"Genetic. Cocks don't break, or if they do, they aren't put in splints or casts. But then you know that; you were being facetious. Now I'm rambling. When I was young, I worried about that bend. I believed females would laugh when they saw it. I considered it a serious defect."
"I understand. While in puberty, I played a game of Truth or Dare with some friends, both boys and girls. One boy dared me to take off my bra and show everyone my tits. I refused. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Then take down your panties.’ I didn't hesitate. I wasn't bashful about displaying my cunt, but I believed the boys would laugh at the tiny bumps in my training bra."
I groaned. “That's hot, Marilyn. I can see you among a circle of boys and girls, see you stand and hook your fingers in your panties, push them down past your slim thighs while the boys licked their lips and grabbed their little hard pricks as you stepped out of them, first one dainty foot and then the other, then straightening, pushing your little cunt out towards them with a hitch in your hips. Did you have pubic hair?"
"Oh, yes, albeit a sparse patch—about the same as Christie. I was very proud of my pubic hair. I petted it—a lot—which led, of course, to petting my pussy. I'm very hot right now, Martin. I've been on the edge of an orgasm since we started to talk."
"Me, too. Do you want to come?"
"No. If I come, you'll come, and we'll say goodnight, and I won't be able to hear your voice again until tomorrow. Oh, I can't wait until I see you again. You must figure a way to get alone with me as soon as possible after you arrive. If you don't, everyone will be able to smell me. At the moment I first see you, I'll start to drip."
"I'll just do the caveman bit. Hit you over the head with my club and carry you to my cave."
"Our cave. I moved into your room while you were gone. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all. I'm still seeing your game of Truth or Dare in my mind. How old were you?"
"Thirteen, maybe twelve. I don't remember. It was the day I first saw a hard prick. On my turn, I dared the boy who dared me to remove my panties to take off his shorts. I remember gasping when his cock bounced off his belly. I couldn't imagine something that large going into my little pussy. Hah! Not many years later, my pussy swallowed Big Ben. On my next turn, Sally, my best friend, dared me to touch the boy's prick. He didn't look like he minded so I wrapped my hand around it, and he climaxed! Sperm squirted out all over me, all over him! Some of it even hit Sally in the face, because she was bent over watching me complete her dare with avid attention. A few years later after I started fucking, I fucked that boy. He still had a hair trigger."
Silence.
"I'm going to come, damn it!” Marilyn said calmly.
"So am I."
"Ah!"
Her “Ah” stretched out over seconds, the longest sigh of pleasure I had ever heard. Then she gasped and I heard, “Oomph,” and another, “Oomph!” And I knew she was ratcheting her hips against her fingers as orgasmic contractions wracked her soft, sweet body. Then I couldn't hear because, like the boy in her game, I squirted semen all over me, all over the sofa, the carpet, any surface the warm sticky stuff could reach. I had not removed my shirt, and come splashed the starched, pressed cotton. Most of it dribbled down onto my hand.
Silence.
"That was nice, Martin. I like phone sex."
"Yes. It takes the loneliness out of masturbation."
"Goodnight. I'm going to sleep now with my hand through the hole in your silk boxer shorts."
"Goodnight. I'm going to clean up my semen mess."
"I love you,” she said and waited.
"I love you, too,” I said.
Silence.
"Yes,” she said so softly I could barely hear the word.
Dial tone.
End button.
Warm washcloth.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Nineteen
It was raining hard when the plane landed in New Orleans. The wheels hit with a splash, then a thud and a shudder. My white knuckles relaxed, and I deplaned. Marilyn waited at the gate. I anticipated feeling like a teenager again when we fucked in the car somewhere before reaching my sister's home.
But the fantasy evaporated when she told me of the emergency. French's recruitment system had produced a ten-year-old boy. To get himself back in his kiddy porn distributor's good graces, French had given the boy directly to Frank and Karen Able.
"We need to extract the boy as soon as we can, Martin,” Marilyn said. “Able has already raped the child, amazingly while his sick wife watched. Then she played her nasty games with him. She's a sadist of the first order. The transcripts were gross. I would hate to listen to the tapes."
"Does Jill know?” I asked.
"Yes, and she's frantic. She feels personally responsible. She says she doesn't care about her own problems anymore. She wants the boy saved at all costs, including her reputation. She wants us to call the police and report them."
"That wouldn't be smart, even if we didn't have a client. Our illegal bugs would be exposed. All the evidence would be tainted, and the man and his wife would walk."
"Robert tried to tell her, but she's not listening. Hopefully, she'll listen to you."
The rain pounded the roof of the car and the windshield wipers were nearly ineffective. “Drive as fast as you can, Marilyn, but get us to Ruth's safely. I need to talk to Robert.” I started to dial. My phone was turned off. Now I knew why Robert had not called me. He couldn't. I turned on the phone and dialed.
"There you are, Boss. I've been trying to reach you."
"I know. My phone was turned off for some reason. Sorry. Bring me up to date."
I listened. It didn't sound good. We wouldn't be able to extract the boy until they tired of him and left him alone for a while. Short of storming Able's residence, we would have to wait until the middle of the night. The boy would have to suffer for a few more hours.
"Do we have all the intelligence we need?” I asked. “Floor plans of the residence, alarm systems, you know the drill."
"No, but we do have a little luck going for us. They have the boy in a basement room. The man who bugged the place says it looks like a torture chamber. The room has some high windows. We believe we can let ourselves in through the windows, extract the boy, and stack some furniture up to make it look like he escaped by himself. I have our alarm specialist checking out Able's system now. Like your phone a minute ago, we want the alarm to appear as if it was off when the boy escapes if the Ables are in the house when we take him. If they're not in the house, we won't worry about the damned alarm."
"What do we know about the boy?"
"Almost nothing. We know his first name, his age as reported by French to Able, and that he was recruited in Miami. The boy is Hispanic."
"Okay. Get everything ready and take him as soon as possible."
"Jill is being a problem. She's close to hysterics, Martin."
"I've heard. She's next on my agenda. You have the extraction under control. Call us when it starts and when it ends. Other than that, you handle it."
"You've got it, Boss."
We drove in silence through the pelting rain.
"When can Robert extract the boy?"
"Sometime during the night."
"Jill will have kittens!"
I dialed again.
"Sherry, it's Martin Crowe. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Martin. I had hoped I wouldn't receive this call."
"It's a ten-year-old Hispanic boy, Sherry. He has been raped and beaten once today. It may happen again before we can extract him. He will be delivered to you sometime between now and morning."
"I'll do the best I can for him, Martin."
"I know you will, Sherry. Robert will call you after we have the boy to alert you to his pending arrival. Take care."
"You, too. And take those bastards down, Martin. Take them down hard."
"That's a promise, Sherry."
I hung up. Marilyn had pulled off the freeway. We were
on St. Charles Avenue, close to Ruth's home.
"Tell me about Sherry, Martin,” Marilyn said.
"Dr. Sherry Evans is a friend, a child psychiatrist. This is her free one. She lives in Manhattan now. When I helped her, she lived in Silver Springs, Maryland."
Marilyn pulled into Ruth's circular drive. The door opened and Ruth hurried through the rain under a huge umbrella.
"You first, Martin,” Ruth said. “I'll be right back for you, Marilyn."
I ran with her under the umbrella and still got half soaked. She left me when I went through the front door. Shortly, she returned with Marilyn. The three of us shook off the rain and walked to the great room.
"Martin!” Jill screeched when she saw me. “You have to..."
"Shut up, Jill. Just shut your mouth! I don't have to do anything."
She had started to run toward me. With my words, she stopped, rooted to the floor where she stood with her mouth agape and a shocked look on her face.
"Everybody, gather around,” I said. When everyone stood in front of me, I continued, “Here's the status. We will extract the boy sometime during the night. Robert will call me when the extraction begins, and call me when it is finished. We will not bother Robert in the interim. He has his hands full. Jill, this is your end of the operation, your responsibility. What do we do with the boy after he is extracted?"
"Sometime during the night! That isn't good enough, Martin. We need..."
"You didn't answer my question, Jill. What do we do with the boy after he is extracted? You demanded that you pay for this part of the operation and you accepted that responsibility. I will fulfill my obligation once he is extracted, at which point the obligation falls to you. Frankly, I don't think the boy will be in the mood for Disneyland, but if that's your choice, so be it. I'm asking a simple question and expect a simple answer. What do you want me to do with the boy once I have extracted him from those sick fucks?"
Silence.
"Answer me, Jill. Tell me what to do with the boy, goddamnit!"
"Bring him here,” she said, completely defeated. “I'll take care of him."
"I don't believe you're qualified to handle a problem of this magnitude. Are you a child psychologist? A psychiatrist? A medical doctor? No one here is qualified, including me, to calm the terror in that little boy's mind or administer to the injuries done to his little body. He needs qualified help, someone who is experienced and knowledgeable about traumatized children and a medical doctor to start the healing process on his wounds. Do you still want me to bring him here?"
"No.” Tears streamed down her face.
"Good. That's the first rational word you've uttered since my arrival. I have a friend in Manhattan, a child psychiatrist and a MD. You're still in charge, Jill. If you want, we can take the child to the child psychiatrist. The extraction team can have the boy in her expert hands within an hour after the extraction. It's your decision."
"Yes. Please take him to your friend."
"Good. Any other questions or comments, anyone?"
I waited. If someone had opened his or her mouth, I would have been surprised. I flipped open my cell phone and used the auto dialer to call Robert.
"Yeah, Boss,” he said.
"Take the boy to...” I opened my address book and read off Sherry's name, address and telephone number. “Call her once you have the boy, and then call me."
I pushed the end button.
"Let's all get back to work. We have a plan, and the plan works. Let's make certain these sick fucks get what they deserve."
I walked to Jill and put my arm around her shoulders. She sagged against me. “Come with me, Jill. We need to talk.” I guided her out through the French door to the covered patio and sat her at the table. The noisy rain poured down. The air was heavy. I sat next to her, my arm still around her slumped shoulders. Tears streamed down her face. I knew she would start sobbing soon.
"We are doing the best we can, Jill. Do you believe that?"
She nodded. Tears dripped from her chin, and her nose started to run. I pulled my handkerchief from my back pocket and handed it to her. “And you have a big job ahead of you. That little boy is going to need your help. You will need to be strong for him. Can you do that for the boy?"
She nodded, and that's when the sobs started. Ruth had been watching us from inside the great room. She pointed first at herself and then at me. I nodded and she started toward the French door.
"Ruth is coming to help you now, Jill. But I want you to promise me you will get strong again so you can make sure the boy gets the help he needs. I'll help you, but you must lead. Nod if you promise."
She nodded and the sobs became louder. I turned her over to Ruth and went inside.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty
I looked around. Everyone was busy. I went to the bar and poured myself a brandy. The sun wasn't over the yardarm, but I didn't give a damn. I sipped the brandy and it warmed me all the way down—just what I needed. I dialed the phone again.
"Hanley speaking,” the man said formally.
"Doc, it's Martin. I need another little job done. I believe you know a makeup artist. Jill will be flying to New York, and she can't go as Jill Henderson."
Doc chuckled. “No, that would never do. I know just the person, and you need more than makeup. When will you need him?"
"An hour or so after I call."
"It's that way, is it?"
I laughed.
"I'll alert him,” Doc said. “He's not cheap, but you don't want cheap, Martin. You want good."
"Thanks, Doc. I'll call as soon as I know when he will be needed. Bye now. I've another call coming in."
I hit the flash button and said hello.
"Martin,” Robert said, “Able and his wife just left for the airport to meet a friend who plans to join them in their festivities with the boy. They'll be gone for over an hour. We're going in now. I'll call you when we have the boy."
"That's very good news, Robert. Good luck."
I gathered everyone around again except Ruth and Jill. They were still on the patio.
"The extraction has begun. I expect to hear good news soon, within the hour. You folks will know as soon as I do. That's it. And thank you, all of you, for your support and good work. Robert will appreciate a thank you if he is successful. If he fails, he'll need your support more than before. But remember, Robert rarely fails."
Outside, I listened to the pounding rain as I stood looking down at Ruth and Jill. Ruth had calmed her. Jill's sobbing was sporadic now.
I smiled. “Jill, the extraction has begun. We'll have the boy within the hour."
She jumped up and threw her arms around me. “Thank you, Martin! Thank you!"
The sobs started again. I decided it was my lot in life to make females cry. I grasped her shoulders and pushed her so I could look into her eyes.
"You need to pull yourself together, Jill, and soon. In a couple of hours, I'll give you the psychiatrist's name and number and you can discuss the boy's care with her. My psychiatrist friend will only keep him until she stabilizes him. You need to find a private hospital for him, one that can give the care he needs and maintain the confidentiality we need. Take my friend's advice and make the appropriate arrangements. Can you pull yourself together so you can help the boy?"
She squared her shoulders. “Yes. I'll do what's necessary, Martin."
"Good. Now, go wash up. You will fly to New York this afternoon to handle everything, and you can't go as Jill Henderson. We certainly don't want you running into someone you know without your cast. That would be disastrous. Doc is sending someone as soon as I call him who will help you with your disguise, and I'll alert Marilyn to get you a plane ticket. Stay at our suite in the Marriott Marquis. Jill, it's time for you to go to work."
Her runny nose, smeared mascara and tear-stained cheeks became beautiful when she smiled.
I called Doc and told him I would need the man in an hour and strolled
to the dining room to tell Marilyn about the plane ticket. Vera looked up with a smile. “Now I know why Robert calls you boss, Boss,” she said and grinned.
I smiled at her comment and said, “Marilyn, please arrange for a flight this evening for Jill to New York. She'll be disguised and will be using an alias. You pick the name for the ticket. That's the alias she will use, and arrange for her to use our suite in that name."
She looked at me as if I were crazy.
"Are you sure that's wise, Martin?"
"Yes. Jill has a purpose now. That's been her problem, Marilyn. She runs a business empire. She is accustomed to leading. With us, she's been a follower. Now she has a real job to do. She has to help that little boy under the guidance of professionals. Jill knows how to use professionals."
Marilyn smiled. “I'm sorry I doubted you. I'll get right on it."
I returned to my brandy. I sipped and paced. I despised waiting. Leaders give orders and wait for results. That's the nature of leadership, but I didn't have to like it. I kept glancing at my wristwatch. Time moved so damned slowly when you watch it. I considered asking Christie for a game of chess, but knew I couldn't concentrate enough to move the pieces. So I sipped and paced.
I answered the phone before the first ring ended.
"We have him, Boss,” Robert said. “That little boy is going to need a lot of TLC."
"That's Jill's assignment. She'll be flying to New York this evening. Good job, Robert. You're a wizard."
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