Island IV – Meetings · Part 18 (18/21)
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f she ever worked as a bartender. Erin knew the food business, and liquor was an important part, although she’d never learned the intricacies of tending bar.
“Mr. Welk, master tells us you’re an attorney on South Island. Do you handle criminal cases, serial killers, terrorists, slashers, all those nice people we read about?” That came from Penny.
Ralph chuckled and shook his head. “No, nothing so dramatic. Most of the time it’s drawing up contracts. I have defended a few cases, with a mixed record. I got off a shoplifter, although I think she was guilty. The cattle rustler, well, he was caught with the steers in his barn. The judge appointed me to be his lawyer, which didn’t sit well with my friends and acquaintances. I did manage to keep the mob from handing out some Wyoming-style rough justice. The judge agreed to send him to an out-of-state prison in Kansas. If it had been my cattle, well, I have to admit I might have called in sick that day.”
Penny risked a quick look at Virgil, to see if she might keep going on the same topic. Erin saw that barest of nods. Now that had to come from the Facility. She knew exactly where to pause and seek approval. Erin sighed. Will I ever be able to match that?
“I grew up in Pennsylvania, sir. My parents sent me to a Catholic school all the way up through high school. As you can imagine, it was a pretty tame little city. Cattle rustlers, that’s right out of a movie. The most excitement we ever saw was when someone tried to steal one of those beer delivery trucks. He wasn’t very bright; they do tend to stand out.”
“What about you, Erin? Aren’t you from the western US too?” That was Virgil, trying to be the polite host by drawing in everyone to the conversation.
“A long way from Wyoming, sir. My dad was stationed at the Navy base in Bangor, now Kitsap, across Puget Sound from Seattle. We had a house in Seattle. And before you ask, it does rain all the time. The most excitement I can remember growing up was the day a bunch of protesters surrounded the base. We couldn’t get in to pick up my dad. I was so angry, especially since his boat was sailing in a few days.” She turned to look at Ralph. “The MPs held back and didn’t clear the gate right away. It ruined our day. I confess I would have appreciated some of master’s rough justice while we waiting in the car for hours.”
Sheila jumped in. “I wouldn’t mind a dose of that rough justice for the protesters over on South Island. Did you see it on the news today? They want to shut down the Facility, something about how Penny and I were brutalized after being lured in. What planet did they come from?” She saw a slight frown on Virgil’s face, a sign she was going too far. “Sorry for losing my temper, sir. I just wish they’d go away and leave us alone.”
“They won’t stop,” Ralph added. “I’ve seen this before, with the ‘green’ protesters in Wyoming. They are a tiny minority but somehow manage to make a lot of noise. Their knowledge of the issues are poor at best, but that doesn’t matter. Those demonstrations on South Island are for the publicity. No one has ever come forward with evidence to back the allegations, not that it matters. Repeat an accusation enough times, there are always people who will start to believe it’s true.”
Virgil had a concerned look. “Ralph, do you think they can actually accomplish anything? Aren’t we safe here on North Island?”
Ralph shook his head. “Don’t count on it. I’ve heard rumors they have paralegals researching every woman who wears a Facility collar. I have no idea what they’re after, but it won’t be good news, whatever they try.”
“Sir? Does that mean this group is investigating me and Sheila?” Penny sounded worried. She was acutely aware of how vulnerable the two of them were. Lacking any legal standing they had no control over their destiny.
“Don’t worry,” Virgil reassured her. “I met every legal requirement for the two of you. Whoever this group is, they aren’t going to interfere with us.”
Knock At The Door They were all sitting down at the dining room table when the doorbell rang. Frowning, and muttering about irritating neighbors, Virgil stood up. “Everyone, please remain at the table. This shouldn’t take long. One of my neighbors has been complaining about me not bringing in my trash can right away.” He left the dining room and headed to the front door.
It wasn’t the neighbor who greeted him. Instead, there were two police officers. He noticed a van parked in the street. “Virgil Sorensen? We need to speak to you concerning a matter of some urgency. Could you step outside for a moment?”
Urgency? Virgil didn’t have a clue as to what would bring out the police at this time of night. He followed the officers out to the sidewalk. “Okay, I have no idea what this is about.”
“I’m Sgt. Nguyen. We handle court orders that go into immediate effect.” He handed a piece of paper to Virgil. “This is an order from Judge Scott, Magistrate for North Island, requiring you to turn over two women in your possession to the North Island Public Administrator, pending a custody hearing. I believe their names are Penny and Sheila? The registration numbers are on the order.”
Virgil stared at the document, reading it over and over. A civil complaint had been filed on South Island alleging that the two women had been illegally transported from the Facility through the ferry terminal to North Island. The facts were accurate; that’s exactly what he’d done, but the interpretation of “illegality” appeared to be wildly inaccurate. He said as much to the sergeant.
“I’m sorry, sir, but that determination isn’t up to me. I suggest you consult an attorney before contacting the Magistrate’s office. I have no additional information beyond what’s in the court order.”
He managed to tamp down his rising anger. This isn’t the time or place to fight this battle, Virgil quickly concluded. There had to be more to the story in order for a judge to even accept the complaint. I need help before I go blundering into some kind of legal quagmire.
He sighed; his shoulders slumped in defeat. “Alright, I’ll bring them to the door. Give me a moment; I have dinner guests.”
“That’ll be fine,” the officer replied. His face reflected an expression of someone who’d just taken a sip of spoiled milk. “I’m sorry about all this. It’s a dirty business and we don’t like being dragged into it.” The other officer, who hadn’t spoken, nodded in agreement.
“Penny, Sheila, stand up and come with me. Ralph, I could really use your help right now.” Virgil looked like he’d just been hit over the head with a baseball bat.
Ralph pushed back his chair. “Erin, stay here at the table. Something’s wrong, and I don’t want you to get involved in it. We’ll talk later.”
Ralph came to the door while the officers were taking Penny and Sheila into custody. Virgil handed Ralph a piece of paper. When he started to read the court order he couldn’t believe it.
“Virgil, say nothing more. Mr. Sorenson is represented by counsel. Notify the Public Administrator and the judge. Here’s my card. Mr. Sorenson is not to be questioned or deposed without my being present.”
Rock Bottom Ralph sat at the half-empty dinner table, going over the motions word by word. Erin looked over his shoulder at the piece of paper, reading along. He didn’t stop her, so she felt at ease trying to understand what had just happened.
“I don’t get it, Virgil. There’s nothing in here about why a judge would issue an order like this, especially on North Island. You haven’t broken any laws, or it would be you they came for. This is a civil action, which makes no sense. The chain of ownership is well established; there can’t be any question about Penny and Sheila belonging to you. I’ll go to the Courthouse tomorrow to get a certified copy of their deeds.”
Virgil sat in his chair, head in his hands. “I did everything Director Yates asked. He assured me there wouldn’t be any problems if I took both of them, providing they agreed. I admit I did kinda force the issue. I didn’t actually ask them. Instead, I gave them time to talk it over, but after that I simply announced they now belonged to me. Neither one objected when I brought out the collars.”
“Have you ever heard of this Alliance for Humane Treatment? They’re the plaintiffs. I’ll put a paralegal on them tomorrow.” Ralph shook his head, frustrated at the lack of information. “We need some background to get an idea who we’re dealing with. Get some sleep, Virgil. I’ll give you a call as soon as I know more.”
In the car heading back to the hotel, Erin studied Ralph. He seemed preoccupied, understandable given what had just happened. She leaned forward to shift her hands. It was long after curfew, which meant she had to be both restrained and escorted in public. Handcuffs bound her wrists close together, behind her back. The weight of the leg irons on her ankles, along with the seat belt and the buckle she couldn’t reach, was a stark reminder she was virtually helpless. If it had been anyone but Ralph at her side, she’d be terrified.
At a stoplight he glanced over at her. “You doing okay?” he asked. He reached over and laid a hand on her knee.
“I’m fine, sir. I’m slowly getting used to this curfew thing. Thank you for being so patient with me.” As always Erin was very careful about holding still when he touched her. The last thing she wanted was for him to stop. She closed her eyes for a moment, relishing the contact that sent a surge of sexual pleasure through her.
“Sir? I’m not sure if I should ask. Is there anything I can do to help Mr. Sorenson? I’m heartbroken over what’s happened to him.”
The light changed, Ralph moved his hand back to the wheel. “It’s complicated, Erin. In purely technical terms you should be excluded from anything about this case. You’re aware you have no legal standing. I should withhold all details, and even go so far as to ban you from reading the news.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. He was right. On North Island she had the same rights as a kitchen toaster or any of his other property, which is to say none at all. Even when they got back home, he had every right to cut her off from TV and the Internet, without an explanation.
“On the brighter side, since I’m the attorney and your owner, you’re participation is a gray area. For now, I don’t see what you can do to help Virgil. That may change. I do have a duty to order you not to disclose anything you see or hear that’s related to this case. Violating that order has serious consequences, Erin, so please be very careful. I don’t have any leeway in this.”
She could see the hotel sign ahead. “Virgil’s hit rock bottom, losing all that’s important to him.” He turned into the parking lot. “He might be more comfortable if I dealt with him alone. I’ll make arrangements for you to be looked after when I have to come back here in the coming days.”
“I can…” Erin abruptly halted before completing her thought. She was about to say she could take care of herself. That wasn’t true any longer.
Ralph found a spot to park, stopped and got out. She stared at her reflection in the car window while waiting for him to free her from the car seat. When he opened her door he asked, “Can what?”
She had to be honest with him. “I can act like a complete idiot, sir. I was going to say I can look out for myself, but that’s not true any longer.” Someone has to be watching over me from now on. I better get used to it. “I depend on you, sir. Not just because I don’t have a choice, but because that’s what I want. Look at me.” She leaned forward, wiggling the fingers of her hands to emphasize they were locked behind her back.
“I can’t even get out of the car unless you help me. Please ignore what I should never have said, sir. Blame it on old habits. It won’t happen again.”
Ralph leaned in and unbuckled her seat belt. With his hand on her arm, she was able to turn and stand up. She didn’t miss the big smile on his face either. The more I need him, the more he enjoys it. Don’t kid yourself, Erin, you love it as much as he does.
Slowly they made their way to the hotel entrance and on to their room for the night. As soon as she crossed into the room Erin turned to face the wall. I have to get this right, especially tonight. She widened her stance to pull the chain taut between her ankles. Her hands were carefully centered in the small of her back, palms open and facing each other, with the handcuff chain also pulled tight. Back straight, head held high, eyes on the wall, and don’t make a sound, she told herself.
This was the procedure she was to follow any time they returned home after curfew. The first few times hadn’t gone well, but Ralph was patient with her. She was determined that this time there would be no mistakes. I will be judged and not found wanting, she silently vowed.
She heard the door close. Although her world was reduced to a spot on the wall, she was positive Ralph was standing close behind her. When he reached around to pull her hair behind her shoulders, Erin was able to hold herself as rigid as a statue. He leaned down and whispered that magic word in her ear. “Perfect.”
Her heart swelled with pride. Aside from the tragic ending, the dinner party had been stressful for Erin. There she was, a newcomer to the lifestyle, stumbling about trying to find her way. To be faced with not one but two Facility graduates, women trained for more than a year and already committed for a lifetime, was intimidating to Erin. Watching them she felt clumsy and out of place.
“I was watching you tonight. I suspected you’d start to compare yourself to the polished performance of the Facility twins. Yes, they are skilled, impressive to see. That doesn’t mean it’s what I want.” He ran a hand across the top of Erin’s collar, under her chin.
“You can’t see it, but you have one big advantage over them. You and I, we don’t have to share. Remember this. They are experts at following Facility rules. I’m sure that appeals to Virgil. It holds no attraction to me. I dictate your rules of conduct, me and no one else. I am the only voice in your head, with you every minute of the day, encouraging you to obey me, and warning you not to stray from my wishes.”
The sound of his voice, low and confident, carried his words deep into her being. At that moment she felt what it truly meant to belong to him, body and soul. It’s me he loves, no one else. I have him all to myself. I’ll do whatever it takes to hold onto him. Erin felt sorry for Penny and Sheila, for they’d never know the joy she felt at this moment.
Bewildered Penny looked over at Sheila, sitting next to her. Both of them were strapped into fiberglass car seats, adult-sized, suitable for restraining violent prisoners. She tugged on the handcuffs on her wrists, behind her back. They weren’t coming off, at least not by her efforts. Across from them an officer was watching their every move, limited as it was.
What had happened? Sheila shrugged, as if reading Penny’s mind. One minute they were at the dinner table, the next bundled off to an unknown destination in police custody. Their owner had offered no explanation other than an order to cooperate but answer no questions. For a moment Penny had feared they were being taken to a brokerage to be sold, but she quickly realized that made no sense. These were police, not brokerage guards, and they wouldn’t come in the middle of a dinner party. She sensed master had been just as shocked by the arrival of the police as they were. And what passed between him and Mr. Welk, the attorney? No, this was something to do with the law, though she couldn’t imagine what it might be.
Sheila was just as puzzled as Penny. The police presence could only mean one thing, they had somehow broken a law, a serious one by North Island standards to justify their sudden seizure. Obviously, they hadn’t tried to run away, nor had they violated curfew. Perhaps someone claimed they had handled money, or had spoken in a disrespectful way to a man? Try as she might, Sheila couldn’t think of any point in time where that might have happened.
“Sir? May I ask…” Penny began. Sheila was surprised; she was sure they weren’t allowed to ask questions either.
“No talking,” the officer snapped. That shut down any attempt to find out from the police why they were here. Penny leaned back in the uncomfortable prisoner seat. This was a familiar pattern. We find out when we need to know, and not before. This is our life now, she thought, accepting her fate. Men decide what happens to us; we don’t have a say.
Even so, it was one thing to hear it over and over at the Facility, and quite another living with the consequences. It felt like there was a tight ball lodged in her stomach. Is he still our owner? Are we going to be turned over to some stranger?
There was still one constant she could count on. She sat up as straight as possible, lifted her chin, and met the stare of the guard sitting across from her. I am Facility trained, she thought, not daring to speak. I wear a Facility collar. Whatever happens, I will meet it with confidence.
Sheila noticed the change in Penny and immediately copied her. Both of them had learned the lesson that there would always be someone looking out for them. It might not be tomorrow, but the day would come when their master would reappear so that they could return to a normal life.
So It Begins “Yesterday, on the strength of the lawsuit Piet filed, we obtained a court order to take the two women into custody. At the moment they’re being held by the North Island Public Administrator.” Angela paused to look at her notes. The Central Committee sat around the conference table, eager for news.
“North Island has some tough privacy laws, so we don’t actually know where they are. The usual procedure is to house women at one of the North Island brokerages, but the judge won’t allow the location to be disclosed. Today, Piet entered the motion for a change of venue, to move the proceedings, and the two women, to South Island. There will be a hearing in a few days once both sides have a chance to respond to motions and stipulations.”
Angela’s nemesis, Donna, asked the usual awkward questions. “I checked TV and the news sites. The case barely made it in as a footnote. Where is the dramatic coverage we were promised? And what happens if the change of venue is denied?”
Angela was ready for her. “Tomorrow, we hold a press conference. We’ve lined up some talking head pundits to make the usual exaggerated claims, and to top it off there will be a demonstration at Government House right after the press conference. That’ll help Piet shift the public focus of the case to the emotional rather than the factual. There should provide plenty of photo ops.
“If our motion is denied we’re still ready to proceed. The judge has a reputation for being a stickler for legal precedent; we’ll work on that. It will be more complicated in terms of publicity, but we’re concentrating on public opinion on South Island. North Island is a lost cause, as far as Alliance goals are concerned. We aren’t going to waste time on them.”
“What about those two women? Will they be appealing if we portray them as poor lost souls trafficked into a life of sexual slavery? Is there any prior history we can exploit?” Donna wasn’t at all convinced of the lawsuit’s success, but she had a politician’s instinctive nose for sniffing out lascivious details to cloud the issue.
Angela shrugged. “We’re still researching their background. So far, nothing’s come up. I’m sure we can invent something if need be. Nothing on this Virgil Sorenson either; he’s a non-entity. We do know he’s a plumber, of all things. We’ll zero in on the women. It’s what draws attention. Piet? You have something on that?”
He picked up a sheet of paper. “Along with the change of venue, I petitioned for the two women to be transferred to South Island. Our strategy hinges on having the case tried under South Island law. If we can eliminate North Island jurisdiction we have a good chance of prevailing.”
The Court Case
In Seclusion Ray sat at his desk, reading over the Public Administrator’s email once again. This is going to be a major headache, but it’s for a worthy cause. He rarely indulged in crusades, but this was different. Reading between the lines of the lawsuit was the clear message that once again it was a political faction on South Island trying to discredit the Facility, and if they were lucky North Island too.
From the couch Barbara watched Ray as he worked. Something’s bothering him; she recognized the subtle clues. She didn’t interrupt when he was in that kind of a mood. She looked down at her hands, all but glued to her knees. Her arms were getting tired, but she dare not move. He might not be paying attention, yet the moment she lifted a hand he’d zoom in on her blatant disobedience.
Ray looked up from the screen, still lost in thought. He caught Barbara out of the corner of his eye. She’s been sitting there for a while, I bet she needs to stretch. “Come over here and stand in front of me.” His tone was casual but she knew it was an order, not a request.
“Sir?” He noticed the way she flexed her hands. I was right.
“Something unexpected has come up. We’re going to be hosting some involuntary guests for an indefinite period, for the Public Administrator. You know how that works; you’ve heard me talk about it before. The circumstances are unusual, but I can’t go into the details with you. The complication is in how our visitors are to be treated. You are the best qualified person to play hostess to them, though I have to warn you it won’t be easy. You will have to be held in seclusion for a week or two, maybe longer. That means no contact with anyone but our new arrivals and, of course, me. There’s an information embargo too, so no Internet, phone, laptop, radio or TV. I can manage some streaming movie requests, but they’ll have to be censored. That will include you. You will remain with them the entire length of their stay.”
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes, sir. What can you tell me? Anything?”
Ray paused, debating what he could reveal given the restrictions. “You saw the news last night? It’s that pair of women, the Facility ones, and the court case brought by South Island troublemakers. Don’t repeat that last part; we’re neutral.”
“I’ve forgotten it already, sir. What is my role?”
“A North Island court took temporary custody pending a hearing. We’re in the rotation to handle Public Administrator cases, so we have to house both of them. The judge has specified that they be sequestered, no outside contact at all. You can imagine the amount of stress they are under, especially being kept in the dark. I want you to play the part of companion, hostess, and shoulder to cry on. If tempers start to flare, try to put out the fires. They will be understandably upset about the entire affair. Be a friend to them, someone they can confide in. You will not report your conversations to me. There will be video surveillance, that’s required by the Public Administrator’s office, but no audio recording.”
“When do I start, sir?”
“In about ten minutes. They just arrived and are being signed in.” He gestured to his private restroom door. “There’s a company uniform in there; you can change now. I’ll have further instructions for all of you when they’re brought to the office.”
It didn’t take long for her to change. She ran her hands down the sides of the dress to smooth out the wrinkles before she opened the door. Ray was standing, waiting for her.
“Face the wall, hands behind your back. From now on you are just another employee at the brokerage. Act accordingly.”
While she stared at the wall he fastened her wrists together with the standard issue handcuffs, the hinged type that made it all the more difficult to use her hands. She wasn’t a novice to this procedure. Holding very still she felt the cuffs go around her ankles and ratchet shut. Her eyes never wavered from the spot on the wall she’d picked out. He was taking over, in a very literal, physical way she could not ignore. This was one of those moments she treasured, for the way it brought a warm feeling created by the reassurance he still wanted to possess her.
When she heard him step back, she immediately widened her stance to pull the leg chain taut. Short, she discovered, that means enhanced security. Whatever is going on must be important. It was more difficult to walk in short chains, though that was by design. It felt like wading through knee-deep mud; every step had to be planned and carefully placed.
From behind his arms encircled her waist, pulling her close against him. “You do that so well,” he whispered in her ear. “Any man would be proud to own you, if only so he could show you off. I want to see your best behavior from now on. Keep in mind these are Facility-trained women, with high standards. Don’t be intimidated. Remember, you can match the
