly of
the missiles was in a Japanese company, one of the companies Basil has
identified as Cartel controlled."

"Those things are pretty big, any chance the plant just short shipped,
intending to make up the shortage in a subsequent shipment?" I asked.

"No, an six man Air Force quality team inspected them and verified they
met spec, they watched as all were packed into the shipping container. The
container was sealed and transported to a Japanese home defense airfield.
The container was under guard overnight by the Japanese, before being
loaded into a C5 and flown directly to Otis. It was guarded by Otis base
security for three days before the missiles were unpacked prior to being
placed in inventory. It was at that point that that they were missed."

"Somebody got to the quality control team." Giles said.

"That was the first thought, but video tape of the inspection process and
chemical interrogation of the QA team indicated that the missiles were
packed in the container. The Air Force investigators believe the switch
took place overnight at the self-defense field, although security cameras
revealed no irregularities. I don't have a gut feel myself where they were
stolen, but I believe two missiles were stolen - and the Cartel was in
position to know shipment plans in detail." Charlie said.

"And you think they plan to use them against us here?" Giles asked.

"It is a possibility." Charlie said thoughtfully.

"Are they a complete weapon, I mean with warhead and guidance system?
How would they be launched?"

"I don't know. I stopped by your room to see you; but Thomas was talking
to Tina, and trying to get Michael back to sleep. I asked him those
questions and a few others, he is researching the answers as we speak.
Tina said you were probably here."

We talked for almost an hour, but came to no conclusions. Then Jennifer,
Debbie and Gloria came back from a ballet at Lincoln Center, Gloria was
bubbling over. "Oh Becky, you should have been with us, I have never
seen anything so beautiful. They dance so effortlessly, it is as if they were
on the moon."

Gloria enthused about the ballet they had just seen, but when Thomas and
Tina joined us Jennifer asked Gloria to join her getting ready for bed,
Debbie said she was tired too, and they trooped upstairs. We could hear
them laughing with Gloria's attempts at pirouettes all the way up the stairs.

"Learn anything Thomas?" Charlie asked.

"Quite a bit actually. Those missiles were the latest design, and are
intended to be very stealthy. If we hadn't tweaked the Cartel's nose so
badly, I'd say those missiles were in Peking by now, and the Cartel a billion
dollars richer. Now I'd give even money that at least one is destined here.
As stolen, they didn't have an explosive package, so that would have to be
added. The good news is that all the nuclear warheads designed for that
missile are accounted for, the bad is that it would be relatively easy to
create a conventional explosive package. It would be in the ball park of a
two thousand pound bomb, and be big enough to level this mansion if it hit
in the right place."

"Will the Close in Weapons system be effective against these missiles?"
Tina asked.

"Probably not, the cruise missile is too big for the 000 buck to stop, and the
main explosives detonators are armored and are unlikely to be triggered
early. The original configuration of the close in weapons system used
depleted uranium 20mm projectiles, which would be effective. However,
we can't use those as they can travel over a mile, and would pose a very
real threat to our neighbors."

"How about the Patriots?" Charlie asked.

"If the composite radar and satellite imagery can detect and track the
incoming missile, yes. But, the cruise missile is designed to be undetectable
by inferred and ordinary radar. I sent an email to Martin Woods at Hayes
Defense and requested immediate help. I expect he will sent up some
people to help tweak the system to improve its effectiveness against the
new cruise missile."

"Can you do it?" Tina asked.

"I don't know if we can do it in time. Our best bet is for you to encourage
Northrop Senior not to order an attack on us." Thomas was looking
directly at me.

Nobody came up with a better idea, but that had to wait almost a week.

Tina and I retired about ten on Wednesday; she was still deeply upset
because of being raped. She was gradually working through her anger,
insecurity, and fears, so I was not surprised that Tina began our love
making very aggressively.

Her aggressiveness with me started about two weeks after her rape. I
spoke to Dr. Marshal privately, and he told me Tina was attempting to
compensate for the lack of control she felt while she was forcibly
penetrated. He said it was probably healthy for her to work out her
aggression with me, but if this phase lasted more than a few months, he
would speak to her about other ways to enhance her self-esteem. On the
other hand, I felt guilty about letting her be captured, and wanted to do
anything in my power to restore her confidence and security.

Earlier in the evening, we had given each other enemas, and plugged the
other. We were doing this a few times a week lately. Once back in our
room, we showered, and Tina strapped on a cleaver dildo that stimulated
her clit and vagina while it was used to fuck me - in the only hole I had.
Lately she liked me to kiss the dildo while kneeling before her; I knew she
had been forced to do this. I hoped to turn around her violent feelings, by
giving her sexual pleasure by moving the toy it so that it would stimulate
her as much as possible. After a little of that Tina removed my plug and I
applied KY liberally to the dildo. Tina then entered me from the rear while
simultaneously playing with my breasts. As had been happening lately, she
became quite rough and was twisting and pulling my nipples very hard.
Then she started to move roughly in me, this had the effect of stimulating
her clit and vagina even more, and she became even rougher. Soon she
climaxed, and for the first time she shouted repeatedly, "Take that you
fucking slut."

Then as she recovered from her orgasm, she started to cry. She pulled out
of me suddenly and un-strapped the dildo, removing her plug at the same
time. "I don't know what's the matter with me, I'm so sorry Becky."

She was sobbing so much I almost couldn't understand her. I would be
lying if I said her doing that to me wasn't very exciting - after I absorbed
the initial pain, that is. I was still very hard and horny, as I hadn't climaxed
myself. I twisted around, and held her so that we were face to face, and I
began to kiss her, and quietly tell her that I loved her.

I stroked her body and kissed her for a long time, quieting her as one
would a cat, finally she stopped crying and began kissing and stroking me.
Before long I entered her vagina and we rolled over so that she was sitting
on me, impaled by my cock. We played tenderly with each other's breasts,
kissing and stroking them. It wasn't long before Tina was breathing
quickly, and she had another orgasm, I rolled over on top of her and after a
moment began to move slowly in her.

I was careful to excite her clit and G spot, and soon she was bucking under
me. Somehow, we were holding each other's nipples and I was
accelerating my strokes. I noticed Tina's eyes glaze over, shortly before
mine followed, and deep inside her, I felt my cock expand to pump its
fluids. But that doesn't begin to describe what I felt, I was aware of many
other sensations, and when my orgasm fully developed seconds later, it
encompassed my entire body, as I knew Tina's did her. That was one of
the benefits of being half a woman. I experienced orgasm much like a
woman, especially when I imagined I was being penetrated as well as
penetrating - something I did as a matter of course. We lay together with
me still in her, struggling for air, and then deep sleep.

We woke in the morning still joined, really glued together, but with Tina on
top of me. Actually, we both weighed about one hundred and fifteen
pounds, and had no trouble sleeping joined no matter who was on top. It
was tricky getting to the shower without loosing patches of skin though.
We were very tender with each other as we soaped and washed. We took
turns washing each other's hair, and once out of the shower dried the other.
We applied lotion and fixed each other's hair, blow drying and brushing.
Tina noticed my nails needed touching up and I trimmed her bikini line.
We had both had most of our facial and body hair removed with lasers
years ago, but still needed an occasional trim there. Tina noticed woody
was growing, and she took me in her mouth, we moved to the bed and I
engaged her sex. We had separate, but very satisfying orgasms. The
whole process was very pleasant, a routine we enjoyed most every
morning.

"Chief Black, I'm Becky Hayes, and very pleased you could make time for
me." I was speaking to him in his office in the Lincolnshire Municipal
Complex. Tomorrow we would confront Northrop De Koven. We were
on his turf, and I was trying to even the odds a bit.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. What does a pretty New York
socialite want with a old Chicago flatfoot?"

"May I be blunt?"

"In this office, most people are."

"I know you are being suborned by Northrop De Koven. How would you
like to be free of the bastard?"

"What makes you think I am being suborned, I would not allow that to
happen to me - I'm an honest cop! Ask anyone!"

"I think not, Cardinal told me how you look the other way at times, see
that evidence disappears, and patrols are shifted. I know that you do this
because Northrop De Koven has evidence you killed a prostitute while
drunk. It was on December 3, 2000 in a whorehouse in Cicero, videotape
exists. Does that ring a bell?"

"How do you know Cardinal? Do you work for De Koven too?"

"Cardinal and some of his men tried to kill me and my family. We turned
the tables on him, and persuaded him to talk frankly with us; you will not
be seeing him again. It is my intention to clip De Koven's wings, and I
most definitely do not work for him."

"How do I know that I can trust you?"

"You really can't, but the things I will ask you to do are to further justice,
not to stifle it. If you check on me further, you will find that I run a large
successful business, and an ethical one to boot."

"Let's say that I believe you, what do you want me to do?"

"We will rescue two or three eleven year old girls from Cardinal's friends
Saturday, we want you to return them to their homes if that is in their best
interest. Make sure the families didn't give the girls to De Koven's goons.
We prefer generating a minimum of questions - and no mention of our
involvement. There are a few more things..."

I wrapped up, "... and for what it's worth, I doubt you killed that girl.
Most likely, you were drugged and the murder was staged for the video
camera to make it look like you did it."

"Well, I guess I don't have much choice." He said with resignation.

"We always have a choice, this time you can choose to further justice. Will
you do the right thing this time?"

"Yes. Yes, I will!"

Saturday morning Tina and I dressed entirely in leather, she in black and I
white. We wore three inch highly shined steel toe boots that came to just
below the knee, a short tight miniskirt, leather strapless bodice, and tightly
braided hair worn up. We wore gold studs in our ears, gold choker, and
gold belt with gold plated Glocks in clip on holsters, on the other side were
spare clips in a leather pouch. The finishing touch was a silvered eyewear
that would make positive identification impossible, that is if a man actually
looked at our faces. Tina and I had been practicing with the short lead
tipped bullwhips, Tina on TF subjects, and I on posts. I knew the look in
Tina's eye, and it didn't bode well for the Cartel executive board members.
In short, we were very deliberately a submissive's wet dream.

Colonel Sergey Nikolayevich Penkovskiy, leader of the Russian
mercenaries took one look at us and laughed as only he could. For a
well-muscled man, he gave the impression he was made of jelly as he
laughed from the gut. "They are in trouble from you two," With a flick of
her arm, Tina snapped the lit tip of his cigarette off, the snap of the
bullwhip sounded like a pistol shot, Sergey didn't miss a beat saying, "They
are in BIG trouble."

Yuri Iosifovich Bunich said, "Idea is to let you intimate the hell out of
them, we just keep anybody from shooting you. That right?"

"Right, these bastards get off on hurting women, we plan to humble and
humiliate them. Make them fear us personally; hopefully so much they will
cease their attacks on us. If it doesn't seem like Northrop De Koven is
listening to reason we will kidnap him." Tina paused, and then continued,
"Remember we have to take all bodies and our wounded with us in the
chopper, use the crates the vodka came in."

"Don't worry about my men Tina, I have trained them. This will go off like
duck shit, slick, like duck shit I mean." Sergey replied. "These men we are
after controlled the ones in Germany?"

"Yes, these are the people ultimately responsible for the German
whorehouse." I said

"Good, we scare the shit out of them - I like it better to kill them, my
choice." Yuri said.

We all were wearing standard Hayes communicators in our ears, however
they had the Cartel's Koboto Defense logos on them. Our spotters had
identified twenty-three Cartel goons, and were setting them up to be
neutralized. The side door watch reported three young girls were heading
toward us from a van escorted by four goons, they were clearly
handcuffed, and he believed gagged, as their mouths were unnaturally
open. Tina's eyes narrowed, as she had experienced the cruel dental gags
seemingly favored by the Cartel.

"When this goes down, make damn sure the girls are safe." Tina said.

"I have four men assigned to get them out of the line of fire, they will not
be hurt. Be calm, all will go well." Sergey said.

Several minutes later, we got word that the girls had been rescued. Natalia
Shimshilashvili, Yuri's lovely Georgian companion was freeing the girls.
Then she would help them clean up and question them to make sure it was
safe to send them home. When the operation was complete, she would
hand them over to Chief Black's two plain-clothes detectives.

About the time that the Cartel executives expected the young girls, we all
moved in. About half the Cartel's goons were knocked out by drugged
darts, the other half including the men handling the girls were killed. They
were killed "accidentally while resisting," according to Sergey in his action
report after the operation. Sergey had children of his own, and took a real
dim view of those who mistreated children.

Tina and I didn't know all that as we entered the meeting room, we did see
the surprise registered on everyone's face, they were expecting three bound
and gagged helpless eleven-year-old girls. Not two bitches from hell, and
four, dart gun in one hand, HK in the other, mad Russians - literally angry
Russians.

We expected four armed goons to be protecting Northrop Senior, but there
were six. Thankfully, the bodyguards were surprised at the sight of Tina
and I, just long enough to be shot by the men fanning out behind us. As
soon as the room was secured, Yuri brought in Stern dressed as a hooker.
Stern was completely submissive by now, and almost unrecognizable in his
micro miniskirt, and the loss of sixty pounds - not to mention D breasts in a
push up bra. As soon as he entered the room, he dropped to his knees and
started licking Tina's boots. Northrop Senior started to say loudly, "What
is the meaning..."

But Tina cracked her whip neatly splitting his lips, her soft "be quiet' after
the whip's crack, didn't need repeating.

She said softly, "Up suzy, don't you remember Northrop?"

She guided suzy with her whip so that (s)he was standing in front of
Northrop Senior, who was holding a handkerchief to his bloody split lips.
(S)he looked in terror at Northrop Senior, and did the only thing (s)he now
knew to do to a man. She knelt before him, unzipped his fly, fished out his
limp cock, and began sucking on it.

"Northrop, don't you remember your errand boy Stern?"

"You fool woman, Stern is a man, not a cock sucking whore!"

Tina said in a loud clear voice so all in the room could hear, "Look closely,
it is Stern - a feminized Stern. All he wants now is to please a man, any
man..."

Northrop Junior said, "My god father, she is right - that thing is Stern, was
Stern."

"Stop sucking suzy and let the men take a good look at you."

She stood and faced the table. One by one, I saw at least six of the twelve
board members faces turn to horror, with recognition of their one time
comrade.

It was my turn to speak, "We know each of your names, we know where
you live, and this is the fate you will suffer if anyone attacks my family
again. Look at me closely, I am Becky Hayes, and this is my sister Tina
Hayes. We know each of you, you can't hide, you can run, but there is no
place, no place where we can't find you. Our retribution will be for you
personally!"

"He just gave the order for a cruise missile to be launched at your home!"
Northrop Junior was pointing at Northrop Senior as he spoke.

Senior snarled, "Shut up you jellyfish..."

Tina slashed his mouth again with the whip, effectively shutting him up. In
the meantime, suzy was on her knees again sucking Senior's limp cock. I
said in my communicator, "Hear that Sergey?"

After a few seconds, "I just passed the word to Nyack. Everyone will be
heading for the shelter." Sergey said over the net.

"Ok, Mr. Northrop De Koven, you have earned a life as a whore." After I
said that, I nodded my head, and Yuri shot him with a dart and called two
men in to remove him. Poor suzy looked confused as he slumped to the
floor pulling his limp cock from her mouth.

"Ok, everybody remove your pants." We each encouraged a few with our
whips, when all were standing without trousers and underpants, Tina
continued, "On your knees, forehead on the floor." Again, with a few
whiplashes, all of the executive board was on their knees, forehead to the
ground. "Ok suzy, you know where to put the sausages."

Suzy opened a shoulder bag she had been carrying. At each kneeling man,
she removed a 'sausage' from it, lubed it with KY, and inserted it in the
rectum of each board member. We kept then in that position for five
minutes, soon they were all moving uncomfortably.

"You have inside you a silicon balder filled with a powerful base which is
now vaporizing from the heat of your bowel. It will expand at least five
fold, and stay that way for days. Eventually it will shrink as the hydrogen
gas leaks past the silicon, and you will be able to remove it. Attempt to
remove it before it has mostly deflated, and you risk the base destroying
your bowel and lower intestine. Remember we know your names, we
know how to find you - don't mess with us again."

With that Tina motioned suzy to leave with us, and we all left the prayerful
bastards. Tina and I departed on the large chopper with a half dozen of
Sergey's men, and the crates with bodies. Northrop Senior was stuffed in
one of the boxes with the corpses. We flew to the camp in Wisconsin,
transferred to a Lear Jet for the flight home. Senior was now in a casket,
ready for transfer to Leonia, then in two weeks to the TF.

I was very upset, because as the Lear jet was landing at Newark, I couldn't
raise anyone at the mansion.

Chapter 40 - Consequences (Nyack, Thanksgiving 2008)
Results are what you expect, and consequences are what you get.

Schoolgirl's definition, quoted in: Ladies' Home Journal (New York, Jan.
1942)

Tina joined me in the preacher's parlor; she looked gorgeous in her pale
golden gown. Her eyes were sparkling brightly giving the emeralds of her
jewelry added life. I stood and kissed her while we had a moment to
ourselves, our antebellum gowns forced us to lean into the kiss as they
swished up behind us.

"Oh Becky, I'm so happy. Thanksgiving is my very favorite day of the
year. Ever since that first thanksgiving with you dressed as Becky, and
Jennifer testing us. From that day I knew I wanted to spend my life with
you, it this has been our day."

"You look especially beautiful today, I think being an expectant mother
agrees with you." I said softly as I nuzzled her ear.

"I think so too, I just hope there is no problem carrying the twins to term,
and I'm a little afraid of the pain while giving birth. Kathy certainly looked
happy, she and I are due about the same time you know."

"Yes, Tom sat next to me at dinner. Every time he mentioned it his brogue
got thicker." I looked as her at arms length, "You are so wonderful, I love
you so much!"

"I sure won't be able to wear dresses like this for long; I barely snuggled
into my corset this morning. I hate you! You will look so perfect, as I
balloon."

I smiled, "There are advantages to being a father, even if most people don't
know. Seriously, in a few years positions may be reversed. Sandra tells
me the technology is almost there to give me a complete set of female
organs, and even now, I will be able to share nursing the twins with you. I
am really looking forward to that - our children will really be our children."
I kissed her again on the lips, lightly to avoid messing our makeup. We
were holding each other by our waists, our bodies in contact through the
exotic materials, our quickening breathing rustling our petticoats. I was
wearing loose fitting panties, and my cock was noticeably stirring amidst
the fine silks loosely surrounding it.

Tina must have felt the same stirrings as I, because she said, "Do you think
we will be missed, I really need to make love now."

Just as we were about to turn and walk upstairs, the gods of love again
played a favored trick. Gloria burst in and said, "You are the kissing'est
sisters I ever knew, do you have one left for me?"

We opened up and drew her between us, her robins egg blue gown blended
perfectly with my spring green and Tina's pale gold. We all kissed and
hugged, until I saw Jennifer and Charlie standing in the doorway. Charlie
said, "This is a moment to keep." He activated the holographic
photography in the room, there was a short beep, and he said, "You can
move now."

"I never want to move, both of you come join us." Gloria said.

"You first Jennifer, I want one holo of all my girls."

Jennifer's royal blue gown complimented our pastel colors as she joined us.
We all briefly kissed, hearing several beeps from the holographic system as
we did. Then Charlie joined us for another picture or two. Tina and I
looked at each other with resignation, knowing we had missed our
moment.

After the cruise missile destroyed the above ground structure of the
mansion, we had it rebuilt. It took well over a year, and our new home still
smelled of fresh paint. It was built from the ground up to withstand attacks
and foil electronic surveillance, however we realized no livable structure
would withstand the explosive force of the missiles used against us. In that
event, we expanded and hardened the below ground bomb shelter and
command center. The old one had served us well, saving the lives of all on
the property that fateful February 11. The new parson's parlor had the
flavor of the old, the same sense of nineteenth century hospitality, but
furnished with more comfortable chairs - especially for ladies wearing
gowns, I had seen to that.

Charlie brought lemonade from the sideboard for Tina, Gloria, and I, very
old brandy for Jennifer and himself. He sat after us and said, "We have
much to be thankful for this year, Gloria how are you enjoying school?"

"I love it, I have fits with math as Becky knows, but everything else is
okay" she paused thoughtfully, "but I am most thankful for my friends, I
never dreamed I could be so happy."

"Tina?" Charlie asked.

"I have to be most happy with the new lives I am carrying, I can't wait for
April. I am very pleased to be back in this house, all that has been
wonderful in my life is associated with this place. I first got to know
Jennifer here, and Becky, so many wonderful memories and good times."

Just then, Nathan and Nancy joined us. Nancy was six months pregnant
and sensibly decided to dress in a comfortable modern maternity outfit,
Nathan hovered about her protectively.

"We were just talking about what we are most thankful for. How about
you Nancy?" Charlie asked.

"Frankly I'm glad to be moved in here, there is always someone here and I
feel safe. Those kids who broke into our apartment terrorized me - it's a
wonder I didn't loose the baby." Nancy replied.

"It hasn't helped that I've been away so much, it's a damn good thing you
had the presence of mind to set off the silent alarm." Nathan added giving
her a kiss.

"How about you Jennifer?" I asked.

"I'm happy to spend time with Gloria and Charlie, Tina and you ask my
advice just often enough to make me feel useful, but not that often to let
Charlie off the hook. How about you Charlie?"

"Pretty much the same as you, the boys throw me enough bones to keep
my mind active, while doing all the hard work themselves. Becky, I'm most
pleased to see out revenue from Hayes is up this year." Charlie said with a
smile.

"It should be, there is a hell of a lot of investigation necessary to work with
Northrop De Koven Junior, he is such a ditz. As long as he is in charge,
the cartel will never regain it strength. However, we really can't relax,
there are still a few wolves in that organization, and they have to be closely
watched."

Tom and Kathy joined us. They were living on the property now that the
TF was closed. He was in command of our security until after the New
Year, when Giles, Kyle, and Nigel returned from holiday in Great Britain.

"What mystifies me is why De Koven kept attacking. I can understand
Stern and Goldman; they wanted revenge from Mike Ravlon's time. Heck,
it was expensive to keep attacking us; eventually they must have known we
would take the initiative and attack them." Tom asked

"Keep in mind, it is much cheaper to attack than defend, and they were
going for a quick victory."

Tom remarked wryly, "Aren't they all."

I thought that over for a moment, and as all eyes were still on me I
continued, "I know now that the roots of the antagonism between Hayes
and what we called the Cartel date back to the 1860's. Both families
disputed railroad right of ways, and gold and silver mining properties. The
dispute got very violent during the 1880 to 1895 period, but never involved
assassination attempts on the families owning the enterprises. Eventually
by early 1900, things sorted themselves out, and both Hayes and the
VanDerwal families emerged with significant wealth and land holdings. In
fact, the deed for this property dates back to 1850 and was part of an early
land grant to encourage the building of railroads.

Someone in the Hayes lineage has always headed the various Hayes
enterprises, but that isn't the case with the Cartel. Three families have
fought for control, first the VanDerwal, then by marriage De Koven, and
occasionally by marriage the Kurpp family. Regardless, the commercial
interests of Hayes have clashed with Cartel interests as each attempted to
gain strong positions in emerging industries. After railroads it was
competition for controlling positions in oil, then armaments, retail, airlines,
pharmaceuticals, computers - well you get the idea.

About 1940 things began to change within the Cartel. Since then, they
have operated in such a way to mask the connection between their various
companies. In addition, there have been vicious fights for actual control
between the principal families. According to De Koven senior, he gained
control of the Cartel when he was twenty-two in 1969 by using blackmail
and extortion. By his own word, he murdered three members of the Kurpp
family. Then he threatened the others with death, unless they signed over
their voting rights to him.

After securing voting rights, he created a number of shell companies
controlled by overseas corporations that he controlled. Shortly thereafter,
he systematically transferred assets to those shell companies. In the mid
1970's, the overall value of his holdings began a steady decline, principally
because of poor management. He was an excellent thief and blackmailer,
but a lousy manager of existing assets. Senior decided to use extortion and
blackmail to gain control of other companies to grow, as it had worked so
well within the family. To facilitate this plan he developed a spy and dirty
tricks company reporting only to him. Goldman and Stern were members
of that organization, but in reality pawns of Senior, and only implementing
his policies. Senior's believed he was hidden behind so many corporate
shells that he was the invisible man.

In fact, I had identified him just before we netted Junior, but of course, we
had no proof. By his own admission, Senior believes women are no more
than inferior vassals to men. In 1984, one of his board members betrayed
him. I believe that member gave evidence in a consumer fraud suit against
a Cartel owned Life Insurance Company. Senior weaseled out of personal
involvement in that scandal, but he was shaken.

In order to avoid future betrayals he instituted his version of the Mafia
blood oath. Each of he board members was required to rape and murder
an innocent young girl in front of the others. The crime was videotaped
and Senior kept the originals. Seeing how well that worked, he began to
systematically gather evidence on individuals in competing companies and
government agencies with oversight responsibilities. His people would
befriend the victim and lead them into a comprising position, photograph it,
and then systematically lead them deeper and deeper into depravity - until
they were completely under his control. Mike Ravlon was one such victim.

Additionally, we have identified twenty-three other executives in the Hayes
organization suborned in this way. Most worrying, was that Senior had
damaging information on seven of the thirteen person trust, that Jennifer
had set up to take over control of Hayes - in the event no family member
was in a position to run the business."

I stopped for a minute, most people in the room knew parts of it, but this
was the first time I had laid the whole thing out to everyone. Charlie
added, "Senior was very cleaver, Eyesco vetted all those people and gave
them a clean bill of health. Most of the crimes the victims committed were
done on Cartel controlled turf, and were never reported to the police. For
the most part, they didn't involve the transfer of money, so there was no
money trail to follow. We have developed a whole new strategy to look
for compromised people, but watching in constitutionally approved ways,
can't guarantee identifying such people in the future."

"Talking about investigating, what was that call all about Wallace?" I
asked as Wallace and Duane had walked in when I began to speak.

"That was Judge Waterman, he told me Basil killed the Northrop Senior in
a bitch fight up in Attica. Kathy was right, locking those two up where
they could get at each other, had to end in the death of one of them. Their
cellmate husbands apparently tripped out on speed, and had them fight for
amusement. I understand Basil has to service both husbands when he gets
out of solitary. Judge Waterman is trying to have Cardinal moved into the
same cellblock; he has been in solitary for knifing his ex cellmate husband.

I'm sending a man up to make sure it was actually senior who was killed.
However, without all those files and videos to blackmail people with, I
doubt he would be a threat again, even had he actually escaped." Wallace
saw my look and added, "But we will make absolutely sure he is dead, I
will have our man bring the dead man's brain stem back for positive DNA
matching."

I smiled and said, "Good, very good."

"My god, I couldn't believe all those files he had on people. It is a good
thing Thomas cracked his personal codes, we were able to separate most of
the largely innocent ones, from the long term willing Cartel helpers." Tina
added.

"I have a half dozen lawyers watching the almost fifty judges alone, we
want to make sure they understand they are to render impartial judgment -
we gave most of them the bulk of the evidence Northrop Senior had on
them, but they can never truly rest easy knowing we are looking over their
shoulders. One old FBI man working for us, told me Northrop had more
dirt, on more people, than J. Edgar Hoover." Wallace added.

"Where are Thomas and Debbie?" Gloria asked bored with business.

"The are putting Michael to bed, I don't think we will see them again
tonight. Not with Debbie due with Kirin next month, she was exhausted,
and Thomas is sticking close to her." Tina said yawning.

"That's you cue Becky, take Tina up to bed, and I'll take Nancy." Nathan
winked at me and Kathy squeezed Tom with a twinkle in her eye.

We bid goodnight and trooped upstairs. It took the better part of an hour
to get out of these dresses, wash, and snuggle into bed. We were both
exhausted and soon asleep.

***
I became aware as Becky came through the portal; we saw each other
frequently now. Just pleasant visits, now that the war was over.

"... it was a lovely day.

Nicholas I want to know the truth, do you mind sharing your life with me?"

"No, not at all. Why do you ask?"

"I sense in you a disquiet when you are around Nathan and Wallace, for
that matter other men too."

"I guess I feel inferior to them, they have their position and are still men,
recognizable as men. I can't even be recognized as the father of our
children outside of our immediate family."

"But you have more real power than all of them."

"Yes, and I have to use it as a woman. In many ways I am restricted, I
don't know if Jennifer planned to put me in a silk prison - but that is what
she did."

"What do you mean?"

"Thomas is my only real male friend, I have no friends like my Father or
even Mike. I exercise power like Jennifer did. I control the money and
work harder than anyone else to stay one step ahead. I rely on Charlie's
spies, not a network of friends. I always have to be a lady, I have been
trained how to act, and I do, but it really isn't my nature."

"That isn't all, is it?"

"No, I guess it isn't. Since I was imprisoned in that whorehouse - well they
awakened in me an interest in men, a sexual interest. I suppose it is
inevitable with all the hormones I take. Let's face it, women dress to be
attractive to men, and I'm no different. I react to men as a woman; at first,
it was a conscious act now it is my instinct. Sometimes I even flirt
intentionally, BUT it isn't something I want on a rational level. I don't want
a sexual relationship with a man, and I'm committed to Tina for life - on
every level, I want to be committed to Tina for life.

Oh hell, don't mind me Becky, it's just that I'm having second thoughts, like
I do every year at this time. You know tomorrow is the anniversary of the
day I first met Sandra, from that point on Jennifer plotted with her and
Charlie to deny me manhood."

"Is that important to you?"

"I can't really know, it's a trade off like much in life. I might not have
married Tina as Nicholas, but I don't know that for sure. My being in skirts
certainly made it easier for her to become close to me. On the other hand,
she might have been drawn to me anyhow; she told me that she fell in love
with me from my letters to you. I know I always loved her, and might have
found another way to have her love me. Jennifer might even have gotten
over her distrust of men, as she has with Charlie. I really think eventually I
would have taken control of Hayes as a man, looking back, I don't think
she would have denied my birthright.

On the other hand, I'm proud of the way I look now; at times, like today at
dinner, I really enjoy being a girl. But I would have been just as happy
being a man, having never attempted to be a girl. I would have been more
than happy to see Tina in beautiful dresses, and never myself."

"So you really would have preferred to remain a man?"

"First a question for you. Becky, had I remained Nicholas, would we have
been able to communicate like this?"

"I don't think so, I think your taking on my identity made us close enough
so close contact was possible. It's very unusual for this to happen."

"In that case, I made the right choice. I can't hate Jennifer; she is my
mother, and a damn good mother at that, or Sandy and Charlie for their
part. I was a kid, but I guess I knew what I was doing. With Tina's and
your help, we will work out my problems. Becky, seeing you like this is
very important to me."

"And being with you is very important to me Nicholas..."

So ends the beginning

1The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia
University Press. Copyright (c) 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998 by Columbia
University Press. All rights reserved.
2The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations is licensed from Columbia
University Press. Copyright (c) 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998 by Columbia
University Press. All rights reserved.