The Finest Line

by Catherine Taylor

  “There are some obvious safety procedures and building codes that have been breached here,” Mairead continued. “And you’re lucky that’s not a child out there.” Years of listening to her father’s conversations of the building industry had obviously sunk in.

  Mairead walked past the manager to Mrs. Chapman. “Do you want your fucking dog?”

  Mrs. Chapman stared at her in horror. “Of course I do, you rude girl.” She turned to the manager. “Who is this person?”

  “Miss Kavanagh is a guest at the hotel,” The manager was clutching his bald head in frustration. “Miss Kavanagh, please...”

  Mairead stared straight into Mrs. Chapman’s face. “I’m the person who is going to get your dog... but only on one condition.”

  Mrs. Chapman stared at her incredulously but eventually spoke. “What condition?”

  “You tell our bald friend here that he is not to dismiss Anna.” Mairead turned to the manager. “In fact, there is to be no retribution whatsoever and I’m sure Anna must be due for a pay rise.”

  “How are you going to get Timmy?” Mrs. Chapman turned to the manager. “Why isn’t the fire department here?”

  “I’m right on it.” The manager glared at the valet who quickly punched numbers into his cell phone.

  Mairead took hold of Mrs. Chapman’s arm. “Listen to me. By the time the fire department gets here Timmy will be a bloody pancake on the pavement below. I’m the best chance you have.”

  Her words were fortified when Timmy suddenly made a run to the end of the board, skidding to a halt before the end but not before one of his back legs slid over the side.

  One of the staff screamed and others gasped in horror when for the next few seconds Timmy’s death seemed imminent. Mairead held her breath as they all watched his desperate clamber until he was once again safely on the plank.

  Mrs. Chapman bawled and looked at Mairead frantically. “Just do it. I want my Timmy. I want my baby.”

  Mairead had every intention of doing it but she steeled herself and turned Mrs. Chapman to the manager. “Tell him.”

  “You heard her. Everything she’s asked for or my lawyers will tear this place apart.”

  The manager threw his arms up. “Mrs. Chapman, I am not about to allow a guest to go out on that scaffolding.”

  Mairead screwed her face up. “I don’t need your permission. “ She turned to a group of staff members assembled at one window. “Get out the way.”

  Some moved but a few stayed put. Anna came up and clasped her hand. “Miss Kavanagh. You must not do this. It is ten storeys high.”

  Mairead smiled at her. “Good thing I’m not scared of heights.” Turning back to the staff she summoned her loudest voice. “Get out the fucking way.” This time she got a hundred percent response.

  Running, she leapt up and landed on the window sill and gripped the top frame. Her vantage point gave her a full view of what was before her. She could see the route that Timmy must have taken, along a thin steel flat beam which led to another perpendicular to the first. They were part of the main structure which supported the network of pipes and planks. There were only a few thick pipes connecting downwards from the beams and nothing for her to hold. Good balance would be her only aid.

  Way down below she could see parked cars on a thin quiet street which ran down the side of the hotel. Mairead grinned to herself as she thought that at least she wouldn’t land on anyone. Across from her she could see people gathered at windows watching Timmy. Mairead’s appearance quickly increased the number. She smiled and waved at them.

  “Miss Kavanagh,” The manager demonstrated his own booming voice. “Get down this instance. You lot, drag her in.”

  It was time to move. Mairead grabbed the side window frame and swung herself round to the brick sill outside the window. It was wide enough for her to turn back to everyone inside and poke her tongue out at the manager, and then she stepped out onto the beam.

  The gentle breeze caressed her and Mairead breathed in deeply, savouring the freedom. Here she was appropriately attired, her feet planted upon a beam and an audience watching. It was as natural to her as walking in the park.

  In her joy she stretched up to the sky, lifted one leg and held it straight out, before doing a slow cartwheel along the beam, landing perfectly with one foot in front of the other. The shouts and pleas of the staff fell silent behind her, leaving only the weeping of some of the women.

  Timmy watched her curiously, his head angled to the side. Mairead grinned at him briefly before returning her attention to the beam. Three casual steps and she had reached the next beam.

  Planting a foot on each beam, she took a moment to look at the pavement, one hundred feet below, trying to imagine the fear so many had of heights. It was something she just didn’t have a problem with. Fully aware of certain death waiting below, if she fell, Mairead resolved that she just had no intention of falling.

  A chill crept into her bones as she looked down at the pavement. Had Josh done something similar, maybe to impress her and fallen? He had seemed so coherent. When he had gone to get her water had something happened that she couldn’t remember?

  “Miss Kavanagh,” Mairead was aware of a soft voice and looked back at the terrified face of the porter leaning out of the window. “Are you alright?”

  Mairead grinned. “I’m marvellous. How are you?”

  The porter smiled weakly. “I’m really afraid.”

  Mairead sighed dramatically. “Alright I’ll stop showing off and get the bloody dog.”

  She walked the second beam in eight quick strides and stepped upon the plank. Timmy stood up and wagged his tail furiously.

  Bending down, she took hold of the plank, doing a slow controlled handstand and opening her legs to a wide v, before bringing them down to straddle the plank.

  Timmy came to her immediately and she took him into a tight embrace. His tail was out of control and his little tongue licked her face.

  Mairead giggled. “You little troublemaker, I think we must be kindred spirits.”

  She held him with one arm whilst she pulled her stretchy bra top away from her body and tucked Timmy down between her breasts. “How’s that Timmy? You get to go where no male has been before.”

  Timmy seemed to enjoy his haven and snuggled in with his head resting against her. Mairead grimaced. “Just watch those claws Timmy. Good thing you’re not a Rottweiler.”

  Sirens became audible below and Mairead quickly pulled the hair band from her head. She threaded it through both straps of her top and tied it securely so there was no escape for Timmy.

  With both hands free, Mairead leaned forward and grasped the plank with stiff outstretched arms. She brought her legs to rest along the plank, before hopping them into a crouching position. From there she stood up and gracefully turned the other way. She was immediately aware of Timmy’s weight and decided to walk up and down the plank until she was adjusted.

  She knew her audience would be bewildered by this, but safety was really a high priority to her. Once she was confident, Mairead walked both steel beams quickly and without incident into the waiting arms of the staff who helped her through the window.

  Inside, Mairead was swamped with people hugging her, cheering, applauding and crying. Timmy saw Mrs. Chapman and began to kick and scratch her breasts. She quickly untied her top and put him firmly in Mrs. Chapman’s arms.

  Mairead felt a little humbled as she watched the old woman hug and kiss her baby desperately, and through a flood of tears try and mouth her thanks.

  Mairead smiled warmly and shrugged. “No biggie.”

  Suddenly she was tackled by Anna who held on to her for a long time her body trembling with her crying. Eventually she looked up at Mairead and her tear stained face grew angry. Mairead startled as she felt two stinging slaps to her backside.

  “You naughty girl,” Anna scolded. “You never do that again. I rather never work again than watch you do that.” To reiterate her words, she gave Mairead a
nother couple of swats.

  “Ouch!” Mairead pouted, especially when the porter called out, “Give her one from me too Anna.”

  The manager approached with an ashen face. “I’m tempted to get her to give you a few from me.” He smiled at Anna. “But please Anna, we aren’t allowed to smack the guests. Miss Kavanagh... I just don’t know what to say. I’ve never seen anything like it. ”

  Mairead grinned. “You know what I want.”

  The manager nodded. “Anna keeps her job and gets a pay rise.”

  Somebody called out that the fire brigade were on their way up. It was definitely her cue to get out of there.

  Mairead looked at the manager desperately. “Please... if my face ends up in the papers again, my life is over. Let me go and don’t tell anyone who rescued that dog. Just tell them it was a complete stranger. Please do this for me.”

  “I honestly don’t know how that will go. So many people saw you.” The manager shrugged. “I’ll do the best I can.”

  “That’s all I ask,” Mairead kissed him on his bald head and turned to everyone. “Until my next amazing act... “

  With that she ran off, listening to the cheers behind her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Mairead sat in the recliner in her silky nightie and matching robe. After her busy afternoon she had indulged in a bath and dressed for bed. She felt wonderfully tired and relaxed and her apparel was cool and erotic against her skin.

  She had chosen a g-string to allow the material to brush against her buttocks when she moved. Somehow her hundred feet high walk had aroused her. Each time she thought of her stunt, her stomach would tighten and the desire to reach between her legs grew stronger.

  The scenario of her adventure had altered in her mind. As she walked the last beam everyone had gone except James whose anger was evident in his frowning eyes. As he took hold of her she could feel his strength and power over her. Yet his touch was gentle as he took the little dog from her and set him down.

  A chair had somehow appeared in the empty room, its presence ominous and exciting. Mairead could not take her eyes from it as she was firmly led towards it. As quickly as he sat down, she was taken across his lap.

  Her hand had wandered down to her inner thighs when the star of her fantasy returned. Sitting up, Mairead blushed as she settled her breathing.

  “Hi James,” Mairead stared at him, trying to gauge his face for any hint that he had discovered her antics. Apart from a slightly disapproving frown when he saw what she wearing, he showed no other emotion.

  James sat down on the couch adjacent to her recliner. He glanced at her before picking up a magazine from the coffee table “An early bedtime?”

  “Of course not James, this is our last night together.”

  The frown returned. “Which means...?”

  “Which means that we can have a nice dinner together in our room, and watch a good movie before we go to bed... our own beds of course,” Mairead felt playful, aware that he was not unaffected by what she was wearing.

  James sighed and reached across to take a hotel menu from the coffee table. He tossed it at Mairead. “Make your choice and I’ll ring it through.”

  Half an hour later their food was wheeled into the room by the porter who was beaming ear to ear. James went to tip him but received an enthusiastic refusal.

  “No thank you sir and dinner is on the hotel tonight.” The porter looked at Mairead, blushing noticeably. “And might I say Miss Kavanagh, you are most incredible, most amazing person... everyone is talking about you.”

  Mairead jumped up and hurried to intervene. “That’s terribly sweet. Thank you but we have an early start tomorrow and ...”

  “I just hoped I might get an autograph,” He held out a small book and pen in a trembling hand.

  Mairead glanced at James who was watching the proceedings with great interest. She quickly took the book and signed it.

  “Thank you so much, Miss Kavanagh.” He pocketed his treasure and took his leave. Mairead shut the door after him.

  When she turned back James was frowning and giving her that intent stare which ignited that terrible tingle in her backside.

  “Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” James spoke quietly as he began to inspect the trolley full of food and champagne in an ice bucket.

  Mairead shrugged. “He’s a fan obviously. Gosh James, not everyone hates me.”

  James held up the bottle of 1997 Bollinger. “The price tag of this champagne would suggest that the hotel management are running your fan club.”

  “I bring publicity to them. They are obviously grateful.”

  James picked up a gold rimmed card and read it. “Miss Kavanagh, I’m forever in your debt, Mrs. Chapman.” He looked at Mairead. “Who is Mrs. Chapman?”

  She shrugged, “Another fan maybe?”

  He was not amused, “Mairead is there something you would like to tell me?”

  “There sure is James,” she smiled sweetly as him. “I’m bloody hungry. Let’s eat.”

  He was quiet as they ate their dinner at the coffee table, much to Mairead’s frustration. She had hoped to flame the spark of friendship that had begun that day with breakfast.

  When he was finished he took his plate back to the trolley and picked up the bottle of champagne. Mairead waited for him to open it but was quickly disappointed.

  “I’ll have the hotel ship this to you,” He told her.

  She nodded miserably.

  He returned to his seat and reached for the remote control of the television and she quickly spoke, “I don’t want to watch television. I thought we might talk for awhile.”

  She heard his slight sigh as he set it down. “What did you want to talk about?”

  She smiled. “I just wanted to say thank you for helping me out today. I was in a pretty dark place and you got me out of it.”

  “All in the line of duty,” He smiled back at her but his reply upset her.

  She looked at him sadly, “Does it always have to be in the line of duty?”

  Her question made him obviously uncomfortable. His smile was gone and he was frowning and not looking at her. Mairead immediately wished that she hadn’t put him on the spot and breathed her relief when his phone rang.

  James stood up as he answered and she sighed and slumped in her chair.

  “Sir, I really don’t know what you mean.”

  Mairead looked up to see a bewildered look on his face, but when his gaze met hers, the expression changed dramatically. He was furious.

  “If you will excuse me Sir, just for one moment, I’ll get my laptop.”

  With that he walked to his bedroom and shut the door firmly.

  Mairead paced the room, tempted to listen up again his door but the thought of him opening it and catching her was too intimidating. Eventually she flopped down on the couch and sulked. Her night was truly ruined.

  An hour passed before James finally emerged from the bedroom. He came over and sat on the other end of the couch but said nothing.

  Mairead smiled. “Was that Daddy?”

  “Yes it was.” James expelled his breath and he still looked extremely angry. “Mairead, what did you do while I was out?”

  She shrugged, still gambling on not having been found out. “I had a bath, read a book. So what did Daddy want?”

  “He wanted to tell you that, like five hundred thousand other viewers of You Tube, he was completely awed and amazed at your gymnastic ability, one hundred feet above certain death.”

  Mairead swallowed as James continued.

  “He also concurred that your perilous act to save a dog was very noble and selfless but if he could get his hands on you right now, he would atone for the severe lack of discipline of your childhood.” James was breathing loudly and his voice was gaining volume. “He questioned my sanity in leaving you alone and quite frankly I have now done the same.”

  Mairead gulped, “James, please...”

  His temper exploded. “No Maire
ad, you don’t get to talk. You get to listen. I trusted you to stay in the hotel room but once again you have to find ways to draw attention to yourself. Do you ever think of anyone else? Does it ever occur to you that what you are doing is driving anyone who cares for you completely insane? I have never met anyone so selfish and irresponsible in my entire life.”

  She was trembling as her tears welled up, “I didn’t do it to be selfish.”

  “No you did it because you’re so self-destructive that you repeatedly sabotage anything good in your life.”

  “Stop it!” Mairead screamed and jumped up. “You have no right to talk to me like that.”