Chapter 1

David's troubles began shortly after he constructed a cedar divider to divide his back deck from that of Linda, his land lady's

It was shortly after that when Linda's friend Maggie, a fairly large but pleasant older woman arrived for a weeks visit along with her 30 year old daughter Ellen. David had never paid particular attention to the comings and goings in Linda's house and was constructing the screen more out of a selfish interest in his own privacy than anything else, but Ellen immediately caught his attention. Though her body was trim from endless hours in the gym, and her short blonde hair accentuated the attractive styles in clothes that she wore, it was her somewhat haughty attitude that, for some reason, attracted him more than anything else.

The afternoon before their departure, David was invited over for coffee and as the four sat around the large glass-top table in Linda's den, gazing through the two pair of large glass paned doors that opened up onto the deck, David's beautiful cedar screen had been a large topic of conversation and the older ladies lavished praise on both it's beauty and David's helpfulness.

"While we're all here I think there's something else we should discuss." said the daughter Ellen. Her tone was still pleasant, but her demeanor had changed lending something ominous to the statement. David had no idea how ominous.

"And what might that be Dear?" Ellen's mother asked her

"Well. I know Dave here is being touted as Linda's guardian angel and pretty much the lord high protector of her estate, but before we get to far carried away, I think everyone should know that his intentions are not exactly as platonic as they're made out to be."

Dave's pulse quickened and he furtively glanced around the table.

"What on earth are you talking about Ellen?" asked Linda in a low quizzical tone as she leaned forward to replace her teacup in it's saucer.

Ellen turned her head slightly and glared a Dave for a few seconds through narrowing eyes.

"Why don't we ask him?" she said through a forced smile. "Dave, why don't you tell Linda and my mother what you are really doing with that beautiful cedar screen that they're raving about?"

Dave felt the three pair of eyes burning into him and his cheeks flush. He wanted desperately to portray his innocence but he felt his body betraying him. He could only manage a half-shrug and a pitiful expression that exhibited more pain than piety.

"Come on Dave," continued Ellen, "tell us about the camera you have mounted between those planters which looks straight through the top slat of Linda's bathroom window."

Both Linda and Maggie gasped and their mouths fell agape as they leaned forward eyes swinging from David to Ellen and back.

Dave knew he was at the critical point. He gathered his resources and prepared to proclaim his innocence. As he started to rise to with the intent of loudly declaring both his innocence and insult then making a quick and stormy exit, Ellen cut him off at the knees almost hissing "Sit down... or you'll be sleeping in the streets tonight." As she slid a picture across the table towards him.

The picture, obviously taken with a digital camera and enlarged to a full page, was a bit dim, but it was clear that even without picking it up, he was readily identifiable caught in the act of placing his palm sized video recorder between the planters in the screen. He sank deflated back into the chair and stared at the picture.

"With this gross violation of privacy, Linda could have you evicted in hours, and of course all three of us still retain the right to sue you." said Ellen sliding the picture from under his gaze and towards Linda. Maggie, who had been staring at the picture on the table seemed to come out of her trance at this.

"All three of us? Why on earth would all three of us sue, it's Linda's house?"

"Oh please, Mother, you don't think this pervert put the camera up there to only take pictures of Linda do you? We're all victims here."

"Oh my Goodness, you don't... you couldn't possibly mean..." Maggie stared at her daughter, her mouth falling slightly agape again. She glanced at David briefly then back to Ellen, "You don't... but how do you know..."

David saw the older woman's embarrassment and confusion and seized the opportunity.

"Yes, how do you know?" he asked forcefully

Ellen seemed taken aback. Caught off guard by this sudden offensive, she sat a bit straighter in her chair and began to reach for the picture.

"You don't know anything," he continued more forcefully seeking to exploit his initiative, "you don't know there were any pictures at all taken let alone who they would be of if there had."

Maggie pulled back from the table a bit seeming a bit frightened of this sudden assault, she glanced at her daughter then at Linda then back to her daughter. She was caught in a conundrum. She didn't want to see her daughter beaten and verbally abused, but it would be worse if she were right, wouldn't it? She looked back at her friend for some sort of indication. Linda sat pensively at the end of the table opposite David. Her hands were folded on the table and her eyes were stern as she took in the spectacle, exuding to the casual spectator the image of an impassive judge, but her chest had begun to heave slightly beneath her black flowered summer dress, and had her friend examined her closely she might have seen the ever so slight hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

"So let's knock off all the 'victim' crap." Said David with heavy sarcasm on the word 'victim'. He was gaining momentum and he could sense victory. "There's nothing here but a grainy picture of me putting a camera on that divider. There's no way anyone can tell where it is aimed, and for all the police know I was worried about prowlers on the back deck and set up a security system."

Ellen seemed to have gathered herself. The picture lay abandoned on the table and she was still sitting straighter in her chair but by her expression she had clearly composed herself. David took no notice; it was time for decisive action.

"Next time you're going to accuse someone of something illegal, I suggest you have a bit more than Photoshop as proof." Then turning to the other ladies he said in a more contrite tone "I'm sorry for the inconvenience and the misunderstanding ladies. Now if you'll excuse me."

"You're going to be sorry for a lot more than that." Growled Ellen

David had managed to stand this time, but he was still in front of his chair, and the tone of Ellen's voice made the door seem even farther away than it had before.

"Do you know how stupid you are?" shot Ellen cocking her head with an air of superiority.

"No, why don't you..."

"You forgot to cover the recording light on the camera." She snapped.

David's heart sank. He realized that he had indeed forgotten to place electrical tape over the red LED on the front of the camera that illuminated whenever it was recording. After seeing Maggie and Ellen arrive the previous week and his subsequent sightings of Ellen in Linda's bathroom through the course of his originally innocent woodworking project, he had had been so intent on getting the camera in place that he had forgotten to place the electrical tape over the light. He had intended to, he even had the piece cut, but as he had been positioning the camera, Ellen herself had entered the bathroom. Standing on a foot-ladder with his head at the top of the wall, gave him the vantage point of being able to see through the two ventilation slats above the translucent brick windows. The entire bathroom wasn't visible through the slats, but the bathtub, shower, toilet, and the area between was unobstructed. When David first saw this, he disregarded it. He wasn't much of a voyeur, and there was only Linda there at the time anyway. He liked his landlady immensely, but she was pushing 60 and all the sag that came along with that age was evident in her matronly features. It was only after Ellen arrived last week that the idea of a camera had struck him. The thought of seeing this shapely blond finally reveal her succulent breasts encased in the thin purple material of the bra that always seemed to only barely restrain them, was more than enough to propel him into the voyeuristic world. As Ellen had entered the bathroom and turned on the water in the tub, he had rushed to emplace the camera, regrettably without the tape.

"So you can lose the tone." Ellen continued, "Not only were you recording, I can testify to when and who you were recording."

"Is this really... was I... Oh my." stammered Maggie, who was now flushed and obviously overwhelmed by what she was learning.

"Yes Mother, I'm sorry, but it's true. He did tape you. And you Linda, he's taped all three of us but since it is your house, I think the question remains, what do you want to do?"

Linda, who seemed to be taking this all in stride, stared at her coffee for a few moments seemingly unaware that all eyes were on her waiting for a response. Then she gently laid the spoon down and looked up at David who now overridden with guilt was completely humiliated.

"I do hate to lose a good tenant." She began softly "he has been so helpful but I simply can't have him peeking through windows and what not while I'm in all states of undress. I know he is still a growing young man, and his urges get the best of him. Punishment is usually the best cure for that sort of thing, but I hate to see his life ruined by a police record."

"Linda, I'm sorry." Pleaded Dave "I'll do what ever you think best, but I'd like to stay."

"He does look pretty sorry about it." Chimed in Maggie "Maybe the embarrassment is enough of a punishment."

"Don't be ridiculous Mother." Snapped Ellen "He's sorry now, but as soon as the embarrassment of being caught wears off, he'll be right back at it and then it will be just Linda by herself to deal with it. No it needs to be dealt with now, and severely." The last words were added with particular venom while she looked David directly in the eye.

"What do you think would be appropriate Ellen." Asked Linda calmly

Ellen leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, staring at David through narrowing eyes while she considered this.

"Mother," she finally started "do you remember what Daddy did when you caught me smoking.

"Oh yes Dear. I felt so bad for you, but you were only 12 and you had to learn."

"What did he do Ellen?" asked Linda

"He made me smoke cigarettes as fast as I could, one after another. I was halfway through the fifth one when I got sick."

"Oh it was terrible." Said Maggie "I felt so terrible."

"Well It worked Mother. I haven't smoked since. The thought nauseates me."

"What are you suggesting Dear?" asked Linda

Ellen looked at David for a few seconds, then she pushed her chair away from the table, stood and walked around the table. Standing between her mother and Linda, she leaned over and began whispering to them.

Linda and Maggie listened intently as Ellen laid out her plan. David could hear her whispers but not make them out. Suddenly Maggie pulled back from the huddle

"Oh I couldn't possibly." She gasped.

"Oh yes you could Mother." Came Ellen's stern reply "In fact you..." Her voice lowered again to where David couldn't make out the words.

As David watched, Linda nodded slowly and continuously, her eyes focused on the table in front of her but occasionally glancing up at David her face showing no emotion and giving no acknowledgement of his presence, then back to the table. Maggie, who had regained her composure, now listened intently and smiled from time to time. As the meeting wore on, the smiles grew bigger and more frequent and just as the meeting broke, she let out a loud giggle before she caught herself and put on a willfully stern expression as the trio turned their attention to David.

Ellen stood with her hands on hips and glared at him. Maggie shifted in her seat and appeared to be working hard to keep her stern expression. Linda, her hands still folded on the table, cleared her throat and began to address David.

"You have a decision to make right now young man." She began. "We are willing to forgo the eviction and police under one condition."

"Which is?" David asked, dreading what he was going to hear.

"For the next 24 hours you must do exactly what any of the three of us tell you to without hesitation or reservation."

"What would you have me doing?"

"There's only one way you're going to get the answer to that question, but know this. You will feel every bit as violated as the three of us have, and more so. If you agree, by this time tomorrow, you will have no inclination to violate anyone's privacy ever again, most of all a woman's"

David, knew he had no options, and worse, these three women knew it too.

"I'll do it." He said meekly

"What did you say?" roared Ellen

"I'll do it" he repeated louder.

"You'll do precisely as we say," asked Linda softly holding a hand up to stifle Ellen "Without hesitation?"

"And if you fail to comply, even once, you will pack your things and leave immediately?"

Linda looked at him with a lowered head and raised eyebrows. Ellen stood with hands on hips and looked at him down her nose, while Maggie, seemingly barely able to contain herself shifted in her seat and looked to be holding her breath waiting for his answer.

"Yes."

"All right then, let's get started. Ellen."

Ellen walked around the table to him. Placing and index finger beneath his chin, she raised his face to look directly into it.

"First," She said, "You must learn how to address us properly. To you, I am 'My Lady', my mother is "Madam', and Linda is 'Mistress' do you understand?"

"Yes"

Ellen's fingernail dug sharply into the underside of his chin as she glared at him

"Yes, My lady" he corrected himself

"Better." Said Ellen "Now I want you to tell us what you did while you watched the video you took of us. Lie to us and it's over right now."

David's face flushed. He couldn't believe what he was going to have to admit to these women, but he knew he was trapped. They knew the truth, or suspected it anyway and wanted him to admit it.

"I masturbated" he said meekly

"Louder"

He looked up catching Maggie's gaze

"I masturbated." He said loudly

"Did you make yourself cum?"

"Yes, Mistress" He replied slightly shocked that Linda would use that phrase

"Which one of us were you watching when you came?"

"You, My Lady"

"Of course it was." Said Ellen with mock sympathy "I know how much video you took of who, that little red light can be seen not only from the bathroom, but also from the spare bedroom where that picture was taken from. You see Ladies I was trying to figure out what that light was and what was making it come on. After a couple of days I realized that it only came on when someone was in the bathroom and after I discovered what it was I thought back to when it was on and off."