Buying The Virgin Part 1-3

CHARLOTTE

“Klempner said.... he said that he… he ran her with the other whores, and that it must run in the family because I’d sold myself, and now I live with two men…. He holds some grudge against me. He said it was because of Jenkins, the man that died when he chased me, but it felt like there was more to it than that…”

Richard keeps his face bland. “That must have been… upsetting… for you.”

“Yes, but how did he know about the auction? And James and Michael? The only people who know things like that are either us or the police. They have my records…. And then later, he got a phone call…”

I finish off my water. “I’m sorry, but could I have a glass of wine, please. This…. isn’t very easy…”

Michael vanishes into the kitchen, returning with a bottle and five glasses. He fills all five, but I notice that I am the only one drinking. I knock back a couple of mouthfuls, then continue. “I persuaded him to leave Beth alone.…” I look at Beth and she nods confirmation.

“Yes, Elizabeth told me about that,” says Richard. “You convinced them she was worth more for ransom if they didn’t touch her….”

I blush, embarrassed. “Sorry about that. It seemed the best thing to say…”

“No apology needed, Charlotte. But they then put her in a separate room and she thought that….” He vacillates, losing his words.

What did Beth tell him?

“I thought I was in trouble then, that they were going to gang-rape me,” I say. “They started knocking me about a bit.… that’s where I got some of the bruises.… but Klempner said he had a buyer for me. For Beth too, though I’m not sure he wanted to sell her after what I’d told him about who she is. At any rate, I don’t think they wanted to leave too many visible marks on me if the buyer was going to be seeing me….” I gulp more wine.

“Anyway, Klempner’s phone rang. It was weird. He listened for a minute to whoever was on the other end, then he looked like he’d seen a ghost. He hit me across the face, knocked me down, and told me he knew about the tracers. He told the others to find some different clothes for me ‘cause the ones I was wearing had to go. He took the locket that had one of the tracers…. and my rings…. Then he…. he told me to…. um, empty my body cavities... or he would do it for me….”

“You had a tracer…. inside you?” Richard’s face is twitching. Michael looks at me askance. My Master stares at the ceiling, struggling not to smile.

“Mmm. Yes, inside a condom to keep it dry… Um…. it’s a bit embarrassing, now I tell someone else…. Actually, the whole changing clothes thing solved my biggest problem…”

“Which was?”

and there was no way she could run in those, but when they gave me fresh clothes, it meant there was

of the trackers

when Klempner knew about the trackers, they decided to move out immediately. I’d already warned Beth that we needed to run when they took us out of the building. If we could get out into the open, so the tracer on her could operate properly, you’d be able to find us again. I told her to behave

this phone

could only have been from someone in the police, or someone getting the information from the police. Who

Richard rubs his nose,

heard him giving orders to have this building watched. That’s why I didn’t want any of you coming out for me, and why I came in the

“We picked up Beth almost immediately,

you, but you were being chased too, and I couldn’t catch up. Then, I heard the gunshots. And there were all those police around, and I didn’t know who to trust, so I just made my way in the dark back to the main highways, and to the nearest town. I wanted to contact you. That’s when I went into that electrical store. I needed the phone so that I could download all those plans I’d scanned, to try to find a way back into the City, and here, without being seen. After that, I just took

What route did you take?”

down through the sewers first to get onto the

They all look blank.

and they needed construction materials. It doesn’t operate now, or for any time in the last fifty years, but the tunnels are still there. I just followed the line into the heart of the Old City and then used the

watching me. Michael watches me constantly but, unsmiling, there is no welcome in his eyes. And when I think

*****

MICHAEL

talks for some time to Charlotte. And how can I blame him? By any measure, she saved Beth. And Beth is his. But Charlotte’s success is bitter-sweet for me. Now that we have her back, I find myself dwelling on the sheer abandon of her actions. She left James and I behind, apparently

and I wait

joining them to discuss

and me, there’s something I need to say to

looks at me, pale-faced, her green eyes vivid. She knows I’m not

life. James and I both made it completely clear that we didn’t want you to do anything rash, and

nothing,

my life around a woman who endangers herself so recklessly. And much though I love you, I want you to understand that if you ever do such a thing again, for me, that would be the

me, all big eyes, tears welling, then looks at the

had much of in your life, but you have it now, and