Chapter 23

Martin Schroeder, in an unmarked sedan, took Claire to downtown Des Moines for a meeting with her advertising agency. No word from Teeny Delgado, more than a month since Mateo De Toro had disappeared.

Claire reviewed the latest video clips at Robinson & Robinson. She now felt that she knew Danny and Donna well enough to sense that something was up, something that pleased them.

Their small office consisted of a reception area with no receptionist, and a shared office with a modest conference table as a desk. Danny said, “A little housekeeping first. We edited all of the clips with the naked little boys.”

“Oh?”

Donna, “Because of their ages, we don’t want to show boners. Just some bare-butts flitting around in the background.”

“I understand, probably for the best.”

Danny grinned and rolled a new clip. It was comprised of two elements. What the Robinsons and Serena called the Cum Video, where Claire masturbated to a rousing climax. Interspersed with the money shot, Serena had inserted the photo that the Interned had dubbed The Threesome. Luke with his fat cock, arms around bare-pussied Claire and Willow.

It was a rapid-fire montage — Claire’s face contorted in ecstasy as she came; and twenty-seven separate flashes of The Threesome. Danny said, “It’s almost subliminal. The eye barely sees it, but the mind registers The Threesome.”

Donna, “It’s implied incest. You three look some much alike. Your face while you cum, Luke’s penis. Face, penis, face, penis, face, penis.”

Claire grinned, “I love it. It’s exactly the right tone. Naughty, daring, forbidden.”

Serena said, “I want to use more of Luke, and I want him hard. Willow too — classic beave.”

Claire said, “I’ll think about it, but I’m leaning toward ‘no.’ I want to remain the face, the voice of Carefree. And, yes, the body.”

Serena said, “The pussy.”

“Well, okay. Yeah, I suppose so.”

Donna, “For the next phase, we’re recommending testimonials from your guests. A naked woman describing her visit. Two naked guys.”

Danny, “We’d still sign off with your ‘clothing-forbidden’ tag line.”

“Good, go for it. Show a variety of ages, ethnicities, body shapes and sizes. Now show me the newest one again, I really like it.”

Even expecting The Threesome to flash into the Cum Video, Claire had to almost strain to be sure she saw it. Serena sensed what the 52-year-old woman was thinking.

“Yeah, we could show actual fucking and sucking. Cut the exposure time in half, maybe less. People wouldn’t consciously see the act, but their brain would absorb it. The message would get through.”

“Let me think about it. I don’t want to turn Carefree into Pornhub.”

Serena, “Is Luke married?”

Claire laughed, “No. Here’s his number.” She turned to the Robinsons, “Okay, put your thinking caps on, or whatever the cliché is in Advertising Land. I want to start planning for the next Carefree phase — weekends for high schoolers only.” She winked, “Ostensibly. I wouldn’t mind sneaking in some middle schoolers too.”