Chapter 16

With that Claire left a stunned Lisa standing on the pavement.

Not understanding why, Lisa did as Claire had advised and waited two days then phoned the man and begged off the liaison.

“I’m sorry, I can’t do it tomorrow.”

“Mrs King, you will regret defying me.”

“You’re not listening to me, and honestly I’m not defying you, why would I do that? I said I can’t do it tomorrow, not that I won’t do what you want. I just need a week before I can.”

“I don’t trust you and why do you need a week?”

“Think about it. I’m a woman. Just give me some time and I’ll do anything you want. Anything.”

“Do you mean what I think you mean?”

“Yes, I’m giving you what you want.” Lisa whispered, wondering why she was taking this chance on a whim and a promise from Claire, a woman that she barely knew. What did Claire know that could change things for Lisa in a week?

“That won’t change our business arrangement, you will still work for me as and how I want.”

“I know.”

“One week from tomorrow then, and Mrs King I can’t wait to see you again, all of you.” Lisa closed the call without answering, a shudder of disgust running through her.

Lisa’s week of grace had ended without anything appearing to change or happening. Lisa waited in trepidation for the call to come to summon her to do ‘the man’s’ bidding again. She was certain it would come soon. Mid-afternoon and her fears were answered by a ring on the doorbell. Fearfully she opened it and was met by a small local boy silently holding out an envelope. Lisa took it with shaking hands and the boy ran away, without even waiting for any payment. She closed the door and slumped to the floor unable to break the seal on the package.

Eventually, Lisa did what she knew she must, and inside was a single sheet of paper and 2 micro SD cards.

She was shaking so much she could hardly make out the words on the paper.

Our mutual friend has been detained by the Police and there is very little prospect of him being released, even with his so-called friends and contacts.

The Chief of Police was there organising and supervising everything, so this is at the highest level. He’s not going to be around for a long time.

Your problems would appear to be over as justice here can be both arbitrary, and often violent.

The first card shows his arrest.

Lisa ripped the card from the letter and inserted it into her tablet and opened the single video file that was the only thing on it. ‘The man’ looking much the worse for wear and clearly having been subjected to a prolonged savage beating was dragged semi-comatose from his office and thrown into the back of an unmarked van which drove off leisurely. Lisa grabbed the letter, anxious now to see what the rest said and what was on the other card.

The other card is the only copy in existence of your video. Claire has obliterated every other one, both in hard copy or on the cloud. Our mutual friend’s cyber security wasn’t very sophisticated and Claire hacked it easily. This is our gift to you.

Watch it if you want, we all have. The first 15 minutes are a pastiche of stills taken from the video and a mash-up of various scenes. He really was a most perverted individual and clearly had certain scenes he enjoyed more than others. You are well rid of him, as are we. If you can’t bear to watch the full thing from start to end then start at 15:23.

We all have seen some of it, the bits where you are undressing are some of the most erotic things any of us have watched. We know that’s probably no comfort to you, but it is. All of us love where you are in your slip bending over to pick up your dress. I would hate to think that image could be destroyed forever.

I wanted to make just the one copy of that but Claire wouldn’t let me. She’s still angry about not being able to share you with us. But also rightly she says the only person who should have a copy is you.

It took Lisa a day and a half to bring herself to watch the video, but deep down she knew she had to. She watched the whole thing three times, the first time she threw up frequently. The second she cried, the final time she had no reaction at all. The next day the news reported that the badly beaten body of a man had been found and that the police were making enquiries into it. The underlying text being they were looking but not very hard and didn’t expect to solve the mystery.