Echo (The Remote Traveler Series Book 3)

by Finian Blake

  “What are…,” Winnie asked not immediately catching on to Cherry’s reference.

  “My tits are,” Cherry smiled, “that’s usually the first question that women want to ask.” Tamar grabbed Winnie by the arm guiding her in the direction of a good-looking couple.

  “Oh I see Cherry’s brother Adam and his wife Colleen. I must introduce you to them.” Tamar said.

  Tamar guided Winnie up to a couple in deep conversation standing away from the others.

  “Adam I would like to introduce you and Colleen to Senator Winnifred Ransom,” Tamar said formally. “Adam is on convalescent leave from the SAS. He was serving in Afghanistan when he was wounded and this is his wife Colleen who is the CFO of our little venture. Colleen was Rhonda’s personal assistant before quitting the NSA for her current position.”

  “Are you an officer,” Winnie asked.

  “No Senator, I work for a living I am an NCO,” Adam said with all seriousness.

  “Yes, our dear Adam married Colleen for her money,” Tamar started with laughter as Colleen blushed furiously.

  “I didn’t know what he was worth before I married him,” Colleen said defensively.

  “Adam, at the risk of being crass how much are you worth,” having conducted many hearings Winnie was not embarrassed by the question. Adam blushed as he quietly answered the question.

  “Somewhere around 170,000,000,” Winnie’s jaw dropped at the answer.

  “Dollars…?”

  “Adam is British,” Colleen said. “That would be pounds, so that would be two hundred and forty million. His brother is worth about the same as are both of his sisters. At the time I married Adam I thought that he was just making a sergeant’s pay. Adam and his siblings are financing a quarter of this project, Cherry’s mother is financing a quarter, and Cherry is financing a half.”

  “Where does Nadia and Ted fit in, I thought that they were part owners too.” Winnie asked being confused by the new information.

  “Ted and Nadia own Four Diamonds International Security, and Nadia is Cherry’s sister,” Colleen expanded. “I believe that the correct term for this project would be a collaborative family venture.” Adam was dying to change the subject.

  “So is my sister going to have a senator for her top model?”

  “Your sister…,” Winnie said looking at Tamar.

  “Remember I explained in earlier discussions that Cherry owns the label, and I am the managing director.”

  “That’s my sister,” Adam laughed. “When she puts someone in charge she absolutely refuses to interfere. She is absolutely fearless that way.”

  Winnie looked around the room spotting Ted and Nadia walking in her direction. Even though Ted’s suit was a tailored suit it looked strange because of his biceps, barrel chest and six-foot seven height. The overall combination was not out of scale. At six foot four with her high heels on Nadia was the same height as Ted. With her athletic build Nadia’s body was in perfect proportion so that her extreme height did not make her look excessively thin. At 50 years of age Nadia’s appearance was extremely youthful. Like Cherry her body was not just toned but full and muscular. One thing that impressed Winnie was away in which everybody answered her questions which seem to be frank and honest.

  “Nadia, Tamar said that her new line of clothing will be for women over fifty. Are you going to be one of her models?”

  “Yes, I believe that I will go along with her request. Tamar explained to me that she wants to move away from the stereotype models. I believe that I am as non-stereotype as it gets.” Nadia said laughing heartily. “With a new computer modeling program that she has I only have to show up a few times because the ads will be computer-generated. It should take a minimal amount of time. What about you?”

  “I will have to give it some thought. At first I thought she was trying to bribe me because of my position,” Winnie said carefully not wanting to sound as if she were accusing Tamar of any impropriety, expecting Nadia to jump to Tamar’s defense.

  “Yes,” Nadia agreed surprising Winnie. “That is a situation and needs to be considered. A person in your position must guard against false impressions especially since my sister Cherry owns the label.” The evening proceeded smoothly and even though the alcohol flowed freely the evening proved to be a pleasant event. Winnie’s father had once told her that if she wanted to see the true person she should observe them after they have had a few drinks. She found this advice to be consistently right after critical testing.

  As the party was winding down, Winnie pulled Tamar to the side. “You go ahead I have a few questions that I need to ask Rhonda and Cherry tonight, since I will be leaving tomorrow morning.” Winnie watched as Tamar walked up to Rhonda whispering a few words in her ear, kissing her on the cheek and walking out the door. Cherry walked up to Winnie guiding her to the dining room table indicating a chair at the side of the table taking the chair across the table from her. Rhonda followed a minute later carrying three full champagne flutes serving the two seated ladies and leaning against the back of Cherry’s chair.

  “So what questions do you wish to ask us,” Rhonda said easily.

  “I keep wrestling with your proposal and can’t seem to make up my mind,” Winnie said nervously taking a drink of the champagne noticing a slight bitter taste. “I think this bottle may have gone off. It definitely doesn’t taste as good as the other champagne that we had earlier this evening.” Cherry was about to say something, but Rhonda dug her nails into Cherry’s shoulder to stop her comment.

  “No problem,” Rhonda said easily. “The hearing is Monday and you will do whatever you decide to do. Either way you go we will not lose money. If you decide not to go with our proposal, we will sell the stock and break even. If you decide to go with the proposal, we will carry out our plans making a lot of money. Remember all that we are asking you to do is insist on fair play for Hall Shipbuilding.” Rhonda held up her champagne flute in a toast, “Cherry and I drink to your integrity.” The three women drained their glasses with Rhonda removing the glasses to the kitchen. When she returned Cherry stood unsteadily to ask her question, but Rhonda asked Winnie a question first.

  “Are you really going to ask Cherry if her tits are real, or is Cherry wrong?”

  “She was right,” Winnie said feeling suddenly giddy, “I was going to ask.” Rhonda stood behind Cherry, unzipping her dress and letting it fall to the floor. She pushed the giggling Cherry on to the table whispering in her ear as she did.

  “I gave each one of us a third of a Roofie.” Rhonda giggled as she bit Cherry’s ear. Cherry wanted to ask Rhonda if she was out of her mind. The idea faded as she grinned stupidly at Winnie pushing her bra up to her chin.

  “The only way that you are going to believe me is if you inspect them personally,” Cherry took Winnie’s hand moving it to her breast to encourage her inspection as Rhonda took the nipple of her other breast between her teeth.

  Winnie awoke with the sunlight shining on her face in a King size bed with her head resting comfortably on a warm pillow. She sat up with a start realizing that it was one of Cherry’s breasts. She moved slowly trying to roll over realizing that Rhonda’s arm was wrapped around her waist. Winnie looked at Cherry’s breast she noticed both her lipstick and Rhonda’s lipstick smearing the breast. Deciding that there was no way to extract her body without waking both women Winnie made an announcement.

  “I have to pee…” Winnie said rolling out of bed over Rhonda and running into the bathroom. She froze in front of the mirror seeing that Rhonda’s bright pink lipstick and Cherry’s red lipstick was smeared all over her body as she passed. Rhonda came running past Winnie tossing three tubes of lipstick onto the counter.

  “Using lipstick for a place marker was kind of kinky. I don’t think it will wash out of the sheets.” Rhonda said as she walked toward the water closet. “If you don’t have to pee that bad I really need to go.” Winnie looked at Rhonda’s body in the mirror seeing that it was covered with her maroon
lipstick and Cherry’s red lipstick. Cherry strolled in the bathroom with her body covered with pink and maroon lipstick going to the shower and turning on the water.

  “Well do you believe that their real now,” Cherry asked as she pulled Winnie into the shower. Cherry soaped up a washcloth and began to wash Winnie.

  “I am so sorry, I don’t do women,” Winnie cried. Rhonda stepped in the oversized shower pointing to a set of teeth marks on her butt cheek.

  “That’s what you said just before you marked me,” Rhonda said stroking Winnie’s cheek. “And you don’t have to apologize what you did last night was spectacular.” After the shower Winnie wrapped herself in a towel walking into the bedroom to look for clothes not finding anything.

  “Rhonda, where are my clothes?”

  “I believe that you will find them in the dining room, and don’t worry about the heel marks on the dining room table they should rub out.” Rhonda said with a smile.

  “Heel marks…? Rub out…?” Winnie ran down stairs in her towel finding her clothes randomly scattered around the dining room. She walked up to the dining room table finding several deep scratches in the cherry wood table. Winnie gathered her clothes wrapping them in her dress running next-door to Tamar’s house dressed in her towel. Cherry heard the door slam picking up the telephone giving Tamar a quick heads-up.

  “I cannot believe that you ‘Roofied’ all three of us.” Cherry said being more than a little annoyed with Rhonda.

  “It was only a third of the dose all I wanted to do was lower her inhibitions,” Rhonda said in her little girl voice trying to deflect Cherry’s anger.

  “And what about me,” Cherry pressed. “You know that I’m not inhibited.”

  “I knew that you promised Tamar that you wouldn’t hit on her, so I dropped a little hit in your drink,” Rhonda said continuing her little girl talk.

  “And what about your drink,” Cherry said in disbelief.

  “I didn’t want to be the only one that wasn’t fucked up,” Rhonda said brightly.

  Winnie ran over to Tamar’s house being thankful when she found out that the door was not locked. She slammed the door putting her back to it repeating over and over again with her eyes closed, “I don’t do those things.” When she opened her eyes she saw Tamar standing in her pajamas at the bottom of the stairs. Tamar put her arm around Winnie escorting her up the stairs to the master bedroom. Tamar sat her on the edge of the bed asking one simple question.

  “What happened?”

  “I was going to ask Rhonda what their plans were and for some stupid reason I asked Cherry if her tits were real. Somehow Cherry ended up on the table with her bra around her neck and I found myself amazed that her tits actually produced milk. Rhonda insisted that I try a taste. The next thing I knew I woke up in there bed with her lipstick smeared all over my body and my lipstick smeared over their bodies,” Winnie started to cry, so Tamar put her arms around her shoulders for comfort.

  “What do you remember,” Tamar asked softly.

  “I found my clothes downstairs and Cherry informs me that I did a striptease for her and Rhonda. I remember Rhonda pulling out a variety of toys and I remember screaming,” Winnie said unsteadily.

  “Do you remember what you were screaming?”

  “Fuck me…!” Winnie blushed furiously as she whispered her answer and started to cry. Tamar picked up the phone dialing Rhonda’s number. Winnie could only hear Tamar’s half of the telephone conversation.

  “How could you,” Tamar started to question without preamble.

  “She said that they couldn’t be real!”

  “Cherry insisted that she inspect them?”

  “Cherry insisted on demonstrating that they were functional!”

  “Of course you were all drunk. I was there, remember. She used the ‘JILL HAMMER’ on herself while you and Cherry applauded!” Tamar listened for almost a minute without saying a word.

  “You realize of course that I was trying to talk Senator Ransom into being a model and spokesperson for our new label. Now we will be lucky if she does not prefer charges. How can I ask her to represent us after your wild evening?” Tamar listened to the phone for a few more minutes.

  “Make that an hour I need to help Senator Ransom collect herself.” Tamar hung up the phone blushing furiously looking at Winnie with sad eyes.

  “In the light of day and sobriety both Rhonda and Cherry are offering their abject apologies. They will be by in an hour to ask for your forgiveness.”

  “I couldn’t face them,” Winnie stammered putting her face in her hands. “And what the hell is a ‘JILL HAMMER’?”

  “I am sure that it will come as no surprise to you that everybody here has little sideline businesses. Well Rhonda designs sex toys and owns a company that produces them. She designed it to produce absolutely shattering orgasms. We’re talking about vibration, heat, and electrical stimulation. You have seen construction workers using jackhammers on the street to tear up concrete. Well Rhonda calls her toy the ‘JILL HAMMER’ because of its absolutely shattering effect.” Tamar continued softly, “I don’t wish to cause you any further embarrassment, but from what I understand the conversation swung around to naughty little pleasures, and they showed you ‘Jill’ of course you were naked at the time.”

  “How could I ever face him again,” Winnie sobbed.

  “From what I understand of both your stories there was no person particularly at fault. The whole incident was a mutual indiscretion that everybody needs to get behind them.” Tamar threw her robe on the bed taking Winnie by the hand leading her into the bathroom.

  “I told you that I don’t do women,” Winnie objected. Tamar turned Winnie’s back to the mirror pointing to a bright pink spot on her thigh just above her knee.

  “Then you need another shower or nobody will believe you,” Tamar said slipping out of her pajamas and turning the water on in the shower. Winnie was uncomfortable being naked in the shower with another woman, but after Tamar found several more lipstick marks she realized that it was necessary. While they were drying Tamar had to ask.

  “Just tell me it’s not my business but I have to ask. Why do you have a collection of sex toys it should be easy for you to find a partner.”

  “Sex toys don’t go to the press telling the world about your personal habits.” Winnie asked in a panic, “What about Rhonda and Cherry?”

  “Rhonda is absolutely insatiable. She has to have two orgasms a day or she is a total bitch and would probably kill somebody,” Tamar laughed heartily. “My poor Boris would be about thirty pounds lighter than he is today. I still don’t believe that they are both madly in love with him, but they are.” Tamar had not made any casual clothes, so Winnie dressed in one of the business suits that she had made. Both women went downstairs to have a cup of coffee until Cherry and Rhonda showed up twenty minutes later. Rhonda started in with her apology starting formally.

  “Senator Ransom I would blame it on the alcohol, but the booze only takes down your inhibitions allowing you to do things that you secretly want to do. You have a great body. I can only confess that I really wanted to have sex with you,” Rhonda looked in Cherry’s direction acknowledging that it was her turn.

  “You challenged me twice last night on the subject to my tits. The only thing that I could think of doing was prove that they were real.” Cherry chuckled as she started her next thought. “You must have said no twenty times and oh God just as many. In my defense I can only say that I thought it was part of your orgasm.” Their words sure didn’t seem like an apology but in light of the facts Winnie was not sure one was necessary.

  “In light of the facts I think that we should all apologize. It was rude of me to comment on your breasts, and I do seem to remember doing myself.” Winnie blushed bright red at her admission. “I believe that we should put this matter behind us.”

  “In that case there will be no charge for this. You said you had to have one last night.” Rhonda handed Winnie a bag with a box
inside of it. She opened the top of the bag without removing the box reading the name ‘JILL HAMMER’ on the top flap of the box. Rhonda continued, “I have kept some of our countries darkest secrets and you may be assured that I will keep yours.” Winnie turned to Tamar.

  “Something tells me that I can trust you. I believe that I would love to model for you,” Winnie held out her arms doing a slow pirouette to show off her new suit, and her new look.

  “That is why Tamar is in charge,” Cherry said giving Winnie a bone crunching hug. “If you find somebody with talent it is a sin not to let them use it. Tamar is my mother-in-law but she is also a person of rare talent.”

  “Christ, it took me more time to get from the lobby to your room than it took me to drive here. Can you tell me why I had to empty out my pockets before I got into your room,” Steve said sounding totally exasperated? “I brought your pants but I had to leave them at the desk. Is that hospital gown all that their allowing you? Even in jail they give you those orange jumpsuits. What in the hell did they do, kick your face in? You look like shit. You must’ve put up one hell of a fight when they arrested you.”

  “No, I was out cold when they arrested me. In a day or so I will need bail can you help me out,” Lloyd asked half mumbling because of the swelling and the bandages.

  “What are the charges?”

  “Unlawful trespass, but they can’t decide between assault with a deadly weapon or attempted rape on a minor. The district attorney will make his decisions Monday morning. The girls were minors so there is some kind of a court seal on the whole thing. Anyway there were two teenage girls and this huge German Shepherd...,” Lloyd stopped when Steve held up his hands to signal a pause.

  “Whoa that is way too kinky for me,” Steve said with a worried look on his face.

  “I am serious God dammit,” Lloyd shouted.

  “I was afraid that you would say that,” Steve said barely above a whisper. “Look, we swore an oath to each other that we would bail out anybody that got in trouble. When the DA makes up his mind you may call and I will keep my promise. Is the rape charge why you needed another pair of pants?”