Sextortion (17 page)

"Go to
hell!"

Like a woman
possessed, I lashed the tart's naked buttocks again and again with
the leather tails. She screamed and yelled vile expletives, but she
wouldn't tell me who her boss was. Twenty, thirty lashes, I lost
count. My arm aching, I finally discarded the whip. Sobbing, she
begged for mercy as I threatened to thrash her again, but she still
wouldn't tell me what I wanted to know.

"You've got a
thing about your bum, haven't you?" I asked her.

"What... what
do you mean?" she sobbed.

"You like
having your bum licked, it turns you on. Let's see how you like
what I'm going to do to your bum."

"What are you
going to do?"

"You'll
see."

Taking a
cucumber from the fridge, I cut it in half and returned to the
lounge. I'd show her what sexual abuse was about, I mused, kneeling
behind her weal-lined buttocks. I'd really show the bitch what it
was about! Parting her tensed buttocks, I pressed the cut end of
the cucumber against her anal rose, pushing and twisting the green
shaft. Ignoring her threats, I watched as her delicate brown tissue
yielded, the fruit slipping effortlessly into her rectal duct.

"Who are you
working for?" I demanded again, forcing the green shaft deep into
her bowels.

"I'll never
tell you!"

"You will!
I'll keep you here all day and night if I have to. I'll thrash you
until you tell me everything."

"Never!"

Leaving the
end of the cucumber emerging between her crimson buttocks, I
grabbed the whip and jumped up. Revenge was sweet, I reflected as
the tails cracked loudly across her twitching orbs and she cried
out for mercy. After all she'd put me through it was now time to
retaliate, and I thrashed her and thrashed her until my head was
spinning and my arm was numb.

"Now will you
tell me?" I yelled, running the tails over her fire-red flesh.

"No, I can't!"
she sobbed pathetically. "If I tell you, my boss won't only punish
me, he'll come after you and... Selina, you must understand, I'm
only the go-between."

"Don't shoot
the messenger?"

"Something
like that."

"But you're
more than a bloody messenger, Alison. You're as good as the
perpetrator in all this. Anyway, I know who you're working
for."

She remained
silent, obviously waiting for me to enlighten her. Dare I suggest
Danny? I pondered. No, he couldn't be working with her! I again
wondered at my reaction if I were to discover that he was her boss.
After the hysterics, the ranting and raving, the hurtling of
saucepans and plates, I supposed that I'd eventually calm down. But
what would life hold for me after that? The terrible psychological
scars would remain forever, haunting me, taunting me.

"It's my
husband, isn't it?" I finally asked her.

"Your
husband?" she gasped. "No, of course it's not!"

Was she
feigning astonishment, or was she really shocked to discover that I
knew the terrible truth? About to thrash her again, I decided to
release her. I didn't want her in the house, especially as Danny
might come back at any time. She yanked the cucumber out of her
bottom-hole and slipped into her coat, scowling at me as she
stuffed the whip and handcuffs into her bag. I thought for a minute
that she was going to attack me, but she probably realized that
she'd met her match.

"You'll be
hearing from me!" she yelled, grabbing the money from the piano and
walking into the hall. "You'll pay dearly for what you've done,
believe me!"

I did believe
her. As the front door slammed shut, I knew only too well that I'd
made a fatal mistake. But I'd never be so stupid as to be lured
into the woods again, never again fall prey to her lies and
trickery. She'd retaliate, but at least I'd had the pleasure of
whipping the bitch. I'd tell Danny that I hadn't even let her into
the house, passing her the five grand through the letterbox. The
outcome would be interesting, I reflected - especially if she were
to tell him not only that I'd paid her two thousand instead of
five, but whipped her to boot!

I managed to
work on the book, miraculously writing several thousand words. I
suppose, having tasted revenge, I'd somehow found a renewed
strength, inspiration. I surprised myself by bashing away at the
keyboard, completely unaware of the time, just like the old days.
When I finally glanced at my watch, I couldn't believe it was the
middle of the afternoon. Where was Danny? I wondered, gazing out of
the window at the world. He'd been gone so long.

He finally
returned at six, obviously the worse for drink, and flopped onto
the sofa. Chuckling, he rambled on about meeting some old friend in
town and spending hours in a bar. I supposed it was an escape, an
outlet for the anxiety and worry he'd endured. But where was my
escape - my solace from the nightmare?

"How have you
been getting on?" he slurred.

"Fine," I
smiled. "I've been writing."

"That's great!
God, do I feel pissed! I'm sorry I've been so long, love. We got
talking and, well, you know how it is."

"Yes, I know
how it is. Are you hungry?"

"No, no, just
pissed."

As he dozed
off, I went into the kitchen and made a ham sandwich. I'd not been
eating properly, munching on toast and nibbling biscuits instead of
having decent meals. My renewed strength waning as I pondered on
the situation, I began to feel as if I was in a void, floundering
in the dark. I didn't know what to do that evening. With Danny
drunk, I didn't know how to pass the time. I didn't feel like
writing anymore, I'd had enough for one day, and I pondered on
going into town. Ringing Chrissy, I suggested that we go to a
bar.

"Yes, why
not?" she enthused. "It's about time we went out."

"That's just
what I was thinking. It's about time we got drunk."

"Great!
Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

"I was going
to ring you... I'll tell you later. Shall I meet you in the Hen and
Chicken?"

"OK, give me
half an hour."

"Right, see
you there."

I needed to
get out, I reflected as I bounded upstairs and changed into a
miniskirt and blue satin blouse. Brushing my hair and applying my
makeup, I knew it would do me good to get away from the house for a
while. Away from the bitch, the phone and the doorbell, I'd relax
with Chrissy for the evening and, for once, enjoy myself.

Leaving Danny
snoring on the sofa, I walked down the road and passed the common,
uncomfortable memories flooding my mind as I heard a train rattling
through the tunnel. Never again would I wander into the trees, I
vowed, quickening my step as I recalled the men abusing my naked
body. Wondering where the tart was, whether she'd told her boss
that I'd thrashed her, I hurried into town. I had to forget about
her, I told myself as I walked into the pub. This was my evening. I
had to push all thoughts of the bitch to the back of my mind.

"Hi!" I
beamed, joining Chrissy at a corner table.

"I've got you
a vodka and coke," she said, pushing the glass towards me as I sat
down.

"That'll do
for starters. Cheers!"

"We should do
this more often. I can't abide being stuck alone in my flat night
after night."

"No sign of Mr
right, then?"

"None
whatsoever. Anyway, let's not talk about me - how are you?"

"Wading on
through the shit life keeps throwing at me."

"What's the
latest on the blackmail front?"

"She wants
more money. I gave her another five thousand this morning which
just about wiped me out, but she'll be back for more and more."

I decided that
if I was going to lie to Danny about the money, then it was best to
lie to Chrissy as well. Although it had been her idea to test
Danny, I didn't want her inadvertently letting it slip that I'd
only given the bitch two thousand.

"What about
the sex?" she asked.

"I'd rather
not talk about it, Chrissy."

"It's still
going on, then?"

"Yes, yes it
is."

"I still
reckon Danny's behind the whole thing. Have you tested him
yet?"

"Yes, and he
has nothing to do with it. What was it you wanted to talk to me
about?"

"About Danny.
Selina, I know you don't think he's involved, but..."

"But
what?"

"I saw him
with a girl."

"A girl? When?
Where?"

"Today, by the
common. I didn't think anything of it when I drove past but... They
were holding hands and then he kissed her."

"What did she
look like?"

"Blonde hair,
quite attractive. I only caught a glimpse of her as I drove
past."

My stomach
churning, I knew it was the tart. So he was involved with her! My
eyes filling with tears, I leaped up and went to the loo. I
couldn't believe it, Danny, my husband! It all fits, I mused,
recalling Chrissy's words - it all bloody well fits! Looking in the
mirror at the tears running in rivers down my cheeks, I tried to
work out why he'd done it. Money? Jealousy? I was the one bringing
in the money while he'd been struggling to write, I was the
best-selling author, the celebrity...

The money was
one thing, I reflected - but the sexual abuse? How could he have
put me through all that? More importantly, where to go from here? I
didn't know what to think, what to do. Confront him? He'd only deny
it. I should have realized from the start that something wasn't
right. A girl coming to the house demanding five thousand pounds
because I'd ripped off an insurance company and been conned by
Barry? That was hardly blackmail material! Danny saying that we
shouldn't involve the police, that I had to write the second book
and pay the bitch... I reckoned that he knew I'd be listening on
the lounge phone when she'd rung. What an act he'd put on! The sex,
the photographs... All cleverly designed to get as much evidence
against me as possible.

The bastard
must have met the tart after she'd left my place, I thought
incredulously. They'd obviously got pissed together, on my money!
An old friend, my foot! The lying, two-timing, cheating bastard!
Calm down, I told myself. OK, they'd had twelve thousand pounds
from me, but they'd not have a penny more. Drying my eyes, I
returned to the table and sat down, wondering what to say to
Chrissy.

"Are you OK?"
she asked worriedly.

"Yes, I
suppose so," I snivelled. "I should have guessed, shouldn't I?"

"How could you
have guessed? I mean, there was nothing to implicate Danny."

"He'd seemed
so concerned, so helpful and supportive. I still can't believe
it!"

"Look, don't
tell him that I saw him with the girl. I don't want to get dragged
into this, Selina."

"Don't worry;
I'm not going to say anything to him. I shall carry on as if I know
nothing. How he dreamed up such a scam, I'll never know. He's got
no imagination whatsoever."

"Bear in mind
that Danny might not be the only one involved."

"What do you
mean?"

"You're
obviously in no fit state to think properly, but I am. I reckon
that he joined forces with the girl some time after the
blackmailing started."

"If that's the
case, then she is working for someone - her boss, as she calls
him."

"It's unlikely
that Danny thought this up. As you said, he has no imagination.
From what you've told me, I reckon, after he'd screwed the girl, he
started seeing her behind your back."

"Yes, that
fits because she's only been to the house once and had sex with
him. Every time I've seen her, Danny's not been around. When he'd
had a go at her on the phone, that must have been for real, and he
probably did go to a private detective. At some stage, he must have
met her... Perhaps she came to the house while I was out
and..."

"And he
screwed her again. That's when it began, Selina. He arranged to
meet her, started seeing her, having sex with her and, like all men
who put their cocks before their brains, he couldn't stop."

I was sure
that the bitch hadn't told Danny about the men on the common, and
he couldn't put a stop to the blackmailing because her boss was in
control. He was just screwing her behind my back, meeting her for
sex. There was nothing he could do to help me, so he'd taken
advantage of the situation and fucked her. He wasn't getting a
share of the cash, he wasn't in league with the tart - he was just
using her for crude sex.

"Chrissy, I'm
going home," I sighed.

"Don't go yet.
Stay and have another drink, it'll calm you down."

"Funnily
enough, I do feel calm. God knows why I'm not in hysterics!"

"I'll get you
another vodka."

"OK,
thanks."

Perhaps the
private detective was still on the case, I ruminated. OK, so Danny
was fucking the bitch, but he was probably still doing his best to
end the blackmail. She'd hardly tell her boss what she was up to
with my husband, and Danny certainly wouldn't tell anyone. When the
horror ended, if it ended, he'd appear to be completely innocent.
His cock before his brain? We'd not had sex for ages - he was
obviously getting it from somewhere.

"There you
go," Chrissy smiled, placing my glass on the table. "I'll tell you
what I'd do if I were you."

"What's
that?"

"Follow Danny
the next time he goes out."

"What good
will that do?"

"Well, for
starters, it'll prove my theory. Don't say anything to him, just
carry on as usual, if you can. Follow him the next time he goes
out."

"It's the last
thing I want to do, but I will."

Finishing my
drink, I told Chrissy that I was tired and needed to sleep. She
insisted that I stay but, with my mind a swirling ocean of anger, I
left the pub. Finally reaching home, tears streaming down my face,
I was pleased to find Danny still asleep on the sofa. I couldn't
have faced him that evening; I was in no mood to talk to him.
Climbing the stairs, I stripped naked and crawled beneath the
quilt. Completely exhausted, I fell into a deep sleep.