by D. R. Bailey
“How was your day? Anything interesting happen?” Eve said between mouthfuls of food.
“Well, I was in court and this blonde dynamo, sexy as fuck, took me into the toilet and fucked me.”
“Wow, really? How very bad of her. I should have a talk to her about that,” said Eve keeping a straight face.
“So bad, so very bad but I loved it.”
“I’m so glad, my sweetheart. But apart from the sexual encounter?”
“Oh well, Arthur Dooley got a year’s home detention, which was lucky because I thought he was getting two years in jail to start with.”
“Oh, my goodness, well done you,” said Eve impressed.
“I was lucky I think, and also because Arthur has a cat and so does the judge.”
“What?” Eve paused with a fork halfway up to her mouth.
“Arthur said he couldn’t leave his cat and the judge agreed,” Bernadette explained.
“Oh, I see… how funny.”
“Yes, and we’ve got a new client.”
“Do tell.”
Bernadette spent a few minutes explaining the new case and what it involved. Eve was always fascinated by her work and loved to hear about it. She had taken an active role in a couple of them at least, particularly the one with D’Arcy Brown where D’Arcy had insisted on her being there at the hearing for support and paid her handsomely for doing so.
“Well,” said Eve once she had finished, “It sounds like quite a challenge.”
“Yes, it is, and I think it will be, but you know me, I’m up for it.”
She paused for a few minutes to catch up on her food and then laid down her cutlery.
“So, how did it go with Valentino?” She wanted to know about the gallery meeting.
Eve had made Bernadette her manager, as regards her Art, and she had initially funded the framing and expenses for Eve’s first show. The revenue for the show had been well in excess of anything they had spent, so those were easily covered.
“So, apparently there’s a market for, shall we say my more risqué pictures like the ones of Imogen, and the others I made, and perhaps a bit of BDSM, you know, that sort of thing.”
“OK, if it’s making you money and you want to do it.”
“If it’s making us money, for both of us,” Eve corrected her.
“Sorry, I do mean that.”
“Good, because you’re always saying what you earn is our money and not just yours. So, it’s the same for me.”
“Yes, true, you are right, I’m sorry,” said Bernadette smiling.
“You can make it up to me later.” Eve ran her bare foot up Bernadette’s leg.
“Oh, I will.”
“I know you will.”
“Witch!”
“And you love it.”
✽✽✽
As she sometimes did, Bernadette lay thinking in the early hours of the morning. They had gone to bed soon after dinner and made love until they both fell asleep. But as often happened with difficult cases, they would penetrate her consciousness and she started to go through them in their mind. Eve was awake almost at once. It was as if she had a sixth sense and could always tell when Bernadette was troubled.
“What’s wrong, darling?” she asked Bernadette.
“Oh, nothing, just the case,” Bernadette sighed, “It’s nothing… really.”
“Don’t fret, my honey. It will work out, it always does.”
“I know. Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Eve told her pulling Bernadette around to face her. She kissed her lightly. “Just try to think of something different.”
“Well,” said Bernadette recalling something she had forgotten earlier, “I meant to tell you about Imogen.”
“Oh?”
“She wasn’t happy today…” Bernadette recounted the article in Hello magazine and the consequences for D’Arcy.
“So, D’Arcy was going to get a spanking?” said Eve with sudden interest.
“Yes, so I gather.”
“Mmm, tell me more…” Eve said her hands starting to rove over Bernadette’s skin.
“I don’t know the actual details.” Bernadette’s fingers reciprocated and strayed lower to between Eve’s thighs.
“Then… make it up… just tell… me… a story… I want you to… please… oh… oh God…”
Bernadette smiled indulgently. It wasn’t the first time Eve wanted a dirty story like this.
“Well… Imogen gets home and then after discussing her misbehaviour… she sends D’Arcy to the bedroom I expect…”
“Oh… God… and then…”
“She goes upstairs… and tells her to strip…” Bernadette’s fingers continued doing what they did best.
“Oh… oh God… oh and then…”
“She tells her she’s going to be getting a spanking with the paddle…”
“Oh my God… oh yes… yes… don’t stop… ooh… oh… ohh… tell me more…”
The story did not last much longer before she brought Eve to a shuddering climax. After Eve had reciprocated, Bernadette spooned up to her fiancée and fell into a satisfied sleep. Her last musings were about Eve, and how she seemed to enjoy getting off on these kinds of stories, and then there were the pictures she was drawing. Bernadette hadn’t thought much about it before but perhaps there was more to it than Eve was letting on. One of these days Bernadette was going to have to have a more in depth conversation about it with Eve.
Chapter Two
When morning stole under the blinds with small shafts of light. Bernadette awoke to see Eve gazing into her eyes and smiling.
“Hello, beautiful,” said Bernadette.
“I love you, darling, so much,” Eve replied. She was misty eyed, and Bernadette felt her emotion almost as if emanated from her like a wave. Bernadette often felt the same way, as if her heart was full.
“I love you too.” Bernadette drew her into a kiss. They lay like that, kissing gently without doing anything more, just enjoying the intimacy of being with each other.
At length, Eve pulled away slightly and said, “Go and have your shower, I’ll put out your clothes.”
Bernadette obediently slid out of bed and went to the bathroom. By the time she had washed her hair, and soaked in the steaming hot water, she felt refreshed. When she returned to the bedroom, Eve had laid out a pink blouse, grey skirt and jacket, and pink heeled thong sandals. Bernadette sat patiently while Eve deftly wove her hair into one long plait which would dry nicely. Eve quickly did Bernadette’s makeup and then went downstairs to make breakfast, leaving Bernadette to apply any finishing touches and get dressed.
When Bernadette arrived downstairs, the usual tantalising smell of scrambled eggs, bacon and coffee assailed her nostrils. Eve believed in a good breakfast setting you up for the day. Bernadette had been subjected to this regime since Eve arrived in her life, and she could only agree.
Eve put a plate in front of Bernadette containing scrambled eggs on wholemeal buttered toast, with a side of bacon and mushrooms. She slid a cup of coffee over to Bernadette and sat down next to her at the breakfast bar with her own plate of food. Bernadette took a moment to admire the way the red satin robe hugged Eve’s naked curves and lightly slid her hand down Eve’s body.
“Eat your food, darling,” said Eve with a smile.
“Thank you, but you are so fucking gorgeous, I can’t help it.” Bernadette smiled back.
“I’ll still be here later.”
“I know.”
Bernadette addressed herself to her repast enjoying the creamy eggs and the crispy bacon just the way she liked it. When she finished, she sat back on her stool drinking her coffee.
“So, what’s today?” Eve asked her.
“We’re going to see Callum Jenkins to find out more about what actually happened, and more about him, I hope. We are seeing him in Mountjoy, so that’s not really conducive to a congenial atmosphere. However, our next
job is to get him out on bail.”
“Do think you can?”
“We’ve a damn good chance, Imogen is leading it because I asked her to, she did well at the last bail hearing.” Bernadette took another sip of her coffee.
“Yes, I’m sure she will.”
“I’ve got to go,” said Bernadette draining her cup and standing up.
“I wish you didn’t, but I always say that.” Eve smiled.
“I do, and it will be the weekend soon.”
“Hmm, yes…”
“What are you thinking? I know that look,” said Bernadette suspiciously.
“Oh, nothing,” said Eve running one fingernail down Bernadette’s arm, “It’s just it’s been a while, since you know…”
Bernadette knew very well, Eve wanted a Shibari session. This was Eve’s enduring fetish, and if she didn’t get one every so often she would begin to crave it. It had become their game. Eve would do things to misbehave and Bernadette would give her a session as ‘consequences.’
“Yes, I know, perhaps I need to start compiling a list.”
“Maybe you do,” said Eve smiling saucily.
“Anyway,” said Bernadette heading for the door with Eve in tow.
Eve tilted her head up for her goodbye kiss, this was their ritual. Eve insisted on it and Bernadette never left without it. The kiss was explosive as usual, sending tingles up Bernadette’s spine and making her dizzy. She pulled apart after a few moments with fireworks still going off in her head.
“How do you do that?” she asked Eve, a little breathless.
“I’m a witch, remember.” Eve’s eyes twinkled.
“Yes, you are, by God you are,” Bernadette replied with a laugh.
“I feel the fireworks too you know.”
“Good, I’m glad, now behave yourself while I’m gone.” Bernadette kissed her lightly.
“I won’t,” said Eve with mock defiance.
“Then you know what will happen.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Bye then, my darling.” Bernadette picked up her bag and walked out the door.
As she drove away, Eve was standing in the doorway watching her and waving, clad only in her robe.
“Fuck,” said Bernadette glancing at her in the rear-view mirror, “God she’s such a sexy bitch.”
She turned on the radio and began to hum to the latest tunes, as she pulled out into the main road heading for the office.
✽✽✽
Bernadette had not long dropped her keys at Juanita’s desk, and procured herself a coffee, before Imogen nudged open the door. They always had a morning chat together, which more often than not ranged over many topics which were not exclusively work related.
“Hi, darling,” said Bernadette transferring herself to the sofa.
“Hi,” said Imogen who had brought her own drink and put it on the coffee table to cool.
“So, how was your evening?”
“Well, it was very good, of course.” Imogen smiled a secret smile.
“And how is D’Arcy?” Bernadette wondered how the evening had actually played out, and whether the mooted chastisement had eventuated. The two of them were very frank with each other about their private lives, and so naturally they would tell each other everything.
“Oh well, she’s fine. We discussed the whole thing from Hello magazine, and she explained it all. I mean, she and this guy have been long-time friends, and it didn’t mean anything. It was just typical of the papers. I suppose I have to get used to it. I’ve got to try and curb my jealousy too,” Imogen sighed.
“Yes, yes you do, and did you…”
“No, I didn’t spank her after all, I mean, she was so contrite and so nice about it. She kissed me so softly and gently, made me go so weak at the knees… I just couldn’t. We made love instead, and that was just so nice.”
“Really, that’s very restrained of you, well done.” Bernadette looked approvingly at her.
“Yes, I surprised myself, really. Mind you, I’m planning to make up for it at the weekend, I’m sure the paddle with come into play then.”
“I see,” Bernadette said with a crack of laughter at this candid disclosure. She shook her head as if to say this was no more than to be expected.
“What? What? I’m not that bad!”
“Oh, you are, darling, you really are…”
“Oh you! And I suppose you’re not planning another Shibari session!”
“Eve wants one actually, at the weekend too.”
“There you are then!” said Imogen triumphantly, “It’s no different. I’m just doing what D’Arcy wants.”
“Does she?” said Bernadette wondering if it was true.
“Yes, she does, I mean, she wanted me to last night, but I didn’t.”
“Well, in that case…”
“She said, ‘I suppose you’ll be needing this’ you know, handing me the paddle, and I said, ‘no, I won’t, and I kissed her instead.”
“You surprise me, but in a good way.”
“I have to try a little harder to curb my natural impulses,” said Imogen assuming a saint like expression which made Bernadette laugh.
“Anyway, have you thought any more about… wedding rings?”
“Yes, and I should, and we should go and buy one, maybe from the shop where you got one before.”
“OK, this week?”
“Definitely!”
“So, what about Callum?”
“We’ve got a meeting this morning and so we should get going soon, I cleared it with the prison yesterday.”
“Right, let’s talk about what we want to find out from him, and also what you need for the hearing.”
✽✽✽
Within an hour Bernadette and Imogen were en-route to Mountjoy prison. This was the main prison for men in Dublin and sat adjacent to the Dòchas Centre which was the prison for women. The prison complex was shielded from the main road by an extremely high brick wall. The wall had inset mouldings to make it a little less forbidding and turrets at intervals, like a castle.
There are major differences, however, between the women’s and the men’s prisons. Dòchas has courtyards and resembles something more like a set of halls of residence. The aim of Dòchas is to rehabilitate and prepare inmates for the outside. The rooms are not so much like cells, and they have wooden doors to make them less intimidating. By contrast, Mountjoy has corridors, bars and metal cell doors, just like most traditional prisons. The cells are a little more spartan, although many are painted in a yellow colour which perhaps reminds people of sunshine and can be stimulating or soothing. Perhaps the authorities felt it was better than a uniform and drab grey. Many improvements had been made over the years when previously the prison had been heavily criticised for the conditions in which inmates were forced to live.
Bernadette and Imogen were escorted to an interview room, which was carpeted and decorated in half yellow and half cream walls. There was a table, and some chairs. The window had bars on it. They waited patiently while Callum Jenkins was brought to them.
The door swung open eventually and Callum was let into the room. He had been allowed to wear his own clothing, which was at the governor’s discretion, but since he was on remand, it tended to be the rule. Callum was quite thickset with a shaved head. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans with trainers. He was well built, and well-muscled too. Bernadette noted he evidently worked out. Standing at around one point eight metres in height, he was tall. He had a slightly round face with blue eyes, and full lips, there was a carefully crafted line of stubble around his chin.
The door shut behind him, Bernadette and Imogen stood up.
“Hi, I’m Bernadette Mackenna Senior Defence Counsel, and this is Imogen Stewart my Junior Defence Counsel.”
She held out her hand and he shook it in a firm grip, and then did likewise with Imogen.
“Take a seat,” Bernadette told him, indicating a chair opposite.
He did so regarding them with interest, and perhaps a little bit of hope in his eyes. “I’m sorry about the surroundings. We are going to try our best to get you out of here if we can.”
“Oh, it’s not too bad,” he demurred, “I mean, not so far anyway.”
“Callum, we are here to talk to you about the extradition hearing, as I’m sure you will have guessed, and also getting you out on bail.”
“Yes, I spoke to my father yesterday, I’m allowed phone calls to sort things out. He told me he’d engaged your services.”
“Good.” She smiled. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this certainly doesn’t look like an easy case. We have applied to the prosecution service for their evidence, and it will give us a clearer picture. In the meantime, we want to ask you what happened, from your perspective.”
“Sure, I’ll answer whatever questions you have.”
“I need you to answer honestly, truthfully.”
“I will, I really will,” he said earnestly.
“OK.”
In spite of his looks, he was deceptively mild in manner and tone. His voice which one might expect to be deep was much lighter. Bernadette noticed, unlike his father, his accent was Irish and put this down to being brought up here. Sometimes the parent’s accents overrode the local ones but not in Callum’s case.
“What happened with the truck?” said Imogen taking over the questions. It was best to cut to the chase, she felt and did so.
“The truck was driven to a depot, here in Dublin, on the outskirts, by another driver. It came from Spain, in the south. A long drive up to Cherbourg and then across on the ferry to Dublin. It was dropped off there for the handover, and then I drove it across to Holyhead and left it at another depot, and drove a different truck back, that’s all there was to it.” He shrugged.
“So, the goods were sealed, you never looked inside the trailer?”
“No, it had a customs seal on it when it came over and as far as I know the seal was not broken. Well, not until they found those illegals in it.”
“What’s your take on that? The illegals, has anything like this ever happened before?” Bernadette asked him with interest.
He shook his head emphatically.